The Rubin Report | Episode Summary
Episode Title: Man Attacks Cop with a Knife & Zohran Mamdani Did This In Response
Host: Dave Rubin
Date: February 5, 2026
Overview
In this episode, Dave Rubin takes on the week's most controversial headlines, including a political uproar surrounding a knife attack on a New York City police officer and Mayor Zohran Mamdani's response; ongoing debates around immigration enforcement in Minnesota and other cities; the aftermath of the Jeffrey Epstein document dump; and the ramifications of mass layoffs at The Washington Post. Rubin weaves these stories into a critique of progressive politics, the media's role in shaping public perception, and the challenges facing basic policy reforms such as voter ID requirements.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Stage: Tone and Housekeeping
- Rubin opens with humor and self-deprecation about mixing up the date, ribbing his team, and setting expectations for the show.
- Brief mentions of live community Q&A and a nod to Joseph, Rubin's tech assistant, who’s expected to be especially alert today after a morning mishap.
- Tone: Sarcastic, conversational, irreverent.
2. Main Story One: Trump, Immigration, and Minnesota
- Rubin analyzes a recent NBC interview with Donald Trump, highlighting his nuanced stance on immigration and federal intervention in unruly cities.
- Trump reportedly insists on being "invited" by city/state officials before sending in federal forces, even as he maintains tough rhetoric on enforcing immigration law.
- Quote:
"He actually doesn't want that. ... He is very sensitive to the narrative stuff." — Dave Rubin [06:30]
- Rubin argues that Trump’s wait-for-invitation approach plays politics with uncooperative city officials, calling it a "concession" while noting the President’s duty to act on border security regardless of local preferences.
- Minnesota and New York cited as examples of cities holding firm on sanctuary policies.
Trump's Immigration Stance Clarified
- Trump emphasizes focus on "really bad criminals," not blanket deportations.
- Quote:
“We are totally focused on criminals, really bad criminals. … Now, you could say people that came in illegally are criminals, but I’m talking about murderers from different countries.” — Donald Trump (quoted by Dave Rubin) [25:00]
- Quote:
- Rubin expresses skepticism over Trump’s call for a "softer touch," calling it “an unnecessary concession,” and warns of the dangers of policies that go “softer” on crime and border enforcement.
Minnesota Update (Tom Homan Segment)
- Tom Homan, now overseeing operations in Minnesota, announces:
- "Unprecedented collaboration" between ICE and local law enforcement.
- Reduction of law enforcement presence by 700 due to new efficiencies.
- Quote:
“We currently have an unprecedented number of counties communicating with us now and allowing ICE to take custody of illegal aliens before they hit the streets.” — Tom Homan (via Dave Rubin) [36:30]
- Rubin views this as evidence that cooperation, not resistance, leads to smarter, less disruptive law enforcement.
3. Main Story Two: Knife Attack in New York and Mamdani's Reaction
- Rubin highlights an incident involving a knife-wielding individual shot by NYPD, zeroing in on Zohran Mamdani (referred to as "Communist jihadist mayor"), who emotionally sided with the attacker’s family.
- Quote:
“The Chavez family. Chavez is the guy with the knife. No family should have to endure this type of pain.” — Dave Rubin paraphrasing Mamdani [15:15]
- Quote:
- Calls Mamdani’s defense of the attacker “psychotic,” saying “they are never for the victim. They are always for the bad guy.”
- Quote:
“If you are in New York City and you are watching this show, leave. … You will not survive four years of this.” — Dave Rubin [20:25]
- Quote:
- Discussion on the tension between calls for mental health treatment versus criminal prosecution in violent crime cases.
4. Media Narrative and Political Optics
- Rubin stresses that narrative management controls public opinion more than actual policy, citing Jessica Tarlov/Greg Gutfeld debate.
- Key Point: Democratic resistance to ICE, cooperation seen as primary contributor to chaos in cities like Minneapolis.
- Quote:
“If a month ago...Democrats of Minnesota had just been like, all right, ICE is going in guys…none of this would be happening.” — Dave Rubin [47:50]
- Critique of mainstream media hypocrisy: Mainstream narratives only shift when it's politically expedient.
5. Cable News Craziness: Bakari Sellers’ Law Enforcement Advice
- Showcases CNN’s Bakari Sellers, who initially appears to encourage interference in active law enforcement, later backtracking.
- Quote:
“You would advise a person … to literally engage in the middle of an active law enforcement matter if they see something wrong?… I would say yes.” — Bakari Sellers [55:20]
- Quote:
- Rubin points out the dangers and hypocrisy in such commentary, especially from a lawyer.
6. Debating Deportation Statistics: Violent vs. Nonviolent Offenders
- Dispute between Ana Navarro, Scott Jennings, and others about what percentage of ICE removals are violent offenders.
- Rubin references DHS and multiple sources, concludes:
- 70% of ICE arrests involved convictions/charges (DHS)
- Only 5-8% of ICE detainees violent crimes (TRAC), remainder often nonviolent but still criminal.
- Quote:
“The key word is violent. Why do you not care about any of the young women who are being raped, beaten, murdered?” — Dave Rubin [1:06:30]
- Asserts that left-leaning media deliberately downplays the crimes of the deported.
7. The Epstein Files: Fallout and Media Response
- Bill Gates faces accusations from the recently unsealed Epstein files, including claims of infection and questionable ties.
- Gates strongly denies wrongdoing in a televised interview, claiming “I was only at dinners” with Epstein.
- Quote:
“He does say there very specifically that he never went to the island. Now, if he was ever on the island, there’s going to be some evidence of it.” — Dave Rubin [1:21:40]
- Rubin notes the media’s sudden interest in the Epstein saga after Trump’s release of documents, casting doubt on the mainstream’s motives.
- Highlights The View panel attacking Gates.
- Points out random individuals, including Whoopi Goldberg, are named numerous times in the files.
- CNN’s Caitlan Collins is called out for only interviewing Epstein victims once it became a potential liability to Trump, not while Democrats were in power.
- Quote:
“That’s how you bust through the narrative.” — Dave Rubin [1:33:40]
- Quote:
- Side note: Rubin emphasizes the opacity and likely perpetual mystery of the full Epstein story.
8. Voter ID, the SAVE Act, and Rhetoric of Suppression
- Utah Senator Mike Lee predicts the SAVE Act, now with voter ID requirements, will move to a vote.
- Chuck Schumer calls the bill “Jim Crow 2.0” and an “abomination,” equating voter ID with racial suppression.
- Quote:
“The SAVE act is an abomination. It’s Jim Crow 2.0.” — Chuck Schumer (quote read by Rubin) [1:49:40]
- Quote:
- Rubin reads Jim Crow’s definition to highlight the absurdity: “asking for ID is not racism.”
- Cites polling: 76% of black, 85% of white, and 82% of Latino Americans support voter ID laws.
- Quote:
"A photo ID to vote is not controversial by party, and it is not controversial by race." — Harry Enten, CNN (as shared by Rubin) [1:57:40]
- Quote:
- Flashback to Joe Scarborough and Obama supporting voter IDs in the past, contrasting Democrats’ current rhetoric.
9. Washington Post Layoffs and Media Accountability
- Rubin revels (mockingly) in the layoffs of 300 Washington Post staffers, blaming their demise on propagandistic journalism and activist hackery.
- Quote:
“Do you think Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post to lose $100 million a year? Obviously not.” — Dave Rubin [2:07:35]
- Offers former journalists a “$50/hour job picking up [his dog] Clyde’s poop” — in hand, no bag — as a satirical jab.
- Quote:
- Rebuts Nancy Pelosi's lament of “democracy dying in darkness,” stating WaPo’s output was anti-journalistic.
- Points to the New York Post's success as evidence that “telling the truth pays off.”
10. Community Q&A and Closing Thoughts
- Rubin takes questions on Super Bowl snacks, the mechanics of the SAVE Act, energy required for covering hostile media, and his kids’ favorite activities.
- Advocates for short educational explainers, ala PragerU, from the Trump administration on ICE and immigration.
- Suggests Rubio as spokesperson for bipartisan appeal.
- Wraps with a plug for his favored stem cell doctor and closes the show on a self-rated 9.2 for the day.
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- On Trump's approach to cities:
“I suppose what he’s trying to do there is call them on their bluff.” — Dave Rubin [09:45]
- On progressives supporting perpetrators:
“They are never for the victim. They are always for the bad guy.” — Dave Rubin [17:50]
- On media hypocrisy:
“The mainstream media still basically controls the narrative.” — Dave Rubin [42:15]
- On crime and mental health:
“If you have a gun and you choose...to shoot up...innocent elementary school kids, you have a mental health issue. But does that mean you shouldn’t be in jail?” — Dave Rubin [22:00]
- On Voter ID law polling:
"76% of black voters apparently are for that [voter ID]. Thank God I can see black people because I got a lot of questions for them." — Dave Rubin [1:57:40]
- On Washington Post layoffs:
“No one deserves a job. … If you guys…do such important work, then someone will hire you.” — Dave Rubin [2:07:35]
Important Segments / Timestamps
- Opening and Trump Immigration Interview Analysis: 00:00 – 12:00
- Knife Attack & Mamdani Commentary: 13:00 – 22:00
- Mental Health vs. Criminal Prosecution Rant: 22:00 – 25:00
- Tom Homan on Minnesota ICE Operations: 36:00 – 40:00
- Fox News Optics Debate (Tarlov/Gutfeld): 47:00 – 52:00
- Bakari Sellers’ Law Enforcement Advice: 55:00 – 57:00
- ICE Statistic Debates (Navarro & Jennings): 1:06:00 – 1:08:00
- Epstein Files & Bill Gates Defense: 1:21:00 – 1:30:00
- CNN/Caitlan Collins, Media Narrative: 1:33:00 – 1:36:00
- Voter ID/SAVE Act, Schumer’s Response: 1:49:00 – 1:59:00
- Washington Post Layoffs, Media Critique: 2:07:00 – 2:12:00
- Q&A and Closing Reflections: 2:14:00 – 2:28:00
Summary for the Uninitiated
Dave Rubin tackles the week's most divisive political controversies with his trademark sardonic humor and explicit right-leaning commentary. From the chaos of city crime and progressive politicians appearing to side with criminals, to the cable news circus and the enduring mysteries of the Epstein scandal, Rubin frames the issues as battles of narrative, common sense, and existential stakes for American society. The episode is part critique, part comedic catharsis, and part polemic, targeting what Rubin describes as the excesses and hypocrisies of the progressive movement, the mainstream media, and activist journalism. Classical liberal and libertarian-leaning listeners will find a clear, if acerbic, point of view throughout.