Podcast Summary: The Benny Show – Tim Walz to RESIGN from Office After Somali Scandal, Newsom in PANIC Over Fraud Investigation

Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Benny Johnson
Guests: Byron Donalds (Rep. Florida), Steve Hilton (CA gubernatorial candidate), with clips from Tim Walz, Gavin Newsom, Donald Trump, Kristi Noem

Main Theme

This explosive episode centers on breaking news allegations that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is expected to resign imminently due to a massive welfare fraud scandal tied to the Somali community, with predictions of criminal charges. Benny Johnson delves into the scope and implications of the Minnesota scandal, draws parallels to Gavin Newsom and widespread fraud investigations in California, and hosts political figures Byron Donalds and Steve Hilton for in-depth analysis on corruption, immigration, state politics, and cultural issues shaking America.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Breaking News: Tim Walz Scandal & Expected Resignation

Timestamps: 00:00–09:55

• Benny leads with the scoop: “We have this on high authority that today may well be the last day in office for Tim Walz. He’s already under several federal investigations…” (00:26)
• Reports indicate Minnesota GOP insiders expect Walz, facing a “Somali fraud scandal” and massive federal scrutiny, to leave office—possibly even “in handcuffs.”
• Scandal Details:
  • Fraud relates to welfare money being funneled abroad (notably by Somali immigrants) and to “sham companies” (daycares, autism programs, meal distributions) retaining federal/state money for nonexistent services.
  • “$700 million worth of cold, hard cash in their suitcases at the Minneapolis airport... flagged for years” (06:22, 21:39 – John Solomon reporting).

Notable Quote:

• Benny Johnson: “Minnesota is effectively an inoperable state right now because the federal government has taken away all their monies… Everything from HHS, everything from DOJ, everything from the Department of Labor—unemployment benefits, it’s all frozen.” (09:55)

2. Walz’s Public Response & Cognitive Dissonance

Timestamps: 04:52–09:55

• Plays Walz’s press conference: Walz defiantly states, “Over my dead body will that happen. I will fight this thing till the very end…” (04:56)
• Benny ridicules Walz for blaming the investigation on political attacks and “screaming January 6th” as a distraction.
• Cognitive dissonance is highlighted: Democrats invoke defense of federal law enforcement (re: Jan 6), but ignore violence against them when it fits their side.

3. Violence, Law Enforcement, and Leftist Activism in Minneapolis

Timestamps: 12:17–15:56

• Benny describes attacks on journalists and federal officers amid Minneapolis unrest:
  • “ICE agent comes up, tells her to get out of the car...she floors it...You can see him get out...and see the collision.” (14:07)
• Contrasts Democratic rhetoric on law enforcement with actual events.
• Benny and Byron Donalds decry “hypocrisy” among activists and politicians.

4. The Scale and Methods of Welfare Fraud

Timestamps: 21:39–33:53

• John Solomon details daily “Somali couriers” moving $350 million a year out of Minnesota (21:39).
• Byron Donalds explains how federal and state programs were routed through fake organizations, with whistleblowers in the Walz administration retaliated against for speaking out (33:53).
• “These people were creating these sham companies—empty storefronts... taking this money... buying real estate, flying on private jets, sending money back to Somalia.” (34:41 – Byron Donalds)

Notable Quote:

• Byron Donalds: “What was happening was...money was still going out the door. A lot of this does stem from when federal money goes into state coffers...instead of distributing to those in need, they were pocketing it.” (31:33)

5. Race, Immigration, and Welfare State Politics

Timestamps: 37:07–40:36

• Discussion over the Somali community’s political leverage (“threatening to accuse officials of Islamophobia and racism” if fraud was stopped), and the broader strategy of Democrats to maintain electoral power by inviting dependent immigrant populations.
• Benny and Byron both argue for a return to quota-based systems and against chain migration.

6. Fallout and Political Consequences

Timestamps: 41:10–44:22

• Calls for a subpoena of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s immigration records amid fraud allegations.
• Debate about whether Tim Walz and possibly Gavin Newsom will leave office “in handcuffs.”
• “If you are now conspiring to keep the fraud going, in my view, yes, you should face criminal charges for that.” (44:14 – Byron Donalds)

7. California: Preview of an Even Larger Scandal?

Timestamps: 24:00, 56:26–70:45

• Benny teases a massive fraud investigation set to break in California, with comparisons to the scale and complexity of the Minnesota scandal.
• Steve Hilton joins to discuss $250 billion in public sector fraud allegations in California, fleeing of billionaires over proposed “wealth taxes,” and the culture of legal-but-corrupt “behested payments.”
• California’s gas prices, punitive tax regime, and climate policies are described as self-inflicted economic suicide.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Hilton: “It’s so obscenely corrupt...totally legal, totally corrupt. That’s the kind of swamp Gavin Newsom has been swimming in for 16 years.” (74:02)
• Regarding wealth taxes: “Insanely stupid and counterproductive...captures everything that’s wrong with the state.” (58:22)
• “When I’m governor...I’ll be doing a double service—cleaning up the mess for real, but also exposing how useless and destructive Newsom was as a warning to the whole of America.” (61:29)

8. State Sovereignty, Elections, and the Importance of Local Government

Timestamps: 29:50–32:34

• Both host and guests emphasize the critical impact state governments have on citizens’ daily lives.
• “The framers intended the federal government to have limited powers...many issues are the responsibility of state governments.” (30:50 – Byron Donalds)

9. Cuba, the Monroe Doctrine, and U.S. Foreign Policy (Florida Connection)

Timestamps: 44:22–50:15

• Benny and Byron discuss the collapse of the Cuban regime, impacts on Florida, and why it’s in America’s interest for Cuba to be free.
• “If that regime falls, there’s going to be parades from here all the way through the summertime, especially in Hialeah.” (47:28—Byron Donalds)
• “I stand with the people of Cuba and with our Cuban citizens here in Florida.” (48:04—Byron Donalds)

10. Dark Money and Funding Agitators/Protesters

Timestamps: 77:38–79:31

• Benny names major dark-money players—including Warren Buffett, Ford Foundation, Rockefeller, and Soros—accused of funding left-wing activists and criminal protests via nonprofit intermediaries.
• “No Kings criminal protest exposed—$300 million from Arabella Advisors... Who’s funding the destruction of your nation.” (78:44)

Standout Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Benny Johnson (on Dem crisis response): “Whenever you’re in trouble, scream January 6th... It is the get out of jail free card for any lib, for any Democrat.” (09:55)
• Byron Donalds (on chain migration): “America should go back to a quota system...you can have open borders or a welfare state, but not both.” (37:57)
• Steve Hilton (on California’s rot): “We’ve already lost the revenue...billions sent out of California just by the threat of a wealth tax.” (58:22)
• Donald Trump (clip): “Greenland’s defense is two dog sleds. In the meantime, you have Russian destroyers and submarines all over the place.” (84:34)
• Kristi Noem: “We’re sending more officers...to make sure we protect our officers but also follow through on making sure these criminals are brought to justice.” (76:47)
• Benny Johnson (sign-off): “Expose the darkness, and the light shall set you free. The truth shall set you free.” (27:04)

Notable Timestamps (Summary)

• 00:00–09:55: Overview of Minnesota/Wallz scandal, context, Walz press conference.
• 21:39–22:42: John Solomon describes the Minnesota money pipeline and its scale.
• 33:53–37:07: Byron Donalds: Deep dive into how the fraud worked in Minnesota.
• 56:26–64:44: Steve Hilton: California’s fraud and economic mismanagement, Newsom parallels.
• 74:02–74:53: California’s “behested payments” corruption explained by Hilton.
• 77:38–79:31: Benny reveals left-wing dark money networks and their influence on unrest.

Tone and Style

• Aggressively skeptical, combative, and sometimes sardonic; Benny is openly partisan (“we drink the salty tears of Gavin”) and blends news reporting with ideological commentary.
• Guests maintain a policy-focused but irreverent tone, matching Benny’s energy.
• Regular asides to the audience, jokes about Batman, U-Haul stats, and personal stories to keep the show fast-paced and informal.

For New Listeners

This episode is a comprehensive, high-adrenaline, and often incendiary breakdown of what the Benny Show casts as an escalating war on corruption within America’s Democrat-run states. If you want to understand the right-wing media framing of current political scandals in Minnesota and California, or hear from leading conservative political figures about their visions for state and national policy—especially on fraud, immigration, and state sovereignty—this is a must-listen. Expect raw language, political combativeness, detailed whistleblower/insider coverage, and connections drawn between crisis governance and broader culture war battles.