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Mary Kathryn Hamm
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Mary Kathryn Hamm
Wasn't that delicious?
Ben Ferguson
So good.
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Mary Kathryn Hamm
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Ben Ferguson
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Mary Kathryn Hamm
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Ben Ferguson
You don't be silly.
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Okay. Rock, paper, scissors for it. Rock, paper, scissors.
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Shoot.
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Carol Markowitz
Hey, everyone, it's Sophia Bush, host of the podcast Work in progress. Lexus is a company that believes in the importance of setting a standard. For me, a standard that matters to me is being a friend, being a person, being a coworker who shows up. The standard Lexus has set for themselves is to experience amazing. Lexus's benchmarks are feelings. Things like exhilaration and joy. And amazing can only be achieved by knowing people on a deeper level. It's feeling like your car was designed and built just for you. A machine that makes you feel more human. Because a car that doesn't make you feel something is a car that stops short of amazing. So experience amazing at your Lexus dealer.
Charli Webster
Candice Rivera has it all. In just three years, she went from stay at home mom to traveling the world, saving lives and making millions. Anyone would think Candice's charmed life is about as real as unicorns. But sometimes the truth is even harder to believe than the lies.
Christina Williams
Not true. There are so many things not true.
Ben Ferguson
You gotta believe me.
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Mary Kathryn Hamm
You want smart political talk without the meltdowns, we got you.
Carol Markowitz
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Mary Kathryn Hamm
And I'm Mary Kathryn Ham. We've been around the block in media and we're doing things differently.
Carol Markowitz
Normally is about real conversations, thoughtful, try to be funny, grounded, and no panic.
Mary Kathryn Hamm
We'll keep you informed and entertained without ruining your day.
Carol Markowitz
Join us every Tuesday and Thursday Normally.
Mary Kathryn Hamm
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Pastor (unnamed, speaking about Charlie Kirk)
Heavenly Father, we come to you tonight in sadness, but also with Grateful hearts, because we know that your truth endures. We know where our dear brother and friend Charlie is. We thank you that he is receiving his reward and that he's heard those words that we all aspire to hear. Well done, good and faithful servants.
Ben Ferguson (advertisement segments)
You're listening to the 47 update with Ben Ferguson.
Pastor (unnamed, speaking about Charlie Kirk)
Good Monday morning. It's so nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. And we've got one major story for you, but it's two different aspects. The sadness around the passing of Charlie.
Ben Ferguson
Kirk after his assassination is now turning into love. And churches filled with people seeking a higher calling and answers from God, which is exactly what Charlie would have wanted. We're also seeing accountability for those on.
Pastor (unnamed, speaking about Charlie Kirk)
The radical left, the extremists that have.
Ben Ferguson
Been celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Pastor (unnamed, speaking about Charlie Kirk)
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Ben Ferguson (advertisement segments)
Story number one there are two things.
Ben Ferguson
That are happening right now in this country because of the assassination of Charlie Kirk. One is truly a spiritual revival we are witnessing right now as attendance at church across the country in many places was as high as it is on Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve services. We are also witnessing a younger generation who is now proudly standing up like never before for what they believe in instead of being bullied into silence by the radical left. We are also getting to know the stories of Charlie Kirk and just how dedicated he was to what he believed in. There's also a second part of this story and that is the accountability for the radical left we are witnessing now. Leftists who celebrated Charlie Kirk's assassination are being held accountable, being fired at a rapid rate, and conservatives are uniting to make sure that these individuals, especially at high schools and colleges, are no longer in a position to indoctrinate a generation to believing that violence is the way to silence speech that you disagree with. Before we get into all of that though, I want you to hear some truly inspiring words by the pastor of Charlie Kirk and what he had to say about Charlie, his friend and his passing. Listen carefully.
Pastor (unnamed, detailed tribute to Charlie Kirk)
Charlie Kirk is irreplaceable. Charlie Kirk is a once in a generation mind and soul and anointing and heart. Charlie Kirk was a rare combination of evangelist, apologist and political strategist. One of our most recent communications, he said, thank you. I have a ton of questions. I didn't ask for it, but I have become a high profile defender of the faith. I need to be the best I can. I said I'd be honored to serve for free invisibly as needed. You have an anointing to steward and it's massive. Proud of you and pray for you and your family daily. Charlie Kirk and I had been communicating. I was on vacation with my wife and he was asking when we could get together for a half day. He had a bunch of questions about the Christian faith that he wanted to whiteboard out and I told him it would be a great honor of my life to try and serve him. He told me that he felt like God gave him this platform and opportunity so that he could become an evangelist and apologist to the next generation. He wanted to make it his primary message and life work to proclaim the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is evangelism, and then defend it by answering criticisms, questions and objections, which is called apologetics, which means to defend the faith. Charlie Kirk stepped into a level of spiritual warfare that I believe moved him to the top of the enemy's hit list and to some degree contributed to his assassination, his murder and his martyrdom today. And I do not use those words lightly, those are entirely accurate and fit the description of the demonic activity that we saw today. Charlie wanted people to meet Jesus Christ and he wanted to do the best job that he could presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ. And as a result, Charlie was going to campuses and he was proclaiming Jesus and he was answering questions and he was a generational master in doing what the Bible says and that is to give an answer to everyone for the hope that you have with gentleness and respect. He was a joyful, happy warrior. He had a great smile. He was kind to his enemies, he tried to have a good time even when they were trying to give him a bad time. His impact on this generation cannot be overstated. I believe it is absolutely non hyperbolic to say that he is the greatest conservative voice of this generation alive on planet earth. One of the last times I saw him was backstage. It was actually some months ago I believe, when J.D. vance was in town and Charlie invited me to come meet JD in the green room and hang out with them. And I walked in with a big smile. He gave me a big hug and he said, he said, I need you to be praying for me, Pastor. I said, absolutely. I pray for Charlie every day my wife and I have and for his beautiful family. He said, he said, I think they're going to try and kill me. And he said, if we lose, I think they're going to incarcerate me. Here's a young man with a family who's willing to sacrifice his own life and well being and the joy he had with a wife whom he very much loved and children that he completely adored for the sake of selfless service and sacrifice out of love for others. Charlie is, was and will forever be one of the most significant men who walked on planet Earth in his generation.
Ben Ferguson
You listened to Charlie's pastor there talking about how much he wanted to prepare, how much he wanted to make sure that he was prepared for the questions about the gospel, about his faith being an apologist. That is how much he cared about spreading the gospel to the world. There's also incredible things that have come out of this. I'll give you an example of that that happened and was just sent to me a moment ago. J.D. vance, the Vice President, United States of America, will have the, quote, honor as he put out on social media of hosting the Charlie Kirk Show. He said, please join me as I pay tribute to my friend. Apparently he will be doing this from the White House. There's also part of what Charlie's legacy was, and it was an important one, was making sure the left didn't get a hold of our children, indoctrinate them the way they've been doing it in such a radical way. And we're now witnessing leftists who celebrated Charlie Kirk's assassination are being fired at a rapid pace. Those leftists who celebrated the assassination of Charlie are now facing serious consequences, consequences of sunlight after they were excited that Charlie was murdered. Others are being identified and called out, then placed on leave or suspension, according to a running thread that keeps count on social media platform X. As you know, we understand how extreme the left has become, but what we are witnessing right now is that there are many who are dedicating their time to exposing far left radicals. And one of those groups, Libs of TikTok, is doing a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to pointing out how much violence and hate are still brewing on the left regarding Charlie. A teacher, for example, at King Elementary School posts a video online appearing to celebrate Charlie being assassinated. This person teaches your children any comments? And guess what happened when that was posted about a teacher at King Elementary School. There has now been accountability. There was another post by another teacher at another high school in Maine. And what happened there? She said, we're not offering sympathy. Moments after Charlie Kirk was shot, this teacher has also been exposed. Republican activist Scott Pressler is also creating a database such behavior and encouraging his followers to send him any examples that they see online. Another Pennsylvania teacher by the name of Susan at another high school. One of Pressler's posts made it clear.
Pastor (unnamed, speaking about Charlie Kirk)
This is a woman who said so.
Ben Ferguson
Yeah, I don't really care that someone shot him dead f him. This is another teacher teaching your children. And so yes, there is some accountability for the radical left that has been creating these killers, these monsters.
Ben Ferguson (advertisement segments)
Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now. And for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.
Carol Markowitz
Hey everyone, it's Sophia Bush, host of the podcast Work in Progress. Lexus is a company that believes in the importance of setting a standard. For me, a standard that matters to me is being a friend, being a person, being a coworker who shows up. The standard Lexus has set for themselves is to experience amazing. Lexus benchmarks are feelings. Things like exhilaration and joy and amazing can only be achieved by knowing people on a deeper level. It's feeling like your car was designed and built just for you. A machine that makes you feel more human. Because a car that doesn't make you feel something is a car that stops short of amazing. So experience amazing at your Lexus dealer.
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A new NFL season means a fresh start and fresh styles. @nflshop.com you'll find the latest jerseys, hats and sideline gear to rep your team all season long. From rookies making their debut to legends, NFLShop.com has it all. Score exclusive styles you won't find anywhere else and show up ready for every kickoff and big play fan like a pro and shop now@nflshop.com.
Mary Kathryn Hamm
You want smart political talk without the meltdowns? We got you.
Carol Markowitz
I'm Carol Markowitz.
Mary Kathryn Hamm
And I'm Mary Kathryn Hamm. We've been around the block in media and we're doing things differently.
Carol Markowitz
Normally is about real conversations, thoughtful, try to be funny, grounded, and no panic.
Mary Kathryn Hamm
We'll keep you informed and entertained without ruining your day.
Carol Markowitz
Join us every Tuesday and Thursday Normally.
Mary Kathryn Hamm
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Ben Ferguson
I'm Ben Ferguson.
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Mary Kathryn Hamm
This is an iHeart podcast.
Date: September 15, 2025
Host: Ben Ferguson (Premiere Networks)
In this somber yet impassioned episode, Ben Ferguson dedicates the 47 Morning Update to the recent assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk. The show divides into two main themes: a heartfelt tribute to Kirk's legacy—characterized by a wave of national spiritual revival and renewed activism—and an uncompromising call for accountability toward those celebrating his death. Through a moving eulogy from Kirk's pastor, statements from prominent conservatives, and examples of backlash against far-left extremism, Ferguson aims both to memorialize and mobilize his audience.
[06:10] Ben Ferguson:
Notable Quote:
“We are also witnessing a younger generation who is now proudly standing up like never before for what they believe in instead of being bullied into silence by the radical left.”
— Ben Ferguson [06:16]
[07:38] Pastor (unnamed):
“[Charlie said] I think they’re going to try and kill me. And he said, if we lose I think they’re going to incarcerate me.”
— Pastor [09:58]
“Charlie Kirk stepped into a level of spiritual warfare that I believe moved him to the top of the enemy’s hit list and to some degree contributed to his assassination, his murder and his martyrdom today.”
— Pastor [08:51]
[11:19] Ben Ferguson:
[12:00] Ben Ferguson:
Notable Quote:
“Those leftists who celebrated the assassination of Charlie are now facing serious consequences, consequences of sunlight after they were excited that Charlie was murdered.”
— Ben Ferguson [12:30]
“Charlie is, was and will forever be one of the most significant men who walked on planet Earth in his generation.”
— Pastor [10:53]
“We are… getting to know the stories of Charlie Kirk and just how dedicated he was to what he believed in.”
— Ben Ferguson [06:18]
Vice President’s Tribute:
“J.D. Vance, the Vice President… will have the ‘honor’ as he put out on social media of hosting The Charlie Kirk Show.”
— Ben Ferguson [11:26]
Exposure and Firing of Radical Educators:
“A teacher… at King Elementary School posts a video online appearing to celebrate Charlie being assassinated. This person teaches your children… There has now been accountability.”
— Ben Ferguson [12:47]
This episode of The 47 Morning Update stands as a testament to the divisive moment in American politics following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Ben Ferguson crafts a narrative that honors Kirk’s personal and political impact, underscores a swelling conservative and religious revival, and demands consequential action against those who use violent events to advance extreme ideologies. The show functions as both a eulogy and a mobilization speech for his audience, amplifying Kirk’s legacy as a “joyful warrior” and rallying listeners to defend their values in his stead.