The Rubin Report: “'Real Time' Crowd Goes Quiet as Bill Maher & Democrat Have a Tense Exchange About Zohran Mamdani”

Host: Dave Rubin
Date: October 27, 2025
Location: On Location, Brisbane, Australia

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dave Rubin, reporting from Australia, breaks down the latest political controversies taking center stage in American discourse. The primary focus is the reaction to a tense exchange on HBO’s “Real Time” between Bill Maher and a former Biden communications director about New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, highlighting issues of free speech, dual citizenship, and cultural values. Rubin expands the discussion into broader cultural and political trends—examining progressive hypocrisy, victimhood politics, and the struggles for liberal Western values amidst rising leftism, multicultural tensions, and questions of national identity. Additional commentary covers Governor Gavin Newsom’s possible presidential run, policy trends in California, Trump’s international peace efforts, Japanese demographics, and the future of conservatism in the US.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Global Issues Transcend Borders

Timestamps: [00:38–03:00]

• Rubin reflects on traveling and noticing that debates around immigration, cultural values, and national identity are global (e.g., Israel, Hungary, UK, Australia).
  • “Americans, what does it mean to be an American, Australian, what does it mean to be Australian, etc. etc. And how will you, how will you defend your country and will you fight for your country and your values and all of those things?” — Dave Rubin [01:13]

2. The Bill Maher Exchange & Zohran Mamdani Controversy

Timestamps: [03:00–06:37]

• Recap of a heated debate on “Real Time” about Zohran Mamdani’s dual citizenship (Uganda and the U.S.) and Uganda’s anti-LGBT laws.
• Bill Maher poses whether Mamdani should renounce his Ugandan citizenship due to that country’s policy against gay people:
  • “If I was the dual citizen with a country whose policy, government policy was we kill homosexuals—yeah, I would renounce that citizenship.” — Bill Maher [03:40]
• Rubin supports Maher’s insistence on liberal principles (free speech, LGBT rights) and criticizes progressive defenses of Mamdani as hypocritical:
  • “This is the tough part of defending liberal principles. Bill is defending liberal principles. He would prefer that gays not be killed. Right. Oddly, the progressive wing will defend a guy who is pretty much okay with that.” — Dave Rubin [04:32]
• Accuses Mamdani and allies of deflecting real issues by claiming to be victims of Islamophobia.

3. Victimhood Politics & The Weaponization of “Islamophobia”

Timestamps: [05:49–10:37]

• Rubin plays an impassioned clip of Mamdani decrying persistent Islamophobia in NY, arguing Muslims are made to feel like “guests in our own home.”

  • “More than 1 million Muslim New Yorkers exist in this city only to be made to feel as if guests in our own home. No more.” — Zohran Mamdani [06:28]

• Dave’s reaction is cutting:

  • “This guy is an absolute scumbag, and every single thing he says is a complete and utter lie. And you better realize it soon, New York, the clock is freaking ticking.” — Dave Rubin [06:37]

• Asserts that “Islamophobia” is a term created to silence critics (cites Christopher Hitchens):

  • “Islamophobia is a word created by fascists and used by cowards to silence morons.” — Christopher Hitchens (as cited by Dave Rubin) [07:47]

• Reads tweet by Amy Mack from 2020 warning that Mamdani would “continuously push unproven claims of discrimination.”

• Flags Mamdani's 9/11-related victim narratives as manipulative and largely fabricated.

4. Critique of Progressive Victim Narratives and 9/11 Memory

Timestamps: [10:42–12:17]

• Discusses Mamdani’s claim about his aunt not using the subway post-9/11 for fear of attacks; Rubin and CNN’s Scott Jennings both criticize the prioritization of personal victimhood over mourning the actual victims.

  • “If you’re going to talk about 9/11 or invoke 9/11, you darn sure better start with the people who died in the Twin Towers. That’s what I think. And he didn’t do that. Yeah, that’s right. Because he’s a leftist. And what do leftists do? Victimhood is at the top of the hierarchy.” — Dave Rubin [11:26]

• Strong language: accuses Mamdani of being “for current jihad” and supporting Hamas, claims connection to terrorism via his imam.

5. Gavin Newsom: Spin, Authenticity, and Racism in Politics

Timestamps: [13:58–18:29]

• Newsom hints at his presidential ambitions for 2028 but gives a “relatable” underdog story.
  • “You’re not afraid to go into red states? … I have no idea. … I’d be lying otherwise. I just can’t do that.” — Gavin Newsom [13:58]
• Rubin mocks Newsom’s performance, calls out his privileged background (Getty Oil) and contrast with his “woe is me” narrative.
  • “The fact that a billionaire who’s orange with that crazy hair is more authentic than literally every single Democrat will never cease to amaze me.” — Dave Rubin [16:25]
• Newsom links anti-woke sentiment to racism:
  • “All this anti-woke stuff is just anti-black, period, full stop. All the CRT, ESG, DEI stuff. That’s all this is. It’s this great purge and it’s happening in real time.” — Gavin Newsom [18:01]
• Rubin counters by calling DEI “anti-white racism” and accuses Democrats of “code-switching” and faking everything.

6. Policy Critiques: Driver Licenses for Migrants & Gerrymandering

Timestamps: [18:29–22:08]

• Highlights Rep. Mike Collins’ criticism of Newsom granting 62,000 commercial licenses to undocumented immigrants in California, framing it as dangerous and anti-American.
• Features Arnold Schwarzenegger on gerrymandering and “temporary” government measures becoming permanent:
  • “Anything that is temporary with government is permanent…What the Democrats should do is they should outperform Trump. To me, it’s all about competition creates performance.” — Arnold Schwarzenegger [21:26]

7. Hopeful Signs: Trump’s Global Peace Deals

Timestamps: [24:33–28:09]

• Rubin pivots to positive news: Trump brokering ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand as exemplifying peace-through-strength diplomacy.
  • “We did something that a lot of people said couldn’t be done…once again Donald Trump using American influence…to get people to come to the table so that there is less violence, less displaced people, less war and death.” — Dave Rubin [25:23]
• Trump, still with characteristic humor, mocks the UN and takes pride in peace negotiations.
  • “It’s something that I’m good at and it’s something I love to do. The United Nations should be doing this, but they don’t do it.” — Donald Trump [25:49]
• Prime Minister of Malaysia publicly thanks Trump for leadership in peace deals.
  • “The world needs leaders who promote peace strongly. And to achieve that, you have to break some rules, as you did today.” — Malaysian PM [27:16]
• Cites a record of Trump administration peace deals across multiple international conflicts.

8. Japan’s New Leadership & Cultural Identity

Timestamps: [28:09–32:08]

• Japan’s first female Prime Minister, Sanai Takachi, calls for policies to combat population decline, value Japanese identity, and control illegal immigration.
  • “Given the labor shortages caused by population decline, there are fields that require foreign workers…However…it is also a fact that some illegal acts or rule violations by certain foreigners have created situations where the public feels anxiety…The government will respond firmly to such acts.” — Sanai Takachi (paraphrased by Dave Rubin) [30:16]
• Rubin argues these policies show it’s “good to defend your culture, good to defend your borders. It’s good to have kids…proud of your country and where you’re from.” [31:38]

9. Jordan Peterson on Careers, Family, and Human Flourishing

Timestamps: [32:08–33:04]

• Guest Jordan Peterson critiques the pressure on women to prioritize careers over family, noting the essential human need for connection and the fulfillment from having children.
  • “Most people don’t have careers. They have jobs…But you’re not a very happy camper if you’re 45 and have no one. Children pay you back immensely… They’re an unconditional source of joy and love.” — Jordan Peterson [32:12–33:04]
• Rubin connects this to the heart of politics—what gives life meaning and motivates societies.

10. Conservatism, the “Wide Tent”, and America’s Future

Timestamps: [33:04–35:50]

• Rubin shares a speech excerpt from his Australia Consilium Conference talk on the challenges and opportunities for the right-wing coalition (MAGA and broader conservatives) in the US.
  • “If the conservatives and the MAGA movement is to last, they are going to have to pick which way are we going to go on this? Are we going to be an America that is going to lead the world, that is going to defend liberal Western values, individual rights, universal human rights, or are we going to do something different?” — Dave Rubin [34:31]
  • “I will stake out the position to be on the liberal side of the MAGA movement... and as long as the people to the further right of that are willing to live in the same country as me, then we’re going to be okay and we can win an awful lot of elections.” — Dave Rubin [35:02]
• Stresses the importance of maintaining a coalition despite difference, reiterates the stakes: “Problems for the first time in America in a long, long time.” [35:42]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bill Maher on renouncing citizenship [03:40]:
  • “If I was the dual citizen with a country whose policy, government policy was we kill homosexuals—yeah, I would renounce that citizenship.”
• Rubin on victimhood politics [06:37]:
  • “This guy is an absolute scumbag, and every single thing he says is a complete and utter lie. And you better realize it soon, New York, the clock is freaking ticking.”
• Christopher Hitchens on ‘Islamophobia’ (as cited by Rubin) [07:47]:
  • “Islamophobia is a word created by fascists and used by cowards to silence morons.”
• Governor Gavin Newsom’s anti-woke position [18:01]:
  • “All this anti-woke stuff is just anti-black, period, full stop.”
• Arnold Schwarzenegger on government ‘temporary’ measures [21:26]:
  • “Anything that is temporary with government is permanent.”
• Donald Trump on peace deals [25:49]:
  • “It’s something that I’m good at and it’s something I love to do. The United Nations should be doing this, but they don’t do it.”
• Prime Minister of Malaysia, on working with Trump [27:16]:
  • “The world needs leaders who promote peace strongly. And to achieve that, you have to break some rules, as you did today.”
• Jordan Peterson on family and fulfillment [32:12]:
  • “Most people don’t have careers. They have jobs…You’re not a very happy camper if you’re 45 and have no one. Children pay you back immensely…They’re an unconditional source of joy and love.”
• Dave Rubin, closing vision on conservatism’s future [34:31]:
  • “If the conservatives and the MAGA movement is to last, they are going to have to pick which way are we going to go on this? Are we going to be an America that is going to lead the world, that is going to defend liberal Western values, individual rights, universal human rights, or are we going to do something different?”

Episode Flow & Tone

• Tone: Provocative, unapologetic, and often combative; heavy on sarcasm and direct critique of political opponents; passionate support for free speech and classical liberal values.
• Language: Casual, irreverent, and direct, with strong moral judgments about political actors and movements.
• Format: News roundup interspersed with clips, reactions, and broader commentary; blends current events with personal and philosophical reflection.

Key Takeaways

• Rubin frames current American and global politics as a battle of ideas—liberal western values versus “victimhood culture” and leftist identity politics.
• The controversy over Mamdani’s candidacy and identity is positioned as emblematic of deeper divides on multiculturalism, free speech, and what it means to defend national and moral values.
• Rubin is deeply critical of progressive narratives—accusing them of hypocrisy, bad faith, and dangerous redefinitions of victimhood and bigotry.
• Posits Trump as a rare positive force for American power and diplomacy, while holding up “wide tent” conservatism and family values as a necessary path forward for the US.

For further viewing:

• Rubin’s full Consilium Conference talk is available on his YouTube and Rumble channels.