Part Of The Problem — Updates on Charlie Kirk

Host: Dave Smith (A)
Guest/Co-Host: Robbie “The Fire” Bernstein (B)
Date: September 16, 2025

Overview

This episode, hosted by Dave Smith, delves into the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the intense political, cultural, and conspiratorial fallout in the days since. Smith and Bernstein examine reactions across the media landscape, address conspiracy theories and rampant speculation, and reflect on deeper societal rifts exposed by the tragedy. The discussion keeps a sharp focus on the dangers of politicization and escalation, urging for evidence-based discourse.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Impact and Surreal Nature of Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

Dave Smith recounts the shock, personal processing, and how this event felt distinct compared to prior political violence. He notes a need to take time off from comedy post-event to be with family and reflect.

• Quote: “It just seems to be the topic that is consuming everything ... just a surreal few days in politics and still is.” (02:00)
• Smith contrasts his personal experience after the Trump shooting (which inspired him to immediately perform) with profound discomfort after Kirk’s death, underlining the event's gravity.

2. The “Media Class” Response and Escalation (03:55–11:21)

Smith criticizes public figures, podcasters, and influencers for failing to de-escalate, instead fanning flames for attention or political leverage.

• Quote: “There is, I think, something particularly disgusting about the people ... who are like, egging this on or trying to ramp up tensions right now... even getting into, like, drumming up people being furious about the left wingers who are reacting by celebrating this thing...” (06:35)

3. The Urge to Assign Blame — Conspiratorial Thinking (11:21–30:09)

A. Blame Game and Political Weaponization

• Bernstein: “There seems to be this big war online of trying to pin this to a side, and it’s like, let’s just wait a couple days...” (11:21)

B. Addressing Theories of Gripers and Israeli Involvement

• Smith firmly rejects both:
  • “The people who have been pushing ... trying to pin this on the Gripers, and ... on Israel ... both of those sides has absolutely zero evidence.” (11:47)
• Critiques conspiracy mongers who, without evidence, jump to conclusions because it fits a desired narrative.
  • Quote: “You simply have no case, no case whatsoever.” (14:05)

C. On Moral Responsibility

• Smith muses about the moral responsibility not to lie or mislead when audiences seek the truth, analogizing the importance to great thinkers who open people’s eyes.

4. Politicizing Tragedy and Social Media Outrage — Circles of Misinformation

Smith explains how “concentric circles” of people interact with podcast hosts, leading to misinterpretations and outside observers (not core listeners) weaponizing anything for narrative entitlement.

• Quote: “The people in that circle outside who hate my guts really thought that ... 0% of the audience of this show would even be kind of surprised that I didn’t just immediately jump on a kooky theory with no evidence.” (17:03)
• Example: Roseanne Barr and right-wing influencers projecting supposed “courage” onto Smith for not jumping on conspiracies.

5. Critique of Max Blumenthal’s Greyzone Coverage (30:09–43:32)

• Smith expresses respectful disappointment at Max Blumenthal’s article and Tim Dillon interview, which heavily imply Israeli involvement in Kirk’s death despite admitting no evidence.
  • “I thought this article was crazy ... it was like Judith Miller at the New York Times or something like that. Like, okay, they never came out and said Israel did it, but the whole piece was just like, huh, get you thinking about that. And with nothing.” (31:32)
• Discusses the dynamic of Kirk’s evolving position on Israel due to pressure from donors and his young activist base, clarifying it is a stretch to see genuine evidence of a break sufficient for a motive.

6. The Changing Climate of Political Commentary and Activism

Smith reflects on how movements like Turning Point USA must satisfy both donor and activist constituents, a tension undergirding Kirk’s visible shifts but not sufficient for the jump to murderous conspiracy.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

“Is this a 911 type thing? ... Is this like, we had Columbine and then school shootings became a thing? ... And so I just ... expect it would be, like, 100% unanimous ... that we don’t want to see that happen. ... There’s something particularly disgusting about ... egging this on or trying to ramp up tensions…”
— Dave Smith (06:50)

“You’re turning this into a weird team sports of which group you can blame, and it’s probably not about that.”
— Robbie Bernstein (11:21)

“As much as that’s a good thing ... it’s the same equal and opposite evil thing ... when someone’s looking to you for the truth, just lying to them.”
— Dave Smith (13:13)

“I am a fan of Max Blumenthal ... But yeah, I thought this article was crazy... like Judith Miller at the New York Times...”
— Dave Smith (31:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02–03:55: Intro (sponsors, Dave’s personal schedule, setting up the topic: Kirk’s assassination)
• 03:55–10:51: Bernstein joins; initial reflections on the surreal and tragic nature of the moment, the “9/11” feeling and societal gravity
• 11:00–14:05: Dissecting media class/influencer failures, team-identity blame games
• 14:05–21:43: Conspiracy theories addressed; condemnation of assigning blame based on bias; Smith’s philosophy on truth vs. audience expectations
• 21:43–30:09: The circular logic of conspiracy culture; how people react to honest skepticism; dynamic between truth-seekers and dogmatists
• 30:09–43:32: Detailed analysis of Blumenthal’s Greyzone article and how Kirk’s position on Israel became fodder for inference without evidence
• 43:32–49:45: Societal trends: normalization of violence, cancel culture, and the cycle of celebration and retaliation for political deaths
• 49:45–58:33: Cancel Culture — is there a limit? Bernstein and Smith debate morality of firing for outrageous, antisocial public celebration of violence
• 58:33–66:49: The exploitation of tragedy by governments and institutions (potential crackdown on pro-Palestine voices, Donald Trump’s opportunism)
• 66:49–68:15: Final thoughts: uncertainty persists, need for clear-eyed skepticism, especially regarding FBI narratives and official accounts

Overarching Themes

A. Demand for Evidence-Based Thinking

Smith repeatedly stresses the need to impose even more scrutiny on theories that confirm one’s biases, rather than slipping into emotionally driven “dot-connecting.”

B. Dangers of Politicizing Tragedy

Both hosts decry the reflexive rush by media, activists, and “outsider” commentators to weaponize Kirk’s death for their own narratives, especially absent facts.

C. Rot and Despair in Youth and Political Culture

Reflections on mental health crises among young people, celebration of violence, and a loss of basic humanity underscore the broader malaise facing the U.S. in 2025.

D. Cancel Culture and Social Penalties

The morality and effectiveness of firing/on-air canceling those who publicly celebrate violence is debated, with both hosts wrestling with the tension between opposition to cancel culture and the disgust at anti-social behavior.

Concluding Perspectives

• Smith and Bernstein agree that, in this case, celebrating violence is a profound marker of societal decline, and that the (often panicked and uninformed) enforcement of punitive measures is a double-edged sword.
• Both urge listeners to adhere to truth-seeking and calm, evidence-based analysis, rather than emotional or tribal demands, especially at volatile historical moments.

“Especially in moments like this, you want to keep a good head on your shoulders and actually look for, like, what we know, what the real evidence is and move from there.”
— Dave Smith (66:48)

Closing Note

This episode is a sober, at times somber, exploration of a turning point in American political culture, marked by violence, conspiracies, and the search for something solid in a world awash in suspicion and partisan heat. Smith and Bernstein’s cautionary approach and inside-baseball knowledge offer listeners a much-needed roadmap for handling such turmoil with integrity.