Menu
Sign In Search Podcasts Charts People & Topics Add Podcast API Blog Pricing
Podcast Image

Digital Social Hour

James O'Keefe: “Fear Is Worse Than Corruption.” | DSH #1764

18 Jan 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the connection between immigration and money?

0.031 - 2.657 James O'Keefe

I felt the immigrants, sometimes they're vilified.

0

Chapter 2: How does James O'Keefe view the illusion of power?

2.797 - 9.011 James O'Keefe

I think it's the system, the border being open, and the NGOs in the United States that house them. It's all about money.

0

Chapter 3: Why do leaders hesitate to blow the whistle?

9.151 - 13.761 James O'Keefe

And I didn't know that. I went into that investigation thinking, oh, there's some sinister plot.

0

Chapter 4: How does James overcome fear in his work?

13.842 - 14.222 James O'Keefe

No, no, no.

0

Chapter 5: What insights did James gain from his investigation 'Line in the Sand'?

14.423 - 15.846 James O'Keefe

It's all about money.

0

21.614 - 25.798 Unknown

Alright guys, here at Amfest, last day, and we're still alive, we're still here, James O'Keefe.

0

Chapter 6: How do NGOs and cartels influence the border crisis?

25.818 - 28.261 Unknown

We're still doing it. Yeah. I have so much energy.

0

28.961 - 35.788 James O'Keefe

I have so much energy. I saw you at the rave, you had a lot of energy. You know, movement begets movement, so that's how it goes.

0

Chapter 7: What role does blackmail and bribery play in politics?

36.068 - 37.99 James O'Keefe

I was drenched in sweat.

0

Chapter 8: Why are small, unbreakable teams more effective than large movements?

38.19 - 54.431 James O'Keefe

Yeah. I was doing DJing, dancing, I was singing, I was producing, I was directing, we were in disguise, it was a lot of fun. Yeah, you had a great event, man. You gave a killer speech, too. Well, thank you. You saw that? Yeah, I saw you call up. I called Cash. I saw that. Because everyone's like, you know, I was raided and the injustice is like, oh, call Pam Bondi. Call Trump.

0

54.512 - 71.179 James O'Keefe

It's like, if the administration of justice requires you personally call the person in charge, I kind of reject the premise, but okay. I'll call Cash Patel, put him on speaker, left him a voice. Now, you know, I don't think Cash is a bad guy. I think if you put Jesus Christ in charge of the FBI, he'd probably fail. Yeah.

0

71.159 - 89.826 James O'Keefe

It's just the nature of, you know, bureaucracy and corruption and the system is broken and people are bribed and blackmailed. But as a point, I called him. He said, all right, let's see what he says. He hasn't called me back yet. He didn't respond, Doc. No. I mean, I'm sure he saw it, but... Yeah, he definitely saw it. I know him. I met him a couple times. I know his girlfriend. I...

0

89.806 - 106.085 James O'Keefe

I just think the system is totally corrupt, and I don't know if it could be saved. It makes you wonder how much authority he actually has over, because there's thousands of agents, right? I think it's the illusion of power, the illusion. If I put, again, if I put, you seem like a good guy. If I put you in charge of the FBI, you'd fail. I'd fail. We'd all fail. Jesus would fail.

0

107.067 - 127.742 James O'Keefe

But as a leader, there are certain things you could blow the whistle on it. Like when Bongino, remember when Bongino tweeted out, I've seen things in the depths of my soul. Tell us what it is. Why would you tease us, Dan? I love you, Dan, but just tell us what you saw so you could blow the whistle on what you see. But that requires enormous courage. We'll see.

127.762 - 144.645 James O'Keefe

Have you spoke to Dan since he announced his departure? No, I'd love to. I like Dan. I've been on his show and... Did you know the tweet I'm talking about? Yeah, it was a few months ago. He's like, I've seen things that have bothered me in the depths of my soul, and I think we all want to know what that is. Everyone thought it was related to the files, which got released yesterday, right? Right.

144.845 - 166.355 James O'Keefe

Redacted, but... And I think it's that people are afraid of what might happen to them if they tell the truth about these things. Yeah. And if we all are scared, I think fear is worse than corruption. Good people being afraid? Worse than greed and corruption. Wow. So if we're all in this together and we just tell the truth, we'll make it. But if we're all afraid, we won't make it.

166.556 - 191.1 James O'Keefe

And a lot of people are living afraid. I think fear is the worst thing in society. Much, much worse than evil people doing evil things is good people doing nothing. How did you get rid of your fear? How do you get rid of fear? You focus on the goodness. You focus on the passion. Like me. People have the wrong impression I think about me. I'm an artist. I'm a journalist, which is a form of art.

191.46 - 213.038 James O'Keefe

I'm focused on getting the story. I'm not focused on the fear. Don't focus on fear. Focus on the beauty and the truth and the goodness or whatever it is that you're fighting for. Like I'm also a musician. I'm also a dancer. I'm a warrior poet. I'm not focused on power and ambition. And if you're focused on the ambition and getting power, I think that's when the fear comes in.

Comments

There are no comments yet.

Please log in to write the first comment.