The Rob Carson Show

Date: September 9, 2025
Episode: John Reid Joins Rob Carson: The Fight to Take Back Virginia Starts NOW
Host: Rob Carson
Guest: John Reid (Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Rob Carson Show combines Carson’s trademark humor and fiery conservative commentary to discuss current political and cultural issues, with a specific focus on public safety, urban crime, media narratives, and the critical special election in Virginia’s 11th District. The episode features extended interviews and commentary from John Reid, a Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor, who makes the case for a political realignment in Virginia to combat rising crime and "woke" policies in schools and government.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Crime, Urban Policy & Media Coverage

• Charlotte Light Rail Murder Case
  Carson launches into the show with an emotional and pointed response to the murder of Irina Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee killed in Charlotte. He argues that mainstream media and Democratic leaders are minimizing patterns of crime in major cities, especially when the suspects are people of color and the victims are white women.

  • “[Democrats] promised the sun and the moon to people of color in America's inner cities. And then election day would roll around, they'd get their votes and then leave some money on the nightstand, and they don't leave the money anymore.” (04:15)
  • He blames “progressive” policies—lenient judges, decarceration, and defunding police—for rising violent crime and criticizes the media for alleged double standards in coverage.

• Public Official Responses & Compassion Narrative

  • Carson condemns Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles for focusing on the killer’s mental health and homelessness.
  • Quote: “I'm thinking the woman who had her throat stabbed out and died right there on the spot. I'm thinking she's the victim. I could be wrong.” (07:20)

• Media Silence & Double Standards

  • Discussion on the lack of media coverage for certain violent crimes compared to the national focus on other incidents (e.g., Daniel Penny case).
  • Quote: “CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC didn't mention a damn thing about this woman's murder a couple weeks ago until they decided to call it racist for us to point out the obvious.” (15:10)

• Racial Politics & Truth-Telling

  • Carson denounces what he sees as censorship and obfuscation by progressive politicians and commentators regarding race and violence.
  • He amplifies commentary questioning the narrative that only white people can be racist, and backs up guest Justine Brooke Murray’s arguments about the brokenness of the nuclear family, especially in black communities.
  • Quote: “It is especially evident in the black community.” – Justine Brooke Murray (18:55)

2. Political Climate in Virginia & Special Election Focus

• John Reid Interview

  • John Reid provides updates from the campaign trail, emphasizing the fatigue among voters with “the trans agenda, crime, tax abuses,” and the desire for practical leadership. (22:01)
  • Stresses that Democrats only seem to take contrarian positions to Donald Trump, and have offered few real solutions to pressing issues.
  • Quote: “I'm stepping up. I'm saying we're going to change the game here. And I think that's resonating.” – John Reid (22:01)

• Republican Strategy & Grassroots Momentum

  • Discussion of efforts to win a special election in Fairfax County, a traditionally Democratic area, and the implications for broader state politics.
  • Quote: "There are a lot of people who are obviously motivated... and they're saying they're tired of the trans agenda, they're tired of the crime, they're tired of the tax abuses." – John Reid (22:04)

• Critique of Abigail Spanberger’s Gubernatorial Bid

  • Carson and Reid accuse the Spanberger campaign of creating a “fake news site” to push positive stories—a phenomenon they decry as deceptive.
  • Quote: “Literally fake news.” (30:37)

• Reid’s Personal Candidacy

  • John Reid discusses being an openly gay Republican candidate, insisting on transparency and mature debate over divisive identity politics.
  • Quote: “I am a reasonable man. I'm a responsible person. And my commitment is to be fair to everybody across the state.” – John Reid (33:30)

3. Cultural Critique & Social Commentary

• Silencing of Conservative Voices

  • Anecdotes about conservatives in Northern Virginia speaking in “hushed tones” due to fear of ostracism. (24:19)
  • Carson encourages listeners to become more openly patriotic and vocal.

• Gen X/Libertarian Social Attitudes

  • Carson and Reid share lighthearted discussion about how many conservatives don't care about gay marriage or marijuana, but want focus on public safety, lower taxes, and education reform.
  • Quote: "The soul doesn't have a penis or a vagina. And so if you want to devote yourself to someone for their entire life, I think the state ought to stay the hell out of it." – Rob Carson (26:37)

• Virginia’s Heritage & Optimism

  • Both hosts celebrate the historical importance and “greatness” of Virginia, rejecting erasure of history and monument destruction.
  • Reid: “There are a lot of lessons in the first 250 years of this great experiment that we can learn from, but we are doing ourselves a disservice if we erase the monuments, the tombs, the memorials that are mile markers for the achievement of this society.” (35:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Crime & Race in America

  • Rob Carson: "The Democrat Party, by not recognizing the pandemic of murder... being committed, particularly by young men of color—it's very obvious." (05:20)
  • Brian Kilmeade: "We have to be able to handle that. If we don't handle that, we don't have a country." (11:31)
  • Rob Carson: “Did you ever think maybe the murdering of the white woman was the racist act? I'm just saying.” (12:59)

• On Broken Families and Policy Taboo

  • Justine Brooke Murray: "Is the brokenness of the nuclear family. The Brokenness of the black family." (17:58)
  • Rob Carson: “The nerve of you pointing out the truth.” (18:45)

• On Political Shenanigans

  • John Reid: “They know that these are issues where 80% of the population, even the Democrats, have decided, no, we shouldn't be cutting the breasts off of teenage girls; we shouldn't be castrating teenage boys just because they're going through what all of us probably had on some level.” (32:08)

• On Open Political Identity

  • John Reid: “I've had to. And because I am a gay guy who is making history as the first openly gay candidate, Republican or Democrat... I stand there and respond to it for hour after hour after hour.” (33:10)

• On Virginia's Role and History

  • John Reid: “My goal in running for office as Lieutenant Governor is to make sure that in the coming decade we have even more prosperity and more freedom for people in this state where freedom began.” (35:43)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Main Crime Segment – Charlotte Murder & Media Narrative: 04:15 – 20:00
• Virginia Politics and John Reid Interview Begins: 20:43
• Republican Platform and Identity Politics Discussion: 26:10 – 34:00
• Virginia History & Civic Optimism: 34:08 – 35:43
• John Reid Campaign Pitch and Closing: 35:48 – 36:18
• Gen Z Pundit Justine Brooke Murray Social Comment: 37:44 – 39:00

Additional Insights

• The tone throughout is highly emotive, punchy, and unapologetically conservative, often blending humor with anger and urgency.
• Carson leans on recurring themes: media hypocrisy, failed Democratic leadership in cities, the dangers of “woke” policies in schools, and the importance of family structure.
• The interview with John Reid exemplifies the conservative pivot towards inclusivity on some social issues while doubling down on law and order and parental rights.
• Cultural references—sushi dinners, barbecue, Gen X nostalgia, and monologues on state pride—help lend the show a relatable, folksy feel even during heated segments.

Conclusion

This episode is a passionate call-to-action rallying conservatives to push for political change in Virginia, combat what the hosts describe as the failures of progressive policies in crime and education, and resist media “gaslighting.” The episode’s lively interviews and uncompromising rhetoric are tailored to energize the Republican base ahead of a pivotal local election.