California Patriot Profile: John Kobylt’s Unrelenting Voice for Accountability
A talk radio host galvanized millions to challenge Sacramento’s failures, driving action on California’s most significant issues.
⏱️ 3.5 minute read
From Jersey to SoCal: A Radio Revolution
John Kobylt’s path to Southern California radio began in the blue-collar neighborhoods of Paterson, New Jersey, where his working-class Catholic upbringing forged the steel in his voice. His father, Chester, a Polish immigrant who survived five grueling years in a Nazi labor camp, instilled in his son the kind of determination that refuses to bend. After leaving Seton Hall University behind, Kobylt cut his teeth in radio throughout upstate New York before landing in Atlantic City during the late 1980s. It was 1988 when fate paired him with Ken Chiampou, a numbers guy from Brentwood, New York, at a modest Atlantic City station. Radio gold emerged—Kobylt’s blazing passion perfectly balanced by Chiampou’s bone-dry humor. The chemistry was undeniable, and their New Jersey audience knew it. Word of their success traveled west, and KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles came calling. By 1992, they had packed their bags for California, ready to hold a new state accountable. At their peak, The John and Ken Show commanded 1.2 million weekly listeners, proving that their fearless broadcasting struck a nerve.
Sparking a Tax Revolt
Before California knew their names, Kobylt and Chiampou were busy making enemies of New Jersey politicians. Governor Jim Florio learned this the hard way when his tax increases became daily fodder for their show. Their coverage of the massive 1990 Hands Across New Jersey rally—which drew 65,000 angry taxpayers and sent their ratings through the roof—helped seal Florio’s political fate in the following election. Kobylt had discovered his superpower: transforming listener frustration into political momentum. This blueprint would serve him well once he reached California soil.
Fueling the Gray Davis Recall
The year 2003 marked Kobylt and Chiampou’s finest hour in California politics. Governor Gray Davis, whom they dubbed “Gumby” for what they saw as his spineless leadership, became their primary target as tax hikes mounted and the state budget spiraled into chaos. I repeatedly found myself on their show during those heated months, which was a lot of fun. When he called his army of listeners, the response was overwhelming — with hundreds, sometimes thousands, ready to sign recall petitions, show up at events, and vote to dump Davis. That grassroots pressure, amplified by Kobylt’s relentless commentary, proved decisive in the recall effort.
Exposing Fullerton’s Tragedy
When Kelly Thomas, a homeless man struggling with schizophrenia, died after a brutal beating by Fullerton police in 2011, Kobylt and Chiampou refused to let the story fade. Broadcasting directly from Fullerton City Hall, they transformed their show into a rallying cry for justice. Their listeners responded with characteristic intensity, jamming city phone lines and demanding answers. The sustained pressure they generated helped fuel the investigation that ultimately led to criminal charges against two officers. This campaign demonstrated something crucial about Kobylt’s approach—he does not just report outrage, he channels it into concrete action.
A Personal Connection
Beyond my appearances during the Davis recall drama, I have joined The John and Ken Show numerous times, including recent discussions with Kobylt about the South Coast Air Quality Management District regulatory nightmare. His interviewing style cuts through bureaucratic double-speak like a hot knife through butter, exposing how burdensome regulations strangle businesses and drain taxpayer wallets. Watching Kobylt work on air is watching a master craftsman—his passion burns bright, but his precision never wavers, keeping listeners entertained and educated throughout every exchange.
Solo and Stronger Than Ever
Skeptics wondered if Kobylt could maintain his show’s intensity after Ken Chiampou stepped away in December 2023. Those doubts proved unfounded. Flying solo now, Kobylt tackles Sacramento’s pension corruption and Newsom’s assault on the oil industry with undiminished fire. “I know what I want to do,” he explained to Barrett Media, choosing to forge ahead alone rather than compromise his vision with a new partner. His devoted audience has stuck with him, continuing to flood phone lines and take action whenever he sounds the alarm.
So, Does It Matter?
John Kobylt’s unfiltered, uncompromising, and utterly independent voice serves as a beacon for Californians drowning in government excess. From toppling governors to exposing city hall corruption, he transforms ordinary listeners into an unstoppable force, generating thousands to action that shakes the foundations of power. His career demonstrates how a determined voice, supported by an engaged audience, can move mountains. In a state where hardworking taxpayers often feel voiceless, Kobylt’s tireless crusade for accountability reminds us that change remains within reach.
Where Can You Listen?
You can find the John Kobylt show online here. The show is available to download on all of your favorite Podcasting apps. If you are in the Los Angeles Area, you can listen live on weekdays from 1-4pm on KFI 640 AM. You can follow the show on X here.
Each week we profile a California conservative. Previous profiles have been of the late Andrew Breitbart, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, Congressman Kevin Kiley, talk radio host Dennis Prager, HJTA President Jon Coupal, actor James Woods, Thomas Sowell, Julie Hamill, and Victor Davis Hansen. You can go to the main page and search “Patriot Profile” and see them all! Hansen was chosen after a reader-recommendation! If you have an idea for a patriot to profile, let me know at jon@sodoesitmatter.com!