The Michael Knowles Show – Ep. 1894

"Trump Launches Investigation Into Don Lemon"
Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Michael Knowles
Guests: Mary Margaret Olihan (Daily Wire White House Correspondent), Harmeet Dhillon (DOJ Deputy Attorney General)

Episode Overview

This episode is centered on significant federal investigations launched under President Trump’s administration, targeting figures such as Don Lemon, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, allegedly for impeding federal law enforcement and engaging in activities Knowles frames as “insurrectionist.” The episode discusses the legal and cultural implications of these investigations, reactions from those targeted, and broader cultural commentary—including a critical look at Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and remarks by Michelle Obama about supporting black-owned brands.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Investigations in Minneapolis: Fry and Walz

• Topic: The DOJ's investigation into Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry and MN Governor Tim Walz for alleged obstruction of federal law enforcement.
• Claim: Both officials are accused of aiding criminal activity, impeding ICE, and making secessionist arguments.
• Fry’s Reaction: Expresses shock at federal intervention, calls it un-American to be investigated for ideology.
• Knowles’ Counterpoint:
  • “You don’t get investigated for opinion. You do get investigated for obstructing law enforcement … and undermining federal law.” (05:22)
  • Compares Fry’s statements to historical federal interventions (e.g., the Civil War, desegregation).
  • Criticizes Fry for “covering up for Somali criminals” and “ordering out ICE.”
• Walz’s Stance: Draws Civil War analogies, claiming Minnesota is “holding the line for democracy.”
• Knowles’ Response:
  • Points out irony: Walz is analogous to a secessionist, not the Union, in this context.
  • Mocks the logic, argues their actions openly admit to crimes of obstruction.

Notable Quote:

• Jacob Fry (04:38): “You don’t get investigated for having a different opinion. … but it doesn’t happen here. Here, this is America, and we’ve got to be standing up for these American values.”
• Michael Knowles (05:22): “You do get investigated for undermining the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.”

2. Don Lemon Under Investigation – The Church Incident

• Incident: Don Lemon is under investigation for allegedly conspiring with protesters to interrupt a Baptist church service. The case may use the Ku Klux Klan Act as its legal basis.
• Harmeet Dhillon Explains:
  • The Klan Act prohibits conspiring to violate civil rights—originally aimed at Dixiecrats post-Civil War.
  • Don Lemon is accused of embedding with the mob and being part of the conspiracy, not just observing.
  • “Everyone in the protest community needs to know that the fullest force of the federal government is going to come down and … put people away for a long, long time.” (14:56)
• Knowles’ Commentary:
  • Frames Lemon as actively participating: “Admitting that he is conspiring with them… then giving them coffee and donuts afterward.”
  • Satirizes Lemon’s ‘journalism’ defense as a transparent legal fig leaf.

Notable Quote:

• Knowles (16:01): “You can’t go out and murder your wife and then say, ‘Oh, I’m a journalist.’ … You committed the crime, and just like, talking about it on camera does not absolve you of the crime.”

3. Martin Luther King Day: Legacy & Cultural Relevance

• Observation: Knowles notes diminishing public engagement with MLK Day.
• Analysis:
  • Asserts that MLK’s legacy (particularly the “I Have a Dream” speech) is less valued as the left “openly rejects” its colorblind ethos.
  • Critiques MLK’s personal and theological shortcomings while acknowledging his symbolic importance.
  • Concludes that King represents principles now rejected by many activists, leading to his fading relevance.
• Broader Point: Societal heroes are valorized for what they symbolize; King’s symbol is now contentious.

Notable Quote:

• Knowles (19:42): “The right has to view it as utopian. … [King’s] legacy boils down to the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech … and the practical legacy is all the civil rights legislation, which does not live up to the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.”

4. Trump Administration: First Year Scorecard (with Mary Margaret Olihan)

Segment Begins: 25:42

• Policy Accomplishments:
  • Immigration overhaul: Border closed, mass deportations, enhanced ICE activity.
  • Foreign policy: “Ended eight wars,” strongman diplomacy with Venezuela and Iran.
  • Culture war issues: Ban on gender transition procedures for minors, protecting women’s sports, freeing pro-life protestors.
  • Reduced “weaponization” of federal agencies (DOJ, FBI) against conservatives.
• Olihan’s Perspective:
  • Praises the administration’s efficiency and sweeping action, especially on hot-button issues for the right.
  • Criticizes left-leaning “popcorn throwers” for underappreciating the gravity of Trump’s first-year achievements.

Notable Quotes:

• Olihan (26:59): “If you look at the past year and all of the things that the administration has started to check off its list, it’s a pretty good amount of things for a first year in office.”
• Knowles (29:09): “One rule of thumb is the way you want to judge the success of a political campaign is how angry your opponents are—and the left is apoplectic right now.”

5. Michelle Obama’s Viral Comments on Shopping Black-Owned

Segment Begins: 36:10

• Context: Michelle Obama is criticized for comments perceived as urging not to shop at white-owned brands.
• Actual Statement: Urges mindfulness in supporting diverse designers but stops short of boycotting white-owned brands.
• Knowles’ Dissection:
  • Concedes that her statement wasn’t an explicit boycott, but frames it as privileging black-owned brands by implication.
  • Argues the logic necessarily disadvantages other groups because of finite consumer resources—an analogy to affirmative action.
  • Calls for honesty: “If you’re going to say it, say it with your whole chest.”
• Philosophical Tie-In: Connects this to broader critiques—how “diversity” policies always entail some form of exclusion.

Notable Quote:

• Knowles (36:47): “You need to shop at the black brands, but maybe not less at the white brands. … But if you privilege one thing, you are necessarily disadvantaging another.”

6. Transgender Policies in Europe: An Irish Teacher’s Arrest

Segment Begins: 43:10

• Case: Irish teacher arrested for refusing to use transgender pronouns after being fired.
• Broader Point:
  • Knowles compares the spread of U.S. cultural fads to “vassal states” in Europe, sometimes with a delay.
  • Predicts the U.S. is “past the peak of woke,” while Europe is now at its height.
  • Framed as a warning about limitless progressive ideology running into the hard constraints of reality.

Notable Quote:

• Knowles (43:57): “In the liberal fever dream utopia, we can indulge in all sorts of Humpty Dumpty word redefinitions... but in the finite practical world, you have to enforce limits.”

7. Concluding Thoughts: The Return of Limits

• Summary:
  • Trump’s first year proves, per Knowles, that “limits can be restored”: on the border, law enforcement, the economy.
  • Contrasts this with Biden’s claim that existing federal law was insufficient for securing the border.
  • Economic outcomes (lower rents, falling overdose deaths, tariffs not harming economy) are cited as proof that quick improvement is possible once limits are reinstated.

Notable Quote:

• Knowles (46:01): “Not only can we impose these limits, they can have real political effects pretty quickly. Good conclusion for a first year.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fry’s outrage:
  • “You do get investigated for aiding and abetting crime. You do get investigated for undermining federal law. You will get investigated for that, and you could go to jail for that.” (05:22, Knowles)
• On Don Lemon:
  • “Don Lemon’s gotta go to prison… He is daring the government to throw him in prison. That’s what this is all about.” (16:01, Knowles)
• On MLK’s legacy:
  • “The abstract legacy of Martin Luther King is the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. The practical legacy is all the civil rights legislation, which does not live up to the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.” (19:42, Knowles)
• On Trump’s first year:
  • “If you look at how he’s cleaned up Washington, D.C., for example, how the border literally has been closed the entire year... it is no small thing.” (26:59, Olihan)
• On Michelle Obama:
  • “If you privilege one thing, you are necessarily disadvantaging another. This is the problem with affirmative action.” (36:47, Knowles)
• On transgender enforcement:
  • “Working government will not accept transgenderism. That’s what he’s doing.” (43:16, George Brian Krieger via protest video)
• On the return of limits:
  • “Not only can we [reassert limits], but things really improve when we do that. Things really improve, like, fast…” (46:01, Knowles)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Minneapolis Investigations & Fry’s comments: 03:15–09:27
• Governor Walz’s statements: 09:27–10:07
• Trump DOJ’s intentions against insurrectionists: 10:07–12:22
• Don Lemon’s church incident & Klan Act: 12:22–16:01
• MLK Day & legacy discussion: 16:01–25:40
• White House year-in-review with Mary Margaret Olihan: 25:42–33:54
• Michelle Obama on black-owned brands: 36:10–43:10
• Irish teacher & transgender policies: 43:10–46:01
• Concluding reflections on limits, economic stats: 46:01–48:55

Episode Tone

Michael Knowles employs a caustic, satirical, and partisan tone throughout, often mocking opponents and using hyperbole. There are moments of thoughtful philosophical reflection, especially regarding the nature of political change and the waning of certain cultural icons.

The structure above is ideal for listeners seeking a comprehensive yet navigable survey of the episode’s significant themes, quotes, and flow.