The Tony Kennett Cast – Ep. 485
"Tim Walz, Jacob Frey, Keith Ellison, & Other Dems SERVED by FBI as Riots Targets Churches"
Date: January 21, 2026
Host: Tony Kennett (The Daily Signal), with featured voices including Don Lemon, Greg Bevino, and Rob Bluey
Episode Overview
In this episode, Tony Kennett unpacks a fast-developing controversy out of Minnesota, where top Democratic officials—including Governor Tim Walz, AG Keith Ellison, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey—are subpoenaed by the DOJ in relation to alleged obstruction of ICE enforcement and their handling of riots targeting churches. Kennett dissects the broader climate of unrest in Minneapolis, the legal ramifications, responses from key figures, and the media’s narrative. Notably, the episode dives into a shocking church invasion by left-wing protesters—some connected to prominent activists and journalists—and the ensuing national fallout.
Key Topics and Discussion Points
1. Federal Subpoenas for Leading Minnesota Democrats
[00:06]
- Individuals Subpoenaed: Gov. Tim Walz, AG Keith Ellison, Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor, and Hennepin and Ramsey county attorneys.
- Nature of the Charges: Criminal, not civil. Focuses on conspiracy to or active obstruction of ICE, not mere procedural disputes.
“These charges…are not in any way, shape or form the same kind of…white collar issue crimes…These are criminal charges.” — Tony Kennett [00:16]
2. Political Hypocrisy and Changing Tunes
[02:42]
- Earlier public opposition to federal law enforcement in Minnesota shifts after subpoenas hit.
- Governor Walz, once demanding the feds "stay out," now appeals for federal unity and ‘restoring order.’
"Now that he has received his lovely subpoena, he's got kind of a different tune that he's singing...Tim Walz has now released a statement that sounds a little different." — Tony Kennett [02:51]
- National Guard under Walz’s orders: Not to stop rioters but to differentiate state and federal forces with reflective vests, interpreted as reckless and dangerous.
“So, Walz gets out…and says, ‘We're going to give our troops a slightly different shirt so that you only attack federal law enforcement.’ That is insane.” — Tony Kennett [04:54]
3. Riots Targeting Churches; Legal and Moral Failure
[08:13] [18:56] [21:00]
- Inciting Incident: Protesters, led by BLM and left-wing activists, invaded Cities Church in St. Paul, harassing congregants and frightening children—allegedly based on misinformation about the pastor’s identity.
- Keith Ellison’s Response: Seen as defending the protests/trespass rather than denouncing the intimidation or upholding the law.
- Don Lemon, present at the church, frames the incident as First Amendment activity; Tony Kennett vehemently disagrees, clarifying legal precedent.
"You do not have a right to storm into a church and disrupt things. That's not a thing. The First Amendment…guarantees freedom of speech in public spaces, but you are not allowed to go into a church… and disrupt…congregants." — Tony Kennett [31:29]
"If you attempt to intimidate through force, that would be terrorism for a political aim." — Tony Kennett [45:22]
4. The Role of Media Personalities
- Don Lemon: Called out for presenting himself as 'journalist' while actively coordinating with protesters and confronting churchgoers, then denying involvement when under federal scrutiny.
“Don Lemon was there at the very beginning, coordinating with Levy Armstrong to go and harass this church…He says, oh, I didn't even know we were going there. How are you? Good. …They’ve told me. We've talked about it." — Tony Kennett [47:23-48:25]
- Media Defenses: Lemon and others attempt to cast church members as “entitled” or “white supremacists,” insist protest was justified, and repeatedly invoke Christianity to rationalize the harassment.
"But I think that they're entitled and that. That entitlement comes from a supremacy, a white supremacy." — Don Lemon [43:48]
5. Political Fallout: National and Local
[15:30] [17:56]
- Other Democratic leaders in states like Maine and Virginia echo stances that hinder ICE cooperation, painting it as constitutional or due process advocacy.
- Contrasts drawn between “red states” (where ICE operates freely) and “blue states” (where resistance leads to increased law enforcement risk and chaos).
Greg Bevino, Border Patrol Commander:
"State and locals… worked in close concert for us to…remove violent offenders, bad people…and bad things from the streets. Here [in MN], I’ve already lost count…We had a vehicle ramming today..." — Greg Bevino [17:56]
6. The Church Attack in Detail
[21:00–34:24]
- Led by activists including BLM figure Nakima Levy Armstrong and Don Lemon, protesters disrupt a worship service, yelling at children and accusing congregants of complicity with ICE.
- Protesters' rationale: An internet rumor the pastor was an ICE agent (unsubstantiated).
- Vocal harassment of women and children, with protest leaders dismissing concerns about going "too far."
- Pastor and congregants calmly assert their right to worship and request the group leave.
"They accosted members of our congregation, frightened children and created a scene marked by intimidation and threat. Such conduct is shameful, unlawful and will not be tolerated." — Cities Church Statement, read by Tony Kennett [69:09]
7. Deflections, Excuses & Escalating Tactics
- Protest leaders insist it’s justified, shift narratives (from “ICE pastor” to “white nationalist church”), and call any legal action 'political persecution.'
- Targets for activism expand—e.g., organizing mass returns of salt at Target to protest ICE, patrolling neighborhoods with rape whistles, and online “doxxing” of perceived ideological foes.
- Notable Soundbite:
"I'm not gonna be having any violent intention whatsoever. Well, are you gonna be one of these people that is trying to cut between federal law enforcement and the individual they were arresting for violating federal law? Cuz that is in of itself a violent action..." — Tony Kennett [77:08]
8. Reactions from Political and Media Institutions
- The situation is driving narratives on both the right (emphasis on law and order, religious freedom, the need for security) and left (claims of white supremacy, free speech, anti-ICE resistance).
- National lawmakers debate the appropriate regional responses and impact on midterms; local prosecutors—some directly connected to protest organizers—face questions about impartiality.
9. Interview Segment: Rob Bluey (The Daily Signal)
[57:57–68:25]
- Bluey explains the legal process and why arrests are not immediate: evidence-building, due diligence at the DOJ/FBI level.
- Discusses broader implications—chaos vs. routine in the Trump administration, voter attitudes heading into the 2026 midterms, and the balancing act between policy achievements and control of the narrative.
- Long-term prospects: “Republicans need to double down on the economy as the core deliverable for 2026.” Warns that chaos in the background may offset positive gains if not managed.
Memorable Moments and Notable Quotes
Adjusting Positions for Political Expediency
“It's like a teen girl sitting there on the bench with the rose petal going, he loves me, he loves me not. Tim Walz suggesting…the American people are going to stand by when he actively got the Minnesota National Guard to…issue statements…They will be wearing reflective vests as pictured here, to help distinguish them from other agencies…” — Tony Kennett [03:49]
On Protest Tactics
"Don't let some fat, ugly, left leaning cat lady get in your face and tell you...I looked at immigration law on Facebook and it says I can follow you wherever.” — Tony Kennett [25:01]
On Defending Churches
“Your church or synagogue must have a security team. … Please, please, please, please make sure that your church has an active security team so that people like this do not get in there.” — Tony Kennett [09:45]
Don Lemon’s Justification
“Jesus turned the tables over in the temple. Right. He flipped the tables because he was tired of them…not doing what they're supposed to do in his father's house and not living up to the tenets of Christianity.” — Don Lemon [41:07]
“But I think that they're entitled and that. That entitlement comes from a supremacy, a white supremacy. … It is a Christian country. When actually we left England because we wanted religious freedom.” — Don Lemon [43:48]
Pastor’s Calm Demeanor
"I have to take care of my church and my family. So I ask this: You actually would also leave this building." — Cities Church Pastor [34:13]
On Law, Protest, and Journalism Boundaries
“Next time…you're out there committing…daycare fraud, whatever…just tell the police officer, hey, I'm just doing an act of journalism. … That argument doesn't work.” — Tony Kennett [48:46]
Important Timestamps
- 00:06 – Introduction, list of officials subpoenaed
- 02:42–04:54 – Tim Walz’s evolving rhetoric, National Guard orders
- 08:13–09:45 – Keith Ellison’s response, advice for church security
- 18:56–21:00 – Border patrol in blue vs. red states; riots escalate
- 21:00–34:24 – Blow-by-blow of the Cities Church attack; confrontation with Don Lemon
- 47:23–48:25 – Lemon’s contradictory explanations about his involvement
- 57:57–68:25 – Rob Bluey interview: DOJ process and political implications
- 69:09 – Cities Church official statement on the attack
- 74:40–84:41 – Protester tactics escalate to Target, community patrols, calls for direct disruption
- 87:59–91:08 – Protesters use threat rhetoric, “Operation Inflation,” anti-ICE sabotage
- 91:45–End – Discussion of genuine vs. exaggerated threats, closing analysis
Conclusion & Analysis
Tony Kennett delivers a detailed, impassioned critique of what he sees as escalating lawlessness and media gaslighting by progressive activists and politicians, particularly when it comes to religious freedom and local-federal authority. The Minneapolis church attack epitomizes a new front in protest politics, raising questions about boundaries, free speech, and the politicization of safety and faith spaces.
The episode also sets the stage for the 2026 midterms, suggesting that public perceptions of security, the economy, and political hypocrisy will define both parties’ fortunes. Kennett’s closing recommendation: both vigilance and clear-eyed, fact-based engagement—whether in protecting places of worship or preparing for a pivotal election season.
Original tone: Combative, sardonic, colloquial, and deeply skeptical of left-wing protest tactics and media framing.