Ep. 2358 - Don Lemon ARRESTED!

Summary of Ep. 2358 - Don Lemon ARRESTED!

by The Daily Wire

57m•January 30, 2026
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Overview of Ep. 2358 — Don Lemon ARRESTED! (The Daily Wire / Ben Shapiro)

Ben Shapiro opens the show with breaking coverage of the DOJ arresting former CNN anchor Don Lemon for his role in a January protest that disrupted a church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The episode reviews the legal questions around whether Lemon was acting as a journalist or took part in organizing the disruption (allegedly in violation of the FACE Act), broader fallout from the Minnesota protests and federal response, President Trump’s pick for Fed chair (Kevin Warsh) and Warsh’s economic philosophy, other political news (funding talks, DOJ charges, demographic shifts), and the media/political reactions.

Key topics covered

  • Don Lemon’s arrest by federal agents for alleged participation in/ conspiracy to disrupt services at a St. Paul church — potential FACE Act violations (interfering with religious services/ depriving rights).
  • The factual record and legal questions: magistrate judge initially rejected charges; DOJ pursued appeals and then carried out arrests; on-scene video and comments suggesting Lemon participated in “Operation Pull‑Up.”
  • Minnesota unrest around ICE enforcement: federal deployment, Tom Homan’s role, local political reactions (mayor Jacob Frey, Tim Walz, Kristi Noem), and accusations of extremists/overreach by Democrats.
  • Political rhetoric from Democrats likening ICE to Gestapo/SS (e.g., Gavin Newsom staff tweets) and the political risk for Democrats.
  • DOJ charging the alleged attacker who sprayed Rep. Ilhan Omar with a substance at a Minneapolis town hall.
  • White House / Senate negotiations to avert a partial government shutdown — short-term deal to separate DHS funding for later consideration.
  • President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to be Fed chair and Warsh’s policy prescriptions (reduce Fed’s balance sheet, limit Fed’s fiscal role, lower policy rates, bet on growth via AI).
  • Demographic/apportionment trends (2030 projection) favoring Sunbelt/red states (TX, FL) and losses in several blue states — political implications for Democrats.
  • Other items: Fulton County FBI search for 2020 election records; debates over voter ID; multiple Daily Wire programming promos sprinkled throughout.

Main takeaways

  • Don Lemon’s arrest turns on distinguishing journalism/“ride‑along” reporting from active conspiracy/coordination. DOJ alleges Lemon was part of a planned operation to disrupt a church service; Lemon claims he was reporting. Video clips and pre-protest remarks (e.g., reference to “Operation Pull‑Up”) are highlighted by Ben as evidence that will matter.
  • This arrest has been framed by many in the press/Left as a First Amendment crackdown; Shapiro views that framing skeptically and emphasizes the central legal question is whether Lemon helped plan/organize the disruption (logistics, site selection, transport, timing).
  • The Minnesota situation has produced intense partisan escalation: federal agents (ICE/DHS) have been thrust into confrontational enforcement operations, prompting local politicians and activists to amplify rhetoric and call for rollbacks; the administration seeks to re-focus enforcement on criminal aliens/public‑safety threats, with Tom Homan deployed to Minneapolis.
  • Kevin Warsh would represent an aggressive reorientation of Fed policy: roll back quantitative easing-style balance-sheet policymaking, shrink Fed asset holdings, limit Fed’s role in fiscal distribution, and pursue a pro-growth strategy anchored on technological productivity gains (AI). Warsh’s plan is high-risk/high-reward and depends on sustained private-sector growth.
  • Short-term politics: Democrats’ extreme rhetoric on ICE (e.g., “Gestapo” comparisons) risks alienating moderate voters even while it yields PR gains among activists; demographic/population shifts are structurally tilting some political maps toward Republican gains in coming reapportionment cycles.

Notable quotes & clips cited

  • Don Lemon’s lawyer Abby Lowell: “Don Lemon was taken into custody… Don has been a journalist for 30 years. His constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different.”
  • On-scene Lemon clip (from the protest): references to “Operation Pull‑Up,” praising organizers (Nakima Levy Armstrong) and saying “we’re going to follow them on” and “we’re going to surprise people… and hold them to account.”
  • Tom Homan: emphasized enforcing the law across administrations and focusing on criminal aliens/public‑safety threats.
  • Ben Shapiro’s framing: skeptical that the arrest is simply a First Amendment attack — “there is a fine line” between reporting and participating in the planning/commission of a crime.

Legal and evidentiary issues to watch (as presented)

  • Did Lemon participate in planning logistics (site selection, transport, coordination) or merely document an event he joined?
  • What documentary/communications evidence does the DOJ have (texts, calls, planning meetings, social posts)?
  • How will the FACE Act charges be framed (conspiracy to deprive rights; interference with religious exercise/house of worship)?
  • Impact of initial magistrate judge’s rejection of some charges and DOJ’s subsequent prosecutorial decisions.

Kevin Warsh — summary of his Fed views (concise)

  • Diagnosis: Fed has expanded beyond traditional central‑bank functions into a quasi‑fiscal role (large-scale bond buying/QE), which Warsh argues caused inflationary problems and distorted markets.
  • Key prescriptions:
    • Sell down a significant portion of the Fed’s bond holdings (reduce reserves in the banking system).
    • Limit Fed’s engagement in fiscal-style asset purchases; return Fed to narrower central‑bank core functions (backstop liquidity, set overnight rates).
    • Lower the federal funds rate to spur lending and investment (coupled with selling assets to avoid inflationary balance-sheet growth).
    • Rely on private-sector growth (AI-driven productivity) to generate disinflationary gains and higher real wages.
  • Risks highlighted:
    • Flooding the bond market with assets could push yields up (raising government borrowing costs).
    • Reducing bank reserves could tighten credit if banks hoard liquidity, causing higher borrowing costs for consumers.
    • Simultaneously lowering rates and shrinking the Fed’s balance sheet is a complex, risky calibration that depends on strong growth expectations.

Political context & implications

  • Minnesota: the operation that entered the church became a flashpoint politicizing ICE enforcement and provoking strong local and national responses. Arrests of activists (including at least one government staffer) further complicate the narrative of grassroots vs. institutional action.
  • Democratic rhetorical escalation (ICE-as-Gestapo comparisons, calls to limit ICE activity) is a short-term mobilisation tactic but could be politically damaging if public perception favors law-and-order or moderate reforms.
  • Funding politics: Schumer and Trump reportedly brokered a short-term deal to avoid a government shutdown; DHS funding remains a flashpoint tied to immigration policy.
  • Demographics: 2030 apportionment projections suggest long-term political headwinds for Democrats as population shifts benefit states that currently lean Republican — a structural consideration for national strategy.

Other notable items mentioned

  • DOJ charged the alleged attacker who sprayed Rep. Ilhan Omar at a town hall (reported to have been apple-cider vinegar).
  • FBI searched Fulton County election office for 2020 materials under magistrate warrant — part of continuing election‑related probes.
  • Voter ID debates continue (SAVE Act updates, citizenship/residency registration language).
  • Promotions: multiple Daily Wire Plus shows and sponsor plugs (Matt Walsh series, Pendragon cycle, PureTalk ad).

Bottom line

  • The Don Lemon arrest centers on the tight factual and legal distinction between journalism and active participation in a planned protest that federal prosecutors say violated the FACE Act. Video and pre-event statements (e.g., “Operation Pull‑Up”) are central to the DOJ narrative; defense will stress journalistic protection.
  • The Minnesota confrontation has escalated national political conflict over immigration enforcement and policing priorities, with both short-term PR battles and longer-term policy implications.
  • Kevin Warsh’s nomination signals an intention to shift Fed policy toward shrinking balance-sheet interventions and betting on private-sector-led growth — a bold, consequential pivot if implemented.
  • The episode stitches together legal, political, and economic stories that will develop rapidly; the questions to track are evidentiary details in the Lemon case, how DHS funding/operations are negotiated, and whether Warsh’s Fed approach can be calibrated without destabilizing markets.