The Tony Kinnett Cast, Ep. 452 - “Democrat Steals $5 Million from FEMA, Trump-Mamdani Meeting Gets Bizarre”

Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Tony Kinnett (The Daily Signal)
Summary by Podcast Summarizer

Overview:

This episode centers on two headline stories:

1. The indictment of Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick for alleged embezzlement of FEMA disaster relief funds.
2. The much-hyped but anticlimactic meeting between President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-elect (and Democratic Socialist) Zohran Mamdani.

In his signature sarcastic, quick-witted, and “middle-of-the-country” style, Tony Kinnett dissects Congressional antics, explores themes of political hypocrisy and media theater, and calls for accountability—while providing heaps of color commentary. The episode is packed with notable moments involving Trump’s negotiation tactics, left-leaning politicians’ defenses, and a barrage of stubborn, detail-heavy commentary directed at both parties.

Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

I. Congress Condemns Socialism [01:04–05:00]

• House Vote Recap:
  The House held a vote to “condemn socialism.” The resolution passed with 285 yeas and 98 nays (mostly Democrats voted no).
• Tony’s Take:
  While condemning socialism “in general” is positive, Tony says it’s largely political theater.

  “Democrats have been running on socialism for the last 10 to 15 years in the open... The party’s already there.” ([03:30])

• Political Inefficacy:
  Forcing votes to make political points rarely changes actual outcomes, e.g., “It shifted nothing in Virginia, and it won’t shift things now.”
  The move is framed as “so what?” in the larger political chessboard.

II. Trump–Mamdani White House Meeting: Media Hype vs. Reality [04:53–16:00]

A. The Media’s Pre-Game Hysteria

• Media built up the Trump–Mamdani meeting as a potential “boxing match.”
• Context: Zoran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, is elected New York City mayor; Trump has a reputation for fiery confrontations.
• Tony’s Take:
  The whole thing was overblown:

  “The people that really cared about Trump meeting with Zoran Mandani today—guys, that’s not a big deal.” ([05:40])

B. The Actual Meeting (on Law Enforcement & ICE) [07:57–09:10]

• Trump Played It Down:
  Trump frames himself and Mamdani as able to “work together” on law enforcement, especially regarding ICE.

  Trump: “If we have known murderers and known drug dealers and some very bad people... we want to get them out. The mayor wants to have peace.” ([08:18]) “He wants to have a safe New York... If you don’t have safe streets, it’s not going to be a success.” ([08:34])

• Tony’s Analysis:
  Trump does what he always does: he “answers for both,” controlling the narrative and lowering tensions.

  “Whenever Trump is dealing with an actual adversary in person... he answers for them because he is controlling and shaping the narrative.” ([10:00]) “It’s not 4D chess. It’s the Trump strategy he’s used since real estate.” ([10:50])

C. “Are You a Fascist?” Moment [12:48–13:12]

• Reporter:

  “Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?” ([12:48])

• Trump, unfazed:

  “That’s okay. You can just say yes. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.” ([13:02])

• Tony:

  “That’s how Trump handles those things. Is funny. That is in fact how one should handle it.” ([13:10]) Tony likens Mamdani’s in-person walkback to a “Chihuahua moment”—an Internet firebrand mellowing out when face-to-face.

D. “Is Mamdani a Jihadist?” [15:12–15:44]

• Reporter:
  “Do you think you’re standing next to a jihadist right now in the Oval Office?”
• Trump:

  “No, I don’t. But she’s [Rep. Stefanik] out there campaigning... you say things sometimes in a campaign. I met with a man who’s a very rational person.” ([15:12])

• Key Insight:
  Trump’s style is to deflect, avoid antagonizing, and keep negotiation possible even with supposed adversaries.

III. Jack Posobiec Confronts Mamdani on ‘Race-Based Property Taxes’ [16:50–19:50]

• Posobiec’s Question:
  Accuses Mamdani of planning to “make sure money flowed away from whiter neighborhoods.”
• Mamdani Sidesteps:
  Claims “description of neighborhoods, not intent.” Posobiec pushes back hard.
• Tony’s Applause:
  Tony praises Posobiec for following up and not letting the politician squirm away:

  “There are questions that need to be asked of Mondamini. They're tough.” ([18:50])

IV. FEMA Fraud Scandal: Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick Indicted [20:00–31:30]

A. Context & Outrage

• Details:
  Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and co-defendants accused of embezzling $5 million in FEMA relief, laundering it, and using the funds in her 2021 campaign.
• Tony’s Analysis:
  Not just a “pickpocketing,” but a deep scheme with inside help—part of ongoing Democratic corruption that “we’re told doesn’t exist.”

  “These federal agencies are corrupt. They are rotten and they suck. Tear them down.” ([23:00])

B. Hakeem Jeffries’ (D-NY) Defense [25:30–27:00]

• Jeffries calls for “presumption of innocence,” in stark contrast to how Republicans are treated:

  “Anyone who has been indicted is entitled to the presumption of innocence.”
  Tony: “He didn’t do any of that with George Santos. ... Hakeem’s decision here to go out in defense of each and every Democrat is sad and pathetic.” ([26:30])

C. McCormick’s Response: Claims Racist Targeting [28:40–31:10]

• When asked for comment, McCormick claimed that the indictment was an “unjust ... intimidation tactic,” specifically targeting “minorities, black and brown people.”
• Tony’s Response:

  “If you’re caught stealing something and your immediate response is, ‘Well, I’m black,’ you are doing a really heavy disservice [to others].” ([29:00])

• Tony sharply criticizes her for weaponizing her identity, likening it to using unrelated personal traits as a defense for unrelated crimes.

D. Accountability & Hypocrisy

• Tony predicts Democrats will not censure or remove Cherfilus-McCormick, just as they failed to censure Lamonica McIver (NJ), and Stacy Plaskett (VI).
• Notable Quote:

  “If you’re going to be so stupid, do you have to commit the most obvious stupid, traceable kinds [of fraud] that aren’t just leaving one paper trail?” ([27:30])

V. Plaskett–Epstein Controversy & Democratic Defenses [32:12–39:32]

A. On Stacy Plaskett Texting With Jeffrey Epstein

• Hakeem Jeffries waffles on whether he spoke to Plaskett about the Epstein revelations, then contradicts himself:
  • “I have not.” → “She and I have talked. It’s a private conversation.” ([32:12–33:11])
  • Tony: “Either he’s a liar to the reporters here or he’s a liar to the American people.” ([33:11])

B. Jasmine Crockett’s Defense

Crockett (D-TX) waves away ethical concerns about Plaskett texting Epstein:

“We don’t have ethical rules that say you can’t receive text messages from... anyone, even with a certain record... Everybody texts.” ([36:45])

• Tony’s sharp retort:

  “I don’t have text conversations with convicted sexual assaulters. I don’t have text conversations with pedophiles. ... That’s not difficult. It is for her.” ([37:03],[39:32])

• Theme:
  Democrats deflect scandals by making disingenuous racial or procedural excuses, missing the ethical point.

VI. The Impeachment Drumbeat, Military Orders, and Political “Gotchas” [39:50–49:20]

A. Al Green and Impeachment

• Rep. Al Green still pushing impeachment, trying to tie voter redistricting, Plaskett, and Mamdani-issues into a grand “impeachment, conviction, and removal” arc.

  “We cannot allow anything to get in the way of impeachment, conviction and removal. That’s what this is about.” ([41:06])

B. The “Illegal Orders” Rhetoric

• Democratic reps claim they’re warning the military about following “illegal” commands from Trump—but can’t point to any actual illegal order Trump has given.
• Tony: “Name one. ... And he can’t think of one. ... They’re interested in preemptively charging and convicting people before they do anything at all illegal.” ([47:23])

VII. Mailbag, Bureaucracy, and Right-wing Infighting [50:50–59:00]

• Audience questions tackled:
  • Can Trump actually downsize or eliminate agencies like the Department of Education or FEMA?
    • Tony: Only with an active Congress; executive orders alone won’t cut it.
  • Will the right “split in half” over current intra-party fights?
    • Tony: No, open arguments are good. “Quit being soft. There’s work to do.” ([58:00])
• Key Insight:
  Governing is messier than campaigning; alliances and coalitions are temporary and based on pragmatic needs.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• On socialist condemnation vote:

  “They think socialism is this magical ticket to utopia and sunshine and friendship. Well, it is absolutely not.” —Tony Kinnett [02:45]

• On Trump–Mamdani media hype:

  “Guys, that’s, that’s, that’s not a big deal. It’s not.” —Tony Kinnett [05:40]

• Trump on NYC Safety:

  “If you don’t have safe streets, it’s not going to be a success. So we’re going to work together.” —Donald Trump [08:34]

• On calling Trump a fascist:

  “That’s okay. You can just say yes. Okay. It’s easier than explaining it. I don’t mind.” —Donald Trump [13:02]

• On race-based property taxes:

  “You said whiter neighborhoods would be taxed more so money would flow into blacker and browner neighborhoods, whatever the bleep that means.” —Tony Kinnett [19:24]

• On the FEMA fraud:

  “These federal agencies are corrupt. They are rotten and they suck. Tear them down.” —Tony Kinnett [23:00]

• On identity as a defense:

  “If your immediate response is, ‘well, I’m black,’ you are doing a really heavy disservice and by the way, insulting the people who share your skin color.” —Tony Kinnett [29:00]

• On Plaskett texting Epstein:

  “I don’t have text conversations with convicted sexual assaulters. I don’t have text conversations with pedophiles.” —Tony Kinnett [37:03]

• On Republican division:

  “Governing is harder than campaigning... Just because you’ve allied with someone in the past doesn’t mean you’re beholden to ally with them forever.” —Tony Kinnett [56:00]

Notable Themes and Tone

• Tone:
  Sarcastic, exasperated, “common-sense Hoosier” perspective; heavy on jokes, but interspersed with history and pragmatic policy talk.
• Key Themes:
  • Political theater vs. real action
  • Media’s role in manufacturing or deflating drama
  • Both sides’ hypocrisy, but a heavy emphasis on Democratic scandals and excuses
  • Accountability in Congress: both ethics and the actual process deficits
  • The limitations of executive power vs. the need for Congressional action

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:04] — House Condemns Socialism
• [07:57] — Trump & Mamdani: Law Enforcement
• [12:48] — “Is Trump a Fascist?” Exchange
• [15:12] — “Is Mamdani a Jihadist?” Question
• [16:50] — Posobiec Presses Mamdani on Property Taxes
• [20:00] — FEMA Embezzlement Scandal (Cherfilus-McCormick)
• [25:30] — Hakeem Jeffries’ Contradictory Defense
• [28:40] — McCormick’s Response (Race Card)
• [32:12] — Plaskett–Epstein Texts Coverup
• [36:45] — Jasmine Crockett’s Defense
• [39:50] — Al Green: Impeachment & Redistricting
• [47:23] — Military “Illegal Orders” Hype
• [50:50] — Mailbag: Bureaucracy & GOP Conflicts

Conclusion

Tony Kinnett’s episode is a rollicking, critical look at Congressional hypocrisy and media theater, with extra focus on Democratic scandals and attempts to excuse or equivocate criminal activity with process, race, or partisan battles. The real drama is less in the news items themselves and more in the way politicians and media perform outrage, refuse accountability, and justify their actions. The ultimate message: Ignore the theater, demand real answers, and don’t let performative outrage or identity politics excuse actual wrongdoing.

For listeners who missed the episode:
This summary provides the central narratives, Tony’s (and his guests’) pointed quotes, and the timestamps needed to review particular exchanges or analysis. The episode is essential listening for those interested in government accountability and the interplay of politics, media, and the law.