Morning Wire Podcast Summary

Episode Title: DOJ Probes Church Protesters & ‘Havana Syndrome’ Revelations
Date: January 20, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe

Episode Overview

This Morning Wire episode covers three major news stories:

1. The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigation into protesters who disrupted a Minnesota church service, including the involvement of former CNN anchor Don Lemon.
2. Sweeping political changes in Virginia, focusing on new Democratic leadership and legislative priorities.
3. Significant new developments in the mysterious “Havana Syndrome,” including reports that the Pentagon has obtained a device believed to cause its symptoms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DOJ Probes Church Protesters in Minnesota

Timestamps: 02:31 – 07:07

• Incident Overview:

  • A group of anti-ICE activists, joined by former CNN anchor Don Lemon, disrupted a Sunday morning service at City’s Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, demanding congregants condemn ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) due to one of the staff pastors also being an ICE field director.
  • The protest caused the service to be canceled, particularly after children began crying out of fear.
    • (Megan Basham, 03:20): “The protesters accused the church of supporting ICE because one of their staff pastors also happens to be a field director for ICE’s St. Paul office... lead pastor Jonathan Parnell ultimately had to cancel the service once the children who were there watching the sermon started crying.”

• Protester Organization:

  • Protesters are linked to groups such as Black Lives Matter and the Racial Justice Network — organizations previously active during the George Floyd protests.
  • William Kelly, cited as a ringleader, is described as a paid protester with a history of harassing churches, particularly Christ Church in D.C.
    • (Megan Basham, 04:22): “One of the ringleaders, as I reported for the Daily Wire, is a paid protester who has a history of harassing churches... For months on end, they have screamed at church members through a bullhorn.”

• Notable Quotes:

  • (Protester, 03:20): “Where are you? You drink your coffee, you got your jewelry, you have your nice clothes, but what do you do? What do you do to stand for your Somali and Latino community?”
  • (Protester at D.C. church, 05:02): “How dare you have a rainbow umbrella, you Nazi.”

• Legal Action & Free Speech:

  • Police monitored the protest but made no arrests, balancing free speech with worshippers’ rights.
  • DOJ Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dillon noted the First Amendment does not protect trespassing inside a house of worship:
    • (Harmeet Dillon, 06:29): “I feel like I have to give a First Amendment one-on-one primer to people including journalists like Don Lemon, because you don’t have a First Amendment right to trespass and invade a house of worship. It’s literally illegal to do that, and it’s not protected by the First Amendment.”
  • The DOJ is investigating charges under federal civil rights laws and the FACE Act (protects worshippers from intimidation), with assurances that federal prosecution will proceed even if Minnesota authorities do not.
    • (Megan Basham, 06:45): “Attorney General Pam Bondi also says the DOJ is now investigating these protesters, including Lemon, for violations of federal civil rights laws and the FACE act... even if Minnesota does not prosecute, federal authorities will.”

2. Democratic Policy Shifts in Virginia

Timestamps: 07:10 – 10:21

• Political Transition:

  • Virginia now has a Democratic Governor (Abigail Spanberger), Attorney General (Jay Jones), and holds both legislative houses.
    • (Cameron Arcan, 07:23): “Virginia has officially now shifted from a Republican governor’s office to a Democratic one, and Democrats have control of both houses there.”

• Policy Actions:

  • Immigration: New Governor ended state police cooperation with ICE, reversing a Trump-era policy put in place by previous Governor Glenn Youngkin to ease federal-state collaboration on deportation.
    • (Host 1, 07:43): “One of the first things Abigail Spamberger did as governor was... to end the state police cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
  • Redistricting: Attorney General Jay Jones issued a legal opinion supporting mid-decade redistricting, potentially reducing Republican representation ahead of midterms.
    • (Host 1, 08:43): “Virginia General assembly is looking at possibly putting up for a vote mid-decade redistricting... it would essentially take away four GOP favored seats in the state.”
  • Abortion Rights: Democrats are proposing a state constitutional amendment to ensure abortion rights, aiming to put it on the ballot.
    • (Host 1, 09:35): “A proposed constitutional amendment to guarantee a right to an abortion in the state of Virginia... now that Democrats have a trifecta in the state... a whole host of liberal policies [could] make their way through more successfully.”

3. ‘Havana Syndrome’ and Pentagon Revelations

Timestamps: 10:24 – 14:52

• Background on Havana Syndrome:

  • Since 2016, US personnel (military, diplomats, intelligence, and even their children) have suffered mysterious symptoms akin to head trauma after exposure to high-pitched noises, especially in Cuba and during diplomatic assignments worldwide.
    • (Host 2, 10:48): “Havana Syndrome started back in 2016... head trauma... symptoms similar to those experienced by football players or car crash victims, but they could not figure out what was causing them...”

• New Evidence & Pentagon Actions:

  • Last year, the Pentagon secretly acquired a device that emits high-frequency pulsed radio waves, believed to replicate the effects seen in victims — and it reportedly contains Russian components. The acquisition hints at a foreign adversary’s involvement.
    • (Host 2, 12:44): “The Pentagon secretly purchased a device that emits high frequency pulsed radio waves... reports say it cost in the eight figure range and was acquired covertly... it reportedly contains, you guessed it, Russian components.”
  • Victims and advocates feel vindicated, after years of denial by US intelligence services.
    • (Mark Polymeropoulos, 13:35, as quoted): “If the U.S. government has indeed uncovered such devices, then the CIA owes all the victims a major and public apology for how we've been treated as pariahs.”

• Recent Developments:

  • Unconfirmed testimony suggests the device may have been deployed during a recent security operation involving Venezuelan President Maduro, incapacitating guards with “a very intense sound wave.”
    • (Host 2, 13:54): “Unconfirmed testimony from an alleged Venezuelan security guard claimed that he and others... were incapacitated by a, quote, very intense sound wave that made him and the others, ‘feel like my head was exploding from the inside.’”
  • Congress demands the Pentagon account for how it acquired the device and publish its findings.
    • (Host 2, 14:16): “House Homeland Security Committee launched a new investigation... demanding the Pentagon provide them with a... detailed explanation of the procurement process... along with the results of their study.”

Notable Quotes

• On Free Speech Limits:

  • “You don’t have a First Amendment right to trespass and invade a house of worship.”
    — Harmeet Dillon (Assistant Attorney General), 06:29

• On Church Protests:

  • “This isn’t the kind of church where the pastors make statements or join demonstrations or anything like that... this was simply because they happened to have an ICE official on staff.”
    — Megan Basham (Culture Reporter), 03:36

• On Havana Syndrome Discovery:

  • “If the U.S. government has indeed uncovered such devices, then the CIA owes all the victims a major and public apology for how we've been treated as pariahs.”
    — Mark Polymeropoulos (former CIA officer), 13:35

• On the Device:

  • “The Pentagon has been secretly studying this device for the past year... it also reportedly contains Russian components. Which lends credibility to the theory that these symptoms were caused by a foreign adversary.”
    — Cabot Phillips (Senior Editor), 12:44

Memorable Moments & Tone

• The distress in the church was evident, with descriptions of frightened children and emotional disruption (03:20–04:15).
• The hosts and guests express frustration and incredulity at misunderstandings of the First Amendment, especially by prominent media figures (06:29–06:44).
• The revelation of the Pentagon’s acquisition of a “sci-fi” device and the continuing mystery of Havana Syndrome lend an air of intrigue and validation for victims (12:44–14:51).

Useful Timestamps

• Church Protest Coverage: 02:31 – 07:07
• Virginia Political Changes: 07:10 – 10:21
• Havana Syndrome Breakthrough: 10:24 – 14:52

Conclusion

This episode of Morning Wire delivers in-depth reporting on escalating culture clashes affecting houses of worship, sweeping Democratic policy moves in Virginia, and the explosive revelation that US authorities may finally have proof linking mysterious ailments of diplomats to a specific device — raising more questions about international accountability and domestic transparency. The hosts maintain a brisk, factual, yet engaged tone, emphasizing the real-world impact and emotional stakes of each story.