The Tony Kennett Cast (The Daily Signal)

Episode 464: Trump’s Indiana Redistricting Vote FAILS, Obamacare Fist-Fight in Senate, Veteran Hoax
Date: December 12, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tony Kennett tackles three major political stories: the failed Trump-backed Indiana redistricting initiative, the Senate’s explosive fight over expiring Obamacare subsidies, and the exposure of a "veteran deportation" hoax during a contentious congressional hearing. With his signature candor, Tony, producer Nick, and guest Kurt Schlichter blend sharp critique, humor, and policy analysis to break down the latest developments affecting Indiana and the nation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Indiana Redistricting Vote: Trump’s Plan Fails

What Happened:

• A major redistricting bill in Indiana, aimed at turning the congressional map from likely 7-2 to a possible 9-0 Republican advantage, failed in the state Senate (19-31), despite a heavy GOP supermajority.
• President Trump and his administration had pushed for this more aggressive map ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Why It Matters:

• The map would have moderated hard GOP districts and “de-gerrymandered” Indianapolis from a racial voting perspective.
• Its failure exposes tension inside the Indiana GOP and between state and national party agendas.

Tony’s Take:

• “This vote this evening is, in fact, in the long term, in the long haul, a very good thing...Voters around the country are paying attention to who is moving forward and accomplishing things for the American people and who is essentially sitting around grumbling and mumbling.” (01:07)
• Tony argues transparency in the failings ultimately strengthens the local party, even if painful in the short term.

Notable Excuses From Senators:

• A senator cited Trump’s language about Tim Walz (“seriously retarded”) as a reason to vote no, due to a personal family situation.
• Senator Jean Lysing refused to vote in favor because her grandson received a mass text.
• Tony: “If you're someone who first of all is bringing that level of personal nonsense into a bill that affects the state, you're a clown to begin with.” (45:41)

Trump’s Response:

• Trump promises primaries against the “no” votes: “There's no reason for doing that. And the Democrats do it to us, so I can't imagine that they do it. But I wasn't very much involved. But there's a man named Bray as a... head of the Senate. Was that Bray?” (48:40)

Broader Analysis:

• Tony and Producer Nick make it clear: redistricting is a political, not a moral or fairness exercise, especially in the wake of aggressive moves by blue states:
  • “Gerrymandering is in and of itself political. That's why the Texas map is legal again. I have yet to hear a single coherent reason as to why the 21 Republicans who voted no...” (60:40)
• Political consequences are coming for legislative holdouts.

2. Obamacare Subsidies: Senate Fist-Fight & GOP Alternatives

Issue at Hand:

• Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies are set to expire, with direct pressure on premiums for millions.
• Democrats (e.g., Rep. Elisa Slotkin) claim Republicans are killing poor people by letting subsidies lapse, while the left also refuses to negotiate.

Tony/Kennett’s Critique:

• Slotkin is called out as “one of the people who yanked the credits away, first of all.” (03:47)
• DNC passed a resolution to “refuse to negotiate with Republicans on health care.”
  • Clip at [05:29]: “This is one area that should not be negotiated. This is like negotiating with someone how much air they breathe in.”

Political Stagnation:

• Both parties accused of “kicking the can down the road.”
• Tony: “We are at $38 trillion in debt. It is climbing. It is hurting the United States how much we are spending on these entitlement programs.” (06:30)

Exposing Obamacare’s Failures:

• Premiums have doubled or tripled since ACA’s enactment.
  • Tony: “Obamacare was sold... as a program that would drive down premiums. ... Has that promise come to fruition? No, it has not.” (07:46)
• “If anything, quite the contrary… Senator Welch, I believe last month admitted... the law failed to reduce costs but more than that... accelerated the cost growth...” (08:23)

The Senate Fistfight:

• Three GOP alternatives proposed: by Sen. Crapo & Cassidy, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Sen. Rick Scott.
  • Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), instead of insurer subsidies, featured heavily.
• “For one of the first times, Republicans are saying, what if we actually took the plan and we put it on paper … it forces the Democrats to say no.” (13:08)

Interview with Sen. Rick Scott (Florida) ([16:09]):

• Scott pitches the “More Affordable Healthcare Act,” modeled on food stamps but for health care: give individuals direct control, not insurance companies.
  • “We have a food stamp program… we don’t give the money to the grocery store chain… We give it into a card… Why don’t we do the logical thing… stop giving the money to insurance companies and give it to the individual.” (17:18)
• Fraud safeguards are critical, echoing welfare lessons from when he was Florida governor.
  • “You've got to have skin in the game… You’ve got to verify who people are, and you got to verify their dependence.” (20:44)
  • “I don't believe we should extend the Biden Covid subsidies at all, period.” (21:39)

Key Takeaway:

• Despite readiness and actual plans, none passed the Senate—partisan gridlock continues.
• “Are we actually going to see Republicans measure like Rick Scott’s proposal here … drive forward with a pretty succinct power packed victory and a major success? No, I don’t think so.” (23:31)

3. Congressional Hearing “Veteran Deportation” Hoax

What Sparked Outrage:

• House/Senate hearing featured a supposed US veteran, George Reits, who tearfully described being detained and deported.
  • “I identified myself as a US Citizen and a veteran, but that didn’t matter. Agent smashed my window, sprayed tear gas…” ([38:25])

The Facts:

• Tony exposes Reits as “hired security for the child labor marijuana farm in California”—not a wrongly deported vet.
  • “He was... an overseer for the pot farm. ... He challenged agents and blocked their route by refusing to move his vehicle.” (40:20)
• DHS had to formally rebut his media story.
• Producer Nick: “He, quote, became violent and refused to comply with law enforcement … arrested Reedy’s for assault.” (40:20)

Other ‘Gotchas’ Unraveled:

• Democrats invite a Korean-born Purple Heart vet who was “deported under Trump.”
  • Tony: “Sejun Park, the guy in the video, was not deported by the Department of Homeland Security. He self deported back to Korea ...after spending three years in jail for felony drug possession and bail jumping.” (42:47)

Tony’s Commentary:

• “These are the kinds of things they're rolling out now.” (43:38)
• "If you ever wondered if you could elect someone off the street to Congress to humiliate your state, with these House guests, apparently the answer is yes." (27:27)

4. The Nationalization of Redistricting & Gerrymandering

Tony’s Argument:

• Redistricting is inherently political. Blue states gerrymander aggressively for their advantage; so should red states, until parity.
  • “Every single Republican state in this country should redistrict until California and Michigan and Massachusetts agree to back off.” (80:24)
• Civics lesson on Madison, federal balance, original congressional appointment, and shifting the battle to state legislatures.

Chris Garten’s Speech (54:13):

• “Some will say these maps are political. Let me be clear. You're damn right they are... If drawing a map that secures two more seats for the Republican Party means that we continue to see overdose deaths drop by 20%, then I'll draw that map every single day of the week and twice on Sunday... We're not here to be neutral arbiters of decline. We're here to be active agents of American greatness.”

Throughout:

• “The idea that you need to be the bigger person and play really nice and fair because the other side … is cheating—you are a fool.” (58:22, Producer Nick)

5. Guest Segment: Kurt Schlichter on Indiana & GOP Inaction

Raucous Segment ([65:55]):

• Schlichter on Indiana Republicans: “What is it with femboys in Indiana? Are they all penis-free Mike Pences?” (66:10)
• The response to red state lethargy and inaction is “one seat at a time,” primarying weak lawmakers, and building grassroots pressure.
  • “It needs to be an organized... group that goes to every disputed district, finds a good candidate and says ‘We’re going to back you’... and then you go to the weak-willed Republican... [they’ll] suffer.” (72:33)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Tony Kennett:

  • “This vote this evening is, in fact, in the long term, in the long haul, a very good thing.” (01:07)
  • “Obamacare was sold... as a program that would drive down premiums. ...Has that promise come to fruition? No, it has not.” (07:46)
  • “Are we actually going to see Republicans measure like Rick Scott’s proposal here … drive forward with a pretty succinct power packed victory and a major success? No, I don’t think so.” (23:31)

• Sen. Rick Scott:

  • “[Obamacare] has been a absolute disaster… I organized a group called Conservatives or Patients Rights to, you know, to try to stop it.” (16:09)
  • “We have a food stamp program… we don’t give the money to the grocery store chain and they’re going to decide what groceries you get... Why don’t we do the logical thing…stop giving the money to insurance companies and give it to the individual.” (17:18)
  • “You’ve got to have skin in the game… You’ve got to verify who people are, and you got to verify their dependence.” (20:44)

• Chris Garten (Indiana State Senator):

  • “Some will say these maps are political. Let me be clear. You're damn right they are... We're not here to be neutral arbiters of decline. We're here to be active agents of American greatness.” (54:13)

• Producer Nick:

  • “If you feel like being the better person and doing the fair thing is conceding the game to a player that is cheating, you are a fool.” (58:22)

• Kurt Schlichter:

  • “Are the people of Indiana going to do anything about this? ...you get a lot of people who are, you know, sexually inadequate, impotent femboys.” (67:13)
  • “It just takes time. In Texas, you know, it's one seat at a time. They got rid of a bunch of them and a bunch of the bad ones and they've redistricted, they've got school choice. You've gotta, you've gotta take back your party.” (68:43)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:17] — Show Start/Intro to Indiana Redistricting Vote
• [05:29] — DNC Resolution: ‘No Negotiation on Health Care’
• [07:46] — Obamacare Premiums & Broken Promises
• [11:38] — GOP Healthcare Alternatives Discussed
• [16:09] — Sen. Rick Scott Interview on GOP Health Proposal
• [25:10] — “Unfortunate Accident”: Mischaracterization of WV National Guard Shooting
• [38:25] — Veteran Deportation Hoax Testimony Exposed
• [42:47] — Debunking the Sejun Park “Deportation”
• [48:40] — Trump’s Reaction to Indiana Senate Redistricting Failure
• [54:13] — Chris Garten’s Redistricting Floor Speech
• [65:55] — Kurt Schlichter Interview: GOP Inaction & Solutions

Tone and Style

The tone is fiercely confrontational, sardonic, and unapologetically pro-conservative. Tony Kennett blends humor (“Get out there and just start making accusations as though you’re some grand Braveheart hero”), civics education, and direct calls for Republican accountability. Producer Nick supplies sarcastic asides and audience-reinforcing points. Guest Kurt Schlichter adds extra bite and dark humor to his critique of GOP inertia.

Summary Takeaways

• The failed Indiana redistricting vote unveils intra-GOP conflict, shallow defenses for inaction, and national implications for congressional maps.
• The pending expiration of Obamacare subsidies sparked open Senate brawling, with Republicans actually pitching substantive alternatives for the first time in years—though ultimately blocked, revealing the calcified dysfunction of health care politics.
• Congressional “veteran deportation” sob stories were decisively debunked live, exposing media and Democratic misdirection.
• Tony and guests insist that the redistricting fight is not about “fairness” but about matching blue-state ruthlessness, and that only primary pressure and organized outrage within the party will spur real change.
• The episode ends with a call for renewed Republican engagement at the local and state level, emphasizing that the only true momentum comes not from outrage alone, but from action.