The Ben Shapiro Show – Ep. 2280

Title: Kirk’s Shooter Had TRANS Boyfriend, Far-Left Views
Date: September 15, 2025
Host: Ben Shapiro

Overview

This episode centers on the aftermath of the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Ben Shapiro discusses the rise in support and memorials for Kirk, then sharply examines the motivations and background of Kirk’s accused shooter, attributing it to far-left and trans-related ideology. The episode scrutinizes so-called “permission structures” for violence, arguing these are propagated more broadly and openly on the political left. Shapiro critiques how elements of media and culture react to political violence and explores the societal acceptance of certain radical ideologies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Outpouring of Support for Charlie Kirk

• [00:00–03:40]
  • Shapiro begins with a heartfelt note about Kirk’s faith and legacy, describing the massive wave of memorials, fundraising ($5 million raised for Kirk’s family), and public tributes across various communities and celebrities (Morgan Wallen, Chris Martin, NASCAR’s Christopher Bell, Oregon’s Dan Lanning, etc.).
  • Quote [03:40, A]: “All of this outpouring for Charlie is truly amazing. It really, really is. And I hope that it's some comfort to Charlie's family.”
  • Erica Kirk, Charlie’s widow, is highlighted for her strength and her deeply moving public message following Charlie’s death:
    • Quote [05:29, E]: “She goes, where's daddy? What do you tell a three year old? ... He's on a work trip with Jesus so he can afford your blueberry budget.”
    • Quote [06:17, E]: “If you thought that my husband's mission was powerful before. You have no idea ... The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.”

2. The Shooter's Ideological Background and Motive

• [07:19–15:33]
  • Shapiro transitions to the emerging picture of Kirk’s assassin, Tyler Robinson. He argues that, contrary to claims that the shooter might be right-wing, evidence overwhelmingly points to far-left, trans-aligned beliefs.
  • Lays out what he claims are three features of ideologies prone to violence:
    1. Conspiratorial worldview
    2. Perception that one’s group is targeted by a powerful cabal
    3. Belief that violence is justified as self-defense
  • Trans ideology, Marxism, white supremacy, BLM, and radical Islam are cited as examples of ideologies Shapiro claims “breed violence.”
  • Discusses specific evidence about the shooter:
    • Shooter’s leftist attitude, a “furry” subculture fixation, and a transgender boyfriend
    • Social media and online activity revealing a mix of far-left memes, gamer slang, and trans activism
    • Shooter’s text expressing intent to kill Kirk “because of his hatred of what Charlie stood for”
  • Quote [15:33, A]: “It wasn't the roommate that turned him in, wasn't the boyfriend ... it was his conservative Christian parents who turned him in.”

3. Analyzing "Permission Structures" for Violence

• [20:45–35:18]
  • Shapiro argues that not all ideologies are equally prone to violence and rebukes the idea of ideological equivalence.
  • He details how left-wing media and commentators, by contextualizing or downplaying political violence by their allies, create what he terms “permission structures.”
  • Critiques journalists and writers (Elizabeth Spears in The Nation, Peter Baker in The New York Times) who, in his view, hint at or rationalize Kirk’s murder due to his conservative beliefs.
    • Quote [30:18, A] on Spears: “This is just a permission structure for violence. That's all it is.”
  • Offers polling data to argue that Democrats are less likely than Republicans to say it’s never acceptable to be happy about the death of a public figure.
  • Quote [35:18, D]: “He's become, in this last few days, I think, a symbol of the toxic culture that we're in right now.”

4. Critique of Progressive Media Figures & Platforms

• [35:18–49:11]
  • Shapiro focuses heavily on progressive online influencer Hasan Piker, who received an op-ed slot in the New York Times about Kirk’s assassination. Shapiro plays Piker’s inflammatory and violent quotes as evidence of leftist tolerance—or celebration—of political violence:
    • Quote [42:36, C]: “Everybody was stoked. ... Like, virtually everybody understands it. ... we were monitoring the situation on Trump's untimely demise. Obviously, it didn't happen. ... That was a lot of fun, though.”
    • Quote [44:08, C]: “Yeah, kill them. Kill those mother. And murder those motherfuckers in the street. Let the streets soak in their red capitalist bloods, dude.”
    • Quote [46:29, C]: “America deserved 9/11, dude. It, I'm saying it.”
    • Quote [47:44, C]: “In a totally just world, any kind of ... Zionist tendency should be treated in the same way as being a rabid neo Nazi.”
  • Shapiro criticizes the NYT and other elite outlets for mainstreaming “openly violent” rhetoric.

5. Mainstreaming of Violent Rhetoric in Academia, Arts, and Entertainment

• [48:47–60:32]
  • Presents examples from academia (e.g., an Oxford student leader arguing “violent retaliation” is sometimes necessary).
  • Highlights the British rapper Bob Vylan’s statement celebrating Kirk’s murder at a concert.
    • Quote [49:49, C]: “I want to dedicate this next one to an absolute piece of a human being. The pronouns was ... Cuz if you ch, you will get banged. Rest in peace, Charlie pieces.”
  • Discusses the lack of response from celebrities at the Emmys to Kirk’s death, contrasting this silence with outspoken support for Gaza or opposition to Israel.
  • Specific presenters/celebrities named: Javier Bardem, Hannah Einbinder.

6. Counterposing the "Culture" of the Left and Religious/Conservative America

• [60:32–end]
  • Shapiro contrasts “Hollywood virtue signaling” with what he sees as a healthy religious/conservative response of unity and peace.
  • Notes church and synagogue attendance has risen—particularly on the weekend following Kirk’s death—as evidence that “mainstream America” rejects political violence.
    • Quote [61:41, A]: “On a monthly basis, somewhere between 135 and 145 million people go to church. ... And church attendance is going up.”
  • Encourages listeners to support TPUSA, continue Kirk’s mission, and to “pick up the microphone.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ideology and violence:
  [12:40, A]: “The ideologies that breed violence usually have three features in common: a conspiratorial view ... a belief that your group is targeted ... a belief that violence is justified in self-defense.”
• On media enabling violence:
  [30:18, A]: “If you're treating this as though this is not a permission structure for violence, you're reading it wrong.”
• On cultural reactions:
  [49:49, C/Bob Vylan]: “If you talk bleep, you will get banged. Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk, you piece of bleep.”
• On the mainstreaming of violence:
  [47:44, C/Hasan Piker]: “Any kind of Zionist tendency should be treated in the same way as being a rabid neo Nazi.”
• On the conservative response:
  [61:41, A]: “Church attendance is going up. The Emmy ratings ... not huge numbers, a little under 7 million ... but church attendance—between 66 and 70 million people.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment/Quote | |----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Episode introduction, memorials and mass support for Charlie Kirk | | 05:07 | Erica Kirk’s message to the public, her moving eulogy | | 07:19 | Shapiro introduces evidence regarding the shooter’s far-left and trans connections | | 12:40 | Characteristics of violence-prone ideologies | | 15:14 | Spencer Cox (Utah governor) confirms shooter’s leftist ideology and trans boyfriend | | 20:45 | Historical examples: mass shootings linked to trans/gender activism | | 30:18 | Critique of media rationalizations and permission structures | | 35:18 | Peter Baker (NYT) on Kirk’s polarizing style | | 42:36 | Hasan Piker’s controversial quotes “A lot of people were concerned ... everybody was stoked”| | 44:08 | Hasan Piker calls for violence against property owners | | 46:29 | Hasan Piker: “America deserved 9/11” | | 47:44 | Hasan Piker: Zionism equals Nazism | | 48:47 | Oxford president: “violent retaliation” sometimes necessary | | 49:49 | Bob Vylan celebrates Kirk’s murder on stage | | 57:42 | Javier Bardem at Emmys: “genocide in Gaza, sanctions on Israel, free Palestine” | | 58:09 | Hannah Einbinder: “Go Birds, ICE [expletive], and free Palestine” | | 61:41 | Contrast: rising church attendance vs. Hollywood indifference | | 62:30 | Shapiro urging listeners to join TPUSA, continue Kirk’s legacy |

Summary and Tone

Shapiro delivers this episode in his typical rapid-fire, polemical style, mixing grave concern, offense, and sarcasm. The episode moves from grieving and honoring Charlie Kirk to a lengthy indictment of left-wing ideologies, media double standards, and what Shapiro presents as a dangerous mainstreaming of violent rhetoric. He uses repeated examples, especially Hasan Piker, to argue that elite liberal institutions foster, excuse, or even celebrate political violence against conservatives—contrasting this with what he claims is the peaceful, unifying reaction of religious/conservative communities.

For New Listeners

This episode is an extended, emotionally charged, and politically pointed argument about the conditions before and after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, with Shapiro arguing that far-left ideology and trans activism create an environment where such acts are justified or excused in certain circles, in contrast to what he characterizes as the peaceful, constructive reaction from the right. The core message: not all ideologies are equally likely to breed violence, and American culture—especially its media—needs to come to terms with this fact.