Dave Smith: Libertarian comedian and political commentator, host of the 'Part of the Problem' podcast and co-host of 'Legion of Skanks.' Known for anti-war, non-interventionist foreign-policy views and frequent JRE appearances.
What this episode covers
Joe Rogan and Dave Smith spend nearly three hours on politics, war, and media. Smith lays out a sweeping non-interventionist critique of US foreign policy, Ukraine, the Iraq War, the drone wars in Yemen, the Houthis, and Israel-Palestine, arguing America's wars are driven by neocon plans and lobbying rather than self-defense. They dissect domestic flashpoints including the Signal group-chat leak, the George Floyd case and 2020 riots, mass immigration and deportation policy, COVID lockdowns, and the lab-leak coverup. A recurring theme is the collapse of legacy media propaganda and the rise of independent long-form podcasts, with extended praise for Daryl Cooper's historical work. They close on AI, the end of easy lying, and why Kamala Harris's 'astroturfed' campaign had to lose.
No purchasable items were genuinely recommended in this episode.
Big reveals from this episode
- Smith recounts Wesley Clark saying on a Piers Morgan debate that the 'seven wars in five years' regime-change plan traces back to Paul Wolfowitz in 1991, revived later via an Israeli-funded study.
- Joe and Dave cite Robert Gibbs admitting on NBC he was instructed as press secretary to never even acknowledge the drone program existed.
- Smith argues ticketing/policing-for-profit and arrest quotas turn cops into 'glorified revenue collectors.'
- Smith says he was an early promoter of Daryl Cooper and that cancellation attempts only made Cooper's podcast bigger.
- Smith says if Trump invades Iran he will publicly apologize for voting for him, calling it a mistake if it happens.
- Both claim real journalism today only exists independently, naming Glenn Greenwald, Matt Taibbi, and Michael Shellenberger.
- Smith and Rogan describe an alleged Democratic strategy of moving migrants into swing states toward eventual voting majorities.
Worth remembering
- Smith jokes about being paid '$1,400 in a day' to attend both a Kamala Harris rally and a pro-Tesla protest.
- They describe Yemen (2015-2021) as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, citing a Saudi blockade and mass cholera deaths.
- Rogan cites Constantin Kisin's claim that the UK arrested roughly 4,000 people over social-media posts versus ~400 in Russia.
- They debate George Floyd's autopsy: 11 ng/dL fentanyl and 19 ng/dL meth, with Rogan arguing neck compression was still decisive.
- Smith uses the Good Will Hunting 'pick the wrench' scene as an analogy for cycles of retaliatory violence.
- Smith argues the 'peace candidate' has won nearly every recent US presidential election, from Bush 2000 to Trump 2024.
- Rogan predicts a 100%-accurate retina-reading lie-detector app within their lifetime.
- Smith credits Trump with landing 'devastating blows' on both the Republican and Democratic establishments and the corporate media.
- Dave Smith plugs Skankfest in New Orleans (September) and comicdavesmith.com for tour dates.