The Riley Gaines Show — Episode Summary

Episode: You Should Know: ICE Didn’t Arrest a 5-Year-Old
Host: Riley Gaines
Date: January 23, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Riley Gaines addresses a widely circulated story accusing ICE of arresting a five-year-old in Minneapolis, which she says was misleadingly reported by mainstream and Democratic sources. Drawing on her personal experiences as a new mother and her advocacy for family and traditional values, Riley explores the necessity for critical thinking in the face of emotionally charged, media-driven narratives. The episode also critiques contemporary sports journalism for inserting politics into athlete interviews and ends with a teaser for a future discussion on surrogacy.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction: Pro-Life Advocacy & Family Values (00:00–02:50)

• Riley broadcasts from the March for Life, emphasizing her renewed understanding of vulnerability, value, and advocacy since becoming a mother.
• She highlights the pro-family, pro-life nature of the current administration, listing cabinet members with large families as evidence.
• Quote:
  “The necessity and the urgency to advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves, I feel very viscerally now when you have a daughter, a child of your own.” — Riley Gaines (01:24)

2. Debunking the ICE “5-Year-Old Arrest” Story (02:51–08:13)

• Riley introduces a viral post claiming ICE arrested a five-year-old, showing a heart-tugging photo of the child.

• She reads the official Department of Homeland Security response debunking the story: the child’s father, an undocumented immigrant, fled when approached and abandoned his child; ICE cared for the child and did not arrest him.

• Vice President J.D. Vance’s compassionate and clear public response is played and praised by Riley.

  Key Quotes:

  • “Are they supposed to let a five-year-old child freeze to death? Are they not supposed to arrest an illegal alien in the United States of America?... If the argument is that you can’t arrest people who have violated our laws because they have children, then every single parent is going to be... given immunity… No one thinks that makes any sense.”
    — J.D. Vance (04:47)
  • “He starts by saying, look, I have a five year old child... He perfectly lays out the real and truthful account of what happened, which is not what liberal mainstream media outlets are doing.”
    — Riley Gaines (06:07)

3. Media Literacy & Critical Thinking Plea (08:14–11:22)

• Riley urges listeners to read beyond headlines, especially when stories are emotionally manipulative.

• She blames much of the distortion on “activist” journalists, criticizing outlets like The Washington Post for burying core facts deep within articles.

• Discusses the phenomenon of manufactured outrage and how misleading narratives endanger law enforcement.

  Quote:
  “I am pleading. Think critically. Think independently. Think for yourself. Use your brain. It is a muscle. Exercise it.” — Riley Gaines (09:27)

• She expresses gratitude towards ICE for caring for the abandoned boy, contrasting their actions with media portrayals.

4. Sports Journalism & Politics: Amanda Anisimova at the Australian Open (11:23–14:33)

• Riley critiques sports reporters for “baiting” athletes into taking political stances, using a clip from Amanda Anisimova’s Australian Open press conference as an example.

• Reporter tries to prompt criticism of the US political climate; Anisimova responds, “I don’t think that’s relevant.”

• Riley lambasts this as “a gross, gross form of sports journalism,” arguing athletic ability—not political views—should be the focus in sports coverage.

  Memorable Exchange:

  • Athletic Reporter: “Does [what’s been happening in the US] complicate that feeling at all?” (11:51)
  • Amanda Anisimova: “I don’t think that’s relevant.” (12:01)
  • Riley Gaines: “Sports is supposed to be the one place where you don’t have to think about politics or discuss your political views because honestly, they don’t matter.” (12:30)

5. Teaser: Meghan Trainor Surrogacy Controversy (14:34–15:30)

• Riley previews a future episode discussing Meghan Trainor’s recent surrogacy announcement, promising honest and potentially unpopular opinions.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “...if the story were true. Now, the Department of Homeland Security posted this from their official X page. They said ICE did not target a child. The child was abandoned.”
  — Riley Gaines (03:45)
• “The fact that we’re standing behind law enforcement and I’m proud of the fact that we’re enforcing the country’s laws...”
  — J.D. Vance (04:40)
• “People feel justified in raining terror on these law enforcement officers because of the way that they are portrayed. So I will say thank you to our ICE agents. Thank you for not abandoning that 5 year old boy like his father did.”
  — Riley Gaines (11:00)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–02:50 — March for Life, family values
• 02:51–08:13 — Dissecting the ICE story and J.D. Vance’s response
• 08:14–11:22 — Media criticism, critical thinking, impact on law enforcement
• 11:23–14:33 — Sports journalism, Amanda Anisimova interview incident
• 14:34–15:30 — Meghan Trainor surrogacy controversy teaser

Final Thoughts

This episode underscores Riley Gaines’ belief in questioning emotionally charged media narratives and advocating for critical, independent thought. She encourages listeners to seek facts beyond headlines and challenges the increasing politicization of spaces like sports. Personal experience, faith, and traditional values frame her commentary, resulting in an episode that’s passionate, direct, and aimed squarely at viewers—especially those likely to encounter misleading coverage on hot-button topics.