The Dan Bongino Show: Interview with Kash Patel (Ep. 2455)
Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Dan Bongino
Guest: Kash Patel, FBI Director
Episode Overview
In this episode, Dan Bongino interviews FBI Director Kash Patel, delving into hot-button national security issues, violent crime, FBI reforms, Antifa, public corruption, media bias, and the broader state of American institutions. Bongino combines detailed commentary with Patel’s insights, focusing on tangible reforms, high-profile investigations, and pressing threats while sharply criticizing the media and political opposition's narratives.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Media, Antifa, and Narrative Management
(00:04:00 – 00:21:00)
- Media Denial of Antifa as an Organization:
- Bongino discusses an MSNBC article’s framing of Antifa as an "idea" rather than an organized group, tying it to attempts at sidestepping criminal liability.
- Quote: "There's a reason the lib commie media class...wants you to believe that antifa is an idea.... But there's an actual reason for this: they want to organize while avoiding criminal penalties for organizing." – Dan Bongino (00:05:41)
- RICO Laws and Political Violence:
- Bongino explains how laws exist against organizing criminal activity, referencing RICO statutes. “You could organize a boy scout meeting. You can't organize a freaking terror attack or a rackets operation. You can't.” (00:07:07)
- Media Air Cover:
- He plays clips from ex-FBI Director Christopher Wray and Joe Biden, highlighting their statements that label Antifa as an "idea," charging this is deliberate to give "air cover" to actual organized street violence (00:10:42).
- Trans Violence and Media Obfuscation:
- Bongino touches on recent incidents of violence committed by individuals in the trans community, accusing media and Democrats of covering up inconvenient facts.
- “They want you to treat a sore throat when you're dealing with a cancer.” (00:12:39)
2. Voter Integrity, Fraud, and Institutional Distrust
(00:21:00 – 00:37:00)
- Nick Shirley’s Investigative Reporting:
- A new video by independent journalist Nick Shirley exposes suspicious voter registrations and the alleged possibility of non-citizens or the deceased voting.
- California as 'Breeding Ground' for Fraud:
- Bongino claims California’s month-long ballot counting is "a recipe and a witch's brew for fraud." (00:15:41)
- Push for the SAVE Act:
- Strong advocate for federal voter ID law to prevent alleged widespread fraud with mail-in ballots.
- Quote on filibuster obstruction: “There's no other way to get this thing passed, folks. You want to save the country ... If we don’t move on this SAVE act, forget it.” (00:18:23)
3. Government Waste and Fraud – Technology’s Role
(00:37:00 – 00:44:00)
- AI and Government Efficiency:
- Bongino highlights how AI (under the Trump/Kennedy administration) is being used to root out fraud in programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
- Clip from RFK w/ Theo Von (00:17:25): “We’re going to save tens of billions of dollars just this year…cutting out fraud.”
- Government Waste Examples:
- Critiques bloated budgets in liberal cities vs. states like Florida. Provides side-by-side budget comparisons, mocking New York liberal policies.
4. Free Speech, Censorship, and the 'Ministry of Truth'
(00:44:00 – 00:54:00)
- Disinformation Governance Board:
- Bongino revisits the Biden-era “Ministry of Truth,” accusing the board of justifying censorship and threatening individual rights.
- Memorable Moment: Congressman to disinformation board official: “You ought to be ashamed of yourself for your role in this.” (00:49:57)
- Knowledge Problem in Centralized Authority:
- Draws from Hayek to argue against centralized censorship, making the case for dispersed knowledge and free-market solutions.
5. Republican & Democratic Party Divides
(00:54:00 – 01:04:00)
- Intra-party Schisms:
- Acknowledges real differences within the conservative camp and urges reconciliation before the midterms.
- Democratic Panic & 2028 Race:
- Claims Democrats have deeply flawed presidential prospects (AOC, Newsom, Kamala) and that media is beginning to admit the problems.
- Mocks AOC’s performance at the Munich conference as disastrous and quotes party strategists critiquing her (01:02:12).
6. Taxation, Wealth Flight, and Government Spending
(01:04:00 – 01:14:00)
- NYC vs Florida Budgets:
- Criticizes calls for more taxes by NYC’s progressive leadership, shows stats that affluent residents are leaving, and blames bad policy.
- Quote: "You could just cut the ridiculous amount of government waste you know exists in this unbelievably bloated New York City budget.” (01:08:22)
- Spending Inefficiency:
- Points out federally funded advocacy programs abroad and the inflationary effects of third-party payer schemes.
7. The Impact and Risks of Artificial Intelligence
(01:14:00 – 01:21:00)
- AI's Economic Disruption:
- Recognizes AI’s huge impact, warning against government-led Universal Basic Income, arguing humans will always find new ways to create value.
- Clip: “Do not let the liberal mom dummy narrative ... sucker you into supporting this universal basic income. ... We will always find something to do.” (01:19:45)
8. Illegal Immigration and Public Safety
(01:21:00 – 01:25:00)
- Local Crime Example:
- Shares chilling story from his own county where an illegal immigrant committed a violent beach assault; underscores immigration enforcement urgency.
- Quote: “You have to go into a port of entry. You don't get to bypass the rules. ... You're not going to get an ounce of sympathy from me...” (01:23:45)
The Interview: FBI Director Kash Patel
(01:25:30 – 01:47:20)
National Security Threats & FBI Reform
- Reformed FBI Intelligence:
- Patel emphasizes a return to “intelligence-driven” operations, ignoring media narratives and focusing on factual threats, particularly regarding trans violence and violent extremism.
- Quote: “If you refuse to believe the actual intelligence because of the media narrative that used to politicize the FBI, then you're going to get it wrong every time.” – Kash Patel (01:25:55)
- Targeting Antifa:
- Patel confirms significant investigations and arrests in Antifa-related cases, noting up to 19 convictions and impending revelations about funding streams behind organized street violence.
- “It's just a willingness that you and I and this building's new leadership took to say, we're going to look at the facts that exist. ... Wait till you see what's coming in the next month or two on the funding streams related to this.” (01:28:20)
- RICO Statutes & Organized Criminality:
- Explains how Antifa and similar groups leveraged the narrative of being ‘just an idea’ to dodge organized crime laws—until the new DOJ/FBI leadership clamped down.
Crushing Crime: The FBI’s Record Year
- Strategic Focus Yields Results:
- Details how shifting focus to violent crime, child exploitation, and fentanyl led to record drops in murder and overdose deaths.
- Statistics cited:
- 20% reduction in murder rate
- 32% increase in fentanyl seizures
- 490% increase in arrests for child exploitation
- Six of FBI’s Top 10 Most Wanted arrested in one year
- Quote: “It's not hard to do the job you signed up for, if you're allowed to do the job you signed up for.” (01:31:01)
- Presidential Leadership's Role:
- Credits Trump’s management for allowing operational autonomy, focusing on outcomes over process micromanagement and emphasizing results over narratives.
Countering Media Myths
- Media Attacks on the FBI:
- Both Bongino and Patel express frustration with persistent negative media narratives, arguing data disproves claims of decreased safety.
- “If what they're saying is true, then we're lying about the arrest you just listed off. ... Which one is true?” (01:35:55)
Public Corruption Investigations
- No Letup on High-Level Corruption:
- Patel affirms continued attention to high-profile public corruption cases, including cases against senior officials and staff from both parties.
The President’s Daily Brief (PDB) & Evolving Threats
- National Security Priorities Shift:
- Explains President Trump’s direct role in setting intel priorities seen in reforms, increased counterespionage, and high-impact apprehensions.
- Quote: “The President decides what are the intel priorities in that briefing, and President Trump has decided what intel priorities agencies like the FBI and CIA are to act upon. That type of leadership is what has led to the historic reduction in crime.” (01:44:52)
- Ongoing Reform:
- Patel previews further decentralization and reform of FBI intelligence directorate, sending more personnel to the field.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Antifa:
- “They want to take advantage of all the benefits of organizing … but they don't want to pay any criminal penalty for their shock troop people.” – Dan Bongino (00:06:28)
-
On Voter Integrity:
- “If we don’t move on this SAVE act, forget it. People are going to lose faith in institutions and the Republic revolves around fidelity to a common cause.” – Dan Bongino (00:18:23)
-
On Government Spending:
- “You could just cut the ridiculous amount of government waste you know exists in this unbelievably bloated New York City budget.” – Dan Bongino (01:08:22)
-
On FBI Reform:
- “It's not hard to do the job you signed up for, if you're allowed to do the job you signed up for.” – Kash Patel (01:31:01)
-
On National Security & Presidential Briefings:
- “The President’s daily briefing is directed by President Trump and that’s what led to this success.” – Kash Patel (01:46:18)
-
On Accountability:
- “It’s not something you and I personally did. It’s what this FBI delivered while we were leading it.” – Kash Patel (01:41:14)
Important Timestamps
- 00:04:00 – Bongino’s breakdown of Antifa, media narratives, and legal implications
- 00:15:41 – Voter fraud and Nick Shirley video assessment
- 00:17:25 – RFK/AI/Medicare fraud discussion
- 00:44:00 – “Ministry of Truth,” FISA court, and censorship concerns
- 01:06:00 – NYC budget/wealth flight debates
- 01:14:00 – Artificial intelligence’s threat to the job market
- 01:21:30 – Local crime/illegal immigration story
- 01:25:30 – Interview with Director Kash Patel
- 01:27:00 – FBI’s renewed intelligence-driven approach
- 01:31:00 – Historic drop in violent crime
- 01:35:55 – Media myth busting
- 01:43:00 – Public corruption and evolving FBI priorities
- 01:46:00 – Role of President’s Daily Brief
Tone & Language
- Tone: Direct, unapologetic, and combative—mixing detailed institutional analysis with mocking critique of mainstream media and Democratic policies. Strongly solution-oriented when discussing reforms but caustic regarding opponents’ motives.
- Language: Candid, colloquial, often biting; a blend of policy wonk detail and street wisdom. Notable for use of sarcasm (“lib commie media class”), bluntness on criminality (“beat the shit out of you if you speak up”), and occasional profanity for emphasis.
Summary Takeaways
- The show fiercely asserts that media, progressive politicians, and prior administrations facilitated a climate of crime and dishonesty—while Bongino, Patel, and the Trump-era FBI prioritized actionable intelligence, law enforcement autonomy, and transparent results.
- Patel provides a rare on-mic window into the agency’s strategy and reforms and underlines the importance of strong executive leadership for real change.
- Despite celebrating accomplishments, both speakers caution that threats to security and institutional trust remain, both from external actors and internal rot—framing their approach as a blueprint for conservative governance and warning of what’s at stake in upcoming elections.