The Victor Davis Hanson Show

Episode: More WWII ‘Revisionist’ History & the Vulgarity of a Kennedy Scion
Date Recorded: August 23, 2025 | Published: August 28, 2025
Hosts: Victor Davis Hanson & Jack Fowler

Main Theme

This episode explores two controversial currents in American intellectual and cultural life: the spread of revisionist narratives about World War II, especially those aired in high-profile interviews, and the growing vulgarity and entitlement exhibited by descendants of political dynasties, with a focus on JFK’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg. The hosts interweave these with broader concerns about historical discourse, political language, and shifting global alliances.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. WWII ‘Revisionist’ History – Critiquing Tucker Carlson’s Guest

• Context: Tucker Carlson hosted David Cullum, an organic chemistry professor from Cornell, who discussed WWII from a highly revisionist, at times misleading, perspective.
  • Cullum argued that the U.S. should have sided with Hitler against Stalin, suggested that this alliance might have prevented the Holocaust, and claimed 15-20,000 Americans vanished in Soviet occupation.

Victor’s Analysis ([06:09]–[24:28])

• False Equivalence:

  • Cullum’s claims lack historical foundation. The notion that allying with Hitler could have prevented the Holocaust ignores that Hitler’s genocidal intent was explicit and operational long before the invasion of the USSR.
    • “It was intrinsic in Nazi ideology to kill Jews for Lebensraum, to open up the east, kill Russians and Slavic peoples and Jews. It’s in Mein Kampf.” (Hanson, [08:38])

• Distortion of Patton’s View:

  • Patton’s controversial postwar statements—about fighting the Soviets and using German POWs—did not amount to advocating for an alliance with Hitler during the war.
    • “He did not say that he wanted to ally with Hitler during World War II, to my knowledge.” (Hanson, [12:55])

• Soviet POW Claims Unfounded:

  • The number cited by Cullum for missing Americans is greatly exaggerated; most Allied POWs held by the Soviets were ultimately returned, and numbers in the tens of thousands are “simply not true.”
    • “There’s no 20,000 missing Americans.” (Hanson, [15:24])

• Conspiracy Theories & Bias:

  • The recurrence of guests with antisemitic undertones on Carlson’s show is troubling.
    • "Is there any theme that these guests... have? ... It's kind of the Jews are at the problem of all these things." (Hanson, [22:52])

• Role of the Internet vs. Academia:

  • While the academy can be both rigorous and ideologically biased, the democratization of information online creates a consensus that can correct misleading narratives but can also amplify conspiracy theories.
    • “The Internet is kind of like a Roman arena with fingers up or down, doesn’t mean they’re kind, but they are empirical.” (Hanson, [29:30])

2. The Vulgarity of a Kennedy Scion: Jack Schlossberg

• Background: Jack Schlossberg, JFK's only grandson, gained attention for mocking Melania Trump's accent and for being appointed by Chuck Schumer to the America 250 Commission, responsible for the 250th anniversary celebrations.

Victor’s Take ([35:23]–[41:54])

• Entitlement and Vulgarity:

  • Schlossberg is characterized as “a boor, a very obnoxious, entitled spoiled brat,” known mainly for internet trolling and obscene attacks rather than substantive achievements.
    • “He’s spoiled, he’s entitled, he’s not very talented, and he’s unhinged.” (Hanson, [37:11])
  • His mockery of Melania Trump is especially odious given it targeted her while she advocated for Ukrainian children.
    • “So why would you make fun of her for that? And make fun of her accent, make fun of her hair, make fun of her looks?” (Hanson, [37:29])

• Schumer’s Appointment of Schlossberg:

  • Schumer's rationale is to have someone who will confront Trump supporters on the commission—Hanson sees this as another sign of performative, rather than constructive, politics.
    • “He’s a loose cannon and he will say outrageous things and get all this attention and disrupt the commission and attack Trump.” (Hanson, [40:39])

• Irony Regarding RFK Jr.:

  • RFK Jr. is depicted as the black sheep but, ironically, is reframing the Kennedy legacy in a more favorable light to half the nation, in contrast to his own family's public foolishness.

3. Language, Elitism, and the Left’s Communication Strategy

• Democrat Memo on Language:
  • The Left attempts to rebrand itself by abandoning elitist terms such as “subverting norms,” “systems of oppression,” etc., recognizing these alienate ordinary voters ([44:37]).
    • “…since the millennium…They’re the Pete Buttigiegs of the world. They look down on people, they talk in weird vocabulary. They’re self righteous, sanctimonious.” (Hanson, [44:54])
  • Twofold disconnect: Use of opaque academic language and vulgarity from members like “Jasmine Crocker,” “Eric Swalwell,” etc.
  • Real remedy, according to Hanson: Focus on substantive reforms (budget, crime, trade deficits, homelessness) instead of posturing or elite rhetoric.

4. Global Alliances: India’s Shift Amid U.S. Tensions

([52:48]–[59:27])

• India Warming to Russia/China:
  • India’s increased reliance on Russian oil and growing trade ties with China challenge the foundations of the U.S.-India partnership.
  • U.S. tariff policy toward India and other allies is inconsistent and at times counterproductive.
    • “I think we got to be really clear what the tariff is for. … But we’re not getting a lot. And in the case of India, I think that has aggravated them.” (Hanson, [58:25])
  • Hanson argues India’s cooperation is strategically vital and is embedded in the fabric of U.S. immigration and tech policy.

5. Celebrating Strategic Milestones: 100th Issue of ‘Strategica’

([59:52]–[66:10])

• Background of ‘Strategica’:

  • Hanson recounts the founding and mission of the military history task force and the online publication, which features contributions from leading historians, diplomats, and military figures.
    • “We invited 30 or 40 of the top military historians, diplomats, generals, admirals…” (Hanson, [60:38])
  • The latest edition includes essays on topics like the likelihood of nuclear weapons use and how demographic decline in the West affects the willingness for high-casualty wars.
    • Edward Luttwak’s theme: “...when societies have low birth rates like 1.4 European, then there’s a different attitude about mass formations and land warfare and casualties.” (Hanson, [63:58])

• Growth in Military History Studies:

  • Recent years have seen a burgeoning of military history programs at conservative-friendly colleges, a countermovement to the progressivism in academia.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On revisionist WWII theories:

  • “The idea that we were going to partner with this madman [Hitler] and then we were going to use our influence with the SS or with Goebbels or with Himmler and persuade them not to kill more Jews—it was intrinsic in Nazi ideology to kill Jews for Lebensraum. It's in Mein Kampf.” — Victor Davis Hanson, [08:38]

• On the Kennedy family and Jack Schlossberg:

  • “He’s spoiled, he’s entitled, he’s not very talented, and he’s unhinged. … Has he done anything … other than being given a name and a lot of money? So I don’t see why he has any credibility. And it’s just tarnishing the Kennedy name.” — Hanson, [37:11]

• On language:

  • “How can the party of the people not know what the people know?… These are elitist and they use this elite vocabulary that nobody understands and resents. And then … they use language that your average steel worker doesn’t go into the office of his boss and say, s-h-i-t, f-u.” — Hanson, [44:37]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [06:09] – Discussion of Tucker Carlson and David Cullum’s WWII remarks
• [08:38] – Hanson rebuts ‘Holocaust could have been avoided’ claim
• [15:24] – Debunking 20,000 missing Americans story
• [22:52] – Noting recurring antisemitic themes in certain “revisionist” discourses
• [35:23] – Jack Schlossberg’s recent vulgar online behavior
• [37:11] – Hanson on Kennedy legacy and privilege
• [40:39] – Schumer appointing Schlossberg to America 250 commission
• [44:37] – Critiquing the Left’s language memo and disconnect with the people
• [52:48] – India’s deepening ties with Russia/China and U.S. reaction
• [59:52] – Strategic and institutional achievements: 100th issue of Strategica
• [63:58] – Edward Luttwak on demographics and “the post-heroic era”

Tone & Language

The episode maintains Hanson’s characteristic blend of scholarly analysis, forthright critique, and dry wit. Jargon is largely eschewed in favor of plain, direct speech, laced with irony when discussing political absurdities.

Conclusion

In this wide-ranging episode, Victor Davis Hanson and Jack Fowler dissect the persistent dangers of historical revisionism, the corrosion of public discourse by privilege and vulgarity, the realignment of global relationships, and the importance of robust, grounded historical scholarship. The episode ends with shoutouts to military history’s enduring public appeal and the optimism that, despite academia's leftward drift, traditions of rigorous inquiry are resilient and persist in alternative institutions.

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