Christian podcaster arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly threatening President Trump

Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times on Sep 3, 2026

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LOS ANGELES — Authorities arrested a podcaster at his Los Angeles-area home Thursday morning for allegedly threatening to kill the president of the United States.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California said in a post on X, that Benjamin Azariah Southworth, 40, was indicted by a grand jury on federal charges accusing him of "threatening to kill President Donald Trump, cyberstalking and making harassing interstate calls, and was arrested at his home.

In the post Essayli said Southworth is charged with posting videos calling for President Donald Trump's assassination, "then targeting the family of the President's personal attorney by publishing their home address and phone numbers, leaving voicemails threatening, 'justice comes to your door.'"

Southworth is a podcaster, writer and former television presenter of "The Remix," a syndicated youth reality and music television show that featured Christian artists. In 2008, Southworth revealed that he was gay and advocated for LGBTQ rights.

He currently helms the "Yass, Jesus!" podcast, an interfaith and sexuality affirming comedy show.

"Threats against the President of the United States are federal crimes," Essayli stated in the post. "We will not tolerate threats of political violence in the United States. My office will prosecute anyone who crosses that line to the fullest extent of the law."