Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words
Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words

The SAVE Act Showdown, the Left’s Socialist Revolution, and Mamdani’s Netanyahu Threat

August 14, 2026

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5 min read

The SAVE Act Showdown, the Left’s Socialist Revolution, and Mamdani’s Netanyahu Threat

Victor Davis Hanson opens this Friday news roundup with a blunt diagnosis: the Democratic Socialists of America are not a working-class movement but a demographic phenomenon—85 percent white, 70 percent college-educated, clustered in expensive coastal cities, carrying six-figure student debt for degrees in fields like gender studies and leisure studies. They are, in Hanson's telling, "poorly educated but with a very strong sense of self," radicalized not by poverty but by the gap between their expectations and their choices. The episode then moves through a packed agenda: primary results in Wisconsin and Michigan, the left's attempt to "roll back Wokewan," the unfolding Mamdani scandal in New York, and new revelations from the Fauci texts.

The Socialist Playbook: From Woke One to Woke Three

Hanson argues that socialist politicians follow a predictable three-stage pattern. In "Woke One," they say sensational things to force out the Democratic mainstream and gain media attention—defunding the police, abolishing ICE, open borders. In "Woke Two," which he says is happening now, they renounce everything that would lose them a general election. "Woke Three is when they get elected," Hanson says, "then they go from socialist to communist."

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **Opening: Socialist Demographics and the Squad's Dilemma** - Hanson describes Democratic Socialists as 85% white and 70% with a degree, concentrated in big-city enclaves.
  • 2 (10:24) **AOC's Political Makeover and the "Woke Two" Strategy** - Hanson analyzes AOC's attempt to moderate her image, including discarding her boyfriend and disowning past statements.
  • 3 (18:18) **Debating a Chinese Communist on Piers Morgan** - Hanson recounts a recent debate on Piers Morgan's show with a Chinese communist.
  • 4 (21:56) **Primary Results: Hong vs. Crowley in Wisconsin** - Hanson discusses Francesca Hong's loss to David Crowley in the Wisconsin primary.
  • 5 (25:06) **The Socialist Base: Profile of a Privileged, Indebted Class** - Hanson analyzes the demographic profile of Democratic Socialists, describing them as degreed but poorly educated in worthless majors.
  • 6 (33:51) **Housing Crisis: Regulation and Hypocrisy of the Left** - Hanson blames the high cost of housing on leftist regulatory policies and NIMBYism.
  • 7 (46:42) **Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and the Trans Sports Debate** - Hanson discusses the controversy around a basketball incident involving Sophie Cunningham and a trans athlete.

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Guests on this episode

Victor Davis Hanson

Show Notes

Socialists are going to school for gender studies - and finding out that doesn’t pay in the real world. In today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Victor Davis Hanson and Jack Fowler examine Iran’s attacks, Ukraine’s drone war, and Marco Rubio’s warning about left-wing violence. Hanson discusses the Democratic Party’s socialist agenda, arguing that many of its leading figures come from wealthy or privileged backgrounds while using race and class politics to divide Americans. They also discuss the Left’s educational priorities, arguing that lowering academic standards and steering students away from practical paths can ultimately hurt the very people Democrats claim to be helping. The episode also highlights Zohran Mamdani’s threat to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, antisemitism, and Netanyahu’s record as Israel’s prime minister. They also close with a discussion of “Black English” and whether lowering language standards helps students succeed. Pre-order “The Counterrevolution: The Fall and Rise of Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement” NOW: Amazon.com: The Counterrevolution: The Fall and Rise of Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement Allegiance Gold - Visit http://protectwithvictor.com/ to learn about a special Liberty Offer. The Alliance for Secure AI - VisitThe Alliance for Secure AI Actionwww.secureainow.org Learn how we're working to mitigate risks and protect humanity in the advanced AI revolution. The Heritage Guide to Historic Sites: Visit https://historicsites.heritage.org/ to start your adventure today.

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Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words

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