Podcast Summary: Part of the Problem – "My Response to Dan Crenshaw"

Host: Dave Smith (with Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein)
Broadcast Date: November 27, 2025

Main Theme

Dave Smith delivers an incisive, energetic response to Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s recent social media attacks, using the exchange as a launching pad for wider libertarian criticism of U.S. foreign policy, the mythology of military “freedom-protection,” political hypocrisy, and the state of contemporary discourse. The conversation blends sharp analysis with humor and characteristic irreverence, all in the show's signature candid tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Banter and Gratitude

• Timestamps: 00:50 – 04:02
• The episode starts with holiday banter, framing Thanksgiving as the ultimate adult holiday of gratitude, food, and family.
• Dave and Robbie reflect on Thanksgiving traditions and the importance of appreciation as an antidote to resentment and entitlement.
  • “I think that’s the best inoculation against being a shitty person is being grateful for what you have.” – Dave (03:24)

2. Dan Crenshaw Twitter Feud: Background & Dynamics

• Timestamps: 04:02 – 09:47

• Dave details Crenshaw’s history of lurking in his comment sections and covertly trying to block him from platforms over the years.

• Crenshaw publicly labels Dave “a pseudo-intellectual on foreign policy” and a “co-conspirator” in Candace Owens’ anti-war platform.

• The congressman shifts the online spat by framing criticism of his own record as “denigrating his military service,” attempting to tie any critique of him to a broader insult against all veterans.

  Notable Quote:

  • “To be very clear here, I was just insulting Dan Crenshaw, which I refuse to stop doing.” – Dave (07:33)

3. Political Tactics and Hypocrisy

• Timestamps: 07:40 – 09:47

• Both hosts lampoon politicians’ tendency to weaponize offense, equating Crenshaw’s tactics to “annoying liberal female behavior” and noting the lack of substantive argument.

  Example Exchange:

  • “It’s amazing how politicians turn supposedly real men…into the bitchiest of tactics…Shame on you.” – Robbie (07:40)
  • “They all argue like teenage girls…you’re a poo poo pants is basically what they come at you with.” – Dave (08:21)

4. Challenging the "War Kept Us Safe" Narrative

• Timestamps: 09:47 – 17:01

• Dave directly addresses Crenshaw’s claim that his military service “let grifters like you safely build up conspiratorial narratives,” refuting the concept that the Forever Wars were necessary for American freedom.

  • Lists U.S. interventions post-9/11 (Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, etc.), stating most had nothing to do with 9/11 and did not “keep Americans safe.”
  • Highlights how the list of war zones had little relation to U.S. liberty or direct safety.

• Points out veterans themselves have increasingly opposed Forever Wars (citing Ron Paul’s military support) and that many see through the establishment’s talking points.

• Emphasizes the moral and empirical bankruptcy of arguing that U.S. regimes change in Afghanistan or Iraq protected domestic liberties.

• Criticizes Crenshaw and similar politicians for deflecting substantive policy criticism with emotional appeals about “offending veterans”.

  Notable Quotes:

  • “The only thing the War on Terrorism has done for me podcasting has given me…content…wars to oppose, and [an] easy card of winning a million debates because I’m just on the side that’s against mass murder for no reason.” – Dave (13:51)
  • “Most veterans agree with me on this. The veterans are the ones who are against the Forever Wars…” – Dave (15:46)

5. No More 9/11s? Rebutting the Counterfactual Justification

• Timestamps: 17:18 – 23:20

• Dave addresses Crenshaw’s claim: "No more 9/11s. That’s what we got." (Read at 18:10)

• Challenges the logic that the absence of new attacks justifies massive interventions and death tolls:

  • Estimates U.S. war cost: ~$8 trillion and 4 million deaths abroad; 7,000+ direct U.S. military deaths and ~30,000 vet suicides.
  • Notes growing numbers of terror groups (like ISIS), which arose from these interventions.
  • Points out simple security measures (e.g., cockpit door locks) had more impact than "seven wars."
  • Labels Crenshaw’s position “Dick Cheney logic” and compares its rationalization to other failed policies (“Covid vaccine—you got it, still got Covid, but it ‘would have been worse’ without it”).

  Notable Quote:

  • “You didn’t avoid another 9/11. You committed a thousand of them.” – Dave (22:04)

6. The Moral Clarity Angle (and Invite to Debate)

• Timestamps: 23:20 – 25:20

• Dave brands Crenshaw’s positions part of a “death cult,” equating moral preening over online comments with the vastly greater evil of enabling mass violence.

• Issues an open challenge for Crenshaw to debate, anticipating refusal.

  Notable Quote:

  • “Bring that Dick Cheney bullshit to me and let’s see how that works out for you. Open challenge, Dan Crenshaw. Now run and hide, Congressman.” – Dave (29:16)

7. Foreign Policy—Gaza and Talking Points on Israeli Conduct

• Timestamps: 51:40 – 65:57

• Explores moral double standards and ignorance about Gaza, prompted by a segment of Piers Morgan grilling Dave Rubin, who repeats pro-Israel talking points.

• Dave mocks the notion (expressed by Rubin) that “no Gazans are starving” and dismantles Rubin’s lack of argumentation or data.

• Highlights Israeli officials’ explicit statements about annexation and ethnic cleansing, noting U.S. politicians’ (and pundits’) refusal to grapple with reality.

  Notable Quote (Re: Gaza starvation):

  • “How many images of what’s going on in Gaza have you seen over the last two years?...Dave Rubin characterizes that as the kids all look fat and happy. Really?” – Dave (54:15)
  • “What a ridiculous defense…There’s just nothing Israel’s ever done wrong.” – Dave (58:31)

8. Other Major Topics Covered

• Comey Case Dismissal (36:29 – 41:38):
  • Prosecutorial and bureaucratic blundering leads to dismissal of potential accountability for James Comey—an admission of the system's incapacity to "drain the swamp."
• DOEG Disbanded, Trump’s Spending Promises (43:29 – 48:45):
  • Discusses the abrupt end of the “Department of Government Efficiency,” exposing another unrealized Trump-era pledge.
  • “Donald Trump has absolutely no interest in reducing the size, scope, or spending of our government.” – Robbie (45:02)
• General Reflection on Trump’s Legacy (49:26 – 51:40):
  • Concludes Trump lacks genuine intent or capacity for meaningful reform; focus is self-interest.

9. Humorous Moments and Banter

• Thanksgiving Sandwiches: Early remarks about the “first Thanksgiving sandwich of the year” and the joys of drinking and eating.
• Satirical Solutions for Security:
  • “Just don’t build buildings so high people want to knock them over. Simple. Two-story maximum.” – Robbie & Dave (31:54–32:01)
• Robbie’s Parody on War Logic:
  • “I think if we fought more wars, we could be even more free. Prove me wrong.” – Robbie (14:12)

Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

| Time | Quote | Speaker | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | 03:24 | “I think that’s the best inoculation against being a shitty person is being grateful for what you have.” | Dave Smith | | 07:33 | “I was just insulting Dan Crenshaw, which I refuse to stop doing.” | Dave Smith | | 08:21 | “They all argue like teenage girls…not one point, not anything of substance, just you’re a poo poo pants.” | Dave Smith | | 13:51 | “The only thing the War on Terrorism has done for me podcasting has given me…content.” | Dave Smith | | 15:46 | “Most veterans agree with me on this. The veterans are the ones who are against the Forever Wars…” | Dave Smith | | 22:04 | “You didn’t avoid another 9/11. You committed a thousand of them.” | Dave Smith | | 29:16 | “Bring that Dick Cheney bullshit to me and let’s see how that works out for you. Open challenge, Dan Crenshaw.” | Dave Smith | | 45:02 | “Donald Trump has absolutely no interest in reducing the size, scope, or spending of our government.” | Robbie The Fire Bernstein | | 54:15 | “How many images of what’s going on in Gaza have you seen…the kids all look fat and happy. Really?” | Dave Smith | | 58:31 | “There’s just nothing Israel’s ever done wrong.” | Dave Smith |

Notable Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:50–04:02 — Thanksgiving, gratitude, life philosophy
• 04:02–17:01 — Background and primary breakdown of the Dan Crenshaw spat
• 17:18–29:16 — Dissecting post-9/11 war logic, challenging the “no more 9/11s” claim
• 36:29–41:38 — Comey case dismissal, reflection on accountability and “drain the swamp”
• 43:29–48:45 — Ending of DOEG, implications for Trump’s reform credibility
• 51:40–65:57 — Deconstructing Gaza talking points, Piers Morgan vs. Dave Rubin, Israel/Palestine context

Conclusion

The episode uses humor and directness to interrogate American foreign policy mythology, how politicians obfuscate criticism with appeals to emotion, and the consistent failure of “outsider” reform efforts in government. Dave Smith’s spirited response to Dan Crenshaw becomes a springboard for much larger themes—offering listeners a libertarian critique of war, state power, and political cowardice, in an unfiltered, engaging way.

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