Transcript

Evening Wire: Don Lemon Arrested & More Epstein Files Released

From Morning Wire · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 13 min · 2,366 words · 22 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Evening Wire: Don Lemon Arrested & More Epstein Files Released", an episode of Morning Wire published January 30, 2026 (13 min, about 2,366 words). It mentions 18 people, works and ideas, including Donald Trump, Don Lemon, Kevin Walsh, OpenAI, United States (states).

What this episode is about

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles during Grammy Awards coverage for allegedly violating laws related to an anti-ICE protest he participated in earlier in Minnesota. Additionally, the DOJ released approximately three million pages concerning Jeffrey Epstein, while Trump announced his nominee for chair of the Federal Reserve.

Key takeaways

  • Don Lemon's arrest highlights a chaotic intersection of celebrity activism and legal accountability—it's not just PR anymore.
  • Three million pages on Epstein show the DOJ can be both a treasure trove and a black hole of accountability.
  • Trump's Fed pick signals a financial chess game; let's hope it's not checkers in a high-stakes economy.
  • ICE’s diplomatic spat over Jorge Bravo reveals a nuanced battle: human rights vs. law enforcement, with church complicity in between.
  • Luigi Manion’s case illustrates a courtroom chess match; when stalking isn’t violent enough, what’s the next move for justice?

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 3:00: Don Lemon, Ecuador, Donald Trump, Jorge Miguel Bravo Uraelis
  2. – 6:00: Charlie Kirk, Brick House Nutrition, Brian Thompson, Kate Blanch
  3. – 9:00: Donald Trump, Kevin Walsh, Brick House Nutrition, Lean
  4. – 12:00: OpenAI, United States (states), Panama Canal, Marco Rubio
  5. – 12:58: Hartsfield Jackson Airport

Notable quotes from "Evening Wire: Don Lemon Arrested & More Epstein Files Released"

  • Paul because one of its pastors allegedly worked with ICE. President Donald Trump said that those behind the protests quote should be thrown in jail and his administration roundly rejected Lemon's claim that his activities were.
    about Donald Trump · at
  • Filed diplomatic protest, saying consular officials acted to protect the facility. Lake and Riley's killer, Jose Ibara, is seeking a new trial. His lawyers claim he was not…
    about Jose Ibara · at
  • Manion is accused of shooting United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson at PointBlank Range in New York after traveling from out of state to commit the alleged murder. Prosecutors claimed.
    about Brian Thompson · at
  • More documents are still under review and additional releases are expected. A judge sentenced a man to prison on Thursday for falsely claiming to have shot Charlie Kirk moments after the conservative activist was assassinated.
    about Charlie Kirk · at
  • That former Fed Governor Kevin Walsh will go down as one of the great Fed chairman may be the best. Trump's nominee will now have to face the Senate for approval. GOP Senator…
    about Kevin Walsh · at
  • Israel is set to reopen the Rafa crossing that connects Gaza to Egypt for pedestrian traffic. Israel's defense ministry said on Friday that the checkpoint will be monitored in.
    about Egypt · at
  • Panama Canal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on social media that the United States is encouraged by the recent Panameanian Supreme Court decision to rule port…
    about United States (states) · at
  • To be a big year with companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX all reportedly pursuing IPOs. Open AAI could face some challenges going public, however, due to remaining…
    about OpenAI · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • Donald Trump — Person · Referenced political leader / main news subject · 4 mentions · first at
    Central figure across multiple headlines: comments on Don Lemon’s arrest/protest, nomination of a Fed chair, and broader administration actions referenced in the episode.
  • Don Lemon — Person · Primary news subject (arrest story) · 2 mentions · first at
    The episode leads with Lemon’s arrest and ties it to an earlier anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church, framing it as a legal/political dispute over protest activity.
    The Grammy Awards. Daily Wire immigration reporter Jenny Tar has the details. Lemon was arrested allegedly for violating the law in his role in an anti-ICE protest at a…
  • Kevin Walsh — Person · Referenced nominee / economic-policy figure · 2 mentions · first at
    Presented as Trump’s pick for Federal Reserve chair; discussion centers on Senate confirmation and expectations around interest-rate cuts.
  • Jorge Miguel Bravo Uraelis — Person · Referenced subject in ICE/consulate incident · 1 mention · first at
    Named by ICE as an individual allegedly shielded by the Ecuadorian consulate; the episode lists alleged criminal record details and notes he remains at large.
    Cases. ICE says agents did not enter the consulate, but accused staff of blocking the arrest. Bravo Uraelis remains at large. Ecuador's government called the incident an…
  • Jose Ibara — Person · Referenced defendant/convicted killer in legal update · 1 mention · first at
    The episode covers his post-conviction effort to obtain a new trial based on alleged mental incompetence to stand trial.
  • Charlie Kirk — Person · Referenced public figure (assassination-related story) · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned in a story about a man sentenced for falsely claiming he shot Kirk after Kirk’s reported assassination in the episode narrative.
  • Brian Thompson — Person · Referenced victim in murder case · 1 mention · first at
    Identified as the UnitedHealthcare CEO allegedly shot by Luigi Manion; used to explain dismissal of a federal murder charge and remaining state/federal counts.
  • Kate Blanch — Person · Referenced DOJ spokesperson/official for Epstein release · 1 mention · first at
    Named as the Deputy Attorney General describing the scale and contents of the Epstein-related records release and rebutting assumptions of hidden protected identities.
    Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch says roughly three million pages of material are being made public today, including 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. Blanch was asked about whether the identities.
  • Hermit Dylan — Person · Referenced DOJ official (civil rights) in Lemon story · 1 mention · first at
    Quoted as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights saying DOJ would aggressively pursue Lemon, reinforcing the administration’s posture toward the protest-related allegations.
    Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Hermit Dylan said the Justice Department would quote pursue Lemon to the ends of the earth. ICE says the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis is.
  • Marco Rubio — Person · Referenced U.S. official (foreign policy / Panama Canal story) · 1 mention · first at
    Cited commenting on Panama’s court decision voiding a Chinese-linked port operator contract, framed as limiting Chinese influence over the canal.
    Voided the contract of a Chinese linked company that operated entry ports of the Panama Canal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on social media that the United…

Companies & orgs

  • OpenAI — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned in the context of its planned IPO and competition in the AI tech industry.

Places & events

  • United States (states) — Place · Setting · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned in the context of diplomatic and military actions.
  • Ecuador — Place · Setting · 2 mentions · first at
    Mentioned in the context of a diplomatic incident involving the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis.
    Rights Hermit Dylan said the Justice Department would quote pursue Lemon to the ends of the earth. ICE says the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis is shielding an illegal…
  • Egypt — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in the context of the reopening of the Rafa crossing connecting Gaza to Egypt.
  • Panama Canal — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in the context of a legal decision affecting Chinese influence over the canal.
    Carrier strike group recently arrived in the Middle East, bolstering US forces in the region. In a victory for President Trump, the High Court of Panama has voided the contract…
  • Hartsfield Jackson Airport — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at
    Mentioned in the context of a security breach incident.
    In a wild caught on camera moment, an Atlanta airport bystander took out a TSA breach suspect via body slam. The video from last October was released Thursday, showing a man…

Sponsors

  • Brick House Nutrition — Company · Sponsor · 2 mentions · first at
    Sponsor of the podcast episode, promoting their product Lean.
    Know, lean isn't just designed for someone who wants to just drop a couple pounds. The doctors at Brick House Nutrition specifically formulated it for people who've been…
  • Lean — Product · Sponsor · 1 mention · first at
    Product promoted by the sponsor Brick House Nutrition during the podcast.
    Me the confidence that I'm optimizing my wellness routine and setting my body up for success. Let's get you started with 20% off and free rush shipping so you can add Lean to…

Full transcript with timestamps

Former CNN news anchor Don Lemon gets arrested. The DOJ releases roughly three million more pages related to Jeffrey Epstein. And Trump announces his pick for chair of the Federal Reserve. I'm Georgia How. John Bickley is off this afternoon. It's Friday, January 30th, and this is Evening Wire. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday night while covering the Grammy Awards. Daily Wire immigration reporter Jenny Tar has the details. Lemon was arrested allegedly for violating the law in his role in an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church earlier this month. Lemon had joined a group of leftist writers for a January 18th protest organized and promoted by the racial justice network and Black Lives Matter Minnesota. Here he is confronting the church pastor during the protest.

Listen, we live in a there's a constitution in the first amendment to freedom of speech and freedom to assemble and 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. I want to be very respectful. Please don't push me though.

The mob targeted city's church in St. Paul because one of its pastors allegedly worked with ICE. President Donald Trump said that those behind the protests quote should be thrown in jail and his administration roundly rejected Lemon's claim that his activities were protected under the First Amendment. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Hermit Dylan said the Justice Department would quote pursue Lemon to the ends of the earth. ICE says the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis is shielding an illegal immigrant with a criminal record, allowing him to evade ICE arrest. Officials say Jorge Miguel Bravo Israelis fled the Ecuadorian consulate Tuesday as agents attempted to arrest him. Authorities say his record includes a DUI conviction, a sexual assault arrest, and multiple assault cases. ICE says agents did not enter the consulate, but accused staff of blocking the arrest. Bravo Uraelis remains at

large. Ecuador's government called the incident an attempted incursion and filed diplomatic protest, saying consular officials acted to protect the facility. Lake and Riley's killer, Jose Ibara, is seeking a new trial. His lawyers claim he was not mentally competent to stand trial in 2024. Here's Daily Wire reporter Lyndon Blake with the developing story. Abara is currently serving life in prison without the possibility of parole after being found guilty on all 10 counts in November 2024 for the killing of Lake Riley. The illegal immigrant attacked Riley, who was 22 at the time, while she was running on the University of Georgia campus. Prosecutors say Riley died in the violent struggle. Abara is scheduled to appear Friday in Athens Clark County Superior Court in Georgia. Abara's attorneys have already obtained a mental evaluation as part of the appeals process and will make arguments before

Judge Patrick Haggard who preided over the original case and handed down the maximum sentence. The hearing today will focus on whether alleged errors during the original proceedings justify a new trial. A federal judge in New York has dismissed the federal murder charges against Luigi Manion, which means the death penalty is now off the table. Daily Wire reporter Zach Juul has the details.

He still faces a state murder charge and two federal counts of stalking. Lawyers from Manion argued that the prosecution didn't properly show an underlying violent crime, which is needed for the firearm related federal murder charge. Manion is accused of shooting United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson at PointBlank Range in New York after traveling from out of state to commit the alleged murder. Prosecutors claimed the underlying crime was stalking. But the defense argued that stalking doesn't always involve violence, which is how they got the charge dismissed. The defense also requested to block evidence found in Manion's backpack, including a gun and notes criticizing the health insurance industry, but that was rejected by the judge. Manion was arrested 5 days after the shooting at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania after being recognized from a wanted poster. His federal trial is expected to begin in

September. The DOJ has released another massive trench of records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch says roughly three million pages of material are being made public today, including 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. Blanch was asked about whether the identities of those guilty of abusing the women are within these documents. Here's what he said. There's this built-in assumption that somehow there's this hidden trunch of information of men that we know about that we're covering up or that we're not we're choosing not to prosecute. That is not the case.

Officials say some records remain sealed to protect victims and block the release of child sexual abuse material. The disclosure follows the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed into law last year requiring unclassified records to be released. The Justice Department says more documents are still under review and additional releases are expected. A judge sentenced a man to prison on Thursday for falsely claiming to have shot Charlie Kirk moments after the conservative activist was assassinated. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce has the details.

71-year-old George Zen was sentenced with up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, he was charged on one thirdderee felony charge of obstruction of justice and two secondderee felony charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. Immediately following the September assassination of Kirk, Zinn falsely claimed to have shot the conservative commentator. The Utah County Sheriff's Office said Zinn began to yell, quote, "I shot him, now shoot me." As Zen was detained, law enforcement asked him for the murder weapon. When they searched him, law enforcement found a child sexual abuse materials on his phone. Zen will serve his sentences for all charges concurrently with the longest term being for these sexual exploitation charges 1 to 15 years. A parole board will ultimately decide how much time Zen will serve in prison.

This episode is sponsored by Brick House Nutrition. You've probably heard about those weight loss injections everyone's been talking about, and for good reason. The results can be pretty incredible. But here's the thing. Not everyone wants to deal with weekly injections, especially when you start hearing about some of the side effects that can come with them. That's where Lean comes in. It's a weight loss supplement developed by doctors, and people are seeing some really impressive results. The ingredients in Lean are backed by research showing they can help lower blood sugar, turn stored fat into energy, and reduce those constant cravings and hunger pains that can make dieting so hard. One important thing to know, lean isn't just designed for someone who wants to just drop a couple pounds. The doctors at Brick House Nutrition specifically formulated it for people who've been struggling to lose 10

lbs or more and are ready for something that actually works. That's what I've been looking for. Adding lean to my daily routine as I've been getting back into the gym and eating right has given me the confidence that I'm optimizing my wellness routine and setting my body up for success. Let's get you started with 20% off and free rush shipping so you can add Lean to your healthy diet and exercise plan. Visit takelean.com and enter wire for your discount. That's promo code wire at takelean.com.

President Donald Trump has announced his pick to chair the Federal Reserve. The president said in a post on Truth Social that former Fed Governor Kevin Walsh will go down as one of the great Fed chairman may be the best. Trump's nominee will now have to face the Senate for approval. GOP Senator Tom Tillis, who chairs the banking committee, called Trump's pick a qualified nominee with a deep understanding of monetary policy, but noted that he will not vote to confirm any nominee to chair the Fed until the DOJ's inquiry into Chairman Powell is fully and transparently resolved. Meanwhile, Trump says Walsh wants to cut rates, something Trump has pushed Powell to do.

Did Kevin W commit to you that he will push to cut interest rates if he is confirmed? So, but we talk about it and I've been following him and I don't want to ask him that question. I think it's inappropriate. I want to keep it nice and pure, but he certainly wants to cut rates. I've been watching it for a long time.

Israel is set to reopen the Rafa crossing that connects Gaza to Egypt for pedestrian traffic. Israel's defense ministry said on Friday that the checkpoint will be monitored in coordination with Egypt and overseen by a European Union monitoring mission. Residents of Gaza who want to return to the enclave from Egypt can do so, but it will only be allowed for those who left after the war began and who have received prior approval from Israel. The opening of the Rafa crossing is part of the US brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas from last year. President Trump has reportedly received a slate of options for military action against Iran. According to the New York Times, the proposals include potential strikes aimed at Iran's nuclear and weapons facilities, as well as undercutting the power of Iran's Supreme Leader. The new slate of options come as Trump has pushed the regime to cut a deal on the

future of its nuclear program. Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group recently arrived in the Middle East, bolstering US forces in the region. In a victory for President Trump, the High Court of Panama has voided the contract of a Chinese linked company that operated entry ports of the Panama Canal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on social media that the United States is encouraged by the recent Panameanian Supreme Court decision to rule port concessions to China unconstitutional. The Panama Ports Company, which operated terminals at each end of the canal, called the decision inconsistent with the relative legal framework and the law. The Trump administration has leaned on Panama to end Chinese influence over the canal, which is one of the most important choke points in global shipping. Chinese President Xiinping has dramatically purged top leadership of the Chinese

military. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Needler has the latest. Most notable among those ousted is General Jeang Yo Sha, China's highest ranking military official and chief deputy to Xi. The public firing of Jang sends a harsh message as the general at 75 years old could have just as easily been quietly forced into retirement. The firing along with accusations of corruption and insubordination serve to make Jeang a pariah among Chinese leadership. While the exact reasons for the firing remain unknown, rumors claim that Jang may have passed on Chinese military secrets to the United States.

Following the purges, she himself and one other officer became the only remaining members of China's Central Military Commission. Sam Altman's Open AI is reportedly planning to go public in quarter 4 of this year. Reports claim that Open AAI has been taking informal meetings with bankers to explore avenues for an IPO, racing to get ahead of AI tech rival Anthropic. After a relative drought of large public offerings over the past few years, Wall Street analysts expect 2026 to be a big year with companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX all reportedly pursuing IPOs. Open AAI could face some challenges going public, however, due to remaining questions over the viability of AI products, relatively high turnover at the startup, and fierce competition. Actress and comedian Katherine O'Hara has died. She was 71.

TMZ confirmed the news with sources close to her family. Her cause of death was not released. O'Hara was best known for her iconic roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice, Best in Show, and as Moira Rose from Shitz Creek, a performance that earned her an Emmy in 2020. Born in Toronto, O'Hara built a career spanning more than four decades across film, television, and comedy. She survived by her husband and two sons. Joe Rogan says he wasn't snubbed by the Golden Globes. He opted out. On his podcast, Rogan revealed organizers invited him to submit for the new best podcast category, but required a $500 entry fee.

The $500 is like for paperwork or whatever. I said no. Like, I don't care. I already won. Like, you can't tell me I didn't win. and I've been number one for six years in a row. All of a sudden, you're going to have a contest in front of all these people wearing tuxedos and you're going to say, "Now I'm not number one." Like, off.

The award went to Amy Polar's podcast, which launched last year. Rogan brushed off the outcome, saying popularity matters more than trophies, and that he's already won with his audience. And in a wild caught on camera moment, an Atlanta airport bystander took out a TSA breach suspect via body slam. The video from last October was released Thursday, showing a man rushing past a TSA checkpoint at Hartsfield Jackson Airport and then knocking an officer to the ground. But then, in an absolutely crazy moment, a bystander stops him by picking him up and slamming him on the ground.

Police identified the suspect as 40-year-old Fabian Leon, who was later charged with simple battery and evading security. Authorities say Leon admitted to drinking alcohol and using drugs before the incident. Those are your drive home updates this evening. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com. And in case you missed it earlier today, we covered some major stories, including borders are Tom Hman putting anti-ICE activists on notice, Congress narrowly averting a shutdown over immigration enforcement, and a federal contracting program banning more than a thousand companies. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with a weekend edition of Morning Wire.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Evening Wire: Don Lemon Arrested & More Epstein Files Released"?

Georgia How (Host), Jenny Tar (Guest), Lyndon Blake (Guest), Zach Juul (Guest), Todd Blanch (Guest), Tim Pierce (Guest), Joel Needler (Guest).

What is "Evening Wire: Don Lemon Arrested & More Epstein Files Released" about?

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles during Grammy Awards coverage for allegedly violating laws related to an anti-ICE protest he participated in earlier in Minnesota. Additionally, the DOJ released approximately three million pages concerning Jeffrey Epstein, while Trump announced his nominee for chair of the Federal Reserve.

What is mentioned in this Morning Wire episode?

18 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Donald Trump, Don Lemon, Kevin Walsh, OpenAI, United States (states), Jorge Miguel Bravo Uraelis. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Evening Wire: Don Lemon Arrested & More Epstein Files Released"?

The episode runs 13 min; the transcript is about 2,366 words in 22 timestamped sections.

More from Morning Wire

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 30, 2026.