The Rubin Report

Host: Dave Rubin
Episode: Host Goes Quiet as Press Sec Destroys Jimmy Kimmel Narrative w/ Facts in Under 1 Minute
Date: September 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Rubin Report centers on the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the media fallout, and debates about free speech, cancel culture, and media responsibility—sparked by Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial remarks and subsequent firing by ABC. Dave Rubin and Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovsky discuss these events, the real meaning of free speech, Charlie Kirk’s legacy (particularly with Rumble’s rise), hypocrisy in cancel culture narratives, and personal reflections on community and faith. The episode also includes a Q&A with the Rubin Report community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media Fallout and the Jimmy Kimmel Controversy

• The Kimmel Joke and Its Aftermath:
  Dave opens by recounting how, after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Jimmy Kimmel made a widely criticized “joke” implying the shooter was MAGA-affiliated—a claim proved false. Kimmel reportedly refused to apologize, which Rubin suggests led to his firing by ABC.

  • “He decided to cash in on telling half the country that we're Nazis and racists anyway. He apparently refuses to apologize. The affiliates have had it. There's no evidence whatsoever that the government had anything to do with this.” – Dave Rubin [04:39]

• Obama’s Critique and Claims of Government Censorship:
  Barack Obama publicly criticized the administration, alleging a “dangerous level” of government threats against media companies to muzzle or fire commentators. Dave refutes this, stating no evidence exists that the government pressured ABC regarding Kimmel.

• Counterpoint from Caroline Levitt (Press Secretary):
  Guest Caroline Levitt directly addresses the claims, dismantling the narrative that Trump's administration pressured ABC:

  • “With all due respect to former President Obama, he has no idea what he's talking about. The decision to fire Jimmy Kimmel…came from executives at ABC…no pressure given from the President of the United States...” – Caroline Levitt [05:29]
  • She recounts being with President Trump in the UK when the news broke and asserts Trump was unaware, affirming ABC acted independently because Kimmel “knowingly lied to his audience…about the death of a highly respected man when our country is in a state of mourning.”

• Rubin on Cancel Culture Hypocrisy:
  Dave highlights left-leaning media’s history of supporting firings (Gina Carano, Sage Steele, Roseanne Barr) for politically incorrect speech, contrasting it with outrage when someone like Kimmel is removed.

  • “No one has a right to a TV show. That ain't in the Constitution.” – Dave Rubin [09:08]

• Free Speech vs Platform Rights:
  Both Dave and Chris Pavlovsky draw a distinction between “deplatforming” by big tech—especially government-influenced removal of speech (as during COVID-19)—and a private media company (ABC) choosing to fire a host for content reasons.

2. Rumble’s Origins and Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

• Charlie's Role in Rumble:
  Chris Pavlovsky shares how Charlie Kirk was the first (and most active) investor in Rumble, deeply involved in its growth and committed to free speech values.

  • “Charlie just looks around and he's like, Chris, this is going to be The Rumble headquarters. This is going to be the free speech capital of the world.” – Chris Pavlovsky [16:21]
  • Kirk helped directly, even helping select Rumble’s current headquarters in Sarasota, Florida.

• Rumble as Free Speech Vanguard:
  Chris stresses that, especially before Elon Musk bought X, Rumble stood alone for uncensored expression while mainstream platforms (Twitter, YouTube, Facebook) were censoring political conversation.

  • “We did something that no other company did at the time, and we stood up for that First Amendment like no other.” – Chris Pavlovsky [17:56]

3. On the Current and Future State of Free Speech

• Post-Assassination Reflections:
  Both express a determination to defend free speech robustly in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing and lament attempts to conflate legitimate, private employment decisions with First Amendment violations.

• Differentiating Censorship Types:
  Chris clarifies:

  • “There's a big difference between Facebook and YouTube, which are means of communication to the masses... When you're talking about a media company like ABC, they can do whatever they want. It's their free speech to exercise whatever they want.” [21:50]

• Platform Rights:
  Dave asks if Kimmel could have a show on Rumble:

  • “He's welcome to open an account on Rumble...but he has to stay within the terms of service, which is not incite violence.” – Chris Pavlovsky [24:13]
  • This underscores Rumble’s openness but non-negotiable baseline against incitement.

4. Q&A and Community Interaction

Highlights from Audience Questions ([26:21–end])

• Charlie Kirk Memorial Reflections:
  Dave describes an outpouring of national devotion and personal emotion at Kirk’s memorial—a gathering with an estimated crowd near 100,000, high-profile attendees, and a palpable sense of loss and unity.

  • “There was this unbelievable feeling…everybody was a centimeter away from crying the entire time. And then there were some laughs, and there were some prayers, and it was just everything at once.” – Dave Rubin [27:30]

• Advice on Living Near Muslim Prayer Sirens:
  Dave bluntly recommends moving away, predicting it’s unlikely such public religious displays will end soon and noting a perceived intolerance to dissent on this issue.

• On Religious Practice Without a Community ([36:59]):
  Dave supports the possibility of being truly religious without a formal congregation, while noting the community aspect of worship as beneficial. He reflects on the vulnerability of secular liberalism to intolerant ideologies:

  • “All the secular world had to do better was just keep the crazies at bay. But for some reason...it let all the bad guys in.” – Dave Rubin [37:29]

• Cultural and Media Satire:
  Dave lampoons CNN’s re-hiring of controversial personalities like Brian Stelter and Jeffrey Toobin, seeing it as evidence of a broken media ecosystem.

  • “Are there no other lawyers out there?...What is so great about Jeffrey Toobin that you thought, okay, let's bring back the masturbating lawyer?” – Dave Rubin [38:45]

• Event and Touring Notes:
  Dave reveals plans for audience Q&A during his Australian tour, prioritizing questions from those who disagree for more meaningful discourse—a nod to Charlie Kirk’s public event style.

• Personal Touches:
  Reflections on holiday traditions, hobbies (playing basketball as mental unwinding), and predictions about the popularity of the name “Charlie” posthumously.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Press Secretary's Clarity:
  “With all due respect to former President Obama, he has no idea what he's talking about. The decision to fire Jimmy Kimmel and to cancel his show came from executives at abc...not from the White House.” – Caroline Levitt [05:29]

• On Cancel Culture’s Double Standard:
  “No one has a right to a TV show. That ain't in the Constitution.” – Dave Rubin [09:08]

• Bill Maher’s Principle ([07:57]):
  “We don't shoot people in this country, and we don't defend it and we don't mock their death.” – Bill Maher via Dave Rubin

• Charlie's Legacy:
  “Charlie just looks around and he's like, chris, this is going to be The Rumble headquarters. This is going to be the free speech capital of the world.” – Chris Pavlovsky [16:21]

• On Free Speech vs. Platform Rights:
  “It is exactly the exercising of the First Amendment to change your staff in your own entity. Every entity has its right to its own free speech however they want to speak.” – Chris Pavlovsky [23:58]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening News & Kimmel Controversy: [01:01–06:23]
• Caroline Levitt refutes Obama narrative: [05:29–06:23]
• Free Speech, Maher, Cancel Culture: [06:23–12:25]
• Charlie Kirk’s Legacy with Rumble: [12:25–17:56]
• State of Free Speech & Rumble’s Role: [18:29–24:22]
• Listener Q&A (Memorial, Religion, Media Industry Satire, Events): [26:21–end]

Tone and Style

The episode maintains Dave Rubin’s signature mix of passionate advocacy for free speech, skepticism toward mainstream narratives, cultural satire, and personal reflection. The conversation is candid, sometimes irreverent, and driven by a deep sense of mission regarding free expression and cultural resilience.

Summary

This episode dissects the political and media response to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the ensuing controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel’s firing, and the broader debates about free speech and cancellation in American life. Through thoughtful exchanges and pointed critique—especially with Chris Pavlovsky—Rubin exposes how free speech is leveraged, misunderstood, and sometimes weaponized in public debate. The episode stands as a tribute to Charlie Kirk’s role in shaping platforms like Rumble and a call to defend genuine pluralism and freedom of expression.