Breaking Point with David Weiss

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: David Zier (for this episode)
Air Date: October 11, 2025
Episode Theme:
A hard-hitting exploration of the intersection between activist violence, "dark money" networks, and ongoing threats to American civic order and the 2024 election. The episode features expert guests—Scott Walter (author, president Capital Research Center), Seamus Bruner (Director of Research, Government Accountability Institute), John Reed (Virginia political candidate), and field correspondent Ben Berquam—offering insight into Antifa funding, leftist protest networks, foreign influence, law enforcement challenges, early voting controversies, and neutralizing organized mayhem.

1. Dark Money Fueling Protest Movements

Guest: Scott Walter, author of Arabella; President, Capital Research Center
Timestamps: 00:55–10:06

Key Points:

• Arabella Advisors & Network Complexity (02:40–04:11)

  • Arabella oversees multiple left-leaning nonprofits ("networks of networks") that amass and distribute billions, enabling numerous activist causes while maintaining public obscurity.
  • Quote: “To give you just a quick example, in the 2022 election cycle… their nonprofit took in 3 billion… So that means they're succeeding in being dark.” (Scott Walter, 02:40)

• Media Influence & Social Media Offers (03:11)

  • Arabella is reportedly offering left-wing influencers up to $8,000/month to promote Democratic party lines online.

• Layered Funding Obscures Accountability (04:11–05:44)

  • Funding is purposefully routed through many groups, complicating tracing and obscuring responsibility for protest-related violence.
  • Quote: “One of the reasons for all this complexity… is to hide the money… you can't easily find the trails when it gets this complex.” (Scott Walter, 04:11)
  • Walter argues that while some supporting organizations aren’t directly violent, they bear "moral responsibility" for fostering a climate that celebrates violence.

• Foreign Money & International Influence (05:44–06:47)

  • Highlights foreign billionaire funders (e.g., Hansjörg Wyss, Christopher Hohn) and their support for extreme protest movements like Extinction Rebellion, showing the global scale of activist financing.

• Riot Inc. Explained (06:55–07:28)

  • Term coined for inter-linked organizations, funders, academics, and activists driving violence and radical protest.
  • Quote: “It's his name for this whole nexus of groups... you said it earlier and got exactly right, these people hate America.” (Scott Walter, 06:58)

• Prosecution Difficulties & Legal Complexity (07:28–08:17)

  • Discusses why RICO statutes might not be the best legal tool; instead, recommends nonprofits lose tax-exempt status if breaking the law.

• On-the-Ground Observations (08:17–09:32)

  • Reports from Secret Service and security: same organizers ("field commanders") spotted flying between protest hotspots, indicating a high level of coordination.

Memorable Moment:

• Quote: “They have created this atmosphere of nihilistic lust for violence… you see teachers and insurance salesmen and ordinary people who've been corrupted by the left cheering the violence...” (Scott Walter, 05:24)

2. Investigating the Protest Industrial Complex

Guest: Seamus Bruner, Director of Research, Government Accountability Institute
Timestamps: 13:00–23:22

Key Points:

• Role of Independent Journalists (13:02–13:21)

  • “If it wasn't for a handful of brave independent people on the streets… we might not be getting the truth from the msm.” (David Zier, 13:02)

• Antifa, Riot Inc., and the ‘Eco-system’ of Political Violence (13:21–16:21)

  • Antifa and similar groups are seen as foot soldiers in a larger, well-funded organizational structure with lobbying, legal, communication, and bail support arms.
  • Quote: “Riot Inc. has its foot soldiers… but it’s also got a marketing and communications division… a legal division… [it’s] a huge network.” (Seamus Bruner, 14:06)
  • Designating Antifa a "domestic terrorist organization" would open new avenues for federal prosecution.

• Following the Money: Not Just Soros (16:44–18:59)

  • Soros and Open Society are major funders, but Arabella, Tides, Ford, and Neville Roy Singham (funding from Shanghai) are other key players.
  • At least $100 million in direct funding for agitators/enablers—amount is growing as new sources are found.

• Taxpayer Money Enabling Unrest (18:59–19:13)

  • Federal grants go to NGOs, which in turn support protest groups and civil unrest.

• Network Tactics: Movement, Mental Health Exploitation (20:02–21:51)

  • Activists, including mentally unwell or homeless people, are allegedly flown across the US to participate in protests—a claim supported by security sources.
  • Quote: “Mentally unwell people are perfect for attacking ICE, attacking federal buildings… then the judge lets them out.” (Seamus Bruner, 21:28)

Notable Quote:

• “We found over $100 million… going directly into Soros… Tides type entities… [then funding] civil unrest. So, really shocking stuff.” (Seamus Bruner, 18:59)

Resources:

• Follow Seamus and Peter Schweitzer (@seamusbruner, @peterschweitzer) and thedrilldown.com.
• Controligarchs book covers these topics.

3. Spotlight on Virginia Politics & The Culture Wars

Guest: John Reed, Candidate for Lieutenant Governor, VA
Timestamps: 25:40–33:31

Key Points:

• Statewide Election and Early Voting Concerns (25:40–27:42)

  • John Reed criticizes Virginia’s 45-day early voting period, arguing it enables ballot harvesting and votes cast without full information.
  • Quote: “People who voted on September 19… didn't know about the texting scandal… And I think that's one of the real problems with this 45 day voting system…” (John Reed, 26:02)

• Democratic Opponent’s Culture War Stance (27:42–28:35)

  • Ghazala Hashmi (Reed’s opponent) is criticized for supporting “men in women's locker rooms” and trans issues; Reed claims these are largely opposed by Virginia voters.

• Personal Attacks & Identity Politics (28:46–30:14)

  • Reed highlights being smeared as an Islamophobe and white supremacist despite being “a gay guy in an interracial relationship.”
  • Quote: “Apparently I'm a white supremacist… even though I'm a gay guy in an interracial relationship…” (John Reed, 28:46)

• Reed’s Platform for Virginia (31:34–33:03)

  • Boost business, defend right-to-work, push back against DEI policies and "crazy cultural rot."
  • “We should judge people based on their ability to succeed and the results that they deliver.”

Contact:

• johnreedforvirginia.com
• @JohnReed on Facebook/X/Instagram

4. Inside the Battle: ICE, Antifa Pickets, and NGO Coordination

Guest: Ben Berquam, Real America’s Voice field correspondent
Timestamps: 36:43–47:23

Key Points:

• ICE Operations and Direct Activism (37:01–39:00)

  • Describes firsthand experiences on ICE operations, targeting violent repeat offenders.
  • Rapid-response protest networks obstruct ICE, resulting in criminals remaining at large.
  • Quote: “There's this rapid response network in Chicago… its… entire purpose is to obstruct ICE... And that criminal illegal is still in Chicago at large because of their actions.” (Ben Berquam, 37:20)

• Coordination of Protest Movements and Foreign Influence (39:28–41:12)

  • Protest organizers and agitators travel nationwide; money flows in from organizations with Chinese and Iranian ties.
  • “...money was actually coming from the CCP, through the Confucius Institutes… So you have the CCP working, you have Iran pumping money... now you have this unholy alliance between Antifa, BLM, La Raza, Hamas…” (Ben Berquam, 39:55)

• Propaganda and Youth Radicalization (40:59–44:39)

  • Students influenced by liberal professors believe false narratives about ICE and deportation.
  • Berquam refutes that US-born children or “innocents” are being deported en masse, explaining the due process steps leading to removal.

• Obstruction Tactics by Local Governments (45:54–46:47)

  • Sanctuary city jails deliberately release offenders to avoid ICE pickups and sometimes lower charges to protect illegal immigrants from deportation.
  • Quote: “They're reducing or dropping the charges entirely to try to obstruct ICE… even giving preferential treatment to illegals above other criminals.” (Ben Berquam, 46:11)

Notable Moment:

• Quote: “These are terrorist organizations… operating within our country to undermine our country from within.” (Ben Berquam, 38:44)

Contact:

• @RealAMVoice and @BenBerquam on social media
• frontlineamerica.com

5. Closing Notes and Miscellaneous Highlights

• Personal Risk for Journalists & Guests: Throughout, guests and the host recount being threatened, assaulted, or verbally abused while covering or investigating protest events.

• Host David Zier’s Commentary: Reiterates concerns about foreign and taxpayer money fueling unrest and emphasizes the need for Trump-style leadership and enforcement.

  • Quote: “Trump's not going to let that happen. We're going to enforce the….” (David Zier, 23:22)

• Additional Segments:

  • Brief feature on "switchtoUSA.com" promoting American-made goods and economic independence.
  • Quick swipes at mainstream culture (“Zach Bryan… time he gets Dixie Chicked”—35:47).

6. Notable Quotes (with Timestamps & Speaker)

• Scott Walter:

  • “They have created this atmosphere of nihilistic lust for violence… you see teachers and insurance salesmen and ordinary people who've been corrupted by the left cheering the violence…” (05:24)
  • “None of your listeners may have ever heard of [Arabella]… their nonprofit took in 3 billion.” (02:40)

• Seamus Bruner:

  • “We followed [the money] all the way to the top of the protest industrial complex.” (16:52)
  • “It’s not just Soros… it’s also the Arabella funding network... the Tides network… the Ford Foundation… Neville Roy Singham…” (17:08)
  • “We found over $100 million… going directly into Soros… Tides type entities… [then funding] civil unrest.” (18:59)

• John Reed:

  • “Apparently I'm a white supremacist… even though I'm a gay guy in an interracial relationship…” (28:46)
  • “We should judge people based on their ability to succeed and the results they deliver.” (31:44)

• Ben Berquam:

  • “There's this rapid response network in Chicago… its… entire purpose is to obstruct ICE... that criminal illegal is still in Chicago at large because of their actions.” (37:20)
  • “These are terrorist organizations… operating within our country to undermine our country from within.” (38:44)

7. Takeaway Themes

• Protest violence is fueled by complex, hidden funding networks—domestic and foreign—whose organizers intentionally operate in the shadows.
• There is increasing cooperation between various activist groups (Antifa, BLM, La Raza, etc.), facilitated by both organizational and financial networks.
• Law enforcement faces constant obstruction—not only from activists on the street but from legal barriers and complicit local governments.
• Independent journalists and investigators play a key role in exposing these networks, often at personal risk.
• Culture war issues (trans rights, early voting, identity politics) remain front and center in battleground electoral states.

For more, follow the guests and their organizations for investigative updates:

• Scott Walter: capitalresearch.org; influencewatch.org
• Seamus Bruner/Peter Schweitzer: thedrilldown.com; @seamusbruner
• John Reed: johnreedforvirginia.com
• Ben Berquam: frontlineamerica.com; @BenBerquam

LISTENERS: This episode offers an unfiltered, often fiery, right-leaning critique of activist funding and law enforcement challenges from multiple expert vantage points, blending field reports with in-depth analysis.