Real America’s Voice: Bolling! – September 10, 2025

Topic: The Assassination of Charlie Kirk – Immediate Reaction, Reflection, and Anger
Air Date: September 10, 2025
Host: Eric Bolling (with guests & contributors: Dr. Gina Loudon, Steve Gruber, Ben Bergquam, John Solomon, Lara Logan)

Overview

This deeply emotional and urgent episode of "Bolling!" centers on the breaking news of Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA founder and prominent conservative youth leader, being assassinated by gunfire during a Q&A event at Utah Valley University. The show features real-time responses from hosts, family friends, and colleagues—marked by grief, outrage, sharp criticism of the political climate, accusations of media incitement, and a rallying call for the conservative movement.

Key Discussion Points

[00:04] Breaking News: Charlie Kirk Shot

• Initial Reporting: Eric Bolling and his guests react to initial reports from Fox News and Real America’s Voice of an assassination attempt on Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, citing an “old white guy” (Michael Manlinson, Utah Democrat) as a possible suspect (not confirmed).
• Shock and Disbelief: The panel expresses disbelief and prayers; Dr. Gina Loudon emphasizes immediate concern for Charlie’s wife Erica and children.
  • Quote [01:43]: “Total, complete disbelief. My first thoughts and the prayers... all you can think about is his family immediately.” – Dr. Gina Loudon

[02:44] Political Climate & "Open Season" on Conservatives

• Theme of Targeting: Dr. Loudon and others assert that incidents like this reflect an increasingly hostile environment for conservatives, suggesting authorities “chase down” people for their political beliefs rather than protect them from dangers like this.
  • Quote [01:43]: “It feels like open season on certain groups of people in this country right now... maybe we've taken it too lightly for too long.” – Dr. Loudon

[04:14] Prayers & Personal Reflections

• Personal Connection: Ben Bergquam and other guests recount their friendships with Charlie Kirk, emphasizing his impact on culture, faith, and conservative youth.
  • Quote [04:14]: “The devil goes after the effective people... Charlie knows where his ultimate hope lies.” – Ben Bergquam

[07:06] Turning Shock into Anger

• Transition to Action: The show captures the emotional transition from shock to righteous anger, urging the audience to not let “them” (the left, political agitators, mainstream media) win.
  • Quote [07:06]: “We cannot let them win... we're gonna be here after you're done, when you're out of bullets. We're not out of people.” – Eric Bolling

[08:58] Free Speech as a Target

• Freedom Under Threat: Steve Gruber and Eric Bolling argue that conservatives are “free game” in today’s environment, referencing repeated acts of political violence and media rhetoric that, in their view, justifies attacks against them.
  • Quote [08:58]: “Are we free game now? ... Are we the voice of conservatism, of America First, of Donald Trump, are we free game now?” – Steve Gruber

[11:42] Violence Justified by Speech

• Culture of Retaliation: Ben Bergquam discusses his prior experiences with violence at political rallies and contends that the left believes violence is justified in response to “speech they don’t like.”
  • Quote [11:42]: “Speech is violence... So they believe that they have a right to respond with violence to speech they don't like.” – Ben Bergquam

[15:01] Confirming Charlie’s Critical Condition

• Updates on Charlie's Status: Fox News is cited reporting Charlie Kirk in critical condition, though hosts caution that confirmation is pending.
  • Donald Trump posts a prayer for Charlie via Truth Social (“We must all pray for Charlie Kirk who's been shot... God bless him on Truth.”).

[16:30] The Moment: Charlie Kirk's Death Confirmed ([16:47-17:10])

• John Solomon Confirms Death: John Solomon (Just the News) reports, via government and personal sources, that Charlie Kirk has passed from his wounds.
  • Participants, especially Gina and Ben, react with grief and prayers for Charlie’s family.
  • Quote [17:43]: “Pray for his wife, his kids that aren't going to have a father... and I pray that what the enemy means for evil, yes, God uses for good.” – Ben Bergquam

[18:48] Determination Not to Surrender

• Resolute Tone: Steve Gruber and others state that this event strengthens—instead of weakens—the resolve to continue Charlie’s work, stressing that “young people in churches today... Charlie Kirk was a catalyst for that.”
  • Quote [18:48]: “We must be steeled… We must move forward to save this nation, because that is what Charlie Kirk would demand of us.” – Steve Gruber

[21:02] John Solomon Joins – The Legacy & Broader Crisis

• Contextualizing the Loss: John Solomon, who recently spent time with Charlie, describes his vision and resolve—for free speech, for confronting intolerance, and unyielding faith.
• Media Criticism: Solomon and the panel lambaste outlets like MSNBC for allegedly dehumanizing conservative figures and inciting or excusing violence through rhetoric.
  • Quote [25:06]: “MSNBC is a center point of hatred and intolerance and disinformation… Those who perpetrate this hate, they've got to look themselves in the eye and say, 'Is this what we're in business for?'” – John Solomon

[28:38] Charlie Kirk’s Effectiveness as a Factor

• Targeted for His Success: Bolling posits, and the group concurs, that Charlie Kirk was assassinated because of his effectiveness in organizing and mobilizing young conservatives.
  • Quote [28:38]: “Charlie Kirk died because he was too good. He was too effective.” – Eric Bolling

[31:02] Seeds Planted, Movement Will Continue

• Tribute to Charlie’s Work: Ben Bergquam reflects on Charlie's legacy, using agricultural and spiritual metaphors for the ongoing movement.
  • Quote [31:25]: “He planted seeds across this nation with the young people… and I thank the Lord for Charlie.” – Ben Bergquam

[33:06] John Solomon on Charlie’s Philosophy

• Positive Peer Pressure: Solomon highlights Charlie’s strategic insight: giving youth a support system to be openly conservative despite hostility.
  • Quote [33:06]: “He just realized that young people needed to have positive peer pressure, I think that's what he called it, to be who they were taught to be.” – John Solomon

[36:14] Investigation Status & Uncertainty

• Ongoing Situation: As of the broadcast, police continue to search for a suspect. No one is in custody, raising concerns about the shooter’s potential next move.

[38:27] Lara Logan Joins: Charlie as a Martyr and the Broader War

• Impact and Martyrdom: Lara Logan argues that Charlie Kirk’s assassination will be a defining moment, likening it to historic assassinations (MLK, JFK), and frames his life as a battle against ideological indoctrination on campuses.
  • Quote [38:40]: “Charlie Kirk's assassination will go along in the annals of history with Martin Luther King and with JFK…” – Lara Logan

[49:10] How to Respond: Coexistence and Accountability

• Advice for the Movement: The guests urge prayer, increase in engagement, and unwavering truth-telling. They emphasize preparing youth for grief and future activism.
  • Quote [53:48]: “You do the right thing for the right reason. That's what you focus on... you stand up for the truth, because the truth comes directly from God.” – Lara Logan

Memorable Quotes

• Gina Loudon:
  • “[01:43] I am so... there's something about this that is pivotal for us... it feels like open season on certain groups of people in this country right now.”
• Ben Bergquam:
  • “[04:14] There’s a reason why the devil goes after the effective people—because he doesn’t have to go after the ineffective people.”
  • “[11:42] Speech is violence. Speech is violence. And so they believe they have a right to respond with violence to speech they don't like.”
• Eric Bolling:
  • “[07:06] We cannot let them win. We have to stand in... take your best shot because we’re going to be here after you’re done, when you’re out of bullets, we’re not out of people.”
  • “[28:38] Charlie Kirk died because he was too good. He was too effective.”
• Steve Gruber:
  • “[08:58] Are we free game now?... Are we the voice of conservatism, of America First... are we free game now in this madness?”
• John Solomon:
  • “[25:06] MSNBC is a center point of hatred and intolerance and disinformation. Those who watch it do so at their own peril.”
  • “[33:06] He just realized that young people needed to have positive peer pressure... to be who they were taught to be.”
• Lara Logan:
  • “[38:40] Charlie Kirk's assassination will go along in the annals of history with Martin Luther King and with JFK.”
• All:
  • "[31:25] Thank the Lord for the seeds Charlie planted. Now God is watering them into a crop of righteousness." — Ben Bergquam
  • "[49:10] You speak truth, and you speak it endlessly. You speak it no matter what." — Gina Loudon

Timestamps for Critical Moments

• [00:04] Breaking news of the assassination attempt
• [01:43] Dr. Gina Loudon on “open season”
• [04:14] Ben Bergquam’s personal reflection & the role of faith
• [07:06] Transition from shock to determination
• [08:58] Discussion on threats to conservative voices and free speech
• [11:42] Bergquam: Political violence justified by speech in leftist culture
• [16:47] Confirmation of Charlie Kirk’s passing
• [18:48] Calls for the movement to continue, not surrender
• [21:15] John Solomon joins, expands on Charlie’s legacy and media role
• [28:38] Debate: Was Charlie targeted for effectiveness?
• [33:06] Solomon details Charlie’s youth/peer support philosophy
• [36:14] Status: No suspect in custody, ongoing manhunt
• [38:27] Lara Logan on the historical impact of Kirk’s assassination
• [49:10] Reflections on coexistence, responsibility, and moving forward

Tone & Key Takeaways

• Raw and real-time: The show is saturated with emotion—shock, grief, anger, and resolve—captured in the moment as news unfolds.
• Faith & Community: Continual calls for prayer, appeals to faith, and the need for community support surface throughout.
• Media & Political Critique: The panelers collectively lambast major media, especially MSNBC, for rhetoric they deem dangerous and complicit.
• Legacy and Action: Despite the tragedy, there is a strong call to carry on Charlie Kirk’s work, to channel anger into action, and to refuse to let violence or intimidation end their movement.
• Historical Framing: The panel places Kirk’s assassination among major American tragedies, vowing that his death must not be in vain.

Conclusion

This episode is a sobering, kinetic example of breaking news radio: facts mingled with speculation, overwhelming emotion, and a sense of movement-defining loss. The hosts and guests, while reeling, repeatedly emphasize that—just as Charlie Kirk insisted on bold, public faith and unapologetic speech—the movement must carry on, and, in their eyes, be emboldened by this tragedy.

“We cannot let them win”—Eric Bolling [07:06]

“Charlie Kirk’s assassination will go along in the annals of history with Martin Luther King and with JFK…” —Lara Logan [38:40]