Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: The Rob Carson Show

Episode: Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer: Russia Is Winning, Biden Blew It on Purpose!
Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Rob Carson
Guest: Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer (President, Project Sentinel & 2020 Trump Campaign Advisor)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Rob Carson Show features a sharp, satirical exploration of current U.S. politics, with a particular focus on the Ukraine-Russia war, U.S. foreign policy under Biden and Trump, escalating rhetoric about civil strife, Israel-Gaza tensions, drug cartels, and the shifting American political landscape. Heavy hitting guest, Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, weighs in with military and intelligence insights on the state of global conflicts and America’s internal divisions.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Ukraine-Russia War: “Russia Is Winning”

[23:41–29:14]

• Shaffer’s Main Point: Russia is currently winning the war in Ukraine, and Western media or officials denying this reality are misreading the situation.
  • “It's interesting there are actually sources of news people can go look at. It's not hidden...there was just a major tank engagement there over the past week. Ukrainians lost. Nobody's talking about it.” — Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer [23:43]
• Failed Approaches: U.S./NATO efforts at military escalation will not change the outcome.
• The Bleeding of Ukraine: Ukraine’s population has been halved due to war, making its future as an independent state uncertain.
  • "Right now, this is what worries me, is that we are seeing the bleeding of Ukraine. When the war started, we were talking about a nation of about 41 million. That population is cut in half..." — Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer [25:14]
• Diplomacy Over Weapons: There is no military solution; Western powers must accept that and pivot to negotiations and possible territorial concessions.
  • “The whole premise that we'll just get one more weapon system, one more. This will be the thing that does it. No.” — Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer [25:06]
  • “We have no choice at this point but to say there's got to be concessions, territorial concessions.” — Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer [26:54]
• Biden's Blunders: Both Carson and Shaffer suggest Biden set the stage for Russian aggression through bad policy and possibly with ulterior motives.
  • “Biden messed it up so bad. I think with purpose.” — Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer [29:01]

2. U.S. Political Climate: Rhetoric, Division, and Civil Unrest

[05:54–15:56]

• Rob Carson's Accusations: Casts Democrats as fomenting a “de facto civil war,” using violent rhetoric and supporting actions against ICE, law enforcement, and U.S. traditions.
  • "The Democrat party is waging a de facto civil war with plausible deniability." — Rob Carson [04:33]
• Media and Language: The show lampoons figures like Don Lemon, connecting left-leaning rhetoric to calls for public armament or resistance.
  • "He makes you want to go to battle, doesn't he?" — Rob Carson [07:03]
  • "Go ahead, show up to the door when the ICE agents show and have your gun out. See how well that works for you." — Rob Carson [07:56]
• Fascism Comparisons: Recurrent theme of both left and right labeling opponents as fascists or Nazis; Fetterman pushes back against this trend.
  • "I've always refused to say that...If you call the president or someone like a fascist, you're effectively calling the people that are going to vote for him..." — John Fetterman [11:47]

3. Israel, Gaza, and U.S. Policy

[32:55–34:36]

• Trump's Position: Trump threatens to “cut Israel adrift” if it moves to annex the West Bank, seeking peace but causing concern among pro-Israel voices like Carson.
• Shaffer’s Take: Absolute support for Israel's right to defend itself and eliminate Hamas.
  • "Why should we accept a hostile...group, Hamas and the Palestinians, who have said is their primary reason for existence is to destroy the Jewish state? Why would you permit that to exist?" — Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer [33:51]
  • "I'm completely on the Israeli side on this." — Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer [34:06]
• Critique of Peace-for-Peace Sake: Both criticize superficial peace deals that ignore existential threats.

4. War on Drugs: Cartels Are Terrorists

[29:56–32:55]

• Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations: Both Carson and Shaffer argue for military action against drug boats, defending the designation of drug cartels as terrorist groups.
  • "These are drug boats... if you're running drug boats, you're in, you're in grave danger." — Unidentified Guest [30:05]
  • "We've had authority, Rob, to do what we're doing since the 90s....Yes, that's what we do with terrorists." — Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer [32:05]
  • “The redesignation or the modified designation of these drug cartels as terrorist organizations was long overdue.” — Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer [32:31]

5. Mayoral Debates and the Left's Downfall

[34:36–35:47]

• NYC Mayoral Debate: Carson and Shaffer discuss growing pushback against far-left political candidates, suggesting the electorate may be waking up to the dangers of Marxism/socialism.
  • “I'm hoping New Yorkers are going to wake up. Maybe this whole delusion that somehow Marxism, Communism, socialism, whatever you want to say will make things better is insane. It's never worked anywhere.” — Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer [34:50]
  • "The fact that this guy posed with a unindicted co. Consp. Conspirator on the 1993 World Trade center bombing...He cannot be the mayor." — Rob Carson [35:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Shaffer on Ukraine:
  “I'm trying to. You know, I love President Trump, but I disagree with whoever is advising him right now because they're not pushing the right buttons to get Russia to comply with what they want.” [24:44]
• On U.S. Civil Strife:
  "You aren't the people. You're actually the state. You aren't the state. You are the state. And, honestly, as far as I'm concerned, Go ahead and take a swing." — Rob Carson [14:24]
• Fetterman on Political Labels:
  “They love our country in the same ways that Democrats do, except for. Democrats don't love the country well. ...I refuse to do those kinds of thing because that kind of extreme kinds of rhetoric.” [12:32–12:40]
• Shaffer on Drug Cartels:
  "So it's not like we've not thought about this before. It's just that we're finally acting on it and I think appropriately so." [32:41]
• Carson’s Theme on Leftists:
  "They're in the dying throes of the class of 1968, spiraling into hell, dying like movie vampires trying to drag us into hell with them. And we're not going." [16:30]
• On NYC Mayoral Race:
  "This guy, who's from a rich background, by the way, he's privileged...there is no way this man can be the mayor of the city." — Rob Carson [35:15]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ukraine-Russia War & Biden’s Failures
  [23:41–29:14] Main Shaffer interview on Ukraine.
• Civil War Rhetoric & U.S. Political Division
  [05:54–15:56] Carson's commentary and soundbites on Democrat and left-wing rhetoric.
• Fetterman Pushes Back Against Rhetoric
  [11:47–12:40] Fetterman comments on extremism in political language.
• Drug Cartel Discussion
  [29:56–32:55] Designation of drug cartels as terrorists.
• Israel-Hamas, Trump's Middle East Policy
  [32:55–34:36] Carson and Shaffer on Israel/Gaza.
• NYC Mayoral Debate and Political Wokeness
  [34:36–35:47] Critique of left-wing candidates in NYC.

Tone & Style

• Rob Carson:
  Blunt, humorous, skeptical of mainstream narratives, mixes satire with pointed political critique, high-energy delivery.
• Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer:
  Direct, analytical, brings a military/intelligence perspective, not afraid to challenge both Biden and Trump advisors.

Conclusion

The episode stands as a sweeping, acerbic indictment of current U.S. and global affairs from a conservative perspective. Rob Carson and Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer paint a bleak picture of the Biden administration's handling of foreign affairs, particularly in Ukraine, decry the escalation of divisive rhetoric in domestic politics, make the case for hardline tactics against drug cartels, and warn of the consequences of continued left-wing governance. Entertaining, polemical, and packed with memorable soundbites, the show caters to listeners seeking energetic, right-leaning perspective on the news of the day.