The Charlie Kirk Show

"Could the Ayatollah Bomb The Dallas Cowboys?"

Date: March 12, 2026
Host: Charlie Kirk
Guests: Stuart Kaplan (Former FBI Special Agent), Miranda Devine (NY Post Columnist), Pastor Lucas Miles

Episode Overview

In this wide-ranging episode, Charlie Kirk and co-hosts dive into the heightened security threats posed by Iran following recent escalations in the ongoing conflict. The show spotlights concerns over potential domestic terror attacks, particularly focusing on the threat of drone and unconventional attacks—hence the provocative title, “Could the Ayatollah Bomb The Dallas Cowboys?”. National security, border vulnerabilities, and domestic ideological fractures are recurring themes, alongside breaking coverage of an active shooter incident at a Detroit synagogue. Cultural threats, Christian engagement, the Protestant foundation of America, and the trending Make Heaven Crowded tour all find space in a packed two-hour discussion.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Iranian Threat: Drones, Cartels, and Border Security

• FBI REPORT WARNING OF IRANIAN DRONES:

  • The episode opens with news of an FBI alert warning of possible Iranian drone attacks in California, especially via technology that makes attacks relatively easy and untraceable. (02:15)
  • ABC News coverage is scrutinized for “intentionally alarming” reporting, with some suggesting the actual tip was uncorroborated and possibly overhyped. (09:28)

• Stuart Kaplan’s Analysis:

  • Ease of Attack: Drones can be bought by anyone and easily weaponized, posing a very real risk domestically. The “do-it-yourself” nature and anonymity of these attacks is deeply concerning. (04:00)
  • Cartel Involvement: Mexican cartels, under pressure from U.S. action in Mexico, could be persuaded to collaborate or act as proxies for external enemies such as Iran or China. (06:32)
  • “Dallas Cowboys” Scenario: Kaplan imagines a van parked outside a Cowboys game, with a drone deployed into the stadium undetected—a metaphor for the vulnerability of mass gatherings. (07:50)
  • Catch-Up Ball: The U.S. is “in a catch up period” due to years of lax border controls and failure to confront rising threats. (05:14)

• Notable Quote:

  “The threat of deployment of drones anywhere in the United States is real. It's here. It's been unchallenged, it's been unchecked... The problem is, now, we’re in a catch up period."
  — Stuart Kaplan (05:44)

2. Homegrown Terror, Sleeper Cells, and Internet Radicalization

• Homegrown Threats: Mention of Pennsylvania “suburbanites” attempting DIY terror attacks emphasizes the risk of radicalized locals, not just organized foreign plots. (04:52, 14:20)

• Digital Recruitment:

  • Kaplan highlights how the Internet, especially gaming platforms and social media, enables faceless radicalization and manipulation of impressionable young people. (13:22)
  • “Kids next door” are susceptible; families should watch for red flags. (14:23)

• “If You See Something, Say Something”: Both Kaplan and Kirk repeat the importance of civilian vigilance. (12:11, 15:30)

3. Military Status in the Iran War (as of March 12)

• Status Update:

  • The U.S.-led coalition has bombed over 5,500 Iranian targets in 10 days. Iran’s navy is “obliterated,” with continued strikes on infrastructure and their main bank.
  • The Iranian regime’s economic stability is crumbling—IRGC paychecks are threatened. (18:11, 19:45)

• Control of the Skies:

  • U.S. and Israeli forces “bomb at will.” (18:32)

• Strait of Hormuz: The Oil Chokepoint:

  • Newt Gingrich and others stress that keeping the Strait open is the “number one job.” If closed, markets crash and the coalition loses leverage.
  • Iran’s new supreme leader’s statement threatens closure as weapon. (20:28–22:16)
  • Analogous to U-boat warfare in the World Wars: even sporadic attacks disrupt global shipping. (32:14)

• Notable Quote:

  “If [the U.S.] can't keep [the Strait of Hormuz] open, this war will, in fact, be an American defeat... The entire world, including the American people, will react to the price of oil.”
  — Newt Gingrich (20:28)

4. The New Iranian Leadership and Propaganda

• Mustaba Khamenei, New Supreme Leader:

  • Details about his mysterious background, possible injuries, and whether he’s even alive, all underline the fog of war and the potential radicalization of Iranian leadership. (24:17–25:43)
  • No video appearances, possible “cardboard cutout AI videos,” meme-ification of the regime’s opacity. (25:43)

• Regime Change Skepticism:

  • Kirk expresses that “no regime has ever been removed by air strikes alone,” cautioning against escalation and highlighting divergent U.S. and Israeli objectives (regime containment vs. regime removal). (27:55, 35:50)

5. Domestic Cultural Shifts, Urban Disorder & Anti-Semitism

• NYC Under Mayor Mamdani:

  • Miranda Devine breaks down the rise of Islamist and leftist influence in NYC politics. Focus on Gracie Mansion’s Iftar and alleged terrorist bombings outside the residence. (41:22)
  • “The takeover of the city by a radical Islamist... voters knew what they were getting.” (41:22)
  • Devine notes increased homelessness, reduced city services, and a population “brainwashed” by elite institutions. (47:38)

• Religious Violence and Community Fear:

  • Coverage of an active shooter at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan (largest Jewish community in the state), with the city placed on lockdown.
  • Devine connects this attack to broader trends of Islamist radicalization, sleeper cells, and rising anti-Semitic violence post-Iran war escalation. (49:03–53:09)
  • Cautions that radicalization can stem from both left and right, and warns against rising Jew hatred. (53:55–54:23)
  • The “Islamist-leftist alliance” is cited as destabilizing, both in the U.S. and, analogously, Australia’s recent experience. (56:23)

• Notable Quote:

  “Jew hate has no place in civil society. It rots the brain. Reject it.”
  — Charlie Kirk (Referenced tweet, 72:20)

6. The Protestant Foundation, Evangelical Engagement, and “Make Heaven Crowded”

• Attacks on Protestantism:

  • Pastor Lucas Miles argues that the ultimate target of cultural attack is America's evangelical Protestant bedrock—central to U.S. founding and Trump’s 2024 re-election. (59:45)
  • Anti-evangelical rhetoric is rising, with accusations of bigotry tied to Israel support. (60:34)

• Protestant–Catholic Dialogues:

  • Blake (co-host) offers a Catholic perspective, acknowledging Protestantism’s overwhelming impact on America’s founding ethos while expressing concern over increasing attacks on religious cohesion. (62:41)

• Make Heaven Crowded Tour:

  • Pastor Miles highlights efforts to reignite Christian engagement:
    • 12,000 partner churches (up from ~4,600 pre-Charlie Kirk memorial),
    • Massive revival events nationwide.
    • “Our first stop: 5,500 people, over 300 gave their life to the Lord.” (67:13, 68:02)

• Notable Quote:

  “The darkness we’re seeing is because of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that was unleashed at Charlie’s memorial. What God has unleashed, man cannot stop, nor can the darkness.”
  — Andrew Colvett (Host) (68:01)

• Practical Encouragement:

  • Call to Christian listeners: “Gather together... bring a friend! If you’re not gathering with believers, you’re not a believer.” (75:48)
  • Rejection of online-only faith, promotion of real-world fellowship as the heart of Christian life. (75:48, 76:13)

Notable Moments & Memorable Quotes

• Stuart Kaplan (FMR FBI):

  “It used to be we solely relied upon law enforcement... We all play a part in paying attention to our surroundings..." (11:08)

• Charlie Kirk:

  “America’s always had large numbers of denominations... For the most part, we were able to live in peace. That was one of the great blessings of America.” (71:07)

• Miranda Devine (on NYC):

  “He's not just a communist, he's an Islamist... Anyone who's a long term New Yorker did not vote for Mamdani.” (41:22)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:15] ABC News/FBI Alert on Iranian Drones
• [04:00] Stuart Kaplan's Reality Check on DIY Terror
• [07:50] The “Dallas Cowboys Stadium” hypothetical
• [13:22] Internet-fueled Radicalization of Youth
• [18:11] War Update: Iranian Military Capacity
• [20:28] Newt Gingrich/Strait of Hormuz Clip
• [24:17] Iran’s Leadership Crisis—Who Is Mustaba Khamenei?
• [35:50] Regime Change: Aerial Assaults vs. Reality
• [41:22] Miranda Devine on NYC’s Islamist Mayor
• [49:03] Breaking: Temple Israel Shooter, Detroit
• [53:09] The Michigan Situation: Islamification & Targeted Violence
• [59:45] Attacks on Evangelicals & Protestant Heritage
• [67:13] Make Heaven Crowded Tour—Evangelical Movement
• [72:20] “Jew Hate Has No Place”—Charlie Kirk’s Stand

Final Thoughts

This episode deftly ties the knot between international geopolitics (Iranian threats and the ongoing war), domestic security, and deep cultural trends in America—especially around faith, national identity, and social cohesion. It aims to alarm (with justification) but ultimately to exhort Americans—especially Christians and conservatives—to vigilance, active engagement, and a spirit of revival.

For Further Information

• Make Heaven Crowded Tour: MakeHeavenCrowdedTour.com
• Charlie Kirk’s Free Resource Recommendation: charlieforhillsdale.com
• Miranda Devine’s Reporting: NY Post/Big Guy Book
• National Security Tips: “If you see something, say something.”