Victor Davis Hanson: The Left's 'Upside-Down Morality' Protects Killers, Leaves Americans Vulnerable

Sep 23, 2025

In a thought-provoking discussion, the speaker highlights the alarming trend of 'upside-down morality.' This concept downplays violent crime, distorts narratives, and favors understanding criminals over supporting victims. Cases like that of Audrey Hale illustrate how the media often prioritizes identity over crime motives. The conversation urges the need for empathy toward all victims while condemning violence and ensuring accountability, advocating for a society that protects the innocent rather than making excuses for offenders.

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INSIGHT

Upside-Down Morality Explained

Victor Davis Hanson identifies an "upside-down morality" that excuses perpetrators while ignoring victims.
He argues that contextualizing violence leads to more of it because excuses remove deterrence.

ANECDOTE

Audrey Hale Case And Media Focus

Hanson cites the Audrey Hale shooter and mentions her manifesto and trans identity being foregrounded over motive.
He warns that focusing on identity deflects from causes like mental disturbance and substance effects.

ANECDOTE

Homelessness Framing In Violent Cases

Hanson recounts murders involving homeless suspects like Iryna Zarutska's killer and Rashid Dabney's case.
He criticizes early official responses that emphasize not demonizing the homeless while downplaying victims and withholding details.

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Decarlos Brown Jr. Robin Westman. Audrey Hale. These are just a few names of killers that the Left rushed to defend while ignoring their victims.

On today's episode of "Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words," Hanson discusses the growing trend of "upside-down morality," in which the Left and the media downplay violent crime, hide key facts, distort the narrative, and prioritize "understanding" criminals rather than defending the innocent. How does society reverse course on this dangerous rhetoric?

“When Iryna [Zarutska] was killed on the light rail, there were three people right across the aisle. And when they saw her collapse and she was looking at—looking at the ceiling, thinking, ‘I’m dying because a man just killed me for no reason. No one is helping me,’ they each got up, solitarily walked right by her in her last gasp—did not offer a tourniquet, did not offer to help, did not call anybody. I don't know why they did that.

“Maybe they thought if they did something like Daniel Penny and tried to intervene and save a life that they might be prosecuted or they might, who knows, or they were cowardly. But it's the same idea that we don't have any empathy for the victim, and if the victim doesn't fit a particular status that we call victim, the real victim of a physical act of violence or murder or assault, but if they don't fit a particular rubric as a victim that is based on their sexual orientation or their homeless status or their race, that we don't really care about them.”

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(0:00) Upside-Down Morality

(1:24) Case Study: Trans Shooter in Tennessee

(2:59) Homelessness and Violence

(4:40) Media Suppression and Societal Response

(5:09) Restoring Sanity and Justice

(6:05) A Final Thought on Empathy and Morality

(7:29) Conclusion

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