The Benny Show: Karen MELTDOWN at Elderly Target Worker’s Charlie Kirk Shirt Goes VIRAL | Backfire! $70K Raised

Episode Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Benny Johnson
Guests: General Michael Flynn, Senator Ron Johnson, Rep. Chip Roy

Overview

This episode centers around a viral incident in which a 72-year-old Target employee was confronted and harassed by a left-wing activist for wearing a Charlie Kirk "Freedom" shirt. Host Benny Johnson explores the cultural and political implications of the meltdown, highlights the conservative movement's response, and discusses wider issues including campus violence, border security, deep state lawfare, and challenges facing American values. The show also features interviews with General Michael Flynn, Senator Ron Johnson, and Representative Chip Roy, all offering conservative insights on current events.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Target Incident: Elderly Employee Harassed for Pro-Conservative Shirt

• Viral Altercation ([20:04]–[21:16]):

  • A left-wing activist (Michiella Ponce) films herself berating a 72-year-old Target employee (Janine) for wearing a red "Charlie Kirk Freedom" shirt.
  • The video shows heated accusations of racism and demands that Janine not be allowed to wear political apparel—despite Target’s policy allowing red shirts.
  • Benny frames the incident as a “spiritual battle” and an embodiment of the ‘culture war’.
  • "Imagine that you've taken time out of your holiday season to go harass a 72 year old working retail at Target…This is why I say that. It's a spiritual battle, man. It's the forces of darkness. Good versus evil, Darkness versus light." – Benny Johnson [21:16]

• Backlash and Fundraising ([21:16]–[27:18]):

  • Public outrage leads to police investigation into the activist’s harassment.
  • Massive support for Janine as conservatives raise over $81,000 for her through GiveSendGo, with comments praising her composure and values.
  • Benny sees the outpouring as proof of a "high trust society" and the enduring decency in America.
  • "You know, the world and darkness seems so loud and it seems so overwhelming. And then you see something like this." – Benny Johnson [23:29]

Notable Quote:

"Thank you for displaying Christian values in the face of evil intolerant leftists. Wear your shirt with pride. Buy a dozen more. We are praying for you. Merry Christmas. Your national treasure." – Donor comment read by Benny Johnson [25:38]

2. The Legacy of Charlie Kirk & Conservative Youth Movement

• Reflection on Charlie Kirk’s Legacy ([05:04]–[17:02]):
  • Benny describes Kirk’s vision of uniting the right against “bloodthirsty Marxists” and his influence in promoting religious, family-oriented, and civic-minded values among young conservatives.
  • Data: Young conservatives more religious and more family-focused than previous generations.
    • "The legacy of Charlie was we should unite in order to defeat our common enemy, which is the bloodthirsty Marxist that wants to kill us, trans our children, open our borders and lock us all into Covid internment camps." – Benny Johnson [05:05]
  • The Target incident is linked to Kirk’s legacy and seen as a sign of his influence provoking intense reactions, even after his assassination.

3. General Michael Flynn: On Unity, Mar-a-Lago, and ‘Deep State’ Threats

• Mar-a-Lago Event & Heroism ([35:08]–[41:00]):

  • General Flynn recalls an event honoring WWII veteran Bill Dylan, who expressed support for Trump and classic American values.
  • Emphasis is placed on American unity and patriotism.
  • Notable Quote:
    "United we stand, right? So we are a much, much greater nation…when I talked…to a national representative, they are so grateful for everything that President Donald J. Trump has done to unite and to bring people together around the world." – General Michael Flynn [36:53]

• FBI Raids and Lawfare ([42:06]–[48:18]):

  • Flynn likens FBI’s raid of Mar-a-Lago and broader lawfare against Trump and others (including himself) to a campaign to destroy America-first leadership.
  • He urges grassroots action: "Local action has a national impact." – Flynn [44:44]
  • Predicts justice will come via subpoenas, indictments, and exposure of what he describes as a long-running conspiracy to undermine Trump.

• Election Security & Foreign Interference ([51:34]–[55:40]):

  • Flynn gives credence to claims of foreign influence—particularly Venezuela—in U.S. elections, and calls for returning to paper ballots and banning mail-in voting.
  • "100%, Benny, there is clear, unadulterated evidence that we had foreign interference in our elections." – Flynn [53:33]

4. Brown University Shooting & Claims of Campus Violence Cover-up

• Critique of University Response ([61:07]–[68:39]):
  • Benny covers a campus shooting at Brown University, alleging a cover-up due to inconsistencies in camera footage and the university scrubbing online information.
  • Eyewitnesses claim the suspect shouted “Allah Akbar”; Benny argues this was targeted at the only outspoken Christian conservative on campus.
  • Guest Chip Roy, whose godson was nearby, calls the university’s response “pathetic” and links the attack to wider targeting of conservatives and “pro-Israel” students.

5. Representative Chip Roy: Security, Immigration, and Islam in America

• School Safety & Armed Teachers ([71:14]–[73:25]):

  • Roy discusses policies to harden schools—arming teachers and increasing law enforcement engagement.
  • Stresses the need to “cut off the head of the snake” by targeting NGOs and funding sources that support attacks against American values.
  • "There’s a coordinated effort we’re seeing unfold that has to be stopped." – Chip Roy [73:08]

• Immigration, Refugee Vetting, and Integration ([75:36]–[79:15]):

  • Calls for a pause on all (including legal) immigration and stringent review of applicants, especially to bar those adhering to Sharia law.
  • Cites problems arising from “importing radicalism” and chain migration (e.g., Somali communities in U.S. cities).
  • Advocates using state and federal law to combat foreign influence and radicalism.

• Notable on Ilhan Omar:

  • Roy calls for investigations into Rep. Ilhan Omar’s background and accuses certain immigrant leaders of seeking to “Islamify” America.
  • "You don't have a religious liberty right to come here and undermine the rule of law, advance Sharia law, and try to take down our country." – Chip Roy [80:30]

6. Senator Ron Johnson: DOJ, FBI, and Accountability

• On the DOJ Raid of Mar-a-Lago ([86:40]–[88:31]):

  • Johnson decries the raid on Trump’s property as unwarranted, driven by partisan actors in the DOJ and FBI, and emblematic of deep state lawfare.
  • "This would be something worked out between the former president and the archives, not the FBI, not the Department of Justice." – Ron Johnson [87:29]

• Deep State Entrenchment ([88:53]–[91:02]):

  • Johnson describes the difficulty of reforming federal agencies, citing widespread lawfare against Trump allies and the legal profession.

• On January 6th and Cover-ups ([94:26]–[96:43]):

  • Skeptical about the official narrative of the J6 pipe bomber arrest; suspects stalled or corrupted investigations for political reasons.
  • Expresses frustration with lack of transparency from both Biden-era and Trump-era DOJ.

• COVID and Dr. Fauci ([97:14]–[99:07]):

  • Anderson expectation that Dr. Fauci will be exposed for wrongdoing regarding COVID policies and vaccine safety.
  • "What we do know is Anthony Fauci is a very bad person. Okay? Bottom line, probably the nicest thing you can say about him." – Ron Johnson [97:53]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• General Flynn on Service:
  "Everybody always asks, what can I do? The most important thing you can do... is figure out what you can control in your life and go take control of it." [44:44]

• WWII Veteran Bill Dylan:
  "Take the word can't out of your vocabulary. Everything has got to be I can, I can, I can... Get what you want. Take the word can't out of your volcano." [31:55] "I've been under 22 presidents... I think the greatest thing that’s ever happened to us is electing President Trump. Not just President of the United States. He's going to be the President of the world." [33:05]

• Benny on the Culture War:
  "It's a spiritual battle, man. It's the forces of darkness. Good versus evil, Darkness versus light." [21:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:01] – Show intro and overview
• [05:05] – Benny on Charlie Kirk’s legacy and young conservatives
• [17:02] – Ron Johnson: "Boom" (on Kirk's lasting impact)
• [20:04] – Audio/Transcript of Target altercation with Michiella Ponce
• [21:16] – Benny’s response: framing the event via spiritual and cultural lens
• [23:29] – Community backlash, police investigation, and public support for Janine
• [27:18] – Transition to General Flynn interview
• [35:08] – Flynn on American unity and the Mar-a-Lago event
• [42:06] – Flynn: FBI/DOJ lawfare, need for local action
• [51:34] – Flynn: foreign election interference & security reforms
• [61:07] – Benny breaks down Brown University shooting and alleged cover up
• [68:39] – Rep. Chip Roy: reaction to Brown University event
• [71:14] – Roy on school safety & illegal immigration
• [80:30] – Roy: “No religious right to undermine America”
• [86:40] – Sen. Ron Johnson: FBI raid, deep state, lawfare
• [94:26] – Johnson on January 6th pipe bomb case and government accountability
• [97:53] – Johnson: “Anthony Fauci is a very bad person…”
• [109:14] – Show closing, Benny recaps and previews upcoming events

Overall Tone and Style

The episode’s tone is unapologetically combative, rallying, and openly critical of left-wing politics, mainstream institutions, and figures like Ilhan Omar and Dr. Fauci. Johnson and his guests mix news commentary with motivational, at times hyperbolic rhetoric about "good vs. evil" and the stakes of the 'culture war', with frequent invocations of Christian values and American exceptionalism.

For Listeners New to the Episode

• The episode pivots from a specific viral culture war incident at Target to bigger battles over America's political, cultural, and religious future.
• It offers windows into conservative strategies for grassroots action, border/immigration policy, election security, and holding political adversaries accountable.
• Features robust promotion of unity and optimism within the MAGA/America First movement despite ongoing political battles.

Note:
Ad and promotional segments have been omitted from this summary.