Birth Rates Are Low. Can A “Fertility President” Fix That?

Key takeaways

Pronatalism is a controversial movement focused on increasing birth rates to counter demographic decline, with active participation in media campaigns and policy advocacy.
The Collinses advocate for provocative, performative strategies, including ‘rage bait’, to influence public opinion and political discourse around fertility.
Genetic testing and engineering are seen by proponents as tools for families to select desirable traits, but they distinguish these practices from eugenics, framing them as personal family choices.
Cultural identity and sovereignty are central to their argument that high fertility is necessary for societal continuity, often emphasizing the importance of group pride and belonging.
The movement intersects with political extremism and nationalist ideas, although the proponents claim to reject explicit racism or supremacist ideologies.
Financial backing for these activities comes from wealthy donors and entrepreneurial ventures, though the core motivation is societal impact rather than profit.
Media tactics rely heavily on clickbait and controversial content to draw attention and shape narratives around demographic and cultural issues.

Summary

Introduction and Context of Pronatalism

The episode opens with Nayeema Raza exploring the rise of pronatalism, a movement advocating for increased birth rates amid concerns about demographic collapse. The guests, Malcolm and Simone Collins, are portrayed as controversial proponents connected to political and cultural spheres, including ties to Elon Musk and policy drafts for the White House. They discuss their family size ambitions, personal backgrounds, and their provocative media strategies aimed at stimulating discussion or outrage around fertility issues.

The Movement's Ideology and Media Strategy

The Collinss describe their approach to activism as intentionally performative and provocative, using ‘rage bait’ content to draw attention and influence public discourse. They emphasize authenticity despite the theatrical presentation, blending humor, satire, and serious advocacy to challenge mainstream narratives about fertility, demographic decline, and cultural identity. Fundamental to their ideology is a focus on cultural sovereignty, genetic selection, and the importance of propagating certain cultural or racial identities through high fertility.

Fertility Policy and Genetic Engineering

Discussions delve into the practical aspects of their pro-natalist agenda, including advocacy for policies like medals for parents of large families and genetic testing of embryos for traits like IQ and health risks. They clarify their stance against eugenics, framing their genetic discussions as family choices rather than discrimination. They also touch on the potential for genetic engineering as a future step in human enhancement, emphasizing personal freedom in choosing traits.

Demographic Reality and Cultural Identity

The guests argue that demographic decline and high fertility rates are complex issues intertwined with cultural pride and identity. They critique current Western social trends, such as urbanization and feminism, which they see as barriers to high birthrates. They promote the idea of cultural sovereignty without legislation, highlighting concerns about cultural extinction and the importance of group identity in reproductive decisions.

Controversies and Alliances in Pronatalism

The conversation explores the movement’s controversial associations with extremist and nationalist groups, emphasizing that the Collinss reject ties to racism or supremacist ideologies while acknowledging strategies to appeal to specific cultural groups for higher fertility. They justify provocative actions and rhetoric as tools to attract attention and stimulate debate, seeing these as necessary steps to address demographic crises.

Funding, Business Ventures, and Media Tactics

The episode touches on the financial underpinnings of their activities, including grants from wealthy donors and their online business ventures like an AI platform and homeschooling tool. They deny any personal profit from their nonprofit work, stating their efforts are driven by a desire for societal impact. Their media tactics include clickbait headlines and controversial podcasts, aimed at maximizing reach and influence despite ethical concerns.

Broader Cultural and Political Implications

Finally, the guests discuss the intersection of pronatalism with political ideologies and cultural conflicts, touching on issues like racial replacement theory, abortion policies, and national security. They argue that high fertility within cultural or racial groups is essential for societal longevity and identity, framing their advocacy as a fight for cultural sovereignty rather than supremacy.

Show notes

And does it even need to be fixed? In this episode Nayeema tries to understand whether demographic collapse is a crisis or a con job. She sits down with Malcolm and Simone Collins, a New Right pronatalist couple with ties to the Heritage Foundation and Elon Musk and policy drafts being submitted for White House consideration. They have 5 kids, 30 embryos on ice and aspirations to keep going til Simone’s uterus “falls out”.

On the agenda: why aren’t people having kids (is it a modern marriage crisis, does picking embryos based on IQ make you a eugenicist, and in a movement that intersects with racist overtones are the Collins interested in drawing a line in the sand or in co-opting controversy in their aspirations of fame? Also: how does one afford five to twelve kids anyway?

Whether you think they're visionaries or completely off the rails, this is one conversation you won't forget.

Send us your “dumb questions” on IG/TikTok @smartgirldumbquestions or by calling 1-855-MyDumbQ.

Make sure you’re following Nayeema and the show on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. And obvi: SHARE THE SHOW WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR MOM and YOUR PREGNANT FRIEND.
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