Monday 12/22/25 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Info
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| 6:35 Sam Kay, Director, External Affairs and Public opinion at the Manhattan Institute |
We discuss the results of Manhattan Institute’s recently conducted focus group, which took place last week in Nashville, TN. We gathered 20 Gen Z Republicans to learn what they thought on topics such as media consumption, economics, immigration, and their vision for America. Highlights below.
10 fast facts:
- Media consumption: Zoomers’ news diet is mostly personality-driven and algorithmic, with a majority receiving their news from TikTok, Instagram, X, YouTube, and podcasts. The most popular podcasters were Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and Ben Shapiro. The few Zoomers who did tune into mainstream media only did so as background noise to their daily routine.
- Favorite figures: When asked who best represents them in politics and media, Charlie Kirk was named most frequently. Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were also mentioned. JD Vance was the top choice for president in 2028.
- Nick Fuentes: Just over half had heard of him. Most reacted with indifference or ironic distance, seeing him as rage bait more than a real political force.
- Family formation: They overwhelmingly want marriage and kids, yet few are married and many see the dating market as unserious and brittle—even in a highly religious room.
- Overall sentiment: Asked whether the country is improving, the Zoomers focused less on macro indicators and more on a changing culture, cost of living, faith, and personal experiences. Optimism and pessimism often coexisted in the same answer.
- Economic outlook: They weren’t economically desperate, nor were they hostile to capitalism. Most expect upward mobility, even if homeownership is still a ways off—for reasons beyond cost alone. Health care stood out as one risk that felt highly destabilizing.
- Political violence: Participants had no appetite for political violence. But when the conversation turned to Hitler, responses revealed real confusion—some trying to separate “strong leadership” or nationalism from moral catastrophe, others forcefully rejected that framing.
- Foreign affairs: On Israel, views were mixed and often conflicted. Some expressed support or saw Israel as an ally, alongside moral unease and skepticism about U.S. involvement. On Ukraine, there was much less division. Many described America as over-involved. Across both conflicts, indifference was common.
- Deportations: The group leaned toward enforcement. Thirteen of 20 agreed that all illegal immigrants should be deported, often framing the issue as one of law, scale, and system failure rather than hostility toward immigrants themselves.
- Immigration: The group leaned toward selectivity than outright restriction. On assimilation, concerns were more cultural than economic. Debates over H-1B visas turned less on hostility to foreigners than on fairness, wages, and whether the system serves Americans first.
For a more detailed breakdown, check out Jesse Arm’s X thread and his write-up in City Journal.
7:10 Jackson County Library System Vice Chair Kevin Keating discussing last week’s R-V Times story – a patron accused of viewing kiddie porn on a library computer. https://rv-times.com/2025/12/22/criticism-mounts-over-how-library-patrons-suspension-was-handled/
7:35 Charlene Prinsen, former area manager and librarian at the Eagle Point Library give her take on the JCLS patron controversy.
8:10 Dr. Dennis Powers, retired professor of business law at Southern Oregon University www.DennisPowersBooks.com with today’s Where Past Meets Present.
Christmas Eve and Day–2025
By Dennis Powers
Christmas Eve and Day in pioneer days were simpler, important–but difficult. Winters in cold cabins were tough, as sleet and snow weren’t that merry. Remote families decorated their small cabin with freshly-cut boughs. If a small tree fit inside, then strung with popcorn, small wax candles (a bucket of water kept close), and red Madrone berries; the families sang Christmas carols and read from the Bible.
Days ahead, women cooked the special Christmas Day meal. Gifts were homemade (carved wooden toys, sachets, footstools, and corn-husk dolls). If a good year, children might find that Santa had left candies, nuts, or cookies in their stockings.
If living in a small town as Gold Hill, people joined together. Children helped decorate the town Christmas tree at their church or gathering place. They cut out cardboard stars, wrapped them in silver tinfoil, and hung them to join the strung popcorn, wax candles, and small gifts on the tree. Larger gifts were placed underneath. In Ashland, early times were presents for all the children, a community tree, and resident-played music.
On Christmas, the families attended church, returned home for their traditional meal, and spent the day visiting with friends. A larger “city” like Medford could have a “Grand Christmas Ball.” One newspaper ad read: “A Grand Ball will be in Byers’ Hall, Medford. On Christmas Night–December 25, 1885. A fine Supper and the best of Music will be provided. The services of a first-class caller have been engaged… A good time is anticipated. Come one! Come all! Tickets, $2.50.”
Over time, stockings grew fuller with oranges, candy canes, and ballpoint pens, as Christmas trees became decorated with electric lights, bubbling colors, and a star on top. When we fast forward to today, the holidays have become more commercial. Although many families enjoy the festive and religious times, the stress of jobs, family responsibilities, and how much to spend cut away at our time. Add in the pandemic and indifferent politicians, times have certainly changed.
Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus, however, continued its tradition of expensive fantasy gifts. First brought out in 1959, it donates a small portion from most fantasy gifts to nonprofits. The company, after different owners and being in and out of bankruptcy, is now owned by Saks Global that’s part of NRDC Equity Partners, a U.S.-based private equity firm founded by real estate investor Richard Baker.
Ranging in price from $20,000 to $1.9 million, the 2024 Fantasy Gifts included the following: a VIP styling experience with “Emily in Paris” costume designer Marylin Fitoussi in Paris ($175,000), an 18.05-carat yellow diamond necklace by Messika and safari experience in Namibia ($777,777), among others. The showstopper, going for $1.9 million, is a rare piece of world history: a striking 18th century calèche (horse-drawn carriage) that belonged to the Spanish royal family—which was placed instead of the usual “fantasy” car.
Neiman Marcus’ fantasy gifts are just that, from a $20 million submarine (2000) to a $10 million racing stable (2008) and a $7.1 million solar yacht (2018). For 2022, there was the 1935 Cartier art-deco-designed necklace with 520 single-cut diamonds (42 carats), plus 92 baguette diamonds (8 carats) for $3.2 million. The car for 2022 was the brand-new Barbie x Maserati Grecale Trofeo SUV in Barbie pink with only three in the world made and the only one with a Neiman Marcus-branded finish (for $330,000); otherwise, the four-cylinder Grecales retail for $65,000. The 2023 fantasy car was the EV Carmen Cadillac Celestiq for $975,000. (Note: the Celestiq’s normal base price is $350,000 before customization.) You watched the car being designed and hand-built, including “choreographed” lighting and a smart glass roof customized for each passenger’s preference.
In 2025, for $500,000 you’ll have a four-hour portrait session by Annie Leibovitz, whose images have been featured in magazine covers and galleries around the world. Following your shoot, you’ll have an exclusive session with her publisher’s editor and a signed set of Leibovitz’s four acclaimed books, along with 100 signed copies of her new book release.
Next, for $490,000 you’ll embark on an 11-day trip through the American West with EXP Journeys, a luxury travel outfitter specializing in privately guided experiences. You and up to three guests will trace a passage from Yellowstone National Park to Amangiri, a desert resort in Utah’s Canyon Point, and other places such as Jackson Hole’s Teton Village with helicopter charters over the Grand Canyon.
A $185,000 Christmas gift includes a Christofle Paris getaway with a one-of-a-kind Mood cutlery set that’s hand-engraved with your monogram. The egg-shaped showpiece opens to reveal a table setting for six people, featuring 24 sterling silver and gilded pieces vertically staged for display.
The car for 2025 is the $135,000 Bugatti Baby II: a 75% scale reimagining of Bugatti’s Type 35 race car. Fully electric, it includes white leather upholstery, custom detailing on the bodywork and steering wheel, and a personalized commemorative plaque. It isn’t street legal and only intended for use on private roads and estates–and not recommended for children under the age of 14 with adult supervision required for those under 18.
Not to mention, there’s the $47,000 custom-designed saddle by Christian Louboutin of Paris–or the $115,000 Mediterranean yacht trip for four. And more. For the rest of us, we are simply looking forward to a family-oriented, non-politicized Merry Christmas and New Year.
Sources: See “Legends of America–A Pioneer Christmas” at A Pioneer Christmas; Wikipedia: “Neiman Marcus” at History; Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts at its website–or Google.
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Thursday 12/18/25 Bill Meyer Show Guests and Info