The Counsel of Trent #1115 - FFAF: Matt Walsh and I Agree on When Our Culture Died
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Jan 9, 2026 Trent Horn and Matt Walsh delve into pivotal moments in cultural shift. They pinpoint June 29, 2007, with the iPhone’s launch, as the start of cultural decline. Generations are defined by major events like 9/11 and the moon landing. Trent explores how today's fragmented media contrasts sharply with the nostalgic monoculture of the past. The duo discusses the impacts of political polarization on comedy and the rise of niche celebrities in the social media age. They also reflect on changing sexual norms and the evolving food culture.
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The Day Culture Began To Fracture
- Trent Horn identifies June 29, 2007—the iPhone's public debut—as the moment culture began to fracture.
- He links the smartphone's arrival with the end of a shared monoculture and the start of rapid social fragmentation.
Tech And Politics Created A Perfect Storm
- Trent Horn argues the iPhone plus Obama's 2008 election created a perfect storm that erased the monoculture.
- He says technology and political shifts together accelerated cultural fragmentation and polarization.
Platforms Amplified Addictive And Pornographic Content
- Trent Horn traces major platform launches: YouTube (2005), Pornhub (May 2007), Instagram (2010), and Twitter's mainstreaming (2009–2010).
- He argues these platforms, plus smartphones, increased exposure to monetized pornography and addictive content that harmed youth culture.