The Breakfast Club – "Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot At University Event"

Date: September 11, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, Mimi Brown
Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on breaking news about the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a university debate event, examining the event’s immediate fallout, political reactions, and the broader conversations about gun violence and political speech in America. The hosts also touch on other national headlines, including another school shooting in Colorado, commemorations of September 11th, Kamala Harris's new memoir, Black women’s employment rates, and New Mexico's new universal childcare policy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking News: The Charlie Kirk Shooting

[02:52–07:42]

• Incident Details:

  • Charlie Kirk, age 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during a Q&A portion of a debate at Utah Valley University ([02:52]).
  • A manhunt is reportedly underway; two suspects were released ([02:52]).
  • Kirk was answering audience questions about gun violence when the shooting occurred ([02:52]), and the hosts play audio from the moments leading up to the incident (gunshots omitted for sensitivity).

• Kirk’s Profile:

  • Noted as influential among young conservatives, having built Turning Point’s presence on thousands of campuses ([02:52]).
  • Frequently opposed gun restrictions and spread election conspiracy theories, polarizing public opinion ([02:52]).
  • His own words defending broad gun rights—“some deaths were worth it to protect the Second Amendment”—have resurfaced following his death ([04:28]).

• Reactions and Blame Game:

  • Lawmakers across the spectrum condemned the shooting, but partisan blame quickly intensified ([04:28]).

  • Fox News’ Jesse Watters commented:

    • “Charlie spoke the truth. He said what he felt, and they killed him for it. The message is shut your mouth.” ([05:15], Watters).
    • “This isn’t the first time this has happened. This is just the worst time.” ([05:21], Watters).
    • “They shot Trump. They went to Kavanaugh’s house with a rifle. They’re firebombing Elon’s cars... They’re telling us we’re at war.” ([05:24–05:29], Watters)

  • Rep. Nancy Mace (R) blamed Democrats, stating:

    • “Democrats own what happened today. I am devastated. Just because you speak your mind on an issue doesn’t mean you get shot.” ([05:30–06:02], Mace)
    • When pressed by a journalist, she doubled down: “This is on Democrats. Own this.” ([06:21–06:22], Mace)

  • DJ Envy urges caution:

    • “I think that this shooter hasn’t been caught yet. So I think our elected officials need to be a little bit careful before we absolutely place the blame.” ([06:47], DJ Envy)

  • DJ Envy and Mimi Brown stress the tragedy’s human side:

    • “Whether you liked his opinion...the fact that you have an opinion and you’re killed for it is very disgraceful.” ([06:53], DJ Envy)
    • “My heart goes out to his children and his wife, but he’s gone now…” ([07:42], Mimi Brown)

2. Broader Conversation about Gun Violence

[08:00–09:02]

• Colorado School Shooting:
  • Evergreen High School, near Denver, witnessed another student gunman wounding two kids before taking his own life ([08:00]).
  • Three students injured, one in critical condition ([08:00]).
  • Ongoing law enforcement investigation; motive unclear ([08:00]).

3. September 11 Remembrance

[10:38–11:16]

• The show marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11, highlighting national ceremonies and remembering the nearly 3,000 lives lost ([10:38]).

4. Exclusive: Kamala Harris’s Memoir ‘107 Days’

[11:17–14:53]

• Key Revelations from the Memoir:

  • Harris reveals frustration at being sidelined within the Biden administration ([11:17]).
  • Claims that White House staff fed negative stories about her to the press, refused to defend her ([11:17]).
  • Harris argues she should have challenged Biden more directly about seeking reelection: “It wasn’t just risky...the stakes were too high to leave that choice to an individual's ego or an individual's ambition.” ([11:17], Harris via Atlantic excerpt)
  • Book excerpt suggests she received little public support from the administration ([11:17]).
  • Despite tensions, Harris states, “Even on his worst day, Joe Biden was better than Donald Trump on his best.” ([12:42], Harris)

• Hosts’ Commentary:

  • DJ Envy:
    • “This is the honesty she should have showcased during the campaign.” ([12:42])
    • Urges Democrats to “throw that old regime under the bus,” referencing the need for party renewal.
  • Debate about whether early dissent would have cost Harris politically or created support ([14:17]).

5. Black Women’s Unemployment and Economic Equity

[14:53–18:04]

• Recent Job Numbers:

  • 319,000 fewer Black women employed since July, with a 6.7% unemployment rate versus 4.3% overall ([14:53]).
  • Rep. Ayanna Pressley warns it’s a leading indicator for the wider economy ([14:53]).

• Notable Quote:

  • Pressley: “Black women throughout history have been the canaries in the coal mine. This alarming spike...is just further evidence of Donald Trump’s irresponsible and chaotic economic policies...It is also discriminate, precise, and targeted harm.” ([15:32], Rep. Ayanna Pressley via interview)

• Contributing Factors:

  • Cuts to DEI programs, elimination of federal jobs, AI-driven hiring bias ([16:32]).
  • Presley calls for targeted measurement and policy, warning that such job losses will ripple out ([16:32]).

• Hosts’ Take:

  • DJ Envy:
    • “A lot of that security gotta be financial...Run that check.” ([17:32–18:02])
  • Mimi Brown:
    • “Put some action behind those words.” ([18:02])

6. Policy Good News: New Mexico’s Free Universal Child Care

[18:05–19:01]

• New Mexico will offer free universal childcare starting November, regardless of income—expected to save families ~$12,000 per child each year ([18:05]).
• Hailed by hosts as a positive, progressive policy for working families ([18:05]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jesse Watters (Fox News):
  “Charlie spoke the truth. He said what he felt, and they killed him for it. The message is shut your mouth.” ([05:15])
• DJ Envy:
  “Whether you liked his opinion...the fact that you have an opinion and you’re killed for it is very disgraceful.” ([06:53])
• Rep. Nancy Mace (R):
  “Democrats own what happened today. I am devastated. Just because you speak your mind on an issue doesn’t mean you get shot.” ([06:02])
• Mimi Brown:
  “My heart goes out to his children and his wife, but he’s gone now…” ([07:42])
• Rep. Ayanna Pressley:
  “Black women throughout history have been the canaries in the coal mine. This alarming spike in Black women’s unemployment rate is 6.7%. This is the highest in four years...I do believe it is also discriminate, precise and targeted harm.” ([15:32])
• DJ Envy:
  “A lot of that security gotta be financial...When was the last time you put a check in a Black woman’s pocket?” ([17:32])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:52] — Breaking: Charlie Kirk shot at university event
• [04:28] — Viral video of Kirk’s gun rights comment after his death
• [05:15] — Jesse Watters on Fox News blames left, says “Charlie spoke the truth...”
• [05:30] — Rep. Nancy Mace blames Democrats, heated exchange
• [06:47] — DJ Envy calls for caution about blaming before facts are known
• [08:00] — Report on Colorado high school shooting
• [10:38] — 9/11 commemoration coverage
• [11:17] — Kamala Harris memoir revelations
• [14:53] — Pressley/Black women’s unemployment
• [15:32] — Pressley: Black women are “canaries in the coal mine”
• [18:05] — New Mexico's free universal childcare policy

Tone & Flow

• The conversation is fast-paced and urgent, driven by real-time reactions to breaking news.
• Hosts maintain a frank, respectful, and sometimes somber energy, especially around the topics of violence.
• Political commentary is passionate and candid but frames events within a broadly empathetic context and an eye toward bigger policy questions.

Summary

This episode of The Breakfast Club delivers immediate and thorough coverage of the high-profile shooting of Charlie Kirk, emphasizing the tragedy’s human and political stakes while critically examining reactions from across the spectrum. The hosts highlight America’s ongoing struggles with gun violence, the dangers of political escalation, and the need for responsible discourse. In addition to breaking news, the show offers sharp commentary on other national stories—especially the economic plight of Black women and progressive policy advances—anchoring the episode in the pressing issues facing the country today.