The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: The Left's Modern Bolsheviks Attack Minneapolis Churches

Date: January 19, 2026
Host: Charlie Kirk
Guests: Blake (Co-host), Megan Basham (Guest), others

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on a recent incident at City’s Church in Minneapolis, where left-wing activists, accompanied by Don Lemon, stormed a Christian church during worship service, allegedly to protest the presence of an ICE-affiliated pastor. Charlie Kirk and his panel analyze the historical parallels with Bolshevism, discuss the left’s hostility toward Christian institutions, and criticize both local law enforcement and church leadership (especially the SBC) for their handling of the incident. The discussion is heavily framed from a conservative cultural and religious perspective.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Incident Recap: Activist Disruption at City’s Church, Minneapolis

• [02:45] Charlie introduces the main topic: activists, led by Don Lemon, interrupted a Sunday church service at City's Church, Minneapolis, allegedly targeting the church for having a pastor affiliated with ICE.
  • "What we're talking about is what happened at City's Church in Minneapolis when Don Lamond tags along with a group of far left agitators... They are neo Bolsheviks." —Charlie Kirk

2. Historical Parallels: The Left and Attacks on Christianity

• [03:57 - 06:30] Blake discusses how violence against churches is a recurring feature of radical left movements, comparing modern leftists to French revolutionaries, Spanish civil war anarchists, and Bolsheviks.
  • "Probably one of the most defining features of radical left political movements from the French Revolution 230 years ago on down into really the present is they'd call it anti clericalism, anti religion, anti clergy, anti churches, anti Christianity." —Blake [03:57]
  • "It's just a recurring thing... so it's not terribly surprising that in Minneapolis, as we get left wing agitation... this would also turn into agitation against churches and against Christians." —Blake [06:12]

3. First Amendment and FACE Act

• [08:01 - 09:35] The hosts argue the protesters violated the FACE Act (which protects places of worship), dismissing Don Lemon’s defense of First Amendment rights inside the sanctuary.
  • "Don Lamond... thinks that he's somehow protected from consequences because he's a journalist." —Charlie Kirk [07:52]
  • "This is unacceptable... to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship." —City's Church Pastor, [09:10]

4. Leftist Double Standards and Entitlement

• [09:35 - 10:50] Critique of protester attitudes:
  • "There has never been a more entitled, pretentious, disgusting group of protesters, agitators." —Charlie Kirk [10:06]
  • Discussion of the so-called "heckler's veto": the left justifies disrupting events under the banner of protest and freedom of assembly.

5. Coverage of Don Lemon & Law Enforcement Response

• [13:42] Don Lemon is heard on clip, almost acknowledging the trauma caused:
  • "I imagine it's uncomfortable and traumatic for the people here. But again... that's what protesting is about." —Don Lemon [13:45]
  • Charlie and Blake argue this is evidence the left’s aim is to traumatize and intimidate Christians, taking advantage of their nonviolent nature.
  • "If this was a mosque, Don Lamond wouldn't have been within 100ft of it... But he does not give that same type of space or respect to Christian worshippers." —Charlie Kirk [14:41]

6. Interview with Megan Basham – Investigation & Broader Context

• [21:34 - 29:22] Megan Basham, author & church reporter, gives first-hand reports from local pastors, background on activist William Kelly, and critiques Minneapolis police for not arresting protesters.
  • “The children were terrified, they were crying... the pastors handled it very well. But they did have to end the service early... Local law enforcement did not arrest anyone.” —Megan Basham [22:11]
  • Highlights that Kelly is a “paid professional agitator” with a history of targeting churches nationwide. Minneapolis police reportedly claimed they were balancing worship and free speech—but Megan asserts free speech does not cover storming churches.

7. SBC Leadership, ICE, & Divided Evangelical Response

• [25:49 - 32:07] Discussion turns to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) leadership, which the hosts claim has pushed anti-ICE rhetoric, contributing to false fears about ICE “raiding” churches and discouraging immigrant church attendance.
  • “The national leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention, as is the case in so many Christian denominations, are much more progressive than the rank and file… These leaders contributed to this false narrative about ICE, that they're dangerous, that they're terrorizing people…” —Megan Basham [25:49]
  • Basham claims left-leaning NGOs and monetary incentives have shaped SBC language and policy.

8. Legal and Political Fallout

• [33:16 - 36:29] Keith Ellison, Attorney General of Minnesota, is criticized for defending the activists’ “right” to protest inside the church; again the show argues this is a refusal to enforce laws protecting Christians.
  • “But the idea... that your free speech rights entitle you to barge into a church... is ridiculous.” —Megan Basham [34:48]
  • DOJ and DHS are said to now have full camera footage; criminal charges under the FACE Act may be forthcoming.

9. Faith, Pluralism, and Left-wing Co-opting of Christianity

• [37:41 - 39:43] The panel plays and reacts to a clip from James Talarico (TX Senate candidate) who claims all “religions of love” point to the same truth.
  • “Any religion that does not honor Christ is a demonic religion and it is a false religion.” —Megan Basham [38:05]
  • They argue that the left tries to claim Christ for their own agenda, paralleling how revolutionary movements in history co-opted religious language for political purposes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"There has never been a more entitled, pretentious, disgusting group of protesters, agitators. You will never find one. The entitlement is truly through the roof and it's disgusting."
—Charlie Kirk [10:06]

"But the idea... that your free speech rights entitle you to barge into a church... is ridiculous. I'm actually... deeply concerned that they are now trying to defend actions like this."
—Megan Basham [34:48]

"If this was a mosque, Don Lamond wouldn't have been within 100ft of it... But he does not give that same type of space or respect to Christian worshipers. And that tells you everything."
—Charlie Kirk [14:41]

"Any religion that does not honor Christ is a demonic religion and it is a false religion. So, you know, I love my friends in other faith traditions, but I don't want them worshiping false gods."
—Megan Basham [38:05]

"We've had pastors like that for a long time... The temptation, I guess you could say, Christ's message is so powerful that everyone does want to claim it, which is a good thing, but you have to be on the lookout for people who are going to claim it for very evil agendas in sheep's clothing."
—Blake [39:43]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:45] — Introduction of the Minneapolis church protest case
• [03:57–06:30] — History of leftist attacks on churches and Christianity (Bolsheviks, anti-clericalism)
• [08:01–09:35] — Analysis of Don Lemon and violation of FACE Act
• [13:42] — Don Lemon clip: “That’s what protesting is about.”
• [21:34] — Interview with Megan Basham: account from pastors/children, local law enforcement’s inaction
• [25:49] — SBC statement on ICE and broader evangelical leadership issues
• [33:16] — Segment on Keith Ellison, First Amendment, and Face act
• [37:41] — James Talarico clip (Senate candidate: religious pluralism)
• [38:05] — “Any religion that does not honor Christ is a demonic religion…” —Megan Basham

Tone & Language

• The episode is highly combative, unapologetically conservative, with frequent references to historical analogies (“Bolsheviks,” “French Revolution”) to underline their view of the activist left.
• Religious language and appeals to spiritual warfare are prominent throughout.
• Frequent frustration is expressed at perceived media, law enforcement, and church establishment failures.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode delivers an in-depth, conservative analysis of a protest at a Minneapolis church, arguing that it fits into a longstanding pattern of left-wing hostility to Christianity. The hosts charge mainstream media and progressive evangelical leaders with enabling such incidents, decry local law enforcement’s inaction, and urge more robust defense of religious freedom and law enforcement agencies like ICE. The hosts and guest Megan Basham see the situation as illustrative of a wider “culture war,” warning that the left is escalating old anti-church tactics under new guises.

For further analysis and updates, listeners are encouraged to visit charliekirk.com.