Topic: Culture

Jason Calacanis explains his move from California to Texas, citing "woke bullshit," high taxes, and the homelessness crisis in San Francisco as primary drivers. He describes himself as a "90s Democrat" who values law and order and fiscal conservatism. The group discusses how the tech industry's perception of entrepreneurs shifted from admiration to contempt in California, leading to a "red-pilling" of many business leaders.

Dana Brunetti argues that Netflix and other studios are suffering because their content has become "overly woke" and bland. He notes that audience attention spans have shifted from "appointment viewing" like The West Wing to "doom scrolling" on mobile devices. The hosts discuss the habit of using TV as background noise while engaging with other media on smartphones.

A 20-year-old clip of Christopher Hitchens is played, in which he warns against the abolition of Western values by regressive ideologies. Hitchens argues that certain movements seek to instill fear and dictate personal behavior, leading to what he describes as "cultural suicide." The hosts reflect on how these warnings from 2006 remain relevant to current geopolitical tensions in Europe.

Curry mentions receiving an invitation from the White House during the Clinton administration, which he missed because he was away filming a skiing segment. He notes the internal hostility between the "serious" MTV News department and the VJs, who were often excluded from major events.

Michigan politician Abdul El-Sayed released a campaign video styled after the children's show Blue's Clues to promote mail-in voting and Medicare for All. The hosts critique the video as "indoctrination" aimed at "kidults" who desire a parental government figure. Darren O'Neill shares an anecdote about his time at DePaul University in Chicago, noting the early stages of woke culture in the communications department during the late 1980s.

Victor Davis Hanson's analysis of the WNBA suggests the league's established culture—which he describes as predominantly Black and gay—is hostile toward new stars like Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham. The hosts discuss how resentment toward "white heterosexual" players manifests in physical play and media coverage. They compare this to a "gospel of envy" where greatness is attacked if it doesn't fit a specific social group.