The Rob Carson Show — “Lord of the Flies: NYC Edition”

Date: February 19, 2026
Host: Rob Carson
Guest/Co-host: Cliff Maloney
Podcast: Newsmax Radio

Episode Overview

This episode of The Rob Carson Show delivers Rob’s signature blend of conservative commentary, political satire, and cultural critique. Framed around mounting budget and governance issues in New York City (a “Lord of the Flies” moment), Carson and recurring guest Cliff Maloney (CEO, Citizens Alliance) discuss city and national political dysfunction, the impact of progressive policies, midterm strategy, media bias, and voter ID, peppering the conversation with biting humor and parody.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NYC Budget Crisis & Progressive Policy Mismanagement

Tone: Sarcastic, frustrated, incredulous
Timestamps: [01:44]–[08:29]

• Rob lists ballooning salaries for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) officials in New York City:
  • “Equity 4.6 million. Commission on Racial Equity, 835,000. Commissioner on Gender Equity, 260,000...” [01:44]
• Cliff: “You can’t cut that back. They’re doubling down on stupid. The left doubling down on stupid.” [02:09]
• Critique:
  • NYC's budget spirals while basic services suffer and crime is rampant.
  • Political promises (e.g., free grocery stores) unravel as businesses flee due to crime and poor management.
  • The city is reducing police hiring, contradicting public safety needs.
• Rob, emotionally: “I don’t know why you’d ever be a police officer in New York City... what you have to do is ridiculous.” [03:12]

2. Tax Plans, Homeowner Squeeze, and Economic Unsustainability

Timestamps: [05:36]–[08:29]

• Proposed fixes:
  • Raising property taxes by 9.5–10%.
  • Dipping into city “rainy day” and retiree health funds.
• Guest Sarah Williams (via Newsmax clip): “We have a broken property tax system in this city.” [05:36]
• Rob: “That’s going to impact residential units and commercial properties across all five boroughs...” [06:23]
• Cliff: “It’s unsustainable. You can’t run a city like this.” [07:00]
• Queens Borough President Donovan Richards: “You’re really setting back generational wealth and you’re going to force people out of their homes…” [08:03]

3. Satirical Comparisons: "Lord of the Flies meets Animal Farm"

Timestamps: [08:29]–[13:52]

• Rob: “Now you’ve got, you know, Lord of the Flies meets Animal Farm. For real.” [08:29]
• Greg Gutfeld critiqued progressives as “adult children” running cities.
• Rob: “AOC is an adult child. She has no life experience. She was a bartender. She’s so stupid she doesn’t know what’s in a rum and coke.” [09:12]
• Roasts continuing mismanagement in major Democratic cities (Chicago, New York, Seattle), targeting their mayors and policies.
• Cliff: “Republicans just by default look like adults, even if you disagree with them.” [13:35]

4. Student Protests, Indoctrination, and School Authority

Timestamps: [14:16]–[16:27]

• Rob criticizes student walkouts (“anti-ICE protest”), argues students lack protest rights during school:
  • “I said to these kids walking out of class: protest, get your asses to your classes. You have no right to protest as a student…” [14:27]
• Audio from Principal Daniel Weber, Wilson High School (PA), threatening suspension for students walking out:
  • “If you stay out here, we will get your names. You will be suspended.” [15:38]
• Rob: “Teachers, you teach them what they need to survive, not your bull crap politics. Done. Done. Done.” [16:48]

5. Late Night TV Bias and Media Distrust

Timestamps: [16:48]–[20:18]

• Parody song targets Stephen Colbert’s handling of campaign fairness and FCC equal time rules.
• Critiques “sloppy” media coverage, referencing candidate James Talarico:
  • “Perfect encapsulation of why the American people have more trust in gas station sushi than they do in the national news media.” (Brendan Carr, FCC chair) [19:08]
• Cliff: “Who did this to late night television? ...Carson is rolling in his grave like a baseball bat on a lathe...” [20:18]

6. Midterms: Strategy, Messaging, and Voter Outreach

Timestamps: [22:19]–[30:53]

• Cliff Maloney (CEO, Citizens Alliance):
  • “Democrats have no message. But here’s the warning: that is still a message that motivates Democrats. We’ve seen it in special elections... even if Trump is not on the ballot.” [24:05]
  • Importance of Republicans being proactive in messaging, connecting achievements to party brand.
• Focus on ground game: Pennsylvania’s “PA Chase Program” targeting three vulnerable Republican House seats (PA-7, 8, 10).
  • “We’re knocking 750,000 doors across target districts.” [27:53]
• Cliff warns about Democrats’ “dirty” fighting and urges Republicans to “grow a spine... This is war.” [29:33]

7. Voter Fraud Concerns and the Voter ID Debate

Timestamps: [30:53]–[37:41]

• Extensive discussion on risks of voter fraud, especially non-citizens voting and mail-in ballots.
• Rob: “If those 20 million people [w/o ID] existed, we’d see town halls on CNN... The 20 million without IDs are illegal. Would you agree, Rob?” [35:07]
• Cliff: “It’s the worst kept secret in politics that these Democrats go out and virtue signal... It benefits them politically.” [36:11]
• Both emphasize overwhelming voter turnout as the antidote.

8. Mockery, Parody, and Culture Wars

Timestamps: [39:00]–[41:21]

• Rob launches the “Crazy Cat Lady of the Day” (Rosie O’Donnell) segment, lampooning white liberal women and celebrities with exaggerated song parodies.
• Cliff: “They have a whiny voice... They’re all pro choice and mostly barren... Don’t have husbands either. They’re cat ladies. Whoa, whoa, whoa.” [40:30]
• Rob: “You’re not going to get another show like this... I’m blessed to be here, and I will never let you down. I promise you.” [41:24]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On NYC Governance:

  • “They’re doubling down on stupid. The left doubling down on stupid.” – Cliff Maloney [02:09]
  • “I mean this from the bottom of my heart: you, ICE officers, border patrol... nobody should have to go through what you go through.” – Rob Carson [03:12]

• On Progressive Pols:

  • “AOC is an adult child. She has no life experience. She was a bartender. She’s so stupid she doesn't know what’s in a rum and coke.” – Rob Carson [09:12]

• On Property Taxes:

  • “The foreclosure crisis always peaked in southeast Queens. So, without a doubt, you’re pushing people out of their homes.” – Donovan Richards (Queens Borough President) [08:03]

• On Media & Late Night:

  • “The American people have more trust in gas station sushi than they do in the national news media.” – Brendan Carr, FCC Chair [19:08]

• On Elections:

  • “The Democrats have no message... but their hatred of Trump motivates them regardless of who's on the ballot.” – Cliff Maloney [24:05]
  • “This is political ideological warfare. And the Democrats do it in every single state. It’s time for Republicans to grow a spine.” – Cliff Maloney [29:33]

• On Voter ID:

  • “If those 20 million people [w/o ID] existed, we’d see town halls on CNN... those 20 million are illegal.” – Rob Carson [35:07]

• Closing Assurance:

  • “You’re not going to get another show like this. ...I’m blessed to be here, and I will never let you down. I promise you.” – Rob Carson [41:24]

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:44 | NYC DEI and budgetary excesses, setup for NYC critique | | 05:36 | Tax plans, impact on homeowners, Newsmax Sarah Williams | | 08:29 | “Lord of the Flies meets Animal Farm” satire | | 14:27 | School protests and student rights segment | | 16:48 | Media, Colbert, and equal time rule criticism | | 22:19 | Strategy for 2026 midterms: messaging, turnout | | 27:53 | Pennsylvania as battleground, Citizens Alliance program | | 30:53 | Voter fraud, ID debate | | 39:28 | “Crazy Cat Lady” parody (Rosie O’Donnell) | | 41:24 | Host’s closing words and thank you |

Conclusion

This episode illustrates Rob Carson’s trademark blend of humor, parody, and impassioned conservative commentary. Centered on NYC’s dramatic governance woes, it critiques progressive policy, rails against perceived Democratic excess and incompetence nationally, and highlights strategic priorities for the GOP heading into the midterms. The conversational style, recurring pop-culture skewering, and calls for “spine” and “patriotism” provide a vivid sense of Carson’s tone and mission.