VINCE Podcast — Episode 231: “USA’s Golden Miracle”

Host: Vince Coglianese (Silverloch | Cumulus Podcast Network)
Date: February 23, 2026

Overview

This episode captures the electric aftermath of Team USA’s dual gold medal wins in Olympic men’s and women’s hockey—highlighting the emotional reactions, political controversies, and cultural fallout that followed America’s victories over Canada. Host Vince Coglianese blends celebration with scathing political analysis, reviewing reactions from the political left, responses from national leaders, and discussing breaking news on Supreme Court tariff rulings, a Mar-a-Lago security incident, California’s wild governor’s race, and the ongoing debate over voter ID. The episode’s tone is energetic, patriotic, and unapologetically conservative.

Olympic Gold for Team USA: Reactions, Patriotism, and Backlash

Joy and Drama on the Ice

• 00:30–06:10 Vince recounts watching the dramatic men’s gold medal match:
  • Relives watching the game from his car (“gripping my face”), noting the high-stakes 5-on-3 penalty kill.
  • The men’s team emulates the women’s overtime win from the prior week—Jack Hughes secures victory against Canada with a golden goal in overtime.
  • Vince on the emotion:
    “It was such a nice feeling. You know, I mean it really is…they win a gold medal. They fought for this all their life. And here they are finally achieving it.” (05:01)
  • Emphasizes Canadian heartbreak: “For the Canadians, hockey is church.”
• [04:26] Clip of Jack Hughes’ game-winning goal.
• [06:13] Player Interview – Jack Hughes (Post-Game):
  • “This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable… Tonight was all for the country.”

American Pride & Contrast with Critics

• 06:59–08:00 Jack Hughes reiterates the “USA Hockey brotherhood”—pride, unity, sacrifice.
• Vince’s Commentary:
  “This guy gets his teeth knocked out, scores the game-winning goal. His first interview. He can’t stop talking about how much he loves the country. This is…just amazing.”
• Contrasts Hughes’ patriotism with athletes who express ambivalence about competing under the U.S. flag.
  • “Do what this guy’s doing. Do what Jack Hughes did. I love this country. This is a win for America.”

Anthem & Celebrations

• 08:15–09:30 Stadium erupts as USA team sings the anthem; Rumble chat is “lighting up” with American flag emojis.
• Vince: “What an amazing remark by Jack Hughes…that was just him speaking from the heart. You can feel it.”
• Notes the palpable pride: “I could hear [the Americans] all throughout the game chanting their asses off.”

From Locker Room to State of the Union: Cash Patel & Trump’s Calls

FBI Director Cash Patel’s Olympic Cameo

• 09:30–12:30 Cash Patel (FBI Director), a known hockey fan and player, is spotted celebrating with the hockey team.
  • Vince defends his presence: the FBI provides Olympic security, and U.S. will host Olympics in two years (“legitimate business purpose”).
• Video circulates of Patel beer-chugging with the team—sparking outcry from left-leaning commentators (e.g., Carol Leonnig, Washington Post).
  • Vince: “These lunatics are all super upset that Cash Patel was having the best damn time imaginable…” (13:35)

Presidential Congratulations & State Dinner Invitation

• 14:25–15:26 President Trump calls the team:
  • “I have seen hockey goalies have slightly worse games than you… Unbelievable… I said we’re giving the State of the Union speech on Tuesday night. I could send a military plane or something. But if you would like…”
  • Extends invitation for the team (male and female) to attend the State of the Union, noting extra seats due to Democrat boycotts.
• Vince: “We live in the absolute best timeline, don’t we?”
• Mocks the attempt to turn the post-game locker room beer into a “scandal,” comparing it to past Biden administration issues.

Sean Farish's ‘Trump’ Parody & Transition to Supreme Court Decision

Comic Relief

• 20:34 Sean Farish delivers a comedic Trump impersonation congratulating “Snow Mexico” (Canada), ribbing Canadian officials, lauding Hellebuyck/Tkachuk/Hughes, and threatening to “tariff Canada’s silver medals at 25%.”
  • Memorable Trump-mimicking quote:
    “You never want to go full French because once you do, it means you’re going to lose. And that’s what happened to Canada. Poor Snow Mexico…” (20:57)

Supreme Court’s Tariff Ruling: The Statute Shuffle

The Decision & Conservative Dissent

• 22:21–27:02 Vince breaks down Friday’s 6–3 Supreme Court ruling:
  • Court limits the President’s authority to impose tariffs using the emergency International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
  • Justices Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh dissent—Vince sides with them:
    “So you can turn the air conditioning on, you can turn it off, but you’re not allowed to change the temperature? That’s what the Supreme Court is saying.” (25:00)
• Takes aim at Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson: “She’s tragically stupid.”
• The administration immediately pivots—Trump re-levies tariffs under different laws (e.g., Trade Expansion Act, Tariff Act).

Trump Responds Swiftly

• [26:15] Trump:
  “Therefore, effective immediately, all national security tariffs under section 232 and existing section 301 tariffs…remain in place, fully in place and in full force and effect.”
• Vince:
  “My advice to all these naysayers is, let him cook. The guy knows what he’s doing.” (28:30)
  • He credits Trump’s tariffs for inflation reduction, wage growth, job creation, and increased investment.

Security at Mar-a-Lago: Intruder Neutralized

The Incident

• 36:04 Sheriff details incident: man breaches Mar-a-Lago perimeter at 1:30am, armed with gas can and shotgun.
• [36:04] Local Sheriff:
  “He was ordered to drop those two pieces of equipment…he put down the gas can, raised the shotgun to a shooting position. [Law enforcement] fired their weapons and neutralized the threat. He is deceased at the scene.”
• Vince:
  “If you take a gun and aim it at law enforcement and then you get shot dead…that’s how that happens. That should not be a surprise.” (37:17)
• Rebukes comparisons to Ashley Babbitt, making a distinction about being armed/threatening versus unarmed.

California’s Governor’s Race Chaos & Democratic “Jungle Primary” Woes

Polls and Panic

• 43:15–48:00 Vince explains the California jungle primary system and the current Republican lead:
  • “California Democrats confront possibility of an all GOP governor race.”
  • Top two poll contenders: Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco.
  • “This is hilarious…This is shaping up to be hilarious now.” (46:30)
• Warns Democrats will pressure weaker candidates to drop out before June 2, but relishes the moment.

Election Integrity Debate

• Gavin Newsom pushes back on the SAVE Act (voter ID), citing personal confusion over his own birth certificate and implying barriers for African-Americans to obtain passports.
  • [49:52] Newsom:
    “I have no clue where mine is…two thirds African Americans don’t even have passports.”
• Vince:
  “It’s not that hard. You’re missing one. Contact your state’s records office and get it.”
  • Critiques Newsom and Sanders for their narratives, points to Newsom’s “casual racism.”

Notable Quotes & Colorful Moments

• Vince on Team USA’s attitude:
  “God, it’s so American. It’s unbelievable, actually. This guy is unreal…He can’t stop talking about how much he loves the country.” (07:12)
• On the Supreme Court dissenters:
  “The three justices who dissented…you should conclude what I conclude, which is those guys are right, everybody else is wrong.” (24:15)
• On Democratic “scandals”:
  “I like Trump scandals. Trump’s even made American scandals great again.” (19:50)
• On Gavin Newsom’s African American outreach:
  “A little charming story about me. I can’t read. It’s unbelievable…Please stop voting for Democrats.” (52:13)

Additional Segments & Timestamps

• Sports and Americana in the Studio
  • [00:30–02:00] Vince celebrates Team USA with patriotic décor and listener engagement.
• Cash Patel ‘Scandal’
  • [10:00–15:00] The media’s fit over the FBI Director joining the team’s celebration.
• Sean Farish Trump Parody
  • [20:34–22:21] Hilarious riff congratulating Team USA.
• California’s “Jungle Primary”
  • [43:12–48:30] How the system works and Democrats’ panic over GOP frontrunners.
• Gavin Newsom and Bernie Sanders on Voter ID
  • [49:52–54:16] Their struggle with basic bureaucracy as metaphor for their policies.
• AOC on Foreign Policy
  • [57:22–58:40] Whispery, defensive rebuttal after Taiwan gaffe; Vince mocks the delivery and background snores.

Final Thoughts

Closing Patriotism

• Vince closes by urging continued celebration for Team USA and looks forward to seeing both hockey teams at the State of the Union.
  • “We live in the best timeline. What a great country.”

For Listeners

This episode is a blend of Olympic euphoria, conservative commentary, and sharp rebukes of left-wing critics, wrapped in humor and national pride. Vince delivers rapid-fire insights for an audience craving both information and entertainment on the week’s most explosive cultural moments.

[Key Segments of Interest — Timestamps]

• 04:21–06:13: Game-winning goal & Jack Hughes interview
• 09:30–12:30: Cash Patel celebrates with Team USA
• 14:25–15:26: Trump congratulates the team, State of the Union invite
• 20:34–22:21: Sean Farish (Trump parody)
• 22:21–27:02: Supreme Court tariff ruling analysis
• 36:04–37:17: Mar-a-Lago security incident
• 43:12–48:30: California’s governor’s race and “jungle primary”
• 49:52–54:16: Newsom and Sanders on voter ID, birth certificate debate
• 57:22–58:40: AOC’s foreign policy video & background humor