The Rubin Report: Listen to Dem Stutter as He’s Forced to Admit Trump Did the Impossible

Date: October 10, 2025
Host: Dave Rubin
Guests: Spencer Clavin (Host, Young Heretics Show), Shermichael Singleton (Co-Founder, We The Free TV; CNN Contributor)

Episode Overview

This lively roundtable episode features Dave Rubin and his guests dissecting the political fallout from a surprise Middle East peace deal brokered by Donald Trump, the Democrats’ struggle to acknowledge his achievement, the radicalism spreading on college campuses, the limits of free speech, the ongoing government shutdown, and the perennial crisis of urban crime in Democrat-led cities like Chicago. The discussion is punctuated by video clips from news outlets, frank commentary, and a recurring theme: the Democrats’ inability to cope with Trump’s wins and their own activist base.

Main Segments & Key Insights

1. Democrats’ Reluctance to Credit Trump for Mideast Peace

[03:25-07:18]

• Clip Review: Abby Phillip (CNN) interviews Rep. Dan Goldman, who struggles to explain why peace couldn’t be achieved under Biden and indirectly credits Trump for shifting the dynamic.
• Dave Rubin comments on Dan Goldman's inability to acknowledge Trump's achievement:

  "By saying that, it’s sort of an acknowledgment—Trump has changed that dynamic." – Dave Rubin ([03:45])

• Shermichael Singleton criticizes Democrats’ reflexive negativity:

  "He couldn’t acknowledge what President Trump is doing... It speaks volumes about why so many of their voters, particularly younger ones, are anti-Zionist, anti-Semitic, and I would even argue, pro-Hamas." – Shermichael Singleton ([04:28])

• Spencer Clavin on Dems’ 'Trump bad' center of gravity:

  "Watching that clip is like watching a live root canal without anesthesia... There is no good reason why this is happening now and not two years ago, except for Trump." – Spencer Clavin ([05:58])

• The panel agrees that many mainstream Democrats can’t admit Trump’s success for fear of angering their radical base.

2. Radicalization and Fear in the Democratic Base

[07:18-14:41]

• Dave shows a clip of a pro-Hamas protest led by a Harvard student, highlighting the extremism:

  "We must show up stronger than we did the first October 7th. Louder than we did the first October 7th..." – Protestor ([08:11])

• Shermichael Singleton links Democratic leaders’ choices to fear of the base:

  "There is a heightened level of antisemitism within the Democratic Party...no one on that side appears to be strong enough to stand against." ([08:51])

• Poll data referenced: Gen Z lacks historical knowledge of the Holocaust, fueling troubling trends.
• Spencer Clavin blames higher education for the radicalization:

  "You have a class of young people who have taken these extreme statements and these crazy ideas... not just about Israel. There is no true or false, there’s no good or bad." ([12:35])

• The solution, Clavin suggests, is reclaiming education and re-teaching fundamental values.

3. Free Speech: Where Are the Limits?

[14:41-18:32]

• Discussion on whether openly pro-Hamas demonstrations constitute protected speech.
• Shermichael Singleton takes a firm stance:

  "Should we permit speech that foments a type of ideology that’s antithetical to our values as a society? I would argue, no." ([15:08])

• Spencer Clavin’s measured response:

  "I think it probably was [protected speech]... one of them is abhorrent or even prejudicial things. You should be able to say... as long as you’re not calling for a specific person to be attacked." ([17:48])

4. Fetterman's Break from Party Orthodoxy & The Nobel Peace Prize

[18:32-22:44]

• Clip of Sen. John Fetterman praising Trump’s Middle East diplomacy:

  "If this sticks, I think the whole point of having a Nobel Peace Prize is for ending wars and promoting peace." – John Fetterman ([19:31])

• Fetterman is depicted as out-of-step with his party simply by stating obvious support for peace.
• Rubin jokes: "He will likely be a Republican by ‘28. That’s my guess." ([19:44])
• Nobel Peace Prize credibility is discussed ("They gave it to Obama before he was president." – Dave Rubin [21:23]), and Trump’s desire for recognition is examined.

5. Government Shutdown: Who’s to Blame, Who Cares?

[24:44-32:54]

• Nancy Pelosi’s confusion on ‘clean CR’ is mocked; Shermichael points out the hypocrisy:

  "To pretend that this is on Republicans is absurd... The roles are reversed and they’re still trying to blame Republicans. Somebody help me out with this logic here." ([26:00])

• Bernie Sanders claims Dems would "lose leverage" if the government reopens; panel perceives desperation among Congressional Democrats.
• Spencer Clavin:

  "Our Congress is consummately feckless... It’s the ultimate example." ([28:33])

• General consensus: The shutdown has minimal real-world impact, and the blame game is mostly political theater.

6. Democratic Leadership in Crisis—Schumer, AOC, and the Party Civil War

[30:10-32:54]

• Schumer is characterized as out of touch and beset by rebellion from the left, notably AOC, who "would gladly take him out if she had the chance." ([31:15])
• Shermichael notes the difficulty of negotiating amidst party radicalization: "Democrats have become beholden to the most extreme factions of their party." ([32:35])

7. Crime, Chicago, and the Crisis of Urban Governance

[34:44-41:04]

• Trump sends federal help to Chicago; Pritzker and Johnson criticize him, but are accused of inaction on crime.
• Shermichael, as a gun enthusiast and Black man:

  "To me, if sending the National Guard in—if just for 30 days—that visual show of force will lead to more lives being protected and saved, I’m in agreement for that." ([36:36])

• Stephen Miller’s stark comparison: "Bloodbath, Suffering, death, misery... More dangerous than Mexico City, more dangerous than Baghdad, Iraq." ([39:03])
• Spencer Clavin notes Democrat opposition to Trump is now so reflexive they have to oppose cleaning up crime-ridden cities.

8. Antifa, Political Violence, and Media Minimization

[41:04–46:17]

• Kristi Noem compares Antifa to ISIS/Hezbollah; media and Rubin panel skeptical, but caution against minimizing Antifa’s organization.
• Shermichael cites FBI Director Wray:

  "He said that Antifa was a problem... there appeared to be some type of an organized operational setting... targeting our youth." ([43:09])

• Clavin:

  "Antifa is an idea... There are best practices, there are plans in place, there are absolutely organization... If you can’t condemn people that organize political violence, I don’t know what business you have in elected office." ([44:49])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Watching that clip is like watching a live root canal without anesthesia."
  – Spencer Clavin on Dan Goldman's CNN interview ([05:58])

• "If you say anything good about Trump, you’re basically saying something good about Hitler."
  – Spencer Clavin ([06:48])

• "There is a heightened level of antisemitism within the Democratic Party...it worries me. It concerns me."
  – Shermichael Singleton ([08:51])

• "Congress is consummately feckless. They have not a single fec."
  – Spencer Clavin ([28:33])

• "Democrats have become beholden to the most extreme factions of their party."
  – Shermichael Singleton ([32:54])

• "Donald Trump stands for peace. They stand for violence and death. It has to stop."
  – Stephen Miller ([39:25])

• "If you can’t condemn people that organize political violence, I just... I don’t know what business you have in elected office."
  – Spencer Clavin ([46:00])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:25] – CNN Clip: Dan Goldman on why peace didn’t happen under Biden
• [04:28] – Shermichael Singleton: Dems’ inherent anti-Trump stance
• [05:58] – Spencer Clavin: “Trump bad” as Dems’ central principle
• [07:18] – Pro-Hamas protest / Harvard student
• [11:54] – Impact of indoctrination in higher education
• [14:41] – Free speech vs. incitement in the context of protests
• [17:48] – Spencer Clavin: Constitutionality of extreme/radical speech
• [18:32] – Fetterman supports Trump; peace/Nobel Prize
• [24:44] – Pelosi, Sanders, and the government shutdown
• [28:33] – Spencer: Congressional dysfunction
• [31:15] – Schumer, AOC, intra-party conflict
• [34:44] – Crime wave in Chicago, Trump’s response
• [39:25] – Stephen Miller: Comparing Chicago crime to war zones
• [41:04] – Kristi Noem, Antifa and left-wing violence
• [43:09] – FBI’s assessment of Antifa’s organization
• [44:49] – Democrats’ refusal to condemn Antifa
• [46:17] – Closing remarks/reflections

Overall Tone

The episode is sharply critical of the Democratic Party—for refusing to credit Trump, indulging its most radical factions, and flailing on urban issues and the government shutdown. The conversation is irreverent, sometimes sardonic, but always candid and direct, mixing humor with biting political analysis.

For listeners seeking an unfiltered, right-leaning breakdown of the week’s headlines—from Mideast peace to government gridlock, campus radicalism, and big-city crime—this episode delivers lively debate, focused arguments, and memorable soundbites.