The Rob Carson Show: Sarah Bedford on DOJ Drift & Minnesota Mayhem

Date: December 30, 2025
Guest Host: Mary Walter sitting in for Rob Carson
Main Guest: Sarah Bedford, Investigative Editor, Washington Examiner

Episode Overview

This episode takes a humorous and pointed look at recent political events and issues of government accountability, with special focus on Department of Justice (DOJ) "drift," Minnesota's election laws and fraud cases, and unresolved public scandals. Guest host Mary Walter, known for her candid humor, is joined by investigative journalist Sarah Bedford to unpack stories the mainstream media has minimized or ignored, particularly around perceived institutional failures and party complacency.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening Monologue: Culture, Karma, and Cancelled Concerts

• Mary Walter (00:53–08:00) opens with a story about jazz musician Chuck Redd canceling a Kennedy Center concert due to its renaming as the "Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center."
  • Humorous commentary on 'schadenfreude' as liberals torn between boycotting the center (over Trump’s involvement) and supporting the arts.
  • Redd now faces a $1 million lawsuit from Rick Grenell, center president, for last-minute cancellation.
  • Quote: “What are you, eight? I don’t get it... I’ve truly just hit that age where I just don’t care.”
  • Walter observes the progressive double standard on 'naming' and historic erasure.

Lighter News: Victor Davis Hanson’s Health Update

• Mary Walter (08:00–11:00) shares concern about historian Victor Davis Hanson’s major surgery, speculates on privacy around health issues, and comments on the tendency to delay seeing doctors.
  • Quote: “Men will wait until the arm is falling off and then they carry it in a bag...” (10:40)
  • Highlights honesty and stoicism in Hanson’s public statement.

Fraud & Crime: Latvian Gift Card Scheme in Texas

• Mary Walter (11:00–14:00) covers a $14 million gift card fraud in Texas involving three illegal immigrants from Latvia.
  • Detailed explanation of how the scam worked—removing and reapplying scratch-off material, tracking numbers, and draining balances after purchase.
  • Comments on the “full-time job” aspect: “This is a lot of work...Imagine if they actually got a job.”
  • Critique on the assumption that all illegal immigrants are Hispanic.
  • Quote: “For all we know, that money went back to Latvia and they’re gonna go live in the lap of luxury with a free trip back courtesy of the American taxpayer.”

Featured Interview: Sarah Bedford on DOJ & Institutional Drift

[Timestamp: 20:47–35:43]

Clinton Foundation Case, DOJ Deference, and Transparency

• Overview (20:48–21:54)
  Mary Walter introduces newly revealed documents showing FBI field agents wanted to investigate foreign donations to the Clinton Foundation in 2016, but headquarters “did nothing." She comments on the lack of coverage and public concern.

  • Quote: “Why are we just hearing about this now... and why does no one seem to care?” (20:48)

• Sarah Bedford responds (21:54–22:58):

  • Points out the long-standing suspicion that the Clinton Foundation was receiving favorable State Department treatment for donors.
  • Contrasts this inaction with FBI’s aggressive pursuit of weaker evidence against Trump in 2016.
  • Quote (Sarah Bedford, 22:36):
    "Now to see the contrast between how the FBI was able to find a way to ignore those allegations and yet how aggressively they pursued far weaker evidence against Donald Trump...is a startling contrast."

• Walter probes DOJ change under Trump, asks about Pam Bondi (22:58–24:00):

  • Bedford distinguishes between DOJ and FBI.
  • Notes Trump’s previous lack of institutional control due to Obama holdovers and Russia investigation constraints; asserts DOJ isn't actively working against Trump now.

• Accountability & Institutional Failures (24:00–27:51):

  • Walter urges more aggressive prosecution—“just arrest one person. I can name several.”
  • Criticizes Republican failures (e.g., Letitia James case) and diminishing possibilities for January 6th accountability.

• Sarah Bedford (26:23–27:51):

  • DOJ blunders cited; should have put forward “airtight” cases first, but instead weak indictments failed quickly.
  • Notes the structural headwinds, including Senate Judiciary committee obstruction and controversial prosecutor selections.

• Walter & Bedford (27:51–29:09):

  • Discuss institutional advantages Democrats have created (gerrymandering, Voting Rights Act litigation, Census counting errors).
  • Bedford: “Right now the landscape is a little bit unfairly tilted towards Democrats... there is some rebalancing that needs to happen.” (29:09)

Minnesota Mayhem: Voter Registration Vulnerabilities

[Timestamp: 31:47–35:00]

• Background:
  Minnesota’s “Driver’s Licenses for All” and same-day voter registration provisions allow people to vouch for up to eight unregistered voters, with no citizenship markers on licenses.

  • Mary: “How are Americans supposed to expect their vote to count?” (31:47)

• Sarah Bedford (31:47–32:56):

  • Focus on the “blast radius” of the Somali daycare fraud scandal, which drew attention to Minnesota’s relaxed rules for voting, education, and funding.
  • Credits local YouTuber Nick Shirley for exposing these vulnerabilities to national attention.

• Election Outlook & Party Messaging

  • Mary references James Woods’ tweet: “If we have control of every branch... and can’t protect citizen voting rights, we have the wrong people in power.” (32:56)
  • Predicts Republican underperformance in midterms, as Democrats will be energized by cost-of-living issues and anger at Trump, while Republicans lack a motivating message.

• Sarah Bedford agrees (33:41–35:00):

  • Notes “enthusiasm gap” with Democrats energized by anger and Republicans discouraged by reduced accountability.
  • Warns a repeat of 2020 dynamics (vote doubts suppressing turnout), but says the right message could contain losses.
  • Touches on historical patterns: the out-party typically does well in midterms unless overridden by extraordinary events.

Notable Quote:

• Sarah Bedford (33:41): “There’s a huge enthusiasm gap... Democrats have a lot of intensity on their side, much of it driven by anger and rage at the fact that Donald Trump is back in the White House.”

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:53 | Mary Walter | “Schadenfreude. I kind of like it...Now think about the people who were going to the Kennedy Center for this 20-year tradition...Kablooey.” | | 10:40 | Mary Walter | “Men will wait until the arm is falling off and then they carry it in in a bag...” | | 20:48 | Mary Walter | “Why are we just hearing about this now...why does no one seem to care?” | | 22:36 | Sarah Bedford | “Now to see the contrast between how the FBI was able to find a way to ignore those allegations and yet how aggressively they pursued far weaker evidence against Donald Trump...is a startling contrast.” | | 24:05 | Mary Walter | “The bar is that low. I could be the AG, you know, if the bar is that low.” | | 33:41 | Sarah Bedford | “There’s a huge enthusiasm gap...Democrats have a lot of intensity on their side, much of it driven by anger and rage at the fact that Donald Trump is back in the White House.” |

Important Timestamps

• 00:53–08:00: Opening monologue, Kennedy Center cancellation drama, riff on culture wars
• 11:00–14:00: Coverage of $14M Latvian gift card scam in Texas
• 20:47–35:43: Interview with Sarah Bedford (Clinton Foundation, DOJ, party strategy, Minnesota voting laws)
• 31:47–35:00: Discussion of Minnesota election vulnerabilities and midterm outlook

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, sharply critical, with frequent humor and self-deprecation.
• Mary Walter: Blunt, sarcastic, and openly skeptical about institutional integrity and political motives.
• Sarah Bedford: Analytical, clear, and measured, bringing deep background on DOJ and institutional politics.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Institutional failures at the DOJ and FBI continue to undermine public trust, with transparency and accountability still lacking even as political winds shift.
• Minnesota’s election and social policies, particularly related to voter registration and immigrant fraud, are under national scrutiny due to viral exposes and recent scandals.
• Republican inertia and lack of a motivating message is setting the stage for potential midterm losses, while Democrats appear energized by economic frustration and antipathy toward Trump.
• Listeners are left with a sense of amusement at the absurdities of the political moment, but also frustration with a lack of effective action or accountability from those in power.

For further commentary or to join the discussion:
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