The Benny Show — December 16, 2025

Episode Theme:
"Dark New Mysterious Footage Of Brown University Killer RELEASED After Republican Leader MURDERED..."
Host: Benny Johnson
Featured Guests: Senator Tommy Tuberville, Rep. Beth Van Duyne, Erika Donalds

Episode Overview

In this charged episode, Benny Johnson dives deep into the recent political violence at Brown University, where the sole Republican student leader, Ella Cook, was murdered in what many are calling a targeted, politically-motivated assassination. The episode also covers reactions to the lack of quality evidence and law enforcement response, alleged media manipulation, internal drama within conservative circles, and broader discussions about threats to American culture and values. Guests bring their perspectives on campus security, immigration policy, media bias, and the state of the conservative movement.

Key Discussion Points & Notable Segments

Setting the Tone: A Season of Rebirth Amidst Darkness

[00:01]–[04:00]

• Benny opens with a juxtaposition of the Christmas season’s joy against "dark forces unleashed on our nation," referencing the unsolved killing of the Brown University Republican leader and the newly released (but frustratingly unclear) surveillance footage.
• He expresses frustration over both the inadequate evidence and law enforcement's slow progress.

  "This is the best footage we have? I'm angry about it. I'm pissed. I gotta tell you." — Benny Johnson [00:01]

Good News Highlights (Before the Darker Themes)

[06:00]–[13:30]

• Benny spotlights positive developments:

  • American job growth mainly benefits native-born citizens.
  • Arizona’s removal of up to 1.3 million allegedly illegal voter registrations after a lawsuit, marking a win against voter fraud.
  • Shrinking government job numbers and pro-privatization policies.

• He stresses the importance of recognizing progress instead of infighting, citing Charlie Kirk’s coalition-building legacy.

  "There are wonderful things that we can talk about here... All of the job growth in the golden era gone to Americans." — Benny [09:05]

• Brief reflections on family, holidays, and the hope for a less toxic movement.

Conservative Infighting: The Erica Kirk/Candace Owens Truce

[15:20]–[28:47]

• Benny addresses recent “toxic” influencer drama after Charlie Kirk’s death, specifically the high-profile rift between Erica Kirk and Candace Owens. He frames their recent 4.5-hour peacemaking meeting as a potential turning point for conservative unity.

• Notable quote emphasizing the need for focus:

  "You can't win a war if your own side's firing at you — if you have incoming from behind the lines." — Benny [17:45]

• Benny reads and reacts to both Erica and Candace’s reconciliation tweets.

  "It's hard to hate up close. Say it again. It's hard to hate up close — somebody sitting right in front of you." — Benny [22:00]
  "Four and a half hours later. I'm alive. I'm alive... I think it was definitely a very big step in the right direction." — Erica Kirk [28:01]

Political Violence & the Brown University Shooting

[28:47]–[44:10]

• Pivoting to the main story:

  • Benny is outraged at the quality of footage released (“wobbling, bulbous, fat walrus”) and the lack of transparency from authorities.
  • Suspect remains unidentified, even as universities have extensive surveillance infrastructure.
  • The attack left Ella Cook (College Republicans VP) dead and several others wounded.

  "Occam's Razor says that this was a political assassination... a thousand to one, you are going to hit a left-wing student. Yet the person who was killed was the only conservative on campus." — Benny [38:43]

• Emotional remembrance of Ella Cook, with her friend describing her as a “bright light” and someone welcoming to all, regardless of faith or politics.

Analysis: Was This an Insider Attack?

[42:24]–[44:07]

• A guest former FBI investigator suggests the killer was likely an insider:

  "It is surprising that we don't have more from inside the building ... Was there anyone who either was associated with the university, a disgruntled employee, former student, someone who had a particular vendetta?" — Former FBI Investigator [42:33]

• Both the surreptitious nature and lack of random targeting reinforce the theory of a premeditated, ideologically driven attack.

Policy & Security: Erika Donalds on Campus Violence

[45:19]–[52:16]

• Erika Donalds discusses the culture of tolerance for intolerance on campuses as a root of violence, criticizing failures to discipline even minor infractions:

  "When you do not punish criminals ... they increase in the severity of their criminal behavior." — Erika Donalds [45:19]
  "Universities should not be gun-free zones ... If just one of those students was armed, they could've saved lives." [50:22]

• Discussion on armed security in non-educational settings vs. universities.

• Critique of university police response and surveillance utilization.

Law Enforcement Inaction & Political Weakness

[52:52]–[65:45]

• Senator Tommy Tuberville joins to address failures in campus security, tying the Brown University case to broader criticisms of Democratic policy, law enforcement priorities, and a lack of Republican vigor.

  "Nobody pays a price for this ... We have to ensure the safety of the young people on these campuses because they are a target, they are easily accessible." — Sen. Tuberville [53:51]

• Analogies are drawn to the congressional baseball shooting, with Benny and Tuberville lamenting the lack of strong Republican response:

  "Republican leaders won't do anything to protect our kids. At some point it's default to us." — Benny [51:21]

Broader National Security & Immigration Debates

[65:45]–[85:07]

• Wide-ranging discussion on:
  • The 1965 Hart-Celler Act and chain migration as dangers to national culture.
  • The incompatibility of mass immigration from Sharia-governed societies (e.g., Somalia).
  • Law enforcement double standards when dealing with Democrat-linked crimes.

  "If you have immigration without assimilation, that's not immigration. That's an invasion." — Benny [66:58] "If there are good Muslims out there, which I know there are, speak out, talk out, and let's protect this country..." — Sen. Tuberville [68:47]

Media Manipulation & The Trump/BBC Lawsuit

[74:40]–[78:31]

• Rep. Beth Van Duyne discusses President Trump suing the BBC for $10 billion for allegedly misediting his Jan. 6 speech to misrepresent intent.

  "They changed everything that the President said there. Nothing that the president — like, they changed entirely his sentence." — Benny [74:40]

• Van Duyne shares her own battles against media misrepresentation, Sharia law courts, and the “Clock Boy” saga in Texas.

Final Thoughts on Cultural Confidence & Local Action

[91:08]–[93:57]

• Van Duyne urges Americans to stop apologizing for upholding their own culture and traditions.

  "We've got to stop being so protective of other cultures that we are not respecting and holding and bolding ours." — Rep. Van Duyne [91:08]

• Emphasis is placed on community-level engagement, school board activism, and holding officials responsible for failures to assimilate or uphold the law.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the Brown University Footage & Anger:

  "If you run a traffic light, then you're going to get a 4K photo of your license plate... All they have is, like, grainy videos. Ever seen, like, footage of the Mars rover... but yet this is what we have in Rhode Island?" — Benny Johnson [34:00]

• On Internal Conservative Drama:

  "It's hard to hate up close ... Very easy to hate an avatar or shitpost behind a screen ... but if they're sitting down with you in good faith, typically, you'll find common ground." — Benny [22:00]

• On Political Violence as the Real Threat:

  "The threat is not an edgelord saying something naughty on the Internet. The threat is the people who wish to kill us and harm our families." — Benny [19:45]

• On the Need for Action:

  "I'm tired of this violence and it being excused." — Erika Donalds [51:57] "We have to stop this nonsense. If you want to carry a gun to protect yourself, you should be able to." — Sen. Tuberville [64:02]

• On Immigration & Culture:

  "If you have immigration without assimilation, that's not immigration, that's an invasion. And we've been invaded as a country by people who are incompatible with Western civilization." — Benny [66:58] "Quit being afraid to say Merry Christmas. Show our traditions." — Rep. Beth Van Duyne [91:08]

Important Timestamps

• 00:01–04:00: Introduction, setting theme of joy vs. darkness, explaining campus killing context.
• 09:05: Highlighting job growth for native-born Americans.
• 15:20–28:47: Discussion of conservative infighting, the Kirk/Owens truce.
• 29:00–38:40: Deep dive into Brown University shooting details & systemic failures.
• 42:24–44:07: Former FBI investigator posits insider theory.
• 45:19–52:16: Erika Donalds on campus violence causes & solutions.
• 52:52–65:45: Sen. Tuberville discusses campus safety and national priorities.
• 74:40–78:31: Van Duyne, Trump lawsuit, media manipulation, and Sharia law battles.
• 91:08: Van Duyne’s advice on cultural confidence and community action.

Tone and Takeaways

• The episode marries Benny’s trademark sarcasm, outrage, and optimism.
• Heated and emotional throughout, with moments of dark humor, especially when discussing media, law enforcement, and political opponents.
• Calls for increased vigilance, unity on the right, and cultural pride.
• Emphasizes America’s foundational Christian values as a bulwark against both violence and cultural dissolution.

Summary Table: Guests & Focus

| Guest | Segment Focus | |----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Erika Donalds | Campus security, law enforcement discipline, arming students, cultural roots of violence | | Sen. Tommy Tuberville | Law enforcement failures, university responsibility, immigration, national security, fighting evil | | Rep. Beth Van Duyne | Media distortion, immigration, Sharia law in the US, assimilation, action steps for preservation |

Conclusion

This episode of The Benny Show takes listeners through the emotional and political aftermath of the Brown University shooting, tying it to larger trends of political violence, cultural clashes over immigration, media credibility, and leadership within the conservative movement. Guest voices amplify the calls for action, protection, and the reaffirmation of traditional American values. The show is a plea for seriousness, vigilance, and unity as the movement heads into a turbulent election year.

For more in-depth discussion, tune in to the following timestamps:

• Campus Violence & Brown University Shooting: [28:47]–[44:10]
• Erika Donalds on Security & Second Amendment: [45:19]–[52:16]
• Tommy Tuberville's Policy Solutions & Critique of Weakness: [52:52]–[65:45]
• Immigration & Media Narratives: [65:45]–[85:07]
• Van Duyne's Take on Culture Wars: [91:08]–[93:57]