Aug 27, 2026 · 1h 12m
Hanson links sanctuary cities to federal power and military history
Victor Davis Hanson: Trump Managed to Expose the Left’s Neo-Confederate Policies
The episode connects a constitutional dispute over local immigration enforcement with reflections on political influence, Iran’s modern history, and decisive American campaigns.
- 1Hanson argues sanctuary-city policies improperly challenge federal authority over immigration enforcement and related legal obligations.
- 2The conversation remembers Charlie Kirk and Rush Limbaugh as influential conservative figures whose deaths left a communications gap.
- 3Hanson identifies Sherman’s March and the Battle of Midway as American victories that combined strategic insight with operational courage.
Don't miss
Hanson explains why Midway stands out as an American victory, combining codebreaking, the Yorktown’s rapid return, and aircrews attacking despite severe disadvantages.
The brief
Victor Davis Hanson opens with a constitutional argument: sanctuary cities, local enforcement choices, and resistance to federal immigration policy raise questions about divided authority.
A detour into Hanson’s almond farm grounds the politics in practical disputes over property, harvests, pollination, and the damage caused by vehicles entering the orchard.
Hanson and Jack Fowler remember Charlie Kirk and Rush Limbaugh, emphasizing discipline, generosity, humor, and the loss of influential conservative communicators.
The episode then turns to Iran’s 1953 coup and Islamic Revolution, college draft deferments, and competing explanations for how political systems and public obligations change.
Hanson’s military-history standout is the pairing of Sherman’s March and Midway, where destruction of capacity, codebreaking, rapid repair, and courage shaped victory.
Books & mentions
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