VINCE – Episode 108

Title: The Pro-Crime Left Is Officially Finding Out
Date: August 21, 2025
Host: Vince Coglianese
Guest: Reagan Reese (White House Correspondent, The Daily Caller)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Vince Coglianese offers a pointed critique of the left's response to President Trump's recent crime crackdown in Washington, D.C. and other major cities. With characteristic sarcasm and directness, Vince discusses incidents involving illegal immigrants and crime in the nation's capital, media reactions, and the broader political implications for urban policy and public safety. The episode features an in-depth conversation with Reagan Reese, who provides White House insights, including updates on the Ukraine-Russia situation, changes at the White House, and the current state of the press corps.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Crime Crackdown in D.C. and Media Reaction

• Incident Analysis:
  [01:00–08:00] Vince reacts to viral footage showing law enforcement tackling an illegal immigrant in D.C. The man, David Perez Tiafani, turns out to have a record including charges of aggravated sexual battery against a minor.
  • Main critique: Media and left-leaning commentators (e.g., Jessica Tarlov) portray this as a "sob story," ignoring his criminal background.
  • Vince details: Tiafani had been ordered deported three times and had already received due process.
  • Memorable Moment: Vince gleefully breaks down the viral clip, mocks the confusion during the takedown, and plays audio of the man crying for his family.

    “Why do you think that guy tried to hit the A gap so quickly? ...Because he knew that's a part of his record. He keeps getting ejected from the country over and over and then he keeps coming back. And then when he does, he allegedly is abusing kids under the age of 13. No. Let’s get this guy out of the country. Bye bye, bye bye. It’s time to go. Adios.” (Vince, 07:00)

2. The Union Station Cleanup and Political Optics

• Policy & Protest:
  [08:00–13:00] Vince discusses the symbolic cleanup at Union Station — now described as cleaner, safer, and “restored” due to federal intervention.

  • Right-wing figures (J.D. Vance, Pete Hegseth, Stephen Miller) toured Union Station, thanking guards and mocking protesting leftists.
  • Stephen Miller: “For too long, 99% of this city has been terrorized by 1%... the criminals, the killers, the rapists, the drug dealers... We’re going to add thousands more resources to this city to get the criminals and the gang members out of here. So... we’re going to ignore these stupid white hippies that all need to go home and take a nap because they’re all over 90 years old.” (08:56)
  • Vince commentary: Derides protestors as "emotionally incontinent," criticizes Wolf Blitzer’s dismay at a militarized Union Station, and laughs at the left's “anger” at crime reduction.

    "How would you be mad at crime ending? ...How would you be mad at cleaning up our nation's capital?" (Vince, 10:05)

• Public Reception & Media Framing:
  [12:00–14:00]
  J.D. Vance on Fox News:

  “I don’t know why Democrats seem to love public disorder and chaos almost as a political ideology... They don’t realize so many people have been absolutely terrorized by Democrat crime policies.” (J.D. Vance, 13:04)

3. Homelessness: Underlying Causes & Political Narratives

• Policy Shift:
  [14:00–19:00] Vince cites a Wall Street Journal op-ed supporting Trump’s focus on mental health/drugs over housing policy as causes of urban homelessness.

  • Emphasizes data: Only 4% of homeless Americans cite housing costs as the main reason; majority suffer from mental illness or addiction.

    “The left for many years has excused their failures... ‘It’s an affordability issue.’ ...President Trump has taken extraordinary measures to fulfill an ordinary function of government: keeping clean, orderly streets.” (Vince, 15:50)

  • Details on executive orders threatening to cut federal funds from jurisdictions not adopting similar crackdowns.

• Stark Outcomes:

  • 3% of homeless on the street die each year; overdose deaths up 488% (2011–2020).
  • Proposed solution: Mandatory sheltering and treatment, not cash transfers.

4. Debunking Media "Hoaxes" and Restaurant Narratives

• Polling Skepticism:
  [19:00–22:00] Vince argues polls showing D.C. residents oppose the crackdown are misleading; he claims most people welcome safety but vote reflexively against Trump.

  • “These polls are bullshit. ...In these polls, it’s just ‘do you like Trump or not?’” (Vince, 20:19)

• Restaurant Hoax:
  [22:00–28:00]
  Vince dissects the claim that D.C. restaurant business has dropped 25% due to policing. He points out:

  • August = Congressional recess (“August recess”), always low traffic.
  • D.C. has “Restaurant Week” in August because traffic dips.
  • Actual stat: Reservations are up 29% YoY according to OpenTable after Restaurant Week starts.

    “So we start with the lie, we get to the facts, and now we arrive at the truth. Things are a lot better right now in Washington, D.C. ...The restaurants are benefiting...” (Vince, 27:00)

5. Interview Segment: Reagan Reese (White House Correspondent)

• White House Atmosphere & Ukraine Deal:
  [32:25–36:00] Reagan suggests a delicate Ukraine-Russia peace deal may be underway, citing a strangely quiet White House schedule and closed executive orders.

  “I have my suspicions that they’re working on this deal...it’s very sensitive. And that's why I think you’re not seeing the president very often.” (Reagan Reese, 33:16)

• America First & Military Commitments:

  • Debate over U.S. air troop involvement — is air commitment different than “boots on the ground”?

    “Right now it sounds like putting troops in the air is still a possibility. ...I think that’s something that the President is probably considering and thinking about the base as well, because how do you square that with America first?” (Reagan Reese, 35:07)

• White House Renovations:
  [36:00–39:00] Discussion of new American flags, Rose Garden refurbishment, and plans for a privately funded Trump Ballroom.

  “If he’s paying for it, they should just call it the Trump Ballroom...the fact that he’s already changed all of these things has to drive the left crazy.” (Vince, 39:00)
  Fun fact: The Roosevelt Room was once called the Fish Room due to a giant tank of fish maintained by Teddy Roosevelt.

• White House Press Dynamics:
  [41:10–48:00] Reagan describes shifting attitudes in the press corps with Trump’s return—they enjoy more access but react ambivalently.

  “When I covered the Biden administration...we would go days without seeing the president...A lot of people missed the access they got during the Trump administration.” (Reagan Reese, 42:19)

  • Describes internal press room politics, "bribing" staff with treats for better access.
  • Emphasizes the pressure to conform, but says, “My approach...get in, get out, and then I don’t...I didn’t want to get caught up in the politics.” (Reagan Reese, 44:51)
  • Vince praises Reagan for independent thinking and patriotism.

6. Oklahoma "Loyalty" Teacher Test Discussion

• Policy:
  [50:00–55:00] Oklahoma requires teachers from blue states to pass a PragerU-created test before certification, to screen for "leftist ideology."
• Sample Questions Analyzed (Spoofed as Ridiculously Easy):
  1. “What are the first three words of the Constitution?” (We the people)
  2. “Why is freedom of religion important to America's identity?”
  3. “What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?”
  4. “How many U.S. Senators are there?”
  5. “Why do some states have more representatives than others?”
• Vince mocks the simplicity:

  “If you are a teacher and you can’t get this right, you are in the wrong profession ...you should be in a mental institution if you can’t get the answer...” (Vince, 52:17)
  “Every single answer is D, just to test how much of an idiot you actually are...” (Vince, 54:21)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Vince on left-leaning reactions to the D.C. arrest:
  “The only tears you should be crying are tears of happiness that somebody’s finally fixing all of this.” (00:35)

• Stephen Miller, mocking protestors:
  “We’re going to ignore these stupid white hippies that all need to go home and take a nap because they’re all over 90 years old.” (08:56)

• J.D. Vance on Democratic policies:
  “Democrats have gotten so divorced [from] the communities that they allegedly serve that they don’t realize the gross majority of residents in D.C. ...want to walk through Union Station... They don’t make the connection...” (13:04)

• Vince on media's restaurant narrative:
  “Are all the criminals who were dining at Le Diplomate no longer showing up anymore? That makes no sense at all.” (24:45)

• Reagan Reese on press room culture:
  “My approach...get in, get out, and then I don’t. I go in, I do my job, and I leave...” (44:51)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• DC Crime/Illegal Immigrant Incident: 01:00–08:00
• Union Station, protests, and administration optics: 08:00–13:30
• Homelessness causes and Trump’s policies: 14:00–19:30
• Debunking the “Trump Hurts DC Restaurants” story: 22:00–28:00
• Interview: Reagan Reese – White House & Ukraine-Russia deal: 32:25–39:00
• White House Press Room: Access & Culture Shift: 41:10–48:25
• Oklahoma Teacher Exam Controversy: 50:00–55:30

Episode Tone & Style

Direct, sarcastic, with a blend of biting humor and policy commentary. Vince relishes “triggering” the left, frequently mocks “woke” narratives, and features right-of-center insider perspectives. The conversation with Reagan Reese is more conversational but still driven by skepticism of legacy media and government narratives.

For listeners seeking a pointed conservative take on current events in D.C., analysis of left-right political battles over crime and urban disorder, and insider White House tidbits, this episode delivers both energetic rant and in-depth reporting.