The Charlie Kirk Show
Episode: Everything You Need to Know about the Arizona Election Audit
Date: April 26, 2021
Host: Charlie Kirk
Guest: Tyler Boyer (Chief Operating Officer, Turning Point USA; National Committeeman for Arizona GOP)
Overview
This episode centers on the then-ongoing Arizona election audit, providing updates, key context, and alleged obstacles facing the process. Host Charlie Kirk and guest Tyler Boyer break down the process of the Maricopa County audit, the political and legal battles surrounding it, and what the audit means for election integrity. The discussion also touches on broader themes of political activism, lawfare, and conservative strategies in education and culture.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Political Climate and Cancelled Seattle Church Event
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[01:16–08:29]
Charlie opens the episode referencing his recently canceled speaking event at Motion Church in Seattle, cancelled after antifa groups allegedly threatened violence. He frames this as emblematic of left-wing intimidation and a lack of state action to protect free speech and religious rights.Notable Quotes:
- Charlie Kirk: "The only way to deal with terrorists is not to negotiate with terrorists. You show them what is acceptable and unacceptable and you stand for truth." ([09:16])
- Pastor Roger Archer: "It is for the safety of my precious city and our precious church people that we have heartbreakingly canceled our event with Mr. Kirk." ([05:09])
Key Insight:
Kirk argues such incidents discourage open discourse and are part of a broader pattern of intimidation tolerated by Democratic leaders.
2. Legislative Offense Against Progressive Policies
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[10:11–12:49]
Charlie commends new anti–critical race theory legislation (Idaho's House Bill 377), urging conservatives to push proactive, values-based policies rather than merely playing defense against progressive initiatives.Notable Quote:
- "The only way to deal with what's happening in America is a massive, bold, no excuses, forward-thinking counter move against the people who wish to deconstruct our country." ([10:58])
3. Background and Importance of the Arizona Audit
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[17:20–23:54]
Tyler Boyer provides context:- Maricopa County: The largest county in Arizona, comprising ~2/3 of the state's population.
- Democratic County Recorder: Previous changes in election procedures were initiated after Democrats replaced the county recorder.
- 2020 Election Issues: 2020 was the first cycle without a legitimate hand count by precinct; instead, voting centers were used due to COVID-19, raising questions about process transparency.
Issues Under Scrutiny:
- Hand count verification of ballots did not occur by precinct.
- Concerns over mail-in ballots, adjudication, and signature verification.
- Alleged refusal by the Republican-majority Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to cooperate initially with the audit process.
Notable Quote:
- Tyler Boyer: "There wasn't a single full precinct that was counted, hand counted, in Maricopa County... There was a lot of questions like we've been seeing all over the country with mail-in ballots." ([18:45])
4. The Audit Process and Who’s Involved
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[23:54–24:49]
- Audit Venue: The audit is being conducted at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Phoenix).
- Audit Team: Cyber Ninjas (contracted firm) is in charge, with multiple colored-shirt teams assigned to specific tasks:
- Fold & crease checks (mail-in ballot authenticity)
- Signature verification
- Hand count of physical ballots to match machine tabulation
Notable Quotes:
- Tyler Boyer: "They brought in an auditing firm. The firm is Cyber Ninjas... they have a lot of different individuals... Some are checking folds and creases, which is a big issue." ([22:26])
- "The big core part... is the hand count verification of the actual physical ballots to the numbers that machines [reported]." ([23:31])
5. Legal Battles and Democratic Opposition
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[20:36–24:49, 25:34–31:26]
- Litigation: The process has faced fierce legal challenges, largely orchestrated by national Democratic attorneys and groups (notably Marc Elias and the law firm Perkins Coie).
- Strategy: Boyer claims Democrats’ aim is to "paper the process to death," using legal maneuvers to delay or derail the audit.
- Key Example: The recent recusal of a judge overseeing the audit due to a tangential conflict of interest involving a junior associate and the audit firm’s legal representation.
Notable Quotes:
- Charlie Kirk: "They're sending thousand dollar an hour lawyers... This is lawfare." ([20:40], [30:13])
- Tyler Boyer: "The Democrats have filed in, and they've—I mean, there's literally three law firms... a platoon of attorneys to basically look for every... every crack in everything they can possibly find." ([30:16–30:22])
6. The Mechanics and Stakes of the Audit
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[26:25–34:00]
- The process—if uninterrupted—should be quick and straightforward, akin to a financial audit, says Boyer.
- Democrats are accused of wanting to drag the process out, hoping the legislative session will expire before audit results can translate to legislative action.
Notable Quotes:
- Tyler Boyer: "If the left really felt like there were no issues, why would they be fighting?" ([27:04])
- Charlie Kirk: "They're going to try to hold this thing up, elongate it, prolong it as long as they can." ([31:28])
- Tyler Boyer: "Their entire goal is just, I think, to paper this thing to death so then everyone finally gives up." ([30:22])
7. The Status and Outlook
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[34:00–35:04]
- Despite legal delays and the judge’s recusal, the audit is ongoing.
- Boyer affirms the process’s legitimacy, saying the Arizona Senate is intent on following through "on behalf of Arizona citizens," but that the audit’s future depends on legal outcomes and potential legislative time constraints.
Notable Quotes:
- Charlie Kirk: "I think there's something there. I think the more we look into it, the more we're gonna find. I don't know the extent of it... but you could tell by how the Democrats are reacting that they are nervous that something might get uncovered." ([34:48])
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Comment | |-----------|--------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:09 | Pastor Archer| "It is for the safety of my precious city and our precious church people that we have heartbreakingly canceled our event with Mr. Kirk." | | 09:16 | Charlie Kirk | "The only way to deal with terrorists is not to negotiate with terrorists. You show them what is acceptable and unacceptable and you stand for truth." | | 18:45 | Tyler Boyer | "There wasn't a single full precinct that was hand counted in Maricopa County... there was a lot of questions... with mail-in ballots." | | 22:26 | Tyler Boyer | "They brought in an auditing firm. The firm is Cyber Ninjas... Some are checking folds and creases, which is a big issue." | | 27:04 | Tyler Boyer | "If the left really felt like there were no issues, why would they be fighting?" | | 30:13 | Charlie Kirk | "This is lawfare. It really is." | | 34:48 | Charlie Kirk | "I think there's something there... you could tell by how the Democrats are reacting that they are nervous that something might get uncovered." |
Important Timestamps
- [01:16–08:29] — Discussion on Seattle event cancellation, church intimidation, and religious freedom.
- [10:11–12:49] — Commentary on Idaho’s anti–critical race theory bill and conservative offense.
- [17:20–23:54] — Background on Arizona election procedures and the genesis of the audit.
- [23:54–24:49] — Audit process details (hand count, machine verification, ballot authenticity).
- [25:34–31:26] — Legal strategies, judge’s recusal, and impact on audit.
- [34:29–35:04] — Current audit status, summary, and predictions.
Final Thoughts & Tone
- The tone is urgent and combative, emphasizing the seriousness of the cultural and legal battles facing conservatives in Arizona and nationwide.
- Kirk and Boyer position the audit as a common-sense, transparency-oriented measure opposed by elite legal forces and Democratic operatives.
- The episode calls for further vigilance and legal countermeasures to ensure audit completion and transparency.
For Follow-up:
- Both Kirk and Boyer signal updates to come as the audit evolves, encouraging listeners to remain engaged and share the episode.
Use this summary to get a comprehensive understanding of the Arizona election audit issue as discussed by Charlie Kirk and Tyler Boyer, including the broader political implications and legal context.
