The Matt Walsh Show — Episode 1711

Title: "Venezuela Has Been Dealt With. Somali Scammers Should Be Next"
Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Matt Walsh | The Daily Wire

Episode Overview

Matt Walsh returns from the holiday break with unfiltered commentary on major cultural, political, and religious events dominating recent headlines. The episode sharply contrasts the U.S. government's decisive intervention in Venezuela with its perceived inaction toward Somali-led scams in Minnesota, critiques New York’s new collectivist leadership, and closes with forceful advice for fathers. Walsh’s America-first, unapologetically nationalist tone runs throughout, addressing his audience directly and often confrontationally.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Clarity After the Break: A New Perspective

[02:00–06:00]

• Walsh notes that stepping away from the daily news cycle gave him valuable perspective.
• He highlights how, over the holidays, two events crystallized central problems facing America:
  • The viral video exposing Somali daycare/healthcare scams in Minnesota.
  • The Trump administration's rapid, forceful action in Venezuela.

Quote:
"When you return [from a break], it's easier to take stock of the issues that matter and the ones that don't. And this is clarity that on the right, we've needed for some time now, desperately." — Matt Walsh [03:00]

2. Somali Scam Scandal: "One of the Biggest Frauds in American History"

[03:15–08:00]

• Discusses Nick Shirley's viral exposé on Somali-operated fraudulent daycare and health centers.
• Argues the scams are widely known—hundreds of millions lost, with elaborate schemes for government reimbursements.
• Cites prosecutorial evidence and prior investigations, including fake autism treatment centers and home health scams.
• Walsh calls the scam operations “not criminal masterminds,” suggesting they are executed blatantly.
• Proposes harsh solutions—cutting all federal funding to Minnesota, 24/7 FBI camera surveillance, leveraging AI for fraud detection.

Quote:
"We're talking about hundreds of billions of dollars worth of fraud here... This is one of the biggest frauds in American history. And if the American government actually wanted to stop the fraud, it could obviously do so." — Matt Walsh [05:45]

Memorable Moment:
Walsh derides the intelligence and motives of Somalia and its diaspora in harsh, derogatory terms.

• “We all knew that the average Somali has an IQ that hovers around the level of mental retardation. You know, scientifically speaking, that's the case.” [04:10] (notable for being highly inflammatory)

3. The Venezuela Operation: A "Brilliant Move"

[08:10–18:00]

• Contrasts the government’s lethargy on Somali fraud with its “overwhelming power” used against Venezuela, calling international law “fake.”
• Praises the Trump administration for invoking the Monroe Doctrine, claiming the U.S. is justified in using force for American benefit.

Quote:
“America first means that America should rule over the Western Hemisphere and use its power to advance the interests of our people.” — Matt Walsh [09:30]

• Acknowledges the action was for oil and regime change, arguing these are historically valid reasons for war.
• Details the history of U.S. oil investments in Venezuela and the subsequent expropriation by the Venezuelan state; frames U.S. intervention as reclaiming stolen property and a strategic resource.
• Argues against comparisons to Iraq/Afghanistan, emphasizing the operation's speed (90 minutes), lack of U.S. casualties, and purported benefits.

Quote:
“If you can do it efficiently without a single American life lost, and it doesn't turn into a 20 year quagmire, why not do it?” — Matt Walsh [14:00]

4. America’s Power and Its Enemies

[19:00–25:00]

• Advocates for using U.S. power assertively against hostile neighboring states and domestic enemies.
• Suggests America should use its leverage to deport illegal aliens to newly subdued Venezuela, following historical models like Panama.
• Proposes further aggressive actions against Somalia, Mexico, Canada, and “foreign infiltrators” within the U.S., including Ilhan Omar and Zoran Mamdani.

Quote:
“We can put an immediate end to some of the biggest problems facing this country, problems that no administration has bothered to solve. We could shut down every single Somali fraudster and deport them all back to Somalia... Then we could tell the leaders of Somalia, to the extent that Somalia has leaders, that if they don't stop sending scam artists to our country... Delta Force will be paying them a little visit next.” — Matt Walsh [21:48]

5. Critiquing Collectivism: Mamdani’s New York

[35:00–39:00]

• Plays and dissects a viral clip of new NYC mayor Mamdani's inaugural speech extolling “the warmth of collectivism” and denouncing individualism.

Relevant Audio:
“We will draw this city closer together. We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism ... the words that most define us are the two we all share: New Yorkers.” — Mamdani [35:15]

• Walsh calls these views “as anti-American as it can possibly get,” equating collectivism to an assault on core American values.

Quote:
“This is the mayor of New York ... using his inaugural address to launch an assault on the most quintessential American value ... rugged individualism ... That's anti-American to its core.” — Matt Walsh [36:30]

• Dissects what he sees as the left’s double standard, prioritizing minority “protected classes” over everyone else, not true collectivism or individualism.

6. Fact-checking Historical Revisionism: Thomas Jefferson & Islam

[45:10–46:00]

• Mocks Wajahat Ali’s claim that Jefferson's experience with the Quran influenced religious tolerance and the Constitution.
• Points out Ali’s error regarding dates and says the Founders' tolerance for Islam was strictly hypothetical—not foreseeing mass Muslim immigration.

Quote:
“Thomas Jefferson bought his Quran in 1965... Even if we give Wajahat the benefit of the doubt ... still his claim is very retarded... The Quran had no influence over the founding of this country at all. Even a little bit.” — Matt Walsh [45:54]

7. Advice for Fathers: "Stop Obsessing Over How You Feel"

[53:00–1:04:00]

• Responds to a viral tweet from Justin Murphy about the guilt fathers feel when not enjoying time with their young children.
• Walsh argues men today are too self-obsessed and ask the wrong questions about their feelings; what matters is action and presence, not emotional fulfillment.
• Advocates for keeping personal insecurities private, not airing them online or even with a spouse in most cases.

Matt’s Two Main Points:

1. Stop obsessing over your feelings: Your child needs presence and action, not a playmate who’s perpetually delighted.
2. Don't self-disclose intimate feelings online: Most internal struggles should remain private, especially negative feelings about your own child.

Quote:
“You should play catch with your son. Not because it's the most thrilling experience in the world, but because he's your son and you're his father. And that is what a father is supposed to do.” — Matt Walsh [55:00]

Quote:
“Stop worrying about your feelings. Feel however you feel, it doesn't matter. What matters is what you do.” — Matt Walsh [59:10]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On U.S. Intervention: “No American should oppose having a country like Venezuela turned into basically a vassal state subordinate to the United States.” — Matt Walsh [16:50]
• On American Power: “We are exceptional. That's what being America first actually means... I'm not just America First, I'm an American chauvinist.” — Matt Walsh [22:34]
• Satire of Wajahat Ali: “Thomas Jefferson bought his Quran in 1965. He drove down to the store in his Ford Thunderbird, right? Listening to some Bob Dylan, purchased a Quran...” — Matt Walsh [45:54]
• On modern masculinity: “Carry your emotions quietly like a man and do what you're supposed to do.” — Matt Walsh [1:02:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment Description | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:00 | Post-holiday news digestion, perspective shift | | 03:15 | Somali scam exposé breakdown & solutions | | 06:57 | FBI surveillance evidence—Somali daycare scam | | 08:10 | Venezuela: justification for U.S. intervention | | 11:26 | Defending resource-driven wars; GOP pushback | | 15:30 | “America first” as a call for hemispheric dominance | | 19:00 | Policy vision: deportations, threats to foreign governments | | 21:48 | Call for American power projection: Somalia, Mexico, Canada | | 35:10 | Mamdani clip & extended individualism vs. collectivism rant | | 45:12 | Wajahat Ali’s “Jefferson & Islam” claim mocked | | 53:00 | Extended advice for fathers begins | | 59:10 | “Stop worrying about your feelings”—closing advice |

Summary Table: Walsh’s Viewpoints

| Topic | Walsh’s Position | Action Proposed | |-----------------|---------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| | Somali Fraud | “Obvious, immense, longstanding fraud” | Cut funds, FBI surveillance, deportation| | Venezuela | “Efficient, justified intervention” | Use force for American interests | | Collectivism | “Anti-American, alien to foundational values” | Defend individualism, denounce leftists | | Masculinity | “Stop navel-gazing, act as a father & man” | Presence over pleasure, keep feelings private|

Takeaway for New Listeners

Matt Walsh’s post-holiday episode is a vigorous assertion of American power and sovereignty, demanding uncompromising action both abroad and at home. With scathing critiques of government inaction on domestic scams and enthusiastic support for power projection in Venezuela, Walsh weaves in issues of identity, masculinity, and cultural integrity. The episode is unapologetically nationalistic and sometimes inflammatory, with a persistent undercurrent: America’s interests, and American men’s presence, should always come first.

Final Quote:
"Just pick up the ball and go play catch with your son. It really is that simple." — Matt Walsh [1:04:00]

Note: This episode contains several segments and language that some listeners may find offensive due to its overtly harsh and sometimes derogatory tone, especially in references to immigrants and political adversaries.