David Brooks: Trump Gutted Conservatism and Christianity
Scott Galloway revisits his May 2025 talk with David Brooks, who argues Trump has gutted conservatism and Christianity. They also cover elite colleges, the crisis of young men, loneliness and marriage advice.
The gist
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Brooks says Trump replaced conservatism with reactionary politics, contrasting pro-conservatives like McCain and Romney with an anti-left camp like Laura Ingraham.
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Brooks argues elite colleges built a caste system, noting college grads live 15 years longer, and wants ability redefined beyond test scores.
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Brooks backs mandatory national service and urges reading Viktor Frankl, who said ask what life is asking of you, not what you want.
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Brooks blames a spiritual and relational crisis, citing 45% of teens feeling persistently hopeless, and promotes his Weave nonprofit and teaching social skills.
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After his divorce, Brooks learned to show emotion, and on marriage he advises picking someone you admire and working on your own selfishness.
"I'm also a fan of Viktor Frankl, whose book Man's Search for Meaning everybody should read. And he was an Austrian psychiatrist who was put in a Nazi concentration camp. And he realized the wrong question to ask about your life is what do I want from life? The right question t..."
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"I'm also a fan of Viktor Frankl, whose book Man's Search for Meaning everybody should read. And he was an Austrian psychiatrist who was put in a Nazi concentration camp. And he ..."
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