The Rob Carson Show

Episode: Iran, Inflation & the Great D.C. Rent Crisis
Date: February 2, 2026
Host: Rob Carson
Guest: Brigadier General Blaine Holt

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode of The Rob Carson Show focuses on current political, economic, and cultural turmoil across the United States, with particular attention to the situation in Washington D.C., inflation and economic relief measures, controversy around recent activists and arrests (notably Don Lemon), the leftward shift of Virginia's state government, and escalating international tension with Iran. Rob Carson offers his trademark mix of satire, anecdotes, and pointed commentary, while Brigadier General (Ret.) Blaine Holt provides deep-dive military and geopolitical analysis, especially around Iran and domestic unrest.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Adjusting to D.C. & the State of the City

• Rob’s “new studio” blues: Rob opens with humor around his new studio setup—uncomfortable furniture and minor gripes—before segueing into weightier local and national issues.
• D.C. housing crisis:
  • Rob discusses rising rent/home prices:
    • “Average price where I live is $700,000 for a stupid house. … a crappy townhouse for $400,000...” [03:30]
    • Notes that “elite liberals” can afford it, but he rents.

2. Economic Optimism & Policy Changes

• Inflation and economic gains:
  • “The average worker has already gained at least $1,000 in their paychecks. … Social Security recipients, you got a major raise.” [02:40]
  • No taxes on tips/overtime, interest deduction for American car purchases for those under $250,000 income.
• New Fed Chair anticipated:
  • “You got this new fed chair coming in. Wash. His name's Wash. Like do the wash.” [05:14]

3. Critique of Media and the Left

• Media bias and gaslighting:
  • “There is an absolute vacuum with regard to any good news coming out of the administration, any good news on the economy.” [02:20]
  • Critiques media for only questioning “if Americans feel relief” when good news emerges under Republican leadership, contrasting with their silence during high Biden-era inflation.
• Predictions for midterms:
  • “The left is going bat guano crazy. … I don't think the Democrats are going to stand a chance because they're so awful.” [02:08]
  • Warns against complacency and urges local activism.

4. The “Great D.C. Rent Crisis” and Virginia Politics

• Liberal policy “bait and switch”:
  • Rob lambastes Virginia’s governor and Dem. party:
    • “...a communist. That's in the state of Virginia. ...policy provisions that they've done. They did not say they wanted to do it.” [07:09 & 08:25]
    • Calls for legal action over campaign misrepresentation.

Memorable Rant:

“This woman, this wretched, awful, crazy cat lady, Karen Abigail Spamberger. Lied. The Democrat Party in the state of Virginia lied. They lied and misrepresented every one of the things that they do... This cannot stand. This cannot stand. ... You cannot bait and switch on an election like this... That can't happen. We are a representative republic.”

— Rob Carson [09:00]

5. Don Lemon, Double Standards, and Media Scandal

• Don Lemon’s arrest:
  • Rob mocks the arguments that Lemon’s arrest was heavy-handed, comparing it to raids on Roger Stone and conservative targets (e.g., “agents by land and sea” at Mar-a-Lago; “CNN was tipped off…”).
  • Plays clips of various media figures (Gayle King, Liz Warren, Jamel Hill) and skewers claims of racism or targeted silencing.
  • Quote:

    “If Democrats didn't have double standards, they'd have no standards at all, as my friend Chris Plante likes to say.”
    — Rob Carson [16:04]

• Mockery of Lemon’s defense:
  • “He can claim rectum. I mean, victim.” [16:01]

6. Operation Metro Surge & Domestic Unrest

• Federal judge backs law enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis and St. Paul:
  • Carson applauds the judge's refusal to halt Operation Metro Surge, expresses frustration at ongoing protests:

    “I think people of Minnesota are sick and damn tired of this nonsense…” [20:27]

  • Discusses the origin of the protests and the increasing radicalization of leftist activism.

International Focus: Iran & Military Standoff

7. Iran Standoff & Trump’s Strategy (with Brig. Gen. Holt)

• Ayatollah threatens regional war:
  • Trump’s response: “We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there…” [21:43]
• Holt’s strategic analysis:
  • In-depth assessment of the deterrence game:
    • “If we put the Ayatollah into a place where it's game over, you could easily see them throwing a Hail Mary pass, which equates to a storm of 3,000 ballistic missiles…" [22:19]
    • Holt suggests a barrage would challenge Israel’s defenses but would not be a “hopeless” situation.
    • President Trump applying Sun Tzu-style leverage:

      “This president's going to the Sun Tzu playbook…tell them what we really intend to do…in a demilitarized way…” [27:16]

  • Importance of a “deliberate” approach, preference for facilitating regime change aided by internal revolution rather than military invasion.

8. U.S. Security & Terror Threats

• “Orphaned” terror cells in the U.S.
  • Holt: “That is a clear and present danger the president is weighing as he weighs what to do in the Middle East.” [23:41]
  • Trump’s unpredictability is highlighted as a strategic asset.

“Fifth Generation Warfare,” Protests, and Election Fraud

9. Organizing Protests & Communist Influence

• Carson’s take on recent unrest:
  • “This is about overturning the country. This is about making America into the former Soviet Union.” [30:02]
• Holt on paid insurgents:
  • “This is a paid army. ... This money comes from NGOs ... and billionaire people who want to overthrow the United States...” [30:52]

10. Election Interference and Venezuela Connection

• Venezuelan influence in U.S. elections:
  • Holt asserts substantial Maduro involvement:

    “Atlanta was really the epicenter of foreign influence going into that city and then working in the other cities of the other swing states where we saw this nonsense.” [33:53]

  • Outlines “fifth generation warfare” as including media manipulation, psychological operations, and information warfare.

11. Trump’s Approach to Civil Unrest

• Letting blue cities “burn their own”:
  • “He [Trump] did say, however, if you try to put the heavy on a federal building, he's going to kick your butt…” [34:41]
  • Holt calls this “brilliant” and lauds Trump’s unpredictability.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On inflation/SS raise:

  “Those of you on Social Security are going to get...the largest raise in Social Security in the history of Social Security just by getting rid of the federal tax audit.”
  — Rob Carson [02:40]

• On activist protests:

  “This is about a communist overthrow of the country. ... they’ve been exposed and they're getting more desperate.”
  — Rob Carson [30:52]

• On Trump’s Iran tactics:

  "This president's going to the Sun Tzu playbook and going, why do we need to throw a bomb at these guys? Let's just put the ships off the coast, get their attention...”
  — Brigadier General Blaine Holt [27:16]

• On media double standards (Don Lemon):

  “If Democrats didn't have double standards, they'd have no standards at all, as my friend Chris Plante likes to say.”
  — Rob Carson [16:04]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• D.C. Rent & Economic Issues: 02:00–05:30
• Virginia Politics & Dem. Party Allegations: 07:09–10:30
• Don Lemon/Media Scandal: 11:56–18:08
• Operation Metro Surge / Minneapolis: 18:08–21:40
• Iran—Trump/Holt Segment:
  • Opening & stakes: 21:40–25:28
  • Sun Tzu strategy & regime change: 25:28–27:43
  • U.S. military as “insurance policy”: 28:19–29:14
• Civil Unrest / “Fifth Generation Warfare”: 29:45–33:22
• Election Interference & Venezuela: 33:22–34:41
• Trump’s Unconventional Domestic Policy: 34:41–36:27

Tone & Style

Rob Carson maintains a caustic, witty, and irreverent tone, blending serious political analysis with humor and mockery. He leverages personal anecdotes and pop culture riffs to keep listeners engaged, appealing especially to a conservative-leaning audience. Brigadier General Blaine Holt adds gravitas and closely reasoned security analysis, striking a more measured (but still direct) tone.

Conclusion

This episode offers Carson’s trademark mix of political satire and direct conservative commentary, backed by detailed strategic analysis from Brig. Gen. Holt. From D.C.'s cost of living and Virginia's swing to the left, to concerns about civil unrest, media manipulation, and foreign interference, the conversation is fast-paced and wide-ranging, always steering back to themes of patriotism, vigilance, and robust American response—both at home and abroad.

Listeners get updates on key political stories, economic optimism under a new administration, media controversies, a behind-the-scenes understanding of military maneuvers with Iran, and a warning about orchestrated domestic unrest—all delivered with Rob Carson’s “entertaining as well as informing” style.