Episode Overview

Podcast: Something Wrong With The Podcast
Host: Julian Delgado
Episode: SWWP #35 - Charlie Kirk's Killing: What Should We Expect Next? (Feat. Mom)
Date: September 16, 2025

Main Theme:
Julian returns to his childhood home to reflect with his mother on recent personal celebrations and the backdrop of a nation in turmoil. The episode dives deep into the state of America’s political culture in the wake of the public assassination of Charlie Kirk. Rather than dwell on Kirk’s personal legacy, the conversation centers on political polarization, the weaponization of tragedy and free speech, the shifting boundaries of hate speech, and how communities can foster hope and change amid pervasive division.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Milestones and Context

• [00:00–04:18] Julian and his mother begin by celebrating Julian's father’s induction into the local Hall of Fame. The connection to history, legacy, and community pride offer a soft entry before heavier topics are broached.

2. Immediate Response to Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

• [04:19–06:46]

  • Host and mother both agree: “No one deserves what happened to Charlie.”
  • Julian notes the rapid politicization and public reaction:
    • Right-wing figures quickly using the moment for rhetoric and doxxing those who mocked Kirk’s death.
    • Hypocrisy in calls for empathy from those who often traffic in inflammatory speech themselves (e.g., Alex Jones).
  • The mudslinging is bipartisan, with both sides digging up past insensitive statements to justify their present contempt.

  “It's ironic that the extreme right that calls for a lot of violence is now playing the empathy card…” — Julian [08:04]

3. Weaponization of Tragedy and Free Speech

• [06:46–11:55]
  • Both host and mother discuss how each political side selectively invokes the Constitution or moral high ground to attack opponents, rarely in the interest of unity.
  • Reflection on Kirk’s legacy as a provocateur who became a victim of the same violence he once rationalized:

    "This is the price we pay as Americans to have guns..." — Julian paraphrasing Kirk [09:54].

  • Frustration over the lack of genuine attempts at healing or national reflection.

4. Historical Parallels and Loss of Democratic Decorum

• [11:55–16:22]

  • Mom reminisces on divisive figures from her youth (e.g., George Wallace, KKK presence) and the difference: despite deep-rooted racism, the federal government at least “prided itself on being able to have discordance...that’s the strength of the democratic process.”
  • Now, foundational documents and civil liberties are no longer “sacred” but weaponized soundbites.

  “When we speak about the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution, it's purely used as a blanket statement to weaponize whatever statement you're about to say.” — Julian [14:10]

5. Civility, Hypocrisy, and Incitement

• [16:22–22:27]

  • The duo laments the loss of even basic respect for difference, with both sides obsessed with “winning.”
  • They explore how right-wing media quickly built a Kirk martyrdom narrative, likening him to MLK and Malcolm X, which Julian calls “brilliant, but infuriating” from a media strategy perspective.

  “What happened to him...is far more powerful to whatever movement he was trying to accomplish.” — Julian [20:47]

6. Free Speech vs. Hate Speech

• [22:31–26:27]
  • Mom raises the vital point: at what point does free speech become incitement to violence?
  • The challenge of distinguishing protected speech and actionable hate is made worse by political discord.

7. The Trump Effect and Political Violence

• [26:27–35:15]

  • Increasingly, figures who act violently in pursuit of political aims are celebrated (“you get a podcast... welcomed on Fox...”).
  • Trump and his media circle’s refusal to denounce violence or diffuse tension draws parallel to historical moments — but Trump’s influence is seen as uniquely emboldening.

  “When has Trump called the dogs off?...He’s never tried to diffuse any political violence.” — Julian [30:08]

8. Deflection and the ‘Victim’ Playbook

• [35:15–48:39]

  • The group discusses how right-wing figures conflate Christianity with political ideology—a tactic Julian calls their “guaranteed home run.”
  • Frequent references to hypocrisy: past misconduct is often hand-waved by the right if committed by their own, whereas Democrats “police” and purge wrongdoers even for much less.

  “You can make mistakes in the Republican Party and be welcomed back...” — Julian [52:58]

9. Personal Reflections on Profiling and Justice

• [37:45–44:48]
  • Julian shares two personal stories of being profiled by police as a black teenager and again as a young man at a public event, highlighting the ongoing reality of racial suspicion.
  • Mom notes the impact this has on families and communities even when incidents do not end in violence.

10. Entrenched Division and the Path Forward

• [46:31–62:06]

  • Both speakers bemoan the trend of finger-pointing: “It’s always them, it’s never us.”
  • They call for a return to small, community-rooted action, referencing local co-ops and mutual aid as critical to rebuilding trust.

  “We have to start somewhere and we have to start with…some really small acts of kindness.” — Mom [59:21]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On weaponizing tragedy:
  “The right are masterfully pushing this hero…It is insane, but it is brilliant for them to do that.”
  — Julian [22:27]

• On bipartisanship and hypocrisy:
  “The goal was always to preserve democracy…now when we speak about the Declaration…it's used as a blanket statement to weaponize whatever…”
  — Julian [14:10]

• On profiling:
  “You got to admit, you look suspicious, as if…you know what, man? You're right. My bad.”
  — Julian [44:03]

• On Democratic infighting:
  “The Democratic Party—you’re safe until you get a reason to get kicked out and then you're gone…they want people to fuck up so they can push him out.”
  — Julian [53:31]

• On resilient hope:
  “If you can make a conscious effort to break away from…use the social media for how it can best serve you…and then disassociate…It really was people, not the heads of state, it was the community.”
  — Mom [65:56–67:48]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–04:18 – Hall of Fame celebration and personal context
• 04:19–06:46 – Immediate reaction and politicization of Kirk’s assassination
• 11:55–16:22 – Historic comparison: then vs. now
• 20:47–22:27 – The right’s media strategy after the shooting
• 26:27–30:58 – Incitement and political violence, Trump’s role
• 37:45–44:48 – Personal stories: racial profiling
• 53:31–55:18 – Democratic “policing” vs. Republican forgiveness
• 59:21–61:41 – Community hope and grassroots action

Summary & Tone

The episode is an authentic, occasionally raw conversation mixing personal anecdote, biting humor, and unfiltered concern for America’s divisive political trajectory. Julian’s style is irreverent but earnest, while his mother brings a generational wisdom and grounding in community. The episode ultimately encourages listeners to seek connection in real life, nurture their immediate communities, and avoid being drawn into the performative outrage cycle dominating digital discourse.

Concluding Thought:

“Don’t fall for the extreme. There’s so much dialogue and connectivity that exists if you want it to, but that’s not going to be found online. No tweet that respects both sides is going viral.”
— Julian [68:00]

For those who haven’t listened: This episode is a candid reckoning with national trauma, political theater, and the cracks in American community life, offering both trenchant critique and a gentle nudge toward hope through everyday acts of connection.