The Tony Kinnett Cast – Ep. 396

Title: Caught Faking Concern & Details at Campaign Events, Mexican Government Destabilizing
Date: August 29, 2025
Host: Tony Kinnett (The Daily Signal)
Guests: Virginia Allen (Daily Signal Senior Producer), others by clip/interview

Episode Overview

This episode is a hard-hitting, commentary-driven analysis of recent national news: the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting, political and media reactions, the destabilization of the Mexican government, changes at the U.S. southern border, and an exposé on political influencer funding. Tony Kinnett’s incisive and sarcastic style dominates the show, skewering politicians, media figures, and activists for their handling of the events, especially those he accuses of exploiting tragedy for political gain.

Key Segments and Analysis

1. Minneapolis School Shooting – Facts, Manifesto, and Motive

[00:06 – 15:31]

• Breaking News: A terror attack was recently averted in Washington D.C. with seven firearms seized from a juvenile who threatened school violence.

• Minneapolis Shooting: Kinnett delivers a detailed briefing on the Catholic school shooting, identifying the shooter as a 17-year-old who had legally changed name to Robin Westman during a gender transition. The mother's consent was required for the change.

• Shooter’s Motivation:

  • Draws heavily from translated segments of the shooter’s manifesto (Cyrillic and English), highlighting intense self-loathing over gender dysphoria and explicit targeted hate against Catholics and Jewish people:

    “On page nine, he states that he regrets brainwashing himself with transgenderism and calls it a charade… He also articulated very clearly his desire to shoot Catholic children.” – Tony Kinnett [02:00]

• Increase in Attacks:

  • Since 2018, anti-Christian church violence in the U.S. is up by 730%. In 2024 alone, there have been 415 hostile acts against Catholics and Protestants.

Notable Quotes

• “People like saying the word senseless violence... If you are cheated on... and you then go and murder someone... that is a crime of passion... In this instance, the shooter left explicit characteristics, instructions... that say exactly why he barricaded the door of the church and then shot in from the window.”
  – Tony Kinnett [07:10]

2. Political and Media Reaction: Accusations of Exploitation and Denial

[10:55 – 18:51]

• Politicization:

  • Kinnett sharply criticizes Democrats, particularly Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Senator Amy Klobuchar, for what he claims is immediate use of the tragedy to push gun control and frame the event as ideology-free.

    "No one has done more in this situation to campaign immediately on the backs of this and run a little social media tour... than Democrat Mayor Jacob Fry of Minneapolis…” [12:20]

  • Frey is criticized for not explicitly standing with the Catholic community, with Kinnett alleging it’s to avoid acknowledging a hate crime.

• Gun Control Rhetoric in Media Appearances:

  • Kinnett mocks Frey’s technical errors describing guns (“reel off 30 clips in conjunction with a magazine” [15:31]) and the media’s focus on assuaging the transgender community rather than the targeted faith group.

Notable Quotes

• “I am begging, begging Democrats to learn one thing about firearms before running their mouths.”
  – Tony Kinnett [15:47]

3. Media Coverage: Bias, Avoidance, and “Pouncing” Narratives

[27:45 – 34:20]

• Denouncing Legacy Media:
  • Critique of New York Times, CNN, USA Today and The New Yorker for allegedly whitewashing the shooter’s ideological and gender-related motives.

• “Transgender people are mentally ill. Gender dysphoria... is... a neurological imbalance… in the same way that someone suffering from body dysmorphia...”
  – Tony Kinnett [28:51]

• Manipulation of Narratives:
  • Satirical remarks on USA Today and other outlets highlighting ICE or white supremacists but allegedly ignoring anti-Christian hate crimes.

Media Treatment of Other Politicians

• Gavin Newsom is lampooned for “crass, insensitive” comments about prayer and for his abrupt embrace of traditional law enforcement amid political ambitions.

4. Southern Border & Mexican Instability

[44:49 – 52:00]

• Guest Segment: Virginia Allen
  • Border is quieter (“No one is coming.” [47:25]) due to end of catch-and-release, increased security, and new policy changes under Trump.
  • Cartels are suffering financially (less smuggling), leading to increased violence and even fistfights in the Mexican Senate.
  • No visible Mexican National Guard, suggesting limited cooperation or capacity.

Notable Quotes

• "We need the Mexican government to be strong because... the US can't do it alone. The cartels operate out of Mexico. We need cooperation..."
  – Virginia Allen [49:56]

5. Bonus Tonus: Political Influencer Funding, Indian Truckers, and Social Media Outrage

[52:00 – 65:00+]

• Influencer Funding Exposé:
  • Cites Wired Magazine’s report on Democratic dark money paying social influencers (up to $8,000/month). Lampoons rival David Pakman for being “ranked 41st” compared to his own show’s “13th.”
• India & Immigration:
  • Indian government protesting restrictions on visas after an accident involving an Indian trucker.
• Online Hate Speech:
  • Plays social media clips from self-identified trans commentators expressing anger at Christians/Catholics, some disturbingly callous about the victims.

    “I feel terrible for the kids… I don’t feel bad for their parents. This happened at a Catholic school. There should have been no children there at all.”
    – Online commentator (played at [62:00])

• Misinformation and Conspiracies:
  • Ridicules social posts claiming ammo “strewn in the street” (fake photos, [65:37]), and Candace Owens for theorizing about “false flag” operations related to the shooting.

Notable Quotes

• "Candace Owens theory about the Minneapolis shooting is the government is behind this. Each shooting is more traumatizing than the last..."
  – Tony Kinnett [65:37]

Major Memorable Moments and Quotes

• “I want to make it clear, because he'll get up in front and say, guys... No one has yet said that these were beautiful children who did beautiful things, which again, people don't talk like that.” – Tony Kinnett [15:47]

• “It is the single biggest factor in the shooting that we have found... I'm pulling a lot of what I found here from Steven Crowder's ex.” – Tony Kinnett [02:00]

• “I'm sorry, I just, I don't feel that. The CDC does about as much to keep the United States safe as the Department of Education does for our public schools.”
  – Tony Kinnett [52:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:06 – News on foiled D.C. attack and transition to Minneapolis shooting
• 02:00 – Reading from shooter manifesto, analysis of motives
• 07:10 – Debunking “senseless violence” and critique of law enforcement statements
• 11:14 – Political reactions; Amy Klobuchar and Jacob Frey
• 15:31 – Mayor Frey’s gun ban comments
• 18:51 – Media discussion about shooter’s gender and motives
• 24:14 – Criticism of Gavin Newsom’s prayer comments
• 27:45 – Critique of establishment/legacy media coverage
• 34:20 – Gavin Newsom at Politico, political ambitions
• 44:49 – Mexican Senate chaos and transition to Virginia Allen’s border reporting
• 47:25 – Allen: “No one is coming,” border is quiet
• 49:56 – Cartels and Mexican governmental instability
• 52:00 – Bonus Tonus: dark money report, India visa story
• 62:00 – Social media outrage segment with quoted video
• 65:37 – Mocking conspiracies and misinformation after tragedy

Tone & Style Notes

• Tony Kinnett delivers rapid-fire analysis, sometimes mixing biting sarcasm with moments of seriousness (“There are real people who need attention in Minneapolis right now” [15:47]).
• Heavy skepticism directed at left-leaning politicians and media, frequently highlighting what Kinnett considers double standards or willful ignorance.
• Recurrent use of media terms like “pouncing,” “seizing,” and “dancing on graves” to emphasize political exploitation.
• Frequent references to hard numbers/statistics, document analysis, and social media.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• Get a clear, right-leaning breakdown of the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting: evidence, manifesto, law enforcement/media response, and political reactions.
• Hear sharp criticism of mainstream media, Democratic officials, and even right-wing influencers involved in spreading conspiracies.
• Learn about recent changes at the southern border, the internal turmoil in Mexico due to cartel pressure, and new developments in the U.S. influencer funding ecosystem.
• Enjoy Tony Kinnett’s energetic, no-holds-barred delivery—especially if you appreciate clear ideological perspective and a confrontational take on media and politics.