Deadly Mosque Attack Details, Fast Growing Cali Fire, Luigi Trial Chaos in NYC | 5/19/26 FIRST LOOK

Summary

The Rubin Report: First Look – May 19, 2026

Episode Title: Deadly Mosque Attack Details, Fast Growing Cali Fire, Luigi Trial Chaos in NYC
Host: Dave Rubin
Date: May 19, 2026

---

Episode Overview

Dave Rubin provides a “First Look” at three breaking and deeply concerning headlines gripping America:

1. The deadly active shooter incident at a San Diego mosque
2. A rapidly growing wildfire forcing evacuations near Simi Valley, CA
3. The disturbing reaction of radical supporters at the Manhattan trial of Luigi Mangione, who is accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare’s CEO

Rubin’s signature tone blends urgency, skepticism of establishment narratives, and concern for the social and political trajectory of the U.S. This episode captures the intersection of public safety, governance, and the escalation of political extremism.

---

Main Topics & Key Insights

1. San Diego Mosque Shooting

Timestamp: 00:34 – 04:34

• Incident Summary:
  On Monday, two young gunmen (aged 17 and 19) attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego, leaving five dead—three victims and the shooters themselves, who died by apparent suicide. Among the dead were a mosque security guard, a congregation member, and a third unidentified individual.

• Emergency Response:
  Law enforcement responded “within minutes”—hundreds of officers, tactical teams, helicopters, and federal agents flooded the area.

  “During a press conference, one San Diego officer said the [security] guard played a pivotal role… could have been worse.” – Dave Rubin (01:46)

• Community Impact:
  Several schools adjacent to the mosque were caught in the chaos, with panicked parents and emergency evacuation:

  • Islamic School of San Diego
  • Claremont Canyons Academy
  • Kavod Charter School
  • Al Rashid School (on mosque campus)

  A “temporary reunification point was established at Hathaway Street.”

• National Repercussions:
  Increased police presence at mosques across the U.S., including in New York City and Fairfax County, VA.
  Motive remains under investigation.

  “One especially terrifying aspect of this story is how many children were nearby during the attack.” – Dave Rubin (02:36)

---

2. Sandy Fire Near Simi Valley, California

Timestamp: 04:35 – 06:54

• Fire Situation:
  The “Sandy fire” ignited around 10:50am on Monday, rapidly expanding to roughly 184 acres in under an hour.

• Evacuations & Response:
  Mandatory evacuation for Simi Valley/Thousand Oaks region; 200 firefighters, five helicopters, and three air tankers deployed.
  Rancho Santa Susana Community Park used as evacuation center.

• Contributing Conditions:
  Warm temps, dry brush, Santa Ana winds (gusting ~10 mph).

• Wider Context & Critique:
  Rubin links ongoing wildfire threats to state-level failures in forest management and infrastructure, referencing devastation from last year’s Palisades and Eaton fires.

  “Every year residents hear the same talking points: climate, wind, heat. But many Californians are increasingly frustrated that politicians rarely address overgrown fuel loads, delayed mitigation projects or infrastructure failures…” (06:10) “For people living in these areas, this isn’t theoretical politics anymore. It’s evacuation, bags by the door, smoke in the air and wondering every summer whether your neighborhood could be next.” (06:38)

---

3. Luigi Mangione Trial & Political Violence

Timestamp: 06:55 – 09:33

• Overview of the Case:
  Luigi Mangione is on trial for the December 2024 assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Arrested with the alleged murder weapon and writings expressing intent.

• Courtroom Drama:
  Monday’s hearing debated the admissibility of evidence—weapon, writings, an “anti-corporate manifesto.”

• Fanatic Reaction Outside Courthouse:
  Radical Mangione supporters chanted, wore “Free Luigi” shirts, and depicted him as a hero.

  “One woman declared, ‘F Brian Thompson.’ Another added, ‘His children are better off without him.’ She then compared Thompson’s murder to the killing of Osama bin Laden and claimed, ‘Violence can be heroic.’” (08:19)

• Escalation to Threats:
  A supporter “launched into an unhinged rant about political violence and President Trump,” culminating in an explicit threat.

  “I want to see him hanging in the town square. … I’m coming for you, baby.” (08:44)

• Condemnation & Analysis:
  Mangione’s legal team distanced from supporters, calling their comments “vile and irresponsible.”
  Rubin reflects on dangerous social narratives glorifying violence against political enemies.

  “This is the inevitable result of years of rhetoric portraying CEOs as evil, success as oppression, and violence as morally justified if it targets the right people.” (09:10)
  “This wasn’t protest. It wasn’t journalism, and it certainly wasn’t justice. It was extremism out in the open.” (09:29)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Police Response (Mosque attack):

  “The mosque security guard likely prevented an even greater massacre.” (01:30)

• On Fire Season Anxiety:

  “It’s evacuation, bags by the door, smoke in the air and wondering every summer whether your neighborhood could be next.” (06:38)

• On Political Violence:

  “A murder suspect is being turned into a celebrity by radical activists who are… glorifying assassination, threatening political violence, and treating terrorism like some kind of social justice movement.” (09:00)

• On Press Responsibility:

  “Why are individuals openly threatening violence and celebrating murder being handed official press credentials?” (09:21)

---

Conclusion & Recap

Timestamp: 09:34 – 10:38

Rubin summarizes the crisis points:

• Mass shooting at a San Diego mosque triggers nationwide security escalation
• Southern California faces another severe wildfire and evacuation event
• Radical supporters outside the Mangione trial glorify assassination and threaten violence, highlighting escalating tensions and the normalization of extremism

---

Structure & Tone

Dave Rubin delivers the segment with a blend of urgent news delivery, critical commentary on social and political trends, and rhetorical questions aimed at encouraging reflection and debate.

---

For listeners seeking direct analysis, key facts, and a critical look at the intersection of crime, emergency response, and political extremism, this episode of ‘First Look’ offers a fast-paced yet thorough overview of three major stories shaping the national conversation.

Transcript

[A]

Planning for your children's future is a wonderful adventure. Just when you think you have it all figured out, time for school. It all changes. With Washington's Get Prepaid Tuition plan, you can prepare your child for the next step in their educational journey after high school, whatever that might be.

[B]

You ready?

[A]

We're ready. Learn more about WA529 and get at 529.wa.gov foreign.

[B]

Hey everybody, I'm Dave Rubin and this is First Look. It's Tuesday, May 19, 2026. We've got a packed show for you today. A deadly shooting at a San Diego mosque leaves five dead, including the two shooters. A fast moving wildfire explodes through Southern California, forcing evacuations near Simi Valley as fears grow over another devastating fire season. Luigi Mangione's radical supporters openly celebrate the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan courthouse and even threaten President Trump. Let's dive in. We start in California, where a horrifying active shooter situation unfolded Monday at the Islamic center of San Diego, leaving five people dead and triggering a massive law enforcement response across the region. According to police sources, the two gunmen, believed to be just 17 and 19 years old, carried out the attack before ultimately dying from self inflicted gunshot wounds. At least three other people were killed, including a mosque security guard, one member of the congregation and another victim authorities have not yet publicly identified. Police say the mosque security guard likely prevented an even greater massacre. During a press conference, one San Diego officer said the guard played a pivotal role in assisting this could have been worse. And honestly, given how chaotic the situation became, that assessment is probably true. The attack triggered an enormous emergency response. Hundreds of police officers, tactical teams, helicopters, emergency vehicles and federal law enforcement resources flooded the area within minutes. Helicopter footage showed one of the gunmen dead outside the Islamic center wearing what appeared to be tactical gear. At one point, officers went door to door, house to house, searching nearby neighborhoods to make sure no additional suspects remained at large. Videos from the scene showed first responders desperately attempting CPR on victims near the mosque. Now one especially terrifying aspect of this story is how many children were nearby during the attack. Several schools sit directly next to the Islamic center complex, including the Islamic School of San Diego, Claremont Canyons Academy, Kavod Charter School and the Al Rashid School located on the mosque campus itself. Authorities evacuated students and staff while terrified parents rushed to reunification centers trying to locate their children. A temporary reunification point was established at Hathaway street as police secured the area. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said he was receiving constant updates from law enforcement and urged residents to avoid the area while officers worked to neutralize the threat. And by early afternoon, San Diego police confirmed the threat at the Islamic center has been neutralized. Now, predictably, national law enforcement agencies immediately increase security around mosques across the country. Departments including the nypd, Fairfax county police in Virginia and multiple federal agencies announced expanded patrols out of an abundance of caution. At this point, investigators are still trying to determine motive, whether the shooters had any ideological connections and how they obtained weapons. Now to another major emergency unfolding in California, where wildfire fears are once again gripping Southern California as the Sandy fire rapidly spread Monday morning near Simi Valley. The fire broke out around 10:50am and exploded to roughly 184 acres in less than an hour. Officials say the blaze is fast moving, wind driven and threatening nearby homes and structures. Mandatory evacuation orders were quickly issued for parts of Simi Valley and areas stretching toward Thousand Oaks, and the response has already become massive. According to Ventura county fire officials, roughly 200 firefighters are battling the blaze. Five helicopters are operating overhead, three air tankers are dropping retardant and additional mutual aid resources have been requested, officials said they currently have a good number of air resources on hand, but conditions remain dangerous. The region is dealing with warm temperatures, extremely dry brush and continuing Santa Ana winds. Winds were gusting around 10 mph Monday morning, with forecasters warning conditions could continue fueling fire growth through Tuesday. A temporary evacuation center has now been established at Rancho Santa Susana Community park in Simi Valley for displaced residents. Now, understandably, Californians are especially nervous because the region is still traumatized from last year's catastrophic wildfire season. The 2025 Palisades Fire and Eaton fire both exploded in size within hours back in January, destroying homes and devastating entire communities. And once again, critics are pointing to California's ongoing failures involving forest management, brush clearance, water infrastructure and fire prevention policies because every year residents hear the same talking points climate, wind, heat. But many Californians are increasingly frustrated that politicians rarely address overgrown fuel loads, delayed mitigation projects or infrastructure failures that continue making these fires worse. Now, fortunately, officials say, two other fires that erupted north of Los Angeles over the weekend in the Antelope Valley have already been fully contained, but with wildfire season ramping up early again. But many residents fear this summer could become another disaster. And honestly, for people living in these areas, this isn't theoretical politics anymore. It's evacuation, bags by the door, smoke in the air and wondering every summer whether your neighborhood could be next. And finally, one of the most disgusting spectacles you'll see in modern American politics unfolded Outside a Manhattan courthouse Monday as radical supporters of accused killer Luigi Mangione openly celebrated murder and called for political violence. Luigi, of course, is accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan back in December 2024. Prosecutors say that after his arrest days later at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania, police recovered a handgun believed to be the murder weapon and a journal where Luigi allegedly wrote that he wanted to whack Thompson and viewed the killing as justified. Now, Monday's hearing focused on whether prosecutors can introduce the alleged murder weapon, his writings, and anti corporate manifesto material as evidence at trial. But what happened outside the courthouse was almost more disturbing than the case itself. Large groups of Mangione supporters gathered outside, chanting, cheering and openly glorifying the assassination. Some wore free Luigi shirts, pins with Luigi's face, and carried signs portraying him as some kind of anti corporate revolutionary hero. And then things got truly deranged. Three women who had reportedly received official press credentials through city hall for substack coverage of the case openly celebrated Brian Thompson's death. On camera. One woman declared, f Brian Thompson. Another added, his children are better off without him. She then compared Thompson's murder to the killing of Osama bin Laden and claimed, violence can be heroic. And then the rhetoric escalated even further. One supporter launched into an unhinged rant about political violence and President Trump, saying, I want to see him hanging in the town square. She then added, threatening Trump, I'm coming for you, baby. Think about how insane this is. A murder suspect is being turned into a celebrity by radical activists who are openly glorifying assassination, threatening political violence, and treating terrorism like some kind of social justice movement. And honestly, this is the inevitable result of years of rhetoric portraying CEOs as evil, success as oppression, and violence as morally justified if it targets the right people. Now, even Mangione's own legal team tried to distance themselves from the supporters. His attorney issued a statement saying, these individuals do not represent the views of Luigi. The lawyer also condemned the comments as vile and irresponsible. But the bigger issue remains. Why are these people being legitimized at all? Why are individuals openly threatening violence and celebrating murder being handed official press credentials? And more importantly, why does so much of the activist left increasingly seem comfortable romanticizing political violence when it's aimed at people they dislike? This wasn't protest. It wasn't journalism, and it certainly wasn't justice. It was extremism out in the open. And that's your first look this Tuesday. Quick recap. A deadly shooting at a San Diego mosque leaves five dead and triggers massive security responses nationwide. The Sandy fire rapidly spreads through Southern California, forcing evacuations near Simi Valley and Luigi Mangione supporters openly celebrate murder and threaten political violence outside a Manhattan courthouse. We'll keep following all of it. I'm Dave Rubin. Thanks for starting your day with First Look. See you tomorrow.

[C]

Are you trying to get weight loss support through telehealth? But it feels overwhelming and rushed? Check out orderlymeds.com now. Orderlymeds.com was built to be different. Here you connect with real doctors who take the time to understand your goals, review your eligibility and guide you through a plan that's right for you. Orderly Meds provides access to proven GLP1 medications like semaglutide and Tirzepatide, including both name brand options and personalized compound versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork. It's a simpler, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity, care and confidence in their weight loss journey. And your medication is delivered directly to your home and in discreet packaging so your experience stays private from start to finish. Do your research, ask the right questions, then visit orderlymeds. Com podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds. Com podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice, eligibility required. See Cite for details.