The Jimmy Dore Show

Episode: "Dan Bongino Gets DESTROYED By Dave Smith & Ducks Debate!"

Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Jimmy Dore (plus guest hosts and panel: Keaton Weiss, Chris Keane, Janine Yunus, Dave Smith, Kurt Metzger, Mike McRae)

Episode Overview

This episode is a blistering critique and comedic takedown of Dan Bongino—former Deputy FBI Director and right-wing media personality—following his return to online commentary and podcasting after a stint in government. The discussion focuses on Bongino’s bombastic social media presence, his alleged lack of transparency regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case, and fiery online exchanges with comedian Dave Smith and others.

Later in the episode, the panel shifts to a heated debate over a high-profile ICE shooting in Minnesota, media framing, and the political reaction, including commentary from JD Vance and Tucker Carlson on violence and partisanship in America. The show closes with a comedic look at the ongoing stonewalling of the Epstein files by the Department of Justice.

Throughout, the style is irreverent, sarcastic, and passionate—true to the Jimmy Dore Show’s brand of progressive skepticism and sharp humor.

1. Dan Bongino’s Return & Social Media Drama

[00:19–13:00]

Key Points:

• Bongino’s Return to Social Media:
  Bongino makes a dramatic re-entry, claiming allegiance to a “movement guided by truth,” while lashing out at critics, whom he labels “black pillars, life losers, grifters and bums.”
• Critique of Bongino’s “Tough Guy” Persona:
  The panel mocks Bongino’s performative bravado, contrasting his online persona with his time in office, pointing out his lack of accountability and substantive action.
• Online Fights with Matt Gaetz and Dave Smith:
  Bongino gets into Twitter spats. Gaetz sarcastically questions Bongino’s claim to political leadership. Bongino responds with personal insults.

Notable Quotes:

• Keaton Weiss (re: Bongino's truth claims):
  “Movement guided by truth. The essence of conservative ideology is the preservation of eternal truths. We are not... There are only two genders and only one Epstein perpetrator, right? Those are the eternal objective truths of the conservative movement.” (00:56)
• Bongino (on social media critics):
  “If we blocked you, it's because we care so little about your bullshit that we deem it not worthy of even seeing... We revel in making you angry enough to show your asses. It's glorious.” (01:34)
• Keaton Weiss (on Bongino’s actions):
  “He gets back, he spends all day calling people posers and phonies and suckling little doggies on Twitter... I thought your wife missed you. Why don’t you go play catch with your kid?” (03:44)

2. Dave Smith Challenges Bongino on Epstein Transparency

[05:57–09:30]

Key Points:

• Bongino and the Epstein Files:
  Dave Smith skewers Bongino for previously claiming to have seen files proving Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide, which contradicted later official positions.
• Requests for Transparency:
  Smith and Weiss press Bongino—now that “the files are to be released”—to reveal what he claims he saw.
• Bongino’s Deflection:
  Bongino, on returning to his show, blames “black pillar” types for negativity and refuses to provide real answers.

Notable Quotes:

• Dave Smith (challenging Bongino):
  “You went into government, looked us all in the eye, and made up a big fat lie that you don't know, and you know it.” (07:51)
• Keaton Weiss:
  “Isn't Danny boy in a position to provide some transparency? That'd be a killer first episode back. ‘I'm going to spill the beans on the Epstein files.’” (07:08)

3. Panel Skewers Bongino’s ‘Team Loyalty’ and Hypocrisy

[10:09–13:10]

Key Points:

• Team Loyalty Over Substance:
  The right is accused of using the “what team are you on?” playbook when confronted by internal dissent—paralleling earlier left-wing disputes post-2016.
• Economic Boasts Mocked:
  Bongino touts “4% growth” as a win; panelists lampoon this as irrelevant to ordinary Americans.

Notable Quotes:

• Keaton Weiss:
  “4% growth is great for the richest 1%. That's great for the investor class. 4% growth. Ask any ordinary person how their economic situation is.” (11:04)
• Weiss (on right/left infighting):
  “This appeal to team loyalty when you cannot defend the substance... It's the oldest trick in the book.” (11:20)

4. Social Media Escalates: Bongino vs. Dave Smith

[12:49–16:42]

Key Points:

• Bongino Taunts Smith:
  Bongino tweets veiled jabs at “a comedian,” which Smith recognizes as aimed at him.
• Epic Callout:
  Smith retorts, accusing Bongino of covering up Epstein-related abuses.
• Jimmy Dore Joins In:
  Dore calls Bongino a “fake Twitter tough guy” who “destroyed his reputation by lying to cover up for the deep state and pedophiles.”

Notable Quotes:

• Dave Smith to Bongino:
  “It’s wild that you had time to watch all of my debates, what with all the demands your work covering up pedophilia, which will be your legacy, make no mistake about it.” (16:21)
• Jimmy Dore:
  “Didn’t do a thing he said he was going to do after he got power... Now that he has no power... he’s a little bitch.” (16:32)

5. Bongino’s Evasiveness on Difficult Questions

[16:42–19:35]

Key Points:

• Bongino on Epstein & Trump Shooting Attempt:
  Audio clips show Bongino asserting Epstein “killed himself” and playing down possible scandal in Trump-related cases—always vague, never revelatory.
• Personal Hardship Claims:
  Bongino laments the personal sacrifices of his public service, with panelists mocking his self-pity.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Bongino:
  “He killed himself. Again, you want me to get – I’ve seen the whole file. He killed himself.” (17:00)
• Keaton Weiss:
  “This is Dan Bongino when his job is to actually do the things he talked about doing on his podcast for all those years. This is how he acts under pressure. Big tough guy on X. Big tough guy behind a microphone. Big tough guy to comedian Dave Smith. Comes Epstein, comes to Butler — not such a tough guy.” (18:09)

6. ICE Shooting in Minnesota: Legal Analysis and Media Spin

[22:43–41:15]

Key Points:

• Incident Recap:
  Janine Yunus, a civil liberties attorney, discusses her viral critique of a police shooting involving ICE, addressing clarifications after new footage emerges.
• Legal Authority:
  Debate over whether ICE had proper legal standing to act as they did.
• JD Vance’s Reaction:
  Vance vigorously defends law enforcement, drawing ire from the panel for framing the shooting as an “attack on law enforcement.”
• Media and Political Double Standards:
  Panel criticizes both left and right media for selective outrage and dehumanizing rhetoric.

Notable Quotes:

• Janine Yunus:
  “ICE's purpose is supposed to be to enforce immigration law. They're not supposed to have any authority over US citizens.” (34:31)
• J.D. Vance:
  “This was an attack on federal law enforcement. This was an attack on law and order.” (35:11)
• Keaton Weiss:
  “So that means you can shoot them in the head three times... Like, even if what you're saying is true, that's why you have a Department of Justice. That's what investigations and indictments are for.” (39:01)
• Janine Yunus:
  “They're very happy about this because of her identity and her politics... That’s what this is about... they keep on focusing on things other than those one or two seconds when he fired the shots, because this is somebody that they think deserves to die because of who she is.” (41:15)

7. Violence, Dehumanization, and Partisan Hypocrisy

[42:07–53:31]

Key Points:

• Tucker Carlson’s Humanitarian Plea:
  Carlson is quoted lamenting both left and right losing their “human lens” amid endemic violence, connecting societal numbness to US overseas conflicts.
• Mockery & Cruelty in Media:
  Jesse Watters and various right-wing commentators mock the ICE shooting victim for her identity, sexual orientation, and even having pronouns in her bio.
• Panel’s Condemnation:
  Panelists excoriate both left and right for hypocritically dehumanizing their ideological opponents, drawing bleak parallels between “anti-authoritarian” rhetoric and celebration of state violence.

Notable Quotes:

• Keaton Weiss (re: right-wing hypocrisy):
  “The only thing they know about this woman is that she didn't comply. And what is the mantra of the sort of conservative Covid dissidents? ‘We will not comply.’ The only thing they know about this woman is that she didn't do what she was told. And for that, they're glad she's dead.” (52:36)
• Janine Yunus:
  “A lot of people on the right who are against the COVID measures were actually... it was just sort of personal. They didn’t want to wear a mask, didn’t want to get a vaccine. But it wasn’t a universal recognition that people deserve to live free from government, apparently.” (50:43)
• Tucker Carlson (quoted by panel):
  “How come so few conservatives are viewing this story through a human lens?... Violence is grotesque, and it is always grotesque.” (interpolated, 47:06–48:38)

8. Comedy Roundtable: The Never-Ending Epstein Files

[54:13–65:04]

Key Points:

• Update on Epstein Files:
  The DOJ has released less than 1% of the Epstein-related documents, citing the need for further redactions and reviews.
• Comedic Riffing:
  Panelists lampoon the endless delays (“We’re going to get GTA 6 before we get the Epstein files”), mock media coverage, and cite congressional inaction.
• Cynicism about Political Will:
  Skepticism is expressed regarding the likelihood of any true accountability, regardless of administration.

Notable Quotes:

• Chris Keane:
  “How do you have 2 million documents about diddling? That seems excessive.” (54:55)
• Kurt Metzger:
  “Release the Snyder cut!” (re: redacted Epstein files) (55:48)
• Keaton Weiss:
  “If this were a private law firm with 5% of the resources of the DOJ, this would have been done by the deadline.” (62:44)

9. Closing Thoughts

[65:04–End]

Key Points:

• No Resolution in Sight:
  The panel ends with comedic fatalism: the Epstein files will likely never be fully released, partisanship and authoritarian tendencies remain entrenched, and public cynicism is justified.
• Sign-Offs and Plugs:
  Regular show closing with reminders about premium memberships and comedic credits.

Takeaways and Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp Start | Key Content | |---------|----------------|-------------| | Bongino Return/Drama | 00:19 | Social media fights, return to podcasting | | Dave Smith vs. Bongino (Epstein) | 05:57 | Transparency challenge, lies about files | | Team Loyalty & Right Splintering | 10:09 | ‘What team are you on?’—comparison to left infighting | | Twitter Escalation | 12:49 | Bongino taunts, Smith claps back, Dore weighs in | | Bongino’s Weakness Under Pressure | 16:42 | Clips of Bongino dodging real questions (Epstein, Trump shooting) | | ICE Shooting Legal Breakdown | 22:43 | New footage, legal nuance, JD Vance and media reaction | | Violence & Partisan Hypocrisy | 42:07 | Carlson on desensitization, panel on dehumanization | | Epstein Files Comedy | 54:13 | DOJ delay, congressional posturing, ridicule of redacted documents |

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Keaton Weiss:
  “Movement guided by truth... There are only two genders and only one Epstein perpetrator, right?” (00:56)
• Dave Smith:
  “You went into government, looked us all in the eye, and made up a big fat lie that you don't know, and you know it.” (07:51)
• Jimmy Dore:
  “Didn’t do a thing he said he was going to do after he got power... Now that he has no power... he’s a little bitch.” (16:32)
• JD Vance:
  “This was an attack on federal law enforcement. This was an attack on law and order.” (35:11)
• Keaton Weiss:
  “The only thing they know about this woman is that she didn't comply... And for that, they're glad she's dead.” (52:36)
• Chris Keane:
  “How do you have 2 million documents about diddling? That seems excessive.” (54:55)
• Kurt Metzger:
  “Release the Snyder cut!” (55:48)

Summary: Tone and Intent

The episode is a scathing, darkly comedic take on right-wing media hypocrisy, government secrecy, and the increasing cynicism over American institutions. The hosts and panelists alternate between sarcastic ridicule and serious critique, exposing what they see as the performative emptiness of figures like Dan Bongino and JD Vance, while calling out the continued lack of transparency in major scandals.

The overall mood is outraged but unbowed, leveraging humor as both a coping mechanism and a tool of critique.

Useful for listeners who missed the episode: This summary delivers the episode’s full arc—Bongino’s disastrous public spats, the persistent failure of institutions to provide truth and accountability, and the toxic effects of partisan dehumanization—with timestamps, key quotations, and a faithful rendering of the show’s style and substance.