The latest on Charlie Kirk, President Trump on September 11th, and never letting the terrorists win - 10 Minute Drill

Summary5 min read

10 Minute Drill — Episode Summary

Episode Title: The latest on Charlie Kirk, President Trump on September 11th, and never letting the terrorists win
Host: Matt Whitlock
Date: September 12, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

In this emotional and reflective episode, host Matt Whitlock departs from the show’s typical rapid-fire format to focus on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the ongoing manhunt for his killer, and the broader dangers of political violence. Whitlock threads in remembrance of September 11th, 2001, drawing parallels between national resilience then and the unity needed now. The episode is a call for lower temperatures in political discourse and a defense of open debate as the lifeblood of democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shift in Planned Content

Whitlock opens by explaining the decision to postpone lighter or unrelated subjects (e.g., climate change, Kamala Harris’s book) in light of recent events.
- “It didn’t feel right, it felt out of touch to get into those things, particularly those with more levity.” [00:17]

2. Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Provides the latest on the manhunt for the shooter at Utah Valley University, summarizing what’s known as of recording:
- Ongoing FBI and Utah state cooperation, a publicized person of interest. [00:42]
Cites Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s emotional plea for unity and self-reflection:
- “If anyone in the sound of my voice celebrated even a little bit at the news of this shooting, I would beg you to look in the mirror and to see if you can find a better angel in there somewhere.” — Gov. Spencer Cox [01:13]

3. Honors and Tributes

Reports Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit with the Kirk family and the honor of Air Force Two transporting Kirk’s casket back to Phoenix. [01:33]
Whitlock reflects on tributes online and laments the growing acceptance of political violence:
- “It really is striking to see how so many people have been conditioned to accept political violence, to believe that this is the cost of doing business in our democracy.” [01:50]
Critiques inconsistent responses from public figures and the dangerous rhetoric in media:
- “If you call someone a fascist or a Nazi enough times, someone out there is going to believe that they are, and they’re going to think that it is incumbent upon them to stop that threat to democracy, even though that is not a threat. That is what democracy is.” [02:40]

4. Defending Discourse and Democracy

Stresses that silencing debate is the true threat—“if this event did anything to change the way debates happen on college campuses, then the terrorists win.” [03:10]
Argues that Kirk would have wanted more debate, not less, in response.

5. September 11th Remembrance and Presidential Leadership

Notes the 24th anniversary of 9/11 and President Trump's visit to the Pentagon Memorial.
- Features this rallying quote from Trump:
  - “In America, we take blows, but we never buckle. We bleed, but we do not bow. And we defy the fear, endure the flames, and emerge from the crucible of every hardship, stronger, proud, and greater.” — President Donald Trump [03:41]
Describes Trump’s later attendance at a Yankee game, recalling President Bush’s first pitch after 9/11 as a moment of symbolic national resilience. [03:57]
Explores the nation’s need for another unifying moment post-tragedy, cautioning against further political violence.

6. Breaking Down Barriers and the Danger of Dehumanization

Whitlock warns against social media and polarized discourse that makes “the other” less human and more of an enemy.
- “That is how you get this kind of extremism where you believe if you disagree with my ideas, you are an evil person. It’s not the case. The discourse of ideas is what makes our country work, and we cannot let it be the thing that makes our country destroyed.” [05:09]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Governor Spencer Cox:
“If anyone in the sound of my voice celebrated even a little bit at the news of this shooting, I would beg you to look in the mirror and to see if you can find a better angel in there somewhere.” [01:13]
Matt Whitlock:
“If this event did anything to change the way that that happens going forward, the way that debates happen on college campuses, then the terrorists win.” [03:10]
President Donald Trump:
“In America, we take blows, but we never buckle. We bleed, but we do not bow.” [03:41]

Important Segment Timestamps

[00:00] — Show opens, programming change explained
[00:42] — Update on Charlie Kirk’s assassination and ongoing manhunt
[01:13] — Governor Cox’s press conference and plea for unity
[01:33] — Vice President Vance honors Kirk, commentary on public tributes
[02:40] — Whitlock on media rhetoric and normalization of violence
[03:10] — The meaning of campus events and “letting the terrorists win”
[03:41] — President Trump’s 9/11 remarks at Pentagon Memorial
[03:57] — Trump at Yankee game, historic Bush reference
[05:09] — Closing reflection on discourse, dehumanization, and hope

Overall Tone & Takeaways

Whitlock approaches the tragic news with gravity and urgency, blending personal reflection, calls for empathy, and sharp criticism of political rhetoric that justifies violence. The episode’s heart is a defense of debate, free speech, and shared humanity in the face of mounting polarization and tragedy. The tone is direct but hopeful, challenging listeners to be part of the solution—by refusing to let fear, hate, or extremism ‘win.’

“We have to somehow find a way to break through this barrier…The discourse of ideas is what makes our country work.” [05:09]

For listeners who missed the episode:
This installment offers a sober yet stirring perspective on recent tragedies, urging listeners to cherish and protect the free exchange of ideas—because, as the host insists, that is the true bedrock of American democracy.

Loading summary

Transcript5 lines

[00:00]
Host
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is 10 Minute Drill. A programming note to begin. We had a very different episode planned for yesterday. Thursday that we started recording on Wednesday that focused on topics like climate change, like the terrible stabbing in North Carolina, like Kamala Harris's book excerpts. But with everything that happened, the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the important conversation going on around that, we've decided to shelve that for now. Those are important topics and there will be a time to discuss them. But it didn't feel right, it felt out of touch to get into those things, particularly those with more levity. There'll be a time for that. But for now, we want to continue to focus on some of these issues. First today, the latest in the manhunt to find the assassin who shot down Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. On Wednesday, that manhunt continues with the FBI and Utah authorities working together, chasing down a person of interest that we have seen images of at the time of our recording. That manhunt is continuing. Hopefully by the time this airs on Friday morning, you will have more information about what happened there. One of the most poignant moments of Wednesday night as this was unfolding was Utah Governor Spencer Cox in a press conference, giving an update, but also urging the American people to pray and to think about this moment.
[01:14]
Utah Governor Spencer Cox
Our nation is broken. If anyone in the sound of my voice celebrated even a little bit at the news of this shooting, I would beg you to look in the mirror and to see if you can find a better angel in there somewhere.
[01:34]
Host
On Thursday afternoon, Governor Cox and Utah officials welcomed Vice President J.D. vance to Utah. Vice President Vance met the Kirk family and will be taking the casket, Charlie's casket, back to Phoenix on Air Force Two. An honor for Charlie and his family. One thing that really struck me on Wednesday night into Thursday as I scrolled through my Instagram feed, seeing a lot of beautiful tributes, people sharing the videos of Charlie hugging his kids, interspersed with a lot of messages about Charlie's politics and what role they might have played in this. And it really is striking to see how so many people have been conditioned to accept political violence, to believe that this is the cost of doing business in our democracy. There are so many elected officials who will say we must protect our democracy and at the same time say this is an acceptable outcome. And I think that a lot of people have very eloquently pointed out that we need to turn down the temperature in this country. And I think that begins with so much of the news, the media, the content that we're getting every day. That gets people thinking that it was justified for a lunatic to gun down a health care CEO, for people to shoot their political opponents for certain views. If you call someone a fascist or a Nazi enough times, someone out there is going to believe that they are, and they're going to think that it is incumbent upon them to stop that threat to democracy, even though that is not a threat. That is what democracy is. That free speech, discourse, debate is what our country was built on and founded on. And at this moment, I would never, never try to speak for Charlie. But I think I can say Charlie would want more debate after this. He would want more events. He would want more of the discourse that he tried to foster every day. Because if this event did anything to change the way that that happens going forward, the way that debates happen on college campuses, then the terrorists win. Yesterday, the United states remembered the 24th anniversary of September 11th. President Trump spent the morning at the Pentagon Memorial.
[03:42]
President Donald Trump
In America, we take blows, but we never buckle. We bleed, but we do not bow. And we defy the fear, endure the flames, and emerge from the crucible of every hardship, stronger, proud, and greater.
[03:58]
Host
Later in the evening, President Trump attended a Yankee game in New York, which to me felt especially poignant because I have very, very strong memories of President Bush, just a month after September 11, throwing out that first pitch in Yankee Stadium, a moment that has been memorialized and crystallized for years because of how it made our country feel. People of all political stripes watched that moment, watched President Bush go out there, despite the security threats, the warnings that the entire world was adjusting to in a post 911 world. President Bush stepped out there and threw a beautiful first pitch and reminded everybody we're back. Not to equate 911 to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. I don't know what the unifying moment will be after Charlie Kirk's assassination that helps bring people back together. And I do desperately, desperately hope we don't have more of this political violence before we get there. But it does need to change. We have to somehow find a way to break through this barrier that we all put up online where we see other people on the other side of the political aisle or the other people on the other side of the phone as not real people. That is how you get this kind of extremism where you believe if you disagree with my ideas, you are an evil person. It's not the case. The discourse of ideas is what makes our country work, and we cannot let it be the thing that makes our country destroyed. Thank you so much. We'll see you next week.