The Hugh Hewitt Show: Highly Concentrated

Episode: The Big Weekend Pod

Date: January 17, 2026
Host: Hugh Hewitt
Guests: Matt Continetti, Ben Domenech, John Ellis, Doug Lesmerises, Eli Lake, Tarzana Joe

Overview of the Episode

This special “Big Weekend Pod” episode brings together the week’s best conversations from The Hugh Hewitt Show, focusing on three main threads:

1. Geopolitical tremors and U.S. foreign policy with an emphasis on Iran.
2. Domestic law enforcement and political unrest in Minnesota.
3. Big-picture analyses—U.S. Arctic strategy, AI, and shifting political landscapes.
   Additionally, the episode features segments on the college football championship and ends with the show’s traditional poetic salute.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iran: Protest, Regime Stability, and U.S. Policy

Participants: Hugh Hewitt, Matt Continetti, Ben Domenech, Eli Lake
Timestamps:

• [00:30]–[08:15], [20:33]–[31:37], [55:53]–[63:36]

Highlights:

• Regime Weakness and Protest:
  • Matt Continetti: “The Iranian regime is severely weakened… The Iranian people no longer fear the regime. As the Stanford scholar Abbas Milani pointed out, repressive regimes need fear. Once the people lose fear, the regime is in severe trouble.” ([04:16])
  • Despite this, the regime’s security apparatus—the IRGC, Basij, imported militias—makes protest perilous and regime collapse uncertain.
• Trump Administration Approach:
  • Discussion of military posturing (“Operation Midnight Hammer”) and shifting signals from President Trump regarding strikes or action against Iran.
  • Continetti: “Trump is not in the regime change business. He’s in the regime coercion business… He wants to shape what these governments do.” ([06:26])
• Risks and Dilemmas:
  • Hewitt and Continetti weigh the risks of drawing a “red line” and not enforcing it.
  • Eli Lake draws historical parallels to the fall of the Shah and warns against short-term thinking:
    • “We’re in the beginning of the end… but I would not think about this in terms of the next few days. We have a sort of geopolitical attention deficit disorder.” ([56:27])
• Calls for Action & Uncertainty:
  • Ben Domenech and Hewitt debate whether decisive action (strikes, releasing footage of repression) could hasten regime downfall but worry about repercussions for Israel and global stability.
  • Domenech: “This is not American regime change, this is coming from inside… supporting it from the outside is in America's interest.” ([28:09])

2. Domestic Unrest: Minnesota, ICE, Law Enforcement, and the Political Impact

Participants: Hugh Hewitt, Matt Continetti, Ben Domenech, John Ellis
Timestamps:

• [09:00]–[12:23], [37:08]–[44:39], [52:49]–[55:05]

Highlights:

• Escalating Tensions:
  • Hewitt highlights Minnesota as a powder keg ("Minnesota is awash in privately held handguns... it's already one dead and I think it's going to be justified force. How dangerous a moment is this...?" [09:00])
  • Continetti blames state/local (Democratic) leaders for non-cooperation with ICE, fostering chaos: “I believe it’s the elected officials at the local and state level who have turned... Minnesota at large into a sanctuary for illegal migration.” ([09:45])
• Political Fallout:
  • Both Hewitt and Continetti predict the unrest will become a flashpoint in upcoming elections.
  • Ben Domenech thinks retreat would be a mistake: “I don’t think you can afford to retreat... it’s incumbent upon you, in fact, as law enforcement... even in the face of people who are absolutely nuts.” ([40:47])
  • John Ellis considers the fallout for both parties: “This ICE action in Minneapolis has been, I think, detrimental to the Republican cause.” ([54:39])
  • Hewitt, referencing the Rodney King era: “If we don’t enforce the law, they’re just gonna... every lunatic in the country going to the Twin Cities.” ([42:24])
• Law Enforcement Messaging:
  • Concerns about DHS communication needing more support and coherence are raised.
    • “I think there needs to be some support mechanisms because a lot... she's out there on an island.” (Ben Domenech, [44:29])

3. U.S. Arctic Strategy: Greenland

Participants: Hugh Hewitt, Matt Continetti, Ben Domenech
Timestamps:

• [12:23]–[15:56], [31:37]–[35:43]

Highlights:

• Strategic Urgency:
  • Arguments for the strategic and economic value of Greenland—rare earths, fisheries, Arctic military positioning.
  • Continetti notes the parallels with Trump’s prior NATO tactics:
    • “A parallel between Donald Trump’s approach to Greenland in the second term and his approach to NATO in the first term... At the end of Donald Trump’s second term, NATO is committed to Greenland's defense.” ([14:02])
  • Ben Domenech laments mainstream dismissal of the issue:
    • “The depiction of Trumpian ideas as being highfalutin and out of the realm of possibility is absolutely in the American security interest to have Greenland protected.” ([32:34])

4. AI, China, and the U.S. Technology Race

Participants: Hugh Hewitt, John Ellis
Timestamps: [45:42]–[52:20]

Highlights:

• China's Model:
  • John Ellis draws a sharp parallel between China’s “steel dumping” of the past and potential “AI dumping,” warning U.S. AI companies could be undercut and lose dominance rapidly.
  • "The concern is that they were going to do the same thing with AI...all sorts of companies will use them because they'll be cheaper." ([48:07])
• High Stakes:
  • AI "barons" are aware, but the threat's magnitude is significant, impacting global GDP projections and tech investments.

5. Political Shifts: Identity & Independents

Participants: Hugh Hewitt, John Ellis
Timestamps: [52:20]–[54:39]

Highlights:

• Changing Party Allegiance:
  • Record numbers of U.S. adults registering as independent—Ellis credits Democratic “identitarian” strategies as a key driver.
  • Notable quote referencing a Trump campaign ad:
    • “Kamala Harris, she’s for they/them, Donald Trump, he’s for you. That sort of perfectly captured all of the problems that the Democrats have.” ([52:49])
• Independents' Concerns:
  • Split priorities: open border worries + concern about law enforcement overreach (ICE in Minneapolis).

6. Communications and Cabinet

Participants: Hugh Hewitt, Matt Continetti
Timestamps: [15:56]–[19:17]

Highlights:

• Standout Communicators:
  • Praise for Press Secretary Caroline Levitt and Secretaries Duffy, Hegseth, and Kennedy.
  • Cabinet “witness protection program” discussed—Tulsi Gabbard, DNI: “I heard the joke in Washington that DNI now stands for Do Not Invite.” ([17:44])
• Advice to Trump:
  • Focus should be “the economy and smash up Iran,” ignoring manufactured controversies and distractions.

7. College Football: Indiana vs Miami & NFL Draft

Participants: Hugh Hewitt, Doug Lesmerises
Timestamps: [64:27]–[71:20]

Highlights:

• Championship Preview:
  • Indiana favored against Miami; coaching matchups spotlighted (Signetti vs. Cristobal/Heatherman).
  • Doug Lesmerises: “I really think Indiana is going to finish this thing off... they’re a more complete team.” ([64:27])
• NFL Draft Prospects:
  • Arvell Reese discussed as a likely early pick, compared to Micah Parsons in his hybrid role.

8. Show Poetry Tradition

Participants: Tarzana Joe
Timestamps: [72:58]–[75:37]

Highlights:

• A heartfelt, custom-composed love poem is read for Tarzana Johanna’s birthday.
• Amusing banter about the show’s “I want a poem” feature being revived, and married men envying Joe’s poetic prowess.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps and Speaker Attribution)

• On the Iranian Regime:

  • “Once the people lose fear, the regime is in severe trouble.” — Matt Continetti [04:16]
  • “Trump is not in the regime change business. He’s in the regime coercion business.” — Matt Continetti [06:26]
  • “We’re in the beginning of the end… we have a sort of geopolitical attention deficit disorder.” — Eli Lake [56:27]

• On Minnesota Unrest:

  • “I believe it’s the elected officials at the local and state level who have turned… Minnesota at large into a sanctuary for illegal migration.” — Matt Continetti [09:45]
  • “I don’t think you can afford to retreat… even in the face of people who are absolutely nuts.” — Ben Domenech [40:47]

• On Arctic/Greenland Strategy:

  • “At the end of Donald Trump’s second term, NATO is committed to Greenland's defense.” — Matt Continetti [14:02]
  • “It’s deeply serious. I think it’s as important as, ‘Does Hawaii matter to the United States?’” — Ben Domenech [32:34]

• On Technology Competition:

  • “The concern is that they were going to do the same thing with AI that they did with steel… by undercutting [U.S. companies] on price, they will make all of this investment… stranded.” — John Ellis [48:07]

• On Identity and Independents:

  • “Kamala Harris, she’s for they/them, Donald Trump, he’s for you. That perfectly captured all of the problems the Democrats have.” — John Ellis [52:49]

Memorable Moments

• Poetic Closer: A touching love poem from Tarzana Joe as a birthday gift—and a light-hearted warning to the married men in the audience. [72:58]
• Football Analysis: Doug Lesmerises’ detailed breakdown of Indiana-Miami matchups and implications for the NFL draft. [64:27]
• Humor and Banter: Light touches throughout, from “don’t drop the baby” jokes with Ben Domenech to self-deprecating humor about “boomer ideology.” [20:33], [42:24]

Useful Timestamps by Topic

| Topic | Timestamp (Start–End) | | ------------------------------------ | --------------------- | | Iran / Foreign Policy | 00:30 – 08:15 | | Minnesota Unrest / ICE | 09:00 – 12:23, 37:08 – 44:39, 52:49 – 55:05 | | Greenland / Arctic | 12:23 – 15:56, 31:37 – 35:43 | | Cabinet & Communications | 15:56 – 19:17 | | Technology – AI & China | 45:42 – 52:20 | | Political Landscape / Independents | 52:20 – 54:39 | | College Football & NFL Draft | 64:27 – 71:20 | | Closing Poetry Segment | 72:58 – 75:37 |

Tone and Language

The discussion alternates between brisk, policy-focused exchanges, lively analysis, and the show’s characteristic dry wit. The camaraderie between Hugh and his guests is evident, with hazing, humor, and affectionate jabs, while the serious segments retain a respectful urgency befitting the topics.

Summary Takeaways

• The U.S. faces a critical, uncertain moment with Iran: regime destabilization, Trump’s unpredictable responses, and the high risks for global security.
• Domestic disorder—especially involving federal law enforcement in blue states—may reshape political narratives ahead of elections.
• Arctic strategy (Greenland) and tech rivalry with China are emerging frontiers for U.S. national security.
• Political polarization and the identity question have driven record numbers of voters to register “independent,” shifting the American landscape.
• Even amidst crisis and controversy, sports and poetry keep things human and grounded on The Hugh Hewitt Show.

A comprehensive, engaging survey of the week’s breaking news, policy debates, and cultural touchstones for listeners who want to stay sharp without sitting through every hour of live radio.