VINCE Podcast Summary

Episode Title: The Boys At The Bureau Got The Bomber (Episode 182)
Host: Vince Coglianese
Release Date: December 5, 2025

Overview

This episode of VINCE is a triumphant yet introspective breakdown of the recent capture of the January 6th pipe bomber, Brian Cole Jr. Host Vince Coglianese dives into the inside story of how the FBI, now under the leadership of Deputy Director Dan Bongino and Director Cash Patel, finally cracked a case that had eluded federal law enforcement for nearly five years. The episode highlights both the investigation's successes and the failures of prior FBI leadership, emphasizing themes of institutional accountability, political reform, and media narrative missteps.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Breaking News: The Capture of the Pipe Bomber (02:18 - 07:52)

• The suspect, Brian Cole Jr., was arrested in Woodbridge, VA, charged with planting pipe bombs near the RNC and DNC on January 5, 2021.
• AG Pam Bondi and the FBI announced the arrest: "Let me be clear. There was no new tip, There was no new witness. Just good diligent police work and prosecutorial work." (03:37)
• The FBI, ATF, Capitol Police, and other agencies executed the operation, which unfolded just as the President finished another peace deal announcement.
• Vince lauds Dan Bongino and Cash Patel’s perseverance and direct involvement in the case, noting the unusual step of featuring a deputy director in a public announcement.

2. Why Wasn’t He Caught Sooner? FBI Internal Failures (07:52 – 12:20)

• Vince examines how the FBI had much of the critical data and evidence for years but failed to act under previous leadership.
• Patel and Bongino brought in a new team, re-examined the evidence, and executed new legal processes that led to the breakthrough.
• Dan Bongino is portrayed as the driving force behind the case’s resolution.

3. Dan Bongino and Cash Patel’s Public Remarks (10:29 – 15:48)

• Dan Bongino at the press conference:

  “You’re not going to walk into our capital city, put down two explosive devices and walk off in the sunset. Not going to happen. We were going to track this person to the end of the earth.” (11:41)

• Vince rebukes conspiracy theorists in the chat, defending the competence and integrity of Bongino and Patel.

4. Inside the Investigation: How the Bomber Was Identified (21:47 – 29:56)

• The FBI used a combination of surveillance footage, reverse-projection photogrammetry for height analysis, purchase history (especially at home improvement stores), and crucial cell phone data.
• The suspect’s car was captured via a license plate reader near the scene.

  “The fricking car is registered to him. He was there at that time. The cell phone pings match up entirely. His biographical details down to the inch match up with the guy they were looking for.” (29:56)

• Vince notes much of this data was available to law enforcement for years, raising questions about why the previous administration failed to act.

5. Institutional Rot: Critique of Prior FBI Leadership (34:20 – 36:50)

• Clips played of former Director Christopher Wray testifying to Congress, downplaying the odds of catching the bomber.
• Dan Bongino blasts the previous FBI leadership:

  “I don't know what the hell this prior leadership team was doing outside of, you know, targeting political opponents, weaponizing the FBI, destroying its reputation, and embarrassing agents... It’s almost like they were intentionally trying to decimate faith in institutions.” (36:24)

6. Media and Political Reaction (15:48 – 41:59)

• Vince highlights Democrat Senator Mark Warner’s critical response, which Vince rebuts as an inversion of reality—arguing that the FBI has become more effective and less politicized under its new leadership.
• Media narrative meltdown: Jake Tapper on CNN misidentifies the suspect’s race; Vince points out the media’s quick assumptions and tendency to politicize the identity of suspects.

  “This is, that's the blackest white man I've ever seen. That's unreal.” (39:00)

• Flashbacks to journalists like Mehdi Hassan pushing narratives about white, right-wing terrorism, which turn out to be misjudged in this case.

7. Demands for Accountability for the “Cover-Up” (41:59 – 45:57)

• Vince calls for criminal charges against former officials who “sat on” the pipe bomber evidence and allowed the case to go cold.
• Cash Patel promises further action:

  “We keep speaking in court when we can. We're gonna continue to show up to court and we're gonna continue to make people like Comey and Brennan and Clapper and Page and Strzok and so many others answer for what I believe are their acts of criminal conduct.” (43:23)

• Vince underscores that transparency is not enough; he and his audience want indictments and convictions.

8. What’s Next: The Investigation Continues (45:57 – 48:02)

• Bongino describes the current arrest as “chapter one of a 10-20 chapter book.”

  “This is chapter one of a 10-20 chapter book. This investigation is not over at all.” (46:29)

• The host speculates that the larger “grand conspiracy” indictments, anticipated for January, may include elements related to the pipe bomber case and the previous cover-up.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Vince, on skeptics:

  “At some point, if you don't trust anybody, you're done with everything. If you don't trust anybody, you're just done with everything. You're leading a sad life at this point.” (13:14)

• Dan Bongino:

  “We were going to track this person to the end of the earth. There was no way he was getting away.” (11:41)

• Dan Bongino, on FBI’s past failures:

  “I don't know what the hell this prior leadership team was doing... It’s almost like they were intentionally trying to decimate faith in institutions.” (36:24)

• Vince, mocking CNN’s Jake Tapper's reporting:

  “That's the blackest white man I've ever seen. That's unreal.” (39:00)

• Cash Patel, on prosecuting former officials:

  “We’re gonna continue to make people like Comey and Brennan and Clapper and Page and Strzok and so many others answer for what I believe are their acts of criminal conduct.” (43:23)

• Dan Bongino, teasing future revelations:

  “This is a real deal criminal investigation. We're going to handle this the proper way... This is chapter one of a 10-20 chapter book.” (46:29)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:18 – News of Brian Cole Jr.’s arrest
• 03:37 – AG Bondi: “No new tip, just good diligent police work”
• 07:52 – FBI’s evidence and data review; critique of prior failures
• 10:29 – Dan Bongino speaks at press conference
• 15:48 – Behind-the-scenes: Bongino’s day-one priorities at FBI
• 21:47 – Forensic and investigative methods that cracked the case
• 29:56 – Why the evidence was ignored for years
• 34:20 – Clip: Christopher Wray testifies before Congress
• 36:24 – Bongino on institutional sabotage and politicization
• 39:00 – Vince mocks media coverage of suspect’s race
• 41:59 – Vince calls for prosecutions of former officials
• 43:23 – Cash Patel pledges further legal reckoning
• 46:29 – Bongino: “This is chapter one of a 10-20 chapter book”

Tone & Language

Vince maintains a populist, combative, and sarcastic tone throughout, blending hard-hitting analysis with humor, media criticism, and audience engagement. He is particularly unsparing toward critics, the former FBI leadership, and political/media adversaries. The language is direct and often colorful, especially during rants and when skewering opponents.

Closing Thoughts

This episode is as much a celebration of law enforcement (under new leadership) as it is a scathing indictment of political and media narratives that have framed major FBI failures as inevitabilities or partisan maneuvers. Vince calls for further investigation and accountability, promising more details to come as the wider investigation unfolds.

Listeners walk away with:

• Insight into how the case was cracked after years of stagnation
• The personalities driving reform and accountability at the FBI
• Critique of establishment media and politicians’ attempts to control the narrative
• The promise of future action and continuing transparency

Useful for those who want to follow major federal investigations, understand power dynamics at federal agencies, and see how partisanship and media narratives collide in real time.