Media Exposed with Adam Weiss

Episode Date: September 21, 2025
Podcast: Real America’s Voice (iHeartPodcasts)

Overview:

This episode of Media Exposed centers on the life, influence, and tragic assassination of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk, examining the legacy he forged, the cultural divide surrounding his death, and how media narrative-shaping and censorship impact American and global discourse. Host Adam Weiss is joined by various guests—including David Zier, Roger Stone, April Silvan, and Jade Warwick—for a wide-ranging discussion on media bias, political violence, social media’s power to challenge legacy outlets, and coverage of recent major events in the US and UK.

Major Themes & Episode Flow:

• Tribute to Charlie Kirk’s life, work, and impact (05:20–14:00)
• Media demonization of conservatives and the consequences (28:00–37:00)
• The role of language, violence, and AI in political polarization (39:30–50:00)
• Case studies of media response to Kirk’s assassination, accountability, and double standards (57:00–1:12:00)
• International perspective: London’s pro-freedom rally and global media bias (1:15:00–1:33:00)

Key Segments & Detailed Discussion

1. Remembering Charlie Kirk

[05:20–14:00]

• Adam Weiss opens with a heartfelt tribute to Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point, emphasizing Kirk’s ability to mobilize youth and inspire both younger and older generations to defend conservative ideals.

• Personal stories highlight Kirk’s fundraising prowess and the broad cross-generational support he commanded.

• Notable moment:

  • Adam recalls a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser where Kirk’s organization raised $20 million within 20 minutes, noting the dedication of wealthy supporters to traditional values.
  • Adam: “Within 20 minutes, his group raised $20 million. I’ve never seen anything in my life like it.” [09:46]

• Guest David Zier adds:

  • “The older generation in this country loved Charlie Kirk because they look at their kids and own grandkids and see us swerving... Charlie has brought that back.” [12:30]
  • Compares Kirk’s legacy to that of Rush Limbaugh, noting Kirk’s “golden microphone” moment and outreach beyond conservatives.

Glenn Beck on Kirk’s Aspirations

[14:00–16:30]

• Glenn Beck’s recounting of Kirk’s humility and drive to carry the torch:
  • “I want to do what you do. Let me translate: I want to be Rush Limbaugh… And I remember thinking, well, kid, maybe someday, because I think you have it.” [15:22]

2. The Current Media Landscape: Demonization and Dehumanization

[28:00–37:00]

• Adam and Roger Stone discuss media labeling of conservatives as inherently immoral or dangerous, linking such language to real-world consequences and violence.
• Adam:
  • “Once someone is dehumanized, it becomes easy to justify targeting them.… When you say someone’s irredeemable and that’s what starts the situation you have today…” [33:00]
• Stone breaks down four interlocking tactics of legacy media against conservatives:
  1. Smears and relentless negative characterizations
  2. Mass censorship of opposing voices
  3. “Alinskyism”—accusing opponents of the tactics used by the accusers
  4. Use of AI to create or manipulate incriminating material

Key Quote:

• Stone:
  • “The relentless intolerance that exists today… bred the kind of violence that cost our mutual friend Charlie Kirk his life.” [36:55]

3. Political Violence, Media Compilations & Social Tensions

[39:30–50:00]

• Adam presents a media compilation of inflammatory rhetoric from politicians, celebrities, and journalists since the Trump era.

• Violence, both verbal and physical, is highlighted as emerging from such escalation—juxtaposed to peaceful responses after Kirk’s assassination.

• Stone:

  • “After Charlie Kirk’s death, what did you have? Prayer vigils. No violence. There’s a substantial difference there.” [48:20]

• Discussion of the differences in past political discourse when partisan animosity was less toxic:

  • “We’d meet with Democrats, we’d meet with Republicans, we were friends… Somewhere along the line after Trump got elected, it was different. Vicious.” [41:40]

4. Legacy Media’s Response to Kirk’s Assassination

[57:00–1:10:00]

• Adam details the quick shift in media narrative—initial sympathy, then attempts to rationalize or politicize the assassin’s motives, and in some cases, mourners being themselves demonized.
• Social media’s democratization of truth is cited as crucial for real-time accountability.

Notable Guest: April Silvan

• On MSNBC’s commentary:

  • “What kind of ghoul or evil person, the day someone gets assassinated, can come up with those thoughts?” [1:01:00]

• “They are insinuating that he chose this to happen in this horrific tragedy. … It’s heartbreaking that people can be this soulless.” [1:02:10]

• Both Adam and April criticize the “both sides” narrative:

  • “Even to the latter part of the week… CNN, MSNBC reporters still saying we don’t know who it is. … They have the text messages where he despises Charlie Kirk with his transgender nothing. … AI doesn’t even pop up his name right away. They’re hiding everything.” [1:09:30]

On Jimmy Kimmel’s Suspension

• Adam and April discuss Kimmel’s suspension after an offensive joke about Kirk’s death:
  • “Give me your final thoughts on that. The double standard that we have.” [1:12:00]
  • April: “I don’t think they’re bringing him back on the air. I think people are sick to their stomach over this and it just was so evil to speak that way.”

5. Global Perspective: London Freedom Rally and UK Censorship

[1:15:00–1:33:00]

• Adam brings on Jade Warwick (Warwick Report, London) to discuss the massive rally in support of free speech and opposition to government overreach.
• Mainstream UK media coverage minimized or mischaracterized the event; on-the-ground accounts counter with descriptions of an energized but peaceful mass turnout.

Notable Quotes:

• Adam:
  • “Not surprising, the mainstream media downplayed this massive rally and the size, the energy, the crowd. … Left wing outlets pushed false narratives to discredit the movement.” [1:16:00]
• Jade Warwick:
  • “Everyone was in such a fantastic mood. … People were on their best behavior. … The left wing media, they want to make the right wing party out to be this demonic creature and we’re not.” [1:21:45, 1:27:35]
  • On UK censorship laws: “If something is deemed offensive, you can call the police and the police will go and arrest someone because you found it offensive. That is absolutely ridiculous. … I’m so lucky that I live in America and I’m an American now because I’m protected by the First Amendment.” [1:30:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Adam Weiss, Opening on Kirk’s Legacy [05:45]:

  • “He didn’t just talk conservative ideals—he mobilized millennials by the thousands and Gen Z to defend them. … His life demonstrated a consistent willingness to speak uncomfortable truths…”

• David Zier, on Intergenerational Support for Kirk [12:30]:

  • “The older generation in this country loved Charlie Kirk because they look at their own kids and grandkids and see us swerving off the road … Charlie has brought that back.”

• Roger Stone, on Media Demonization [33:00]:

  • “The relentless intolerance that exists today… bred the kind of violence that cost our mutual friend Charlie Kirk his life.”

• Jade Warwick, on UK Media and Censorship [1:27:35 & 1:30:51]:

  • “The left wing media here … want to make the right wing party out to be this demonic creature and we’re not. We just want our homes to be safe, we want our country to be great and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
  • “If something is deemed offensive, you can call the police and the police will go and arrest someone because you found it offensive…”

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment/Content | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:20 | Opening tribute—Charlie Kirk’s vision, influence, and impact | | 09:46 | Mar-a-Lago fundraiser story; Kirk’s unique ability to galvanize support| | 12:30 | Cross-generational appeal of Kirk (David Zier) | | 15:22 | Glenn Beck on Kirk’s ambition to be “one of the greats” of talk radio | | 28:00 | Adam and Roger Stone: Media’s role in demonization and violence | | 33:00 | Roger Stone’s summary of media tactics against the right | | 39:30 | Compilation: Politicians/celebrities on violence and rhetoric | | 48:20 | Stone: Post-assassination response, contrast with left | | 57:00 | Host commentary—media’s immediate treatment of Kirk’s assassination | | 1:01:00 | April Silvan on MSNBC commentary (day of assassination) | | 1:09:30 | The “both sides” narrative, media obfuscation | | 1:12:00 | Suspension of Jimmy Kimmel, double standards discussion | | 1:15:00 | Adam sets up the London rally coverage | | 1:21:45 | Jade Warwick: On-the-ground report, mischaracterization by media | | 1:27:35 | UK free speech, loss of British identity, and legal repercussions | | 1:30:51 | Censorship laws in the UK vs First Amendment rights |

Key Takeaways:

• Charlie Kirk’s death is mourned as a national tragedy and rallying point for conservatives, with the right seeing both an outpouring of support and evidence of cross-partisan empathy.
• Legacy and mainstream media are portrayed as instigators and accelerants of social division—through language, omission, and selective coverage.
• Social media has become an essential tool for checking false narratives, holding journalists and entertainers accountable (e.g., Kimmel’s suspension).
• Global context: The UK rally demonstrates that media distortion and government censorship are not just American phenomena; the culture war is increasingly international.
• Despite political violence and toxic media framing, the hosts and guests argue for the “unstoppable” nature of grassroots, pro-freedom conservative movements in the US and abroad.

Tone: Direct, unapologetic, combative toward legacy media; focuses on freedom, accountability, and the importance of independent voices in politics and media.

For listeners looking to understand how the conservative movement is interpreting recent tragedies, media treatment, and the broader struggle over narrative control, this episode offers a raw, insider’s view.