Timcast IRL Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Trump Endorses Cuomo, Says NO COMMIE MAMDANI, Obama REFUSES To Endorse Mamdani w/ Mark Grimes
Date: November 4, 2025
Host: Tim Pool
Guests: Mark Grimes, Phil Labonte, Ian Crossland

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the heated New York City mayoral race, with Donald Trump’s surprising endorsement of Andrew Cuomo, the meteoric rise of progressive-left candidate Zohran Mamdani (dubbed "Commie Mamdani"), and Barack Obama's refusal to endorse Mamdani. The discussion expands into broader themes of urban politics, the limitations of conservatism in big cities, the cultural and economic divides between city and countryside, and the controversial role of government assistance programs. The show features Mark Grimes—a Canadian businessman and ex-politician—providing North American trade context, and regulars Phil Labonte and Ian Crossland contributing sharp takes on governance, economics, and social trends. Near the end, the hosts riff on US-Canada relations, free trade, tariffs, and the peculiar nature of the Canadian monarchy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NYC Mayoral Race: Trump, Cuomo, Mamdani and Obama (01:26–22:15)

• Trump Endorses Cuomo: Trump controversially tells New Yorkers to vote for Andrew Cuomo to avoid electing leftist Zohran Mamdani. Tim expresses shock, and the panel critiques Cuomo's record—especially his handling of COVID-era nursing homes.
• Mamdani’s Radical Platform: Mamdani is described as a far-left "communist" candidate. Ian and Phil lambaste Mamdani’s past endorsement of defunding police, decarceration, and "crime is a social construct" rhetoric.
• Polling Uncertainty: Kalshee prediction market data shows divergence: Inside NYC, Cuomo is strong; outside, Mamdani is heavily favored.
• Obama’s Refusal to Endorse Mamdani: Panel sees this as an indicator of Democrat establishment hesitance to embrace extreme left.
• Urban Political Realities: Phil and Mark agree: "A real conservative can't win a city anymore." Cities are framed as inherently left-leaning due to density, reliance on services, and public transit needs.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Tim (07:01): “Short of the Lord himself, I ain't voting for [Cuomo].”
  • Phil (10:37): “It's not realistic to think that any modern Republican can win New York.”

2. City vs. Country Politics and Economics (12:14–19:08)

• Cities as Democrat Bastions: Mark and Ian discuss urban demographic, economic, and infrastructural factors that make cities left-leaning—especially the concentration of services, affordable housing requirements, and social programs.
• Canada’s Urban Politics: Mark affirms Toronto mirrors US city trends: left-dominated urban cores, right-leaning rural/farming peripheries.

3. Election Odds, Machine Politics, and Manipulation (19:47–25:23)

• Money Powers in NYC: Tim and Phil predict NYC’s financial elite will not allow a true far-left candidate to imperil their interests. Tim accuses the system of being rigged: “I'm implying they're going to cheat. Not voter turnout. The powers that control New York ain't gonna let a communist win.” (22:20)
• Prediction Market Analysis: Tim details his bet on Cuomo based on Kalshee data, highlighting the wisdom—and bias—of prediction markets.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Phil (24:56): “I do think there’s going to be significant pushback against Mamdani, even if he wins.”

4. Welfare, Food Stamps, and Government Dependency (58:54–70:29)

• Trump Reduces Food Stamps: As government gridlocks and shutdown looms, the panel discusses the curtailing of SNAP benefits.
• Should Federal Welfare Exist?
  • Phil: “The federal government shouldn’t be in the business of having these types of policies” (60:29)
  • Tim: Proposes radical reforms—restricting food stamps to only allow purchase of fresh produce and meat to force healthier outcomes and reduce corporate dependency on subsidies.
• Social Consequences: Ian and Mark note how policies and subsidies reinforce unhealthy habits, economic dependency, and structural inertia.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Tim (63:03): “EBT ... can only be used to buy fresh produce.”
  • Phil (70:01): “No kidding. There shouldn’t be EBT. Let states do it. The federal government shouldn’t be doing it at all.”

5. US-Canada Relations, Tariffs, and the Monarchy (73:04–88:18)

• Trade and Tariffs:
  • Mark, a Canadian businessman, defends the deep economic integration and mutual benefits between US and Canada.
  • Tim argues for stronger US self-sufficiency, supporting tariffs and industrial policy to reduce dependency on Canadian (and international) aluminum—citing long-term national interests over short-term cost savings.
  • Quotes:
    • Mark (75:15): “Canada and U.S. together are much better than being apart.”
    • Tim (82:52): “We should have our own steel plants, our own aluminum plants...”
• Cultural Kinship vs. Strategic Interests:
  The hosts recognize the closeness, but Tim insists friendship shouldn’t entail strategic vulnerability.
• Canadian Monarchy Peculiarity:
  Ian and Tim question why Canada still has a king (King Charles), and discuss the largely symbolic yet constitutionally present royal authority in Canada—sparking spirited debate with Mark.

6. Youth Politics, Race, and the Problem with Mainstream Narratives (91:26–107:56)

• Zoomer Populist Shift: Tim brings up “Zoomerwaffen”—a new nationalist, right-wing youth current among Gen Z, born from disenchantment with establishment lies, censorship, and lack of economic opportunity.
• Liberal Hypocrisy: Hosts argue white liberals in urban areas openly virtue signal but sell homes when poor blacks move in—fueling right-wing youth distrust for centrist institutions.
• Open Conversation on Race:
  • The panel explores fraught topics: race, crime, genetics, and culture. Tim asserts that honest discussion—absent from mainstream channels—drives youth to more radical, sometimes dangerous voices.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • Tim (99:50): “To a young person ... these people are going to go follow scientists. They're going to go listen to Nick Fuentes.”
    • Phil (103:24): “It's going to drive people to someone like Nick.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NYC Mayoral Race:
  “I am not convinced [Mamdani] is as popular as people outside New York think he is. The question is whether or not the Democrat machine will allow these far leftists to actually take over.” (Tim Pool, 17:01)
• On Big City Politics:
  “Show me a Republican-run city in the United States. I don’t think there is any.”
  (Mark Grimes, 14:13)
• On Corporatocracy vs. Socialism:
  “Corporations can get way too powerful. But… if the corporations leave your big city, your big city is going to be a big, open, smelly, rotting cesspool.” (Tim Pool, 35:55)
• On Government Control and Contracts:
  “It is always worse—a big government in control of everything—than a corporation in control of it.” (Phil Labonte, 41:39)
• On Generation Z Politics:
  “When Nick [Fuentes] comes out and praises Hitler, they say he must be telling the truth because you won't have a real conversation about what's going on in Chicago.” (Tim Pool, 96:40)
• On Honest Discussion:
  “If acknowledging the crime stats and saying there's a disproportionate amount of crime coming out of black communities is different than saying because they're black they're causing crime.” (Ian Crossland, 103:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump Endorses Cuomo, NYC Mayoral Odds:
  [01:26–22:20, revisited at 87:02]
• Urban vs. Rural Political Divide:
  [12:14–15:57]
• Dem Establishment, Money, and Cheating Allegations:
  [17:27–22:48]
• Government Welfare and SNAP Debate:
  [58:54–70:29]
• US-Canada Tariffs & Monarchy Debate:
  [73:04–88:18]
• Zoomer Populism & Race, Youth Disaffection:
  [91:26–107:56]

Conclusion & Episode Tone

This episode moves briskly from New York City’s mayoral politics and national ideological divides to questions of social safety nets, international trade, and generational discontent. The hosts maintain their signature rowdy, confrontational banter—often veering into taboo or controversial territory, especially regarding crime and race—emphasizing their commitment to open, unfiltered debate. Mark Grimes offers a rare outsider (Canadian) perspective, especially on cross-border economics and the legacy of the monarchy, while the hosts press for more aggressive US self-reliance, and warn about the consequences of political correctness and elite mendacity for the country’s future social cohesion.

For additional context, the full discussion continued on Rumble in an uncensored segment focusing on race realism and further hot-button issues.