Podcast Summary: The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: The Left's Latest Lie About ICE
Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Charlie Kirk
Guests/Co-hosts: Blake, Kane (Citizen Free Press)

Main Theme

This episode centers on what Charlie Kirk and guests call "the Left's latest lie" about ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), dissecting widely-circulated claims that a five-year-old boy was arrested and used as "bait" by ICE agents in Minneapolis. The discussion branches out to contextual issues: church protests, media bias, legal accountability, redistricting battles, and GOP strategy for the 2026 midterms. The show maintains its irreverent, polemical, and unapologetically conservative tone throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weather in America & Minneapolis Context

[01:09–02:40]

• Charlie sets the cold context: historic ice storm affecting the Midwest, especially Minneapolis. Playful jabs about left-wing protestors disliking ICE and facing literal ice (the weather).
• Jokes about left-wing activists' resolve, referencing "kamikaze Karens and beta males" and sarcastically doubting their willingness to protest in –45°F weather.

2. Arrests After Minneapolis Church Protest

[02:40–05:40]

• News: Arrests made after high-profile protests at a Minneapolis church, which involved storming the premises and traumatizing children.

• Key figures arrested: Nakima Levy Armstrong (protest organizer) and St. Paul school board member Chantille Allen.

• Don Lemon (CNN personality) attended; speculation on whether he too should be arrested. Co-host Blake argues for legal caution and against pursuing martyrs.

  "I'm glad that they bothered to arrest the actual ringleaders first." – Blake [04:46]

3. On Prosecuting Don Lemon

[05:40–08:25]

• Charlie criticizes Don Lemon's involvement and alleged hypocrisy about press freedom.

• Lemon shown hugging a protest leader and advocating for "traumatizing people" for protest.

• Ultimately, both Charlie and Blake agree: avoid martyr-making in prosecution to prevent political fallout.

  “Don Lemon, you’re an idiot. You’re not a smart person. You’re a washed-up has-been who’s fighting for relevancy.” – Charlie Kirk [07:26]

4. Congressional Focus: Jack Smith & Cassidy Hutchinson

[08:25–09:32]

• Charlie briefly lauds Rep. Jim Jordan’s cross-examination of Jack Smith regarding the discredited Cassidy Hutchinson testimony about Trump during January 6th.
• The committee mentioned Hutchinson 120+ times—reinforcing Charlie’s narrative about political bias and fraud.

5. The ‘ICE Arrested a 5-Year-Old’ Controversy

[11:10–18:24]

• Central topic: Major left-leaning accounts claim that ICE arrested a five-year-old as "bait."

• Charlie and co-hosts debunk using first-hand calls to DHS and reading the official ICE statement:

  • The father, an illegal immigrant, fled when ICE arrived, abandoning his son.
  • A single ICE agent stayed with the child to keep him safe; no "bait" or targeting of the child.
  • They stress that law enforcement protocol frequently results in children being separated during arrests for any crime, not just immigration issues.

  “If you break the law, you are putting your children in danger and you should stop breaking the law... If you are here in the country illegally, you’re breaking the law and there will be consequences for it.” – Charlie Kirk [14:35]

  “They want to get you into this psychological state of mind where if, like, you have a child under the age of 10, you’re immune from law enforcement because this child is sad and you feel sad when you see children. …You shouldn’t do bad things.” – Blake [16:05]

• They criticize the "fake framing" pushed by left-wing media and highlight biblical justification for respecting immigration law (Exodus 12:49).

  “There’s biblical precedent for this. They are required to abide by the law of the land.” – Charlie Kirk [18:24]

6. Broader Reflections on Media Bias

[18:24–19:52]

• Discussion targets left-leaning media, particularly NPR and local Minnesota news, for one-sided reporting and moralizing despite legal correctness.

7. Redistricting, Congressional Maps, and Republican Challenges

[21:54–26:50]

• Kane (Citizen Free Press) joins. Conversation shifts to political redistricting battles, especially GOP challenges in states like Indiana and Maryland.

• Republicans criticized for playing by gentleman's rules while Democrats aggressively redistrict.

• Census and counting of illegal immigrants discussed—Charlie claims the inclusion of illegals diluted GOP strength in the House.

  “If we had a real census…you would see 10 to 15 seats move to the Sun Belt, move to where people are moving.” – Charlie Kirk [25:31]

8. The SAVE Act, Filibuster, and Election Integrity

[26:50–39:10]

• Detailed discussion of the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote, nationwide voter ID, and restrict mail-in/online registration.

• Frustration aimed at 10–15 Republican senators opposing federal election interference on constitutional grounds.

• Kane underscores the significance of potential Voting Rights Act changes and the Democrats’ determination to redistrict “ruthlessly.”

  “There’s these 10 to 15 senators basically think it’s constitutionally problematic for the federal government to weigh in on states the way they conduct their elections.” – Charlie Kirk [39:10]

• Caution that losing the House in 2026 is likely, but the Senate may remain safe because of the electoral map.

9. Pulse of the GOP Base & Upcoming Midterms

[31:12–37:30]

• Kane evaluates the mood among Republican voters, dismissing rumors of an intraparty civil war.

• Trump maintains 89% GOP support in a New York Times poll.

• Turnout concerns and importance of targeting independent voters highlighted.

  “The fake civil war within the Republican Party is fake news and these people will turn out.” – Kane [32:52]

• Mail-in ballots, same-day registration, and student votes discussed as key tactical battlegrounds, especially in New Hampshire.

10. Voter ID Popularity & Legislative Hurdles

[39:10–40:13]

• Rasmussen: 73% of all voters support requiring photo ID to vote.
• Discussion closes with skepticism about passing the SAVE Act due to Republican resistance, even as grassroots support is strong.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Don Lemon, you’re an idiot. You’re not a smart person. You’re a washed-up has-been who’s fighting for relevancy.” – Charlie Kirk [07:26]
• “If you break the law, you are putting your children in danger and you should stop breaking the law...” – Charlie Kirk [14:35]
• “They want to get you into this psychological state of mind where if…you have a child under the age of 10, you’re immune from law enforcement…” – Blake [16:05]
• “There’s biblical precedent for this. They are required to abide by the law of the land.” – Charlie Kirk [18:24]
• “Republicans are the only ones trying to play by gentlemen’s rules and we’re getting steamrolled.” – Charlie Kirk [23:30]
• “The fake civil war within the Republican Party is fake news and these people will turn out.” – Kane [32:52]
• “There’s these 10 to 15 senators basically think it’s constitutionally problematic for the federal government to weigh in on states the way they conduct their elections.” – Charlie Kirk [39:10]

Important Timestamps

• 01:09–02:40: National ice storm; Minneapolis context for activism and protests.
• 02:40–05:40: Arrests after Minneapolis church protest, focus on accountability.
• 05:40–08:25: Debate over prosecuting Don Lemon; legal strategy and optics.
• 11:10–18:24: Breakdown and rebuttal of "ICE arrested a 5-year-old" media narrative.
• 21:54–26:50: Kane joins to talk redistricting and GOP difficulties in Congress.
• 26:50–39:10: Discussion on the SAVE Act, filibuster, and nationwide voter ID push.
• 31:12–32:52: Pulse of the GOP base; morale check.
• 39:10–40:13: Voter ID polling data and legislative obstacles.

Tone and Style

Charlie's delivery is fiery, confrontational, and deeply partisan. He employs sarcasm and mockery, particularly about Democratic politicians, left-wing media, and figures like Don Lemon. The podcast features a blend of inside-baseball political strategy, culture war narratives, and grassroots calls to activism. Frequent direct attributions and listener engagement underscore the show’s activism focus:

“Email us: freedomarliekirk.com… I’d love to hear your thoughts…” – Charlie Kirk [05:40]

Conclusion

This episode is a fast-paced, news-driven discussion of culture war controversies, focusing on media narratives about ICE enforcement. Charlie Kirk and guests rebut left-wing framing while advancing arguments about personal accountability, legal fairness, and the centrality of maintaining election integrity. Redistricting and the 2026 political landscape round out the conversation, reinforcing the show’s position as a rallying point for grassroots conservatives.