Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words
Episode: Inside Washington DC: VDH Talks with Senator John Kennedy
Date: October 10, 2025
Overview
In this episode, Victor Davis Hanson interviews Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, focusing on Kennedy's new book, How to Test Negative for Stupid and Why Washington Never Will. Their discussion blends sharp political commentary, observations on the state of both parties, reflections on Kennedy's career, and personal anecdotes—delivering insights into the current and future trajectory of American politics. Kennedy's signature wit and candor, along with Hanson's thoughtful questions, make for an engaging deep dive into contemporary Washington and what it means for the country.
Main Discussion Points and Insights
The Supremacy Clause, Federalism, and Immigration
- Federal vs. State Authority: Hanson opens by raising concerns over local officials defying federal immigration law, referencing historic precedents like South Carolina’s 1832 nullification crisis.
- Kennedy’s View: Kennedy decries the Democratic Party’s border stance and equates ignoring border law to leaving one's home unlocked:
“Most Americans lock their front door at night...They do that because they love the people on the inside...You can be both for legal immigration and against illegal immigration without being inconsistent.” [01:29]
- On State Defiance: Kennedy warns against unprecedented steps by officials, e.g., if cities used police to block ICE:
“It would be unprecedented...I've got rocks in my driveway that are dumber than that.” [06:53]
The Quality of Federal Judicial Nominees
- Kennedy recounts being shocked by nominees’ unfamiliarity with the Constitution:
“I would say...President Biden's nominees were activists first and lawyers second. They really had no courtroom experience...Just because you've seen My Cousin Vinnie does not qualify you to be a federal judge.” [08:00]
The Democratic Party’s Leftward Shift
- Hanson asks when and why the party moved left. Kennedy points to Obama as the turning point:
“President Obama...moved the party further to the left...And then President Biden...most people...thought they were getting the second coming of Bill Clinton. Instead, they got the second cousin of Bernie Sanders.” [09:34]
- The “loon wing” or socialist wing is now ascendant, led by figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. [21:52]
Biden’s Capacity & Who’s Running the White House
- Kennedy shares a personal encounter with Biden, describing early signs of decline:
“He was old for his years...He wanted to tell war stories...and after he was finished that he wanted a cup of hot soup and an early bedtime. I could see the beginnings of the neurodegenerative disease at that point.” [12:06]
- On the real power in the administration:
“I think the First Lady...Mr. Hunter Biden did, but I think he had an inner circle...a lot of them were President Obama holdovers and they were calling a lot of the shots day to day.” [14:26]
Trump’s Leadership and Transparency
- Kennedy highlights Trump’s energy and accessibility:
“If I called him today, right now...he’d take it...He really doesn't sleep...He has no filter.” [15:50]
- On disagreeing with Trump:
“He wasn’t mad. He said, ‘okay...just don’t go around telling people you want to shred my bill’...People who say they have a hard time working with President Trump, that's not the Trump I know.” [17:15]
- Example of honest dialogue over judicial nominees:
“He said, ‘What should I do?’ I said, ‘Mr. President...pull him down, put him out of his misery.’ And Trump was cool about it.” [18:13]
Senate Culture, Factions, and Peer Relationships
- Kennedy addresses Senate decorum and the pressure mainstream Democrats feel from the left:
“Most of the other Democrats in the Senate...know better about the shutdown, but they're scared of the loon wing.” [21:52]
- On Senator John Fetterman:
“I like John. He’s breathtakingly candid...He understands that candor is a mighty weapon...I think he's been good for his party to point out the obvious sometimes, and he's been good for the country.” [25:18]
Writing the Book & Personal Background
- Kennedy describes writing the book to demystify the Senate:
“It’s not a policy book per se, it's a storybook...to try to explain...why in Washington D.C. normal is just a setting on the clothes dryer.” [26:40]
- His family’s emphasis on education and his unique experience at Oxford:
“I believe in a classic education...Vanderbilt taught me how to think and appreciate literature...Oxford...humbled me.” [30:43, 34:00]
The FBI, Surveillance, and Government Overreach
- Discussion of the reported surveillance of senators by Jack Smith and the DOJ:
“Mr. Smith...got (the) telephone companies to turn over phone records for eight sitting United States Senators...this, this kind of weaponizing of the FBI and the Justice Department has got to stop.” [36:46] “This stuff is serious as four heart attacks and a stroke.” [38:49]
Institutions, Optimism, and the Future
- Kennedy offers cautious optimism for America:
“I'm an optimist who worries sometimes. I’m a paranoid optimist. But...the water in Washington, D.C. is not going to clear up until we get the pigs out of the creek.” [35:08]
Campaigns, the Economy, and Political Prognosis
- Kennedy stresses the importance of communicating economic achievements:
“If I were the president, I would...talk straight up to the American people about why inflation is better, what my plan is to get it down...He doesn't like to talk about the economy for whatever reason, but he really has a strong case.” [46:10]
- Predicts Republicans will retain Senate control:
“I think we'll hold our majority...We've got some tough races...But I can say I’m an optimist. But I'm an optimist who worries.” [48:13]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On enforcing immigration law:
“If President Trump came out in favor of breathing to survive, the Democrats would hold their breath.” – Kennedy [05:11] -
On Leftist pressure within the Democrats:
“The socialist wing...is about to elect a socialist mayor of New York. I never thought I'd see that in my lifetime.” – Kennedy [21:52] -
On his role as a senator and personal style:
“I don't hate anybody. I...ask God, don't let me hate.” – Kennedy [25:18] -
On supernatural-sounding optimism:
“The water in Washington, D.C. is not going to clear up until we get the pigs out of the creek.” – Kennedy [35:08] -
On the DOJ seeking senators' phone records:
“They just handed it over, just vomited it...They're going to have to answer some questions too.” – Kennedy [41:52] -
On Senate legend Chuck Grassley:
“I kid him. I say your first car, Chuck, was a chariot. And he just laughs. But he’s my favorite senator.” – Kennedy [42:09]
Key Timestamps
- Supremacy Clause, Immigration & Sanctuary Cities: 00:11–03:12, 04:37–07:14
- Judicial Nominees and the Constitution: 07:14–08:52
- Democratic Party’s Shift Left: 09:05–11:16, 21:52–24:49
- Biden’s Capacity & Inner Circle: 12:06–15:18
- On Trump and Working Dynamics: 15:18–19:20
- FBI/DOJ Surveillance of Senators: 36:46–41:52
- Grassley Anecdotes & Institutional Respect: 42:09–43:52
- Optimism and Future Outlook: 34:39–35:08, 48:07–48:47
- Electoral Prognosis and Strategy: 45:20–48:47
Tone and Takeaways
True to the candid, witty, and sometimes arch tone both men are known for, this episode mixes (often dark) humor with deeply felt concerns about institutional decay and hyper-partisanship. Kennedy’s stories and analogies (locks, pigs, war stories, push-up contests) illuminate the sometimes absurd present, with both men grounding today’s events in historical perspective. Listeners come away with a richer sense of life in the U.S. Senate, the dangers of government overreach, the meaning of political courage, and cautious hope for the republic’s future.
Recommendation:
If you want sharp, unvarnished insight into politics and some memorable zingers, this conversation is worth your time—even (especially) if you don’t always agree.