Michael Savage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Savage
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Savage at the White House in 2018
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| Born |
Michael Alan Weiner
March 31, 1942 |
| Alma mater | Queens College (BS) University of Hawaii at Manoa (MS, MA) University of California, Berkeley (PhD) |
| Occupation | Political and social commentator, author and former radio talk show host |
| Political party | Independent |
| Movement | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) |
Carol Ely
(m. 1964; div. 1967)Janet Roll
(m. 1967) |
| Children | 2, including Russell Weiner |
Michael Alan Weiner (born March 31, 1942), known professionally as Michael Savage, is an American author, political commentator, and former radio host. He is famous for hosting The Savage Nation, a talk show that was broadcast across the United States until 2021. In 2009, it was one of the most popular radio talk shows, reaching over 20 million listeners on 400 stations.
Michael Savage has advanced degrees from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in medical botany and medical anthropology. He also has a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley in nutritional ethnomedicine. As Michael Weiner, he wrote books about nutrition and herbal medicine. As Michael Savage, he has written several political books that became The New York Times Best Sellers.
Savage describes his political ideas with three main words: borders, language, and culture. He sees his views as conservative nationalism. He supports the idea of English being the main language in the U.S. He believes that certain modern ideas are harming American culture. While his radio show often focused on politics, he also discussed topics like medicine, nutrition, music, history, and sports.
In 2009, Savage was not allowed to enter the United Kingdom. This was because officials believed his words could encourage serious harmful actions and spread hatred.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Michael Alan Weiner was born in the Bronx, New York, on March 31, 1942. He was one of three children. His father, Benjamin Weiner, was a Jewish immigrant from Russia. His mother, Rae, was from Montreal, Canada.
He has said his childhood was challenging. His father, who owned an antiques shop, was very critical of him. His younger brother, Jerome, was born with disabilities and could not hear or speak. Jerome passed away in 1969. His father died in 1970, and his mother in 2003.
After finishing Jamaica High School in 1958, Savage went to Queens College. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 1963. After college, he taught high school in New York City for several years.
His first marriage ended in divorce in 1967. He then married Janet, his current wife, in 1967. During this time, Savage worked for a researcher named Timothy Leary. He managed a gatehouse on a large estate in Millbrook, New York. Leary hired him because Savage did not use certain substances.
Savage then studied at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He earned a Master of Science degree in botany in 1970. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in anthropology in 1972. In 1978, he received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. His doctorate was in nutritional ethnomedicine. His main research was about traditional medicine in Fiji.
Changing Political Views
In the 1970s, Savage met writers in the North Beach area of San Francisco. He became friends with poets Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Savage exchanged letters with Ginsberg for four years. These letters are now kept at Stanford University.
By 1980, Savage's private conversations showed he had conservative political views. He had strong disagreements with his liberal friends. When asked about his change in views, Savage said, "I was once a child; I am now a man."
Many events in his life helped shape his conservative ideas. Savage says his views on welfare were partly formed by his first job as a social worker. He recalled an incident where he delivered a check to a welfare client to buy furniture. Meanwhile, his own apartment was furnished with cardboard boxes.
Another key moment happened when he was writing health books in the 1980s. He felt "political opposition" after suggesting that certain public places might need to close. This was in response to a serious health challenge. In 1994, his book manuscript, Immigrants and Epidemics, was rejected by publishers. They found it too controversial.
In 1996, Savage applied to be the Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. The university chose another journalist instead. Savage sued the university, claiming discrimination because he was conservative. He later dropped the lawsuit.
Career as a Commentator
Radio Career
After his 1994 book manuscript was rejected, Savage decided to try a new career. He made a demo tape of a mock radio talk show. He sent this tape to 250 radio stations.
On March 21, 1994, Savage began his radio career on KGO in San Francisco. He started as a fill-in host and later became a weekend host. His slogan at the time was "To the right of Rush and to the left of God." His show quickly became popular locally.
Later in 1994, KGO's parent company bought the station KSFO. They changed its format to conservative talk. On January 2, 1995, Savage started hosting the afternoon show The Savage Nation on KSFO. By 2000, he was the most popular afternoon host in San Francisco.
In 1999, Talk Radio Network began broadcasting parts of The Savage Nation across the country. By September 21, 2000, The Savage Nation became a fully national show.
By mid-2006, Savage had 8–10 million listeners each week. This made his show the third most listened-to broadcast in the United States. He described his listeners as "literate callers with intelligence, wit, and energy." He said his show had a "hard edge combined with humor and education."
By 2009, The Savage Nation reached 8 to 10 million listeners on 400 stations. This made it the second most listened-to radio talk show in the country. In September 2009, KNEW in San Francisco stopped carrying his program. Another San Francisco station, KTRB, picked up the show.
On September 27, 2012, Savage's talk show went off the air. He had won a legal case against Talk Radio Network, his employer for many years. On October 17, 2012, Savage and Cumulus Media Networks announced a new deal. The program returned on October 23, 2012.
By April 2013, Savage had over 3.5 million weekly listeners. In January 2015, Savage and Westwood One agreed to a long-term contract renewal. In January 2019, Savage launched a podcast version of his show. On March 24, 2019, he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his radio show. The Savage Nation ended its run with Cumulus Media and Westwood One on January 1, 2021.
TV Appearances
Savage briefly hosted a political talk show on MSNBC from March to July 2003. He was hired by MSNBC president Erik Sorenson. Savage was fired after four months due to comments he made in response to a caller. These comments caused controversy among certain groups.
Savage is a frequent guest on Newsmax television. He has appeared on shows like Stinchfield and The Count.
Podcast
In 2019, Savage started a podcast. The Savage Nation Podcast released new episodes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Views and Beliefs
Michael Savage calls himself an "independent-minded individualist." He says he "fits no stereotype." In a 2006 interview, Savage mentioned Barry Goldwater as an influence. He said, "I'm a Goldwater conservative."
Savage often criticizes big government and certain modern political ideas. He also accuses the mainstream news media of having a liberal bias. He believes that a nation is defined by its borders, language, and culture. These ideas inspired the motto of the Paul Revere Society.
Wildlife Conservation Efforts
Savage has long supported wildlife conservation. He often points out that "conservative" and "conservation" share the same root word, meaning "to conserve." He believes conservatives should lead efforts to protect the environment and wildlife.
In December 2017, a Huffington Post article quoted Savage about a hunting ban. He asked President Trump to reconsider lifting a ban on trophy hunting. Savage said, "Not all Obama legislation was bad. Some of it (like this) was grand." He also discussed the idea of human "dominion over animals." He stated, "Dominion over animals doesn't mean destroying or terrorizing them."
In March 2018, The Hill newspaper quoted him further. Savage wrote that he "felt betrayed" by a decision regarding wildlife. He had spoken to President Trump about environmental issues, especially this one. He explained that the root of "conservative" is the same as "conservation." He hoped the president would reverse the decision.
This private meeting with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago followed Savage's pleas on his radio show. He asked Trump to support laws protecting wildlife. In August 2019, Savage called on the White House to reverse approval for certain devices used against wild animals.
Immigration Views
Savage opposes unauthorized immigration. He has mentioned concerns about public services and American nationalism. In a tweet on May 17, 2019, he said, "Read my lips: no new immigrants." He often warns that migrants might carry diseases. In March 2006, he encouraged listeners to protest unauthorized immigration.
European Union Opinions
Savage is against the European Union. He has described it as "Hitler's dream of a united Europe under German control." He compared Britain's vote to leave the Union (Brexit) to the Second World War. He believes the E.U. risks conflict after Brexit.
Republican Presidential Candidates
In 2003, Savage said he voted for George W. Bush in 2000 "quite reluctantly." In 2004, Savage celebrated Bush's re-election. Savage donated money to the campaign of Democratic candidate Jerry Brown in 2006.
Savage strongly supported Donald Trump. Trump was a regular guest on his talk show. Trump has said he listens to and enjoys Savage's show. An April 2016 article described Savage as a major influence on Trump's 2016 campaign.
Savage has disagreed with some of Trump's actions and policies. These include certain appointments and what Savage saw as a failure to control unauthorized immigration. Despite this, he supported Trump for president in the 2020 United States presidential election.
"Cultural Genocide" Claims
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Savage believes in a "cultural genocide" theory. This idea suggests that certain groups are being harmed through forced changes. Savage has claimed there is a "cultural genocide being promulgated against Caucasians."
COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccines
A January 31, 2020, article quoted Savage calling for a stop to flights from China. Two months later, an April 16, 2020, New York Times article said Savage was one of the first in conservative media to take the COVID-19 epidemic seriously. On his radio show, Savage used his background in epidemiology to discuss the virus. He talked about how it spreads and effective treatments.
Savage was critical of other commentators who he felt downplayed the epidemic. He also criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci, calling him a "grandstander." Savage believes widespread lockdowns threaten individual freedom. He instead supports targeted quarantines for at-risk people.
In a May 4, 2020, article, Savage was quoted saying he would not take a coronavirus vaccine. He believed it would be "ineffective and dangerous." Savage has a history of opposing the flu vaccine. He argued that health authorities have to guess which strains to include in the vaccine. If they guess wrong, people can still get sick.
However, Savage supports vaccines for diseases like polio. These vaccines last many years because the infectious agent does not change much. He has praised Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, who developed polio vaccines. They famously chose not to patent their inventions, giving them to the world. Recently, Savage has accepted wearing masks in indoor public places.
Activism
Legal Defense Support
Savage has often donated money to help with the legal defense of U.S. Marines. These Marines were accused of certain actions in Haditha, Iraq. Savage has criticized how they were treated. He has donated over $10,000 to the U.S. Marines Charity Defense Fund. In April 2007, he pledged to donate $1 from sales of his books to the fund.
Awards and Recognition
On November 17, 2016, Savage was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. Savage called this event "the capstone of my career."
In 2020, Donald Trump nominated Savage to serve on the Board of Directors of The Presidio Trust. Savage often had disagreements with other board members. On May 20, 2021, the Biden administration formally asked Savage to resign from his position.
Personal Life
While in the South Pacific, Michael Savage became interested in a 19th-century sailor named Charles Savage. This sailor was believed to be the first person to bring firearms to Fiji.
Michael Savage and his second wife, Janet, have two children. Their daughter, Rebecca Lin Weiner Yops, was born on March 2, 1967. Their son, Russell Weiner, born on February 15, 1970, founded the company that makes the Rockstar energy drink. Russell's mother, Janet, was the Chief Financial Officer of his company until July 2009.
In 1974, Savage and his family moved to Fairfax, California. This was after Savage finished his master's degree. Savage has homes in Larkspur and Tiburon in Marin County, California. He also has an apartment in San Francisco and homes in Beverly Hills, California, and West Palm Beach, Florida.
In the 1980s, Savage attended services at a Jewish Synagogue in Berkeley. In a 2003 interview, Savage said he believes in God but attends places of worship only once or twice a year. In his 2012 book Trickle Down Tyranny, Savage wrote, "...I'm not religious. Do I believe in God? Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't." In a 2024 interview, Savage said he has been "very affiliated with the Chabad people" for 40 years.
In December 2019, Savage had a heart attack. He recovered and returned to his show. Savage has had many pet dogs throughout his life. His toy poodle, Teddy, passed away in late 2021.
Books Written by Michael Savage
Michael Savage has written 44 books in total. Twenty were written under his real name, Michael Weiner. Twenty-four were written under his professional name, Michael Savage. As Michael Savage, he has had two #1 New York Times Best Sellers. Three other books also made The New York Times Best Seller list.
His earlier books, written as Michael A. Weiner, Ph.D., used his knowledge in nutritional ethnomedicine. In these books, he suggested nutritional, herbal, and homeopathic ways to prevent and treat health issues. These included topics like poor diet, aging, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and allergies. He also wrote about tree planting, beer-tasting, and nutritional cooking.
His more recent books, written as Michael Savage, are about politics. They have been published by different companies. His recent works also include holiday family stories and thrillers.
In 1991, Savage self-published The Death of the White Male. This book argued against affirmative action. In the book, Savage called affirmative action "reverse discrimination." This book helped lead to him starting the Paul Revere Society. He still sells the book to raise money for this group.
In January 2003, Savage published The Savage Nation: Saving America from the Liberal Assault on Our Borders, Language and Culture. This was his first major book under the name Michael Savage. The book criticized "liberal media bias" and certain activist groups.
In January 2004, Savage published his second political book, The Enemy Within: Saving America from the Liberal Assault on Our Schools, Faith, and Military. His next book, Liberalism Is a Mental Disorder, came out on April 12, 2005. These books provided sources for some of their claims.
In April 2006, Savage released The Political Zoo. This book used satire and cartoons to describe public figures. Most of these figures were liberal politicians and celebrities. They were shown as animals in a "Political Zoo," with Savage as the zookeeper.
In October 2010, Savage released Trickle Up Poverty: Stopping Obama's Attack on Our Borders, Economy, and Security. In this book, Savage argued that Americans were angry about how Congress and the President were using the economic crisis. He claimed they were trying to take control of businesses.
In November 2010, it was confirmed that Savage signed a deal to write two thrillers. The first political thriller, Abuse of Power, was released on September 13, 2011. The novel is based on his experience of being banned from Britain. It is set in San Francisco, London, and Tel Aviv. It tells a story about a failed carjacking that uncovers a government cover-up. The publisher described the novel as a thrilling plot involving British officials and a terrorist group.
In 2014, Savage released Stop the Coming Civil War: My Savage Truth. In this book, Savage wrote that the country was under attack from inside and out. He claimed the government was trying to gain more power while weakening defenses against enemies.
In 2015, Savage released another book titled Government Zero: No Borders, No Language, No Culture. In it, he wrote that the country had lost its founding principles: "borders, language, and culture." He described what he called the destruction caused by the Obama presidency. He also offered solutions to rebuild the nation.
In 2016, Savage's book Scorched Earth: Restoring The Country After Obama was published. This book was a guide for how Donald Trump could help the country if he won the election.
In March 2017, Savage released what he said would be his last political book, Trump's War: His Battle For America. The book became a number one best seller on The New York Times list.
In November 2017, Savage released a non-political book about his search for spiritual truth, God, Faith, and Reason.
In October 2018, Savage published a book on American psychology, Stop Mass Hysteria: America's Insanity from the Salem Witch Trials to the Trump Witch Hunt. In it, he discussed what he called "loud flashpoints" in American history. He connected these to what he described as a current focus on Trump criticism.
In June 2019, Savage published a new book of stories and personal experiences called A Savage Life.
