Podcast Summary: "Is America Heading Towards Civil War?"

Podcast: Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know
Host: Hasan Minhaj (186k Films)
Guest: Ilhan Omar
Date: October 1, 2025

Overview

This episode grapples with the question: "Is America Heading Towards Civil War?" Hasan Minhaj interviews Congresswoman Ilhan Omar—a Somali-born refugee, two-time Peabody award winner, and Democratic member of the House—about rising political extremism, violence, racism, immigration debates, U.S. militarism, and her personal experience of surviving a civil war. Mixing humor with gravitas, Minhaj and Omar dissect the cultural, historical, and political factors fueling anxiety about the future of American democracy while highlighting Omar’s moral clarity and resilience.

Key Topics & Insights

Ilhan Omar’s Upbringing and Resilience

[00:00–03:03]

• Ilhan Omar shares anecdotes from her memoir, "This Is What America Looks Like," illustrating her scrappy nature growing up—getting into physical fights to stand up to bullies.
  • Quote: "Undefeated, I would say undefeated." – Ilhan Omar [01:42]
• She expresses her love of boxing, relating it to her approach to conflict: strategic, methodical, and channeling strength in the face of adversity.

Confronting Media Stereotypes and Islamophobia

[03:18–04:28]

• Minhaj highlights how Omar, a hijab-wearing congresswoman, is targeted by right-wing media and receives an outsized number of death threats.
• Omar fields pointed “yes or no” questions to counteract conspiracy narratives:
  • “Are you okay with murder?”
    "No." – Ilhan Omar [04:00]
  • "Is Islam fundamentally incompatible with America?"
    “Absolutely not. Islam’s about consensus [...] peace and tolerance.” – Ilhan Omar [04:10]
  • "Are you a Qatari spy?"
    "Absolutely not." – Ilhan Omar [04:27]

Political Violence & Erosion of Norms

[04:56–11:42]

• Omar recounts the unprecedented level of death threats and reveals she once had the highest number of threats among Congress members, necessitating special security.
  • Quote: “There are multiple people who’ve been incarcerated for threatening to kill me. There’s one right now that’s waiting for sentencing.” – Ilhan Omar [05:22]
• Both reflect on the assassination of political leaders and rising mass shootings.
• Omar compares today’s environment to the turbulence of the 1960s–70s, emphasizing cycles of violence tied to division, but insists the U.S. has strong institutions and that most Americans don’t want civil strife.
  • Quote: “I do not hold the belief that our country is on the verge of a civil war. I do believe that we have institutions that are strong. But I also think that the will of the American people will ultimately prevail.” – Ilhan Omar [11:13]

Civil War: Lived Experience vs. American Fears

[09:22–11:41]

• Omar brings perspective from surviving the Somali Civil War, noting that while chaos appears sudden to children, adults can usually see the fractures developing over time.
  • Quote: “When you’re eight, it feels like one day everything is fine [...] and the next day, all hell breaks loose. But when you’re an adult, they could see years ahead that something was fundamentally breaking.” – Ilhan Omar [09:48]

Immigration, ICE, and Xenophobia

[11:42–16:15]

• Discussion on the expansion and militarization of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), highlighting abuses, accountability gaps, and the for-profit detention industry.
  • Quote: “They're also violating the rights of people who are not citizens [...] and I think that is dangerous.” – Ilhan Omar [12:56]
• Omar stands firm on abolition of ICE if there’s the political will:
  • “Nothing is too entrenched to be abolished. We just need the will of the people and the will of Congress.” – Ilhan Omar [15:29]

The Roots and Recurrence of Xenophobia

[18:16–25:19]

• Omar connects anti-refugee sentiment to economic anxiety and political scapegoating. Politicians exploit hardship to justify exclusion and uphold white supremacist narratives, she argues.
  • Quote: “What is baffling to me is that here in the United States, for as much as we have been a country that is seen as an immigrant country, that we are still having this debate.” – Ilhan Omar [19:17]
• Jokes about immigrants’ love for “assimilation” via conspicuous consumption (Balenciaga, Tommy Hilfiger) while noting that most wish simply to be accepted and survive.
• Omar takes comfort in America’s cyclical othering—every wave of immigrants is initially targeted, but ultimately integrated:
  • “It eventually disappears because that is the American fit.” – Ilhan Omar [23:05]
• She emphasizes that with global upheaval (climate change, economics), migration is increasing globally, and the challenge is perennial, not fixable through hate.

Moral Clarity & Courage in Politics

[26:15–30:19]

• Minhaj asks why Omar hasn’t “restored moral clarity to Congress.” She argues the job is ongoing; politicians should anchor decisions to core values, not just party or majority.
  • Quote: “I have taken votes that have gotten me death threats [...] But at the end of the day, I was clear on why I took that vote—because it was a value alignment.” – Ilhan Omar [29:21]
• Minhaj offers the relatable metaphor of “pepperoni pizza moral clarity” for integrity in politics—sticking to principles even under pressure.
  • Omar agrees: “That is integrity and people do appreciate integrity.” – Ilhan Omar [29:16]

Israel, Gaza, and Shifting Democratic Discourse

[30:19–32:22]

• Minhaj notes signs of shifting Democratic attitudes towards Gaza and Palestine; Omar says more are breaking away from fear of AIPAC condemnation to advocate for Palestinian rights and a ceasefire.
  • Quote: “I would say the dam (is) starting to break because there were a few of us who had that clarity.” – Ilhan Omar [31:24]

Harnessing Outrage Productively

[32:22–34:36]

• Omar admits outrage fuels her but emphasizes channeling that energy to take principled votes or risky stances—rather than escapism or inaction.
  • Quote: “Use that rage to empower you to take on an issue that you thought was too much or, like, politically volatile.” – Ilhan Omar [33:21]
• She reflects on the burden and seriousness of representing others in a democracy.

War Powers and Military Spending

[34:36–45:07]

• Minhaj queries Omar on recent War Powers Resolutions and the President’s unauthorized military actions; Omar argues only Congress can declare war and faults executive overreach.
• Detailed U.S. government “order of operations” for military engagement is humorously explained.
• Omar critiques the nearly $1 trillion defense budget, noting investments that could end homelessness or fund free school meals instead.
  • Quote: “We could use $22 billion to end homelessness. We could use $20 billion to feed children in our schools.” – Ilhan Omar [38:00]
• She denounces U.S. military over-extension and bases abroad, advocating for rechanneling resources to domestic needs.

Military Industrial Complex and Lobbying

[45:07–48:03]

• Omar discusses the outsized influence of weapons manufacturers and the lack of effective Congressional action due to lobbying:
  • “It is the weapons industry that is heavily lobbying Congress to keep this war machine going because it is to their benefit that we continue to spend this much money on defense.” – Ilhan Omar [44:27]
• She calls for making Pentagon funding an election issue and public accountability.

American Might & Identity Beyond Militarism

[44:27–47:24]

• Minhaj and Omar discuss redefining American greatness through innovation, education, and societal benefit, not solely militarism.
  • Omar: “All those things are already things that make us mighty... The question is, is it about the arsenal? Or about the men and women? Or all these military bases?”
• Military leaders themselves sometimes oppose budget increases, she says, with growth driven more by politics than security needs.

Pop Culture and Humanization

[48:03–53:14]

• The episode closes on a lighter note, with stories from Omar’s youth in a Kenyan refugee camp, sneaking over barbed wire to watch Bollywood movies and American shows (“Home Improvement”).
• Playful debate over classic Bollywood films and stars, highlighting cultural connections and moments of nostalgia for both host and guest.
  • Minhaj: “Will you die for me?”
    Omar: “Will you choose your family right now, or will you get on the train with me?” [53:04]

Notable Quotes

• “Undefeated, I would say undefeated.”
  – Ilhan Omar [01:42]

• “Islam’s about consensus. It’s about hearing people’s voices and perspectives, and it’s definitely about peace and tolerance.”
  – Ilhan Omar [04:10]

• “There are multiple people who’ve been incarcerated for threatening to kill me.”
  – Ilhan Omar [05:22]

• “I do not hold the belief that our country is on the verge of a civil war. [...] I don’t think we want to see that kind of violence. I don’t think we want to see ourselves become the countries we’ve tried to help over the years.”
  – Ilhan Omar [11:13]

• “What is baffling to me is that here in the United States, for as much as we have been a country that is seen as an immigrant country, that we are still having this debate.”
  – Ilhan Omar [19:17]

• “I have taken votes that have gotten me death threats. [...] But at the end of the day, I was clear on why I took that vote—because it was a value alignment.”
  – Ilhan Omar [29:21]

• “Use that rage to empower you to take on an issue that you thought was too much or, like, politically volatile.”
  – Ilhan Omar [33:21]

• “We could use $22 billion to end homelessness. We could use $20 billion to feed children in our schools.”
  – Ilhan Omar [38:00]

• “It is the weapons industry that is heavily lobbying Congress to keep this war machine going…”
  – Ilhan Omar [44:27]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ilhan’s childhood fistfights & boxing: [01:29–02:55]
• Rapid-fire countering right-wing narratives: [03:41–04:28]
• On receiving death threats in Congress: [04:56–05:47]
• On civil war in Somalia & U.S. parallels: [09:22–11:42]
• Immigration & ICE: [11:42–16:15]
• Xenophobia, white nationalism, and assimilation: [18:16–25:19]
• Moral clarity in politics: [26:15–30:19]
• Democratic Party shifts on Gaza: [30:19–32:22]
• War powers, militarism, and defense budgets: [34:36–47:24]
• Pop culture, Bollywood movies, and human moments: [48:03–53:14]

Conclusion

Minhaj and Omar deftly weave humor, policy, and lived experience into a deeply human and incisive discussion about America’s present and future. Omar’s unique vantage as a refugee and legislator grounds the conversation in both warning and hope: the threat of division and violence is real, but American institutions and the values of moral clarity and courage can lead the way towards a better, more inclusive society. The episode closes on a lighthearted celebration of pop culture and shared humanity, leaving listeners with both sobering insights and optimism.