The Rubin Report — "Deep State Sleeper Cells & Never-Before-Told Hunter Biden Laptop Details Revealed"

Guest: Miranda Devine | Host: Dave Rubin
Date: March 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features journalist and New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, whose reporting on the Hunter Biden laptop controversy became a pivotal moment in the 2020 U.S. election, not only for its revelations about potential political corruption but also for exposing unprecedented censorship by Big Tech and alleged government collusion. Devine and host Dave Rubin discuss the evolution of free speech in mainstream and alternative journalism, the ongoing influence of intelligence agencies on media, and the persistent threats to American transparency and democracy, including sleeper cells and homeland terrorism risks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Miranda Devine’s Background and Entry into the Story

• Miranda was born to journalist parents, lived globally, and was brought to New York to cover the 2020 election for the New York Post.
• She recalls being the "last cab off the rank" to receive Hunter Biden's laptop after other journalists declined due to its politically sensitive nature.
• Quote:
  “Bob Costello rang me up late one night...I just thought it was an absolute screamer of a story.”
  — Miranda Devine [05:57]

2. The Hunter Biden Laptop: Reporting, Verification, and Censorship

• Acquisition & Verification:
  • Devine’s team received a cloned, untouched hard drive directly from the laptop repair shop in Delaware.
  • They verified emails and interviewed key figures, bypassing legal landmines by not accessing encrypted or deeply personal (iPhone backup) data, unlike other groups (e.g., Marco Polo) [12:00].
  • The most explosive material (drugs, porn) was not the focus; emphasis was placed on evidence of possibly corrupt business dealings involving Joe Biden and foreign actors [14:42].
• Big Tech Censorship:
  • Facebook and Twitter swiftly restricted the story, locking the New York Post’s account for over two weeks leading up to the 2020 election.
  • The FBI allegedly “prebunked” the story to tech companies prior to publication, suggesting it bore hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign.
  • Quote:
    “Within hours of our publishing...Twitter and Facebook basically censored the story...We found out later that the FBI was behind that.”
    — Miranda Devine [01:26], [10:48]
• Political Responses:
  • 51 former intelligence officials signed a letter (instigated by Antony Blinken) suggesting the laptop story was Russian disinformation.
  • Quote:
    “Among those...were five former directors or acting directors of the CIA...They believe every word that’s in there and it fuels their Trump derangement.”
    — Miranda Devine [01:26]

3. Intelligence Agencies, Deep State, and Media Manipulation

• The guests discuss the persistent influence of "Deep State" operatives and the lack of a full purge in intelligence agencies, even under the new Trump administration [24:07].
• The coordination between intelligence agencies and media was evident both in promoting the Russia collusion narrative and in the suppression/discrediting of stories like the Biden laptop.
• Quote:
  “I don’t get a sense that there has been a wholesale cleanup…some of the worst actors…the real political deep staters have been eliminated. I just have to take that on what they tell me. I don’t necessarily believe it.”
  — Miranda Devine [24:07]

4. The Changing State of Journalism

• Mainstream Press:

  • The Post prides itself on fact-based, straightforward reporting, in contrast to the advocacy and "activism" now prominent in outlets like The New York Times or Washington Post.
  • Journalism education is described as now favoring activism over objective reporting [26:56].

• Anonymous Sources:

  • Devine defends the necessity of anonymous sources in high-stakes investigations (e.g., Hunter Biden’s business partners).
  • Warns of mainstream media's tendency to launder narratives through questionable “anonymous” sources [31:59].
  • Quote:
    “If you know that your source is a proven liar, that’s when you stop using them. But it seems like with The New York Times, they’re quite happy to have lies laundered as long as they’re laundered through someone plausible.”
    — Miranda Devine [32:05]

• Alternative Media and Podcasting:

  • Podcasts and independent journalism are becoming the new mainstream, with politicians (including Donald Trump) using them to bypass traditional media filters [36:26].
  • Lack of editorial guardrails in alt media can be both a strength and a risk, especially relating to factual accuracy and ideological drift [36:26].

5. Media, Personality, and the Consequences of Fame

• The rise of personality-driven news is critiqued, particularly regarding Tucker Carlson’s transition from Fox News to independent podcasting and the accompanying lack of editorial oversight.
• Devine reflects on the perils of journalists growing too close to political figures or becoming too “important” themselves.
• Quote:
  “I just think Tucker is so talented and such a good guy. I find it really sad that...he's just doubling down and doubling down...”
  — Miranda Devine [45:37]

6. Current State of War, Homeland Threats, and Free Speech

• Discussion turns to the state of the Trump administration’s handling of the current war with Iran, noting impressive transparency and generally high public confidence among supporters [47:23].
• Growing threats from sleeper terror cells are emphasized, including recent foiled plots and the ongoing risk posed by border security issues [50:00].
• Quote:
  “We don’t know how many sleeper cells there are in this country, how many terrorists were let in over the open border for four years by Joe Biden...The Iranian government has been at least two foiled plots to assassinate Donald Trump.”
  — Miranda Devine [50:37]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Laptop Story's Transformation:
  “It went from just a really good political corruption story on the eve of the election to OMG, this is a huge censorship story.”
  — Miranda Devine [10:48], [01:26]

• On the Nature of Modern Journalism:
  “Tabloids have been left alone because we weren't deemed important enough to mess with...But elite journalism, maybe...has just totally lost its way.”
  — Miranda Devine [27:41]

• On Mainstream Media and Anonymous Sources:
  “If you’re reading a New York Times story and they're quoting anonymous sources, it's likely made up.”
  — Dave Rubin [31:04]

• On the Dangers of Personality-Driven Journalism:
  “Television and podcasting...give people massive egos. Even humble people become really egotistical. It's just the nature of the beast.”
  — Miranda Devine [44:57]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:00] — Miranda talks about her international background and path into journalism.
• [05:57] — How she got the Hunter Biden laptop and broke the story.
• [10:48] — Big Tech censorship in the immediate aftermath of the story’s publication.
• [12:00] — Technical specifics about the laptop's content and how the Post handled it.
• [16:19] — Legal and ethical decisions about what to publish from the laptop.
• [18:57] — The FBI’s role and the “dirty 51” intelligence officials' letter.
• [24:07] — On the Trump administration’s efforts to "clean out" intelligence agencies.
• [26:56] — The state of mainstream journalism vs. the New York Post’s standards.
• [31:04] — Discussion of anonymous sources in the media, with concerns about reliability.
• [36:26] — The evolution and significance of alternative media and podcasting.
• [39:54] — Critique of Tucker Carlson and the risks of unchecked alt-media personalities.
• [47:23] — Review of administration’s communication tactics in war and the public’s trust.
• [50:37] — Potential homeland terrorist threats and recent foiled assassination plots.

Conclusion

This candid conversation covers the mechanics and fallout of the Hunter Biden laptop investigation, the intertwining of media and intelligence, the rise of new journalism through podcasts, persistent threats from sleeper terror cells, and the meaning of integrity in a polarized information environment. Miranda Devine offers revealing new details and strong editorial positions, making the episode essential listening for those concerned about free speech, investigative journalism, and the ongoing battle over truth in American public life.