The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: "Chicago's Latest Bloodbath and a Baseball Salary Cap"

Date: September 2, 2025
Host: Charlie Kirk
Guests: Julio Rosas, Paul Zeiss

Brief Overview

In this episode, Charlie Kirk tackles two headline topics: the chronic gun violence plaguing Chicago over Labor Day Weekend and a discussion on whether Major League Baseball should implement a salary cap. Joined by street reporter Julio Rosas and sports columnist Paul Zeiss, Kirk critiques progressive approaches to urban crime, unpacks the ideological underpinnings of Democratic leadership in big cities, and explores how structural reforms in professional sports could benefit competitiveness and fan engagement. As always, Charlie brings his unapologetic conservative perspective, challenging mainstream narratives, and advocating for tough-on-crime policies and equitable sports regulations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Labor Day Weekend Violence in Chicago

• Context:

  • Over the recent holiday weekend, 52 people were shot and at least 7 killed in Chicago ([02:00]).
  • Kirk grew up in the Chicago suburbs and reflects on how violence has become tragically normalized.

• Blame & Ideological Framing:

  • Kirk sharply criticizes Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Democratic leadership for, in his view, being "pro-criminal" and refusing accountability.
    • "The Democrat Party is the party of crime. Write that down." ([03:54])
  • Argues that Democrats attribute crime to societal structures (white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy) rather than personal agency.

• Calls for Federal Intervention:

  • Citing successful crackdowns in Washington D.C., Kirk advocates for a federal "takeover" of Chicago—federal troops, National Guard, and law enforcement action—as a crime reduction strategy ([06:40]).
    • "Go all in on Chicago. This is a perfect step two." ([05:53])

• Data and Trends:

  • Shares crime statistics for both D.C. (significant drop in crime attributed to federal efforts) and Chicago (hundreds shot already in 2025, most victims and perpetrators Black, a point Kirk says is ignored by city leadership) ([09:10]).

• Political Motivation Behind Resistance:

  • Kirk and guests assert that Johnson and Illinois officials (e.g., Governor JB Pritzker) resist federal aid out of anti-Trump sentiment, not out of concern for Chicago residents ([17:00]).

• Philosophical and Cultural Critique:

  • Charlie explores the "Rousseauian" leftist view that humans are fundamentally good, contrasting it with a "biblical" or conservative belief in inherent sin and the need for laws and order ([19:18]).
    • "If human beings are naturally good, why do you have to teach kids manners?" ([20:42])

2. Interview with Julio Rosas—On the Ground in Chicago

• Julio's Report ([36:31]):

  • Describes seeing both far-left protests and a palpable normalization of urban violence.
  • Notes an increase in crime "spilling over" from traditionally marginalized areas to more central, affluent neighborhoods.

• Chicago’s Approach to Federal Help ([40:42]):

  • Mayor Johnson recently ordered Chicago police not to cooperate with federal authorities.
    • Kirk and Rosas criticize this as prioritizing ideology over residents’ safety.

• Solutions and Obstacles:

  • Both argue for more policing, repeat offender crackdowns, and restoring traditional family structures over progressive crime "intervention programs."
  • Kirk: "Let's put dads back in the home and let's put cops back on the streets." ([43:01])

• Low Clearance Rates:

  • Outlines that with clearance rates possibly as low as 15-20%, most shooters avoid prosecution, leading Kirk to claim, "We need more prisoners, period." ([43:57])

• Cultural and Ideological Divide ([47:08]):

  • Rosas notes that a significant faction views America as so irredeemably flawed that it must be wholly remade, leading to tolerance for radicalization.

• Transgender Violence & Media Coverage ([48:11]):

  • Discusses a recent Minnesota school shooting by a transgender individual; both object to media outlets’ focus on pronoun use over victims.

3. Deeper Philosophical Framing

• Definition of Telos ([28:33]):

  • Explores "telos," or existential purpose, contrasting the right’s goal of a safe, flourishing America ("the good life") with the left’s aim to dismantle traditional institutions and "de-civilize" society.

• Global Comparison & Immigration in Europe ([30:00], [52:57]):

  • Kirk draws parallels to European cities’ struggles with integration and crime, arguing that permissiveness is making societies less safe and eroding national identities.

4. Baseball Salary Cap—With Paul Zeiss

Segment begins [57:57]

• The Debate:

  • Most major mainstream sports (NFL, NBA, NHL) have a salary cap that creates parity; MLB does not, leading to a handful of rich teams outspending small markets.
  • Kirk: "I’m tired of seeing the same four or five, six teams... generate higher output because of how much they spend." ([58:42])

• Why a Cap Matters:

  • Zeiss argues small market teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates remain uncompetitive without a cap and floor, and the lack of parity turns away fans ([59:15]).
    • "The leagues are one entity unto themselves and for competitive reasons... you want to have the ability, if you’re in a small market, to know that your team is going to have a chance." ([59:34])
  • Large market owners and super agents resist caps to preserve their market advantage and mega-deals.
  • A salary floor would prevent teams from only spending the bare minimum, and ensure money reaches mid-level players ([65:44]).

• Path Forward:

  • Realistically, change must come via collective bargaining—mid-level and younger players would need to band together to demand a cap/floor ([67:16]).

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• "The Democrat Party is the party of crime. Write that down."

  • Charlie Kirk [03:54]

• "Crime is actually super simple. Lock people up for a long period of time and have a lot of police and don't tolerate it."

  • Charlie Kirk [07:20]

• "The vast majority of this were black people shooting black people. Just so we are clear, it's not white people that are shooting black people."

  • Charlie Kirk [10:58]

• "We want the American way of life to come back to every neighborhood, every home. That is the mandate that we were elected on… we want that American way of life back."

  • Charlie Kirk [28:33]

• "If human beings are naturally good, why do you have to teach kids manners? I find that most people who think human beings are naturally good have not spent a lot of time as parents."

  • Charlie Kirk [20:42]

• “Just growing up, watching the news, the shootings was always usually the first thing that the state local stations would lead in with.”

  • Julio Rosas [38:57]

• "We need more prisoners in this country, period. Hard stop."

  • Charlie Kirk [43:57]

• "We just saw the NBA Finals included the Indiana Pacers... one of the smallest markets in the league... other sports have figured it out."

  • Paul Zeiss [59:15]

• "It’s insane to me that in baseball… you got teams with $300 million payrolls and teams with $30 or $40 million payrolls. You're not even playing in the same sport."

  • Paul Zeiss [66:30]

Notable Segment Timestamps

• [02:00] – Chicago violence numbers & framing of the problem
• [06:15] – Drop in DC crime post-federal surge; Kirk's call for action in Chicago
• [13:11] – Mayor Johnson's rhetoric and Kirk’s critique
• [19:18] – Human nature, left vs. right philosophical roots
• [28:33] – Telos: defining the “end goal” of each political side
• [36:31] – Julio Rosas’ on-the-ground reporting
• [38:57] – How violence is normalized in local Chicago culture
• [43:57] – Lack of prosecutions and need for higher incarceration rates
• [47:08] – Rosas on progressive radicalization and anti-civilizational views
• [57:57] – Start of baseball salary cap discussion with Paul Zeiss
• [65:44] – Salary floor necessity and effects on minor league players

Episode Tone & Style

Unapologetically combative, direct, and philosophical; Charlie Kirk maintains his characteristic clarity and conservative skepticism toward progressive policies, weaving together street-level realities, statistical analysis, and broader ideological battles. Guest segments are lively and illustrative, especially with firsthand reporting and sharp analogies to sports and broader culture.

For Further Reference

• Julio Rosas: @Julio_Rosas11 (X/Twitter), The Blaze, Substack "Mostly Peaceful Media" ([45:46])
• Paul Zeiss: @paulzeiss (X/Twitter), Pittsburgh Post Gazette

This summary provides a comprehensive look at the episode’s themes, arguments, and memorable exchanges, capturing both the critical and practical dimensions addressed by the host and his guests.