The Rob Carson Show

Episode: "Jim Snow 2.0: ID for Work, Not for Voting"
Date: February 23, 2026
Host: Rob Carson (Newsmax Podcasts)
Guest: Doug Burns

Overview

In this episode, Rob Carson delivers his signature mix of political humor, sharp commentary, and culture war analysis. The focus revolves around the apparent hypocrisy in requiring identification for certain forms of work—like shoveling snow in New York—while dismissing voter ID laws. The episode also touches on recent political developments, media gaffes, the repercussions of the Epstein scandal, California politics, and a Supreme Court decision affecting Trump-era tariffs. Special guest Doug Burns offers insight on legal and political topics, especially concerning NYC policies and the ramifications of recent court decisions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. "Jim Snow 2.0": Hypocrisy in ID Requirements

[00:50-03:11, 22:50-26:24]

• Rob opens by mocking New York policies requiring multiple forms of ID for snow shoveling jobs, while progressive lawmakers continue to oppose voter ID laws.
  • “How stupid to hire people to shovel snow when you just have city employees on a snowblower... And then you got to show ID if you want to get a check for some government work. Wow.” [01:22, Carson]
• He sarcastically suggests SNAP recipients and undocumented immigrants should shovel snow for benefits.
  • “How about some SNAP benefit recipients? How about you shovel snow for your SNAP benefits? How about that?” [01:38, Carson]
• Doug Burns (later in the show) underscores the media calling out the hypocrisy:
  • “My goodness, is he getting crushed on the hypocrisy point? You’ve got to show ID to shovel snow. But of course, they don’t want anybody to have to show ID when you vote and he’s getting killed on it.” [23:02, Burns]

2. Mocking AOC and Progressive Rhetoric

[03:11-06:30, 11:22-12:05]

• Rob ridicules Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference, particularly her evasiveness and lack of substance on foreign policy.
  • “I feel like I’m getting an intellectual sunburn for being exposed to the radiation of her stupid…They should come up with an SPF 50 so you don’t absorb any of her stupid.” [04:45, Carson]
• He plays clips from AOC discussing "whiteness" as imaginary and offers his characteristic, irreverent commentary.
  • Doug (quoting AOC): “Whiteness is an imaginary thing. Being German is real. Being Italian is real...” [05:32, Burns]
  • Rob: “Now I’ve got an intellectual sunburn.... the skin peeling off my face from her stupid.” [05:45, Carson]
• The show discusses AOC’s claims about white men hating women of color:
  • “She said not too long ago, the only problem that I have if I were to run for president is white men hate women of color.” [11:28, Carson]
  • Both hosts dismiss the claim as tired, divisive rhetoric, noting there is "racial fatigue."
    "Cries of racism, racism, racism finally falling on deaf ears. Because they mean nothing." [12:05, Carson]

3. California Politics & the Democrat Platform

[06:30-10:46, 12:05-13:38]

• Focus on Katie Porter: Rob describes her candidacy as negative and based solely on being anti-Trump.
  • “Her entire campaign is based on one thing... F Trump. That’s it.” [07:49, Doug; summarized by Carson]
  • Rob lampoons the widespread use of profanity and negativity in Democrat campaigns.
• Viral Democratic Ads: Rob highlights absurd Democrat slogans (“Vote Juliana. Trump.”), describing it as base divisiveness.
• Bathrooms at the California Democratic Convention:
  • Rob points out the gender-neutral signs only on women’s bathrooms and interprets this as symbolic of how Democrats treat women.
    • “That is all you need to know about the Democrat Party and women right there. Women are good for two things, a vote and abortion. That’s what they think you’re there for.” [10:46, Carson]

4. The Epstein Scandal Fallout

[13:38-15:57]

• Carson details the global repercussions from new Epstein files, with multiple high-profile figures resigning or facing scrutiny.
  • “The Epstein files are detonating across the globe.” [13:38, Carson]
• He replays a Ghislaine Maxwell interview clearing Donald Trump of wrongdoing.
  • Maxwell: “Never inappropriate with anybody in the times that I was with him. He was a gentleman in all respects.” [15:32, Maxwell]
• Rob indulges in vivid analogies:
  • “Another, you know, scandal exploding in the Democrats’ faces like an Acme TNT bomb to Wile E. Coyote...” [15:57, Carson]

5. New York Governance Failures

[24:56-26:24, 27:47-28:49]

• Doug Burns on Mayor Zoran Mandami: Criticizes the lack of experience and failed leadership (e.g., city-run grocery exhaustion, failed snow removal, accumulating garbage).

  • “This guy had no experience, no executive experience. 34 years old is a shockingly low age to be running New York City.” [25:17, Burns]
  • Praises Rob’s point about politicians "bait and switching" campaign promises.

• Mandami’s Snow Response:

  • Plays Mandami’s travel ban orders (“state of emergency”) and mocks the city’s failure to handle snow compared to Carson’s own experience in snowstorms.
  • “He’s basically doing what they did during COVID...closing the streets, highways and bridges.” [27:49, Carson]

6. LA Mayor Karen Bass and Infrastructure Issues

[17:20-19:30]

• Reports on the LA Fire Department’s strategy to shape media coverage and minimize reputational harm for Mayor Bass after disastrous wildfires.
• Ridicules Bass’s claims about progress on potholes, highlighting the tiny fraction of road repairs:
  • “So 22,000 lane miles, they’re gonna fix 60. There you go. That’s 0.27%. And they’re covering up her malfeasance with regard to the LA fires. 12 houses out of 12,000 rebuilt. They call that leadership.” [19:30, Carson]

7. Trump Tariffs, Supreme Court, and Legal Analysis

[21:59-34:48]

• Discusses the Supreme Court’s ruling against Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for tariffs.
  • “Donald Trump suffered what many would consider a defeat by the Supreme Court on Friday with regard to the ability to levy tariffs.” [22:19, Carson]
• Doug Burns explains the implications:
  • The ruling rests on using the wrong statute; authority to levy tariffs exists under other laws.
  • “All the Supreme Court said was, you checked the wrong box, you used the wrong statute. But...it’s clear that he has the authority to do it under other ones...” [33:05, Burns]
  • The court left ambiguous whether $170 billion in tariff revenue must be paid back. Burns doubts widespread refunds.
  • “They didn’t say you have to pay it back, but they also...didn’t say you don't have to pay it back. So you’re left very much in limbo.” [30:28, Burns]

8. Olympics, State of the Union, and More Political Theater

[35:00-37:52]

• Celebrates U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams’ gold medals after 46 years, contrasting this national pride with Democrats’ planned State of the Union boycott.
  • “Democrats...are not going to attend the State of the Union. They’re going to do an alternative event with a bunch of very unlikable people like Eric Swalwell.” [35:42, Carson]
  • Notes Trump’s invite to hockey teams, furthering the contrast.
• Doug and Rob lampoon doomsday fears about Trump, arguing post-facto that none of the predicted catastrophes occurred.
  • “If he’s a king, actually, in a dictator, he’s the worst one ever, because he just got defeated by the Supreme Court.” [37:35, Carson]

9. Parody & Satire: Cat Lady of the Day

[39:53-40:23]

• Rob spotlights a progressive who fled to Canada, lampooning the “crazy cat lady Karen” archetype.
  • Parody song and comedy bits poke fun at left-wing displacement and melodrama.
  • “That's the white liberal Karen. I'm loving watching her do a death spiral into the pits of hell with the Democrat party that's going to do it for the show.” [40:12, Carson]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AOC’s rhetoric:
  • "I feel like I’m getting an intellectual sunburn for being exposed to the radiation of her stupid." [04:45, Carson]
• On Democrat campaign messaging:
  • "Their entire platform summed up in two words... nothing to offer Californians but division and hate." [08:00, Carson]
• On Zoran Mandami (NYC Mayor):
  • "This guy had no experience, no executive experience. 34 years old is a shockingly low age to be running New York City." [25:17, Burns]
• Satire on gender-neutral bathrooms:
  • "Women are good for two things, a vote and abortion. That’s what they think you’re there for." [10:46, Carson]
• Burns on Supreme Court tariffs ruling:
  • "They didn’t say you have to pay it back, but they also didn’t say you don’t have to pay it back. So you’re left very much in limbo." [30:28, Burns]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |--------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:50 | “Jim Snow 2.0”: ID requirements for snow shovelers | | 03:11 | Mocking AOC’s foreign policy statements | | 06:30 | California: Democrat messaging, bathrooms, “Vote Trump” ads | | 13:38 | Epstein files fallout | | 17:20 | LAFD plans to shield LA Mayor Karen Bass | | 21:59 | Tariff decision – legal analysis with Doug Burns | | 24:56 | NYC’s Mandami: snow, garbage, city-run grocer failures | | 27:47 | Mandami’s snow emergency policies and travel ban announcement | | 35:00 | US Olympic hockey, Dems boycott SOTU, Trump’s invitation | | 39:53 | “Cat Lady of the Day” segment |

Tone & Style

Rob Carson’s tone is irreverent, combative, and satirical, with frequent jokes, parodies, and colorful language. Doug Burns provides analytical and explanatory interludes, especially on legal and policy issues, balancing Carson’s humor with substance.

Summary:
This episode centers on the ironies and perceived failures of progressive governance, from snow shovelers needing multiple IDs in New York to the all-encompassing anti-Trump focus of California Democrats. Rob Carson blends cultural mockery with political critique, lampooning figureheads like AOC and Zoran Mandami, while Doug Burns offers insight on legal details and the real-world effects of policies from New York to Washington. The show closes with Carson’s blend of political parody and pointed social commentary, directed chiefly at progressive excesses and what he depicts as their collateral damage, with a final dose of humor for good measure.