Podcast Summary: The Rubin Report with Mayor Francis Suarez

Episode Title: The Real Reason Blue Cities Are Choosing Decline
Host: Dave Rubin
Guest: Mayor Francis Suarez (Miami, Outgoing)
Release Date: October 26, 2025

Episode Overview

Dave Rubin sits down with outgoing Miami Mayor Francis Suarez to dissect the key factors behind Miami's resilience, success stories, and enduring challenges, contrasting Miami’s model with the ongoing decline of major “blue cities” in America. The conversation explores political dynamics, public safety, urban policy, and Miami’s remarkable economic trajectory. The episode is candid, data-driven, and full of revealing personal commentary from both host and guest.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Political Climate: Communism, Policy, and Leadership (00:00–04:30)

• Communism as an Easy Political Sell
  Suarez critiques policies in cities like New York under progressive leaders, warning of the “communist” temptation in politics—redistribution promising equality but resulting in mediocrity and poverty.

  “Communism is the easiest sell in politics. Every society is an inverted pyramid … very easy to tell them … government’s going to be the vehicle to take more from these people … and we’ll make everybody equal. And he did. He made everybody equally poor, equally miserable.” —Francis Suarez (00:00)

• Gun Violence: Policy or Culture?
  In reference to gun violence, Suarez asserts that Miami’s low homicide rate, despite widespread gun ownership, is proof that social policy, not gun control, is the differentiator.

  “Everybody in Miami has guns, and we have the lowest homicide rate. So is it a gun thing, or is it a social policy thing?” —Francis Suarez (00:39)

• Resilience of Cuban-Americans in Miami
  Rubin and Suarez joke about the unique “Cuban PTSD” guarding Miami from the fate of other cities with excessive progressive policies.

  “Is it that sort of Cuban PTSD that we have in Miami that will always save us?” —Dave Rubin (00:57)

2. Miami’s Election Process & Leadership Turnover (01:49–04:42)

• Explaining the Mayoral Election/Roll-Off
  Miami’s upcoming runoff and potential for surprise outcomes; Suarez outlines the city’s dynamism and how political media hostility discourages good candidates.

  “It’s a little bit of an indictment on politics as a whole … mainstream media and the character assassinations … make it really difficult for good people to want to serve.” —Francis Suarez (04:12)

• Private Sector as an Advantage in Leadership
  Suarez stresses his ongoing ties to private enterprise, contrasting Miami’s leadership model with the career political class.

3. Trump’s Influence & Redefinition of Leadership (05:00–06:35)

• On Trump’s Style:
  Suarez describes Donald Trump as having “redefined what it means to be presidential” by virtue of strength, negotiation, and resilience in the political spotlight.

  “He has redefined what it means to be presidential … most resilient person I’ve ever encountered.” —Francis Suarez (05:11)

4. Miami’s Recipe for Success vs. Blue City Decline (09:23–13:19)

• Turnaround Story: Bankruptcy to Boom
  Suarez’s three pillars: low taxes, public safety, innovation.

  “We keep taxes low, we keep people safe, and we lean into innovation.” —Francis Suarez (09:41)

• Low Taxes = High Growth
  Miami grew by 150% in the last decade after cutting the property tax millage rate to historic lows.

  “We lowered [the tax rate] to the lowest level ever. And what happened? We saw unprecedented growth … turns out when you create a favorable tax environment, people invest.” —Francis Suarez (10:24)

• Crime: Outcomes of Policy
  Miami holds among the lowest homicide rates in its history, a stark contrast to “blue cities.”

  “We never got into the defund police nonsense … we’re a city, a community that respects law and order.” —Francis Suarez (11:25)

• Gun Control & Urban Policy
  Data cited showing that homicide rates would drop drastically for the US overall if “top blue cities” were excluded.

  “Take out the top five or the top ten blue cities in America, … [the US is] one of the safest countries in the world.” —Francis Suarez (12:10)

5. Civil Unrest & Governance during Crisis (13:19–14:40)

• Miami’s Approach to BLM/Protests
  Suarez insists on respecting First Amendment rights—firm but fair: zero tolerance for violence or destruction, but space for peaceful dissent.

  “Let people express their First Amendment rights … under the condition that they not hurt anybody or destroy property. We had a zero tolerance policy for those things.” —Francis Suarez (13:27)

• Alignment with Governor DeSantis
  Smooth working relationship with state authorities critical to maintaining order during unrest.

6. The Debate Over Property Taxes (15:06–17:46)

• DeSantis’s Plan for Property Tax Abolition
  Suarez voices confusion and concern about state plans to eliminate property tax in Florida—explains that 45% of Miami’s revenue comes from property tax and questions funding for basic services.

  “If we had to reduce tomorrow or eliminate tomorrow 45% of our budget, how many police officers are we going to lay off?” —Francis Suarez (16:44)

7. Migration, Demographics, and Political Realignment in Miami (17:22–19:43)

• In-migration Strengthening Republican Majority
  The influx of fleeing high-tax, blue state residents is politically benefiting Miami and Florida at large.

  “It was the Republicans that were leaving those places coming over here … Miami-Dade … plus 10 for Donald Trump against Kamala [Harris].” —Francis Suarez (18:09)

• Warning for New York Under "Mandami"
  Criticism of tax-and-spend approaches in New York and the ‘death spiral’ effect on cities with heavy taxation.

8. Miami’s Civic Challenges: Traffic, Affordability, and Housing (21:16–29:08)

• Traffic: A Byproduct of Success
  Miami’s traffic woes are growing—a result of new migration and inadequate mass transit. Suarez touts future tech solutions: autonomous vehicles, urban air mobility, and more remote work.

  “I think we have to be more disruptive and more innovative in transportation … The Jetsons are coming.” —Francis Suarez (21:36)

• Affordability Pressures
  Elevated housing prices are the top import-related challenge. Suarez lists public-private partnerships for affordable housing, innovative educational pathways (kindergarten savings accounts; tech charter schools; scholarships), and workforce development as solutions.

  “We’ve built about 4,000 [units of affordable housing] in my mayoralty, and we have about 2,000 in the pipeline … but the goal is not affordable housing—the goal is affordable housing to make sure people … can afford living.” —Francis Suarez (25:30)

• On Preventing Affordable Housing “Traps”
  The aim is to create stepping stones, not dependency; emphasis on education and upward mobility.

9. Miami International Airport: Still a Headache (29:10–32:20)

• Frustrations & Future Plans
  Both agree the airport is Miami’s weak link—outdated, inefficient, not under city control. Suarez shares plans and his desire to accelerate improvements.

  “The facade of the airport in Scarface is essentially identical to what it looks like today.” —Francis Suarez (31:07)

10. Personal Reflections on Leadership and Legacy (32:22–48:11)

• The Outgoing Mayor’s Sentiments
  Suarez shares how unique and positive his public experience in Miami has been, rarely encountering hostility, and details what he’ll miss about the job.

  “I’ve never had a bad experience in public … I’m so blessed.” —Francis Suarez (33:25)

• Leadership In Miami’s Unique Structure
  31 of 34 Miami-area mayors have outside jobs; Suarez reflects on how his legal background and grounding in the private sector informed his approach.

• Social Media Impact: “How Can I Help?”
  Suarez credits a viral tweet at the height of COVID (“How can I help?”) as a turning point in making Miami a magnet for the tech industry and national attention.

  “It’s a huge part of the story … the virality of a new medium of communication … politicians don’t have to kowtow as much as they used to [to mainstream media].” —Francis Suarez (36:59)

• Press Battles and Media Bias
  Suarez discusses intense negative local media coverage as a byproduct of bypassing traditional press via social media.

  “My local newspaper … wanted me to pay for it. They built a narrative.” —Francis Suarez (37:45)

• Highs and Lows: Best and Worst Days
  Best days include Inter Miami’s deal with Leo Messi and standing in the Oval Office for the G20 announcement. Defeats and setbacks are portrayed as valuable learning moments.

• Succession and Civic Continuity
  Suarez is optimistic about Miami’s future and advocates for leadership as “chief ecosystem officer,” emphasizing the collaborative, interconnected spirit of Miami residents, business people, and government.

  “I’ve often thought of myself as the chief ecosystem officer … I can only be as successful as you are, and we can only be as successful as we both are.” —Francis Suarez (47:07)

• Closing Reflections
  Suarez reflects on the “boomerang effect” of Miamians returning home and expresses gratitude for having made it possible for locals to come back.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Communism and Urban Policy:
  “It will literally … you know, I always joke about Fidel Castro that, you know, he said, give us all your property, give us all your businesses, and we’ll make everybody equal. And he did. He made everybody equally poor, equally miserable and equally destitute. And that’s what’s going to happen in New York, unfortunately.” —Francis Suarez (20:22)

• On Gun Policy and Social Outcomes:
  “Is it a gun thing, or is it a social policy thing?” —Francis Suarez (00:39, 12:36)

• On Political Media:
  “Mainstream media and the character assassinations … make it really difficult for good people to want to serve.” —Francis Suarez (04:12)

• On Miami’s Boomerang Effect:
  “We’ve had a big boomerang … I’ve had parents all over the place tell me, we’re so grateful to you because you made it possible for my child to come back home.” —Francis Suarez (48:03)

• On the Future of Miami:
  “Miami is politician proof … we’re so dynamic, have such a strong private sector … government, most of the time, I just want to screw things up, right?” —Francis Suarez (06:58)

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Communism critique & governance philosophy | | 00:39 | Gun violence: policy vs. culture | | 01:49 | Mayoral election mechanics, political discouragement | | 04:12 | Media’s impact on political life | | 05:11 | Redefining “presidential” – Trump’s example | | 09:41 | Miami’s recipe for turnaround | | 12:10 | Gun homicide rates: “top blue cities” impact | | 13:27 | Handling protests, upholding order | | 16:44 | Concerns about eliminating property taxes | | 18:09 | Influx of conservative migration, Miami County political breakdown | | 21:36 | Traffic, mass transit, tech innovation | | 25:30 | Housing affordability and education solutions | | 31:07 | Miami airport’s outdated infrastructure (Scarface anecdote) | | 36:59 | Power of social media in shaping Miami’s brand | | 37:45 | Negative press as retaliation for bypassing mainstream media | | 44:33 | Transition anxiety, leadership turnover | | 47:07 | Suarez’s “chief ecosystem officer” philosophy | | 48:03 | Miami’s “boomerang effect” – attracting returnees and new residents |

Final Takeaway

This episode offers a rare inside look at Miami’s rise as a model of urban vitality, pragmatic leadership, and open society—set against the backdrop of persistent failures in blue cities. Francis Suarez makes a compelling case for low taxes, safe streets, limited government, and innovation, while not shying away from the challenges that come with rapid growth and shifting demographics. For political junkies, urbanists, and Miamians, it’s an essential listen brimming with insight and straight talk.