Everything You Need To Know About The Left’s Latest Fad “Dark Woke”

Summary

In this video, Matt Walsh discusses a new concept emerging from the left known as "Dark Woke." This term, which has been gaining traction in media circles, refers to a fresh, provocative approach that some Democrats believe could counterbalance the political strategies of Trump and his allies. Despite its edgy appeal, Walsh argues that the left's attempt to imitate what it perceives on the right fails due to a fundamental misunderstanding—authenticity can't be faked or formulaic. He critiques the notion of "Dark Woke," asserting that true authenticity is what resonates with people, not crassness or forced provocativeness.

Highlights

• The term 'Dark Woke' is introduced as a fresh trend among Democrats. 🔥
• Media is excited about 'Dark Woke,' considering it provocative and edgy. 📈
• Walsh argues the left misunderstands the right's appeal which is based on authenticity. 🎯
• He states that trying to be 'cool' or 'edgy' won't work; authenticity can't be mimicked. 🤡
• Walsh highlights the appeal of people like Donald Trump comes from their genuine nature, not insults. 😄

Key Takeaways

• Matt Walsh introduces the term "Dark Woke" as a new strategy emerging from the left. 🌌
• The concept is seen as the left's attempt to be provocative and edgy to counter Trump. 💥
• Walsh criticizes the idea, claiming it's based on imitating the right without understanding its authenticity. 🤔
• "Dark Woke" is critiqued as an attempt to be cool while missing the essence—authenticity can't be forced. ❌
• True appeal, according to Walsh, comes from genuineness not artificial edginess. 😎

Overview

In his video, Matt Walsh delves into a new buzzword circulating in media and political circles: "Dark Woke." According to Walsh, this term represents an edgy, attention-grabbing strategy employed by some Democrats to rival and potentially counteract the populist appeal of Trump and MAGA politics. Media outlets are hyping this trend, suggesting it could revitalize the Democratic Party's influence.

Walsh, however, remains skeptical of this approach. He critiques it as a misguided imitation of the right's strategy, fundamentally missing the core attribute that drives their success: authenticity. He argues that Democrats' attempts at adopting a nonconformist, provocative image are inherently flawed because they are not genuinely rooted in honest beliefs or authentic delivery. Instead, they're theatrical, aiming to mimic a formula that doesn't exist.

Ultimately, Walsh asserts that the charm of figures like Donald Trump and successful right-wing media personalities lies in their authentic personas. Walsh suggests that Democrats are looking for a scripted path to emulate what resonates naturally on the right, but this calculated approach lacks the sincerity needed to genuinely engage and inspire voters.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: The "Dark Woke" Phenomenon and Media Excitement The chapter discusses a perceived weakness in the left's ability to understand their opponents, suggesting this has always been their biggest vulnerability. Recently, a term called 'dark woke' has been appearing in media headlines, signifying a new form of wokeness that's gaining attention. The media appears to be highly intrigued by this phenomenon.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Democrats' Search for Coolness This chapter discusses the Democrats' ongoing quest to redefine their image in a way that effectively counters the appeal of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. After a decade of struggling to find a suitable answer, they may have found it in 'dark woke,' a new, provocative attitude that is the subject of a detailed New York Times article. This new strategy attempts to be edgy and provocative without crossing unacceptable lines.
• 01:00 - 02:00: The Paradox of Being Cool The chapter discusses the concept of 'coolness' in politics, particularly focusing on a period when the Democratic Party was perceived as cool. It refers to an article that describes a phase last summer when the Democrats, represented by figures like Kla Harris and Tim Walls, appeared edgy and provocative. The chapter notes Harris's appearance on a popular podcast and Walls's trendy outdoor style, suggesting a brief era where these political figures engaged with popular culture and seemed to embody a certain coolness.
• 02:00 - 03:00: The Rise of "Dark Woke" Rhetoric The chapter delves into the concept of 'Dark Woke' rhetoric, starting with a setting where memes were prevalent and the party's mood was high. An editor interrupts to clarify that during the previous summer, the Democratic Party was not actually 'cool', despite a perception or self-belief that it was. This sets the tone for exploring this rhetorical style and its implications.
• 03:00 - 04:00: Democratic Messaging and "Respectability Prison" The chapter discusses the Democratic Party's attempts to appear 'cool' through various modern and trendy methods, such as memes, social media initiatives like TikTok, and other pop culture references. However, it highlights the distinction between genuinely being cool and trying hard to appear cool, suggesting that these efforts may not align with authentic coolness, and may seem forced or insincere. This aligns with the concept of 'respectability prison,' where attempts to project a certain image may conflict with authentic identity.
• 04:00 - 05:00: Authenticity vs. Formulaic Approaches The chapter discusses the paradox of 'coolness' where genuine authenticity is contrasted with formulaic approaches of trying to appear cool. It posits that true 'coolness' cannot be achieved through effort, as attempting to be cool contradicts the very essence of being cool. Therefore, only those who do not consciously strive to be cool can truly embody it. The chapter uses the metaphor of a riddle to describe this elusive quality of cool.
• 05:00 - 06:00: The Essence of Right-Wing Popularity The chapter explores the concept of 'coolness' and the inherent contradiction in attempting to become cool. It argues that while one can become cool, the effort to deliberately try to be cool negates the possibility of actually being cool. The chapter likely connects this idea to wider themes of authenticity and the natural qualities that drive right-wing popularity, though the specific connections are not detailed in the provided transcript.
• 06:00 - 07:00: Left-Wing Messaging Challenges Chapter 1: Left-Wing Messaging Challenges discusses the evolving rhetoric strategies among liberal politicians. As they aim to regain voter support lost to President Trump's unfiltered style, some Democratic insiders advocate for a more combative approach, dubbed 'dark woke.' This strategy involves embracing a less politically correct and more direct form of communication. The challenge lies in striking a balance between being forthright and maintaining discernment, possibly adopting certain rude tones strategically as a counter to Republican narratives.
• 07:00 - 08:00: The Illusion of "Respectability Prison" and Aggression The chapter discusses a strategic challenge faced by the Democratic Party, termed as 'respectability prison,' where they are constrained by decorum, in contrast to Republicans who employ more attention-grabbing rhetoric. Bavik La Lathia, a communications consultant, highlights this imbalance and sees it as a point of evolution in Democratic messaging strategies. A concept called 'dark woke,' currently more of a meme circulating online, is mentioned as being ingrained in the party for years. The chapter likely explores how this affects political communication and strategy within the party.
• 08:00 - 09:00: The Problem with Mimicking Right-Wing Tactics The chapter explores the concept of left-wing factions and individuals attempting to adopt tactics similar to those used by right-wing groups, particularly focusing on the use of memes and provocations. It highlights the 'dark Brandon' memes, which depict a version of the former president feared by conservatives, and discusses the 'dirtbag left,' a label for a group of leftist provocateurs who mock both conservatives and liberals. The chapter critiques the notion frequently heard among Democrats about fantasized perceptions of their political opponents.
• 09:00 - 10:00: Authenticity as a Key to Popularity The chapter discusses the concept of respectability and how it is often a confining standard that people, particularly Republicans, are held to. It highlights a perceived double standard where Republicans are expected to maintain respectability, while liberals are portrayed as engaging in campaigns against entities like Tesla due to personal disagreements with its owner. This is illustrated by pointing to acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles and a celebration of the company's financial struggles. The broader implication is that authenticity might serve as a stronger foundation for popularity than merely adhering to expected norms of respectability.
• 10:00 - 11:00: The Authenticity Formula The chapter "The Authenticity Formula" explores the perceived challenges within certain political circles, particularly focusing on accusations of excessive respectability. It reflects on the irony of such accusations given the recent history of activism, such as civil unrest and protests, implying that respectability might not be the core issue. The chapter highlights a narrative within Democratic circles about becoming more assertive and aggressive in their pursuits.
• 11:00 - 12:00: Left-Wing Messaging: Beliefs vs. Pretenses The chapter "Left-Wing Messaging: Beliefs vs. Pretenses" discusses the confrontational nature of left-wing messaging, with an emphasis on aggressive actions such as rioting and destruction of property. The chapter highlights Jasmine Crockett as an example related to this theme. The concept of 'dark woke' is introduced and described as potentially redeeming for the political party, as mentioned by the New York Times.
• 12:00 - 13:00: Challenges in Adopting "Dark Woke" The chapter titled 'Challenges in Adopting "Dark Woke"' discusses the attempt by some on the left to imitate what they perceive as strategies used by the right. However, their efforts are hampered by a fundamental misunderstanding of their opponents, which is described as a recurring weakness or Achilles' heel for the left. This misunderstanding leads to challenges in effectively adopting and implementing the 'Dark Woke' ideology.
• 13:00 - 14:00: Right-Wing vs. Left-Wing Authenticity This chapter discusses the importance of understanding one's political opponents to succeed, highlighting a difference in perception between right-wing and left-wing views on authenticity. It suggests that right-wing figures, from Donald Trump to popular podcasters, have gained influence not through crassness but through authenticity which resonates with their audience. The chapter implies that failing to grasp this dynamic might lead to defeat for left-wing opponents.
• 14:00 - 15:00: The Real Issues in Left-Wing Messaging This chapter discusses the tendency within left-wing messaging to be confrontational and insulting, drawing parallels to similar behaviors in right-wing communication, particularly mentioning Donald Trump as an example. It highlights that while this approach is noticed, not all individuals associated with the right adopt this style in their discourse, especially in the right-wing podcast sphere.
• 15:00 - 16:00: Conclusion and Invitation to Full Show The chapter discusses the use of profanity in comedy, citing Theo Vaughn as an example of a comedian who uses profanity without being insulting. It emphasizes that being nice and non-insulting is part of some brands in comedy. The chapter concludes with a reflection on trying to explain things to Democrats, suggesting a frustration with the lack of receptivity, illustrating underlying communication issues.

Everything You Need To Know About The Left’s Latest Fad “Dark Woke” Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 This has always been the left's biggest Achilles heel is that they are incapable of understanding their opponents. And if you don't understand your opponents, you're hopeless. Over the past few months, there's a phrase, a term that started popping up in headlines. And the term is uh dark woke is the term. And this is a a new form of wokeness that has emerged. It's called dark woke. And the media is very excited about it.
• 00:30 - 01:00 They're very excited about this. This is perhaps the answer to countering Donald Trump and MAGA. They they've not been able to come up with an answer over 10 years. What's their answer? And they think they've finally landed on it and they're calling it dark woke. And now the New York Times has a long think piece on the topic. Headline, what is dark woke? Democrats are trying out a new attitude. It's provocative, edgy, and perilously towing the line of not being too
• 01:00 - 01:30 offensive. Sounds exciting. Provocative, edgy. It's been a long time since we got anything like that on the left. Anything that could be called provocative or edgy from the left. So, here's what the article says. There was a time last summer when the Democratic Party was cool. Kla Harris had just stepped in as Democrat party nominee for president in the waning days of Brat Summer. She went on the popular podcast Call Her Daddy. Tim Walls's outdoorsy drip led to a uh Chapel Ran inspired camo trucker hat.
• 01:30 - 02:00 The memes were flowing and the party's mood was high. Now, just to cut in here, we haven't even gotten to Dark Woke yet, but just to cut in just for a moment, uh to clarify, editor's note, the the Democratic Party was not cool during that time. Okay. So, you say that there was a time last summer when the Democrat party was cool. No, there wasn't. That time didn't exist. No, it thought it was cool, but
• 02:00 - 02:30 that's a very different thing. In fact, thinking you're cool and being cool are not only different things, but but like opposite thing. Or I should say the Democratic Party was trying hard to be cool. And that was the all the memes and the trucker hat and the brat summer stuff and this and that and the uh whatever it was with the coconut tree and the and the Tik Tok videos. I don't even know. Um trying hard to be cool. But being cool and trying hard to
• 02:30 - 03:00 be cool are definitely opposite things. The the essence of being cool is not trying to be cool. Right? That's like the paradox of coolness is that the moment you try to be it, you aren't it. The only people who can be cool are people who aren't trying to be cool. Every attempt fails by definition. Cool is perhaps the it's it's you know this it's like a riddle. It's like what's
• 03:00 - 03:30 what's the one thing you can become but cannot try to become? And that's cool. You know, you you can someone can become cool. They can be cool, but you can't try you can't attempt it. Uh you can't say, you know what, I'm gonna I'm gonna give being cool a shot. Let's let's try this out. Let's give this a spin already. You're not cool. It's like no matter what happens next, you're not cool just because of the way that you approached it. So anyway, back to the article. As
• 03:30 - 04:00 liberals try to get their groove back, some party insiders say Democratic politicians have been encouraged to embrace a new form of combat combative rhetoric aimed at winning back voters who have responded to President Trump's no hards holds barred version of politics. It's an attempt to step outside the bounds of political correctness that Republicans have accused Democrats of establishing and requires being crass but discerning, rude, but only to a point. Online, it has a name, dark woke. Republicans have
• 04:00 - 04:30 essentially put Democrats in a respectability prison, said Bavik La Lathia, a communications consultant and former digital director for the Wisconsin Democratic Party. There's an extreme imbalance in strategy that allows Republicans to say stuff that really grabs voters attention while we're stuck with boring pablum. I see this as a strategic shift within Democratic messaging. I'm a big fan of dark woke. Dark woke for now is a meme that lives mostly online, but its roots have been sewn throughout the party for years. In the waning days of the B
• 04:30 - 05:00 administration, memes about dark Brandon, often referred to the version of the former president that were conservatives most feared. Outside the party, the dirt bag left, the term for a cohort of leftist provocators, um, inspired headlines for their unrestrained derision of conservatives and liberals alike. Um, okay. So, I mean, first of all, the idea that that Democrat I mean, you hear this from Democrats all the time that this fantasy that, you know, they're in a
• 05:00 - 05:30 respectability prison, that they're held to this standard of being respectable, that that Republicans aren't the the truth, of course, is exactly the opposite. We talked about this what yesterday, two days ago that you know the you've got you've got liberals right now on a nationwide campaign for instance of uh vandalizing and destroying Teslas because they don't like the guy that owns Tesla. They're celebrating the you know massive drop in profits the stock
• 05:30 - 06:00 hit. DAs are refusing to prosecute. Like really that's your respectability prison? Really? That's your problem? is that you're you're too respectable. Like like this is the side that not too long ago was setting entire city blocks on fire because you were upset. So like I I I I don't think that's your issue. Um, but this is this is what they're claiming and that Democrats have, you know, have this problem and they've started to get more aggressive
• 06:00 - 06:30 and more confrontational. Um, because they weren't already, right, with the rioting and, you know, destroying vehicles and all that like that they weren't already aggressive and confrontational enough. Uh, but that's what they're doing. They're offering Jasmine, they offer Jasmine Crockett is given as an example in this article. And this is dark woke. And the New York Times says that it it uh it may just save the party. This is the party's redemption is dark woke. Now, the problem is
• 06:30 - 07:00 that this is all an attempt to basically mimic what they think they see on the right, but they don't understand what they're seeing. You know, this this has always been the left's biggest their their downfall really, their Achilles heel is that they are in they they they are incapable of understanding their opponents and if you don't
• 07:00 - 07:30 understand your opponents uh you're hopeless. You're going to lose. So they don't understand what they're seeing. For one thing, it it's the reason why the people on the right who have achieved popularity and influence, whether we're talking about Donald Trump all the way at the top or podcasters or anybody in between, they've achieved it not because they're crass and uh and
• 07:30 - 08:00 confrontational and insulting. That that may be part of that may be a personality trait of some of them. Right. But we know that Donald Trump has a a tendency to insult people he doesn't like. There's also people that are sort of at least perceived as being on the right, being kind of right-wing, part of the right-wing podcast um uh sphere who don't do that at all. Like
• 08:00 - 08:30 like Theo Vaughn, for example. Now, you know, he might use profanity, but it's not insulting. This is not this is not an insulting. It's like a really nice guy. He seems like it anyway. Uh it's actually part of his brand is not not being not really being insulting at all. So that's not it. You don't have to be insulting. You don't like if it here's what it is. Again, if I'm if I'm doing Democrats a favor by explaining things to them, doesn't matter because they won't listen to me anyway, which is part of your problem is
• 08:30 - 09:00 like you you won't you don't understand us. And even when we try to help you out, which we shouldn't even do by explaining to you, it's like we'll explain ourselves to you so you actually understand it, you still won't listen. I I am someone on the right and I'm trying to explain to you how it works. And if you're on the left, you're going to you'll just tune this out. You say, "Whoa, what do you know? Don't listen to him." So for what it's worth, which I guess is not much, it the way that they have achieved
• 09:00 - 09:30 this popularity is not simply by being crass or insulting or anything. It's through authenticity. Okay, this is the fundamental thing that has always made Trump so appealing is that he's being a authentic. He came onto the political scene and and he was exactly the same guy there as he had been for decades. And for him, yeah, he can be kind of crass, kind of profane. He can he can he can
• 09:30 - 10:00 uh, you know, start insulting people. He he can he can do all that, but he it's it's not that alone. This is what people have been that try to mimic that. It's all, you know, this was his formula. Now, the reason why it works for him is just because that's who he is. And it resonated with people not because they were so impressed that, oh, look, here's a presidential candidate who who used the sword. It's not that. It's just like, well, that's the kind of guy he is. That's how he speaks and he's
• 10:00 - 10:30 speaking like this now, and he hasn't changed just cuz he's running for president. And we respect that. Um, so whether you hate or or or love Trump, whether you hate or love the guy, he's just being who he is. And it's the same thing with the podcasts that are most popular. What makes them popular is the authenticity. It's a format where that it, you know, it it kind of naturally strips away the sheen and the gloss and you're left with real people
• 10:30 - 11:00 having actual human conversations and saying what they really think about things. So, if you're on the left and you're looking at this and you're studying it like some kind of mathematical equation and then you're trying to follow the same formula, you've already lost. It's not going to work. The formula is that there is no formula. Donald Trump doesn't have a formula. He's the least formulaic politician that's ever existed. The formula is just himself. Joe Rogan is not trying to follow a formula. He's just having
• 11:00 - 11:30 conversations with with with people who interest him. He's he's exploring things he finds interesting with people who he who he thinks are interesting. That's it. That's the whole formula. That's lit. That's actually it. Um Theo Vaughn, as I just mentioned, what's his formula? There isn't one. He's a curious guy who's also very funny and that's it. It's not a formula. It's just who he is. And so they're trying to copy a formula, but the formula is again that there is no formula.
• 11:30 - 12:00 And then you have to deal with the actual substance. And and one of the things again that makes right-wing podcasts and the MAGA movement generally popular is that these are people who are saying the things that lots of people think but aren't supposed to say. Okay. How do I get away with saying all the stuff that I say all the time? Well, first of all, it's because I what it's because I want it's what I actually believe. And the audience knows that I'm just being honest. I'm telling you what
• 12:00 - 12:30 I believe. So whenever there's a big a big a big controversy and people get upset and they're saying, "Oh, can you can you believe what Matt Walsh said?" My audience hears that and says, "Yeah, so what? It's what he thinks." You don't have to think the same thing, but it's what he thinks. So what's the big deal? But also leaving aside, at least for me personally, leaving aside some of my more uh bizarre tangents, generally the things that I say out loud are the things that millions of people have
• 12:30 - 13:00 already said out loud in their living rooms to their families and to their friends. And that's the case for almost anybody on the right with any size platform. Much of our success is due not to uh trying to be edgy, but almost the opposite. It's due to the fact that most of what we say is stuff that hundreds of millions, if not billions of people believe. It's the stuff
• 13:00 - 13:30 that everyone believes, but you're not supposed to say. you know, when when I got in trouble with the uh after the Austin Metaf stabbing, saying that, you know, well, everyone already knew the asalent was a a young black male. Even though there was a controversy around that, everyone in my audience heard it and said, well, yeah, I mean, we all like, of course, we all think that, okay, let's be real. Let's let's be honest. We all think that. Now,
• 13:30 - 14:00 over on the left, and this is why dark woke just doesn't work. Uh it with leftism it's all about saying things that nobody really believes. So on the right we say what everyone believes but you're not supposed to say. On the left they say what nobody believes but you are supposed to say. It's the stuff that people believe versus the stuff that people pretend to believe. There is no dark woke version
• 14:00 - 14:30 of that. There is no edgy way. right to uh to go about that. There is no edgy way to avoid the the basic truths of life, which is what wokeness is. It just can't exist. You cannot be woke and edgy. You cannot be woke and provocative. You could be woke and use profanity, right? You could be Jasmine Crockett um using profanity and screaming and and
• 14:30 - 15:00 yelling and all this kind of stuff, but it doesn't it it's it that doesn't resonate with people because the problem is that you cannot be woke and honest. That's the point. If if there's one word that could describe why podcasts are so popular, it's that word. Well, we already said authentic or honest, either one, you know, it's basically the same thing. Um, which by the way doesn't also
• 15:00 - 15:30 doesn't mean so so on the left when they complain about the podcasting world and they say, "Oh, you know, there's there's misinformation. Not everything these people say is true. They say things that aren't true sometimes." Yeah, of course. Like no one's no one thinks no one think anyone who's a fan of podcasts, no one thinks that everything you hear that is true necessarily. I mean, people could be mistaken. We can have opinions that aren't true. We could be wrong about stuff. Um, of course, like no one is right all the time, but people aren't
• 15:30 - 16:00 listening because they think that everything they hear is automatically true just because someone like me says it. No, they think it's honest. So like even if we're wrong, we're we're we're only we're wrong. We are sincerely wrong. We're just wrong because we're mistaken. We're not wrong because we're pretending to believe something that we don't. Um, so you know what? Here is the only real version that I can
• 16:00 - 16:30 imagine of like like what what could dark woke actually be? Uh maybe this may maybe maybe dark dark woke is Jasmine Crockett, let's say, coming out and saying, "Hey, you know what? I actually just hate white people." Okay, let me be real with you. I don't like white people. I want policies that punish white people. I want to elevate my people over them
• 16:30 - 17:00 because I think they deserve it. And that's that's just what I think now something and you know you could say she's kind of already said that but she hasn't actually directly said that maybe that could be kind of a dark woke. That's the only thing that could maybe qualify as as dark woke is that the only thing that could maybe be sort of what they're going for because because it isn't it's honest like that is what Jasmine Crockett actually believes. So, if she came out and said that, I would strenuously object to it on the merits,
• 17:00 - 17:30 but I would I would give her credit for being honest. I would say, "Okay, well, at least she's being honest. At least you're being honest finally. That's progress." Uh, so it would be an honest articulation of left-wing racial ideology. And you know what? It would unfortunately it would probably resonate with a certain portion of the country. Uh there would be a certain portion of the country that would say, "Yeah, finally I feel the same
• 17:30 - 18:00 way." And uh so I guess that's sort of the woke answer to right-wing authenticity. The the ro the woke answer to right-wing authenticity is left-wing authenticity. It's where you come out and just say what you really believe. But the problem is that they they don't they won't do that because what they really believe in so many cases is just
• 18:00 - 18:30 awful. Okay? Like what Jasmine Crockett really believes about race in America, she just hates white people. Uh she she's she's there may be some people that resonates with, but it's going to be a minority of the electorate. I guarantee you that. So she won't say it. What what what would be the dark woke version of approaching say an issue like abortion. It's not coming out with this, oh I believe in reproductive rights and women making choices. No, the the dark woke version,
• 18:30 - 19:00 the authentic, right? Authentic version would be coming out if they just come out and said, you know what, yeah, um these we use the word fetus, but really it's a baby. Of course, it's a baby. It's a living human being. Obviously it is. And but I just don't care about uh babies in the womb. I just don't care about them. Uh and I I think it's okay to kill them flat out. That's what I think. Um again, you you hear that a little bit like there are some people on the left who have come close to that
• 19:00 - 19:30 line, but you're never going to hear no Democrat politician will ever come out and say that even though it's what they actually think and that would be the So maybe. So So go ahead. I'd like to see Democrats do that. You know, on the right, we're pretty honest about what we think. So, on the left, just just be honest. Just come out and say what you really think about all this stuff. Let's just put it on the table. Let's put it all on the table and uh and then we can have some real real arguments, real debates in this country where everyone is actually being real and honest about what they really think.
• 19:30 - 20:00 If you'd like to see what else I have to say, you can access my full show by going to dailywire.com or by going to the Mattwal Show Twitter page. Hope to see you there. God speed.