Scott Jennings: ‘Here’s Something You Must Understand About the Left’

Scott Jennings delivered the keynote speech Friday at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s 2026 Texas Policy Summit, where he outlined what he believes conservatives must recognize about the political left. According to Jennings, the central issue is that the left resents individual achievement and independence from government.

Jennings argued that many policies and cultural messages promoted by the left are designed to increase reliance on Democrats and government institutions. He pointed to a range of debates and issues, including discussions surrounding transgender policies, critiques of the nation’s founding as racist, and opposition to the traditional nuclear family, as examples of what he described as a broader ideological push.

In his remarks, Jennings said conservatives should understand that the left dislikes when people succeed without government assistance or political oversight. He suggested that this perspective drives efforts to expand government influence in American life.

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Here is something that you *MUST* understand about the left 👇 pic.twitter.com/ZnKciaN2ST

— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) April 13, 2026

Jennings also criticized what he said are the ideas being taught to young Americans. He claimed students are often told that the United States was founded on racism, that the country is fundamentally flawed, and that capitalism is immoral. He added that young people are increasingly taught to view merit and hard work negatively, while traditional institutions such as family and religious faith are portrayed as outdated or oppressive.

He further argued that political candidates supported by the left promote ideas he considers extreme, referencing debates about gender identity and environmental policies. Jennings used these examples to illustrate what he believes is a broader cultural shift being pushed by progressive activists.

During the speech, Jennings also spoke about conservative activist Charlie Kirk and his work engaging students on college campuses. Jennings said Kirk recognized early on that young people were being heavily influenced by left-leaning ideas in higher education and dedicated much of his work to presenting an alternative viewpoint.

Jennings also addressed a violent attack that took the life of a close friend in Utah, saying the perpetrator believed the act would silence a movement. According to Jennings, the attacker likely thought that targeting a prominent conservative figure like Charlie Kirk would intimidate others into staying quiet.

He said that many people publicly celebrated the killing, which he described as a troubling sign of political hostility. However, Jennings argued that the attempt to silence conservative voices ultimately had the opposite effect.

Rather than ending the movement, he said, the incident inspired more people to speak out. Jennings concluded by saying that ideals such as faith and freedom cannot be eliminated through intimidation or violence. Even when suppressed, he argued, those principles continue to resurface and spread.

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