PBD Podcast | Ep. 708

Trump’s Nigeria Hit, Israel WARNS Iran Strike + 1M Epstein Files Release

Date: December 26, 2025
Host: Patrick Bet-David (Pat), with co-hosts Vinny, Tom, and Adam
Topics: Trump’s military strike in Nigeria, reactions to Nicki Minaj’s Turning Point appearance, U.S. crime and economic data, California/Democrat scandals, social media fraud, conservative infighting, and more.

Episode Overview

The PBD Podcast convenes on the morning after Christmas, offering a spirited and wide-ranging discussion on pressing political events, cultural shake-ups, and emerging trends for 2026. The hosts dive into the controversial U.S. military intervention in Nigeria under President Trump, the media firestorm over Nicki Minaj’s public support for persecuted Christians, dramatic crime and economic statistics, and a slew of national controversies—culminating in an exploration of rifts within the conservative/alternative media space.

Key Topics & Discussion Highlights

1. Trump’s Christmas Day Strike Against ISIS in Nigeria

[12:00 – 22:44]

• Summary: President Trump ordered U.S. strikes on ISIS in Nigeria on Christmas Day, targeting terrorist groups attacking Christian communities, with the full cooperation of Nigeria’s government.
• Pat: Frames the action as a response to both domestic and international pleas, noting the coordinated nature of the strike and refuting media claims of unilateral war.
• Vinny: Offers a passionate endorsement:

  "You know who's not whining and who's not complaining today? All the Nigerian families who have been getting slaughtered ... I absolutely love that the President chose Christmas to instill fear into theirs." [14:55]

• Adam: Highlights the prevalence of Islamic extremism among leading terror networks, reiterating,

  "Not all Muslims are terrorists, but ... all terrorists are Islamic extremists. I'm sorry to say this, but if you just look at the math..." [17:01]

• Tom: Attributes the outcome to both U.S. leadership and mounting pressure on Nigeria’s own president to act, clarifying this was not a "new war" but a continuation of anti-ISIS efforts.

  "This is a victory for the pressure that got put on a president. And his name is not Donald Trump. It's Bola Tinubu of Nigeria." [20:55]

• Notable Moments: Aired emotional clips of Nigerian pastors begging for U.S. help.

2. Nicki Minaj Faces Backlash for Christian Advocacy

[22:44 – 33:11]

• Context: Nicki Minaj loses millions of Instagram followers and faces industry backlash after speaking on Christian persecution and appearing at Turning Point USA.
• Pat:

  "Christians finally have somebody that they can lean on ... specifically in Hollywood and in culture, hip hop, that defends them." [29:10]

• Adam:

  "She lost followers, but she gained respect." [29:55]

• Vinny: Calls out the "cult" mentality in Hollywood and commends Minaj's risk, referencing broader issues of black entertainers facing Democratic orthodoxy.

3. Plummeting U.S. Murder Rates and Crime Discussion

[33:11 – 45:51]

• Pat: Cites a historic single-year drop (20%) in murders under Trump’s administration, attributing the improvement to tough leadership and support for policing.

  "He decreased [murder] by 20%. Their policies decreased it by 20% ... the one thing that's very important to you: your kid will come home, come home tonight 20% safer than it was last year." [41:14]

• Tom: Links crime reduction to a reversal of "defund the police" policies, and highlights the increasing demand for law enforcement in blue cities.

  "Policing works. Policing absolutely worked." [37:56]

• Adam: Urges real credit be given to both Trump and effective local leadership, drawing from personal anecdotes about child safety.

4. California: Audits, Scandals, and Fraud

[50:41 – 61:35]

• Overview: California’s state auditor reports massive ongoing fraud and waste under Governor Gavin Newsom, including billions lost in Medicaid, homelessness, and rail projects.
• Pat: Reads damning details from the auditor’s report.
• Vinny:

  "$70 billion. Can everybody take a timeout and let that hit? ... His new name is Gavin Newscam." [54:02]

• Tom: Warns that similar frauds echoing Minnesota’s scandal may prove even bigger in California.
• Adam: Compares California’s deterioration with Florida’s well-managed state, suggesting a shift in U.S. migration and political gravity.

5. U.S. Economy: Growth, Booming Exports, Unemployment

[61:35 – 67:43]

• Topline: U.S. GDP rises 4.3%—fastest in two years—while consumer spending and exports surge.
• Tom:

  "Exports are up. That means there's more people for the U.S. economy to sell to ... tariffs are working." [64:15]

• Adam: Celebrates the optimism for 2026, encourages Gen Z to invest in themselves and the American dream.

6. Generational Finance Debates: Logan Paul vs. Conventional Wisdom

[67:43 – 79:03]

• Incident: Logan Paul advises Gen Z to "take more risks"; triggers social media debate on celebrity financial advice.
• Adam:

  "Don't take advice from anybody that hasn't done it. And Logan Paul has done it ..." [70:43]

• Tom & Pat: Caution that the right risk tolerance varies—encourage learning via games like Monopoly.

7. Joe Rogan’s Advice to Jake Paul: The Dangers of Combat Sports

[79:03 – 82:46]

• Clip Recap: Rogan warns Jake Paul about long-term brain damage from boxing, urging retirement before severe consequences.

  "There's a price that you pay that is not worth it ... that price is depression, deep depression. A severe brain imbalance that's going to lead you to addiction ... It's not worth it." — Joe Rogan [80:05]

• Adam & Vinny: Emphasize youth’s sense of invincibility, the need for long-term perspective, and the risk of sacrificing health for money.

8. Minnesota Medicaid Fraud: Systemic Abuse & Political Fallout

[101:51 – 110:46]

• Vinny: Details massive ($18B) fraud in Minnesota’s Medicaid, focusing on Somali-run daycares; broadcasts video evidence and calls out Rep. Ilhan Omar’s loyalty to Somalia over the U.S.

  "This is open and blatant fraud taking place here inside of Minnesota. The government is complicit with this." [104:37]

• Tom: Calls for federal intervention and supports investigators combating entrenched fraud.

9. Meta/Facebook’s Scam Ad Profits

[110:46 – 122:40]

• Pat & Team: Examine revelations that Meta earned ~$16B from scam ads in 2024, frequently ignoring or slow-walking user reports of fraudulent pages—even when notified directly.

  "The fact that Facebook knows this is happening and you’re not, that's criminal to me." [119:54]

• Vinny: Decries Meta’s ethics and Zuckerberg’s priorities.

10. Conservative Media Splits: Megyn Kelly, Barry Weiss, and Fighting on the Right

[122:40 – 143:48]

• Story: Megyn Kelly acknowledges split with both Ben Shapiro and Barry Weiss, referencing disputes over anti-Semitism, Israel criticism, and right-wing movement fracture.
• Tom:

  "They're not unifying behind a common enemy nor are they coming together and moderating behind it ... The conservative movement doesn't know it, but it's looking for a Phil Jackson..." [126:05]

• Adam: Expresses the tension over Israel/Palestine among conservative influencers—calls out attempts to "root out the cancer" of conspiracy thinking but urges focus on electoral success over internal squabbles.
• Vinny: Argues for the right to criticize Israel (and any ally), rejects automatic accusations of anti-Semitism.

  "Why does Israel think they get a free pass? ... You have to be able to let people stake their case." [131:53]

• Pat: Concludes with a macro view—calls for eventual unity, credits both Kelly and Weiss as important players, and notes that "the market is changing."

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "You know who's not whining ... all the Nigerian families who have been getting slaughtered ... What a great tactical move on Christmas." — Vinny [14:55]
• "Not all Muslims are terrorists, but ... all terrorists are Islamic extremists." — Adam [17:01]
• “She lost followers, but she gained respect.” — Adam on Nicki Minaj [29:55]
• "He decreased [murder] by 20% ... your kid will come home, come home tonight 20% safer than it was last year." — Pat [41:14]
• "Policing works. Policing absolutely worked." — Tom [37:56]
• "His new name is Gavin Newscam." — Vinny [54:02]
• "Exports are up. That means ... the tariffs are working." — Tom [64:15]
• “Don’t take advice from anybody that hasn’t done it. And Logan Paul has done it.” — Adam [70:43]
• “There's a price that you pay that is not worth it ... It’s not worth it.” — Joe Rogan [80:05]
• “Open and blatant fraud ... the government is complicit with this.” — Vinny [104:37]
• “The fact that Facebook knows ... that’s criminal to me.” — Pat [119:54]
• "The conservative movement ... is looking for a Phil Jackson." — Tom [126:05]
• "You have to be able to let people stake their case." — Vinny [131:53]

Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:00–01:40: Personal anecdotes, Christmas banter
• 01:43–12:00: Opening news overview and topics rundown
• 12:00–22:44: Nigeria ISIS strike discussion
• 22:44–33:11: Nicki Minaj segment
• 33:11–45:51: U.S. murder/crime statistics and safety
• 50:41–61:35: California audit, fraud, and political failures
• 61:35–67:43: U.S. economic surge, GDP, jobs, exports
• 67:43–79:03: Logan Paul, financial advice for Gen Z
• 79:03–82:46: Joe Rogan’s advice to Jake Paul
• 101:51–110:46: Minnesota Medicaid/Somali scandal
• 110:46–122:40: Meta/Facebook scam ads
• 122:40–143:48: Conservative media infighting, Megyn Kelly/Barry Weiss

Tone & Style

Throughout, the hosts maintain a direct, conversational, and at times incendiary style, balancing humor, personal anecdote, and sharp editorializing. Arguments often blend gritty realism with inspirational messaging about hope, opportunity, and American renewal.

Final Thoughts

Ep. 708 delivers a brisk and candid debrief of the week’s hottest topics in U.S. and global politics. With pointed analysis and sometimes emotional debate, the team tackles foreign intervention, cancel culture, financial literacy, tech ethics, public safety, and the messy state of both government and conservative media alliances. Listeners gain a nuanced—though inescapably opinionated—snapshot of today’s cultural and political battles, with a strong dose of motivational storytelling for the new year ahead.