The Tony Kennett Cast – Ep. 402

EXCLUSIVE: New Details on GoFundMe for Charlotte Stabber, SCOTUS Rules in Favor of ICE Raids
Host: Tony Kennett | Guest: Kurt Schlichter (Townhall.com)
Date: September 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the aftermath of the high-profile stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Irana Zarutska in Charlotte, NC. Tony Kennett breaks down local, media, and political reactions to the crime, the controversy around a GoFundMe campaign supporting the accused killer, and broader themes about crime, policing, and media coverage in “blue cities.” Additional discussion covers a Supreme Court decision upholding ICE raids, and recurring political messaging regarding crime and urban safety.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Charlotte Stabbing: The Crime and Immediate Aftermath

[00:34-10:31]

• Incident Recap:

  • Arianna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail by Decarlos Brown Jr., who had been arrested 14 times previously.
  • Brown was released after a magistrate judge accepted a promissory note (“pinky promise”) for his court appearance.
  • The crime was caught on video, which circulated widely—Tony chooses not to play it due to its disturbing nature.

• Critique of Judicial System:

  • Judge Teresa Stokes, who released Brown, also directs a local mental health clinic, raising concerns about conflicting priorities.
  • Political figures, like Rep. Randy Fine (FL), propose holding judges partially liable for repeat offender crimes.

• Political Reactions:

  • Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC):

    “I am heartbroken for the family of Irana Zarutska who lost their loved one to the senseless act of violence. … We need more cops on the beat to keep people safe.”
    [07:13]

  • Tony argues the issue is not arrests but retention:

    "Blue cities know how to arrest criminals. They just don't know how to keep the criminals."
    [07:58]

• City Council Response:

  • Council meeting included a break for cake (celebrating a birthday) before the stabbing was substantively discussed, highlighting Tony's view of unbalanced priorities.

2. Mental Health, Equity, and Policy Failures

[10:32-14:19]

• Public & Official Discourse:

  • Some officials reframed the crime as a “mental health” and “homelessness” issue (per Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles).
  • City Council and Katz rail system CEO Nick Cagle worried enforcing fare (to prevent non-paying riders like Brown) raises “equity” concerns.

• Tony's Critique:

  • Argues this focus on equity and compassion for lawbreakers enables repeat offenses and ignores public safety.

  • "Old liberal white women, overeducated, overly arrogant ... think they can just give the old elementary art teacher lecture on love and kindness ... That’s not true."
    [08:20]

3. Media Coverage & Political Narrative

[14:20–25:02]

• National Silence & Double Standards:

  • Tony compares minimal coverage of Zarutska’s case to the extensive coverage of incidents like George Floyd or Daniel Penny.

  • "[The NYT has] 5,897 mentions ... for George Floyd ... 1,190 for Trayvon Martin ... Iran[a] Zarutska ... nothing, nothing at all."
    [16:54]

• Brian Stelter on CNN:

  • Criticizes focus on "big city crime":

    "[MAGA media is] calling for more forceful punishments and more incarceration. ... Some of the comments around this story are baldly racist."
    [17:46]

• Tony’s Response:

  • Decries accusations that raising questions about criminality and race is “racist,” contrasting with past media narratives.

• Axios Angle:

  • Axios blames the dissemination of surveillance footage for fueling "conservative criticisms," which Tony mocks as blaming the existence of cameras.

4. GoFundMe Campaign Controversy

[20:15–26:00]

• Campaign Discovery:

  • Two GoFundMe pages were launched to support Decarlos Brown Jr.
  • Investigations found organizers' photos matched those from a federal sex offender registry (different names).
  • GoFundMe quickly shut down both campaigns and condemned such fundraising.

• Potential For Misinformation:

  • Tony cautions against viral but false claims, suggesting this may be a deliberate “false flag” to stir outrage, not genuine support.
  • Warns of social media accounts irresponsibly spreading potentially harmful or false attributions.

• Quote:

  "...all some legacy media outlet has to do ... is say this part of the story is wrong. Because I'm seeing a lot of very big accounts right now start to amplify this story that a rapist is the individual who started this GoFundMe campaign for Decarlos Brown Jr. And from all evidence that we can find, that's likely not happened."
  [24:53]

5. Policing, “Equity,” and Urban Crime Debate

[26:00–41:42]

• Failed Urban Crime Policies:

  • Tony and Nick criticize Democrats’ soft-on-crime stances, such as those promoted by NYC mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani and Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
  • Satirize ideas like rent freezes, free buses, and shifting the burden to mental health/social interventions.

• Quotes:

  • Zoran Mamdani:

    "...the jail population of Rikers has increased ... by more than a thousand ... We know that we can reduce that ..."

  • Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX):

    "Law enforcement isn't to prevent crime ... they are supposed to solve crime."
    [40:38]

• Tony's Cutting Commentary:

  "Jasmine Crockett's idea of police is like a 9-year-old's idea of Sherlock Holmes. Incredible. Come, my dear Watson. They're all dead. Let's find out who did it. Excellent."
  [41:12]

6. Supreme Court Upholds ICE Raids

[36:45–39:00]

• SCOTUS Decision:
  • Supreme Court rules 6–3 that federal ICE raids are legal, upholding federal law supremacy.
  • Tony mocks Justice Sotomayor’s dissent linking the raids to ethnic profiling, noting many detainees, in this case, were South Korean.

7. Rise of Independent Journalism & Media Critique

[44:47–59:46]

• Don Lemon’s “Man on the Street” Attempts:

  • Lemon, now independent, tries engaging the public on crime and National Guard presence.
  • Tony and guest Kurt Schlichter ridicule Lemon’s failed interviews, noting regular people favoring more law enforcement or National Guard.
    • Memorable encounter:

      Don Lemon: "Do you feel safe?"
      Woman: "Yes ... Maybe more [police]."
      [49:45–50:05]

• Latino and Black Residents Wanting Safety:

  • Interviewees across NYC and Baltimore, including minorities, support increased police—contrary to progressive messaging.

• Media Messaging Disconnect:

  • Tony points out protests against the National Guard are largely by "old white people," while the broader urban population wants security.

8. Dangers of Viral Misinformation in Tragedies

[59:54–End]

• Social Media and Misinformation Loops:

  • Highlights the viral spread of a fake photo allegedly showing Zarutska with a Black Lives Matter poster—debunked through actual social media sleuthing.
  • Emphasizes the importance of accuracy and having an editorial team to avoid spreading harmful errors.

• Quote:

  “Just because an account has a large number of followers does not mean that whatever it posts is immediately true.”
  [1:00:33]

• Closing Reflection:

  • Social media “cottage industry” thrives on outrage and virality, often at the expense of truth and serious attention to systemic failures in urban criminal justice.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Blue cities know how to arrest criminals. They just don't know how to keep the criminals." (Tony Kennett, [07:58])

• "The suspect appeared to have struggled with mental health and suffered a crisis ... It's not that needs to be treated with the same compassion, diligence and commitment as cancer..." — Mayor Vi Lyles, paraphrased ([08:20])

• "Law enforcement isn't to prevent crime. Law enforcement solves crime." — Rep. Jasmine Crockett ([40:38])

• “Jasmine Crockett's idea of police is like a 9-year-old's idea of Sherlock Holmes.” (Tony, [41:12])

• “All some legacy media outlet has to do ... is say this part of the story is wrong. … That's likely not happened.” (Tony, GoFundMe discussion [24:53])

• “Just because an account has a large number of followers does not mean that whatever it posts is immediately true.” (Tony [1:00:33])

Suggested Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------|-----------------| | Charlotte stabbing & system failure | 00:34 – 10:31 | | Mental health, equity arguments | 10:32 – 14:19 | | Media/National political response | 14:20 – 25:02 | | GoFundMe controversy | 20:15 – 26:00 | | Urban policing debates | 26:00 – 41:42 | | Supreme Court & ICE raids | 36:45 – 39:00 | | Don Lemon/man-on-the-street segments | 44:47 – 59:46 | | Social media misinformation/closing | 59:54 – 1:04:30 |

Tone & Style

Tony's signature blend of sarcasm, cultural commentary, and sharp critique permeates the episode, leaning into skepticism of progressive crime policies and media narratives. The conversation with Kurt Schlichter ramps up the sardonic analysis of both media personalities (Don Lemon) and left-progressive politicians.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode delivers an in-depth, unapologetic breakdown of a high-profile urban crime, its treatment by the media and political class, and the dangers of online misinformation. Tony and guests argue for public safety, accountability in judiciary and media, and greater skepticism of weaponized social media narratives. If you care about how stories are spun and what gets left unreported, this is a must-listen.