Podcast Summary: The Rubin Report

Episode: Megyn Kelly Visibly Shocks Dave Rubin with Her Dark Prediction for What Happens Next
Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Dave Rubin
Guest: Megyn Kelly

Overview

This episode is an intense, candid conversation between Dave Rubin and Megyn Kelly in the wake of the assassination of a prominent conservative figure, Charlie, on a college campus. The discussion focuses on the climate of political violence, the loss of civility in American discourse, the threats now facing public voices on the right, and the existential question of whether reconciliation with their ideological adversaries is even possible. The hosts dig deep into the emotional fallout, the breakdown of societal norms, and explore personal responsibility, community resilience, and religious identity as sources of hope.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Impact and Grief after Charlie’s Murder

• Raw emotion: Megyn and Dave open up about their struggle to process the recent violent death of Charlie, a friend and colleague.
  • Megyn confesses: "I'm finding it very difficult to do my show for the first time in my life. I feel like in some way we're like narrating the end of the world... It's not easy at the moment, really, it's just not easy." ([01:14] Megyn Kelly)
  • Dave shares: "I'm definitely struggling to get past my own emotions in response to Charlie's murder..." ([01:56] Dave Rubin)
• Moments of hope: Despite the dark mood, Dave mentions being able to laugh for the first time, thanks to a Trump soundbite – a small glimmer of normalcy.

2. Is Reconciliation Even Possible?

• Division vs. bridge-building: The hosts discuss the intense polarization in America, especially in the aftermath of violence.
  • Megyn questions: "Do you think there has to be a mea culpa before we're fully open arms with them? So many...called us all Nazis...I don't know that I can welcome them yet unless there was a true moment of self reflection." ([04:02] Megyn Kelly)
  • Dave is less optimistic: "I'm not even in that charitable place...I don't actually see any Kumbaya moment coming...I see them doing more of what they have done..." ([05:18] Dave Rubin)
• Notable quote: "If you can't acknowledge that we can't talk to you. If you cannot just see those basic facts about this case...we may never know the motivation, that we have nothing to talk about. And that's fine by me. Because you know what? We have the airwaves now. We're the ones who matter." ([07:38] Megyn Kelly)

3. The Nature of Political Violence and Security Concerns

• Escalation of threats: Both hosts acknowledge that public conservative voices now face unprecedented dangers.
  • Megyn: "We're the ones that have to be on our back foot...maybe I have to think about an extra security guard...it's just insane." ([09:31] Megyn Kelly)
  • Dave: "It's changed something that I was looking forward to...into something that's actually important...It's a way of thumbing the middle finger in a massive way to everybody who would mean to silence Charlie or anybody who sounds like Charlie." ([10:14] Dave Rubin)
• Charlie’s risk and courage: The fact that Charlie wore a bulletproof vest to speak on campus is highlighted, underscoring the real and present threats. "They knew that the threat level was there and he was still doing it...it's crazy to me that the threat level was that high..." ([12:20] Megyn Kelly)

4. Wider Societal Failures and Responsibility

• Could they have done more? Megyn wonders if they, as commentators, failed to raise the alarm soon or loudly enough about rising radicalism on campus.
  • "Maybe we didn't raise the alarm enough. Maybe we...tried...maybe we actually weren't as...out there, as outspoken as we should have been." ([13:07] Megyn Kelly)
• Dave’s perspective: He argues the loss of religious faith in America is at the heart of the problem, more so than identity politics alone.
  • "The absence of religion is the most pernicious, dangerous thing that's happened in America...It's been replaced by this vacuous evil that now is called Wokeism...It's satanic." ([14:04] Dave Rubin)

5. Hope for the Future

• Hope lies on their side: Dave is 'not hopeful' for reconciliation but sees reason for optimism in the resilience of their own community.
  • "I'm just not hopeful of getting along with the other side...But I have hope that our side, our silent warriors, are finding the temerity to stand up now..." ([16:35] Dave Rubin)
  • He cites the surge in applications to Turning Point's student organizations as evidence of renewed engagement post-tragedy.

6. Parenting, Role Models, and Grieving with Children

• Impact on families: Megyn shares the challenges of talking about loss with her own kids, knowing how much they admired Charlie.
  • "Not only was Charlie beloved by my boys, but my daughter, who's 14 now, loved Charlie and he was the person she most wanted to meet...they really admired Charlie and have taken this hard..." ([20:24] Megyn Kelly)
• Lamenting absent role models: She underscores the rarity of strong, positive figures for young men and the specific message Charlie represented.
  • "There's so few people who our young boys have to look up to and who have been out there fighting for them...Charlie was huge, huge for them." ([21:10] Megyn Kelly)
• Expressing fury at the murderer: Kelly voices unfiltered rage: "I have no empathy for this killer...I believe in the death penalty and I cannot wait to see it carried out on this man...I have no empathy for him right now. I feel empathy for Charlie's people and the millions who feel so incredibly lost and sad as a result of what that guy did." ([22:42] Megyn Kelly)

7. Call to Action and Closing Sentiment

• Resolve to endure: The hosts conclude with a mutual commitment to honor Charlie by working harder and standing up for their values.
  • "I suppose it's incumbent on us to be a little better at what we do in the midst of all this...Let's just keep going in honor, Charlie." ([23:41] Megyn Kelly)

Notable Quotes

• "We're like narrating the end of the world...That's not what I want to do."
  — Megyn Kelly ([01:14])

• "If you can't acknowledge that we can't talk to you...We have the airwaves now...So fuck off. Like, I don't care."
  — Megyn Kelly ([07:38])

• "The absence of religion is the most pernicious, dangerous thing that's happened in America in its history...It's satanic."
  — Dave Rubin ([14:04])

• "There's so few people who our young boys have to look up to...Charlie was huge, huge for them."
  — Megyn Kelly ([21:10])

• "Let's just keep going in honor, Charlie."
  — Megyn Kelly ([23:41])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:14] – Podcast opens with emotion on Charlie's murder and public mood
• [04:02] – Can there be reconciliation after years of slander and accusation?
• [05:18] – Dave’s prediction: no "Kumbaya moment," only continued polarization
• [07:38] – Acknowledgment of asymmetric political violence and online disinformation
• [09:31] – Changing security realities for public conservative figures
• [12:20] – Charlie’s risk: bulletproof vest shows real danger at public events
• [13:07] – Responsibility: Could they have done more to warn about radicalization?
• [14:04] – Dave’s thesis: Loss of religion at the heart of America’s malaise
• [16:35] – Hope for “their side” but not for reconciliation; growth in youth engagement
• [20:24] – Personal grief; difficulty guiding children through loss and idolization
• [22:42] – Kelly’s unfiltered anger toward the murderer
• [23:41] – Conclusion: Commitment to persevere and honor Charlie’s legacy

Tone and Style

• Candid, emotional, sometimes raw
• Blunt, often confrontational language when discussing political adversaries
• Moments of reflective hope, especially regarding faith, community, and the next generation
• Deeply personal and urgent, with a strong sense of solidarity and shared determination

This summary captures the critical themes, emotional tone, and memorable moments of the episode, following the natural flow of the conversation and highlighting both despair and determination in the wake of tragedy.