Podcast Summary: American Sunrise – September 17, 2025

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Episode: American Sunrise
Date: September 17, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts (David Brody, Dr. Gina, Terrence, T. Bates, Emily Finn)

Overview

This episode of American Sunrise aired in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The show explores the nation’s reaction, the response within the conservative movement, and the broader political, cultural, and spiritual turmoil surrounding the event. The episode covers the ongoing investigation, rising activism, alleged misuse of federal authority against conservative groups, international political developments (particularly President Trump’s state visit to the UK), and a deep sense of both grief and resolve among the hosts and their guests.

The tone is passionate, unapologetically conservative, and mixes somber reflection with animated calls to action. Faith, free speech, American values, and political unity versus division are recurring themes throughout.

Key Discussion Points and Segments

1. Assassination of Charlie Kirk: Fallout and Reflections

• Immediate Reaction and Witness Testimony

  • Zach Zimmerman, a student who witnessed the shooting, recounted the chaos and trauma of the event, his subsequent receipt of both support and threats online, and his sense of mission to carry on Kirk’s legacy.
    • Quote (Zach, 73:10):
      “It honestly sucked. It was hell on earth... The memory played in my mind for the past few nights over and over again on repeat. The screams, the sound of the gunshot, the blood. You know, I would never wish this upon anyone.”

• Spiritual and Cultural Significance

  • Hosts and guests frame Kirk’s death as both a spiritual and political attack, repeatedly referring to him as a “martyr” for both faith and freedom.
  • Large increases in church attendance and Bible purchases are reported, labeled as “the Charlie effect.”

• Turning Point USA’s Response

  • Liliana Winger (TPUSA Ambassador, 107:55): Reports a massive surge in interest for new chapters (“over 37,000 requests”) and personal engagement with faith and activism.
    • Quote:
      “Despite this terrible tragedy, there is hope... People are coming to us and wanting to volunteer and give their time just to help us. The campus as a whole has come together, surprisingly, to honor this man and to continue his legacy.”

2. Free Speech, Hate Speech, and Legal Backlash

• Pam Bondi’s “Hate Speech” Remarks

  • Bondi, under fire from MAGA supporters, is criticized for conflating hate speech with incitement to violence and for her initial support of stronger law enforcement actions against hate speech.
  • Doug Mastriano (110:09): Stridently defends free speech, referencing UK arrests for silent prayer, and urges pastors to be bold.
    • Quote:
      “She’s dead wrong what she said there. I’m glad she cleaned it up... If it crosses the line to terroristic threats, that’s different. But I’m a big fan of free speech because this way people can reveal how stupid they are.”

• Backlash Against Dissenters and Online Censorship

  • Discussion of the social media outrage that led actress Jennifer Coolidge to unfollow Charlie Kirk after backlash from progressive online communities.
  • David Brody (97:15): “These people are nutso crazy. It’s evil. If you don’t think that small, convoluted minds like hers will in a heartbeat take the lead and vote for and promote the total demise of our First Amendment free speech rights, you’ve got another thing coming.”

3. Targeting of Conservative Organizations by Federal Authorities

• Senate Judiciary Revelations

  • Coverage of new evidence that the FBI, under Biden-era leadership, has targeted 92 GOP-aligned organizations, including Turning Point USA, for investigation following the 2020 election (the “Arctic Frost” investigation).

• Florida AG James Uthmeyer Investigation

  • Announces subpoenas and a broad-reaching investigation to hold federal officials accountable for politically motivated targeting of conservatives.
    • Quote (James Uthmeyer, 121:03):
      “There is no room for malicious prosecution or political witch hunts in our system of justice... When you have such abuse of power, that is a political witch hunt—that is not justice, and we will not tolerate it.”

4. Broader National and International News

• President Trump’s State Visit to the United Kingdom

  • Discussion of rumored strategic realignment between the US and the UK, Trump’s perceived influence on British leaders, and the growing influence of traditional values vs. multiculturalism (with alarmist mentions of “Londonistan” and critiques of the UK’s approach to radical Islam).

• Capitol Hill Fireworks & Calls for Unity

  • Coverage of a heated confrontation between FBI Director Cash Patel and Senator Cory Booker (“My time is over, you may be the target. I am not afraid of you, Mr...”).
  • Rep. Mark Harris and others reflect on the impossibility of unity with “evil” but call for a spiritual awakening to combat division.

• Economic Update

  • Insights from Jake Novak on Fed interest rate speculation, the growing power of media monopolies, and the enduring economic impact of Trump-era tax cuts (CBO data).

5. Faith, Revival, and “The Charlie Effect”

• Sweeping Spiritual Renewal

  • Multiple guests and hosts frame the aftermath of Kirk’s death as catalyzing revival: record church attendance (“standing room only”), Bible sales, and testimonies of spiritual seeking across generational lines.
  • Pastor Jackson Lawmire (Matt. 113:27):
    • “America lost a legend. The body of Christ lost an ambassador to an entire generation... But what’s encouraging is the Charlie Kirk effect. Churches have been overrun this last weekend – it was standing room only.”

• Emphasis on Bold Pastoral Leadership

  • Doug Mastriano and others urge Christian leaders not to shy away from political engagement or to fear loss of tax-exempt status.

6. Media, Narrative Control, and Activism

• Media Criticisms and Lawsuits
  • Discuss Trump’s $15B lawsuit against The New York Times—framed as backing the fight against “Democrat propaganda machines.”
  • Notable references to media cancel culture and the dangers posed by large, “woke” tech/media conglomerates.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Zach Zimmerman’s Eyewitness Testimony: 73:10 – 79:00
• TPUSA’s Liliana Winger on Youth Activism Post-Kirk: 107:55 – 111:00
• Pam Bondi Hate Speech Debate: 110:09
• Doug Mastriano on “Day of the Bible” and Revival: 111:50 – 116:00
• Jennifer Coolidge Backlash: 97:15 – 98:00
• Rep. Mark Harris on Unity and Division: 43:00 – 45:00
• Senate Judiciary/FBI Targeting Conservative Groups: 55:10
• Florida AG James Uthmeyer on Subpoenas: 121:03 – 123:00
• Pastor Jackson Lawmire and “Charlie Kirk Effect”: 113:27 – 114:50
• Trump State Visit to Windsor and UK Dynamics: 16:00 – 20:00 & 124:00
• Jake Novak on Fed/Monopoly Issues: 125:00 – 129:00

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Doug Mastriano (110:09): “Pastors stop being cowards, stop hiding behind, ‘Oh, I might lose my tax exemption status.’ That’s garbage. You’re called to be bold and courageous in this generation.”
• David Brody (97:15): “If you don’t think that small, convoluted minds like hers will in a heartbeat... promote the total demise of our First Amendment free speech rights, you’ve got another thing coming.”
• Sen. Cory Booker v. Cash Patel (65:20): “My God. You want to talk about dividing this country?... You can’t lecture me. My time’s over. You may be the target. I am not afraid of you, Mr.”
• Florida AG James Uthmeyer (121:03): “We need to remove people from office that are abusing their job, if they’re still there. We need to go after people for civil rights violations, and where there might be criminal wrongs... there needs to be prosecutions and arrests.”
• Liliana Winger (TPUSA) (107:55): "We have grown to over 100 plus members... The campus as a whole has come together, surprisingly, to honor this man and to continue his legacy."
• Pastor Jackson Lawmire (113:27): "Charlie’s more alive today than any of us... it’s the Charlie Kirk effect. Churches have been overrun."
• Zach Zimmerman (73:10): "It was hell on earth. The memory played in my mind for the past few nights over and over again."

Conclusion

The September 17, 2025 episode of American Sunrise is a snapshot of a cultural moment when many on the American right feel grief, suspicion, and resolve following Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The conversation is charged with calls for spiritual revival, militant defense of free speech, suspicion of federal overreach, and determination to seize the moment for cultural and political renewal. The episode is marked by emotion, unity among conservatives, and a heightened blending of faith and politics, with Kirk’s life and death serving as a rallying cry for the movement.

Key takeaways:

• The conservative movement is energized by the backlash to Kirk’s death, with unprecedented youth activism and church engagement.
• Free speech, even “hate speech,” is defended passionately, and the dangers of “cancel culture” are a recurring theme.
• The incident has sparked official investigations into alleged unlawful federal targeting of conservatives.
• Spiritual revival and the notion of civic-religious duty are central, with repeated references to America’s “biblical foundation.”
• Political division is decried, with “unity” defined as impossible with “evil” or those not adhering to God’s word.

For listeners new to the show:
This episode offers an unfiltered look at the mood and priorities of conservative America following a seismic event in their movement, relayed through authentic voices and first-hand perspectives. Faith, activism, mistrust of government and media, and calls to action are woven throughout, providing a rich sense of the moment.