Podcast Summary: VINCE — Episode 194

“Stunning New Poll Has the Dems Panicking”
December 23, 2025
Host (Guest): Sean Farish (filling in for Vince Coglianese)

Overview

In this lively, sardonic episode, Sean Farish guest-hosts for Vince Coglianese and delivers an in-depth analysis of several recent polls that paint a challenging picture for the Democratic Party. The main theme is the clear disconnect between the Democratic agenda and the attitudes of most Americans, revealed by both mainstream and conservative-leaning polls. Farish uses humor, political impressions, and pop culture references to discuss partisan divides on issues like Donald Trump, immigration, and government subsidies—all against the backdrop of the 2025 political climate.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Credibility and Bias in Polling (03:00–06:45)

• Farish acknowledges skepticism around polling, noting, “Some people say to me, Sean, you can’t trust the polls... Well, I’ll tell you one thing, the polls, they’re not perfect. But... it’s the only data that we have when we talk about these issues surrounding American politics.” (03:00)
• Differentiates between right- and left-leaning pollsters (lists Trafalgar, Insider Advantage, Rasmussen as right-leaning; Quinnipiac, Emerson, Harvard Harris as left-leaning).
• Cites the latest Harvard Harris poll as “pretty heavily to the left,” enhancing the impact of its findings.

2. The ‘TDS’ (Trump Derangement Syndrome) Divide and the Pirates Analogy (04:32–12:00)

• Main finding: A majority of Americans (60%) favor a ‘wait and see’ approach to Trump policies, advocating assessment over blind opposition.
• Farish draws a humorous analogy to “Pirates of the Caribbean,” advising against rejecting ideas solely because of their source (“Don’t just discount what somebody says because somebody who you don’t like said it.” – 06:45).
• Party breakdown:
  • 62% of Democrats advocate automatic opposition to Trump.
  • 79% of Republicans and 62% of independents favor a “wait and see” policy.

Notable Quote:

“You live by TDS, you die by TDS.” — Sean Farish (04:30)

“Republicans and independents agree: Democrats should stop just leaning into TDS… Let’s see what happens.” (11:27)

3. Policy Discussion: Tariffs and Taxes (12:00–14:39)

• Farish advocates for trying Trump’s proposals, such as replacing the income tax with tariffs:
  • “You only have to pay [the tariff] when you buy something... The income tax applies to every single dollar you make.”
• Claims tariffs haven’t brought economic doom as some Democrats suggested.

Notable Quote:

“If you’re saying it’s the worst thing in the world, you should probably let it happen.” (13:15)

4. The Southern Border and Immigration Policy (14:39–20:15)

• Applauds Trump for achieving “zero illegal aliens released into the country between May and November of 2025.” (12:55)
• Cites deportation figures: 1.9 million self-deported, 600,000 involuntarily.
• Articulates a hardline view: “I don’t care how they leave, as long as they leave.” (14:48)

5. Democratic Unpopularity and Congressional Approval (16:29–20:23)

Poll Data:

• Democrats’ approval rating in Congress: 18% (per Quinnipiac and Harvard Harris).
  • Farish mocks Democratic leaders like Hakeem Jeffries for dismissing bad numbers as “outliers.” (18:07–18:38)
• Points out that historically, Trump’s approval is now better than Bush, Obama, or Clinton at the same point in their presidencies.

Notable Quote:

“Could you imagine having an 18% approval rating and thinking you’re doing a good job?” (19:10)

6. Youth Conservatism & Turning Point USA Poll (22:47–28:43)

• Discusses a Turning Point USA straw poll from AmericaFest:
  • 90% of young conservatives support a moratorium on all immigration (legal and illegal).
  • Top threats as ranked by these young people: radical Islam, communism, and mass migration.
• Farish expresses agreement: “I kind of think we’re full, right? The United States, we’re full.” (28:18)
• Articulates concerns about social program abuse by immigrants, citing a $9 billion Medicaid fraud in Minnesota involving Somali immigrants.

Notable Quote:

“We don’t have the space. We just don’t. And supply and demand would teach you… When you throw 20, 30, 40 million additional people into the equation, you are creating so much more demand. What happens? Price goes up, cost goes up, everything goes through the roof.” (28:54)

7. Government Subsidies and the Looming Shutdown (33:33–45:25)

• Discusses the January 30th deadline for a potential government shutdown, with disagreements focusing on health care and subsidies for illegal immigrants.
• Criticizes Obamacare and “Covid-era subsidies,” questioning their necessity now the pandemic is over.
• Advocates shifting health care subsidies directly to individuals, not insurance companies.

Notable Quote:

“If the Affordable Care Act made health care affordable, then why is health care unaffordable? … That’s the Unaffordable Care Act, as Donald Trump likes to call it.” (38:40)

“If they want to just obstruct, cut them out of the process.” (45:20)

8. Media Critique: Collapse in Trust (46:09–53:33)

• Farish plays and mocks clips from Chuck Todd and Rachel Maddow about media credibility and COVID misinformation.
• Argues loss of trust is due to biased reporting, rather than “big tech and algorithms.”
• Relentlessly parodies media figures for past statements (especially regarding the Hunter Biden laptop and COVID vaccines).

Memorable Quotes:

“No, it’s not the algorithms. It’s you…. The face staring back at you in the mirror, that’s the person to blame for the fact that your institutions aren’t trusted anymore.” (53:31)

9. Trump as ‘Pirate King’ and Pop Culture Banter (55:02–57:38)

• Farish jokes about the U.S. seizing foreign oil tankers, dubbing Trump the “Pirate King.”
• Segues into playful impressions and banter about sea shanties, ships, and pop culture.
• Trump impressions abound: “They call me the Pirate King. That’s it. The Pirate King is here. We have our own fleet.” (56:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Polling and TDS divide: 03:00–12:00
• Tariffs and taxes: 12:00–14:39
• Immigration, border, and deportations: 14:39–20:15
• Democratic approval and polling reaction: 16:29–20:23
• Turning Point USA youth poll: 22:47–28:43
• Social programs and economic arguments: 28:43–33:33
• Government shutdown & health care debate: 33:33–45:25
• Media distrust analysis: 46:09–53:33
• Pirate King and Trump as pop-culture figure: 55:02–57:38

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

• “Don’t just discount what somebody says because somebody who you don’t like said it.”
  — Sean Farish [06:45]
• “You live by TDS, you die by TDS.”
  — Sean Farish [04:30]
• “If you’re saying it’s the worst thing in the world, you should probably let it happen.”
  — Sean Farish [13:15]
• “I don’t care how they leave, as long as they leave.”
  — Sean Farish [14:48]
• “Could you imagine having an 18% approval rating and thinking you’re doing a good job?”
  — Sean Farish [19:10]
• “We don’t have the space. We just don’t. And supply and demand would teach you…”
  — Sean Farish [28:54]
• “If the Affordable Care Act made health care affordable, then why is health care unaffordable?”
  — Sean Farish [38:40]
• “No, it’s not the algorithms. It’s you... That’s the person to blame for the fact that your institutions aren’t trusted anymore.”
  — Sean Farish [53:31]
• “They call me the Pirate King. That’s it. The Pirate King is here. We have our own fleet.”
  — Sean Farish, as Trump [56:10]

Tone and Style

The episode is marked by its highly conversational, satirical, and combative tone. Farish uses impressions (especially Trump), sarcasm, and pop culture references to energize his audience—while delivering largely conservative positions on current policy debates. There’s an undercurrent of cultural frustration, but also exuberant humor and showmanship.

Conclusion

Episode 194 of VINCE delivers a spirited critique of Democratic policy and political strategy, using a slew of polling data and current events to argue that the Democratic Party is at odds with public opinion. Farish’s blend of numbers, gags, and impersonations makes for an entertaining yet cutting analysis of the 2025 political scene, capped with jabs at media credibility, government spending, and America’s so-called “Pirate King.”