Politics is usually a pretty dry affair, mostly consisting of old men in suits arguing about sub-clauses and budget allocations that would put a caffeinated toddler to sleep. But every now and then, something happens that feels more like a scene from a sitcom.
Enter the Kash Patel bingo card.
If you were scrolling through social media during the early months of 2025, you probably saw a flurry of memes involving a grid of buzzwords and the face of the now-FBI Director. It wasn't just a joke among internet trolls, though. This thing actually made it into the hallowed halls of the Senate.
The Day the Bingo Card Went Viral
It was January 30, 2025. The Senate Judiciary Committee was gathered for one of the most contentious confirmation hearings in recent memory: the nomination of Kash Patel to lead the FBI.
Everyone expected fireworks. Democrats were ready with stacks of research on Patel’s past comments about "coming after" the media and his involvement in the Nunes Memo. Republicans were ready to defend him as the ultimate reformer who would finally "clean house" at the Bureau.
But Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, decided to bring a prop.
He held up a sheet of paper titled "K$H Patel Bingo." It wasn't just for show; he was dead serious. Tillis told the room that he’d created the card to keep track of what he called the "unfounded litany of quotes and half-truths" he expected from the other side of the aisle.
"I've already X’d out four boxes in the opening statements alone," Tillis remarked, sounding more like a guy at a Tuesday night community center game than a U.S. Senator.
What was actually on the card?
You might think it was just random political jargon, but the squares were carefully chosen to mock the Democratic line of questioning. Honestly, it was a pretty savvy move to preempt the narrative.
While a full official "key" wasn't handed out to the press like a press release, observers and reporters quickly pieced together the squares based on Tillis's comments and the visible text on the card. Some of the heavy hitters included:
- Enemies List: A reference to Patel’s 2022 book, Government Gangsters, where he listed various bureaucrats and officials he believed had "betrayed" the country.
- Deep State: The quintessential Trump-era buzzword for the permanent bureaucracy.
- January 6th: Specifically, Patel’s past comments calling the events of that day "not an insurrection" and his production of a song featuring the J6 prison choir.
- Weaponization: The idea that the DOJ has been used as a tool against political opponents.
- QAnon: Democrats often tried to link Patel to the conspiracy theory, though he denied any affiliation during the hearing.
- Stew Peters: A square dedicated to the controversial podcast host. Patel had appeared on his show eight times but famously told the committee he didn't know who Peters was "off the top of my head."
Tillis later claimed he hit "bingo" multiple times before the lunch break.
Why it mattered (and why it still does)
The bingo card wasn't just a stunt. It represented a fundamental shift in how political confirmation hearings work.
Traditionally, these hearings are supposed to be about a candidate’s qualifications. Patel, a former public defender and DOJ prosecutor, certainly had a resume, but that wasn't the focus. The bingo card signaled that the GOP viewed the opposition’s concerns not as legitimate oversight, but as a predictable script—a game where the moves were already known.
✨ Don't miss: National Nine News Australia Explained: What You Need To Know
Senator Amy Klobuchar didn't find it funny. She fired back, saying, "This is not about bingo cards or games... This is about the safety of our country."
It highlighted the massive gap in reality between the two parties. For one side, Patel was a dangerous loyalist being tracked via a meme; for the other, he was a hero whose "persecution" was so predictable you could play a game along with it.
The actual fallout
Despite the jokes and the bingo squares, the process moved forward with razor-thin margins.
Patel was eventually confirmed in February 2025 by a 51-49 vote. It was a strictly party-line affair, except for Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who jumped ship to vote "no" with the Democrats.
Since taking the top spot at the FBI, Patel hasn't exactly slowed down. By late 2025 and into early 2026, he had already overseen the removal of several Executive Assistant Directors and a significant number of Special Agents in Charge.
He basically did exactly what the bingo card suggested he would.
Misconceptions about the "Kash BINGO" card
A lot of people think this was a grassroots internet meme that Tillis just printed out. That's not quite right. Tillis’s team actually designed their version specifically for the hearing.
There's also a common belief that the card was meant to be insulting to Patel. Actually, it was the opposite. It was a defensive tool meant to make the Democratic senators look like they were just reading from a pre-written, repetitive script.
If you’re looking for a "Kash Patel bingo card" today, you'll find dozens of versions online created by both supporters and detractors. It has become a permanent fixture of political discourse whenever he testifies.
What to watch for next
Now that we’re in 2026, the "bingo" mentality hasn't really left D.C.
Patel is currently facing ongoing oversight hearings regarding the "retribution" lawsuits filed by former FBI officials. If you’re watching the live streams, keep an eye on the jargon. You can almost certainly make your own card at home.
The squares today would probably include:
- "Prospective and retrospective analysis"
- "Let good cops be cops"
- "Transparency and accountability"
- "Politicalization" (Patel’s favorite way to describe the previous administration)
If you're following the current FBI leadership saga, the best way to stay informed is to look past the props and memes. The real story isn't the bingo card—it's the actual policy shifts happening at the J. Edgar Hoover Building.
Keep an eye on the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reports. Those are the documents that actually verify if the "bingo squares" regarding illegal firings or political retribution are becoming a reality or staying in the realm of political theater. Watch for the 2026 quarterly briefings from the Senate Judiciary Committee to see if the "weaponization" narrative holds up under legal scrutiny.