Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Rubin Report
Host: Dave Rubin
Episode: Watch Joe Rogan's Face as Elon Musk Exposes How Dems Are Cheating in Plain Sight
Date: November 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deeply into current political maneuverings related to U.S. elections and immigration, focusing primarily on alleged Democratic strategies for securing political power. Central topics include California's Proposition 50, the implications of the U.S. Census counting "persons" rather than "citizens" for apportionment, and recent conversations between Elon Musk and Joe Rogan on these matters. Dave Rubin critiques Democratic policies, media narratives, and party candidates, weaving in notable clips from prominent political and media figures such as Gavin Newsom, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pete Buttigieg, John Fetterman, and Kamala Harris.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. California Proposition 50 & Redistricting (07:20)

• Prop 50 permits Democratic state legislators temporary control to redraw congressional maps, potentially flipping seats in favor of Democrats in reaction to similar moves in Texas.
• Both political parties engage in gerrymandering, but Prop 50 raises bigger concerns due to its declared temporariness and explicit partisanship.
• Quote—Dave Rubin (08:32):
  "Anything that's temporary is usually not when it comes to the government—and basically circumvent the system they have in place to keep it somewhat fair by giving all the power to their Democrat run legislature."

2. Elon Musk on Rogan: How Democrats Allegedly Game the System (13:15)

• Discussion centers on the census, which counts all persons in a state—not just citizens—when determining congressional seats and Electoral College votes.
• Elon Musk argues that this results in strong incentives for states like California and New York to "import" as many people (including illegal immigrants) as possible before the 2030 census to boost their representation.
• Quote—Elon Musk, played on show (14:40):
  "So that means that the more people, the more illegals that California and New York can import, by the time the census happens in 2030, the more congressional seats they will have and the more presidential electoral college votes they will have."

3. Social Dependence and Party Politics (18:40)

• Rubin contends that the Democratic Party’s strategy is to create a dependent class of non-citizens and recent arrivals who will continue voting Democratic due to reliance on state benefits.
• He frames this as "Socialism 101": give away goods and create lifelong voting loyalty.
• Quote—Dave Rubin (19:55):
  "You will keep a perpetual class of lower class people beholden to the Democrat Party. This is not conspiratorial, this is not pie in the sky stuff. This is just fairly obvious."

4. Newsom, Schwarzenegger, and the Debate Over Prop 50 (23:00)

• Arnold Schwarzenegger publicly labels Prop 50 a "scam", accusing Newsom of using anti-Trump rhetoric as cover to dismantle an independent redistricting commission.
• Newsom denies these claims, but Rubin and Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley accuse Newsom of lying about the transparency and content of the proposal presented to voters.
• Quote—Milton Friedman via Rubin (26:44):
  "Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program."

5. The Ongoing Federal Government Shutdown (39:50)

• The shutdown reaches 34 days; Rubin downplays its practical effects for most Americans, except for those directly dependent on federal programs like SNAP.
• The blame, he argues, falls primarily on Democrats unwilling to pass a "clean resolution," and points out the numbers required to end it are small.
• Quote—Dave Rubin (41:06):
  "They would have a very difficult job if this is kicked out of reintroducing it into a new bill. Especially once things start normalizing."

6. Health Care, Immigration, and Trump’s Stance (44:18)

• Trump (in interview with Norah O'Donnell) reiterates his refusal to be "extorted" by Democrats on expanding healthcare to illegal immigrants, despite pressure on health care subsidies.
• Trump frames healthcare debates as directly tied to the ongoing influx of people due to Joe Biden's border policies.
• Quote—Donald Trump (44:47):
  "I’m willing to work with the Democrats...the problem is they want to give money to prisoners, to drug dealers, to all these millions of people that were allowed to come in with an open border from Biden."

7. The “ICE Raids” Debate & Legal Immigration vs. Illegals (56:00)

• Rubin strongly distinguishes between legal immigrants and illegal immigration, contending that media and certain politicians conflate the two.
• He asserts that ICE actions target only those illegally present and criticizes politicians and activists for “warning” communities of impending raids (e.g., Omar Fatah in Minnesota).
• Response to Pete Buttigieg’s argument about fear under Trump: Chamath Palihapitiya says he felt safer under Trump as a legal immigrant (01:07:45).
• Quote—Chamath Palihapitiya (01:08:09):
  "I feel much safer and better under a Donald Trump presidency than I ever did under a Biden presidency. Just want you to hear from my mouth for what that's worth."

8. John Fetterman: A Rare Democratic Dissent (01:14:22)

• Senator John Fetterman candidly admits his party “has done a bad job about our border”—a rare voice of Democratic dissent.
• Rubin highlights Fetterman as an outlier, increasingly alienated in the party due to his bluntness.
• Quote—Fetterman (01:14:57):
  "We need to secure our border. And then I do say that my party has done a bad job about our border. Absolutely undeniable."

9. The Broader Immigration Landscape and Urban Policy (01:20:00+)

• Chart and discussion: Illegal border crossings peaked dramatically under Biden after remaining comparatively lower under Bush, Obama, and Trump.
• Rubin asserts that Democratic policies and supportive media have fueled the crisis, with political figures consistently denying the scale and severity.
• Further, he connects sanctuary city politics (especially in New York City, with Zorhan Mamdani running for mayor) with efforts to entrench progressive influence regardless of legality or assimilation.

10. The State of the Democratic Party

• Rubin recaps the current Democratic field—Newsom, Pritzker, Buttigieg, AOC, possibly celebrities—arguing that moderates have been purged and only “the best liar” can succeed.
• He excoriates Kamala Harris for lack of authenticity and self-contradiction and highlights Hollywood criticism (George Clooney, Jon Stewart) as evidence the party is leaderless and adrift.
• Fetterman and some former Democrat-affiliated podcasters (e.g., All-In’s Saks/Chamath) are seen as evidence of a wider exodus.
• Quote—Dave Rubin (01:40:05):
  "I just don't even think there’s a home for decent people in the Democrat party anymore."

11. Closing Inspirational Note: Elon Musk on Optimism (01:58:30)

• Rubin closes on an optimistic "big idea" as voiced by Musk: despite all current troubles, humanity is advancing technologically, culturally, and—potentially—beyond Earth.
• Quote—Elon Musk (01:58:40):
  "Earth is the cradle of humanity. You cannot stay in the cradle forever. It is time to go forth, become a star faring civilization...expand the scope and scale of human consciousness."

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Dave Rubin (08:32):
  "Anything that's temporary is usually not when it comes to the government..."
• Elon Musk (14:55):
  "...the more illegals that California and New York can import, by the time the census happens in 2030, the more congressional seats they will have..."
• Milton Friedman, via Rubin (26:44):
  "Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program."
• Chamath Palihapitiya (01:08:09):
  "I feel much safer and better under a Donald Trump presidency than I ever did under a Biden presidency."
• Fetterman (01:14:57):
  "We need to secure our border. And then I do say that my party has done a bad job about our border. Absolutely undeniable."
• Elon Musk (01:58:40):
  "Earth is the cradle of humanity. You cannot stay in the cradle forever..."

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment / Topic | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 07:20 | California Prop 50/Redistricting overview | | 13:15 | Elon Musk on census, apportionment, and importing voters | | 18:40 | Social dependence and party politics | | 23:00 | Gavin Newsom vs. Schwarzenegger (Prop 50 debate) | | 39:50 | Government shutdown in context | | 44:18 | Trump on healthcare, illegal immigration | | 56:00 | ICE raids debate, legal vs. illegal immigration | | 01:07:45 | Chamath (All-In) calls out Buttigieg on “immigrant safety” | | 01:14:22 | Fetterman: “My party has done a bad job about our border” | | 01:20:00 | Border encounter statistics, policy analysis | | 01:40:05 | Rubin: “No home for decent people in the Dem party” | | 01:58:30 | Elon Musk on optimism for humanity’s future |

Tone and Language

Dave Rubin maintains a conversational, often irreverent and combative tone throughout. He mixes news clips, direct speaker commentary, and his own strongly opinionated analysis, frequently criticizing Democratic leaders as dishonest. There is regular use of sarcasm and pointed humor, particularly in his asides on politicians like Newsom and Harris. When quoting Musk or Fetterman, Rubin’s tone briefly turns more earnest.

Conclusion

Anyone tuning into this episode receives a fast-paced, highly critical (and at times personal) dissection of Democratic political strategy, with special emphasis on California, immigration, and party identity. Dave Rubin leverages recent high-profile interviews—especially between Joe Rogan and Elon Musk—to underline his argument that Democrats are manipulating the electoral system and mass immigration to entrench power. Notable moments include Fetterman’s border honesty, Chamath openly preferring Trump, and Musk’s aspirational closing. Listeners are left with a sense of impending, high-stakes political choice—especially for New York City’s future.