Rubin Report - Dave Rubin - Swalwell Resigns, Iran Wants a Deal & Trump Responds to Jesus Meme Controversy | 4/14/26 FIRST LOOK Aired: 2026-04-14 Duration: 08:05 === Iran Deal and Oil Blockade (03:21) === [00:00:04] Good morning, everybody. [00:00:05] It's Tuesday, April 14th, 2026, and this is First Look. [00:00:09] We've got a big packed show for you this morning. [00:00:12] Here's what we're tracking. [00:00:14] Iran now signaling it wants a deal after President Trump's naval blockade cuts off its ability to do business. [00:00:22] Eric Swalwell resigns from Congress as the scandal surrounding him reaches a breaking point. [00:00:29] Trump responds to backlash over that viral Jesus image while his feud with Pope Leo escalates. [00:00:36] And later, a DoorDash delivery to the Oval Office turns into a real world policy moment on tax relief for workers. [00:00:45] Let's get into it. [00:00:46] We start with a major development in the Middle East, and this is moving fast. [00:00:51] Just days after President Trump ordered a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is now signaling it wants to make a deal. [00:00:59] Trump told reporters Monday that the U.S. has already been contacted by what he called the right people in Iran, saying directly, They would like to work a deal. [00:01:10] This comes after negotiations over the weekend in Pakistan, led by Vice President JD Vance, broke down, and broke down over one issue Iran's nuclear program. [00:01:22] The administration's position has been clear no deal unless Iran fully abandons nuclear weapons capability. [00:01:30] And when those talks failed, Trump didn't hesitate. [00:01:33] He moved immediately to a blockade, one of the most aggressive economic and military pressure tactics you can use short of full conflict. [00:01:42] Now here's where it gets interesting. [00:01:45] According to Trump, the blockade is already having a massive impact. [00:01:49] He said Iran is now doing absolutely no business, meaning oil exports, shipping, and revenue streams are effectively frozen. [00:01:59] US warships have surged into the region. [00:02:02] And the message is simple. [00:02:04] If you want to move through that water, you're dealing with the United States Navy. [00:02:08] And the ripple effects are global. [00:02:11] We're now seeing a major shift in oil traffic. [00:02:14] Reports indicate over a hundred, more than 120 empty oil tankers are now heading toward the United States, particularly Texas and Louisiana, to load up on American oil instead of relying on Middle Eastern supply. [00:02:30] Trump has openly encouraged this, telling countries affected by the disruption to turn to American energy. [00:02:38] So this is more than just a military move, it's economic strategy. [00:02:42] You cut off Iran's ability to sell oil. [00:02:45] You redirect global demand to the US, and you strengthen your leverage at the negotiating table all at once. [00:02:53] Trump even framed it as breaking what he called a global chokehold, repositioning America as the energy supplier for the world. [00:03:02] And now, Iran appears to be feeling that pressure. [00:03:06] The big question is what happens next? [00:03:08] Do they come back to the table and accept stricter terms, or does this escalate further? [00:03:14] For now, the White House is projecting confidence. [00:03:17] This is the art of the deal meets art of the squeeze. [00:03:21] Now back to the U.S., where a major political development just broke. === Swalwell Resignation Scandal Explodes (03:32) === [00:03:26] Congressman Eric Swalwell has announced he will resign from Congress following the sexual misconduct allegations that rocked his campaign and triggered bipartisan pressure for him to step down. [00:03:39] In a statement, Swalwell said, I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I've made in my past. [00:03:48] I will fight the serious false allegation made against me. [00:03:52] However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make. [00:03:58] He went on to say that while he believes immediate expulsion without due process would be wrong, it would also be wrong for his constituents to have a distracted representative. [00:04:09] So, he says, he's stepping down. [00:04:11] This comes after a rapid collapse of support, not just from Republicans, but from Democrats as well, and the launch of a House ethics investigation. [00:04:21] There was also growing momentum for a vote to expel him from Congress. [00:04:25] Swalwell had already suspended his run for governor, but that wasn't enough to stop the pressure. [00:04:31] Now he's leaving Congress entirely. [00:04:34] He did not give a specific timeline for his departure, but a special election to fill his seat in California's 14th district could happen as soon as this summer. [00:04:45] Now to a story that's been blowing up online and crossing into politics, religion, and media all at once. [00:04:52] President Trump is responding to backlash over a viral image he posted, one that many people interpreted as depicting him as Jesus Christ. [00:05:01] The image showed Trump in a white tunic and red robe, appearing to heal a man in a hospital bed, with others around him in what looked like a religious setting. [00:05:11] It spread quickly, and not all of the reaction was positive. [00:05:15] Even some of Trump's Christian supporters called it inappropriate, even blasphemous. [00:05:21] But Trump says that's not what it was. [00:05:24] He told reporters Monday that he believed the image showed him as a doctor, not Jesus, saying it was meant to reflect healing and helping people, even tying it to the Red Cross. [00:05:36] He pushed back on the criticism, blaming what he called fake news for mischaracterizing the image. [00:05:42] Still, the backlash was enough that the post was deleted. [00:05:46] Now, this didn't happen in a vacuum. [00:05:48] The image came just hours after Trump went after Pope Leo, and this feud is escalating. [00:05:55] Trump criticized the Pope as weak and very liberal, especially over disagreements on immigration policy and the US military posture toward Iran. [00:06:05] He even went as far as to say he prefers the Pope's brother, calling him all MAGA, which gives you a sense of how personal this has gotten. [00:06:15] For his part, Pope Leo has taken a different tone. [00:06:19] He's avoided direct attacks, but he has criticized war and what he described as a delusion of omnipotence behind military action, clearly referencing the U.S. approach. [00:06:31] He reiterated that his focus is on peace, dialogue, and diplomacy, not confrontation. [00:06:38] So, what you're seeing here is more than just a disagreement. [00:06:41] It's a fundamental clash of worldview. [00:06:44] On one side, a hardline approach to power, security, and leverage. [00:06:49] On the other, a moral argument centered on peace and restraint. [00:06:54] And that divide is now playing out very publicly. === Trump's DoorDash Tax Policy Moment (01:07) === [00:06:58] And finally, a moment that's getting a lot of buzz President Trump took a DoorDash delivery at the White House yes, an actual delivery to the Oval Office and turned it into a policy moment. [00:07:11] The driver, Sharon Simmons, ended up speaking with Trump about a new tax provision that allows tipped workers to deduct up to $25,000 in tips. [00:07:22] She told the president that the policy saved her family nearly $12,000, money that helped cover medical expenses while her husband is battling cancer. [00:07:32] Trump praised the impact, pulled out a $100 tip on the spot, and even brought her in to speak with reporters. [00:07:41] Supporters are highlighting it as a real world example of tax relief helping working Americans. [00:07:47] Critics say it looked staged. [00:07:49] Either way, it definitely got people talking. [00:07:53] That's your first look for this Tuesday. [00:07:55] The stories you need to know to start your day. [00:07:57] We'll keep tracking all of it and bring you more as it develops. [00:08:02] I'm Dave Rubin. [00:08:03] Thanks for starting your morning with First Look.