Young Conservatives Are Asking What's Next For the Movement Charlie Kirk Started

Summary

Podcast Summary – Consider This from NPR

Episode: "Young Conservatives Are Asking What's Next For the Movement Charlie Kirk Started"

Date: September 11, 2025
Host: Ari Shapiro
Guest: Elena Moore, NPR Political Reporter

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Brief Overview

This episode of Consider This dives into the sudden assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a central figure in the conservative youth movement. NPR’s Ari Shapiro and political reporter Elena Moore discuss Kirk’s impact, the shock and grief from his followers, and the uncertain future for the young conservative movement in the wake of his death.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Charlie Kirk’s Rise and Legacy

• Kirk’s origins as a young, ambitious conservative organizer at CPAC (00:00–01:40).
  • Notable quote (Matt Schlapp describing Kirk): “He was intent on forming a new group and forming a movement, and he did just that and did it with a lot of grace, and got the attention of so many people.” (00:22)
• Founding of Turning Point USA in 2012, which would become a massive political network with 800+ college chapters (00:33).
• Kirk’s unapologetic, confrontational style was polarizing but made him a face of the youth “MAGA” movement.

2. Kirk’s Controversial Views

• Known for provocative positions on abortion, gun rights, and gender roles.
  • Direct quotes from Kirk (played in episode):
    • On abortion: “So you’re comparing abortion to the Holocaust? Absolutely, I am. In fact, it’s worse.” (02:00)
    • On guns: “I think it’s worth to have a cost of unfortunately some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God given rights.” (02:10)
    • On Taylor Swift and gender roles: “Maybe one of the reasons why Taylor Swift has been so just kind of annoyingly liberal over the last couple of years is that she’s not yet married and she doesn’t have children.” (02:20)

3. Reactions to Kirk’s Assassination

• President Trump remarks from the Oval Office, expressing grief and outrage at Kirk’s killing.
• Kirk’s followers are described as being in “shock and grief.” (03:44–04:15)
• Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna credits her political career to Kirk.
  • Luna’s emotional statement: “I saw a lot of videos online after I had to watch my friend bleed out of people celebrating his death. That should be condemned and removed from polite society.” (05:01)

4. Kirk’s Impact on Young Conservatives

• Kirk entered national politics at a time when the right lacked youthful, visible leaders and positioned his movement as a counterculture to Obama-era progressivism (05:25).
• Massive growth of Turning Point USA and its influence in recruiting and inspiring Gen Z conservatives.
  • Elena Moore: “It’s really hard to overstate his influence in developing a new generation of conservative leaders.” (06:19)
  • Hayden Padgett (Young Republicans): “The impact Charlie was building is not about finding politicians and put them in office today. It was about finding literally millions of young people who otherwise would never have heard conservative ideas and believe them and then now fight for them.” (06:39)

5. The Evolution of Conservative Youth Politics

• Kirk’s messaging centered on free speech, free markets, and limited government, but also embraced the Trumpian style and rhetoric (06:58).
• The conservative youth movement has become more mainstream, now playing a key role in Republican politics and shifting the “youth vote” toward Trump.
• Ari Shapiro quotes Charlie Kirk: “They don’t look at it as economic or social. There’s one above. They just want to live in the same country as their parents… they feel it slipping away. They feel as if insanity is creeping into their institutions.” (07:33)

6. The Movement’s Future Without Kirk

• There’s consensus among young conservatives that Kirk’s role is irreplaceable, but his influence is motivating new leaders to step up (08:01).
• Mention of Bryland Hollyhand (19), chair of the GOP’s Youth Advisory Council, calling for Kirk’s memory to energize a new generation (08:10).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt Schlapp (CPAC Chairman) (00:22):
  “He was intent on forming a new group and forming a movement and he did just that…”
• Charlie Kirk (02:00, 02:10, 02:20):
  “Absolutely, I am. In fact, it’s worse.” (On abortion vs. Holocaust)
  “It’s worth to have a cost of unfortunately some gun deaths…” (On gun rights)
  “Maybe one of the reasons why Taylor Swift has been so just kind of annoyingly liberal…”
• Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (05:01):
  “I saw a lot of videos online after I had to watch my friend bleed out of people celebrating his death. That should be condemned and removed from polite society.”
• Hayden Padgett (Young Republican National Federation) (06:39):
  “The impact Charlie was building is not about finding politicians and put them in office today. It was about finding literally millions of young people … and then now fight for them.”
• Charlie Kirk (recounted by Ari Shapiro, 07:33):
  “They just want to live in the same country as their parents… and they feel it slipping away.”

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Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Introduction to Charlie Kirk’s legacy and his start at CPAC | | 01:40 | Kirk’s controversial public statements; highlights of his rhetoric | | 03:44 | Ari and Elena Moore begin deeper dive into Kirk’s follower reactions | | 04:15 | Luna’s personal story and her debt to Kirk’s mentorship | | 06:08 | Turning Point USA’s growth and influence in GOP politics | | 06:39 | Hayden Padgett on the core aim of Kirk’s movement | | 07:33 | Kirk’s take on young voters’ motives (as quoted by Shapiro) | | 08:01 | The question of movement leadership post-Kirk | | 08:10 | Mention of Bryland Hollyhand and the next generation’s response |

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Conclusion

This episode reflects on the impact Charlie Kirk had in forging a dynamic, sometimes controversial youth conservative movement. While the country’s political right reels from his assassination, young conservatives are questioning how to carry on his legacy and whether anyone can fill the unique space Kirk occupied in American politics.

The conversation highlights the transformative power of one figure—and the uncertainty and opportunity his absence now creates for the future of the conservative movement.

Transcript

[Ari Shapiro]

The first time Charlie Kirk showed up at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, he made a big impression. It was probably over 10 years ago and he was so young and had about 25 kids with him. This is CPAC Chairman Matt Schlapp. He was intent on forming a new group and forming a movement and he did just that and did it with a lot of grace and, and got the attention of so many people. That group, founded in 2012, was called Turning Point USA. In a little more than a decade, it grew to more than 800 college chapters. And that will be part of Charlie Kirk's legacy. He was shot and killed on Wednesday afternoon. President Trump remembered his friend and ally in remarks Wednesday from the Oval Office. To my great fellow Americans, I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. Kirk's organizing galvanized young conservatives, making him the face of the youth MAGA movement. Here's how he described Turning Point USA at an event last year. I had the crazy and wild idea as I was driving home from Rockford, Illinois. I said, that's it. I want to try to start a youth organization to try and save Western civilization. Kirk was also a magnet for controversy. His opponents criticized him for some of the positions he took, like his position on abortion. So you're comparing abortion to the Holocaust? Absolutely, I am. In fact, it's worse his stance on guns. I think it's worth to have a cost of unfortunately some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God given rights and his defense of rigid gender roles. But maybe one of the reasons why Taylor Swift has been so just kind of annoyingly liberal over the last couple of years is that she's not yet married and she doesn't have children. Consider this. A conservative icon has been killed. What did he mean to the young voters he inspired? From npr, I'm Ari Shapiro. On the Throughline podcast from npr, Immigration enforcement might be more visible now, but this moment didn't begin with President Trump's second inauguration or even his first, a series from Throughline about how immigration became political and a cash cow. Listen to Throughline in the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts on how to do everything. We take your questions and find phenomenal experts to answer them. Because we love you, Elizabeth asked us, how do I exercise while I'm in my car? And because we love Elizabeth, we rang up our favorite bodybuilder turned actor turned governor turned actor. Hello, Arnold. Hello. We're here to talk to you today from npr. Very nice. Season two just dropped. Listen to how to Do Everything from npr. I'm Peter Sagal. NPR is very serious. Mostly it treats newsmakers with all due respect almost all the time. It brings you the most important information about the issues that really matter usually. And it never asks famous people about things they don't know anything about except once in a while. Join us for the great exception. Listen to Wait, wait, don't tell me the news quiz from npr. It's consider this from npr. For many young conservatives, Charlie Kirk was more than just another political activist or online personality. He was the face of their movement, a glimpse at how life for their generation could look by embracing a more hard right MAGA worldview. The fact that this agenda was anathema to his many progressive critics was the sweetener on top today. Kirk's followers are in shock and grief over his assassination on the campus of Utah Valley University on Wednesday as they try to make sense of Kirk's killing. Many are also asking what's next for the movement he started. NPR political reporter Elena Moore is covering this. Hey, Elena.

[Elena Moore]

Hey, Ari.

[Ari Shapiro]

You've been following Charlie Kirk for years. He had this huge network of followers. What are you hearing from them today?

[Elena Moore]

A lot of his supporters are hurting right now. You know, Kirk was a controversial political figure reviled by many on the left. But he was extremely celebrated by the MAGA movement, especially young organizers and activists who came of age in it. Remember, you know, he had millions of followers and had become a big media personality. But he was also the head of a massive political organizing network and even helped, you know, some folks decide to run for office themselves. That includes Florida Congresswoman Anna Pauline Luna. She's 36 and in many ways got her start because of Kirk. When she met him, she was on track to start medical school and ended up scrapping that plan to work for his group, Turning Point usa. I spoke to her this morning and she was very shaken up. I saw a lot of videos online after I had to watch my my friend bleed out of people celebrating his.

[Ari Shapiro]

Death that should be condemned and removed from polite society.

[Elena Moore]

And she told me she really owes her political career to Kirk. And that's a common theme I've heard from many of his followers today that he inspired them.

[Ari Shapiro]

What made him so impactful for young conservatives?

[Elena Moore]

He entered the national conversation at a time when there weren't a lot of voices like his. He started Turning Point USA in 2012 when he was just 18. And Ari, I mean, think about that time, former President Obama was extremely popular with young people, and Kirk gave folks a place to really revel in what was then seen as a political counterculture. To that, you know, things I have to say, though, look different now. Kirk has evolved into a close ally. You know, he evolved into a close ally of President Trump and played a key role in helping move many young voters towards the president.

[Ari Shapiro]

And how big is that organization? He started turning point in Republican politics today.

[Elena Moore]

Oh, it's grown into a massive organization. They report having more than 8, 800 chapters on college campuses. The group has also launched a bunch of connected nonprofits and reported an annual revenue of roughly $100 million. And to fans of Kirk, it's really hard to overstate his influence in developing a new generation of conservative leaders. This is 33 year old Hayden Padgett, the chairman of the Young Republican National Federation.

[Ari Shapiro]

The impact Charlie was building is not about finding politicians and put them in office today. It was about finding literally millions of young people who otherwise would never have heard conservative ideas and believe them and then now fight for them. And Elena, what was it about the message Kirk was pushing that helped him gain such a big following and influence?

[Elena Moore]

Well, he talked a lot about free speech, of course, and free markets and limited government, but he was also a conservative firebrand. And as with the rise of Trump, you know, many of Kirk's ideas became and are now much more mainstream. And since Kirk first came on the scene years ago, you know, the youth vote looks different. Last fall, Trump made serious gains with voters under 30. The day after the election, I actually spoke with Kirk about this, and I asked him to describe Trump's connection with young people. I asked him, you know, was it about economic concerns, social issues? Here's what he told me.

[Ari Shapiro]

They don't look at it as economic or social. There's one above. They just want to live in the same country as their parents. I don't know that's a social issue or an economic issue. That's just they want a nice life and they feel it slipping away. They feel as if insanity is creeping into their institutions.

[Elena Moore]

And Ari, that message I've heard from him a lot at events, and it's really one the party, I think, has adopted more broadly.

[Ari Shapiro]

And so now that he's gone, what happens to the void that he leaves behind? Is the role that he played, one that can be filled by someone else?

[Elena Moore]

The young Republicans I've spoken with so far say no singular leader can fill Kirk's shoes, so to speak. But young organizers and content creators who were inspired by him seem to be starting that conversation. Bryland Hollyhand is one of those people. He's 19 and chairs the Republican Party's Youth Advisory Council. He posted a video on social media this morning calling for Kirk's memory to inspire his generation to get involved.

[Ari Shapiro]

Now that is NPR political reporter Elena Moore. Thank you.

[Elena Moore]

Thanks. Sorry.

[Ari Shapiro]

Before we go, a few quick notes. First, a favor to ask something you can do to support our work at NPR that costs you absolutely nothing other than a minute or two of your time. If you value the show, help us out and rate and review. Consider this on the podcast platform where you listen. That'll help new listeners find us. Second, some news, especially for our NPR supporters. This Saturday, for the first time, you'll see a new bonus episode in your podcast, Feedback. We're going to share those every other weekend. They'll feature extended interviews and conversations that you've not heard in the podcast. And they're another perk for our NPR supporters, who also hear every episode of the show without sponsor messages. The regular show hasn't changed and will always remain free and available every weekday. This episode was Produced by Kai McNamee and Mia Venkat. It was edited by John Ketchum and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun. It's Consider this from npr. I'm Ari Shapiro. Immigration raids, masked ICE agents, Operation Patriot. Our podcast Here and Now Anytime is looking at Trump's agenda of mass deportation through the eyes of one state. I'm coming to Boston. I'm bringing hell with me. Listen to the podcast here and now Anytime from NPR and wbur. Hey everybody, it's Ian and Mike, the hosts of how to Do Everything. That's the show where we take your questions and find overqualified experts to answer them. Alex asked us to write his out of office email message, but we don't know how to write, so we called up US Poet Laureate Ada Limon.

[Elena Moore]

Is this National Public Radio?

[Ari Shapiro]

Sort of. Technically, yes. Season two just dropped. Listen to the how to Do Everything podcast from npr.

[Elena Moore]

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