Dave Rubin (born David Joshua Rubin on June 26, 1976, in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Long Island) is a conservative political commentator, YouTuber, podcaster, author, and former comedian. He earned a degree in political science and began his career in 1998 as a stand-up comedian in New York City. After interning at 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart' in 1999, he co-hosted LGBTQ-themed talk shows 'The Ben and Dave Show' (2007–2008) and 'The Six Pack' (2009–2012) with Ben Harvey. Rubin transitioned to political commentary with the launch of 'The Rubin Report' on the TYT Network in 2013. He left TYT in 2015 due to ideological differences, including disillusionment with 'identity politics' and the 'regressive left,' shifting toward libertarian and conservative perspectives. As host of 'The Rubin Report' podcast and YouTube show (now also on BlazeTV), he focuses on free speech, individual liberty, small government, critiques of progressive ideologies and 'woke' culture, and interviews guests across the political spectrum on topics including politics and culture. Rubin describes himself as a classical liberal or conservative commentator, blending his comedy background with political punditry to challenge mainstream narratives. He is a prominent figure in the 'Intellectual Dark Web' alongside peers like Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro. As an openly gay man and a parent through surrogacy, Rubin's personal life often intersects with his political discourse, navigating complex dynamics within the conservative movement and facing backlash from traditionalist factions. In recent years, he has leaned heavily into Republican politics, relocating from California to Florida in 2021 to support Governor Ron DeSantis and eventually endorsing Donald Trump. In 2024, his career faced significant legal scrutiny when he was identified as 'Commentator-1' in a Department of Justice indictment involving Tenet Media, a company allegedly funded by a Russian state-media influence operation; Rubin has maintained his innocence, asserting that he was a victim of the scheme and had no knowledge of the illicit funding sources.