Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar

Episode Date: January 23, 2026
Episode Title: Don Lemon Charges REJECTED, Gavin’s Davos Knee Pad STUNT, Gaza Whistleblower Runs for Congress

Episode Overview

This episode explores three main topics:

• The legal fallout of anti-ICE church protests involving Don Lemon and activists charged under the FACE Act
• Gavin Newsom’s performative moments at Davos and his prospects as a national Democratic figure
• An exclusive interview with Anthony Aguilar—a former Army officer and Gaza whistleblower—regarding his independent run for Congress and perspective on U.S. policy

The hosts challenge establishment narratives, scrutinize political “performance” versus authenticity, and give platform to anti-establishment voices rarely heard on mainstream outlets.

1. Opening Banter: Cultural Politics and “Milk Discourse”

[02:44–07:13]

• Lighthearted discussion among the hosts about the culture war symbolism around milk (whole, raw, skim, oat, etc.).
• Krystal Ball: “I am a bit of a milk hater. I am. I am an oat milk drinker. I will own it.” [03:47]
• Ryan Grim shares an anecdote about drinking raw milk in Ireland, humorously noting its taste and the evolving “hippie” vs. “homeschooler” culture overlap.
• Sets the informal and debate-friendly tone of the show.

2. Gavin Newsom at Davos: The “Knee Pad” Stunt and Elite Liberal Performance

[07:13–20:34]

Newsom’s Remarks at Davos

[07:42–09:17]

• Plays a clip of California Governor Gavin Newsom discussing international relations and the Trump disruption at Davos.
• Newsom: “This is a rupture. This isn’t an anomaly… He [Trump]’s an invasive species. Donald Trump. He took over the Republican party…” [07:42–08:07]
• Laments how formerly independent figures like Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio now align with Trump for power.

Panel Analysis

[09:17–14:12]

• Ryan Grim dissects Newsom’s critique—argues the Democratic elite often focus on Trump’s style over substance:
  • “It epitomizes the elite Democratic objection to Trump, which is so much around style when… the substance of it [is] in our face.” [10:09]
• Krystal Ball asserts that attempts to revive the liberal international order via figures like Biden or Newsom have failed, partly due to complicity in issues like Gaza:
  • “You cannot put back in the box the fact that all of these countries… there’s no sign [Newsom] objected to our role in perpetuating a genocide, which you won’t even call a genocide in Gaza.” [11:32]
  • “I do think that that is over, dead, gone—much as Gavin Newsom would love to pretend none of this happened.” [12:51]
• Emily and the panel reflect on the “convenient fiction” of global alliances, referencing Mark Carney’s metaphor of the “signs” in his speech.

The Newsom Persona: Authenticity vs. Performance

[15:24–20:34]

• Clip of Newsom jokingly selling “signature series knee pads” at Davos, ridiculing his own attempts to “try on” populist-Trumpian swagger.
  • Emily: “You can tell he just… it's awkward. I don't know, sometimes it's funny.” [16:18]
• Krystal Ball:
  • “Who is Gavin?... He is not the guy who's gonna be the bomb-throwing… that persona online is purely that—it’s not even him that's running the account.” [17:23]
  • “He’s play-acting as someone with intense moral convictions. And that’s also very inauthentic.” [18:31]
• Panel consensus: Newsom’s ambition and political skill are offset by his apparent lack of authenticity and disconnect from the party base, especially on vital issues (AIPAC, Israel, ICE).
  • “He has been so consistently out of touch with the base that I am very, I am bearish on his prospects.” (Krystal, [19:53])
  • Ryan Grim: “But then… who else is there?… That’s his best hope—is that… he’s the last guy here.” [19:53]

3. Legal Deep Dive: Don Lemon, Church Protests, and the FACE Act

Guest: Pisco Liddy, YouTuber and Legal Analyst
[23:13–45:54]

Case Background

[23:25–25:07]

• Don Lemon’s criminal charges stemming from a protest at a St. Paul church are rejected by a federal magistrate, while three activists still face prosecution under the FACE Act.
• The FACE Act, originally aimed at protecting abortion clinics, has been used here to prosecute disruption at a religious service due to the pastor's ICE ties.

Pisco Liddy’s Legal Analysis

• Magistrate judge’s rare refusal to sign Lemon’s charges signals government overreach.
  • “It doesn't happen very often… It shows that perhaps the government is overreaching by going after Don Lemon.” (Pisco, [25:07])
• The FACE Act requires proving use of “force, threats, or physical obstruction” with the intent to interfere with religious rights.
  • “The intent portion is super important… you're not just trying to do the actions that disrupt, but for the purpose either to restrict some kind of reproductive service or to restrict people's First Amendment rights with respect to religious freedoms.” (Pisco, [29:10])
• Panel discusses lines between civil disobedience, trespass, and federal prosecution, as well as constitutional concerns:
  • “That [the FACE Act] has serious speech concerns baked into the law itself.” (Krystal, [36:40])
• Reacting to the cross-ideological use of the FACE Act:
  • “I think it is [hypocrisy]… bad arguments from Democrats that, ‘Oh, this law is just about reproductive services,’ and then you look at their track record and they're happy to use them to protect the religious liberties of other people when it suits them.” (Pisco, [35:27])

Prospects for Activist Conviction

[40:01–44:18]

• Pisco: Prosecution may try to combine FACE Act with “Conspiracy Against Rights”—a legal tactic that can sweep up entire activist organizations.
• Predicts the government will struggle, especially on intent and obstruction elements, and that juries in Minneapolis may be skeptical:
  • “It seems that courts have been quite liberal in applying the physical obstruction. Not totally… [but] the harder part is: are they really trying to interfere specifically with the expression of civil liberties regarding religion? I'm not sure.” (Pisco, [40:02])
• Critiques DOJ’s strategy and “weird” legal filings, highlighting unusual acquittals recently:
  • “Their failure rate is not usual given the track record of the DOJ… This is abnormal, and the department is going through some things.” (Pisco, [44:14])
• Pisco’s closing: “Thank you again, guys. Appreciate your coverage. It’s always really excellent.” [45:07]

4. Interview: Anthony Aguilar—Gaza Whistleblower Now Running for Congress

Guest: Anthony Aguilar, former Army officer, whistleblower, North Carolina Congressional candidate
[49:35–77:25]

Why Run for Office?

[50:11–53:11]

• Aguilar: After witnessing U.S. complicity in Gaza, he feels compelled to act:
  • “I was looking very much forward to a retired life, a quiet life. And then I went to Gaza and the things that I saw and witnessed… forced me to take a hard look at what our government is doing… tough questions need to be asked that aren’t being answered.” [50:23]
• Expresses frustration with both parties, says political system is “entrenched in corporatization”—decides to run as an independent.
  • “This menu of two options between Republican or Democrat is a anemic menu with no fortitude and no character and no sustainment and nourishment to the American people. It’s not a choice, it’s a dilemma. The least bad of two bads.” [53:11]

Platform Highlights: Foreign and Domestic Policy

• Foreign policy expertise and moral clarity on U.S.-backed violence abroad.
• Domestic focus:
  • Critiques ballooning military and DHS budgets, says money should go to health care, education, and living wages, not ICE expansion or endless war.
  • “Why are we funding [DoD] next year with a $1.7 trillion budget… That’s not what the American people want.” [58:40]
• Will not take money from PACs, AIPAC, special interests, or military-industrial complex.

ICE and Immigration Enforcement—A Reformist Stand

[59:57–68:56]

• Aguilar’s position: Do not “abolish the function” of immigration enforcement, but abolish ICE as an agency and its current personnel/culture.
• Argues ICE has become a “domestic army” targeting Americans, fueled by DHS’s binational security training (especially with Israeli agencies). Calls for defunding such programs, restructuring, and demilitarizing border enforcement.
  • “We, the American taxpayer, paid for that training… We don’t need that. We should abolish that. Abolish the entire agency? No… But we need some serious deep reform in those agencies from the top down…” [63:00]
• Chilling claim: Many ICE field agents are veterans of Israeli operations in Gaza who are now “already prone to an extremist viewpoint.”
  • “Some of the same individuals that were in Gaza shooting people… are now working in the field as ICE agents. That's a fact.” [67:13]
• Supports abolishing ICE as a structure, but rebuilding humane, legal immigration enforcement (possibly in the style of the pre-9/11 INS).

The District and Practical Politics

[69:26–75:16]

• Running in North Carolina’s 13th district (Raleigh area and Fort Bragg), focusing on veteran issues and government waste (cuts to VA funding, extravagances like military base re-naming and Trump’s new “ballroom”).
• Critiques both major parties taking AIPAC money; sees himself representing independent and veteran voices disaffected with the system.
• On the cost of performative policy change—e.g., renaming military bases only to reverse the decisions and waste millions.
• “It’s a waste… It’s disgraceful. When you look throughout our country, you have hardworking Americans… while our president is building a lavish ballroom… If Great Gatsby was written in 1984 in a third-world country.” [75:16]

Notable Quote:

• “The reason I specifically wanted to ask Emily, Ryan, Crystal, is because you’ve always been a strong voice. You’ve always stood on the principles of truth, regardless of consequence, and you’re strong and courageous… you represent integrity.” (Anthony Aguilar, [75:54])

Notable Quotes and Moments (with Timestamps)

• Krystal Ball (on Newsom): “He is not the guy who's gonna be the bomb-throwing… that persona online is purely that—it's not even him that's running the account.” [17:23]
• Ryan Grim (on Democrat elite and Trump): “It epitomizes the elite Democratic objection to Trump, which is so much around style when… the substance of it [is] in our face.” [10:09]
• Pisco Liddy (on FACE Act use): “It doesn't happen very often… It shows that perhaps the government is overreaching by going after Don Lemon.” [25:07]
• Krystal Ball: “...that [the FACE Act] has serious speech concerns baked into the law itself.” [36:40]
• Anthony Aguilar: “This menu of two options between Republican or Democrat is a anemic menu with no fortitude and no character… It’s not a choice, it's a dilemma. The least bad of 2 bads.” [53:11]
• Aguilar (on ICE): “To the notion of abolishing the agency as it is, yes, I do not want to abolish the function… The function should be reinforced in a way that promotes immigration in our country…” [68:31]

Segment Timestamps Guide

| Segment | Topic | Start | End | |---------|-------|-------|-----| | Milk Discourse | Hosts banter, cultural politics | 02:44 | 07:13 | | Gavin Newsom at Davos | Newsom’s speech, panel analysis, authenticity vs. performance | 07:13 | 20:34 | | Don Lemon & FACE Act | Legal analysis w/ Pisco Liddy | 23:13 | 45:54 | | Anthony Aguilar Interview | Gaza whistleblower, independent candidacy | 49:35 | 77:25 |

Tone and Style

• Direct, critical, yet accessible. The hosts mix high-level legal and political scrutiny with humor, pop culture references, and frank personal takes.
• Authentic, debate-driven. They welcome disagreement, platform outsiders, and acknowledge nuance.
• Anti-establishment, independent. Repeatedly challenge both major parties, media narratives, and expressions of elite power.

Takeaway for New Listeners

This episode exemplifies Breaking Points’ mission: fearless coverage that challenges establishment power from left and right, unpacks complex legal/political issues with expert guests, and keeps discussion lively, real, and multi-perspectival.
If you care about what’s happening beneath the headlines—on the law, foreign policy, or the shifting American political landscape—this episode is a model of rigorous and refreshing independent media.