Bulwark Takes GOP Mayor: Real Leaders Step Up Because Trump Won’t (w/ Mayor David Holt)
Sep 16, 2025
Join Sam Stein as he chats with David Holt, the dynamic Mayor of Oklahoma City, who has been leading the charge for bipartisan solutions since his election in 2018. They dive into America’s troubling history of political violence, including insights from the Oklahoma City bombing and recent events involving figures like Charlie Kirk. Holt discusses tackling the housing crisis, the impact of social media on political discourse, and the importance of resilience and cooperation in fostering community safety and understanding.
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Oklahoma City’s Lasting Scar
- David Holt connects his mayoralty to Oklahoma City's history as a site of political violence, referencing the 1995 bombing that killed 168 people.
- He says the bombing taught him to speak about dehumanization and to commemorate the victims annually to prevent similar violence.
Words Precede Violence
- Holt argues political violence begins with language that dehumanizes opponents, using words like "vermin" or "rats."
- He warns that dehumanizing rhetoric removes empathy and paves the way for violence.
Social Media Turns Life Into Argument
- Holt says social media amplifies perpetual political argument by making politics constant and personal.
- He argues people aren't built to live in a walking argument and that life shouldn't be all politics all the time.
