The Charlie Kirk Show

Ask Us Anything 253: Hard Times Create [Blank]? Getting Hired Without a Degree? Anti-Federalist Papers?

Date: February 16, 2026
Host: Charlie Kirk
Guests/Co-hosts: Blake, Mikey McCoy, others

Episode Overview

This episode of The Charlie Kirk Show features an Ask Us Anything (AUA) format, engaging directly with listeners on a range of topics. The main themes revolve around cultural cycles and gender, strategies for young people without college degrees, revitalizing local GOP organizations, family participation in activism, the dangers of marijuana, and reflections on the Anti-Federalist Papers and America's founding.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. "Hard Times Create [Blank]?" – Cycles of Strength, Gender, and Societal Change

[03:45–12:34]

• Listener Kelsey asks: Is there an equivalent "cycles of history" quote (like the famous G. Michael Hopf quote) that pertains specifically to women?
• Panel Reflection: The group examines how cycles of strength and weakness might apply to women, noting that women often serve as society's "norm enforcers". They debate whether the feminization of culture has shifted American institutions.
• Helen Andrews Clip: Played to illustrate how "feminization equals wokeness," prioritizing empathy, safety, and conformity over traditionally masculine values (rationality, risk).
• Balance Across Society: Panelists argue that masculinity and femininity must be balanced, with the overemphasis on one leading to institutional dysfunction.
• Listener Kelsey's Adapted Quote:

  “Peaceful times create weak-willed women. Weak-willed women create hard times. Hard times create noble women. Noble women create peaceful times.” – Kelsey, [12:18]

• Scriptural References: Proverbs 31 and 2 Timothy 3 are cited to emphasize biblical models for strong versus weak women.

Notable Quotes:

• Helen Andrews ([08:10]):

  “If you want to put it in a single sentence, you could say that feminization equals wokeness. Everything you think of as wokeness is simply an epiphenomenon of demographic feminization.”

• Charlie/Panel ([07:21]):

  “A healthy society has the proper balance of the masculine and feminine. Men and women are both given roles in which they can thrive.”

2. Revitalizing Local GOP Organizations

[12:50–23:32]

• Listener Anthony: Expresses frustration with entrenched, older leadership in local GOP, which deter younger members and resist change.
• Panel Advice:
  • Local GOPs can be clique-ish and unwelcoming.
  • New blood and outside organizations (like Turning Point Action) often provide the energy and cultural shift necessary for revitalization.
  • Parallel structures (i.e., youth-focused groups) can attract young members and eventually, through elections, inject change.
• Real-World Example (Nebraska):
  • Resistance to new ideas from younger leaders is discussed, using GOP resistance to "winner-take-all" reforms.

Notable Quotes:

• Blake ([14:57]):

  “It’s like high school. You’ve got mean girls, you’ve got cliques, everybody hates one faction versus another... and young people come in and feel completely alienated.”

• Charlie/Panel ([21:10]):

  “Creating an outside group…that has a whole different energy, culture, DNA…injects new life into the local GOP.”

3. Building Conservative Family Communities

[23:41–26:07]

• Christine's Question: Has Turning Point considered hosting or encouraging family-oriented events to help parents connect and get children around good role models?
• Panel Response:
  • “Turning Point Families”—the idea aligns with what Turning Point Faith could offer at the chapter or local level.
  • Currently, most TPUSA chapters are student/campus-focused, but the panel sees value in expanding to intergenerational, family mixers.
  • The idea is well-received and flagged for implementation.

4. Getting Hired Without a College Degree

[26:17–30:19]

• Mick's Story: 21-year-old listener in Oregon, no college, seeks advice for breaking into the workforce and staying engaged.
• Mikey McCoy’s Advice:
  1. Identify successful people/businesses locally.
  2. Persistently request meetings to ask for work—be the hardest working, most persistent, willing to work for free for a year.
  3. “Entrepreneurs, if they see themselves in you, will want to pour into you.”
• Blake’s Example: Gave similar advice to his nephew—locate top firms and executives, pursue interviews with persistence, offer to work for free, and it quickly led to a paid internship.

Notable Quotes:

• Mikey McCoy ([27:31]):

  “Beg for a meeting. Annoy the crap out of them until they give you a meeting…At the end of my gap year, you got all this work out of me…or you hire me full-time. Ten times out of ten, they will hire you.”

• Blake ([28:32]):

  “You have to be so positive…The rap on your generation is that you’re complainers, not hard workers. Prove that’s not true with you.”

5. Dangers of Marijuana Use

[31:49–33:52]

• Listener Email: Thanks the show for discussing marijuana’s negative mental health effects, sharing a personal story of psychosis and dysfunction.
• Panel Follows Up: Emphasizes the scriptural principle of not being “mastered by anything” and encourages listeners to reject addictive substances.

Notable Quotes:

• Email Excerpt ([31:49]):

  “I lived the weed psychosis nightmare...I watched as my boyfriend, a heavy user, began to succumb to delusions and erratic behavior...I am now free of both the weed and the relationship.”

• Panel ([33:02]):

  “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial…I will not be mastered by anything.” (citing 1 Corinthians 6:2)

6. Lessons from the Anti-Federalist Papers

[33:57–39:19]

• Brandon’s Question: Were the Anti-Federalist criticisms valid, and are there things they recommended that should have been implemented?
• Blake’s Response:
  • The main Anti-Federalist victory was the Bill of Rights—explicit protections in the Constitution. These have been invaluable in protecting freedoms.
  • Some ideas, however, were not adopted, like federal nullification of state laws or concerns regarding an overly powerful Supreme Court.
  • Discussion of whether term limits for judges would reduce political drama.
  • The founding generation was never monolithic—significant debate on the scope of government.
• Charlie ([35:38]):

  “They had deeply passionate, vehement, sometimes come-to-blows arguments about the size and scope of the federal government.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (w/ Timestamps)

• Helen Andrews on "Feminization equals wokeness" ([08:10]):

  “Everything you think of as wokeness is simply an epiphenomenon of demographic feminization.”

• Blake on Local GOP Dysfunction ([14:57]):

  “It’s like high school. You’ve got mean girls, you’ve got cliques, everybody hates one faction versus another...”

• Kelsey (Listener) on Biblical Archetypes ([12:18]):

  “Peaceful times create weak-willed women. Weak-willed women create hard times. Hard times create noble women. Noble women create peaceful times.”

• Mikey McCoy’s Advice to Non-College Young People ([27:31]):

  “Beg for a meeting. Annoy the crap out of them until they give you a meeting…”

• Listener Email on Marijuana’s Dangers ([31:49]):

  “I lived the weed psychosis nightmare...”

• Panel on Anti-Federalists’ Concerns About Judiciary ([39:19]):

  “They [Antifederalists] were concerned the judiciary would be too powerful.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Cycles of Strength/Weakness & Gender: [03:45–12:34]
• Local GOP Revitalization: [12:50–23:32]
• Family Engagement in Activism: [23:41–26:07]
• Advice for Non-College Job Seekers: [26:17–30:19]
• Marijuana Dangers: [31:49–33:52]
• Anti-Federalist Papers Discussion: [33:57–39:19]

Summary Tone and Style

The discussion is spirited, unapologetically conservative, and full of practical advice. The hosts blend serious discussion with humor, biblical references, and often switch between big-picture political and cultural analysis and actionable tips for individual listeners. There’s significant encouragement for grassroots activism and a call to uphold traditional values, strong families, and hard work.

Feel free to use this summary for a quick catch-up, reference, or sharing with others who want the essence of the show without listening to the full episode.