In this solo episode of his radio show, Dennis Prager argues that the prevailing narrative of America’s continual moral and cultural improvement is a myth. He claims that the arc of history is not a steady upward trajectory but a roller‑coaster, and that Western societies are in decline. Prager links this decline to the suppression of free speech, especially for conservatives, likening it to being forced to stay in a closet where one cannot breathe. He stresses that speaking truth is essential for personal happiness and mental health, warning that repeated falsehoods exact a biological and psychological toll. The monologue also touches on the COVID‑19 pandemic: Prager describes his own household’s experience, his use of hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, zinc, and vitamin D, and his contempt for mask mandates, which he calls “colossal idiocy.” He urges listeners to seek kindred spirits, express their views, and reject surrendering to societal pressure, framing these actions as pathways to happiness. The episode ends with an invitation for callers.
Chapters
To say, I think America is a wonderful country, is now considered taboo. It's quite remarkable. I have no idea where it's going. It may, it may end up in catastrophe. I have enough knowledge of human history to know that this moronic idea that, oh, the arc of history bends— the arc of history doesn't do a damn thing. The arc of history is a, is a roller coaster. Oh, it's been great. The— there's the professor at Harvard who wrote this big best-selling book about how things are so much better today thanks to the Enlightenment. Really, things better in America today than 25 years ago in terms of what matters most, unless you don't believe it matters most, freedom? There have been improvements obviously in the lot of, let's say, gay Americans. There's no question there has been an improvement. I don't deny these facts, but the overall trajectory of American life has been downward, of all Western life. This, uh, it's an amazing thing that people think, oh, it just, yeah, just gonna get better and better, people become more and more enlightened. Really? Anyway, I advise to you with all the passion I can muster that you find kindred spirits to be with, to talk to, to have over, unless you're petrified about the COVID virus. Two people in my, my house have COVID. I took a test yesterday, the official test, and the swab test. Guy gave me the swab, then posed for a selfie with me. It was very, very sweet. And the, uh, I believe that the combination of hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and zinc that I take, along with big doses of vitamin D, that I have— nothing is a guaranteed protection, but I think I have protection because of that. And the two people who have it in my, in my home were not taking this. By the way, neither got particularly sick, but they got I got like a mild flu, and that's why I'm broadcasting from home, because I'm not broadcasting from the station because of quarantining rules, which I completely respect. I think they're useless, but I completely respect them. The number of things I am now doing that I think are absurd is unprecedented in my life. But there are limits to the irrational that I am prepared to participate in, and that includes wearing a mask outside, an act of such colossal idiocy that to see all my fellow citizens do it is just painful. This is a challenging time for happiness. You need, you need kindred spirits. This was my subject last week. You also have to ultimately realize you get this one life and you can't surrender. You won't be happier if you surrender. Okay, it's a happiness hour, so I always bring it back to the subject of happiness. Shutting up and closing down, it doesn't work in terms of happiness because all you do is the pressure then is internal. My doing this radio show is healthy for me. It's healthy for you because, oh my God, it's expressed. I have the ability, in my case, to express it, in your case, to hear it. 2 and 2 does equal 4, not 5. That's, that's a relief. If you have to say 2 and 2 is 5— men give birth— if you have to repeat that enough, it, it takes a toll on you. There's no question when you know you're saying something that isn't true over and over and you're forced to say it. America's systemically racist. Men give birth. America was founded in 1619. The more lies you know you're saying, the bigger the price you pay, even biologically. In 8th grade in health— I can't believe I remember this, but it was— there was a book that we had to read for health education in, in my last year in elementary school. I think it was titled Stress Kills, and it's the only thing I remember was the title, but it had a big impact on me. It's one of the reasons I pursued inner peace, because I didn't want to be killed. Everybody knows that you can eat up your, your insides Literally, if you suppress what you believe, it— there's a psychic and biological toll that you pay to say untruths or to just shut up, to be among people and know you can't say what you believe lest you lose your livelihood. A very real price is paid. I have a friend in a major American orchestra, because I'm involved, as you know, in music. And he came out, as it were, as conservative, and his colleagues did not know that. And he is so much happier. Yes, he's not the most popular member. No, he's the sweetest guy in the world. He's not the most popular member of the orchestra anymore, that's clear. But look, ask gays who came out of the closet, how did it feel to come out of the closet? It was frightening, but it was so liberating. Today's gay, in terms of opprobrium from society, is a conservative. And they You pay a price. Ask the gays of a generation or two ago who were in the closet, did you pay a price? Of course they did. Why don't you pay a price if you're in the closet as a conservative? Right? But the closet is a closet. Closets are equal. They don't care who's in it. They equally suppress the air that you can breathe. I will take your calls. I'm Dennis Prager.
