🚨 IMMEDIATE RELEASE 🚨 Rep. Dan Crenshaw Threatens to Sue Shawn Ryan...

11 Dec 2025 · 10 min · 5 chapters

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In short

Host Sean Ryan says he received a Dec 9, 2025 legal demand letter from Congressman Dan Crenshaw’s lawyers threatening a defamation lawsuit, demanding removal/apology/stop discussing him. Ryan argues his prior questions about Crenshaw’s wealth and stock trading are fair, and that Crenshaw’s Instagram message referencing “my boys at six” (SEAL Team Six) felt threatening.

Key claims

Crenshaw can’t explain expensive lifestyle/party on a $174,000 salary; news reports raise insider-trading concerns; Crenshaw’s response was intimidation via legal threats rather than answers.

Notable examples

Crenshaw allegedly had Steve Aoki DJ his party; Ryan publishes the Instagram screenshot and demand/response letters; Ryan cites a clip where Crenshaw says he’d “fucking kill” Tucker Carlson if he meets him.

Guests

No guests mentioned; episode is a host monologue.

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

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Context of Legal Threat

1:05 to 2:15

Shawn explains the circumstances surrounding the demand letter from Crenshaw's lawyers.

“On December 9th, 2025, I received a legal demand letter from lawyers representing Congressman Dan Crenshaw.”

Questions About Congressional Wealth

2:15 to 3:37

Discussion on the financial discrepancies of Congress members, particularly Crenshaw.

“I just brought up the fact that he was having Steve Aoki, a major DJ, spin at his party.”

Crenshaw's Message and Interpretation

3:37 to 4:37

Ryan shares the message from Crenshaw and his interpretation of it as a threat.

“From the comment you made, it sounds like you have some beliefs that are based on trendy narratives instead of facts.”

Response to Legal Demand

4:37 to 6:01

Shawn outlines his refusal to comply with Crenshaw's legal demands and discusses transparency.

“So I'm just curious, what would you think if Congressman Dan Crenshaw sent you a message saying his boys at six after he threatened to kill Tucker Carlson?”

Continued Questioning of Crenshaw

6:01 to 7:53

Ryan emphasizes the importance of questioning public officials' finances.

“He makes decisions that affect all of us.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

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0:33You're listening to a podcast, which means you're probably multitasking, maybe even scrolling home listings on Redfin, saving homes without expecting to get them. But Redfin isn't just built for endless browsing. It's built to help you find and own a home. With agents who close twice as many deals, when you find the one, you've got a real shot at getting it. Get started at redfin.com. Own the dream. I want to address something directly with all of you who've supported this show and made it what it is today. On December 9th, 2025, I received a legal demand letter from lawyers representing Congressman Dan Crenshaw.

1:15They are threatening to sue me for defamation because of comments I made on my podcast about a message that he sent me. They want me to remove content, issue a public apology, and stop talking about him. I'm not going to do any of that. Let me give you full context so you can judge for yourself. What I originally said a while back, I commented on my show about Congressman Crenshaw throwing an extremely expensive party and the fact that he seems to have become quite wealthy during his time in Congress. I raised questions about how a congressman making$174 ,000 a year can afford that kind of a lifestyle.

2:04These are legitimate questions. And to be honest, I didn't even mention Dan Crenshaw's name in that initial conversation. I just brought up the fact that he was having Steve Aoki, a major DJ, spin at his party. And then, you know, let's fast forward a couple years and they got Steve Aoki DJing their 40th birthday party. How does that happen? I don't have first-hand experience in this. I have often questioned the same thing. These are legitimate questions. Multiple news outlets have reported on concerns about congressional insider trading and members of Congress, including Congressman Crenshaw, actively trading stocks while having access to non-public information that affects those very stocks.

2:59I'm not the only person asking these questions, but apparently I'm the one that got under Dan's skin. After I made those comments, Congressman Crenshaw sent me an Instagram message. I'm going to publish the actual screenshot so you can see for yourself right here. Here's what it says. Hey Sean, you have the ability to contact your fellow team guy if you've got a problem with me or have questions about how I'm getting rich. Some of my boys at six told me about your indirect swipe at me. From the comment you made, it sounds like you have some beliefs that are based on trendy narratives instead of facts.

3:44Now, let me be clear about what I saw when I read that message. A sitting United States congressman who happens to be a former Navy SEAL sent me a message saying, my boys at six told me about my criticism of him. My boys at six, that means SEAL Team Six, Development Group, the most elite special operations unit in the United States military and arguably the world. When I received that message in the context of me criticizing him, I interpreted it as threatening. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe he just meant that some guys he used to work with told him about my comments, and he wanted to have a friendly chat.

4:30But that's not how it read to me, and I said so on my podcast. Now, here's a clip of Congressman Dan Crenshaw literally saying if he ever meets Tucker Carlson, he will fucking kill him. Have you ever met Tucker?

4:56So I'm just curious, what would you think if Congressman Dan Crenshaw sent you a message saying his boys at six after he threatened to kill Tucker Carlson? Now his lawyers are claiming that my interpretation of his message is defamation. They say I accused him of threatening me with assault, which is a crime, and that I need to publicly apologize and remove the content from my show. Here's my response. No. I'm publishing their full demand letter along with my lawyer's response so that you can read both and decide for yourself whether my interpretation was unreasonable. This isn't really about whether I misunderstood a message.

5:44This is about whether a sitting member of Congress can use the threat of an expensive litigation to silence criticism. I asked questions about Congressman Crenshaw's wealth. Those questions are fair game. He is a public official. He makes decisions that affect all of us. He trades stocks while having access to classified and non-public information. The public has a right to ask how he's getting rich while he's in office. Instead of answering those questions, he sent me a message that referenced SEAL Team 6. And when I said that message felt threatening, he lawyered up and demanded I apologize and shut up.

6:29And I won't. Now, what's going to happen next? If Congressman Crenshaw wants to sue me, he can. My lawyers are ready, and if he does, we're going to use the discovery process to get answers to all the questions I originally asked. Questions about his finances and how he affords the lifestyle he's living on a congressional salary. I suspect that's the last thing Dan actually wants. But here's what I think is really going on. Congressman Dan thought he could intimidate me into silence. He thought a legal threat would make me back down. But unfortunately, Dan, you're wrong. I'm a veteran. I've been in combat, too.

7:13I've faced actual threats. A demand letter from a D.C. law firm, unfortunately, does not scare me. So let me clarify my position for the record. Congressman Crenshaw sent me a message that said, My boys at six told me about my criticism of him. I interpreted that as threatening. Maybe he didn't intend it that way. Maybe he's just really bad at communication. But when a congressman invokes elite special operations forces into a message to someone who's criticizing him, that person is allowed to find it threatening. And you know what? I still want answers to my original questions. How has Congressman Crenshaw accumulated significant wealth while serving in Congress?

8:03What stocks has he traded and when? Did he have access to non-public information that affected those trades? How did he afford that expensive party? These are questions every American should be asking about every member of Congress. The fact that Congressman Crenshaw's response is to threaten litigation rather than provide answers tells you everything you need to know. To my audience, I'm publishing everything. The original message, the demand letter, my lawyer's response, because I believe in transparency. You've made this show what it is. You deserve to see all the facts and make your own judgment.

8:48If you think I misinterpreted the message, that's fine. Reasonable people can disagree, but I don't think my interpretation was unreasonable. and I'm certainly not going to apologize for asking legitimate questions about a public official's finances. To Congressman Crenshaw, sir, if you want to clarify what you meant by my boys at six, you're welcome to do so. If you want to answer your questions about your wealth accumulation and your stock trading, I'll give you airtime to do it. But if you think you're going to silence me with legal threats, you've badly miscalculated. I'm not going anywhere, and neither are the questions.

9:35Thank you, Dan. I'm sure we'll talk soon.

9:56No subbing out for water in the second half. Stock the fridge for tip-off with a variety of non-alcoholic craft styles available at your local grocery store or online at athleticbrewing.com. Near beer, fit for all times.

From the publisher

Shawn Ryan has a message.

Please see the links below for all references made in the video.

Link to the Cease and Desist: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1FBNqbg1a9WmbKZ4jVA-xaIn6t2P9EXQK

Tulsi Gabbard Episode Referencing the Party: https://youtu.be/hgbDlqzsbh0?t=5973

Tucker Carlson Threat: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0dpbfG_LAKE
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