Podcast Summary: The Benny Show

Episode: 🚨Trump Assassin Thomas Crooks Was Groomed by Trans 'Furry' Ideology | Trump: ‘Release Epstein Files!’

Date: November 17, 2025
Host: Benny Johnson
Guests: Senator John Kennedy, Lynne Patton

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into two urgent and controversial topics:

• The background and ideological evolution of Thomas Crooks, identified as the would-be assassin of former President Trump, scrutinizing alleged ties to transgender and “furry” subcultures, and the perceived failure of the FBI to be transparent about his radicalization.
• President Trump’s call for Congress to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein, sparking debate on government transparency and institutional trust.

Benny is joined by Senator John Kennedy to discuss the broader implications, government transparency failures, and the psychological/social underpinnings of these crises. Later, Lynne Patton joins to analyze the crumbling state of homeownership and the American dream for young Americans, connecting cultural decline to political and economic factors.

Main Segments, Discussion Points & Timestamps

1. Introduction, Recent Events & Setting the Stage

[00:01 – 10:00]

• Benny sets a fiery tone, expressing frustration with the “corporate media” and promising raw, independent commentary on several cultural flashpoints.
• Reflections on campus activism, recent assassinations (notably Charlie Kirk and attempted Trump assassination), and Benny’s approach to the show: unscripted, direct, “salt and light.”
• “There is a heightened spiritual battle going on right now. I’m sure you can feel it.” – Benny Johnson (03:10)

2. Culture War Updates: Youth Engagement, New York Event

[10:00 – 14:00]

• Recap of handing out 3,000 “Charlie Kirk Freedom Shirts” outside Madison Square Garden, signifying grassroots commitment and hope for America’s youth.
• “The youth is not lost. The youth is not communist. The youth is not turning on Trump.” – Benny (12:15)
• Footage and anecdotes of police taking shirts, highlighting public support and pushback against leftist narratives.

3. The “Transgender Shooter” Trend & Ideological Decay

[14:00 – 22:00]

• Benny lists a series of recent mass shooters allegedly identifying as transgender or non-binary; draws connections to a supposed ideological rot.
• “One thing is very clear. The trans movement is radicalizing mentally ill into becoming violent terrorists and targeting children. The pattern is undeniable.” – Benny (13:50)
• Introduces Senator John Kennedy and Lynn Patton; segues into a monologue about the biblical distinction between male and female and the spiritual roots of modern violence.
• Describes shooters’ writings with “satanic iconography” and direct quotes from alleged journals.

4. Deep Dive: Thomas Crooks’ Radicalization & FBI Narrative

[22:00 – 35:30]

• Benny outlines new revelations: Crooks went from being pro-Trump to anti-Trump, was active in online radical spaces exploring “furry” and transgender identities, and left a “digital trail” of violent rhetoric and threats.
• Criticizes FBI leadership for selectively reporting Crooks as solely right-wing, masking the more complex and leftward spiral in his ideology.
• “He left a digital trail of violent threats, extreme ideology, admiration for mass violence. He spoke openly of political assassination... and was even flagged by others for his threats.” – Benny (27:15)
• Notes the existence of 17 online accounts (including on DeviantArt, Discord, and others) and Crooks’ use of “they/them” pronouns.
• Links Crooks’ fetishistic interest in “furry” culture to broader themes of spiritual and ideological decay.
• Draws theological comparisons to “Baphomet,” asserting that “trans ideology is satanic.”

Notable moment:
“DeviantArt user used they/them pronouns and was on a furry hub. So like when the FBI sits there... and says Thomas Crooks probably just a right winger–it’s simply half the story.” – Benny Johnson [35:35]

5. The FBI’s Response and the Call for Transparency

[35:30 – 42:00]

• Benny and Senator Kennedy analyze the FBI’s investigation, specifically Deputy Director Paul Abbate’s congressional testimony.

• Benny reads from former Trump official Kash Patel, who details the scope of the FBI’s inquiry but acknowledges that crucial details remain withheld from the public.

• Emphasizes the necessity of trust and full disclosure, with Benny arguing for the wholesale release of Crooks’ digital and communication records:
  “Release them...Just show us that there is nothing that is being hidden here.” – Benny (40:55)

• On Crooks’ family: “It seems beyond my wildest imagination that your child could be going through this kind of transformation, literal transformation, and you not know about it.” – Benny (41:25)

6. Senator John Kennedy Interview: Government Trust & Institutional Failure

[48:30 – 59:00]

• Kennedy reflects on the need for transparency in major cases, drawing comparisons to prior assassination attempts.

“Except for the institution of our military, Americans have lost a lot of faith...To rebuild trust... you’ve got to go the extra mile in terms of full disclosure.” – Sen. Kennedy (49:35)

• Advocates for full release of Crooks’ online/phone records, details of FBI procedures, and assures that scrutiny is justified and necessary for public safety and learning.
• Raises the potential that this case, if handled differently, would alter public understanding and perhaps even election narratives.

“Something radicalized this guy... We were led to believe all sorts of things, but mostly we weren’t given much information.” – Sen. Kennedy (54:30)

Sample exchange:

• Benny: “Wouldn’t it have changed everything...if we had known that Thomas Crooks was a far left wing extremist?” (53:33)
• Sen. Kennedy: “Sure...Something radicalized this guy...I want to know. American people want to know.” (54:23)

7. Epstein Files & Accountability for Elites

[59:10 – 65:00]

• Trump’s call to declassify the Epstein files is discussed in detail, with Kennedy drawing a direct line from general government distrust to the special importance of full investigation into high-level sexual abuse and coverups.

“The only way we’re going to get that confidence back is to go the extra mile...You just gotta say, here it is, you can see everything.” – Sen. Kennedy (61:05)

• Kennedy and Benny discuss the “boomerang” of Democratic opposition research on Epstein leading back to prominent Democrats (Larry Summers, Bill Clinton, etc.).

“Bill Clinton liked them young. These are exact quotes from Jeffrey Epstein and victims.” – Benny (64:06)

• Comments on media complicity in the Epstein scandal:

“I learned...the incestuous relationship between Epstein and many members of the media...That made me want to stick my head in the oven.” – Sen. Kennedy (65:12)

8. American Dream, Housing Crisis, & Solutions (with Lynne Patton)

[74:45 – 85:35]

• Lynne Patton joins to discuss the impact of economic pressures on young people’s ability to own homes, connecting it to political failures and immigration/big business policies.

• “Nobody wants to take their new bride home to the frat house.” – Benny (76:35)

• Outlines policy solutions including portable mortgages, new homebuyer tax credits, and restrictions on large financial entities buying homes.

• Patton emphasizes the Trump administration’s economic initiatives:

“Americans remember that when [Trump] was in office the first time, we had the strongest economy in 60 years.” – Lynne Patton (83:19)

• Discusses the generational failure (median age of first-time homebuyers rising), macroeconomic trends, and the need for further reform.

9. Final Reflections: Prioritizing Domestic Peace & Renewal

[85:36 – End]

• Benny closes with a return to themes of spiritual and political renewal, critiquing international distractions:

“What I really want is the Domestic Peace Prize, right? I’m tired of seeing my president get shot in the head. I’m tired of seeing Charlie get shot. I’m tired of seeing the agitation and collapse here internally in this country. We have so many problems...” (86:14)

• Links “America First” to biblical values and responsibilities.
• Brief news updates: SNAP fraud crackdown, Democratic leadership speculation (Schumer/AOC), and the continued importance of fighting “Marxism” at home.
• Closing verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “One thing is very clear. The trans movement is radicalizing mentally ill into becoming violent terrorists and targeting children. The pattern is undeniable.” – Benny (13:50)
• “DeviantArt user used they/them pronouns and was on a furry hub. So like when the FBI sits there... and says Thomas Crooks probably just a right winger–it’s simply half the story.” – Benny (35:35)
• “Except for the institution of our military, Americans have lost a lot of faith... To rebuild trust... you’ve got to go the extra mile in terms of full disclosure.” – Sen. Kennedy (49:35)
• “The only way we’re going to get that confidence back is to go the extra mile...You just gotta say, here it is, you can see everything.” – Sen. Kennedy (61:05)
• "Bill Clinton liked them young. These are exact quotes from Jeffrey Epstein and victims.” – Benny (64:06)
• "What I really want is the Domestic Peace Prize, right?... I’m America first. I’m America only." – Benny (86:14)

Key Takeaways

• Transparency as a Cure: Both Benny and Senator Kennedy argue that only radical transparency from institutions like the FBI and DOJ can restore public trust after scandals and misinformation.
• Narrative Control: The episode alleges suppression or distortion of facts around political violence and ideological radicalization, especially when inconvenient to the prevailing narrative.
• Cultural & Spiritual Crisis: Benny links violence, trans ideology, and the decline of the family/homeownership to a broader “spiritual war” and abandonment of Christian principles.
• Political Fallout: Handling (or mishandling) the truth about figures like Thomas Crooks or Epstein has direct political and cultural consequences, including on elections and generational confidence.
• Call to Action: The episode stirs listeners to demand accountability from leaders and to prioritize domestic unity, homeownership, and traditional values as the path to national revival.

Episode Structure/Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:01 | Introduction & recent events | | 10:00 | Youth activism, NY shirt event | | 14:00 | Trends in mass shootings; transgender, cultural decay | | 22:00 | Deep dive: Thomas Crooks' radicalization & FBI’s narrative | | 35:30 | FBI response; transparency debate; Crooks' online trajectory | | 48:30 | Sen. Kennedy: Institutional trust & investigation failures | | 59:10 | Epstein files, elite accountability, media complicity | | 74:45 | Homeownership crisis & solutions (with Lynne Patton) | | 85:36 | Reflections on domestic renewal; final commentary |

For listeners seeking the full story behind Thomas Crooks, accountability on the Epstein files, or the linkage of culture wars to economic conditions, this episode offers a passionate, if polarizing, perspective, combining news breakdown, political analysis, and spiritual reflection.