Podcast Summary: The Rubin Report – “Bill Maher Tells Stephen A. Smith What Liberals Tell Him Behind Closed Doors”

Release Date: January 10, 2025
Host: Dave Rubin
Guests: Carol Markowitz (New York Post Columnist) and John Cardillo (Former NYPD Officer and Political Commentator)

Introduction

In this episode of The Rubin Report, host Dave Rubin engages in a robust discussion with two esteemed Floridians, Carol Markowitz and John Cardillo. The conversation centers around the challenges of fostering a wide political tent, the impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies on public services, recent catastrophic events in Los Angeles, and the broader implications for American politics and society.

Navigating a Wide Political Tent

Dave Rubin opens the discussion by referencing a recent interview between Stephen A. Smith and Bill Maher, highlighting the complexities of maintaining a broad political coalition that includes both moderate liberals and more radical elements.

• Dave Rubin [02:00]: "What do we do with the sane liberals? And can they put up the fight with the crazies on their side?"

Carol Markowitz expresses skepticism about the feasibility of broadening the political tent without significant changes from the liberal side. She emphasizes that many on the left are unwilling to evolve their positions, thus hindering the creation of a more unified political front.

• Carol Markowitz [04:16]: "I want a wider tent and I want people to understand that the conservative point of view is clearly the better point of view... I think that the people who have been here along need to be changing."

John Cardillo echoes Carol's sentiments, arguing that the attempt to include diverse left-leaning individuals without addressing fundamental policy disagreements leads to an unstable and ineffective coalition.

• John Cardillo [07:54]: "We need to bring people back to our side, not constantly placate the leftists, hoping they join us."

Impact of DEI Policies on Emergency Services

The conversation shifts to a critical examination of DEI initiatives within public services, particularly focusing on the Los Angeles Fire Department and the New York Police Department (NYPD). Rubin introduces testimonies highlighting how DEI policies may have inadvertently compromised the effectiveness of these essential services.

Adam Carolla’s Testimony [09:42]:
Adam Carolla shares his personal experience of being overlooked for a firefighting position due to DEI policies, only to later see individuals he deemed less qualified promoted, ultimately contributing to inadequate responses during the recent wildfires.

• Adam Carolla [09:42]: "This has been a problem in emergency services for years and it's had catastrophic consequences in these LA fires because they promoted up these incompetent people."

John Cardillo provides additional insights from his tenure with the NYPD, recounting standardized testing and physical requirements that were undermined by DEI-driven adjustments, leading to diminished operational capabilities.

• John Cardillo [10:52]: "When I went through the academy, we had a woman in the academy who, morbidly obese. She couldn't run around the gym once... deficient standards have led to incompetent leadership."

Carol Markowitz underscores the necessity of recognizing inherent physical differences without attributing capabilities solely based on gender or ethnicity.

• Carol Markowitz [13:20]: "Men do some jobs better than women do. They have better upper body strength... it's not anti-woman to say anything like that."

Los Angeles Wildfires and Climate Change Policies

Dave Rubin brings attention to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, linking them to alleged mismanagement by Democratic leaders and DEI policies. He critiques Governor Gavin Newsom's environmental regulations, suggesting they have hindered effective fire prevention measures.

• Dave Rubin [12:56]: "This is the most tragic thing I've ever seen. DEI killed people and cost potentially over $100 billion in losses."

Carol Markowitz discusses the broader implications of climate change policies, arguing that mere acknowledgment without actionable steps is insufficient and often hypocritical among leaders who advocate for environmentalism while engaging in environmentally detrimental practices themselves.

• Carol Markowitz [15:18]: "If Republicans wanted an answer, they could just say, I believe in climate change. I want to keep living the way I'm living... It’s a cycle of inaction."

John Cardillo criticizes the prioritization of environmental concerns over practical measures necessary for public safety, emphasizing the failure to implement essential infrastructure projects like dam maintenance and fire breaks.

• John Cardillo [12:24]: "This should be our state of readiness. It didn't happen because of DEI and bad policy."

Terrorist Attacks and Law Enforcement Response

The episode delves into two significant terrorist incidents: a horrific jihadist attack in New Orleans and a cybertruck assault outside Trump International in Las Vegas. Rubin and his guests scrutinize the FBI's handling and communication regarding these events, expressing distrust in federal agencies.

John Cardillo condemns the FBI's initial mischaracterization of the New Orleans attack, citing conflicting statements and the presence of incriminating evidence that was initially downplayed.

• John Cardillo [31:32]: "I'm at a point where I don't trust anything the FBI says. And I read between every line when I see these statements."

Carol Markowitz expands on the need for comprehensive security measures beyond border control, advocating for proactive defensive strategies in public spaces to prevent such attacks.

• Carol Markowitz [34:02]: "Group events need to have more protection. We need to make those changes up front and work on the rest later."

Prospective Political Changes and Hope for Leadership

Anticipating Donald Trump's potential return to office, the discussion explores how his leadership might address the aforementioned issues. Both Markowitz and Cardillo express cautious optimism about Trump's ability to implement effective policies that prioritize national security and operational competence over DEI mandates.

• Carol Markowitz [38:47]: "I am fully optimistic about changes that he can make... I'm hopeful, I'm optimistic."

• John Cardillo [45:51]: "It's a restoration of American pride... it's a win."

Humorous Segment: Annexing Countries

In a lighter vein, the trio engages in a satirical discussion about the impracticality of annexing countries like Canada and Greenland. This segment serves to illustrate the extremity of certain political rhetoric while emphasizing the importance of focusing on domestic issues.

• Dave Rubin [40:45]: "So, no, I don't want to take over Canada... Greenland truly has trillions in resources. Why would the Danes ever sell that to us?"

• John Cardillo [42:37]: "I'm going to save it. Right. I'm going to have anxiety if I put this on a Belgian waffle."

• Carol Markowitz [44:35]: "If we're going to take something over, like Turks and Caicos?... Let's just put that aside for a second."

Closing Remarks

As the episode concludes, the guests share their personal plans for the weekend, highlighting a return to normalcy amid ongoing national crises. Rubin wraps up the show by teasing an upcoming interview with Stephen A. Smith and expressing gratitude to his audience.

Notable Quotes

1. Carol Markowitz [04:16]:
   "I want a wider tent and I want people to understand that the conservative point of view is clearly the better point of view... I think that the people who have been here along need to be changing."

2. John Cardillo [07:54]:
   "We need to bring people back to our side, not constantly placate the leftists, hoping they join us."

3. Dave Rubin [12:56]:
   "This is the most tragic thing I've ever seen. DEI killed people and cost potentially over $100 billion in losses."

4. Carol Markowitz [13:20]:
   "Men do some jobs better than women do. They have better upper body strength... it's not anti-woman to say anything like that."

5. John Cardillo [31:32]:
   "I'm at a point where I don't trust anything the FBI says. And I read between every line when I see these statements."

6. John Cardillo [42:37]:
   "I'm going to save it. Right. I'm going to have anxiety if I put this on a Belgian waffle."

Conclusion

This episode of The Rubin Report provides a critical examination of the intersection between DEI policies, public safety, and political cohesion. Through the insightful dialogue between Dave Rubin, Carol Markowitz, and John Cardillo, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the potential pitfalls of current liberal policies and the urgent need for pragmatic solutions to ensure national security and effective governance.