The Victor Davis Hanson Show

Episode: The UN’s True Colors: A Tale of Two Leaders
Date: September 30, 2025
Hosts: Victor Davis Hanson & Jack Fowler

Episode Overview

This episode explores the latest in current political and social events, focusing sharply on:

• Recent military shakeups and what they signal for the future
• The United Nations’ reaction to leaders from Israel and Palestine
• The ongoing crisis of leadership, DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), and double standards
• The fallout from the FBI and intelligence community’s actions, with a focus on James Comey’s indictment
• The impact of mass migration on American and European systems
• Developments around law enforcement, the rule of law, and public confidence
• U.S. domestic unrest, focusing on Portland and border policy
• Observations on upcoming U.S. elections and political trends

The hosts blend commentary, historical perspective, and personal anecdotes for a dense, engaging discussion, while highlighting double standards in global diplomacy and American politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Military Leadership Shakeup and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Meeting

[09:12–15:54]

• Background: Pete Hegseth, as Secretary of War, calls a major meeting with American military chiefs—a move generating significant controversy.
• VDH’s Analysis:
  • Predicts retired generals/admirals will now refrain from political attacks that drew court martial risk in Trump’s first term:

    “...I don't think a retired general or admiral will disparage the Secretary of defense and say that he's a Nazi or something, number one.” (Victor, 09:43)

  • Hegseth is likely to emphasize:
    • Battlefield effectiveness over political activism in the ranks
    • Equal physical standards for men and women in combat roles
    • Reducing politicization and prohibiting social media activism
    • Addressing the “top-heavy” officer corps and post-retirement conflicts of interest (e.g., banning generals from working for defense contractors for 10 years).
  • On defense industry conflicts:

    "It just seems logical that if you’re on a very generous pension and...subject to military recall, you would not want to be in the private sector doing business with the Pentagon, at least for a while." (Victor, 12:50)

  • Adds that Hegseth’s reforms may be a “counter-revolution” to recent trends in the military—removing DEI initiatives, drag shows, and political content from bases.

2. UN Double Standards: Netanyahu’s Walkout, Abbas’ Ovation

[17:48–26:54]

• Context: UN delegates walk out during Israeli PM Netanyahu’s speech, but greet Palestinian Authority President Abbas with applause.
• VDH’s Take:
  • Criticizes the hypocrisy of the UN, noting autocrats like Abbas receive praise while democratic leaders like Netanyahu are shunned:

    "So these so called people that vote on resolutions walk out when an autocrat without any legitimacy talks to them...Then you have this leader who's Democratic, Mr. Netanyahu, and they walk out." (Victor, 18:41)

  • Points out lack of similar protests against leaders of Russia, China, Turkey, Azerbaijan, despite their much worse human rights records:

    “Why does the world clomb on to this little country of 11 million people...Is it oil?...Is it terrorism? Partly...And then finally, and most importantly, Ms. Merkel started it...they’ve got millions of unassimilated and non-integrated populations...they're scared stiff of them.” (Victor, 19:58)

  • Argues anti-Semitism is the unspoken root:

    “Isn’t it the reason that people apply an unequal standard to Israel...is because Israel is Jews?” (Victor, 24:48)

  • Lampoons “Queers for Palestine,” noting their lack of safety in actual Palestinian territories:

    “Go over to Palestine and start your ‘We are Palestinian Gay Movement’. Don’t do it on Columbia’s campus.” (Victor, 22:10)

3. European Leaders and Political Strategy Amid Mass Migration

[26:54–32:35]

• Fowler cites European Conservative questioning why leaders “seem proud to side with Hamas.”
• VDH explanation:
  • European leaders weigh the growing, unassimilated Islamic populace versus the shrinking Jewish community—choosing policies for electoral gain, even if public resentment toward radical Islam is high.

    "...We have a long history of anti-Semitism here in Europe and the Jewish population is fleeing and shrinking..." (Victor, 27:10)

  • The left seeks to “import a constituency” more pliant than the native “deplorables,” as seen both in Europe and the U.S.
  • Predicts system breakdowns—medical, legal, educational—as new arrivals strain social services.

4. Collapsing U.S. Social Services Due to Immigration and Systemic Stress

[32:42–36:11]

• Personal Anecdotes:
  • VDH recounts firsthand difficulties accessing health care amidst overcrowding from mass immigration and bureaucratic delays.

    “…the system is breaking, the health care system is breaking, the legal system is breaking...It’s all under stress.” (Victor, 34:55)

  • Argues it’s not a racial issue, but about functional systems and equal legal standards.

5. The FBI, James Comey Indictment, and Rule of Law Crisis

[38:12–52:47]

• James Comey Indictment:
  • VDH details the legal jeopardy for the former FBI Director:

    “…It boils down to, did James Comey communicate…to McCabe or Baker or Rebecci…that it was okay to leak?” (Victor, 39:29)

  • Lists the many questionable and deceptive actions by Comey—leaking memos, feigning amnesia in congressional testimony (“245 occasions said he couldn’t remember”), selective enforcement, hypocrisy in leaks, etc.
  • Notes “everybody should remember what the Trump administration [did]...they’re not trying to bring him [Comey] in ...for pledging amnesia,” but for clear legal violations.
• Pattern in Law Enforcement Leadership:
  • All four most recent FBI directors have either lied to Congress or been involved in questionable practices; still, prosecution is rare unless political winds shift.
  • Critiques selective enforcement, lack of accountability for Russian collusion fabrications, and refusal to openly account for FBI agents/informants’ role in January 6th.

    “...we get the fourth one that nobody talks about, Christopher Wray...” (Victor, 46:32)

• Media Double Standards:
  • Jack Fowler references Ari Fleischer on the difference in media tone regarding indictments of Trump-adjacent figures vs. Comey’s indictment.

6. Tit for Tat: Weaponization of Law, Precedents, and Morality

[52:47–57:31]

• The precedent for hyper-partisan law enforcement was set by previous Democratic administrations, now being used in reverse:

  “So the point I’m making is would these people be indicted if they had not been so prominently going after Trump in an illegal or amoral fashion…will that restore deterrence…or you just forget it because you play by the [Marquess of] Queensberry rules?” (Victor, 55:45)

7. Deterrence and the Return of the Rule of Law

[60:22–64:54]

• The principle of enforcing legal standards against previously untouchable figures (retired generals, intelligence officials):

  "When you reinforce [the law], it deters people. And when you don't, it doesn't." (Victor, 62:44)

• Notes that prominent critics of Trump now fall silent, knowing enforcement is real again.

8. Portland: Domestic Unrest and Trump Orders

[66:55–70:45]

• Trump orders troops to Portland to quell Antifa unrest and protect federal facilities.
• VDH shares personal negative experiences with academic mob action and the left’s failure to defend free speech on college campuses.

9. Election Trends and the Republican Strategy

[70:45–77:24]

• Polls show tightening governor’s races in New Jersey and Virginia.
• VDH outlines Republican strategy: focus messaging on border, crime, and economy, leveraging Biden’s unpopularity, rather than personalities.

10. The Human Impact of Policy—Anecdotes and Listener Messages

[77:24–79:35]

• VDH details grassroots rage among Mexican-Americans frustrated by illegal immigration and social service breakdowns:

  "Everybody’s sick of this...part of the reason I said about the doctor, you can’t, because you can’t go." (Victor, 77:24)

• Suggests that true reform would require policymakers to experience the consequences of their policy decisions firsthand.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On UN Hypocrisy:
  "If Netanyahu said tomorrow ‘I’m declaring martial law and I’m canceling elections...’ what would happen?"
  — Victor Davis Hanson [24:02]

• On Law Enforcement Double Standards:
  "All four [FBI directors]...have lied to Congress...but prosecution is rare unless political winds shift."
  — Victor Davis Hanson [46:36]

• On Political Motives in Immigration Policy:
  "They're trying to bring in a new constituency...antithetical to traditional values of your country and they're going to be in service to me..."
  — Victor Davis Hanson [29:30]

• On DEI and Victimization:
  "Anytime you have an ideology that says you don't apply a fair standard of criticism...it starts to...complexity starts to—and we saw that...with the Palestine fire, it was a DEI catastrophe."
  — Victor Davis Hanson [35:52]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Topic | |---------------|------------------------------------------| | 09:12–15:54 | Military reforms and Hegseth’s shakeup | | 17:48–26:54 | UN double standards on Israel/Palestine | | 26:54–32:35 | European political calculus | | 32:42–36:11 | System strain from immigration | | 38:12–52:47 | Comey indictment, FBI, and law crisis | | 52:47–57:31 | Weaponization of law, precedent, morality| | 60:22–64:54 | Rule of law and deterrence | | 66:55–70:45 | Portland unrest, college experiences | | 70:45–77:24 | Electoral outlook, Republican messaging | | 77:24–79:35 | Grassroots backlash over immigration |

Tone

• Direct, unapologetic, and occasionally caustic. Victor Davis Hanson blends academic, policy, and “everyman” perspectives.
• Jack Fowler injects humor, assures structure, and steers the conversation to current events and listener questions.
• Language is critical, evaluative, and analytical, with memorable anecdotes and pointed critique.

This episode is rich with context, historical references, and argument for the pressing need to restore equal standards in domestic and international affairs, and for policy rooted in reality rather than ideology.