Link Lauren on Socialism, Pop Culture Politics & Why Conservatives Need a Better Message

Summary

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The Riley Gaines Show

Episode: Link Lauren on Socialism, Pop Culture Politics & Why Conservatives Need a Better Message
Date: July 14, 2026
Guest: Link Lauren
Host: Fox (Riley Gaines)

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Overview

This episode features a wide-ranging, lively discussion between Riley Gaines and commentator Link Lauren. They explore the intersection of politics and pop culture, the rise of socialism among young voters, the cultural narratives around victimhood, LGBTQ+ rights in America versus globally, the portrayal of conservative states in media, the influence of celebrities in politics, and digital-era trends like "geomaxing" and "looksmaxing." The tone is witty, direct, and unapologetic as both hosts critique mainstream narratives and offer their vision for positive conservative messaging.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pop Culture as a Gateway to Politics

Timestamps: [01:59]–[03:01]

• Link Lauren sees pop culture as "upstream from politics," explaining that cultural figures like Trump have long shaped political discourse.
• Argues audiences—especially women—crave content beyond daily political news.

“I always think about how culture is upstream from politics… Women, my audience, a majority of them are women. They're interested in other topics... I never feel like I have to just sit here and give you a play by play of the war.”
— Link Lauren ([02:13])

2. The Democrat Socialists of America (DSA) & Mask Culture

Timestamps: [03:01]–[05:34]

• Discussion of a viral DSA meeting photo—most prominently, members still masking in public in 2026.
• Link and Riley critique ongoing COVID masking as virtue signaling or a form of “mental illness.”

“These folks... These are the ones you see on the Internet. The most ridiculous, most deranged... Do y'all not work? Do any of these people work?”
— Link Lauren ([04:26])

3. Socialist Appeal to Struggling Youth

Timestamps: [05:34]–[09:18]

• Link breaks down the danger of dismissing young socialists as mere "lunatics." Many are genuinely struggling with housing costs, healthcare, etc.
• Conservatives, he argues, need real solutions and clearer outreach to this demographic.

“Young people were never a bellwether voting group... These young socialists have shown us they will get their asses up and vote. That is very, very concerning moving into 2028.”
— Link Lauren ([07:10])

4. Affordability Crisis and Health Care in America

Timestamps: [07:40]–[09:18]

• Both host and guest lament the affordability crisis—especially around homeownership and healthcare.
• Riley shares her own health insurance premium to drive home the point: "$1,900 a month for health insurance… Most people can't do that."

5. Progressives and the ‘Enemy Within’

Timestamps: [10:38]–[11:49]

• Clip of Rashida Tlaib playing up the idea of political power coming from “the streets.”
• Riley asserts that some of these progressive elements are a real threat but cautions against only running “against” them, urging conservatives to articulate a positive vision.

“They absolutely hate America... I think most of them are lost causes, but I think we can still reach some of them... But we can't just run against them.”
— Link Lauren ([11:49])

6. Hopeful Conservative Figures

Timestamps: [12:22]–[13:09]

• Link names Marco Rubio and Brandon Gill as Republicans blending competence with strong messaging—especially on social media.

“Brandon Gill... knows how to do social media, but he can also walk the walk and talk the talk in real life... and then also deliver on what people voted for him.”
— Link Lauren ([12:40])

7. Media Bias: Red State Rankings

Timestamps: [13:09]–[15:45]

• Discuss CNBC’s list of “worst states to live in” (all red states), based on abortion and LGBTQ+ “inclusivity.”
• Both note this runs contrary to migration trends and argue the media’s values differ from most everyday Americans.

“Whoever puts these polls together, their number one issues are always abortion, LGBTQIA, R2D2. I don't even know all the letters anymore.”
— Link Lauren ([14:34])

8. LGBTQ+ Rights in the US vs. Abroad

Timestamps: [15:45]–[25:55]

• The Scarlet Lady gay cruise ship denied entry to Turkey and Egypt leads into a deeper discussion of persecution abroad.
• Riley and Link criticize US activists for 'cosplaying' oppression, given the real dangers faced in other countries.

“Millions of gay people here in the United States, they cosplay like they're oppressed. They cosplay like their victims... But now gays have to find new way to play the victim card because it's a currency.”
— Link Lauren ([17:18])

• Link humorously imagines a “Final Destination”-style film starring stranded cruise-goers and jokes about victim mentality.

“Maybe these gays will come home with an appreciation... like Brittney Griner... came running back from Russia singing Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
— Link Lauren ([19:49])

• Riley lists anti-LGBTQ laws across Middle Eastern countries, underscoring the disconnect with US activism.

9. Identity Politics and Victimhood Culture

Timestamps: [25:55]–[27:38]

• Both decry a culture incentivizing victimhood, and discuss how various groups lead with identity rather than character or accomplishments.

“As a gay guy, I don't walk around thinking about the fact that I'm gay all day long... But to some of these folks who care about identity politics, that little box that they check, it's like the number one thing they wear on their sleeve all day long...”
— Link Lauren ([27:04])

10. Celebrity Activism and Politics

Timestamps: [27:38]–[31:26]

• Olivia Rodrigo’s partnership with Headcount spurs a broader reflection on celebrity political involvement.
• Link critiques many celebrities as “ill informed” and points out that abortion, not the nuclear family, is always the central left-wing cause.

“If she has these concerts and she's signing people up to vote and she's registering voters, great. She's like a little Scott Pressler out there... But we need to pass the Save America act because I don't want a big chunk of Olivia Rada Boo boo votes coming in at the last minute from her concerts.”
— Link Lauren ([29:18])

11. Internet Trends: Geomaxing & Looksmaxing

Timestamps: [31:26]–[36:53]

• The concept of “geomaxing” (traveling to 'easier' dating markets) and viral internet personality Clavicular’s extreme plastic surgeries are discussed.
• Link expresses empathy, voicing concern for the mental health of people like Clavicular who are “searching for something” through endless cosmetic changes.

“I actually have such empathy for clavicular... I worry he's going down a dark path, and that nobody's really stepping in ... when you live stream all day and your whole life is getting clicks and you have to be more outrageous... That's a tough, tough, tough pill to swallow.”
— Link Lauren ([33:10])

• Discussion on the new 'status symbol' of choosing naturalness over excessive procedures, with examples from Pamela Anderson and Alicia Keys.

“I think that's the new status symbol is not getting anything done.”
— Link Lauren ([35:45])

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Socialism’s Appeal:
  “Socialism is a mirage. It's like, you know, seeing a Dasani water bottle in the middle of the Sahara desert.”
  — Link Lauren ([08:22])

• On Identity Politics:
  “We've put people in one of two boxes; you're either an oppressor or you are oppressed... If you owe someone or you're owed, most people are going to want to be owed something.”
  — Riley Gaines ([26:23])

• On California Exodus:
  “Aren't they number one in U Hauls leaving the state?... The fire hydrants don't have water.”
  — Link Lauren ([14:12])

• Victim Currency:
  “Being a victim is such a currency right now to get attention on the Internet. It's a way to get clicks, way to get views.”
  — Link Lauren ([24:30])

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Notable Rapid Fire and Lighthearted Segments

Timestamps: [37:42]–[38:56]

• Favorite cabinet member: Marco Rubio
• If you could term-limit one celebrity: “Madonna, because she was just shaking her leg over a ledge in Times Square and twerking...”
• Favorite meme: “Kermit drinking the Lipton iced tea.”
• Hot take that would “get canceled”: “There are two genders nowadays... saying that they're a male and female gets me canceled by half the country, apparently.”

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Useful Timestamps

• Pop Culture and Politics Meet: [01:59]
• DSA Meeting & Masking: [03:01]–[05:04]
• Socialist Voters Dissected: [05:34]–[07:40]
• CNBC's ‘Worst States’ List: [13:09]–[15:45]
• Scarlet Lady Gay Cruise & Victimhood: [15:45]–[20:17]
• LGBTQ+ Rights Abroad vs. US: [23:21]
• Celebrity Activism & Voter Drives: [27:38]–[31:26]
• Geomaxing, Clavicular & Looksmaxing: [31:26]–[36:26]
• Rapid Fire: [37:42]–[38:56]

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers an entertaining yet pointed critique of contemporary culture and political messaging from a conservative perspective. Both hosts stress the importance of alternative, positive vision, effective communication, and a willingness to tackle hot-button issues—while keeping a sense of humor and empathy at the forefront. The episode reinforces Riley’s show as a mix of sharp commentary and thoughtful analysis designed to “navigate today’s cultural landscape.”

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Transcript

[Riley Gaines]

The best dancers from across the globe are about to join me for the audition of a lifetime.

[Dancing with the Stars Announcer]

ABC Mondays. Do they have what it takes to compete and be the next Dancing with the Stars pro?

[Rashida Tlaib]

I'm here to win.

[Riley Gaines]

Nothing is gonna stop me.

[Dancing with the Stars Announcer]

Our star judges will decide.

[Riley Gaines]

This is what hunger looks like. It was 100% a wrong choice.

[Dancing with the Stars Announcer]

Robert Irwin, host the Next Era of

[Riley Gaines]

ballroom starts right here on Dancing with the Stars.

[Dancing with the Stars Announcer]

The next Prize, all new Mondays, 8, 7 Central on ABC. Next day on Hulu.

[Riley Gaines]

I feel like we need a new dictionary for social media. Look, smacking, mogging, geomaxing. It's like whatever happened to run spot

[Podcast Host]

run the Internet politics and our culture has somehow gotten more unhinged. We have Link Lauren on the show today. People are still masking in July. We've got geomaxing bros who were advising foreign world leaders. The Scarlet lady, gay cruise ship drama. And CNBC declaring that Tennessee and other red states are the worst states to live in. While millions of people keep moving here, the timeline we've got working here is broken. So what in the world is going on in pop culture right now? Well, Link, thanks for joining the Riley Gaines Show. We were just talking prior to clicking record that your voice is one of those that's rare, but I would say very timely and very necessary if the goal is to, to win, to persuade, to change hearts and minds, to call out the craziness that we're seeing all across the U.S. really, all across the world. So thank you for doing what you're doing. I didn't really plan on asking you this, but again, prior to record, just can you mention the, the link that you've seen between pop culture and political news and why you feel like it's important to talk about some of the pop culture things?

[Riley Gaines]

Absolutely. I'm so grateful and happy to be with you, Rylee, and I'm so happy for your growing family and your success. Of course I follow you. And we've been intern friends for a while now, so it's nice to finally talk over the Internet. But what's interesting, I always think about how culture is upstream from politics and President Trump for decades, right? He was a media figure, he was a builder. He had a hit television show. He would call in and give, you know, discussion on pop culture topics. I remember President Trump would go on the Wendy Williams show. That was, you know, one of my favorite watching President Trump on the Wendy Williams Show. And so I think sometimes in politics and news media, people forget you got to give them something else sometime. You can't just drive home the same hard news every single day. And women, my audience, a majority of them are women. They're interested in other topics. They might be interested in what the royals have going on or an issue that pertains to them and their lives and their households. That's not necessarily a hard news topic. And so I never feel like I have to just sit here and give you a play by play of the war or what's going on, because there are people much more qualified to do that.

[Podcast Host]

Thank you for that. I wanted to start with the craziness of the dsa, the Democrat Socialists of America. We just saw. I just saw this morning when I was scrolling online, a picture that was posted was very quickly deleted, which is kind of unsurprising. This was the first Denver DSA general meeting after. I don't even know if I can pronounce that name. Mala Kiros. Victory Packed house line out of the door. Big things are happening. Okay, tell me the first thing you notice, though, when you're looking at this photo.

[Riley Gaines]

Well, the one. Okay. The first thing I see when I look at this picture, I see way too many Covid masks. Now in 2026, when I see Covid masks, I think you either really better be immunocompromised or there's some type of deeper issue going on here. I almost think when I see a Covid mask, I'm going to stay away from you. Like, if I'm on a plane now and I see a bunch of people with COVID masks, it's sort of the opposite. Stay away. Don't come close. And so I have a hard time taking people seriously who are still doing this in 2026.

[Podcast Host]

Riley, do you think it's because they're scared of COVID or whatever contractable disease it is, or do you think it's, you know, maybe they're ashamed and they don't want to necessarily attach their face to the cause they're fighting for. They don't want to, like, have that attached to their identity. Or do you think it's because they're ugly? Like, I'm just throwing out suggestions here. Like, do you think they're really scared of COVID the people in that room?

[Riley Gaines]

No, I don't think they're scared of COVID I think it probably is, you know, the folks who are wearing mask in 2026, there's not much to see under the mask. And maybe it's sort of a bonding exercise for all of them. They can wear these masks, but this is a form of mental illness. These folks, right? These are the ones you see on the Internet. The most ridiculous, most deranged, the people who are out protesting all day. And my thing is this. Do y' all not work? Do any of these people work? Why don't you have jobs? Why aren't you going to a 9 to 5? Why aren't you striving for something in your life? You're sitting around in a meeting with the COVID mask on and you want more government control and more government outreach and you want the government to coddle you and take care of your housing and everything in between. Why don't you grow up? That's what.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, we've seen videos circulating online from some of these DSA activists, people with, with influence, I guess, amongst this, this Democrat Socialists of America party, if that's what you want to call it, talking about how they want to destroy America, destroy it from within. How big of a threat do you think the rise of, of DSA influences in the US But I think especially in Democrat politics and do you even think they're really that much different?

[Riley Gaines]

Well, it's interesting. I do think the Democrat Party and the base, they sort of capitulated to this more socialist progressive wing. We've seen that with Chuck Schum. Capitulated. Everybody's scared to call out this ultra progressive socialist wing. But I do think it is something to take seriously. And I did a video on this over the weekend. I worry about my Republican and conservative friends and colleagues who just dismiss these socialists as radicals and lunatics because of course, millions of them are. But there are some folks out there, young people who are working multiple jobs, earnestly trying to own a home, pay for health care and everything in between, and they feel like they can't get ahead. So when a socialist candidate like Mom Donnie comes along, for example, and he says we're going to get you free housing, free health care, government run grocery stores, you're so desperate, treading water, it's almost like a life raft. And I think it's our job as conservatives and people with common sense to say socialism has never worked. Let's show you a history book and let's show you what we can actually do to help you with your top concerns and issues. And so I think there are a few different cohorts, right? There are the latte liberals who will spend $10 on a Starbucks. They probably went to Ivy League schools and, and they just like socialism because it's hip. Then you have these deranged lunatics who are sitting around in the COVID masks, you're never going to reach them. Probably. They're absolutely insane. But this third group, the young people who really are struggling and working to get ahead and they feel like socialism is their only way out, I think we can reach those people and talk with them. And maybe it's more deportations helping housing, it's the interest rates coming down, maybe it's the new housing bill. There could be some positives there, but I think we have to try and reach them and have some meeting of the minds. I worry about moving into 2028 if we just dismiss them. Riley. And I know I'm filibustering here, but it's just something that concerns me because young people were never a bellwether voting group. We always thought baby boomers and older folks always go to the polls. These young socialists have shown us they will get their asses up and vote. And so that is very, very concerning moving into 2028. And we should try to bring some folks into our coalition who are just struggling and looking for a life route.

[Podcast Host]

No. 100%, I agree with you. I saw actually something this morning. I think it was from CBS News. It said the average US home is less affordable to the average American than at any point in recent history. And so, I mean, I think that speaks to the desperation that young people feel. We want to be able to own something. At least I do, which kind of goes against everything that socialism really stands for, if you know what socialism is about. But nonetheless, that that is appealing to young people. They want to be able to afford. How big of an issue do you think affordability will be for young people or maybe first time voters in November?

[Riley Gaines]

I think it's a big issue. Homeownership was the biggest issue for young people in 2024. I think it's going to be an even bigger issue moving into 2028. And obviously, we know socialism is a mirage. It's like, you know, seeing a Dasani water bottle in the middle of the Sahara desert.

[Rashida Tlaib]

Right?

[Riley Gaines]

We know it's a mirage. We know it's not going to work out. But I don't want to dismiss all of these young people out of school because they really are trying to get ahead. There are some who are totally lazy, br and entitled, and I call them out all the time. You know, they cry if you call them the wrong pronouns. But then there are young people really trying to hustle and work and pay for their health care. And even if it's a marketplace health care, it's still expensive to Them with their jobs and the way things are. So I think we can reach those people and bring them in and I just don't want to dismiss them because homeownership, affordability, cost of living, these are still their top concerns. And Republicans did such a good job at reaching young people in 2024 on podcast and social media. And I think we're going to have to hone back in on that coming up here in 2028.

[Podcast Host]

A hundred percent. And just speaking to like health care prices, specifically health insurance, I pay for, I guess my husband and I for our family. Granted we have a little baby, we have maternity care on there because we want to have more babies. We're both technically self employed. We pay nineteen hundred dollars a month for health insurance. That is absurd. And I, I recognize that most people, you know, with mortgages and other, other fees and bills that you may have, most people can't dollars a month for health insurance. That is absurd. So I, I'm right there with you. Back to the DSA influence and the Democratic Party. I see a lot of parallels there. I actually saw a young woman, she was on gutfield of all shows explaining this pretty brilliantly. She says look, the dsa, the Democrat Socialists of America, they really just lead the Democrat policies to their logical conclusion. So Democrats will say look, you know, no human is illegal. That sounds right, like warm and fuzzy and like compassion doesn't sound overly destructive. So they say if no human is illegal, let's abolish ice. That sounds a lot more harmful, a lot more daunting, a lot more, you know, negative I guess in its, its connotation. I got a video here of Rashida Tlaib. Let's play it really quickly.

[Rashida Tlaib]

Look at this rooms mother. We ain't going anywhere. Political structures that I have to work in that we are surrounded by was built on slavery and genocide and rape and oppression. Real change doesn't come from the cowards and warmongers in Congress. It comes from the streets. It comes from all of us mobilizing and seizing the power to resist and fight back. Gaza is the compass in this country. Now we're in Congress and we're every corner of the United States.

[Podcast Host]

Now we're in Congress in every corner of the United States. They almost like brag, openly brag about viewing themselves as this like hostile invading force. Is it time we probably should start treating them as one?

[Riley Gaines]

No, we absolutely should. But we should also offer a positive alternative. I'm worried right now. We're not offering a vision of hope or positivity on our side. We got to give them something that's. That's positive as an alternative. But there are folks like Rashida Tlaib and some of these socialists who do just want to destroy our country from within.

[Advertisement Voice]

Right.

[Riley Gaines]

They hate America. They're not patriotic. I don't know why you guys want to stay here, but they want to make America into these countries that they fled. Right. You flee socialism and then you come here and you want to make America into a socialist country. And so they absolutely hate America. I think most of them are lost causes, but I think we can still reach some of them. Maybe not the Rashida Talib people, maybe not the folks wearing keffiyehs around on the street, but I think there are some folks we can reach, but we should definitely take them him seriously as a threat. But we can't just run against them. We have to do that in tandem with offering a positive vision.

[Podcast Host]

Who on the Republican side do you look at and feel very hopeful about the future, the future of our party?

[Riley Gaines]

It's interesting. I like Marco Rubio. I think he has a great sense of humor. I think he's funny, avoncular. He seems really competent in his job. And if you're competent, I will probably like you. So I like Marco Rubio. I think Brandon Gill is also such a rising star in the Republican Party. He. He knows how to do social media, but he can also walk the walk and talk the talk in real life. Right. There are a lot of folks in Washington, D.C. who are influencers these days. They do viral videos and they try to get viral moments, and they really don't pass a lot of legislation. Brandon Gill is one of those folks from my home state who really knows how to do both things, garner attention and reach people and then also deliver on what people voted for him.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, 100%. I want to ask you about this poll that I saw over the weekend. According to CNBC, these are the 10 worst states to live in. Okay. Number one being Tennessee, my home state. Then Texas, Indiana, Louisiana, Georgia, Utah, Missouri, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas. I was looking at what were some of the criteria on what would constitute these states as bad states to live in. And they scored low on reproductive rights and LGBTQ plus inclusiveness. What do you think they said the best state to live in was?

[Riley Gaines]

Ooh, it's either going to be like California or Michigan or Minnesota, something like that.

[Podcast Host]

It's Vermont. I don't even know anyone who lives in Vermont.

[Riley Gaines]

Shout out to Vermont.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Come on. So what do you make of this? I mean, it seems as if, actually, I can attest to the mass exodus that we have seen from probably some of those states that rank pretty high on their list to states like Tennessee.

[Riley Gaines]

Well, it's interesting. I think you and I are in the same boat where we're happy to see our states on that list because we don't want more people moving, moving from California here and bringing their liberal policies. I don't know why California isn't the number one where state, because aren't they number one in U hauls leaving the state? More people are renting you all to leave and flee California, and they're fleeing Gavin Newsom, and the fire hydrants don't have water. So those are things I would take into account. But whoever puts these polls together, their number one issues are always abortion, LGBTQIA, R2D2. I don't even know all the letters anymore. Those are their top issues, right? My top issue is the economy, freedom, what you can do. As a small business owner. Many of my friends in Texas own their own small businesses, so they need to have the ability to not have tons of regulation and red tape and get done what they need to get done every single day. And you just can't do that in California or a lot of these blue states that have more overreach. And wouldn't you look at some of these states where they're spending gazillions of dollars on Somali daycares with no children and think maybe that should be number one worst state state to live in? But this is like Kamala Harris in 2024. She thought she could just run on abortion being her number one issue, and it would galvanize enough people to go to the polls. She was so bird, brain, brain dead, she didn't realize the Dobbs decision already settled, that it was already sent back to the states. Whether you like it or not, whether you agree or not, it's already settled, so you got to find something else to run on. But if that's what their criteria is for the worst state, hey, that's fine with me. I will say, as a gay person, I feel pretty good living in Texas and seeing my family and going around Dallas. I have no problem with it.

[Podcast Host]

It's a good point, you know, and it kind of leads us to the next thing I. I wanted to ask you about. We've. We've got to talk about the gay cruise ship, right? A chartered LGBTQ cruise ship. It's called the Scarlet Lady. Very feminine, very dainty. Was. I think it was organized by, like, Atlantis events, whatever it was carrying around 2, 000 gay passengers. They were ultimately denied permission to dock in Turkey. Mediterranean Voyage Turkish Turkish officials said the cruise was chartered by groups whose activities were not aligned with the structure of our society and our moral values and said that there was no possibility of allowing the planned port call after it generated public concern.

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[Podcast Host]

What's your message to folks I think here in the US who go out on the streets and they march for Pride Month, which that, that's one of the beauties of America. You get to do that. Gay folks who can get married, they have every right. All the things that straight couples can do, they can also do, yet still claim to be oppressed. What's your message?

[Riley Gaines]

Well, it's interesting is millions of gay people here in the United States, they cosplay like they're oppressed. They cosplay like their victims. To my recollection, in the summer of 2015, June 2015, we had the Obergefell Supreme Court decision. We got gay marriage. That's what y' all were fighting for for decades and decades and decades. But now gays have to find new way to play the victim card because it's a currency. It's a way to fundraise. Gay Inc. Is very powerful. So now they're on this cruise ship, they try to go to Turkey. Turkey says we're good. We don't really want 2,000 gay men running off the dock right now. They try to go to Egypt. Egypt says we're good. Thank you. Come back another time. And now these gays are acting like they're victims of some horrific hate crime. Maybe y' all will come back to the United States where you bash President Trump every day and you say he's anti gay, which he's not. He has the highest ranking gay cabinet official in American history. But y' all all complain all the time while you're here on American soil. Maybe you'll come back with a sense of patriotism, patriotism, gratitude, appreciation for the liberties and freedoms we have in the United States. And I will say this as Someone who is gay. When I travel, I do a quick Google search to see where they are on gay rights, you know what I'm saying? I like to make sure when I'm going to a country what's going on and what's going down. But I don't vilify these countries for governing themselves the way they want to govern. Who are we to tell Turkey and Egypt what they should be doing? I mean, this ship, we don't know what's on this ship. It could be like floating monkey pox, you know, you're not going to catch me on that ship. They're having about as bad a time as the Titanic. I also think Patti LuPone, she's on the ship and she's this big Broadway legend. You know, her voice is like a foghorn. She's ultra liberal. During COVID she would stop her shows to scream at the audience to put their masks on. And so this is just sort of karmic retribution in a way. It's so Beautiful that Patti LuPone is stranded. And the last thing I'll say, I was thinking last night, I almost want to write a horror film, like a Final Destination style horror film. It's like 2000 gays stranded at sea. It's like Tom Hanks Castaway, but with like glitter and spirit fingers. So they're stranded at sea. Rations are dwindling, alcohol is running out, drugs are running dry. Patti LuPone's run out of songs to sing. The DJ jumps ship in a, in a dinghy. He's gone to shore. I feel like only the strong will survive, like Lord of the Flies. I just think a few gays will be left there, almost like a white lotus. But we need a horror film. 2000 gays on a ship, a limited amount of food. They've run out of the playlist. They've gone through every Gaga song and Whitney Houston and Donna Summer. They're now really getting desperate. I think they're going to come home like Brittney Griner when she was stuck in that Russian prison. And you know Brittney Griner, she didn't like the national anthem. She complained she didn't like America. And then that black obnoxious American hating lesbian came running back from Russia singing Yankee Doodle Dandy. And now, now what does she do? She stands for the national anthem. She's happy. So maybe these gays will come home with an appreciation. And that is my monologue. Thank you.

[Advertisement Voice]

You know what?

[Podcast Host]

I love that. Like, it's like a, an all gay survivor survivor. If I'd watch it, but I think I enjoy the concept of it. Definitely Survivor.

[Riley Gaines]

I'm a celebrity, get me out of here. It's just such a concoction of everything I would not want to be a part of. And I have friends who go on gay cruises and I'm sure they have a fun time. I just love my PE peace and I love my privacy. And I couldn't imagine being on a boat like the germs and everything or just any cruise. Even when I see the videos from the carnival cruises this summer and people are like getting into fist fights over chicken fingers at the buffet, I'm like, I like to be at peace in my home. You couldn't pay me to do that.

[Podcast Host]

No, you get it, you get it. We are in peak summer, which means you're probably in a bikini, you're probably by the pool or going on vacation to the beach. I want to tell you, if you want to feel confident, if you want to feel less bloated, if you want to feel energized, it starts with your gut. I used to think that being bloated after every single meal, every single day was normal. Guess what? It is not. That is why Cowboy colostrum has become really a part of my daily routine. I started taking it for gut health, but the results that really surprised me were clearer skin, fuller looking hair, which really matters now, being nine months postpartum, better digestion and way less bloating after meals. But that is not, not just my experience. Cowboy actually ran a clinical study where 83% of participants reported improved gut health, 79% experienced less bloating and inflammation, 72% saw improved digestion and 62% saw fuller, thicker hair. Cowboy colostrum is 100% made in America from American grass fed cows. It is true. First day, whole colostrum rich in bioactives like immunoglobins, peptides and growth factors. It is whole full fat, which is actually a good thing. High protein and made with no artificial flavors or fillers, just real natural ingredients. But don't worry, they only collect the surplus colostrum after baby calves have had their first fill. Their new cookies and cream flavor, by the way, tastes like a nostalgic cookies and cream milkshake mixed with milk. But it's still that same whole unstripped colostrum. That is what I have been having every morning. I pack it, when I travel, even I throw it in smoothies. I even put it sometimes in my yogurt. It is so good. You can try the new cookies and cream flavor for yourself for a limited time. Our listeners, listeners of the Riley Gaines show. You get up to 25 off of your entire order. Just go over to cowboycolosroom.com Riley Gains and you can use my code Riley Gaines. That is R I L E Y G A I N E S at checkout. That's 25 off with code Riley Gaines [e-mail] Riley Gaines. I I the idea of any cruise, gay cruise or not a gay cruise, does not sound that, like, appetizing to me.

[Riley Gaines]

Especially any cruise I go on, I make a gay cruise anyway, so. I'm kidding.

[Podcast Host]

You're so funny. And it's true what you said about looking up some of these laws. I was curious, I think, especially in recognizing, like, the crossover that we have here on the US Especially, like on college campuses with the LGBTQ activists and those who march for that and protest for that, but also those. It's kind of like the same people who march and protest for, you know, the, the Free Palestine movement. I was looking up some of the laws in some of these Middle Eastern countries. Egypt, it doesn't have a law against being gay, but they will just jail you for debauchery instead. Syria is up to three years in prison for being gay. Lebanon, up to a year in prison for being gay. Iraq, up to 15 years in prison for being gay under a law passed in 2024. Iran, death penalty for being gay. Saudi Arabia, death penalty for being gay. Same thing with Yemen. Qatar is up to seven years in prison for being gay. Gaza, up to 10 years in prison for being gay. Like, come on, the crossover there, do you think people in the US that they just don't realize it? Do you think they just don't care? Do you think they just want to get rowdy for whatever the, like, anti administration, anti Trump thing really is?

[Riley Gaines]

I think it's just that being a victim is such a currency right now to get attention on the Internet. It's a way to get clicks, way to get views. And we see this with other celebrities like Meghan Markle, right? Every time she opens her mouth, she's a victim, right? She's a woman. She's a woman of color. She was oppressed. It's like always the same old, same old, same old. And those of us who live in reality and have common sense, we don't play into those games anymore. We saw it years and years ago. We saw it with the MeToo movement, and then there was the backlash to the MeToo movement. And then we saw it with Black Lives Matter and then we realized that was a whole scam. And so I just think playing the victim car hard, they haven't caught on to the fact no one cares anymore. And I just think it's so laughable. You're now upset with President Trump and some of these gays are saying it's the administration's fault that they're being denied entry. Like, if I'm sitting right, let's say I'm at the Pyramids in Egypt. I'm having a nice tour with my family. It's peaceful. You know, we're sitting, eating hummus or whatever they eat over there and you can hear 2000 gays running down the dock like the running of the bulls in Pamplona. That would just ruin your vacation. So I can understand Egypt being like, like, we really don't want 2,000 gays covered in glitter and leather harnesses sprinting down the dock. We're actually fine with that. Thank you very much. See you next year.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, it is you. You make good points. And I feel like if anyone's qualified to speak on it and to the privileges that we have here in the US it's certainly you. So thanks for that.

[Riley Gaines]

And I will say one last thing. I will say it's not like I haven't been bullied and beat up and been on the receiving end of attacks. Obviously. I went to an all boys school growing up, but it wasn't the EAS thing for me. But I did the work, I pushed through. I knew better days were ahead. I don't walk around with this victim mentality. And it's sad to see some of these gays, it's like they're twice my age, three times my age, and it's like, victim, victim, victim. You should have looked up the cruise before you booked it. This is your fault. Call your travel agent. That's my advice.

[Podcast Host]

Well, I feel like our society, I mean, just as you said, like we've put people in one of two boxes where you were either an oppressor or you are oppressed. And if you're like a straight white man, you're automatically in the oppressor box. And when you are, yeah, like the king colonizer or the oppressor, you owe someone something. But if you are oppressed, you are owed something. So like, if you have to pick if you owe someone or you're owed, most people are going to want to be owed something, you know, so I get it. But. But there is a faction of society that, that wants to be marginalized, they want to be the victim, which I think is a really weird mindset to have.

[Riley Gaines]

Well, also, I also feel like there are folks, and we see this with some black folks as it pertains to Black Lives Matter, we see with LGBTQ folks where they think of that identity as number one on their list. Right. As a gay guy, I don't walk around thinking about the fact that I'm gay all day long. I think about the fact that I'm an American. I've got my job to do. I'm a brother, I'm a son, I've got my friends. Friends. That's what's most important to me. But to some of these folks who care about identity politics, that little box that they check, it's like the number one thing they wear on their sleeve all day long, and people are sick of it and tired of it.

[Podcast Host]

I want to ask you about Olivia Rodrigo.

[Riley Gaines]

Okay.

[Podcast Host]

She's kind of, once again, like, blending pop music with her political activism. She recently partnered with the nonpartisan voter engagement group called Headcount to encourage fans to register to vote. Vote, or to at least verify their voter registration. And as part of this campaign, fans who, you know, took those steps, they could win some sort of, like, VIP ticket and travel package to her new music festival. At the same time, she announced that her net proceeds from that festival are going to benefit organizations that she says advocate for women and girls, including Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and other nonprofit profits. I'm kind of of two minds here, because I think on one hand, you have, like, the shut up and sing model. And I think a lot of people, certainly on the conservative side, take this approach where it's like, you know, people aren't coming to you, they're not coming to your concerts. They don't follow you for your political takes. But on the other hand, which is kind of like the more free market approach, you have this large platform, do with it what you wish, you know, support the causes you want to support. And. And if people, your fans, still want to support you, that's their decision at the end of the day. So what's kind of the right answer here?

[Riley Gaines]

It's interesting, I'm tired in general, of a lot of celebrities and actors and singers giving their political opinions because they're usually so ill informed and it's so detached from reality. If you have something clear and cogent and interesting to say, maybe I will listen. You do have a platform. But you see folks even like Robert De Niro, Robert De Niro goes out there, it's total Trump derangement syndrome. It's like it has eaten him alive. This iconic actor, this Hollywood legend, who is Robert De Niro anymore? He's an MSNBC talking head who hates Trump. Okay, you hate Trump, great, fine. It's a free country. Can you just lay out the policies you have issues with? Can you actually offer what you're concerned about? But it's just we hate Trump. We hate him. Trump is bad, right? Bruce Springsteen, it's all of these folks. And so unless you have something to offer to the conversation, I really don't want to hear from you. And as for this Olivia Rodriguez, Rodrigo Raulibu, I don't know her name, but as, as far as she goes, if she has these concerts and she's signing people up to vote and she's registering voters, great. She's like a little Scott Pressler out there. Good for her. I'm glad she's signing people to vote. But we need to pass the Save America act because I don't want a big chunk of Olivia Rada Boo boo votes coming in at the last minute from her concerts. You know what I'm saying? I want to verify if you are registering votes at your concerts and you're signing people up, whether it's Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, I want to just know, okay, that Jane Doe was at the concert. I want to know that she's not on 10 other list. I want to know that she is not 134 years old and has been deceased. That is what I want to know. If you're registering voters. But you mentioned the Planned Parenthood and the abortion of it all. There are certain women, a faction of women on the left, who think abortion is the number one issue, right? And they think something's going to change about it. I've said it a thousand times with the Dobbs decision. It's already been settled for now. I actually think you could use that as a positive and run on other things. But the left has nothing to run on on but open borders, abortion, men and women's sports. They have no other path because they can't run on the economy themselves. They run it into the gutter too. So I just think they have to find something. I guess abortion is it, but I'd rather see Olivia Rodrigo Rodriguez, a young woman with a platform, tell young girls, you can start a family, get married, you can settle down. Why is it always abortion the number one go to, you know, you can talk to them about the nuclear family, which is dwindling in our country and talk to them about those values. But instead it's just abortion all day. It's not contraception, it's just abortion.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, which it's, it's pretty concerning I think when you think about how dedicated they are to making sure women have access to killing their babies, you know, it's, it's a pretty horrible thing. And I say that now as a mom to a beautiful little baby girl. Last thing for you. I saw this on actually on xo scrolling this morning this was posted from polymarket. It says new clavicular reveals he dined with Benjamin Netanyahu's advisors to teach them about looks maxing and was asked to do a gym stream with the Israeli prime minister. So many questions there. But then clavicular followed it up with My new strategy is going to be geomaxing. The United States is far too brutal of a dating market to compete in. So I'm going to geomax to countries, countries with poor economies to mog people, I mean.

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[Podcast Host]

Can you decipher that?

[Riley Gaines]

There are so many words there. I feel like we need a new dictionary for social media. Look, smacking, mogging, geomaxing. It's like whatever happened to run spot run? I don't know what all these people have going on. Clavicular. Clava boo boo. I don't know. It's the. The name sounds like something you'd hear on not so Raven 20 years ago.

[Podcast Host]

Clavicular venereal disease.

[Taco Bell Announcer]

Yes.

[Riley Gaines]

It sounds like something you' need to go to the clinic and get an antibiotic for immediately. It's like have you been impacted by clavicular? It's going around this summer. But anyway, clavicular. When I see him on social media, he's this young man who looked perfectly handsome and fine before and I think in the last few weeks he's had his forehead done, his nose done. He as you've pointed out, hits himself with A hammer to try to chisel his face. I actually have such empathy for clavicular, and I'm sure he would say, I'm not mogging or looks maxing now, but I built a career off of talking and my intellect, so I don't have to rely on my looks. But nonetheless, Clavicular, he's out there telling young people that looks are the number one thing, and you need to get the perfectly chiseled nose and the forehead. And he had his ears pinned back, which is very painful. I just have such empathy for him, and I worry he's going to end up dead in a year or two. I worry he's going down a dark path and that nobody's really stepping in, because when you live stream all day and your whole life is getting clicks and you have to be more outrageous and up the ante to keep the viewer, as we've seen many people not make it out alive after a few years. That's a tough, tough, tough pill to swallow. So I actually do feel bad for Clavicular, and he seems like he's hurting in searching for something.

[Podcast Host]

It does. Yeah. I. I think. I wonder again, I don't. I don't know much about him beyond, like, what I see circulate online, but you have to wonder if there's some form of, like, trauma or something that ultimately led to where he feels like he needs to irreversibly change himself, his physical appearance, because I agree with you that that's a pretty sad thing. I have empathy for him, too. I really do.

[Riley Gaines]

I also feel like Clavicular in six months is going to come out as a transgender woman. I feel like that's the path we're going down. Clavicular, all these plastic surgeries, the nose, the chiseling, the hair, the looks, trying to be the prettiest boy you can. I feel like he's just going to come out as trans in six months, probably. That's like the snake. You know, that picture of the snake eating its own tail? Clavicular. He's just going to come out as a trans woman in six months. That's probably the next progression, right?

[Podcast Host]

Well, I feel like if Madonna has taught us anything, it's that getting all of these procedures done to your face doesn't actually make you look better or make you look younger. It makes you look botched. And so, like, where clavicular is now, fine. Like, I mean, I will admit it, like, he's an attractive appearing guy. Right. But I think if you continue down this path, like, the Likes of Madonna. It doesn't actually make you look good and certainly not natural. Maybe we'll just say that doesn't make you look natural.

[Riley Gaines]

It's interesting too. And it's like, I'm sure you're the same way. We don't even shame people on our shows for getting plastic surgery. Like, if there's a woman who really feels like, hey, I want to change this or I want to change my nose or I want to change that, go for it, do it for you, but don't do it for other people. But I just worry about clavicular. Definitely. But I think also in the future, and we're seeing this now, the new wealth status symbol is being ugly. Like choosing to just be ugly in this day and age, when you have ozone plastic surgery, all of these new treatments, that's kind of the new fu to everybody. Like if you choose to have nothing done, it's like, oh, that's a secure, rich bitch right there. You know what I'm saying? So I think that's the new status symbol is not getting anything done.

[Podcast Host]

So true. And you see the response, I think especially from Hollywood or maybe some of those left leaning media outlets, like when someone like Pamela Anderson person who was like the it girl, right, who now comes out and she's like, I don't really feel the need to wear makeup anymore. And she goes, you know, all natural. And maybe she looks older than her peers, but I mean, granted, she is older. She's an older woman and she's like, I have no problem with my wrinkles and they like smear for it.

[Riley Gaines]

So I love Riley. Okay. I love when these celebrities like Pamela Anderson and Alicia Keys come out and say, I'm doing no makeup. I'm doing the no makeup look, look at me, I'm wearing no makeup. And women are in the comments like, you're so brave. You're so brave. You're so strong. And I'm like, the soldiers are brave people fighting for our country. Are brave people going to work at 4am to provide for their families. They are brave women going on a red carpet with no makeup. They're like, she's so brave.

[Podcast Host]

Queen status.

[Riley Gaines]

Yes, exactly.

[Podcast Host]

It's a tell tell sign though, of where we are culturally early when it is considered brave to show your bare face.

[Riley Gaines]

Yes, exactly. I'm sitting here with nothing on. Look how brave I. Yeah, right.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, my gosh. Okay, rapid fire. You ready? I think favorite cabinet member.

[Riley Gaines]

Ooh, favorite cabinet member. Maybe Marco Rubio.

[Podcast Host]

Okay. If you could geomax in one country. Where would to be?

[Riley Gaines]

Nowhere. Anytime I leave America, I just want to come running back to my own house and my own bed and not be bothered dealing with customs and international travel and flights and chaos. So no geomaxing for me. I will be here in America.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, if you could term limit one celebrity, who would it be?

[Riley Gaines]

I would say Madonna, because she was just shaking her leg over a ledge in Times Square and twerking for everybody down below. But then again, it's such good fodder and entertainment.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, current favorite meme.

[Riley Gaines]

My favorite meme. I love a good Kermit. Like Kermit drinking the Lipton iced tea. Kermit doing anything. Kermit on the computer. I use that all the time with my friends.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, Political hot take. Yes, your hot take that would get you canceled.

[Riley Gaines]

Hot take that would get me canceled. I can't even think of anything because I don't care about getting canceled. Anything I would say that would get me canceled. Probably help our careers, right? So I don't know what would get me canceled. Saying there are two genders nowadays saying that they're a male and female gets me canceled by half the country, apparently.

[Podcast Host]

Thank you guys for watching the Riley Gaines Show. You can subscribe right here. We have new episodes every single Tuesday and Friday at 10:00am Eastern Time. And we are covering everything from pop culture to politics to deep dives to motherhood, sports, all of that and more. We want to hear from you, though. What is it that you want to hear? Comment down below. We can't wait to see you next time.