Podcast Summary: The Rubin Report
Episode Title: Press Stunned by Trump’s Brutally Honest Reaction to James Comey Question
Date: September 26, 2025
Host: Dave Rubin
Guests: Dana Lash, Carol Markowitz
Episode Overview
This episode of The Rubin Report features Dave Rubin hosting a roundtable with Carol Markowitz (host of The Carol Markowitz Show) and Dana Lash (host of The Dana Show). The trio discusses the week’s most pressing political stories, focusing especially on the aftermath of “Charlie’s” death (presumably Charlie Kirk), the ongoing culture war, media hypocrisy, and notably, Donald Trump's reaction to the potential indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. The conversation weaves through major political and cultural flashpoints, the current mood on the right, and society’s growing divides.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Remembering Charlie and the Power of Institutional Failure
[02:07 – 03:45]
- The episode opens with the guests reflecting on the impact of Charlie’s passing:
- Dana Lash describes the memorial as both heavy and celebratory—a gathering of a movement shaken by tragedy.
“I can't believe that you're denying … the contributing factors as to why these … why this happened, this, you know, horrific tragedy.” – Dana Lash [02:07]
- Carol Markowitz emphasizes how Charlie has shifted from friend to icon, suggesting his loss will define the decade for conservatives.
“... About the news cycle moving quickly, I think we need to hold on...this violence, that he died a part of, this leftist violence, it's ongoing.” – Carol Markowitz [03:45]
- Dana Lash describes the memorial as both heavy and celebratory—a gathering of a movement shaken by tragedy.
James Comey’s Potential Indictment & The Nature of The “Swamp”
[04:51 – 09:10]
- Fox News reports that the Justice Department is seeking to indict James Comey for perjury related to his congressional testimony on the 2016 Russia investigation.
- Dana Lash analyzes Comey’s evasive language:
“He was savvy enough to qualify his, his response there to sort of give him a little buffer … they're just slimy enough. … But we all know the truth on this.” – Dana Lash [06:22]
- Discussion expands to the broader pattern of unaccountability among political elites:
“Is this ultimately what the swamp is? … Is the swamp just that there is a system in place so people can do horrible things and pretty much always get away with it?” – Dave Rubin [07:52]
- Carol Markowitz adds:
“James Comey is a carnival of tells … not that I don't think that's the only lie … he testified that he never approved any leaks …” – Carol Markowitz [08:32]
Trump's Brutally Honest Reaction to Comey and the Shift in Political Tone
[09:10 – 10:58]
- Clip of Trump calling Comey “a bad person … a sick person.”
“I think I'd be allowed to get involved if I want, but I don't really choose to do so. I can only say that Comey's a bad person, he's a Sick person. I think he's a sick guy, actually.” – Donald Trump [09:17]
- Dave Rubin lauds Trump’s unique blend of honesty, self-awareness, and bombast.
“Something … his ability to be honest and over the top and ridiculous and also say the truth and also be ahead of everything.” – Dave Rubin [09:35]
- Dana Lash shares personal anecdotes about Trump's character and his disarming sense of humor.
Media Hypocrisy, Jake Tapper, and the Deflection Game
[13:44 – 15:14]
- The panel criticizes Jake Tapper and CNN for framing Trump as vengefully targeting political enemies while ignoring media complicity in RussiaGate and related narratives.
“You guys lied about everything … and here you are portraying Trump as somehow the vindictive guy … It's actually grotesque.” – Dave Rubin [14:03] “It's very partisan, it's very blatant. And it's why nobody trusts these people …” – Carol Markowitz [14:31]
“The Swamp” Extended: Miller on Intelligence Officials & Accountability
[15:39 – 17:41]
- Stephen Miller calls out “51 former intelligence officials” who pushed the Hunter Biden laptop as “fake Russian misinformation.”
“Memories are very short. And Stephen Miller is there saying, not my memory. I remember all these people …” – Carol Markowitz [17:02]
A Focus on Campus Culture Wars and Political Violence Among Youth
[22:53 – 29:52]
- Discussion of MAGA students at Tennessee State University being chased off campus.
“It's this asymmetry thing that just does not work.” – Dave Rubin [24:44]
- Dana Lash highlights polling that shows a significant percentage of young liberals consider political violence justified—a dangerous historical precedent.
“... All throughout history, all of the worst things began on college campuses …” – Dana Lash [24:44]
- Carol Markowitz blasts universities for enabling mob behavior and predicts their graduates will face reputational damage.
Hillary Clinton’s Return: Demonization and Double Standards
[18:51 – 22:53]
- Hillary Clinton is criticized for calling for an end to “demonization” while demonizing the right.
“Do either one of you know anyone on the right that wants to write out slavery altogether?” – Dave Rubin [19:45] “Democrats because of their involvement in it? Nobody on the right's done that. I like how she was taking this potshot at what, Florida, what she thinks that Florida was doing.” – Dana Lash [20:14]
- Discussion covers Clinton’s history with the “vast right wing conspiracy” and broader issues with partisan labeling.
The Autism-Tylenol Controversy and the Dangers of Anti-Trump Reactionism
[34:17 – 38:00]
- Trump announces at a memorial the intent to issue guidelines suggesting pregnant women avoid Tylenol, citing possible risks of autism.
“Tylenol during pregnancy can be associated with a very increased risk of autism. So taking Tylenol is ... not good.” – Donald Trump [34:17]
- Dana and Carol highlight the media’s absurd response—some progressives apparently encouraging Tylenol use in protest, risking children’s health:
“Don't hate any politician enough that you might want to harm your baby. I think that that's an easy call for most people to make, and yet here we are ...” – Carol Markowitz [36:58]
UN General Assembly: Trump vs. Globalism
[39:24 – 44:10]
- Trump rails against the UN for “funding an assault on Western countries and their borders,” specifically subsidizing illegal migration.
“Your countries are being ruined. The United nations is funding an assault on Western countries and their borders.” – Donald Trump [39:24]
- Carol Markowitz and Dana Lash agree that the UN is a corrupt vanity project, suggesting the U.S. should withdraw funding:
“... We should pull funding … Once we pull out, it collapses because nobody else really matters other than the United States.” – Carol Markowitz [40:44]
- Discussion of UN staff allegedly sabotaging Trump’s visit—teleprompter and escalator issues.
“They wanted to humiliate him ... Because once is an incident, twice might be a coincidence, but third is a pattern ...” – Dana Lash [43:10]
Thomas Sowell on the Managerial Class and Unaccountable Bureaucracy
[44:22 – 46:01]
- Rubin ends with a Thomas Sowell clip highlighting the dangers of policy decisions by those who never bear their consequences.
“I don't want people making decisions who don't pay the price of their decisions. And that's what politics is all about.” – Thomas Sowell [44:22]
- Carol Markowitz underscores Sowell’s wisdom, and Dana Lash calls for a new generation of skeptical voters to hold such elites accountable.
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
- “That is the swamp, right? … there is a system in place so people can do horrible things and pretty much always get away with it?” – Dave Rubin [07:52]
- “We know that in two years Tapper can write a book about what happened now and pretend he didn't know anything …” – Carol Markowitz [14:31]
- “If the minks justify the ends, that's a really alarming thing. Especially all throughout history, all of the worst things began on college campuses, whether it's in communist China, whether it was in Germany, whether it's in Russia.” – Dana Lash [24:44]
- “Don't hate any politician enough that you might want to harm your baby. I think that that's an easy call for most people to make, and yet here we are having to say those words out loud.” – Carol Markowitz [36:58]
- “I don't want people making decisions who don't pay the price of their decisions. And that's what politics is all about.” – Thomas Sowell [44:22]
Important Timestamps (MM:SS)
- [02:07] Dana on Charlie's memorial and "powering the rage"
- [03:45] Carol: "Charlie the movement leader and Charlie the icon"
- [06:22] Dana: Comey's evasive language and the "buffer"
- [09:17] Trump’s “bad person”/“sick person” line
- [14:31] Carol: “Nobody trusts the media … two years Tapper can write a book …”
- [19:45] Dave: “Do either one of you know anyone on the right that wants to write out slavery …?”
- [24:44] Dana: “If the minks justify the ends ... all of the worst things began on college campuses …”
- [34:17] Trump on Tylenol and autism warnings
- [36:58] Carol: “Don't hate any politician enough that you might want to harm your baby …”
- [39:24] Trump at the UN on migration and the West's decline
- [44:22] Thomas Sowell: “I don't want people making decisions who don't pay the price of their decisions ...”
Episode Tone & Style
- Direct, unapologetic, and conversational
- Shifts between dark humor, personal anecdotes, and pointed political analysis
- Frequent use of sarcasm and skepticism towards mainstream media and progressive narratives
Conclusion
This episode delivers a spirited conservative critique of U.S. politics, tackling everything from the deep state and media bias to the failures of higher education, political violence, and global institutions like the UN. The tone is openly partisan, with the panelists celebrating Trump’s approach and warning about threats to free debate, societal cohesion, and personal responsibility. Using personal stories, pop-culture references, and a steady stream of pointed quips, the conversation aims to empower the audience to stay engaged and question the narratives presented by mainstream institutions.