The Rubin Report Podcast
The Rubin Report Podcast
January 20, 2026

‘Shark Tank’ Legend Explains the Real Reason Gavin Newsom’s 2028 Chances Just Died

Quick Read

Kevin O'Leary predicts Gavin Newsom's 2028 presidential bid will fail due to exposed fraud in California, while the host critiques Don Lemon's alleged church raid and Democratic party's perceived corruption and anti-Semitism.
Kevin O'Leary predicts Gavin Newsom's 2028 presidential run will be 'crushed' by exposed fraud and mismanagement in California, mirroring issues in Minnesota.
Don Lemon is accused of inciting a church raid in Minneapolis, potentially facing KKK Act charges, while falsely claiming journalistic neutrality.
Kamala Harris's vetting team questioned Josh Shapiro about being an 'agent of the Israeli government,' highlighting alleged anti-Semitism within the Democratic party.

Summary

The episode, recorded on January 20th, 2026, features host Dave Rubin discussing several contentious political events. Kevin O'Leary, 'Mr. Wonderful,' is cited predicting California Governor Gavin Newsom's 2028 presidential aspirations will be 'crushed' as alleged fraud in Minnesota shifts focus to California's financial mismanagement, including a high-speed rail project costing billions for minimal progress. Rubin asserts widespread fraud within Minnesota's Somali community, alleging federal funds are laundered through fake daycare centers, leading to local law enforcement's non-cooperation with ICE. The host vehemently criticizes Don Lemon for allegedly inciting and participating in a church raid in Minneapolis, comparing it to civil rights protests and facing potential charges under the KKK Act. Furthermore, Rubin highlights Kamala Harris's VP vetting team questioning Josh Shapiro about being an 'agent of the Israeli government,' which he frames as evidence of anti-Semitism within the Democratic party. The episode concludes with a critique of newly sworn-in Virginia officials, including a Lieutenant Governor swearing on a Quran and a Governor repealing an executive order for state cooperation with ICE, which Rubin argues undermines American values and law enforcement.
This episode frames several current events as symptomatic of a broader degradation of American institutions and values, particularly within the Democratic party and blue states. The host argues that alleged financial fraud, law enforcement non-cooperation, and perceived media activism contribute to societal breakdown and threaten national security. The discussion around Gavin Newsom's political future and the scrutiny of California's governance suggests potential shifts in national political narratives, while the critique of immigration policies and the role of AI in job displacement raises questions about the country's economic and social trajectory.

Takeaways

  • Kevin O'Leary believes Gavin Newsom's 2028 presidential bid will fail due to California's economic issues and alleged fraud, which he links to similar issues in Minnesota.
  • The host alleges widespread federal dollar fraud within Minnesota's Somali community, laundered through fake daycare centers, leading to local unrest and law enforcement non-cooperation with ICE.
  • Don Lemon is criticized for allegedly participating in and narrating a church raid in Minneapolis, with legal experts suggesting he could face charges under the KKK Act for inciting the event.
  • Kamala Harris's VP vetting team reportedly asked Josh Shapiro if he was an 'agent of the Israeli government,' which the host interprets as anti-Semitic bias within the Democratic party.
  • New Virginia officials, including a Lieutenant Governor sworn on a Quran and a Governor repealing state cooperation with ICE, are presented as undermining Judeo-Christian values and federal law enforcement.

Insights

1Gavin Newsom's 2028 Presidential Prospects Diminished by California's Alleged Fraud

Kevin O'Leary, 'Mr. Wonderful' from Shark Tank, predicts that Gavin Newsom's presidential aspirations will be 'crushed' by the exposure of alleged fraud and mismanagement in California. O'Leary suggests that scrutiny currently focused on Minnesota's financial issues will inevitably shift to California, highlighting Newsom's perceived lack of 'executional skills' and poor management. The host corroborates this by citing the high cost and minimal progress of California's high-speed rail project (126 miles for $15 billion, projected $128 billion total) as evidence of a 'giant slush fund.'

Kevin O'Leary states, 'Newsom... has presidential aspirations. Well, how's this going to work for him? All this tape you're making... that's coming at him in ads for him when he's running for president. Right now, people say he has no executional skills and he's a bad manager.' The host adds, 'The train was basically supposed to go to LA... It was going to cost they projected it was going to cost 128 billion... They've spent 15 billion and they've all they've done is a train from Bakersfield to Merced 126 miles for $15 billion.'

2Alleged Federal Dollar Fraud in Minnesota's Somali Community

The host asserts that widespread fraud is occurring within Minnesota's Somali community, involving the theft of federal dollars laundered through fake nursery and preschools. This alleged activity, initially uncovered by journalist Nick Shirley, led to ICE intervention and subsequent 'chaos' and protests in Minneapolis. The host implies a connection between this fraud and political figures like Governor Tim Walz and Representative Ilhan Omar.

The host states, 'The fraud stuff coming out of Minnesota must be uncovered... Cali, which has been a one party state... Everything they do is a giant slush fund.' He later elaborates, 'There's just like the fraud slush fund part of this that it largely in the Somali community of Minnesota specifically they are stealing federal dollars, laundering through them through these fake nursery schools, preschools, etc.'

3Don Lemon Accused of Inciting Church Raid and Facing KKK Act Charges

Don Lemon is heavily criticized for allegedly participating in and narrating a protest inside a Minneapolis church, which the host and legal experts deem an illegal act and not protected by the First Amendment. Lemon's actions are contrasted with legitimate journalism, and he is accused of being an activist and propagandist. The Department of Justice is reportedly considering charging Lemon under the KKK Act for inciting a church raid, a move highlighted by civil rights attorney Harmeet Dhillon.

The host states, 'Don Lemon... he basically stormed a church in Minneapolis with a bunch of activists.' He later quotes Harmeet Dhillon: 'A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest. It is a space protected ex from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws. Nor does the first amendment protect your pseudojournalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice.' The host also cites 'Insider Wire' reporting, 'Breaking Department of Justice to charge Don Lemon under the KKK act for inciting a church raid.'

4Kamala Harris's VP Vetting Team Questioned Josh Shapiro on Israeli Government Ties

During the Vice Presidential vetting process, Kamala Harris's team reportedly asked then-candidate Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, if he had 'ever been an agent of the Israeli government' or communicated with an 'undercover agent of Israel.' Shapiro found the questions offensive, and the host interprets this line of questioning as evidence of deep-seated anti-Semitism within the Democratic party, suggesting it was a factor in Shapiro not being chosen as VP.

The host quotes Redwave Press and The New York Times, 'Camala Harris's vetting team asked Governor Josh Shapiro, quote, 'Have you ever been an agent of the Israeli government?' During VP vetting... Mr. Shapiro, who is Jewish, details a contentious vetting process in which Mrs. Harris's team focused intensely on his views on Israel.' Shapiro's incredulous response was, 'Had I been a double agent for Israel?' and 'If they were undercover, I responded, 'How the hell would I know?''

5Virginia's New Governor Repeals ICE Cooperation Mandate, Undermining Federal Law

Virginia's new Governor, Abigail Spanberger, repealed an executive order that mandated state and local law enforcement cooperate with ICE. The host argues this action, along with the Lieutenant Governor swearing on a Quran, is antithetical to American values and the rule of law. He contends that while states can choose not to actively work with ICE, preventing ICE from operating or hindering law enforcement from identifying illegal immigrants violates federal law and degrades the system.

The host states, 'Her first action once sworn in was to repeal an executive order that mandated that the state work with ICE.' He then quotes the Governor: 'This executive order rescends executive order number 47. State and local law enforcement should not be required to divert their limited resources to enforce federal civil immigration laws.' The host counters, 'If you were to say we will not allow ICE here, that absolutely... is a violation of federal law.'

Bottom Line

The rapid advancement of AI and robotics is poised to displace low-skill jobs, fundamentally altering the economic rationale for mass low-skill immigration. This technological shift could render traditional arguments for immigration based on labor shortages obsolete, potentially exacerbating societal challenges if immigration policies are not adapted.

So What?

Policymakers and societies must proactively address the implications of automation on the labor market and re-evaluate immigration strategies. Continuing to admit large numbers of low-skilled immigrants into an economy where such jobs are rapidly disappearing could lead to increased unemployment, social strain, and a diminished quality of life for both native-born and immigrant populations.

Impact

There is an opportunity to invest heavily in retraining programs for existing populations and to prioritize immigration policies that attract high-skilled talent in areas where human labor remains critical or complements advanced technology. This requires a forward-thinking approach to education, workforce development, and immigration reform that anticipates future economic realities rather than relying on outdated models.

Key Concepts

The Fraudster's Scream

Co-founder of Palantir, Joe Lonsdale, and Elon Musk's observation that when fraud or 'grift' is investigated or shut down, the people who 'scream the most' are typically the fraudsters themselves, often with 'amazingly good fake sob stories.' This model suggests that strong resistance to accountability often indicates underlying illicit activity.

Immigration as a Zero-Sum Game

Drawing on Thomas Sowell's perspective, the idea that a country cannot indefinitely allow unrestricted immigration without fundamentally altering its identity and potentially depleting its resources. This model posits that immigration must benefit the host country to be sustainable, rather than being solely a 'giving tree' scenario.

Lessons

  • Scrutinize claims of 'journalism' from media figures, especially when they appear to participate in or incite protests, and understand the legal protections for places of worship.
  • Investigate local and state government spending for potential fraud, particularly in areas with large, complex projects or community programs, as highlighted by the California rail project and Minnesota daycare allegations.
  • Be aware of how political vetting processes, such as the one for Josh Shapiro, can reveal underlying biases or ideological litmus tests within political parties.
  • Understand the legal distinctions between state and federal law enforcement responsibilities, especially concerning immigration, and how state-level non-cooperation can impact federal mandates.
  • Consider the long-term economic implications of technological advancements like AI and robotics on labor markets when evaluating immigration policies and national resource allocation.

Quotes

"

"People say he has no executional skills and he's a bad manager. And is there any evidence that that's not true? He's the guy that has to solve for that and show, look, this 37 billion wasn't wasted. Here's how I spent it. Otherwise, he's going to get cooked like a chicken on a spit on this one."

Kevin O'Leary
"

"Who gets upset when you shut off the fraud? ... The people who would scream the most were the fraudsters."

Joe Lonsdale
"

"A house of worship is not a public forum for your protest. It is a space protected ex from exactly such acts by federal criminal and civil laws. Nor does the first amendment protect your pseudojournalism of disrupting a prayer service. You are on notice."

Harmeet Dhillon (quoted by host)
"

"Had I been a double agent for Israel... If they were undercover, I responded, 'How the hell would I know?'"

Josh Shapiro
"

"If everybody came to America it wouldn't be America anymore. So that that's not an option that we have."

Thomas Sowell

Q&A

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