VINCE Podcast | Episode 110

"Why Does This Mayor Enjoy Watching His City Burn?"
Host: Vince Coglianese
Release Date: August 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this packed episode, Vince Coglianese dives into dramatic shifts in crime rates in Washington, D.C., the President’s controversial law-and-order interventions, and looming federal action in Chicago. With his trademark brash style, Vince analyzes policy, critiques Democratic mayors, and celebrates the assertiveness of Trump-era justice. The show also features a substantial interview with journalist Julie Kelly about the raid on John Bolton, grand jury activity against Adam Schiff, and the evolving landscape of legal accountability for figures tied to the Russia investigation.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Crime Plummets in D.C. after Federal Takeover

[04:25]

• Vince reports a milestone in Washington, D.C.: 12 consecutive days without a homicide following President Trump’s takeover.

  • “For the first time in living memory, Washington D.C. has now gone a dozen days without a homicide... The lives being saved, John Lott points out, are all black. Almost entirely black lives being saved in all of this. The media not really interested in telling you that story.” — Vince [03:55]

• Explanation for the turnaround:

  • Enhanced federal law enforcement presence.
  • Critique of D.C. Council’s “Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act,” specifically restricting police pursuits and use of body cameras in reports.

• Recent Crime Statistic Drops (Past 2 Weeks vs. Prior 2 Weeks):

  • Robbery down 42%
  • Assault with deadly weapon down 13%
  • Carjackings down 85%
  • Car theft down 24%
  • Violent crime down 25%
  • Property crime down 10%
  • Total crime down 11%

• Call for Congress to repeal D.C. Home Rule and restore federal control over the capital.

2. The Looming Chicago National Guard Operation

[06:52]

• President’s intention to replicate D.C.'s approach in Chicago, potentially sending thousands of National Guard troops.
• Mayor Brandon Johnson’s reaction: furiously opposes federal/military intervention, calling it “costly, illegal and unconstitutional.”

Notable Exchange

[08:53]

• Brandon Johnson:
  "The city of Chicago does not need a military occupation... This is clearly a violation of the Constitution and we're going to remain firm and vigilant in our commitment to ensure that our democracy is protected and our humanity is secured." [08:57]

• Vince’s brutal commentary:
  “This guy's a fricking idiot. What a ghoul that jackass is...” [09:59]

• Johnson on "rising up" against federal presence:
  “If that's necessary, I believe that the people of Chicago will stand firm alongside of me as I work every single day to protect… the people of this city.” [13:20]

• Vince’s Take:
  “He wants to whip everybody into a frenzy to rise up against the sitting, duly elected President of the United States. You tell me how that's not an insurrection. Exactly.” [13:39]

• Vince’s critique of left-wing narratives: Asserts crime surges are not about poverty but about lack of law enforcement consequences, ridiculing the “community investment” rhetoric.

3. Media, Lawfare, and Prosecutions

[17:08]

• John Bolton’s home raided by the FBI; left-wing media in uproar.

• MSNBC Panelist Tom Nichols likens current DOJ actions to the Soviet Union:

  • “This to me is like the Soviet Union in the 1950s... this whole thing is just, you know, I mean, it's hard, I know it's hard for people to take seriously, but you know... they're clowns with flamethrowers.” — Tom Nichols [17:08]

• Vince’s Analysis:

  • Portrays the left’s legal targeting as actual “show me the man, I’ll show you the crime” tactics.
  • Predicts increased hysteria from the media if more Trump-era opponents face prosecution.

4. Senator J.D. Vance on Law Enforcement and Immigration

[22:55-27:53]

• J.D. Vance on “Meet the Press”:

  • Calmly refutes “retribution” claims regarding DOJ actions.

    • “If the media and the American people let this case actually unfold, if they let the investigation unfold as it's currently doing, they're going to find out that what we're doing is being very deliberate and being very driven by the national interest and by the law here. And that's as it should be.” [23:01]

  • Schooling the interviewer on the impact of illegal aliens on congressional apportionment:

    • “They do go in the congressional apportionment. That's why California has so many more seats, is because they count illegal aliens. So even though they don't vote... they end up getting congressional representation that ought by right go to American citizens.” [24:40]

  • Pushes back against gerrymandering accusations:

    • “We're literally losing representatives for American citizens in order to give congressional representation to illegal aliens. Republicans are trying to balance out the scales a little bit for basic fairness and for the integrity of our democracy...” [27:08]

• Vince’s praise:

  • “JD Vance was running circles around these guys this weekend, running circles around Kristen Welker.” [24:58]

Featured Interview: Julie Kelly

Detailed segment [33:42–54:12]

5. John Bolton Raid & Lawfare Against Anti-Trump Officials

• Bolton’s raid possibly related to:

  • Unlawful retention/dissemination of classified information (his 2020 memoir, leaks).
  • “It does appear that he will be brought up on charges imminently... this was a welcome development, at least on our side...” — Julie Kelly [37:20]

• Vince and Julie on media hypocrisy:

  • Wall Street Journal’s editorial decried the raid, citing no personal experience of leaks from Bolton.

    • “They're basically trying to use the fact that the public isn't broadly aware of that as a form of some kind of deception to make that claim. That's very bizarre.” — Vince [41:39]

  • Consensus: Press will become even more frenzied if arrests touch Brennan, Comey, and others.

6. Grand Jury Targeting Adam Schiff

[43:38]

• Possible charges:

  • Mortgage fraud (dual claims of primary residence in two states for loan purposes).
  • Broader investigation expected: “If they're starting with mortgage fraud on a grand jury, that's not the only place they're going to end up. They're going to end up at a lot of other places too.” — Vince [44:10]

• Adam Schiff’s response: Denies wrongdoing, blames political targeting.

• Julie’s take: Deeply skeptical; highlights pattern of Democratic officials evading consequences and the public’s hunger to see accountability.

7. Connection to Russiagate & Broader Accountability

[46:39]

• Julie underscores the importance of informing the public on the documented abuses of power by Brennan, Clapper, Comey, and Schiff.

  • “You have to make sure that the American people are... their memories are refreshed about who is responsible for perpetrating the biggest, most destructive political hoax in US History.” [47:17]

• Vince & Julie on desire for further transparency:

  • Urges public release of communications before the Mar-a-Lago raid.
  • Suspect the “classified documents” pretext was about retrieving incriminating Russiagate documents.

• Julie’s prediction: Anticipates indictments may soon target DOJ prosecutors involved in Trump cases, including Jack Smith and aides.

8. Illegal Immigration and High-Profile Deportations

[54:13]

• Follow-up on Kilmar Abrego Garcia:
  • Notorious MS-13 member, human trafficker, and abuser released, then re-arrested by ICE after activists and a U.S. senator’s interventions.
  • “The Trump administration is not playing around. And that's a warning shot to everybody else. You want to stay here, we're coming for you.” — Vince [56:52]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Vince on the sharp drop in D.C. murders:

  • “It is completely impossible [without a change]. If D.C. continued with the status quo... criminals get to do whatever they want... The President taking the reins and it has paid off big time.” [03:55]

• Vince on Mayor Brandon Johnson:

  • “He wants to whip everybody into a frenzy to rise up against the sitting, duly elected President of the United States. You tell me how that's not an insurrection. Exactly.” [13:39]

• J.D. Vance correcting Meet the Press:

  • “Even though they don't vote, well, some of them actually do vote, but hopefully most of them don't. They end up getting congressional representation that ought by right go to American citizens.” [24:40]

• Julie Kelly on lawfare hypocrisy:

  • “We know these people committed crimes... So the idea that they, yes, of course, they are presumed innocent, except that we have... evidence to the contrary and that they... have gotten away with it.” [41:20]

• Vince on the media's double standard:

  • “Meanwhile, they were cheering on when Roger Stone had a SWAT team show up at his house... and John Bolton and his mustache gets some scrutiny and the press goes absolutely bonkers.” [22:54]

Important Timestamps

• Crime in D.C. / Federal Intervention: 04:25–07:35
• Chicago National Guard plan, Mayor Johnson Response: 06:52–13:39
• Bolton Raid & Media Reaction: 17:08–22:54
• Sen. J.D. Vance on Law Enforcement, Immigration, and Elections: 22:55–27:53
• Julie Kelly Interview (Bolton, Schiff, Lawfare): 33:42–54:12
• Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deportation Saga: 54:13–end

Tone & Style

The conversation is direct, combative, and heavy on sarcasm, especially when critiquing progressive policies and media narratives. Vince relishes highlighting perceived hypocrisy, employs hyperbole for effect, and frequently uses blunt language ("jackass", "fricking idiot", "ghoul"). The vibe is unapologetically partisan, blending analysis with activist zeal.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a comprehensive, timestamped breakdown of Episode 110, omitting ads and non-core content.