Gen Z and the Future of Politics | Michael Knowles

In this episode of The Larry Arnn Show, Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn interviews Michael J. Knowles, political commentator and host of The Michael Knowles Show. The two discuss the existence of God, acting, and the future of American politics.
This interview was conducted on April 28th, 2025.
Discover more at podcast.hillsdale.edu.

00:00 – Opening: Who is Gen Z?
01:16 – Welcome to Michael Knowles
02:29 – Hillsdale’s Christian Character and Knowles’ Persona
03:42 – Knowles’ Background and Early Life
06:16 – Influential Teachers and Jaffa Anecdotes
08:59 – Strauss, Rhetoric, and Acting
12:49 – Knowles’ Parents and Family Background
16:01 – Ontological Argument & Aquinas
20:19 – Aristotle, Logic, and the Nature of Reality
22:12 – Gender, Debate, and Civility
25:22 – The Existence of God and the Summa Theologica
29:04 – Teaching Philosophy and Student Formation
35:00 – Gen Z at Hillsdale: Conversations with Students
40:13 – Generational Identity and Political Turning Points
44:28 – Nature, Tradition, and Mere Christianity
46:17 – Trump, Populism, and American Renewal
53:05 – Historical Heroism and Political Character
53:38 – Christianity and American Political Thought
57:00 – Christianity’s Influence on Liberty and Government
01:01:23 – Final Thoughts and Optimism
01:02:24 – Closing Remarks and Farewell