The Rubin Report – Scott Jennings: Democrats’ Biggest Weakness That No One Sees

Date: January 11, 2026
Host: Dave Rubin
Guest: Scott Jennings (CNN Senior Political Contributor, author of A Revolution of Common Sense)

Overview

In this episode, Dave Rubin welcomes Scott Jennings to discuss political polarization, cable news debates, media distrust, and the changing landscape of American politics. Jennings, noted for his rational conservative takes on CNN panels, reveals what goes on behind the scenes, the failures of mainstream media, the Venezuela and Minnesota political crises, and the dangers he perceives in the current trajectory of the Democratic Party. The conversation is candid, often irreverent, and rooted in Jennings’s belief in the value of true debate and common sense.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Debating on Cable News – The State of Political Discourse

• Debate Show Backstory: Jennings describes how CNN’s decision to bring back unscripted debate formats (like Crossfire) allowed for genuine ideological testing, not just echo chambers. He credits CNN CEO Mark Thompson for recognizing and acting on the value of real debate.
  • “The beauty of the debating show is that everybody’s ideas get tested… if you’re sensitive about it, come with better arguments.” (Scott Jennings, 04:44)
• Liberal Bubbles: Jennings argues that many on the left don't regularly interact or debate with conservatives, resulting in insular thinking and “crazy” positions that don’t hold up when challenged.
  • “There’s a culture on the left... where people on the left are saying, ‘I won’t be friends with a Republican…’ So they wind up living in these bubbles.” (Scott Jennings, 06:07-06:25)

2. Media Bias, Trust, and the Rise of Alternative Platforms

• Loss of Media Trust: Jennings says people are turning away from mainstream media because it pushes narratives over facts. He notes the low trust reflected in Gallup polls and credits new media—including X/Twitter under Elon Musk—for breaking “the stranglehold” of the information distribution complex (11:22).
• Power of Grassroots Journalism: The Shirley/Minnesota story is referenced as an example of how “a little bit of gumption and a camera” can break news and force accountability, in ways mainstream outlets avoid due to ideological commitments (24:00).

3. Current Events: Venezuela, Foreign Policy, and the Trump Approach

• Venezuela Operation: Jennings praises the Trump administration’s successful extraction of Maduro from Venezuela as “competent American leadership.” He contrasts it with the Biden-era Afghanistan withdrawal, arguing the right kind of U.S. engagement can protect American interests without falling into “forever wars.”
  • “The competence of Trump, of Rubio, of General Kane… are showing what strong and competent American leadership can do.” (13:33)
• Left/Right Opposition and the ‘Horseshoe Theory’: Rubin and Jennings note that reactionary opposition to Trump comes from the extremes of both left and right, forming “strange bedfellows”—and often converges, notably, on anti-Israel rhetoric.
  • “In the bed is made of anti-Semitism. I mean, let’s be honest.” (Scott Jennings, 18:12)
• Future in Venezuela: Jennings is clear-eyed, noting that the new regime may be little better, but hopes for legitimate elections and a pro-U.S. government (20:17-21:40).

4. Minnesota, Immigration, and the Narrative Suppression

• Nick Shirley’s Impact: The viral reporting by a “normal guy” upended Minnesota politics and exposed fraud, ultimately ending Governor Tim Walz’s reelection campaign. Jennings sees this as a win for citizen journalism and an indictment of those who ignored or downplayed the scandal for narrative reasons (24:00-25:32).

5. The Democratic Party’s Internal Struggle and Electoral Prospects

• Leftward Drift and Primary Dangers: Jennings warns that the rise of unapologetic socialists (e.g., Mamdani, Seattle’s mayor) in Democratic primaries could backfire in moderate districts, influencing the party’s midterm and 2028 presidential prospects (25:32-26:48).
• Identity Politics and Competency: He is especially critical of appointments made for diversity optics rather than expertise (e.g., NYC’s new fire chief), describing it as “dorm room radical fringe crap” now running the world’s financial capital (29:43-30:48).

6. Rise of Islamism and the West

• Islamism in American Politics: Jennings voices concern over politicians’ perceived tolerance or excuses for radical Islam—and draws parallels to Western Europe’s challenges. He laments what he sees as western fecklessness in dealing with these challenges.
  • “Europe’s been overrun by this mass migration from Islamic populations and it is warping their domestic politics. This could happen in the United States.” (Scott Jennings, 32:04)

7. Common Sense in Decline

• Fringe Takes Over: Jennings argues that the Democratic Party has allowed its “fringe, radical socialist progressives” to control the agenda, sidelining more moderate or traditionally liberal views (35:59-36:40).
• Classic Liberalism vs. Modern Democrats: He distinguishes between classical liberals (Bill Maher, e.g.) and current Democratic officials, singling out John Fetterman as a rare dissenter.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On CNN Debate Panels:
  “If you’re worried about it being viral on the Internet, you shouldn’t have said it on television in the first place.” (Scott Jennings, 04:44)
• On Left-Leaning Panels:
  “You have these people who should be wearing sandwich boards and standing on a street corner telling each other how smart and sane they are. It’s crazy.” (Scott Jennings, 07:34)
• On Media Trust:
  “People have lost trust in the media…you have to have a commitment to platforming all points of views and you have to have a commitment to telling you the truth and not just the narrative.” (Scott Jennings, 09:10)
• On Venezuela and U.S. Competence:
  “The competence of this, of Trump, of Rubio, of General Kane…all these guys are showing what strong and competent American leadership can do.” (Scott Jennings, 13:33)
• On Coalition Against Trump:
  “In the bed is made of anti-Semitism. I mean, let’s be honest…it always comes back to—and the Jews.” (Scott Jennings, 18:12)
• On Minnesota Political Crisis:
  “I can assure you, if [Walz] thought he was clean on this, he’d still be in his reelection campaign today. There’s a reason he dropped out, and that reason is Nick Shirley.” (Scott Jennings, 24:00)
• On Democrat Weakness:
  “They allowed fringe, radical socialist progressives…to become the center of the Democratic argument…mainstream Democrats just go along with it.” (Scott Jennings, 35:59-36:40)
• On Identity Politics in NYC:
  “The number one criteria for picking a fire chief was do you like to sleep with someone of the same gender. That was their number one criteria.” (Scott Jennings, 30:48)
• Rubin on Debate:
  “At the end, if you know where it’s going, always, it’s just not that exciting.” (Dave Rubin, 19:51)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Debating on CNN & Media Bubbles: 02:15–07:34
• Media Bias & the Rise of Alternatives: 09:10–12:43
• Venezuela Situation, U.S. Foreign Policy: 12:43–21:40
• Minnesota Political Scandal (Nick Shirley): 23:26–25:32
• Democratic Party’s Path & Electoral Implications: 25:40–29:25
• NYC, Mamdani, and Identity Politics: 29:25–31:08
• Islamism, 9/11, and Western Europe: 31:18–35:35
• Common Sense & Decline of Liberalism: 35:39–38:39
• Reflections on Panelists (Navarro & Abby): 38:39–41:33

Closing Thoughts

This episode features a frank, no-holds-barred analysis of the current American political climate from a conservative debater embedded in liberal spaces. Jennings warns of the Democratic Party’s vulnerability due to ideological capture by its fringes, insists on the critical importance of honest, good-faith debate, and laments the decline of classical liberalism. He and Rubin use humor and sarcasm to lighten the conversation but remain pointed and provocative in their assessments.

Standout Message:
Smart, reasonable, good-faith debate and a return to common sense are both desperately needed—and in dangerously short supply—in American politics today.