GUY BENSON SHOW: Live From the Hoover Institution! (feat. Condoleeza Rice, Victor Davis Hanson, + MORE!)

This week on the Guy Benson Show, we were HONORED to broadcast live from the Hoover Institution from Stanford’s campus in California. We had the opportunity to sit down with esteemed guests and experts from the organization, and you can take a look at any interviews that you missed from this week below! Huge thanks to the Hoover Institution for having us this week.

Condoleezza Rice Breaks Down “Robust” Israel Ceasefire Deal, Future of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover Institution and the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy, joined The Guy Benson Show Monday to discuss a bevy of topics. The conversation started by discussing Hoover’s new Substack and reflect on the legacy of economist Thomas Sowell, emphasizing the enduring importance of freedom, limited government, and resistance to tyranny. Sec. Rice also spoke about the need to understand others’ beliefs before rushing to combat them, echoing themes from Justice Clarence Thomas’ recent speech that Rice and Benson attended on “victimhood culture” and the value of personal responsibility. Turning to current events, Rice weighed in on the Israel ceasefire deal, calling the hostage release and the Arab coalition’s cooperation “remarkable.” Rice and Benson also discussed how the Russia-Ukraine war has evolved, explaining why an end may finally be within sight and why convincing Putin the conflict must end is crucial. Rice also discussed China’s shifting posture in the context of the ongoing war and the growing realization that the U.S. under Trump is neither isolationist nor weak. Rice and Benson ended the conversation on a lighter note by discussing Rice’s thoughts on the “wild west” nature of NIL in college sports and her take on the Broncos’ massive 33-point fourth quarter last weekend. Listen to the full interview below!

Listen to the full interview below:

Victor Davis Hanson: Why AOC, Ilhan Omar, Mamdani Want to Destroy the System That Brought Them “Prosperity”

Victor Davis Hanson, the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution with a focus on classics and military history, joined The Guy Benson Show today to discuss the disturbing rise of socialist radical candidates like Zohran Mamdani, and why immigrants who have benefited from capitalism are now seeking to dismantle the very system that enabled their success, and Hanson explained why Mamdani is likely to win due to a lack of organized opposition and historically low voter turnout. Benson and Hanson also discussed how Donald Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy has reshaped America’s global relationships, delivering peace in the Middle East through a Teddy Roosevelt-like assertiveness. Hanson also reacted to the shocking revelation that a Louisiana man participated in the October 7th massacre, and weighed in on California’s decision to issue commercial driver’s licenses to non-English-speaking illegal immigrants that has now resulted in several deaths. Listen to the full interview below!

Listen to the full interview below:

Michael McFaul: Trump Can Use His Leverage to Stop Russian Oil Purchasing

Ambassador Michael McFaul, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia the Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, joined the Guy Benson Show Monday to discuss the future of the Russia-Ukraine war. McFaul discussed how Trump can use his leverage to stop the purchase of Russian oil, use sanctions to push Russia to make a deal to end the war, and more. Listen to the full interview below:

Listen to the full interview below:

GUY BENSON SHOW: Ayaan Hirsi Ali Discusses the Dangers of Zohran Mamdani and the “Red-Green Alliance”

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, fellow at the Hoover Institution, best-selling author, founder of the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Foundation, and host of the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Podcast, joined The Guy Benson Show Tuesday to discuss her upbringing as a Muslim in Somalia and Ethiopia and how her experiences with Islamic extremism ultimately led her to deconvert. Hirsi Ali explained the crucial difference between Muslims and Islamists, and reflected on the October 7th massacre and the strengthening of what she calls the “red-green alliance” to destroy the West. Hirsi Ali also discussed the alarming rise of antisemitism in the UK, where Jewish citizens increasingly face threats from violent Islamists. Ali and Benson wrapped the interview by addressing New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, arguing that the weaponization of the term “Islamophobia” has allowed his brand of radicalism to thrive. Listen to the full interview below!

Listen to the full interview below:

“THE DISRUPTER-IN-CHIEF”: Why Sir Niall Ferguson Says Trump is Having Such an “Amazing” Number of Achievements in Term Two

Sir Niall Ferguson, Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, columnist for The Times and The Free Press, and best-selling author, joined The Guy Benson Show Tuesday as a knighted guest on the show. Ferguson discussed the knighthood process, from nomination to the moment you are told you will be knighted, and reflected on the significance of the honor. Ferguson also weighed in on President Trump’s global record just a few months into his second term, saying you “cannot deny” the remarkable number of foreign and domestic policy achievements during the Trump administration, and explained why he’s come to view Trump as “the Disrupter-in-Chief.” Listen to the full interview below!

Listen to the full interview below:

“REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS”: Lt. Gen. HR McMaster Weighs in on Trump’s Foreign Policy in His Second Term

H.R. McMaster, the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute, and a lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, joined The Guy Benson Show Wednesday to discuss President Trump’s continued disruption of international norms and why McMaster believes that disruption has led to historic results in his second term. McMaster highlighted Trump’s dominance on border security, U.S. energy independence, renewed pressure on Iran, and the successful return of hostages from Hamas captivity to their homes in Israel. McMaster also weighed in on the President’s decision to militarily strike cartel boats allegedly smuggling drugs, saying he supports the mission but believes there must be “more transparency” around the strategy. Finally, McMaster closed by discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine, and why now, he says, is the moment to call Putin’s bluff. Listen to the full interview below!

Listen to the full interview below:

“THE LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED”: Dr. Abbas Milani Discusses the Future of the Iranian Regime

Dr. Abbas Milani, Research Fellow and Co-Director of the Iran Democracy Project at the Hoover Institution, as well as the Hamid and Christina Moghadam Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University, joined The Guy Benson Show Thursday to discuss how the Iranian regime has reached one of its weakest points in decades. He explained why Tehran has effectively lost control over its proxy groups, including the Iraqi Shiites, and now faces “enormous” challenges at home. Milani also shared his surprise at how swiftly Hezbollah collapsed after Israel wiped out its leadership and praised Israel’s stunning success during its 12-day war with Iran. He noted that this was the very conflict Iran had been “asking for,” and yet, it ended in humiliating defeat — one that has fueled even greater hatred toward the regime among the Iranian people. You can listen to the full interview below!

Listen to the full interview below:

No to Prop 50: Bill Whalen Breaks Down Gavin Newsom’s “Powerplay” Redistricting Scheme

Bill Whalen, the Virginia Hobbs Carpenter Distinguished Policy Fellow in Journalism and a Hoover Institution research fellow since 1999, joined the Guy Benson Show Wednesday live from the Hoover Institution to discuss California’s dangerous Prop 50 campaign in the state. The proposition could single handedly create 5 new Democrat districts in the state in response to Texas’ redistricting efforts, but many districts will be effected by extreme “powerplay” gerrymandering to help Gov. Gavin Newsom on the national stage. Listen to the full interview below.

Listen to the full interview below: