The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Arizona's AG Wants ICE Agents Dead

Date: January 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on controversial comments and policies from Arizona’s Attorney General, Chris Mays, regarding ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents and Arizona’s “stand your ground” laws. Host Charlie Kirk, joined by Turning Point USA’s Blake Neff and Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ), discuss the risks of current legislative trends, alleged policy failures from both parties, the implications for law enforcement, and broader electoral and activist strategies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. “Kill Switch” Legislation for Vehicles

• Topic: Congressional Appropriations Bill including a “kill switch” for vehicles, allowing government agencies to remotely shut off cars.
• Eli Crane’s Critique:
  • Blames House leadership for “buying votes” by accepting Democrat amendments and Republicans for enabling such measures.
  • Quote: "I can't even imagine why any Republican member of the House...would vote to allow kill switches in vehicles so that the Government...can shut off your car if they don't like what you're doing." — Crane [02:20]
• Process Explained:
  • Leadership seeks Democrat support on bills by offering policy concessions, undermining conservative priorities.
  • Quote: "They go over to the Democrats and say how much, you know, what's it going to cost for your vote on this non Republican bill?" — Crane [03:10]

2. The National Endowment for Democracy (NED)

• What Is NED:
  • A legacy institution from the Reagan era, ostensibly for promoting democracy abroad.
• Criticism:
  • Crane and Kirk argue it has been co-opted into “a global censorship army” serving progressive interests, sometimes weaponized against American conservatives.
  • Quote: “It's become a global censorship army...It’s been used to censor American people, organizations, conservative organizations.” — Crane [04:26]
• Recent Vote:
  • $300 million allocated, 81 House Republicans supported it, despite right-wing opposition.
  • Crane laments missed opportunity, urges listeners to pressure and replace non-conservative representatives.
  • Quote: “If we don’t get these people out of here, we’re going to continue to see the same, you know, uniparty, swampy system…” — Crane [06:36]

3. Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays and ICE Agents

• Controversial Statement:
  • AG Mays highlighted that Arizona’s “stand your ground” law could result in violent confrontations between residents and ICE agents, especially if agents wear masks or are not easily identified.
  • Quote: “If somebody comes at me wearing a mask and I can’t tell whether they’re a police officer, what am I supposed to do?” — Mays [08:37]
• Panel Reaction:
  • Kirk, Crane, and Neff accuse Mays of recklessly encouraging confrontation with federal agents, likening it to “incendiary” behavior.
  • Crane argues the correct civic message should be to comply with law enforcement and resolve disputes through the courts.
  • Quote: “Let's be honest. ... If you comply with their orders, they don’t threaten you at all.” — Crane [09:17]
  • Further Critique: Panel suggests comments are part of a broader strategy by Democrats to “engineer violence” as a means to undermine immigration enforcement.
  • Quote: “She wants someone to shoot at ICE so then they can posture and say, 'Look what they did, by trying to enforce immigration laws.'” — Blake Neff [11:32]

4. Environment for Law Enforcement in Arizona

• Firsthand Report:
  • Anonymous ICE officer shares that Phoenix ICE agents have been assaulted and harassed by organized protesters, with graffiti such as “ICE kills” and “you slaughter babies.”
  • Panel frames this as a direct result of political rhetoric from Arizona’s leadership, warning of potential violence inspired by the AG.
  • Quote: “[T]his is the environment we're working in...people to say, in some situations it’s legal for you to blow an ICE officer’s brains out. That is what the AG of this state is saying.” — Blake Neff (reading email) [17:17]

5. Criticism of the Republican “Uniparty”

• Why Are Republicans Joining Democrats?
  • Crane addresses charges that Republican moderates prioritize personal advancement and party unity over representing voter interests, attributing this to careerism and influence from lobbyists.
  • Quote: "Representing the American people...is not the biggest priority...holding on to power, winning re-election, climbing the ladder...that is the goal." — Crane [14:32]
  • Emphasizes the need for activist accountability, support for genuine conservatives, and the strategic value of Turning Point USA.

6. Activism, Ballot Chasing, and Building Permanent Infrastructure

• Field Operations Success:
  • Tyler Boyer joins to describe Turning Point Action's intensive 2024 Arizona field campaign, which he credits with shifting the state rightward.
  • Quote: "We swarmed the state. Tyler did a great job. We hired a ton of ballot chasers..." — Kirk [30:54]
• 2026 & 2028 Strategic Focus:
  • New major organizing and hiring pushes in New Hampshire and Nevada, aiming to build a “red wall” and secure decisive electoral wins.
  • Emphasis on scaling up resources, quality staff, and volunteer armies in key swing states.
  • Discussion on the importance of focusing on winnable, strategic districts and setting practical examples for broader conservative organizing.

7. Broader Culture War and Pro-life Messaging

• J.D. Vance at the March for Life:
  • Segment features a speech from Vice President J.D. Vance, lauding pro-life activism and criticizing modern cultural values that denigrate family and children.
  • Notable Quote: “We march today because you have an answer to this question about what kind of civilization we are and what kind of civilization we’re going to become in the future.” — J.D. Vance [20:22]
  • Encourages listeners to find purpose in raising families and defending life as a civilizational value.
  • Quote: “You’re never going to find great meaning in a cubicle or in front of a computer screen, but you will find great meaning if you dedicate yourself to the creation and sustenance of human life.” — J.D. Vance [26:53]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlie Kirk:

  • "This is offensive to us that we would be giving over our own freedoms, our own control, our own agencies, just to buy a few votes from Democrats." [03:37]

• Eli Crane:

  • “I think the best thing about our efforts...was we got to expose a lot of these Republicans, and this is where now it’s in the American people's hands.” [06:24]

• Blake Neff:

  • “It’s really hard for me to not see what the Attorney General said as...she wants someone to shoot at ICE.” [11:32]

• Anonymous ICE Officer (via email, read by Neff):

  • “We're in a not terribly secured location...This is the environment we're working in...where people say it’s legal for you to blow an ICE officer’s brains out.” [17:16]

• Charlie Kirk (on Turning Point Action):

  • “The answer is, we want to do it properly in as many states as we can. Not just be in as many states as we can.” [34:17]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• "Kill Switch" Legislation & Vote Buying: [01:32–03:37]
• NED Critique and House Disunity: [04:13–06:57]
• Discussion of AG Chris Mays’ Comments and ICE/Stand Your Ground: [07:53–13:27]
• Republican Moderates & Political Careerism: [14:32–16:40]
• On-the-Ground Report from ICE Officer: [16:40–17:29]
• J.D. Vance March for Life Speech: [20:13–27:34]
• Turning Point Action’s Strategic Expansion: [30:23–37:49]

Language & Tone

• Tone: Combative, urgent, unapologetically conservative, with recurring calls to activism, exposure, and taking back control from both Democrats and moderate “uniparty” Republicans.
• Language: Direct, impassioned, often employing militaristic metaphors (e.g., “fight,” “red wall,” “permanent infrastructure”) and casting issues in existential terms (“manage the decline of the country,” “dangerous,” “barbarism”).

Conclusion

This episode forcefully critiques Arizona’s Democratic officials for allegedly endangering ICE agents and undermining law enforcement, while castigating moderate Republicans for enabling leftist policy priorities through political deal-making. It also spotlights grassroots organizing as the central path forward for the conservative movement, emphasizing strategic investment in key battlegrounds and the importance of pro-family, pro-life values for American cultural renewal.