← The Rubin Report
The Rubin Report
Trump's Unexpected Ted Turner Reaction, Obama Faces Backlash, Massive LA Raid | 5/7/26 FIRST LOOK
00:10:10
Loading summary
Transcript5 lines
- [00:00]
A
A text says, you're on my mind. A bouquet from 1-800-FLowers says, you're my everything. Heartfelt moments belong in the real world, not just your phone. For 50 years, 1-800-Flowers has helped millions of people make memories that'll last a lifetime with gifts they'll cherish forever. Their expertly curated arrangements and gift baskets shipped nationwide with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don't wait for the next big moment. Make it when you visit 1-800-FLowers.com podcast that's 1-800-FLowers.COM podcast.
- [00:34]
B
Hey, everybody, I'm Dave Rubin, and this is First Look. It's Thursday, May 7, 2026. We've got a packed show for you today. CNN founder Ted Turner dies at 87. Barack Obama sparks backlash after taking shots at Trump and joking Stephen Colbert could do a better job as president. Federal agents smash a massive fentanyl operation tied to gangs terrorizing Los Angeles. Macarth Arc let's dive in. We start today with the death of one of the most influential and frankly, most unpredictable media figures in modern American history. Ted Turner has died at the age of 87. Turner, the founder of CNN and one of the pioneers of cable television, reportedly died peacefully surrounded by family, after battling Lewy Body dementia, a degenerative disease he publicly disclosed back in 2018. And regardless of where people stand politically, there's no denying this. Ted Turner changed media forever. This was a guy who never thought small. In 1980, when most people thought the idea was insane, Turner launched CNN, the world's first 24 hour news network. the time, critics mocked the concept. Why would anyone need news all day long? Turns out everybody would. CNN fundamentally changed how Americans consume news. How wars were covered, how elections were followed, and how global events were experienced in real time. And Turner didn't stop there. He went on to launch CNN Headline News, CNN International, tnt, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies. He also transformed sports broadcasting after buying the Atlanta Braves in 1976. Turner used his TBS superstation concept to beam Braves games nationwide, helping create one of baseball's first true national fan bases. The Braves struggled badly early on under Turner's ownership, and at one point, he even inserted himself into the dugout as manager for a game, a stunt so wild that Major League Baseball eventually banned owner managers entirely. That was Ted Turner, equal parts genius and chaos. One writer described him perfectly this week. He was the kind of guy who walked into every meeting with 19 insane ideas and one stroke of genius. And honestly, that's probably true now. Politically, Turner was all over the map. He flirted with presidential ambitions, became heavily involved in philanthropy, founded the United nations foundation and and was married for years to actress Jane Fonda. But what's especially interesting is how many people from across the political spectrum are acknowledging his impact today. Rupert Murdoch called him a great American and friend, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav described him as a visionary who transformed media forever. And President Trump also weighed in with a surprisingly personal tribute. Trump wrote on Truth Social, ted Turner, one of the greats of all time, just died. But Trump also added something many conservatives will agree with, saying Turner was devastated watching what happened to CNN after he sold it. Trump wrote, it became woke and everything that he is not all about. And that really gets to the complicated legacy here because yes, CNN today is a partisan activist outlet, but the original vision behind CNN that was undeniably revolutionary. Turner built something massive from scratch. And whether you loved him or hated him, he was never boring. He was a larger than life American original. Ted Turner was 87 years old. Now to Barack Obama, who is once again finding himself accused of massive hypocrisy after taking thinly veiled shots at President Trump during an interview on Stephen Colbert's show. Obama went on the Late show this week and started lecturing Americans about presidential power and the Justice Department. At one point, Obama said the White House shouldn't be able to direct the attorney general to go around prosecuting whoever the president wants prosecuted. He then added, the attorney general is the people's lawyer, not the president's consigliere. Now, obviously, everybody understood who he was talking about. This was aimed directly at Trump. But the reaction from the White House was immediate. Trump's spokesperson, Davis Engel, blasted Obama as a classless moron suffering from a severe and debilitating case of Trump derangement syndrome. And honestly, the reason this blew up is because conservatives immediately pointed out the glaring hypocrisy. This is the same Obama administration that oversaw the Russia collusion hoax, weaponized federal agencies against Trump allies, use the FBI and intelligence apparatus to target political opponents. And then there's Eric Holder, because Obama spent part of the interview talking about how independent his Attorney general supposedly was. Except Holder himself famously said back in 2013, I'm still the president's wingman. Those were his exact words. Holder also became the first sitting Attorney general ever held in contempt of Congress over the Fast and Furious scandal. So conservatives are looking at Obama now and basically saying, you don't get to lecture the country about DOJ independence after what your administration did. But then the interview got even more bizarre. Colbert whose show is ending later this month, joked about people telling him to run for president, and Obama laughed and responded, the bar has changed. Then he added that Colbert could probably perform significantly better than some folks that we've seen. Clearly another jab at Trump. And honestly, this whole thing perfectly captures the disconnect that still exists inside elite liberal circles. They're sitting in front of cheering studio audiences, congratulating themselves themselves, while acting completely oblivious to why millions of Americans rejected their politics in the first place. Obama also downplayed divisions inside the Democratic Party, dismissing concerns about the growing split between moderates and the socialist wing led by people like AOC and Zoran Mamdani. But that divide is very real, and when Democrats keep elevating figures like Mamdani while simultaneously lecturing working Americans about fair, fairness and democracy, they shouldn't be shocked when voters continue moving away from them. And finally, some actual good news out of Los Angeles. Federal agents have smashed a massive drug operation tied to the fentanyl crisis, destroying parts of the city. In one of the largest DEA operations in California in at least a year, agents carried out coordinated raids targeting gang linked fentanyl distributors operating around MacArthur Park. The operation was called Operation Free MacArthur park and the details are unbelievable. Federal agents swarmed a south Los Angeles apartment tied to alleged drug distributor Malali Moreno Lopez and her boyfriend Taffer Jackson Laura. When the suspects refused to come out, agents busted through a fortified steel door and stormed the apartment. Inside, investigators say the suspects desperately tried to destroy evidence by flushing fentanyl down the toilet. At the same time, federal agents executed multiple other raids, including at a mansion in Calabasas where authorities recovered nearly 40 pounds of fentanyl. In total, 25 suspects were targeted. 19 had already been arrested by midday. Massive quantities of fentanyl were seized and the gangs involved are some of the most dangerous in the country. Ms. 13 the 18th street gang, crazy Riders and affiliates connected to the Mexican Mafia. Authorities say these groups effectively controlled the open air drug market around MacArthur park, an area that has become synonymous with addiction, crime, homelessness and fentanyl deaths. Federal Investigators spent over 45 days building the case using surveillance drones, undercover operations and officials say the goal is shut down the pipeline, feeding deadly fentanyl into Los Angeles neighborhoods. One DEA official put it bluntly, people are really suffering from the effects of these illegal drugs. Now here's the political angle that's impossible to ignore. Remember when federal agents previously moved into MacArthur park to crack down on gangs and illegal activity? LA Mayor Karen Bass blasted the operation as outrageous and un American. That's how upside down some of these cities have become law enforcement targets. Violent gangs and fentanyl traffickers and progressive politicians attack the enforcement instead of the criminals. Meanwhile, ordinary residents are left living in chaos. But this week, federal agents finally hit back hard. And frankly, a lot more Americans probably want to see exactly this kind of crackdown. And that's your first look this Thursday. Quick recap. Ted Turner, the larger than Life founder of CNN, dies at 87. Barack Obama sparks backlash after attacking Trump while ignoring his own administration's record. And federal agents dismantle a massive fentanyl operation terrorizing Los Angeles neighborhoods. We'll keep following all of it. I'm Dave Rubin. Thanks for starting your day with first look. See you tomorrow.
- [10:39]
C
When I found out I was gonna be a parent, I immediately felt a lot of anxiety and worry. So I went on to BetterHelp to try to look for a therapist to help me with that.
- [10:49]
D
My relationship with my family and with my boyfriend and with myself were suffering. I really needed help. I was ruminating a lot. Really getting those thoughts out to a therapist and getting feedback was just life changing.
- [11:03]
B
Discover what BetterHelp online therapy can do for you. Visit betterhelp.com today.