Timcast IRL – Dec 18, 2025

Episode: Dan Bongino To RESIGN, Trump Addresses The Nation w/ Brian Shapiro
Host: Phil Labonte (guest hosting for Tim Pool)
Panelists: Brian Shapiro, Ian Crossland, Tate Brown

Episode Overview

This episode brings together hard-hitting political commentary and debate about Dan Bongino’s resignation from the FBI, conspiracy theories related to Jeffrey Epstein, reactions to Donald Trump’s live Oval Office address, and the broader ideological divides currently shaping American society. The discussion features a range of voices, with guest Brian Shapiro adding a left-leaning perspective in contrast to Timcast IRL’s typical mix of conservative and libertarian regulars. The panel analyzes not only news events but also deeply contentious issues regarding morality, media credibility, immigration, LGBTQ+ issues, and health care—culminating in a real-time response to Trump’s speech presenting his "Warrior Dividend" and economic policy claims.

Main Topics and Discussions

1. Dan Bongino’s Resignation from the FBI

(06:22–15:05)

• Announcement Recap:
  Phil Labonte introduces the headline: Dan Bongino, former FBI Deputy Director, announced on social media that he will resign in January.
• Guest Reaction:
  • Brian Shapiro is sharply critical, accusing Bongino of spreading conspiracy theories (especially relating to Jeffrey Epstein) for personal gain and now shifting tone after entering public service.

    “This is a guy who spread, you know, stories and conspiracy theories. The Epstein files is something that he talked about in his podcast pretty much every single day. And now all of a sudden, there’s nothing to see.” — Brian Shapiro [07:22]

  • Phil asks: “Is this a significant hindrance for the FBI?” Panel largely agrees Bongino’s resignation is more about inside-baseball drama and public perception than FBI efficiency.
• Credibility and Accountability:
  Debate intensifies over whether Bongino’s change of narrative reflects a serious credibility gap, with Shapiro asserting Bongino "pretty much admitted that I was paid to say these things" [22:01].

2. Epstein Files, Conspiracy Theories & Trump’s Associations

(07:22–25:53 | 27:24–32:31)

• Shapiro’s Position:
  • Shapiro insists that Trump is “all over the Epstein files,” suggesting impropriety or at least coverup, and is passionate about the need for transparency for victims of Epstein.

    “I'm implying that he has a lot to hide and this would make him look very bad because he was a very good friend and probably did some awful things. Now, awful doesn't necessarily mean breaking the law.” — Brian Shapiro [16:01]

  • He highlights disparities in how Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell have been treated, alleging preferential or “VIP” handling due to Trump's influence.
• Counterpoints:
  • Phil and Tate argue Bongino and others trafficked in speculation, and note no evidence Trump committed illegal acts; panel calls for proof over insinuation.
  • Ian raises alternative theories (e.g., Trump as FBI informant), illustrating how speculation clouds public understanding.
• Quote:

  "If all of the evidence says that he didn’t do anything…why is there such scrutiny?” — Phil Labonte [122:16]

• Release of Epstein Files:
  Shapiro and others discuss whether Trump (or, by extension, Biden) could legally or politically release full Epstein case files, and what the delay means.

3. Polarization, Morality, and Cancel Culture

(32:31–43:45 | 58:14–63:56)

• Morality & Leadership:
  • Vigorous debate on whether Trump’s personal failings are out of step with prior presidents (Clinton, Biden, Bush) or whether “morality” is overrated or context-dependent in US politics.

    “This is like, they’re not voting for a priest. They’re voting for a president.” — Tate Brown [31:57] “I believe Donald Trump could sodomize a child on video and a portion of his base would still support him. That’s why I call it a cult.”—Brian Shapiro [31:42]

• Identity Politics:
  • Panel explores why support for candidates like AOC, Kamala Harris, and Pete Buttigieg may be limited, touching on gender, sexuality, and electability.

    "Women are 0 and 2 against Donald Trump… I think you have to put a man in there." — Brian Shapiro [37:49]

• Guardrails, Freedom, & Social Progress:
  • Differences emerge over where to draw the line between social tolerance (“stay out of private lives”) and the need for societal “guardrails.”
    • Tate: “I just don’t think society has benefited from telling people yes to everything…it’s gotten worse. People need guardrails.” [63:12]
    • Shapiro: “I want people to live their lives and be happy, and I want the government out of their lives...” [56:07]

4. LGBTQ+ Issues & Societal Trends

(43:45–58:14)

• Generational & Cultural Shifts:
  • Debate centers on whether increased LGBTQ identification is due to destigmatization or social engineering/incentives.
    • Tate: “There is economic benefit… It is the in thing.” [51:33]
    • Shapiro: “Maybe people find it to be a little bit more socially acceptable to be gay now than it was maybe 20, 30 years ago.” [50:57]
• Impact on Children & Family Structure:
  • Phil argues that parents—not schools—should guide children on sexuality or gender identity; Tate and Ian emphasize the value of traditional family models, while Shapiro maintains “two fathers or two mothers” can be just as effective parents.

5. Live Reaction: Trump’s Oval Office Address – "Warrior Dividend"

(66:49–86:28)

• Key Claims from Trump:
  • Announced the “Warrior Dividend”—a $1,776 payment to military service members, funded by tariffs.
  • Bold claims of economic progress: declining inflation, rising wages, job boom, energy and healthcare reforms.
  • Border: “For the past seven months, zero illegal aliens have been allowed into our country.”
  • Peace Claims: “Ended the war in Gaza, bringing...peace to the Middle East” [71:53]
• Panel’s Real-Time Analysis (Post-Speech):
  • Tate: “That was basically a long winded way of announcing the Warrior Dividend.” [85:33]
  • Shapiro immediately fact-checks Trump’s speech:

    “All prices are coming down. I just want to remind everybody that inflation has gone up for the fifth straight month in a row…when Joe Biden left office, it was at 4.1%. It's now at 4.7%.” [86:28]

  • Phil and Tate push back that inflation ≠ prices; argue many of Trump’s claims are presidential boilerplate and must be judged against future results.

6. Immigration, Asylum, and Health Care

(93:07–108:59)

• Healthcare Burden & Undocumented Immigrants:
  • Shapiro underscores the paradox of cutting Medicaid and emergency coverage for millions, predicting greater strain on ERs and taxpayer costs.
  • Phil and Tate maintain that undocumented immigrants should not be in the US—and mass deportation, while difficult and imperfect, is a necessary solution.

    “If you're an illegal immigrant, you should be sent home.” — Tate Brown [94:15]

  • Disagreement over asylum law, rule of law, and ICE behavior.
• Pathways to Citizenship:
  Shapiro supports pathways for nonviolent, taxpaying undocumented immigrants; others on the panel are far more restrictive.

7. Gun Control, the Constitution, and Mental Health

(111:00–119:21)

• Gun Rights:
  • Shapiro says, “I’m for the Second Amendment,” but supports minimum age of 21, basic training, and some red flag laws.
  • Phil and Ian push back, highlighting slippery-slope concerns and the need to preserve self-defense rights. The "car vs. gun" regulation analogy is dissected.

    “The only time you use a gun is when your life is in danger.” — Phil Labonte [112:52]

  • Panel agrees more should (and could) be done on mental health, but caution against knee-jerk legislation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bongino’s shift:

  “He pretty much admitted that I was paid to say these things… I was getting paid to spew conspiracy theories with no factual basis.” — Brian Shapiro [22:01]

• Trump and Epstein:

  “I'm passionate about young children that get raped.” — Brian Shapiro [08:55]
  “His name is all over in the [Epstein] files…” — Brian Shapiro [09:34]

• On Trump’s base:

  “Donald Trump could sodomize a child on video and a portion of his base would still support him. That’s why I call it a cult.” — Brian Shapiro [31:42]

• On AOC’s viability:

  “I think that she’s extremely dangerous and I think that she could absolutely win.” — Phil Labonte [37:04]

• Panel chemistry:
  Playful but pointed, e.g., “We need to get these broads back to the kitchen.” — Tate Brown (obviously tongue-in-cheek) [38:52]

  “I have a lot of respect for AOC. However, I don’t think she should run for president.” — Brian Shapiro [37:16]

• Defense of reasoned debate:

  “I love the fact that you guys are willing to have these conversations. I think there are too many people out there in their echo chamber, left or right.” — Brian Shapiro [127:50]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Dan Bongino Resigns: 06:22–15:05
• Epstein Files & Conspiracies: 07:22–25:53; 27:24–32:31; revisited after Super Chats [121:29]
• Leadership, Morality, and Why Voters Choose Candidates: 31:42–43:45
• AOC, Identity Politics, and 2028 Election: 35:35–40:34
• Guardrails, Sexuality, and the State's Role: 56:07–63:56
• LGBTQ+ Social Issues/Transgenderism: 43:45–56:07
• Trump’s Oval Office Address & Analysis: 66:49–86:28 (speech itself: 67:28–85:33)
• Fact Checking Trump’s Claims: 86:28–93:07
• Healthcare, Immigration, and Emergency Care Debate: 93:07–108:59
• Gun Control & Mental Health: 111:00–119:21
• Super Chats/Closing Banter: 119:31–end

Takeaways for Listeners

• Expect fiery debate—this episode is a lively clash of perspectives, strong on both substantive political analysis and real-time fact-checking.
• Clashing worldviews are exposed around:
  • The sincerity and impact of “influencer” public figures joining government.
  • Evidence vs. conspiracy in political discourse.
  • The meaning of morality in public life.
  • The culture wars over gender, sexuality, parenthood, and what defines the American Dream.
• Real-time media literacy:
  The panel models how to “listen & verify” by immediately reacting to Trump’s address, analyzing claims for accuracy and political effect.
• Memorable moments include Brian Shapiro’s impassioned critiques, exchangess about hyperbole in Trump support, and the group’s respectful, if combative, engagement—punctuated by a willingness on both sides to cite facts and personal experience.

For those new to Timcast IRL or this particular episode:
This is a showcase of today's ideological divides—in news, culture, and politics—delivered with both humor and ferocity, peppered with real policy analysis and media critique. While uncensored and occasionally confrontational, the discussion remains focused on issues, with the guests ultimately agreeing on the need for open dialogue.