Ep. 2353 - Another Ridiculous Media LIE About ICE!

Summary of Ep. 2353 - Another Ridiculous Media LIE About ICE!

by The Daily Wire

1h 1m•January 23, 2026
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Overview of Ep. 2353 — Another Ridiculous Media LIE About ICE!

Host: Ben Shapiro (The Daily Wire)

This episode pushes back on recent mainstream-media coverage of immigration enforcement in Minneapolis — especially a viral claim that ICE “arrested a five‑year‑old” — and surveys related political, legal, and geopolitical topics: ICE tactics and warrants, local vs. federal cooperation, DOJ prosecutions of protesters who stormed a church, election implications for 2026, a rundown of foreign‑policy moves (Cuba, Iran, Syria, Gaza), and cultural items (Michelle Obama on Call Her Daddy, 2026 Oscar nominees). The show also contains multiple sponsor segments (CookUnity, NetSuite, ZipRecruiter) and a promo for Daily Wire programming.

Key points and takeaways

  • The viral headline that “ICE arrested a five‑year‑old” is misleading. According to DHS, when agents tried to detain the father he fled and the child remained in the vehicle; the father and child are now reportedly held in a Texas detention center with active asylum claims.
  • School officials and legacy outlets presented the image and story in a way that implied ICE used the child as “bait.” Shapiro argues media amplified a misleading narrative rather than reporting the fuller context.
  • Legal context: ICE/DHS are relying more on administrative warrants and final removal orders to enter homes in some cases (a civil/administrative warrant theory distinct from criminal judge‑signed warrants). This shift is controversial and likely to be litigated.
  • Local cooperation matters. Shapiro (citing VP J.D. Vance and others) argues communities that cooperate with federal authorities see fewer enforcement problems; places like Minneapolis, with local resistance to ICE, have greater friction and publicized incidents.
  • DOJ arrested three people who disrupted a church service in St. Paul; they were charged under the FACE Act (law that criminalizes force/obstruction of religious worship). Nekima Levy‑Armstrong is among those arrested. Don Lemon was proposed for indictment but a judge rejected that attempt.
  • Political stakes for 2026: Democrats currently hold polling advantages in some generic ballots; both parties risk alienating voters when they embrace extreme rhetoric (examples: proposals to make ICE agents unemployable in certain states; calls to defund ICE).
  • Foreign policy:
    • Cuba: Trump administration reportedly seeking Cuban insiders to encourage regime change, inspired by developments in Venezuela.
    • Iran: U.S. positioning naval forces toward Iran after threats/executions reported; Trump warned of strong response if Iran executed mass hangings.
    • Syria: U.S. considering troop withdrawal as Syrian government reasserts control over Kurdish regions; implications for Kurdish partners and regional stability.
    • Gaza: Jared Kushner presented an ambitious $25B+ reconstruction vision at Davos contingent on demilitarization of Hamas within 100 days — Shapiro questions feasibility and enforcement.
  • Culture: Michelle Obama’s appearance on Call Her Daddy was discussed critically; Shapiro finds the interview's framing and content misaligned with its host’s origins. Quick Oscar commentary: several mainstream picks called overrated (e.g., One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke praised; Wicked and Ariana Grande discussed as snubs.

Topics discussed (organized)

ICE / Immigration enforcement

  • Origin of the viral “five‑year‑old arrested” story: image from school district; New York Times coverage criticized for framing.
  • DHS account: father fled when agents arrived; child left in vehicle; family reportedly in Texas detention facility; both have asylum claims.
  • Administrative warrants vs. judicial warrants:
    • DHS/ICE memo (reported by WSJ) expands authority to enter homes to execute final removal orders (administrative/civil basis).
    • Legal precedent and the Immigration and Nationality Act allow administrative warrants in some contexts; Fourth Amendment challenges and contested entries will be litigated.
  • Flores Agreement history: constraints on holding children at border/reunification issues contributed to enforcement complexity.
  • Public perception: polling shows many Americans disapprove of ICE enforcement (Quinnipiac). Shapiro: media misperception fuels hostility.

DOJ arrests and FACE Act

  • Three arrests for storming a St. Paul church during service (protest targeting local ICE official who pastors there).
  • FACE Act prohibits force/threat/physical obstruction interfering with religious worship; bipartisan origin (1994) — aimed to protect abortion clinics and prevent church disruptions.
  • Church/attorney statements: "The First Amendment does not allow premeditated plots... to violate sanctity of a sanctuary" — Renee Carlson (City’s Church general counsel).
  • Don Lemon: federal prosecutors attempted to indict him for presence/coordination; magistrate judge rejected indictment; conflict‑of‑interest concerns noted (judge’s wife works under MN AG Keith Ellison).

Politics / 2026 implications

  • Democrats show early polling advantages on the generic ballot; both parties risk political damage by embracing extreme positions on immigration.
  • Examples of extreme state rhetoric: Eric Swalwell (make ICE agents unemployable in California), proposals in Virginia for taxes and softer crime/immigration stances.
  • GOP opportunities: improving economic sentiment (NYT/Siena polling) and better articulation of enforcement objectives could help Republicans.

Foreign policy

  • Cuba: administration reportedly seeking regime insiders to catalyze change; policy moves to cut Cuba’s hard currency sources (medical mission sanctions, visa bans).
  • Iran: U.S. deploying carrier strike group (USS Abraham Lincoln noted) toward region after potential mass executions and red‑line warnings; Trump’s statements about strong response.
  • Syria: U.S. considering full troop withdrawal after the Syrian government reclaimed parts of northeast; concerns about abandoning Kurdish partners and normalizing ties with Assad.
  • Gaza reconstruction plan: Jared Kushner’s Davos presentation envisions rapid, large‑scale reconstruction contingent on demilitarization of Hamas — Shapiro raises enforcement/realism doubts.
  • Europe/Davos: German chancellor Friedrich Merz urged deregulation and stronger transatlantic ties; pushback and negotiations with EU flagged.

Culture / Awards

  • Michelle Obama on Call Her Daddy: criticized for tone/subject matter and perceived contradictions.
  • 2026 Oscars: mixed opinions — Sinners with many noms; Ben criticizes One Battle After Another as overrated; comments on other notable films and snubs (Ethan Hawke praise; Wicked/Ariana Grande snub).

Notable quotes & excerpts

  • “The First Amendment does not allow premeditated plots or coordinated actions to violate the sanctity of a sanctuary, disrupt worship and intimidate small children.” — Renee Carlson (City’s Church counsel)
  • “We have a big force going toward Iran.” — President Trump (as quoted on US naval movements)
  • “Chanting cannot be a crime is freedom of expression.” — Minnesota AG Keith Ellison (paraphrase from his remarks)
  • Shapiro’s framing: legacy media “made things up” about ICE using children as bait; such examples are chosen because “the broad policy is largely inarguable” and media search for outrages.

Legal & factual nuances highlighted

  • Distinction between civil/administrative warrants (used for immigration removals) and criminal judge‑signed warrants; Supreme Court precedent allows some administrative entries but there are Fourth Amendment limits.
  • Flores Agreement history complicates custody/release/detention of children in immigration cases.
  • FACE Act language criminalizes force/obstruction that interferes with worship; the law was bipartisan and tied to protecting abortion clinics and houses of worship.

Actionable recommendations / suggested next steps (for listeners)

  • Treat viral headlines about law‑enforcement events with caution — seek official agency statements (DHS/ICE), court records, and local reporting that provides full context.
  • Follow litigation outcomes: administrative warrant policy, Fourth Amendment challenges, and indictments tied to the church incident.
  • Monitor polling and state/municipal policy shifts on immigration enforcement for 2026 electoral implications.
  • For deeper context on specific segments mentioned: see the WSJ coverage of ICE memo, DOJ statements on FACE Act prosecutions, and primary reporting from Minnesota outlets on the church incident.

Sponsors & promos mentioned (brief)

  • CookUnity — chef‑designed meals (promo code: Ben for 50% off).
  • NetSuite — AI‑powered cloud ERP (free guide: netsuite.com/shapiro).
  • ZipRecruiter — hiring platform (ziprecruiter.com/dailywire).
  • Film promo: Melania (in theaters Jan 30).
  • Daily Wire promotions: Pendragon cycle — Rise of the Merlin (episodes released), membership promo code Shapiro.

Bottom line

The episode rebuts a prominent media narrative about ICE “arresting a five‑year‑old,” provides legal context for immigration enforcement tactics (administrative warrants vs. criminal warrants), supports DOJ action against protesters who disrupted a church under the FACE Act, and ties these controversies into broader political and geopolitical themes heading into 2026. Ben Shapiro urges skepticism of immediate outrage coverage and emphasizes the interplay of local cooperation, legal authority, and political rhetoric in shaping enforcement outcomes.