The Tara Palmeri Show

Episode: Florida Governor Hopeful James Fishback MELTS DOWN on Race & Immigration
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guest: James Fishback (Florida Gubernatorial Candidate)
Date: February 6, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features a tense, often combative interview between journalist Tara Palmeri and James Fishback, a provocative candidate running for Governor of Florida. Fishback is not a fringe candidate, polling competitively behind Congressman Byron Donalds. The conversation delves into Fishback’s controversial stances on race, immigration, American identity, public education, and his relationship with right-wing nationalist currents. Palmeri presses Fishback on his rhetoric, past statements, and personal history, including allegations and campaign claims, aiming to expose what she describes as increasingly mainstream grievance politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. James Fishback’s Self-Image & Campaign Themes

• Fishback frames himself as a champion of “equal protection under the law,” representing all – regardless of race, religion, or background (04:01).
  • Quote: “Whether you're a Christian, a Muslim or a Jew, whether you're black or you're white...I'm running to represent you as the next governor of Florida.” (04:01)
• He disavows sending state funds overseas, opposes private equity buying homes, and foreign labor (04:01).

2. Immigration, Citizenship, and American Identity

• Fishback does not support birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants, calling current interpretations “egregious,” “ahistorical,” and “wrong” (05:31).
  • Quote: “If you…crossed the border, 20 minutes into crossing…the twins are not American citizens.” (05:31)
• He draws a distinction between “immigrants” and “settlers,” claiming America is chiefly a country of settlers, not immigrants (06:27).
  • Quote: “I don’t think that we’re a country of immigrants. I think we’re a country of settlers.” (06:27)
• Fishback asserts that today’s immigrants do not assimilate like previous generations and allegedly “steal from the productive to give to the unproductive” (06:38–07:30).

3. Assimilation, Language, and Alleged Threat to American Fabric

• Asserts assimilation is pledging allegiance to a singular flag and language, referencing his Colombian mother (07:55–09:10).
  • Quote: “My mother...refused to speak to us in Spanish and only spoke to us in English…she was pledging her allegiance to a singular flag.” (07:55)
• Argues English is inseparable from American identity:
  • Quote: “If everyone in America stopped speaking English and started speaking whatever…they speak in Somalia…this would cease to be America.” (09:17)

4. Deportation, Public Schools, and ‘Protecting’ Citizens

• Fishback proposes to remove undocumented (“illegal”) children from public schools, promising an executive order if elected (11:13).
  • Quote: “I'm going to direct [the Department of Education] to begin winding down the enrollment of any student…that is not a citizen of the United States.” (13:13)
• Denies supporting the use of armed ICE agents inside schools or that he is singling out “white children,” but sees undocumented children as unfairly burdening the system (11:27–14:31).

5. Relationship with the Far Right and White Nationalists

• Pressed on supporters like Nick Fuentes and accusations of courting white nationalists, Fishback equivocates.
  • Quote: “I have found [supporters] to be incredibly patriotic, insightful and well informed. Am I going to agree with them on everything? No. But I’m not going to…disavow…fellow Americans…” (15:08)
  • Refuses to denounce Fuentes despite his white supremacist record (16:10–16:25).
• Dodges why he attracts far-right and white nationalist support, inviting Palmeri to Florida to “see for yourself” (17:33).

6. Attacks on Opponent Byron Donalds and DEI

• Fishback calls Byron Donalds a “DEI hire” and “token black guy,” arguing Donalds wouldn’t be in Congress if he were white (20:52).
  • Quote: “Yeah. I don't believe if you were a white guy, he'd be in Congress. I believe he's a DEI hire. There's nothing special about him.” (20:52)
• Frames Donalds as unqualified, promoted due to race, and wholly unworthy of his current status.

7. Grievance Politics: The ‘Indignity’ of Being a White Man

• Claims “systemic racism” exists against white Christian men, citing corporate culture (e.g., Coca-Cola’s “be less white” presentation) as proof (23:39).
  • Quote: “There is systemic racism. It is against white Christian men. It is codified in our education system…” (23:39)
• Refuses to recount personal anecdotes of discrimination as a white man, instead referencing broader cultural and economic data (24:59–25:39).
• Shares a story of his father’s landscaping business collapsing after Haitian immigrants received Temporary Protected Status, blaming immigrants for lost opportunities (25:39).

8. Controversies: Don Lemon, Violence, and Public Rhetoric

• Addressing his prior comments about Don Lemon deserving to be “hanged in the public square,” Fishback insists he was referencing historic punishments post-due process, not lynching or incitement (28:05–29:48).
  • Quote: “What I said was, if in this country, you ransack a church, you should be afforded due process...Don Lemon should be lucky that in the early days...the likely punishment...would be public execution. That is merely a historical observation.” (28:38)

9. Personal and Campaign Scandals

• Denies allegations about inappropriate relationships with minors; references running a high school debate league and being cleared by a judge (32:53–34:10).
  • On alleged fake partner, Fishback calls it a “joke” and avoids clarifying his relationship status (34:46–35:59).
• Discusses dispute with former employer Greenlight Capital over his job title and departure, admits he made mistakes but denies misrepresentation (37:05–39:36).

10. Faith and “Greatest Mistake”

• Fishback names losing touch with his Catholic faith as his life’s biggest mistake, now attends church weekly (41:49).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On American Identity:

  • “I don’t think that we’re a country of immigrants. I think we’re a country of settlers.” (06:27)
  • “If everyone in America stopped speaking English…this would cease to be America.” (09:17)

• On Grievance and Discrimination:

  • “There is systemic racism. It is against white Christian men.” (23:39)
  • “It was really, really painful to…lose our family business for foreign immigrants who came here and stole, stole opportunities away from American citizens.” (25:39)

• On Byron Donalds:

  • “Yeah. I don't believe if you were a white guy, he'd be in Congress. I believe he is a DEI hire. There’s nothing special about him.” (20:52)

• On White Nationalist Support:

  • “I'm not going to…disavow or denounce my fellow Americans merely because I have a political disagreement with them.” (15:08)

• On Deporting Children:

  • “I am going to direct [the FL Dept. of Education] to begin winding down the enrollment of any student…not a citizen…” (13:13)

Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:57 | Palmeri introduces Fishback, explains importance of interview | | 04:01 | Fishback expounds on campaign vision and American equality | | 05:31 | Birthright citizenship and “settlers vs. immigrants” | | 07:55 | Assimilation, English language, and Fishback’s family story| | 11:13 | Deportation stance: removing non-citizen children from schools| | 13:13 | Details on “schools for citizens only” plan | | 15:08 | Refusal to disavow white nationalist supporters | | 20:52 | Attacks on Byron Donalds as “DEI hire” | | 23:39 | Claims “systemic racism” against white Christian men | | 25:39 | Story of father’s business and immigrant labor | | 28:05 | Controversial Don Lemon “public hanging” comment | | 32:53 | Denial of inappropriate relationship allegations | | 34:46 | Questions about faked romantic partner | | 37:05 | Hedge fund career and misrepresentation lawsuit | | 41:49 | On straying from Catholic faith |

Host’s Tone & Noteworthy Interview Moments

• Tara Palmeri is direct, persistent, and sharply critical, frequently pressing Fishback to answer with clarity and specifics. She challenges him on both policy details and personal conduct, refusing to let deflections or aggressive rhetoric pass without rebuttal.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode lays bare James Fishback’s polarizing campaign for Florida governor: his hardline stance against birthright citizenship, push for the expulsion of undocumented children from schools, and sharp rhetoric about race and American identity. Palmeri meticulously probes the contradictions in his message, his personal grievances, and his willingness to court the far-right – including explicitly racist and antisemitic movements. The conversation is uncomfortable and illuminating, capturing the tenor of a new, audacious strain in Republican politics that is both embattled and emboldened.

For Further Exploration:

• The Red Letter newsletter by Tara Palmeri
• Earlier episodes of The Tara Palmeri Show

Note: Timestamps are approximate and referenced in MM:SS format for key exchanges and memorable quotes. Non-content (ad, intro, outro) sections are excluded.