In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of 1819 News: The Podcast , host Bryan Dawson takes listeners on a gripping journey through the cultural battles shaping Alabama, America, and the future of Western civilization itself. Drawing on vivid metaphors—from Y ellowstone to the biblical creation mandate—Dawson introduces the compelling “Dutton Principle”: Anything worth having will inevitably be targeted, and unless we defend it with courage, it will be lost.

This episode zeroes in on one of Alabama’s most influential institutions: Auburn University. Dawson makes a passionate case for why Auburn is not only worth protecting but uniquely positioned to become the nation’s model for what a bold, unapologetically traditional university can be. With stories uncovered by 1819 News—ranging from DEI rebranding tactics and radical curriculum choices to controversial hiring decisions and alleged race-based admissions practices—Dawson paints a candid picture of a university at a crossroads.

But this conversation goes far beyond campus politics. Dawson zooms out to connect today’s cultural tensions to a sweeping historical narrative of Christendom, Western civilization, and the ideological forces that have sought to dismantle them for over a century. From the Bolshevik Revolution to the “long march through the institutions,” he traces how modern progressive ideology took root and explains why its rise represents not just a political struggle, but a spiritual one.

At the heart of the episode is a clear, energizing call to action: leaders must lead. Whether trustees, administrators, alumni, or everyday citizens, Dawson argues that those entrusted with influence have a responsibility to protect what is good, true, and beautiful—and to remove what threatens the hearts, minds, and souls of future generations.

Bold, unfiltered, and deeply motivating, this episode challenges listeners to see the cultural landscape with fresh clarity and to engage with renewed purpose. If you care about Alabama, education, or the future of America, this is an episode you cannot afford to miss.