The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Day One of AmFest + The Target Freedom Shirt Patriot
Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Charlie Kirk, co-hosts, Libby Emmons (Editor-in-Chief, Post Millennial & Human Events)
Theme: The opening day of Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest (AmFest), unity in the conservative movement, culture war anecdotes (notably, the Target “Freedom Shirt” story), and developing news on a controversial campus shooting.

Overview

This episode kicks off AmFest 2025, painting it as both a celebration for grassroots conservatives and a momentous reunion for a movement grappling with internal divisions and the recent loss of Charlie Kirk. The hosts preview the event, discuss practical activism, comment on the unifying power of in-person events, and dig into stories from the broader culture war. A particular focus is devoted to the viral incident of a Target employee harassed for wearing a Charlie Kirk shirt, followed by a tense discussion on the handling of a recent campus shooting at Brown University. The episode closes with reflections on conservative coalition-building in the post-Charlie era.

Main Segments & Timestamps

1. The Heart and Purpose of AmFest

[01:09–05:22]

• Unifying the Movement:
  The hosts reflect on AmFest's role in uniting a divided conservative movement. Despite ideological squabbles ("Blake, you would occupy one lane. I'd probably be in a slightly different." [03:10]) the aim is a greater sense of family and North Star focus.

  "When you have an event that gathers everybody together and says, here is our goal... I think magic happens." – Host, [03:57]

• Event Details:
  AMFest is set at the Phoenix Convention Center, with attendance expected in the tens of thousands. Notable guests include Steve Bannon, Megan Kelly, Michael Knowles, Don Jr., and Riley Gaines. Members get exclusive access to live, pre-recorded interviews and Q&As.

• Charlie Kirk’s Legacy:
  The event's spirit is described as carrying forth Charlie's passion—bringing people together to grow and defend American values.

2. Reflections on Movement Divisions, COVID, and Real-Life Connection

[05:22–06:46]

• Movement Factions:
  The need to bridge divides, especially those flamed by online debates, is emphasized. The hosts share personal anecdotes about disagreements but stress unity through shared purpose.

• AmFest History:
  Discussion on previous AmFests, including the “super spreader” COVID event in 2020, underlining how these gatherings create lasting cross-organizational relationships.

3. Trump’s Address and the “Venezuela Ropecadope”

[06:46–09:56]

• Expectations vs. Reality:
  Analysis of President Trump’s much-anticipated address, which turned out to focus on domestic policy rather than announcing military action in Venezuela as speculated.

  "The misdirection was intentional... I think this was a stroke of genius and a masterful touch." – Host, [06:54]

• Key Quotes from Trump (Clip Recaps):

  • Tax Cuts:

    “Next year you will also see the results of the largest tax cuts in American history. Many families will be saving between $11,000 and $20,000 a year...” – Trump (paraphrased by hosts), [07:33]

  • National Confidence:

    "Let them see a nation that is loyal to its citizens, faithful to its workers, confident to its identity, certain to its destiny, and the envy of the entire globe.” – Trump (played on show), [08:50]

4. Reclaiming American Pride

[09:01–11:15]

• Discussion Point:
  The hosts lament an increasing anti-American sentiment on college campuses and its corrosive effect on patriotism.

  "If you don't love your family, you probably won't treat them well. And if you don't love your country, you probably won't treat it well either.” – Co-host, [09:56]

• No Guilt for Being Western or Christian, Straight Male:

  “I struggle with approximately zero white guilt. I struggle with approximately zero guilt of being a western Christian straight male. Zero. I got zero.” – Host, [10:09]

5. Viral Story: The Target “Freedom Shirt” Patriot

[11:29–17:13]

• Incident:
  A Target employee named Jeannie was confronted at work for wearing a Charlie Kirk Freedom Shirt. The clip of the altercation (“You support a racist” [12:18]) went viral, and Jeannie’s calm, dignified response won public admiration:

  "It's not racist. Okay. Have a nice day. I'm not gonna sit here and argue." – Jeannie, [13:05]

• Community Response:
  A GiveSendGo campaign (spearheaded by Cassandra Fairbanks) raised over $220,000 for Jeannie. Jeannie expressed humility and declined calls for retaliation against the harasser:

  “Two wrongs don't make a right. You know, she wronged me but I don't want to wrong her... I really wouldn't want to see her—somebody lose their job over it." – Jeannie, [14:21]

• Hosts’ Reflections:
  The hosts hail Jeannie as emblematic of the American spirit and attempt to invite her to AmFest:

  “You will accept our love. Let us bless you, you sweet lady.” – Host, [15:49]

6. Interview: Libby Emmons on the Brown University Shooting

[18:26–36:40]

• Investigation Critique:
  Libby Emmons provides a detailed account of the ongoing investigation into the Brown campus shooting, highlighting stunning lapses:

  • Police haven’t interviewed all students present at the shooting scene, relying instead on email outreach ([24:30]).
  • Confusion over persons of interest, lack of details, and inconsistent communication from law enforcement and university officials.
  • Brown’s lack of transparency and delayed cooperation with police.

  “They have not even interviewed all of the students that were in the classroom at the time of the shooting... Brown has sent out an email to the student, to all students, saying, hey, if you were in this classroom for this study session, let us know so you can talk to police.” – Libby Emmons, [19:05]

• Public Frustration and Transparency:
  Community efforts to crowd-source information have been met with accusations of “doxing,” while officials themselves have not provided clear facts or suspects ([25:46]).

• Potential Motive:
  Unconfirmed but widely reported claims (e.g., from Jack Posobiec) suggested the attack may have targeted Ella Cook, a College Republicans leader. Libby and hosts note that if true, this would inform the investigation’s focus but, so far, there is no confirmation.

7. Conservative Movement: Unity After Loss

[34:40–37:40]

• Reconstituting the Coalition:
  Libby and the hosts discuss whether AmFest can restore a sense of unity after Charlie Kirk’s death.

  “Charlie had his hands pretty much on everyone... I think it is up to us to continue that legacy by reaching out hands to each other...” – Libby Emmons, [34:40]

• Binary Choice Framing:
  The hosts frame the current political and cultural situation as a stark choice between left-wing (“Mamdaniism, AOCism”) and right-wing (“MAGAism, nationalist, conservative”) futures ([36:32]).

• Historical Perspective:
  Both Libby and the hosts reference a loss of national confidence but share optimism based on the attitude and camaraderie seen among AmFest attendees.

  “We also had this idea, certainly when I was growing up, that this was the greatest country in the world, that it was the greatest empire ever built. We never questioned it. And I think we need to get back to that.” – Libby Emmons, [36:54]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Unity Through Event:
  “When you focus your attention on a North Star… when you come together as one movement… magic happens.” – Host, [03:57]

• Divided Yet United:
  “Every morning I come in and go, hey, what about this? And then Blake says, why? That’s dumb.” – Host, [03:40]

• Jeannie’s Grace:
  “Two wrongs don't make a right. She wronged me but I don't want to wrong her... I really wouldn't want to see her lose her job over it.” – Jeannie, [14:21]

• Culture Critique:
  “If you don't love your country, you probably won't treat it well either.” – Co-host, [09:56]

• On Policing & Diversity:
  “If you care about catching criminals, most of all, you'll catch criminals. If you care about having diversity the most, you'll have a lot of diversity.” – Co-host, [32:07]

Engaging Takeaways

• AmFest is both a rallying event and an attempt at healing after Charlie Kirk’s death, with a broad focus on grassroots mobilization and forging in-person connections.
• The “Target Freedom Shirt” moment—simple, gracious, and widely supported—became a symbol for the resilience and generosity within the conservative grassroots.
• Ongoing frustration about media, law enforcement, and university transparency in controversial criminal cases is growing, particularly when it comes to perceived political motives.
• The conservative movement is at a crossroads, as described by hosts—either fragmented along old lines, or united by shared purpose in the post-Charlie era.

For further news, updates, and event streaming, listeners are directed to Real America’s Voice, Rumble, and CharlieKirk.com.