The Rubin Report: "Blue Cities Are Finally Scared After Trump’s Latest Brutal Threat"

Host: Dave Rubin
Guests: Aaron Wexler, Clay Travis
Release Date: June 20, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Rubin Report, host Dave Rubin engages in a spirited conversation with conservative influencer Aaron Wexler and Clay Travis, co-host of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. The discussion navigates through two primary topics: the ongoing turmoil within the WNBA surrounding star player Caitlin Clark and former President Donald Trump’s intensified stance on immigration enforcement in major blue cities.

Part 1: The WNBA and Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark's Impact and Challenges

Dave Rubin initiates the conversation by highlighting the significant impact Caitlin Clark has had on the WNBA. Despite the league's historical struggle with profitability and visibility, Clark's emergence has revitalized interest and elevated viewership to new heights.

Dave Rubin [03:13]:
"The WNBA, a league which has existed for about 25 years... never turned a profit... they brought in Caitlin Clark, and they basically have been kicking the crap out of this girl."

Clay Travis [05:06]:
"Caitlin Clark is more successful as a team sport athlete joining a league than anybody we've ever seen before... She's the golden goose."

Aaron Wexler echoes Rubin’s admiration for Clark, comparing her influence to that of Tiger Woods in golf and Venus and Serena Williams in tennis, emphasizing her role in attracting a broader and more engaged audience to women's basketball.

Internal Conflicts and Sabotage

Despite her success, Caitlin Clark faces significant opposition within the league. Rubin and Travis discuss how some within the WNBA are aggressively targeting Clark, fearing her dominance and the increased attention she brings. They suggest that the league's response is to suppress her accomplishments, which they argue is counterproductive.

Aaron Wexler [08:04]:
"Women's sabotage of other women... female hairdressers... recommending short haircuts to make women less attractive."

This internal sabotage is portrayed as a reflection of broader issues of competitiveness and insecurity among women in professional sports.

Potential for a New League

Rubin and Travis propose that Caitlin Clark should consider founding her own basketball league, given her immense popularity and potential to draw substantial support. They argue that Clark has the backing and the brand to successfully establish an alternative platform that respects and celebrates the sport.

Clay Travis [06:38]:
"If I were giving Caitlin Clark advice... Exploring the idea of starting my own league... the audience would follow her."

Aaron Wexler [10:17]:
"I would actually offer a million dollars for her to do it."

External Commentary

The episode includes a segment featuring Stephen A. Smith’s perspective, who acknowledges the resentment toward Clark yet suggests it stems partly from her aggressive playstyle and leadership on the court.

Stephen A. Smith [10:37]:
"Caitlin Clark... there's resentment because she instigates resentment towards her sometimes."

Rubin and his guests critique Smith’s analysis, arguing that the real issue is the league's inability to capitalize on Clark’s star power rather than her personal demeanor.

Part 2: Trump’s Immigration Policies and Blue Cities

Trump's Latest Threats

Transitioning from sports to politics, the discussion shifts to former President Donald Trump's renewed focus on enforcing immigration laws in major blue cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Rubin highlights Trump's characterization of these cities as "sanctuary cities" plagued by crime and illegal immigration.

Donald Trump [18:03]:
"Biden allowed 21 million people to come into our country... All blue cities... they think they're going to use them to vote. It's not going to happen, Clay."

Effectiveness and Challenges

Rubin and his guests debate the feasibility of Trump's plans to deploy ICE agents and the National Guard to crack down on illegal immigration in these cities. They express skepticism about the practicality of such measures, citing the vast numbers involved and the logistical challenges of enforcing immigration laws in densely populated urban areas.

Clay Travis [19:27]:
"They made the calculation that if they wide open the southern borders... birthright citizenship... long range plan to change the fabric of the United States."

Aaron Wexler [21:05]:
"Trump 2.0 has been even more effective... we're seeing all sorts of tweet alerts of, you know, a hundred ICE or 100 illegals caught here, 20 caught here. Those are pretty unimpressive numbers."

Public Response and Law Enforcement

The conversation touches on the local responses from city officials, particularly focusing on Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass's statements questioning the necessity of deploying federal agents, given the minimal areas controlled by protests and the collaboration between local law enforcement and state officials.

Karen Bass [22:10]:
"Why were they ever activated?... Los Angeles is 500 square miles. The protests consumed about two square miles."

Real-World Incidents

To illustrate the tensions, Rubin plays videos showing confrontations between ICE agents and protesters in Los Angeles, highlighting the contentious and chaotic nature of these enforcement actions. Guests discuss the potential for these interventions to escalate tensions further and question the long-term viability of such policies.

Clay Travis [23:12]:
"This is emblematic... how quickly did this thing get snuffed?... This is a good example of something Trump learned in 1.0."

Conclusion

Dave Rubin wraps up the episode by reiterating the significance of both topics discussed: the internal struggles of the WNBA amidst Caitlin Clark's rise and Trump's assertive immigration policies targeting blue cities. He underscores the broader implications these issues have on societal dynamics, sports, and national politics.

Dave Rubin [24:50]:
"Whatever you want to say about the ICE protests, maybe they're going to surge back up during the course of the summer, but it definitely seems like it's dialed down since they sent in the National Guard."

The episode concludes with reflections on the potential future developments in both the sports and political arenas, leaving listeners with a deeper understanding of the challenges and controversies shaping contemporary America.

Notable Quotes:

• Dave Rubin [03:13]:
  "The WNBA, a league which has existed for about 25 years... never turned a profit... they brought in Caitlin Clark, and they basically have been kicking the crap out of this girl."

• Clay Travis [05:06]:
  "Caitlin Clark is more successful as a team sport athlete joining a league than anybody we've ever seen before... She's the golden goose."

• Aaron Wexler [08:04]:
  "Women's sabotage of other women... female hairdressers... recommending short haircuts to make women less attractive."

• Donald Trump [18:03]:
  "Biden allowed 21 million people to come into our country... All blue cities... they think they're going to use them to vote. It's not going to happen, Clay."

• Clay Travis [23:12]:
  "This is emblematic... how quickly did this thing get snuffed?... This is a good example of something Trump learned in 1.0."

This episode of The Rubin Report offers a candid exploration of pressing issues in professional sports and national politics, framed through the perspectives of conservative commentators Dave Rubin, Aaron Wexler, and Clay Travis. Listeners gain insight into the complexities of athlete management in the WNBA and the contentious debate over immigration enforcement in America's largest cities.