Podcast Summary: "Kamala Gets Visibly Angry as Her Disaster Interview Ends Her 2028 Election Chances"
The Rubin Report | Host: Dave Rubin | Guests: Clay Buxton & Buck Travis
Date: October 31, 2025

Overview

On this Halloween-themed episode, Dave Rubin is joined by radio hosts Clay Buxton and Buck Travis for a lively, humorous, and often biting take on the week’s political events. The centerpiece is Vice President Kamala Harris’s disastrous book tour and her awkward handling of tough questions about Biden’s cognitive decline—leading the trio to declare her 2028 chances finished. The episode veers through Democratic succession (with a focus on Gavin Newsom’s ambitions), the state of mainstream and left-wing media, the cultural battles around free speech, and a look ahead to technological upheaval like home robots. The tone is irreverent and satirical but digs deep into the perceived failings of Democratic leadership and media.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kamala Harris’s "Disaster" Interview and Election Prospects

• [02:02] Rubin presents a tense interview clip where Australian journalist Sarah Ferguson repeatedly presses Kamala Harris on Joe Biden’s cognitive decline, and Harris dodges while growing increasingly irate.
• The hosts dissect Harris’s evasive answers, suggesting she’s in an impossible position: admit complicity in covering up Biden’s decline and look duplicitous, or deny everything and appear disconnected.
• Buck Travis bets Harris will not even run in 2028: "I think she's going to become the provost of, as I've said, a third tier UC school." (03:26)
• Clay Buxton believes Kamala will run by “trying to be born again: the truth-telling Kamala” but is doomed by her loyalty defense. (06:19)

Notable Quote

"She either got screwed over by Biden...or they hid his dementia. And if that's the case...she more than anyone else is responsible for hiding his dementia." - Buck Travis [04:56]

2. Democratic Succession: Gavin Newsom in the Spotlight

• [08:23] Gavin Newsom is painted as next-in-line, running "shameless" cover for Biden and angling for national sympathy as an untainted alternative.
• Clay grudgingly admits Newsom is more likable than other Dems: “If you told me...you have to go have a beer and watch a game with somebody...I think he would actually be somewhat entertaining...Now is he an awful irredeemable liar? Of course...” (11:29)
• Buck argues Newsom is the "inevitable Democrat nominee," poised to deliver Obama-like rhetorical pivots and likely to choose AOC as his running mate.

Notable Quote

"He's the perfect vessel for [saying anything to win]. Kamala's not even a good liar." - Buck Travis [14:14]

Memorable Moment

• [10:42] Newsom compared on-air to Patrick Bateman from "American Psycho," with Newsom responding wryly but not denying the accusation.

3. Mainstream Media and Legacy Media Critique

• Fiercely critical of how outlets like "The View" and CNN carry water for Democrats, rarely challenge their guests, and lack intellectual rigor:
  • [24:54] Whoopi Goldberg’s auto-pen defense sets off a riff on low-information punditry.
  • [26:12] Clay argues legacy media behaves like boxers who “never spar”—protected from real debate, unable to defend their ideas under scrutiny.
• The hosts bemoan what they see as a left-wing media echo chamber, insulated from ideas and competition, leading to lazy, uninformed arguments.

Notable Quotes

"The View is meant to be an emotional, safe space for people who have feelings about politics but don't actually spend the time to know anything about any of the issues." - Buck Travis [27:53]

"Their arguments are flabby and don’t require much pushback to defeat." - Clay Buxton [26:12]

4. Biden’s Auto-Pen Scandal and Cognitive Decline

• Discussed House investigation into the use of an auto-pen for Biden’s pardons, implying his cognitive inability to perform even ceremonial duties.
• Hosts agree nothing will happen legally, but push for transparency to expose what they maintain was an open secret.
• [29:57] CNN’s Scott Jennings denies evidence of Biden’s decline, which Clay ridicules as ignoring the “circumstantial evidence” visible to all.

Notable Exchange

"There's tons of actual medical evidence, by the way...If your grandpa suddenly can't remember your name, that's evidence that he might have a dementia related issue." - Clay Buxton [32:09]
"There's no medical evidence to say that. Now that's a political talking point for some of you on the right…” - Scott Jennings [29:57]

5. Lefty Podcast Space & Free Speech Culture Wars

• [36:03] Play a clip from left-wing podcaster Jennifer Welch attacking Riley Gaines with coarse invective; hosts lament the lack of able, civil left-wing argumentation in podcasting.
• Both Buck and Clay argue that right-wing commentators are more “battle-hardened,” having survived on Internet merit, while the left inherited media platforms, never having had to defend or sharpen their arguments.
• General agreement: modern left media attacks people personally rather than offering reasoned arguments—a sign of cultural “winning” for the right.

Notable Quotes

"The Internet was a meritocracy...the left prefers top-down structure, which doesn't work." - Clay Buxton [44:10]

"They believe that we are evil...Hitler incarnate because they're morons...They aren't exposed to the counter argument." - Clay Buxton [43:06]

Memorable Moment

• [42:03] Jennifer Welch says she’s glad Charlie Kirk is dead and may even wish others to die—used as evidence for coarsening discourse on the left.

6. Tech Disruption: Robots and AI in Everyday Life

• [49:40] A wry discussion about the coming wave of household robots, concerns about privacy, and the larger threat of automation to jobs.
• [51:07] Clay points out the larger, more worrying trend is white-collar job outsourcing to AI, not just physical robot intrusion.

Memorable Moment

[53:42] Joking about the “discreet” use of robots: “That was your way of saying you’re going to fuck the robots.” - Dave Rubin

7. Show’s Closing: Halloween Traditions & Cultural References

• Lighthearted wrap-up about Halloween costumes, sons obsessed with Ghostbusters, and print newspapers.
• Reminiscing about childhood, old-school New York, and generational change.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "She either got screwed over by Biden...or they hid his dementia. And if that's the case...she more than anyone else is responsible for hiding his dementia."
  — Buck Travis [04:56]

• Gavin Newsom: "I will defend [Biden's legacy] to my grave...." [08:23]

• Regarding The View:
  “The View is meant to be an emotional, safe space for people who have feelings about politics but don't actually spend the time to know anything about any of the issues.”
  — Buck Travis [27:53]

• On Mainstream Media’s Weakness:
  "Their arguments are flabby and don’t require much pushback to defeat.”
  — Clay Buxton [26:12]

• On Podcast Meritocracy:
  "The Internet was a meritocracy...the left prefers top-down structure, which doesn't work."
  — Clay Buxton [44:10]

• Lefty Host’s Remark:
  “You're an insufferable twat. Nobody likes you except for other fake Christians...[who] enjoy watching children get zip tied.”
  — Jennifer Welch [36:03]

• On Tech & Robots:
  "I think the maybe more terrifying aspect of this is...I don't know how many jobs are going to exist in 15 or 20 years."
  — Clay Buxton [51:07]

Essential Timestamps

• [02:02] Kamala Harris grilled on Biden's frailty
• [03:26 - 05:36] Harris’s nomination bets and dissection
• [08:23] Gavin Newsom praises Biden, eyes nomination
• [10:42] Newsom and the Patrick Bateman comparison
• [24:54] Whoopi Goldberg covers for Biden; media critiqued
• [29:57] CNN’s Scott Jennings on Biden's cognition
• [36:03] Harsh attacks from left-wing podcaster Jennifer Welch
• [49:40] Home robots and the coming wave of job automation
• [54:59] Halloween costume traditions

Summary Conclusion

The episode is a rollicking, comedic, at-times-raucous critique of Democratic infighting post-Biden, Kamala Harris’s floundering prospects, and the peculiar landscape of American media and discourse. Through satirical banter and segues into media criticism and tech speculation, the hosts highlight what they see as the intellectual and moral bankruptcy of the current political and media establishment—while also reflecting on the changing shape of online debate, culture, and looming AI disruption. The show maintains a sharp, sardonic tone, heavy on insider jokes and pointed invective.