The Rubin Report: "Trump Just Took an Even Bigger Risk on the Iran War"

Date: March 13, 2026
Host: Dave Rubin
Guests: Gates Garcia (We the People), Devore Darkins (Devore Darkins Show)

Episode Overview

Dave Rubin hosts an energetic and often humorous roundtable with first-time guests Gates Garcia and Devore Darkins, tackling two pressing issues: Donald Trump's handling of the escalating Iran war and the latest controversies in American domestic politics—including California's response to fraud, political correctness, and law enforcement. The trio offers pointed critique, media analysis, and reflections on the cultural and political moment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump, Iran, and the “Epic Fury” War (02:33–08:46)

• Trump’s Public Persona & Strategic Risks:

  • The panel opens with Trump’s rally in Kentucky, focusing on the Iran conflict. Trump references the code name for the military action—"Epic Fury"—demonstrating his penchant for showmanship.
    • Rubin: “Seeing Trump out there, I think it's great...he connects with the people. There’s a little bit of a risk, as good as the war is, going to say it is over…” (03:21)
  • Devore on Trump as Showman: “The president is a showman. There’s no question about that...the salesman part or the risk is it’s got to be backed up with action, of course.” (03:51)

• Support Among MAGA and the American Public:

  • 91% of MAGA supporters reportedly back the war, reflecting strong, if sometimes unreported, popular support.

• Defining a U.S. “Win”:

  • Rubin asks: What does victory look like?
    • Devore: “Success, to me, just looks like a different culture in Iran who wants to actually collaborate and not destabilize that region.” (06:58)
    • Gates: "The regime change that needs to take place is going to come from the people within. When we start to see that materialize, I think we’ll be near the end.” (07:43)

• Cautious Optimism and PTSD from 'Forever Wars':

  • Rubin: Emphasizes the trauma from past U.S. wars but argues Trump deserves some trust for his track record.
    • Gates (clarification): “First of all, I am not a veteran. I’m probably one of the most outspoken proponents of veterans...but I can’t take credit for that.” (07:27)
  • The difference in this war, says Gates, is the lack of international interference and the apparent brevity, suggesting “forever wars that last a week or two. So sign me up.” (04:57)

2. California, Gavin Newsom, and “Identity Politics Gone Mad” (08:46–17:05)

• Newsom vs. Dr. Oz and the Armenian Fraud Bash:

  • Rubin introduces Gavin Newsom's complaint against Dr. Oz, who uncovered potential Medicare hospice fraud connected to Armenian American businesses:
    • “This is a perfect example of the end of what identity politics is—that somehow, even uncovering fraud...will lead to the accusation of racism.” (10:48)
  • Davari on Democrats’ Tactics: “Step number one is make everything about race or somebody’s skin color and not actually talk about the merits of the case.” (11:17)

• Newsom’s Response and “Government on Government Fraud”:

  • Gates mocks Newsom’s claims of tackling fraud (“Oversight didn’t work...obvious disaster ignored or something like that”), likening his efforts to “setting your house on fire and then grabbing the garden hose once the roof is gone.” (13:02)
  • Newsom’s presidential ambitions and superficiality are lampooned, as is the strange new movement of “looks maxing” in politics.
    • Gates: “There’s a group...saying that they will vote for Gavin Newsom simply because of his looks. These are men saying this.” (16:13)

• Adam Carolla’s Take-Down:

  • Carolla: “[Newsom is] a sociopath, and it’s your fault for voting for this guy who has zero ideas.” (14:21)
  • The group riffs on media obsession with Newsom’s appearance versus his policies.

3. Accountability, Trials, and the Victims of Crime (18:35–24:04)

• Kristi Noem Ousted as DHS Head:

  • A clip of Tim Walls demanding accountability and possible trials for Kristi Noem, triggering a discussion of partisan retribution.
    • Devore warns: “They will come after us...they’re willing to bend the rules, if not break them, to get their way against people they disagree with.” (19:32)
    • Points out Walls’ own past dishonesty about military service.

• Violent Crime, Illegal Immigration, and “Fatal Empathy”:

  • Rubin plays a story of Cheryl Minter, whose daughter was killed by an illegal immigrant repeatedly released:
    • The panel laments the lack of media coverage for victims; one party grieves, the other, they argue, “enables it.”
    • Gates: “I feel like these poor victims are sacrificing their lives for the rest of us. At some point, enough will be enough.” (22:01)
    • Devore introduces the term: “fatal empathy...what they’re doing is that empathy turns into fatal outcomes for the American citizen.” (23:15)

4. Media Critique and The Narrative on Iran (24:04–27:34)

• Media Claims of “No Exit Plan”:
  • Rubin and guests mock mainstream pundits, especially a young CNN contributor, for alleging Trump lacks a strategy.
    • Gates: "It's nonsense to believe that Trump didn't have a plan. And that guy can say whatever he wants on CNN, but look at the meteoric rise of Marco Rubio…the results speak for themselves.” (25:42)
  • Devore: “Journalists say a lot of things, but they were never actually in the room...If you're 13 years old, you'd think you'd be humble enough to just say the words, 'I don't know,' but I guess not.” (26:54)

5. The New York Times, Terrorism, and Selective Outrage (27:34–34:43)

• NYT Coverage of NYC Bomb Attempt:

  • Rubin & panel slam the NYT for using "accused" to describe suspects with bomb in hand:
    • Gates: “You don't accuse someone of something when we have photo evidence...mainstream media has turned so satirical that we don't need the Babylon Bee anymore.” (29:12)
  • Devore on media downplaying terror: “It's terrible when they're sympathetic to terrorists. The mayor of New York City...focused more on the words white supremacy and not actually the people who went there to kill innocent American citizens.” (28:18)

• Antisemitism and Public Violence:

  • Footage of an anti-Semitic assault in San Jose sparks discussion:
    • Devore: “Their first step in response to things they don’t like about Western civilization is violence. And who continues to be sympathetic to that violence? Democrats.” (31:35)
    • Gates: “We have members in media...normalizing this type of hatred…What also shocks me...no one came to [the victim’s] defense.” (32:29)
  • Cultural critique: Americans have grown passive, conditioned to “watch the world through a screen.”

6. Policing, Heroism, and Restoring Hope (35:47–38:38)

• NYC Police Chief Aaron Edwards’ Viral Moment:

  • Chief Edwards goes viral for heroically jumping a barrier to stop a bombing, but deflects credit:

    • Chief Edwards (Quote, 35:52): “I want that picture to be a reminder to New Yorkers that...the NYPD, we’re gonna be relentless in pursuing justice. And there’s gonna be no obstacles. Nothing’s gonna stand in our way from protecting New Yorkers.”

  • Gates: “Civilization only works because someone is willing to risk their lives to stand in between order and chaos…The left has spent years trying to tear down the police, but the American people know better.” (37:09)

  • Devore: “I’m grateful that there are police officers still out there willing to do the job, even though they don’t get the actual credit.” (38:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s War Strategy
  • Gates Garcia (04:57): “After looking at Venezuela and Iran Part one, I’m all for forever wars that last a week or two. So sign me up.”
• On Political Showmanship:
  • Devore Darkins (03:51): “The president is a showman...he’s going to go out there and try to make the people feel good.”
• On Newsom & Identity Politics:
  • Rubin (10:48): “This is a perfect example of the end of what identity politics is—that somehow, even uncovering fraud...will lead to the accusation of racism.”
• On 'Looksmaxing' in Politics:
  • Gates Garcia (16:13): “So it’s working. And all politicians do is feed the beast. That works. And so someone’s gonna have to come out and challenge this nonsense or we’re gonna be dealing with the hands for a while.”
• On Fatal Empathy:
  • Devore Darkins (23:15): “That empathy turns into fatal outcomes for the American citizen…we actually run the numbers, how many American citizens have actually been killed by illegal aliens? Yeah, I think that number is countless..."
• On Media Satire:
  • Gates Garcia (29:12): “Mainstream media has turned so satirical that we don’t need the Babylon Bee anymore.”

Key Timestamps

• [02:33] – Trump’s Iran war, “Epic Fury,” MAGA support
• [04:57] – Gates on “forever wars” & MAGA trust
• [06:20] – Defining victory in Iran; regime change debate
• [10:48] – Newsom vs. Dr. Oz & identity politics
• [13:02] – Newsom’s record on fraud, Gates’ rebuttal
• [14:21] – Adam Carolla on Newsom’s “vacuousness”
• [18:35] – Kristi Noem, accountability, and political retribution
• [20:59] – Story of a crime victim’s family; criticism of DA decisions
• [23:15] – Devore explains “fatal empathy”
• [24:04] – Media narratives on Trump’s Iran strategy
• [27:34] – NYT coverage of Manhattan bomb plot
• [30:57] – Antisemitic attack in San Jose, mainstream media response
• [35:52] – Chief Edwards’ viral heroism, discussion on policing & gratitude

Tone & Closing Thoughts

The episode blends biting political critique with candid humor and cultural commentary. The guests, both with backgrounds in probing political hypocrisy, reinforce themes of media bias, failures in political leadership (on both sides), and the enduring power and necessity of personal responsibility and law enforcement.

Rubin’s closing note: For all the chaos, there are still good people—especially those serving in law enforcement—who provide a reason to maintain hope and gratitude, even as political and media dysfunction persists.

For listeners seeking a sharp-tongued but earnest take on the current U.S. political environment, the episode offers both catharsis and challenge, mixed with the wry, irreverent humor characteristic of The Rubin Report.