IHIP News – Episode Summary

Episode: Charlie Kirk Murdered and the Right-Wing Calls for War
Date: September 11, 2025
Hosts: Jennifer Welch & Angie "Pumps" Sullivan

Main Theme & Purpose

This deeply emotional episode responds to the shocking assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk at a public event. Jennifer and Angie reflect on the attack, condemn political violence from all sides, and spotlight what they perceive as a coordinated, incendiary reaction from right-wing media and conservative leaders—many of whom use the murder to demonize the political left and escalate culture war rhetoric. The hosts use both personal stories and political analysis to stress the need for de-escalation and to critique responses from the Trump administration and conservative influencers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Reaction to Charlie Kirk’s Murder

• Condemnation of Political Violence:
  The hosts express horror and empathy in response to the murder, making it clear that no one should be killed for their political beliefs, regardless of partisan differences.
  • “I abhor gun violence. I don’t think anybody should be shot and killed for having an opinion that is different…” (Progressive Commentator, 01:10)
• Personal Connection:
  Jennifer recounts the loss of a team member to gun violence in 2024, underscoring their personal stake in the debate.

2. Gun Violence and Policy in America

• Systemic Problem:
  Both hosts note how gun violence continues to devastate families and express frustration that legislative action has not followed high-profile killings.
  • “We have a gun violence problem in America and we need legislation and gun control to address it.” (Progressive Commentator 2, 05:29)
• Empathy for Victims Across the Spectrum:
  The episode reiterates a consistent position—the lives lost to gun violence are a universal tragedy.

3. Right-Wing Response: Calls for Retaliation and “War”

• Sampling of Right-Wing Rhetoric:
  The hosts summarize aggressive social media and public figures’ reactions, highlighting a slew of war-like language from prominent right-wing influencers:
  • “This is war.” (Libs of TikTok, 03:10)
  • “The Democrat Party must be classified as a domestic terror organization…” (Joey Manorino, 03:16)
  • “The left is the party of murder.” (Elon Musk, 03:33)
  • “Charlie Kirk getting shot is the shot heard around the country. I’m ready for civil war.” (Brian Eastwood, 04:26)
• Concerns Over Escalation:
  The hosts lament the rapid politicization and compare the rhetoric to incitement, expressing fear it will fuel more violence.

4. Double Standards and Aggressive Narratives

• Condemnation Ignored:
  Jennifer notes that while left-leaning politicians quickly condemned the murder, the right has used the tragedy to attack Democrats, labeling them as “domestic terrorists,” despite lacking any information about the perpetrator.
• No Known Suspect:
  The conversation underscores how, absent a suspect, scapegoating the left is irresponsible and dangerous.
  • “Nobody knows who this is and what the motivation is yet. … they’re calling us domestic terrorists.” (Progressive Commentator, 06:18)

5. Use of Tragedy for Authoritarian Gain

• Authoritarian Tactics:
  The hosts criticize what they see as the “Trump regime” leveraging the incident to silence dissent, likening tactics to historical authoritarian regimes.
  • “They’re using this horrific tragedy… to advance this fascist reign.” (Progressive Commentator, 07:19)
• Critique of Conservative Media:
  Fox News and other right-wing outlets are singled out for aggressive coverage that heightens fear and partisanship, with specific mention of Jesse Waters.
  • “I don’t believe that this is responsible at all by Fox News for Jesse Waters to be using that type of aggressive language.” (Progressive Commentator, 09:32)

6. Reflection on Charlie Kirk and Political Empathy

• Acknowledgment of Differences:
  Hosts express their differences with Kirk but emphasize that civility and dissent are the heart of democracy.
  • “Nobody in the Democratic Party wants to see these people killed. We oppose with everything in us the access to guns.” (Progressive Commentator, 08:26)
• Memories of Other Attacks:
  They recall Charlie Kirk’s own comments about violence (Second Amendment “casualties”) and note the lack of empathy in conservative responses to previous left-of-center victims of violence.
  • “I understand why people do not have as much empathy. But we have to vote for empathy because we are a civilized society.” (Progressive Commentator 2, 10:50)

7. Presidential (Trump’s) Response

• Aggressive Threats:
  The sitting president uses the Oval Office to directly blame the left and promises prosecution of not just perpetrators, but organizations and supporters.
  • “Those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis… My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity...” (Conservative Commentator, quoting Trump, 11:51)
• Comparison to Authoritarian Movements:
  The hosts draw direct parallels to past fascist regimes and warn of threats to civil rights in the current climate.

8. Personal Fear and the Climate for Progressive Voices

• Safety Concerns:
  Jennifer shares that she now feels fear just going to work, expressing that hostility toward dissenters has become dangerous even for small-scale podcasters.
  • “When I pulled out of my garage, I was scared. And this is not a way to live.” (Progressive Commentator, 15:17)
• Grief for the State of Democracy:
  The hosts end on a heavy, sorrowful note, lamenting that the nation is “disintegrating” and that open conversation in a civil society now risks lethal repercussions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Democratic Values & Free Speech:
  “I believe in a free society where people can go out without the fear of getting shot.”
  (Progressive Commentator, 04:32)
• On Authoritarian Response:
  “They create these imaginary things and then fight these imaginary wars.”
  (Progressive Commentator, 08:06)
• Direct Critique of Trump:
  “The response from a sitting president who stoked an insurrection… and then him saying that he’s going to come out and get each and every voice… this is chilling.”
  (Progressive Commentator, 12:34)
• On Living in Fear:
  “We do what Charlie Kirk does on a much, much smaller scale. We built a community with you all, and it’s terrifying… When I pulled out of my garage, I was scared.”
  (Progressive Commentator, 15:16)

Timestamps & Key Segments

• [00:40] – Hosts react to the shooting, connect it with previous experiences of gun violence.
• [03:00 – 04:30] – Review of right-wing social media reactions calling for “war.”
• [06:00] – Emphasis on the lack of information about the shooter and condemnation of scapegoating.
• [07:00 – 09:30] – Discussion of the incident being used to escalate authoritarian rhetoric; parallels with historical abuses.
• [10:03] – Comparison of current reactions to political violence in recent U.S. history (e.g., January 6th).
• [11:51] – Excerpt: President’s speech and hosts’ critical analysis.
• [15:16] – Jennifer’s personal fear as a progressive commentator in the wake of politicized violence.

Closing

The episode closes on a somber, fearful note, with the hosts expressing deep concern about the direction of American society and the safety of dissent in the current climate. They reinforce their unequivocal condemnation of all political violence and their commitment to continue advocating for empathy, dialogue, and gun reform—even as threats and polarization reach new heights.