Kennedy Saves the World – "Leave Identity Politics Behind w/ Jimmy Failla"
Podcast: Kennedy Saves the World, FOX News Podcasts
Host: Kennedy
Guest: Jimmy Failla
Date: August 18, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Kennedy and comedian/political commentator Jimmy Failla take a humorous yet pointed look at the current state of American politics—particularly the struggles of the Democratic Party with "identity politics" and their reliance on anti-Trump sentiment as a unifying factor. The conversation also covers the potential 2028 presidential candidates, both Democratic and Republican, and uses witty anecdotes to critique the disconnect between political elites and regular Americans.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Left's "Trump Obsession" and Identity Politics
- Democratic Strategy Weakness:
- Kennedy opens by noting the Democrat's fixation on opposing Trump, questioning their strategy for the post-Trump political landscape. (00:10)
- Jimmy points out that Democrats “became a victim of their own political success” by making elections all about being "not Trump," especially in local New York politics. (00:55)
- Key officials like Letitia James, Alvin Bragg, and De Blasio cited as running primarily on anti-Trump platforms rather than on substantive deliverables. (01:19)
- Critique of Identity Politics:
- Jimmy contends that the Democratic Party is increasingly represented by “woke white people who think they know better from minority communities,” and this is alienating genuine minority support. (01:30)
- Both argue that identity politics has lost traction: "The public has rejected that,” Jimmy asserts. (03:57)
2. Candidate Criticism, Hypocrisy, and the Case of "Mom Donnie"
- Rising Democratic Figures:
- Kennedy and Jimmy discuss the possibility of “Mom Donnie” (Zohran Mamdani), a progressive New York City politician, being floated as a 2028 candidate because of his youth and progressive credentials (01:47).
- They humorously speculate about his capacity as a candidate, referencing a potential “birth certificate controversy.” (02:03)
- Hypocrisy on Progressive Values:
- The pair highlight Mamdani’s rent-stabilized apartment as a case of hypocrisy: “If you are the champion of the little guy... move your out of that apartment the second you find out about it.” — Kennedy (02:49)
- Jimmy jokes that “rent-stabilized” is the best pickup line in Manhattan: “If you say to a woman, 'rent-stabilized,' you’re probably getting laid.” (03:20)
- Memorable real estate joke: Kennedy references When Harry Met Sally— combining obituaries with real estate listings as a quintessential New York experience. (03:36)
3. Deliverables vs. Grandstanding in Politics
- Republican Gains Among Minorities:
- Jimmy observes minority groups “are swinging Republican because the Republicans are at least focusing on deliverables.” (04:08)
- Policy Over Stunts:
- Kennedy critiques progressive politicians who prefer stunts (“I’m gonna tax the rich people!”) over sustainable policy, noting the implications of shrinking tax bases and inevitable service cuts like policing. (04:25)
- Jimmy sarcastically describes current Democratic messaging in New York: trying to convince people “their biggest problem is Trump” in neighborhoods where crime and economic issues are more pressing. (05:04)
4. Social Decay and Urban Policy
- Safe Injection Sites and Urban Decline:
- Kennedy brings up a sensational New York Post story about sexual activity in public safe injection sites, using it as an emblem of lawlessness and mismanagement. (05:40)
- Jimmy reacts with biting humor about public decency: “For people around the country, okay, this is outdoor sidewalk sex. Daytime in broad daylight for 15 minutes…” (05:57)
- Kennedy quips about the "romance" of the city, maintaining a satirical tone. (06:16)
5. GOP 2028 Ticket Speculation
- Trump’s Silence on VP Pick:
- They analyze Donald Trump’s ambiguous support for J.D. Vance versus Marco Rubio, with Jimmy likening Rubio to a “utility player” who does every job (“the Jose Oquendo of politics”). (06:55)
- Factional Competition:
- Kennedy remarks that Trump’s vacillation keeps contenders “hungry," referencing Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice style of internal competition. (07:17)
- Potential Candidates:
- Jimmy suggests that Sean Duffy could be a strong candidate, citing his reality TV experience, large Latino family, and cabinet post. (07:50, 08:05)
- He predicts that a Latino president is “probably two election cycles max” away, stressing that all outreach be “not on the basis of identity, on the basis of qualification.” (08:26)
- Ultimately, Jimmy puts his money on Rubio as the presidential nominee (08:52), speculates about an “all Catholic ticket” with Duffy as VP, and jokes about Rubio’s ears: “Right now he can only fly for 50ft at a time with those ears. He’s going to need to be able to fly 100 yards with those ears to land the presidency.” (09:49)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Rent-Stabilized Apartments & NYC Real Estate:
"If you say to a woman, 'rent-stabilized,' you’re probably getting laid. Okay. Cause it’s that scarce of a commodity."
— Jimmy Failla (03:20) - On the Death Knell of Identity Politics:
"He is emblematic of like the old problem they had, which is still more identity politics. The public has rejected that."
— Jimmy Failla (03:57) - On Democratic Messaging:
"If you show up to Queens right now, this summer, your biggest problem is not Trump, it's the Mets. Okay. Your second biggest problem are all of the migrant hookers and street gangs in AOC's district. That's real."
— Jimmy Failla (05:04) - On Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” Approach:
"I think he likes the idea. This kind of harkens back to the Celebrity Apprentice days of that internal competition. And I think he likes that."
— Jimmy Failla (07:17) - On Latino Candidates:
“We’re probably two election cycles max from a Latino president... you’d be wrong not to cater to someone, but not on the basis of identity, on the basis of qualification.”
— Jimmy Failla (08:26)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Democrats’ Trump Focus & Identity Politics: 00:10 – 04:08
- Hypocrisy & New York Politics: 01:47 – 03:57
- Deliverables vs. Stunts in Campaigns: 04:08 – 05:22
- Safe Injection Sites & Urban Decay Satire: 05:40 – 06:55
- GOP 2028 Ticket, Trump’s VP Choices: 06:55 – 10:07
Tone & Style
The conversation is sharp, irreverent, and brimming with Kennedy's trademark “spit-out-your-coffee” wit, balanced by Jimmy Failla’s incisive comic observations. Both maintain a blend of satirical outrage and earnest political critique, poking fun at sacred cows in both parties while underscoring the importance of moving beyond simplistic identity politics and focusing on real solutions.
Summary Created By:
Podcast Summarizer (Kennedy Saves the World, August 18, 2025)