Podcast Summary: The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode Title: Another Promise Kept: Abolishing the Department of Education
Host: Charlie Kirk
Release Date: March 20, 2025
Description:
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative activist, delves into the significant political developments of the day. In this episode, he discusses President Donald Trump's executive order to abolish the Department of Education, explores the historical context of the department, and engages in an in-depth conversation with Dr. Ronald J. Pastrito from Hillsdale College about the Progressive Era and the challenges posed by nationwide injunctions.

1. Introduction and Breaking News (00:00 - 00:35)

Charlie Kirk opens the episode by announcing a groundbreaking development: President Trump is abolishing the Department of Education. He sets the stage for a deep dive into the history and implications of this move, emphasizing the significance of fulfilling campaign promises.

2. Initial Remarks and Support (00:35 - 00:56)

• Dr. Ronald J. Pastrito commends Charlie Kirk for his impactful work.

  "Charlie, what you've done is incredible here."
  [00:35]

• An unknown speaker praises Kirk's efforts in building Turning Point USA.

  "He's built one of the most powerful youth organizations ever created, Turning Point USA."
  [00:46]

3. Abolishing the Department of Education (00:56 - 18:36)

Charlie Kirk provides a comprehensive analysis of the Department of Education's history and outlines the rationale behind its abolition:

• Historical Context:

  • Established in the 1970s under President Jimmy Carter, separating from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
  • Claims that prior to its creation, education was localized and personal, managed by parents, communities, and religious institutions.

• Critique of the Department:

  • Argues that the federalization of education led to a decline in educational standards despite increased spending.
  • Attributes the shift towards an administrative state model to progressive ideologies influenced by figures like John Dewey and Woodrow Wilson.
  • Criticizes the focus on creating "good worker bees" rather than good citizens capable of critical thinking.

• President Trump's Executive Order:

  • Describes Trump's action as a "Promise Keeper" move to eliminate what he terms an unnecessary federal bureaucracy.
  • Acknowledges that full abolition may require Congressional action but emphasizes immediate steps like furloughing staff and reallocating essential programs (e.g., Pell Grants and federal student loans) to other departments like the Treasury and Justice Department.
  • Stresses that President Trump's actions aim to restore local control and reduce federal intervention in education.

• Statistics and Issues:

  • Highlights the bloated nature of the Department, citing a $250 billion budget with much of it earmarked for non-essential programs.
  • Points out the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the current education system, referencing poor performance metrics such as only 61% of fourth graders being proficient in math.
  • Criticizes public sector teacher unions for hindering educational progress and labeling them as detrimental to America's future.

• Quotes:

  "Education is about creating good citizens. Education is about creating people that are capable of answering life's deeper questions."
  [05:20]

  "This is a death blow against the education cartel that has been harming our country."
  [16:50]

4. Interview with Dr. Ronald J. Pastrito (18:36 - 35:04)

Charlie Kirk welcomes Dr. Ronald J. Pastrito, a professor of politics and dean at Hillsdale College, to discuss the broader implications of abolishing the Department of Education and delve into the Progressive Era's influence on modern governance.

a. Understanding Injunctions and Administrative Overreach (18:36 - 26:02)

• Discussion on Nationwide Injunctions:

  • Dr. Pastrito explains the rise of nationwide district court injunctions as a tool used predominantly by Republicans against Democratic administrations, citing the Obama era as a starting point.

    "Republicans at that time ... decided to go very aggressive with administrative power... instead of using the powers constitutionally that Congress has."
    [19:08]

  • Highlights the limitations of district courts in handling issues like foreign policy, emphasizing that such matters should fall under the jurisdiction of the executive branch and the Supreme Court.

    "Does a district court judge have any jurisdiction over foreign policy decisions made by a president? No, he does not."
    [20:32]

• Challenges and Remedies:

  • Discusses the difficulty in reversing lower court decisions, noting the potential delays and the burden placed on the country while cases work their way up to the Supreme Court.

  • Impeachment of rogue judges is mentioned but deemed impractical due to the high threshold required in the Senate.

    "Impeachment requires a supermajority vote in the Senate. That is simply never going to happen."
    [24:10]

b. Case Study: Trump’s FTC Appointees and Humphreys Executor (26:02 - 30:02)

• FTCs Executive Actions:

  • Explains the controversy surrounding Trump’s firing of FTC members and relates it to the Humphrey’s Executor Supreme Court case from 1935, which dealt with the removal of commissioners from independent agencies.

    "Humphreys executor ... absolutely illegal under existing Supreme Court precedent."
    [26:02]

• Implications for Executive Power:

  • Dr. Pastrito critiques the Humphrey’s Executor decision as a constitutional failure, arguing it restricts presidential authority unjustly.

    "Perhaps other than Dred Scott, is probably the worst decision in the history of the Supreme Court in terms of its historical ignorance and constitutional incompetence."
    [28:44]

  • Anticipates that the Supreme Court may revisit and potentially overturn the Humphreys precedent, aligning with a unitary understanding of executive power.

c. Book Discussion: "America Transformed" (30:02 - 35:04)

• Overview of Dr. Pastrito’s Book:

  • The book traces the century-long evolution of the administrative state in America, highlighting how Progressive-era philosophies have led to the current bloated bureaucracy.

    "The book traces the very different arguments about the purpose of government... how we ended up here."
    [30:02]

• Philosophical Foundations:

  • Explores the shift from classical Republican principles of government by consent to Progressive ideals advocating for expertise-driven governance inspired by the German bureaucratic model.

    "They imported a philosophy of government that was a real novelty to America... government by expertise, not government by consent."
    [32:36]

  • Draws parallels between historical governmental shifts and contemporary issues, such as the reliance on experts during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

    "We need the experts, we need to do whatever, you know, Tony Fauci and his minions tell us."
    [34:24]

5. Conclusion and Call to Action (35:04 - End)

Charlie Kirk wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with Hillsdale College's resources, promoting Dr. Pastrito's book and online courses. He reiterates the importance of restoring local control over education and continues to advocate for conservative values in combating what he perceives as administrative overreach.

Notable Quotes:

• "Education is about creating good citizens. Education is about creating people that are capable of answering life's deeper questions."
  – Charlie Kirk
  [05:20]

• "This is a death blow against the education cartel that has been harming our country."
  – Charlie Kirk
  [16:50]

• "Humphreys executor ... absolutely illegal under existing Supreme Court precedent."
  – Dr. Ronald J. Pastrito
  [26:02]

• "Perhaps other than Dred Scott, is probably the worst decision in the history of the Supreme Court in terms of its historical ignorance and constitutional incompetence."
  – Dr. Ronald J. Pastrito
  [28:44]

Key Takeaways:

• Abolition of the Department of Education: Aimed at decentralizing education control, reducing federal bureaucracy, and restoring parental and community roles in education.

• Historical Critique: The Department's creation marked a shift from localized education to a centralized, administrative state model, which the host and guest argue has led to decreased educational outcomes despite increased spending.

• Progressive Era Influence: Dr. Pastrito discusses how Progressive philosophies have shaped modern governance, emphasizing expertise over consent, drawing from German bureaucratic models.

• Judicial Overreach Concerns: The episode highlights concerns over the increasing use of nationwide injunctions by district courts, potentially overstepping constitutional boundaries and undermining executive authority.

• Future Outlook: Anticipates potential Supreme Court actions to address and possibly overturn controversial precedents like Humphreys Executor, aiming to restore balance to executive powers.

For Further Information:

• Dr. Ronald J. Pastrito’s Book: America Transformed – Explores the historical trajectory of the administrative state and its impact on American governance.

• Hillsdale College Online Courses: Available at charlieforhillsdale.com.

• Official Website: Visit freedomarliekirk.com for more content and updates.