Podcast Summary: Part Of The Problem – "A Response to Dan Bongino"

Host: Dave Smith (with Robbie the Fire Bernstein)
Network: GaS Digital
Date: January 10, 2026

Overview

This episode is a candid and fiery response from Dave Smith to Dan Bongino, centering around Bongino's reaction to criticism over his recent public statements and his legacy as an FBI official and pundit. The episode dissects Bongino’s combative online exchanges, his defensiveness on Epstein, his role as a regime gatekeeper, and the underlying tension in right-wing and libertarian movements concerning accountability and transparency.

Smith and Bernstein pull no punches, addressing both policy hypocrisy and the personal attacks Bongino has hurled, incorporating direct social media exchanges and audio clips as evidence. The tone is snarky, relentless, and unapologetically confrontational.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background and the Twitter War (00:45–04:41)

• Dave explains the setup: Smith previously critiqued Bongino’s shifting narratives regarding Epstein. A Twitter clip of Dave’s remarks prompted Bongino to retaliate online.
• Dave relays Bongino’s response was more abrasive than expected:
  • Dave Smith [01:33]: “I got that prediction wrong. Holy shit.”
• As social media pressure built, Bongino began blocking critics and then posted a thread referencing the ‘lib/black pillar symbiote’—implicitly targeting Dave.

2. The Epstein Criticism (02:18–04:41, 47:40–49:17)

• Smith accuses Bongino of lying about the Epstein case, highlighting a contradiction between Bongino’s past and present statements:
  • Dave Smith [02:51]: “You either lied then or you are lying now. And we all kind of know you’re lying now.”
• Bongino is called out for covering up for elites and the deep state under the guise of fighting them.
• The hosts replay and dissect Bongino’s old appearance where he insists, “I’ve seen the whole file. He killed himself.” Dave points out the absurdity given the vast quantity of documents just being released now.

3. Bongino’s Social Media Meltdown (10:37–16:44)

• Dave reads and roasts Bongino’s replies—which range from childish (Goodfellas’ "shine box" reference) to the bizarre (personal jabs at Dave’s family name and children).
  • Dave Smith [14:41]: “He goes, tell your family to blink twice if they need my help. I'll get right over there. Which is a fucking weird thing to say.”
• The hosts discuss the projection and insecurity beneath Bongino’s reactions, noting he seems rattled by persistent criticism.

4. The Changing Media & Political Landscape (05:08–09:11)

• Dave draws parallels to Romney’s anti-Trump speech and Jordan Peterson’s instructions on political discourse, arguing that establishment interventions now cost influence rather than bolster it.
• Dave Smith [08:47]: “It just don’t work like that anymore... If I were to try to sell out tomorrow... It would just ruin my credibility.”

5. Gatekeeping, Straw Men, & Deflection (21:45–35:35)

• The episode highlights how Bongino pivots from specific criticisms (Epstein, wars, Trump’s spending) to building straw men:
  • Playing a clip, Bongino claims, “You get these black pillars... that's all you do... He'll shut down the border. Ten people across... Why wasn’t it zero?” [22:09].
• Dave and Robbie dismantle this argument, pointing out that virtually no critics make such claims. The actual issues are Epstein, spending, war, and broken promises.
• Dave blasts Bongino’s attempt to limit debate topics:
  • Dave Smith [29:42]: "Make a list of the things that we are allowed to debate and then... shove it up your fucking ass. No one cares if you decide tariffs are okay."

6. Loyalty, Team Sports, and the “Black Pill” (33:43–36:13)

• Smith rejects the idea that critics should act as cheerleaders for the administration:
  • Dave Smith [33:43]: “I'm on the team that doesn't protect pedophiles. Not your team.”
• He underscores the right of skeptics to voice opposition—being a critical voice does not equate to being nihilistic or “black pilled.”

7. Challenge to Debate (19:00, 39:46, 40:36, 43:31)

• Smith repeatedly invites Bongino to a public debate, suggesting venues and guaranteeing an overwhelming win.
  • Dave Smith [41:48]: “Dude, I will get on a plane after our shows tonight and go do this tomorrow morning and fly back here to make my shows tomorrow.”
  • Raises the stakes: promises to polish Bongino’s shoes live if he doesn’t get at least 80% online poll approval post-debate.

8. Meta Commentary on Political Media Credibility (16:52–18:34, 52:26–53:39)

• Dave and Robbie compare Bongino’s credibility collapse to that of Anthony Fauci and others who have been exposed as unreliable in the modern media era.
• Dave stresses the new dynamic: audiences will not follow sell-outs and “regime guys” into ideological battle—they want substance and accountability.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On projection and panic:
  • Dave Smith [10:59]: "I'm just...I got a thick skin for viciousness, and I'm better at being vicious than Dan Bongino is. So, like, come on, keep going, dude."
• On gatekeeping complaint:
  • Dave Smith [29:42]: "...then make a list of the things that we're not allowed to debate and then crumple that list up and shove it up your fucking ass."
• On team loyalty:
  • Dave Smith [33:43]: "I'm on the team that doesn't protect pedophiles. Not your team."
• Inviting an open debate:
  • Dave Smith [41:48]: “I will get on a plane after our shows tonight and go do this tomorrow morning...”
• Summing up the stakes:
  • Dave Smith [43:31]: “Either... Bongino will now run away like a little girl and he will absolutely never see me, or two, I, Chris Cuomo, him in a debate. Those are the options here. What's a better white pill than that?”

Important Timestamps

• 00:46–04:41: Twitter beef setup – Bongino’s initial response
• 10:37–16:44: Reading and responding to Bongino’s tweets (shine box, family/children comments)
• 21:45–29:56: Breaking down Bongino’s podcast clip and bordering on censorship/”black pill” accusations
• 33:07–36:13: “What team are you on?” and the sportsification of politics
• 39:46–43:11: Debate challenge escalation; Dave’s confidence in an open confrontation
• 47:40–49:42: Revisiting Bongino’s past statements about Israel and Epstein
• 52:26–53:39: The new era of media credibility and public exposure

Tone & Language

Unfiltered, humorous, confrontational. Dave and Robbie use sarcasm and cutting analogies. The tone is both adversarial (towards Bongino and political gatekeeping) and self-aware, openly inviting debate and criticism of their own stances—consistent with their libertarian, anti-establishment ethos.

Conclusion

Dave Smith’s response is merciless, loaded with receipts, and emblematic of a new media paradigm that punishes hypocrisy and rewards transparency. By calling out what he sees as Bongino’s opportunism and lack of substance—especially regarding Epstein—Smith positions himself, and his audience, as the authentic counter-narrative in a landscape fatigued by regime protection and disingenuous discourse. The episode closes with expectations for more rounds in this public battle, underlining the show’s commitment to holding establishment figures’ feet to the fire.