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: rsr@friedgreentomatomedia.com
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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
