The Rob Carson Show

Episode: Don Lemon’s Not-So-Excellent Church Adventure
Date: January 30, 2026
Host: Rob Carson
Guest: Tony Kennett (Daily Signal)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode kicks off with the fallout from Don Lemon’s arrest at a church protest, blending sharp political commentary, humor, and parody music. The show examines the incident's implications for media ethics and protest tactics, then branches out into broader discussions about activism, double standards in law enforcement responses, economic news, and ongoing culture war narratives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Don Lemon Church Protest & Arrest (00:21 - 08:32)

• Incident Recap: Don Lemon, Nakia Armstrong (BLM), and others stormed a church in Minneapolis, resulting in Lemon’s arrest during his coverage of the protest. Charges may involve federal laws protecting civil rights and religious freedom.

  • Rob Carson on Don Lemon’s attitude:
    "You are going somewhere. Somewhere. The Feds. The feds are calling... to jail." (01:02–01:10)

• Satirical Recap: The segment was amplified using parody music (Jim Gossett) and song spoofs, poking fun at Lemon’s predicament.

• Description of the Protest: Nakia Armstrong explains the group's motives:
  "This is Operation Pull up, more of a clandestine operation. We show up somewhere that is a key location. They don't expect us to come there." (03:33–03:42)

• Churchgoers' Experience: Carson describes the traumatic effect on families:

  • “One little girl asked her dad, are we going to die?” (04:08)

• Armstrong’s Reaction to Arrest:

  • Quote: "As someone who majored in African American studies, I can tell you that that is the closest I ever felt to slavery in my life. Being shackled as if I was a slave." (04:50–05:09 & 20:33)
  • Satirized by Carson: "She knows what she's talking about because she majored in African American studies, which will get you no job whatsoever." (05:15)

• Rob’s Critique: Carson openly mocks Armstrong’s hyperbolic comparisons of arrest to slavery, using farm and ship analogies.

• Ethical Concerns: Debate around Lemon’s role as a journalist vs. activist:

  • "That isn't journalism. You're spewing nonsense at him just to try to convince him of your viewpoint protest. We're here to worship. We're here to worship Jesus because that's the hope of these cities, that's the hope of the world, is Jesus Christ." (06:41–06:53)

2. Activist Tactics and Community Response (08:32 - 10:13)

• Details on the “General Strike”:
  • Somali and leftist organizers push for a city-wide walkout to pressure the government ("not to go to work, not to go to school, not spend a single penny") regarding ICE activities.
  • Carson scoffs at the potential impact:
    "How do you shut down a Somali business when 89% of the Somali population in Minneapolis is on welfare?" (08:51–09:12)
  • General Strike Organizer: "Remember, all of these things are tied into capitalism" (10:03)
  • Carson: "It's communism." (10:09)

3. News Headlines & Economic Commentary (10:20 - 16:26)

• Fed Appointment: Kevin Warsh set to replace Jerome Powell as Chair—Carson jokes about the pronunciation ("Warsh" vs. "wash").
• Criminal Case Update: Luigi Mangioni will not face the death penalty for a high-profile murder; Carson argues for life sentences over executions.
• Positive Economic Indicators: Trump’s approval among Hispanics on the rise, U.S. manufacturing returning, and a reduction in the trade deficit.
  • Economic Analyst: "This has been going down huge... -56 would be the biggest, going back to July of last year... last time we had a deficit under 30 billion... going back to 2009." (15:50–16:26)

4. Cultural Parody & Satire (29:11 - 33:19)

• Bruce Springsteen’s Song Satire: Carson and Tony Kennett critique a new protest anthem in the style of "Streets of Minneapolis," mocking its lack of musical and lyrical inspiration.
  • Tony Kennett: "I've seen better rhymes and meter in Dr. Seuss." (31:06)
  • Carson: "...this is like some sort of an intellectual fart. I mean, there's just nothing there… He’s trying to take part in this movement. He hasn’t had relevance in a very long time" (31:44–32:23)

5. Double Standards in Law Enforcement / Media (21:39 - 23:46)

• With Tony Kennett (Daily Signal):
  • Comparison of Don Lemon’s arrest with previous incidents (e.g., Steve Baker at the Capitol, Planned Parenthood undercover films).
  • Kennett: "Where was all of this then? Where was the whining and the crying then?" (22:40)

6. Ballot Center Raid in Fulton County (23:07 - 24:58)

• Skepticism over Transparency:

  • Tony Kennett takes a wait-and-see approach: "You want Tulsi Gabber go in there, knock a few heads around... Let me see the ballots, then let’s actually see the evidence. You say it's there? Well, I'm going to hold you to that." (23:28–23:46)

• Media Parody:

  • Carson and Kennett, in joking fashion, liken a nervous county commissioner’s statement to ethnically inspired SNL characters.

7. Minneapolis & Protest Fallout (25:04 - 28:57)

• ICE & Tom Homan Appointment:
  • Kennett: "I call me sexist, don’t care. I think a middle-aged man should be in these kinds of positions because we don’t have little photo shoot goofy giddy nonsense." (25:45)
  • Discussion of civil unrest and street-level protest tactics; question of whether incidents (e.g., attack on Ilhan Omar) are staged.

8. Trends in Activism & Political Movements (33:17 - 35:39)

• Mockery of Protest Efficacy:

  • Carson on walkouts and general strikes: "At what moment are these little movement ... going to bear any kind of fruit? They don't decent. They're not built on anything." (34:26–34:37)

• Decline of Left-Wing Satire vs. Rise of Conservative Comedy:

  • Carson: "The Democrat party is doing a death spiral into hell. They ... cannot be taken seriously anymore." (35:09)

9. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rob Carson’s recurring jabs at Lemon:
  "He’s not going anywhere. He’s going to jail." (01:10)

• Nakia Armstrong's viral quote:
  "...closest I ever felt to slavery in my life. Being shackled as if I was a slave." (04:50, 20:33)

• On Musical Protest Attempts:
  Tony Kennett: "I've seen better rhymes and meter in Dr. Seuss." (31:06)
  Rob Carson: "...like some sort of an intellectual fart." (31:44)

• On protest futility:
  "How do Somalis stay home from work when they don’t..." (33:18–end)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Don Lemon’s Arrest & Parody: 00:21 – 08:32
• Protests & Social Justice Activism: 08:32 – 10:13
• Economic and Political Headlines: 10:20 – 16:26
• Double Standards in Law Enforcement & Media: 21:39 – 23:46
• Fulton County Ballot Raid: 23:07 – 24:58
• ICE, Minneapolis & Activism: 25:04 – 28:57
• Music Parody Segment: 29:11 – 33:19
• Trends in Activism & Mockery: 33:17 – 35:39

Tone & Style

The episode adopts Rob Carson’s trademark sarcastic, irreverent style, blending hard-nosed conservative commentary with quick-witted humor and frequent musical parodies. While covering serious policy and cultural clashes, the tone remains comedic and mocking, particularly towards progressive activists, mainstream media figures like Don Lemon, and establishment politicians.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

If you missed this episode, you’ll come away understanding:

• The controversy around Don Lemon’s involvement in a church protest, what happened, and why it matters both legally and culturally.
• How left-leaning protest tactics are being portrayed and parodied in conservative media.
• Rob Carson and Tony Kennett’s critiques of media double standards, left-wing activism, and protest symbolism.
• The general mockery of ineffective protests, both at the grassroots level and in celebrity musical commentary.
• Economic updates and forthcoming policy changes discussed in the lens of conservative values.

The show mixes news, satire, and culture wars into an entertaining overview—roasting what Carson considers hypocrisy and ineffectiveness among progressives, while promoting conservative confidence and humor.