The Rob Carson Show

Episode: When Protesters Meet Pepper Balls: A Love Story
Date: January 12, 2026
Host: Rob Carson (Newsmax Podcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Rob Carson Show offers a spirited, satirical, and opinionated exploration of recent political unrest across America, particularly centering on the heated ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) protests in Minneapolis. Rob Carson blends his signature comedic commentary with pointed political analysis, focusing on the shooting of protester Renee Goode, Democrat responses, funding sources behind protests, and broader issues such as the criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter: Weekend Recap & Goat Rescue

• [00:03-04:00]
  • Rob Carson humorously recalls his weekend attending a goat rescue event and reflects on the divide between urbanites and rural folks.
  • "City folk… they're not used to, you know, seeing pigs and stuff. And they'll pay people to pet a goat. It's ridiculous. It's insane." — Rob Carson [02:00]
  • Touches on growing up on a farm and the importance of animal husbandry, using his upbringing to contrast with urban “ignorance.”
  • "I grew up on a farm, and I have shoveled every kind of animal feces known to mankind." — Rob Carson [02:30]
  • Comedic interlude setting a "down-home" conversational tone.

2. Minneapolis ICE Protest and Renee Goode Shooting

• [05:00-23:00]
  • Carson provides his account and critique of the events surrounding protester Renee Goode, describing her as an example of leftist social contagion.
  • "They took advantage of her mental illness and fed her social contagion. And she went for it hook, line and sinker and started going to these protests to get in the way of ICE." — Rob Carson [09:15]
  • Condemns those defending Goode and the general tactics of protesters, making liberal use of biting analogies (comparing them to a "yippy Chihuahua" provoking a pit bull).
  • Asserts that violence against ICE officers has surged and claims coordinated leftist cover-ups to maintain illegal immigration for political gain.
  • "The only reason that politicians in Minnesota and Democrat states are trying to keep ICE out...is to cover up their scheme of massive fraud, which has resulted in illegals getting government largesse and voting exclusively Democrat. That's it." — Rob Carson [14:00]
  • Offers support for law enforcement actions, including the use of pepper spray and crowd control measures.
  • "I loved watching the ICE agents pepper spray and shoot pepper balls at these idiots." — Rob Carson [12:00]

3. Democrat and Mainstream Media Reaction

• [23:00-30:00]
  • Carson highlights politicians and media figures (Mayor Jacob Frey, AOC, Adam Schiff) who quickly condemned law enforcement in the Goode shooting before investigations were completed.
  • Notable: Clip dissecting the rush to judgment and double standards in media coverage.
  • "It's amazing that it's bad in the mainstream media to conclude that Rene Wolf tried to roll over the police officer and murder him. But it's good if you conclude that the ICE agent murdered her." — Rob Carson [26:40]
  • Pushes the idea that the Democrats’ narrative is "falling apart" under scrutiny.

4. Civil Conflict Rhetoric & “Shortest Civil War Ever”

• [16:30-18:30]
  • Predicts, with signature hyperbole, that if leftist threats of civil war materialize, it would “be the shortest civil war ever” due to the military’s presumed allegiance.
  • "It would be the shortest civil war ever because the military is solidly behind Donald Trump. It would be over in a day." — Rob Carson [17:00]

5. Riot Funding: The “Protest Industrial Complex”

• [31:00-38:00]
  • Presents an exposé on the funding apparatus behind major protests, naming wealthy donors and foundations (e.g., Arabella, Soros, Tides, Ford, Rockefeller).
  • Specific figures: “Arabella $79 million. Warren Buffett $16 million. Ford Foundation $51 million. Rockefeller Foundation $26 million. Soros $72 million... A total of $294 million.” — Rob Carson [33:30]
  • Quotes from Seamus Bruner on “Riot Incorporated”—multi-division protest funding apparatus including legal assistance for arrested activists.
  • "This is about a paid-for civil insurrection... Not organic. All bought and paid for." — Rob Carson [36:40]
  • Discusses Government Accountability Office findings that “Riot Inc.” obtained $100M in taxpayer funds.

6. ICE & Law Enforcement Perspective

• [39:00-42:00]
  • Guest clip: Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons confirms investigations into protest group funding and criminal conspiracy aspects.
  • "We do believe there’s a criminal conspiracy going on. We are working with all of our federal partners to try to track down the funding, criminal conspiracy leadership of these groups." — Todd Lyons [40:20]

7. Protest Escalation & Threats of Violence

• [43:00-47:00]
  • Plays audio: Protester in Minneapolis urges armed resistance; Carson sarcastically mocks such rhetoric.
  • "We have to show up with guns. This is the last time I show up to face these guys without a weapon." — Protester [43:40]
  • Points out how protester narratives echo hyperbolic anti-government speech, referencing allegations about ICE resembling "slave patrols" or "Gestapo," and claims of authoritarianism.
  • Highlights Michael Fanon's statement: "Time for American people to organize and utilize their Second Amendment right to protect themselves from what has clearly become an unaccountable and lawless agency." — Carson’s Summary of Fanon [46:30]
  • Carson argues this is sedition, not protected speech.

8. Legality and Limits of Protest

• [49:00-55:00]
  • Discussion with Minnesota State Attorney Chris Medell and journalist Liz Collins on legal consequences for protesters crossing lines into violence or obstruction.
  • Cites law: 18 USC §111—federal crime to “assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate, or interfere with any federal law enforcement officer on account of his or her official duties."
  • "By coming out and saying that, you are simply violating this obstruction of justice statute. And I really hope at some point...makes an example out of something." — Chris Medell [53:00]

9. Exposing Media/Liberal Misinformation

• [56:00-59:00]
  • Deconstructs claims by Ilhan Omar and Adam Schiff, arguing their public statements about Renee Goode were outright lies and part of a larger problem of Democrat “moral and intellectual bankruptcy.”
  • “Everything she just said was a complete lie. Oh, but Adam Schiff, who’s known for lying, he took it a step further.” — Rob Carson [57:00]

10. Broader Political Observations

• [30:00-32:00; 60:00+]
  • Brief tangent covering Trump’s foreign policy (Greenland, Iran), likening Trump’s resilience to Ronald Reagan but “facing much more aggressiveness, violence, political hate…”
  • On the Federal Reserve: Carson and guest Greg Jarrett discuss the criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell regarding lavish building renovations and potential perjury, alleging political and financial corruption.
  • “Jerome Powell is a political tool. He lowered interest rates when Joe Biden was in the presidential race so Joe Biden would get elected. And he's kept them high to C block Donald Trump's economy.” — Rob Carson [30:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Protesters:

  • "I loved watching the ICE agents pepper spray and shoot pepper balls at these idiots." — Rob Carson [12:00]
  • "Sooner or later the children are going to have to get a spanking." — Rob Carson [17:45]
  • "When that fence gets moved, you’re gonna get your asses kicked. That’s just the way it is." — Rob Carson [17:20]

• On Renee Goode & Leftist Narratives:

  • "She was in traffic stopping an ICE vehicle. When an officer approached her vehicle, she did not stop the car. She proceeded to attempt to run over the officer." — Tom Homan, Former Acting ICE Director [53:45]
  • “Occasionally the children get a spanking.” — Rob Carson [55:00]

• On Funding & “Riot Inc.”:

  • "Riot Inc. has many divisions. It doesn't just have the antifa boots on the ground division. It has PR divisions, it has marketing divisions, and a very well-funded legal division to get these boots on the ground back on the streets as quickly as possible.” — Seamus Bruner [34:45]

• On Democrats & Media:

  • "The Democrat Party… they die like movie vampires. Dragging, kicking, scratching, trying to drag you into hell with them. That’s what they’re doing." — Rob Carson [20:15]
  • "Their argument is falling apart. This is going to dissipate into the ether like nobody's business." — Rob Carson [27:00]

• On Civil War Rhetoric:

  • "It would be the shortest civil war ever because the military is solidly behind Donald Trump. It would be over in a day." — Rob Carson [17:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03] – Show Open, Goat Rescue, and Carson’s weekend anecdotes
• [09:10] – Intro to Renee Goode shooting, protest context
• [14:00] – Claims of Democrat fraud and ICE agent violence
• [17:00] – Civil war/rhetoric and "yippy Chihuahua" analogy
• [26:40] – Critique of media/political condemnation of ICE and the shooting
• [33:30] – Detailed rundown of protest funding amounts and sources
• [36:40] – Riot Inc., funding networks, and insights from Seamus Bruner
• [40:20] – Acting ICE Director Lyons on criminal conspiracy investigations
• [43:40] – Protester urges escalation to armed resistance
• [46:30] – Michael Fanon's Second Amendment comments
• [53:00] – 18 USC §111: federal obstruction, Chris Medell interview
• [55:00] – Carson’s summary: child/parent analogy for civil unrest
• [57:00] – Dissecting statements by Ilhan Omar and Adam Schiff

Summary & Takeaways

Rob Carson uses his humor-laced, confrontational style to dissect the Minneapolis ICE protests, alleging that street uprisings are coordinated, paid for by powerful left-wing interests, and part of a “protest industrial complex” intent on undermining law enforcement and American sovereignty. He condemns both protest violence and mainstream narratives, referencing legal statutes and expert commentary to argue that activists and enabling politicians must face legal and political consequences.

Carson champions aggressive law enforcement response, contends the left is driving civil unrest with paid agitators and hyperbolic rhetoric, and frequently warns that real-world backlash—comfortably couched in far-right populist rhetoric—is inevitable. The episode blends news, legal analysis, guest commentary, and trademark sarcasm to deliver an unapologetically pro-ICE, anti-leftist perspective on recent political and social upheaval.