Founders’ Fire: From 1776 to Trump—Arthur Herman on Innovation, Wealth, and American Renewal | VDH

How are George Floyd and the murder of Henry Nowak symptoms of broader tribalism?  Learn more on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” Highlights: On this Saturday edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Victor and Sami Winc discuss an update on the Iran war, further developments surrounding the Henry Nowak case, and similarities to the George Floyd case. Hanson dives deep into the Henry Nowak murder trial and the subsequent public outrage over bodycam footage, which showed police handcuffing the dying teenager after accepting a false racism claim from the killer. He contrasts the case heavily with the aftermath of the George Floyd incident, arguing that Floyd's death involved career criminality and drug intoxication. Victor Davis Hanson frames the police response as a symptom of a broader tribalism and DEI inclusion standards that have infected Western institutions. This is “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” PROMOTIONS: 👉 FINDING OUR WORDS: Words That Made America—the book for our 250TH & ALWAYS—is available now in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, Audible, and in Spanish translationHTTPS://WWW.MOUNTTITANOMEDIA.COM/  👉Use code VICTOR at the check out and get 35% off your order at HTTPS://WWW.PUREHEALTHRESEARCH.COM/ WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1   👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o  👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victor Davis Hanson and co-host Sami Winc cover the House hearing on the Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey then turn to California primary returns and claims of weak ballot integrity, weighing prospects for Spencer Pratt and Steve Hilton. They discuss New Jersey’s Adam Hamawy and Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed, arguing mass migration, enclave politics, and anti-Israel sentiment are reshaping U.S. politics, including in California leadership, Hollywood, universities, and city councils.  Hanson revisits the UK Henry Nowak case, citing body-cam details, alleged cover-up behavior by the Digwa family, and what he calls “unequal enforcement” under DEI. The episode also addresses Paul Krugman’s rhetoric about purging Trump supporters, CBS/60 Minutes turmoil involving Scott Pelley, a Virginia case allowing a male sex offender into girls’ locker rooms due to self-declared transgender status, Jill Biden’s memoir tour, and brief notes on nicotine/COVID and Ebola concerns. PROMOTIONS: 👉 FINDING OUR WORDS: Words That Made America—the book for our 250TH & ALWAYS—is available now in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, Audible, and in Spanish translation HTTPS://WWW.MOUNTTITANOMEDIA.COM/   👉Go to My Patriot Supply to see exclusive deals before offers end! HTTPS://WWW.MYPATRIOTSUPPLY.COM/ 👉Go to JoinADF.com/HANSON or Text HANSON to 83848 to help support Alliance Defending Freedom’s work!HTTPS://WWW.JOINADF.COM/HANSON.COM WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1   👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o  👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victor Davis Hanson covers the stalled Iran negotiations on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” argues that Iran is delaying while proxies attack and that the U.S. should issue firm demands and, if unmet, use decisive military pressure to restore deterrence. Victor and Jack Fowler react to the Henry Nowak killing in England, focusing on bodycam footage showing police handcuffing the dying victim after accepting the killer’s racism claim, and Hanson frames it as “two-tier” DEI policing contrasted with the George Floyd case and aftermath. The conversation broadens to backlash against immigration and assimilation, including protests over ICE detention despite past presidents’ higher deportation totals.  They cover Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s sexting scandal and SS-related tattoo, and end with commentary on “Trans Period Pride” and transgender activism as a modern fad amid historical precedents. PROMOTIONS: 👉 FINDING OUR WORDS: Words That Made America—the book for our 250TH & ALWAYS—is available now in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, Audible, and in Spanish translation https://www.mounttitanomedia.com/   👉Claim your liberty offer of up to $5,000 in free metals with allegiance gold by going to https://www.ProtectWithVictor.com 👉PEPPERDINE: Daily Signal listeners save 50–75% https://go.pepperdine.edu/dailysignal    WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1   👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o  👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victor Davis Hanson interviews historian Arthur Herman about his book "Founders’ Fire: From 1776 to the Age of Trump," linking the Founding Fathers to later American business and technology founders and arguing they drive American exceptionalism through risk-taking and innovation. Herman describes a recurring cycle in which founder energy becomes institutionalized and bureaucratic until crises like the Civil War and World War II spark renewal, and he ties recent political turbulence and Trump’s rise to a similar governance crisis and a push to reinvent government around founding principles. They address attacks on wealth and “robber baron” narratives, the role of patents and the pursuit of happiness in enabling entrepreneurship, the outsider traits common among founders, and a shift from globalization to an innovation-first model amid regulation, censorship, and antitrust pressures. 👉Go to JoinADF.com/HANSON or Text HANSON to 83848 to help support Alliance Defending Freedom’s work!https://www.JoinADF.com/HANSON.com  👉For more videos like this, subscribe to The Daily Signal’s YouTube channel and enable notifications to be alerted the second a new video drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Victor Davis Hanson comments on the rising hostility toward ICE agents after the arrest of Nicholas Matthew Scelfo for threatening an agent’s family, arguing authorities should make examples of such offenders while blue-state politics instead target citizen-journalism. Hanson portrays anti-ICE protests as an elitist class phenomenon that harms working-class communities and ties it to broader DEI-driven cultural and institutional decay, including politicized pro sports and coarsening public behavior. The episode highlights California’s AB 2624 (“Stop Nick Shirley Act”) as a retaliatory, constitutionally suspect effort to deter filming of nonprofit employees tied to illegal-immigrant services and alleged fraud exposure. Hanson also warns about tribalism, immigration-driven integration failures, UK policing distortions, and breakdowns in public order. PROMOTIONS:  👉Claim your liberty offer of up to $5,000 in free metals with allegiance gold by going to https://www.ProtectWithVictor.com 👉 #1 Water Filtration System.Recommended by Victor Davis Hanson: https://www.covepure.com/vdh 👉Protect women’s sports from biological reality denial at https://JoinADF.com/HANSON  or Text HANSON to 83848 WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1   👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o  👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California’s political dysfunction, growing concerns over immigration and election integrity, and declining trust in public institutions reflect a broader struggle over accountability, governance, and national identity. Questions surrounding border security, demographic change, public safety, and political leadership continue to shape debates across the United States while voters increasingly question whether government institutions are serving the public interest. At the same time, challenges abroad—from China and Iran to Canada, Europe, and the future of Western alliances—are forcing leaders to confront shifting geopolitical realities. Economic competitiveness, technological innovation, national sovereignty, and civic trust remain central to the ability of free societies to navigate an increasingly uncertain world. PROMOTIONS: 👉Use code VICTOR at the check out and get 35% off your order at https://www.purehealthresearch.com/ WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o 👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran, China, immigration, elite institutions, and the future direction of the Democratic Party all point back to a broader debate over power, nationalism, and the stability of the Western world. Growing tensions in the Middle East, questions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, and fears of conflict with China continue shaping American foreign policy, while political and cultural battles at home are increasingly centered around institutional control, media influence, and ideological conformity.  WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1   👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o   👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1    👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful  👉Go to My Patriot Supply to see exclusive deals before offers end! https://www.mypatriotsupply.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

America’s political and cultural institutions are becoming increasingly centralized, ideological, and disconnected from ordinary citizens. Media organizations, universities, government agencies, and political elites continue accusing opponents of authoritarianism while expanding their own influence over public life, speech, and information. This phenomenon helps explain California’s political decline, the growing distrust in elite institutions, the use of “fascism” as a political weapon, and why more Americans feel the system is no longer accountable to the people it governs. Questions surrounding healthcare, welfare spending, lawfare, media control, and one party dominance all point back to a broader struggle over power, institutional trust, and the future direction of the country. WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1   👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o   👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1  👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Claim your liberty offer of up to $5,000 in free metals with allegiance gold by going to https://www.ProtectWithVictor.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Democrat turned Trump’s director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, announced her resignation last week, citing her husband’s ongoing battle with bone cancer. While her time in office was marked by some big America First wins, like declassifications of the Russia collusion hoax documents, it was only a matter of time before Gabbard was brought into the debate brewing over the administration’s ongoing conflict with Iran, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1   👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o   👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS: 👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1  👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful  👉Claim your liberty offer of up to $5,000 in free metals with allegiance gold by going to https://www.ProtectWithVictor.com 👉 #1 Water Filtration System.Recommended by Victor Davis Hanson: https://www.covepure.com/vdh 👉PEPPERDINE: Daily Signal listeners save 50–75% https://go.pepperdine.edu/dailysignal       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political dysfunction in California, the collapse of communist regimes, the meaning of Memorial Day, and the importance of the citizen soldier all point back to the same question: what happens when leaders become detached from the people they govern? Cuba remains impoverished decades after revolution while political elites continue to prosper. California continues to struggle with homelessness, public disorder, and governance questions while national ambitions grow among its leadership. At the same time, debates over fairness, political incentives, and institutional trust continue to reshape public life. Memorial Day serves as a reminder that America’s military tradition was built around citizen soldiers, ordinary people who returned to the communities and institutions they defended. Strong societies depend not only on economic and military strength, but on civic responsibility, accountability, and citizens who remain invested in preserving what they inherit. WHERE TO WATCH: 👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest editions of “Victor Davis Hanson: In a Few Words” by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1   👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2iOoN0xoOoSNvDFlpLLYGY?si=5a9f369acc874c6e 👉 Apple Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/victor-davis-hanson-in-his-own-words/id1566731706 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273?sub_confirmation=1 👉 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/VictorDavisHansonInHisOwnWords?e9s=src_v1_sa%2Csrc_v1_sa_o   👉 Victor’s website: https://victorhanson.com PROMOTIONS:  👉If Victor Davis Hanson is must-watch for you, The Signal Sitdown belongs in your feed. Bradley Devlin delivers long-form conversations on Washington’s biggest fights—from an unapologetically conservative perspective. Subscribe now!https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1  👉Watch The Tony Kinnett Cast NOW! LIVE weekdays at The Daily Signal and wherever you get podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45v 👉America is worth preserving. Do your part and act now by going to https://www.heritage.org/beautiful 👉Use code VICTOR at the check out and get 35% off your order at https://www.purehealthresearch.com/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices