The Truth with Lisa Boothe: The Brown University Shooting & Bondi Beach Terror Attack

Guest: Jonathan T. Gilliam (Former Navy SEAL and FBI Agent)
Host: Lisa Boothe
Release Date: December 17, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Lisa Boothe brings on Jonathan T. Gilliam—former Navy SEAL, FBI agent, and expert in active shooters and terrorism—for a no-nonsense analysis of recent high-profile acts of violence:

• The unsolved Brown University mass shooting
• An ISIS-inspired Bondi Beach terror attack in Australia
• Broader implications for crime, terrorism, and border security

They discuss systemic failures in security, law enforcement, and the handling of information by officials, as well as the ideological and practical challenges in combating modern terrorism at home and abroad. Their conversation is marked by frank frustration and a call for greater accountability and clarity from both authorities and the public.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Brown University Shooting: Security Failures and Official Incompetence

[04:33–13:25]

• Lack of progress in the Brown University mass shooting case:
  • The shooter remains at large days after the incident, raising serious questions about campus and law enforcement response.
  • "It appears that the university, as rich as they are, like billions of dollars in endowments—their camera systems are horrible." – Jonathan Gilliam [05:51]
  • Security camera systems are numerous (estimated 800–1200), but ineffective due to poor camera placement and image clarity.
  • Official briefings give incomplete or spotty information, more focused on deflecting blame than enlisting public help.
• Missed opportunities for investigation:
  • Gilliam notes the lack of standard procedure in the investigation and briefings.
  • Noteworthy investigative cues—such as a suspect’s missing sling bag and distinctive posture—are not shared with the public.
  • "They have not shared…the university and police in their briefings…We need information given to the public—stop making this a political grandstanding brief." – Gilliam [07:28]

Notable Quote

"I mean, from an investigative standpoint…this guy had to have knowledge of that particular place." – Jonathan Gilliam [06:56]

2. Transparency and the Possibility of a Cover-up

[13:25–17:16]

• Lack of clarity about possible terrorist motives:
  • Rumors that the shooter shouted "Allahu Akbar" or targeted Jewish victims are not confirmed or denied by officials.
  • Lisa raises suspicion about intentional withholding:
    "Is the reason why we're not getting more information…because they're intentionally not disclosing information that would make this appear to be a terror attack, if that's what it is?" – Lisa Boothe [13:25]
• Political correctness over public safety:
  • Gilliam and Boothe suggest officials may be reluctant to stoke racial or religious tensions, potentially hampering efforts to catch the killer.
  • "I could see…that they are not releasing these things…because they don't want to make this into a racial or an Islamic thing if that's the case." – Gilliam [15:31]

3. The FBI & Law Enforcement: Trust and Competency Issues

[17:34–20:55]

• Skepticism about FBI involvement:
  • Gilliam expresses concern over the politicization of the FBI, citing "affirmative action and DEI" hires and leftist ideology.
  • "The perception is reality…when the FBI steps in on something." – Gilliam [17:51]
• Failures in past investigations are highlighted, with the implication that similar incompetence or ideological blind spots could hamper current efforts.

4. Analysis of Perpetrator Behavior and Threat Landscape

[23:33–25:55]

• Assessment of the Brown shooter’s expertise:
  • Gilliam explains that attacking unprotected "soft" targets does not require expert skill—intent is the main driver.
  • "Killing in an environment that is a soft environment…does not take an expert. You don’t have to get a PhD in killing…It’s just…do you want to do it or not?" – Gilliam [24:06]
• Critique of law enforcement’s handling of public intelligence:
  • Echoes how the public played an essential role in previous manhunts (e.g., Mangione case).

5. The Bondi Beach Terror Attack & the Global Spread of Jihad

[25:55–32:32]

• Global trends in terror attacks:
  • Lisa draws parallels between US border policy and the mass migration leading to radicalization in Europe and Australia.
  • Gilliam explains how forced migration creates vulnerabilities:
    • Displaced populations become susceptible to radical recruiters from groups like ISIS, Hamas, Al Qaeda.
  • "Once those people get into a modern country, they are ripe for the picking to be radicalized…That is despite the amount of people that have been pushed all over this world." – Gilliam [29:16]
• Critique of Western immigration policies:
  • Both express the view that the West is inadvertently "committing suicide" by not screening entrants carefully.
  • "It’s like we’re letting people into our house who we know want to destroy it." – Booth [32:08]

6. The Red-Green Alliance: Intersection of Leftist and Islamist Agendas

[37:24–43:09]

• Definition and implications:
  • Gilliam describes a “Red-Green Alliance”—collaboration between Marxist/leftist (Red) and fundamentalist Islamist (Green) groups.
  • They mutually benefit by exploiting open societies to spread ideological influence and social disruption.
  • "Islam and Marxism or communism have worked hand in hand for…over a hundred years." – Gilliam [38:53]
• Challenges in countering these threats:
  • Successful attacks are difficult to entirely prevent, especially with officials’ focus on political optics.
  • Proposes more proactive law enforcement—including counter-radicalization, cracking down on drug crime, and better community vigilance.

7. Prospects for Capturing the Brown University Killer

[40:25–41:19]

• Confidence in capture:
  • “I think that eventually that person is going to be known…I think they’ll eventually be caught because they have to have known people there. There’s a reason why they chose that particular place.” – Gilliam [40:28]
• Pathways to solution:
  • If not identified by technology or forensics, personal connections or ideological ties will likely reveal the perpetrator.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"It’s pretty shocking when you see how little attention they actually give to security. It's smoke and mirrors most of the time, and law enforcement is the worst at that."
— Jonathan Gilliam [09:46]

"If we want to make this nation safer…maybe you might want to go out and really start cracking down on drug dealers and then promoting…young people not to use drugs and really making the penalty stiff enough where people just won't do it…doing nothing is where we are right now."
— Jonathan Gilliam [37:50]

“Culture is everything. As I go around the world, the one thing I've noticed is that culture can kill a community or a country or a nation, or it can make it great.”
— Jonathan Gilliam [32:33]

“It’s not rocket science, whether it's the attack itself or all these things that are going on like in Bondi Beach…a lot of it has to do with this Red-Green alliance and Islam riding the coattails of the leftist.”
— Jonathan Gilliam [41:32]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:33] — Introduction to Brown University shooting issues
• [05:51] — Campus security camera failures
• [13:25] — Possible cover-up regarding terror motives
• [17:34] — FBI and law enforcement challenges
• [24:03] — Analysis of shooter’s skill and intent
• [25:55] — Discussion of Bondi Beach terror attack and terrorism in the West
• [32:33] — Discussion of cultural impact and migration
• [37:24] — Red-Green alliance and proactive solutions
• [40:25] — Prospects for catching the Brown University killer

Final Thoughts

The episode is a candid look at recent terror attacks and the erosion of public safety due to bureaucratic failures, political correctness, and lack of proactive solutions. Gilliam and Booth argue that a combination of weak security protocols, deliberate information control by authorities, and ideological naivete has left the public more vulnerable. They call for greater transparency with the public, deeper commitment to investigating ideological drivers of violence, and a cultural reawakening to defend the principles and security of Western nations.

Tone:
Frank, critical, unsparing—and occasionally darkly humorous—anchored in national security expertise and skepticism toward political and institutional priorities.