Real America's Voice – America Fest 2025 (December 18, 2025, 3pm Hour)

Overview / Main Theme

This episode of Real America's Voice, broadcast live from Phoenix, Arizona, covers America Fest 2025—Turning Point USA’s flagship event honoring the late Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. The hour centers on commemorating Kirk’s legacy in youth engagement, faith, and conservative activism, as well as amplifying the ongoing "America First" message. Co-hosted by Bo Davidson, Benny Ray Harmony, Brian Glenn, and Ben Berkwom, the episode features moving personal testimonies, on-the-ground interviews with attendees (many young and first-timers), reflections on faith and American values, and a community rallying around the late Kirk’s mission.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Charlie's Legacy and the Mission of Turning Point USA

[03:31–07:58]

• The hosts open with reflections on how Turning Point USA shaped their careers and personal growth, crediting Charlie Kirk for inspiring the next generation.
  • Benny Ray Harmony: “Turning Point gave me my foot into this movement... Charlie showed me what it means to truly be an American when I didn't even know what a Democrat or Republican was.” [04:07]
  • Ben Berkwom: Focuses on starting as a conservative on a liberal campus, sharing personal experiences of ostracization and the value of courage. Highlights the shift Turning Point started among youth and credits Kirk with “winning the election for President Trump...” [05:50]

Legacy, Loss, and Hope

[07:58–12:04]

• Emotional tributes to Charlie Kirk's influence as a unifying and courageous figure.
  • Benny Ray Harmony shares the powerful moment of learning about Kirk's assassination: “It was the Holy Spirit... I had to say something. My station had not said one thing.” [08:41]
  • Brian Glenn: “It's not Republican versus Democrat, it's not conservative versus liberal. It is good versus evil, and Charlie Kirk stared down evil and debated them every day in the name of Jesus.” [09:57]

Faith, Culture, and the New Generation

[12:04–16:15]

• Discussion on faith’s centrality in the movement and how Kirk merged “God and politics.” Emphasizes the need for open family conversations about values.
  • Ben Berkwom: “Charlie Kirk brought God and politics back together... Reject [the separation], bring those things back together, and we win.” [14:25]
  • Brian Glenn: “You don’t talk about [faith and politics]? Someone else will—on your kids.” [14:37]

Community Voices: Attendee Testimonials

[19:48–31:35]

• Ben Berkwom interviews attendees, emphasizing family-like solidarity at America Fest.
  • Terry Newsome (Parent): Protested school masking and books, highlighting the peril of apathy and the interconnectedness of current cultural issues. “We're in a war, and most people don't even know we're in the war.” [21:09]
  • Mark (Early Kirk Supporter): Reflects on meeting Kirk in high school, their mutual optimism for reforming even deeply blue states like Illinois, and the power of small beginnings. “I asked Charlie in Tampa... is there hope for Illinois and Chicago? He said, 'Mark, there's no hope.' But I want to prove him wrong...” [24:00]
  • Lydia Reese (14-year-old attendee): Inspired to start a Turning Point chapter at her school: “I've been thinking about starting a chapter... so that when they go to vote we know what's going on and we're not completely oblivious.” [26:43]
  • Jonathan DeBarros (Candidate): Running for Congress in CT, inspired by Kirk’s work with the Black Leadership Summit: “I’m… fighting back against the Marxist Democrats… bringing the Blacks and Hispanics back over to conservative values...” [28:46]

The Young Conservative Experience

[35:04–39:38]

• Young men and women, many first-timers, share their Turning Point stories and inspirations:
  • Belle Foster (14): “I have a podcast called American Honey... started it because of Charlie. He put a fire in my heart...” [37:26]
  • Sailor Graham (19): On attending a liberal campus, finally coming to her first Turning Point conference.
  • Aila Rossi: Credits Charlie’s advice to marry young and fight for the next generation.

Intergenerational & International Testimonies

[41:15–46:00]

• Kalin (Canada): First time in the US, drawn by Kirk’s message. “I've always followed Charlie Kirk... I think God’s called us to stand up, to fight evil...”
• Trina (67, California): Former Democrat, now staunch conservative after decades. “At age 62 I left the Democrat party after 40 years; now I’m a conservative—don't give up on boomers.” [42:04]

Faith as a Central Thread

[38:44, 39:15, 43:21]

• Numerous testimonies about faith providing hope, strength, and grounding against cultural negativity.
  • Belle Foster: “Let no one despise you because of your youth... set an example for the believers in speech and conduct and love and faith and purity.” [38:44]
  • Trina: “I have to cover my Charlie Kirk T-shirts when I walk my dog...” [42:04]

The Broader Political & Cultural Context

[56:10–59:53]

• Attendees describe challenges facing America: radicalization, cultural Marxism, lack of unity, and the need to reclaim American pride through action and education.
  • Lee (Canadian-American): “It’s the least you can do in this world—care about this country and fight for your rights. Stand up and do something.” [56:10]
  • Buffalo, NY college students: Outrage over school president celebrating Kirk’s death, which triggered activism: “No repercussions... and so that is exactly what is wrong with our world today and really just inspires the fight in us honestly.” [57:16]

Diversity and New Americans

[59:37–60:45]

• Immigrant perspectives underscore America’s unique freedoms and opportunities.
  • Attendee (originally Trinidad): “I'm a staunch Republican... I feel more American than the Americans who were born here, I'm sorry to say but I do.” [60:05]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It is good versus evil, and Charlie Kirk stared down evil... in the name of Jesus.”
  – Brian Glenn [09:57]

• “Charlie Kirk brought God and politics back together... If we do that, we win.”
  – Ben Berkwom [14:25]

• “If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything.”
  – Bo Davidson [09:53]

• "I felt Jesus over me and I felt a calling that I had to say something... I have never felt more liberated."
  – Benny Ray Harmony on speaking up after Kirk's death [08:41]

• “Let no one despise you because of your youth, but set an example...”
  – Belle Foster quoting scripture [38:44]

• “I was a Democrat for 40 years... At age 62, I left the Democrat party... Now I’m a conservative. It happens.”
  – Trina, attendee [42:04]

• “America is the greatest country in the world. I feel more American than the Americans who were born here.”
  – Trinidad-born attendee [60:05]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:31] – Opening reflections: Turning Point's influence, Kirk’s legacy
• [08:41] – Benny Ray Harmony describes personally standing up in mainstream media after Kirk’s assassination
• [09:57] – Brian Glenn frames the cause as “good vs. evil”
• [12:04] – Debate over the lack of progressive equivalents to America Fest and conservative activism
• [14:25] – Discussion on merging God and politics in public life
• [19:48] – On-the-ground attendee testimonies begin
• [26:43] – Lydia Reese (14) inspired to start a TPUSA chapter
• [28:46] – Congressional candidate Jonathan DeBarros’s remarks
• [37:26] – Young guests talk about starting podcasts and activism inspired by Kirk
• [42:04] – Trina shares her journey from lifelong Democrat to conservative
• [56:10] – Canadian-American attendees on rising radicalism abroad and fighting for US values
• [57:16] – New York students’ story about school response to Kirk’s death
• [60:05] – Trinidad-born attendee’s appreciation for American freedoms

Tone and Language

The tone is highly personal, passionate, and faith-oriented, with direct appeals to patriotism, intergenerational dialogue, and grassroots engagement. The language alternates between heartfelt tributes, direct political critique, and conversational banter between hosts and audience.

Conclusion

This America Fest episode of Real America's Voice is less a news round-up and more a grassroots rally in memory of Charlie Kirk—filled with stories of transformation, calls to courage, and interspersion of faith and patriotism. Across generations, backgrounds, and state lines, participants take up Kirk’s torch, determined to blend faith, family, and freedom as the ongoing pulse of the American conservative movement.

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