The Victor Davis Hanson Show — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Trump Reassesses Ukraine’s Chances and Olbermann Unhinged (As Usual)
Hosts: Victor Davis Hanson, Sammy Wink
Date: September 26, 2025

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode dives into Donald Trump’s high-profile speech at the United Nations, analyzes evolving U.S. and European positions on the Ukraine war, critiques the recent behavior of media and political figures like Keith Olbermann, and dissects the cultural and policy trends affecting America today. Victor and Sammy cover ramifications of current leadership at the state and federal levels, detail the splintering on the political left, and touch on the evolving media landscape and social attitudes in California.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s UN Speech and UN Shenanigans

(04:53–12:54)

• Alleged Subversion at the UN:
  • Sammy observes a series of suspicious incidents: Trump’s escalator at the UN stops, his teleprompter fails, and the mic volume is lowered during his speech, noting, “A little bit of subversion, that seems pretty obvious.” [05:28]
  • Victor reviews evidence suggesting intent: “It’s too much of a coincidence…The Times of London had a story that some people in the UN had floated the idea they might shut down the escalator to remind Trump he had cut UNICEF...Trump’s teleprompter, and only Trump’s, went out.” [06:43]
• Trump’s Unscripted Message:
  • Despite disruptions, Trump speaks bluntly about:
    • The UN’s failure: “I’m not going to sit here and say this new version of the League of Nations works, because it doesn’t.” [08:02]
    • Europe’s immigration and energy policies.
    • A call for China and India to stop buying Russian oil to cut off Putin.
  • “He basically said, if you’re not going to let me get up the escalator and you’re not going to let me use a teleprompter...I’m going to say what I want.” [07:40]
• European Critique:
  • “You’re buying [energy] from Russia while you’re asking NATO...to help you when you’re fueling the very war machine that you’re trying to galvanize the world to stop.” [09:23]
• On the UN’s Location:
  • Victor suggests moving the UN out of New York: “I wouldn’t move it to Geneva...I have a lot of suggestions, like Johannesburg or Mexico City or Bogota.” [13:09]

2. Trump’s Changing Rhetoric on Ukraine

(14:11–21:33)

• Trump’s Shift: Now suggests Ukraine might regain “territory that he took after February 24, 2022.”
  • Victor’s analysis: “He’s frustrated with Putin...he came into office thinking that Biden...was closing off dialogue. [But] now he found out Putin thinks he’s winning.” [14:37–15:00]
• Military Realities:
  • Hanson argues Ukraine’s best strategy is to dig in: “They are not capable of a major offensive. They need to dig in like the Finns did in the Winter War.” [16:39]
  • “This war is very similar to 1914, 15, 16 and 17...every time one of the other side tried to invade...it was a complete disaster.” [17:13]
  • Hopes for changing dynamics rest on Europe dramatically reducing Russian energy imports and rearming.
• Putin’s Calculus:
  • “There’s a magic line...west of where Putin is now that he thinks he can take back to the Russian people and say, I got 20% or more of Ukraine. This was worth a billion Russian dead and wounded. But right now he doesn’t think he’s there.” [20:25]

3. U.S.–Venezuela Tensions and the War on Drug Cartels

(21:33–27:25)

• Trump’s Maritime Strikes:
  • “Trump has...hit three Venezuelan drug vessels in international waters and Maduro...is terrified.” [23:34]
  • “They are narco states in Venezuela now and Colombia...If they lose remittance money, there is less monitoring...the cartels are trying to push the drugs to earn foreign exchange.” [24:35]
  • Victor considers harsh responses vital for cutting cartel profits and stemming drug-related deaths.

4. Keith Olbermann’s Threat and Shifting Tides in Media Accountability

(27:25–31:45)

• Olbermann’s Threat:
  • “Keith Olbermann tweeted all that and he said you’re next.” [28:22]
  • Consequences: Olbermann backpedals after Scott Jennings contacts the FBI.
  • Victor’s takeaway: “The fact that Keith Olbermann apologized quickly...shows that he knows the current FBI is...doing what they’re supposed to do.” [28:24]
• General Commentary:
  • Silence from anti-Trump retired flag officers post-inauguration is highlighted as evidence for increased legal deterrence.

5. Disney’s Decline and Media Landscape

(32:30–38:54)

• Financial & Cultural Shifts:
  • Late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert lose ratings; corporations seem to be making business decisions to drop controversial figures.
  • “Greg Gutfeld that you have to pay for is over 2 million [viewers]. Colbert is under 2 million now.” [34:08]
  • Disney is suffering in parks and entertainment, “Let all the left go, see how you like it.” [37:28]
• Disney’s Brand Problems:
  • “Disney seems to be panicking. It has old Meghan Markle and Prince Harry out there advertising for them ... that’s not a winning brand.” [38:34–38:49]

6. California Under Gavin Newsom: Decay and Dysfunction

(41:14–53:00)

• Policy Critiques:
  • Victor catalogues the state’s financial woes, rising crime, declining infrastructure and rampant homelessness.
  • “He has the highest gas taxes...one-third of all the welfare...half of the homeless are in his state.” [41:14]
  • On Newsom’s focus: “After I outlined all of those misadventures, he’s tweeting that Kristi Noem has a rendezvous with a bad day as he comes to his state.” [43:14]
• Personal Anecdotes:
  • Hanson recalls illegal dumping, pet abandonment, and reckless driving as symptomatic of “Gavin Newsom’s California.”
  • “We have to teach that...you have to instruct our Hispanic community who’s here illegally that in California you do not routinely dump dogs.” [48:42]
• Nullification and Federal-State Tensions:
  • Newsom’s attempt to set federal agents’ dress code called unconstitutional: “That’s what Gavin Newsom is doing. He’s trying to appropriate ICE territory and say that when you’re a federal official in my state, you cannot wear a mask. That’s unconstitutional.” [66:35]
  • Comparison with 19th-century secession crisis.

7. FDA Changes and Autism Risk

(53:51–56:45)

• New FDA Advisory:
  • FDA warns pregnant women about Tylenol and autism risk: “The rate of autism has skyrocketed...nobody knows the cause.”
  • “What was sickest, there was a sick element... taking Tylenol and patting their bellies and saying, see, what are you going to do about it?” [56:28]

8. Greta Thunberg, Gaza Flotilla, and Fractures on the Left

(57:14–63:22)

• Progressive Muslim Alliance is Fragile:
  • “That coalition is very shaky. The only thing they have in common, they’re both anti-Semitic and hate Israel and they hate Trump.” [58:17]
  • Per Victor, coalition between leftist Westerners and Islamic conservatives is short-lived.

9. Listener Comments and International Comparisons

(63:22–69:40)

• Appreciation for Victor’s takes on Australia.
• Criticism of Disney and Newsom from fans.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I’m not going to sit here and say this new version of the League of Nations works, because it doesn’t. You don’t get involved in any muscular activity to stop war.”
  — Victor Davis Hanson on Trump’s UN speech [08:02]

• “It’s too much of a coincidence that Trump, the moment he steps foot on the escalator, it shuts down…Trump’s teleprompter, and only Trump’s teleprompter went out.”
  — Victor Davis Hanson [06:43]

• “The wall is closed. But I know the only way you can get in is through rapid speedboats to come into Florida or Louisiana...but we’re going to blow them up in the high seas. And that has got them terrified.”
  — Victor Davis Hanson, on tackling drug cartels [24:17]

• “Olbermann...backed down very quickly. It’s kind of like...11 marquee generals and admirals in the first Trump administration...all of them who had flagrantly violated Article 88...I haven’t heard a word from any of them.”
  — Victor Davis Hanson [29:06]

• “All the dogs that I have were either rescue dogs at the pound or they were dumped…That’s Gavin Newsom’s California from this bird’s eye view...”
  — Victor Davis Hanson [51:00]

• “He’s like George Wallace, ‘I’m going to resist federal law.’ And it’s really dangerous what they’re doing.”
  — Victor Davis Hanson, on Gavin Newsom and federal agents [66:45]

• “Greta Thunberg is aging badly...more angry and she’s more left wing and she’s more offensive...”
  — Victor Davis Hanson [58:44]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump at the UN & UN subversion: 04:53–13:09
• Ukraine, Putin, Europe and the war: 14:11–21:33
• Venezuela, drug cartels, Maduro: 21:33–27:25
• Keith Olbermann threat, media responsibility: 27:25–31:45
• Disney and Left-wing media decline: 32:30–38:54
• Gavin Newsom’s California & federal-state tensions: 41:14–53:00, 66:35–69:40
• FDA Autism/Tylenol news: 53:51–56:45
• Greta Thunberg, Gaza, progressive coalition splits: 57:14–63:22
• Listener feedback: 63:22–69:40

Tone and Language

The tone throughout is candid, assertive, and critical—often darkly humorous and richly anecdotal, in line with Victor’s trademark style. Critical perspectives on progressive policies, the mainstream media, and current cultural trends dominate, supported by vivid personal stories.

This summary provides a comprehensive guide to the episode for listeners seeking key arguments, areas of debate, and insightful commentary from Victor Davis Hanson and Sammy Wink, with highlighted segments for quick navigation.