Dave Rubin, host of the “Rubin Report,” is challenging Americans to be open to different ideas.
A self-described liberal, Rubin has discovered unexpected popularity with young conservatives and is encouraging them to think critically about what they can do now to improve political discourse.
Speaking to the Red Alert Politics following his speech at the Turning Point USA’s High School Leadership Summit, Rubin praised students for embracing intellectual diversity.
“You guys are completely open to ideas. You’re actually willing to engage in some open discourse and dialogue. You’re willing to have your minds changed. You’re willing to try to change someone else’s mind. We’re not screaming at each other. It’s open, and honest, and decent,” Rubin said. “There were even points during my talk where I said a couple things against the standard conservative talking points and they got applause. And that’s a beautiful thing. That’s what it’s about. It’s either that or let’s start killing each other.”
In the age of Trump, Rubin also warned young Americans about the rise of hysteria and political intolerance. He implored Americans to “know what you’re talking about.”
“The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That’s upsetting to a lot of people but what I think is there’s a lot of fertile ground for good ideas,” Rubin said.
“What I think is incumbent on you guys is know what you’re talking about. A lot of the people that we’re fighting with don’t know what they’re talking about. Be calm. People are going to say mean things to you. They’re going to say things that upset you. They’re going to lie to you. They’re going to lie about you. You’ll survive. Keep being better.”
Rubin added that he wished he had heard that advice as a student because maybe “I wouldn’t have gone so down that path of leftism.”
“You don’t always have to be owning the libs, attacking the libtards, and all that stuff. Let the other guys flame out with all of that trolling nonsense and all that. It’s not always about winning. If you can really just show people: If they’re being awful, be less awful.”
The wide-ranging conversation also ventured to Rubin’s personal beliefs on natural rights, before he slammed the Left for being “led by their worst parts” on issues such as wealth inequality, abortion, and immigration.
“You are born free. I was born free. The government can take your freedom away but it did not give you your freedom. It was your human right. The key part of that is you are free first.”
Now, Rubin says he disagrees “with almost everything” the Left champions.
“This redistribution of wealth, that is out of control. Even their position on abortion, which is becoming more and more radical, because [the left’s] always led by their worst parts. Eventually they’re going to be okay with a 7-month, if not an 8-month abortion. In some cases, they are already, but they always go to their worst place.”
