Dave Rubin’s appearance on Paul Murray Live was pure blue-collar, no-nonsense television: a thoughtful host forced to witness the strangest clips from the No Kings marches and call out the circus for what it was. Rubin’s dry, incredulous reaction at the theatrics cut through the predictable cable hot takes and reminded viewers that sober observation still matters in political discourse. The segment proved why independent voices like his matter on international stages.
What the networks framed as a spontaneous national outpouring of “resistance” was in reality a sprawling, organizer-driven series of demonstrations staged in thousands of cities across America last weekend. These marches—branded under the No Kings banner—saw large gatherings from coast to coast, and the scale only underlines how politically charged and coordinated modern protest movements have become. The public deserves clarity about who is organizing these events and to what end.
Some of the footage Rubin was made to watch was straight out of a comedy sketch: oversized costumes, staged theatrics, and protesters more interested in attention than argument. President Trump’s camp even leaned into the surreal, sharing an AI-generated mock video lampooning the marches; it was juvenile, sure, but it also exposed how the culture war now plays out in meme form rather than honest policy debate. Laughable as it was, the stunt highlighted the absurd theater driving public opinion on both sides.
When the pageantry turned dangerous in certain cities, law enforcement had to step in to keep order, deploying less-lethal tools after reports of rocks, fireworks, and other projectiles. The scenes in places like Los Angeles reminded viewers that peaceful protest is a protected right, but moving into unlawful assembly changes the calculus and puts civilians and officers at risk. Conservatives should defend the right to dissent while also insisting on rule of law and public safety.
Let’s not kid ourselves: a lot of the outrage on display is elite performative politics—an emotional tantrum against outcomes they don’t like rather than a reasoned defense of liberty. Commentators across the spectrum have noted how these demonstrations often reflect frustration with democratic choices rather than a principled stand against tyranny. The real question for the press should be why mainstream outlets so readily amplify theatrical outrage while downplaying policy wins that actually affect working people.
Rubin’s larger point, made between jokes and raised eyebrows, is that conservative and classical-liberal voices still have the power to reach global audiences—hence his active tour Down Under this October. He’s taking these debates to Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, reminding audiences abroad that the cultural fight is global and that defending free expression isn’t a parochial American hobby but a transnational cause. That kind of on-the-ground engagement matters more than another thinkpiece about virtue signalling.
At the end of the day, what Rubin and every sane commentator should demand is less spectacle and more argument. We need robust debate, not staged outrage; we need defenders of free speech like Charlie Kirk and others who inspire young people to think for themselves rather than follow the next hashtag. If conservatives keep showing up with facts, courage, and humor, the left’s monoculture will lose its chokehold on art and institutions—and common sense will make a comeback.
