Mark Levin Podcast: "The Truth About Somali Refugees and Welfare Use"

Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Mark Levin | Guest: Rep. Jim Jordan

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mark Levin tackles the controversial topic of Somali refugees and welfare use, particularly in Minnesota. He draws heavily on a Free Press article by Ayaan Hirsi Ali to discuss cultural assimilation, crime, and welfare statistics among Somali communities. Levin criticizes political leaders for what he sees as their unwillingness to confront cultural incompatibilities and political correctness, and he ties these issues to broader concerns about immigration, multiculturalism, and national cohesion. The episode features commentary, article readings, and an expansive interview with Congressman Jim Jordan, covering antisemitism, Sharia law, and surveillance overreach.

Main Themes

• The cultural assimilation challenges posed by Somali refugee communities in Minnesota and elsewhere
• Welfare dependency among Somali households, as presented by recent studies
• The dangers of multiculturalism absent assimilation
• Criticism of mainstream political leaders (Democrats and establishment Republicans) for ignoring or downplaying these challenges
• Broader concern for American national identity, constitutional values, and the threat of both Islamism and cultural Marxism

Section Summaries & Key Points

1. Revolutionary War & Constitution Trivia (Starts ~[02:11])

• Levin opens with historical trivia about the signers of the Constitution.
• He spotlights less-known Founding Fathers and their contributions.
• Purpose: To educate listeners on American founding principles and set up a contrast to current events.

2. Politics of Identity & Critique of Politicians (Starts ~[07:42])

• Criticizes Gov. Josh Shapiro (PA) and Gov. Spencer Cox (UT) for pandering and lacking moral clarity.
• Plays a clip (~[08:59]) in which both are seen, in Levin's words, as equivocating or posturing on issues involving Muslim communities.
• Quote:

  "He [Josh Shapiro] plays up his Jewish heritage to Jews and plays it down to Muslims and others. It's just... diabolical, really. You either are something or you're not..." — Mark Levin ([08:20])

3. The Ayaan Hirsi Ali Article: Somali Culture, Crime, Welfare (Main Content: [13:14] - [29:38])

Cultural Clustering & Amoral Familism

• Levin reads from Ayaan Hirsi Ali's analysis of Somali culture, referencing sociologist Edward Banfield.
• Quote:

  "Politics is not a dissertation. Rather, it's the art of emotional direction. He [Trump] makes people talk about what he wants them to talk about, and beneath his theatrics lies a truth his critics cannot deny." — Mark Levin reading Hirsi Ali ([15:39])

• Hirsi Ali details how Somali refugees tend to cluster, reproduce clan-based social organization, and are slow to integrate.
• Examples from Sweden, Britain, Canada, and Kenya are discussed, noting persistent welfare dependency and crime.

Multiculturalism's Failure & The Case for Assimilation

• Assimilation, not mere integration, is essential according to Hirsi Ali and Levin.

• Quote (Ayaan Hirsi Ali, read by Levin):

  "Full assimilation. No clustering, no parallel societies ... We must insist on a civic identity that supersedes clan identity. Those who refuse should not remain in the country..." ([25:47])

• Levin broadens the analysis to criticize Islamists and multicultural policies:

  "Not everybody talking. Yeah, you got the Marxists and you got the Islamists ... when I was talking about this, nobody would touch it. They were scared to death..." — Mark Levin ([33:39])

4. Welfare Data & Further Critique (Starts ~[36:39])

• Cites Center for Immigration Studies data on Somali welfare use in Minnesota:
  • 81% of households on one or more forms of welfare
  • 89% of Somali-headed households with children on welfare ([41:09])
  • Compares with native-born Minnesotans (only 21% on welfare)
• Notes lack of English proficiency and high poverty rates among Somali refugees.
• Quote:

  "Nearly every Somali household with children is on welfare. Again, not because they're lazy. But because they want to take advantage of the system for their personal needs and their family needs. The hell with the taxpayer, the hell with the government, the hell with the whole country." — Mark Levin ([36:47])

5. Political Correctness & Media Critique (Starts ~[44:30])

• Argues media cover up these realities due to political correctness.
• Dismisses accusations of racism, calling his critique a matter of culture, not race.

6. Interview: Rep. Jim Jordan (Starts ~[51:54], Full Segment ~[51:54] – [68:38])

Antisemitism, Islamism, and Cultural Threats

• Discusses the rise of antisemitism and importance of the Judeo-Christian tradition.
• Expresses concern about the spread of Sharia communities and lack of assimilation.
  • Quote:

    "I'm very nervous ... about this very small but ... maybe growing ... on the conservative side, people who take this anti-Israel position. I just ... do not understand it one bit." — Jim Jordan ([53:31])

Surveillance & Overreach by the DOJ

• Jordan details how Jack Smith subpoenaed members of Congress' phone records and emails.
• Raises privacy concerns and questions about the rationale (e.g., being labeled a "flight risk").
• Quote:

  "This was a centerpiece and central issue in the 24 presidential election. And thank goodness President Trump won and we've secured the border. But yeah, that’s what happens when you embrace craziness." — Jim Jordan ([57:27])

7. Other Political Commentary & Callers' Segment ([70:58] onward)

• Levin critiques politicians like Jasmine Crockett and recounts an extensive list of her controversial statements.
• Light hearted segment about classic Christmas songs written by Jewish composers ([96:30]).
• Listener calls highlight local governance frustrations and reminisce about Rush Limbaugh.

Memorable Quotes and Segments

• "Assimilation or fracture. Cultural cohesion or cultural evasion. A functional society or a patchwork of rival loyalties." — Mark Levin reading Ayaan Hirsi Ali ([25:47])
• "I'm attacking Islamists. Islamists. And they deserve to be challenged and questioned and called out." — Mark Levin ([46:14])
• "There is simply no allegiance whatsoever to America, to America's culture. None. Zero." — Mark Levin ([35:15])
• "Success is in the eyes of the beholder. If you're happy and you have a good family and you can put food on the table and not worry that much, you're successful." — Mark Levin ([105:38])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [13:14] – [25:47]: Reading and discussion of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s article on Somali culture, amoral familism, and the failure of multicultural policies.
• [36:39]: Mark Levin discusses new welfare statistics for Somali households in Minnesota.
• [41:09] – [43:33]: Detailed statistical comparison between Somali refugee and native Minnesotan welfare and educational attainment.
• [51:54] – [68:38]: Interview with Rep. Jim Jordan on antisemitism, the rise of Sharia enclaves, mismanagement under Biden, surveillance issues.
• [70:58] – [80:54]: Commentary on Jasmine Crockett, critique of Democratic leadership, and segue to Christmas trivia.

Tone and Style

Levin’s tone is urgent, polemical, and unapologetically confrontational, blending historical references with contemporary political critique. He frames the discussion in terms of cultural survival, constitutional values, and the threat posed by what he perceives as lax immigration and assimilation policies. Calls to action, pointed criticisms, and direct readings from like-minded thinkers (Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Jim Jordan) reinforce his narrative.

Conclusion

This episode encapsulates Mark Levin's brand of nationalist, conservative commentary: fierce critiques of multiculturalism and political correctness, passionate defense of assimilation and constitutional values, and data-driven arguments about immigration’s impact on American society. Dialogue with Jim Jordan underscores the seriousness with which Levin views these challenges, framing the stakes as existential for the future of America.

For further details or source materials, listeners are urged to look up Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s article in the Free Press and Center for Immigration Studies’ reports.