The Tony Kennett Cast, Ep. 510 – DOJ Sues 29 States Over Voter Rolls, ICE at Columbia, Foreign Affairs, and More

Date: February 27, 2026
Host: Tony Kennett
Co-hosts and Contributors: Harmony Dhillon, Virginia Allen, Matt Davis
Airs on: The Daily Signal / 93 WIBC / YouTube, X, Facebook

Overview

This episode of The Tony Kennett Cast dives into several pressing national issues, focusing on the Department of Justice's sweeping lawsuit against 29 states over voter roll compliance, debates on election fraud, and the recent controversial ICE action at Columbia University in NYC. The show moves briskly through breaking political and foreign policy news, with Tony’s signature blend of sharp, sarcastic commentary and in-depth analysis. The tone is conversational and brash, directly addressing topical news while integrating direct quotes and on-air banter.

Major Segments & Key Discussion Points

I. DOJ Lawsuits Over Voter Roll Compliance

[00:06–08:10]

• Background: The DOJ Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmony Dhillon, sues 29 states and DC for “failing to provide unredacted voter registration lists” after federal requests.
• Latest States Added: Utah, Oklahoma, Kentucky, West Virginia, New Jersey.
• Legal Status: Multiple adverse rulings, appeals in the Ninth (Oregon, California) and Sixth Circuits (Michigan).

Notable Quote:

• Harmony Dhillon [01:26]: “We will not rest until we have resolved this litigation throughout the United States.”

Political Commentary:

• Tony criticizes state officials (e.g., Lt. Gov. Deirdre Henderson of Utah) for protecting “private” voter data (dates of birth, etc.), mocking privacy objections:

  “Oh, thank goodness, Lieutenant Governor, you're protecting the birthdays. Hallmark is saved.” [05:23]

• Highlights Republican officials' mixed responses, notably Governor Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, for being “mealy mouthed” in the media.

II. Debate on Voter Fraud & The Role of the Vice President

[02:28–05:23]

• VP J.D. Vance's Role: Labeled “fraud czar”; actively investigating welfare and voter roll fraud, especially in the Midwest.
• Media Exchange:
  • Matt Smith (WISN, Milwaukee) presses Vance on Wisconsin’s refusal to release voter & SNAP data.
  • Vance responds forcefully, alleging Democratic intent to “cheat” and vows to pursue all federal leverage.

Notable Quote:

• J.D. Vance [04:16]: “Why would the government of Wisconsin not want to help us kick fraud off of the welfare rolls and kick fraud off of the voter rolls?...The only answer I can possibly come up with is because, because they like to cheat.”

• Tony counters claims that “low” fraud levels make investigations pointless:

  “You don't swear an oath to meet a quota. You swear an oath to uphold the laws of the country.” [05:23]

III. ICE Incident at Columbia University – Immigration, Protests, and Media Framing

[09:25–16:52]

• Incident:

  • Federal agents (ICE/DHS) detain Azerbaijani student (Elmina Akhavieva, often misnamed in coverage and social media) whose visa expired in 2016.
  • Allegations circulate that ICE misrepresented themselves to gain dorm access, citing a “missing person,” sparking campus protests.

• Media & Political Response:

  • Columbia leadership, NY Governor Hochul, and student activists express outrage, framing it as privacy violation and abuse of authority.
  • Tony clarifies legality: “If they have an administrative warrant, they're allowed in…Supreme Court cases have already been had.” [14:32]

Notable Quote:

• Tony Kennett [14:32]: “This idea that, that you need a judicial warrant in order to enter. Sorry. The Supreme Court cases have already been had. Precedent has already been upheld.”

• Social Media and the Activism Angle:

  • Tony lampoons viral influencers insisting the student detention is exceptional.
  • He examines the details: visa long expired, no pending appeals, past activism; questions sincerity of much of the outrage.

• Political Maneuvering:

  • Zoran Mamdani (state assemblyman) claims credit for the student’s release after direct conversation with Trump—a move Tony suspects of showmanship and manipulation.

IV. Crime, Policing, and Political Spin

[22:40–24:56]

• Snowball Incident:

  • Mamdani previously dismissed NYPD assaults as “kids having a snowball fight.”
  • Reality: 27-year-old repeat offender arrested, undermining the “harmless kids” narrative.

• Tony’s Critique:

  • “This is embarrassing—a snowball fight? Man's out there singing Summer Lovin’ and his hips are popping. No, I don’t think you get to play that game here.”

V. National Security / Foreign Policy Updates

[31:39–38:07]

• Treason Case:

  • Former F-35 pilot arrested for allegedly teaching Chinese pilots how to counter US planes. Tony insists, if convicted:

    “He should be hanged in the public square in front of God and everybody by the neck until dead.” [24:56]

• Spyware Allegations:

  • Kristi Noem claims DHS staff installed spyware on her phone and computer. Tony ponders the normalization of bureaucratic disloyalty and leaks in modern administrative government.

• Global Hotspots:

  • U.S. citizens killed in Cuban speedboat incident—may involve smuggling.
  • Pakistan launches airstrikes on Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
  • Israel strikes Hezbollah missile sites in Lebanon, prepping for wider confrontation with Iran.
  • Ongoing, apparently fruitless nuclear negotiations with Iran; region remains tense.

Foreign Policy Analysis with Virginia Allen

• Allen summarizes Iran negotiations:

  “The very short answer, Tony, in a nutshell is we don’t have a deal.” [35:16]

VI. Domestic Political Updates

[44:30–46:49]

• Save America Voter ID Act:

  • Senate action held up by minority of Republican senators (John Thune, Thom Tillis), use of the “talking filibuster,” complaints about legislative priorities highlighted by dog show footage and scheduling conflicts.

• Tony’s scathing commentary on Congress:

  “Crap or get off the pot, because otherwise, Republicans should choose other people in the primary to vote for.” [46:49]

• Town Hall Clip:

  • Democrat accuses GOP of targeting minorities with voter ID laws; black panelists counter that such claims are condescending:

    “To say that it would negatively affect a minority group because they’re somehow not educated enough to get these documents is completely outrageous.” [42:41]

VII. Corporate & Social News

[52:53–53:57]

• Target exits Minneapolis lease ($110M buyout) after sustained left-wing protests and riots—Tony mocks performative activism by protest clergy.
• Netflix declines to buy Warner Bros; implications for entertainment market.

VIII. Epstein-Clinton House Oversight Hearings

[58:37–61:45]

• Clinton Family Hearings:

  • Tony lampoons the “worthless” nature of Congressional hearings; Clinton repeatedly answers “I don’t recall” to Epstein/Ghislaine Maxwell queries.
  • Reporter presses: Why did Ghislaine Maxwell attend Chelsea Clinton’s wedding? Hillary:

    “She came as the plus one, the guest of someone who was invited.” [61:39]

• Tony’s Take:

  • The real story is potential financial crimes/foreign influence via the Clinton Foundation, not lurid conspiracy theories.
  • Calls for rigorous financial investigation over “hyper conspiracy nonsense.”

IX. Candace Owens, Online Conspiracy Culture & Internet Grifters

[65:42–66:34]

• Candace Owens’ internet exposes:
  • Denounced by Tony and Matt Walsh as factless smear campaigns with no legal merit.
  • Tony: “The whole crux of the matter here is not just that Erica is a grieving widow, but that she is innocent…”

Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

• On DOJ Lawsuits:

  “We will not rest until we have resolved this litigation throughout the United States.” —Harmony Dhillon (01:26)

• On Voter Fraud Enforcement:

  “There is no information privacy Hands off Government act of 1922. That's not a thing.” —Tony Kennett (05:23)

• On ICE & Columbia Protests:

  “This idea that, that you need a judicial warrant in order to enter. Sorry. The Supreme Court cases have already been had. Precedent has already been upheld.” —Tony Kennett (14:32)

• On Congressional Hearings:

  “You get the televised committee where...representative so and so decides they really want some camera time...Then you have the closed door media stay out hearings...a big waste of everyone's time.” —Tony Kennett (58:56)

• On Conspiracy Theories:

  “Instead of all of this hyper conspiracy nonsense...perhaps we could do something useful.” —Tony Kennett (61:45)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:06–08:10: DOJ Voter Rolls Lawsuit Expansion & State Reactions
• 02:28–05:23: Discussion of Voter Fraud investigations, VP J.D. Vance’s Position
• 09:25–16:52: ICE Raid at Columbia, Immigration Policy Protests
• 22:40–24:56: Snowball Fight Narrative versus Jail Reality
• 31:39–38:07: Foreign Policy Rapid Fire (Cuba, Afghanistan, Iran)
• 44:30–46:49: Senate Blockade on Save America Voter ID Act
• 52:53–53:57: Target's Exit from Minneapolis, Corporate Activism
• 58:37–61:45: Clinton-Epstein Hearing, Congressional “Gotcha” Theatrics
• 65:42–66:34: Candace Owens & Online Conspiracy-Mongering

Engaging Recap for New Listeners

Tony Kennett’s latest episode is a turbo-charged tour of US legal, political, and foreign policy controversies. The headlines are sharp: DOJ going to war with states over election transparency, politicians arguing over the “real” extent of voter fraud, ICE pouncing on a visa-overstayer in a Manhattan dorm, and campus protesters howling over privacy rights. Meanwhile, Tony takes no prisoners—calling out both left-wing and right-wing grandstanding, debunking viral narratives, and diving into global security with both humor and gravity.

Foreign affairs get the “Kennett treatment”: snark, fact-checking, and a dose of history. Domestic politics is skewered for its hypocrisy—whether it’s Congress’s inability to do more than hold hearings or senators skipping critical bills to attend dog shows.

Listeners with a taste for clear-eyed, irreverent, and opinionated news analysis will find this episode both informative and entertaining, with Tony and guests mixing hard news, memorable soundbites, and “mailbag” banter for a well-rounded evening digest.

[End of Summary]