The Tony Kennett Cast – Ep. 408: ANTIFA Network Hunt Underway, Media & Democrats Sprint to Backpedal

Podcast: The Tony Kennett Cast
Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Tony Kennett (The Daily Signal)
Notable Guests:

• Rob Bluey (President, The Daily Signal)
• Rep. John James (R-MI 10th District)

Main Theme

In this episode, Tony Kennett dissects the rapidly evolving fallout from the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a high-profile conservative commentator, focusing on the shifting narratives in legacy media, Democrats’ rhetorical backpedaling, and the growing investigation into potential Antifa networks. The episode is marked by sharp commentary, marked skepticism toward mainstream media responses, and insider reporting on both law enforcement and Congressional action following the tragedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media & Political Backpedaling

Tony opens by calling out the immediate judgment from legacy media and Democratic officials, who initially tied the murder to right-wing extremism based solely on the suspect’s appearance and presumed background.

• Highlight:
  “Members of the House, they are backpedaling. Members of the Senate are either backpedaling or whatever Maisie Hirono does. God knows it's not pull ups.” (00:34)

• The shooter was eventually revealed to be linked to Antifa and left-wing activism, contradicting initial speculation.

• Kennett mocks the criminologist on MSNBC for her inability to assign a clear motive, criticizing the media’s pivot to ambiguity when the left-wing connection surfaced.

2. Details of the Charlie Kirk Assassination & Suspect Motive

Kennett recounts official statements and text evidence confirming the assassin’s left-wing ideology and personal grievances with Kirk.

• Quote & Context:
  “In one text message, Tyler Robinson, the assassin, sent to his roommate... ‘I had enough of his hatred. Some hate can't be negotiated out.’” (04:07)
• The shooter’s correspondence with his transitioning roommate revealed forethought and a desire to conceal his involvement, though ultimately mistakes—like DNA left on the rifle—unraveled his plan (07:42).
• Kennett draws attention to the Antifa phrasing inscribed on the bullet casings, such as “Hey, fascist—catch,” as direct clues to the shooter’s political leanings.

3. Media’s Handling of the Shooter’s Identity & Relationships

ABC News and others are criticized for their sensational focus on the personal, even romantic, aspects of the suspect rather than the act’s political and criminal implications.

• Notable Moment:
  ABC’s reporter calls the murder texts “very touching ... a very intimate portrait.” (11:01)
• Kennett’s retort:
  “Oh man, he had a romantic life. I mean, hey, there are all these photos with Hitler hanging out with Eva Braun. So therefore, he must have been a really nice guy.” (11:35)

4. Democratic Rhetoric and Congressional Response

Kennett highlights Democrats’ difficulties distancing themselves from inflammatory rhetoric and their hesitancy to take questions about ties between their language and real-world violence.

• Aguilar’s Exchange:
  Rep. Aguilar tries to deny that Democrats call Republicans fascists and Nazis, only to be confronted with direct clips to the contrary (17:23).
  • “What they are trying to DO is Institute Nazism 2 in the United States.” – Rep. Jasmine Crockett (17:23)
• Democrats later deflect, blaming “gun culture” or shifting the focus:
  “If you are too stupid to talk about firearms, you shouldn't talk about firearms.” (19:34)

5. Senate Hearings & FBI Standards

Discussion of physical standards for FBI recruits leads to satire of Sen. Hirono’s performance and her inadvertent admission of biological differences between men and women.

• Memorable Exchange:
  “That you are now requiring applicants to be able to do a certain kind of pull ups which a lot of women cannot because of physiological differences.” – Sen. Maisie Hirono (22:04)

Kennett derides attempts to lower standards for political reasons and ties this to broader complaints about institutional competence.

6. Congressional Speculation and Legislative Proposals (w/ Rob Bluey)

Rob Bluey (30:01) joins to give a detailed rundown of proposed Congressional action in light of the assassination:

• Formation of a select committee (Rep. Chip Roy spearheading) to examine root causes of political violence, including open-borders groups and Soros-funded prosecutors.
• Legislative priorities include restricting foreign propaganda (Charlie Kirk Act, Sen. Mike Lee).
• The challenge of passing legislation with such a narrow GOP majority.
• Tension between demands for accountability (especially targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar’s comments) and the political risk-averse nature of the current Congress (36:00).

7. Cancel Culture vs. Celebrating Violence

Kennett and Bluey address media attempts to equate calls for cancellation based on violence-celebrating comments with past "cancel culture" controversies over ideological or speech issues.

• Kennett:
  “I was dragged into our human resources office in Indianapolis because I tweeted and I quote, rest in peace, Rush Limbaugh, end quote.” (34:45)
• But today, people cheer an assassination and demand more violence—a seriousness that gets downplayed by certain media personalities.

8. Foreign Infiltration, Propaganda, and Campus Radicalization (w/ Rep. John James)

Rep. John James (44:41) discusses legislative focus in the House:

• Protecting youth from ideological poisoning and radicalization via social media, particularly from foreign state actors (China, Russia).
• Targeting foreign funding of campus protest movements and requiring transparency (Disclosed Gift Act).
  • “...looking at everything that's poisoning the minds of our youth, because before someone commits a heinous act, their minds have been poisoned.” – Rep. John James (48:00)
• Commitment to strengthening parental protections and safeguarding domestic institutions.

9. Ongoing Investigations & The Role of Social Platforms

Kennett goes in-depth on the FBI’s investigation into broader Antifa-related networks, especially through platforms like Discord (64:12):

• FBI Director Cash Patel confirms they are “reaching out to the family and community” and investigating Discord server participants—potentially up to 20 additional users.

10. Listener Questions & Broader Legal Ramifications

In an extended Q&A (late in episode), Kennett discusses:

• The impact of reading suspect texts on-air re: jury bias, generally siding with transparency.
• Legal distinctions between protected speech and illegal acts such as criminal swatting:
  “Swatting is the illegal act in which you call a law enforcement agency and...The First Amendment, the protection of free speech, does not mean you can just get out there and say whatever you want...” (65:04)

11. Bonus: Media & Archaeology Conspiracies

Kennett briefly digresses to debunk a viral claim that an archaeological dig in Jerusalem is evidence of a pro-Israel plot, explaining instead its real historical and scientific significance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Media and Political Motive:
  “It only took them five days to come to that conclusion, ladies and gentlemen.” (12:29)
• On Backpedaling:
  “There are very few press conferences that you are seeing that Democrat officials in the House and the Senate are accepting right now because it looks really, really, really bad for them.” (15:40)
• On Firearms Rhetoric:
  “If you are too stupid to talk about firearms, you shouldn't talk about firearms” (19:34)
• On Standards:
  “Thank God for Maisie Hirono and the people in Hawaii who had their heads so far up their rear ends they must have clicked the wrong person on the ballot and they continue to send her to the Senate for our entertainment.” (23:18)
• On Discord as a New Counter-Terrorism Front:
  “An entire government was just overthrown by teenagers and kids in their early twenties through Discord. ... This is the new age of countering terrorism.” (65:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Media & Political Backpedaling: 00:34–04:07
• Shooter’s Motive and Evidence: 04:07–07:42
• Media Reaction to Suspect’s Identity: 11:01–14:39
• Democrats Caught Backpedaling: 15:40–19:34
• Senate Hearings, FBI Standards: 21:13–23:18
• Rob Bluey on Congressional Response: 30:01–37:03
• Rep. John James on House Actions: 44:41–54:46
• FBI Investigation, Discord Networks: 64:12–65:04
• Listener Q&A, Speech vs. Crime: 65:04–end

Podcast Tone & Style

The episode is marked by Tony Kennett’s trademark irreverent, regional populist style—laced with sarcasm, pop culture riffs, and pointed barbs against political opponents. The language is direct, colloquial, and unfiltered, particularly during rants and live banter.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode offers a thorough, unvarnished look at the intersection of political violence, media bias, and law enforcement in today’s America. Tony Kennett pulls no punches as he roasts media missteps, exposes political opportunism, and gives audience members both the breaking details and ideological context behind the latest national crisis. With insights from lawmakers and journalists, as well as listener engagement and legal analysis, this is a comprehensive account for anyone seeking the unfiltered story—minus the establishment spin.