The Tony Kennett Cast — Ep. 469

Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Tony Kennett, The Daily Signal
Episode Title: BREAKING: Law Enforcement Close In On Possible Brown Shooter, $18 BILLION in Minnesota Fraud

Overview

In this breaking news-heavy episode, Tony Kennett delivers rapid updates on two significant crime stories shaking America: ongoing law enforcement action to apprehend a suspect in the Brown University and MIT shootings, and explosive revelations about state-level SNAP and Medicaid fraud, with a staggering estimated $18 billion loss in Minnesota. The show interrogates law enforcement effectiveness, university safety failures, and state and federal government responses while also tackling associated cultural and legislative controversies. The tone is acerbic, blunt, and deeply skeptical toward certain authorities and mainstream narratives.

Major Topics and Segments

1. Law Enforcement Close In on Brown/MIT Shooter

[00:00–16:20; 29:00–40:10]

• Immediate Breaking News:

  • Law enforcement in New England are zeroing in on a suspect connected to shootings at Brown University (Providence, RI) and MIT.
  • A gray Nissan Sentra, believed driven by the suspect, is under intense search from Salem, NH to Massachusetts and Connecticut.
  • Press conference delays and growing police presence as a storage facility in Salem, NH is surrounded by federal and local agencies.

• Law Enforcement Critique:

  • Tony criticizes police for potentially letting the shooter escape due to lack of urgency or preparedness.

    "If you sign up to protect and serve, then you had better, well, protect. ... If you’re not willing to do the same kind of sacrifice, get off the force, go do something else, go be a mall cop." – Tony, [05:57]

• University Safety Failures:

  • The shooter reportedly escaped through a building door with no security cameras — an absence tied to Brown’s response to activists pressing for reduced surveillance on “equity” grounds.

    "Why wouldn’t you put cameras on the perimeter of campus so you can see who’s coming onto campus and who’s coming off?" – Tony, [07:47]

  • Brown’s policies to reduce recorded surveillance for “human rights” reasons are lambasted as creating opportunity for criminal escape.

• Community Tips Ignored:

  • Tips from community members about the suspect’s car (gray Nissan with out-of-state/rental plates) were allegedly ignored by police, despite such tips being instrumental.

    "We have no information right now that suggests that Rhode Island and Providence police teams took this into effect at all, that they took any kind of consideration on these tips." – Tony, [13:28]

• Connection to MIT Shooting:

  • Multiple news sources confirm law enforcement believes the Brown and MIT shootings are linked via the same suspect.

• Real-time Updates:

  • Several helicopters follow developments over Salem, NH, as federal agents (FBI, ATF, US Marshals) close in.
  • Reports surface of gunshots near the storage facility; possible suspect suicide is rumored but not confirmed.

    "There are now reports coming in that the Brown University gunman may have killed himself. We’re not entirely sure." – Tony, [43:24]

2. Explosive Welfare Fraud in Minnesota and the U.S.

[16:20–28:35]

• SNAP Fraud in Haitian Communities:

  • Federal charges against two store owners (Bonner and Elismay) for SNAP (food stamp) benefit trafficking — exchanging benefits for cash.

    "These men abused one of the government’s most critical safety net programs for their own financial gain." – U.S. Attorney’s Office report, [17:04]

• Minnesota Medicaid/Somali Fraud Bombshell:

  • Assistant U.S. Attorney reveals Medicaid and SNAP fraud estimates in Minnesota have ballooned to $18 billion since 2018; $3.5 billion in 2024 alone.

    "These 14 programs in Minnesota have cost $18 billion since 2018 and more than three and a half billion dollars in 2024 alone. That is insane." – Tony, [21:04]

  • Political roadblocks: Governor Tim Walz allegedly orders state administration to stonewall federal investigators; pursues whistleblowers.

    "No, again, it is on record that Tim Walls went after not only whistleblowers in the Minnesota government, but also went after the ... auditor for the state legislature..." – Tony, [24:30]

  • Comparison to Somalia: Fraud amount is greater than Somalia’s entire annual GDP.

    "This one fraud ring is 3 over 2 greater than the entire gross domestic product of the country of Somalia ..." – Tony, [25:44]

  • Attorney General Keith Ellison is criticized for focusing on grievances against carmakers over security features instead of tackling rampant fraud.

3. National Politics: Transgender Health, Crime, and 2026 Election

[31:30–39:10]

• Transgender Healthcare Legislation:

  • Marjorie Taylor Greene’s bill banning “gender-affirming care” for minors passes the House; four moderate Republicans vote against.

  • Sharp rebuke of Democratic and progressive responses, especially arguments about government intrusion in healthcare.

    "If I have a child that only wants to eat brownies for dinner, then I do not have an obligation to only serve the child brownies for dinner. It’s malnutrition. It’s a bad decision." – Tony, [36:17]

  • Clips of Democratic representatives and Letitia James defending gender-affirming care are played and dissected.

• 2026 Midterms Preview:

  • Tony forecasts a “food fight extraordinaire” over legislative priorities as both parties tee up for the midterms.
  • Democrats’ fixation on healthcare issues and media regulation (e.g., Fox News) is lampooned.

4. Live Manhunt Developments

[39:14–44:00; 56:09–58:00]

• Real-time reporting from media figures and Tony’s own team as the law enforcement operation in Salem, NH unfolds.
• Confirmation that multiple agencies are cooperating and entering the storage facility, possibly reviewing surveillance before a raid.

  "ATF, FBI, US Marshals and Providence Police are all on the scene." – Tony, [56:34]

• Minor criticism about jurisdictional oversteps as Providence police participate out-of-state.

5. International & Domestic Security Threats

[44:00–48:47]

• Rising Global Terror Threats:
  • Reports of a mass shooting at a Christmas market in Peru and references to other recent terror attacks (Sydney, New Orleans).
  • Warnings about canceled/curtailed public Jewish and Christian celebrations in Europe due to Muslim extremist threats.

    "If you as a country have to ban certain holidays from being celebrated out in the open and you as a country have to double and triple your airport security to keep away mass homicide and terror, that’s no longer your country. Your country’s been conquered..." – Tony, [48:26]

6. Listener Questions & End-of-Show Commentary

[59:00–78:00]

• Death Penalty:

  • Tony’s preference for public hangings over other forms of execution — for their supposed deterrent and "humiliating" effect.

• Venezuelan Oil Seizure:

  • Asserts U.S. right to seize Venezuelan tankers, citing Monroe Doctrine and the strategic goal of undermining narco-terrorist funding.

    "In the Western Hemisphere there is only one kind of water, the United States water. Our navy protects and rules those waves." – Tony, [71:41]

• Weapon Stockpiling Concerns:

  • Worries about possible terrorist munitions stockpiles in New England, referencing recent bombings and advocating for mass deportations if evidence emerges.

    "If we are finding stockpiles of terror weapons now, triple ICE, send them in right now and start mass deporting Eisenhower style." – Tony, [76:30]

• Show Community:

  • Finale includes thanks to listeners for support, memberships, and tips; encourages joining the Discord for updates.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Law Enforcement Inaction:

  "If you sign up to protect and serve, then you had better, well, protect." – Tony, [05:57]

• On Surveillance Rollback at Brown:

  "Brown University’s failure in responding to this shooting may be caused in their silly attempt to protect human rights in the most insanely stupid way possible..." – Tony, [10:48]

• On Minnesota Medicaid Fraud:

  "This one fraud ring is 3 over 2 greater than the entire gross domestic product of the country of Somalia..." – Tony, [25:44]

• On U.S. Policy in the Americas:

  "In the Western Hemisphere there is only one kind of water, the United States water. Our navy protects and rules those waves." – Tony, [71:41]

Key Timestamps

• Brown/MIT shooting updates & police critique: [00:00–16:20]
• Snap fraud details, Minnesota $18B Medicaid scandal: [16:20–28:35]
• Keith Ellison, Dem politics, 2026 preview: [26:30–31:00]
• Trans health bill & political debates: [31:30–39:10]
• Live coverage, Brown shooter manhunt in NH: [39:14–44:00; 56:09–58:00]
• Global terror threats, Christmas market shooting Peru: [44:00–48:47]
• Listener Q&A (death penalty, oil seizures): [59:00–78:00]

Episode Summary

This episode plunges headlong into urgent national security, crime, and political issues with Tony’s signature combative style. Listeners are kept in the loop on a fraught, developing manhunt for a suspected mass shooter; awarded a disturbing look at welfare fraud on a jaw-dropping scale; and served biting commentary on the failures of both law enforcement and university safety policy. The episode also touches on controversial legislative fights, global terror risks, and audience questions, all with a mix of dark humor and righteous anger.

If you want unfiltered analysis of major news — and dialogue on government accountability, national security, crime, and cultural conflicts — the Tony Kennett Cast brings the heat.

Join the Daily Signal’s Discord for real-time updates and community discussion.