Real America’s Voice Live with Steve Gruber — September 12, 2025

Main Theme & Episode Overview

This episode of America’s Voice Live, hosted by Steve Gruber, is dominated by the aftermath of the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Gruber and his guests provide updates on the investigation, reflect on Charlie Kirk’s impact and legacy, analyze the rising tide of political violence in America, and discuss related issues such as partisan rhetoric, polling on political violence, recent school shootings, and ongoing accusations of IRS bias against conservatives. The overall tone is somber, urgent, and deeply concerned for the state of national discourse and social peace.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Assassination of Charlie Kirk — Updates and Analysis

• Breaking News & Suspect Details ([01:35-03:48])

  • Gruber reports the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, identified as the suspect in Kirk's assassination.
  • Law enforcement traced Robinson through online evidence, family interviews, and surveillance video.
  • Chilling evidence: Robinson engraved casings with phrases like “hey, fascist, catch” and antifascist symbols.
  • Utah Governor Spencer Cox announces officials will seek the death penalty; the suspect reportedly believed Kirk was “full of hate.”

• Quote:
  "Political violence has no place in this country. Most of us know that. But the left, well, seems to be a bit of a different story."
  — Steve Gruber [03:48]

• Guest: Lt. Stephen Rogers (Ret. US Navy/Police) ([04:04-13:22])

  • Argues the perpetrator should be charged with terrorism to involve federal authorities.
  • Points to incendiary rhetoric by political leaders as “fueling the fire.”
  • Decries mainstream media for not reporting when conservatives or Christians are targeted.

• Online Reaction Montage ([06:10-07:29])

  • Gruber airs a montage of social media posts celebrating Kirk's killing, summarizing the “depth of depravity.”
  • Language is intense; several posts demonize or mock the victim.

• Quote:
  “These are sick people, Steve. ... Their friends, their neighbors—at least some of the people they’re around that are sane—should be on the phone right now making a telephone call.”
  — Stephen Rogers [07:58]

• Call for Spiritual Leadership ([09:51-11:01])

  • Rogers says clergy, rather than politicians, must help re-anchor the nation spiritually.
  • Reiterates faith as the path toward reconciliation.

• Charlie Kirk’s Legacy & Forgiveness ([11:01-13:01])

  • Gruber recalls Kirk’s view that “the most powerful weapon... is forgiveness.”
  • Rogers encourages acts of tribute by flying flags and instilling prayer as a family and communal practice, asserting, “We have to forgive. It’s tough, but we don’t forget.”

2. Law Enforcement and Behavioral Analysis

• Guest: Chris Pihota (Retired FBI Executive Assistant Director) ([15:19-22:52])

  • Praises law enforcement’s rapid arrest of the suspect, with family reportedly restraining Robinson until police arrived.
  • Clarifies that murder is usually prosecuted at the state level but notes federal charges are possible.
  • Affirms that evidence and imagery suggest the suspect was affiliated with radical left/Marxist ideology.

• Quote:
  “You can safely assume at this point that he leans more toward the extreme left or Marxist or communist ideologies... This individual was radicalized.”
  — Chris Pihota [18:43]

• On Division and Prospects for the Nation

  • Pihota warns society is “utterly divided” and calls for more respect and unifying leadership.
  • Addresses the risk of foreign (China, Russia) social media bots amplifying violence.
  • Concludes that dialogue over social media echo chambers is vital to national healing.

3. The State of America: Polling and Public Sentiment

• Guest: Mark Mitchell (Rasmussen Reports Head Pollster) ([22:54-29:48])

  • Reveals sharp overnight drops in “right direction” polling, reflecting a public gut-check after Kirk’s death.
  • Reports nearly 70% of likely voters are “very concerned” about political violence; almost 90% have at least some concern.
  • Principal public blame for violence is placed on “violent rhetoric” (45%), not firearms or mental health.
  • Remarkably high bipartisan agreement (80%) with the quote:
    "It's long past time for all Americans in the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree..."
  • Reveals shifting attitudes toward capital punishment, with support for execution in egregious cases jumping to over 60% in recent polling.

• Quote:
  "The polling... all kind of stagnated for about two months. But just this week, I feel like America is moving and changing. This horrifying thing with Charlie Kirk, I felt like that murder changed the narrative."
  — Mark Mitchell [23:51]

• Impact of Leftist Online Rhetoric

  • Gruber cites anecdotal evidence of non-political Americans, or even Democrats, being repulsed by public celebrations of Kirk’s death, driving some to reconsider their political allegiances.

4. Broader Social Context: Political Violence & Rhetoric

• Recent Mass Shooting:

  • Gruber covers the Evergreen High School shooting in Colorado; another sign of the disturbing climate of violence ([29:48-31:24]).

• Guest: Jim Pfaff (President, Conservative Caucus) ([31:24-35:24])

  • Faults Democratic Party leadership for delegitimizing opponents, creating fertile conditions for violence.
  • Warns against systemic dehumanization (e.g., calling opponents “Nazis,” “fascists”) as a precursor to real-world targeting.
  • Stresses the importance of protecting legitimate difference and free speech in a democracy.

• Quote:
  “What you cannot do in a free American republic is shut down opposing ideas. You should never use illegitimate means...”
  — Jim Pfaff [33:52]

5. IRS Bias & Conservative Grievances

• Ongoing Coverage:

  • Gruber discusses recent revelations (dating back to 2013) of IRS bias against conservative groups ([37:55-41:21]).
  • IRS aide Holly Paz fired for unfair treatment of Republican organizations; the IRS faces accusations of political corruption.
  • Guest Chuck Flint (Alliance for IRS Accountability) argues for a thorough “clean-out” to restore trust.

• Quote:
  “We have to get rid of the rot at the IRS so the public can have confidence... All this political targeting and the bias, it's completely unacceptable.”
  — Chuck Flint [40:41]

6. Reflections on Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

• Community & Listener Reactions ([44:26-45:45])

  • Many listeners define Kirk's legacy as defending free speech, encouraging faith in public life, and rallying youth to the conservative movement.
  • The general sentiment is that Kirk’s influence will grow posthumously, because attempts to silence him have amplified his message.

• Quote:
  "Charlie’s gonna be bigger in death than he was in life. It’s a terrible price to pay, but I think he will be magnified, and the hard work and the seeds that he planted will sprout and bear fruit."
  — Steve Gruber [46:51]

• Guest: Eric Bolling (RAV Host)

  • Bolling shares his emotional response, skipping grief and jumping straight to anger and determination, believing the opposition will regret targeting Kirk due to the movement it will fuel ([45:45-47:19]).

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• Steve Gruber [03:48]:
  "Political violence has no place in this country. Most of us know that. But the left, well, seems to be a bit of a different story."

• Stephen Rogers [07:58]:
  "These are sick people, Steve. ... Their friends, their neighbors...should be on the phone right now making a telephone call..."

• Mark Mitchell [23:51]:
  "The polling...all kind of stagnated for about two months. But just this week, I feel like America is moving and changing. This horrifying thing with Charlie Kirk...changed the narrative."

• Chris Pihota [18:43]:
  "You can safely assume at this point that he leans more toward the extreme left or Marxist or communist ideologies..."

• Jim Pfaff [33:52]:
  "What you cannot do in a free American republic is shut down opposing ideas. You should never use illegitimate means..."

• Chuck Flint [40:41]:
  "We have to get rid of the rot at the IRS so the public can have confidence...All this political targeting and the bias, it's completely unacceptable."

• Steve Gruber [46:51]:
  "Charlie’s gonna be bigger in death than he was in life. ...the seeds that he planted will sprout and bear fruit."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:35–03:48]: Arrest update on Tyler Robinson, suspect in Kirk’s assassination—details and law enforcement response.
• [04:04–13:22]: Interview with Stephen Rogers on political violence, media responsibility, and calls for faith-based leadership.
• [15:19–22:52]: FBI’s Chris Pihota discusses the investigation, ideological motivations, and national risks.
• [22:54–29:48]: Rasmussen’s Mark Mitchell unveils new polling on political violence, public sentiment, and changing attitudes.
• [31:24–35:24]: Jim Pfaff on historical context for the current political rhetoric and its impact.
• [37:55–41:21]: Chuck Flint addresses IRS bias and the need for governmental integrity.
• [44:26–45:45]: Listener feedback on Charlie Kirk’s legacy.
• [45:45–47:19]: Eric Bolling reflects on collective grief and anger post-assassination.

Conclusion & Takeaways

This episode presents a raw, unfiltered look at the right-of-center reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, highlighting both fear and hope for the nation's future. The central arguments revolve around the need for healing, spiritual renewal, exposure of political corruption, and reclaiming the American tradition of respectful, robust debate. Deeply woven into the discussion are themes of forgiveness, the dangers of dehumanizing rhetoric, and the powerful—sometimes unintended—consequences of political violence.

Listeners are challenged to remember Charlie Kirk not as a defeated voice, but as a catalyzing force whose message has only grown louder, with a broad call to maintain faith, stand strong, and unite around shared values.