Podcast Summary: "Another Stupid War"
Part Of The Problem
Host: Dave Smith & Robbie "the Fire" Bernstein
Release Date: March 18, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Part Of The Problem, hosts Dave Smith and Robbie Bernstein delve into pressing foreign policy issues, focusing primarily on Donald Trump's recent threats toward Iran and the ongoing conflict in Yemen. They also explore the controversial use of the autopen by President Joe Biden for pardons and critique media personalities like Don Lemon. The discussion is rich with insights, heated debates, and notable quotes that shed light on the hosts' libertarian perspectives.

Donald Trump's Foreign Policy and the Yemen Conflict

Key Discussion Points:

• Trump's Approval Ratings: Dave highlights Trump's current approval ratings, noting that they are the highest he's seen in his second term, hovering around 53-54%.
  Quote: “Donald Trump seems to, although he may himself only be slightly popular, he has a few issues that are enormously popular... [he] really has a mandate.” [00:40]

• Democratic Decline: The hosts discuss the weakening position of the Democratic Party, emphasizing the loss of their propaganda apparatus and corporate media support.

• Potential for War: A significant portion of the discussion centers on Trump's aggressive stance toward Iran and the implications of initiating another war. Dave expresses concern that such actions could lead to unnecessary conflict and undermine Trump's policy achievements.

  Quote: “What could possibly bring this down? What could possibly lead to the Democrats making a comeback?... The answer is so obviously another catastrophic war just getting into another war that we absolutely don't need to be in.” [04:10]

• Yemen's Humanitarian Crisis: Dave provides a comprehensive background on the Yemen conflict, tracing it back to the Obama administration's drone campaign against AQAP. He criticizes the prolonged bombing campaigns, which resulted in massive civilian casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis.

  Quote: “It was a completely counterproductive and evil fucked up, you know, drone bombing campaign for most of Obama's presidency.” [12:15]

• Houthis' Resilience: Despite years of bombardment, the Houthi rebel group has maintained control in Yemen. Dave questions the efficacy of Trump's recent missile strikes, stressing that they are unlikely to achieve the desired political outcomes.

  Quote: “A couple Tomahawk missiles are going to change that calculation? I mean, I don't think there's any serious person even in D.C. who believes that.” [21:30]

President Joe Biden's Use of the Autopen for Pardons

Key Discussion Points:

• Autopen Controversy: Robbie introduces the debate surrounding President Biden's use of an autopen to sign preemptive pardons, including those for Liz Cheney, Hunter Biden, and Dr. Fauci. The hosts question whether Biden was aware of signing these documents, especially considering allegations of his dementia.

  Quote: “The oddity in Joe Biden using the auto pen is that it seems that when he dropped out of the race, that letter was actually signed by him, whereas everything else was seemingly signed by the auto penny.” [30:00]

• Potential Investigations: Robbie expresses support for investigating the previous administration's actions, particularly targeting figures like Dr. Fauci for alleged misconduct related to COVID-19 vaccine development.

  Quote: “I'm all for going after the previous administration specifically for illegal behavior and specifically on the Foushee category...” [36:50]

• Political Implications: The discussion highlights the political maneuvering involved in bringing up the autopen issue. Dave suggests that Trump is leveraging this controversy to undermine the Biden administration's legitimacy.

  Quote: “It's good politics for him... It's smart politics in that sense to just kind of. It makes you focus on that huge scandal again.” [44:15]

• Accountability and Legal Challenges: Both hosts acknowledge the difficulty in legally proving Biden's awareness of the autopen's use, but stress the importance of accountability for those who may have facilitated this process.

  Quote: “But whoever's actually running, you know what I mean? All of this should be investigated or at least paraded in front of the public.” [49:00]

Critique of Media Personalities: Don Lemon's Interview

Key Discussion Points:

• Don Lemon's Credibility: The hosts analyze Don Lemon's appearance on Bill Maher's podcast, criticizing his statements and questioning his understanding of race and politics.

  Quote: “It's a profoundly racist statement to make, which has always been the case. It's like, these guys, they're like, there's something out of like, like a movie that would just, like, caricature racism in the past...” [54:25]

• Media's Role in Shaping Narratives: Dave and Robbie argue that mainstream media figures like Don Lemon contribute to divisive and simplistic narratives, particularly regarding race and political affiliations.

  Quote: “It's just so pathetic. And this is the game that really, in the era of the Don Lemons... kind of in the time that these people became like the anchors, this was the type of just. Just. I don't know how to put it, profoundly stupid poison that they would just pump into America.” [60:45]

• Impact on Public Discourse: The hosts express frustration over how media personalities undermine complex issues by reducing them to race conflicts, thereby hindering meaningful political discourse.

  Quote: “Just the Joe Biden, you ain't black comment, essentially, is what Don Lemon has there.” [61:00]

Conclusion

In "Another Stupid War," Dave Smith and Robbie Bernstein provide a critical examination of current U.S. foreign policy under Donald Trump, the internal controversies of the Biden administration, and the detrimental role of certain media figures in public discourse. Their libertarian stance emphasizes skepticism toward military interventions, demands accountability from political leaders, and calls for a more nuanced and responsible media landscape. The episode underscores the hosts' commitment to exposing what they perceive as systemic problems in governance and media representation.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• "Donald Trump seems to, although he may himself only be slightly popular, he has a few issues that are enormously popular... [he] really has a mandate." — Dave Smith [00:40]

• “What could possibly bring this down? What could possibly lead to the Democrats making a comeback?... The answer is so obviously another catastrophic war just getting into another war that we absolutely don't need to be in.” — Dave Smith [04:10]

• “It was a completely counterproductive and evil fucked up, you know, drone bombing campaign for most of Obama's presidency.” — Dave Smith [12:15]

• “A couple Tomahawk missiles are going to change that calculation? I mean, I don't think there's any serious person even in D.C. who believes that.” — Dave Smith [21:30]

• “The oddity in Joe Biden using the auto pen is that it seems that when he dropped out of the race, that letter was actually signed by him, whereas everything else was seemingly signed by the auto penny.” — Robbie Bernstein [30:00]

• “I'm all for going after the previous administration specifically for illegal behavior and specifically on the Foushee category...” — Robbie Bernstein [36:50]

• “It's good politics for him... It's smart politics in that sense to just kind of. It makes you focus on that huge scandal again.” — Dave Smith [44:15]

• “But whoever's actually running, you know what I mean? All of this should be investigated or at least paraded in front of the public.” — Robbie Bernstein [49:00]

• “It's a profoundly racist statement to make, which has always been the case. It's like, these guys, they're like, there's something out of like, like a movie that would just, like, caricature racism in the past...” — Dave Smith [54:25]

• “It's just so pathetic. And this is the game that really, in the era of the Don Lemons... kind of in the time that these people became like the anchors, this was the type of just. Just. I don't know how to put it, profoundly stupid poison that they would just pump into America.” — Dave Smith [60:45]

• “Just the Joe Biden, you ain't black comment, essentially, is what Don Lemon has there.” — Dave Smith [61:00]

Final Thoughts

This episode provides listeners with a fervent critique of current political maneuvers and media narratives, urging for greater accountability and a reevaluation of U.S. foreign engagements. Dave and Robbie's discussions offer a perspective that challenges mainstream interpretations, advocating for a more liberated and transparent governance structure.

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