The Rob Carson Show
Episode: CNN’s Tehran Travel Guide and NYC Terror Madness
Date: March 11, 2026

Episode Overview

In this wide-ranging and often satirical episode, Rob Carson examines media narratives surrounding recent terror attacks in New York City and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The show lampoons coverage by mainstream outlets—especially CNN and The New York Times—for their perceived sympathy toward hostile regimes and downplaying of Islamist violence. Through personal anecdotes, cultural commentary, and a lively interview with legal analyst Thane Rosenbaum, Carson highlights what he sees as a manipulative media environment, dangers posed by insufficient counterterrorism vigilance, and the ideological divisions affecting American society. The episode is marked by humor, historical analogy, and impassioned support for law enforcement and conservative values.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Show Introduction and Host’s Rationale for Broadcasting (02:17–06:47)

• Carson expresses dedication to his audience, referencing the turbulent climate for conservative voices in recent years.
• He discusses personal losses due to political beliefs while reinforcing his commitment to open, unfiltered conversation.
• Quote:

  "We were right. And I said that you, you've experienced the same thing...Maybe you were censored online, maybe you were shadow banned online."
  — Rob Carson (03:56)

• Reflects on harassment faced by Trump supporters and the media's role in escalating divisions.

2. ICE, Media Narratives, and Public Perception (06:47–09:34)

• Critiques left-leaning media for demonizing ICE and police by repeating extreme comparisons (Nazis/Gestapo).
• Carson relays a personal encounter with an ICE officer afraid to reveal his profession due to public backlash.
• Reviews recent NBC survey data showing ICE with a higher approval rating than the Democratic Party despite media attacks.
• Quote:

  "They're people who are police officers who just happen to enforce immigration. So sickening what the left has done to them. Screw you for doing that."
  — Rob Carson (08:14)

3. Satirizing Mainstream Media Coverage of Terrorism (09:34–13:35)

• Parodies CNN's coverage of an attempted terror attack against white Christians in NYC, accusing them of humanizing perpetrators and obfuscating motives.
• Ridicules The New York Times’ obituary-style puff piece on the Ayatollah, likening it to a letter to Santa Claus.
• Quote:

  "With his spectacles, long robes and silver beard and his, his round belly that shook like a bowl full of jelly when the Tomahawk cruise missile hit his palace."
  — Rob Carson, mocking NYT’s prose (11:05)

• Rebukes the media for inverting narratives to focus on Islamophobia rather than Islamist terrorism.

4. Critique of CNN’s Reporting from Iran (15:50–19:56)

• Airs clips of CNN correspondents in Tehran, criticizing their “tourist-like” account of calm and normalcy during wartime.
  • Segment:

    [16:46] CNN reporter Fred Pleitgen describes well-stocked shops and calm atmosphere in Tehran. [17:13] Rob Finnerty: "That CNN reporter in Iran sounds like he works for the Iranian Board of Tourism."

• Mocks CNN’s coverage as indistinguishable from Iranian state media, noting their reporting lacks critical scrutiny.
• Criticizes CNN for amplifying Hamas claims of genocide, questioning the ethics of quoting terrorist organizations as authoritative sources.
• Quote:

  "They are fake news, they are state run media, they are regime media."
  — Rob Finnerty (19:45)

5. Discussion with Thane Rosenbaum on NYC’s Political Climate (23:18–39:28)

• [23:18] Carson introduces legal analyst Thane Rosenbaum to unpack the "insanity" in New York City following the attempted bombing.

• Rosenbaum describes the unsettling environment for Jewish residents:

  • Notes Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s wife liked social media posts celebrating the 10/7 massacre of Israeli civilians.
  • Highlights the paradox: despite this, most NYC Jews voted for Mamdani.
  • Quote:

    "The mayor instead said, my wife is a private citizen so she can say what she wants."
    — Thane Rosenbaum (25:00)

  • Quote:

    "I just see shadows of 1939 Berlin in New York City."
    — Rob Carson (25:11)

• Both reflect on fear among New Yorkers ("You know, is this my last day? Is someone gonna blow up this car?") and the potential for further attacks given lax security and high numbers of unvetted immigrants (27:24).

• Discusses Walter Masterson, an activist present at the bombing, noting his role in radicalizing social media narratives.

• Rosenbaum emphasizes that free speech is protected—even for hateful views—while violence is not, critiquing activists who conflate the two.

• Key Excerpt:

  "If you are white and anti-immigrant, you deserve to be dead."
  — Thane Rosenbaum, describing the activist’s logic (34:11)

• Parallels drawn between leftist activists and Islamist extremists: both encourage sacrificial violence without personal risk.

• Raises concerns that US resistance to warning signs (ex: European grooming gangs, Christmas market attacks) may foreshadow similar domestic violence.

• Quote:

  "This is the same thing that happened to Tehran in 1979...students, liberal students, teaming with radical Islamists."
  — Rob Carson (37:49)

• Concludes with a call for unity among those resisting both progressive and Islamist ideologies (“Homeboys, hillbillies, and Hebrews”).

6. Wealth and Radicalization of Bombing Suspects (39:29–41:10)

• Carson highlights the privileged backgrounds of the NYC bombers, challenging narratives that violence stems from deprivation.
• Compares this to Osama bin Laden and other well-off terrorists, linking elite radicalism to left-wing academic cultures.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On mainstream media's obfuscation:

  "Two young teenagers with an adventurous heart venture into the city of New York during a summer day. Will their romance catch fire? But in less than an hour..."
  — Rob Carson, mocking CNN's framing of teen bombers (10:10)

• On aligning media with state propaganda:

  "CNN and Iranian state media are essentially the same thing, separated by 8,000 miles."
  — Rob Finnerty (16:35)

• On media quoting terrorists as sources:

  "Hamas is calling this a genocide. So according to Hamas, which is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel...CNN is quoting them."
  — Rob Finnerty (19:30)

• On dangers facing New Yorkers:

  "When I went into the subway yesterday, Rob...is this my last day? Is someone gonna blow up this car?"
  — Thane Rosenbaum (27:24)

• On American complicity in anti-Western ideologies:

  "We are taking for granted this appalling anti-Americanism, self hatred, lack of patriotism and apologies for terrorists."
  — Thane Rosenbaum (29:04)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:17–06:47 | Rob Carson’s show introduction and purpose | | 06:47–09:34 | ICE and law enforcement: public perception vs. media demonization | | 09:34–13:35 | Media’s coverage of NYC terror attack and Ayatollah satire | | 15:50–19:56 | CNN’s reporting from Iran, Newsmax’s critique | | 23:18–39:28 | Thane Rosenbaum interview: NYC politics, anti-Semitism, fears for public safety | | 39:29–41:10 | Wealth and radicalization of the NYC bombers |

Episode Tone & Style

• Blunt, humorous, and unapologetically partisan
• Frequent use of satire, media parody, and pop culture references
• Combines news commentary with cultural critique and personal anecdote

Guest Info & Resources Mentioned

• Thane Rosenbaum: Distinguished Professor at Toro University and author of Beyond Proportionality: Israel's Just War in Gaza

  "Anyone interested in the laws of war, international law...this book will tell you." (39:10)

Summary

This episode of The Rob Carson Show blends humor with political outrage, challenging mainstream media for enabling dangerous narratives and highlighting the threats posed by unchecked extremism at home and abroad. Carson’s interview with Thane Rosenbaum provides in-depth analysis of the rising risks for New Yorkers—particularly Jewish communities—in an era of both governmental and media negligence. The show identifies complicity on the left in downplaying or defending radical violence and ends with a strong appeal for solidarity and vigilance among Americans facing a battle between “good and evil.”