The Tony Kennett Cast (Ep. 519)

Crisis: 3rd & 4th Islamic Terror Attacks in U.S. In Just 12 Days, Democrats Blame “Islamophobia”
Date: March 13, 2026
Host: Tony Kennett
Guests/Contributors: Virginia Allen (Daily Signal Senior News Producer), Elizabeth Mitchell (White House Correspondent), Jacob Oledort (America First Policy Institute)

Overview

This high-intensity episode of The Tony Kennett Cast covers a wave of recent Islamic terror attacks in the United States, the political and law enforcement responses, ongoing controversies around media and political framing, and evolving policies on national security and foreign influence. With a direct, sarcastic, and sometimes confrontational tone, Tony Kennett critiques both the Democratic response and aspects of U.S. policy, pushing for a clear-eyed recognition of ideological motives and systemic failures. The episode concludes with detailed foreign policy updates and an interview on the implications of U.S. action against Iran.

Main Themes

• Rash of Islamic Terror Attacks: Four incidents in two weeks, with specific breakdowns of Michigan and Virginia attacks.
• Deficiency in Political Response: Kennett lambasts Democratic leaders for allegedly refusing to name "Islamic extremism" as a motivator and instead focusing on Islamophobia and gun control.
• Questions of National Security Policy: Laxity and politicization in the justice and immigration systems, as well as failures to address root causes and vulnerabilities.
• Foreign Policy & Iran: Assessment of Operation Epic Fury’s effects on the Iranian regime, U.S. military strategy, and oil/global security.
• Legislative Updates: Discussion of voter ID requirements (SAVE America Act) and Education Department actions on foreign influence in universities.
• Media & Political Framing: Critique of how both left- and right-wing media spin terror attacks for partisan gain.
• Listener Q&A: Kennett answers questions on ideological confrontation, campaign finance, artificial intelligence in military, and conspiracy theories.

Episode Breakdown & Key Segments

1. Four Islamic Terror Attacks in March: Timeline and Details

[00:00–07:00]

• Texas: Shooter wore "Property of Allah" shirt.

• New York City (Gracie Mansion): Anti-Islamic culture protest targeted by terrorists throwing IEDs—no explosions.

• West Bloomfield, Michigan:

  • Beth Israel Synagogue & Preschool: Vehicle rammed into building; driver dead; no staff or children injured.
  • Attacker: Identified as Eamon Ghazella, a naturalized citizen from Lebanon (Dearborn, MI). FBI reports explosives in car did not detonate.
  • Quote: “Thank God in heaven...no kids or staff was injured whatsoever. Though this piece of human debris...drove into a preschool attempting to kill children.” — Tony Kennett [02:23]
  • Security Note: FBI held an active shooter drill six weeks earlier at this site, praised by FBI for preparedness.
  • Quote: “It is crucial that your church or synagogue has a security team. If it does not, you need to carry, and carry responsibly. Your head needs to be on a swivel.” — Tony Kennett [04:23]

• Old Dominion University, Virginia:

  • Shooter: Mohamed Jalot, former National Guard, previously convicted (2016) for providing material support to ISIS, released in 2024.
  • Quote: “You say, wait a minute. If he was convicted...of providing material support to ISIS, why here in the year of our Lord 2026 was this individual walking free?” — Tony Kennett [08:00]

2. Political & Law Enforcement Responses

[05:36–09:00; 15:00–18:00]

• Democratic Leadership:

  • Kennett reviews statements from Chuck Schumer, Gary Peters, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, Adam Schiff, etc.—all condemning antisemitism, but none mention “Islam” or “Islamic extremism.”
  • Quote: “Never once does it mention Islam ever at all...It’s a real chin scratcher. Not sure what could have led to such a terror attack on a synagogue and preschool. Hmm.” — Tony Kennett [05:50]

• Legal & Judicial Laxity:

  • Judge Liam O’Grady freed Jalot early, citing “the good things you have done as well as the horrendous things.”
    • Quote: “So because Judge Liam O’Grady decided that he did some good things in prison...He then turns around two years later and starts opening fire on Old Dominion University.” — Tony Kennett [10:20]

• DA Response:

  • Ramin Fatehi, VA Commonwealth Attorney, attributes attacks to “guns, not terrorists”—Kennett ridicules this framing.
  • Quote: “The real problem is the guns again. All of the firearms I own...ain’t never done nothing...It wasn’t the guns that made Jalot go to attempt to aid ISIS. It was the ISIS.” — Tony Kennett [17:00]

3. Media and Cultural Narrative Critique

[20:00–24:00; 40:00–43:00]

• Accusations of 'Islamophobia':

  • Coverage of Cato Institute, left-wing, and libertarian reactions — Cato cited a fabricated Ben Franklin quote in defense of Muslim rights.
  • Contrasted with historical Founding Fathers’ skepticism toward Islam.
  • Quote: “Cutting off foreign aid to countries chanting ‘Death to America’...refusing entry to them...is not cruelty to the sheep, but refusing the wolf access to the pasture.” — Tony Kennett [22:45]

• Media Framing:

  • Criticism of MSNBC and CNN for allegedly blaming the GOP and shifting focus away from Islamic radicalism, even as Democrats struggle with party divisions over Israel and antisemitism.
  • Quote: “They lamented this on the election coverage...just low turnout because they had been tricked into staying home. So it’s a very, very interesting time here in the country to watch media try to manipulate these news events in real time.” — Tony Kennett [41:10]

4. Policy and Legislative Updates

[27:00–35:00]

• SAVE America Act:

  • Sen. John Thune to bring to the floor: requires proof of citizenship to vote, voter ID—Kennett says it's a “common sense piece of legislation.”
    • Quote: “At the core of the Save America act is the requirement that individuals provide proof of citizenship to register to vote and then show an ID when they go to the polls.” — Tony Kennett quoting Thune [28:00]

• Education Department Foreign Funding Rule:

  • Elizabeth Mitchell: Explains new requirements for universities to disclose specifics of foreign funding sources—aimed at countering influence from countries like Qatar and China.
    • Quote: “We know huge amounts of money are flowing in...But now, thanks to the Education Department, we’re going to find out exactly where in that country that money is coming from.” — Elizabeth Mitchell [29:37]

• Mass Deportation vs. “Criminal Focus”:

  • Internal GOP rift: Trump campaign messaging on whether to emphasize deporting all illegal immigrants or prioritize criminals—Republican factions split.
    • Quote: “Some Republicans believe that Trump ran on mass deportations. People voted for him because they want to see every illegal immigrant deported...Other Republicans were relieved by this switch.” — Elizabeth Mitchell [32:08]

5. International Focus: Iran, Middle East, Energy Security

[43:00–54:15]

• Iranian Regime Crisis:

  • Virginia Allen explains confusion over the status of new Iranian leader after U.S./Israeli strikes. Iranian state TV issues defiant statements but leader’s health in doubt.
  • Quote: “...Bold, brash...really directly speaking in defiance...But Tony, like you say, we don’t actually know that this individual wrote this statement and that he is in fact alive and well.” — Virginia Allen [43:21]

• U.S. Strategic Objectives:

  • Interview with Jacob Oledort (America First Policy Institute):
    • U.S. campaign in Iran’s success in degrading Iranian strike capacity.
    • Ongoing operation seen as culmination of decades-long struggle with the Iranian regime.
    • Explicit separation between regime change and mission scope: “the fate of the regime is incidental to our objectives.”
    • Market and energy implications of securing Strait of Hormuz—possible long-term reduction in oil prices if stability is achieved.
    • Importance of sticking to protection of Americans as primary rationale.
    • Quote: “The objectives are clear...eliminating threats. Whatever happens to the regime, whatever happens to the country of Iran, we wish them well...But fundamentally, what we are planning around is ensuring that the threats are no longer there to the American people.” — Jacob Oledort [56:47]
    • Quote: “Thomas Jeffersonian argument against the Barbary Pirates...pretty hefty to leave out of the conversation.” — Tony Kennett [63:54]

Memorable Quotes

• On Political Evasion:
  “Never once does it mention Islam ever at all.” — Tony Kennett [05:50]

• On Security:
  “Your head needs to be on a swivel. Because these terror attacks will persist and they will continue.” — Tony Kennett [04:23]

• On Judicial Leniency:
  “Because Judge Liam O’Grady decided that he did some good things in prison...He then turns around two years later and starts opening fire on Old Dominion University.” — Tony Kennett [10:20]

• On Media Framing:
  “There’s not exactly a lot of, like, Republican support in Dearborn, Michigan.” — Tony Kennett [41:30]

• On U.S. Foreign Policy:
  “What can they look forward to in the next decade? ...Ensuring that the threats are no longer there to the American people. That is something that no administration has done before.” — Jacob Oledort [56:47]

• On Cultural Compatibility:
  “Islam is incompatible with American society. And you know what? He's correct. I’m not going to pretend any different.” — Tony Kennett citing Andy Ogles [13:40]

Notable Moments

• [13:40]: Kennett echoes and defends Rep. Andy Ogles and Charlie Kirk’s claim that “Islam is incompatible as a culture with the U.S.”
• [14:35]: Kennett praises the ROTC cadet who stabbed the ODU attacker: “Hopefully never has to buy a beer for himself for the rest of his days.”
• [17:00]: Extended riff on “guns, not terrorists” framing—Kennett ridicules gun policy scapegoating.
• [22:40–24:00]: Kennett rebuts Cato and libertarian pluralists, dismissing “made up” Ben Franklin quotes in pro-Islamic argument, and references U.S. traditions rooted in opposition to Islamic piracy.
• [54:15–63:50]: Wide-ranging interview with Jacob Oledort on Middle East policy, energy security, and regime change versus threat elimination.

Listener Mail & Final Takeaways

[64:25–END]

• On Confronting Ideology: Kennett argues Americans are poorly equipped to understand or combat ideological jihadism, due to decades of cultural indecision and pressure not to appear “phobic.”
• On Money in Politics: Kennett opposes restrictions but supports post-conviction bans for certain crimes.
• On AI and Military Capability: Acknowledges AI utility in data analysis and targeting, but says “soul-based creative synthesis” has not been achieved.
• On Media Trust and Deepfakes: Warns that only critical, discerning media consumption will survive the oncoming flood of fake/AI-generated material.

Conclusion

Tony Kennett’s cast in this episode is a polemic against what he describes as the deadly consequences of political equivocation and cultural relativism in the face of rising Islamic extremism. He demands that U.S. institutions, both political and media, recognize and address the ideological threats, secure American institutions, and enforce clear standards in immigration and national security policy—while warning against misplaced focus on Islamophobia or other distractions.

The episode closes with strong advocacy for citizen vigilance and engagement, skepticism of easy solutions, and a call to resist both apathy and the numbness to national and global danger.