VINCE Podcast – Episode 190: “Are We Really Being Told The Full Story?”

Host: Vince Coglianese
Date: December 17, 2025
Guest: Rachel Bovard (Conservative Policy Institute)

Episode Overview

Vince Coglianese delivers a high-energy, unfiltered examination of major political and media stories, focusing on whether the American public is receiving honest and full information. The key discussions range from the fallout over Susie Wiles’ Vanity Fair interview, Trump’s escalatory moves on Venezuela and energy policy, dysfunction and suspected cover-up in the Brown University shooting investigation, and a deep-dive into Senate procedural roadblocks with Rachel Bovard. True to the show's style, the tone is sharp, irreverent, and deeply skeptical of legacy media and political institutions.

1. Susie Wiles, Vanity Fair, and the Manufactured Trump Drama

[03:00–20:00]

• Vince’s Take:
  The media (especially The New York Times and Vanity Fair) are accused of distorting Susie Wiles’ comments about Trump, inflating mild personality observations into accusations of chaos or scandal. Vince emphasizes that only mistake Wiles made was granting the interview at all, given the media’s consistent bad faith.

• Notable Analysis:

  • Wiles reportedly called Trump “an alcoholic’s personality.” The media frame this as an insult, but Vince clarifies it was meant as a comment on Trump’s limitless ambition, not substance abuse.
  • Vince defends Wiles, describing her as “loyal… plainspoken,” and suggests the supposed drama is typical media sensationalism.

    "If that's the worst that she said about him, the real story is that Susie Wiles actually thinks very highly of Donald Trump… She was saying that he's a man with limitless thinking. It's actually a compliment for the guy." — Vince, [11:30]

• J.D. Vance:

  • Wiles also called J.D. Vance a conspiracy theorist.
  • Vance responds with pride:

    "You're damn right I'm a conspiracy theorist. The only things I'm a conspiracy theorist about are all the things that end up being real conspiracies." — J.D. Vance (paraphrased by Vince), [17:45]

2. Venezuela Blockade: Media Disinformation & U.S. Policy

[20:00–33:00]

• Trump’s Major Announcement:
  Trump’s Truth Social post (read verbatim by Vince) declares a naval blockade around Venezuela, demands return of U.S.-built oil and other assets, labels the Maduro regime a terrorist organization, and claims he is repatriating illegal aliens from Venezuela.

• Media Critique:
  Vince slams the legacy media’s reaction—“ignorant or lying”—for suggesting Venezuela never ‘stole’ U.S. assets.

• Historical Context by Vince:

  • U.S. companies (Exxon, ConocoPhillips) did build Venezuela’s oil industry.
  • Chavez and Maduro regimes expropriated (seized) these assets.

    “They began to steal it. They stole it. So after we built it, Venezuela stole it.” — Vince, [25:02]

  • Chinese involvement: 80% of Venezuela’s oil sent to China.
  • Larger point: Chinese and Venezuelan cooperation threaten U.S. interests in the hemisphere, echoing Monroe Doctrine logic.

• Key Soundbite:

  “It is important that we have control of the Western Hemisphere. We can’t allow China to have a foothold all over South America.” — Vince, [30:31]

• Expectations for Trump’s Address:
  Vince urges the administration to clearly explain U.S. actions to foster public buy-in and admits a healthy skepticism about any use of U.S. military power.

3. American Energy Policy: Economics, Strategy, and the Trump Doctrine

[33:00–34:00, woven throughout]

• Current Low Energy Prices:

  • Trump’s regulatory cutbacks and diplomatic persuasion keep global oil production (especially Arab states) high.
  • This benefits the broad economy, even if it temporarily “puts a damper on the profits of the industry.”

• Strategic Aim:
  Trump is attempting a “perfect landing”—lower energy and dollar costs to stimulate massive U.S. investment, positioning for a boom as the U.S. economy ramps up in 2026.

4. Senate Dysfunction, Blue Slips, and the Filibuster: With Rachel Bovard

[33:59–45:10]

• Background:
  The ‘blue slip’ custom gives home-state senators veto power over judicial and U.S. Attorney nominations, currently being used by Democrats to delay/obstruct Trump’s agenda.

• Key Arguments:

  • Rachel finds the blue slip “indefensible” since the filibuster has already been nuked for nominations.
  • The filibuster and blue slip are not enshrined in the constitution nor essential Senate functions—most of U.S. history did not include them.

• Notable Quotes:

  “All of the lawfare that's continuing against Republicans… now hangs on Senate Republicans. Laying that at their feet is appropriate.” — Rachel Bovard, [43:01]

  • “I have a theory… some of these Republicans are keeping the blue slip in place. They don’t want Donald Trump to prosecute James Comey or any of these other people.” — Vince, [43:44]

  • “You want lack of turnout in the midterms? Give them that over and over again and that's what will happen.” — Rachel Bovard, [44:54]

• Action Items:
  Both stress the need for the White House and grassroots movement to “browbeat” the Republican Senate into action, as “the establishment types don’t like the fact that we’re talking about this at all.” [45:10]

5. Brown University Shooting: Incompetence or Cover-Up?

[45:15–58:00]

• Incident Recap:
  A shooter killed two students (including a College Republican VP and an Uzbek national) and wounded nine. The suspect escaped, and the investigation has been sluggish and opaque.

• Institutional Failures:

  • Delayed release of surveillance footage
  • Lack of usable campus cameras
  • Non-activation of emergency ‘Brown Siren’ system
  • Evading key investigative details, including what the shooter said during the attack

• Crisis Communication:
  Vince plays and critiques several press conference exchanges:

  • Administration unable to clarify camera coverage (“We didn’t have cameras because it’s an old building.”)
  • President Christine Paxson claims ignorance on policy details and active website deletions related to a Palestinian activist possibly tied to the event.

• Accusations of Cover-Up:

  “This doesn’t look like mere incompetence. It looks like a full-blown cover up being operated at Brown because they're concerned about where all of this is leading.” — Vince, [57:14–58:00]

  • Vince repeatedly suggests Brown is withholding crucial information, covering up ideological or political motivations behind the attack.

Key Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “The worst thing is she talked to Vanity Fair. Who gives a shit about Vanity Fair?” — Vince, [08:30]
• “I have a Vulcan, like, assessment of the way these things go. It’s all very stupid. It means nothing. Literally, everyone’s gonna move on.” — Vince, [15:40]
• “China is the reason that these horrific regimes… continue to be supercharged.” — Vince, [29:30]
• “You and I are left trying to browbeat [Republican senators] into submission.” — Vince, [45:10]
• “She doesn’t even know the policies… These people are a waste of oxygen.” — Vince on Brown’s President Paxson, [53:26]
• “Instead of giving us more information, they just leave the rest of us to wonder… Now, Brown University, you are covering something up right now. Not just that you’re idiots—and you’re definitely idiots—but it’s not just that.” — Vince, [57:38]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Susie Wiles/Media Drama: 03:00–20:00
• Venezuela Blockade & U.S. Assets: 20:00–33:00
• Energy Policy/Economic Stimulus: 33:00–34:00
• Rachel Bovard–Senate & Procedures: 33:59–45:10
• Brown University Shooting Investigation: 45:15–58:00

Overall Tone & Takeaway

Vince is highly critical of mainstream media, political establishment inertia, and university administrations, stressing that the American public must demand transparency, accountability, and seriousness—whether from the White House on foreign intervention, from the Senate on judicial nominees, or from universities during crises.

Listeners are encouraged to stay vigilant, question official narratives, and keep pressuring public servants and institutions to act in the public interest.