The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode Title: Biden's Lap Dogs—A Masterclass in Spinning America's Surrender
Date: August 31, 2021
Host: Charlie Kirk

Episode Overview

In this episode, Charlie Kirk delivers a pointed critique of the Biden administration’s handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, with a special focus on a recent speech by Secretary of State Tony Blinken. Kirk frames Blinken’s remarks as emblematic of what he views as the ruling class’s penchant for evading responsibility while maintaining perks and status. Using the fate of military working dogs left behind and the influx of Afghan refugees as case studies, Kirk characterizes the administration’s approach as detached, elitist, and fundamentally dishonest—what he calls a “masterclass in spinning America's surrender.”

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Ruling Class and the Abdication of Responsibility

• Kirk’s Central Premise: The current political and bureaucratic elite crave the benefits of power but resist accountability when things go wrong.
• Contrast in Leadership: Kirk compares former Secretary Mike Pompeo to Tony Blinken to argue America has “fallen” in leadership quality.
• Evading Blame: Kirk asserts that figures like Blinken and other Pentagon officials are “slippery,” adept at word games and deflection (05:40).

2. Analysis of Tony Blinken’s Speech on Afghanistan

• Tone and Substance: Blinken’s recent speech is described as “pathetic,” both in delivery and content—a “masterclass on how our leaders rule through failure” (06:55).
• Orwellian Rhetoric: Kirk notes the “arrogance” and “deceitfulness” of the speech, likening it to Orwellian doublespeak, though, he says, “Orwell... had more commitment to truth than Tony Blinken” (07:50).

Key Quote—Speech Example:

• Tony Blinken (Clip, 08:28):

  “More than 123,000 people have been safely flown out of Afghanistan. That includes about 6,000 American citizens. This has been a massive military, diplomatic and humanitarian undertaking... an extraordinary feat of logistics and coordination under some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable.”

• Kirk’s Response: He points out that only a fraction of evacuees are American citizens and suggests the difficulties were self-inflicted:

  “Yeah, you created it... They’re trying to make an example, this was Schindler’s List is what Joy Reid says. Or this was Dunkirk. It’s the opposite of Dunkirk.” (09:00)

3. The Plight of Military Working Dogs

• Allegation: Kirk raises the claim that U.S. military dogs were left behind in Afghanistan, facing potential slaughter by the Taliban (11:15).

• Symbolism: He uses these dogs as a symbol of perceived callousness in the Biden administration, suggesting it might provoke more outrage than the abandonment of Americans or allies.

• Kirk’s Commentary:

  “I have on good reports... working dogs who were released at the Kabul airport per Department of Defense authority... are being shot and killed right now by the Taliban on airport runways.” (12:30)
  “Maybe that will get suburban soccer moms to actually think about the soulless part of the regime.” (14:50)

4. Refugee Resettlement and National Security

• Critique: Kirk, referencing an article by Michael Anton, questions the rationale for importing large numbers of Afghan refugees, implying cultural incompatibility and security risks.
• Class Critique: He accuses American elites of supporting refugee resettlement so long as it doesn’t affect their own neighborhoods, e.g., “it’s not coming to Beverly Hills” (04:25).

5. Deflection Through Language

• Word Games: Kirk highlights the administration’s tendency to swap terms to avoid culpability—e.g., “manifest” vs. “list,” “sacrifice” vs. “death,” or “evacuation” vs. “stranding.”

Notable Exchange (19:37):

• Tony Blinken:

  “The idea that we shared lists of Americans or others with the Taliban is simply wrong. What was shared... in specific instances... was a manifest to do that...”

• Kirk’s Sarcastic Critique:

  “So again, we call it a manifest, not a list. So therefore it’s not a list.” (20:05)

6. Lack of Accountability and the Elite Mentality

• No Admission of Failure: Kirk laments the lack of consequences for dire mistakes—be it citizens left behind, loss of materiel, or lives lost (23:40).
• Elitist Detachment: He claims figures like Blinken care more about status, future book deals, and socializing among elites than serving the public or taking responsibility.

Notable Moment (25:45):

• Kirk:

  “For them, it’s not about a citizen government to help the country. For them, it’s a momentary position... so they can then get their ticket into America’s ruling class.”

7. The Broader Context: America’s Unaccountable Ruling Class

• Institutional Rot: Kirk asserts that a lack of opposition party—in effect, no meaningful Republican challenge—has allowed unchecked elitism to flourish (30:50).
• Founders’ Vision: He attributes some of this dysfunction to the abandonment of the constitutional system of checks and balances.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Leadership:

  “Leadership is not just about the perks and the benefits... Leadership is also and truly about the stuff our rulers actually detest the most: sleepless nights, flag-draped coffins, unpredictable circumstances, terror bombings...” (21:55)

• On College Campuses as Elite Incubators:

  “College campuses are the incubators where wisdom goes to die and arrogance is bred, where deceitfulness is inculcated and treachery is encouraged.” (17:10)

• On the Elite Mindset:

  “Tony Blinken will always be invited to Obama’s birthday party from this point forward. Tony Blinken is important.” (25:17)

• Summary Judgment:

  “Wise men admit their mistakes. Fools defend them. We are being governed by fools. Arrogant ones, too. That is the worst combination.” (28:49)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–02:15: Introduction; importance of activism and episode framing.
• 04:25: Critique of elite detachment from refugee policy.
• 06:55: Kirk begins dissection of Tony Blinken’s speech—general content and tone.
• 08:28: [Tony Blinken speech excerpt]: Evacuation totals and framing as a success.
• 11:15: Story of military working dogs left behind; symbolism for administrative callousness.
• 14:50: Emotional discussion about dogs and public outrage.
• 17:10: Colleges as breeding grounds for current leadership flaws.
• 18:28: [Tony Blinken speech excerpt]: “Military mission is over, a new diplomatic mission has begun.”
• 19:37: [Tony Blinken on “lists” vs. “manifests”]; linguistic deflection.
• 21:55: Leadership as responsibility vs. perks.
• 25:17: Elites and "golden ticket” mentality; role of social prestige.
• 28:49: Kirk’s philosophic sign-off on wisdom, arrogance, and government.

Tone and Style

• Unapologetically Conservative: Direct, combative, and deeply skeptical of the current administration.
• Sarcastic & Emotional: Employs sarcasm and righteous indignation, particularly around the fate of abandoned dogs and the perceived gaslighting from officials.
• Pop-Culture Analogies: References to Dunkirk, Schindler’s List, Orwell, Neville Chamberlain, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and even Breaking Bad.

Conclusion

Kirk wraps the episode with a warning about the dangers of an out-of-touch elite class that values privilege and prestige over accountability and service. He calls for renewed vigilance and grassroots activism to hold leaders to higher standards, implicitly inviting listeners to question official narratives.

To connect with the show or get involved:

• Email: freedom@charliekirk.com
• Turning Point USA: tpusa.com