Overview of Earthquake in California? (Ep. 2528)
Dan Bongino uses this episode to argue that California’s chaotic election process, declining trust in the media, and what he sees as Democratic extremism are interconnected signs of a broader political realignment. He celebrates continued audience growth, criticizes mail-in voting and ballot harvesting, warns that California down-ballot races could affect control of the U.S. House, and argues that conservatives need to stay engaged rather than “blackpill.” The episode also covers media credibility, ICE-related misinformation, law-and-order efforts, AI disruption, and a long interview with Vince Coglianese on the state of the press and elections.
California Election: “Earthquake” Results and Mail-In Ballot Concerns
Bongino frames the California results as a major political surprise, arguing that Republicans overperformed in a state he describes as structurally hostile to fair elections.
Main points
- He says California’s election system is slow, opaque, and vulnerable to fraud because of:
- mass mail-in voting
- ballot harvesting
- delayed vote counting
- He cites a New York Times article to argue that even left-leaning media outlets have acknowledged higher error/fraud risks with absentee voting.
- He repeatedly emphasizes that election results taking days or weeks is unacceptable and compares it to a “third world” system.
- He argues that even if Republicans like Spencer Pratt and Steve Hilton don’t win outright, their strong showing matters politically.
Strategic significance
- Bongino claims strong Republican candidates at the top of the ticket can boost turnout for:
- congressional races
- state-level races
- down-ballot Republicans in California
- He warns that if Republicans do not appear competitive in California, the party could lose House seats nationally because local GOP voters may stay home.
Media Trust Is Collapsing
A major theme of the episode is Bongino’s argument that the mainstream media has lost public trust because it repeatedly lies or distorts stories.
What he argues
- Trust in mass media has fallen dramatically over decades and is now at extremely low levels.
- He says the media refuses to admit mistakes, especially on:
- Russia collusion
- COVID policies
- masking
- school closures
- vaccine mandates
- He argues that outlets like CBS/“60 Minutes” and anchors like Scott Pelley exemplify activist journalism rather than objective reporting.
Key takeaway
Bongino says the decline in media trust directly explains why alternative media, podcasts, and independent creators continue to grow: people can see the truth for themselves and no longer rely on legacy outlets.
Democrats, Extremism, and Candidate Quality
Bongino and guest Vince Coglianese spend significant time discussing what they see as the Democratic Party’s increasingly radical and weak candidate bench.
Main criticisms
- He says Democrats are too fearful of their own activist base to reject extreme candidates.
- He cites several examples he views as disqualifying or alarming:
- candidates tied to extremist rhetoric
- candidates with antisemitic or anti-Israel associations
- candidates who support radical gender politics
- candidates with controversial backgrounds or past ties to terrorism-related figures
- He contrasts this with what he sees as a stronger Republican bench:
- Marco Rubio
- J.D. Vance
- Byron Donalds
- Brandon Gill
- others
Broader point
He argues that Republican infighting is often healthy and corrective, while Democratic infighting tends to be suppressed because the party is dominated by its most extreme factions.
Law Enforcement, ICE, and “Nothing Is Happening” Pushback
Bongino pushes back hard against narratives that portray the current administration as ineffective or passive on crime and immigration enforcement.
Topics covered
- FBI/NIH-related arrests over alleged monkeypox smuggling and false statements
- “Summer Heat 2.0” as a law-enforcement initiative aimed at reducing violent crime
- ICE facility unrest in New Jersey, which Bongino says is being misrepresented by liberal media
His view
- He says the administration has already made major gains on:
- border control
- crime reduction
- public safety
- He argues the media and Democrats minimize these accomplishments because they do not fit the narrative.
AI, Technology, and Future Disruption
Bongino briefly shifts to artificial intelligence, warning listeners not to dismiss it.
His argument
- AI is coming whether people like it or not.
- It should be treated like a major strategic technology, similar to email or even nuclear-era competition.
- He says the U.S. must move quickly so adversaries do not gain an advantage first.
Tone
He frames AI as a serious national-security and economic issue, not just a tech trend.
Odd/Local Color: Manholes, Security, and Live-Show Moments
The episode includes several lighter or unusual digressions:
- a viral clip of a woman falling through a manhole in Brazil
- a New York City story about people climbing out of sewer manholes at night
- a suspicious-looking figure near a political event that Bongino thinks may have triggered a security instinct
- comments from the live chat that he uses throughout the show for humor and audience engagement
These segments function more as commentary and atmosphere than as core political analysis.
Interview with Vince Coglianese: Media Failure and Political Realignment
A major segment of the show is Bongino’s conversation with conservative host Vince Coglianese.
Main discussion points
- The media’s credibility crisis
- Why people no longer trust legacy journalism
- How social media and independent media have broken the old information monopoly
- Why the California races matter as a bellwether for voter frustration
- Why ballot harvesting and mail-in voting remain serious concerns
- Why Democrats’ candidate quality is increasingly poor
Shared conclusion
Both argue that:
- the media should have admitted its mistakes long ago
- Democrats are being pulled toward more extreme positions
- conservatives need to stay engaged and not assume outcomes are predetermined
Core Takeaways
- California’s election system is a major target of Bongino’s criticism, especially mail-in ballots and delayed counts.
- Media trust is collapsing, and Bongino sees that as central to the rise of alternative media.
- Republican turnout in California matters nationally because down-ballot effects could influence the House majority.
- Democrats are portrayed as increasingly extreme and poorly led, with weak candidates and a radical base.
- The current administration is presented as effective on crime and the border, despite media skepticism.
- AI is coming fast, and Bongino says America has to adapt or fall behind.
Bottom Line
This episode is a high-energy political commentary show centered on California’s election, media distrust, and the broader struggle between establishment narratives and independent conservative media. Bongino’s main message is simple: don’t believe the doomers, stay in the fight, and recognize that local races, election integrity, and media accountability all matter to national power.