The Rob Carson Show

Episode Title: Double Tap Diplomacy: How America ‘Kicks Ass and Takes Names’
Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Rob Carson
Guest: Michael Charbone (Canadian broadcaster)
Producer: Newsmax Podcasts

Episode Overview

This episode of The Rob Carson Show dives into the recent U.S. military strikes against Venezuelan "narco-terrorist" drug boats, designated by President Trump’s administration as legitimate terror targets. Rob Carson uses his trademark humor, parody, and sharp-edged political commentary to frame the debate, contrasting the Trump doctrine of “kicking ass and taking names” with what he sees as past Democratic hypocrisy, media bias, and attempts to distract from policy successes. With contributions from military and political voices, as well as Canadian commentator Michael Charbone, the show explores the legality, ethics, effectiveness, and political fallout of the strikes, while skewering critics and dissecting broader cultural and international issues.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legality and Morality of Strikes Against Drug Boats

[02:20]–[04:19]; [05:14]–[07:48]

• Premise: Recent kinetic strikes were ordered against Venezuelan narco-terrorist boats. Rob Carson and guests argue it’s not just legal, but overdue, casting opponents as soft on terror and disingenuous.
• The Trump administration distinguishes itself by decisively targeting narco-terrorists, in contrast to more cautious or error-prone Obama and Biden years.
• Comparison to past administrations: Carson details civilian deaths from drone strikes under Obama and Biden, arguing there was little media outcry then.

  “Democrats, they do not think they are siding with drug dealers. Our forces are elite and they're taking orders from Pete. Each time a boat we take out, their future's in doubt.” — Rob Carson parody song ([03:58])

• Any survivors of drug boat attacks are also considered fair targets, paralleling standard war zone tactics.

2. Hypocrisy and Media Double Standards

[08:36]–[11:25]

• Carson condemns mainstream media for selective outrage, noting major Democratic drone scandals passed with less scrutiny.

• Directly calls out John Kirby for Pentagon non-accountability in the Kabul drone strike that killed 10 Afghan civilians.

  “No US military personnel was reprimanded in the August drone strike in Kabul that killed 10 Afghan civilians, including seven children... But because Donald Trump is the President, it's a big deal.” — Rob Carson ([08:36])

3. Justification: Scale of the Drug Epidemic & Terror Designation

[11:25]–[14:18]

• Fentanyl and other drugs trafficked by Venezuelan cartels have killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.
• Defining the crisis as a war, Carson, quoting Mike Pompeo, claims the strikes are legitimate self-defense.

  “It's a friggin’ war on America with hundreds of thousands of casualties. ... It's a body count of about a million friggin’ people. Something had to be done.” — Rob Carson ([11:25]; [25:03])

4. The Politics of Outrage: “This is the Next Thing”

[04:19]–[05:14]; [23:49]–[24:36]

• Carson repeatedly frames Democratic criticism as opportunistic distraction:

  “This is the next thing. This is the next distraction. It's every week it's the same frigging thing. Elon Musk is a Nazi. Donald Trump is a king. ...Oh, Donald Trump is a war criminal... No, they declared all the people on those boats to be terrorists.” ([23:49])

5. Legal Nuance and Media Confusion

[18:48]–[20:16]; [19:08]–[19:41]

• Batya Ungar-Sargon and other commentators note the story is “massively misreported.”

  “So you have actual headlines saying that Hegseth gave the order for the second hit. That wasn't in the initial Washington Post article which claimed... by hearsay... to kill everybody.” — Batya Ungar-Sargon ([18:48])

• The legitimacy of designating boat occupants as terrorists and lawful targets is clarified. Only remaining legal question is whether the vessel was still a threat.

6. Societal Support for Aggressive Policy

[19:41]–[20:16]

• Working-class Americans suffering from the opioid crisis reportedly feel validated by strong U.S. action against the drug trade.

  “When they see him blowing up those boats, they feel like he sees their pain.” — Batya Ungar-Sargon ([20:16])

7. International Perspective with Michael Charbone

[21:47]–[36:44]

• Charbone supports tough anti-cartel stances, compares media coverage in Canada and U.S., and laments liberal governments’ handling of key issues.
• Insight into the effects of U.S. policy on Canada, including drug flows and economics.

  “Trump should be heralded... because it stopped [drugs] along the floor of Europe.” — Michael Charbone ([24:36])

• Colorful banter about Canadian political trends, healthcare, winter, and economic challenges.
• Extended mockery of media personalities (e.g., Rachel Maddow) and the recurring plight of conservatives in Canadian elections.

8. Broader Political Conspiracies and “Setup” Claims

[20:16]–[21:24]; [37:32]–[39:30]

• Carson and guests suggest the war crime narrative is a “setup” to undermine Trump—tying leaks and orchestrated outrage to the “seditious six” and ex-CIA operatives.

  “Does it strike you as coincidental that former CIA guys are trying to sabotage US Operations in Latin America against these narco traffickers? Not in the slightest. They've got the most to cover up...” — Jim Hansen ([37:48])

• Suggests previous administrations had complicit or negligent relations with Maduro and cartels.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the severity of the drug war:

  “If you're gonna make a wall with the names of all the people who have died because of the fentanyl... you’d have to build one about five or six times the length of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.” — Rob Carson ([15:40])

• Defending lethal force against traffickers:

  “Let's just look at it as a boat full of bombs going to the United States to murder people. How do you feel about that now, for God's sake?” — Rob Carson ([12:39])

• Parody & Humor:

  • Parody song lampooning Democrats and championing military force ([03:58]).
  • “If MSNBC were around in World War II, they would have complained the allies bombing supply convoys taking Zyklon B to the death camps!” — Rob Carson ([22:46])

• On media hypocrisy:

  “Nobody gave a damn ... But suddenly somebody's worried because, oops, I guess the terrorists didn't die in the first explosion? So what do you do after that? Well, you kill the rest of them.” — Rob Carson ([15:07])

• International banter:

  “You know, the other thing that's pushing Canada toward assisted suicide, living in Canada in the winter.” — Rob Carson ([30:39])

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:20–04:19 | Statement of U.S. policy, parody song on boat strikes | | 05:14–07:48 | Rob’s argument: “finish the job”; Dems’ distractive tactics | | 08:36–11:25 | Media reactions to drone strikes under past Dem presidents | | 11:25–12:39 | Pompeo and Carson: Justifying strikes as national defense | | 14:18–15:40 | Outraged media vs. scale of fentanyl deaths | | 18:48–20:16 | Batya Ungar-Sargon: Misreporting and public perception | | 21:47–36:44 | Michael Charbone: Canadian/American politics & drug war | | 37:32–39:30 | Warnings about war crime narrative as political setup |

Final Thoughts & Tone

Throughout, Carson wields sarcasm and righteous indignation, combined with parody and hyperbole, in defense of Trump-era policies. He embraces a “tough on crime/terror” worldview; repeatedly belittles critics, especially Democrats and mainstream media; and highlights the disconnect between elites and working-class victims of drug trafficking.

The tone is combative, satirical, and resolutely pro-Trump; guests echo these themes or provide a friendly international foil. The show is pitched as a counterweight to legacy media, aimed at rallying and reassuring Carson’s conservative audience.

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