Real America’s Voice: American Sunrise Early Edition

iHeartPodcasts | September 18, 2025
Host: Jake Novak

Overview

This episode of "American Sunrise Early Edition" centers on the aftermath and ongoing investigation into the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk, the national cultural reaction, and broader political implications. The show also examines significant stories of the day: the Fed’s controversial interest rate moves, the status of late-night TV following Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, urban crime in Memphis, and the shifting media and technology landscape, particularly around AI, social media, and media consolidation. Guests include Tennessee Rep. Jody Barrett, Real America's Voice contributor Emily Finn, Artillery Tea co-founder Michael Britton, tech policy expert Ann Lieb Schutz, White House correspondent Brian Glenn, and media analyst David Brody.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Charlie Kirk Assassination: Local and National Response

• Guest: Tennessee State Rep. & Congressional candidate Jody Barrett

• Summary:

  • Barrett describes an overwhelming outpouring of support for Kirk from the Tennessee community and predicts this tragedy will spark a nationwide revival among conservatives:

    “People here...see this as a personal attack on us, on our way of life, and so the response has been visceral.” (03:05)

  • Attended a vigil with over 3,000 people; notes spike in Turning Point USA chapter applications from 15,000 to 35,000, indicating a broadening movement.
  • Calls for “courage” from conservatives, not reconciliation with “people that are trying to kill you”:

    “I would call for courage from Christians, courage from the silent majority...don’t shrink into your hole for fear of being attacked.” (05:44)

  • Discussion of national unity: rejects unity with those advocating or celebrating violence.

• Host Jake Novak’s Framing:

  • “We don't need to look for hidden conspirators...everyone who is involved...is extremely public...” (06:34)
  • Frames victims and mourners as the new “silent majority” awakening against leftist aggression.

• Notable Quote:

  "The founders of this country...they knew they would either hang separately or together…We need to have that same spirit here on the right in America.” — Jody Barrett (06:22)

2. Memphis Crime and Federal Intervention

• Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Memphis discussed
  • Barrett: Years of neglect and “Soros-funded DA” blamed for chronic crime.
  • Local communities, including those usually not supportive of Trump, expressing relief at intervention.

  “This is triage. It's not a long-term solution, but the cavalry's on the way.” — Jody Barrett (09:16)

  • Parallels drawn to successful reduction in violent crime after federal involvement in D.C.

3. Jimmy Kimmel Suspension & Crisis of Late-Night TV

• Guest: Emily Finn, Real America’s Voice contributor
• Context:
  • ABC’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel for mocking those mourning Charlie Kirk’s assassination, accusing them of being responsible.
• Finn & Novak’s Discussion:
  • Late-night TV’s declining relevance, especially among young people.
  • Kimmel’s alleged insensitivity and “playing a stupid game”—both see his suspension as a business, not cancel-culture, decision.
  • President Trump’s statements and broader conservative commentary on the need for cultural accountability.
  • Quote:

    “This is not cancel culture…This is just a business saying, ‘We don’t want to continue giving you millions of dollars because you’re hurting our business plan.’” — Jake Novak (17:41)

  • Finn:

    “Jimmy Kimmel... may be the first of the rest of them to go. Young people are not getting their entertainment...from these late night TV show hosts.” (16:51)

  • Emotional response to Charlie Kirk’s death: “It really is a debate between good and evil.” (18:50)

4. American Economic Update: Fed Rate Cut Reflects Cautious Approach

• Summary:
  • Jerome Powell and the Federal Reserve cut rates, but signaled no further rate cuts this year. Novak interprets the market’s reaction as optimism about future, more aggressive policymakers and the possibility of Powell’s imminent departure.
  • Brief overview of markets (Dow, S&P 500, Bitcoin) and crude oil prices.
  • Ongoing cyberattack at Jaguar Land Rover continues to disrupt production and loses vehicle tracking—a warning on cyber vulnerability in the auto industry.

5. Profile of Charlie Kirk’s Business Ethos & Legacy

• Guest: Michael Britton, Artillery Tea Co. co-founder
  • Recounts Kirk’s early support for their company, emphasis on combining faith, patriotism, and capitalism.
  • Plans to honor Kirk with a new tea blend inspired by his favorite drink.
  • Notable Moment: Kirk's promotional ad for Artillery Tea aired (27:00).

6. Media, Radicalization, and the Role of Technology

• Guest: Ann Lieb Schutz, attorney and tech policy expert
• Key Insights:
  • Detailed explanation of how proprietary algorithms in social media can identify, target, and radicalize vulnerable users with speed and efficiency not possible in the past.

    "These proprietary algorithms...can track, target, and continue to feed information to an individual.” (34:47)

  • Differentiates between large-scale amplification ("masses") and individual targeting, with the latter intensifying risk of extremism.
  • The TikTok deal—potential for U.S. control and data security:

    “It wasn’t just that TikTok was a Chinese company. Its algorithms could...bring people down rabbit holes and just serve them again and again and again…” (38:10)

  • Broader concerns about U.S. media consolidation, power of Ellisons (Oracle/Paramount), and how new media conglomerates could rival or exceed Google/YouTube in influence.

7. On the Ground in Great Britain: Trump Visit Coverage

• Guest: Brian Glenn, White House Correspondent
  • Updates from Checkers during President Trump’s visit with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
  • Notes a notably more positive reception for Trump compared to earlier visits.

  “Much less protest against President Trump than in his previous visits. That's undeniable.” (33:05)

8. Panel: Media Industry’s Fundamental Shift

• Guest: David Brody, RAV media analyst
• Discussion:
  • The longstanding justification for late-night TV (desirable young demographic for advertisers) is gone; shifting audiences and economic realities doom traditional network late-night shows.
  • Kimmel’s suspension depicted as ‘end of the era’:

    "It's all obsolete at this point...Podcasts are where it's at. The young, young demos are going there.” — David Brody (45:45)

  • Rejection of First Amendment arguments: "This is a private employer...It has nothing to do with the First Amendment." (46:11)
  • Johnny Carson cited as a model for non-partisan comedy, contrasted with current late-night hostility.

Notable Quotes & Segments

• Courage Over Reconciliation:

  “You can’t have unity with people who are trying to kill you...what I would call for rather than any type of reconciliation...is courage.”
  — Rep. Jody Barrett (05:15–06:22)

• Responding to Kimmel Suspension:

  “This is not cancel culture...This is just a business saying, ‘We don’t want to continue giving you millions of dollars because you’re hurting our business plan.’” — Jake Novak (17:41)

  "It really is a debate between good and evil. People who are celebrating this, you can just see the evil and you can feel it."
  — Emily Finn (18:50)

• On Social Media Radicalization:

  "These proprietary algorithms...can track, target, and continue to feed information to an individual." — Ann Lieb Schutz (34:47)

• Shift in Late-Night TV:

  "It's all obsolete at this point...Podcasts are where it's at. The young, young demos are going there." — David Brody (45:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Guest/Speaker | Timestamps | |------------------------------- |---------------------|---------------| | Introduction/Summary of Top Stories | Jake Novak | 00:00–01:48 | | Local/National Reaction to Kirk Assassination | Jody Barrett | 01:48–06:34 | | Memphis Crime & Trump’s Federal Intervention | Jody Barrett | 06:34–09:53 | | Overview: Republican primary race in Tennessee | Jody Barrett | 09:53–11:32 | | Jimmy Kimmel Suspension/Late-Night TV Crisis | Emily Finn | 13:55–19:35 | | Fed Rate Cut, Market Moves, Cyberattack Update | Jake Novak | 19:37–25:29 | | Charlie Kirk’s Business Legacy | Michael Britton | 25:29–29:36 | | On the Ground at Checkers (Trump in UK) | Brian Glenn | 30:33–33:26 | | Tech & Media’s Role in Extremism/A.I., TikTok | Ann Lieb Schutz | 33:29–42:23 | | State of Late-Night & Broader Media Trends | David Brody | 45:45–47:14 |

Tone and Language

• Language: Direct, urgent, emotionally charged, with rhetorical appeals to “American values,” “good vs evil,” and a strong anti-leftist perspective.
• Tone:
  • Defiant, cautionary, communal (“silent majority is waking up”)
  • Occasionally somber when reflecting on Kirk; animated and sometimes sarcastic when discussing media or political rivals.

Memorable Moments

• TPUSA Chapter Boom:

  "Before this tragic event, there were only something like 15,000 TPUSA chapters. Now 35,000 pending applications."
  (Rep. Barrett, 03:31)

• Clip of Kirk for Artillery Tea:

  "Really love starting my day with Artillery Tea Company...It's better than all the fake tea."
  (Charlie Kirk, 27:00)

• "Not Cancel Culture":
  Heated defense of ABC’s firing of Jimmy Kimmel as a business decision, not ideological suppression (17:41).

• Warning on AI & Social Media:
  Ann Lieb Schutz draws ominous parallels between algorithmic recommendations and the path to radicalization (34:00–39:45).

Summary Takeaways

• The right views Charlie Kirk’s death as a watershed moment and rallying cry for conservative activism and “courage,” not reconciliation.
• There is deep skepticism and hostility to mainstream/legacy media, which is depicted as dying, out-of-touch, and subject to justified public backlash (e.g., Jimmy Kimmel suspension).
• Tech, AI, and social platforms are seen as dangerous engines of radicalization and social control, requiring vigilance and policy scrutiny.
• Media economics are changing—podcasts and independent voices seen as ascendant, as traditional late-night TV enters what is predicted to be terminal decline.
• Guests and host consistently frame events as a struggle between good and evil, faith, and the preservation of American values in the face of aggressive opposition.

This summary covers all key content, omitting ad reads and promotional messages. For listeners seeking a clear sense of the episode’s big-picture arguments and emotional climate, the above captures the major stories, featured voices, and unmistakable tone of "American Sunrise Early Edition."