Red State Reboot

Wondering what James Dobson and the fruit fly drowning in Abby’s iced latte have in common? They’re the newest inductees to our HALL OF SHAME!

Y’all, there’s a LOT going on. In this ep, we are circling back on a range of updates that we’d promised re: the militarization of DC, the newly proposed California district maps, and … American Eagle. Because it’s Labor Day (power to the people!!!!!!!), we also discuss the history of the “holiday” and how it’s “kinda just a capitalist scam,” and also give major props to high school students in North Carolina who are standing up for teachers and staff whose positions have been eliminated by budget cuts.

Looking for a Kilmar Abrego Garcia update? We’d hate to become repetitive, so you’ll have to head to lacarolina.info and subscribe to get Ben’s written analysis on the ongoing situation in your email inbox this Wednesday (9/3). If you’re seeing this after the fact? It’ll be uploaded to the Archive on the lacarolina.info site after it goes out.

AND (as always) GO DEACS!

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New episodes of Red State Reboot drop every Monday.

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IG: @redstaterebootpod

Website: www.redstatereboot.com

Contact: [email protected]

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SOURCES:

“Child Labor.” 2025. Social Welfare History Project. March 27. https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/programs/child-welfarechild-labor/child-labor/

Feuer, Alan, Devlin Barrett, and William K. Rashbaum. 2025. “Prosecutors Fail to Secure Indictment Against Man Who Threw Sandwich at Federal Agent.” The New York Times, August 27. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/us/politics/trump-sandwich-assault-indictment-justice-department.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Fischer, Jordan. 2025. “‘One of the Weakest Requests for Detention I Have Seen’ | Judge Releases DC Lawyer, West Point Grad Accused of Threatening National Guard.” Wusa9.Com, August 28. https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/crime/one-of-the-weakest-requests-for-detention-i-have-seen-judge-releases-dc-lawyer-west-point-grad-accused-of-threatening-national-guard-paul-bryant/65-f83a6c2b-afbd-49b5-814a-2e0a9f1ee064

Gains, Mosheh, and Nnamdi Egwuonwu. 2025. “National Guard Troops in Washington Begin Carrying Firearms.” NBC News. August 24. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/national-guard-troops-dc-begin-carrying-firearms-rcna226890

Goodman, Veronica. 2024. “Project 2025 Would Exploit Child Labor by Allowing Minors to Work in Dangerous Conditions With Fewer Protections.” Center for American Progress, September 27. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/project-2025-would-exploit-child-labor-by-allowing-minors-to-work-in-dangerous-conditions-with-fewer-protections/

Hui, T. Keung. 2025. “On The First Day of School, NC Gov. Stein Greets Families at This Wake Carpool.” Raleigh News & Observer, August 25. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article311763743.html

Ibssa, Lalee, Michelle Stoddart, Isabella Murray, and Ivan Pereira. 2025. “No Patrol but Trump Visits Police, Military in DC as He Touts Anti-crime Push.” ABC News. August 22. https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics/trump-police-military-patrol-dc-thursday-night/story?id=124853091

Lake, Amber. 2025. “Mt. Tabor High School Students Walk Out To Support Teachers Amid Job Cuts.” Wfmynews2.Com, August 25. https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/education/mt-tabor-student-walkout-winston-salem/83-54d4e160-27c7-4b14-bc51-666db055c499

Murphy, J. Kim. 2025. “Variety.” Variety, August 27. https://variety.com/2025/film/news/travis-kelce-american-eagle-collection-taylor-swift-1236498416/

Newhall, Barbara Falconer. 2014. “James Dobson: Beat Your Dog, Spank Your Kid, Go to Heaven.” HuffPost (blog). December 7. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/james-dobson-beat-your-do_b_5

Listen, our brains are tired, so we have a full episode about pop music. But in RSR style, we begin with a complex question and distill it to a simple answer throughout our discussion: Who *is* the Clown?? The answer? We are. And if you make it to the end of this ep? You are too. But trust you WILL be rewarded for doing so…

Also Rest in Hell to evangelist James Dobson :)

And one more Q&A for ya: How Do You Make Us?? Just like this ;)

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New episodes of Red State Reboot drop every Monday.

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IG: @redstaterebootpod

Website: www.redstatereboot.com

Contact: [email protected]

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SOURCES:

Bishop, Holly. 2025. “JD Vance, Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller Deliver Shake Shack Burgers to National Guard in Washington DC.” Independent TV, August 20. https://www.the-independent.com/tv/news/jd-vance-pete-hegseth-stephen-miller-shake-shake-burgers-national-guard-washington-dc-b2811290.html

Hobert, Audrey. 2025. Who’s the Clown?. RCA Records. Stream here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6unMpOoIJqsLxuoTEFqdfP?si=gowiGaBhRL2HNQUgVM0NEw

Jeanine Pirro on X. 2025. ‘Assault a Law Enforcement Officer, and You’ll Be Prosecuted. This Guy Thought It Was Funny—well, He Doesn’t Think It’s Funny Today, Because We Charged Him With a Felony’. X (Formerly Twitter), August 13. https://x.com/JudgeJeanine/status/1955704405161808286

Rizzo, Salvador. 2025. “Pirro’s Office Won’t Pursue Gun Charges Over Carrying Rifles, Shotguns.” The Washington Post, August 20. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/08/19/pirro-dc-rifle-shotgun-charges/

It’s really a claaaassic RSR ep this week. Ben and Abby cover the federal government’s attempted takeover of DC - including a deployment of the National Guard (DC statehood NOW btw). This one simultaneously features top billed characters alongside debut performances: Pam Bondi, Big Balls™, Judge Ana Reyes and of course, Subway sandwich guy. We also react to an X video created by Subway sandwich guy’s nemesis Judge-not-Judge-U.S.-Attorney-Jeanine, talk fascism-by-confusion (new term for this theory drops next week, it hit us after the episode), and issue the very clear verdict that, yes, calling the cops on unhoused people makes you The Asshole.

Donate to Legal Aid DC here: http://legalaiddc.org

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New episodes of Red State Reboot drop every Monday.

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IG: @redstaterebootpod

Website: www.redstatereboot.com

Contact: [email protected]

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SOURCES:

Barrett, Devlin, and Karoun Demirjian. 2025. “Bondi Tightens Trump Administration’s Grip on D.C. Police and Names ‘Emergency’ Commissioner.” The New York Times, August 15. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/us/politics/dc-police-federal-immigration-enforcement.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Birnbaum, Michael, and Perry Stein. 2025. “Trump Orders Federal Takeover of D.C. Police, Deploys National Guard.” The Washington Post, August 15. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/11/trump-national-guard-dc-crime-crackdown/

Gathright, Jenny, Olivia George, Teo Armus, and Michael Laris. 2025. “Bondi Seeks to Rescind D.C. Police Immigration Policies as Enforcement Ramps Up.” The Washington Post, August 15. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/14/trump-dc-immigration-enforcement-police/

Jeanine Pirro on X. 2025. ‘Assault a Law Enforcement Officer, and You’ll Be Prosecuted. This Guy Thought It Was Funny—well, He Doesn’t Think It’s Funny Today, Because We Charged Him With a Felony’. X (Formerly Twitter), August 13. https://x.com/JudgeJeanine/status/1955704405161808286

Jones, Blake, and Melanie Mason. 2025. “All The Details in Democrats’ California Gerrymander.” POLITICO, August 15. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/15/california-dems-unveil-map-drawn-to-oust-5-house-republicans-00512578

LeVine, Marianne, Liz Goodwin, and Dan Lamothe. 2025. “Kristi Noem Is Living Rent-free in Home Used by Coast Guard Commandant.” The Washington Post, August 15. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/15/kristi-noem-is-living-free-charge-coast-guard-commandants-home/

McCreesh, Shawn. 2025. “At The Kennedy Center, Trump Puts His Pop Culture Obsession on Display.” The New York Times, August 14. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/13/us/politics/trump-kennedy-center-pop-culture.html

Rodriguez, Mathew. 2025. “Right-Wing Influencer Laura Loomer Testified Under Oath That Lindsey Graham Is Gay.” Them, August 14. https://www.them.us/story/laura-loomer-right-wing-influencer-lindsey-graham-gay-testimony

Wendler, Jacob. 2025. “UFC to Host First-ever White House Fight Next Year, CEO Dana White Says.” POLITICO, August 12. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/12/ufc-white-house-july4-fight-00505297

We’ve taken a page out of the books of the manchildren running our country, and present to you 45 minutes of gaffes, grifts, and gifts!

This bonus episode, dearest rebooties, features a technological mechanism revived only by popular demand: THE WHEEL OF DOOM. Listen as we rapid(ish)-fire our takes on topics ranging from the Oklahoma Superintendent of Education and his computer ‘hack’ to Roy Cooper’s announcement (!!!!) to Katy Perry + Justin Trudeau to Alligator Alcatraz to TYLER CHILDERS’ NEW ALBUM ‘SNIPE HUNTER’ GO LISTEN RIGHT NOW SERIOUSLY IT IS SO GOOD.

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New episodes of Red State Reboot drop every Monday.

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IG: @redstaterebootpod

Website: www.redstatereboot.com

Contact: [email protected]

WELCOME TO SEASON 2 baddies and rebooties!!! Brat summer is out and exposing pedoph*le rings summer is in. But a summer such as this wouldn’t be complete without Trump rolling out his red carpet for a REBOOT of his favorite non-truths and ad hominems. In this season premiere ep, we deep-dive on the 2 things that we physically couldn’t let another moment pass by without discussing on the mics: the Epstein files & Sydney Sweeney’s jeans [sic]. And because y’all deserve it (and because we already planned it before the great jeans/genes controversy of it all) we have a chaotic af bonus episode coming out for you tomorrow. ;) we are SO BACK! Thank you for your Attention to this Matter!!!!

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New episodes of Red State Reboot drop every Monday.

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IG: @redstaterebootpod

Website: www.redstatereboot.com

Contact: [email protected]

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SOURCES:

“A Timeline of the Jeffrey Epstein Investigation, Now 20 Years Old | AP News.” 2025. AP News, July 23. https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-investigation-records-timeline-545c371ee3dd3142355a26d27829c188

Hawkins, Eleanor. 2025. “American Eagle Doubles Down on Controversial Ad Campaign.” Axios, August 7. https://www.axios.com/2025/08/07/american-eagle-sydney-sweeney-backlash

Restrepo, Manuela López. 2025. “The Ad Campaign That Launched a Thousand Critiques: Sydney Sweeney’s Jeans.” NPR, August 1. https://www.npr.org/2025/08/01/nx-s1-5487286/sydney-sweeney-american-eagle-explained-why-controversy-racist-eugenics-trump-bathwater-ad-klein-statement

“The Facts and Timeline of Trump and Epstein’s Falling Out.” 2025. PBS News, July 31. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/the-facts-and-timeline-of-trump-and-epsteins-falling-out

It's big; it's beautiful; it's bonus; and it's an ep.

We'll be back in a flash!!!

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IG: @redstaterebootpod

Website: www.redstatereboot.com

Contact: [email protected]

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FGTM Call for Creators still open!!

https://www.friedgreentomatomedia.com/join-us

HOLY FREAK! We actually made it to the season one finale with y’all!!!!

CALL FOR CREATORS: [email protected]

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Text or Call our Hotline: 336-422-6267

IG: @redstaterebootpod

Website: www.redstatereboot.com

Contact: [email protected]

TLDR: SCOTUS isn’t interested in protecting trans kids. But we are!

In this ep, we give an update on something we covered back on ep #3 of RSR: the U.S. vs Skrmetti case involving the access of gender-affirming care for minors that made its way all the way from Tennessee to the Supreme Court. On Wednesday, June 18, the Supreme Court upheld the ban on young people accessing this form of healthcare, and on Thursday, June 19, we got on our microphones to get f*cking angry about it. As always, though, we give you a couple (albeit thin) silver linings that are keeping us going, and that we hope keep y’all going as well.

See you Monday for the S1 FINALE!!

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Text or Call our Hotline: 336-422-6267

IG: @redstaterebootpod

Website: www.redstatereboot.com

Contact: [email protected]

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SOURCES:

Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003). https://www.oyez.org/cases/2002/02-102

Moniuszko, Sara. 2025. “Trump Administration to Shutter Specialized LGBTQ+ Suicide Lifeline Option, Sparking Backlash.” CBS News. June 19. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-988-national-lgbtq-suicide-lifeline-backlash/

SAMHSA. “About Us.” n.d. https://www.samhsa.gov/about

Skrmetti v. United States, 605 U.S. ____ (2025). https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-477_2cp3.pdf

The Trevor Project. 2025. “Trump Administration Orders Termination of National LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide Lifeline, Effective July 17th.” June 18. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/blog/trump-administration-orders-termination-of-national-lgbtq-youth-suicide-lifeline-effective-july-17th/

Unlike Judge Judy’s ‘Judy Justice,’ this REBOOT is one y’all should care about! This week, listen to us (two liberal leftists in need of a lobotomy) cover the one and only (derogatory) Judge Jeanine Pirro. We recorded this one a few weeks back, but the intro is fresh and NEW for ya’ll! BTW: we’re still wondering if we’re the very first or very last people to make a connection between ‘reptilian’ conspiracy theories and ‘draining the swamp…’

We’ll be back tomorrow with one last mini-ep to close out this busyyyy week!

Clips referenced in the show are recreations of actual news clips.

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Text or Call our Hotline: 336-422-6267

IG: @redstaterebootpod

Website: www.redstatereboot.com

Contact: [email protected]

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SOURCES:

Gabbatt, Adam. 2025. “Jeanine Pirro Is Latest Loyalist to Join Fox News to Trump Administration Pipeline.” The Guardian, May 18. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/18/jeanine-pirro-interim-attorney-fox-news-trump

McCall, Jeffery. 2025. “Trump dips into the Fox News talent agency yet again with Jeanine Pirro pick.” The Hill, May 14. https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5300126-trump-fox-news-influence/

Schwartzman, Paul, Spencer S. Hsu, and Jeremy Barr. 2025. “TV-ready, Loyal: Pirro, Trump’s Pick for Top D.C. Prosecutor, Fits His Mold.” The Washington Post, May 13. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/05/08/jeanine-pirro-trump-us-attorney-fox/

Update alert! We are giving y’all the latest on Kilmar Abrego Garcia today - he is back in the U.S., but things are still rough AF, to say the very least. The U.S. government brought Abrego Garcia back from CECOT (El Salvador’s mega-prison) to charge him federally of a crime, and he is facing trial in Nashville as we speak. In case you weren’t following this sitch already, we pull from a VERY reliable source (ourselves) from mid-April to provide the context throughout, so don’t even worry. We know this won’t be the last thing that happens on this case or regarding Mr. Abrego Garcia, so we’ll continue to keep an eye on things, and we urge y’all to do the same.

Also, we start this ep with a *very* unserious complaint from Abby, but you know, the Bojangles to immigrant rights discussion pipeline is extremely RSR coded.

In summary: is this what American justice looks like? We hope not, but fear so…

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Text or Call our Hotline: 336-422-6267

IG: @redstaterebootpod

Website: www.redstatereboot.com

Contact: [email protected]

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SOURCES:

Belson, Dan, and Jeff Barker. 2025. “Maryland Senator Says Abrego Garcia ‘Kidnapped’ After El Salvador President Refuses to Return Him.” Baltimore Sun, April 15. https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/04/14/kilmar-abrego-garcia-chris-van-hollen/

Dwyer, Devin, and Laura Romero. 2025. “Lawyer for Wrongly Deported Maryland Man Says It Might Take Contempt Order to Get Him Back.” ABC News. April 14. https://abcnews.go.com/US/lawyer-wrongly-deported-maryland-man-contempt-order-back/story?id=120787771

Erskine, Ellena. 2025. “Noem V. Abrego Garcia - SCOTUSblog.” SCOTUSblog. April 14. https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/noem-v-abrego-garcia/

Finley, Ben. 2025. “Abrego Garcia Lawyers Ask Federal Judge to Fine the Trump Administration.” AP News. June 12. https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-contempt-fines-trump-3a8511d876f3989cac29da93f8f86f1f

Feuer, Alan. 2025. “What to Know About the Deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.” The New York Times, April 14. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/us/politics/abrego-garcia-trump-deportations-el-salvador.html

Ordoñez, Franco. 2025. “El Salvador’s Bukele Says ‘preposterous’ to Suggest He Return Abrego Garcia to U.S.” NPR, April 14. https://www.npr.org/2025/04/14/nx-s1-5364502/trump-bukele-el-salvador-deportation

Quinn, Melissa, Jacob Rosen, and Nicole Valdes. 2025. “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Wrongly Deported to El Salvador, Brought Back to U.S. to Face Human Smuggling Charges.” CBS News. June 7. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kilmar-abrego-garcia-indicted-us-el-salvador/

Wendling, Mike. 2025. “Kilmar Ábrego García Pleads Not Guilty in Human Trafficking Case.” June 13. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cglerezp43no