The Rob Carson Show: "Minneapolis Winter of ‘FAFO’"

Date: January 8, 2026
Host: Rob Carson (Newsmax Podcasts)
Main Topic: Minneapolis protest shooting, political reactions, and law enforcement response

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the controversial Minneapolis shooting where a protester, Renee Goode, was shot by law enforcement during an ICE operation. Rob Carson delivers his signature humorous and irreverent take on the incident, placing it within the context of recent years' clashes between protesters and police in Minneapolis. He critiques local and national political leaders, discusses the challenges and dangers law enforcement faces, and frames the current conflict as part of a wider, ongoing struggle between order and what he calls "woke" or "Marxist" disorder. The episode frequently mocks and lambasts Democratic politicians and progressive responses to the event.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Minneapolis Police Shooting Incident

• Initial Setup:
  Carson lays out the facts as he sees them:

  • A protester, Renee Goode, was shot through her windshield by a Minneapolis police officer while trying to block or disrupt law enforcement activity related to ICE operations.
  • Carson asserts Goode was part of a caravan aiming to obstruct law enforcement and was shot because she drove toward an officer who feared for his life ([00:12]–[01:50]).

• Carson’s Framing:

  • He repeatedly emphasizes, “If you’re going to play with the big dogs...” meaning, if you confront armed law enforcement, you should expect consequences ([01:30], [10:06], [38:24]).
  • He dismisses calls to “shoot the tires out” or more measured police responses as unrealistic, mocking commentators like Stephen A. Smith ([01:50]–[02:30], [36:29]).

• Key Insight:

  • Carson and guests stress the heightened risks police face and the increasing number of incidents where officers are attacked or harassed during lawful enforcement actions ([11:23], [28:37]).

2. Law Enforcement Response and Challenges

• Support for Police:

  • Carson reads a statement from the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, affirming support for law enforcement and warning that anti-police rhetoric endangers officers ([03:30]).

• Rising Violence and Risks:

  • Guests cite significant increases in assaults and threats against ICE agents (1,300% increase in assaults, 8,000% in threats) and numerous vehicle rammings involving law enforcement ([28:37] - Kristi Noem).

• Notable Quote:

  • Rob Carson: “Even Minneapolis Police Department is sick and damn tired of it. Issuing a statement about violent rhetoric, irresponsible things being said by politicians…” ([12:33])

• Legal Perspective:

  • Georgetown law professor Jonathan Turley: “Courts have been very clear. They don’t second guess the split second decisions... You have an individual who did not comply and in fact sped up towards the agent. This is a stronger and stronger case supporting the officer” ([36:03]).

3. Reaction and Rhetoric from Progressive Politicians

• Political Outrage:

  • Carson mocks statements from local politicians like Jacob Frey and Tim Walz, who condemn ICE and frame the incident as an attack on immigrants and minorities ([08:39]–[09:45]).
  • He accuses them of trying to distract from a massive ongoing fraud scandal in Minnesota involving daycare and welfare funds ([06:47], [40:04]).

• Progressive Narrative:

  • Carson derides comparisons of ICE to Gestapo or secret police, calling it “bullcrap” and a ploy to incite outrage ([05:35], [21:09]).
  • Frequent mentions of George Soros and Neville Singham as the “money behind the movement” for protests and political activism ([04:00], [19:16]).

• Notable Quote:

  • Rob Carson: "They're looking for another George Floyd, this time they want to make George Floyd into a white liberal woman... And when you play with the big boys and you push too hard, eventually you're going to get punched back." ([09:59])

4. The Fraud Scandal in Minnesota

• Fraud as Central Issue:

  • Carson repeatedly refocuses the conversation on Minnesota’s alleged multibillion-dollar fraud involving welfare and daycare funds, arguing this is what Minnesotans are truly upset about, not police shootings ([07:20], [35:24], [40:04]).

• Political Diversion:

  • He accuses Walz, Frey, Keith Ellison, and Ilhan Omar of using the shooting to distract from investigations into their alleged corruption ([07:20], [40:04]).

• Notable Quote:

  • Co-host: “Minnesotans are furious about the billions of dollars of their tax dollars that have been stolen ... They want leaders who are going to stop the fraud and to [restore] public safety and good schools” ([40:04]).

5. Media and Public Discourse

• Critique of Media Coverage:

  • Carson critiques national media outlets (“NBC admitted she tried to run over the officer”) for their sporadic factual reporting within a sea of emotive or misleading coverage ([16:24]).

• Caller Insights:

  • Callers, including former and current law enforcement, support Carson’s narrative of police being endangered and criticize the tendency to blame officers without waiting for facts ([25:03]–[28:30]).
  • One caller brings up the Amy Caprio case as a parallel, where a police officer was killed by a fleeing suspect ([25:35]).

• Memorable Caller Quote:

  • Caller Rocco: “If you look at the footage, there are people jumping in front of law enforcement ... These people are being whipped into some sort of frenzy like you’ve never seen before. And somebody has to bear responsibility. And that’s Tim Walz and the mayor of Minneapolis.” ([28:16])

6. Law, Order, and "FAFO"

• Episode Title Reference:

  • Carson coins the episode’s theme, "FAFO" ("F*** Around and Find Out"), using it to summarize his argument that challenging police will result in "adult" consequences ([29:17]).

• Notable Quote:

  • Rob Carson: “If you’re gonna try this, you Marxist children with no life experience and you're gonna fall for the social contagion of the left, you’re gonna end up getting hurt, you’re gonna end up going to jail or worse.” ([29:17])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:30] Rob Carson: "If you're gonna play with the big dogs and you think you're gonna stand in front of law enforcement ... something bad's gonna happen to you."
• [12:33] Rob Carson: "Even Minneapolis Police Department is sick and damn tired of it."
• [16:24] Kristi Noem: "...looked like she was impeding ICE vehicles."
• [28:37] Kristi Noem: "Today alone in this country there have been four different domestic terrorist attacks, attacks on federal officers by the ramming of vehicles..."
• [36:03] Jonathan Turley: “Courts have been very clear. They don't second guess the split second decisions. They look at the totality as to whether this was a reasonable act by this officer.”
• [40:04] Co-host: “Minnesotans are furious about the billions of dollars of their tax dollars that have been stolen ... and they want change.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:12–03:00: Rob Carson's comedic and critical introduction; background of the Minneapolis shooting
• 05:35–06:47: Reading of MPPOA statement; mocking of progressive talking points
• 09:59–11:23: Discussion on protest tactics; warnings to would-be disruptors
• 12:33–13:39: Critique of politicians calling officer actions “murder”
• 16:24–17:58: NBC media breakdown of the shooting video
• 28:37: Kristi Noem on domestic terrorism and ICE assaults
• 35:24–36:03: Local journalist and legal perspectives; Jonathan Turley explains legal standards
• 40:04: Final critique tying police action back to fraud scandals

Tone and Style

The episode maintains a satirical, combative, and irreverent tone. Carson employs humor, sarcasm, and mockery, especially toward Democratic politicians and protesters. The show is explicit in its support for police and highly critical of progressive narratives and mainstream media coverage.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode serves as both a reaction to a specific and dramatic incident in Minneapolis and a broader critique of urban progressive politics, protest movements, and media discourse. Rob Carson uses the case to argue that the era of lenience and deference to disruptive protest is over, aligning the Minneapolis police shooting—and the lack of a new "summer of love"—with a demand for a return to order. The show’s take is clear: challenge law enforcement at your own peril, and don’t expect political or media cover to outweigh the consequences.