Jeremy Boreing09 December 2023

Going To War With Mainstream Media - Jeremy Boreing - #717

0Frameworks

12Insights

Insights & moments

The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Myth Buster· 1

Myth Buster28:00

Why Revealing One Truth Doesn’t Make Someone Trustworthy

Boreing warns against the 'cult leader' phenomenon: when a figure gains trust by exposing a forbidden truth, audiences then believe everything else they say — even falsehoods. This dynamic, amplified by the internet, leads people to follow figures like Andrew Tate down dangerous paths.

Revealing one truth doesn’t validate all future claims.
People replace old authorities with new ones too quickly.
The internet rewards one-hit wonders who become untrustworthy gurus.
Audiences must remain skeptical, even of truth-tellers.

“Your first instinct shouldn't be 'I should trust this new person' — it should be 'I was too trusting before.'”
Jeremy Boreing · 30:30

#media literacy#influence#cults#critical thinking

Hot Take· 2

Hot Take22:00

The Right Isn’t Conservative — It’s Revolutionary

Boreing argues that today’s right isn’t truly conservative but reactionary — trying to tear down leftist institutions rather than preserve tradition. He calls for 'lowercase R republicanism': leading audiences with principle, not pandering, and challenging their worst instincts while still representing them.

The modern right is not conserving — it’s trying to build something new.
Populism gives people what they want; republicanism gives them what they need.
Leadership means both representing and challenging your audience.
True conservatism must resist becoming revolutionary.

“At a certain point, the right isn't trying to conserve — it's trying to build. And that's incredibly dangerous.”
Jeremy Boreing · 22:20

#politics#conservatism#leadership#culture wars

Hot Take39:00

Don’t Let Your Audience Demand Purity You Can’t Live Up To

Boreing refuses to create 'wholesome' content that panders to purity standards, arguing that no one — including himself — lives up to moral perfection. He rejects the 'purity compact' that destroys creators when they inevitably fall short.

No creator is morally pure — pretending otherwise is dishonest.
Audiences demand purity they don’t practice themselves.
Purity spirals destroy creators and stifle art.
Better to create great, truthful content than safe, sanitized content.

“I refuse to put out movies that pander to my audience. I will only put out movies that I think are great.”
Jeremy Boreing · 41:00

#media#morality#authenticity#culture

Explainer· 3

Explainer05:30

Why People Follow Individuals, Not Institutions

Boreing explains the shift from corporate-controlled media to individual-led influence, citing figures like Elon Musk and Cristiano Ronaldo. He argues that audiences connect more deeply with real people than polished brands, and that authenticity — not perfection — drives long-term trust and engagement.

Audiences follow individuals, not faceless organizations.
People distrust overly polished, corporatized personas.
Authenticity emerges naturally through consistent action, not manufactured branding.
The Daily Wire focuses on developing hosts as trusted voices, not just content machines.

“People don't follow things — they follow people.”
Jeremy Boreing · 05:50

#influence#authenticity#media#personal branding

Explainer16:00

Why Success Can Kill the Qualities That Created It

Boreing warns that the traits that lead to success — risk-taking, authenticity, urgency — often erode once someone gains fame, wealth, or power. The instinct to protect what you’ve built makes you risk-averse, undermining the very qualities that got you there.

Risk-taking creates success; preservation breeds caution.
Fame, wealth, and power are corrosive — they change your relationship to risk.
Many successful people become the opposite of who they were when rising.
Having something to lose makes you afraid to lose it — which can lead to stagnation.

“The very thing that helped you succeed becomes something you fear will cause you to fail.”
Jeremy Boreing · 16:20

#success#risk#leadership#psychology

Explainer25:30

The Right’s Diagnosis Is Right — But the Cure Is Wrong

Boreing argues the right correctly identifies societal decay but often prescribes simplistic or tribal solutions. He criticizes reliance on axiomatic advice from people without real-world success and warns against conspiratorial thinking, like anti-Semitism, as false remedies for elite betrayal.

The right often diagnoses problems correctly but fails on solutions.
Much advice comes from people who never succeeded financially or socially.
Conspiracy theories (e.g., anti-Semitism) emerge as false answers to real elite failures.
Nuance is missing — the world is complex, not binary.

“Money doesn't grow on trees — what a lie. Money *does* grow on trees. Wealth is created.”
Jeremy Boreing · 26:30

#politics#ideology#critical thinking#conservatism

Story· 3

Story01:30

How The Daily Wire Was Founded

Jeremy Boreing recounts the unlikely origins of The Daily Wire, born from a chance meeting with Ben Shapiro at a coffee shop. Despite their disparate backgrounds — Boreing as a failed Hollywood actor, Shapiro as a conservative legal prodigy — they recognized each other's potential and began collaborating. What started as small video gigs evolved into a mission to build a media platform centered on personality-driven influence.

The Daily Wire began with a meeting between Jeremy Boreing and Ben Shapiro at a Coffee Bean in Studio City.
Boreing saw Shapiro’s rapid speaking style not as a flaw but as a unique asset for digital media.
Both were at career crossroads — Boreing disillusioned with Hollywood, Shapiro transitioning from law to media.
Early collaborations involved creating content for conservative donors and building influence through personal networks.

“I met Ben Shapiro at a Coffee Bean on Ventura Boulevard... I recognized pretty quickly that Ben was a once-in-a-generation talent.”
Jeremy Boreing · 03:00

#media#entrepreneurship#conservatism#origin story

Story07:30

How Michael Knowles Built His Intellectual Foundation

Boreing shares how Michael Knowles, initially feeling outmatched, committed to reading two books per week — including philosophy, theology, and Western classics — while working full time. This relentless self-education over four years transformed him into a durable intellectual voice, proving that sustained effort beats viral fame.

Michael Knowles read two books per week for four years, totaling around 400 works.
His reading included philosophers, Church Fathers, and canonical texts.
This discipline helped him develop depth beyond hot takes.
Boreing credits this rigor as key to Knowles’ lasting influence.

“He started reading... two books a week. Not self-help — philosophers, Church Fathers, the Western Canon.”
Jeremy Boreing · 08:00

#education#self-improvement#intellectualism#content creation

Story43:00

Why People Were Afraid to Laugh at 'Lady Ballers'

Boreing reveals that even allies were hesitant to associate with The Daily Wire’s comedy movie 'Lady Ballers' due to fear of backlash. He criticizes the right for embracing serious moralizing but avoiding satire — a weapon the left uses effectively.

Comedy is a powerful cultural weapon the right underuses.
Fear of audience backlash prevents creative risk-taking.
People demand purity from conservative creators but consume impure content themselves.
Satire should be embraced, not avoided.

“They'll say 'mockery is a weapon' — but then they don't want to make any jokes.”
Jeremy Boreing · 43:20

#comedy#culture#censorship#film

Q&A· 1

Q&A17:30

When Does Outsourcing Become Detachment?

Boreing discusses the trade-off between efficiency and humanity: while outsourcing mundane tasks (like laundry) frees time for higher-value work, there’s a point where avoiding inconvenience severs connection to common human experience. The goal is to become more human, not less.

Outsourcing saves time for high-leverage activities like reading or creating.
But avoiding all inconvenience risks losing empathy and connection.
The ideal is to grow in capability without losing touch with shared humanity.
Wealth should enable value creation, not isolation.

“If your best friend had a flat tire three blocks from your house, would you send a tow truck? When you do, you've accepted yourself…”
Jeremy Boreing · 18:30

#productivity#wealth#humanity#ethics

Tool· 1

Tool56:30

Benkey: A Wholesome Alternative for Kids

The Daily Wire launched Benkey, a children’s content platform with original shows like 'Chip Chilla' and 'Mabel & Mlay'. It’s designed to be imaginative, values-driven, and free from partisan agendas — a 'revolutionary' space for kids to just be kids.

Benkey is a kids’ platform separate from The Daily Wire’s adult content.
Features four original shows focused on wonder and creativity.
Aims to give children a safe, imaginative cultural space.
Seen as a potential legacy project.

“Giving children a place to actually be children — that's maybe the great calling of our time.”
Jeremy Boreing · 57:00

#parenting#kids#education#media

Takeaway· 1

Takeaway11:00

Treat Your Career Like an Athlete’s Training

Inspired by David Perell’s essay, Boreing advocates treating creative work like athletic performance — with coaching, conditioning, mindset training, and recovery. He emphasizes that long-term success requires treating your craft as a disciplined pursuit, not just a talent.

Creatives should adopt athlete-like habits: coaching, sleep, nutrition, mental training.
Success isn’t just about ideas — it’s about daily discipline.
Most creators don’t train like professionals, leaving capacity on the table.
Longevity comes from treating your mind and body as performance instruments.

“Imagine what would happen if you treated podcasting like an athlete — with comedy coaches, improv, breath work, cold exposure.”
Jeremy Boreing · 11:15

#productivity#mindset#self-discipline#career