Dad Saves America

John Papola
  • 4.6 (94)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Proud papa, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and arm-chair philosopher John Papola explores the biggest issues facing our country through the lens of fatherhood, releasing exclusive interviews and deep dives every week. We need to make sure the next generation of Americans is raised to thrive in a free society and be champions of civilization. Dad Saves America has hosted all sorts of experts in the studio, including Jonathan Haidt, Dr. Drew, Michael Shellenberger, Bret Weinstein, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Adam Carolla. www.dadsavesamerica.com

  1. Islamic Terror Rising: Does America Need a New Crusade?

    2H AGO

    Islamic Terror Rising: Does America Need a New Crusade?

    A series of terrorist attacks in Virginia, Michigan, NYC, and even my own city of Austin has brought the radical Islamic threat back to American soil. Rather than confronting the ideological nature of these acts, the public conversation is quickly redirected toward gun control, mental health, or non-specific “extremism.” The perpetrators, on the other hand, are usually quite happy to tell you what they believe. From the Reconquista to the War on Terror, the Christian West has been locked in a struggle with the Muslim world. In modern America and Europe, we suffer from a “crisis of confidence,” as Jimmy Carter put it, which undermines are ability to confront the real civilizational fight in front of us. Some young people have succumbed to nihilism, while others have embraced a strange alliance between leftist politics and radical Islam. Will we be able to reverse the demoralization of America in the face of real threats? _____________________________________ Check my sources over on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/dadsavesamerica/p/islamic-terror-rising-does-america?r=24ayxm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TymfmuuwLok Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    1h 30m
  2. Former Woke Mom Exposed "Gender-Affirming Care" Fraud

    1D AGO

    Former Woke Mom Exposed "Gender-Affirming Care" Fraud

    I sat down with Mia Hughes, author of “The WPATH Files,” to discuss her work exposing the junk science and corruption behind “gender-affirming care,” youth transition, and transgender activism. As she describes it, this is one of the worst crimes in medical history, made worse by the fact that the only people who’ve been punished are those who’ve spoken out against it. Mia’s exposé revealed the idea laundering and circular references between WPATH and medical institutions, using weak data to justify irreversible hormonal and surgical interventions for adults suffering from severe mental illness and for children, who by definition cannot consent. European countries have begun to back off, and the post-2024 election “vibe shift” in the U.S. has brought about some improvements, but in countries like Canada, this is far from over. _____________________________________ Follow Mia Hughes on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/_CryMiaRiver?s=20 Read “The WPATH Files”: https://environmentalprogress.org/big-news/wpath-files _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] The JK Rowling backlash woke Mia up [11:05] The trans issue isn’t just a fringe culture war issue [21:19] Does trans identity have any historical basis? [28:46] Why trans activists deny “autogynophilia” [39:08] The “vibe shift” doesn’t mean trans madness is over [42:24] John Money and the origins of gender ideology [50:44] How gender identify became a civil rights category [1:01:57] Why did gay people support trans activism? [1:10:02] Normal puberty distress is twisted into “gender dysphoria” [1:20:01] “Gender-affirming care” is full of ethical contradictions [1:30:54] Doctors are emotionally blackmailing parents [1:38:36] What is WPATH? [1:46:10] Are randomized controlled trials possible in gender medicine? [1:57:14] How WPATH captured the whole medical establishment [2:09:35] We need a new Nuremberg trial [2:15:27] The role of severe mental illness in gender transition [2:26:25] Doctors know that kids can’t consent to transition [2:38:21] Why it’s impossible to hold anyone accountable [2:43:06] Is the whole field of psychology basically a scam? [2:48:26] Canada hasn’t backed down from trans madness [2:57:07] Why can’t the left let go of transgender politics? _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lsV0dDyTMBA Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    3h 14m
  3. Trump’s Iran Strike, Israeli Influence, and the Iraq War Hangover

    MAR 7

    Trump’s Iran Strike, Israeli Influence, and the Iraq War Hangover

    President Trump’s strikes on Iran have reignited the American foreign policy debate. For decades, libertarians like myself have hammered the mistakes of the War on Terror, especially in Iraq. Ron Paul’s 2007 presidential debate performance laid out the blowback risks of interventionism, highlighting a specific story of American meddling in Iran—one I believed until very recently. President Trump is resetting long-held assumptions about regime change and endless war, forcing me to rethink the complexity of geopolitics. Caught between conspiracy theories of Israeli control and premature declarations of “mission accomplished,” Americans must decide for themselves what to think in these tumultuous times. _____________________________________ Check my sources over on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/dadsavesamerica/p/trumps-iran-strike-israeli-influence?r=24ayxm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MP3qHVYVdJ0 Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    1h 24m
  4. Pastor Doug Wilson: America Was Built on Christian Nationalism

    MAR 5

    Pastor Doug Wilson: America Was Built on Christian Nationalism

    I sat down with Pastor Doug Wilson to unpack his views on “Christian nationalism” and American identity. Every legal system rests on moral assumptions—Doug argues that those assumptions should be Christian. We discuss whether America was historically a Christian nation, how immigration and assimilation shape a country’s cultural cohesion, the dangers of theocracy, and what would happen to Catholics in his ideal vision of America. _____________________________________ Follow Doug on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/douglaswils?s=20 Learn more about Doug’s work: https://dougwils.com/ _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] What is “Christian Nationalism”? [5:19 5:30] Were things better in the “good old days”? [11:23 11:34] Immigration disrupts the national order [19:29 19:40] What does it mean to be American? [32:30] Pastor Doug’s political philosophy [41:29] Religious liberty and the First Amendment [49:31] Does universal liberalism grow out of Christianity? [57:13] How America integrated Catholics [1:05:02] Who gets to live in a Christian nation? [1:12:27] Free will, predestination, and Calvinism [1:17:10] What about when people break the Christian laws? [1:26:10] Liberty, gay marriage, and drug laws [1:42:37] Summing up Pastor Doug’s worldview [1:45:04] Grappling with Andrew Tate and Nick Fuentes [1:51:59] Is Christianity in crisis or revival? _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qiyUCxw92a8 Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    1h 59m
  5. Lionel Shriver: The “Nation of Immigrants” Myth Makes America Weak

    FEB 26

    Lionel Shriver: The “Nation of Immigrants” Myth Makes America Weak

    I sat down with Lionel Shriver, author of “A Better Life,” to unpack why the American immigration debate has become so unreasonable. She argues that the “nation of immigrants” mythology is a kind of progressive moral blackmail, preventing Americans from asking basic questions about assimilation, national self-interest, and cultural cohesion. We also discuss whether Islamic immigration is compatible with liberal democracy and why immigration can’t fix collapsing birthrates. Lionel makes the case that the West has lost its sense of self-confidence—and now, its instinct for self-preservation. _____________________________________ Order a copy of “A Better Life”: https://a.co/d/0g6H0sGW _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] Writing a novel on immigration [12:03] Why Americans struggle to discuss immigration [19:51] White leftists don’t actually hate themselves [26:53] Assimilation in the U.S. vs Europe [42:20] Should we allow Islamic immigration? [53:24] Uncontrolled migration and welfare can’t work [1:01:45] The fertility crisis argument for immigration [1:13:56] Western values must be actively defended [1:21:01] Spoiled leftists just won’t wake up to reality [1:30:56] Female virtue signaling and luxury beliefs [1:38:21] Is our politics bound to keep getting crazier? [1:43:06] Trump vs globalist totalitarianism [1:51:16] The internet is supercharging social contagion [1:57:06] “Toxic masculinity” and the feminization of society [2:15:14] Individual sovereignty vs the survival of humanity [2:26:45] We encourage bad and ignore good behavior [2:37:15] “No pain, no gain” is the truest cliché [2:42:48] Self-contemplation is bad for your mental health _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/T7q_71x3u_0 Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    2h 50m
  6. The Old Left Understood Status. The Mamdani Left Weaponizes It. - Rob Henderson

    FEB 20

    The Old Left Understood Status. The Mamdani Left Weaponizes It. - Rob Henderson

    I sat down with Rob Henderson, author of “Troubled” and known for coining the term “luxury beliefs,” to explore how status, envy, and social mobility shape society. Rob shares how growing up in foster care, enlisting in the Air Force at 17, and eventually attending Yale and Cambridge forced him to confront what material success can—and can’t—deliver. Hunter-gatherer societies suppressed status through rigid egalitarianism, but as civilizations grew, status competition became an increasingly powerful force. Today, elite strivers hijack class politics to engage in their own battle between the “haves” and the “have-mores,” while serious discussions about class have begun to shift from left to right. _____________________________________ Learn more about the “Troubled” movie: https://troubledthemovie.com/ Follow Rob on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/robkhenderson Read Rob’s work on Substack: https://www.robkhenderson.com/ Purchase a copy of “Troubled”: https://www.amazon.com/Troubled-Memoir-Foster-Family-Social/dp/1982168536 _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] The sociology of status [7:36] Class analysis flipped from left to right [15:57] The haves, the have-nots, and the have-mores [21:41] The traits that build wealth [26:59] Narcissism comes in 2 flavors [38:31] How do you keep the loudmouths under control? [43:38] Why do we care about status? [51:36] How gratitude advances civilizations [55:22] Finding a stable identity keeps envy in check [1:04:08] The state of sex relations in 2026 [1:15:46] We aren’t built for comfort [1:25:27] Can the military fix TikTok-fried kids? [1:37:25] Healthy cultural norms aren’t self-enforcing [1:49:46] Elite hypocrisy on marriage and family [1:58:09] Is it just “kids these days” or something else? [2:03:10] Is religion a necessary anchor for moral culture? [2:12:14] Adapting “Troubled” into a movie _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j149A5_9AWA Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    2h 23m
  7. The Socialist Resurgence in Our Era of Broken Minds - Dr. Stephen Hicks

    FEB 12

    The Socialist Resurgence in Our Era of Broken Minds - Dr. Stephen Hicks

    I sat down with philosopher and author Dr. Stephen Hicks to unpack the West’s trajectory from medieval Christianity to modern progressivism. We explore the psychological fallout of online information overload and a failing education system that is fueling a socialist resurgence. Dr. Hicks breaks down how the rediscovery of Greco-Roman writings by figures like St. Thomas Aquinas—and, a few centuries later, the Protestant Reformation—set the stage for the Enlightenment, gradually developing the ideas that would eventually become “classical liberalism.” We also track the parallel development of leftist thought, from Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the French Revolution to Marx and today’s woke reign of terror. _____________________________________ Follow Dr. Hicks on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SRCHicks?s=20 Check out Dr. Hicks’ Peterson Academy courses: https://petersonacademy.com/instructors/stephen-hicks _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] What is “the truth”? [6:06] “Expert consensus” and misinformation [18:27] Filtering through information overload [30:31] The evolution of adulthood and education [39:53] Religion, literacy, and the Protestant Reformation [45:12] Did Christianity invent individualism? [59:44] Collectivism is the problem, not religion [1:08:40] Was the abolition of slavery a Christian movement? [1:20:16] Did Christianity lay the foundation for the Enlightenment? [1:31:51] How Christendom revived Greco-Roman thought [1:41:18] Rousseau and the French Revolution [2:04:50] The blank-slate view of moral agency [2:11:02] Rousseauean socialism vs Marxism [2:19:09] How Marxism survived each of its failures [2:28:11] What unifies the wide range of leftist ideas? [2:43:13] The link between mental health and education [2:54:22] Why philosophy matters _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hCjuUIlJ0uU Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    2h 59m
  8. “I Was Wrong”: Why the Civil War Is Running Late - Rudyard Lynch (WhatIfAltHist) 2026 Update

    FEB 5

    “I Was Wrong”: Why the Civil War Is Running Late - Rudyard Lynch (WhatIfAltHist) 2026 Update

    I sat down with Rudyard Lynch, creator of WhatIfAltHist and History102, to revisit his civil war prediction. He argues that the current psychological crisis is delaying an inevitable political crisis, drawing on the Mouse Utopia experiment, screen addiction, and the decay of internet discourse. Rudyard reflects on what he got right, what he got wrong, and why embracing honor culture might be our path back to sanity. We also get into the relationship between Christianity and socialism, the role of masculinity in leadership, and why “reasonable liberals” fail to confront the Marxist threat. _____________________________________ Follow Rudyard on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/whatifalthist Check out WhatIfAltHist: https://www.youtube.com/Whatifalthist Check out History102: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj _____________________________________ Outline: [0:00] Updated civil war predictions [4:19] Antisemitism and Israel discourse [13:49] Psychological and political crises [25:05] Socialism, Nietzsche, and nihilism [33:14] The Age of the Last Men [38:48] Woodrow Wilson and the rise of progressivism [46:17] “The system,” society, and bureaucracy [56:47] Why decency dies on the internet [1:02:32] Is good leadership fundamentally “masculine”? [1:06:15] Sex differences vs. sexism [1:12:22] Why faith in honor culture matters [1:20:28] Did Christianity give birth to socialism? [1:30:20] Stephen Pinker and the “reasonable liberal” problem [1:39:08] “Progress” is just spiritual sterilization [1:43:36] “Rationalists” are just conformists [1:49:39] Classical liberals overplayed the equality card [1:53:33] Are libertarian values still valid in our culture? [2:01:00] Victim culture on the right [2:05:16] The neo-middle ages [2:10:42] Is broad social trust still feasible? [2:17:29] Why you should unplug from the internet _____________________________________ Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/ Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RDmkKZ7vAkI Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

    2h 21m
See All (182)

4.6
out of 5
94 Ratings

About

Proud papa, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and arm-chair philosopher John Papola explores the biggest issues facing our country through the lens of fatherhood, releasing exclusive interviews and deep dives every week. We need to make sure the next generation of Americans is raised to thrive in a free society and be champions of civilization. Dad Saves America has hosted all sorts of experts in the studio, including Jonathan Haidt, Dr. Drew, Michael Shellenberger, Bret Weinstein, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Adam Carolla. www.dadsavesamerica.com

Information

  • Creator
    John Papola
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    182
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © John Papola
  • Show Website
    Dad Saves America

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