The Rubin Report

Host Gets Visibly Angry as Scott Bessent Rips Him to Shreds in Front of NY Times Crowd

Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Dave Rubin
Main Guest Discussed: Scott Bessent (at NYT Summit, not directly present)

Main Theme

Dave Rubin delivers a fiery, unsparing monologue dissecting the disconnect between mainstream media (especially the New York Times), political malpractice, and institutional trust. Anchoring the episode is a viral encounter at the NYT Media Summit where investor Scott Bessent confronted the NYT over its credibility, specifically targeting their bias and cover-ups regarding Trump and Biden. Rubin weaves this into a larger narrative about media hypocrisy, institutional decay, the laundering of political lies, and the societal consequences of accountability eroding in both media and politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NYT Summit: Bessent Calls Out the New York Times

• Rubin describes Scott Bessent's appearance at the NYT Summit, in which Bessent bluntly critiques the credibility and legacy of the New York Times.
  • "There’s always the debate, like, do you talk to these guys? Do you ignore them? ... You go and you sit there and you literally say, 'I don’t even read your paper.' And we can go through, you guys know, the list, the endless list of lies that the New York Times has put out there." [04:35]
• Bessent argues the NYT is no longer the “paper of record” and mocks their past claims about radicalization via YouTube algorithms (including Rubin himself).
• Memorable moment: Rubin displays a framed June 6, 2019 NYT cover featuring himself in a story about alleged radicalization on YouTube.

2. Media Hypocrisy: Biden vs. Trump

• The New York Times’ coverage of Trump’s mental acuity is highlighted and compared with their years-long defense of Biden’s mental competence.
  • Rubin reads from a recent NYT article about Trump allegedly “slowing down,” and erupts:
    • "Fuck you, New York Times. Like, just go fuck yourself. You're a bunch of fucking fucktards." [06:40]
• Rubin asserts the media engaged in a "massive cover-up" regarding Biden’s cognitive state, only to reverse course and attack Trump with similar claims.
• He notes the absurdity of Biden being declared “vigorous” after his first physical in 2021.
  • “Would you describe him as vigorous at any point? Come on. It’s completely, completely absurd.” [10:41]
• Bessent's point reiterated: The NYT covered up Biden's issues, then used the same tactics against Trump.

3. The 'Cheap Fakes' Narrative

• Rubin breaks down the recent narrative from left-leaning outlets and the Biden administration that right-wing media circulates "cheap fakes" (selectively edited videos) to smear Biden.
  • Clips of media figures such as Brian Stelter and the NYT are cited denying or minimizing Biden’s problems, shifting blame to opposition editing.

4. Scott Bessent on Economic Truth

• The discussion at the NYT Summit turns to economic metrics (inflation in blue vs. red states), with Bessent challenging Sorkin's attempts to blame Trump for current inflation data.
  • “Storkin, do you get why they laughed at you right there? Trump has been president for 10 months. Who was president for those four years?” [14:20]
• Rubin accuses the left of lacking accountability, pointing to policies and the Inflation Reduction Act raising inflation.

5. Gavin Newsom and California's Condition

• Newsom’s warning that the US won't have free and fair elections without a specific Democratic outcome is mocked.
  • “I believe this in my core of my heart. You will not have a free and fair election as we know them today if Speaker Jeffries is not sworn in a year plus from now…” [16:08]
• Rubin ridicules Newsom’s posture ("evil lizard man" — a running joke about male politicians who sit with crossed legs), and debunks claims about California’s economic leadership, noting business and population losses.

6. Media Collusion & Rachel Maddow

• Rubin plays and responds to Rachel Maddow’s segment on Colbert, where she recycles arguments about Trump and Russia, accusing Trump of "weakness" and “working for Russia.”
• Rubin counters:
  • “She is an agent of whatever you want to think of as the deep state... Trump is the reverse of that.” [22:15]
• Past Maddow lies are highlighted, including claims about COVID and Russian interference in multiple elections.

7. Erosion of Institutional Trust

• Alex Karp (Palantir CEO) is played stating:
  • "No one believes the institutions are credible. And why don’t they believe they’re… I struggled to believe they’re credible too, because these business leaders make completely stupid decisions and they get bailed out." [26:23]
• Rubin stresses that functioning societies need some trustworthy institutions, lamenting general collapse of credibility in leadership, business, and media.

8. Ilhan Omar, Fraud Scandals, and Accountability

• Recent Minnesota government fraud and COVID program abuses discussed; Omar’s deflection on CNN called out.
  • Omar: “A lot of the COVID programs… were set up so quickly that a lot of the guardrails did not get created.” [30:07]
  • Rubin: “Maybe somebody should be fired. Maybe you, because you’re the congresswoman of that area and you were working with third parties and didn’t vet them properly as you were taking money from the American people.” [30:36]
• Reagan quote cited to reinforce the need for individual accountability.

9. Racism Accusations Around Trump

• Omar, The View’s Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar, among others, accuse Trump of targeting Somalis and being racist as ICE raids in Minnesota increase.
• Rubin notes their arguments rely on broad accusations without tackling accountability for crimes or fraud.
• Councilmember Jamal Osman admits some Somalis “have done horrible things,” but urges against condemning an entire community.
• Rubin: "That her cadre of people can even invoke the Holocaust is disgusting." [38:26]
• Ron DeSantis featured dismissing the effectiveness of the “race card.”
  • “The race card is what they’re trying to do to evade accountability... But I don’t think people are buying it anymore.” [40:18]

10. Crime, Immigration, and Local Governance

• Officials and media deny existence of “roving Somali gangs,” but Rubin plays video evidence to the contrary [43:51].
• Further cites cases of individual Somali-American criminals and local political corruption; argues the only reason these issues persist is lack of real penalty and bad policy.
• Notes news of MyPillow’s Mike Lindell running for Governor as evidence of how "normal people" are discouraged from politics.

11. Trump’s Agenda and Economic Policies

• Rubin features Trump's latest moves: repealing CAFE (fuel economy) standards and tax policy to benefit car buyers.
  • “If you go out and buy a car... you’re allowed to deduct the interest from your income tax.” [47:47]
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang credits Trump’s energy policies with saving the U.S. AI industry:
  • “It saved the AI industry. I gotta tell you flat out, if not for his pro-growth energy policy, we would not be able to build factories for AI.” [50:34]

12. Comparison: Builder vs. Complainer

• Rubin urges listeners to trust “builders” (e.g. AI and tech CEOs) over "endless complainers" (politicians/media).
  • “Who do you trust... people who are actually building things and are competent? Or do you like the Ilhan Omars?... the guys over at the New York Times..." [52:07]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rubin’s Outburst on NYT’s Trump Article:
  “Fuck you, New York Times. Like, just go fuck yourself. You're a bunch of fucking fucktards. That’ll be it for the F bombs for today.” [06:40]
• On Accountability & Reagan’s quote:
  “We must reject the idea that every time a law is broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker.” [30:50]
• Alex Karp on institutional trust
  • “No one believes the institutions are credible... business leaders make completely stupid decisions and get bailed out... and what do the American people get? Nothing. That's a huge problem.” [26:23]
• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Trump’s policies:
  “It saved the AI industry. I gotta tell you flat out, if not for his pro-growth energy policy, we would not be able to build factories for AI.” [50:34]

Segment Timestamps

| Segment Description | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Opening Monologue / Setting the Theme | 02:12 | | Rubin recaps Scott Bessent at NYT Summit and NYT Critique | 03:50-06:40 | | NYT’s coverage of Trump’s health, Biden cover-up | 06:40-10:41 | | “Cheap fakes” narrative, Biden video defense | 10:41-12:25 | | Bessent, Sorkin debate: Inflation & Accountability | 13:55-14:20 | | Gavin Newsom mocked; “lizard” joke, economic stats debunked | 16:08-19:00 | | Rachel Maddow lampooned; failed media narratives on Russia | 20:12-25:03 | | Erosion of institutional trust (Karp, Palantir) | 26:23-28:31 | | Minnesota, Ilhan Omar, Covid fraud scandal | 30:07-31:25 | | Omar’s racism accusation; The View and Trump’s polling | 33:45-36:47 | | Minneapolis Somali councilmember; ICE & community defense | 37:43-39:00 | | Ron DeSantis on the “race card” | 40:18 | | Video evidence of crime, Somali gangs, legal system failures | 43:51-46:05 | | Mike Lindell’s gubernatorial bid — “pillow guy shouldn’t be governor” | 46:47 | | Donald Trump repeals CAFE standards; tax deduction for car buyers | 47:27-52:00 | | Nvidia CEO on energy, AI, and Trump | 50:34 | | Builder vs. complainer: media, politicians, tech leaders | 52:07 |

Tone & Style

• Tone: Highly animated, biting, irreverent; often punctuated with humor, sarcasm, and blunt language (including explicit outbursts).
• Style: Dave Rubin oscillates between rational analysis, direct personal commentary, mockery (e.g., “evil lizard man” gag), and emotional appeals regarding truth, honesty, and the American dream. He often addresses the audience directly, looping back to big-picture principles like individual responsibility and the need for trustworthy institutions.

Closing Thoughts

Rubin closes with reflections on societal accountability, political courage (or lack thereof), and the kinds of people who are now running for office. He emphasizes the dangers of relentless accusations of racism and institutional cowardice, all while lauding those who build and lead in business and tech. For those frustrated with mainstream narratives, media cover-ups, and lack of individual and institutional accountability, this episode is both a cathartic rant and a call to vigilance.

For listeners:
This episode is a rapid-fire fusillade of media criticism, political analysis, and cultural commentary. It weaves national news, institutional decay, and the consequences of media misdirection into a passionate narrative that will especially resonate with those skeptical of mainstream coverage and the current political climate.