The Hugh Hewitt Show: Highly Concentrated

Episode: U.S. Seize Two Oil Tankers Fleeing Venezuela
Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Hugh Hewitt (Salem Podcast Network)

Overview

This episode of "The Hugh Hewitt Show" focuses on several intersecting breaking news stories:

1. The U.S. seizing two Venezuelan oil tankers amid ongoing sanctions and the aftermath of Operation Absolute Resolve (the U.S.-led operation that captured Venezuelan ex-president Maduro).
2. A deadly police-involved shooting of a civilian by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, and the political fallout.
3. Widespread protests in Iran and an update on the crisis in Haiti.
   Discussion features current politicians, legal analysts, think-tank fellows, and journalists, with spirited debate over issues of law enforcement, federalism, crisis management, and American foreign policy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking News: ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

Incident Summary (00:00-02:45)

• A 37-year-old woman was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis after reportedly accelerating her vehicle toward officers during an enforcement action.
• Protests and potential unrest are ongoing in response.

Host and Guest Reactions

• Hugh Hewitt: Frames the incident as a tragic but likely justified use of force, pending further investigation. Criticizes Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry for inflammatory rhetoric.
• Jacob Fry (Mayor of Minneapolis):
  • Calls for ICE to "ICE out of Minneapolis" after the shooting, suggesting ICE endangers rather than protects the community ([02:03], [21:41]).
  • “People are being hurt. Families are being ripped apart... and now somebody is dead. That's on you.” ([02:03])
  • Hewitt and multiple guests deride these statements as reckless and legally baseless.

Perspective from DHS Leadership

• Secretary Noem: Describes the vehicle ramming as a "domestic terrorist act," emphasizes protection of officers, and insists on ongoing cooperation with DOJ ([04:49]).
  • “These vehicle rammings are domestic acts of terrorism. We're working with the Department of Justice to prosecute them as such...” – Secretary Noem ([05:04])

Legal and Policy Context

• Hewitt and guests reiterate the federal status of ICE, criticize the concept of local officials dictating federal operations, and warn mayors against "obstructing" law enforcement ([04:23], [16:27]).

Political Analysis

• Mary Kathryn Ham: Points out the "information war" and how people’s opinions get confirmed by partial video evidence. Warns not to leap to conclusions but notes, “you can't accelerate toward an officer in a vehicle...” ([20:19])
• Noah Rothman: Decries instant politicized judgments, likening commentary to actively inciting public opinion. Points to a history of organized, left-wing violence and historical cycles of unrest ([29:44], [34:27]).
• Sen. John Husted: Lays blame on local political obstruction: “Stop running a sanctuary city. Stop trying to obstruct federal law enforcement officials from doing their jobs.” ([14:29])

2. U.S. Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tankers & Operation Absolute Resolve

Developments (06:46-07:39, 10:53, 12:14-13:55)

• U.S. authorities seize two Venezuelan oil tankers—one reflagged as Russian after a dramatic chase.
• New arrangement allows $2B worth of Venezuelan oil to be exported, possibly to offset U.S. operational costs in Venezuela.
• Secretary Marco Rubio and guests describe U.S. sanctions as powerful levers for forcing political reform in Venezuela.

Key Quotes & Insights

• Marco Rubio (Sec. of State):
  • “...They can’t move it unless we allow it to move because we have sanctions... This is tremendous leverage. We are exercising it in a positive way.” ([06:46])
  • On Greenland: “That’s always been the president’s intent... Not only did Truman want to do it, but President Trump’s been talking about this since his first term.” ([07:47])
• Sen. John Husted: Praises the operation to capture Maduro and highlights U.S. military precision: “No American lose their life in that process and not lose a single helicopter or asset.” ([12:14])
• Jim Talent (ex-Senator): Sees a policy pattern: “We’re securing our strategic perimeter. Having secured our national border... Hemispheric stability is now our #1 security priority.” ([66:25])

Possible Broader Geopolitical Effects

• Guests debate whether U.S. influence constitutes running Venezuela ("bankruptcy court" analogy).
• Discussion of potential implications for Cuba, with its regime's reliance on Venezuelan oil. ([72:37])
• Fear of blowback or nation-building, though most feel policy is realpolitik, not occupation ([70:35]).

3. Political Fallout & Federalism

Local vs. Federal Authority (16:00-17:11)

• Review of federal, state, and local roles; consensus that local officials (e.g., mayors) cannot direct federal law enforcement, using Minneapolis as a case study.

Political Rhetoric & Incitement Debate

• Extended discussion on whether leaders like Mayor Fry and Governor Walz are inciting unrest, paralleling debate over Trump's Jan. 6 speech.
• Noah Rothman: “Responsible political actors don’t inflame—they urge caution and await facts.” ([29:44], [41:19])

Notable Exchange

• Hewitt to Rothman: “Is there a difference in kind here [between Trump’s and Walz’ rhetoric]?” ([42:11])
  • Rothman: Emphasizes both irresponsibility and notes criminal incitement remains hard to prove. ([42:56-43:42])

4. Welfare Reform: The Upward Mobility Act

Introduction by Sen. Husted ([17:32-19:40])

• New legislation aims to ease people out of the “welfare trap” by gradually tapering benefits—ensuring work always pays more than remaining on government assistance.
• House version introduced by Blake Moore (UT).

Quote:
“We want to put Americans to work... We subsidize people to stay home in America. We need them to go to work and let’s get it done.” – Sen. John Husted ([19:22])

5. International Crisis Updates

Haiti's Collapse (47:27-55:42)

• Philip Balboni (Global Post): Describes Haiti as "a special kind of hell" with gangs controlling 90% of Port-au-Prince, near-total government collapse, and new (possibly doomed) UN peacekeeping plans.
• The Dominican Republic is overwhelmed and rejects Haitian refugees.
• “All these other efforts have not succeeded... The people there deserve a better life, but… it's not governable.” – Philip Balboni ([51:55])

Iran’s Deadly Protests (00:00)

• Acknowledged as an ongoing crisis, not discussed in-depth but included in the backdrop of global unrest.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “People are being hurt. Families are being ripped apart... and now somebody is dead. That's on you.” – Jacob Fry, Mayor of Minneapolis ([02:03])
• “It's absolutely ridiculous. These people [mayors] are violating federal law... That's just like saying you're going to tell the FBI they can't operate in your city.” – Sen. John Husted ([16:27])
• “You can't accelerate toward an officer in a vehicle... even if it was panic, not malice...” – Mary Kathryn Ham ([20:19])
• “These vehicle rammings are domestic acts of terrorism. We're working with the Department of Justice to prosecute them as such...” – Secretary Noem ([05:04])
• “This is tremendous leverage. We are exercising it in a positive way.” – Marco Rubio ([06:46])
• “We subsidize people to stay home in America. We need them to go to work...” – Sen. Husted ([19:22])
• “We’re securing our strategic perimeter. Having secured our national border... Hemispheric stability is now our #1 security priority.” – Jim Talent ([66:25])
• “It really is a special kind of hell.” – Philip Balboni, on Haiti ([47:53], [51:55])

Important Segment Timestamps

• ICE shooting incident reporting/analysis: [00:00] – [10:53], [20:04] – [29:19]
• Jacob Fry & Tim Walz statements on Minneapolis: [02:03], [21:41], [25:25], [39:11], [40:44]
• Secretary Noem on Minneapolis incident: [04:49]
• Sen. John Husted (Senate, Venezuela, Minneapolis, Upward Mobility): [12:14] – [19:40]
• Sec. Marco Rubio on Venezuela and Greenland: [06:46] – [09:02]
• Noah Rothman analysis (riots, political rhetoric): [29:19], [29:44], [39:11] – [46:43]
• Mary Kathryn Ham on Minneapolis shooting: [20:19] – [25:55]
• Philip Balboni on Haiti crisis: [47:27] – [55:42]
• Jim Talent (foreign policy/Cuba): [64:49] – [74:47]

Tone & Style

The episode is direct, analytical, and at times caustic, particularly in Hewitt’s criticism of progressive city leadership and defense of law enforcement and federal power. Debate is lively, often referencing recent political history, the U.S. Constitution, and the risks of inflammatory rhetoric. Foreign policy discussions are pragmatic with a definite "America First" perspective, skeptical of nation-building but supportive of leverage and force projection.

Summary Takeaway

This episode gives listeners an in-depth, viewpoint-driven look at:

• The intersection of law enforcement, politics, and protests in Minneapolis.
• U.S. assertiveness in handling Venezuela and the use of economic power as foreign policy leverage.
• The challenges and nuances of federal vs. local authority on immigration enforcement.
• Broader international crises—from Haiti’s near-total societal collapse to simmering Iranian unrest.

The major through-line: government must enforce the law (domestically and internationally), local attempts to block federal authority are criticized as illegal and dangerous, and current American foreign policy is muscular, practical, and driven by national security interests, not ideology.