Podcast Summary

REAL AF with Andy Frisella – Episode 994

Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Andy Frisella
Co-host: DJ Cruz
Title: Andy & DJ CTI: Alex Pretti, Ilhan Omar's Wealth Jump & Landmark Teen Social Media Addiction Trial

Episode Overview

This episode dives into three major current events:

• The shooting death of anti-ICE protester and ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis
• Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s sudden increase in personal wealth and alleged campaign finance fraud
• The beginning of a landmark trial in California over teen social media addiction

Andy and DJ discuss these topics with raw candor, cutting humor, and their signature “no BS” lens, challenging political narratives, media manipulation, and the role of social media in shaping perceptions.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Processing the News Cycle and Outrage Economy (05:07 – 08:23)

• Andy and DJ reflect on the flood of DMs demanding immediate responses to controversies, calling out society’s obsession with instant public statements.
  • Notable Quote (05:08, DJ Cruz):
    “You’re allowed to sit back and process things before you have to—dude, that’s key.”
• They warn against knee-jerk responses and “speech manipulation”—being pressured to comment publicly before facts are clear.

2. Deep Dive: The Alex Pretti/ICE Shooting Incident

Context Segment: 08:35–44:34

• Background:
  Alex Pretti, an anti-ICE protester and ICU nurse, was shot dead by federal agents in Minneapolis during protests following the shooting of another protester, Renee Good. Rumors swirl about what triggered the confrontation.
• Multiple Video Angles:
  Andy and DJ analyze available protest footage, highlighting the lack of clarity about who instigated and escalated the altercation.
  • Fact Check: The only evidence of a gun being involved is agents disarming Pretti, whose weapon later discharged accidentally, which set off further gunfire.
• Discussion: Accident or Intent?
  Key point: The gun (Sig Sauer P320, known for accidental discharges) went off as it was being removed by a federal agent.
  • Notable Quote (19:52, DJ Cruz):
    “There was no way for other officers in that scenario, in my opinion, to see or recognize that that gun had been disarmed. … I think the negligent discharge started the shooting for sure.”
• On Narrative Manipulation:
  Both hosts condemn immediate official statements spinning the incident to political ends, noting the importance of “letting information develop.”
  • Andy (21:34):
    “Shouldn’t the message have been, ‘Hey, we’re trying to figure out what’s going on … relax’?”
  • On Open Carry:
    Andy supports Pretti’s legal gun possession: “We have the right to open carry…in an open carry state, they don’t even need a license.”

Social Media’s Role & Public Perception

• Andy and DJ argue that social media outrage does not equal meaningful change—if anything, it offers tyrants “pressure release.”
  • Andy (07:14):
    “If we didn’t have social media, there would have already been a revolt.”
• Politicization and Confirmation Bias:
  They push back against both right- and left-wing efforts to claim the incident as proof of their narratives.
  • DJ (46:00):
    "Everybody seems to have a solid answer here because they want to back up their own ideology or their team… I don't think that's what we've seen here."

Comparison to Other Incidents

• The shooting is compared to the deaths of Ashley Babbitt (Jan. 6) and media outrage over in-custody deaths under prior administrations.
  • Andy (31:28):
    “What about Ashley Babbitt? There’s no outrage on that. ‘She shouldn’t have been at the protest.’ … The politicization of all this, I’m over it.”

Blame and Solutions

• Both hosts see fault on all sides: the protester, federal agents, politicians, and especially the “enviroment gassers”—politicians and media provoking confrontation for division and distraction.
• DJ (41:17):
  “I think the fault is shared across the entire country. I think every single person in this country who has contributed to the divisive rhetoric has some sort of play in this, including you and I.”
• Call for Rules & Law:
  Andy and DJ stress the need for law, order, and common sense when dealing with law enforcement, noting that interference—especially while armed—escalates risk.

Media, Fraud, and Distraction

• Underlying Theme: The Pretti shooting, and outrage cycles like it, are used to distract the public from massive government fraud revelations—especially recent multi-billion-dollar scams in Minnesota.
  • DJ (35:01):
    “There’s a heavy incentive for them for us to fight each other and for us to hate each other... while billions have just been uncovered in one little rat hole.”
• Host’s Solution: Focus on actual issues (like systemic government corruption) rather than falling for manufactured division and online outrage.

3. Ilhan Omar’s “Eye-Popping” Wealth Jump

Segment: 64:17–83:06

• Headline: Omar’s federal disclosures reveal millions in “newly reported assets” tied to her husband’s business in just one year.
• Shell Game Exposed:
  Andy explains how politicians use campaign consultancies and shell companies to funnel leftover campaign cash to themselves and their families.
  • Andy (74:51):
    “You run for office, you’re raising all this money… let’s just push the rest out to our buddies and call them ‘consultants.’ Or ourselves. We own the consulting company.”
• Everyone Does It:
  Hosts agree most current politicians—left and right—engage in some form of this grift.
• Omar’s Specific Case:
  • Sudden multi-million-dollar spike in asset value from a wine company and another LLC.
  • Questions about the legitimacy of these companies’ business activities, such as a dead social media presence despite massive claimed income.
• Fraud Across Government:
  DJ argues Omar’s case is just “one rat hole”—the real scandal is systemic, bipartisan, and being actively hidden behind distractions such as protest violence.
  • DJ (77:49):
    “The reason there’s so much gas on civil unrest is so we do not ask more questions about government fraud. … She’s not the only one that’s gone from zero to hero.”
• Why Not Prosecuted?
  Andy calls out DOJ and administration for inaction:
  • “We can abduct a world leader in Venezuela, but we can't identify and handle Antifa organizers or people funding unrest here?"
• Frustration with Current Leadership:
  Both hosts express distrust for most politicians, frustration with the public’s lack of unity, and predict a breaking point for America if the current course continues.

4. Landmark Social Media Addiction Trial

Segment: 86:22–103:19

• Context:
  A 19-year-old is suing Meta, TikTok, & YouTube, alleging addiction and mental health harm caused by their platforms.
• Discussion:
  • DJ points out that maximizing “time on app” (the real business metric) is intentional, not accidental.
  • Both hosts reference The Social Dilemma and "The Chaos Machine"—warning that these platforms are designed for maximum dopamine feedback/addiction.
    • DJ (89:22):
      “Social media is valued amongst how much time people spend on the app, okay? So they’re gonna do everything they can to keep people on it.”
• Impact on Mental Health:
  Andy and DJ discuss that modern humans are unequipped for the barrage of information, negative content, and comparison social media creates.
  • Andy (94:45):
    “We haven’t evolved at all compared to how quickly technology has.”
  • Chat Moderator (97:29):
    “The average person spends approximately 9 to 12 years of their lifetime staring at a phone screen. Some studies say up to 21 years.”
• Will the Trial Matter?
  • Hosts predict big tech will simply “settle it out of court and keep it moving.”
  • DJ believes social media companies are sowing the seeds of their own demise, as people are growing wary of the endless propagandizing and fake content.
• Solution:
  • Both stress the importance of disengagement, “touching grass,” and returning to real life, and warn that “passive” consumption turns young men and women into non-productive, anxious individuals.

5. Culture/“Thumbs Up or Dumb As” Segment:

Segment: 103:19–End

• Headline: Viral story of a woman addicted to snorting her food (seen on TLC’s My Strange Addiction).
• Used as a metaphor for “stupid, attention-seeking behavior” in modern digital culture, further enabled (and rewarded) by the internet.
  • DJ (113:03):
    "They want stupid. So let’s just do stupid shit."
• Wider Point:
  • Society now rewards degeneracy or absurdity over tangible value or achievement, paralleling themes from Atlas Shrugged (“penalize success, propagate failure”).
• Ends with classic Andy and DJ roasting trends and encouraging the audience to “make something of their lives,” not chase viral idiocy.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | 05:08 | “You’re allowed to sit back and process things before you have to—dude, that’s key.” | DJ Cruz | | 07:14 | “If we didn’t have social media, there would have already been a revolt.” | Andy Frisella | | 19:52 | “There was no way for the other officers in that scenario ... to recognize that the gun had been disarmed...the negligent discharge started the shooting for sure.” | DJ Cruz | | 21:34 | “Shouldn’t the message have been, ‘Hey, we’re trying to figure out what’s going on … relax’?” | Andy Frisella | | 31:44 | “The politicization of all this, I’m over it.” | Andy Frisella | | 35:01 | “There’s a heavy incentive for them for us to fight each other ... while billions have just been uncovered in one little rat hole.” | DJ Cruz | | 41:17 | “The fault is shared across the entire country. … including you and I.” | DJ Cruz | | 64:41 | “If you're so holy and you're such a good person, you have such a big heart and you really believe these illegals have a reason to be here and you don't have one in your house. ... Shut the fuck up.” | Andy Frisella | | 74:51 | “Let’s just push the rest out to our buddies and call them ‘consultants.’ Or ourselves. We own the consulting company.” | Andy Frisella | | 77:49 | “The reason there’s so much gas on civil unrest is so we do not ask more questions about government fraud. … She’s not the only one that’s gone from zero to hero.” | DJ Cruz | | 89:22 | “Social media is valued amongst how much time people spend on the app, okay? So they’re gonna do everything they can to keep people on it.” | DJ Cruz | | 94:45 | “We haven’t evolved at all compared to how quickly technology has.” | Andy Frisella | | 97:29 | “The average person spends approximately 9 to 12 years of their lifetime staring at a phone screen. … up to 21 years.” | Chat Moderator | | 113:03 | "They want stupid. So let’s just do stupid shit." | DJ Cruz |

Important Segment Timestamps

• 05:07–08:23: “Speech manipulation,” pressure to comment, toxic outrage cycle.
• 08:35–44:34: Deep dive and breakdown of the Alex Pretti/ICE shooting.
• 64:17–83:06: Ilhan Omar’s wealth/fraud and the systemic problem.
• 86:22–103:19: Landmark teen social media addiction trial and the impact of platforms.
• 103:19–End: “Thumbs Up or Dumb As”—culture, clickbait, and the snorting food trend.

Tone & Language

The episode is raw, irreverent, sarcastic, and seeks to cut through narrative posturing—full of dark humor, real talk, and explicit language. The hosts riff on hypocritical activism, government corruption, societal decline, and the addiction to validation and stupidity driven by digital culture.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Heard the Episode

• Expect thorough, skeptical breakdowns of current events, pushing listeners to look past meme-driven or media-fed outrage.
• The hosts advocate critical thinking, due process, and unity against corrupt leadership—left or right.
• The show delivers both insight and entertainment—whether critiquing ICE protest violence, exposing political grifts, or ridiculing attention-seeking “snorters”—all while encouraging listeners to avoid the trap of digital distraction and groupthink.

For more context, resources, and to watch referenced clips, visit andyfrisella.com.

(Episode skips intro/outro, ads, and focuses solely on the content.)