Unsubscribe Podcast Episode 239 Summary

The REAL Story Of The Abbey Gate Afghanistan Withdrawal

Host: UnsubscribePodcast (Eli Doubletap, Brandon Herrera, Donut Operator, The Fat Electrician)
Guest: Tyler Vargas Andrews
Date: November 16, 2025

Main Theme:

A first-hand, unfiltered account of the Abbey Gate bombing during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, told by Marine sniper Tyler Vargas Andrews, who survived the attack. The episode covers Tyler's journey through the military, his experiences and leadership, the chaotic evacuation of Kabul, the events surrounding the Abbey Gate tragedy, and the aftermath—including his injuries and the lack of governmental accountability.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Veteran Month, Community, and Giving Back

• The Unsubscribe team celebrates Veteran’s Month, promoting fundraising for veterans’ nonprofits (03:13).
• Notable organizations: Independence Fund, Boot Campaign, Gary Sinise Foundation (06:09).
• Quote (Tyler on Gary Sinise):
  “Gary himself is one of the most incredible Americans… He’s been there for me every step of the way in my family.” (06:17)

2. Tyler’s Marine Journey: From Enlistment to Sniper Team

• Enlisted in 2017, Stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA (11:25).
• Early missteps: non-judicial punishment (altered ID incident) led to a pivotal “scared straight” moment (15:14, 21:02).
• Overcame adversity:
  “Honestly, you know, I don't know. I can't say that, you know, my trajectory in the Marine Corps would have necessarily been different, but I was definitely like, okay, like, I got to make a name for myself…” (25:21)
• Rose to team leader, earned meritorious promotions, selected for sniper platoon.

3. Deployment Stories: Training and Military Culture

• First deployment: “booze cruise” with 31st MEU (36:18)—Japan, Korea, Australia (cultural experiences, liberty, and infamous Australia stories).
• Challenges and camaraderie: losing gear, “mass punishment,” and ‘corrective’ boxing matches (33:42).
• Harsh realities:
  “If you can’t handle getting screamed at or getting punched in the face, you probably shouldn’t be there, you know…” (34:39)

4. Lead-up to Afghanistan Withdrawal

• Tyler’s team was subjected to uncertainty and repeated changes before deployment to CENTCOM area (49:36).
• Deployed to Kuwait (hot, oppressive), then Saudi Arabia for “show of force” (51:13).
• Training and “hurry up and wait” cycles, plus vivid descriptions of desert hardships (dust storms, living conditions).

5. Kabul & The Abbey Gate Events

• Sniper teams split and repositioned throughout the region; sudden orders to deploy during the evacuation (65:03).
• Arrival in Kabul: chaos, confusion, expectation of combat, overwhelmed by humanitarian tragedy instead (75:44).
• Reality of the evacuation:
  • Tens of thousands desperate at Abbey Gate: “By the end of those 10 days...that’s how many people there were… people just holding babies over their heads, screaming at the top of their lungs…” (83:32)
  • Marines overwhelmed by crowds; crowd control impossible (85:11).
  • Taliban executing civilians visible from Marines’ position. “I took pictures and videos of bodies and people being lined up to be executed and reported back on it and dropped it to intel. They're like, 'Nope...not our problem.'” (80:47)
• Impactful cultural shock for Marines: encountering real, desperate suffering; the limits placed by political and military leadership (82:01).

6. Day of the Bombing: Aug 26, 2021

• Advanced warning of suicide bomber, denied permission to engage (91:29).
• Repeated intelligence reports ignored; standoff distance decreased until crowds pressed right onto the base (93:45).
• Immediate aftermath:
  • “Flash bang, and I get bitch slapped by the hand of God. Just like, massive wave of pressure hits me...It was just instantly—200 people killed. Instantly.” (106:56)
• Tyler’s personal injuries:
  • “My whole stomach got ripped open. I lost my left kidney, left testicle exploded. I lost 140-157 centimeters of large and small intestine...took 150 ball bearings into my body. Nothing hit my face.” (115:24)
  • Dragged out with a riot shield, stabilized thanks to fellow Marines and corpsman Jorge (118:56).
• Team’s actions: improvised medical care, and triaged casualties in horrible conditions.

Notable Quotes:

• “I knew right away. I was like, I just got blown up.” (113:39)
• “I remember laying out there on the ground and it was, like, almost peaceful… Like ‘I've done my best.’” (118:56)
• “He grabs my bolt cutters and he just sprinted out there for me, cut a hole in the fence, cut off the casualty carrying distance by like 100 yards, which is significant when seconds matter…” (118:56)
• “I was the only one at Walter Reed… like, how is this guy alive?” (126:23)

7. Reflections and Aftermath

• Tyler credits his survival to physical fitness: “The only reason...I survived was because how physically fit I was at the point of injury.” (123:12)
• Government and military's refusal to take accountability; threats about discussing the real story (128:43).
• Importance of truth, leadership, and honoring fallen friends (134:56).
• Message to Americans: “It's easy to preach you're oppressed from a free country, but you can't preach you're oppressed from an oppressed country...” (103:32)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Gary Sinise:
  “He remembers more things about my life going on than I do. I'm like, damn. Oh, you're right. I did have that going on. But he'd be like, how's your little brother doing? How's your little sister doing? ...He was there for my mom when I was in the ICU at Walter Reed...” (08:19)

• On the nature of war:
  “It's a war fighting organization. If you can't handle getting screamed at or getting punched in the face, you probably shouldn't be there…” (34:39)

• On military leadership failure:
  “If we don't learn from the things that happen, how are we going to get better? How are we going to get stronger? How are we going to get more lethal?” (130:06)

• Plea for Accountability:
  “The truth is politically inconvenient. But...someone with way more rank…should have come forth and told the truth...it was just like, no, it's not this great thing. It's just what should be done...it's a responsibility to my friends who aren't here anymore.” (133:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [06:09] - Nonprofit partnerships, Gary Sinise Foundation
• [11:25] - Tyler's enlistment and Camp Pendleton
• [15:14; 21:02] - Early Marine Corps trouble; NJP and “scared straight”
• [33:42-34:39] - Harsh discipline, mass punishment; military “corrections”
• [36:18-44:10] - “Booze cruise”: First deployment, Japan/Korea/Australia stories
• [49:36] - Lead-up to CENTCOM/Afghanistan assignment
• [65:03] - Afghanistan withdrawal/evacuation; reality on the ground
• [83:32-85:11] - Humanitarian disaster, massive crowds at Abbey Gate
• [91:29-93:45] - Warnings ignored, standoff distance shrinks
• [106:56-121:53] - The bombing, Tyler’s injury, triage, personal account
• [123:12-126:20] - Survival, medical aftermath, “too fit to die”
• [128:43-130:06] - Government’s lack of accountability, pressure to cover up
• [134:56-137:30] - Reflections on survivor's guilt, duty to tell the story, perspective

Tone and Language

A blend of raw honesty, dark humor, and camaraderie that is signature to military circles. The show combines candid storytelling, emotionally charged moments, and frequent irreverence, with all the hosts and the guest keeping things authentic and sometimes biting.

Summary

This episode gives an unparalleled, gut-wrenching window into both the noble and chaotic aspects of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Tyler Vargas Andrews’s testimony recounts not only the bureaucracy and failures that led to tragedy at Abbey Gate, but also pays tribute to the selfless acts, leadership, and resilience of those on the ground. Through comedy and candor, the Unsubscribe team helps Tyler highlight both the cost of war and the need for truth and accountability—making this essential listening for anyone seeking the untold stories behind the headlines.

Find Tyler:

• Instagram: @whistlingdeath
• Bladesmith business and merch: tyrantdesign.com

For veterans, those who serve, and civilians alike, this is an episode about courage—in life, loss, and telling stories that must be told.