The Tony Kennett Cast – Ep. 476

Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Tony Kennett (The Daily Signal)
Main Topics: Federal fraud probes into California and Governor Gavin Newsom, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's meltdown over ICE raids, Democratic divisions going into the 2026 midterms, and the fifth anniversary of January 6.

Episode Overview

This episode offers an irreverent, rapid-fire breakdown of major political scandals and government investigations sweeping across blue states, especially California and Minnesota, with a focus on alleged fraud, leadership meltdowns, and the broader impact on Democratic prospects for the 2026 midterms. Tony Kennett cuts through news headlines—combining biting satire, detailed figures, and direct audio clips—while reflecting on Democratic party infighting and public reaction to recent US actions abroad and at home.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Fraud Investigations in California

Timestamps: 03:30–10:00

• President Trump announced multiple federal probes into California and Governor Gavin Newsom, focusing on massive state-level fraud.
• Alleged Fraud Highlights (as reported):
  • $32 billion in COVID-19 unemployment insurance fraud
  • $24 billion lost in homelessness programs
  • $18 billion wasted on a failed high-speed rail project
  • $76 billion in total fraud/waste across at least eight state agencies (per a California state auditor)
  • $650 million lost on a non-functional 911 system
• Department of Transportation is investigating California for giving over 17,000 CDL licenses to non-legal foreign nationals, raising public safety concerns.
• Governor Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, implicated in a $225,000 bank fraud scheme.

“How did we get here so quickly? We went from, wow, a couple of hundred million dollars…$10 billion, $18 billion, $32 billion…”
— Tony Kennett (04:45)

• Newsom’s response? He blamed Trump for slow wildfire aid and deflected responsibility.
  • Tony calls out Newsom for missing every rebuilding deadline after wildfires despite federal aid and FEMA’s involvement.
  • Newsom: “We continue to wait for a simple response, just the dignity of a response from Donald Trump himself.” (07:56)
  • Kennett’s retort: “What is he supposed to do? ... FEMA answers to the President. What do you mean you’re waiting for Trump?” (08:10)

2. Fallout and Farce in Minnesota – Gov. Tim Walz's Meltdown

Timestamps: 10:00–19:00

• Newsom publicly defends Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz, despite Walz’s own ties to major fraud scandals (notably involving daycare fraud and misuse of federal funds).
• Walz blows up on air, angrily denouncing Republican critics and blaming “right-wing YouTubers” and Trump for exposing Somali community fraud.
  • Walz unhinged: “You can make all your requests for me to resign. Over my dead body.” (15:09)
• Massive ICE operation: 2,000 federal agents sent into Twin Cities over state and local refusal to cooperate with immigration enforcement.
• Tony skewers Walz's anger, accusing him of prioritizing political image over accountability, and mocks his defensive public theatrics.

“Tim Walz, man, he’s laying it down on the line—over his dead body! He’s not running for reelection, but he’s not going to resign either. Now that’s a mental math.”
— Tony Kennett (15:19)

3. Democratic 2026 Midterm Platform and Party Chaos

Timestamps: 19:00–26:00

• Dems lean heavily on healthcare promises, universal childcare, and diversity in candidate recruitment.
• Tony calls out Jasmine Crockett (TX Senate candidate): “Let’s review. I’m running for Senate and I’m black. Solid platform. Exciting to see where this one goes.” (21:24)
• New Somali-American candidate in Utah runs on taxpayer-funded healthcare/childcare platform—Kennett sarcastically links program abuse to “charity...just to Al Shabaab in Somalia.”
• Ongoing theme: “Democrats can’t unite around anything because the healthcare system is rife with fraud, and foreign policy looks bad.”

4. Venezuela, Maduro Ouster and US Military Action — Democratic Dissonance

Timestamps: 26:00–36:00

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is “depressed” after US forces oust Maduro in Venezuela, asking if military operations will spread to Colombia or Cuba and getting non-answers.
  • Schumer: “I was very, very disappointed in their answer. Thank you, everybody.” (27:00)
• Senator Mark Warner tries to praise the military, before arguing operation was military, not legal—Kennett accuses Warner of losing the argument by over-explaining.
• Post-ouster polling: Support for the action surges; Americans broadly approve of strong US foreign policy.
  • “Americans like to win, period. That’s why when Trump says you’re gonna get tired of winning...they like it.” (33:12)

5. Senator Mark Kelly’s Military Rebuke and Fallout

Timestamps: 37:00–41:30

• Mark Kelly urges service members not to follow “illegal orders,” but gets slapped down by military authorities and Tony for undermining chain of command.
  • “If a reasonable person would think that this is illegal, you have an obligation not. It’s not an option.” — Mark Kelly (37:46)
  • Tony: “You can’t just go out and say if you don’t agree, it’s probably illegal. ... That’s not how military law works.” (39:40)
• Media and officials—contrary to Kelly's hopes—swing against him, and he faces demotion post-retirement for his comments.

6. January 6th Five-Year Anniversary: Democratic Performances

Timestamps: 43:58–47:30

• Democrats commemorate the January 6th “insurrection” with candlelight vigils, singing, and speeches (which Tony mocks for lack of substance and cohesion).

  • Chuck Schumer on C-SPAN2: “The temple of democracy was turned into a snake pit of mob violence.” (44:16)
  • Tony riffs: “He’s lucky he didn’t hit ESPN8, the Ocho. ... They ended with God Bless America, which is a really good song, but pulling this out at the last moment, it didn’t go the way they wanted.”

• Tony roasts AOC for her melodramatic January 6th account (“Jussie Smolletting her way through … intense CNN music as if it’s a soap opera”).

7. Updates: Federal Action on Transgender Care Funding

Timestamps: 61:34–69:05

• Tony interviews Mark Trammell (Center for American Liberty CEO) on the Department of Health and Human Services decision to cut off Medicaid/Medicare funding to hospitals performing transgender surgeries on minors.
  • Litigation (e.g. Chloe Cole case) is ramping up; federal and state actions threaten to shut down many pediatric gender clinics.
  • “If they’re caught red handed...they’re going to lose funding. ... This is going to be a five alarm fire.” — Mark Trammell (64:08)

8. International & Political Odds and Ends

Timestamps: 69:24–end

• Denmark alarmed by US talk of “buying Greenland”; Tony and guests satirize international panic and NATO observer group warnings.
• US-Russian standoff in the Atlantic as an Iranian-linked oil tanker tries to evade sanctions by switching flags—Kennett says, “You don’t get to just go out into the middle of the sea and then suddenly change your flag. That also violates the Geneva Convention.”
• Quick hits: Hilton hotel in Minnesota loses government contracts for canceling ICE bookings; Center for American Liberty’s continued legal battle against gender clinics.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On California’s fraud:

  “They invested all this money in this high speed rail project and then just forgot the rails and instead spent it on French laundry or some Chinese spies or you know, a third marriage or something.” (05:05, Tony Kennett)

• On Tim Walz’s resistance:

  “You can make all your requests for me to resign. Over my dead body.” (15:09, Tim Walz)
  “Muscle man! ... He’s not running for reelection, but he’s not going to resign either.” (15:20, Tony Kennett)

• On the Democratic 2026 pitch:

  “I’m running for Senate and I’m black. Solid platform. Exciting to see where this one goes.” (21:24, Tony Kennett, on Jasmine Crockett)

• On Democratic foreign policy:

  “Chuck Schumer came out and said, I asked them if they were gonna do this to any more countries. I said, are you gonna be awesome anywhere else? And they wouldn’t tell me.” (28:07, Tony Kennett)

• On US action in Venezuela:

  “Americans like to win, period. That’s why when Trump says you’re gonna get tired of winning...they like it.” (33:12, Tony Kennett)

• On January 6th commemoration:

  “Chuck Schumer’s rant on January 6th isn’t even enough to make it to C-Span 1. He’s lucky he didn’t hit ESPN3 or The Ocho.” (44:00, Tony Kennett)

• On International Affairs:

  “You don’t get to just go out into the middle of the sea and then suddenly change your flag. That also violates the Geneva Convention.” (71:00, Tony Kennett)

Overall Tone

Tony Kennett employs a sardonic, irreverent, and combative style—intermixing news with commentary, mocking political opponents, deploying running jokes, and emphasizing “middle-of-the-country” sensibilities. Soundbites and direct quotes punctuate each segment, amping up the satire.

For Listeners Wanting Deep Dives

• California Fraud Stories: 04:30–10:00
• Tim Walz Meltdown: 11:50–19:00
• Democratic Divisions & Platform: 19:00–26:00
• Venezuela Polls & Foreign Policy: 32:50–35:15
• Transgender Medical Policy Shifts: 61:34–69:05

Skip advertisement sections and intros/outros for focused content.

This summary preserves the podcast’s rapid, irreverent pace, highlighting key policy criticisms, supporting quotes, and the host’s narrative voice. The structure is designed both for listeners new to the story and those following Tony Kennett’s ongoing political coverage.