Podcast Summary
Podcast: The Briefing with Albert Mohler
Host: R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
Episode: Monday, January 19, 2026
Theme: Cultural Commentary from a Biblical Perspective

Episode Overview

Albert Mohler discusses a controversial incident in St. Paul, Minnesota, where protesters disrupted a worship service at an evangelical church, targeting a pastor who serves as the acting director of the local ICE field office. Mohler examines the cultural, political, and theological implications of the event, contrasting leftist activism with evangelical Christianity, and reflecting on broader worldview divides in America—particularly as seen in Minnesota. The episode serves as a reflection on church-state relations, political polarization, and the future of American Protestantism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Church Invasion by Protesters ([00:00] - [11:00])

• Incident Description:

  • Protesters forcibly entered City’s Church in St. Paul during Sunday worship, alarming congregants, particularly children and teenagers.
  • Their primary accusation: a pastor is associated with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), specifically as acting director of ICE’s local office.
  • Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was present, filming and commentating on the protest.

• Mohler’s Response:

  • Strong condemnation of the disruption, labeling it “a scandal that something like this could happen in the United States of America.” ([01:45])
  • Emphasizes the role of ICE as a legitimate federal law enforcement agency and the protesters as “leftist agitators.”

• Media & Cultural Reaction:

  • Star Tribune’s coverage quoted protestors labeling the pastor “a wolf in sheep’s clothing masquerading as a pastor.” ([03:05])
  • Mohler critiques the prevalence and influence of ideologically liberal clergy in the response and highlights the gender dynamics of mainline Protestant leadership.

2. Legal and Federal Response ([09:30] - [12:45])

• Federal Investigation:

  • Assistant Attorney General Harmony Dhillon announced a federal investigation into violations of the Federal FACE Act (protecting access to worship).
  • “The Civil Rights Division is investigating the potential violations of the Federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshipers.” ([09:45])

• Context on ICE:

  • History and legitimacy of ICE, established after 9/11 in response to national security needs and authorized by Congress and the Supreme Court.

3. Worldview & Political Divides in Minnesota ([13:00] - [26:00])

• Ground Zero for Activism:

  • Minneapolis-St. Paul seen as the epicenter for anti-ICE, leftist protests.
  • Local efforts have included passing out whistles to interfere with ICE actions and protest federal immigration enforcement.

• State as a Liberal Laboratory:

  • Mohler reviews Minnesota’s liberal political history, Scandinavian immigrant influence, and the state’s reputation for experimenting with social welfare policy.
  • He points to recent political controversies (e.g., social welfare fraud scandals, Governor Walz’s declining political capital).

4. Immigration Policy as a National Fault Line ([26:00] - [32:00])

• Open Borders vs. National Sovereignty:

  • Mohler identifies the core divide: “There are those who absolutely do not want anyone ever to be removed. And that means whether they acknowledge it or not, they’re basically for open borders.” ([17:45])
  • Views this as the “absolute redefinition of the nation.”

• National Impasse:

  • America is at a political standstill on immigration reform, with both parties lacking the majority or incentive to pursue substantial changes.

• Political Calculations:

  • Asserts that the Democratic Party’s embrace of mass immigration is, in part, an attempt to “redefine the political landscape” at Republicans’ expense by concentrating new immigrants in liberal urban areas.

5. Rural-Urban & Theological Divide ([32:00] - [45:00])

• Divide in Minnesota and Beyond:

  • Using a New York Times article, Mohler highlights two “stark views”:

    • In Minneapolis, protesters saw a police shooting as a tragedy.
    • In rural Minnesota (exemplified by Ye Olde Pickle Factory bar), regulars tended to see the shooting as the result of the victim’s non-compliance.

  • “Most of the regulars avoid Minneapolis if they can. They see the city as dangerous, out of control, and something to flee.” ([37:20])

• Rural Consciousness:

  • Refers to “rural consciousness”—a perceived lack of power, resources, and respect among rural dwellers, per a University of Minnesota professor.

• The Deeper Worldview Tension:

  • Emphasizes that the most significant divide is not merely political, but theological: “You’re looking not just at two different polarities within American denominational life. You’re looking at two different religions.” ([44:10])
  • Liberal Christianity, according to Mohler, is increasingly focused on activism rather than spiritual or theological commitments.

6. Call to Christian Response & Reflection ([45:00] - End])

• Pastoral & Evangelical Reaction:

  • Urges prayer for the church, its leaders, and especially the children traumatized by the protest.
  • Suggests that the incident could provide “an incredible opportunity for gospel witness.”

• Fundamental Principles:

  • Reaffirms the biblical and civic responsibility to respect law enforcement and legitimate government.
  • Cites Romans 13 as the foundation for Christian respect for government authority.
  • Warns that undermining this respect threatens public order.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the scandal of the church disruption:

  “It is a scandal that something like this could happen in the United States of America. It is a scandal that so many in American politics and in popular culture, entertainment, all the rest are on the side of the protesters who just broke into an evangelical church gathered for Christian worship on the Lord's Day.”
  — Albert Mohler ([01:45])

• On the identity politics of liberal Protestant clergy:

  “When you see these kinds of liberal activists identified as a reverend, you just need to know what's going on here. This is very much out of the playbook of the activism of the political and theological left in the United States.”
  — Albert Mohler ([04:05])

• On open borders and the meaning of nationhood:

  “Open borders is, as any rational person should understand, the absolute redefinition of the nation and eventually, its transformation into something else.”
  — Albert Mohler ([18:43])

• On rural-urban worldview splits:

  “Urban areas, let's just say cities, are in general far more liberal than rural areas. But that divide is not lessening in our contemporary times. Instead, it's becoming even more stark.”
  — Albert Mohler ([39:34])

• Defining the deepest divide:

  “What you're looking at is secular, religious, and you're looking at, of course, liberal, conservative, left, right. But…you're looking not just at two different polarities within American denominational life. You're looking at two different religions.”
  — Albert Mohler ([44:05])

• On the unique opportunity for Gospel witness:

  “As horrible as this is, and as much as we need to call upon law enforcement...this also may, in its own way, by the providence of God, provide an incredible opportunity for gospel witness by this church and by Christians in this area.”
  — Albert Mohler ([46:00])

Important Timestamps

• [00:00] - [04:15]: Overview of the church disruption and initial condemnation
• [09:30]: Federal authorities announce investigation under the FACE Act
• [13:00]: Mohler situates incident in context of Minnesota’s political culture
• [17:45]: Discussion of open borders, national sovereignty, and worldview divides
• [32:10]: Rural-urban divide illustrated by reactions to ICE-involved shooting
• [39:34]: Observations on the deepening divide, especially theological
• [44:05]: Theological implications within American Protestantism
• [46:00]: Call to prayer and recognition of gospel opportunity

Podcast Takeaways

• The disruption of worship at City’s Church in St. Paul is emblematic of escalating tensions between left-wing activists and evangelical Christians, especially around immigration enforcement.
• Mohler frames the incident not just as a legal or political crisis, but as an expression of a deeper theological conflict—two “different religions” within American Protestantism and society.
• The rural-urban divide in Minnesota, and America at large, is growing, with liberal urban areas and conservative rural areas living almost in separate worlds.
• Theologically, Mohler calls for prayer, calm, and clarity, insisting on law, order, and the Christian responsibility to both uphold government authority and seize opportunities for gospel witness amid crisis.

This summary provides a comprehensive look at the episode’s structure, key content, notable quotes, and essential moments, reflecting Albert Mohler’s tone and purpose throughout.