Ask Charlie Anything 56: What is a Filibuster? Was Ronald Reagan a Bad Guy? Krispy Kreme—No Way? And MORE!

Summary

The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Ask Charlie Anything 56

Date: March 29, 2021

---

Episode Overview

In this “Ask Charlie Anything” edition, Charlie Kirk answers listener questions on a variety of political and cultural topics. The episode starts with an in-depth discussion of the filibuster, its history, and the current controversy over its potential elimination. Kirk also tackles questions on the legacy of Ronald Reagan, Krispy Kreme’s donut-for-vaccine campaign, strategies for young conservatives to be taken seriously, rising gas prices, and even the importance of studying Ancient Greek. The tone is direct, energetic, and deeply rooted in conservative principles, with Kirk aiming to provide context, historical perspective, and rhetorical ammunition for his audience.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Filibuster: History, Function, and Controversy

Segment: [01:41–15:18]

• Definition and Mechanics

  • The filibuster is a Senate rule requiring 60 votes to end debate and move legislation forward.
  • Kirk emphasizes that a Senate rules change (including ending the filibuster itself) can’t be filibustered—if 50 Democrats agree, the rule can be changed by a simple majority.

• Historical Context

  • The filibuster dates back to at least 1807, countering current claims that it’s a "Jim Crow relic."
  • Kirk plays past clips of Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer defending the filibuster as a tool for compromise and moderation ([03:40–04:24]).
    • Joe Biden (2005):
      “The checks and balances which have been at the core of this republic are about to be evaporated by the nuclear option.” [03:40]
    • Chuck Schumer:
      “At its core, the filibuster is not about stopping a nominee or a bill. It's about compromise and moderation.” [04:14]
  • He points out the shifting rhetoric: those who once defended the filibuster now want to end it for political advantage.

• Current Democratic Attacks

  • Kirk argues that Democrats want to end the filibuster to consolidate power and enable passage of sweeping bills like HR1 (voting reforms), more aggressive gun control, statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico, and to change election processes for permanent advantage ([08:48]).
  • Quotes Barack Obama and Trevor Noah calling the filibuster a racist or "Jim Crow" relic, which Kirk disputes by detailing its pre-civil rights origins ([07:13], [10:42]).

• Counterarguments and Double Standards

  • Kirk highlights that Democrats themselves used the filibuster to block police reform proposals by Senator Tim Scott.
    • Ben Sasse:
      “The filibuster is only racist to Democrats when they want it to be ... Was the filibuster really a tool of Jim Crow when it was used against Tim Scott last year? I don't think so...” [13:02–13:43]
  • Kirk criticizes the selective outrage and focus-grouped messaging he believes is behind the push for filibuster elimination.

• Summary Statement

  • “The filibuster is not racist. It predated any sort of usage by Democrats to block civil rights legislation. The Senate is a deliberative body, and the Democrats want to get rid of it because they're growing impatient.” [15:18]

---

2. The Legacy of Ronald Reagan

Segment: [16:20–31:01]

• Presidency as a Model

  • Reagan is praised as a transformative conservative figure—articulate, optimistic, and a strong defender of American exceptionalism.
  • Kirk recounts Reagan’s shift from Democrat to Republican, his rise from acting to the governorship, to defeating Jimmy Carter amid economic malaise.

• Key Achievements and Philosophy

  • Cut taxes, broke inflation and organized labor strongholds (e.g., air traffic controllers), and revitalized the Republican Party.
  • Most notably, he "defeated Soviet Communism without firing a shot," by outlasting the USSR through diplomatic strength and ideological clarity ([summary at 20:23]).
  • Reagan’s famous philosophy: “If someone is with you 80% of the time, consider them an ally, not an adversary.” [22:54]
  • Reagan’s “Make America Great Again” was noted as the original inspiration for Trump.

• Memorable Reagan Quotes and Anecdotes

  • [30:16] Classic Reagan joke:
    “Two fellows in the Soviet Union were walking down the street…‘Is this now full communism?’ The other one said, ‘Oh, hell no. Things are going to get a lot worse.’”
  • [30:38] On gun control:
    “Those who seek to inflict harm are not fazed by gun control laws. I happen to know this from personal experience.”
    • Reference to Reagan’s surviving an assassination attempt.
  • [31:07] Self-deprecating humor:
    “For our friends in the press who place a high premium on accuracy, let me say I did not actually hear George Washington say that.”

• Broader Conservative Heroes

  • Kirk lists Lincoln, Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, and Eisenhower as other top presidents.

---

3. Cultural Commentary & Listener Q&A

Krispy Kreme’s Donut-for-Vaccine Campaign

Segment: [31:54–33:55]

• Listener points out irony: incentivizing vaccines with donuts, given obesity as a major COVID comorbidity.
• Kirk declines to get the COVID vaccine himself, citing his age and health, and recommends liberty of choice:
  • “Use your liberty. Use your agency to get it. That’s what’s so great about liberty. Make a decision in the best capacity that you see fit.” [32:45]

How Young Conservatives Can Be Taken Seriously

Segment: [33:56–37:25]

• Advice for young people who face condescension for their views.
• Kirk recommends the Socratic method—ask informed questions, remain respectful, focus on “why,” and “know your stuff.”
  • “There is no substitute for knowing your material. The deeper you dive, the richer you will have a belief of your worldview, and the more people will respect you.” [36:40]

Why Are Gas Prices Rising?

Segment: [37:33–39:51]

• Kirk breaks down supply and demand, outlining that last year’s pandemic collapse led to fewer leases and now lower supply, pushing prices up.
• He blames Biden’s policies: cancelling Keystone XL pipeline, restricting oil leases.
  • “Long story short, Joe Biden is largely responsible for a lot of this. He should be approving new leases and new drilling all across the country.” [39:25]

---

4. Ancient Greek & Language Learning

Segment: [31:54, 39:52–44:09]

• Listener asks about studying biblical Greek. Kirk admits he isn’t an expert but explains the importance of Greek roots in Western thought:

  • Greek gave many words for love (agape, eros, phileo, storge, ludus, pragma).
  • Concepts like “philosophy” (philo+sophia = love of wisdom) and “theology.”

• Recommends resources such as University of Texas Austin’s linguistics center.

• Observes that deeper exploration of ancient Greek and Latin enriches understanding of Western civilization and biblical texts.

  • “The deeper you dive into ancient Greek and Latin, the more you'll actually realize that the words we use so often have really meaningful roots.” [41:50]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

The Filibuster: Power & Double Standards:

• “The filibuster as it stands right now is all that is preventing Democrats from passing HR1, HR5, and all of this very harmful legislation to our country.” [02:12]
• “The filibuster is only racist to Democrats when they want it to be.” — Ben Sasse [13:02]

On Reagan’s Optimism:

• “He never actually saw it happen while he was president, but George H.W. Bush did see the fall of the Berlin Wall and the crumbling of the Soviet empire.” [19:20]
• Reagan joke: “Things are going to get a lot worse” [30:16]
• “Such a contrast between how Joe Biden handles his age and Ronald Reagan handled his.” [31:54]

On Personal Choice (Vaccines):

• “I am not getting the Chinese coronavirus vaccination. … Use your liberty. Use your agency to get it.” [32:45]

Advice to Young Conservatives:

• “There is no substitute for knowing your material.” [36:40]

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Filibuster Explanation & Debate: 01:41–15:18
• Reagan’s Legacy: 16:20–31:01
• Reagan Jokes & Quotes: 30:16–31:54
• Krispy Kreme & COVID Vaccine: 31:54–33:55
• Advice to Young Conservatives: 33:56–37:25
• Gas Prices Explained: 37:33–39:51
• Ancient Greek / Learning Resources: 39:52–44:09

---

Conclusion

This AMA episode delivers Charlie Kirk’s signature mix of direct political commentary, historical context, and practical advice. He equips his audience with arguments and facts for contemporary debates—especially on the filibuster and Reagan’s legacy—while encouraging independent thinking, individual liberty, and continuous learning. The episode is studded with humor, sharp critiques, and moments aimed to empower conservative listeners in discussion and activism.

Transcript

[Charlie Kirk]

Hey everybody. Happy Monday. I take your questions that you've emailed me freedomarliekirk.com we go over the filibuster rather extensively and comprehensively. We talk about the legacy of Ronald Reagan, Ancient Greek and so much more. It's a pretty interesting and fun episode. But the first part of this episode on the filibuster is super important to send to all of your friends that might say we must get rid of the filibuster. We go through a very detailed evidence based article argument of why we must keep the filibuster in place. If you want to support our program, please go to charliekirk.com support when you go to charliekirk.Com support you are able to get behind the work we are doing to reach millions of people across the country. Young [e-mail] support we are getting amazing feedback and we are getting amazing support from people that want to see us continue to grow. Email us your questions freedomarliekirk.com if you do that alongside of proof of your subscription and I select your question, you win a signed copy of the MAGA doctrine. Also get involved at Turning Point USA. TPUSA.com I want to thank all of you that came to our events in Kentucky, Missouri and Oklahoma. We had a lot of fun. It's Monday. I'm taking your questions. Buckle up everybody. Here we go. Charlie, what you've done is incredible here. Maybe Charlie Kirk is on the college campus.

[Joe Biden]

I want you to know we are lucky to have Charlie Kirk.

[Chuck Schumer]

Charlie Kirk's running the Weiss.

[Mitch McConnell]

I want to thank Charlie. He's an incredible guy. His spirit, his love of this country. He's done an amazing job building one of the most powerful youth organizations ever created, Turning Point usa.

[Charlie Kirk]

We will not embrace the ideas that have destroyed countries, destroyed lives, and we are going to fight for freedom on campuses across the country. That's why we are here. So a question we keep on getting, and this is from Faith is it's very similar to this question is, hey, Charlie, if Democrats tried to end the Senate filibuster, couldn't Republicans filibuster against ending the filibuster? Or is that not possible since it's more of a Senate rule than legislation? Could you talk about how the filibuster works? Exactly. P.S. i'm subscribed. Yes, you are. And thank you for being subscribed to the Charlie Kirk Show. Yes, that's right. So it starts with, if 50 Democrats can agree for a Senate rule change, you cannot filibuster A rule change. And so if they all of a sudden agree that, you know, what, 50 votes is adequate enough to change the way that we do business in the United States Senate, then that could change the filibuster altogether. Now, what's the significance again of the filibuster? The filibuster as it stands right now is all that is preventing Democrats from passing HR1, HR5, and all of this very harmful legislation to our country. The filibuster requires 60 votes to end debate. The filibuster has been around in one way or the other since 1807. The filibuster is nothing new. And the Democrats are trying to go out of their way to call it a Jim Crow relic. However, if you look at the history of the filibuster and you look at what Democrats have said about the filibuster, it's actually contrary to that. In fact, we have some tape right here of when Joe Biden was defending the filibuster back when he was in the Senate. This was from 2005. Let's play Joe Biden and Barack Obama and schumer. It's cut 74. Play tape.

[Joe Biden]

What they don't expect is for one party, be it Republican or Democrat, to change the rules in the middle of the game so that they can make all the decisions while the other party is told to sit down and keep quiet. The checks and balances which have been at the core of this republic are about to be evaporated by the nuclear option. And they will change the rules, break the rules, misread the Constitution so that they will get their way.

[Chuck Schumer]

At its core, the filibusters of not not about stopping a nominee or a bill. It's about compromise and moderation. That's why the founders put unlimited debate in.

[Charlie Kirk]

And that is Joe Biden saying that's why the Founders put unlimited debate in. Joe Biden went out of his way to attack the filibuster when previously he was just defending the filibuster. As we just said, let's play cut 65 of Joe Biden going after the filibuster. Cut 65.

[Chuck Schumer]

So it's being abused in a gigantic way. We're ready to get a lot done. And if we have to, if there's complete lockdown and chaos as a consequence of the filibuster, then will have to go beyond what I'm talking about.

[Charlie Kirk]

And then. But Joe Biden then accidentally highlighted the fact that Democrats used the filibuster last year after saying it was abused in the past cut 66.

[Chuck Schumer]

You know, with regard to the filibuster, I believe we should go back to a position of the filibuster that existed just when I came to the United States Senate 120 years ago, that it used to be that from between 1917 and 1971, the filibuster existed. There were a total of 58 motions to break a filibuster that whole time. Last year alone there were five times that many. So it's being abused in a gigantic way.

[Charlie Kirk]

Wait, Democrats weren't in control of the Senate last year, so Democrats were abusing the filibuster? Is that what Joe Biden's trying to say? The Democrats were using the filibuster too much? You see, the Democrats have grown impatient. For many of these Democrats, they're septuagenarians. That means they're in their 70s, they've been around Washington D.C. for quite some time and they are thinking to themselves, what's my legacy going to be? What good have I done for America? And many of these Democrats are now being presented with the energetic radical base of the Democrat Party who's constantly in their ear and they say, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, you can be a revolutionary like the rest of us. You can be remembered for being on the side of the proletariat. Together we can pass HR1. Together we can stand up against systemic racism. And for some of these feeble minded weak politicians, they are now being convinced by a group of people that do not share our values to change every single rule and tradition that came before them just so that they can hold on to power forever. Let's go to cut 77. Remember when Barack Obama called the filibuster a Jim Crow relic? Cut 77.

[Joe Biden]

And if all this takes eliminating the filibuster, another Jim Crow relic, in order to secure the God given rights of every American, then that's what we should do.

[Charlie Kirk]

Now, the significance of the filibuster. This is actually going to be the most important, wonky, weedsy, nuanced detail that will determine the future of our republic. I know that some of this stuff does not interest a lot of people. I know that it could be very detailed. But basically the fate of our country largely rests on whether or not the filibuster will stay in place. You're starting to see every single Democrat leader start to agree on their impatience. Let's listen to Julian Castro, cut 81. Who says the reason we can't take away guns is because the filibuster. Cut 81.

[Joe Biden]

Can Washington actually were or do we need to get rid of that filibuster? I actually think this is going to be another indictment of the filibuster. How do you not call something strongly bipartisan in this country when almost 90% of Americans support it and yet mainly one political party stands completely against? Doesn't make any sense. And this is one more example of why in the least we need significant filibuster reform that makes it possible for effective, meaningful legislation like this to actually get enacted.

[Charlie Kirk]

So their argument is that, look, a couple Republicans voted with us in the House. If the Senate is going to remain united against us, then we need filibuster reform to be able to pass H R1 gun confiscation, DC Puerto Rico Estates, be able to abolish the electoral College. That one's very unlikely. And then also be able to expand our capacity to win elections. Democrats know that under normal circumstances they are not going to be in power after 2022. So then they ask themselves the question, why must we live under normal circumstances? Why can't we live under circumstances like they do in California or New, where only Democrats win? So Democrats are saying, hey, instead of trying to do this bipartisan compromise, instead of trying to understand that we might not be in power forever, they say, why won't we be in power forever? Let's create a set of circumstances where we never lose power, where we never have to actually run for reelection again, where we decide who will be in charge based on primaries and not based on general elections. That's basically how it works in California. With some rare exceptions, California has not had a statewide elected official as a Republican in quite some time. Last time there was a Republican, I think was Arnold Schwarzenegger. And so the Democrats, they never actually want to give up their newly found power. And they realize that universal mail and voting, they know that these public policy measures are helpful in staying in power indefinitely. That's all that this is about. I hate to be that cynical, but that's their objective. That is their end in sight. That is their purpose. Trevor Noah, who I guess is the new philosopher of the Democrat Party, saying that the filibuster is racist. Cut 79.

[Joe Biden]

It wasn't until the late 1950s that the filibuster started to become more common.

[Ben Sasse]

And what cause was so inspiring to

[Charlie Kirk]

senators at that time that they just

[Joe Biden]

had to stand up and speak for hours? Being racist.

[Charlie Kirk]

For a few decades, the filibusters used, but pretty sparingly. Then the Senate starts to consider civil rights legislation and Southern Senators really hate this, but they don't have the votes to actually defeat the bills. So they start using the filibuster.

[Chuck Schumer]

It became a tool that Southern senators used to prevent the federal government from

[Charlie Kirk]

intervening in racial segregation. Perhaps the most famous one was when South Carolina's Strom Thurmond took the floor against the 1957 Civil Rights Act. Thurmond notoriously read the phone book, clocking in at more than 24 hours to

[Mitch McConnell]

try to block a 1957 civil rights bill.

[Charlie Kirk]

How did you last 24 hours?

[Chuck Schumer]

You never left the Senate floor.

[Mitch McConnell]

I had gone down to the Senate bath for three or four days beforehand and dried out my body in the sauna. Yeah. So I wouldn't be tempted to go to the bathroom. And so I was able to do that.

[Charlie Kirk]

Well, first of all, Strom Thurmond was a Democrat, and he was the only one that switched parties. And the other 20 people who filibustered for 75 days straight, they were all Democrats. But that those details aside, Mitch McConnell had a great response to this lie from Trevor Noah and Elizabeth Warren that somehow the filibuster is based in racism. Cut 80. Elizabeth Warren has said that the filibuster is based on racism. Is it? No. The filibuster predates the. The debates over civil rights. Goes back to the beginning of the country. The filibuster started well before we got into the civil rights debates that have occurred off and on over the history of the country. So the. The derivation of the. The filibuster was not related to race or civil rights. And Senator Ben Sasse, who could be very good on some issues and then very annoying on other issues, he came out and he made a very good point, and he said, the filibuster is only racist to Democrats when they want it to be. Where were all the Democrats calling the filibuster racist when they tried to stop Tim Scott's police Reform bill cut 82

[Ben Sasse]

goals, and therefore it needs to be tossed out. But when you were using the filibuster to halt Senator Scott's police reform bill, the filibuster was an essential American institution that forced compromise. But now that it can be occasionally used to resist a 5150 straight majoritarian exercise of power, it's supposedly exclusively a relic of slavery and a tool of Jim Crow. It's nonsense. And the people saying it know that it's nonsense.

[Charlie Kirk]

And cut 83, Senator Ben Sasse continues by saying, why did you use the filibuster then to block a black man's police reform bill. Republican Senator Tim Scott cut 83.

[Ben Sasse]

They used the same rule last year. And you weren't racist when you used it last year. This is BS that's been focus grouped and particular bills are being used as the excuse to grab power. That won't just be for this bill, it'll be forever. It'll be the end of the Senate. Was the filibuster really a tool of Jim Crow when it was used against Tim Scott last year? I don't think so and I don't think any of you think so. If somebody wants to come to the floor and repent of their racism for having used the filibuster last year, please do. But it isn't what was happening. So stop with the nonsense rhetoric. That's just for an MSNBC sound bite tonight.

[Charlie Kirk]

Very well said. Senator Ben Sasse basically says, okay, Democrats, you used the filibuster last year to stop police reform. The very same thing that you said that you need more power to try to get done. And Senator Tim Scott, a black man who's a Republican from South Carolina, you blocked his bill. And Senator Chuck Schumer was asked why was it okay for him to filibuster? Because they're not willing to negotiate and McConnell isn't. Cut 84.

[Mitch McConnell]

Senator, when you were in the minority,

[Joe Biden]

you joined plenty of efforts to filibuster legislation. So why was it okay for you

[Charlie Kirk]

to join those efforts?

[Joe Biden]

The big difference is that we were always willing to negotiate in a bipartisan way. Mitch McConnell isn't. There's a big difference in how we're conducting things and the way they're conducting things. We need big, bold action and we will figure out the best way to go. Everything's on the table. That's all I'm going to say to you.

[Charlie Kirk]

So to summarize all of that, the filibuster is not racist. It predated any sort of usage by Democrats to block civil rights legislation. The filibuster is supposed to slow down the process. The Senate is a deliberative body and the Democrats want to get rid of it because they're growing impatient. Because they know they will not be in charge forever, but they want to be in charge forever, which is why they want HR1 and all these structural changes to our country. Do you know how much you need to save to have a comfortable retirement? The average retirement savings for families across the country is $255,000. If you are using these averages as a goal for your retirement, let me be blunt. You are not on the right track, even $1 million will not be enough by the time you retire because of inflation. Retirement is not one size fits all. How much should you save? Depends on what kind of lifestyle you want to pursue after retirement. But remember that inflation should be factored in. The $1 million you saved 40 years ago is worth less than half now. So investment assets that store the value of your investment, that's the key to diversifying your portfolio. And there's nothing better than gold. I'm a big believer in this. Do you know that if you invested 1 million in gold 40 years ago, you'd be sitting on $50 million today that could afford any lifestyle you want right now. I know you've got questions and Noble Gold is trustworthy resource. For answers, contact a Noble Gold representative to learn more about making saving a priority. If you didn't start early, it's okay. Go to noblegold investments.com visit noblegold investments.com we have a really good question here. Hi Charlie, My name is Landon and I am from Ballston Lake, New York. I'm a daily listener and a subscriber of your podcast and I appreciate the great work you do. My question is in regards to to the legacy of Ronald Reagan. Growing up in a conservative household, I have long heard that Ronald Reagan was the greatest president of the modern era. What made his presidency so strong and what exactly is his legacy? Well, congratulations Landon, you win a signed copy of the MAGA Doctrine. Ronald Reagan is one of the greatest presidents in American history. Ronald Reagan brought America from a dark place under the presidency of Jimmy Carter, a one term presidency from 1976 to 1980, to a place of optimism, hope and American renewal. Ronald Reagan was born in Tampico, Illinois, spent a lot of time in Eureka, Illinois, was a Democrat, he was an actor. He actually was an actor in a very famous film called Bedtime for Bonzo. He was hired to go speak in a tour like Fashion by General Electric. He talked in manufacturing plants and tours across the country. When he started to do that, he started to get a great love of America and he was asked to talk about America's founding and free market principles. So he would go on a whistle stop tour, a train tour from one area to the rest and start to read these books and start to really grow in reverence for America and our history. Ronald Reagan then became governor of California and he was always a movement conservative. He was more in the Goldwater tradition and less in the Rockefeller or Romney tradition. Not Mitt Romney, George Romney, his father. And they're Very similar ideologically. Ronald Reagan tried to win the presidency by primarying gerald ford in 1976, I want to say, and he lost. Gerald Ford, who was the incumbent president, who took over from the resigning Richard Nixon, made Rockefeller his vice president, I believe, and then lost in a reelection bid to Jimmy Carter, Southern Democrat. And then Ronald Reagan righted that wrong. After awful economic conditions, you think interest rates are troublesome now? When Ronald Reagan was running for the presidency, we had 18% interest rates. 18%. He defeated Jimmy Carter, interest rates went down, the economy was reborn. But more than anything else, Ronald Reagan should be known for not just restoring the American spirit, not just expanding the Republican Party to be a working person's party, Reagan Democrats. But he defeated Soviet Communism without ever firing a shot. He defeated Soviet Communism because he framed it as a theological debate. He said, we in our country believe our rights come from God. The Russians and the Soviet Union does not. We are going to win. We are going to win this battle of ideas because we believe in freedom and the Soviets do not. Ronald Reagan famously had the reykjavik summit in 1987 in Iceland, where he met with Mikhail Gorbachev about denuclearization. And you started to see little promising signs that Ronald Reagan and his doctrine of peace through strength, a robust rebuilding of the American middle class and the defense aspect of our country was actually working. He never actually saw it happen while he was president, but George H.W. bush did see the fall of the Berlin Wall and the crumbling of the Soviet empire. Ronald Reagan and his legacy and why you should be unafraid and unapologetic to defend him was about American greatness. He was articulate, he was charismatic, he was magnanimous, he was gregarious, he was forward thinking, he was optimistic. And even when he was shot, he had the charming smile and the wit to keep America united and focused on what really matters. Ronald Reagan gave our country another 20, 30 years of shelf life when under Jimmy Carter, it felt like managed decline. Donald Trump was very similar in that regard. Ronald Reagan cut taxes. Ronald Reagan broke the back of the air traffic controlling union. Ronald Reagan actually put tariffs on semiconductors coming into America, which preserved the semiconductor industry, which basically created Silicon Valley. You could decide whether or not that's a good thing. Ronald Reagan was unafraid to stand up to the Japanese threat where they were de industrializing our country and never got credit for that. That was in 1986 or 87. Ronald Reagan was also well known for saying that we must take an 80% victory rather than a 100% loss. That if someone is with you, 80% consider them an ally, not an enemy and an adversary. He united the Republican Party more than any other candidates up until Donald Trump. He believed in our country. And yes, he even ran on a doctrine that was called Make America Great Again. I encourage all of you in your free time to go back and listen to Ronald Reagan speeches. Listen to the best of Ronald Reagan. He had a way that he was optimistic and forward thinking and he believed America's best days were ahead. He was not an apologist for America. He was not apologized, a globalist. He was a proud American patriot. So I encourage everyone to not just study the history of Ronald Reagan, but be unafraid to defend his legacy. So, Landon, I hope that's somewhat helpful. That's just a. Off the cuff, off the top of my head. Summary of one of America's greatest presidents, Ronald Reagan. If I can name the greatest presidents. Lincoln, Washington, Teddy Roosevelt, which is a different type of president than the others and I think he gets misrepresented. But I think Teddy Roosevelt's a great president for a different reason. I've done podcasts on that before and you guys have to check that out. I also believe that Dwight D. Eisenhower was a phenomenal president in addition to that. So thank you so much for your question. Congratulations. You win a signed copy of the MAGA Doctrine. Gene from Utah. Charlie, what are your thoughts on Krispy Kreme giving free donuts for the foreseeable future? On people who've proved they've received both vaccination shots, Isn't this one step forward, one step backwards thinking? Seeing as though obesity is a leading comorbidity related to the Chinese coronavirus. You're right, Gene. And people ask me all the time, charlie, are you getting the vaccine? I am not getting the vaccine. I'm not gonna tell you whether the vaccine is good or bad. I'm not in a position to make that argument. It's a very complex scientific issue that people far smarter than I am in the scientific community are weighing in on. I make my decision based on my own research and people that I trust. And also, I'm 27 years old and I have pretty robust cardiovascular capacity and abilities. I eat well, I exercise, I take zinc and vitamin C. I love spending time outside. If I get the virus, I'm gonna. I believe I'll be just fine. I'm willing to take that risk. I am not getting the Chinese coronavirus vaccination. And before Media Matters loses their mind, I'm not telling people not to get it if you believe that's the right thing, use your liberty. Use your agency to get it. That's what's so great about liberty. Make a decision in the best capacity that you see fit. Okay, let's get to the next question here. Freedomarliekirk.com hi Charlie, huge fan over here. I had a conversation with my aunt about some concerns I had regarding America and where it's headed. She kept brushing it off because she said, quote, I just need to do more research. Which is exactly what I'm doing and why I have good reason to question the direction of our country. Well, good. At 19, how do I get people to take my knowledge and convictions more seriously? Thank you again. I love the show and everything you guys stand for. Lauren. Well, first of all, Lauren, I dealt with this and I still deal with this. When people try to use the argument from authority, it's a fallacy to say that I know more than you because I'm older than you. Now, sometimes that is true, but it's also an argument from authority. So, Lauren, I'll give you some immediate advice. First of all, make sure you have a tonal T o n a L approach that you're not trying to lecture someone who's older than you are. Why is this important? Well, because your aunt doesn't want to felt dumb by a young person. Instead, ask informed questions, have respect, don't be disrespectful. But say, hey, is it a good thing that America is spending all this money we don't have? The other thing, Lauren, is as you get older, this will get easier. Use the Socratic method. Socratic method, of course comes from Socrates. The Greeks were the best and the greatest of the ancients. Socrates was of course killed for asking questions. Socrates was of course killed for pursuing truth. So I'm sure it's actually going to end up probably better for you than Socrates. But Socrates of course taught Plato. Plato taught Aristotle. The of course teacher student relationship. Socrates was killed by the democracy or the demos or the many by a popular vote. But the Socratic method goes like this. I'm going to ask questions specifically focused on the question why? And that question why will be like a shovel and we'll get closer to the truth, hopefully. So Lauren, I hope that helps you. But also keep on listening to the Charlie Kirk show podcast on Spotify or on Apple podcasts. Send in your questions, dive deeper into the reason of why you believe what you believe and know your stuff. There is no no replacement for knowing your material. There's no Substitute for knowing your material is probably a better way to say that. So I encourage you that the deeper you dive, the richer you will have a belief of your worldview and the more people will respect you. Okay, let's get to Another question here. Freedomarliekirk.com from Clifton. Charlie, can you talk about why gas prices are rising in a segment on your podcast, please? Not hearing or reading many conservative networks talking about. Thank you. Well, it's basic supply and demand. And we've done many podcasts and many podcasts on economics and supply and demand. When you have a greater supply of something and a constant demand or even a little bit of an increased demand, as long as supply is outpacing demand, then prices will go down. But when you have increased demand and less supply, prices will go up, which is exactly what's happening here. So Joe Biden canceled the Keystone XL pipeline. He's making it harder to transport oil. But most importantly, the reason why gas prices are going up is because last year, when new leases were basically expiring, the price of oil was so unbelievably low, it was 15, 16, $17 a barrel. It was. You could almost get a case of water for the same price that you could get a barrel of oil. Why was that? Well, no one was driving and no one was flying last year because of the Chinese coronavirus lockdowns. And so because of that, a lot of these leases expired. Usually a lot of the people that go do exploratory drilling, they do so on leverage. Leverage, of course, meaning that you are levering yourself up or you're borrowing capital. Those you can't service the debt. If you're not pumping oil at at least 30 or $35 a barrel, you're not even able to break even. So a lot of those leases expired, therefore there's less supply, therefore the price is higher. Long story short, Joe Biden is largely responsible for a lot of this. He should be approving new leases and and new drilling all across the country. He should be trying to get into the national stockpile and reserve to bring down the price of oil. I know a lot of my friends in oil country in Oklahoma and Texas disagree with me because they like the price of oil where it is right now. I think that's probably a fair argument if we're able to find some equilibrium where it's affordable for the American worker and someone who transports themself, but also it's able to have a robust energy sector in our country, so we are not dependent on foreign adversaries. For our oil look. Business owners are facing a ton of challenges today and in the face of change, local businesses are using Podium P O D I U M to grow stronger than ever before. Podium gives your business the messaging tools to turn your website into a thriving storefront. Connect with leads, customers and teammates as easily as text messaging. Podium is the ultimate messaging platform for local businesses. With Podium reviews, you can easily text customers to to leave an online review, improving search rankings. Podium web Chat lets website visitors text with your team right from your homepage. Podium Inbox brings it all together, keeps leads warm and responds to feedback all in one place. Here are some success stories. RPM Alamo increased revenues by 20% quote we've generated more revenue, decreased vacancy rates and pulled in more leads than we ever could have in multiple years. This is priceless. Tony owner of RPM Alamo the bridal collection process over $200,000 of no contact payments. We don't even have to take credit cards into the store. You can do it remotely. Podium has been a godsend for us in this journey. Find out how Podium can help your business reach more customers. Get started [e-mail] Charlie that's podium.com Charlie let's go to cut 92. I just love a good Reagan joke. Two Soviets walking down the street.

[Mitch McConnell]

Cut 92 one of the heads of state that I met with on this visit told me the story about the two fellows in the Soviet Union were walking down the street and one of them says have we really achieved full communism? Is this it? Is this now full communism? The other one said, oh hell no.

[Charlie Kirk]

Things are going to get a lot worse. I love that man. All right, gun control. Cut 93.

[Mitch McConnell]

You pointed out that police would be so busy arresting handgun owners that they would be unable to protect the people against criminals. It's a nasty truth, but those who seek to inflict harm are not fazed by gun control laws. I happen to know this from personal experience.

[Charlie Kirk]

He said personal experience, of course, because he was shot and finally cut 94. A little self deprecating humor.

[Mitch McConnell]

Cut 94 Mr. President, distinguished members of the Congress, honored guests and fellow citizens, today marks my first State of the Union address to you a constitutional duty as old as our republic itself. President Washington began this tradition in 1790 after reminding the nation that the destiny of self government and the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty is finally staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people. For our friends in the press who place a high premium on accuracy, let me say I did not actually hear George Washington say that.

[Charlie Kirk]

Such a contrast between how Joe Biden handles his age and Ronald Reagan handled his question here from Savannah. Hi Charlie, I really want to study biblical Greek for my personal study and I was wondering what resources you use. I really appreciate you taking the time out of your day to read my email. Hope you have time to reply. Savannah Burke. Romans 15:13, and if I remember correctly, Romans 15:13 has made the God of hope fill with all joy and peace, if you trust in him, if I remember correctly, something of that sort. So I do not know Greek. I'm fascinated by our Greek roots in our language. And the more that I study Aristotle and Plato, the more I'm fascinated with how much of a Greek influence is actually we have here on the West. So Dr. Larry Arne from Hillsdale College, he walks people through some just very basic Greek terms. For example, philosophy comes from two words, philos and sophos. Love of wisdom. Right, Philo, love. That's where we get the word philanthropy from city of brotherly love. The Greeks have many different words for love. Agape, storge, phileo, Agape, storge, phileo. There's one more. I'll. I'll think of it. And actually there's like five or six of them. And then theology, of course, means to the study related to God. I am by no means an ancient Greek expert, but there are some great resources. Actually. The University of Texas Austin has a phenomenal linguistics research center if people are interested in that. And I highly encourage anyone that just wants to explore truth. The deeper you dive into ancient Greek and Latin, the more you'll actually realize that the words we use so often have really meaningful roots. The Greeks had two words for time, for example, kronos and kairos. Kronos, what you look at on your wrist and kairos is basically time, a time of moment, an action moment, if you will. So I appreciate that question. I am diving deeper into it. There's eros, phileo, ludos, agape, pragma. And there's actually one more in addition to storge. That's right. Which is the love of a child, a parent of a love of a child. So there's different types of love. Anyway, the point is that knowing Greek is really important, especially if you're going to study biblical texts. Because the New Testament was almost written. I think it was all written in Greek. Even though Jesus spoke Aramaic, likely spoke Aramaic. Greek was the written word because of the Hellenistic influence, largely because of Alexander the Great, who himself was a student of Aristotle. Greek language and tradition took over the entire Middle East. Thanks so much for listening everybody. Email us your questions freedomarliekirk.com if you want to support us, you know how to do it. It's charliekirk.com support. God bless you guys. Speak to you soon. For more on many of these stories and news you can Trust, go to charliekirk.com.