March 12, 2026

California On Alert:  FBI Warning Of “Aspirational” Attack

California On Alert:  FBI Warning Of “Aspirational” Attack

What are Californian’s supposed to think… or do? While residents have been officially warned about a possible Iranian retaliation, they’re also being told there is no “immediate, credible threat” to their state. Amy and T.J. go over the FBI alert that has caused a tremendous amount of fear and trepidation, and the reaction from local officials to try and calm everyone’s concerns, especially with the Oscar’s this weekend.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:00:09
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. It is Thursday, March twelfth, and check on your friends in California. They are a little stressed out right now after news of an alert that Auran possibly wants to retaliate by attacking the US West coast. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Look, we'll get into just how credible this is, but it sounds credible as hell if you're living in California right now.

00:00:37
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, and when you get an alert from the FBI saying that Iran wants to retaliate against California specifically, and that they have received word and they've known about this apparently before the war even began.

00:00:54
Speaker 3: So the question is, when you get an alert like this, what.

00:00:57
Speaker 2: Are you supposed to think? What are you supposed to feed? What are you supposed to do?

00:01:02
Speaker 1: If anything, what you're supposed to do is you get on your phone and you start, Yes, you doom sirch Rag, you start doom scrolling. But you also pick up your phone and start reaching out to everybody you know, maybe in the news industry. Because our phone started buzzing yesterday. We haven't heard from this many friends and colleagues from California in a while, wondering what the hell is going on.

00:01:23
Speaker 3: That's true, because it is a scary thing. You know, you're going about your day.

00:01:27
Speaker 2: And truthfully, like we here in New York, when we have any sort of international threat, we can see it and feel it in the city.

00:01:35
Speaker 3: We can see increased police presence here.

00:01:38
Speaker 2: In the last several days, we've seen patrol boats up and down the Hudson closer to the shore, a much increased police presence just on the streets, on the corners, in the subways. So we feel it in California, probably not so much. You feel a little insulated, like oh, perhaps a bubble out there. You're in your car, you go from your house, you're working back.

00:01:58
Speaker 1: That is so true, Ropes. We do not need to see any news alert to know that something's going on. You walk around this city and you go, wait a minute, wait a minute, why are so many cops there? I have not used to seeing that many automatic weapons just out on the street. And you're right. We pointed out yesterday we have boat traffic by our window all day long, and I said, why are they so close to the house right now?

00:02:20
Speaker 2: Yeah, the NYPD boats are almost hugging the Manhattan shoreline up and down, and that is unusual. We do not typically see that. You start to get a little it does. It perks you up and you start to be more aware of your surroundings when you start to see an increased police presence. And that is exactly what Californians are being asked to do, to be alert. And we're used to that here, but they're not used to it over there.

00:02:46
Speaker 1: And that's okay, and that is perfectly. We know that robes when anything happens, and something happens in New York, we started hearing from everybody else. We rarely send out a message to anyone. It's day to day life for us here in New York. Californians, this is different. It's spread out, it's a different way of life. But yes, let's give you the heads up here to our friends, our family, our loved ones, our colleagues, and our dear, dear Californians. This is what happened to yesterday is that word got out that the FBI had in fact warned California law enforcement, state and local officials that Iran might retaliate against any US military action with drone strikes. Along the US West coast, and the way they would go about doing this, Robes is by launching those drones from ships. This is something we're seeing more and learning more about in recent days and weeks, certainly even the past couple of years. But you hear that robes and that absolutely sounds terrifying. When we're turning on the TV and seeing images of Iran and the US and Israel exchanging missile strikes.

00:03:53
Speaker 3: Oh, it's frightening.

00:03:54
Speaker 2: And to imagine a ship off the coast of California. Isn't that our biggest coastline in the United States, So there would be so many targets. And then you sit there and you feel like a sitting duck when you hear something like that. And yet you have to remember there is a difference between Iran being aspirational and capable, and that is what US authorities are trying to let Californians and residents know to try and tamp down some of these fears, because this is anxiety producing. You are imagining being in your home, driving your kids to school, driving to work, and thinking about incoming drone missiles raining down on you.

00:04:34
Speaker 3: That's terrifying.

00:04:35
Speaker 1: The idea of what you just described is terrifying. And so what we're trying to do now, folks, is put this into a little better context because we weren't necessarily supposed to are you Californians, I should say, supposed to see this alert necessarily? This is standard practice when it comes to cooperation between federal authorities and state and local law enforcement. They give them alerts, They give them heads up that hey, just be jelant, be aware that this is going on. So this is the type of alert it was, and they sent it ahead of the war, essentially given a heads up, like you said, Robes, that Iran aspired to pull off such an attack, but unclear if they had the capability. But still this was the precise language at least that the alert that was sent to local law enforcement. This is what it's apt.

00:05:23
Speaker 2: We recently acquired information that as of early February twenty twenty six, 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 US conducted strikes against Iran. We have no additional information on the timing, method, target, or perpetrators of this alleged attack. That's kind of scary because you're giving a very doomsday prognosis of what could happen, and yet you're saying, we're not really sure when, how, where, why?

00:06:06
Speaker 3: Nothing? We don't know.

00:06:07
Speaker 1: So that is where the problem lies. Robes in that this message has to be taken in context for who it was meant for. This was meant for other law enforcement. Right they get alerts from federal authorities all the time, Heads up, be on the lookout. Just want to let you know that's just a part of information sharing. It doesn't mean anything is imminent. Now, the other audience ropes with context. If I'm just a lay person hanging out in Santa Monica and I see that, I don't consider the context of Ah, that's just between law enforcement. It wasn't meant for me.

00:06:44
Speaker 2: I go, ah, Yeah, You're in Santa Monica, you're on the beach, You're looking for warships in the distance and the horizons, something you've never looked for in your life, And all of a sudden you're like.

00:06:53
Speaker 3: Could that be an aircraft carrier?

00:06:55
Speaker 2: Is at a naval ship of a foreign destined like you just start to freak out, and that's what's happening. We got so many, as you pointed out, text yesterday from folks saying, what in the hell does this mean? What am I supposed to do with this information? And we even talked about this when we were talking about this, well, the satellite that did crash, thankfully in the ocean from NASA, but even.

00:07:17
Speaker 3: Getting alerts about possible.

00:07:21
Speaker 2: Just I don't know incoming anything, whether it's a satellite or a.

00:07:24
Speaker 3: Missile or a drone.

00:07:26
Speaker 2: What are we as residents supposed to do with that information?

00:07:29
Speaker 3: Should we have this information? Do we want this information?

00:07:33
Speaker 2: If there's nothing you can do about it, it's better almost not to know.

00:07:37
Speaker 1: That's your I know, that's the way you like to listen.

00:07:39
Speaker 3: I would prefer ignorance. If there's something actionable that I can do, great tell me. But if not, I'd.

00:07:46
Speaker 1: Rather not know. You can stress about it. That's what you can do that is actionable. Just stress the hell out. And you better believe some folks will be looking up in the skies over LA and San Francisco and going, wait, what is that? Is that a what kind of drone is that that folks will absolutely be doing.

00:08:01
Speaker 2: It because the scary thing is there's nothing you can do in terms of changing your behavior, changing your way of life.

00:08:07
Speaker 3: You don't know.

00:08:08
Speaker 2: First of all, this again aspirational versus whether or not they're capable. But the idea is there's nowhere that you could go or anything that you could do or it could change that would make you any safer than any other moment. So this information in residence' brains does nothing to make anyone safer.

00:08:26
Speaker 1: You could go stay with Grandma in Colorado.

00:08:28
Speaker 3: For I guess that's the truble. You could leave California this.

00:08:32
Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely don't come to New York because that we like we live knowing we're a an operational target at all times. I mean really and truly I think about that not too often, but you know, when you live in this city there is a little bit of an inherent risk.

00:08:48
Speaker 3: Because you know this is this would be their number one.

00:08:53
Speaker 1: Target or I'm laughing, I would just as always. Remember something Chris Rock said, I'm from Brooklyn, I ain't worried about al Qaeda, like I'm from New York.

00:09:03
Speaker 3: Well, we live literally right under.

00:09:06
Speaker 1: Yes targets we live at the World Trade Center. We're right downtown. We live, we walked pat We're in a subway every day. We next to the Brooklyn Bridge.

00:09:15
Speaker 3: We are World Trade Center.

00:09:17
Speaker 2: We can see the Statue of Liberty, we can see all the targets.

00:09:21
Speaker 1: And we just it's so different. You get adjusted to things like that, but here we are in California. Yes they are, but it's very legitimate. Yes, any concern any resident out there has. So what happened is that a lot of officials, now city officials, have had to put out statements trying to calm everybody down. Of course, starting with Gavin newsom rope, Yes, what was.

00:09:43
Speaker 3: This prepare for worst case scenario?

00:09:45
Speaker 1: Yeah, he was making remarks somewhere else and just said, hey, yes, we're aware of it and we see this. But this isn't something like we're reacting to any specific threat. But we're always on the edge. We're always prepared for the worst case scenario. But that's important. They're turning to the governor, do we need to do something different? What do you know about this threat? So it seems like almost something was kept from the public. It wasn't. This is how it goes, but it could almost come out or feel as if because ABC News got the correct their hands on the memo first, it wasn't supposed to necessarily be disseminated.

00:10:17
Speaker 2: But you still I mean, look, I understand you want to know that your local officials are ready and are aware and have made adjustments, but you still don't want to hear your governor say worst case scenario.

00:10:30
Speaker 3: I felt like that that wasn't maybe what I would want to hear.

00:10:33
Speaker 1: We're prepared for the worst is what he's trying to.

00:10:36
Speaker 3: Don't even say worst case scenario.

00:10:38
Speaker 2: But he did also follow up with this, while we are not aware of any imminent threats at this time, we remain prepared for any emergency in our state.

00:10:49
Speaker 1: And then you had the mayor of San Francisco, the mayor of la you had the city of Oakland, all having to put out some kind of statements. They have pretty much Robes all said the same thing. There is no eminent credible threat that we are aware of, but something else that we're all aware of. Quite frankly, Robes one of the forget the war in Iran, if that wasn't even going on, you have one of the biggest potential targets in the world happening on Sunday, because all eyes will be on that red carpet. Yes, even the OSCARS is having to pay attention to what's happening in Iran. Stay here, all right, we continue here, Amy and TJ trying to comfort our friends out of the West Coast in California there. Yes, I mean it is Robes that's concerning. You're getting word that there was an alert that the FBI thought it was important enough to tell your local and state authorities that hey, Iran might want to try to do this thing, Robes. It makes sense that people are a little on edge, and maybe, yes, today there maybe word is getting around and people are calming a little, and some of the assurances and words from their state and local officials are helping. But that fear was legit yesterday, certainly seeing everything we've been seeing on TV.

00:12:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, who knows there could be people who keep their kids home from school today. I mean, this is real, and this is concerning, and this is nothing anyone wants to hear. And to know that this threat has been well at least that your local officials were made aware of this threat.

00:12:29
Speaker 3: Now for a week or two, and you had no clue walking.

00:12:32
Speaker 2: Around thinking you were not in any potential danger. That feels a little that feels a little scary, like, Wow, this is threat has been happening for these past several days and I wasn't even aware of it. That's a little unnerving. But I also think that it's just one of those moments where I would not have expected California to be on edge or on alert. Again, here in New York we're used to it, but even just the distance from Iran, I would my head didn't even go there that there would possibly be a way for Iran to retaliate against California or to choose California. But then to hear that it could be from a ship or a boat, and we know how big and wide California's coastline is, then you're starting to put two and two together and think, wow, I never even thought of it.

00:13:22
Speaker 1: You know what. I'm trying to think? Who got blamed? Who was it? We dang it? I think it was Iran. Remember all the the UFO sightings, if you will, But they thought drones were over in New Jersey and all these sightings, yes there there were.

00:13:35
Speaker 3: They were blaming othership.

00:13:37
Speaker 1: Yes, but was it Iran? I think it was Iran. They were saying it was possibly launching these drones from a ship out there on the water.

00:13:44
Speaker 3: You're right, I totally forgot about that.

00:13:45
Speaker 2: That was all and those have all mysteriously now gone away. But yes, that was going on for weeks, maybe even months in New Jersey where people were seeing in the Northeast seeing these seemingly UFO like objects, and we never really got a clear answer as to what they were shocking.

00:14:04
Speaker 1: But that was one of the suggestions at least. I remember some members of the Congress were even saying, but Robes, all eyes are on Hollywood on Sunday. We have covered that event a number of times. The security at the OSCARS rivals, what we've been to Super Bowls. I guess that's the other big homeland security event, if you will. But Robes, the lockdown and security at the Oscars is like you will never see but Robes. They're having to factor this in. They're not saying they're changing a whole lot and what would they tell us, but Robes, this is going to be on the minds of folks out there.

00:14:42
Speaker 2: Oh, of course, the timing of this FBI alert just days before one of the biggest days in Hollywood. It's the biggest, It's the biggest night in Hollywood for sure. So imagine this threat comes out on Wednesday. You've got the Oscars on Sunday. Yeah, a lot of people are.

00:15:00
Speaker 3: Now going to be thinking about that. It's going to be in the back of their minds.

00:15:06
Speaker 2: And that's a shame because this is a night to celebrate the arts, to celebrate entertainers.

00:15:11
Speaker 3: It's an exciting night.

00:15:12
Speaker 2: I hope it doesn't dampen any of the joy in any of the excitement any of the celebrations that go on that day because it is a special night.

00:15:21
Speaker 1: It is, and we have I guess a lot of attentions being It's always a lot of attention paid to the Oscars, but rose a right now in a very political time, and you could expect maybe even Ron was going to be in some ways making an appearance at the Oscars in one way, shape or form, not like this though, not as a possible threat to the area, not as a possible threat to California, not as a possible threat to the Oscars. Again, no credible threat to the Oscars either. We will at least to mention. You've seen some of the notes. Jimmy Kimmel was having fun with no Codin's doing it this year. But Jimmy Kimmel, yes, was making life of this, if you will, this possibility of drones strikes. He said, we couldn't even survive the writer's strike. Oh, how are we going to handle a drone strike? He's almost making fun of them in California, like we're freaking out out here. But this is this is clearly robes on the minds of folks on the.

00:16:18
Speaker 2: West Coast, and in fact, the oscars have already put out statements just reassuring fans, reassuring celebrities, reassuring everyone who's a part of the show. They say, we have one of the best teams in the business in all aspects, and it all comes down to our security team.

00:16:32
Speaker 3: Every year, we monitor what's going on in the world. We have the support of the FBI, the LAPD.

00:16:38
Speaker 2: The show runs like clockwork, but they wanted to reassure everyone coming to the show, even the fans who stand outside. We see them all waiting to see the celebrities come in. They say, everybody is going to be safe, protected and welcome, so reassuring.

00:16:53
Speaker 1: Folks inside is the safest place.

00:16:56
Speaker 3: It's so true.

00:16:56
Speaker 2: It's true credentials with the credential process us you and I have been on the red carpet is it's much like the Olympics. They have so many security teams in place, and by the way, they've been doing this for years, next years.

00:17:10
Speaker 3: They know what they're doing. It is going to a.

00:17:13
Speaker 2: Super Bowl, going to the Oscars, going to the Olympics actually are the safest places you can be because everyone's so aware of the potential threat to those types of events. So it's it's gonna be okay, It's gonna be okay.

00:17:28
Speaker 1: All right, folks. Well, yes, keep your your friends, your family. Are folks out in California on the West Coast on your mind, and you folks try to rest as easy as you can out there. But this is a story we'll keep a close eye on as allways. You can look out for the morning run that'll be on the feed here in just a couple of hours with all the news headlines. We always appreciate you spending some time with us, but for now, I'm TJ. Holmes and on behalf of my dear Amy Robock, we will talk to you