JRE #1125 – Candace Owens

5/31/2018

This podcast features a conversation with Candace Owens, the communication director for Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit organization. They discuss a wide range of topics, including:

• Outrage Culture: Owens and Rogan explore the pervasive nature of outrage culture, arguing that it’s a cyclical phenomenon fueled by social media. They discuss how outrage culture often leads to the silencing of dissenting opinions and the demand for immediate repercussions for perceived transgressions.
  • The rapid rise of outrage culture, with controversies erupting every few seconds.
  • The fleeting nature of outrage, with the internet moving quickly onto new targets.
  • The pressure to conform and the consequences of expressing unpopular views.
  • The call for boycotts and job losses over seemingly minor offenses.
• Candace Owens’s Personal Journey: Owens shares her personal story, detailing her transition from a liberal to a conservative thinker. A hate crime incident in high school, followed by the rise of outrage culture, played a significant role in shaping her views. She discusses her struggles with anorexia, her decision to quit drinking, and her dedication to speaking out against perceived leftist brainwashing.
  • Owens’s experience with a hate crime in high school, which led to her becoming a national news figure and feeling like she lost control of her own narrative.
  • Her struggles with anorexia, which she attributes to the control she felt she lost after the hate crime incident.
  • Her decision to stop drinking after realizing the negative impact it had on her life, a decision that often leads to awkward situations in social settings.
  • Her journey from a liberal to a conservative thinker, influenced by her experiences and her desire to speak her truth.
• The Power of Culture: Owens and Rogan delve into the influence of culture on political discourse. They discuss how cultural icons like Jay-Z and Beyonce have betrayed the Black community by endorsing Hillary Clinton, and how Kanye West’s support for Donald Trump has opened up a new dialogue. They argue that culture is a powerful tool for shaping views and influencing behavior.
  • The influence of cultural figures like Jay-Z and Beyonce, who Owens believes have betrayed the Black community by endorsing Hillary Clinton.
  • The impact of Kanye West’s support for Donald Trump, which Owens believes has opened up a new dialogue and challenged the leftist stranglehold on Black culture.
  • The three pillars of influence: family, culture, and education, which Owens believes have been corrupted by leftist dogma.
  • The importance of culture as a powerful tool for shaping political beliefs and influencing behavior.
• The Cultural War: Owens and Rogan acknowledge the existence of a cultural war, arguing that both sides are entrenched in their beliefs and actively engaging in conflict. They discuss the use of social media as a weapon, the need for purpose and belonging, and the hypocrisy of the left’s selective outrage.
  • The existence of a cultural war, fueled by ideological differences and a desire to win.
  • The use of social media as a platform for conflict and the silencing of dissenting voices.
  • The need for purpose and belonging, which Owens believes is often fulfilled through political affiliation.
  • The hypocrisy of the left’s selective outrage, targeting conservatives while defending their own.
• Celebrity Activism: Owens and Rogan debate the role of celebrities in political discourse. They critique celebrities who use their platforms to preach morality and virtue signal, arguing that their opinions hold little value and often detract from real activism. They highlight examples of celebrities like Chelsea Handler, Kathy Griffin, and Sarah Silverman.
  • The trend of celebrities using their platforms to lecture and condemn those with differing views.
  • The hypocrisy of celebrities who claim to be moral and ethical, while often engaging in questionable behavior themselves.
  • The argument that celebrities’ opinions hold little weight and often overshadow actual activism.
  • Examples of celebrities like Chelsea Handler, Kathy Griffin, and Sarah Silverman who Owens believes are obsessed with political correctness and often act in a condescending manner.
• The “Social Autopsy” Project: Owens shares her failed attempt to launch a project called “Social Autopsy,” which aimed to combat online bullying by archiving screenshots of mean messages and placing users in a metaphorical “time out.” She details how this project backfired, drawing criticism from those who accused her of trying to unmask trolls and sparking a firestorm of harassment.
  • Owens’s desire to combat online bullying through her “Social Autopsy” project.
  • The project’s intention to archive mean messages and put users in a metaphorical “time out” to deter online harassment.
  • The backlash from those who accused Owens of trying to unmask trolls and the subsequent harassment she received.
  • Owens’s belief that the harassment was orchestrated by Zoe Quinn, a self-proclaimed victim of the Gamergate scandal, and that she faked her harassment to garner attention.
• The Media’s Role in Shaping Narratives: Owens criticizes the media for perpetuating a biased and negative narrative about Donald Trump and his administration. She highlights how the media selectively frames stories, distorting Trump’s words and actions, and argues that this fuels division and anger.
  • The media’s negative portrayal of Donald Trump and his administration, often misrepresenting his words and actions.
  • The selective framing of stories and the creation of a biased narrative, which Owens believes contributes to division and anger.
  • The media’s role in amplifying outrage and fostering a culture of conflict.
  • Examples of the media’s bias, including their coverage of the Roseanne Barr incident and the Samantha Bee controversy.
• The Black Community’s Struggle: Owens emphasizes the importance of speaking truth to the Black community, arguing that they have been marginalized and exploited by the Democratic Party. She discusses the need to address issues like illegal immigration, low wages, and the welfare system, which she believes have negatively impacted Black Americans.
  • The importance of speaking truth to the Black community, challenging the leftist narrative that they have been marginalized and exploited by the Democratic Party.
  • The need to address issues like illegal immigration, low wages, and the welfare system, which Owens believes have disproportionately affected Black Americans.
  • The argument that the Black community has been brainwashed by leftist dogma and needs to be awakened to the truth.
  • Owens’s personal experience with the Democratic Party, which she believes has failed to deliver on its promises to the Black community.
• The Importance of Structure and Religion: Owens argues that the erosion of traditional structures, like family and religion, has contributed to social decay. She believes that religion, while not about being “right,” provides structure and morality, and that its decline has led to a rise in nihilism and social unrest.
  • The importance of family and religion as foundational structures for society.
  • The argument that the decline of religion has contributed to social decay, leading to a rise in nihilism and social unrest.
  • Owens’s belief that religion provides structure, morality, and a sense of purpose, despite its flaws.
  • The criticism of the left’s mocking of religion and its attempts to replace it with government dependence.
• The Role of the Government: Owens and Rogan discuss the expanding role of government and its impact on individuals’ lives. They argue that the government’s encroachment on personal liberties, including education, marriage, and even healthcare, has created a culture of dependency and stifled individual initiative.
  • The growing power of the government and its increasing influence over people’s lives.
  • The erosion of individual liberties and the rise of a culture of dependency.
  • The argument that government intervention in areas like education, marriage, and healthcare has stifled individual initiative.
  • The belief that the government’s ambition to become “God” has led to the suppression of traditional institutions.
• Climate Change and Global Warming: Owens expresses skepticism about climate change and global warming, arguing that it’s a politicized issue and that the data is not as conclusive as some claim. She highlights the funding of scientific studies and the media’s portrayal of the issue as a crisis.
  • Owens’s skepticism about climate change and global warming, believing that it’s a politicized issue and that the data is not as conclusive as some claim.
  • The argument that the scientific consensus on climate change is not as strong as it’s made out to be.
  • The criticism of the media’s portrayal of climate change as a crisis, which Owens believes is motivated by a desire to extract money from people.
  • Owens’s belief that climate change has been politicized and that there’s a lack of transparency in scientific studies and data.
• The Pro-Life Debate: Owens discusses her stance on the pro-life debate, explaining how she became pro-life after researching the history of the issue, including the role of Margaret Sanger. She criticizes the hypocrisy of the left’s support for both abortion rights and Black Lives Matter, highlighting the disproportionate impact of abortion on the Black community.
  • Owens’s pro-life stance, based on her research into the history of the issue and the hypocrisy of the left’s selective advocacy.
  • The argument that the left’s support for both abortion rights and Black Lives Matter is contradictory, given the disproportionate impact of abortion on the Black community.
  • Owens’s belief that a baby’s life begins before the third trimester and that abortion is essentially the extermination of a life.
  • The argument that the pro-choice movement is motivated by a desire to control women’s bodies, rather than actual concern for their well-being.
• The Trump Administration: Owens expresses her strong support for Donald Trump and his administration, praising him for his policies and his willingness to challenge the status quo. She believes that Trump has awakened a sense of patriotism and given voice to the forgotten middle class.
  • Owens’s strong support for Donald Trump and his administration, believing that he is a champion for the forgotten middle class and a strong leader.
  • Owens’s appreciation for Trump’s willingness to challenge the establishment and his focus on American interests.
  • The argument that Trump has awakened a sense of patriotism and a desire to “Make America Great Again.”
  • Owens’s belief that Trump has exposed the hypocrisy of the left and the media’s bias against him.
• The Future of America: Owens expresses concern about the future of America, believing that it is at a crossroads and that its survival hinges on the outcome of the cultural war. She highlights the importance of individual freedom, critical thinking, and a return to traditional values.
  • Owens’s concern about the future of America, believing that it is at a crossroads and that its survival hinges on the outcome of the cultural war.
  • The argument that America is facing a threat from globalist forces and that Trump’s presidency represents a last stand for Western civilization.
  • Owens’s belief in the importance of individual freedom, critical thinking, and a return to traditional values.
  • The importance of resisting the leftist narrative and promoting a positive vision for the future.

5 Memorable Quotes

1. “There’s controversy every 5 seconds. … Everybody’s excited about being outraged.” – Owens reflects on the constant churn of outrage culture.
2. “This whole situation was taken out of my hands. People thought I didn’t go to the police. … My teacher went to the police. It turned into the zoo.” – Owens describes the media frenzy surrounding her hate crime incident.
3. “It was the situation that, like, was just completely out of my control and then as quick as it happened, these kids got arrested, and then as quick as it happened, it was over for, like, everyone. But not for me or these kids.” – Owens highlights the lasting impact of the hate crime and outrage culture on her life.
4. “I hated that, like, that label obsessed culture and the outrage machine. And then, like, oh, okay. We’re done. But, like, you know, forget the people that whose lives we just, like.” – Owens expresses her frustration with the fleeting nature of outrage and the disregard for the individuals involved.
5. “I genuinely believe that, like, right now is the only time that we have to save this country. I genuinely believe that. Like, we’re at the like, if I think if Donald Trump did not win the election. We would have lost America.” – Owens emphasizes the urgency of the cultural war and the importance of Trump’s presidency.