Evening Wire: Anti-ICE Crowd Protests Walz & Ilhan Omar Assaulted | 1.28.26

Summary

Podcast Summary: Evening Wire: Anti-ICE Crowd Protests Walz & Ilhan Omar Assaulted

Podcast: Morning Wire
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe, The Daily Wire
Date: January 28, 2026

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Overview

This episode covers a packed news day focusing on paralyzing winter weather in the South, the Federal Reserve's latest moves, political unrest from anti-ICE protests in Minnesota, the shocking assault on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a major measles outbreak, and other high-profile national developments. The tone is direct, fact-focused, and analytical, with regular attributions and updates from on-the-ground Daily Wire reporters.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Southern US Paralyzed by Winter Storm Fern

[00:02–01:15]

• Severe Weather Aftermath:
  • Dangerous winter conditions grip the South, freezing major roads and trapping motorists.
  • "Major interstates including I22 and I55 are at a standstill, with drivers stranded for hours after melted snow refroze..." — Joel Niedler [00:33]
• Emergency Measures: National Guard, drones, and local responders working to evacuate drivers and clear wrecks.
• Scale of Outage: Over 380,000 customers still without power.
• Federal Response: President Trump approved disaster declarations for over a dozen states.

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2. Rubio Defends US Policy on Venezuela and Iran

[01:15–02:57]

• Venezuela Operation:
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio insists the operation to remove Maduro "was not an act of war."
  • “The only military presence you will see in Venezuela is our Marine guards at an embassy. Okay? That is our goal, that is our expectation..." — Marco Rubio [01:28]
• Iran Concerns: Rubio says US has no immediate plans to strike Iran, but regime change would be complex.
  • "I don't think anyone can give you a simple answer as to what happens next in Iran..." — Marco Rubio [01:52]
• Senate Grillings:
  • Democrats criticize Trump over foreign affairs; Tim Kaine mocks his Greenland/Iceland mix-up.
  • Senator Rand Paul presses Rubio on the definition of an act of war, posing hypothetical reversals.
  • Rubio stands firm, saying the operation does not meet the constitutional definition of war.

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3. Federal Reserve Holds Rates Steady Amid Investigation

[02:57–03:30]

• Announcement:
  • Chair Jerome Powell: Interest rates held between 3.5–3.75%.
  • “Monetary policy is not on a preset course, and we will make our decisions on a meeting by meeting basis.” — Jerome Powell (via Georgia Howe) [03:15]
• Context:
  • Decision comes as Powell faces investigation and President Trump publicly calls for rate cuts.

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4. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Assaulted at Town Hall

[03:30–04:33]

• Incident Details:
  • Omar brushed with a syringe and sprayed with liquid (likely apple cider vinegar) during her first 2026 in-person town hall.
  • Assailant quickly subdued; Omar refuses to end event.
  • “No, we will continue.” — Ilhan Omar (via Jenny Terre) [04:06]
• Political Fallout:
  • President Trump dismisses the assault, suggests, "She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her," while admitting he hadn’t seen the video [04:25].

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5. Anti-ICE Protesters Target Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

[04:33–06:15]

• Protest Escalation:
  • Dozens storm the Minnesota Capitol and gather outside Governor Walz's office, chanting “ICE out now” and “do your job.”
  • Triggered by death of anti-ICE demonstrator Alex Preddy.
  • “Agreed on the need for an ongoing dialogue and will continue working toward those goals…” — Statement on Walz’s meeting with border czar Tom Homan [05:07]
• Trump–Walz Dialogue:
  • President Trump describes a positive phone call with Walz: “It couldn't have been a nicer conversation and… they seem to be on a similar wavelength.” [05:27]
• Arrests:
  • 13 agitators arrested protesting at a Minneapolis hotel allegedly housing a Border Patrol official; some have prior convictions.

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6. Public Health: Major Measles Outbreak in South Carolina

[07:18–08:32]

• Case Numbers:
  • 789 confirmed measles cases, surpassing recent outbreaks elsewhere.
  • 88% of victims unvaccinated; 18 hospitalized, no deaths.
• Political Blame:
  • Advocacy group faults HHS Secretary Kennedy and RFK Jr. for vaccine skepticism.
  • HHS: “Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles and the secretary has been clear and consistent on this point.” [07:58]
• CDC Guidance: CDC continues to recommend routine MMR vaccination for children.

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7. NTSB Faults FAA for Deadly 2025 Air Crash

[08:32–09:45]

• Findings:
  • The 2025 mid-air collision at Reagan National was “completely preventable.”
  • FAA ignored repeated warnings from controllers about airspace congestion.
• Systemic Failure:
  • NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy: “Tower personnel… kept submitting one recommendation after another. We need help, we need help, we need help. Apparently falling on deaf ears.” [09:14]
• Post-Accident Reform: FAA bans non-essential helicopter traffic near the airport.

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8. Sports: Cleveland Browns Hire Todd Monken as Head Coach

[09:45–10:29]

• Team Changes:
  • Monken replaces Kevin Stefanski after a “disappointing 5-12 season.”
  • Monken brings recent NFL and college championship experience.

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9. First Lady Melania Trump’s NYSE Appearance

[10:29–end]

• Event:
  • Melania Trump rings the NYSE opening bell to launch her documentary, Melania.
• Quote:
  • “Cultural influence now rivals economic power, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and emotional connection.” — Melania Trump (paraphrased from John Bickley) [10:34]

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Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

• “The only military presence you will see in Venezuela is our Marine guards at an embassy. Okay? That is our goal, that is our expectation...”
  — Marco Rubio [01:28]
• “I don't think anyone can give you a simple answer as to what happens next in Iran if the supreme leader and the regime were to fall, because you're talking about a regime that's in place for a very long time.”
  — Marco Rubio [01:52]
• “Monetary policy is not on a preset course and we will make our decisions on a meeting by meeting basis.”
  — Jerome Powell (paraphrased by Georgia Howe) [03:15]
• “No, we will continue.”
  — Ilhan Omar (via Jenny Terre) [04:06]
• “It couldn't have been a nicer conversation and… they seem to be on a similar wavelength.”
  — President Trump on call with Gov. Walz [05:27]
• “Tower personnel… kept submitting one recommendation after another. We need help, we need help, we need help. Apparently falling on deaf ears.”
  — Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair [09:14]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:02 — Southern winter storm coverage
• 01:15 — Rubio testifies on Venezuela and Iran
• 02:57 — Federal Reserve holds rates steady
• 03:30 — Ilhan Omar assaulted at town hall
• 04:33 — Anti-ICE protests escalate in Minnesota
• 07:18 — Major measles outbreak in South Carolina
• 08:32 — Air crash report faults FAA
• 09:45 — Browns hire Todd Monken
• 10:29 — Melania Trump at NYSE

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Tone & Style

Factual, brisk, and focused on delivering key details for informed listeners. Regular attribution and succinct updates keep the episode fast-paced and information-dense.

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Conclusion

This Evening Wire episode presents clear, in-depth updates on serious winter weather, the ongoing turmoil surrounding US foreign and domestic policy, a shocking political assault, and high-impact national news in clear, relatable terms. The headline: America faces a charged political climate, tough questions from all sides, and rising public anxieties—delivered straight, with sources attributed and a focus on the most consequential events of the day.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

Foreign.

[John Bickley]

The aftermath of winter Storm Fern continues to grip the South. The Fed holds interest rates steady and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is assaulted during a town hall event. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Wednesday, January 28th, and this is Evening Wire. Dangerous winter conditions are paralyzing parts of the south as temperatures plunged below freezing overnight, dropping, turning roads into sheets of ice. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Niedler has the latest.

[Joel Niedler]

In northern Mississippi, major interstates including I22 and I55 are at a standstill, with drivers stranded for hours after melted snow refroze once the sun set. Governor Tate Reeves says emergency responders, drones and National Guard units are working to evacuate motorists and clear wrecks, urging residents to stay off the roads. Similar impacts are being felt across the region with with more than 380,000 customers still without power in the south, ferry service in and around New York City has been suspended due to ice buildup. President Trump has approved emergency disaster declarations for more than a dozen states as crews race to restore power and prepare for another blast of extreme cold in the days ahead.

[John Bickley]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced Congress today defending the Trump administration's operation to remove Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, insisting it was not an act of war and that no further military action is planned there.

[Marco Rubio]

The only military presence you will see in Venezuela is our Marine guards at an embassy. Okay? That is our goal, that is our expectation, and that is what everything that outlines towards.

[John Bickley]

Rubio also addressed Iran, saying the US has no immediate plans to strike, but warned that military buildup in the region is deliberate. He cautioned lawmakers that regime change in Iran would be far more complicated than what unfolded in Venezuela.

[Marco Rubio]

I don't think anyone can give you a simple answer as to what happens next in Iran if the supreme leader and the regime were to fall, because you're talking about a regime that's in place for a very long time. So that's going to require a lot of careful thinking if that eventuality ever presents itself.

[John Bickley]

During the hearing, some senators used their time to attack President Trump, such as Tim Kaine, who scolded the president for once mistakenly calling Greenland Iceland. But it wasn't just Democrats throwing barbs on the Republican side. Rubio took tough questions from Senator Rand Paul, who's been outspoken against US Involvement in Venezuela.

[Georgia Howe]

So I would ask you, if a foreign country bombed our air defense missiles.

[John Bickley]

Captured and removed our president and blockaded our country, would that be considered an act of war?

[Marco Rubio]

So I will point to two things. The first is it's hard for us to conceive that an operation that lasted about four and a half hours and was a law enforcement operation to capture someone we don't recognize as the head of state indicted in the United States wanted with a $50 million battle option.

[John Bickley]

Would be if it only took four hours to take our president, would it be an act of war?

[Marco Rubio]

We just don't believe that this operation comes anywh close to the constitutional definition.

[John Bickley]

Of Interest rates will stay steady for now. The Federal Reserve met today and announced that the baseline interest rate will not change. The decision comes amid an investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over building renovations and public calls from President Trump for lower interest rates. Here's Powell this afternoon.

[Georgia Howe]

At today's meeting, the committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3 and a half to 3 and 3 quarters percent. Monetary policy is not on a preset course and we will make our decisions on a meeting by meeting basis.

[John Bickley]

Ilhan Omar was rushed with a syringe and sprayed with a liquid during a town hall on Tuesday. Daily Wire reporter Zach Jewell has the details.

[Georgia Howe]

Omar was hosting her first in person town hall of 2026 on Tuesday when a man identified by authorities as 55 year old Anthony J. Kashmirchiek brushed Omar with a syringe and sprayed her with what was likely apple cider vinegar before pointing and appearing to yell at her. A security guard grabbed the man and took him to the ground. A woman then tried to convince Omar to end the town hall, but she refused.

[Sponsor Representative]

No, we will continue. No, no, no, you need to go.

[Jenny Terre]

No, we will continue.

[Sponsor Representative]

This are not going to get away with.

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump dismissed the attack just days after saying the Justice Department and Congress are looking into Omar's finances over concerns that she could be connected to the massive fraud scandal recently uncovered in Minnesota. In an interview with ABC News, Trump called Omar a fraud and said, quote, she probably had herself sprayed, knowing her while acknowledging he had not watched the video.

[John Bickley]

Anti ICE protesters have turned on Governor Tim Walls amassing at the state's Capitol and outside his office. Daily Wire immigration reporter Jenny Terre has the latest.

[Jenny Terre]

Dozens of anti ICE activists stormed the Minnesota State Capitol on Tuesday and crowded outside of Governor Tim Walz's office to chant slogans. A crowd of protesters has gathered at the Capitol every day since ICU nurse and anti ICE demonstrator Alex Preddy died on Saturday. On Tuesday, activists gathered outside of Walls's office in the Capitol building and screamed slogans such as ICE out now and do your job. According to Fox News, this comes after Tim Walls met with border czar Tom Homan. The governor's office said the two had, quote, agreed on the need for an ongoing dialogue and and will continue working toward those goals, which the president also agreed to yesterday. The protests also followed Tim Wall's phone call with President Trump, which Trump recounted on Truth Social, writing, quote, it couldn't have been a nicer conversation and that they, quote, seem to be on a similar wavelength.

[John Bickley]

Thirteen agitators were arrested Monday night when they attempted to disrupt a hotel just outside of Minneapolis. Officers responded to calls of a protest at the hotel in Maple Grove, where agitators believed Border Patrol command Gregory Bovino was staying. The agitators damaged hotel property and threw objects at officers, leading to their arrests. Several of those arrested had criminal convictions, including aggravated robbery and felony theft. Another arrestee displayed the message disrupt, disturb, resist on her social media bio. And yet another had been thrown out of a Senate hearing in September for causing a disruption.

[Sponsor Representative]

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[John Bickley]

Hundreds of measles cases have been confirmed in South Carolina. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo has more.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

As of Tuesday, 789 cases were reported in South Carolina. That's more than the most recent outbreak in West Texas last summer. Eighteen people, including children, have been hospitalized for complications from the disease. So far, no deaths have been reported. The vast majority of those infected. In South Carolina, an estimated 88% are unvaccinated against measles, according to the Hill. One advocacy group blaming Secretary Kennedy and HHS for the outbreak, projected the messages measles HQ and RFK junior Colon Making America Sick Again on the HHS building in D.C. the department has since responded saying, quote, vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles and the secretary has been clear and consistent on this point. Notably, the CDC does still recommend children receive the measles vaccine, which is included in the MMR shot as part of the routine childhood immunization schedule. HHS also argued that declines in measles vaccination rates and erosion of public trust began well before the Trump administration.

[John Bickley]

Federal Investigators say the 2025 mid air collision between a commercial jet and a U.S. army helicopter that killed 67 people was completely preventable. The NTSB revealed earlier this week that the crash near Washington's Reagan National Airport stemmed from repeated failures by the FAA to address dangerous congestion in the airspace. Investigators say warning signs were raised by air traffic controllers but ignored by management while pilots were left relying too heavily on visual separations in crowded skies. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy called the crash a result of systemic breakdowns across multiple agencies. We can talk about the pilots, we can talk about air traffic controllers. What we need to really talk about is tower personnel who were repeatedly saying we have a safety problem here and kept submitting one recommendation after another. We need help, we need help, we need help. Apparently falling on deaf ears since the accident, the FAA has banned non essential helicopter traffic near the airport and closed the route involved in the collision. The Cleveland Browns have found their next head coach. Daily Wire reporter Lyndon Blake has the.

[Lyndon Blake]

Latest the team is hiring Todd Monkin to replace Kevin Stefanski After a disappointing 512 season, Monkin becomes the Browns 11th head coach since the franchise returned to the NFL in 1999. He most recently served as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator and brings prior experience in Cleveland, having held the same role with the Browns in 2019. He also helped lead Georgia to back to back national championships as their offensive coordinator. Stefanski, a two time NFL Coach of the year, was fired after four seasons and has since taken the head coaching job in Atlanta. Monkin now inherits a Browns team facing major questions at quarterback and on defense as it looks to reset for the 2026 season.

[John Bickley]

And first lady Melania Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange today to mark the upcoming premiere of her new documentary. Wearing black and greeted by cheers on the trading floor, Mrs. Trump said cultural influence now rivals economic power, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and emotional connection. In keeping with tradition, she was presented with a commemorative medallion by NYSE President Lynn Martin. The film, titled Melania, offers a behind the scenes look at the weeks leading up to the inauguration and is directed by Brett Ratner. Those are your drive home updates. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com and in case you missed it, earlier today, we covered some major stories, including President Trump touting his first year economic wins, the White House switching things up in Minnesota, and Senate Democrats threatening to hold up government funding. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of MORNING Wire.