THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOW – OCTOBER 7, 2025

Podcast: Real America’s Voice (iHeartPodcasts)
Date: October 7, 2025
Host (filling in): Andrew Colvett
Guests: Blake Neff, Mark Halperin, Andy Biggs, Cliff Maloney

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode was largely dedicated to:

• Addressing lingering questions and speculation about the recent murder of Charlie Kirk, including reactions to leaked group texts about his views on Israel.
• Discussing the latest political developments, including urban crime, border crises, and Trump administration interventions in cities like Chicago and Portland.
• Showcasing the Arizona gubernatorial campaign of Rep. Andy Biggs—Charlie Kirk's chosen candidate—and highlighting Republican ground-game strategy in swing states and New Jersey.
• Reflecting on Charlie Kirk’s legacy, coalition-building, and the broader conservative movement’s direction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Crime, Urban Violence, and Federal Response

• [00:25-05:08] Panelists discussed escalating violence linked to cartels and gangs in American cities, notably Chicago:
  • Cliff Maloney: “We have terrorist organizations and that’s what I keep reminding people… Every day that we don’t bring them to justice, they’re recruiting new members.” [00:25]
  • Donald Trump: Defended potential federal interventions ("We're going in... We have the right to do it."). [00:38]
  • Sean Davis: Raised concerns about misuse of force and focus on racial profiling, stating the need for precise law enforcement efforts. [01:09]
  • Andy Biggs & Mark Halperin: Debated the legality of federal deployments under the Posse Comitatus Act and implications for local vs federal authority. [02:16-03:29]

Notable Moment

“I refuse to let Donald Trump, Krissi Noem and Gregory Bevino continue on this march toward autocracy. [...] The state of Illinois is going to use every lever at our disposal to resist this power grab and get Noem’s thugs the hell out of Chicago.” — Sean Davis [03:29]

2. Charlie Kirk’s Group Text Controversy: Israel, Free Speech, and Loyalty

[05:16-26:30]
In-depth focus on leaked group texts about Charlie Kirk’s nuanced, sometimes frustrated, views on Israel and the resulting movement infighting.

Context & Handling

• Andrew Colvett: Admitted he privately shared the group chat excerpt in government circles for investigative thoroughness, clarifying it was not originally intended for public release. [05:18-07:55]
• Blake Neff: Candidly explained the tension between private venting/frustration and Kirk’s steadfast public stances. And that Kirk’s “wrestle” with Israel policy was thoughtful, not duplicitous. [07:36-11:20]
• Andrew & Blake: Emphasized Kirk’s belief in free speech, his frustration with feeling “morally blackmailed” by donors or factions regarding Israel, and his refusal to bow to public pressure. [14:05-18:53]
• Noted Kirk’s loyalty to friends and colleagues despite disagreement on policy or issues.

Noteworthy Quote

“I love Israel. I want Israel to win. But my moral character is now being put into question, Megan. Not my decisions... I am a bad person if I do this.”
—Charlie Kirk to Megyn Kelly (audio replayed), [11:44]

Takeaway

• The consensus among co-hosts: Kirk’s views were consistent across venues; the group chat was honest venting, not evidence of hidden positions.
• Warned that divisiveness over this internal debate would betray Kirk's legacy of coalition-building and loyalty to Turning Point USA. [23:29-25:25]

3. Political Legacy, Grieving, and the Movement

Reflections on Leadership Loss

• Honoring Kirk’s coalition-building, refusal to let the movement fracture, and his deep investment in Turning Point USA. [23:29-25:25]
• Mark Halperin: Offered heartfelt praise for the show team’s handling of grief. Highlighted the exceptionally wide emotional resonance of Kirk’s death—across ideologies and international borders. [26:30-37:33]

Powerful Reflection

“There’s something about his spirit. There’s something about his place in this current moment in American history that makes this hit people very hard.” — Mark Halperin [33:20]

4. Immigration, Federalism, and Democratic Pushback

State vs. Federal Conflict

• Analysis of ongoing tensions as President Trump deploys federal resources to major cities to address violent crime and illegal immigration.
  • Mark Halperin analyzed the hard choices: “I think the President has the upper hand because he’s shameless and ruthless and really understands the news cycle.” [41:04]
  • Blake Neff: Noted the risk of ICE becoming a “Gestapo” talking point for Democrats if not carefully managed. [43:39]
• Polling Segment: High public support for deporting criminal illegal immigrants, but lower for National Guard deployment—much of the public mood is situational and driven by perceived necessity. [44:29-46:26]

5. Congressional Spying / Surveillance Debate

• New revelations: FBI and Special Counsel Jack Smith requested metadata on phone calls for multiple Republican senators during the Jan 6 probe.
  • Mark Halperin: Cautioned restraint before labeling it “worse than Watergate,” but agreed executive-branch investigations of legislators are “a sensitive area” that warrants scrutiny. [50:46-53:03]
  • Hosts and guests stressed the need to follow facts and avoid reflexive hyperbole, but acknowledged deep conservative discomfort and sense of potential overreach.

6. Arizona Politics: Andy Biggs for Governor

Candidate Showcase & Policy Vision

• Andy Biggs: Discussed strong polling, broad grassroots support, and the importance of personal voter contact and endorsements from President Trump and Charlie Kirk. [60:10-63:23]
• Core Platform:
  • Public safety: Restore rule of law, fill 400-500 police vacancies [64:22-64:44]
  • Economic revival: Eliminate income tax, streamline regulation, outcompete other Sun Belt states [65:20-65:54]
  • Border security: Continue crackdowns on trafficking [66:01-66:12]
  • Infrastructure: Reforming water and energy policy, replacing unreliable renewables with natural gas and nuclear [66:01-67:46]
  • Election integrity, emphasizing rapid post-election legislative action [67:46-68:12]

“The goal is to have freedom in this state. [...] We’re going to eliminate income tax.” — Andy Biggs [64:22-65:33]

Emotional Tribute to Kirk

• Biggs and others became choked up recalling their friendships with Kirk and his unique contributions to both the MAGA and Turning Point movements. [76:30-78:03]

7. Republican Ground Game: Door-Knocking & NJ Chase

• Cliff Maloney (Citizens Alliance): Announced expansion of the Republican door-to-door “chase” strategy to New Jersey, aiming for 500,000 doors to boost Jack Ciattarelli’s gubernatorial campaign. [82:51-84:55]
• Biggs: Emphasized power of personal contact in driving turnout, citing Arizona’s 2024 “low prop/new voter” mobilization as key to Trump’s win there. [85:18-86:10]
• Blake Neff: Noted internal Democratic polling showing a dead heat gives Republicans a real opportunity in NJ. [89:09-89:39]

“If you do it when you have a good message, you’re gonna win. I’m really excited.” — Andy Biggs [89:55]

8. Audience Q&A with Andy Biggs

• Topics covered:
  • Arizona gas pricing and refining issues [72:35-74:15]
  • Combatting border crossings and state vs. federal authority [74:18-75:10]
  • Cultural concerns (Sharia law)—Biggs working on federal legislation [98:59-100:02]
  • Renewable energy skepticism and land use [96:35-98:23]
  • Election integrity improvements in Maricopa County [97:41-98:51]

Notable Quotes / Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “We’re not just dealing with criminals. We’ve got networks of cartel members and terrorists infiltrating these cities.”
  — Cliff Maloney [00:25]

• “Their plan all along has been to cause chaos… and then they can use that chaos to consolidate Donald Trump’s power.”
  — Sean Davis [03:29]

• “He believed in the freedom of speech, and he felt like he deserved, as a friend of Israel over many years, the right to speak out and have criticism.”
  — Andrew Colvett [14:05]

• “You could not control him with money. It just wasn’t the way he was wired.”
  — Andrew Colvett on Charlie Kirk [17:23]

• “He loved Israel. He cared about Israel and he cared about how that… He wanted to give—He wanted to help the pro-Israel movement.”
  — Blake Neff [10:13-11:21]

• “There’s something about his spirit... his place in this current moment in American history that makes this hit people very hard.”
  — Mark Halperin [33:20]

• “The President has the upper hand [on deploying federal force] because he’s shameless and ruthless and really understands the news cycle.”
  — Mark Halperin [41:04]

• “Charlie always said that borders are a political delineation where bad ideas begin and good ideas begin or bad ideas end and good ideas begin.”
  — Andrew Colvett [75:25]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Violence & federal intervention in cities: [00:25–05:08]
• Charlie Kirk’s Israel group text controversy: [05:16–26:30]
• Mark Halperin’s reflection on Kirk's legacy: [26:30–37:33]
• Federal vs. state authority, immigration, ICE: [40:11–47:40]
• Congressional surveillance, Jan 6 probe: [50:46–53:03]
• Arizona gubernatorial campaign – Andy Biggs: [60:10–69:23]
• New Jersey ground game strategy (Maloney): [82:51–93:22]
• Audience Q&A with Andy Biggs: [94:13–101:37]

Conclusion

This episode served as an emotionally charged tribute to Charlie Kirk while tackling urgent political and cultural developments. The hosts and guests worked to dispel rumors and reinforce Kirk's complex but principled views on issues like Israel, maintaining the importance of unity and honest debate in the conservative coalition. The urgent focus on campaigning, both in Arizona and pivotal East Coast states, underpins the ongoing movement to implement Kirk’s vision posthumously. The episode was marked by frank, unscripted conversation—clearly intended as both catharsis for the team and a roadmap for listeners seeking direction in turbulent political times.