Podcast Summary: The Rubin Report – “The Bank That the Big Banks Want to Stop”

Guest: John Rich (Country music star, founder of Old Glory Bank)
Host: Dave Rubin
Date: March 7, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dave Rubin sits down with John Rich—multiple Grammy-winning country artist and co-founder of Old Glory Bank—for a deep, candid discussion on free speech, cancel culture, the politicization of the music industry, the origins of Old Glory Bank, and broader cultural and political undercurrents in America. Rich’s commitment to speaking his mind, regardless of professional fallout, is a central theme, alongside a critique of “too big to fail” banking and the resurgence of country music as both a cultural and political phenomenon.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. John Rich’s Journey: From Music to Speaking Out

• Early Career & Humble Beginnings
  • Rich shares his blue-collar background, emphasizing the American dream and the importance of the right to "pursue happiness."

    "My background is not fancy at all. I'm a high school graduate, grew up in the panhandle of Texas. Double-wide trailer, kind of a month to month paycheck kind of a house." (01:55)

• The Decision to Speak Up
  • Rich grapples with balancing industry approval with personal integrity and being an example for his sons.

    "Is the music industry's approval of me more important to me than my right to free speech? Is it more important to me than setting an example for my two sons?" (00:00, restated at 05:38)

  • He chooses to speak out, accepting the risk of backlash for authenticity and freedom.

2. Free Speech, Culture, and Cancel Culture

• Cross-Political Friendships
  • Despite differing politics, Rich highlights shared values around free speech and family protection across left and right.

    "A lot of my friends are on the left ...that we disagree on just about everything except that we don't want you to tell us what we can say or sing and do and leave our families alone." (03:36)

• Industry Hypocrisy and Blowback
  • Rich recounts the price of speaking out, but says the overwhelming support from "tens of millions" of Americans outweighs the negatives.

    "I'd rather say what I want to say, be an actual American. And if there's a bloody nose to take, then I guess I'll take it. ... the reciprocation ... people that are glad you said what you said ... they all come rushing to your back, Dave." (05:38)

3. Migration & Political Realignment in the U.S.

• The “Locust” Effect of Migration
  • Discusses people fleeing restrictive states (like California/Illinois) and reshaping cities like Nashville and Austin, sometimes replicating failed policies.

    "Like locusts, you know, they move. They eat one field and then they all pick up and they fly to the next field..." (09:43)

• Red-Pilled Newcomers
  • Some newcomers are deeply conservative (“Rush Limbaugh times 10”), but a split exists.

4. Old Glory Bank: Origins & Mission

• Why Start a New Bank?
  • Inspired by watching Justin Trudeau freeze trucker protestors’ bank accounts, Rich, Larry Elder, and Dr. Ben Carson create Old Glory Bank to protect Americans’ financial freedom.

    "We founded O Glory Bank. And here's the big thing ... We will never penalize you for exercising your constitutional rights. That is the statement behind the bank." (10:15)

• Standing Against the System
  • Clarifies that banks are not required to follow government instructions unless crimes are committed.

    "These are stockholder owned banks. Or they're ... private local banks. They don't have to do that." (13:09)

  • The bank grew rapidly, buoyed by Americans' mistrust of large institutions.

5. Banking, Trust, & Patriotism

• Treating Customers Like Americans
  • Old Glory Bank prides itself on simplicity (eight-minute account setup with an English-speaking agent) and protecting rights.
• Critique of “Too Big to Fail”
  • Rubin and Rich discuss how consolidation only bred distrust, not security.

    "The system that's in place has betrayed everyone so bad for so long that your average American is looking around going, what am I supposed to do?" (14:15)

6. Politics: Infighting and the Right

• Debate as Healthy Discourse
  • Rich sees internal debate on the right as a strength, encouraging engaged citizenship, even if it looks messy.

    "One thing that's...good about the right is that we're not afraid to argue with each other, debate each other, call each other out. ... That made the country stronger and made it greater." (17:19)

• Concerns for 2026 Elections
  • Skepticism over voter patience and promised reforms, warnings about the consequences of inaction.

    "If we get all the way to the midterms and none of those things have happened and the bad guys are still running loose, we will lose in the midterms. It's not about the arguing, it's about the results that the American voter wants to see." (22:16)

7. Country Music’s Resurgence & Cultural Importance

• Return to Roots
  • Country music is experiencing a revival of authenticity and “truth-telling” akin to past legends (e.g., Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn).

    "Country music wasn't founded and is not popular because it was founded on the backs of wishy-washy people." (22:49)

• Audience Power
  • Warns that mainstream country fans will “Dixie Chick” artists who betray their values—turn them off and not return (23:39).
• Spotlighting New Artists
  • Recommends Zach Topp:

    "Zach Topp sounds like if Vince Gill and Keith Whitley got together...really write music. I love that kid." (24:36)

8. The Impact and Limits of AI in Music

• Questions of Ownership
  • Raises concerns about copyright and compensation in AI-generated music:

    "Who gets paid? ... Is it the person that prompted the AI?...who’s going to get the money for that?" (25:55)

• Unique Human Qualities
  • AI can’t replicate lived experience; real songwriting comes from real life.

    "There is no machine or tech that will ever be in love...will never understand the dynamics of life like an actual human being." (26:05)

• Challenge to AI

  "Bring it on. Bring it on. I'll take on Grok any day. I'll take on OpenAI any day. Let's go." (27:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Free Speech vs. Career:

  "Is the music industry's approval of me more important to me than my right to free speech?...I'd rather say what I want to say, be an actual American." — John Rich (00:00; 05:38)

• On Migration and Policy Repetition:

  "They show up and they elect mayors and city council people and literally exactly like the ones they just ran away from." — John Rich (08:58)

• Old Glory Bank’s Mission Statement:

  "We will never penalize you for exercising your constitutional rights." — John Rich (10:15)

• On Healthy Debate:

  "The left will never debate each other. ... the right, yeah, it's happening all the time. To me, that ... lends itself ... to the basic American digging into the subject themselves and learning more about it." — John Rich (17:19)

• On Country Music’s Strength:

  "Country music wasn't founded and is not popular because it was founded on the backs of wishy-washy people." — John Rich (22:49)

• On AI and Artistry:

  "There is no machine or tech that will ever be in love ... It will never understand the dynamics of life like an actual human being." — John Rich (26:05)

Key Timestamps

• [00:00] – John Rich on his career, values, and the decision to speak out
• [03:29] – Why Rich began to get politically vocal
• [05:38] – Assessing the risks of speaking out for free speech
• [07:35] – The movement of people from restrictive to freer states
• [10:15] – The creation of Old Glory Bank and its response to Canadian trucker bank freezes
• [14:15] – How Old Glory Bank grew amid distrust in mainstream banks
• [17:19] – On debates, infighting, and their impact within the right
• [22:16] – Frustration over lack of accountability and its electoral consequences
• [22:49] – The resurgence and cultural foundations of country music
• [25:55] – AI’s impact on songwriting and the question of creative ownership
• [27:26] – Rich’s challenge to AI and his commitment to real artistry

Final Thoughts

John Rich emerges as a passionate, grounded advocate for free speech, personal responsibility, and American values—unafraid to take hits for authenticity. His venture into banking reflects broader societal concerns about trust and freedom, while his views on country music and technology highlight a yearning for realness and connection in a rapidly changing world. The episode is a blend of nostalgia, critique, and optimism, and offers valuable insights into both the American psyche and the fight for cultural renewal.