The Charlie Kirk Show Episode: DEI On Steroids + Future of the Census Date: January 23, 2026 Host: Charlie Kirk Featured Guests: Ben Weingarten (Newsmax, RealClearPolitics), Ryan James Girdusky (Founder, 1776 Project PAC)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into two interrelated issues shaping federal policy and America's political future: the expansion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, particularly as they manifest in the Small Business Administration's 8A program ("DEI on steroids"), and how ongoing demographic changes and immigration patterns are poised to affect Congressional apportionment and future presidential elections via the U.S. Census. The conversation features expert perspectives on the legal, fiscal, and political implications of these developments and includes notable analysis on shifting public opinion surrounding immigration enforcement.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The 8A Program & DEI Under the Federal Microscope ([01:09]–[17:01])

Background & Critique of 8A

• What is 8A?

  • Summary: A federal set-aside program mandating a portion of government contracts go to "disadvantaged" small businesses ([01:51], C).
  • Problematic Criteria:
    • "Who counts as disadvantaged has grown to the point where you are disadvantaged if you're anything other than a white man." ([02:08], C)
    • Some demographics labeled "disadvantaged" actually out-earn the average white American (e.g., Indian Americans, Nigerians) ([02:15], C).

• Expansion Under Biden Administration:

  • "The Biden administration ... wanted to raise the percentage of SBA contracts to 8A firms from 5% ... to 15%. That's really all you need to know about how significant of a thrust this was." ([04:32], D, Ben Weingarten)

Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

• Prevalence: Billions of dollars in contracts are steered toward these companies, with allegations of pass-through fraud (minority-owned firms serve as fronts for larger contractors), and applicants exploiting criteria ([04:32]–[09:43], D).
• Legal Gray Area:
  • The program used a "rebuttable presumption"—minority status equals presumed disadvantage, later challenged in court. Now, applicants must write "socially disadvantaged narrative essays," seen as a proxy for affirmative action ([08:00], D).
  • "This looks like racial preferences that continue to exist." ([09:15], D)

Scale and Spread

• In 2024, $78 billion—12% of all SBA contract dollars—went to small, disadvantaged businesses ([09:43], B, [09:54], C).
• The 8A model has spread to other federal agencies and state/local government; the aggregate impact is described as massive—potentially outstripping affirmative action’s impact on college admissions ([11:59]–[14:13], D).

Pushback and Reforms

• Secretary Pete Hegseth (referenced, [15:45]) announced:
  • Review and elimination of contracts over $20 million that don't "make us more lethal" in defense.
  • Crackdown on pass-through shell companies.
  • "We have no room in our budget for wasteful DEI contracts that don't help us win wars, period, full stop." ([16:07], [16:10], [16:20], E)

Central Argument

• The hosts and guests critique the DEI-driven expansion as "insidiously" embedding racial preferences into the federal code, expressing concern over legality, fairness, and fiscal stewardship.

2. Demographic Realignment & The Future of the Census ([20:13]–[26:39])

Population Shifts & Apportionment

• Dynamic: States like California, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey would lose more Congressional seats if not for their large immigrant populations (both legal and illegal) offsetting the out-migration of U.S. citizens ([21:18], E, Ryan Girdusky).

• Legal Battle: The courts have generally mandated that all persons, not just citizens or eligible voters, be counted in the Census, maintaining Congressional power in blue states ([21:18], E).

• 2020s Migration:

  • “American citizens are leaving [California]. They're not willing to deal with the nonsense of failed government, Democrat governance...What is happening is, 300,000+ people who have moved to California from other countries have made up for the loss of population of Americans.” ([22:06]–[23:21], E)
  • Future apportionment: “Texas, Florida, Utah, Arizona, Idaho” set to gain seats; “California, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Illinois, Washington, Oregon” poised to lose ([23:24]–[24:14], E).

• Political Implication:

  • “The entire blue wall does not matter...If a Republican wins North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, they win the presidency.” ([24:14], E)
  • “If we can cut off illegal immigration, start deporting people...reduce legal immigration...we will see massive change—10 to 12 seats out of blue states into red.” ([25:14], E)

3. Immigration, Public Opinion, and Electoral Strategy ([26:39]–[36:01])

Mass Deportation: Political Viability

• Despite mainstream narratives, polling suggests “deporting illegal immigrants” remains highly popular:

  • “It is the most popular issue still, when they ask what is Trump doing right, deporting illegal immigrants. It was popular among not only Republicans, but I think it was plus 12 among independents.” ([27:10], E)
  • Support is strongest among all demographics over age 30.

• “People don't like mass agents. They don't like watching families cry...However, that doesn't mean that they don't endorse the deportation effort.” ([27:10], E)

• Operational Effectiveness:

  • “We're having a net loss, about 100,000 illegal foreign born residents this year...and about half a million next year. It is working.” ([28:39], E)

Notable Soundbite

• Sen. JD Vance:
  • “We are going to get illegal criminals out of our country and we're not going to let a few left wing radicals stop us.” ([30:09]–[30:58], B, played clip from JD Vance)

Younger Voters & the Job Market

• Younger Americans are turning away from Trump, largely due to economic anxiety and perception of job scarcity ([33:10], E).
  • “It is one of the worst times to be young and looking for a job in our country, like, that is just the truth...That is a really big part of it.” ([33:10], E)
  • AI and H1B visa competition are key concerns for this generational shift ([33:58], B & C).

AI Regulation: American Competitiveness vs. Risks

• “President Trump is going all in on AI...He says it's going to create more jobs than it takes away. Maybe it doesn't...If he is wrong, it is a generational consequence.” ([34:56], E)
• “Democrats are saying...AI is the gateway to actually get real socialism in America in a way that we have never felt it.” ([34:56], E)
• US public sentiment on AI is lukewarm compared to China’s positivity ([36:01], B & C).

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• 8A Program and DEI expansion: [01:09]–[17:01]
• Scale of 8A contracts & fraud analysis: [09:43]–[11:59]
• Hegseth’s DoD reform statement: [15:45]–[16:26]
• Future of Census, migration trends: [20:13]–[26:39]
• Immigration public opinion & polling: [26:39]–[28:57]
• Job market, youth, H1B, and AI: [33:10]–[37:10]

Memorable Quotes

• Ben Weingarten on 8A/DEI:

  • “8A really looks like the Small Business Administration manifestation of DEI on steroids.” ([04:32], D)
  • “The main allegations are that you have these pass through entities...a front company that looks like a minority company...collect the fees and then...shift a percentage...onto a major company that actually does most of the work.” ([06:20], D)

• Ryan James Girdusky on Census Apportionment:

  • “California should lose five seats...It is only for legal and illegal immigration that they don't lose more.” ([22:45], E)
  • “If we can cut off illegal immigration, start deporting people...we will see massive change—10 to 12 seats out of blue states into red.” ([25:14], E)

• JD Vance (clip):

  • “We are going to get illegal criminals out of our country and, and we're not going to let a few left wing radicals stop us.” ([30:09])

Tone and Language

• Direct, polemical, and unapologetically conservative; the dialogue is energetic with a sense of “culture war” urgency. There’s a focus on exposing perceived injustice and inefficiency in government programs, and a tone of championing the American taxpayer and traditional values.

Final Takeaways

This episode offers an assertive critique of federal DEI initiatives, casting the 8A program as emblematic of deeper regulatory inefficiencies and ongoing racial preferences in government contracting. The discussion interweaves this critique with a data-driven, strategic analysis of shifting population patterns and their implications for future political power. The hosts and guests argue for aggressive reform—legally, administratively, and through electoral strategy—emphasizing the urgent need for conservatives to both win elections and enact lasting change in how the government defines fairness, spends taxpayer money, and counts its residents.

Listeners are provided with granular legislative insight, historical legal background, and tactical recommendations, making this a rich resource for understanding the intersection of DEI, government contracting, demographic change, and its political consequences.