The Victor Davis Hanson Show – "Tanks for the Memories"

Hosts: Victor Davis Hanson & Sammy Wink
Date: September 6, 2025

Overview

In this edition, Victor Davis Hanson and co-host Sammy Wink begin with discussions on current political controversies and developments, before dedicating the central segment to a rich, expert exploration of tank warfare in World War II. The episode closes with a roundup of international affairs, listener feedback, and reflections on recent news, including events in Gaza and U.S. immigration issues. Hanson's characteristic blend of historical context, personal anecdote, and sharp commentary is on display throughout.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. RFK Jr. and the Vaccine Debate

Timestamp: 06:56–15:03

• Clarification of RFK Jr.’s Senate Testimony: Hanson emphasizes that RFK Jr. did not advocate banning vaccines but spoke against universal mandates.
  • "There was a big confusion. I think RFK Jr did not say that he was banning vaccinations. What he was saying was that the mandates for vaccinations should not be enforced in all cases." — Victor Davis Hanson (06:56)
• Personal Experiences with Vaccines: Hanson shares multiple personal adverse reactions to vaccines and provides nuanced commentary on the risks and benefits, especially for those with sensitive immune systems.
  • "Every time I would get a vaccination, my parents would say, I don't know what's wrong with you. The other two boys are fine. But I would get a fever and sick for a week, too." — Victor Davis Hanson (12:32)
• Critique of Political Grandstanding: Both Democrats and Republicans in Senate committee hearings are criticized for their tactics, with Hanson noting especially antagonistic behavior from left-wing senators.
  • "They are obnoxious, they're not very bright, they're pompous. They're kind of Adam Schiff on steroids, all of them." — Victor Davis Hanson (15:13)

Notable Quote

• "I'm not an anti-vaxxer. He isn't either. And I think for some childhood vaccinations, they should be mandatory to be in the public schools. But..." — Victor Davis Hanson (12:32)

2. DOJ, Transgender Issues, and Mass Shootings

Timestamp: 15:48–17:58

• Potential Ban on Firearms for Transgender Individuals: News of DOJ considering such a move prompts Hanson to analyze inconsistencies in left-wing logic regarding gun control and demographic statistics.
  • "If you are going to inject someone with depending on the type of transition, estrogen or testosterone... you're just making a potpourri and you're asking for side effects." — Victor Davis Hanson (16:05)
• Framing Policy and Political Motivations: Hanson claims that many positions on the left are defined by opposition to Donald Trump rather than consistent principle.

3. Joy Reid, Trump Assassination Denial, and Political Atmosphere

Timestamp: 19:46–26:42

• Reaction to Joy Reid’s Claims: Hanson harshly critiques Joy Reid's rejection of the Trump assassination attempt, framing her as unbalanced and racially divisive.
  • "She's an utter, outright... a racist, that is, she judges people by the color of their skin." — Victor Davis Hanson (19:46)
  • Points out the absurdity of denying well-documented events and references the Jussie Smollett case as a parallel.
• Political Rhetoric and Democratic Leadership: Discusses the irresponsible comments from figures like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and expresses concern about the quality of Democratic leadership.
• What Would Democrats Do With Power? Hanson speculates about likely Democratic policy moves if returned to power, including border and social policies.

4. Obstruction of Government Appointments and Political Tit-for-Tat

Timestamp: 26:42–29:13

• Democratic Obstructionism: Review of how Democrats have resisted Trump's appointments and a warning that such tactics set dangerous precedents for future governance.
  • "Be very careful because you are setting precedents and the next administration will follow." — Victor Davis Hanson (27:19)
• Debate on How Republicans Should Respond: Considers competing views in the Republican camp regarding whether to reciprocate these tactics.

5. Case of Lisa Cook and Corruption in High Office

Timestamp: 29:13–32:22

• Lisa Cook’s Real Estate Scandal: Discussion of Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook, her multiple claimed primary residences, and broader concerns around DEI-driven appointments.
  • "There's three reasons that she should have never been on the Federal Reserve Board. One, she is dishonest... Second, she's a plagiarist... Third, if you look at her expertise, there's nothing economic on it." — Victor Davis Hanson (29:38)

6. John Bolton and Classified Information Allegations

Timestamp: 33:00–34:48

• Review of John Bolton’s Actions: Discusses Bolton profiting from memoirs that included possible classified information and the peril of assuming immunity due to political standing.

Deep Dive: Tanks in World War II

Timestamp: 38:04–62:31

Introduction to the Segment

• Hanson corrects previous podcast errors regarding WWII aircraft, then shifts focus to tanks, distinguishing between interwar developments, WWII tank evolution, and national differences in design, production, and battlefield effectiveness.

Evolution of Tank Design

Timestamp: 38:44–43:44

• Three Phases:
  • Pre–WWII Light Tanks: Small, low-armored, minimal armament (Panzer I and II only had machine guns to small cannons).
  • War-Era Medium Tanks: Emergence of tanks like the German Mark IV and Russian T-34—about 30 tons, with bigger guns and more armor.
  • Late-War Heavy Tanks: Massive tanks (e.g., German Tigers, Panthers) with substantial armor and firepower.

Key National Tanks and Their Characteristics

Timestamp: 43:44–50:58

• Russia: T-34—best all-around tank by some measures; diesel engine, sloped armor, huge production numbers.
• Germany: Mark IV (workhorse), Panther (well-made but maintenance-heavy), Tiger (powerful but rare and unreliable).
• USA: The Sherman—criticized for being outgunned by Tigers/Panthers, but excelled due to ease of production, maintenance, and adaptability. British 'Firefly' variant able to take on Tigers effectively.
• Factors Beyond Firepower: Hanson stresses repairability, logistics, crew ergonomics, operational range, and total production as crucial, not just armor and guns.

Memorable Moment

• "If you take the engine and the transmission out of this one, how much? He said, we can do it in 1/10 of the time [on a Sherman versus a Panther]." — Victor Davis Hanson referencing a tank museum demonstration (43:44)

Taking Out Tanks: Weapons and Tactics

Timestamp: 50:58–54:25

• Anti–Tank Artillery & Infantry Weapons:
  • Artillery with specialized shells, American bazooka, British anti-tank rifles, German Panzerfaust (disposable, highly effective).
• Evolution to Modern Missile Systems: Hanson's experience in Iraq links the development of infantry anti-tank missiles, e.g., Javelin and RPGs.

The Battle of Kursk

Timestamp: 54:25–60:58

• Largest Ever Tank Battle: Both sides fielded thousands of tanks; attrition favored Russia due to production, despite heavier losses.
• Strategic Context: Soviet advantages due to allied material support and German overextension.
• Multifront Pressure on Germany: U.S.-UK strategic bombing drained German materiel from Russia, enabling Soviet breakthroughs.

Tank Traps and Final Notes

Timestamp: 60:58–62:31

• Various forms, including ditches, concrete obstacles (Siegfried Line "teeth"), and ambush positions.
• Key principle: Knowledge of enemy doctrine allowed effective defensive engineering.

International Affairs: Gaza and Geopolitics

Timestamp: 63:47–69:23

Israel’s War in Gaza

• Targeted Killings of Hamas Leadership: Recent Israeli operations described as systematically eliminating Hamas leaders present during the October 7 attacks.
  • "The Israelis have taken out all of the Hamas leadership that was there on October 7th. They're all dead." — Victor Davis Hanson (64:50)
• Internal Palestinian Factionalism: Intelligence on Hamas increasingly provided by rival Palestinian Authority members.

Putin, Xi, and Organ Transplants

• Discussion of reports that Chinese and Russian leaders allegedly discussed extending their lifespans via organ transplants—shining a light on the ruthlessness of dictatorships.
  • "It's just an insight into the mind of the dictator class that they... Any means necessary to keep them in power." — Victor Davis Hanson (67:46)

Venezuela and Regional Instability

• Hanson assesses the resilience of autocratic regimes, warning against overconfidence in their imminent collapse.
  • "They have a unique ability to suck out every resource of a state before they'll fall." — Victor Davis Hanson (71:14)

Listener Feedback and Closing Comments

Timestamp: 72:36–76:55

• Vivid Trucking Immigration Commentary: Response to a listener’s comment on the fatal consequences of lax driver’s license issuance for illegal immigrants.

• On Chinese Students: A listener asserts even fully paying Chinese students are potential spies—Hanson concurs about routine Chinese intelligence interviews.

• Podcast Format Note: Listener feedback supports co-hosting and conversational interruptions.

  • "I do not mind at all when Jack interrupts Victor. This is a conversation, not a monologue..." — Read by Sammy Wink (76:35)
  • "I like it much better...so I'm happy. Jack does a good job." — Victor Davis Hanson (76:37)

Memorable Quotes

• On Political Grandstanding:
  • "They are obnoxious, they're not very bright, they're pompous. They're kind of Adam Schiff on steroids, all of them." (15:13)
• On World War II Tanks:
  • "Shermans were going all over the Normandy and French landscape blowing apart machine gun nests. They were used against infantry. More importantly...If you wanted to ship a tank... anything over 35 tons is almost impossible." (43:44)
• On Dictatorial Longevity:
  • "The dictator always wants internal life... never happens." (67:46)

Summary Table of Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | Key Topic/Insight | |------------------------------------------------|--------------|----------------------------| | Vaccine mandates & RFK Jr. | 06:56–15:03 | Nuanced critique of politics vs. science; personal anecdotes | | Transgender gun law debate | 15:48–17:58 | Inconsistencies in policy logic | | Reaction to Joy Reid & Democratic rhetoric | 19:46–26:42 | Polarization, leadership critique | | Appointment obstructionism | 26:42–29:13 | Partisan tit-for-tat, future consequences | | The case of Lisa Cook (Fed) | 29:13–32:22 | Misconduct, DEI critique | | WWII Tanks deep dive | 38:04–62:31 | Tank design, tactics, Kursk, personal stories | | Gaza war & geopolitics | 63:47–69:23 | Israeli strategy, China/Russia, Venezuela | | Listener feedback & podcast reflections | 72:36–76:55 | Immigration, education, show format |

Conclusion

This episode is a tour de force of Victor Davis Hanson’s historical knowledge, skepticism toward partisanship, and a refusal to take narratives or leadership at face value. The historical segment on tanks is especially rich, blending technical expertise with strategic consideration, while Hanson’s takes on current events are sharply critical, especially of the left and the Biden administration. The show’s tone remains pointed, conversational, and occasionally satirical throughout, providing listeners with both depth and opinionated commentary.