The Rubin Report – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Zohran Mamdani Looks Embarrassed After Publicly Admitting His First Major Reversal
Host: Dave Rubin
Guests: Michael Malice, Alex Stein
Date: November 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively Friday roundtable features Dave Rubin, Michael Malice, and Alex Stein as they dissect the controversies and cultural trends in American politics for the week. The primary focus is on the stunning New York City mayoral victory of Zohran Mamdani and his immediate policy reversals, with broader commentary on the left vs. right culture clash, political hypocrisy, and the ever-polarizing influence of media and celebrities. The dynamic is freewheeling, sardonic, and unfiltered, aiming to lampoon what the hosts view as the absurdities of modern progressive politics while riffing on recent news, political theater, and social media phenomena.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Alex Stein’s Show Cancellation and Media Shakeups

• [01:05] Alex reveals his show was canceled by The Blaze, with Glenn Beck leaving to pursue something new.
  • “My show got canceled by the Blaze last week... and Glenn Beck's leaving the network and it's a big kerfuffle...” – Alex Stein
• Dave jokes about working with a vegetarian and offers support, while Michael Malice playfully dodges questions about his own podcast’s legitimacy.

2. Zohran Mamdani as NYC Mayor: Hypocrisy and Reversal

• [02:47 – 06:08] The hosts tackle Mamdani’s about-face: After campaigning on “everything’s free,” Mamdani immediately solicits donations to fund the transition.
  • Clip: Mamdani publicly states he needs donations for staffing and research despite his prior anti-donation stance.
• Malice remarks on the cyclical nature of progressive NYC leadership, comparing Mamdani’s likely term to Bill de Blasio’s and even Dennis Kucinich's Cleveland mayorship.
  • “The insult around it and the obvious hypocrisy is precisely the point of entire thing.” — Dave Rubin [03:55]
  • “I don't think Mamdani is going to be particularly worse than de Blasio... If you had real logic, it'd be like, put real estate there, put property taxes, and use that to home people. But no, that's not how they think.” — Michael Malice [04:23]
• Malice and Stein predict possible positive backlash: that Mamdani’s policies might radicalize or awaken New Yorkers to seek change, echoing post-Biden Republican mobilization.

3. Identity Politics and Class Warfare

• [07:11 – 10:07] Both Mamdani’s “acting” ability and rhetoric of ‘oppressors vs. oppressed' are discussed, highlighting how political success is now linked to these divisions.
  • “He’s a rich kid who is a great actor… He play-acts… oppressors and oppressed.” — Dave Rubin [07:29, 07:52]
  • “That’s why the Jews in this city feel scared because they know he has labeled them as the oppressors.” — Dave Rubin [07:55]
• Malice suggests Mamdani’s administration will romanticize criminals as victims and lead to police pullbacks, probably producing more street violence especially impacting poor communities.

4. Culture Shift and Rising Political Violence

• [10:07 – 12:15] Stein and Rubin point out that greater cultural tolerance for street chaos, protests, and acceptance of political violence could make Mamdani’s term especially combustible.
  • “We’re tolerant of much more mayhem on the streets… I think he’s pro-jihad. I just do.” — Dave Rubin [10:07]

5. Nancy Pelosi’s Retirement and Shifting Democratic Messaging

• [13:46 – 16:49]
  • Nancy Pelosi’s retirement announcement is played; Malice commends her effectiveness and strategic pivot back to ‘90s-style, less woke Democrat messaging.
  • “If Democrats start talking about their faith and putting their religion first and foremost and discarding this WOKE stuff… all those swing voters are gonna vote for them.” — Michael Malice [15:45]
• Comparison is drawn with Gavin Newsom and a broader party move to spirituality and away from divisive “woke” rhetoric.

6. Michelle Obama, Identity, and Virtue Signaling

• [41:22 – 42:40]
  • Hosts riff irreverently on Michelle Obama’s public persona, lampooning her media image and speculating (tongue-in-cheek) about her suitability as a political figure or even a “beard” for Barack Obama due to various culture war rumors.

7. Wealth Exodus from New York: Fact or Fiction?

• [29:35 – 32:07]
  • Man-on-the-street interviews with Mamdani voters show confusion or indifference to economic consequences of taxing the wealthy (“we’ll just keep taxing the next group!”).
• Malice argues the “wealthy exodus” is overblown for now, but acknowledges risk of real estate crash and cyclical buying by insiders.
  • “I don't think it's anywhere close to the point where you're going to have this wealthy exodus from New York because New York still has the status.” — Michael Malice [30:22]

8. The Demographic Gender Gap in Progressive Voting

• [26:50 – 28:25]
  • Statistics shared showing an overwhelming majority of young women voting for progressive candidates prompts discussion about identity, social status, and politics as trend-following.
  • “For these especially highly educated, not particularly intelligent young women, being a Democrat and having these kind of radical leftist chic views are the same thing as speaking in up speak or having vocal fry. It's indicators of status…” — Michael Malice [27:41]

9. Celebrity Political Opinions: Jennifer Lawrence’s Mea Culpa

• [37:56 – 41:19]
  • Jennifer Lawrence admits celebrities don’t change votes and her outspokenness was useless—Malice and Stein celebrate the self-awareness, mocking Hollywood’s political detachment.
  • “As we've learned, election after election, celebrities do not make a difference whatsoever on who people vote for. And so then, what am I doing?” — Jennifer Lawrence clip [38:23]
  • “I'm happy she admits that. We don't care about celebrities' opinions. That's the only thing she said. That's the one humble thing Jennifer Lawrence ever said.” — Alex Stein [39:51]

10. Woke White Women and Leftist Media Figure Satire

• [24:45 – 26:50]
  • A segment mocking podcaster Jennifer Welch (as representative of affluent white, liberal performativity—“AWFLs” per Malice) and the phenomenon of public self-flagellation for social media clout.
  • “Women engage in something called attention seeking behavior… and when those looks start to fade ... you have to get your attention in other ways … This is just the Xanax and the boxed wine talking.” — Michael Malice [25:04]

11. Sydney Sweeney and ‘Genetic Superiority’ Outrage

• [43:10 – 45:40]
  • Sydney Sweeney is grilled for a “genetic superiority” joke regarding her looks, but handles it gracefully; hosts discuss how conventional beauty is now suspect in progressive circles unless accompanied by virtue signaling.
  • “This ad wasn't Nazi in any way... She's just an actress in jeans. This is the norm.” — Michael Malice [44:05]
  • “If Sydney Sweeney is this humble and she's not afraid to be herself, it makes her a lot more likable than the Jennifer Lawrences...” — Alex Stein [45:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mamdani’s Immediate Fundraising Reversal:
  “Within 24 hours of a guy saying everything's going to be free, begging for money, that's actually baked into exactly what he's doing.” — Dave Rubin [03:55]

• On Identity Politics:
  “It's oppressors and oppressed. That's why the Jews in this city feel scared because they know he has labeled them as the oppressors.” — Dave Rubin [07:55]

• On Cyclical Realities of NYC Politics:
  “I wouldn't want to go against the city council, the real estate people, the police unions... He's 34. He's going to staff it either with green people, meaning fresh to the scene, or party hacks.” — Michael Malice [05:09]

• On Party Strategy:
  “If Democrats start talking about their faith and putting their religion first and foremost and discarding this WOKE stuff... all those swing voters are gonna vote for them.” — Michael Malice [15:45]

• On Wealth Exodus Myths:
  “I don't think it's anywhere close to the point where you're going to have this wealthy exodus from New York because New York still has the status...” — Michael Malice [30:22]

• On Celebrity Influence:
  “Celebrities do not make a difference whatsoever on who people vote for. And so then what am I doing? I'm just sharing my opinion on something that's going to just add fuel to a fire...” — Jennifer Lawrence [38:23]

• On AWFLs and Virtue Signaling:
  “The term I popularized for these people is awfuls. Affluent white female liberals. And once you realize this is just the Xanax and the boxed wine talking, you don't need to waste your time giving it any more oxygen.” — Michael Malice [25:04]

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00 – 01:36: Show banter, Alex Stein’s show cancellation, Glenn Beck news.
• 02:47 – 06:08: Mamdani’s fundraising reversal, NYC political history, and crime discussion.
• 07:11 – 10:07: Mamdani’s image as actor, cultural divisions, oppressors vs. oppressed.
• 13:46 – 16:49: Nancy Pelosi’s retirement; party messaging shift discussion.
• 24:45 – 26:50: Satire of woke white women podcasters; AWFLs explained.
• 26:50 – 28:25: Gender breakdown of progressive voting.
• 29:35 – 32:07: Wealth exodus myth and social/economic implications.
• 37:56 – 41:19: Jennifer Lawrence admits celebrities are politically useless.
• 43:10 – 45:40: Sydney Sweeney segment and culture war over beauty/identity.

Tone and Language

The conversation maintains a sarcastic, sometimes biting tone with casual adult language, mockery, and pop culture references interwoven throughout. The original, off-the-cuff banter and unapologetically skeptical outlook on progressive politics, media figures, and urban governance are consistent across segments.

Conclusion

This episode typifies The Rubin Report’s mix of insider political analysis, sardonic cultural commentary, and irreverent humor. The panel tears into recent progressive political victories, the state of woke culture, celebrity activism, and the shifting landscape within the Democratic Party—all through the lens of outlandish reversals, cults of personality, performative virtue signaling, and the unending churn of politics as a spectacle. For listeners seeking a comedic, pointed critique of recent left-leaning developments—especially in New York and the media ecosystem—this episode delivers a no-holds-barred rundown.