The Benny Show Podcast Summary

Episode: California Going RED? Voter ID Signatures EXPLODE As Voters Vow to Eliminate FRAUD, Take Back State
Host: Benny Johnson
Guests: Senator Rand Paul, Carl DeMaio (Reform California), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis
Date: October 22, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode is focused on the surging grassroots movement in California to institute Voter ID, the mounting evidence and concern over election fraud, and the growing optimism among conservatives about retaking blue strongholds like California and New York. Benny Johnson, broadcasting in his fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek style, hosts key guests at the forefront of these efforts and explores recent cultural and political flashpoints, including a viral comparison of Trump and Obama’s legacies in Chicago.

Key Segments & Insights

1. The Voter Fraud Problem: Recent Examples and National Scope

[00:01 – 16:05]

• Benny Johnson sets the stage by describing the latest “frontline” in the battle against “Marxists in California,” celebrating that Voter ID is closer than ever to being on the Ballot.
• Shares a story about a Chinese national illegally registering and voting in Michigan 2024 elections, using it as an example to underscore vulnerabilities.
  • “A Chinese communist national is allowed to vote in the 2024 election… the vote counted.” ([04:28]) – Benny Johnson
• Goes on to cite past election fraud cases in swing states like Wisconsin, illustrating these with notorious “ballot drop” moments.
  • “They figured out insecurity in our election systems. They found an access point, they weaponized it, and then broke our elections.” ([11:55]) – Benny Johnson

Notable Quote:

“How many Chinese Communists voted in the 2024 election for Kamala Harris? … He was able to register to vote and was able to cast a ballot illegally but legally.” ([07:35]) – Benny Johnson

2. Voter ID Success in Wisconsin – A Playbook for California

[16:05 – 27:20]

• Wisconsin passes a Voter ID constitutional amendment with broad public support.
• Benny emphasizes it's a “90/10 issue” across demographics—claims politicians can’t publicly fight against voter ID.
  • “The only 10% of people that don’t say yup to voter ID are … criminal aliens and members of the Communist party who want to rig our elections.” ([13:17]) – Benny Johnson

Notable Moment:

• Reads local news and details exactly what forms of ID will now be required in Wisconsin, lauding it as fraud-proof.

3. California’s Battle: Voter Fraud Cases and Grassroots Surge

[21:23 – 43:28]

• Outlines rampant election fraud in California: dead voters, fake registrations, ballot harvesting.
• California purged 1.7 million illegal voters recently, raising questions about margins in recent elections.
• Announces the “Reform California” Voter ID Initiative, already with 250,000+ signatures—driving for the 875,000 needed.

Featured Interview: Carl DeMaio (Reform California)

[27:37 – 43:28]

• On the Bus Tour: "We've been driving it up and down the state of California. 72 events over 30 days... we are exhausted." ([27:48]) – Carl DeMaio
• Over 14,000 volunteers, widespread bipartisan support, record-breaking pace for signature gathering.
• Initiative Design: Requires citizenship verification, biennial voter roll audits, and voter ID.
• On obstacles: "Nobody in... special interest oligarch, dark money world supports voter ID because it's all about good for the people, not special interest." ([32:38]) – Carl DeMaio
• Sees opportunity for cascading conservative victories via ballot because core issues “are not 50/50, they’re 90/10.”

Notable Quotes:

“Third world dictators look at California’s elections and they’re envious… We just have to adopt the California election model and win every time.” ([28:21]) – Carl DeMaio

“Even the voters in California are waking up and adopting conservative ideas.” ([36:04]) – Carl DeMaio

• Vision for the Future:
  • “People have lost hope… The only thing they think they can do is move to another state. And they don’t want to...” ([39:30]) – Carl DeMaio
  • Predicts a return to competitiveness in California if elections become secure.

4. Trump vs. Obama: The Chicago Tower/Library Debate

[48:15 – 52:41]

• Plays clips of Trump mocking the Obama Presidential Library, contrasting it with Trump Tower.
• Benny provides tongue-in-cheek commentary about architecture reflecting political philosophy (“brutalist… meant to oppress you”).

5. Lawfare, the Deep State, and Congressional Accountability

[61:12 – 84:53]

Interview: Senator Rand Paul

[61:12 – 84:53]

• Discusses John Brennan’s criminal referral, FISA court abuse, and his longstanding opposition to unchecked intelligence community power.
  • “People like Brennan, Clapper…do lie, do spy on Americans, take that power and abuse it. One of the most egregious things is that they're still allowed to be talking heads on television.” ([63:06]) – Rand Paul
• Explains obstacles to FISA reform; criticizes Speaker Mike Johnson for opposing a key warrant requirement at 212-212 vote.
• On Congressional and Senatorial spying by the executive: “Now it turns out [Sen. Lindsey Graham] became the victim...” ([67:12])
• On Deep State leverage: Rand says most collusion is “philosophic,” not extortion/blackmail.
• On January 6th pipe bomber: Wonders why, despite surveillance, FBI couldn’t geo-locate.
• On Dr. Fauci and COVID:
  • “You’re the only senator in history to have gotten Dr. Fauci to shake.” ([74:40]) – Benny Johnson
  • “He was trying to protect the business of science... If it became known that a virus that killed 15, 18 million people... that he knew about and didn’t provide oversight... then he would have culpability.” ([80:35]) – Rand Paul
• Endorses re-examination of CDC vaccine schedule, says COVID vaccine “no benefit” for children and risk outweighs reward.

Notable Quotes:

“If you preside over an accident that kills 18 million people... you're no longer the air traffic controller.” ([82:08]) – Rand Paul

6. New York: Socialist Surge and Urban Crisis

[86:54 – 99:46]

Interview: Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY)

• On New York City mayoral frontrunner “Kami Mandani”: Accuses him of connections to radical imams and island of Marxist policies.
  • “He wants to seize the means of production. He wants to abolish private property rights. He wants to take over supermarkets, have them government-run… all things out of the Communist playbook of Karl Marx.” ([89:38]) – Nicole Malliotakis
• Celebrates successfully blocking non-citizen voting in the courts.
• On “taxing white neighborhoods” proposal: “If it was the reverse… outrage.” ([91:55])
• Warns of accelerating exodus from NY—“we’ll lose our tax base not just from middle class but from the wealthy… that’s exactly what’s going to happen.” ([94:13])
• Benny and Rep. Malliotkis lament the decline of America’s greatest cities and urge conservatives to stay and fight.

Notable Quote:

“Socialism doesn’t work. And I don’t know what it takes to get that through to the majority of New Yorkers.” ([94:57]) – Nicole Malliotakis

Highlights & Memorable Moments

• Carl DeMaio’s campaign anecdote of collecting 250,000 signatures and “people of all walks of life, even Democrats, are signing.” ([27:48])
• Senator Paul’s frankness: “I spoke for 13 hours… against John Brennan. So I have no love lost for the guy.” ([63:02])
• Benny’s humor: Laments that “even in Cuba, liberals reply ‘this is my dream’ about state-run, one-brand supermarkets.” ([98:46])
• Optimistic closes: All guests stress that with vigilance, the tide can turn—even behind enemy lines.

Timestamps by Topic

| Time Range | Segment/Topic | |------------------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:01–16:05 | Voter fraud stories, swing states, Chinese voter case | | 16:05–21:20 | Wisconsin’s Voter ID ballot amendment passes | | 21:23–27:36 | California fraud cases, voter roll purges | | 27:37–43:28 | Carl DeMaio interview—Reform California movement | | 48:15–52:41 | Trump vs. Obama libraries, Chicago segment | | 61:12–84:53 | Senator Rand Paul interview: Deep State, FISA, Fauci | | 86:54–100:09 | Rep. Nicole Malliotakis interview—NYC's challenge| | 98:46–99:46 | Reflections on Cuba, socialism, and American cities |

Conclusion

This episode delivers an impassioned, often humorous but earnest roundup of the rising energy on the right to reclaim traditionally blue states through Voter ID and reform, exposes deep skepticism over election security and government accountability, and spotlights the high-stakes battles being waged both on the West Coast and in urban East Coast heartlands. Benny’s guests each embody the theme of fighting “behind enemy lines” and frame 2025 as a pivotal year for grassroots, populist conservative resurgence.

For further info and ways to support the CA Voter ID movement, visit:

• voterIDinitiative.com

Notable Final Quotes

• Carl DeMaio: “Help us be the disruptors behind enemy lines... Help the movement in California. Go to the website voteridinitiative.com…” ([36:17])
• Rand Paul: “I think the risks of the COVID vaccine for children outweigh the benefits… I will continue fighting that until we fix that problem.” ([84:13])
• Nicole Malliotakis: “When government runs anything, it becomes a disaster.” ([98:46])