Podcaster Shawn Ryan Details Bullying of Critics With Legal Threats [WATCH]

Shawn Ryan detailed a public dispute with Dan Crenshaw, saying he ultimately retracted an invitation for Crenshaw to appear on his show after disagreements over legal documents and what Ryan described as last-minute maneuvering by Crenshaw’s team.

In a statement addressing his audience, Ryan said the conflict stemmed from a cease and desist letter he received from Crenshaw and subsequent threats of legal action.

“It’s 2026 and this is not how I wanted to kick my new year off, but here we are,” Ryan said. “It’s one of those times where I need to be honest and transparent with you guys, because I always have been.”

Ryan said he responded to the initial cease and desist by inviting Crenshaw onto his program, an invitation Crenshaw accepted. Ryan said he scheduled the appearance for Jan. 2, contingent on Crenshaw signing a standard release form.

“I invited him on the show, then he challenged me. I accepted,” Ryan said.

“I said, Okay, perfect. January 2 to come on the show, you have to sign a release form.”

Ryan said the release form is a standard requirement for guests and has been signed by all guests appearing on the show since its early episodes.

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“Everybody that’s been on this show since around episode 10 has signed a release form,” Ryan said.

“President Trump, JD, Vance, Tulsi, Gabbard, Joe Kent, lots of very important people, much more important than a congressman, have signed that release form.”

Ryan said the requirement also applied to recent high-profile officials.

“Everybody that has been interviewed in the new studio has signed the exact same release form,” he said.

“So Dan Driscoll, Secretary of the Army, signed the exact same release form. Mike Walsh, former National Security Advisor and Ambassador to the UN signed the exact same release form just a few days ago.”

According to Ryan, Crenshaw and his legal team refused to sign the release form and instead requested changes.

“Dan and his attorneys, they don’t want to sign the release form. They want special concessions,” Ryan said.

Ryan said his team sent the release form on Dec. 26 and received proposed revisions that he rejected.

“We said we’re not making any special circumstances or modifying our release form for the congressman,” Ryan said.

“I’m sorry that’s not going to happen, but we will make some special concessions for his protection on another document and send that over.”

Ryan said neither document was signed.

“Well, they have yet to sign either one of those documents,” he said.

“I have to have those documents signed to interview somebody. Everybody’s done it.”

Ryan said he anticipated a delay tactic and discussed it with his attorney.

“I talked to my attorney. I said, I think this is what’s going to happen,” Ryan said.

“They are going to wait until close of business on New Year’s Eve to send some type of a communication in hopes that we don’t get it.”

Ryan said he then received an email late on New Year’s Eve from Crenshaw’s campaign manager.

“Well, guess what? We get an email at 10 o’clock at night from Dan’s campaign manager on New Year’s Eve,” Ryan said.

He noted that the message confirmed travel plans but did not address the unsigned release forms.

“They said we’re booked. We’ve booked the hotel that you’ve recommended. Will somebody be there to pick us up?” Ryan said.

“There was no mention of the release forms.”

Ryan said he believed the situation was setting up a public dispute and decided to withdraw the invitation.

“So here’s what’s going to happen,” Ryan said.

“Dan, I am now redacting my invitation for you to come on my show.”

Ryan said the invitation had provided Crenshaw an opportunity to address allegations publicly.

“I gave you the opportunity to speak to five and a half million people and prove to them that you are not insider trading,” Ryan said.

“That’s a f**king gift, I might add, a gift that not very many people get, and you turned it down.”

Ryan said he viewed the episode as part of a broader pattern.

“When we talked to your campaign manager, they said, Oh, we send a lot of these letters out, and usually this takes care of it,” Ryan said.

“This is what you do, Dan, you’re a bully.”

Ryan concluded by saying the dispute had revealed what he described as Crenshaw’s tactics toward critics.

“So from now on, if you want to scrutinize Congressman Dan, this is what’s going to happen,” Ryan said.

“You’re going to get a harshly written letter. Threatening to sue you if you don’t take the content down and make a public apology.”

He added, “You’ve been exposed, Dan.”

WATCH:

To: My Audience and @DanCrenshawTX pic.twitter.com/B8BmsYbntX

— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyan762) January 1, 2026