Modern Wisdom #1002 - Andrew Doyle - Political Violence & The Lunatics of Your Own Side
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Oct 4, 2025 
Andrew Doyle, comedian and creator of the satirical character Titania McGrath, dives deep into today's cultural wars. He discusses the alarming rise of political violence and the risks posed by extreme voices within movements. Doyle argues that wokeness is in decline, driven by a backlash against its authoritarian tendencies. He highlights the detrimental impact of cancel culture on free speech and the importance of returning to classical liberal values. Plus, he critiques how identity politics has shifted focus away from pressing class issues.
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Mainstream Must Disavow Extremists
- Distancing mainstream politics from extremists is essential to avoid conflation in public imagination.
- Andrew Doyle urges mainstream left and right to explicitly repudiate celebratory violence to protect free speech.
Identity Amplifies Political Threat
- Identity fused to politics makes disagreement feel like a personal attack and fuels tolerance for violence.
- Doyle highlights campus studies showing increasing willingness among youth to justify political violence.
Out-Of-Context Clips Create Monsters
- Doyle recounts misrepresentations of Charlie Kirk's quotes and how out-of-context clips create a 'folk devil.'
- He corrected false claims and secured an apology from Alastair Campbell for a severe misquote.
