The Rob Carson Show

Episode: Shut Up and Ski: Olympic Drama, and Garbage Cities
Date: February 9, 2026
Host: Rob Carson
Guest: Doug Burns (former federal prosecutor)
Podcast: Newsmax Podcasts

Episode Overview

In this lively and comedic episode, Rob Carson dissects the week's biggest news stories with his trademark blend of humor and biting political commentary. Central themes include the politicization of the Olympics, media bias, urban decay in American cities, and widespread government and pandemic fraud. Regular guest Doug Burns joins the conversation for deeper legal and political analysis. Expect plenty of jabs at the left, satirical musical interludes, and sharp-tongued observations about American culture, politics, and the media landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Olympic Drama & Patriotism (00:20–08:10)

• Carson criticizes the costs and repeated rebuilding for the Olympics, proposing a permanent host location:

  “It's ridiculous how they have to build all these new venues every time... We're going to waste $10 billion on buildings that are never going to be used again.” — Rob Carson (02:04)

• Main gripe: Some American athletes express “mixed feelings” about representing the U.S. given the current political climate (Trump presidency), which Carson lampoons.

• Media accused of manufacturing boos for VP J.D. Vance at the Olympics; Carson plays a “real” crowd recording to debunk claims and accuses the liberal media of bias.

  “Yeah, it was a bunch of crap. But that's your media.” — Rob Carson (03:41)

• Satirical musical segment lampooning athletes who criticize the U.S.

• Contrast with Lindsey Vonn’s patriotism:

  “It's a privilege to represent your country... I'm gonna enjoy my last Olympics as much as I possibly can.” — Lindsey Vonn (07:47)

• Rob’s rhetorical refrain: If you don’t want to represent America, “just shut up and ski.”

2. Media & Democratic Party Critique (08:10–13:49)

• Accusations of media, Democratic, and athlete anti-American sentiment:

  “The only people who don't have [pride in America] are Democrats. They don't. And they've spent the last, you know, couple decades tearing down America…” — Rob Carson (08:18)

• Criticism of left-wing narratives against ICE: Carson rebuffs comparisons of ICE agents to Nazis; notes NFL’s recent ICE advertisement as evidence they're seen as regular law enforcement, contradicting “authoritarian” depictions from Democratic politicians and left-leaning media.

• Audio montage: Democrats comparing ICE to slave patrols and Gestapo, which Carson mocks as hyperbole.

3. Urban Decay & Governance Failures (13:49–29:08)

• Chicago and national crime rates: Carson attributes crime reduction to Trump-era border enforcement and targeted federal interventions—deriding critics like Mayor Brandon Johnson.

  “But Brandon Johnson, who's an idiot, says that Donald Trump has caused more violence by reducing violence…” — Rob Carson (13:41)

• The “Garbage Cities” Motif:

  • Guest Doug Burns (former federal prosecutor) offers firsthand accounts from New York City post-snowstorm: trash everywhere, unplowed streets, and a sense of civic breakdown under Mayor Mamdani.

  • Rob’s analogy: NYC compared to "Lord of the Flies meets Animal Farm."

    “You get a busload of first graders and they get rid of the adult driving and toss the damn keys from to the first grader. That's what happened in New York City.” — Rob Carson (26:27)

  • Doug Burns critiques the election of young, inexperienced mayors:

    “My starting point is a 34 year old with no executive experience whatsoever is one of the last people that you want to run the most complicated city on the planet.” — Doug Burns (24:22)

  • Analysis: Voters make poor choices, leading to “natural political correction” after political failures.

4. ‘Bait and Switch’ Politics & Election Manipulation (20:33–23:44)

• Abigail Spanberger in Virginia: Ran as a moderate, governs from the far-left, supports Democratic redistricting efforts to tip nearly all seats in their favor.
• Carson frames it as “taxation without representation” and fraud:

  “You cannot run as a moderate and then be a Communist. The Communists can't lie about their platform.” — Rob Carson (21:28)

• Doug Burns notes: The only immediate remedy is through elections or recalls but admits such tactics are deeply unethical ("fraud").

5. Fraud & Pandemic Scams (38:18–40:04)

• Kelly Loeffler (SBA Secretary) reveals massive pandemic loan fraud: 112,000 California borrowers suspended, suspected of $9 billion in fraud.

• Minnesota Rep. Kristen Robbins explains COVID aid and child nutrition scams:

  “Feeding Our Future became the largest Covid fraud in state and national history, bilking taxpayers of at least $250 million.” — Rep. Kristen Robbins (39:40)

• Carson’s conclusion: COVID relief was a left-wing “crony enrichment” program that encouraged and enabled large-scale fraud.

6. Notable Politics, Legal Issues, and Hypocrisy (31:02–36:54)

• Clintons agreeing to testify: Carson predicts little will come of it, citing their ability to “tap dance” and “lie.”

  • Doug Burns: Explains differences between public hearings and depositions, emphasizing that the former are just “dopey political speeches.”

• Don Lemon’s legal troubles: Burns argues Lemon's claim of simply “acting as a journalist” won’t hold up, given his organizational role in protests.

• Carson draws comparison to pro-life protestors, accusing judicial and prosecutorial hypocrisy.

• DEI order overturned: Appeals court sides with Trump, blocking Biden’s reversal of Trump-era DEI limitations.

  • “A big win... DEI was destroying our military, universities, and everything else.” — Rob Carson (35:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Just shut up and ski.” — Rob Carson’s repeated refrain to politically outspoken athletes (05:25, 05:37, 07:40)
• “This is NBC talking about J.D. Vance. J.D. Vance's face showed up on the screen and they decided to say, oh, he's getting booed like crazy. Well, he wasn't actually.” — Rob Carson (03:11)
• On patriotism:

  “Actually, it's a privilege to represent your country. And the Olympics are the largest stage in the world... I always feel incredibly lucky that I'm even able to compete at that level.” — Lindsey Vonn (07:47)

• On political “bait and switch":

  “You cannot run as a moderate and then be a Communist. The Communists can't lie about their platform.” — Rob Carson (21:28)

• On urban breakdown:

  “New York is Lord of the Flies meets Animal Farm.” — Rob Carson (26:14)

• On COVID fraud:

  “All of that Covid aid... was meant for Democrats to enrich themselves and their cronies...” — Rob Carson (40:04)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Olympic criticism & media bias: 00:20–08:10
• ICE/Immigration enforcement backlash: 08:10–13:49
• Crime and city decline (Chicago, NYC): 13:49–29:08
• Abigail Spanberger & Virginia politics: 20:33–23:44
• NYC garbage and administration failures: 23:44–29:08
• Legal roundtable (Clinton, Don Lemon, DEI): 31:02–36:54
• Pandemic loan and welfare fraud: 38:18–40:04

Tone and Style

True to the host’s reputation, the episode is filled with acid wit, parodic songs, banter, and a mix of serious commentary and comedic asides. Carson takes a populist, fiercely conservative approach, often deploying exaggeration and colorful metaphors (“Lord of the Flies meets Animal Farm”) while maintaining a colloquial, fun, and irreverent style throughout. Guest Doug Burns provides legal expertise in a frank, conversational tone.

Summary Takeaways

• Rob Carson satirically skewers media bias, unpatriotic Olympic athletes, and Democratic governance, weaving in current events, personal anecdotes, and classic conservative grievances.
• The show lambasts COVID-era government waste, exposes urban administration failures, and addresses issues like election manipulation and political hypocrisy.
• Notable segments include the “shut up and ski” Olympics controversy, analysis of NYC’s dysfunction, and exposés of pandemic and welfare fraud.

For listeners seeking witty, combative takes on news, politics, and culture from a right-leaning perspective—with plenty of laughs and pop culture references—this episode delivers classic Rob Carson fare.