The America First Podcast: Episode 46

Date: November 21, 2025
Hosts: Joe the Box, Johnny Blanket, Kevin Downey Jr. (KDJ), Lisa Azzarelli, Fred Rubino

Episode Overview

This episode, set in America First Warehouse, delivers the group's signature blend of spirited debate, commentary on American politics and culture, and in-depth discussion of current events. The team addresses Thanksgiving reflections, U.S. politics post-Trump, issues in education and immigration, the New York City transportation manifesto, and technology's advancing role in society. All is explored with a sharp, irreverent sense of humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving, Gratitude, and Recent News (03:09–05:31)

• Hosts reflect on Thanksgiving: expressing gratitude for America’s revival and for being part of the podcast family.
• Shout-outs to community, partners, and sponsors at the America First Warehouse.
• Lighthearted banter: "Every day is Thanksgiving for Trump and then Christmas is right around the corner." (Joe the Box, 06:54)

2. Trump, Political Divisions, and Party Loyalty (04:32–09:53)

• Continued admiration for Trump’s actions: Praise for stock market gains, foreign policy, and "nation under God" narrative.
• Democrats vs. Republicans: Debate over party unity versus internal GOP conflict.
• Marjorie Taylor Greene and Trump tension, plus criticism of "phony faces" like Mike Lawler.
• Notable Quote:
  “He's either blowing up a boat full of narco-terrorists or, you know, he’s swinging deals with countries who need us more than we need them. The stock market is going through the roof. I feel blessed.”
  (KDJ, 04:32)

3. General Milley and the Concept of Loyalty (07:03–08:31)

• General Milley’s portrait removed from the Pentagon causes gags and disdain.
• Discussion of U.S. government officials’ ties to China and “the New World Order”.
• Notable Quote:
  “He was willing to tell the Chinese we were coming. Fauci was making Covid with the Chinese. Tell me again the Chinese are our enemies?”
  (KDJ, 08:04)

4. Cultural Satire: SNL, Voting, and Demographic Shifts (13:22–14:46)

• SNL mockery of "Mom Donnie" and NY voting patterns—how "white women in Brooklyn" swung elections.
• Hosts appreciate SNL’s satire as revealing social dynamics.
• Sample satire:
  “Hey, girl, I know you got a little white guilt for gentrifying that Spanish neighborhood, don’t you?... Why don’t you vote for me, you know, you feel a little less bad about that chicken and rice shop getting turned into a Sweet Green.”
  (SNL Skit as recited by hosts, 13:36–13:55)

5. NYC’s “Traffic Manifesto” – Transport, Control, and Environment (20:02–31:06)

• Sharply critical review of Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s transit proposals:
  • Lowering speed limits to 20 MPH, tearing down highways, increased cameras, and higher vehicle registration fees for heavier cars.
  • Linking these to environmentalism and claims of "government overreach."
• Humorous skepticism toward feasibility and environmental claims:
  “My cousin’s gonna do [an environmental] study. It’s $50 million. Let’s do a study now.”
  (Fred Rubino, 22:58)
• Hosts connect these ideas to perceived trends of increased governmental "control" in the name of climate and safety.
• Concerns raised about punitive costs, loss of personal transport, and proposed bus and bike networks.
• Notable Quotes:
  “You have to be in a Prius. ...They’re going to penalize you...”—(Lisa, 24:48)
  “They’re cracking down on everything except giving illegal immigrants CDL licenses ...when they can’t speak English or know any of the signs.”
  (Fred, 26:27)

6. Overcrowding in NYC Schools, Education Policy, & Immigration (36:56–47:13)

• Exploration of classroom overcrowding blamed on unchecked immigration, McKinney-Vento law, and city policies.
• Comparison: NYC school crowding vs. North Carolina’s decreased public school enrollment (attributed to outward migration, private school selection, and falling birth rates).
• Critique of curriculum mandates in NJ and fears of further "state control" over private/homeschool education.
• Concerns over immigrants’ financial means, abuse of government aid programs (SNAP, EBT), and impact on public costs.
• Notable Quote:
  “If you come from Central or South America and you have $60,000 to just go to another country, you’re not suffering. ...It was a deliberate act to try to grab the electoral votes.”
  (Fred, 39:11)

7. Technology, Loss, and Ethics: Tom Brady Clones His Dog (53:54–59:48)

• Tom Brady’s choice to clone his late dog sparks debate over cloning, technology, and "playing God".
• Some hosts consider pet cloning "creepy" and spiritually troubling.
• “Sometimes dead is better... Next thing is going to be, well, you know, I gotta clone my grandma.”
  (KDJ, 54:52)
• Further digression into AI, holographic memorials, and whether these technologies help or harm the grieving process.
• Funny moment:
  “He has a supermodel ex-wife. Clone her, not the dog!”
  (Fred, 55:32)

8. Technology Dependence & The Amish Alternative (60:50–63:43)

• Tech outages (Cloudflare, X, Spotify) draw remarks about over-reliance on technology.
• The Amish community held up as a model for food independence and minimal technology use—with a mix of admiration and humor.
• “The Amish ain’t suffering.” (Fred, 62:25)
• Jokes about learning from the Amish and hosts’ skepticism: “I don’t trust the Amish.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with timestamps)

• “Every day is Thanksgiving for Trump and then Christmas is right around the corner.”
  (Joe the Box, 06:54)

• “He was willing...to tell the Chinese we were coming. Fauci was making Covid with the Chinese.”
  (KDJ, 08:04)

• “You have to be in a Prius. ...They’re going to penalize you.”
  (Lisa Azzarelli, 24:48)

• On urban transport changes:
  “That’s the easiest way to steal money from taxpayers. … You get $50 or $100 million to do something, we all know it’s not going to get done.”
  (Fred Rubino, 26:27)

• SNAP/EBT fraud and Democratic resistance to transparency:
  “Even the Republican states who handed it in, they found egregious, you know, wrongdoing and scandals… the 24 states that are blue, all blue, won’t agree to do it.”
  (Lisa, 51:57)

• On pet cloning:
  “Sometimes dead is better... Next thing is going to be, well, you know, I gotta clone my grandma because I miss her.”
  (KDJ, 54:52)

• On AI hologram technology:
  “My mother… looked at me and she said, are you out of your mind?...So basically, in this new hologram version, the daughter is pregnant...and she’s talking to her mom all the time.”
  (Lisa, 59:48)

Segment Timestamps

| Topic | Timestamps | |-------------------------------------- |-------------- | | Thanksgiving & Show Intro | 03:09–05:31 | | Trump’s Performance & Political News | 04:32–09:53 | | General Milley, China, Loyalty | 07:03–08:31 | | SNL & Voter Demographics Satire | 13:22–14:46 | | NYC Transit Manifesto & Environment | 20:02–31:06 | | NYC/NJ Education System & Immigration | 36:56–47:13 | | Tom Brady Cloning Dog Tech/Ethics | 53:54–59:48 | | Tech Outages, Amish, Independence | 60:50–63:43 |

Final Thoughts & Tone

• Blunt, often irreverent tone: Exchanges are regularly laced with sarcasm, biting critiques of progressivism, and comedic relief.
• Recurring themes: Skepticism of government and technology, nostalgia for traditional values, deep suspicion of “control” under the guise of safety or environmentalism.
• Camaraderie and lively debate: The hosts rib each other often but share a common, “America First” vision.

For more:

Find the hosts and their comedic/political work through their cited socials and websites, notably KDJ’s Twitter (@KDJradioshow) and Fred Rubino’s stand-up appearances (fredrubino.com). Lisa can be found on X as Lee1as.

Note: This summary skips all ad breaks and focuses on the original panel content.