Key Takeaways
1. Candor as a Mighty Weapon
I speak my mind because I don’t know any other way.
Embrace straight talk. Senator John Kennedy believes in speaking plainly and honestly, even if it makes people uncomfortable or angry. This candor, he argues, is essential for effective policy-making and for the American people to understand the truth. He learned early in his career that Washington often prefers silence on inconvenient truths, but he refuses to conform.
Challenging the status quo. Kennedy's direct approach has often put him at odds with Senate colleagues and the D.C. establishment. He recounts instances where he questioned "Founding Father" types, challenged an "expert" witness, and criticized a credit reporting company, leading to polite but firm rebukes from senior senators. His response: "only dead fish go with the flow."
Influencing policy through truth. Despite the pushback, Kennedy believes his candor has influenced policy, helping to kill bad legislation and block unqualified nominees from both parties. He sees his role as explaining complex issues succinctly to the American people, who "can handle the truth" and deserve it in an understandable way.
2. Washington's Turpitude vs. American Values
As bizarre as Washington looks from the outside, you have to see it from the inside to understand its turpitude.
D.C. disconnect. Senator Kennedy highlights a profound disconnect between Washington D.C. and "real America." While D.C. focuses on polls, privilege, power, and special interests, ordinary Americans worry about jobs, healthcare, and their children's education. He views many in the D.C. "syndicate" as self-absorbed and out of touch.
A broken system. The Senate, often called the "world's greatest deliberative body," is frequently empty during speeches, with senators performing for constituents rather than engaging in genuine debate. Kennedy criticizes the slow pace, arcane rules, and the power of leadership that stifles individual senators' ability to advance legislation.
- Senators often read staff-written scripts.
- Debate is tightly limited by "time agreements."
- "Messaging bills" are introduced with no chance of passing, purely for voter appeal.
Trump's appeal. Kennedy attributes Donald Trump's success to his understanding that "Washington is not America" and his willingness to challenge the entrenched elite. Trump's supporters, Kennedy argues, were tired of being mocked and blamed by a ruling class that seemed more concerned with its own problems than those of the voters.
3. Lessons from a Louisiana Upbringing
If you turn the other cheek to the wrong person, you just get it in the neck.
Small-town roots, strong values. Growing up in Zachary, Louisiana, a small town where "everyone knew whose check was good and whose husband wasn’t," instilled in Kennedy a strong sense of truth and accountability. His parents, a retired teacher and a self-employed businessman, emphasized hard work and education, shaping his competitive drive.
Confronting bullies. A formative high school experience taught him the importance of standing up to intimidation. After being repeatedly threatened, he confronted a bully, learning that "sometimes weakness invites the wolves." This lesson, he notes, applies to politics and life, where "peace through weakness hardly ever works."
Work ethic and humility. From cutting grass with a "Yazoo push mower the size of a Costco" to working on his dad's construction crew, Kennedy learned the value of hard labor and listening to those with experience. His father's directive—"If one of these men tells you to go out in the middle of the road and take a crap, you do it"—taught him humility and respect for authority.
4. The Hard Road to Public Service
Failure’s not falling down; it’s not getting up.
Persistence in politics. Kennedy's journey to the U.S. Senate was marked by multiple attempts and setbacks, including two unsuccessful Senate campaigns and a loss for Attorney General. He views these failures not as reasons to quit, but as opportunities to learn and try again, embodying the adage that "failure's not falling down; it's not getting up."
Early government challenges. His first role as Special Counsel to Governor Buddy Roemer was a "quick education," navigating a state government described as a "circus without a tent." He learned to lobby, deal with political maneuvering, and confront corruption, including a direct offer of a bribe for a legislative vote, which he refused.
Transforming state agencies. As Secretary of the Department of Revenue and later State Treasurer, Kennedy implemented significant reforms. He rewrote confusing tax notices in plain English, launched the Telefile Program, and spearheaded the Unclaimed Property program, returning $400 million to over 600,000 people.
- Fired civil servants who refused to work or follow directives.
- Pursued wealthy tax evaders despite political pressure.
- Strategically invested state funds, earning billions for taxpayers.
5. Critiquing the Media's Agenda
The media doesn’t even try to fake it anymore. Their bias isn’t subtle—it’s a feature, not a bug.
Loss of objectivity. Kennedy argues that much of the media has abandoned objectivity, becoming an "unrecognizable shell of their former selves" and acting as "attack dogs" rather than watchdogs. He believes they "jimmy the scales," turning news stories into editorials and selectively using facts to advance a left-leaning agenda.
Partisan echo chambers. He contends that most journalists are Democrats, worshipping "at the altar of more money and bigger government," and are often "liberal, partial to man purses and organic broccoli." This bias, he states, is evident in their coverage, where criticism of Republicans is amplified, and Democratic missteps are often downplayed or ignored.
- The New York Times would "endorse a dead armadillo over a Republican."
- The Washington Post has "never endorsed a Republican for president."
- Journalists often interrupt if they dislike an answer.
Squandering public trust. Kennedy believes the media's agenda journalism has led to a profound loss of public confidence, with many Americans viewing news as "propaganda" or "indoctrination." He cites the handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story and the "Russia hoax" as examples where the media prioritized narrative over truth, further eroding trust.
6. Restoring the Rule of Law
The most destabilizing act that I saw in the past four years, maybe in the history of the department, is when Attorney General Garland decided, on the basis of dubious facts and untested legal theories, to criminally prosecute a former president of the United States.
Politicization of justice. Kennedy expresses deep concern over the "rank politicization" of America's criminal justice system, particularly during the Biden administration. He views the prosecution of a former president and political rival as a dangerous precedent, akin to practices in "countries whose Powerball jackpot is 287 chickens and a goat."
Resisting retribution. During confirmation hearings for Trump's second-term DOJ and FBI nominees, Kennedy emphasized the need to resist political retribution. He warned against the "two wrongs don't make a right, but they do make it even" mentality, urging nominees to restore legitimacy and fairness to the justice system.
- Cited Michael Avenatti and Sam Bankman-Fried as examples of crooks prosecuted by the DOJ, regardless of political leanings.
- Questioned Kash Patel on Peter Strzok's politically biased emails and the FBI's handling of Hunter Biden's tax issues.
Defending judicial integrity. Kennedy passionately defended the independence of the judiciary, warning nominees against ever refusing to follow a federal court order, even if they disagree with it. He criticized President Biden for ignoring Supreme Court rulings on student loan forgiveness and eviction moratoriums, arguing such actions "hollow out the rule of law."
7. Securing Borders, Upholding Law
Every country has borders. That’s not controversial—it’s just geometry.
Common sense immigration. Kennedy advocates for a legal, orderly immigration system, emphasizing that borders are like "front doors" that countries monitor for safety and national interest. He believes America has always been pro-immigrant, welcoming those who follow the rules and contribute to society.
Critique of illegal immigration. He sharply distinguishes between legal and illegal immigration, calling the latter "chaos" and "unfair" to those who wait years to immigrate legally. He criticizes the Biden administration's border policies, which he claims led to "total dysfunction" and a lack of vetting for thousands entering daily.
- Biden's administration stopped using Title 42, which allowed turning away over two million people during a public health crisis.
- Reversed Trump-era policies like the wall and "Remain in Mexico."
- Border agents reported encountering people from over fifty countries in one sector alone.
Enforce existing laws. Kennedy argues the solution is not "quantum physics" but simply enforcing existing laws. He supports measures like reinstating "Remain in Mexico," tightening asylum definitions, and completing the border wall, which he believes President Trump successfully implemented during his first term.
8. Backing the Blue, Fighting Crime
What you allow is what will continue.
Justice and order. Kennedy defines justice as people "getting what they deserve" and argues that punishment for hurting others or stealing is common sense. He believes that "without order, there can be no justice" and criticizes the "defund-the-police" movement as "dumb" and "dangerous."
Consequences of leniency. He links rising crime rates to a lack of support for law enforcement and lenient policies, citing California's $950 theft threshold as an example that encourages crime. He emphasizes that "career criminals running free" are the problem, not law-abiding citizens.
- Most cops are not racist and do not want to hurt people.
- Resisting arrest is "immeasurably foolish."
- Crime disproportionately harms poor communities.
Effective policing tools. Kennedy advocates for tools like "stop-and-frisk," which he argues is constitutional and effective when used legally and with oversight. He points to its success in New York City under Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg, and suggests safeguards like requiring written reports for every stop.
9. Confronting China's Global Ambitions
The Chinese communists see weakness in Washington.
A hard man, a dangerous regime. After a CODEL to China, Kennedy describes President Xi Jinping as a "hard man" with "shark eyes" that show no humanity. He observed that the Chinese Communist Party believes America is in decline and is actively pursuing a strategy for world domination, aligning with Russia and Iran.
Direct confrontation. During his meeting with Xi, Kennedy delivered a blunt message, criticizing China's irresponsible actions:
- Selling fentanyl chemical ingredients to criminals.
- Refusing military-to-military communication.
- Punishing American companies like Micron and Apple.
- Forging a "no-limits" partnership with Russia.
Exploiting perceived weakness. Kennedy believes China perceives weakness in Washington, citing instances like the Afghanistan withdrawal, Biden's "minor incursion" comment regarding Ukraine, and the removal of sanctions on Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline. He argues that such actions embolden China and its allies.
10. Protecting Women's Sports and Biological Reality
The benefit of making transgender athletes feel included does not outweigh the costs that their inclusion imposes on women’s sports.
Balancing inclusion and fairness. Kennedy expresses empathy for transgender individuals but firmly believes that allowing biological males (transgender women) to compete in women's sports undermines the integrity of female athletics. He argues that the physical advantages of males are undeniable and cannot be undone by hormone treatments.
Scientific basis for differences. He cites scientific facts about male and female anatomy and physiology that confer inherent athletic advantages to biological males:
- Larger hearts and lungs.
- Denser bones and greater muscle mass.
- Testosterone exposure in the womb boosting motor skills and aggression.
- High school boys regularly outsprinting female Olympians.
Consequences for female athletes. Kennedy highlights the negative impacts on biological women, including increased injury risk, loss of scholarships, and diminished opportunities for recognition and financial gain. He recounts instances of female athletes suffering concussions and losing competitive spots to transgender females.
11. The Perils of "Woke" Ideology
His administration’s embrace of so-called gender-affirming care for kids—meaning chemical castration drugs, hormone therapy, mastectomies, and sex-change surgeries for minors who believe themselves to be members of the opposite sex—will probably stand as a monument to just how impervious President Biden and his staff were to the lives and concerns of ordinary Americans.
Disconnect from common sense. Kennedy criticizes the "tofu-eating woke-arati" in the Biden administration for pushing "transparently deranged ideas" that are out of touch with mainstream American values. He views their policies on issues like gender-affirming care for minors as extreme and harmful, prioritizing niche ideologies over the concerns of parents.
"Perpetual emergency" mindset. He describes the "loon wing of the Democratic Party" as having a "mindset of perpetual emergency," where bad news about America is "perversely reassuring." Their policy proposals, he argues, often seem designed to "rescue us from our dangerous constitutional rights" and promote a narrative that "everything in America is poisoned."
Rejecting indoctrination. Kennedy believes Americans are tired of being treated like "lab rats in a social science experiment" and being told to hate historical figures or accept radical social theories. He advocates for education over "indoctrination," emphasizing critical thinking and a return to fundamental principles.
