Podcast Summary: VINCE – "The Deep State Strikes Back!" (Guest Host Shawn Farash) | Episode 176

Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Shawn Farash (guest hosting for Vince Coglianese)
Podcast: VINCE, Cumulus Podcast Network

Episode Overview

In this episode, guest host Shawn Farash tackles what he calls the "Deep State fightback," responding to recent news surrounding high-profile legal setbacks involving James Comey and Letitia James, discusses judicial activism, election turnout in Tennessee, and lambasts a Democrat candidate he deems "radical." Using biting humor and passionate political commentary, Farash urges listeners to stay engaged, stresses the importance of airtight legal cases, and closes with personal stories about grassroots activism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Deep State" Fights Back: Comey and Letitia James Legal Developments

• Case Dismissals & Judicial Manipulation (03:30–19:00):

  • Shawn reacts to frustration over the legal system dismissing the cases against James Comey (former FBI Director) and Letitia James (NY Attorney General), labeling both as emblematic of "deep state" protectionism.
  • He argues the dismissals were on technicalities—specifically, issues regarding the improper appointment of prosecutor Lindsey Halligan, paralleling the dismissal of Jack Smith's indictment in Florida.
  • Quote:

    "These cases need to be airtight... because you're not just going up against a corrupt defense, you're going up against the actual swamp." – Shawn Farash (07:10)

  • Farash reminds listeners the dismissals are without prejudice, meaning cases can be refiled, provided a lawfully appointed prosecutor is found and the statute of limitations is respected, referencing 18 USC §3288 ("savings statute").
  • Calls for patience and procedural diligence:

    "We're in the microwave steak generation. We need it now. And if we don't get it now, it's a failure. That's a huge problem." (06:10)

  • Criticizes Senate confirmation delays for prosecutors, noting such bureaucracy affects the prosecution of political actors.

• Activist Judges & the Swamp Allegory (09:50–11:30):

  • Compares legal loopholes to sports strategies, emphasizing how any "hole" in legal proceedings will be exploited by entrenched interests—a recurring theme for him.

2. Letitia James’s Mortgage Fraud and Public Persona

• Personal Digs & Case Specifics (12:30–16:20):
  • Farash, using unfiltered language, describes Letitia James as a "nasty person... very ugly inside and out," and "Sasquatch."
  • Details the allegations: James listing her father as her spouse on a mortgage application, purportedly to get a better rate.
  • Points out irony in her allegedly doing what she accused Donald Trump of (alleged loan fraud).

    "How does one make an honest mistake by listing their father as their spouse?" – Shawn Farash (13:08)

3. DOJ, Appeals, and the “Process as Punishment”

• Pam Bondi’s Role and Strategy (16:00–19:00):

  • Plays and discusses a clip of AG Pam Bondi vowing legal appeals against the dismissals (16:00).
  • Expresses some skepticism about Bondi’s effectiveness but recognizes the difficulty in confirming replacements.

• ‘Process as the Punishment’ & Parity in Justice (19:30–22:00):

  • Acknowledges and somewhat relishes the notion, used by critics of the Trump-era DOJ, that merely going through legal battles is itself a form of punishment:

    "I'd be lying if I said there wasn't part of me that wants to see Comey and Letitia James... get squeezed by the system. They did it to us. It's only fair if there's a little bit of reciprocity." (22:40)

  • Ultimately, he counsels patience, reiterates expectations for appeals and refiling, and tempers expectations of ultimate convictions due to district jury leanings.

4. Tennessee’s Special House Election – Afton Bain

• Set Up: Why Special Elections Matter (38:20–43:55):

  • Reviews the December 2, 2025, special election in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District after Rep. Mark Green's retirement.
  • Warns of low Republican turnout in off-cycle elections, gives practical advice:

    "Just Google it: 'Is there an election I can vote in this month?' It literally takes you ten minutes." (41:32)

  • Endorses Republican Matt Van Epps (not without caveats), and spends considerable time mocking and warning about Democratic candidate Afton Bain.

• Afton Bain in the Hot Seat: Demeanor and Policy (45:10–56:10):

  • Plays and reacts to several clips of Bain, painting her as anti-Nashville, emotionally unstable, and radical:
    • Hates Nashville and “all things Nashville”:

      "I hate the city. I hate the Bachelorettes, I hate the country music." – Afton Bain (45:13)

    • Makes fun of her admission of crying "ten times" at the Country Music Hall of Fame (47:15).
    • Plays a viral video of Afton Bain being forcibly removed by police from the Governor’s office, comparing her behavior to a tantrum-throwing child (49:51).
    • Plays a clip highlighting her advocacy for trans issues, her opposition to “white ring” (sic) threats, and revealing a personal “snapped moment” that drove her activism (52:32).
    • Mocks Bain’s candid confession:

      "I don't want children, I want power." – Afton Bain (55:24)
      Farash interprets this as proof of her obsession with control and disregard for family values.

• Rallying the Audience (42:00–44:00):

  • Urges listeners:

    "Set a reminder or go vote today wherever early voting is available, and make sure that your vote is banked so that you're not leaving it up to chance." (44:00)

5. Audience Engagement & Personal Motivation

• Grassroots Organizing & Media (59:10–End):
  • Shares a personal story about traffic, discovering Dan Bongino’s podcast, and how that inspired his own activism, which led to organizing rallies in New York and his current media role.

    "If it's the last thing I do, try and use this spark to make a difference..." – Shawn Farash (1:00:40)

  • Thanks Vince, Dan Bongino, Silverlock, and fellow conservative content creators for providing inspiration and a "spark" for grassroots action.

Notable & Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On Deep State & Legal Strategy:

  "These cases need to be airtight... because you're not just going up against a corrupt defense, you're going up against the actual swamp."
  — Shawn Farash [07:10]

• On Political Patience:

  "We're in the microwave steak generation. We need it now. And if we don't get it now, it's a failure."
  — Shawn Farash [06:10]

• On Judicial Exploitation:

  "If there are holes, you don't think the Swamp is going to exploit them?"
  — Shawn Farash [09:55]

• On Letitia James Allegations:

  "How does one, quote, unquote, make an honest mistake by listing their father as their spouse?"
  — Shawn Farash [13:08]

• Attorney General Pam Bondi (regarding appeal):

  "We'll be taking all available legal action, including an immediate appeal to hold Letitia James and James Comey accountable for their unlawful conduct."
  — Pam Bondi [16:00]

• On Process as Punishment:

  "I would be lying if I said... there wasn't a part of me that wants to see Comey and Letitia James... get squeezed by the system."
  — Shawn Farash [22:40]

• On Early Voting Skepticism (Mocking):

  "If that was the case, how did Donald Trump win last year when Republicans embraced early voting en masse?"
  — Shawn Farash [35:34]

• Afton Bain, on Nashville:

  "I've been heavily involved with the Nashville mayoral race because I hate the city... I hate country music..."
  — Afton Bain [45:13]

• Afton Bain, on personal ambition:

  "I don't want children, I want power."
  — Afton Bain [55:24]

• On Activism Inspiration:

  "If it's the last thing I do, try and use this spark to make a difference..."
  — Shawn Farash [1:00:40]

Important Timestamps

• [03:30–11:00] – Deep State, James Comey/Letitia James case breakdown, why cases got dismissed
• [12:30–16:20] – Allegations against Letitia James and analysis of her mortgage case
• [16:00] – Pam Bondi audio response on planned appeal
• [19:30–22:00] – "Process as punishment," fairness in prosecutions
• [38:20–43:55] – Tennessee 7th special election setup, campaign strategy
• [45:13–47:25] – Afton Bain’s “I hate Nashville” comments
• [49:50–51:00] – Viral video: Afton Bain removed from TN Governor's office
• [52:32–55:24] – Afton Bain on trans issues and desire for political power
• [59:10–1:02:00+] – Shawn’s “origin story” in political activism

Tone & Style

• Tone: Unapologetically partisan, humorous, brash, and energetic; uses sports and pop culture metaphors liberally.
• Style: Direct address, conversational, peppered with jokes and impersonations; moments of self-deprecation (e.g., New York Jets fandom) balance pointed attacks.

Final Takeaway

Shawn Farash, filling in for Vince, delivers a rapid-fire, opinionated rundown of current legal battles tied to the so-called “deep state,” ridicules Democratic candidates he deems extreme, and urges listeners to turn frustration into grassroots action. He calls for procedural patience, electoral vigilance, and relishing the “process as punishment” for political enemies—while keeping the mood brash and bombastic throughout.