This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Episode #632 – Dave Smith
Date: January 6, 2026

Episode Overview

Comedian and political commentator Dave Smith returns for a wide-ranging, provocative conversation with Theo Von at the start of 2026. They dissect recent world events—most notably the shocking US-led regime change in Venezuela—and take stock of Donald Trump's second term. The discussion weaves through parenting, personal reflections, the failures and manipulations of media, the Epstein files scandal, the shifting role of independent voices, and the underlying power dynamics shaping America and the world.

Through laughter, sharp observations, and candid confessionals, the episode unpacks the disparity between political promises and real-world outcomes, the erosion of trust in institutions, and the hope (and limitations) of the emerging decentralized media landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Catch-Up & Parenting Reflections

Dave and Theo open with lighthearted talk about kids, mixed-race families, and the differences in parenting daughters versus sons.
Quote:
“With my daughter, she’s already got an awesome role model, so my job is just to love her, provide, and protect. With my son? Oh, I gotta teach him how to be a man—and then you’re like, I better figure out how to be a man real quick so I can teach him.” – Dave Smith [06:53]

2. Vaping, Aging, and Everyday Life

Both have recently quit vaping, highlighting how health anxieties increase with age.
Humorous sidebar: “I wouldn’t even fly into Newark right now just because there’s some smoke stacks in the distance. Anything could set me off.” – Theo Von [09:02]

3. US Regime Change in Venezuela: Context and Critique

The main political story: The rapid, unprecedented US military operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Smith’s Breakdown:
- The operation was militarily dazzling but raises serious doubts about aftermath and motives.
- The official justification (“narco-terrorism”) is false or vastly overstated. Venezuela isn’t a primary corridor for drugs entering the US.
- Supporting Stats: 90% of cocaine in the US is Colombian, via Mexico—not Venezuela [14:24].
Real Motivations (According to Smith):
- Oil interests; Trump deals; aligning for election optics.
- Rubio’s personal anti-communist/Cuban drive.
- Larger geopolitical signaling—US flexing for the BRICS bloc.
Quote:
“The question is always what comes next. That’s the question D.C. has always gotten wrong… to see them celebrating when we have no idea what the hell is coming next now—” – Dave Smith [17:14]

4. Mission Accomplished? Unlearned Lessons & the D.C. Mindset

Dave draws parallels to Iraq and Afghanistan: The US excels at removing regimes but fails at stability and predicting aftermaths.
Theo notes: "The people are out in the street celebrating—but that don’t mean what replaces him can’t be worse.” [148:25]

5. Epstein Scandal & the Betrayal of 'Drain the Swamp'

The conversation pivots to the ongoing coverup of Jeffrey Epstein’s files, and the Trump administration’s failure to deliver promised transparency.
Smith hammers the hypocrisy of key Trump figures (Cash Patel, Dan Bongino) for “trading on trust” then locking up info.
Quote:
“We liked you because you said you were gonna get to the bottom of this. So you can’t turn around and then go, ‘wouldn’t you know me?’ … That’s the whole thing we liked you for.” – Dave Smith [54:09]
They mock the bizarre redaction and non-answers from officials tasked with investigating.
Theo: “It’s like a morphine drip… delivered in a way more confusing than illuminating.” [49:57]

6. Media's Crisis of Credibility & Rise of Independent Voices

Legacy media’s admission of lost public trust; CBS’s awkward pivot to claim coverage “from the average American perspective.”
Podcasting and new media now dictate narratives and hold political figures accountable.
Quote:
“Now, it’s this guy with a YouTube channel or a Twitter account—and by exposing a scandal, he also exposes the media and Justice Department. It used to be the Times set the agenda for the week. It’s not that anymore.” – Dave Smith [156:36]

7. Trump's Second Term: Achievements, Failings, and Fractured Base

Smith’s assessment: only the border has improved; on everything else from foreign policy to scandal handling, Trump’s delivered disappointment.
Trump siding with war hawks ("the very people who were Never Trumpers"), Israel-firsters, and deep-pocketed donors over his own voters’ core wishes.
Quote:
“There was no demand from Trump’s base for regime change in Venezuela… This is one more example of Trump siding with the war hawks over his own people.” – Dave Smith [34:32]

8. Israel, Palestine, and the Right-Wing Schism

Explosive split among conservatives—youth and new media figures (Tucker, Candace, Fuentes) diverging sharply from the old guard (Shapiro, Levin).
Detailed examination of American support for Israel, elite donors’ influence, and the open secret of policy being driven by foreign lobbying.
Dave summarizes “gangster shit” as the highest level of government: “These are just mafia tactics with a flag.”

9. Failures of Government Accountability

No progress on releasing information about Epstein, Russiagate, or holding elites to account.
Example: Declassified proof of “treason” by Barack Obama—never acted upon or explained.
Anger at bipartisan corruption and the lack of institutional consequences.

10. The Venezuela Paper Tiger Thesis & Geopolitical Theater

The invasion is seen as a test: can Russia/China/BRICS deter the US? If not, “BRICS is a paper tiger too.”
Power plays are likened to the elites playing “The Game of Life” using ordinary people’s lives.

11. Affordability Crisis & Devaluation of the American Dream

Bemoaning runaway inflation, the collapse of working-class security, and how multi-income households are now the norm just to survive.
“My grandfather worked at a factory, owned a house, had two cars, played poker on the weekends… Today, a 25-year-old making $70k is living with a roommate and their chick is working too.” – Dave Smith [103:10]

12. Parenting, Family Decay, and State Control

Inflation and social policy have driven both parents into the workforce, resulting in daycare raising children—seen as both an economic and social ill.
“It’s better for the babies if their mom and dad are the ones raising them…” – Dave Smith [164:14]

13. The Transformation of Journalism & Vigilante Reporting

Citizen journalists like Nick Shirley now drive national conversation and force mainstream media to react.
Theo: “It does feel like anybody can do journalism now… it’s just gasoline.”

14. Hope for the Future, AI, and New Possibilities

Smith and Theo close on a cautiously optimistic note regarding AI’s potential (as highlighted by Jimmy Carr), the possibility of “cracking the state’s monopoly on propaganda,” and the enduring challenge of defending liberty within an evolving technological society.

15. Reflections on America’s Founding Values and Their Erosion

Smith lauds the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and warns against complacency and surrendering constitutional limits to power.
“We either have the Constitution or we don’t… If you accept that they don’t have to live under the Constitution, then a government who is powerful enough to violate it abroad is powerful enough to violate your rights as well.” [145:27]

Notable Quotes & Moments

On Parenting:
“Having a little girl, she’s got me wrapped around her little finger. My son, it’s a whole different thing.” – Dave Smith [06:50]
On Venezuela:
“Getting them, I mean—look, it’s impressive they did it in one day without a lot of boots on the ground… But the question is what comes next?” – Dave Smith [16:40]
On Epstein Files:
“Trust me, if I had it, don’t you think I would… We liked you because you said you were gonna get to the bottom of this. That’s the whole thing we liked you for.” – Dave Smith [54:09]
On Independent Media:
“Now it's this guy with a YouTube channel... It's not the Times anymore.” – Dave Smith [156:36]
On Institutional Decay:
“All the street cred Cash Patel had a year ago compared to now – and Trump too. All of them.” – Dave Smith [53:00]
On the Corruption Game:
“The highest level of government—it's just gangster shit. And they're really, really good at it.” – Dave Smith [43:52]
On American Prosperity Eroding:
“Work at a factory… own your home… Today a 25-year-old making $70k is living with a roommate...” – Dave Smith [103:10]
On Israel/Palestine:
“I just saw a child being tortured to death. I’m not okay with this. You can’t rationalize me into thinking that genocide is okay… It’s not in here. It’s in here. That’s how I know it’s wrong.” – Theo Von [185:09]
On Hope and Change:
“We’re at the precipice of a new age—that’s gonna be something wild that none of us can really understand.” – Dave Smith [164:58]
On Individualism vs. Collectivism:
“It’s collectivism that would justify what Israel’s doing—that’s collective punishment. Actually, individualism is the reason it’s wrong.” – Dave Smith [138:17]

Important Timestamps

[06:11] – Differences in parenting sons vs. daughters
[09:59] – Reflections on quitting vaping and aging
[10:28] – US regime change in Venezuela news break
[14:47] – Drug trafficking stats debunk “narco-terror” excuses
[17:14] – The question of “what next” after regime change
[49:57] – The Epstein files “drip” and media confusion
[54:09] – Smith's critique of "drain the swamp" betrayal
[71:12] – CBS newsman on public distrust
[103:10] – The collapse of the American working class lifestyle
[145:27] – Constitutional boundaries and their erosion
[185:09] – Theo's heartfelt opposition to justifying genocide

Memorable Moments

Smith and Von riffing on absurd governmental excuses, media self-flagellation, and parenting mishaps.
Hilarious theorizing about Trump’s assassination attempt (“Wear my shoes!”) [97:08], with Theo joking: “I thought he said, 'Where are my Jews?' That would have been crazy...” [99:53]
Dave’s impassioned defense of Milo’s right to speak, Nick Fuentes’ podcasting skills, and the need for honest, open conversation—even with controversial figures.
Musings on how anyone now can “do journalism” and reframe narratives.

Tone & Style

Conversational, incisive, frequently irreverent and funny but underpinned by clear-eyed skepticism about power, media, and official narratives. Both hosts blend personal anecdotes with sharp policy critique, making complex world events relatable and urgent.

Summary for New Listeners

If you missed this episode, you’ll hear:

A historically informed, deeply skeptical breakdown of the US intervention in Venezuela
A withering look at Trump’s second term and the ways politicians consistently betray their voters for elite interests
Savage takes on the Epstein files coverup and media failures
Hope placed in the decentralized new media landscape and citizen journalism
Candid, often hilarious reflections on parenthood, life, and the weirdness of 2026 American society
A warning: comfort breeds complacency, and the only way forward is more independence, more truth-telling, and an insistence on the original values of liberty and transparency—even if the world seems, at times, upside down.

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Episode #632 – Dave Smith
Date: January 6, 2026

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Catch-Up & Parenting Reflections

Dave and Theo open with lighthearted talk about kids, mixed-race families, and the differences in parenting daughters versus sons.
Quote:
“With my daughter, she’s already got an awesome role model, so my job is just to love her, provide, and protect. With my son? Oh, I gotta teach him how to be a man—and then you’re like, I better figure out how to be a man real quick so I can teach him.” – Dave Smith [06:53]

2. Vaping, Aging, and Everyday Life

Both have recently quit vaping, highlighting how health anxieties increase with age.
Humorous sidebar: “I wouldn’t even fly into Newark right now just because there’s some smoke stacks in the distance. Anything could set me off.” – Theo Von [09:02]

3. US Regime Change in Venezuela: Context and Critique

The main political story: The rapid, unprecedented US military operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Smith’s Breakdown:
- The operation was militarily dazzling but raises serious doubts about aftermath and motives.
- The official justification (“narco-terrorism”) is false or vastly overstated. Venezuela isn’t a primary corridor for drugs entering the US.
- Supporting Stats: 90% of cocaine in the US is Colombian, via Mexico—not Venezuela [14:24].
Real Motivations (According to Smith):
- Oil interests; Trump deals; aligning for election optics.
- Rubio’s personal anti-communist/Cuban drive.
- Larger geopolitical signaling—US flexing for the BRICS bloc.
Quote:
“The question is always what comes next. That’s the question D.C. has always gotten wrong… to see them celebrating when we have no idea what the hell is coming next now—” – Dave Smith [17:14]

4. Mission Accomplished? Unlearned Lessons & the D.C. Mindset

Dave draws parallels to Iraq and Afghanistan: The US excels at removing regimes but fails at stability and predicting aftermaths.
Theo notes: "The people are out in the street celebrating—but that don’t mean what replaces him can’t be worse.” [148:25]

5. Epstein Scandal & the Betrayal of 'Drain the Swamp'

The conversation pivots to the ongoing coverup of Jeffrey Epstein’s files, and the Trump administration’s failure to deliver promised transparency.
Smith hammers the hypocrisy of key Trump figures (Cash Patel, Dan Bongino) for “trading on trust” then locking up info.
Quote:
“We liked you because you said you were gonna get to the bottom of this. So you can’t turn around and then go, ‘wouldn’t you know me?’ … That’s the whole thing we liked you for.” – Dave Smith [54:09]
They mock the bizarre redaction and non-answers from officials tasked with investigating.
Theo: “It’s like a morphine drip… delivered in a way more confusing than illuminating.” [49:57]

6. Media's Crisis of Credibility & Rise of Independent Voices

Legacy media’s admission of lost public trust; CBS’s awkward pivot to claim coverage “from the average American perspective.”
Podcasting and new media now dictate narratives and hold political figures accountable.
Quote:
“Now, it’s this guy with a YouTube channel or a Twitter account—and by exposing a scandal, he also exposes the media and Justice Department. It used to be the Times set the agenda for the week. It’s not that anymore.” – Dave Smith [156:36]

7. Trump's Second Term: Achievements, Failings, and Fractured Base

Smith’s assessment: only the border has improved; on everything else from foreign policy to scandal handling, Trump’s delivered disappointment.
Trump siding with war hawks ("the very people who were Never Trumpers"), Israel-firsters, and deep-pocketed donors over his own voters’ core wishes.
Quote:
“There was no demand from Trump’s base for regime change in Venezuela… This is one more example of Trump siding with the war hawks over his own people.” – Dave Smith [34:32]

8. Israel, Palestine, and the Right-Wing Schism

Explosive split among conservatives—youth and new media figures (Tucker, Candace, Fuentes) diverging sharply from the old guard (Shapiro, Levin).
Detailed examination of American support for Israel, elite donors’ influence, and the open secret of policy being driven by foreign lobbying.
Dave summarizes “gangster shit” as the highest level of government: “These are just mafia tactics with a flag.”

9. Failures of Government Accountability

No progress on releasing information about Epstein, Russiagate, or holding elites to account.
Example: Declassified proof of “treason” by Barack Obama—never acted upon or explained.
Anger at bipartisan corruption and the lack of institutional consequences.

10. The Venezuela Paper Tiger Thesis & Geopolitical Theater

The invasion is seen as a test: can Russia/China/BRICS deter the US? If not, “BRICS is a paper tiger too.”
Power plays are likened to the elites playing “The Game of Life” using ordinary people’s lives.

11. Affordability Crisis & Devaluation of the American Dream

Bemoaning runaway inflation, the collapse of working-class security, and how multi-income households are now the norm just to survive.
“My grandfather worked at a factory, owned a house, had two cars, played poker on the weekends… Today, a 25-year-old making $70k is living with a roommate and their chick is working too.” – Dave Smith [103:10]

12. Parenting, Family Decay, and State Control

Inflation and social policy have driven both parents into the workforce, resulting in daycare raising children—seen as both an economic and social ill.
“It’s better for the babies if their mom and dad are the ones raising them…” – Dave Smith [164:14]

13. The Transformation of Journalism & Vigilante Reporting

Citizen journalists like Nick Shirley now drive national conversation and force mainstream media to react.
Theo: “It does feel like anybody can do journalism now… it’s just gasoline.”

14. Hope for the Future, AI, and New Possibilities

Smith and Theo close on a cautiously optimistic note regarding AI’s potential (as highlighted by Jimmy Carr), the possibility of “cracking the state’s monopoly on propaganda,” and the enduring challenge of defending liberty within an evolving technological society.

15. Reflections on America’s Founding Values and Their Erosion

Smith lauds the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and warns against complacency and surrendering constitutional limits to power.
“We either have the Constitution or we don’t… If you accept that they don’t have to live under the Constitution, then a government who is powerful enough to violate it abroad is powerful enough to violate your rights as well.” [145:27]

Notable Quotes & Moments

On Parenting:
“Having a little girl, she’s got me wrapped around her little finger. My son, it’s a whole different thing.” – Dave Smith [06:50]
On Venezuela:
“Getting them, I mean—look, it’s impressive they did it in one day without a lot of boots on the ground… But the question is what comes next?” – Dave Smith [16:40]
On Epstein Files:
“Trust me, if I had it, don’t you think I would… We liked you because you said you were gonna get to the bottom of this. That’s the whole thing we liked you for.” – Dave Smith [54:09]
On Independent Media:
“Now it's this guy with a YouTube channel... It's not the Times anymore.” – Dave Smith [156:36]
On Institutional Decay:
“All the street cred Cash Patel had a year ago compared to now – and Trump too. All of them.” – Dave Smith [53:00]
On the Corruption Game:
“The highest level of government—it's just gangster shit. And they're really, really good at it.” – Dave Smith [43:52]
On American Prosperity Eroding:
“Work at a factory… own your home… Today a 25-year-old making $70k is living with a roommate...” – Dave Smith [103:10]
On Israel/Palestine:
“I just saw a child being tortured to death. I’m not okay with this. You can’t rationalize me into thinking that genocide is okay… It’s not in here. It’s in here. That’s how I know it’s wrong.” – Theo Von [185:09]
On Hope and Change:
“We’re at the precipice of a new age—that’s gonna be something wild that none of us can really understand.” – Dave Smith [164:58]
On Individualism vs. Collectivism:
“It’s collectivism that would justify what Israel’s doing—that’s collective punishment. Actually, individualism is the reason it’s wrong.” – Dave Smith [138:17]

Important Timestamps

[06:11] – Differences in parenting sons vs. daughters
[09:59] – Reflections on quitting vaping and aging
[10:28] – US regime change in Venezuela news break
[14:47] – Drug trafficking stats debunk “narco-terror” excuses
[17:14] – The question of “what next” after regime change
[49:57] – The Epstein files “drip” and media confusion
[54:09] – Smith's critique of "drain the swamp" betrayal
[71:12] – CBS newsman on public distrust
[103:10] – The collapse of the American working class lifestyle
[145:27] – Constitutional boundaries and their erosion
[185:09] – Theo's heartfelt opposition to justifying genocide

Memorable Moments

Smith and Von riffing on absurd governmental excuses, media self-flagellation, and parenting mishaps.
Hilarious theorizing about Trump’s assassination attempt (“Wear my shoes!”) [97:08], with Theo joking: “I thought he said, 'Where are my Jews?' That would have been crazy...” [99:53]
Dave’s impassioned defense of Milo’s right to speak, Nick Fuentes’ podcasting skills, and the need for honest, open conversation—even with controversial figures.
Musings on how anyone now can “do journalism” and reframe narratives.

Tone & Style

Summary for New Listeners

If you missed this episode, you’ll hear:

A historically informed, deeply skeptical breakdown of the US intervention in Venezuela
A withering look at Trump’s second term and the ways politicians consistently betray their voters for elite interests
Savage takes on the Epstein files coverup and media failures
Hope placed in the decentralized new media landscape and citizen journalism
Candid, often hilarious reflections on parenthood, life, and the weirdness of 2026 American society
A warning: comfort breeds complacency, and the only way forward is more independence, more truth-telling, and an insistence on the original values of liberty and transparency—even if the world seems, at times, upside down.

#632 - Dave Smith

Powered by Wave AI

Summary

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Catch-Up & Parenting Reflections

2. Vaping, Aging, and Everyday Life

3. US Regime Change in Venezuela: Context and Critique

4. Mission Accomplished? Unlearned Lessons & the D.C. Mindset

5. Epstein Scandal & the Betrayal of 'Drain the Swamp'

6. Media's Crisis of Credibility & Rise of Independent Voices

7. Trump's Second Term: Achievements, Failings, and Fractured Base

8. Israel, Palestine, and the Right-Wing Schism

9. Failures of Government Accountability

10. The Venezuela Paper Tiger Thesis & Geopolitical Theater

11. Affordability Crisis & Devaluation of the American Dream

12. Parenting, Family Decay, and State Control

13. The Transformation of Journalism & Vigilante Reporting

14. Hope for the Future, AI, and New Possibilities

15. Reflections on America’s Founding Values and Their Erosion

Notable Quotes & Moments

Important Timestamps

Memorable Moments

Tone & Style

Summary for New Listeners

Summary

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Catch-Up & Parenting Reflections

2. Vaping, Aging, and Everyday Life

3. US Regime Change in Venezuela: Context and Critique

4. Mission Accomplished? Unlearned Lessons & the D.C. Mindset

5. Epstein Scandal & the Betrayal of 'Drain the Swamp'

6. Media's Crisis of Credibility & Rise of Independent Voices

7. Trump's Second Term: Achievements, Failings, and Fractured Base

8. Israel, Palestine, and the Right-Wing Schism

9. Failures of Government Accountability

10. The Venezuela Paper Tiger Thesis & Geopolitical Theater

11. Affordability Crisis & Devaluation of the American Dream

12. Parenting, Family Decay, and State Control

13. The Transformation of Journalism & Vigilante Reporting

14. Hope for the Future, AI, and New Possibilities

15. Reflections on America’s Founding Values and Their Erosion

Notable Quotes & Moments

Important Timestamps

Memorable Moments

Tone & Style

Summary for New Listeners