The Tony Kinnett Cast – Ep. 468

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Tony Kinnett
Podcast: The Daily Signal

Overview

This episode centers on the breaking resignation of FBI Assistant Director Dan Bongino, rising concerns about an epidemic of terror attacks (particularly political, racial, and religiously motivated), and the ongoing state of chaos—both within federal law enforcement and the broader political landscape. Tony uses a mixture of humor, skepticism, and sharp commentary to analyze the developments, touching on high-profile controversies at Brown University, increasing incidents of violence attributed to ideological extremism, and responses from prominent political figures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dan Bongino’s Resignation from FBI

• Major News: Assistant Director Dan Bongino announces resignation effective January 2026.
  • Bongino’s statement: “I will be leaving my position with the FBI in January. I want to thank President Trump, Attorney General Bondi and Director Cash Patel for the opportunity to serve with purpose. Most importantly, I want to thank you, my fellow Americans, for the privilege to serve you. God bless America and all those who defend her.” (00:01)
  • Tony notes Bongino's likely return to broadcasting, referencing both President Trump’s comments and speculation about dissatisfaction inside the FBI.
    • Trump: “Oh, Dan, Dan did a great job. I think he won to go back to his show. Yeah, I do.” (01:30)
  • Internal FBI turmoil, failures like the problematic rollout of Epstein documents, and lack of high-profile investigative successes cited as possible causes.
  • Leadership issues with FBI Director Cash Patel (e.g., focus on PR over substantive results).

Chaos and Political Infighting

• Factions in Trump administration and finger-pointing (e.g., between Pam Bondi and Cash Patel over the Epstein files; chronic lack of communication and leadership).
  • Tony on internal politics: “That wears on a man. I understand Dan Bongino there.” (11:40)
  • Ongoing media narrative of "chaos" within the administration, both satirized and taken seriously as a means of stalling governance.

The Brown University Shooting & FBI/Police Response

• Tony repeatedly lambasts the handling of a campus shooting at Brown University:
  • Criticism of Providence Police and FBI for slow investigation, withholding details, and fostering public distrust.
  • Satirical anger at Rep. Sheldon Whitehouse for scolding the public over tip submissions:
    “Why would you say that? Why would you say that? I, I don't understand the value in getting in the American people's faces and say, you know what, what's really not helpful right now? People calling in tips. We don't know who the shooter is. They don't even have a suspect.” (28:10)
  • Frustration at university administration for scrubbing web pages linked to a potential person of interest, raising more suspicions.
  • Commentary on media downplaying or redirecting focus from ideological/racial motivations, despite polling and public sentiment.

Terror Attack “Epidemic”

• Tony frames the recent surge in violent incidents as a broader terror epidemic, especially those with anti-Semitic and anti-Christian overtones.
• Discussion on immigration, the expansion of the Trump-era travel ban, and reactions from progressive legislators (e.g., Rashida Tlaib’s assertion of racism):
  • “Rashida Talib says that this administration's racist cruelty knows no limits. Expanding their travel ban to include even more African and Muslim majority countries… Trump and Stephen Miller won't be satisfied until our country has the demographics of a Klan rally.” (52:20)
• Tony pushes back: “No, this equivocation with Americans having some concerns about Islamic terror and unfettered mass migration … is not going to do it for Americans.” (54:15)
• Critique of leftist rhetoric dismissing anxiety over jihadist rhetoric as “toxic.”

Immigration Policy, Targeted Violence, and Media Reactions

• Discussion on travel bans, suspected terror origins, and the mainstream and social media’s handling of anti-Semitic violence.
• Tony’s “believe them when they tell you who they are” refrain referencing explicit jihadist chants at global protests (e.g., Australia, Brussels, US campus activism).
• Notable swipe at Democrats and the "Squad" deflecting from Islamist violence toward blaming Trump for national division.

The Ilhan Omar “ICE Profiling” Controversy

• Rep. Ilhan Omar’s claim her son was targeted and pulled over by ICE is debunked in real time, with Tony mocking the pivot and defensive media interviews.
  • Wolf Blitzer: “ICE has absolutely zero record of its officers or agents pulling over Congresswoman Omar's son and have accused you of seeking to, quote, demonize ICE as part of a PR stunt.” (1:25:40)
  • Tony: “Either she's a liar or she's raised a liar.”
• Reflection on culture wars around law enforcement, congressional “victimhood,” and trolling from conservative media.

Campus Radicalism and Federal Funding

• Brown University scrutinized for failing to abide by settlement agreements prohibiting anti-Semitism/DEI initiatives while accepting federal funds.
• Tony weaves in reporting on university groups, activist students, and ongoing investigations.

Judicial “Tyranny War” and Legal System Influence

• Tony discusses the left’s influence over the judiciary and the tide of left-aligned appointments, highlighting a recent appellate victory for Trump.
• Cuts to USAID foreign funding used to illustrate critiques of media bias — AP headline blames US funding cuts for underaged marriages in Bangladesh.
  • Tony: “They're suggesting that we need to pay off, we need to bribe Muslims in other countries not to marry little girls.” (1:59:55)

Mailbag: Leadership, Incompetence, and Accessibility

• Discussion on why “incompetent” people rise to positions of authority. Tony attributes it to facility at non-essential skills (talking, networking).
• Brief foray into the necessity of sign language interpreters at White House briefings, with Tony arguing that closed captions suffice and over-accommodation is unnecessary.
• Wry commentary on legal overreach and the prevalence of lawsuits for trivial indignities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dan Bongino Resignation:

  • Trump: “I think he won to go back to his show.” (01:30)
  • Tony: “Going back to his show. I suspect the president is very likely to address this in his address this evening.” (09:50)

• On FBI/Police Confusion:

  • “Why would you say that? … I don't understand the value in getting in the American people's faces and say, you know what, what's really not helpful right now? People calling in tips. We don't know who the shooter is. They don't even have a suspect.” (28:10)

• On University Handling:

  • “When you have a situation in which there's no clear expectation, criticizing people for not knowing what's going on is truly, truly a disgusting move.” (36:10)
  • “If you come out and say here's what we know, here's what we don't, then the conspiracies get a lot smaller and a lot less effective.” (41:50)

• On Immigration and Security:

  • Rashida Tlaib: “Trump and Stephen Miller won't be satisfied until our country has the demographics of a Klan rally.” (52:45)
  • Tony: “Because Americans have watched for decades now, but especially in the last two years when this pro terror psychology has encouraged more and more Islamic and pro left wing cause … that we have heard people shout Allahu Akbar … before committing mass atrocities.” (54:00)

• On Cultural Debates:

  • “What is the bigger threat to America Right now, American values, American life, Islamophobia or jihad? I think we have to focus, quite frankly, on if we're worried about the threat to American values, on the person who's in the White House.” — Debbie Wasserman Schultz (1:04:35)
  • Tony: “You don't have to simp for jihad. You're going to say, yeah, that's bad. It's bad when people do bad things and then move on.” (1:08:25)

• On Omar/ICE Fabrication:

  • Wolf Blitzer: “ICE has absolutely zero record of its officers or agents pulling over Congresswoman Omar's son and have accused you of seeking to, quote, demonize ICE as part of a PR stunt.” (1:25:40)
  • Tony: “Ilhan's lying, but also the question was about her son. I says that they didn't pull over your son. Where was this? No answer for this at all.” (1:28:15)

• On Media and “Judicial Tyranny”

  • “Chuck Schumer bragging a few months ago about ... appointing every single judge ... that was going to act in a radically left manner.” (2:06:40)
  • “The Associated Press ... is making the case that because the Trump administration stopped sending money to Bangladesh, the Muslims in Bangladesh are marrying little girls.” (2:10:40)

• On Leadership and Incompetence:

  • “The reason that incompetent people get promoted ... they are better at things that are not relevant to the position. ... The other reason ... is that incompetence to you is not incompetence to someone else.” (2:20:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dan Bongino’s Resignation & FBI Chaos: 00:01 – 14:00
• Trump and White House speculation: 14:00 – 22:00
• Brown University Shooting Investigation Critique: 22:00 – 42:00
• Campus Activism, DEI, and Anti-Semitism Charges: 42:00 – 52:00
• Travel Ban and Immigration Debate: 52:00 – 01:01:00
• Debates on Jihad, Islamophobia, & Political Deflection: 1:01:00 – 1:11:00
• Ilhan Omar’s ICE Story Debunked: 1:23:00 – 1:33:30
• Tony on Judicial Activism and Wins for Trump: 2:06:00 – 2:13:30
• AP Reporting and Biden Foreign Aid Critique: 2:13:30 – 2:18:00
• Mailbag: Discussing Leadership Incompetence: 2:18:00 – 2:22:15
• Mailbag: Sign Language Interpreters and Legal Disputes: 2:23:00 – 2:29:15

Tone & Style

• Direct, irreverent, and unsparing in criticism; heavy on sarcasm and deadpan humor.
• Frequent use of analogies, pop culture references, and extemporaneous riffs (e.g., “Shaggy and Scooby Doo do better investigating...”).
• Combative toward media narratives and left-leaning politicians, mocking tone toward bureaucracy, and emotionally expressive when expressing outrage or frustration.

Takeaways

• There is perceived growing dissatisfaction and dysfunction within the FBI and federal law enforcement, catalyzed by failures in publicity, investigation, and leadership.
• The episode highlights a persistent sense of crisis at the intersection of campus activism, ideological violence, and media/political narratives.
• Political commentary critiques both left and right, but especially targets progressive figures and institutions for hypocrisy and incompetence.
• The judiciary and broader legal wrangling are recast as a major arena for post-electoral struggle.
• The episode closes with Q&A, offering further cultural critique and audience engagement.

End of Summary