The Benny Show

Episode: I’m Traveling to California Today To Expose Billions in Fraud | Will We End Gavin Newsom’s Career?
Host: Benny Johnson
Guest: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Date: January 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Benny Johnson sets out for California with the aim of exposing "billions in fraud" within the state’s homeless and relief programs under Governor Gavin Newsom. Johnson frames the episode as a mission to challenge establishment narratives and hold the state’s leadership accountable. He’s joined by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for a wide-ranging conversation about red vs. blue state governance, the California “exodus,” independent journalism, and broader political issues, including fraud, education, tax policy, Trump's return to power, and prospects for the 2028 presidential election.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Uncovering Fraud in California's Homelessness Programs

[00:00 - 06:40]

• Benny sets the stage for his California trip, emphasizing the state’s "failure" to solve homelessness despite enormous spending.
  • “The feds don’t think so. Federal prosecutor warns that arrests are coming after massive fraud found in California homeless services... That’s $170,000 per homeless person.” ([01:29], Benny Johnson)
• Discussion of recent indictments (Cody Holmes, Steven Taylor) for embezzlement and the expectation of further charges.
  • “We followed the money and we quickly uncovered massive amounts of fraud, said the U.S. attorney.” ([01:59], Benny Johnson)
• Critical commentary on the “homeless industrial complex” and a claim that the state “profits from perpetuating homelessness.”
  • “You see, if they solve the problem, the money goes away. So you have to not solve the problem, because otherwise all those billions will stop flowing.” ([04:20], Benny Johnson)
• Benny previewing their plans to document the conditions on the ground, particularly in Los Angeles and Skid Row.

2. California’s Broader Record Under Newsom

[05:17 - 06:40]

• Benny claims Newsom and the state government have “facilitated” conditions for street homelessness and rampant fraud, also citing alleged misuse of fire relief funds.
  • “This is what I mean by hell on earth… There have been zero new homes built. Okay? I think there’s been seven out of 7,000 homes..." ([05:36], Benny Johnson)
• Sense of urgency as he asks listeners to "pray" for the team’s safety and success.

3. Social Media “Battle” with Gavin Newsom

[06:41 - 09:16]

• Benny describes an ongoing feud with Newsom on X (formerly Twitter), claiming to consistently “ratio” the governor.
  • “Boom goes the dynamite. This is what we’ve been doing. It’s been a b—. We’ve been having a blast doing it, ladies and gentlemen.” ([07:21], Benny Johnson)
• Comic relief as Benny jokes about the “easy money” of roasting Newsom online.

4. Conversation with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Arkansas’s Successes in Contrast to California

[09:16 - 18:00]

• Sarah Sanders describes Arkansas as a state of opportunity and growth:
  • “For the second year in a row, Arkansas is the number one state in the country for inbound migration.” ([13:46], Sarah Sanders)
  • Emphasizes regulatory and tax policies driving people from California to Arkansas.
  • “We just like to remind them not to forget why they left California in the first place when they get here.” ([14:02], Sarah Sanders)
• Side-by-side comparison of California’s “failures”: homelessness, poverty, crime, unemployment, high cost of living, and regulatory burden, contrasted with Arkansas’s thriving metrics.

Economic and Industry Growth in Arkansas

[18:02 - 20:17]

• Sanders highlights key sectors: agriculture, steel, aerospace/defense, and tourism.
  • “We now have the number one steel producing county of anywhere in America...” ([18:32], Sarah Sanders)
  • “We welcomed over 50 million visitors to Arkansas last year alone.” ([19:31], Sarah Sanders)

Tax Cuts & Modernization Initiatives

[20:17 - 22:52]

• Discussion of Arkansas’s tax cuts (state income, grocery tax) and initiatives for government savings/efficiency.
  • “We've already knocked off 20% and are going to continue chipping away until we get [the state income tax] to zero.” ([20:45], Sarah Sanders)
  • “[We] identified hundreds of phone and fax lines... we were still paying subscriptions... by eliminating ones that weren’t being used, we're now saving the state north of a million dollars a year.” ([21:31], Sarah Sanders)

Government Waste and Fraud in Blue States

[23:32 - 26:51]

• Sanders criticizes Minnesota, California, and other blue states for massive, often federally funded, fraud.
  • “Arkansas’s entire state budget is less than Minnesota and California have wasted on fraud in the last year.” ([23:45], Sarah Sanders)
  • “I hope that you will be able to really expose and highlight the level of fraud that’s taking place…” ([24:39], Sarah Sanders)

Reflections on Tim Walz and Accountability

[25:06 - 27:06]

• Commentary on fallout for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz following fraud investigations:
  • “He’s clearly not capable of running his state.” ([26:16], Sarah Sanders)
  • “Tom Emmer...says that Tim Walz may leave office in handcuffs… we've seen that happen in Arkansas before, but I'm glad I'm not on that list.” ([27:06], Sarah Sanders)

Critique of Gavin Newsom’s National Aspirations

[27:39 - 28:47]

• Sanders on Newsom's presumed White House ambitions:
  • “I mean, I think he’s got to get his own state in order before he asks the country for a promotion.” ([28:15], Sarah Sanders)
  • Suggests Newsom could benefit from learning from Republican governors.

Further Criticisms and Arkansas’s Open-for-Business Pitch

[28:47 - 29:35]

• Johnson and Sanders discuss Newsom’s tax proposals, business exodus, and tech/defense industry migration out of California.
  • “We’re open for business. We’ve got everything that you need…” ([29:16], Sarah Sanders)

Education in Arkansas vs. California

[29:35 - 31:59]

• Discusses Arkansas’s recent progress:
  • “We’ve gone from being at the very bottom of the pack when it comes to starting teacher pay... to top 5 overnight.” ([29:52], Sarah Sanders)
  • “We’ve removed things like indoctrination and CRT… We’ve also opened up universal school choice…” ([29:52], Sarah Sanders)
• Benny jokes about scandalous “quality leering centers” staying in blue states.

5. National & Global Political Context

[32:08 - 34:43]

• Brief reflections on President Trump’s “America First” reshaping of U.S. foreign and domestic policy since returning to office.
  • “There’s the speed of government, there’s the speed of business, and now there’s the speed of Trump.” ([32:43], Sarah Sanders)
• Johnson speculates about 2028 with a possible Newsom vs. AOC matchup.
  • Sanders: “I think that would be one of the most dangerous, awful things that could happen to our country... there’s no way that that type of person gets elected to be the leader of the free world.” ([34:01], Sarah Sanders)

6. Reflective & Personal Notes

[34:43 - 35:56]

• Benny lauds Sanders's leadership of Arkansas and its rise to positive national attention.
  • “It’s been really inspiring watching you as governor of Arkansas.” ([34:43], Benny Johnson)
• Both share mutual appreciation and enthusiasm for Arkansas’s upward trajectory.

Notable Quotes

“The feds don’t think so. Federal prosecutor warns that arrests are coming after massive fraud found in California homeless services... That’s $170,000 per homeless person.”
— Benny Johnson ([01:29])

"You see, if they solve the problem, the money goes away. So you have to not solve the problem, because otherwise all those billions will stop flowing."
— Benny Johnson ([04:20])

“For the second year in a row, Arkansas is the number one state in the country for inbound migration.”
— Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ([13:46])

“We never want to tax productivity. I’ve always thought that was a backwards way of looking at things.”
— Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ([20:42])

"Arkansas’s entire state budget is less than Minnesota and California have wasted on fraud in the last year."
— Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ([23:45])

"I mean, I think he’s got to get his own state in order before he asks the country for a promotion."
— Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ([28:15])

“There’s the speed of government, there's the speed of business, and now there's the speed of Trump.”
— Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders ([32:43])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & California Trip Setup: [00:00 – 05:17]
• Homelessness, Fraud & Social Media Battle: [05:17 – 09:16]
• Interview w/ Gov. Sanders Begins: [09:16]
• Red State vs. Blue State Migration: [13:02 – 15:48]
• Arkansas Economic Growth: [17:04 – 20:17]
• Tax & Policy Modernization in Arkansas: [20:17 – 22:52]
• Blue State Fraud Scandals & Fallout: [23:32 – 27:06]
• Newsom’s Political Ambitions: [27:39 – 28:47]
• Education in Arkansas: [29:35 – 31:59]
• National/Global Politics & 2028 Speculation: [32:08 – 34:43]
• Closing Reflections: [34:43 – 35:56]

Memorable Moments

• Benny relishing “ratioing” Gavin Newsom on social media, turning it into a running gag.
• Sanders’s proud articulation of Arkansas’s achievements and growth as a quasi-red state “blueprint.”
• The episode’s recurring motif of “the fraud is so large, it’s more than Arkansas’s entire budget.”
• Banter about Trump’s “speed” and era-defining leadership.
• Benny’s closing prayer for “justice” (Deuteronomy 16:20), connecting the show’s investigative mission to broader moral themes.

Tone & Style

Benny’s approach is punchy, irreverent, and openly combative, especially towards Newsom and Democrats. The conversation with Sanders is friendly, upbeat, and laced with mutual admiration, while policy discussions retain an overtly conservative, anti-establishment framing. The show’s language is direct (“ass of himself,” “ratioing Gavin”), humorous at times, and frequently refers to culture war themes.

For listeners seeking to understand the episode’s key content, this summary covers the detailed critique of California’s handling of homelessness and fraud, Arkansas’s strategies under Gov. Sanders, and the show’s perspectives on media independence, national politics, and state-level accountability—complete with timestamps and direct speaker attribution.