The Brief: Insights from the Inside | PragerU

Why was the SPLC indicted?  The story is bigger than anyone expected. In this episode of The Brief, host Shabbos Kestenbaum sits down with Tyler O'Neil, Senior Editor at The Daily Signal and author of Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center, to break down the explosive DOJ indictment against the SPLC. In April 2025, a federal grand jury indicted the SPLC on 11 counts including wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit money laundering — all tied to a secret decade-long program that paid more than $3 million to informants embedded in the KKK, the Aryan Nations, the National Alliance, and the organizers of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. But the real question Tyler raises: was the SPLC actually manufacturing the hate it was profiting from? We also cover: Why the SPLC labels Moms for Liberty, PragerU, and the Family Research Council as "hate groups" on par with the Klan How the SPLC classifies groups (and why the criteria matter) What was the SPLC’s role in Charlottesville How the SPLC became a weapon used by Big Tech, corporations, and Democrats to silence conservatives The bank fraud charges that Tyler says the SPLC cannot escape What the $800 million endowment means for the organization's future The 2012 terrorist attack on the Family Research Council — and the SPLC's role What is the SPLC's defense against the indictment Was there fraud with the SPLC donor money If you’ve ever asked: “Is the SPLC credible?” “How do they pick ‘hate groups’?” “Why does the Hate Map have so much influence?”—this episode is the deep dive you’ve been looking for. 🔔 Follow The Brief so you never miss an episode. ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Brief at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/46yupO6 ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at ⁠⁠⁠⁠PragerU.com/podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PragerU Español: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@esPragerU⁠⁠ Follow Shabbos: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/shabbosk?s=11⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shabbi.kestenbaum/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Is New York So Expensive NOW? In this episode of The Brief: Insights From The Inside, Shabbos Kestenbaum sits down with Bruce Blakeman to break down the affordability crisis squeezing New Yorkers—from skyrocketing housing costs and tax burden to daily cost-of-living pain that’s pushing families and young professionals out of the state. But here's what should concern EVERY American, not just New Yorkers: Blakeman breaks down the exact policies that drove New York to this point—runaway green energy mandates, unchecked illegal immigration spending, rent freezes that kill housing supply, pied-à-terre taxes that chase out job creators, and sanctuary policies that tie law enforcement's hands. If you're watching from another state and any of those sound familiar, this episode is for you too. ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Brief at:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/46yupO6 ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! 🚚 The Freedom Truck is rolling into town with an immersive, hands-on journey through American history! 🇺🇸 Step inside, celebrate 250 years, and experience our founding like never before. ✨Check it out here 👉 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/4eCo09m⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at ⁠⁠⁠PragerU.com/podcasts⁠⁠⁠ Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU⁠⁠⁠⁠ PragerU Español: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@esPragerU⁠ Follow Shabbos: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/shabbosk?s=11⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shabbi.kestenbaum/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joey Tuccio is a volunteer animal rescuer with Starts With One Today, and he's seen things on the streets of Skid Row most people refuse to look at—dogs sold for crack, newborn puppies found alive in trash cans, animals used for dogfighting, and abusers arrested and back on the streets within days. In this episode of The Brief, Shabbos Kestenbaum sits down with Joey to pull back the curtain on the animal welfare crisis hiding in plain sight in Los Angeles—and why local leaders like Mayor Karen Bass and City Council members are allowing it to continue. Explore life’s biggest questions with PragerU’s The Rational Case for God 101. Sign up now to get free access to this 10-part video series 👉⁠https://l.prageru.com/3OPMqBE ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Brief at:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/46yupO6 ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at ⁠⁠PragerU.com/podcasts⁠⁠ Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU⁠⁠⁠ PragerU Español: https://www.youtube.com/@esPragerU Follow Shabbos: Instagram:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/shabbosk?s=11⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shabbi.kestenbaum/ Follow Joey Tuccio: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joey.tuccio/ XTwitter: https://x.com/joey_tuccio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the universe fine-tuned for life? Is DNA “digital information” that points to design? And why are more people asking whether science supports the God hypothesis? In this episode of The Brief, Shabbos Kestenbaum sits down with Stephen Meyer — author of Return of the God Hypothesis and featured voice behind the new film The Story of Everything (in theaters April 30) — to tackle the questions people keep searching: What is intelligent design (and what isn’t it)? What do scientists actually mean by “fine-tuning”? Is the “information problem” in DNA real — and why does it matter? Can evolutionary theory explain novel biological information, or does it mostly rearrange what already exists? And why are some thinkers arguing that the “God hypothesis” is becoming scientifically discussable again? Get tickets and learn more about the film, The Story of Everything at: https://www.thestoryofeverything.film/ Explore life’s biggest questions with PragerU’s The Rational Case for God 101. Sign up now to get free access to this 10-part video series 👉https://l.prageru.com/3OPMqBE ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Brief at:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/46yupO6 ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at ⁠PragerU.com/podcasts⁠. Follow the The Story of Everything: Instagram: @TheStoryofEverything ⁠https://www.instagram.com/storyofeverythingfilm/ ⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/thestoryofeverythingfilm/about/⁠ X: @TSOEfilm ⁠https://x.com/TSOEfilm/⁠ YouTube: @TheStoryofEverythingFilm ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Thestoryofeverythingfilm⁠ TikTok: @TheStoryofEverythingFilm ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryofeverythingfilm⁠ Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU⁠⁠ Follow Shabbos: Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest⁠⁠⁠⁠  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/shabbosk?s=11⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shabbi.kestenbaum/ Follow Stephen Meyer: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstephencmeyer/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/StephenCMeyer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special Earth Day bonus episode from our 5-Minute Videos series, Mark Mills breaks down the hidden downsides of wind and solar energy. Are wind, solar, and batteries the magical solutions to all our energy needs? Or do they come with too high a price? Mark Mills, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, analyzes the true cost — both economic and environmental — of so-called green energy. Want more? Sign up now for Climate Change 101 — your ultimate toolkit to shut down every climate crisis argument. ➡️⁠https://l.prageru.com/4uommNt⁠ ▶️ Watch more episodes of 5-Minute Videos at: ⁠https://l.prageru.com/4lCX76A⁠ ⭐ Did you enjoy this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at PragerU.com/podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/40ZbPLH⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru⁠  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU⁠ Follow Mark Mills: X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/MarkPMills Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elise Stefanik joins host Shabbos Kestenbaum to break down the troubled state of elite higher education—from campus antisemitism after Oct. 7 to foreign funding, and why she says universities aren’t “entitled to U.S. taxpayer dollars.” Stefanik takes us inside the “hearing heard round the world” and explains why her question—“Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate your university’s code of conduct?”—sparked a national firestorm ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Brief at:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/46yupO6 ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at PragerU.com/podcasts. Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru/⁠⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU⁠ Follow Shabbos: Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest⁠⁠⁠  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/shabbosk?s=11⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shabbi.kestenbaum/⁠ Follow Elise Stefanik: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/repstefanik/ X/Twitter: http://x.com/EliseStefanik Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EliseStefanik Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can DHS detain immigrants without bond—even if they’ve lived in the U.S. for years? Host Shabbos Kestenbaum and Will Chamberlain (Article III Project) break down the legal fight that could change immigration entirely, what it means to be an “alien seeking admission,” and why the courts are split right now. In this episode, Shabbos Kestenbaum gets Will Chamberlain to unpack the Alien Enemies Act debate, including the question voters keep asking: can judges block deportations in real time — even turning flights around midair? ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Brief at: ⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/46yupO6 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at PragerU.com/podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/40ZbPLH⁠⁠⁠ Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru/⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU Follow Shabbos: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest⁠⁠  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/shabbosk?s=11⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shabbi.kestenbaum/ Follow Will Chamberlain: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willchamberlain101/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/willchamberlain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why did DHS shut down — and why are TSA lines now hitting record wait times? Congressman Randy Fine breaks down the standoff over DHS funding, the Senate filibuster, and the political fight behind immigration enforcement. We dig into the SAVE Act (proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote + photo ID to vote), why Democrats claim it’s “Jim Crow 2.0,” and what the bill actually does. Fine also argues the filibuster has become a “fake filibuster” and lays out what he thinks Republicans should do next to get DHS reopened — including TSA, ICE, CBP, Coast Guard, and Secret Service. If you’ve been asking: Why are TSA wait times so bad right now? Why won’t the Senate pass DHS funding? What is the SAVE Act? Should the filibuster be abolished? — this episode is the full breakdown. ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation. ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Brief at: ⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/46yupO6 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at PragerU.com/podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/40ZbPLH⁠⁠⁠Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru/⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU⁠⁠⁠ Follow Shabbos: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest⁠⁠  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/shabbosk Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shabbi.kestenbaum/ https://x.com/RepFine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California already had the highest gas prices in America before the Iran war — so why is Gavin Newsom blaming foreign conflict for a homegrown crisis? Larry Elder joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to break down what’s driving California’s affordability collapse: taxes, regulations, a worsening homelessness problem, outbound migration, and a state budget heading toward an $18B shortfall. They also discuss the proposed “billionaires wealth tax,” why major companies and high-income residents keep leaving, the “homelessness industrial complex,” and how one-party rule in Sacramento shapes everything from the cost of living to public services. 👇 Join the conversation — comment below and let us know what you think. ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Brief on PragerU.com: ⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/4uoSxNz⁠⁠ 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at PragerU.com/podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/40ZbPLH⁠⁠⁠ Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru/⁠⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU⁠⁠⁠  Follow Shabbos: Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest⁠⁠  X/Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/shabbosk?s=11⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/shabbi.kestenbaum/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hungary is heading into a pivotal election that could reshape the future of Europe—and influence the United States. In this episode of The Brief, Hungarian Deputy State Secretary Márton Ugrósdy joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to break down the election battlefield: migration and border enforcement, national sovereignty vs. EU pressure, energy policy, and the Russia-Ukraine war.The outcome could determine whether Viktor Orbán’s nationalist, MAGA-style project continues—or whether a rising opposition movement breaks through, with implications far beyond Hungary. 👇 Join the conversation — comment below and let us know what you think. ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Brief on PragerU.com: ⁠https://l.prageru.com/4uoSxNz⁠ 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at PragerU.com/podcasts: ⁠⁠https://l.prageru.com/40ZbPLH⁠⁠ Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru/⁠⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠⁠ Rumble: ⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU⁠⁠  Follow Shabbos: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest⁠  X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/shabbosk?s=11⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/shabbi.kestenbaum/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian, impressionist, and political commentator Ami Kozak joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to unpack the growing divide on the right over Israel, free speech, and the future of MAGA. From the viral Tucker Carlson–Mike Huckabee interview to the broader fight over how conservatives should talk about Israel, Kozak explains why the phrase “Israel has a right to exist” is often misunderstood—and why Israel is held to a standard no other country faces. They also discuss the debate over “platforming” controversial voices within the conservative movement, whether the right is developing its own version of cancel culture, and how online personalities are shaping internal ideological battles inside MAGA. Kozak also weighs in on Candace Owens controversies, the rise of what some call the “woke right,” and President Trump’s second term. Chapters: 00:16 — Have Jews Gotten Their DNA Tests Yet? 01:54 — Does Israel Have a "Right" to Exist? 06:43 — Is Israel a Unique Country? 09:03 — Candace Owens and Israel's Muslim Quarter 12:00 — Who Defines Conservatism? 15:45 — Grifting in the Political World 22:43 — Assessing Trump One Year Out 👇 Join the conversation — comment below and let us know what you think. ⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Follow the show, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear this conversation! ▶️ Watch more episodes of The Brief on PragerU.com: https://l.prageru.com/4uoSxNz 👉 What else is PragerU unpacking? From timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager to unfiltered Real Talk with Marissa Streit — discover your next favorite at PragerU.com/podcasts: ⁠https://l.prageru.com/40ZbPLH⁠ Follow PragerU: YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PragerU⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/prageru/⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠https://x.com/prageru⁠ Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/prageru⁠ Rumble: ⁠https://rumble.com/c/PragerU⁠  Follow Shabbos: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shabboskest  X/Twitter: https://x.com/shabbosk?s=11 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shabbi.kestenbaum/ Follow Ami Kozak: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amikozak_official/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/amiKozak YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amikozak_official Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Asst Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon (DOJ Civil Rights Division) joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to break down the Minneapolis church disruption case against Don Lemon, why the DOJ says this isn’t “criminalizing journalism,” and where free speech ends and obstruction begins. The AAG also explains how the Trump administration plans on confronting theatrical journalism and judicial activism.   They also discuss the FACE Act being applied to houses of worship, time/place/manner rules for protests, and why the DOJ is using federal tools—including withholding funds—to push elite universities to address religious discrimination and antisemitism on campus.  Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Follow Harmeet K. Dhillon: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why did the US attack Iran? In this episode of The Brief: Insights From The Inside, Shabbos Kestenbaum sits down with Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yachiel Leiter, to break down the latest strikes, Iran’s ballistic missile threat, and what comes next. What are the war aims—nukes, missiles, regime change? Ambassador Leiter explains why Israel and the U.S. view Iran’s enrichment and missile programs as an urgent threat, how this campaign differs from Iraq and Afghanistan, and what “regime toppling” means in practice. Plus: the Abraham Accords, Iran’s proxy network, and what he says to Gen Z Americans worried about a “forever war.” Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Follow Ambassador Yachiel Leiteri: X/Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mexican Cartel violence, illegal immigration, ICE, and national security—all connected. Ammon Blair (Texas Public Policy Foundation, former Border Patrol) lays out how cartel smuggling networks exploit loopholes, generate “ghost” identities, and create forced allegiance through debt, coercion, and corruption. What happens when Interpol hits after release? Why do sanctuary policies matter? And why does Blair argue the most “humane” approach starts with local-federal cooperation? 01:13 — Where the border stood when Trump took office 02:17 — “Asylum is discretionary” + expedited removal logic 03:08 — ICE funding surge + why targeting data is messy 04:15 — Cartels selling fake IDs/addresses: “human cargo” as a product 05:26 — Why bad intake data becomes a “needle in a haystack” later 06:18 — Are cartels finding workarounds now? 06:40 — “Indebted to the cartels” → forced allegiance across 50 states 08:19 — “How much manpower to move millions?” corruption supply chain 09:11 — “Inability to vet any foreign national” (what that means) 09:22 — Fake families + no rapid DNA tests 10:13 — “Ghosts”: fingerprints but no origin-country data sharing 11:00 — Terror watch list hits AFTER release → “hunting game” 11:58 — Yes/No: terror-watchlist individuals inside the U.S. 12:17 — Response to anti-ICE protests + disruption manuals 13:43 — Sanctuary cities & local cooperation with ICE 14:09 — “Florida is the model” + bottom-up enforcement 16:00 — “Average illegal immigrant” question (dishwasher/Home Depot) 17:08 — Why enforcement = sovereignty + mapping cartel networks 18:49 — Closing: legal vs illegal immigration distinction Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook To watch other episodes from The Brief, visit: prageru.com/shows/the-brief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canadian Lawyer-turned-political commentator Viva Frei breaks down Canada’s most controversial policies—including MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) and how it exploded to ~5% of deaths, how alleged abuses creep from “terminal illness” to “deathcare” and why a “voluntary” gun buyback can still land owners in prison. They dig into Canada’s China ties, migration and radicalization risks , and even the Trump annexation talk—what it was, and wasn’t). 00:00:46 – What MAID is & how it expanded 00:01:57 – From “terminal” to mental illness & scope creep 00:03:07 – Cases: “deathcare,” Simons ad, state-sanctioned killing 00:04:05 – Mrs. B: euthanized after saying she wanted hospice 00:06:07 – The money angle: projected “savings” from MAID 00:07:46 – Organ donation & policy stacking 00:08:56 – MAID as a top cause of death (Quebec spike) 00:10:17 – Gun policy & the “voluntary” buyback → prison 00:12:00 – Order-in-Council bans, criminals vs. lawful owners 00:14:16 – CCP infiltration claims & security implications 00:17:13 – Trump’s “annexation” talk and what he really wanted 00:18:55 – Radical Islam, protests, and security gaps 00:22:11 – Why Canadians are leaving & closing Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Follow Viva Frei on social: Instagram Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What actually is the “Epstein client list”? Journalist Michael Tracey breaks down the new “Epstein Files,” why so much is redacted, how Epstein made his money, the Mossad rumors, and the biggest question of all: did Epstein kill himself? Tracey separates evidence from internet lore—and explains why some “maximalist” theories don’t match the record. If you care about facts over vibes, watch this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former political prisoner Amir Fahrovar (National Iranian Congress) joins The Brief to explain what Iranians are facing under an internet/media blackout, the reported death toll and mass detentions, and why many protesters want a Constitutional Republic—not a monarchy or theocracy. We discuss the IRGC, foreign proxies, the 1979 legacy, and a day-after plan for free elections and a written constitution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gen Z isn’t just polarized by politics—it’s split by sex. Journalist & creator Emily Austin joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to unpack the Gen Z gender divide: why many young men chase masculinity, purpose, crypto, and porn substitutes—while many young women prioritize career, independence, and influencer culture. We dig into the manosphere, OnlyFans, faith’s comeback, and what both sides actually want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iran’s regime is “a theocratic autocracy” waging war by proxy—from Hamas and Hezbollah to militias and the Houthis—while crushing dissent at home. In this in-depth of The Brief, Jonathan Schanzer (FDD) explains Iran’s power structure, the protest waves since 2009, what recent nuclear site strikes actually set back, the state of the economy/sanctions, and how proxy networks amplify Tehran’s reach.  We also cover Khamenei’s system vs. elections, internet blackouts, terror finance, and what a post-regime Middle East might look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harvard historian James Hankins joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to explain why he’s leaving Harvard—from the collapse of Western civilization surveys to the rise of DEI-driven hiring, foreign-donor influence, and how university priorities shifted from excellence to activism. Hankins details the move from Western/US history to “global” frames, alleges systemic admissions bias, unpacks the two-book tenure standard and its demise, discusses China funding/Lieber fallout, and reacts to President Alan Garber’s promised reforms. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Venezuelan political refugee and Manhattan Institute fellow Daniel Di Martino joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to break down the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro—why Venezuelans are celebrating, what this means for drug trafficking, migration, oil, and U.S. interests, and how a real transition to democracy could unfold. We cover comparisons to Panama/Noriega vs. Iraq/Afghanistan, the role of international law, regional shockwaves (Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia), and what freedom could look like for the 9 million Venezuelan refugees. All this and more on this episode of The Brief: Insights From The Inside. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rafael Mangual (Manhattan Institute; Criminal (In)Justice) joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to unpack the shootings in Bondi Beach and Brown University, as well as America’s gun debate. He explains how the U.S. violence problem is hyper-concentrated, the problem with gun bans, and how the best solutions are targeted policing, prosecution, and incapacitation. We cover Heller/McDonald/Bruen, background checks, “well-regulated” means in the 2nd Amendment, self-defense realities, and why homicide fell ~1990–2014 without new national gun control. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CNN commentator and strategist Scott Jennings joins host Shabbos Kestenbaum to break down U.S. immigration policy, the Minnesota Medicaid fraud scandal, and why he believes Western civilization is under real pressure—from mass migration impacts to campus radicalism. Jennings explains how Europe’s crisis reshaped politics, why assimilation matters, what’s alleged in Minnesota’s Somali fraud cases, and the policy levers the U.S. can use to protect civil society and the rule of law. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former police officer Brandon Tatum joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to break down why “defund the police” fails in practice—using New York City as the case study. Brandon breaks down Mamdani’s defund agenda, and what it really does to NYPD morale, recruiting, and safety—plus the data vs the discourse, the use of the National Guard in American cities, attacking ICE agents, political violence, BLM, and why fatherhood and mentorship matter more than slogans. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Exiled Qatari dissident Sheikh Khalid Al-hail joins The Brief to lay out his case against Qatar’s ruling monarchy—why he can’t live in Doha, how he says Hamas leaders operate from Qatar, and why he calls Al Jazeera a state intelligence platform. We dig into canceled elections, Muslim Brotherhood influence, influencer junkets, and the billions allegedly flowing to U.S. universities. If you follow Middle East politics, media power, or campus activism, don’t miss this deep dive! Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gen Z is bucking the narrative. Christian Collins—founder of the Texas Youth Summit—joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to explain why church attendance among young Americans is rising, how COVID-era isolation pushed a new search for meaning, and what families, mentors, and faith communities can do to guide the next generation. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and speaker James Lindsay joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to unpack the “woke right”—what it is, where it came from, and how a very online movement is leaking into real-world politics. We cover definitions (critical theory, reactionary currents), cancel-culture mirror tactics, the “trust me, bro” power play, and why Israel has become a coalition-splitting wedge issue on the right. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Best-selling author Gerald Posner (Case Closed) joins The Brief: Insights From The Inside to break down the JFK assassination—what the evidence shows, what it doesn’t, and why it became “the mother of all conspiracy theories.” We cover Lee Harvey Oswald’s motives and Mexico City trip, the Zapruder film, the grassy knoll and ear-witness confusion, the House Select Committee’s infamous dictabelt error, autopsy photos/X-rays, Jack Ruby, and why CIA/Mafia/Castro/KGB/Mossad narratives don’t fit the facts. Posner also reconstructs the shots from the Texas School Book Depository, explains why the driver’s slowdown mattered, and answers the big question: What kind of president might JFK have been if Dallas never happened? Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Army Captain and interrogator Jesse Petrilla joins The Brief: Insights From The Inside to unpack the jihadist long game—from recruiting child suicide bombers and weaponizing Western campuses to why phrases like “You have the watches, we have the time” matter. Drawing on 400+ detainee interrogations, Petrilla explains how Islamist extremists think, how they use deception, madrassas, and generational planning, and what free societies can do to defend Western values without apology.   Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Brief: Insights From The Inside, Venezuelan exile and PragerU host Franklin Camargo explains how one of the world’s most resource-rich nations became a narco-state—from nationalization and price controls to cartel power and mass poverty—and why U.S. policy should treat Venezuela, China, Russia, and Iran as a connected threat. Camargo details election illegitimacy, cartel ties, why “America First means securing our borders,” and what Gen Z gets wrong about socialism vs. capitalism. He closes with a stark picture of daily life in Caracas—and a warning for Americans flirting with the same policies. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren explains why the new Gaza ceasefire is fundamentally different: not just a pause in fighting, but a roadmap tied to Gaza stabilization, expanding the Abraham Accords, and a broader regional reset. Oren warns about unprecedented foreign monitors on Israeli soil, debates whether Hamas disarmament is realistic, and lays out how American power, Iran deterrence, and pressure on Qatar/Hamas shaped the deal. He also tackles tough questions on hostage-for-prisoner swaps, the political future of Netanyahu, and how Israel can win back young American opinion. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Brief: Insights From The Inside, host Shabbos Kestenbaum sits down with Rep. Nancy Mace (SC-01) to discuss protecting women’s rights, keeping gender ideology out of K-12 classrooms, and demanding accountability in the Epstein files so victims see justice—because, as Mace says, “no one is above the law.” She also talks school policy (parental consent and age-appropriate content), why faith and personal experience drive her advocacy for victims, and how to keep kids safe while strengthening families and communities. < Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shabbos Kestenbaum sits down with Rep. Brandon Gill (TX-26) who gives an update on the government shutdown, explains the need for tougher immigration enforcement, and discusses his law-and-order approach to repeat offenders. They also hit judicial overreach, nationwide injunctions, and what it would take to reopen the federal government. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Follow Shabbos on social media: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) joins Shabbos Kestenbaum to break down the 2025 government shutdown: who’s actually responsible, what it will mean for everyday Americans, and whether the standoff could backfire on Democrats. Lawler recounts tense exchanges involving Hakeem Jeffries; explains why “this isn’t a Republican shutdown”; and lays out what concessions would re-open the government.  Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who is behind the anti-ICE violence in major cities across the U.S.? Are ICE and other law enforcement organizations really grabbing people off the streets? And how does this fit into Trump’s broader border and immigration policies? Shabbos speaks with cartel and border threat expert Jaeson Jones who explains what’s really happening on America’s streets. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What really happened at the event Bill Ackman hosted in the Hamptons? Did pro-Israel advocates really attempt to force Charlie Kirk into abandoning support for Israel? Shabbos speaks with political commentator and attorney Josh Hammer - who was at the meeting - to get to the truth. Get all our content ad-free on PragerU.com or download the PragerU app: https://l.prageru.com/45GvWlu Follow PragerU on social media: YouTube Instagram X/Twitter Facebook Rumble Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices