The Dinesh D’Souza Podcast
Episode: “Game of Chicken”
Date: November 10, 2025 | Host: Dinesh D’Souza | Guest: Matthew Farace
Episode Overview
In this episode, Dinesh D’Souza tackles three major subjects: the political “game of chicken” surrounding the current government shutdown, new revelations regarding James Comey’s alleged role in the Trump-Russia collusion narrative, and a deep dive with strategist Matthew Farace into the persecution of Christians in Syria and beyond. The discussion weaves together political analysis and urgent humanitarian concerns, focusing on the intersection of faith, power, and US foreign policy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Government Shutdown: The “Game of Chicken”
Timestamps: 01:51–12:39
- D'Souza opens by comparing the government shutdown impasse to the dangerous game of chicken, where each side waits for the other to "swerve" first.
- According to D’Souza, the Democrats “chickened out” due to moderate defections in the Senate, which pushed funding negotiations forward (02:38).
- He critiques the Democrats for prioritizing the extension of Obamacare benefits, “including … at least some … to illegals,” asserting this shows “the priorities of the Democrats—how deeply dug in they are on this illegals issue” (03:16).
- D’Souza suggests Republicans finally won by being “so dogmatic, so unwilling to move” that Democrats realized they couldn’t win (05:06).
- He draws an analogy to hostage crises and foreign policy—arguing the key to victory in high-stakes brinkmanship is to be so resolute that the other side must capitulate (06:51).
- Quote:
“You win a game of chicken by being so dogmatic, so unwilling to move … The government is shut down, this doesn’t bother us … we’re happy to open the government as long as you sign here, but otherwise we’re not doing it.”
— Dinesh D’Souza (05:06) - He questions the essential nature of some government functions, suggesting privatization could outperform government bureaucracy (09:26).
- The episode underscores D’Souza's belief that holding firm has at last put the GOP “in control, and … in charge” (11:45).
2. James Comey and the “Trump-Russia Collusion” Narrative
Timestamps: 13:39–26:42
- D’Souza discusses legal troubles for James Comey, focusing on a newly revealed Comey note from September 26, 2016, referencing “Hillary Clinton planning to hit Trump.”
- He claims this proves Comey’s awareness and participation in a scheme, “a fraudulent scheme … to frame Trump” (15:28).
- D’Souza describes how alleged false information was laundered from the Clinton campaign to the media, then back to the government as “evidence” (19:01).
- Quote:
“Comey was not only aware of, but he saw himself as participating in a scheme involving Hillary Clinton, involving Obama, to fabricate a Trump-Russia collusion narrative. And there it is.”
— Dinesh D’Souza (17:10) - He explores how such documents could have survived, suggesting whistleblowers, bureaucratic ineptitude, or calculated concealment (19:54).
- D’Souza criticizes the narrow legal focus on Comey, arguing for more comprehensive accountability for all players involved (22:59).
3. The Plight of Christians in Syria and US Foreign Policy
Guest: Matthew Farace
Timestamps: 27:49–49:06
a) Introduction to Matthew Farace and His Mission
- Farace, founder of Gideon 300 and strategist behind “Sound of Freedom,” discusses mobilizing support for persecuted Christians, focusing on Syria (27:49).
- He references a letter signed by major Christian leaders urging President Trump to address Christian persecution, citing Trump’s vocal stance on issues in Nigeria as precedent (29:31).
b) Crisis in Syria: Background and Current Atrocities
- Farace explains that Ahmed Elshara, a former Al-Qaeda terrorist, now leads a brutal regime in Syria after the ouster of Assad, with US and Trump administration involvement in his political ascent (30:55).
- He recounts atrocities committed against civilians in Sweda, including “raping little girls, throwing grandparents and their grandchildren off buildings, burning old people alive in their wheelchairs … ripping a guy’s heart out and eating it in front of him” (31:35).
- Quote:
“A city of 750,000 people … daily water intake is below the United Nations level for starvation. … They're slowly killing a bunch of these people … heading into winter—so a humanitarian disaster is turning into a mega-disaster.”
— Matthew Farace (32:11–32:37) - Farace asserts that US pressure is essential, claiming Elshara “wouldn’t be in charge unless you gave him your endorsement … so take him out to the woodshed and tell him knock it off with the killing of Christians and Druze and Alawites and other minorities” (32:51–33:02).
c) US Strategy and Middle East Realpolitik
- Farace and D’Souza discuss Trump’s pragmatic approach: willing to support “pro-American thugs” over adversaries, given the region’s realities (35:13).
- They note that up to 18% of the new Syrian army consists of former ISIS fighters (36:01).
- Emphasis is placed on the historic Christian character of Syria and the urgent need to restore religious freedom (36:25).
d) Media Neglect and Calls for Awareness
- Both agree Christian persecution is underreported, referencing satire but making the serious point that stories of persecuted Christians worldwide deserve wider attention (38:15).
- Quote:
“Religious freedom, to me … is the most important of all freedom. If you don’t have religious freedom, you don’t have anything … I would love to see Tucker start telling the stories of Christian persecution around the world, because that’s an actual problem.”
— Matthew Farace (38:49–39:06)
e) Theological and Cultural Reflections
- They discuss a biblical forecast that both Jews and Christians will face increasing persecution; Farace notes it’s “the same Islamic radicals … going after the Jews … and the Christians” (40:28).
- Farace contends the world is divided between those for and against God, and radical Islam uses God’s name to act “against God” (41:52).
- Conversation turns to what Farace calls “spiritual subterfuge” on both the left and right, with distractions inside conservative ranks preventing unity on fundamental moral issues (42:45–44:12).
- Emphasis is made on the importance of faith communities understanding and teaching their values in the face of existential and moral threats (44:41–45:28).
f) The “Red-Green Alliance” and Common Enemies
- D’Souza frames the alliance between parts of the left and radical Islam as one based on shared opposition to biblical values (46:53–49:06).
- Farace cites Rabbi Elie Mishel’s “The War Against the Bible” to explain why radical left activists and Islamists unite:
“They both hate the Bible, because the Bible restricts them … United in their hatred of the Bible, they're united in their hatred of the people that believe in the Bible.”
— Matthew Farace (48:34–48:54)
4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- D’Souza on brinkmanship:
“You win a game of chicken by being so dogmatic, so unwilling to move … The government is shut down, this doesn’t bother us … we’re happy to open the government as long as you sign here, but otherwise we’re not doing it.” (05:06) - Farace on the Syrian crisis:
“They're slowly killing a bunch of these people … heading into winter—so a humanitarian disaster is turning into a mega-disaster.” (32:28–32:37) - On the media and Christian persecution:
“No Jews, no news.” (38:12)
“[Religious freedom] is the most important of all freedom. If you don’t have religious freedom, you don’t have anything.” (38:49) - On the theological divide:
“The world is divided into people that are for God, and people that are against God.” (41:50) - D’Souza on the “red-green” alliance:
“What they recognize is that these radical Muslims are … part of the devil’s brigades. … People in the cultural left go, well, they’re our obvious allies because they hate the same people we do.” (46:56)
5. Timestamps for Important Segments
| Time | Topic | |--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:51 | “Game of Chicken” and government shutdown analysis | | 13:39 | James Comey and the Trump-Russia narrative | | 27:49 | Introduction of Matthew Farace, focus on Syria | | 31:35 | Atrocities against minorities in Syria recounted | | 35:13 | Middle East realpolitik and Trump’s pragmatic foreign policy | | 38:15–39:01 | Media neglect of Christian persecution | | 40:28 | Biblical perspective: Jews and Christians facing persecution | | 44:41 | Communities must teach and defend their core values | | 46:53 | The “red-green” alliance explained | | 48:34 | “The War Against the Bible” and shared adversaries |
Tone & Style
The discussion is frank, direct, and often polemical, with both D’Souza and Farace speaking in a spirited, sometimes combative manner. There’s both somber urgency (regarding humanitarian crises and alleged government corruption) and ideological confidence as they assert conservative and religious perspectives.
For New Listeners
This episode provides a comprehensive view of D’Souza’s worldview in action—political strategy, critique of media and political elites, the defense of religious liberty, and concern for persecuted Christians worldwide. It’s especially useful if you’re following debates on government spending, US foreign policy, or the intersection of faith and power in global affairs.