Charlie Kirk Today

Matthew Mehan: May 22, 2026 | Charlie Kirk Today

May 22, 2026 | 23:28

Join Charlie Kirk Today as we break down the biggest news, challenges the mainstream narrative, and delivers fearless commentary on faith, culture, and politics. No spin. No censorship. Just the TRUTH.

#News #Media #Government #Politics #Culture #Elections #Voting #Faith

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Charlie Kirk Today | Matthew Mehan: May 22, 2026 | Charlie Kirk Today | May 22, 2026

The dnc, led by dnc chair ken martin,
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Has released their long awaited secret autopsy report.
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And boy, it's a doozy.
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It's a lot of fun.
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It's the right word for it.
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Yeah, i think blake's, least favorite headline
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That republicans are probably guilty
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Of falling into is democrats in disarray.
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Because it can often be hope and, opium and coke.
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But today, it's really true.
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And so we're going to just have a lot of fun,
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Diving into this autopsy report.
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Now, of course, 2024 president trump
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Shellacked in their own words the democrats.
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They lost every single swing state wasn't even close.
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And they are trying to now
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Do a postmortem autopsy on a dead body.
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That's what you do with an autopsy, obviously.
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And it looks like it's rife
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With errors, spelling errors, this sort of thing.
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Now, if you go back in time.
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Ken martin was refusing to release this autopsy report.
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He claimed it was not ready for prime time.
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So let's take you back.
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Memory lane and show you a clip of this at three.
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And you've got this autopsy
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On the democratic side that's never been made public,
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On 2024 and everything that went wrong.
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Will you ever release that autopsy?
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We did hundreds of interviews with people to really get
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A sense of what happened if and not only in 2024,
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But with the democratic party for the last 20 years.
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And the point of that was to learn
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The lessons that can help inform the future election.
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We have an authoritarian in the white house right now.
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And what i've always said is none of us have a time machine.
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We can't go back and change the past.
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And so trying to relitigate the 2024 election takes us away
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From actually our focus on 2026 and 2028.
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That that's their
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Whole shtick here is that it was going to be distracting.
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It was going to be,
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A bad move for the party to look backwards.
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They wanted to look to the future.
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Ken martin obviously spinning, spinning, spinning.
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But what's also notable here is that
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This has been released without an executive summary.
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There are anatomic annotations
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Throughout that contradict the findings
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Or say that there's no data to back it up.
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And it doesn't go into a couple of key topics, namely,
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How was kamala harris selected as the nominee
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Without a primary?
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How was joe biden's debate performance done?
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And why did he ultimately drop out?
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All of that is missing.
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Yeah, i mean, it's very funny about it is
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It's kind of vindicated not wanting to release it
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Because it seems the reason, the biggest reason
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They didn't want to release is it seems really bad.
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In fact, they're releasing it with an apology.
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So martin, he actually said this is a statement.
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He has said,
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This does not meet my standards and it won't
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Meet your standards.
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But i am doing this
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Because people need to be able to trust the democratic party
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And trust our word.
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And if you go through it,
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There's actually just clown show mistakes in there.
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So for example, they kind of do.
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The report includes this extended history
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Of american politics from 2008, when obama
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Got elected to the present, and then in the 2022 election.
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It goes on this digression about the senate
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Race in georgia that was the herschel walker
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One went to a runoff and herschel walker lost.
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And it says it's bashing the republican campaign here
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For some reason.
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And it says
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This was a blatant attempt by the republican power base
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To take advantage of name recognition and a tough economy
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To push through an unqualified candidate
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Whose job would have been little more than rubber
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Stamping the president's agenda.
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And cnn has a helpful annotation
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Here in 2022, joe biden was president,
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And there's mistakes like this throughout.
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They'll just it'll
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Throw out these assertions and it's annotated.
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There's no data to back this up.
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This contradicts claims elsewhere in the report.
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And when you dive into it, it seems that this report
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Was done by paul rivera, a veteran democrat strategist.
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But apparently he hadn't worked
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On a presidential campaign in at least 20 years,
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And he worked on his part time.
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So this was
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A lazy half done job by a guy who's been out of the game.
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And so if you go through it, the report is it
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Feels like an i could have generated this
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Like give me a plausible democrat defeat autopsy.
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You know, just throw in whatever.
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Well, and it would have been done
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Without the spelling errors, which is noteworthy.
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Let's go ahead and play. this is a mess.
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Now they're trying to break down the report
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As it's come out again.
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It's only been out for a couple hours here.
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Cnn had to cajole and basically
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Do some actual reporting here to get this.
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They got the majority of the findings.
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So the dnc was sort of backed up against a wall, forced
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To release it, apologized for the way they handled it.
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I mean, it's all the disarray is disarray all over the place.
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And it's glorious to watch.
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Sat six.
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They argue that the reduction in support for
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And training for state parties has contributed to a shift
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In voter registration issues,
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Organizing capacity for the state
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At the state level, and persistent, problems.
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With their candidates to listen to voters.
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They also say that regaining trust
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And confidence in the party, where voters
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Have an affirmative reason to support
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Democrats, will take a comprehensive strategy
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And considerable effort over multiple cycles.
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So this is not some sort of short
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Term, short term change they're seeing here, saying
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The democrats need to do it right now
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Because the future could become even more difficult.
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Okay. so let me some some that up for you.
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The according to the dnc s own disastrous
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After action report.
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This autopsy
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There admit that they have pulled money
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From obama obama era grassroots efforts
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And now they're paying for it at the ballot box.
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They literally said lasting repercussions.
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So i just want to compare and contrast.
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Compare that to what we've been doing,
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A turning point action.
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We literally went back to the 2008,
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Literature from the democrats.
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We took their best practices
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That they've been building up over those years.
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This grassroots, low propensity voter outreach
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Turn out the vote.
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We call it ballot chasing a turning point action.
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We rebuilt all of their systems and deployed them in states
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Like arizona, wisconsin, michigan,
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Now we're doing it in nevada.
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We're doing it in new hampshire.
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So we've been building up
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The infrastructure that they bailed on,
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And they went full, national apparatus.
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And they stopped investing at the state level.
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And their messaging was all over the place. right.
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So they lost trust here and there.
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This is this is what i was trying to tell people.
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It's like we looked at this report this morning.
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The team, like, we know all this stuff already.
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What's the big deal?
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And i was like, you have to understand,
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Democrats have an inverse relationship with the truth.
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They don't like it. they like to spin.
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They don't want to admit to their far left activist base
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Where they get all their energy from that.
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They have been, basically sucked down
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A rabbit hole of far left social issues.
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And, and one of the admissions in this report is that the
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They them ad worked really, really well
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From president trump.
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We knew that because
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Kamala harris wanted to give, you know, prisoners,
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Sex change operations for on the taxpayers taxpayer's dime
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That stuff we already knew.
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But you got to understand, the left
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Doesn't want to be honest with their own activist base,
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And they don't want to be honest
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About where the money went,
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Because there's a lot in the report
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That says there was miss allocation of funds.
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But here's the thing to blake's point, it's an awful report.
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It's done poorly.
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There's,
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They can't even get their story
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Straight when they're trying to lie.
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And that's ultimately why ken martin didn't
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Want to release this disaster, this,
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Flaming heap of garbage.
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We're going to talk about america's 250
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Next.
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Next.
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I'm very excited
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About this conversation because this book is
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Just flying off the shelves right now.
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And it's by doctor me in doctor matthew meehan.
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He's in studio here, right to my left here.
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And he's got as one of the most beautiful books,
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That i've seen.
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So that's a nice
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It's really like it's when you put on a table.
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Yeah, it's it's, abs is a coffee table book
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If you want it.
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The american book of fables.
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Doctor.
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Matthew.
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Man, you are the associate dean and assistant
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Professor of government at hillsdale college, dc.
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And now you're also the author
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Of the american book of fables.
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And apparently you are on track
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To be a new york times bestseller.
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So we want to help
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Do our part here to make sure that happens.
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So get your copy today.
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Welcome to the show, doctor. thanks for having me.
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Congratulations on the book i win.
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I mean, something of this scale and scope,
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Is such a such a process.
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You've got.
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You traveled the country.
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I love it
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That the front is kind of homage to the southwest.
00:08:52.854 --> 00:08:55.323
So we're here in phoenix, arizona.
00:08:55.323 --> 00:08:56.691
So this looks like maybe utah, actually, potentially.
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Maybe i'm wrong.
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Well set up.
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What is this?
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Yeah. book. the american book of fables.
00:09:02.530 --> 00:09:04.432
It's it's, basically a journey through the country
00:09:04.432 --> 00:09:08.003
With a madcap group of characters.
00:09:08.003 --> 00:09:09.971
Humanity, and his humanity.
00:09:09.971 --> 00:09:13.141
His friends. yeah, exactly.
00:09:13.141 --> 00:09:14.743
They go around the whole country on a mission.
00:09:14.743 --> 00:09:16.978
That's a long story, but it's a book of for the whole family.
00:09:16.978 --> 00:09:20.415
And, yes, i wanted for 850.
00:09:20.415 --> 00:09:22.417
I'm sort of a go big or go home.
00:09:22.417 --> 00:09:24.719
So this is a 395 page hardback
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Heirloom coffee table with tons of illustrations.
00:09:27.455 --> 00:09:30.458
There's hundreds of pen and inks, oils and watercolors
00:09:30.458 --> 00:09:33.762
From a beautiful and brilliant illustrator.
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My dear friend in this, our third book together.
00:09:35.797 --> 00:09:37.866
But it has a section for littles
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Which has nursery rhymes from the founding period
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All the way up to today.
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I wrote some new ones for the 850,
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And for the themes of the of the of the book.
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Then it has for middles.
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It has fables
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That are aesop like, but they've been adapted
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Instead of the lion and the tiger.
00:09:54.282 --> 00:09:56.051
Now you have the bald eagle, the buffalo and the beaver.
00:09:56.051 --> 00:09:58.853
And then,
00:09:58.853 --> 00:09:59.721
Then there's also a section for bigs
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With primary sources from founding fathers
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And from brave settlers
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And their memoirs and their struggles
00:10:05.627 --> 00:10:07.128
And the indian wars and all kinds of cool stories
00:10:07.128 --> 00:10:09.631
About the heroism of the american people
00:10:09.631 --> 00:10:11.700
Who settled the country.
00:10:11.700 --> 00:10:13.268
And then each of those chapters, there's 13 chapters
00:10:13.268 --> 00:10:16.504
In honor of the 13 colonies.
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They go from the everglades
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To yellowstone, to the desert west.
00:10:19.374 --> 00:10:22.544
They go up to end a glacier, west coast, etc..
00:10:22.544 --> 00:10:25.747
But, each chapter has these littles, mills and bigs
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Keyed to the region
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And then keyed to the declaration of independence.
00:10:31.119 --> 00:10:33.521
So each chapter takes
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A sentence or a phrase from the declaration,
00:10:34.856 --> 00:10:37.625
And then those nursery rhymes, fables and stories help
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To explain the declaration and the american way of life.
00:10:40.695 --> 00:10:44.199
So. so can you, the reader, a quick summary.
00:10:44.199 --> 00:10:46.601
What's one of the new fables you came up with that relates
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To america?
00:10:50.572 --> 00:10:51.606
So i have one about, two california
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Seals, brothers and sisters, and the starfish.
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In fact, i think i can show.
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I can find here this is the original paintings.
00:10:58.513 --> 00:11:00.749
These are these are the watercolors.
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The huge ones are, are three by five foot oils.
00:11:02.383 --> 00:11:07.756
But i couldn't bring those with me on a plane.
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You can zoom in.
00:11:10.258 --> 00:11:11.493
I mean, these are beautiful illustration wheel paintings.
00:11:11.493 --> 00:11:14.462
And they're throughout the book.
00:11:14.462 --> 00:11:16.664
The book?
00:11:16.664 --> 00:11:17.332
Like, when you flip through it
00:11:17.332 --> 00:11:18.299
Page by page, it's it's genuinely beautiful.
00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:21.469
Yeah.
00:11:21.469 --> 00:11:22.303
Look at, the layout is beautiful.
00:11:22.303 --> 00:11:24.139
The pages are big and beautiful.
00:11:24.139 --> 00:11:26.007
And, yeah, a beautiful book.
00:11:26.007 --> 00:11:28.676
I'm just not used to beautiful books. usually. you.
00:11:28.676 --> 00:11:31.146
Yeah, it's it's even huge.
00:11:31.146 --> 00:11:33.248
It's huge. yes.
00:11:33.248 --> 00:11:34.682
Euge big beautiful book.
00:11:34.682 --> 00:11:35.884
Tell the president about that one. yeah, exactly.
00:11:35.884 --> 00:11:38.153
Well, you're going to compete. well, he's got some table.
00:11:38.153 --> 00:11:39.854
Some coffee table books there, too.
00:11:39.854 --> 00:11:41.389
That's right.
00:11:41.389 --> 00:11:42.357
So, you know, i it occurs to me, you know,
00:11:42.357 --> 00:11:45.860
We are in america.
00:11:46.294 --> 00:11:47.228
250 there is this crisis of patriotism,
00:11:47.228 --> 00:11:50.231
Especially with younger americans.
00:11:50.231 --> 00:11:52.133
So for our audience out there, and i do want to blake's
00:11:52.133 --> 00:11:56.204
Earlier question.
00:11:56.204 --> 00:11:57.272
I would love to have you read something, but the.
00:11:57.272 --> 00:11:59.808
Yeah.
00:12:00.041 --> 00:12:00.742
How do you raise young people
00:12:00.742 --> 00:12:02.110
That are patriotic, that love america, that get it?
00:12:02.110 --> 00:12:05.113
What's your advice for them?
00:12:05.113 --> 00:12:06.581
So i think you have to do
00:12:06.581 --> 00:12:08.983
Patriotism just candidly and straightforwardly.
00:12:08.983 --> 00:12:12.020
The kids need to learn the pledge of allegiance.
00:12:12.020 --> 00:12:13.888
They need to go and stop at the roadside historical marker
00:12:13.888 --> 00:12:17.792
And just read and see men shed blood here for your liberty.
00:12:17.792 --> 00:12:22.130
If you know, during the revolutionary war
00:12:22.130 --> 00:12:24.065
Or during the civil war,
00:12:24.065 --> 00:12:25.233
A little easier to do out in the east.
00:12:25.233 --> 00:12:27.302
Yeah, well,
00:12:27.302 --> 00:12:27.769
But but the
00:12:27.769 --> 00:12:28.603
But actually, when i go out west,
00:12:28.603 --> 00:12:30.205
I tell a lot of the local stories.
00:12:30.205 --> 00:12:32.473
The settlement is the way when you're in a western state,
00:12:32.473 --> 00:12:36.778
The struggles, the sorrows, the sacrifices
00:12:36.778 --> 00:12:40.248
And the beauty and bravery of settling the country.
00:12:40.248 --> 00:12:43.284
That is a local story.
00:12:43.284 --> 00:12:44.586
And those historical markers are part of patriotism.
00:12:44.586 --> 00:12:47.789
We think of patriotism as fife
00:12:47.789 --> 00:12:49.657
And drum, revolutionary war and just the founding fathers.
00:12:49.657 --> 00:12:52.393
But the
00:12:52.393 --> 00:12:53.628
The full virtue of patriotism which anchors you back into
00:12:53.628 --> 00:12:56.331
That founding,
00:12:56.331 --> 00:12:57.565
Is every one of your fellow citizens who came before you,
00:12:57.565 --> 00:13:01.169
Who gave you those goods.
00:13:01.169 --> 00:13:02.604
So i think you have to sort of, you know, think it
00:13:02.604 --> 00:13:05.607
Through in that way, like i this sounds ridiculous,
00:13:05.607 --> 00:13:09.344
But a father, you take a cold glass of water and a hot day
00:13:09.344 --> 00:13:11.813
And you give it to a kid, and you go
00:13:11.813 --> 00:13:13.147
Think of all the people
00:13:13.147 --> 00:13:14.515
Who sacrificed to build all the dams
00:13:14.515 --> 00:13:16.184
And dikes up in the mountains above phoenix, right.
00:13:16.184 --> 00:13:19.387
So you have clean water like that's part of patriotism, too.
00:13:19.387 --> 00:13:22.323
And then i think, you know, you mentioned it
00:13:22.323 --> 00:13:24.792
In the, the edf, plug before we got on.
00:13:24.792 --> 00:13:28.162
Religion is another virtue, right.
00:13:28.930 --> 00:13:31.399
Thank being thankful to god for what he's given you
00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:33.801
And then piety, being thankful to your parents
00:13:33.801 --> 00:13:35.737
And grandparents for what they gave you.
00:13:35.737 --> 00:13:37.572
And so those three virtues together,
00:13:37.572 --> 00:13:38.973
Like the three legged stool.
00:13:38.973 --> 00:13:40.141
And they support someone who is grateful
00:13:40.141 --> 00:13:42.977
And and why we it's why we care about patriotism,
00:13:42.977 --> 00:13:46.781
Is because in one sense, it's how we pursue happiness.
00:13:46.781 --> 00:13:50.318
If you're not grateful,
00:13:50.318 --> 00:13:51.986
Then you don't have any reason to serve and help
00:13:51.986 --> 00:13:54.822
Because you're like, thank you for all you gave me, everyone.
00:13:54.822 --> 00:13:58.393
And then you want to give back and do good.
00:13:58.393 --> 00:14:00.061
And people who have been given a lot of good and raised
00:14:00.061 --> 00:14:02.797
Right kind of just do this. we kind of know it.
00:14:02.797 --> 00:14:04.933
But when, you know, like when the frankly,
00:14:04.933 --> 00:14:07.402
The left starts to tell you everything that came before
00:14:07.402 --> 00:14:10.171
Is sick and evil and vile and corrupt and oppressive,
00:14:10.171 --> 00:14:13.641
You actually have to push back and foster that gratitude.
00:14:13.641 --> 00:14:17.045
And this is why i wrote this book.
00:14:17.045 --> 00:14:19.047
I was very keen to do something.
00:14:19.047 --> 00:14:20.481
I love that
00:14:20.481 --> 00:14:21.649
I think gratitude is one of the most powerful virtues.
00:14:21.649 --> 00:14:24.585
And it seems to change everything about the way
00:14:24.585 --> 00:14:27.689
You think about your life.
00:14:27.689 --> 00:14:28.790
What do you think about your country
00:14:28.790 --> 00:14:29.824
When you think about your family?
00:14:29.824 --> 00:14:31.392
And i just think when you look at the other side, that
00:14:31.392 --> 00:14:35.930
The civilizational arsonists, as i like to call them,
00:14:35.930 --> 00:14:38.933
They they hate everything.
00:14:38.933 --> 00:14:40.802
They're embittered about everything.
00:14:40.802 --> 00:14:42.937
They're angry.
00:14:42.937 --> 00:14:44.639
And we get to be grateful for the providence of god,
00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:48.876
The blessings of this great nation,
00:14:48.876 --> 00:14:50.611
The greatest nation in the history of the world.
00:14:50.611 --> 00:14:53.014
And you're right.
00:14:53.014 --> 00:14:54.215
I think, like if i had to sum up
00:14:54.215 --> 00:14:56.184
What i'm seeing in these pages, just sort of before me,
00:14:56.184 --> 00:14:58.820
Is this gratitude for the rich tapestry
00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:01.089
That is america, from sea to shining sea.
00:15:01.089 --> 00:15:02.924
And i love how you have it broken down by regions, and,
00:15:02.924 --> 00:15:06.828
You know, from the brackish black waters and the,
00:15:06.828 --> 00:15:10.064
You know, to the,
00:15:10.064 --> 00:15:10.999
Like i said, the southwest on the cover,
00:15:10.999 --> 00:15:12.533
The left to do a fable book about how those beavers
00:15:12.533 --> 00:15:14.869
That did the dams that, were under the table
00:15:14.869 --> 00:15:17.472
For the next day, no, they they had underpaid workers.
00:15:17.472 --> 00:15:19.974
And actually one of the beavers,
00:15:19.974 --> 00:15:21.275
You know, said something racist.
00:15:21.275 --> 00:15:22.543
So the beavers name? yes.
00:15:22.543 --> 00:15:24.612
Exam. yeah.
00:15:24.612 --> 00:15:25.713
All right, so, blake wanted you to read something.
00:15:25.713 --> 00:15:29.584
We've
00:15:29.584 --> 00:15:30.385
Had enough time for you.
00:15:30.918 --> 00:15:31.986
Or if you could summarize, i, i want to
00:15:31.986 --> 00:15:33.554
I want to know what the. that one's in.
00:15:33.554 --> 00:15:34.722
That one's a little long.
00:15:34.722 --> 00:15:35.757
That one's a little long for for the air.
00:15:35.757 --> 00:15:37.258
But basically the.
00:15:37.258 --> 00:15:39.227
I'll hold it up here.
00:15:39.227 --> 00:15:40.261
Up close if you can, starfish get bored
00:15:40.261 --> 00:15:44.232
And come out of the ocean and cover
00:15:44.232 --> 00:15:45.833
The eyes of two seals, a brother and sister.
00:15:45.833 --> 00:15:48.503
And they just basically say all you can see,
00:15:48.503 --> 00:15:51.172
Right, are the tubes of their feet.
00:15:51.172 --> 00:15:52.673
And it's like, basically the.
00:15:52.673 --> 00:15:54.642
And it takes places in the channel islands
00:15:54.642 --> 00:15:56.377
And it's sort of youtube channels. right.
00:15:56.377 --> 00:15:58.312
It's sort of that you can become like
00:15:58.312 --> 00:16:00.782
Totally addicted to social media.
00:16:00.782 --> 00:16:02.683
It's sort of lost.
00:16:02.683 --> 00:16:03.851
And so on top of that goes like santa barbara. exactly.
00:16:03.851 --> 00:16:06.087
Which is the westernmost part right off of l.a.. right.
00:16:06.087 --> 00:16:08.689
And so the starfish basically tell
00:16:08.689 --> 00:16:11.559
The brother, hey, you're you're looking weak.
00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:14.562
You got to bulk up.
00:16:14.562 --> 00:16:15.530
So he's trying to like, carbo load on fish.
00:16:15.530 --> 00:16:16.898
So he collects tons of fish that the starfish eat at night.
00:16:16.898 --> 00:16:19.467
And they tell the the sister who's
00:16:19.467 --> 00:16:21.702
Going to eat the fish that he won't eat.
00:16:21.702 --> 00:16:23.504
You're looking pretty fat.
00:16:23.504 --> 00:16:24.672
You should really sort of thin down, sort of,
00:16:24.672 --> 00:16:26.507
You know, recreate
00:16:26.507 --> 00:16:27.842
And basically eventually a, a witty fox, reveal.
00:16:27.842 --> 00:16:31.512
So it's a kind of that one's a pretty on the nose moral
00:16:31.512 --> 00:16:34.449
About the dangers of social media
00:16:34.449 --> 00:16:36.284
That you can see only stars, right.
00:16:36.284 --> 00:16:38.052
And think that you're going to be sort
00:16:38.052 --> 00:16:39.954
Of the famous influencer, right.
00:16:39.954 --> 00:16:41.656
And sort of get lost in social media.
00:16:41.656 --> 00:16:43.658
And then they, they
00:16:43.658 --> 00:16:44.692
The algorithm tells you to, to abuse yourself.
00:16:44.692 --> 00:16:47.295
Right.
00:16:47.295 --> 00:16:48.496
So yeah, that's a very that's one of the most modern one
00:16:48.496 --> 00:16:50.231
I knew.
00:16:50.465 --> 00:16:51.132
But but but it works nicely.
00:16:51.132 --> 00:16:52.867
So the moral of the story is get rid of the starfish.
00:16:52.867 --> 00:16:55.670
That's right. yeah. well put them back in the ocean.
00:16:55.670 --> 00:16:58.973
That's great.
00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:00.174
So where can people pick that?
00:17:00.174 --> 00:17:01.609
Pick up a copy here, doctor.
00:17:01.609 --> 00:17:03.211
So anywhere you buy a book.
00:17:03.211 --> 00:17:05.046
If this week, frankly, until saturday's done, amazon
00:17:05.046 --> 00:17:09.283
And barnes and noble are the places that would help us
00:17:09.283 --> 00:17:11.252
Get on the new york times bestseller list.
00:17:11.252 --> 00:17:13.154
Because that that's important.
00:17:13.154 --> 00:17:14.789
Because this i don't want this to just be something
00:17:14.789 --> 00:17:18.292
For us on the conservative side of the aisle.
00:17:18.292 --> 00:17:21.295
I, i leave in the national parks
00:17:21.295 --> 00:17:23.131
And all kinds of beautiful things
00:17:23.131 --> 00:17:24.732
That i think will attract people who aren't on board
00:17:24.732 --> 00:17:27.668
With what we care about, so that we can actually sort of
00:17:27.668 --> 00:17:31.072
Extend the community of patriots.
00:17:31.072 --> 00:17:33.641
And yeah, that needs to be a bandwagon thing, man.
00:17:33.641 --> 00:17:36.844
And you got excerpts from george washington,
00:17:36.844 --> 00:17:39.947
The letter from george washington to john hancock.
00:17:39.947 --> 00:17:42.216
You got a letter from samuel ward?
00:17:42.216 --> 00:17:44.819
Yeah.
00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:45.620
His son is just the civil war era.
00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:47.321
And i'm going to say
00:17:47.321 --> 00:17:48.389
For all the illustrations that are in it for it's
00:17:48.389 --> 00:17:50.124
Big, it's it's a big, well-made thing.
00:17:50.124 --> 00:17:51.726
It's on amazon. it's only 40 bucks.
00:17:51.726 --> 00:17:53.861
Yeah. samuel ward was a rhode island delegate.
00:17:53.861 --> 00:17:55.763
I apologize, i was thinking about seward.
00:17:55.763 --> 00:17:58.266
No. yeah.
00:17:58.266 --> 00:17:59.367
But they're they're they're all the stories
00:17:59.367 --> 00:18:02.103
Keep pointing to providence and how blessed the revolution
00:18:02.103 --> 00:18:06.107
Was and the entire settlement of this country.
00:18:06.107 --> 00:18:08.209
It's a tale right there, doctor.
00:18:08.209 --> 00:18:09.544
Me and more on the american book of fables.
00:18:09.544 --> 00:18:14.001
Me and more on the american book of fables.
00:18:14.001 --> 00:18:20.151
Were writing about gratitude.
00:18:20.785 --> 00:18:22.287
But maybe dive in. what? what?
00:18:22.287 --> 00:18:24.923
I mean,
00:18:24.923 --> 00:18:25.356
I love poetry
00:18:25.356 --> 00:18:26.291
Because it's sort of eye of the beholder,
00:18:26.291 --> 00:18:27.859
And everybody gets something different out of it.
00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:29.194
What do you get out of your own words?
00:18:29.194 --> 00:18:32.130
Each line, it's 20 lines, five beat lines
00:18:32.130 --> 00:18:35.099
So that you have sort of 250 honored
00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:37.402
Even in the structure of the thing.
00:18:37.402 --> 00:18:39.270
Forgive me, i'm a poetic nerd.
00:18:39.270 --> 00:18:41.072
But but each line is actually a part
00:18:41.072 --> 00:18:44.475
Of the steps of our history.
00:18:44.475 --> 00:18:46.277
All the way up through the space race,
00:18:46.277 --> 00:18:47.545
Rising above the curvature of the earth,
00:18:47.545 --> 00:18:49.447
The invention of flight to port the air.
00:18:49.447 --> 00:18:51.382
We make airports. that's us.
00:18:51.382 --> 00:18:52.717
We made that. we did that.
00:18:52.717 --> 00:18:54.419
But also we sent our ships abroad to make things fair.
00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:57.088
World war one, world war two, right?
00:18:57.088 --> 00:18:58.923
Like we actually sort of gave to the world
00:18:58.923 --> 00:19:01.726
From our story of riches and sacrifice.
00:19:01.726 --> 00:19:04.195
But it's also about looking back and seeing all that
00:19:04.195 --> 00:19:07.565
And going, oh, shucks, i can't live like the cowboys.
00:19:07.565 --> 00:19:10.535
I can't live that old adventures.
00:19:10.535 --> 00:19:12.437
Like, yeah, but you actually, that's the wrong way.
00:19:12.437 --> 00:19:15.740
You shouldn't be nostalgic.
00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:17.175
You should be thankful
00:19:17.175 --> 00:19:18.476
And then turn around and be that kind of soul
00:19:18.476 --> 00:19:20.645
For the next generation to look back and be moved.
00:19:20.645 --> 00:19:23.514
And so this sort of orient your heart.
00:19:23.514 --> 00:19:25.883
Turn to the sun that rises in the east.
00:19:25.883 --> 00:19:28.253
Right? you have to reorient.
00:19:28.253 --> 00:19:30.154
And there's a whole pun
00:19:30.154 --> 00:19:31.522
That you have to return and face the sun.
00:19:31.522 --> 00:19:34.292
And the end of the book in glacier
00:19:34.292 --> 00:19:35.660
National is the going to the sun road.
00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:37.829
And there's a pun there.
00:19:37.829 --> 00:19:38.896
If you're witty, wise, like humanity is a stupid pun,
00:19:38.896 --> 00:19:41.966
The puns get more
00:19:41.966 --> 00:19:42.900
And more complicated by the end of the book.
00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:44.902
The the going to the sun road, which is a real place
00:19:44.902 --> 00:19:47.872
In glacier national. it's beautiful.
00:19:47.872 --> 00:19:49.974
The son of god and the sun of optimism.
00:19:49.974 --> 00:19:54.112
American optimism for the future,
00:19:54.112 --> 00:19:56.214
But also american optimism for our future
00:19:56.214 --> 00:19:59.517
That rests beyond the grave.
00:19:59.517 --> 00:20:01.653
That's i think that's
00:20:01.653 --> 00:20:03.688
I mean, the thing that made america great. yeah.
00:20:03.688 --> 00:20:05.757
I love what you're saying, because, you know,
00:20:05.757 --> 00:20:07.859
It says in scripture
00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:08.793
That god appoints the times and the place.
00:20:08.793 --> 00:20:11.963
And i do think there is a sense
00:20:11.963 --> 00:20:14.265
In our modern context
00:20:14.265 --> 00:20:16.401
That we are nostalgic for the greatness of the past.
00:20:16.401 --> 00:20:19.570
America is blessed
00:20:19.570 --> 00:20:20.638
With an incredible past and an incredible story,
00:20:20.638 --> 00:20:23.441
A founding story,
00:20:23.441 --> 00:20:24.409
But also,
00:20:24.409 --> 00:20:25.610
You know, world war two, the sacrifices of the civil war,
00:20:25.610 --> 00:20:28.279
Overcoming slavery and segregation,
00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:30.181
All of these things,
00:20:30.181 --> 00:20:31.015
These myths
00:20:31.015 --> 00:20:31.783
That are not their
00:20:31.783 --> 00:20:32.850
Actual history, but these are our founding myths
00:20:32.850 --> 00:20:35.119
That it's hard not sometimes to not get stuck in them.
00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:38.122
And you look at your present travails
00:20:38.122 --> 00:20:40.124
And struggles and issues that we're facing now. and
00:20:40.124 --> 00:20:43.561
So much of the
00:20:43.895 --> 00:20:45.530
Present vibe is that we are a nation in decline.
00:20:45.530 --> 00:20:49.200
And i feel for,
00:20:49.567 --> 00:20:51.836
You know, the youngest americans, gen
00:20:51.836 --> 00:20:53.471
Z, youngest voters
00:20:53.471 --> 00:20:55.373
That are being raised in a country where they feel
00:20:55.373 --> 00:20:58.509
This decline, they've internalized it in many ways.
00:20:58.509 --> 00:21:01.479
They've given it denialism.
00:21:01.479 --> 00:21:03.247
And the only way through
00:21:03.247 --> 00:21:04.248
Nihilism is to find hope and purpose greater
00:21:04.248 --> 00:21:07.285
Than yourself, greater than your present sufferings.
00:21:07.285 --> 00:21:10.922
And i guess that's why i resonate
00:21:10.922 --> 00:21:13.124
With what you're saying so much,
00:21:13.124 --> 00:21:14.225
Because you seem like an
00:21:14.225 --> 00:21:15.259
Optimistic guy and there is a lot of reasons
00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:18.863
With with god, all things are possible.
00:21:18.863 --> 00:21:21.265
And, i think that is the american story
00:21:21.265 --> 00:21:24.535
At its most foundational level is that
00:21:24.535 --> 00:21:26.771
This is a providential nation that god has his hand on.
00:21:26.771 --> 00:21:29.640
And i'm it is the duty of the poet.
00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:32.810
And that's my role in this book.
00:21:32.810 --> 00:21:35.146
It's the duty of the poet to represent these goods
00:21:35.146 --> 00:21:38.316
That are old and true in a new way,
00:21:38.316 --> 00:21:40.752
So that the next generation can carry on that tradition.
00:21:40.752 --> 00:21:43.888
That's why you have seals with algorithms and channels.
00:21:43.888 --> 00:21:46.924
And yeah, i mean, i didn't even get to
00:21:46.924 --> 00:21:48.326
I have a grok powered character.
00:21:48.326 --> 00:21:50.161
Do you read humanity versus an ai powered robotic elephant
00:21:50.161 --> 00:21:54.599
Seal about
00:21:54.599 --> 00:21:55.466
What is it
00:21:55.466 --> 00:21:55.933
Human nature
00:21:55.933 --> 00:21:57.001
And what you know, how do we actually engage with ai?
00:21:57.001 --> 00:21:59.604
That's this one right here.
00:21:59.604 --> 00:22:00.838
It's pretty ridiculous, but, a lot of seals, it's actually,
00:22:00.838 --> 00:22:04.909
Well, this is the west coast section you're working through.
00:22:04.909 --> 00:22:07.678
So, somebody who used to live in santa barbara,
00:22:07.678 --> 00:22:10.381
I, i could appreciate it that you just tool around
00:22:10.381 --> 00:22:13.751
And like a boat, and you see seals, like,
00:22:13.751 --> 00:22:15.386
Climbing up on everything and, sea lions.
00:22:15.386 --> 00:22:19.056
It it really is a beautiful part of the country.
00:22:19.056 --> 00:22:21.559
I mean, it's there's that spectacular, that chapter.
00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:24.028
I actually call it our west coast,
00:22:24.028 --> 00:22:26.464
Because i know you guys are very good about, like,
00:22:26.464 --> 00:22:28.666
No collects it. fine.
00:22:28.666 --> 00:22:29.934
Sort of as a tactical retreat.
00:22:29.934 --> 00:22:31.702
But we're taking california back.
00:22:31.702 --> 00:22:33.438
But yes, it's that freedom that is our west l.a.
00:22:33.438 --> 00:22:37.909
Mayor's race. yeah.
00:22:37.909 --> 00:22:39.010
Spencer pratt, steve hilton.
00:22:39.010 --> 00:22:40.711
Yeah, i'm looking at you. yeah, exactly.
00:22:40.711 --> 00:22:42.814
We have a poem to spencer bratton here.
00:22:42.814 --> 00:22:44.549
If not, i'm sure his.
00:22:44.549 --> 00:22:47.151
Well, he could drive reading. yeah. what? and for.
00:22:47.151 --> 00:22:49.720
Yeah.
00:22:49.954 --> 00:22:50.521
Well, this is fantastic.
00:22:50.521 --> 00:22:51.789
So let's
00:22:51.789 --> 00:22:52.757
Give it one last shout out here, guys, help
00:22:52.757 --> 00:22:54.025
Get this to the new york times bestseller list.
00:22:54.025 --> 00:22:56.461
Doctor. me in prison. well, mr.
00:22:56.461 --> 00:22:58.629
Man, you're mr.
00:22:58.629 --> 00:22:59.831
In this, but it's doctor, matthew mann and the american
00:22:59.831 --> 00:23:02.767
Book of fables a gift here.
00:23:02.767 --> 00:23:05.736
So this has been a real, real treat.
00:23:05.736 --> 00:23:07.271
And, we are grateful to have you, sir. yeah.
00:23:07.271 --> 00:23:09.273
Thanks for having me. appreciate it.
00:23:09.273 --> 00:23:10.741
Get your copy today.
00:23:10.741 --> 00:23:12.210
The american book of fables.
00:23:12.210 --> 00:23:13.478
Get it for your kids and grandkids, please.
00:23:13.478 --> 00:23:16.113
And, keep it around the house and make it go big,
00:23:16.113 --> 00:23:19.150
Because we need more patriotism and we need more gratitude.
00:23:19.150 --> 00:23:22.487
So be grateful today. we'll see you tomorrow.
00:23:22.487 --> 00:23:22.487

Matthew Mehan: May 22, 2026 | Charlie Kirk Today

May 22, 2026 | 23:28

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