The Charlie Kirk Show – Thanksgiving Special with Bill Federer

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: Charlie Kirk
Guest: Bill Federer
Date: November 27, 2025

Episode Overview

This Thanksgiving-themed episode of The Charlie Kirk Show dives into the history, meaning, and modern significance of Thanksgiving. Charlie Kirk is joined by historian and Turning Point Academy collaborator Bill Federer, who shares a deeply researched, storytelling approach to the Pilgrim story, the founding of America, gratitude, and how these themes relate to contemporary issues like American freedom, religious liberty, and the ongoing culture war. The episode is also packed with lighthearted discussions on Thanksgiving traditions, food debates, and some nostalgic riffing on what it means to "earn" your Thanksgiving in modern America.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Real Story and Origins of Thanksgiving

• The Rebellion Against Globalism:

  • Bill Federer frames the Pilgrims’ journey as a rejection of top-down rule from the "globalist" King of England, drawing inspiration from ancient Israel and the Reformation (04:21).
  • Quote:
    “America’s founders wanted to break away from this globalist, one world government king. And so they flipped it and made the people the king... you get to be the king of your life and all of us together are the king of the country.” — Bill Federer (05:40)

• From Hierarchy to Covenant:

  • The unique element of the “Mayflower Compact,” whereby a church group created a civil body politic, setting the model for later American self-government (17:20).
  • Quote:
    “This is the birth of America. A church group forming itself into a political group.” — Bill Federer (18:11)

• The Pilgrim Saga:

  • Intense detail on the Pilgrims’ hardships: persecution under King James, flight to Holland, difficult passage, and arrival far north of their intended destination, Jamestown (06:54–13:07).
  • Emphasis on their faith and will to self-govern in an unknown new environment.

2. Thanksgiving, Faith, and the Power of Gratitude

• Religious Liberty as a Foundation:

  • Historical persecution for religious independence (“clergy-laity vs. congregational model”), and how the Pilgrim way set a precedent for individual involvement and self-rule (06:54–10:00).
  • Quote:
    “Any muscle to grow has to be exercised. You have to get involved.” — Bill Federer (09:00)

• Thankfulness as Moral Necessity:

  • The importance of deliberate gratitude, both historically and today (37:13).
  • Quote:
    “When you are thankful... the good Lord will bless you even more if you’re thankful for what He’s given you.” — Bill Federer (39:07)

• Providence and Trials:

  • The story of Squanto as a divinely orchestrated means of survival; linking suffering with later purpose, as in the story of Joseph (35:47).
  • Quote:
    “Sometimes the pains you go through in your life, the good Lord can use those to later have you minister to somebody else...” — Bill Federer (35:47)

• Tradition of National Thanksgiving:

  • From colonial days through President Lincoln, Thanksgiving is deeply rooted in explicit gratitude to God, and in national “days of prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving” (37:13–39:22).

3. Real Lessons from the First Thanksgiving

• Squanto’s Story:

  • Squanto’s remarkable journey from capture and slavery in Spain, his time in England, return to New England to find his tribe dead, and his crucial role in helping the Pilgrims survive (30:35–35:31).

• The Role of Private Property:

  • The initial experiment in communal labor and property—mandated by English investors—failed and led to near-starvation.
  • The decision to assign individual plots led directly to abundance and celebration (19:42–22:55).
  • Quote:
    “They tried owning everything in common—almost starved to death. They scrap it. Give your own plot of land. They began abundant harvest.” — Bill Federer (22:04)

• Harmony and Peace:

  • The three-day feast, more Indians than Pilgrims, peace between settlers and natives, and the 50-year peace treaty are highlighted as foundational moments (31:35–35:31).

4. Applying Thanksgiving Lessons to Modern America

• Crisis as an Opportunity:

  • Crises awaken people to take action; the current atmosphere is likened to biblical stories where God raises up unlikely heroes (46:06).
  • School and culture wars are discussed, framing parental involvement as key to winning future generations.

• Defending Freedom and Conscience:

  • Kirk and Federer emphasize the American experiment as one which disables authoritarian or "globalist" dominance and puts citizens in control.
  • The voluntary nature of faith and liberty is stressed (48:20).

• Ties to Current Turning Point Academy Projects:

  • Ongoing work to create educational alternatives (homeschools, church hybrid schools); guests invite listeners to become involved (03:36; 27:40; throughout).

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• Thanksgiving’s Civic Importance:
  “...every single citizen was taught the law, and they were personally accountable to God to follow the law. That’s what made it work.” — Bill Federer (04:50)

• On "Socialism" and Property:
  “The failure of that experiment of communal service, which was tried for several years by good and honest men, proves the emptiness of the theory of Plato and other ancients...” — Bill Federer, quoting William Bradford (19:42)

• Voluntary vs. Involuntary Charity:
  “You get the goods from the state and you don’t own anything. So if you don’t own anything, how can you be charitable? How can you give away what you don’t have?” — Bill Federer (28:37)

• What Gives Hope:
  “It is a crisis that causes people to wake up... It’s in times of crises that people turn to Christ. But it’s also in times of crisis that leaders are raised up.” — Bill Federer (46:06)

Lighthearted Panel: Thanksgiving Food and Traditions

• Panel Segment: (56:33–77:01)

  • Charlie, Jack, Blake, and Tyler debate Thanksgiving food “rules”: Turkey is mandatory, ham optional, steak is frowned upon unless supplementary. Cranberry sauce should come straight from the can—“vertically with no adjustments.”
  • Stuffing vs. dressing, texture (“moist but not too much”), and the necessity (or heresy) of green bean casserole and sweet potatoes, with strong feelings on marshmallows.
  • The sacredness of pumpkin pie, with pecan pie as a close second.
  • Timing of the meal (3:30–4:00 PM suggested as ideal), and whether football is essential viewing or a distraction from the meal.
  • Reference to thankful traditions, the story of Rush Limbaugh retelling “the real Thanksgiving,” and why the story matters.

• Quote: “Thanksgiving is not about what you want to do, it’s about what your ancestors did.” — Charlie Kirk (74:20)

• On Pumpkin Pie:
  “It is like 100% required. The first commandment of Thanksgiving is thou shalt have pumpkin pie. With whipped cream.” — Charlie Kirk (77:21)

Reflections on Changing Traditions, Technology, and "Earning" Thanksgiving

• On Black Friday and Lost Rites of Passage:

  • Discussion of how Black Friday used to be about grit, adventure, and "earning" deals (92:02–94:02).
    • “It used to be you’d get home at 3:30 in the morning, you’re like, I got a good deal on a screen TV. It was a teenage rite of passage in suburban Chicago.” — Charlie Kirk (94:02)

• Tech Nostalgia:

  • Calling friends’ home phones, the role of AOL Instant Messenger, memorizing phone numbers, and learning “adult” communication through small social rites (105:34–109:41).

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Thanksgiving’s Deep Origin (History & Theology): 04:14–13:07
• Mayflower Compact & American Self-Governance: 17:20–22:03
• Experiment in Socialism/Private Property: 19:35–22:55
• Squanto’s Story: 30:35–35:31
• Modern Lessons/Providence/Gratitude: 35:31–39:22
• Cultural Food Debate Panel: 56:33–77:01
• Black Friday and Lost Traditions: 92:02–97:24
• Rites of Passage & Tech Nostalgia: 105:34–109:41

Tone and Takeaway

The tone oscillates between passionate historical storytelling, earnest moral exhortation, and playful banter. The episode mixes serious reminders of America’s origins in religious liberty, gratitude, and self-governance, with fun yet opinionated takes on how families “should” do Thanksgiving. At its core, listeners are encouraged to be thankful, to cherish American traditions, and to become active in protecting both faith and freedom, especially through education and deliberate gratitude.

For New Listeners

Whether you’re new to The Charlie Kirk Show or seeking a refresher on America’s deeper traditions, this episode provides an accessible, anecdote-rich narrative on the founding moments of Thanksgiving—connecting them directly to current questions of citizenship, culture, education, and what it means to be grateful, both as individuals and as a people.