Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words Victor Davis Hanson: How California Progressives Created a Medieval Society
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Nov 14, 2025 The discussion dives into California's overwhelming challenges, including the surge of illegal immigration and how it reflects the priorities of local leaders like Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass. They explore the consequences of progressive governance, highlighting the escalating wealth divide and homelessness. Political strategies are analyzed, particularly how Democrats use government shutdowns to gain an edge in elections. The hosts also contemplate whether the current political landscape indicates a significant turning point for America.
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Shutdown As Electoral Strategy
- The 2023–24 shutdown was a political strategy to gain attention and influence elections, not purely policy-driven.
- Senators capitulated once political costs and negative polling outweighed perceived gains.
California's Elite-Driven Decline
- California's progressive elite created policies that enriched themselves while producing high costs, homelessness, and infrastructure decline.
- Hanson calls the result a 'medieval society' with a wealthy apex and large dependent population below.
Drive-By Account Of Palisades Recovery
- Hanson drove past the Palisades after the fire and saw almost no rebuilding underway along PCH.
- He observed Getty Villa survived due to its own protections and cleared brush.