The Matt Walsh Show, Ep. 1723

"The Defining Moment of Trump's Presidency Has ARRIVED. The Path Forward is Obvious"
Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Matt Walsh (The Daily Wire)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Matt Walsh addresses what he frames as a watershed moment in Donald Trump's second term as president, focusing on escalating unrest in Minneapolis following a fatal shooting involving ICE agents. Walsh argues that Trump's response to this crisis — whether to double down on enforcement or capitulate to left-wing pressure — will define both his presidency and the future of the country.

Key topics include the events that led to the shooting of Alex Priddy, the reactions from left-wing activists and conservative commentators, Walsh's critique of the media and "cuckold conservatives," the issue of mob rule vs. law and order, and the importance of risk-taking in contemporary culture, inspired by Alex Honnold's skyscraper climb.

Main Topics and Discussion Points

1. The Stakes: Trump’s Defining Moment ([03:20])

Walsh opens by framing the week as the most significant of Trump's presidency due to a "well funded domestic terror campaign by the enemies of civilization."
Trump faces two options:
- Enforce the law: Continue deportations and dismantle "left wing organizations" funding the unrest.
- Surrender: Cease enforcement, empower NGOs and activists, and risk “the end of his presidency, not to mention the country.”

Quote:

"If he chooses that path... it will be, for all intents and purposes, the end of his presidency, not to mention the country." ([04:51])

2. Historical Analogies: From Kent State to BLM ([06:04])

Kent State 1970: National Guard shoots protesters. Nixon encircles the White House with buses, doesn't apologize, wins 49 states.
Contrast to Trump 2020: Trump "went easy" on BLM rioters; no mass arrests for burning St. John’s Church; most Portland Antifa charges dropped.
Consequence: Biden wins, cracks down on conservatives.

Quote:

"Without laws, we don't have a country. And if some leftists get themselves killed on purpose, we shouldn't change a single thing. That's the approach voters want to see." ([09:46])

3. The Minneapolis Shooting: Alex Priddy ([15:44–31:50])

What Happened ([15:44–29:45]):

Anti-ICE activists in encrypted chats coordinate on Minneapolis streets.
Alex Priddy, 37, responds to a call for agitators.
Priddy, armed, obstructs agents and physically intervenes during an arrest.
Priddy is ultimately shot and killed by agents after a struggle and a gunshot (possibly accidental) during the chaos.

Quote:

"He was a domestic terrorist... He blocked federal agents from carrying out the will of the voters and from performing the job they are obligated to do and have the authority to do." ([27:35])

Walsh’s Analysis ([29:45–31:50]):

Agents’ use of force was legally justified; Priddy’s actions created deadly chaos.
The point: anyone interfering with law enforcement should accept consequences, including their own death.

Notable Moment:

"If you jump off a building, you deserve to fall and hit the pavement. ... We all deserve the direct consequences of our own actions, negative or positive." ([31:20])

4. Minneapolis Descends into Mob Rule ([32:00–37:25])

Walsh plays and describes footage of left-wing mobs behaving like vigilante police.
Draws parallels to third-world conditions where the state loses its monopoly on force.
Stresses that federal action — not dialogue — is vital to restore order.

Quote:

“There may as well have been a scene from Somalia. ... The mob can harass you at will. This is a defining characteristic of the third world.” ([34:30])

5. Critique of Conservative and Media Responses ([37:25–54:30])

Conservative Commentators Criticized:

Dave Smith: Called for immigration enforcement but condemns ICE tactics as excessive.
- Walsh calls out what he sees as Smith's inconsistency and cowardice.
Jonah Goldberg & Wall Street Journal: Accused of adopting a “soft” take and misunderstanding the law; defend Priddy as merely "directing traffic" or "assisting" a fellow protester.

Quote:

"You want to restrict immigration. That is literally the only way to do it, Dave. ... They don’t do that because they're drunk on power. ... Left-wing communist agitators are in the street deliberately... That’s the point." ([41:10])

"Based" Influencers gone soft ([54:09]):

Mocks Jake Shields and others for equating Alex Priddy with Kyle Rittenhouse.
Points out hypocrisy among “Hitler is cool” edgelords for folding on law and order when enforcement gets real.

6. Walsh’s Prescription: Invoking the Insurrection Act ([54:32–57:35])

Calls for Trump to send more federal agents and military to Minneapolis.
Demands mass arrests of leftist agitators and mass deportations.
Warns any compromise will embolden leftist tactics nationally.

Quote:

“Any resolution... that does not include mass arrests... will be a total failure for the Trump administration and will only guarantee more and worse chaos in the future.” ([57:13])

7. “Assimilation” and Somali Culture ([58:50–1:02:57])

Walsh reacts to a viral press conference by Somali woman Nasra Ahmed, ridiculing her inability to describe Somali culture beyond “bananas with rice.”
Argues that immigrants fundamentally never assimilate and will always identify with their home country, regardless of the reality on the ground.

Quote:

“They will never assimilate. ... Even if the only good thing they can say about the place is bananas and rice.” ([1:01:10])

8. Media Double Standards: Jimmy Kimmel’s Tears ([1:07:15–1:13:55])

Shows Jimmy Kimmel getting emotional over Alex Priddy and Renee Good.
Contrasts this with the lack of left-wing outrage for "truly innocent" victims like Irena Zarutska (a Ukrainian refugee killed in NYC), suggesting leftist sorrow is performative.

Quote:

“I’m supposed to take you seriously when you’re crying about that? ... But you could look at Irena Zarutska and feel nothing.” ([1:12:04])

9. On Greatness and Risk: Alex Honnold’s Skyscraper Climb ([1:14:10–1:19:47])

Walsh praises Honnold’s live, unaided climb of Taipei 101 — broadcast live on Netflix — calling it possibly “the greatest athletic achievement ever caught on film.”
Responds to criticisms (reckless, unethical to air) by defending risk-taking and the value of inspiring such acts in a “safety-obsessed” society.

Quote:

“I think we need examples of men who are willing to take extraordinary risks in pursuit of greatness... You need people who are willing to traverse far, far outside of that bubble of safety.” ([1:18:33])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On law and order:

“The more felonies you commit, the more you raise the risk of losing your life or killing someone else. ... In chaotic situations, people die. And it’s the people who are attempting to undermine the rule of law… who are to blame.” ([29:10])
On public reaction:

“Any decision by this administration that produces that kind of response from Gavin Newsom, then it was the wrong decision. Period.” ([14:38])
On risk and masculinity:

“We need examples of men who are willing to take extraordinary risks in pursuit of greatness… We don’t have a lot of examples of that sort of thing anymore.” ([1:18:36])

Time-Stamped Key Segments

[03:20] – Framing Trump’s choice: Law enforcement or surrender
[06:04] – Kent State, Nixon, and precedent for forceful federal response
[15:44] – Breakdown of events leading to Alex Priddy shooting
[32:00] – Mob behavior and breakdown of order in Minneapolis
[37:25] – Critique of right-wing commentators’ responses
[54:32] – Walsh’s action plan: Insurrection Act and mass arrests
[58:50] – Discussion: Somali-American identity and assimilation
[1:07:15] – Jimmy Kimmel’s response and accusations of selective outrage
[1:14:10] – Discussion of Alex Honnold’s skyscraper climb

Tone

Unapologetically combative, sarcastic, and polemical.
Matt Walsh derides left-wing activists, moderate conservatives, mainstream media, and cultural “softness.”
Champions a hardline approach to law and order, proud nationalism, and traditional masculinity.

Summary for New Listeners

Matt Walsh delivers a provocative, high-stakes assessment of the crisis in Minneapolis, insisting the future of Trump's presidency — and the rule of law in America — depends on doubling down with force against what he casts as coordinated, violent leftist networks. He juxtaposes this with perceived failures of strength from the right, media hypocrisy, and the cultural rot of “mob rule.” The episode is rich in polemic, historical references, and cultural asides, ending on a surprising note of praise for athletic daring and risk as a model for American renewal.

The Matt Walsh Show, Ep. 1723

"The Defining Moment of Trump's Presidency Has ARRIVED. The Path Forward is Obvious"
Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Matt Walsh (The Daily Wire)

Episode Overview

Main Topics and Discussion Points

1. The Stakes: Trump’s Defining Moment ([03:20])

Walsh opens by framing the week as the most significant of Trump's presidency due to a "well funded domestic terror campaign by the enemies of civilization."
Trump faces two options:
- Enforce the law: Continue deportations and dismantle "left wing organizations" funding the unrest.
- Surrender: Cease enforcement, empower NGOs and activists, and risk “the end of his presidency, not to mention the country.”

Quote:

"If he chooses that path... it will be, for all intents and purposes, the end of his presidency, not to mention the country." ([04:51])

2. Historical Analogies: From Kent State to BLM ([06:04])

Kent State 1970: National Guard shoots protesters. Nixon encircles the White House with buses, doesn't apologize, wins 49 states.
Contrast to Trump 2020: Trump "went easy" on BLM rioters; no mass arrests for burning St. John’s Church; most Portland Antifa charges dropped.
Consequence: Biden wins, cracks down on conservatives.

Quote:

"Without laws, we don't have a country. And if some leftists get themselves killed on purpose, we shouldn't change a single thing. That's the approach voters want to see." ([09:46])

3. The Minneapolis Shooting: Alex Priddy ([15:44–31:50])

What Happened ([15:44–29:45]):

Anti-ICE activists in encrypted chats coordinate on Minneapolis streets.
Alex Priddy, 37, responds to a call for agitators.
Priddy, armed, obstructs agents and physically intervenes during an arrest.
Priddy is ultimately shot and killed by agents after a struggle and a gunshot (possibly accidental) during the chaos.

Quote:

"He was a domestic terrorist... He blocked federal agents from carrying out the will of the voters and from performing the job they are obligated to do and have the authority to do." ([27:35])

Walsh’s Analysis ([29:45–31:50]):

Agents’ use of force was legally justified; Priddy’s actions created deadly chaos.
The point: anyone interfering with law enforcement should accept consequences, including their own death.

Notable Moment:

"If you jump off a building, you deserve to fall and hit the pavement. ... We all deserve the direct consequences of our own actions, negative or positive." ([31:20])

4. Minneapolis Descends into Mob Rule ([32:00–37:25])

Walsh plays and describes footage of left-wing mobs behaving like vigilante police.
Draws parallels to third-world conditions where the state loses its monopoly on force.
Stresses that federal action — not dialogue — is vital to restore order.

Quote:

“There may as well have been a scene from Somalia. ... The mob can harass you at will. This is a defining characteristic of the third world.” ([34:30])

5. Critique of Conservative and Media Responses ([37:25–54:30])

Conservative Commentators Criticized:

Dave Smith: Called for immigration enforcement but condemns ICE tactics as excessive.
- Walsh calls out what he sees as Smith's inconsistency and cowardice.
Jonah Goldberg & Wall Street Journal: Accused of adopting a “soft” take and misunderstanding the law; defend Priddy as merely "directing traffic" or "assisting" a fellow protester.

Quote:

"You want to restrict immigration. That is literally the only way to do it, Dave. ... They don’t do that because they're drunk on power. ... Left-wing communist agitators are in the street deliberately... That’s the point." ([41:10])

"Based" Influencers gone soft ([54:09]):

Mocks Jake Shields and others for equating Alex Priddy with Kyle Rittenhouse.
Points out hypocrisy among “Hitler is cool” edgelords for folding on law and order when enforcement gets real.

6. Walsh’s Prescription: Invoking the Insurrection Act ([54:32–57:35])

Calls for Trump to send more federal agents and military to Minneapolis.
Demands mass arrests of leftist agitators and mass deportations.
Warns any compromise will embolden leftist tactics nationally.

Quote:

“Any resolution... that does not include mass arrests... will be a total failure for the Trump administration and will only guarantee more and worse chaos in the future.” ([57:13])

7. “Assimilation” and Somali Culture ([58:50–1:02:57])

Walsh reacts to a viral press conference by Somali woman Nasra Ahmed, ridiculing her inability to describe Somali culture beyond “bananas with rice.”
Argues that immigrants fundamentally never assimilate and will always identify with their home country, regardless of the reality on the ground.

Quote:

“They will never assimilate. ... Even if the only good thing they can say about the place is bananas and rice.” ([1:01:10])

8. Media Double Standards: Jimmy Kimmel’s Tears ([1:07:15–1:13:55])

Shows Jimmy Kimmel getting emotional over Alex Priddy and Renee Good.
Contrasts this with the lack of left-wing outrage for "truly innocent" victims like Irena Zarutska (a Ukrainian refugee killed in NYC), suggesting leftist sorrow is performative.

Quote:

“I’m supposed to take you seriously when you’re crying about that? ... But you could look at Irena Zarutska and feel nothing.” ([1:12:04])

9. On Greatness and Risk: Alex Honnold’s Skyscraper Climb ([1:14:10–1:19:47])

Walsh praises Honnold’s live, unaided climb of Taipei 101 — broadcast live on Netflix — calling it possibly “the greatest athletic achievement ever caught on film.”
Responds to criticisms (reckless, unethical to air) by defending risk-taking and the value of inspiring such acts in a “safety-obsessed” society.

Quote:

“I think we need examples of men who are willing to take extraordinary risks in pursuit of greatness... You need people who are willing to traverse far, far outside of that bubble of safety.” ([1:18:33])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On law and order:

“The more felonies you commit, the more you raise the risk of losing your life or killing someone else. ... In chaotic situations, people die. And it’s the people who are attempting to undermine the rule of law… who are to blame.” ([29:10])
On public reaction:

“Any decision by this administration that produces that kind of response from Gavin Newsom, then it was the wrong decision. Period.” ([14:38])
On risk and masculinity:

“We need examples of men who are willing to take extraordinary risks in pursuit of greatness… We don’t have a lot of examples of that sort of thing anymore.” ([1:18:36])

Time-Stamped Key Segments

[03:20] – Framing Trump’s choice: Law enforcement or surrender
[06:04] – Kent State, Nixon, and precedent for forceful federal response
[15:44] – Breakdown of events leading to Alex Priddy shooting
[32:00] – Mob behavior and breakdown of order in Minneapolis
[37:25] – Critique of right-wing commentators’ responses
[54:32] – Walsh’s action plan: Insurrection Act and mass arrests
[58:50] – Discussion: Somali-American identity and assimilation
[1:07:15] – Jimmy Kimmel’s response and accusations of selective outrage
[1:14:10] – Discussion of Alex Honnold’s skyscraper climb

Tone

Unapologetically combative, sarcastic, and polemical.
Matt Walsh derides left-wing activists, moderate conservatives, mainstream media, and cultural “softness.”
Champions a hardline approach to law and order, proud nationalism, and traditional masculinity.

Ep. 1723 - The Defining Moment of Trump's Presidency Has ARRIVED. The Path Forward is Obvious

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Summary

The Matt Walsh Show, Ep. 1723

Episode Overview

Main Topics and Discussion Points

1. The Stakes: Trump’s Defining Moment ([03:20])

2. Historical Analogies: From Kent State to BLM ([06:04])

3. The Minneapolis Shooting: Alex Priddy ([15:44–31:50])

What Happened ([15:44–29:45]):

Walsh’s Analysis ([29:45–31:50]):

4. Minneapolis Descends into Mob Rule ([32:00–37:25])

5. Critique of Conservative and Media Responses ([37:25–54:30])

Conservative Commentators Criticized:

"Based" Influencers gone soft ([54:09]):

6. Walsh’s Prescription: Invoking the Insurrection Act ([54:32–57:35])

7. “Assimilation” and Somali Culture ([58:50–1:02:57])

8. Media Double Standards: Jimmy Kimmel’s Tears ([1:07:15–1:13:55])

9. On Greatness and Risk: Alex Honnold’s Skyscraper Climb ([1:14:10–1:19:47])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Time-Stamped Key Segments

Tone

Summary for New Listeners

Summary

The Matt Walsh Show, Ep. 1723

Episode Overview

Main Topics and Discussion Points

1. The Stakes: Trump’s Defining Moment ([03:20])

2. Historical Analogies: From Kent State to BLM ([06:04])

3. The Minneapolis Shooting: Alex Priddy ([15:44–31:50])

What Happened ([15:44–29:45]):

Walsh’s Analysis ([29:45–31:50]):

4. Minneapolis Descends into Mob Rule ([32:00–37:25])

5. Critique of Conservative and Media Responses ([37:25–54:30])

Conservative Commentators Criticized:

"Based" Influencers gone soft ([54:09]):

6. Walsh’s Prescription: Invoking the Insurrection Act ([54:32–57:35])

7. “Assimilation” and Somali Culture ([58:50–1:02:57])

8. Media Double Standards: Jimmy Kimmel’s Tears ([1:07:15–1:13:55])

9. On Greatness and Risk: Alex Honnold’s Skyscraper Climb ([1:14:10–1:19:47])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Time-Stamped Key Segments

Tone

Summary for New Listeners