SEKULOW

Logan Sekulow: In a shocking update, the FBI issued a warning to California about a potential Iranian drone threat. Keeping you informed and engaged, now more than ever. This is Sekulow. We want to hear from you. Share and post your comments or call 1-800-684-3110. And now your host, Logan Sekulow.

Welcome to Sekulow. It's Thursday. I'm back in the saddle as they say. I know I was all over the chat yesterday. I was actually in the air talking to people on a flight and getting in the comments. It was a lot of fun mixing it up.

I was in New York City, which we can talk about. Obviously, New York City has been big in the news due to potential terror attacks and threats. It was certainly the talk of the town. We can discuss that as well, but the big news that came out is that there was an issued warning from the FBI to California. Rick Grenell's going to be joining us a little bit later. He is a huge part of California culture. We'll hear from Rick about this saying that Iran drone attacks could be on the way to California.

Watch out. I mean, you want people to be prepared, but I don't even know what you do in this situation. Let's go through a bit of what the actual warning is.

Will: This wasn't like a public notice or a public memo like we've seen where there have been a bunch of different warnings from the State Department and in law enforcement federally to be vigilant if you are traveling or if you are abroad. This was specifically a warning sent to California law enforcement, to police departments. The LA Police Department also responded to this. The governor himself actually acknowledged this, that they've been in communication.

This goes back from intelligence predating the attacks back at the end of February. They got intelligence that Iran would be planning to retaliate against the United States via drone attacks on the West Coast. That could include both the homeland itself as well as vehicles and vessels off the coast of California. They were taking this seriously enough that they went to law enforcement to start and coordinate and create a plan to try and defend against retaliatory unmanned drone attacks on the U.S. homeland.

Logan Sekulow: I want to read you the alert that came through. This was verified from many different news sources. They said, "Recently acquired information that as of early February 2026, Iran allegedly aspired to conduct a surprise attack using unmanned aerial vehicles from an unidentified vessel off the coast of the United States homeland, specifically against unspecified targets in California in the event that the U.S. conducted strikes against Iran."

According to the alert, they have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack. Again, those were the words coming from the FBI to the police departments to let them know that this has been ongoing. As of now, we are well into week three. Saturday will be the second full week. It feels like it has been a long time.

The second full week will wrap up this weekend of this war in Iran. I want to get your thoughts on this. This has been where we live, a little isolated. We do start putting the actual threats aside of what's actually happening. Some of this happened while I was in New York City. There was a big potential attack that happened twice. There were two or three different things that occurred. All seemed to be linked in some ways. We're going to discuss that coming up, all linked to the mayor and the mayor's property there in New York City.

I want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on this when we start warning threats on the American homeland? Does it make you change your thoughts on this war? 1-800-684-3110. Speaking of the ACLJ's work around the world, we're going to be joined by CeCe Heil in a little bit to talk about what's going on in Nigeria because we can't forget about the Christians everywhere.

There are people everywhere who are being persecuted for their faith. We have to make sure we represent them. As part of this special week that we have here, seven days of global impact, we want you to be a part of it right now. Have your gift doubled today. Show that you want to support the work that is going on not just only within our country. Of course, it helps all the work of the ACLJ, but it really puts a spotlight onto the global work of the ACLJ, which is incredible. It's one of the things that I really enjoy when we talk about our work here. Go to ACLJ.org to double your impact today. Double, dollar for dollar, have your gift doubled at ACLJ.org/global or scan the QR code.

Guest (Male): Right now your most sacred rights are under attack: your right to free speech, your right to worship, and your right to educate your children the way you choose. If successful, these attacks will have a destructive impact on the future of our Republic. We're fighting in courtrooms across the country to have a lasting impact.

Defending and upholding our values that this nation was founded on, from protecting the rights of kids to pray and share their faith, the best thing you can do is take a stand. There's nothing too small. A kid who wants to start a Bible club is how the ACLJ got its first case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today we will take that case as long as we need to.

Every victory makes a major impact, and it's only possible because of the support of ACLJ members and champions. This is your opportunity to double your impact to defend freedom for you, your children, and generations to come. Go to ACLJ.org/impact and have your tax-deductible donation doubled today.

Guest (Male): We've witnessed monumental legal victories, from defending the 14th Amendment and protecting our sacred American right to vote, to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and standing up for the religious liberty of our kids and seniors. But even with the many historic wins we've achieved, the battle is far from over.

The attacks on our constitutionally protected rights persist. Countless unborn babies remain in jeopardy, and across the globe, innocent Christians are being targeted and killed across this country and around the world. This fight isn't just the ACLJ's. It's all of ours.

It belongs to every American who wants to preserve the values and beliefs on which this nation was founded. None of the victories we've won would have been possible without the unwavering support of ACLJ members and ACLJ champions. It's been an honor to fight for you all these years. Join us in fighting for freedom. Have your donation doubled at ACLJ.org/freedom.

Logan Sekulow: Welcome back to Sekulow. Phone lines are open for you at 1-800-684-3110. As part of our global impact week, seven days of global impact, when you support the work of the ACLJ right now, all donations are doubled. We planned this global impact week months ago when we were working on what our month of March was going to look like.

None of us were sure or thought there would be a chance that we would essentially be in the middle of a war right now that does seem to be spanning the globe in many different ways. Whether that is the Middle East, all the different Middle Eastern countries that have had to get involved, or threats to America specifically as the FBI warned that there may be drone attacks within our country, within California.

As things escalate, I wanted to get your thoughts on that. The work of the ACLJ is strong. We are working around the world because of moments like this. I want you to know that when you support, even when you're just watching this show and you're listening, we are engaged on all of these topics. As I said, I was in New York City just yesterday. During my time there, there was a lot of talk on the streets because there was an ISIS-inspired attack that occurred with a bomb that was essentially lit and thrown into a protesting crowd.

It was also in front of Gracie Mansion, in front of the mayor's home. The bomb thankfully did not go off, but it was not a dummy. They did research on it. It had all the parts that would have done it. It just was assembled incorrectly.

Will: Thank God. Thank God that there are people who handled it and a great job also by the NYPD for handling that situation.

Logan Sekulow: It changed the tone dramatically of what was going on in New York City. The first day we were there, it was incredibly quiet. I mean not just a low amount of people. You could just have this, there was a hush over the streets. People were paying attention closer to what was going on around them. They were not focused on having discussions or talking or whatever it may be. It felt like everyone's guard was up.

Quickly New Yorkers adjust. The next day it felt like things went back to normal, but in that time there was another threat while we were there. Part of the park that we were near got evacuated just a few minutes after we had left. Again, that one ended up I believe being nothing, but they are on high alert in the city and it's due to extremism. It is due to some of the similar threats that are going on.

When they mention ISIS, it is a sign of those kind of attacks where you have people who are Americans who get radicalized very quickly and within a few months are planning attacks in major cities.

Will: That's right, Logan. When you also look at this warning that the FBI gave to law enforcement in California that they are concerned about, based off of intelligence, that Iran may want to conduct unmanned drone attacks on the homeland or on vessels that are around the coast of California on the West Coast of the United States. This wasn't a public message. This wasn't something that went out like a bulletin saying all Americans be on alert. This was specifically to law enforcement.

They believed it was credible. They believed it should be something that they should work together on and be on high alert. But it also dovetails with the alert that we received weeks ago at the beginning of this where they said they believe they've intercepted communications from Iran that could have gone out to alert cells that could be around the world to conduct attacks.

We know that the medical device company Stryker, they make hospital beds, they make all sorts of things for the healthcare industry, were hit with a cyber attack. It was a ransomware style attack that they believe originated from Iran but with no payoff. It wasn't the ransomware where they extort you, you give money, and then they open back up your systems. It was just specifically to shut down the company. These are things they're also concerned about.

This is the layer in this conflict that Americans are going to be facing. Whether it be cyber attacks on companies or on infrastructure that we know that the administration and the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, as well as the military are monitoring, that is where the vigilance of the government in working together with the states has to come through.

The other side of this is the Department of Homeland Security remains defunded at the hands of the Democrats in Congress. In the Senate today they will be debating a funding package. The Democrats thus far have not shown any sort of movement that they are willing to reopen the Department of Homeland Security. You're seeing airlines being strained already. The TSA, that's one part of it, but when you start to talk about defense against things like this, drone attacks, you need an all-hands-on-deck approach from the government. If people are not getting paid, that adds to another stressor on these people that work for our government at a time of heightened alert.

Logan Sekulow: As you travel right now, you will start seeing advertisements in many ways saying to end this shutdown. It has become a constant marketing tool. That tool right now specifically says, because it's being run by the current administration, essentially call your Democrats and tell them to end the shutdown. This is a Democrat shutdown. That has become the messaging point, even coming from things like the TSA.

They are telling the TSA agents that if people ask about it, blame them. Now there are some airports that have tried to circumvent this, tried to fight back. I know some have said don't listen to the warnings, we're still operating just fine. But you know that behind the scenes, it's just simply not the case.

Because of everything that's happening around the world, it feels like the shutdown part has gotten swept under the rug, almost like we've forgotten about it because at the time we're talking now, I see more about gas prices. I see more about what's going on in Iran, not unjustifiably. But when there is still this big portion of the government shut down and it happens to be the Department of Homeland Security.

Will: It shows how much of an unserious group the Democrats in Congress are because at the same time they're trying to say this is such a dangerous war, it's going to risk attacks on Americans even here at home, end the illegal war. You're even seeing this language from Gavin Newsom himself. But at the same time, he's admitting that this communication with the FBI is happening, a very serious and credible issue against the homeland.

The fact that the Department of Homeland Security is one of the newer executive agencies, it was created after 9/11 to try and stop future 9/11s, future terrorist attacks on the homeland. When we are in the middle of this, if they are saying it's reckless because it could be dangerous to Americans, but at the same time they will not even try and come together and find a way forward on funding of Department of Homeland Security.

They already have seen their number one target of a cabinet member, Kristi Noem, be moved to a new job. The fact that they can't take a victory lap there for the betterment of the people of the United States and say, look, we did what we wanted. Move on. I will say go for it. Use that. Make that your spin and that you won, but get this agency back open for the good of the people.

Once again we also go back to that issue where remember they shut down the airport, I believe it was in El Paso, because of the drone issue. That was cartel drones, they said. It later turned out that the military and Department of Homeland Security were testing new anti-drone technology that the FAA wasn't necessarily privy to this information.

They know that a real threat from cartels exists at the southern border, so much so they have to test new technology on this. You know that Iran and their proxies are good buddies with Venezuela. Hezbollah would train on the islands that are owned by Venezuela. We know that Cuba has a relationship with Iran. We know that Central American countries have these relationships. I would not doubt if the Iranians, we know they've exploited the southern border through the cartels' movements of people, if their threat could not necessarily be just a sea-based threat but also a southern border-based threat.

When you've seen all that happened under the previous administration to weaken the security of this nation, that fortunately has been pushed back against. But the damage is done. These are real threats. I feel like it's incumbent upon the Democrats in the Senate and in the House to move forward a funding package along with their colleagues on the other side of the aisle to get the Department of Homeland Security back open during this conflict.

Logan Sekulow: I think that needs to happen. Hopefully, that will happen shortly. Is there a timeline for when they think the vote may happen?

Will: Today they're discussing and debating the package. It's not expected to move forward.

Logan Sekulow: So it's meaningless at this point. We've got to demand better. Sadly this stuff happens over and over again. You get distracted. They said there may be a test vote today, but who knows where that will end up. It sounds like we know where it's going to end up.

Phone lines are open for you right now at 1-800-684-3110. When we get back, we are going to hear from CeCe Heil who is going to be joining us, senior attorney here at the ACLJ. I want you to see a special presentation we have. Again, this is seven days of global impact, a very special week dedicated to our work all over the world, whether it's the ECLJ, our European center, whether it's the work at the UN, our ACLJ Jerusalem.

All over the world, the ACLJ is hard at work. Don't think we are just within these borders. The ACLJ has always fought for those all over the world, especially Christians that are in need, the Jewish people that are in need. I want to hear from you too though, so scan your QR code if you see it right now and get on hold. In the back half of the show, I'm going to take a lot of calls if I can. 1-800-684-3110. About four lines open right now. If you've ever wanted to be on the air, it's a great time to call. 1-800-684-3110. Again, I encourage you, if you're thinking about giving to the ACLJ, this is the month to do it. If you love what's going on around the world, you want to be part of it, this is the time.

Guest (Male): We've witnessed monumental legal victories, from defending the 14th Amendment and protecting our sacred American right to vote, to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and standing up for the religious liberty of our kids and seniors. But even with the many historic wins we've achieved, the battle is far from over.

The attacks on our constitutionally protected rights persist. Countless unborn babies remain in jeopardy, and across the globe, innocent Christians are being targeted and killed across this country and around the world. This fight isn't just the ACLJ's. It's all of ours. It belongs to every American who wants to preserve the values and beliefs on which this nation was founded.

None of the victories we've won would have been possible without the unwavering support of ACLJ members and ACLJ champions. It's been an honor to fight for you all these years. Join us in fighting for freedom. Have your donation doubled at ACLJ.org/freedom.

Guest (Male): Right now your most sacred rights are under attack: your right to free speech, your right to worship, and your right to educate your children the way you choose. If successful, these attacks will have a destructive impact on the future of our Republic. We're fighting in courtrooms across the country to have a lasting impact.

Defending and upholding our values that this nation was founded on, from protecting the rights of kids to pray and share their faith, the best thing you can do is take a stand. There's nothing too small. A kid who wants to start a Bible club is how the ACLJ got its first case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Today we will take that case as long as we need to.

Every victory makes a major impact, and it's only possible because of the support of ACLJ members and champions. This is your opportunity to double your impact to defend freedom for you, your children, and generations to come. Go to ACLJ.org/impact and have your tax-deductible donation doubled today.

Logan Sekulow: Welcome back to Sekulow. It is global impact week, seven days of global impact. We talk about the work of the ACLJ around the world, and I want you to be a part of it right now. Scan that QR code. We're about to show you a special video presentation we set up. CeCe Heil, senior attorney here at the ACLJ, is joining us in studio. Will, why don't you set up what we're about to see?

Will: Exactly. When we have these special weeks, one thing we want to do is showcase a lot of the work that the ACLJ legal team, Global Affairs team, the work that they're doing all the time and have been doing for a very long time, even when it's not in the news. Sometimes we see it pop in the news and we can showcase the work, but we also want to make sure you don't forget the impact you're having.

One of those topics is the plight of Christians in Nigeria. It is something we've worked on for close to 16 years. It was in the news a few months ago, but we still work on that. I want to show you this video presentation, and then we're going to talk to CeCe Heil about this work and how your impact is making a difference in the world.

Guest (Male): Killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria. They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country. 69% of all Christians killed for their faith around the world last year were murdered in that country. Today we speak of blood, and we speak of the blood that still cries from Nigerian soil.

Since 2009, 125,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria, including 600 clerics. 19,000 churches have been destroyed, 1,100 Christian communities displaced. What you have is a terrorist organization, particularly in the north in Nigeria, Boko Haram, that is literally burning churches, massacring people, torturing people, running them out of their homes.

A pastor and his worshipers are in the middle of prayer when all of a sudden the sound of gunshot sends them running for cover. Seconds later, the gunmen are inside. Officials later say at least two people were killed and others were kidnapped. The numbers are staggering. Just this year extremist groups have killed more than 600 Christians and others and kidnapped over a thousand. So anybody who supports and helps Christians, they're killing them too.

The ACLJ recently joined a new coalition partner, CPAC, the American Conservative Union. I think a lot of people know it by the big CPAC events. We talked about this issue of Christian persecution worldwide. The first meeting at the White House was about what's next on how the President and the executive branch can do on the international front.

In that meeting, Matt Schlapp looked over at me and said, Jordan, what's number one on the agenda? We said Nigeria, put back on the CPC, countries of particular concern list. We sent this letter to the new Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, asking for Nigeria to be redesignated as a country of particular concern. Over the weekend on Friday evening, President Trump did just that.

The actual official statement that came out from President Trump on Truth Social: "Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter. I'm hereby making Nigeria a country of particular concern."

By putting them on the list of countries of particular concern, that means they are now being watched very closely by various departments of the U.S. government. We have been doing this since 2010. December of 2010 was one of the first attacks we brought to the European Union before their eyes in January of 2011. We've been fighting for this and that shows you the ACLJ, we will not stop fighting until we see justice. With this CPC designation, I think we're on that path.

Will: CeCe, as we saw in that video, the long work that we have put into this, the successes we've had to raise this issue, but we know that the work is not done. The ongoing persecution of Christians continues, and even with everything else in the world going on, our work continues on these issues that may not be in the mainstream news. This is a topic I never thought would be in the mainstream news, but we continue to fight for it. We did get some good coverage, so the awareness is much broader now, but our work continues on this.

CeCe Heil: It does. Like you just heard, it has been for a long time, almost 16 years. We have continuously brought up the issue that more Christians are killed, slaughtered, murdered for their faith in Nigeria than all other countries combined. In fact, on average, there are 32 Christians killed for their faith every single day in Nigeria. That is one every hour, and for eight hours of the day, that's two every hour. That is ridiculous. It's so sad that it's taken this long to bring it to the attention of the world because literally, Christians are trying to be eliminated in Nigeria and we have fought this battle for almost 16 years and we won't stop.

Logan Sekulow: Maybe we should explain what fighting the battle really means. I know people who just saw the video, they may have a better understanding, but there's a lot of people just listen as well. Maybe they weren't sure exactly what they were hearing with the montage of clips. When the ACLJ, we have seven days of global impact, we're not only showcasing our work around the country, we're also showcasing our work around the world. People hear about Nigeria, they may have a heart for it, but they have no idea how to even respond or how anyone could respond.

CeCe Heil: Right. Our actions that we take, a lot at the United Nations, we do oral interventions, we do written submissions, we do side events showing the United Nations, all the 193 member states, look, this is what's going on in Nigeria and the UN needs to step in and hold Nigeria accountable for this. Bringing it to the world's attention, we've written letters to the Nigerian government, of course, our government. I know Secretary Pompeo has even indicated that we were very critical in getting Nigeria on the country of particular concern list that was during the first Trump administration. And of course now, as you heard from Jordan, Jordan and I were at the White House meeting and asking for Nigeria to be put back on the country of particular concern list and a day and a half later, the President did that.

Will: One of the first things Secretary of State Anthony Blinken did after he was brought in by Joe Biden was take Nigeria off that list. When you see what's happening, you hear those stats, how many Christians are killed a day, that should be global outrage. But the Biden administration had different plans and one of the first things they did was take them off the country of particular concern list.

We are thankful that the Trump administration this time around has put them back on that list. But also, we talk about our work with the UN, with the U.S. government, directly going to the government of Nigeria saying protect your population. We also have our ACLJ Jerusalem office. You know another country, and I know this may not be popular within certain podcasters that say that Israel hates Christians, another country that is working to support the persecuted Christian population in Nigeria is Israel.

Jeff Ballabon has meetings about that in Jerusalem with members of the Israeli government. Our impact on this issue isn't in just one area of we can go to members of Congress or we can go to the State Department. It is far and wide, the reach of the ACLJ. When we get behind an issue, we go at it from every angle we can to make a difference.

Logan Sekulow: That's right. The ACLJ, again, we are showcasing and celebrating seven days of global impact here during your double your impact month. I want you to do it right now as we head to a break. If you don't get the rest of the show, by the way, if you're listening on terrestrial radio or some of the places that don't carry the full hour, find us online at ACLJ.org. Get your podcast, where they are live 12:00 to 1:00 PM Eastern Time and of course archived. However you get your podcast, we are there. But right now, I want you to do me a favor. Consider supporting the work of the ACLJ during these seven days of global impact at ACLJ.org. Back in less than a minute.

Guest (Male): Right now your most sacred rights are under attack: your right to free speech, your right to worship, and your right to educate your children the way you choose. If successful, these attacks will have a destructive impact on the future of our Republic. We're fighting in courtrooms across the country to have a lasting impact.

And it's only possible because of the support of ACLJ members and champions. This is your opportunity to double your impact to defend freedom for you, your children, and generations to come. Go to ACLJ.org/impact and have your tax-deductible donation doubled today.