Timcast IRL – "THIS PROVES IT" w/ Xi Van Fleet & Lisa Reynolds

Date: January 29, 2026
Host: Tim Pool
Guests: Xi Van Fleet, Lisa Reynolds, Phil Labonte, Libby Emmons

Episode Overview

In this Timcast IRL episode, Tim Pool and co-hosts welcome author and commentator Xi Van Fleet and Timcast Booker Lisa Reynolds. The panel dives deeply into the unraveling of left-wing media narratives around the Alex Preddy CBP shooting, alleged fake attacks on political figures like Ilhan Omar, and broader concerns over narrative control, government responses to protest violence, creeping leftism, and the organization (or lack thereof) on the political right. Xi Van Fleet provides unique historical context about the US-China relationship and rising threats of communism. The group also touches on issues of media trust, American cultural shifts, radicalization, and the state of political power dynamics nationally and internationally.

Major Discussion Themes

1. Unraveling the Narrative: The Alex Preddy Incident

Segment Begins: 08:00

• CBP Shooting & Narrative Collapse

  • Viral video confirms Alex Preddy armed and instigating violence with CBP, kicking federal vehicles, and spitting on agents—contradicting the prevailing narrative of a peaceful protester (08:04–09:43).
  • BBC facial recognition tech confirmed Preddy’s identity in the video (08:04).
  • Tim Pool: "This disproves this narrative that he was just peacefully protesting … this video proves his intentions are to fight feds, not to peacefully film. And he was in the wrong place at the wrong time." (14:05)
  • Phil Labonte: "If CBP had arrested him and put him in jail, he'd be alive today." (11:18)

• Felonies and Instigation

  • Preddy’s actions—armed, damaging property, spitting—all count as felonies and provoke law enforcement (10:00–15:00).
  • Tim suggests some left-wing activists may be seeking “suicide by cop” for propaganda purposes (14:37).

• Left-Wing Narrative Machinery

  • Despite video proof, leftists attempt to community-note or censor the footage, clinging to disproven claims (13:16–14:00, 19:54, 20:40).
  • Libby Emmons: "Leftists were trying to community note the post out of existence ... because they know this completely destroys their entire narrative." (13:16)
  • Attempts to portray Preddy as a martyr for propaganda; panel calls this “fifth generational warfare” (18:13 ff).

2. Media Trust & Manufactured Victimhood

Segment Begins: 24:45

• Manipulating the Narrative

  • Discussion of how media and activists spin stories: e.g., nurse protester myths, left-wing networks amplifying victimhood to steer opinions (24:46–26:03).

• Medical and Social Trust Breakdown

  • Concerns raised over political “outing” in medicine—doctors’/nurses’ loyalties affecting patient care (26:03–28:10).
  • Lisa: “How do I know I’m getting quality care if my doctor hates me for having an American flag keychain?” (27:41)

3. Organizational Asymmetry Between Left and Right

Segment Begins: 30:00

• Insurgent Networks vs. Conservative Individualism

  • The group notes the right’s disorganization versus the left’s deeply networked activism (30:18–34:25).
  • Tim Pool: "The right does not have these kind of insurgent networks the way the left does… Do you know your neighbors? Are you connected with your community?" (32:14–33:08)
  • Fear of FBI infiltration hampers right-wing organization (31:42–32:48).

• Culture, Churches & Community Disconnect

  • Conservative belief that church involvement equals community engagement, but churches avoid politics, limiting their impact (34:25–35:50).

4. Leftism, Communism & Cultural Weakness

Segment Begins: 36:02

• Hollywood, Patriotism & “Weakness”

  • Molly Ringwald’s “collaborators”/treason rant; rising leftist authoritarian attitudes among celebrities (36:02–38:07).
  • Phil Labonte: "Don't ever believe them when they say they love America because they absolutely don't." (29:11)

• “White Guilt” and the Weakening of Conservatism

  • Panel explores lost confidence among conservatives, with Xi Van Fleet relating Western guilt to societal atrophy (42:48–45:27).
  • Xi Van Fleet: "White guilt is just so toxic ... it has really neutralized the whole white race." (44:27)

• DEI, Racial Hierarchies, and Culture

  • Debates about DEI’s effect on opportunity and perceptions across communities (45:32–47:52).
  • Xi Van Fleet: "I think one culture can be superior to another. Western culture is absolutely most superior." (46:42)

5. Narrative Warfare in Contemporary Politics

Segment Begins: 52:00

• International Narrative & Canada

  • Canadian commentator calls Trump a murderer on TV. Tim and panel propose cutting off trade, emphasizing the need for the US to stop subsidizing nations hostile to our interests (51:26–55:48).
  • Tim Pool: "We have no reason to be dependent upon other people for fake reasons… If they are funding insurgency in this country, cut them off." (54:32–55:45)
  • Discussion devolves into lighthearted takes on maple syrup, Canadian comedians, and mutual cultural snubs (52:00–54:06).

• Allies, Foreign Aid, & “Buying Friends”

  • The US wastes wealth trying to buy allies who resent America—drawn-out, expensive pattern (56:41–58:23).
  • Phil Labonte: "People follow strength… the US needs to do what Trump was doing internationally: cut deals that benefit our country." (57:50)
  • "Peace through strength" theme—threats to it domestically and abroad (77:46, 77:59).

6. Current Events Roundup: Omar “Attack”, FBI Election Raid, Plastic Surgery

Segment Begins: 63:04 for Omar / 78:25 for FBI / 83:14 for Plastic Surgery tangent

• Ilhan Omar, Apple Cider Vinegar Incident

  • Consensus emerges that Omar’s alleged attack seems odd and potentially staged—but not necessarily by her (63:04–66:46).
  • Tim Pool: "If you were going to stage something … you’d want her to leave the event and go to the hospital for maximum drama, but she just stood there—makes it look less staged." (64:33)
  • Reactions to violence, media fundraising off incidents, and the left’s habit of blaming “hate” from the right are discussed (67:22–68:12).

• FBI Raids Atlanta Election Office

  • Panel reacts to the FBIs search warrant related to Trump's push on 2020 election fraud. Emphasizes urgency and skepticism about whether systemic change will follow (78:25–80:59).
  • Phil Labonte: "If they can prove the 2020 election was stolen, everything Biden did should be void." (79:13)

• Side Discussion: Plastic Surgery & Women in Power

  • Humor and criticism regarding “Barbie” staffers and the overrepresentation of women in high office and media (81:46–84:31).

7. Immigration Enforcement & Policy Frustrations

Segment Begins: 90:01, 91:28

• Trump’s ICE Policies and Messaging

  • Debate over Trump’s ICE appointments, CBP non-enforcement orders—whether changes are real or just surface-level, with conflicting reports on enforcement (89:59–91:42).
  • Tim Pool: "[Trump's] messaging is miserable and that's supposed to be what Trump is good at … their messaging on the Epstein stuff was the stupidest PR blunder imaginable." (87:38)

• Elections, Representation, and Counting Citizens

  • Broad agreement that only citizens should be counted for congressional representation (93:55–95:06).
  • Panel floats (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) the idea that only second-generation Americans should be allowed to vote. Phil Labonte: "There's not one argument anyone has made that is compelling as to why you should count total people versus citizens." (93:55)

8. Left vs. Right: Agency, Power, and Ideological Reckoning

Segment Begins: 115:13

• Communism’s Appeal to the Young

  • Gen Z and Millennials embracing open communism on social media; lack of critical education about the horrors of communist regimes (115:25–117:04).
  • Libby Emmons: "The kids don't know what it means … they just hear that it's an amazing utopian vision." (115:31)

• Warnings From History

  • Xi Van Fleet draws parallels to Chinese history—millions executed for political affiliation, even low-level Nationalist mayors (70:06–70:47).
  • Xi Van Fleet: "That is the history of communism … millions … were persecuted and executed just because they used to work for the nationalist government." (70:03)

• Right-Wing Disorganization & State Suppression

  • Panel argues the state suppresses right-leaning organization, fueling asymmetry in street/tactical power (117:39–118:10).
  • Some consideration of fleeing to countries like Poland or El Salvador if the U.S. falls—ultimately rejected by Xi: "We have to save this country. I'm going nowhere." (118:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tim Pool (14:05): “This video proves his intentions are to fight feds, not to peacefully film.”
• Lisa (11:45): “I’d rather be punched in the face than spit on. … He should have been arrested right then and there. Why wasn’t he?”
• Phil Labonte (15:33): “If CBP had arrested him and put him in jail, he'd be alive today.”
• Xi Van Fleet (44:27): “White guilt is just so toxic ... it has really neutralized the whole white race.”
• Libby Emmons (115:31): "The kids don't know what it means … they just hear that it's an amazing utopian vision."
• Xi Van Fleet (70:03): “That is the history of communism … millions … were executed just because they used to work for the nationalist government.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 08:00 | Alex Preddy video, felonies, and narrative breakdown | | 13:16 | Left-wing online efforts to suppress video evidence | | 18:13 | Propaganda, martyrdom, and “fifth generational warfare” | | 24:45 | Myth-making about leftist protesters, nurse as hero | | 30:00 | Why the right lacks insurgent networks; fear of state reprisal | | 42:29 | “White people are weak”/conservatism’s loss of confidence | | 51:26 | Canadian media’s attacks on Trump; talk of cutting off trade | | 63:04 | Ilhan Omar apple cider vinegar “attack” | | 78:25 | FBI raid of Atlanta elections office; stakes for 2020/2024 | | 87:16 | Review of Trump admin performance, ICE policy back-and-forth | | 115:25 | Young Americans' “proud communism” on TikTok | | 121:36 | Xi Van Fleet: book plug and America’s role in helping strengthen CCP |

Episode Tone

The discussion is fast-paced, incisive, and sarcastic, featuring Tim Pool’s characteristic directness and the panel’s blend of dark humor and urgent concern about the direction of the country. Historical references from Xi Van Fleet bring depth, while Lisa and Phil bring pointed critiques and cultural observations.

Conclusion

This episode of Timcast IRL unpacks the real-time unraveling of a dominant protest narrative, explores left/right asymmetry in organization and power, and sounds alarms about increasing radicalization, collapsing trust in institutions, and the continued advance of left-wing authoritarian tactics. Xi Van Fleet’s warnings and historical parallels put current events in stark perspective, reminding viewers that the lessons of communism’s history—unheeded in America—threaten to repeat themselves.