Next Up with Mark Halperin

Episode Title: "The True Impact of Charlie Kirk's Legacy and Mission, with Gen Z College Leaders and Isabel Brown"

Date: October 2, 2025
Host: Mark Halperin
Guests: Gen Z college chapter leaders (Sidonia Seko, Theo Graybell, Emma Arns) & Isabel Brown

Episode Overview

This special episode departs from the usual format to focus on the legacy and aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. In response to a listener email about the profound impact Kirk's loss has had on younger generations, Halperin brings together three Gen Z college Turning Point leaders and later, commentator Isabel Brown.

The episode explores how Kirk's life and death shaped the personal missions, activism, and faith journeys of students across America, uncovers the current climate for young conservatives on campus, and reckons with the generational shift his assassination has catalyzed within the conservative movement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Charlie Kirk’s Vision and Appeal

[05:42] Charlie Kirk (archival clip):

• Started as a movement of a few, with no resources; now over 600,000 student activists and 300,000 donors.
• "The MAGA hat that all of you guys own went from a symbol of ‘those people are terrible Nazis’ to the coolest, most desirable thing that one can wear in American politics."
• Turning Point students are "the freedom fighters of America," engaging in "bottom up resistance" that terrifies the ruling class.

Introduction to the Student Leaders

[06:50] Mark Halperin introduces:

• Sidonia Seko, Millersville University (VP/co-founder, freshman)
• Theo Graybell, University of Kansas (president)
• Emma Arns, University of Tennessee (president)—brought TPUSA to Charlie's own high school

Student Voices: Kirk’s Influence and Turning Point’s Meaning

Personal Journeys into Turning Point

Sidonia Seko ([07:41])

• Lifelong political interest, followed Kirk, Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro, Dennis Prager.
• After Kirk’s assassination, felt anger and determination: "I immediately went on their website...requesting to start a chapter probably five or six times daily."

Theo Graybell ([09:02])

• Grew up in a conservative town, not initially politically active.
• Faced opposition and a hostile atmosphere toward free speech at Kansas: "44% of our students believe that violence against free speech is acceptable."
• Inspired by seeing Kirk defend free speech and encourage young conservatives.

Emma Arns ([11:22])

• "Turning Point USA actually found me via a QR code on my windshield in the same high school parking lot that Charlie Kirk had parked in."
• Persistent opposition in high school, but persisted in founding a chapter at Kirk’s alma mater.

Why Charlie Kirk Resonated with Gen Z

Sidonia ([12:59])

• Patience: "He took the blows...came back with facts and statistics."
• Responded to insults with calmness: "God bless you. Thank you. Have a great day."

Theo ([13:48])

• Articulated truths young conservatives believed but were afraid to say.
• "Charlie came out and said it with such conviction...He was the voice for all of us."
• Reintroduced faith into conservative politics.

Emma ([16:06])

• Made conservative leadership relatable to youth.
• Masterfully utilized social media: "What the devil intends for evil, God will use for good."

Facing Ostracism: Being a Conservative on Campus

Theo ([18:03], [19:21])

• Professors and curriculum openly hostile: "Classes…pushed around this just Marxist rhetoric."
• Faculty made anti-Christian, anti-conservative statements.
• Faced both explicit and implicit ostracism.

Emma ([21:08], [22:10])

• Faced slander from students and teachers in high school, online hate accounts, death threats after going public as conservative.
• Found solace and courage in Kirk’s example.

Sidonia ([23:33], [24:51])

• Turning Point’s network provides fortitude: "If they see Charlie taking all of that, then they're thinking ‘Oh, I can do this.’"
• Read aloud hateful Instagram comments the chapter received, affirming the continued need for courage and activism.

Processing Kirk’s Assassination: A Generational Wake-up Call

Reactions to the Day of the Assassination

Emma ([25:39])

• Heard about shooting hours before media broke the story.
• Cancelled chapter meeting, described process as surreal and “so heavy on our hearts.”

Theo ([27:15])

• "Instantly knew...dropped my phone...it was surreal...it still doesn’t really sit in."
• Kirk felt “immortal,” like Trump—"those are people that have been iconic...keeping our country as America."

Sidonia ([29:37])

• Sees event as illustrative of "good versus evil": "This country no longer has an issue between right and left. It has an issue between good and evil."
• Took strength from faith in aftermath.

The Big Deal: Why Kirk’s Death Matters

Sidonia ([31:15])

• Kirk as "soldier of God": "He defended the gospel and the word of God with such strength and such firmness."

Theo ([32:15])

• Kirk integrated faith with political mission: “Faith had been pushed on the down low—Charlie brought faith back to the center of this country.”
• Tragedy became a moment of courage: “I think it actually made people braver and bolder, and we don’t care 1000%.”

Emma ([34:06])

• Silver lining is revival: "What the devil intends for evil, God will use for good."

Theo & Sidonia ([35:48], [36:22])

• Noted a “revival”—more young men going to church, inspired by Kirk’s example.

The Role of Faith in the Movement

• Students saw Kirk as effective at uniting faith, pro-family values, MAGA, and politics.
• Both Christianity and patriotism are stressed as foundational American values, not mutually exclusive with activism ([37:48]).

The Aftermath: Surge in Activism and Community

Turning Point’s Rapid Growth

Emma ([39:48])

• Chapter grew "tenfold" since Kirk’s death.
• New members emphasize wanting to combine Christian and conservative identities.

Sidonia ([40:32])

• Openly mocks by many at Millersville, but 100+ interested in newly founded chapter.

What Should Turning Point’s Mission Be? ([41:21])

• Theo: Emphasize faith—many new members come from church backgrounds, rejecting idea of separating faith and politics.
• Sidonia: Promote patriotism and foundational values; defend against “complete takeover” by other ideologies.

Reflections on Charlie’s Vision Fulfilled ([46:17])

Emma

• Attended memorial service in a packed arena: "His vision has been fulfilled."
• Many have turned to prayer or faith after witnessing violence.

Leadership, Martyrdom, and the Path Forward

Who Will Lead Now? ([48:06])

Sidonia: Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, Kellyanne Conway, JD Vance, Trump family
Emma & Theo: The movement is "bottom up"—"It's me. It's you. It's everyone here. All these people Charlie had educated."

Historical Comparisons ([50:21])

Emma: Martin Luther King, Jr.—similarity in being a movement leader and martyr.
Sidonia: John F. Kennedy—"the people’s president" with a similar fate.
Theo: Billy Graham—for sparking a faith revival.

Enduring Optimism and Forgiveness ([52:55])

• Students emphasize need to forgive, press forward, and honor Kirk by carrying his torch.
• Faith provides hope: "Jesus was beaten and nailed to a cross for us...the least we can do is stand up for God, stand up for morality, stand up for our beliefs."
• Strength comes from community and shared purpose: "I wasn't alone...that really inspired me to keep going."

Isabel Brown Reflects on Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

Student Leader Impact ([60:06])

• Recalls herself as a campus TPUSA leader: "Those stories of students really are the heart and soul of the conservative movement."
• Charlie’s final days were dominated by focus on faith: "All he wanted to talk about was God."
• Movement now about a "turning point back, repenting away from brokenness and sin...embracing the fullness of God's love."

Should Turning Point Become More Faith-Oriented? ([62:39])

• Already has pivoted: Launch of TPUSA Faith.
• Kirk’s key message: Christians must act in the world, not await end times passively.

Why Kirk’s Influence Passed Under the Radar in Blue America ([65:32])

• Illustrates "two Americas": "The media that we're consuming, the conversations we're having...You are either living in the fight...or this upside down woke reality."
• Kirk’s death did not unite the country like national tragedies of the past; instead, "many are actively celebrating Charlie’s assassination."

Is Turning Point Still Viable Without Charlie? ([68:01])

• Kirk was "so, so skilled not just at building an empire...but by building other people."
• "There will never be another voice, mind and heart, like Charlie Kirk. But...an entire generation [is] inspired by his message."
• "I'm not worried at all for the future of the organization."

Processing Anger; The Path to Purpose ([70:58])

• It's okay to feel righteous anger: "If you're not feeling angry about this, then you're not really a human being."
• But: "Never let your anger become unrighteous or overshadow your joyful mission to carry this torch forward."

The Charlie Kirk Model ([73:40])

• Kirk’s work ethic and adaptability both unmatched.
• Mission evolved: From limited government to being "a megaphone for whatever you want to tell the world."
• After his death, Kirk’s social following surged (from 3 to over 13 million on Instagram).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On Kirk’s Character and Legacy

• “He just said, OK. God bless you. Thank you. Have a great day. And that, to me, is special about Charlie.”
  —Sidonia Seko ([13:05])

• "Charlie was that voice for all of us who had thought all these things. And Charlie came out and he said, you know what? We're losing the young voters. They're going largely very far left. And people were afraid to stand up...Charlie was one to stand up, and he challenged that narrative."
  —Theo Graybell ([13:48])

• “The silver lining to all that’s happened...we’ve kind of lost sight of [our values] as a society...maybe there is light in this darkness. And I think that's exactly what Charlie was able to provide for a lot of people.”
  —Emma Arns ([34:06])

On Ostracism and Solidarity

• "They’ve never seen any conservative action taken on this campus. Many of the students here mock the death of Charlie Kirk. They mock him and his life. It’s disgusting. But the people that do support his mission...have been very supportive."
  —Sidonia Seko ([40:32])

• “I think that's an easy question. I think it's me. I think it's you. I think it's everyone here. I think it's everyone within the conservative movement.”
  —Emma Arns, on who will lead the movement now ([48:25])

On Faith and Renewal

• "Charlie was able to stand for his faith and know that Jesus Christ was the best thing that he could give to this country.”
  —Theo Graybell ([32:15])

• “This is a war between good and evil. That we're facing now in this country and Charlie is a martyr now. But Charlie was so important as when he was living. And of course now that he is gone, he's so important because he was able to reach a demographic of people with a message that we've kind of lost sight of as a society.”
  —Emma Arns ([34:06])

On Forgiveness and Optimism

• “I think God has put it in our hearts as Americans to mourn Charlie, but we gotta quickly pick up that microphone and make the moves that he was on his way to make. We gotta carry the torch that he lit.”
  —Sidonia Seko ([52:55])

• “Never let your anger become unrighteous or overshadow your joyful mission to carry this torch forward...try to make earth a little bit more like heaven, not the other way around.”
  —Isabel Brown ([72:57])

Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps

• [05:42] Kirk’s own words to college activists
• [06:50 – 17:27] Student introductions and backstories
• [17:27 – 24:51] Experiences of ostracism as conservatives on campus
• [25:15 – 37:36] Emotional reactions to Kirk’s assassination; faith and revival among Gen Z conservatives
• [41:21 – 46:17] How Turning Point should move forward post-Kirk—emphasis on faith and patriotism
• [46:17 – 50:21] “If Charlie could see what’s happened”—memorial service, unity, and faith renewal
• [50:21 – 52:33] Comparing Kirk’s impact to MLK, JFK, and Billy Graham
• [52:55 – 56:41] Forgiveness and the enduring optimism in tragedy
• [59:16 – 73:40] Conversation with Isabel Brown: the evolution of Turning Point, Charlie’s model and legacy, optimism for the organization and conservative movement

Episode Takeaways

• Kirk’s assassination has galvanized and broadened the Turning Point movement, driving increases in membership and a deepening emphasis on faith.
• Students face entrenched ostracism and opposition on campuses, often enduring cyberbullying and harassment for their views.
• Despite adversity, these young leaders find deep optimism and purpose in furthering Kirk’s vision—now regarded as a struggle not just of politics but of spiritual and cultural renewal.
• Kirk is seen as irreplaceable, but the "bottom up revolution" he championed is empowering a generation of leaders in his absence.
• Forgiveness—the example set by Erica Kirk—and resilience are constant themes in how the movement responds to tragedy.
• Charlie Kirk’s singular legacy is his ability to integrate faith, media, activism, and generational renewal in the conservative movement.

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