Podcast Summary: The Dinesh D'Souza Podcast

Episode: COUNTER PUNCH

Date: November 25, 2025

Overview

In this episode of The Dinesh D'Souza Podcast, Dinesh explores a range of current political topics, highlighting recent judicial setbacks for the Trump DOJ, uncovering alleged COVID relief fraud by Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, and delving into the FBI’s handling of the Thomas Crooks case with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine. The conversation also pivots into the philosophical underpinnings and future of the "America First" movement, informed by Devine’s recent interview with J.D. Vance.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Recent Judicial Rulings and the Trump DOJ

[07:45–19:56]

• Main Point: Dinesh analyzes the dismissal of Comey and Letitia James indictments by a Democratic judge, not on the merits of the case, but on technical grounds regarding the improper appointment of prosecutor Lindsey Halligan.
• Dinesh critiques the judicial reasoning: “She is not saying that there is no merit to it. She is not saying that Comey is innocent. She is not saying that he didn’t lie to Congress as alleged in the indictment.” [09:00]
• He suggests that the appellate court could reinstate the indictments, noting, “I’m not a lawyer, but ... the appellate court could easily conclude that regardless of whether the Halligan appointment is valid, the indictment itself is valid, and therefore this dismissal is unwarranted.” [13:37]
• He highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring “by the book” prosecutions, stating that Democrat-appointed judges may view Trump administration indictments with “a certain type of ideological hostility.” [15:00]

2. Candace Owens, Social Media, and Conspiracies

[05:30–07:45]

• Dinesh humorously discusses Candace Owens’ conspiracy theories, including alleged assassination plots involving French and Israeli operatives.
• He reflects on the spread of such theories online: “I do it [social media] kind of for fun. I do it to keep abreast of some of the stuff going on, both relevant and crazy.” [07:05]
• Dinesh suggests some theories may serve as attempts to gain social media attention, noting, “All of this is just being done for social media attention. Something that’s kind of hard for me to grasp.” [07:20]

3. COVID Relief Fraud Charges Against Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick

[19:57–31:03]

• Allegations: Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and associates are accused of misappropriating $5 million in COVID relief funds, originally intended as a $50,000 FEMA payment.
• Dinesh explains the mechanics of the alleged scheme: “The government, incredibly, wrote them a check not for $50,000, but for $5 million...” [22:16]. He details the subsequent movement of funds among family, friends, and campaign accounts.
• On legal culpability: “The law is actually pretty clear. This isn’t your money. If money is erroneously deposited ... You don’t get to keep the other nine [thousand].” [28:22]
• Dinesh predicts: “I actually predict that representative Sheila Cherfilius McCormick will pretty soon be...She will resign.” [29:45]
• He differentiates this from his own legal troubles: “The big difference in my case was I was giving my own money. In this case, she is funneling money that is provided initially by the government.” [27:10]
• Concludes the case is “pretty clear cut” if facts are as alleged.

4. FBI Handling of Thomas Crooks (with Miranda Devine)

[31:03–52:13]

Who is Thomas Crooks?

• Thomas Crooks attempted to assassinate Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, PA.
• Miranda Devine discusses new information about Crooks’ digital footprint and violent online activity, which went unchecked by authorities.

Key Findings on Crooks’ Online Activity

• Crooks had a lengthy record of posting violent rhetoric online, including threats against Congress members, notably Ilhan Omar.
• “He was online for a long time when he was young, 15, 16, 17, making threatening comments, really violent rhetoric online to the point where other users would tag the FBI and say, ‘look at this guy’...” (Devine, [32:45])
• Despite repeated flagging, Crooks was not intercepted by the FBI, Secret Service, or Capitol Police; “It’s hard to believe a guy would be so openly over such a long period ... and escape attention even with people flagging him.” (Devine, [33:50])

FBI Transparency and Accountability

• Following Devine’s reporting, FBI finally confirmed key facts but responded antagonistically, releasing a press statement titled “Correcting False Media Reporting.” (Devine, [36:50])
• Devine: “The American people, and I’m sorry, but the other victims ... were promised answers, promised a full report by the FBI. And I don’t believe that the FBI has given her a report.” [35:00]
• She questions ongoing FBI reluctance: “Why was that not picked up? ... These should be keywords ... If they’re posting threatening language like that, targeting politicians, by name, then that should be flagged.” [41:29]

Crooks, Online Subcultures, and Radicalization

• Crooks had an online connection with a Norwegian neo-Nazi and activity on “furry” and trans-friendly platforms.
• Dinesh: “I wonder if with Thomas Crooks, even if you just were to look at a picture of the guy, you could see that he was a weirdo ... this is some sort of a misfit kid.” [42:27]
• Devine links online subcultures and potential for radicalization: “Through those pathways these vulnerable young people can be groomed and twisted and manipulated and used.” [44:30]
• Both agree the pattern merits deeper scrutiny by authorities.

5. The Future of “America First” & the J.D. Vance Conversation

[46:39–52:13]

• Miranda Devine recaps her recent interview with J.D. Vance, seeing him as a strong philosophical and practical leader for the post-Trump era.
• “America will be in very good hands if he does become president, as Donald Trump has said that he wants him to. He thinks that J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio ... would be the dream ticket.” (Devine, [47:28])
• Devine on Vance: “He understands what makes America tick and understands the terrible injustice that has been done to middle class America over the last 40 years and often at the hands of Republicans.” [49:25]
• Dinesh shares a personal anecdote about Vance’s correct pronunciation of his name, a “humorous note” that underscores Vance’s cultural awareness. [51:40]

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On social media conspiracies:
  “There are a couple of theories here. One of them is that Candace is just suffering from a psychiatric breakdown. ... The other theory is that all of this is just being done for social media attention.” – Dinesh [07:00]

• On judicial technicalities:
  “Whether or not the prosecutor was properly appointed would seem to have no bearing on whether or not the case is properly brought and whether or not the case has any merit.” – Dinesh [13:10]

• On the COVID relief fraud:
  “The government, incredibly, wrote them a check not for $50,000, but for $5 million.” – Dinesh [22:16]
  “This is a woman I think is going to get her comeuppance. And it seems, at least, if the facts are true, as alleged, that this is well deserved.” – Dinesh [31:00]

• On Crooks’ online threats:
  “He was online for a long time when he was young, 15, 16, 17, making threatening comments ... and the fact that he didn’t come to the attention, we’re told, of the FBI or the Secret Service...” – Miranda Devine [32:45]

• On FBI stonewalling:
  “Members of Congress ... including Ron Johnson ... have complained that they’ve been stonewalled. That’s their word, stonewalled, when they've asked for basic information...” – Miranda Devine [34:37]

• Radicalization and online communities:
  “Through those pathways these vulnerable young people can be groomed and twisted and manipulated and used. Now I haven’t seen any evidence of that. I’m just looking at the outcome.” – Miranda Devine [44:30]

• On J.D. Vance and America First:
  “America will be in very good hands if he does become president, as Donald Trump has said that he wants him to. ... He understands what makes America tick and understands the terrible injustice that has been done to middle class America over the last 40 years and often at the hands of Republicans.” – Miranda Devine [47:28, 49:25]

• On the future of MAGA:
  “I think he will manage to pull together all the threads of MAGA and America first and turn them into something that's practical and that does make America great again.” – Miranda Devine [51:30]

Conclusion

This episode delivers a multifaceted counterpunch to current mainstream narratives with sharp, often humorous commentary. Dinesh walks listeners through legal setbacks and political scandals, lays bare a high-profile case of COVID relief fraud, and, with Miranda Devine, interrogates the FBI’s apparent failures and lack of transparency in the Trump assassination attempt investigation. The conversation closes with an optimistic look ahead for the “America First” movement, championed by rising figures like J.D. Vance, underlining the continued tension and evolution within conservative politics.

Guest:

• Miranda Devine: New York Post columnist, Fox News contributor, host of Pod Force One (X: @mirandadevine)

Notable Timestamps:

• [07:45] Trump DOJ Case Dismissals
• [19:57] COVID Relief Fraud Explainer
• [31:03] Miranda Devine on Thomas Crooks
• [46:39] JD Vance and America First Discussion
• [51:40] Personal Anecdote on Vance