Podcast Summary: “I Was Blacklisted for 7 Years” | Digital Social Hour with Kaitlin Bennett

Episode: DSH #1794
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Kaitlin Bennett
Date: January 29, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Digital Social Hour features controversial media figure Kaitlin Bennett, known for her strong conservative activism and viral campus debates. Host Sean Kelly sits down with Bennett at AmFest to discuss her career trajectory, being blacklisted from Turning Point USA, the evolution of her views, parenting in the social media age, and the challenges of being a conservative woman in the public eye. The discussion is frank and, at times, emotional, blending political hot-button topics with candid reflections on growth, family, and forgiveness.

Key Discussion Points

1. The “Blacklisting” and Turning Point USA Saga

• Seven Years Blacklisted: Bennett recounts being blacklisted from Turning Point USA (TPUSA), describing the fallout from a controversial campus event and her public split with founder Charlie Kirk.
  • “I wrote a scathing resignation letter and... posted it, and that went viral. And ever since then, I've been blacklisted from Turning Point for seven years.” (26:21)
  • “I really wish that I could have said something. I never even apologized for any of it. And I don't blame him for blacklisting me. I understand why he did it.” (28:31)
• Full Circle and Reconciliation: After years of estrangement, Bennett was unexpectedly welcomed back at a TPUSA event, which she describes as a moment of reconciliation.
  • “Letting me into sass after everything that had happened was [Charlie] reconciling with me after so many years of bitterness and grudges and what a waste of time.” (29:02)
  • “I am who I am because of him. Without him, I wouldn't have my family. I wouldn't have met my husband. And so I literally owe nearly everything I have to him.” (29:26)

2. Experiences with Media, Censorship, and Online Hate

• Removed from Logan Paul’s Podcast: Bennett discusses the aftermath of her appearance on Logan Paul's podcast, which was taken down after she expressed opinions on gun laws and transgender issues.
  • “They got really mad that I disagreed with transgender ideology and they removed my podcast.” (00:58)
  • “When I responded to them...that did great for me.... I got a lot of views on that.” (01:40)
• Online Hate and Social Media Manipulation: She reflects on earlier years dealing with organized online harassment.
  • “Everything I posted, I got the same stuff, like hurled at me. And it was very weird how programmed it was.” (22:28)
  • “Twitter is absolutely doing something to promote this hate against you.” (22:18)
• Today’s Landscape: Bennett says she now finds more support and less aggression, attributing part of this change to time away from the spotlight and shifts in the political climate.

3. Parenting and Digital Age Risks

• Vigilance with Children Online: Expresses deep concern about unsupervised internet exposure, citing undercover experiences in Discord groups where adults and minors interact.
  • “There’s adults in there with children, minors, and minors openly talking about how they... hate their parents... and talking to adults about, you know, the trans stuff and being gay and drawing weird, furry.” (03:28)
• No Internet Alone for Kids: Bennett is clear that, as a parent, her kids will not have unsupervised internet access.
  • “I don’t think that parents should be allowing laptops or computers or handheld devices... in their rooms alone.” (04:22)
• No Social Media for Kids: Both Bennett and Kelly agree not to post their children's photos or create accounts for them.
  • “I wish I could show everybody their beauty... but for their protection, we don’t. Family members aren't even allowed to post photos.” (19:44)
  • “We’re not gonna have any social media for our kids.” (20:04)

4. Gun Laws and Second Amendment Beliefs

• Permitless Carry Advocacy: Bennett emphasizes support for permitless carry over just open carry.
  • “I think what's more important is that everybody can carry without a permit. Now, that's not saying you don't have to go through background checks…” (07:26)
• Evolving Views: Acknowledges her previous “gun girl” phase, extreme libertarian positions, and how motherhood and political change have brought nuance to her views.
  • “That was before the mental health epidemic... I was more of a libertarian than I was a conservative back then.” (08:03)

5. Culture Wars, Politics, and the Conservative Movement

• Views on Transgender Issues: Bennett reiterates her rejection of transgender identity from a conservative, religious perspective.
  • “There is no such thing as a trans person because men cannot be women... There are people who identify as trans. That's like saying, oh, I'm a unicorn. Unicorns don't exist.” (00:00, 02:30)
• Concerns Over Division on the Right: She laments the internal bickering within conservative circles while the left stays politically focused.
  • “The left is not focusing on what this fraction in the right is saying... They are focused on voting... taking down Donald Trump. They are very mobilized. And we've got to pick up our game.” (13:22)
• Importance of a “Common Enemy”: Both Bennett and Kelly agree unity is critical to counter the left’s focus.
  • “We don't have to agree on the little itty bitty things. We have to have a common enemy.” (14:41)

6. Personal Growth and Philosophy

• Motherhood’s Impact: Bennett shares how motherhood transformed her priorities, putting family above activism.
  • “As conservatives, we talk about family. First, it's God, family, then country... I literally took a break for three years to be a mom and to figure out how to do things.” (23:55)
• Desire for Dialogue, Not Just Confrontation: She explains her approach has shifted—she wants to engage in real conversations rather than just viral troll-style confrontations.
  • “I like to have dialogue.” (05:19)
  • “I go out and I debate, and it's really not even debating. It's dialogue with leftists, and it kind of always turns into a debate because they're wrong about nearly everything.” (31:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of reconciliation and forgiveness:
  • “A really important part of our faith is reconciliation. And that's exactly what Charlie gave me.” (29:01)
• On parenting and boundaries in the digital age:
  • “Nothing that has Internet access should ever be in their rooms alone.” (04:22)
• On online hate:
  • “I'm so numb to it now. It's like, yeah, I got another death threat in my inbox. It's like, what's new? If I didn't get one, I'd be concerned.” (21:18)
• On personal transformation:
  • “I'm not trying to be prideful. But as conservatives, we talk about family. First it's God, family, then country.” (23:55)
  • “We have to live the way that we promote. If we're not living the way that we... claim to have an ideology of, then we're fake.” (23:55)

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–03:11 – Bennett’s worldview on transgender identity, experience on Logan Paul’s podcast
• 03:14–05:15 – Concerns about online communities, parental vigilance, and the dangers for children
• 05:38–07:42 – Bennett’s run-ins at farmers markets, Florida free speech culture and laws
• 07:48–09:46 – Views on open carry, gun laws, and Second Amendment intent
• 11:21–13:20 – Terror events, political violence, and the “common enemy” concept
• 13:22–15:54 – Conservative movement’s fractured state vs. unity on the left
• 19:44–21:05 – Parenting and strict rules around children’s privacy and internet use
• 21:13–23:39 – Discussion of online hate, social media, and changes in public response
• 23:55–29:48 – Motherhood’s impact, being blacklisted and reconciled with TPUSA
• 30:40–31:46 – Future plans, the mystery of “who is Caitlin Bennett” and her upcoming show

Conclusion

This episode offers an in-depth, unguarded conversation with a polarizing activist navigating public scrutiny, personal growth, and a return to the conservative movement after years in the wilderness. Kaitlin Bennett’s story combines the often harsh realities of political activism, the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation, and the ongoing evolution of her views on controversial social and political topics. Listeners gain insight into both the public figure and the private individual, especially her reflections on motherhood, faith, and the need for authentic connection—accompanied by her trademark bluntness and willingness to engage in controversy.