The Charlie Kirk Show

"Time for the Insurrection Act in Minneapolis?"

Episode Date: January 16, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Charlie Kirk and his team dive into the latest explosive developments in Minneapolis, a city rocked by widespread alleged fraud, growing unrest, and mounting calls for federal intervention. The show features whistleblower David Hoch, who was instrumental in high-profile investigations exposing systemic fraud, as well as on-the-ground reporters Nick Sorter and Cam Higby, who describe the lawlessness and violence escalating in Minneapolis following these revelations. The central question: Is it time to invoke the Insurrection Act to restore order?

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Fraud Exposed in Minneapolis

• David Hoch’s Investigations

  • Hoch and investigative reporter Nick Shirley uncovered massive, systemic fraud in Minneapolis, particularly involving childcare, non-emergency medical transportation, and wire transfer services.
  • Hoch describes first noticing a mismatch between the number of childcare centers and local children, leading him to question ownership and operation of these businesses.
    • “We have more childcare centers in Minneapolis than we do children.” (03:24, David Hoch)
  • Fraudulent transport companies, fake addresses, and money being funneled through these operations are central to the scam.
  • Hoch found instances where company addresses corresponded to non-existent suites or unrelated businesses, and none of the purported businesses actually operated as described.

• Impact and Spread

  • The initial video exposé went viral, leading to national and global attention.
    • “Not only nationally, but internationally... all because of one misspelled word.” (06:23)

2. Money Smuggling Out of the U.S.

• Whistleblower Clip

  • Large sums of unaccounted cash (up to $6 million per suitcase) allegedly smuggled via MSP airport, possibly back to Somalia.

    • “The smallest amount in a suitcase that I heard was like $750,000. But generally it was anywhere from a million to 6 million in a suitcase.” (12:11, Interviewee)

  • There appears to be little to no interference from federal authorities as long as the cash was declared, raising questions of oversight and complicity.

3. The “Epicenter” of Fraud and Political Complicity

• Hoch argues that Minneapolis is the epicenter of this type of fraud in the United States, now proliferating globally.
• Local politicians are accused of being complicit and enabling these fraud networks for votes and political power.
  • “They had help from politicians to construct all these companies. They didn't know how to do it. The politicians helped them do it...” (17:54, David Hoch)
• He notes the lack of assimilation and social tensions:
  • “Their failure to assimilate in the slightest bit... they are in my way or the highway.” (17:54)

4. Risks Faced By Whistleblowers

• Hoch reveals the personal danger he now faces as a result of going public, including threats to his life.
  • “I have to have the lights on all the time. I have to carry a firearm, a baseball bat, and what's called a whip it... Because now people are starting to recognize me. And it's... a frightening place to live my world.” (08:45, David Hoch)

5. ICE, Media Coverage, and Law Enforcement Paralysis

• The show pivots to recent unrest in Minneapolis, with anti-ICE protests and increasing brazen lawlessness.
• Kirk and producers argue media coverage is designed to create public backlash against mass deportations and ICE enforcement, aiming to weaken political resolve.
  • “They're trying to attack the moral resolve of the administration and get them to wuss out... say the juice isn't worth the squeeze.” (21:49, Blake Neff)

6. Boots-On-Ground: Minneapolis Protest Violence

• Reporters Nick Sorter & Cam Higby describe the scene:
  • Hundreds of protesters gather daily, with violence escalating after dark.
  • Police rarely intervene and are often chased off or ignored by protesters.
    • “They form... a really terrible kettle where state police basically just let people leave... they arrested nobody.” (27:03, Cam Higby)
  • Gun theft from federal vehicles by gang members occurred; despite witness reports and video, local police did not act promptly.
  • Reporters themselves face threats, targeted harassment, and mob behavior; law enforcement fails to provide protection.
    • “He told me that he thinks it would be self defense if somebody killed me because of my beliefs. And then he ran around town following me, telling everybody that I think Renee Nicole Goode deserved it. So obviously that incited a mob against me. I called 911, they never showed up.” (27:19, Cam Higby)

7. The Insurrection Act: Is It Needed?

• Kirk and guests debate invoking the Insurrection Act.
  • Urgency grows as local police and officials refuse or fail to restore order.
    • “The Insurrection act is intended for insurrections. And when you have people trying to pull down the fences of federal facilities, attempting to kill federal officers, breaking into their vehicles, stealing their documents... I think that that probably constitutes the beginning of an insurrection.” (31:09, Cam Higby)
  • Argument: A strong federal response is needed to set a nationwide precedent and prevent spread of lawlessness.
    • “They're going to have to make an example out of this place.” (34:45, Nick Sorter)

8. Lawlessness and Political Geography

• Panelists note that cities with stricter law enforcement (e.g., in Florida or Texas) do not experience the same sustained unrest.
• The phenomenon is associated with liberal-run cities (e.g., Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle), whereas black-run major cities reportedly have little patience for prolonged chaos.
  • “It's Portland, it's Minneapolis, it's Seattle. ...If you're in New Orleans, Atlanta, Detroit... they just don't fall for this nonsense nearly as much.” (36:48, Blake Neff)
  • “I think an overwhelming show of force would absolutely squelch this. They're like children. It's just learned behavior.” (37:36, Cam Higby)

9. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

David Hoch:

• “I realized that this was going to be like wrestling a grease hippo... you can't try and tackle the whole thing all at once.” (03:24)
• “I'm not gonna hand this situation off to my kids and let them deal with it. I'm the guy who's gonna stop it and I'm gonna tear this whole thing down.” (07:10)
• “This is the epicenter of all the fraud in the United States... the genesis of it is right here in Minneapolis.” (09:46)

Cam Higby:

• “If you don't enforce the law, you don't have laws. Laws are only as good as their enforcement mechanism. And right now Minneapolis has no laws because they're not enforcing any laws.” (26:04)
• “The Insurrection act is intended for insurrections... attempting to kill federal officers... I think that that probably constitutes the beginning of an insurrection.” (31:09)

Nick Sorter:

• “I've gotten a bunch of hate messages in my DMs from people after I had this guy arrested yesterday... The FBI is on the ground doing a really good job with that. I'm hoping there's gonna be another announcement on that today.” (24:00)

Blake Neff:

• “Why aren't they doing this in Texas? Because... they know DeSantis isn't going to take it. That's why they're doing it in Minneapolis, because they know the government here supports them and they can get away with it.” (37:36)

10. Calls to Action & Support

• Kirk encourages donations for frontline independent journalists’ safety and coverage, referencing the Blackline Guardian fund (40:40).

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• [03:24] — David Hoch describes the origins of his investigation and the discovery of mass daycare and transportation fraud
• [06:23] — Hoch discusses the viral impact and national/international spread of the story
• [08:45] — Hoch details the personal safety threats he now faces from his activism
• [12:11] — Whistleblower describes alleged millions in cash being smuggled through Minneapolis International Airport
• [15:56] — The team investigates a fraudulent transport business with a fake address that has existed “on paper” since 1999
• [17:54] — Hoch recounts the political complicity and lack of assimilation from certain communities in Minneapolis
• [21:49] — Show critiques media efforts to dampen political will for immigration enforcement
• [24:00] — Nick Sorter shares the theft of a federal select-fire rifle during protests and police inaction
• [26:04] — Higby and others detail how law enforcement presence is mostly nominal or absent
• [31:09] — Debate over invoking the Insurrection Act, with arguments for a strong federal response
• [34:45] — Nick Sorter: “They’re going to have to make an example out of this place.”
• [37:36] — Cam Higby: “They're like children. It's just learned behavior. ...That's why they're doing it in Minneapolis, because they know the government here supports them and they can get away with it.”

Episode Summary & Tone

This episode is a fast-paced, unapologetically conservative exposé on what the hosts see as systemic government corruption, bureaucratic complicity, and the dangers of law enforcement paralysis in Minneapolis. Charlie Kirk and his team blend investigative journalism with urgent political advocacy, urging for a federal show of force under the Insurrection Act to restore law and order and set a precedent for other U.S. cities. The tone throughout is defiant, alarmist yet detailed, blending direct quotes, frontline reports, and policy debate.

For more stories and investigative updates, listeners are directed to charliekirk.com.