The Tony Kennett Cast — Ep. 418

Title: BREAKING: Senate Votes for SHUTDOWN, Illegal Immigrants Receive Mail-in Ballots, Sombrero-Gate
Date: October 1, 2025
Host: Tony Kennett (The Daily Signal)
Guest: Rob Bluey (President, The Daily Signal); Stephen Kent (Geeky Stoics)
Producer: Nick

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode delivers breaking coverage and analysis of the government shutdown voted in by the Senate, the political drama on Capitol Hill, heated debates over health care for illegal immigrants, emergent “Sombrero-Gate” meme controversy, and new claims of illegal immigrants receiving mail-in ballots and participating in election fraud. Tony Kennett, with his trademark sardonic humor and Midwest perspective, breaks down policy, politics, and the culture war, joined by Rob Bluey for insider Congressional insights and Stephen Kent for a segment on British celebrity social drama and the rise of AI “actresses.”

The Government Shutdown: Play-by-Play

The Senate Votes Down the Funding Measure

• [00:04] Tony kicks off with high-energy, heralding “government shutdown madness.”
• [01:55] Confirms Senate vote results: with only 51 “yeas” out of 60 required, the “clean CR” fails.
  • “The votes are not there. We are going to begin a government shutdown at midnight.” — Tony Kennett [01:55]
• [02:15] Explains this was a “clean” continuing resolution (CR), meaning funding at Biden-era levels—no extras.
• Highlights Democrats have passed similar measures 13 times before, but now are the holdouts, blocking the CR.
  • “Democrats have officially rejected the measure from the House of Representatives to continue the continuing resolution... That shutdown begins at midnight tonight.” — Tony [02:52]
• [03:24] Dispels narratives blaming only the Republicans, with jabs at Gavin Newsom.

The Filibuster and Democratic Justification

• [05:34] Features Rep. Maxine Waters explaining Democratic opposition, prioritizing health care for all.
  • “Democrats are demanding health care for everybody.” — Maxine Waters [06:50]
• Tony calls out the Democratic position: by insisting on health care funding that includes illegal immigrants, they’re blocking the CR.
• [07:48] Maxine Waters: “We want to save lives...”
• Tony’s retort: “If there are going to be entitlement programs, then those had better go to Americans.” [08:11]

Entitlement Programs & Immigration Debate

• Tony argues Democrats’ broad framing actually includes illegal immigrants, which is controversial and not widely supported.
• Points out that emergency health care for illegal immigrants is already required by law—further entitlements are the sticking point.
  • “We are approaching a debt crisis... spending that money on illegal immigrants is not something the super majority of Americans are for.” — Tony [09:07]

“Sombrero-Gate” & Meme Politics

Trump’s AI Video Escalates Outrage

• [10:49] Tony plays Trump’s viral AI video: Schumer’s voice is altered, and Hakeem Jeffries is visually adorned with a sombrero and mustache.
  • “I've watched that so many times today. It's incredible.” — Tony [11:28]
• Democrats take offense, focusing outrage not on the government shutdown, but the meme.
  • Hakeem Jeffries responds: “The next time you have something to say about me, don't cop out through a racist and fake AI video.” — Paraphrased [12:12]
• Tony and producer Nick joke about the Democrats' response.
• Rep. Teresa Fernandez denounces the meme as “deeply insulting.”
• Tony contrasts the meme outrage with prior severe rhetoric from Democrats about Trump’s administration (“fascist Nazis”).

Expert Analysis: Shutdown Implications with Rob Bluey

Segment Begins: [15:10]

Historical Perspective & Political Dynamics

• Rob recalls the 2018-19 shutdown and points out that extended shutdown pressure cuts both ways.
  • “The pressure just continued to build until ... the politicians... realized it probably was not helping either political party.” — Rob Bluey [15:55]
• Republican branding as “the Schumer shutdown” has precedent.
• Rob anticipates cuts/layoffs from Russell Vought (OMB) heightening Democratic discomfort due to union pressure.

Election Impact

• States that a shutdown’s effect on the 2026 midterms will likely be minimal due to timing.
  • “We are so far away from the election that... if Democrats think this is going to hurt Republicans in November of 2026, they're not students of history.” — Rob [22:12]
• Economy will be the driving issue, with Trump positioned to campaign on inflation and jobs.
  • “It's all going to come down to the economy. I'm convinced that Americans are going to look at their personal finances...” — Rob [21:25]
• Redistricting battles and Senate math imply Democrats face an uphill Senate battle, while the House is “up for grabs.”

Takeaways

• Dems are banking on COVID-era health care subsidies, but the emergency ended over two years ago.
• Polling shows weak Democratic generic ballot leads; economic issues favor the GOP.

Illegal Immigration: Crime, Ballots, and Scandals

Segment Begins: [28:08]

Crime Statistics & Cartel Activity

• Tony lists DHS stats: 533 convictions for assault/battery/domestic violence, 312 burglary/robbery/larceny/theft/fraud, and more serious offenses among illegal immigrants arrested in FY2025.
  • “That's a lot of prior convictions... the data shows that illegal immigrants are more likely to commit other kinds of crimes.” — Tony [32:20]

Cartel Reactions & Border Security

• Brief (humorous) translation of CNN’s interview with a Sinaloa cartel member: confirms Trump’s crackdown is making life difficult.

Voting & Immigration Fraud

• Details on illegal immigrants receiving mail-in ballots (e.g., Ian Roberts, Des Moines Schools) and how addresses are not cross-checked for citizenship.
  • “Well, buckle up, boys and girls, because it turns out, oh yeah, mail in voting non secure at all.” — Tony [37:09]
• Operation Twin Shield, Midway, and others: immigration fraud ring busts, details from USCIS director Joseph Edlow.
• Story of a fake marriage for immigration purposes unraveled by field agents in Minneapolis.

More Local Fallout

• [42:41] Tony skewers the Broadview, IL police chief for prioritizing crowd control over federal law enforcement, poking fun at his “hurt feelings” from ICE agents' criticism.

Culture Corner with Stephen Kent — J.K. Rowling, Emma Watson & The AI Actress

Segment Begins: [46:42]

Rowling vs. Watson: A Feminism and Privilege Debate

• Emma Watson walks back harsh criticism of J.K. Rowling over transgender views, expressing residual respect.
• JK Rowling claps back:
  • “Your kindness and your gentle words would have been nice a couple of years ago when the entire world was trying to destroy me and you participated in it. Only now are you being kind because the tides have turned in favor of biological reality and away from the trans delusion.” — Paraphrased summary [49:16]
  • “I wasn't a multimillionaire at 14. I lived in poverty while writing the book that made Emma famous...” — JK Rowling, quoted by Tony [49:54]
• Commentary: wealthy celebrities critique “womanhood reality” while privileged from societal harms.
• Kent: Watson has “no idea of real life... ignorant of how ignorant she is.” [50:38]

The Rise of AI “Actresses”

• AI “talent” Tilly Norwood making waves; acting agencies expressing interest.
• Stephen Kent: upset at AI trained on real actors’ labor; fears for future creative integrity.
  • “This is not an actress. This is an illusion created by computers using the hard work... of real actors and actresses.” — Stephen Kent [52:24]
• Tony finds it “strange”; wonders how such tech will fit in film alongside real stars.

Satire Returns: Political Caricature Meme Tradition

• Tony and Kent reflect on “Jib Jab” and the long history of political lampoonery in the US, underscoring the overreaction to meme-based attacks.
  • “If your entire... party’s plan... can be completely evaporated by a 70-something year-old man tweeting a video of you in a sombrero... your party's done, man.” — Tony [57:11]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tony’s zinger on Maxine Waters:
  “Representative Maxine Waters, who has I think been in Congress, since Noah stepped off of the ark... a raven leaves the ark. Noah sends the raven out to look for dry land and it landed in Maxine Waters hair and has been there ever since.” [04:31]

• Sombrero-Gate Deflation:
  “Making memes of politicians is the oldest tradition on the face of the earth... no matter how hard Gavin Newsom tries to pass an anti-AI campaign video... it's going to keep happening.” — Tony [11:28]

• On outrage cycles:
  “No one gets angrier than a liberal white woman because... there has to be a liberal white woman that steps out and is offended on someone else's behalf.” — Tony [13:16]

• Cartel Satire:
  “Blowing up boats of our competitors is... something I should be happy about, but instead, I'm sitting down here on a cactus because we can’t operate in the United States. It's terrible.” [33:28]

Additional Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:04–02:52: Senate vote breakdown and Maddening Shutdown play-by-play
• 06:05–08:55: Maxine Waters interview controversy & entitlement debate
• 10:49–14:16: The “Sombrero-Gate” AI meme furore
• 15:10–25:08: Rob Bluey on historical precedent, Senate dynamics, and election impact
• 28:08–35:36: Illegal immigration, crime stats, mail-in ballot scandal
• 42:41–45:25: Broadview police chief’s complaints about ICE enforcement
• 46:42–61:46: Culture segment (Rowling vs. Watson, AI actresses, political meme traditions)

Final Thoughts, Tone & Wrap-Up

Tony maintains his signature irreverent, sarcastic, sometimes biting humor throughout, highlighting both the absurdities and high stakes of the ongoing shutdown. He closes with jabs at media overhyping AI and meme culture, the cyclical outrage of the opposition, and teases next episode's coverage of military leadership drama.

“If satellites fall out of the sky, remember, stop, drop, tax, then roll. And we’ll see you tomorrow if the country’s still standing.” — Tony Kennett [63:10]

This episode is a snapshot of political and cultural chaos, with incisive commentary and comedic relief for a tumultuous news cycle.