Victor Davis Hanson: "Most People Don't Realize What's Happening..."

Victor Davis Hanson delivers a sharp and sobering analysis of California’s political, economic, and cultural landscape, highlighting the cracks forming in the progressive stronghold. Hanson explains how rising costs, astronomical taxes, and unchecked liberal policies are alienating the state’s growing middle-class Hispanic population, who are shifting toward conservative values out of necessity. He paints a picture of a state under siege, driven by the powerful trifecta of elite universities, Silicon Valley’s tech titans, and the Bay Area’s political machine.

But Hanson also sees a budding resistance. From recalls of leftist mayors to tech figures like Elon Musk and David Sacks openly criticizing California’s anti-business policies, a quiet rebellion is brewing. Even former progressives in Silicon Valley are recognizing the unsustainable trajectory of the state, fearing that innovation hubs like Austin or North Carolina’s Research Triangle could soon eclipse them.

Shifting his focus to national politics, Hanson critiques the Democratic Party’s inability to read the room. Despite overwhelming financial support from California’s elite and near-universal negative media coverage of Donald Trump, the progressive agenda continues to falter. Hanson argues that their reliance on tactical fixes—be it draining the Strategic Petroleum Reserve or canceling student loans—cannot mask the deeper dissatisfaction with issues like crime, the economy, and border security.

Hanson highlights Trump’s unique ability to energize the middle class, embodying a voice that reminds everyday Americans of their value and agency. From his iconic interaction at a McDonald’s drive-thru to his broader appeal to forgotten communities, Trump represents a stark contrast to the coastal elites.

This thought-provoking video dives deep into the intersection of California’s unraveling and the national political divide, offering Hanson’s trademark insights on where it’s all heading.