The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Erika Kirk's Heartbreaking and Inspiring New Interview

Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Charlie Kirk (posthumously—discussed by the team), Andrew Colvett (Executive Producer), Blake Neff
Guest: Erika Kirk (widow of Charlie Kirk), Jesse Watters (in interview clips), Kurt Schlichter (Town Hall columnist, guest segment)

Episode Overview

This episode centers around Erika Kirk’s first major public interview since the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, with Fox News’s Jesse Watters. The show reflects on Erika’s strength and courage through tragedy, offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on her interview, highlights poignant clips, and discusses the profound reaction and outpouring of support from the public. The episode also includes a discussion with columnist Kurt Schlichter about the cultural and political aftermath.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Behind the Scenes of Erika's Interview

• Setting the Stage: Andrew Colvett describes the gravity of the moment and the challenge of witnessing Erika's interview with Jesse Watters in person.
  • "I can tell you that the interview happened in this room right here where we're sitting... I was pretty much a wreck when it was happening." (02:07)
  • Jesse Watters allegedly had to emotionally prepare to avoid breaking down:
    • "He said he had to emotionally prep in advance to make sure that he was not gonna break down or get emotional." (02:38, Andrew quoting Jesse)
• Broadcast Impact: Erika’s courage and composure are highlighted as inspirational, setting the tone for the episode’s emotional depth.

2. Erika’s Experience and Family Grief

• Telling the Children
  • Erika describes how she told her children about Charlie’s death:
    • "You told your children that Charlie was going on a work trip with Jesus. Are they still asking, where's Daddy?" (04:30, Jesse Watters)
    • Erika responds:
      • "Yes, my daughter continues to ask... I said, if ever you want to talk to Daddy, you just look up to the sky and start talking to him. He can hear you... She goes, you think I could go sometime? I said, baby, we will all go one day." (04:37, Erika Kirk)
• The Moment She Found Out
  • Erika shares the story of the phone call—delivered by Mikey—telling her Charlie had been shot:
    • "Mikey called me... he's been shot. Get the kids. Get security. Get the kids. Get the kids. He's been shot. I sprinted out of her treatment center, just collapsed in the middle of the parking lot." (06:16, Erika Kirk)

3. Struggles with Public Trauma and Privacy

• Refusing to Watch the Assassination Video
  • Erika refuses to watch footage of her husband's murder, speaking pointedly to those who seek out such content:
    • "There are certain things you see in your life that mark your soul forever. I don't want my husband's public assassination to be something I ever see. I don't want my kids to ever see that. And for people who actually enjoy watching that, which is quite literally sick... There is so much beauty in this world. Why would you waste any portion of your life looking at something so evil?" (08:17, Erika Kirk)
• On Public Scrutiny and Media Presence
  • Erika expresses frustration with being analyzed and scrutinized:
    • "There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered. There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me analyzing my every move, analyzing my every smile, my every tear." (18:10, Erika Kirk)

4. On Justice, Forgiveness, and the Criminal Case

• Forgiveness
  • Erika deeply believes Charlie would've chosen to forgive:
    • "If the Lord... gave him an option to return back to earth and if the Lord said, this is what your death is gonna be the catalyst for, do you wanna go back and exchange it? He'd say no. He'd say no." (09:17, Erika Kirk)
• Confidence in Law Enforcement
  • Erika says she trusts the investigative team and the case:
    • "We have one of the most incredible teams for this case... I trust our team." (13:04, Erika Kirk)
  • The team and Jack Posobiec confirm that the suspect confessed and was turned in by his parents.

5. Cameras in the Courtroom and Public Trials

• Erika’s Call for Transparency
  • Erika wants camera access in the courtroom, matching the public exposure of her grief:
    • "We deserve to have cameras in there. Why not be transparent? There's nothing to hide. I know there's not because I've seen what the case is built on. Let everyone see what true evil is. This is something that could impact a generation and generations to come." (18:10, Erika Kirk)
• Legal Analysis
  • Kurt Schlichter supports public access and transparency:
    • "The American people have a right to see this evidence. They have a right to see if it proves him guilty. They have a right to see if the state can't make its case again. We're attempting to take the life of this man. He's up for the death penalty... We, the people, we have nothing to hide." (19:21–22:36, Kurt Schlichter)

6. Public Support and Legacy

• Outpouring of Support
  • Erika keeps all cards and messages received as a legacy for the kids and as motivation for the team:
    • "I told them not to throw anything away. I want every single card saved for my kids and for when... if a day gets hard at your desk... come in, and I want you to pick up any of these cards, and I want you to read it so you can put into perspective why you work here." (12:06, Erika Kirk)
• Cultural Impact
  • Guest Kurt Schlichter compares Charlie’s assassination to the deaths of major American figures:
    • "This was something that affected our country in a way that really hasn't happened since maybe the death of Martin Luther King, the death of rfk." (24:51, Kurt Schlichter)
  • Schlichter and the team echo the sentiment that good has overcome evil in public response:
    • "Maybe sometimes you forget that decency and good are out there and that they're stronger than anybody... I want to think about the decent people, and I want to think about what Charlie did, and I want to think about his legacy." (25:38, Kurt Schlichter)

7. Fearlessness and Moving Forward

• On Personal Safety
  • Erika shares her faith-based attitude on fear and threats:
    • "What, are they going to threaten me with going to heaven sooner to be with my husband?... It's a fearlessness that's rooted in the understanding that I will have my day and my time whenever that is, when the Lord knows that I've completed my mission and I'm not afraid. Charlie wasn't afraid either. We never lived in fear. If we did, we wouldn't get anything done." (28:12, Erika Kirk)

8. Charlie Kirk’s Legacy in Action

• Continuing the Movement
  • There is discussion about the continued growth of Turning Point USA and the importance of pushing Charlie’s vision forward.
• Support from Prominent Voices
  • Donald Trump makes a call at a Turning Point event, praising both Charlie and Erika and reaffirming support for their cause:
    • "I want to just say hello to everybody... I just want to pay my respects to Charlie and Erica. These are two incredible people... Erica, you just... you’re there someplace, and you just take care of yourself. We're with you all the way." (23:47, President Trump)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If the most important thing for you is just feeling good, you're going to end up miserable. But if the most important thing is doing good, you will end up purposeful."
  (00:10, Charlie Kirk – opening)

• "I don't want my husband's public assassination to be something I ever see... For people who actually enjoy watching that, which is quite literally sick."
  (08:17, Erika Kirk)

• "If the Lord gave him an option to return back to earth... He'd say no."
  (09:17, Erika Kirk)

• "There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered... We deserve to have cameras in [the courtroom]. Why not be transparent?"
  (18:10, Erika Kirk)

• "You're not a strong person because you're celebrating this. You're weak. You're pathetic. You're disgusting and despicable... I want to think about the decent people, and I want to think about what Charlie did... If they thought they were gonna snuff out this movement by murdering Charlie... they’re not going to know what hit them."
  (25:38–27:18, Kurt Schlichter)

• "What, are they going to threaten me with going to heaven sooner to be with my husband?... We never lived in fear. If we did, we wouldn't get anything done."
  (28:12, Erika Kirk)

Important Timestamps

• 00:03–01:09: Introduction, mission statement, and context for the episode
• 01:09–04:16: Behind-the-scenes of Erika’s interview, emotional challenges, significance
• 04:30–05:09: Erika talks about telling her children about Charlie
• 05:45–06:33: Erika recalls receiving the call about Charlie’s shooting
• 08:17–09:06: Erika on refusing to watch the assassination footage
• 09:12–09:54: Erika shares views on forgiveness and Charlie’s legacy
• 11:50–12:46: Erika on the immense public support and saving all messages for her kids
• 13:01–13:34: Erika expresses trust in investigators; comments on the case’s strength
• 18:04–18:49: Erika argues strongly for cameras in the courtroom for full transparency
• 23:47–24:35: Donald Trump calls in to praise Erika and reflect on Charlie’s impact
• 28:10–28:46: Erika expresses her faith-driven fearlessness
• 31:29–34:10: Kurt Schlichter analyzes election results and lessons for conservatives

Tone and Language

The episode’s tone is somber, reverent, supportive, and at times, defiant—balancing heartbreak with a strong call to continue Charlie Kirk’s legacy and mission. There is directness and emotional candor throughout, particularly from Erika and those close to the Kirks.

Conclusion

This episode stands as a powerful tribute to Charlie Kirk’s legacy and Erika Kirk’s strength, offering listeners a window into not only personal loss and public grief but also the ways in which a movement chooses to respond and carry on. It’s a testament to resilience—personal, communal, and ideological—driven by faith, support, and a commitment to transparency and truth.