The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Exposing the FBI's Covert Role in the January 6 Riots

Date: June 16, 2021
Host: Charlie Kirk

Episode Overview

In this episode, Charlie Kirk tackles what he calls one of the show’s “most important” and “forbidden” topics: the alleged covert role of the FBI and federal law enforcement in the events surrounding the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Citing recent reporting from Revolver News and a viral monologue by Tucker Carlson, Kirk claims there is mounting evidence that the January 6 riot may have been, at least in part, a “false flag” operation, or at minimum, one with significant government involvement. Throughout the episode, Kirk draws parallels to historic intelligence abuses, raises skeptical questions about the Biden administration's domestic terrorism strategy, and warns of what he sees as expanding federal power targeting conservatives and dissenters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Context: Domestic Terrorism and Federal Power

• Rise in Targeting of Conservatives: Kirk contends that following January 6, Democrats and the Biden administration have seized on the event as a pretext to intensify law enforcement against Trump supporters and conservatives.

  • "They can now...go eliminate and extinguish their political opponents...under the excuse of countering domestic terrorism." (05:04)

• Contrast with Other Crime: He suggests this focus is disingenuous, contrasting it with perceived leniency toward BLM, Antifa, and inner-city gang violence.

  • "If you voted for Donald Trump, then we're going to come after you...Why don't they worry about the Bloods and the Crips killing each other?" (05:46)

2. Highlighting Media and Justice Double Standards

• Selective Coverage on Racially-Motivated Crimes: Kirk and Tucker Carlson raise the case of Justin Tyron Roberts (who allegedly attacked white men), arguing the media and authorities highlight only one side of the racial violence story.

  • Tucker Carlson: "...By any definition these were crimes of viciousness motivated by race hate. They're not unique in this country, not by a long shot." (08:51)

• Broad Use of 'White Supremacy' Label: Kirk criticizes how terms like “white supremacy” remain undefined but are used to justify extensive surveillance of white Americans.

  • "You now have this accusation that can be basically portrayed on 56, 57% of the entire American population." (10:34)

3. Historical Precedents for Government Overreach

• Review of Past Covert Operations: Kirk outlines a brief history of government abuses:

  • Operation Mockingbird: Media manipulation program by the CIA.

  • COINTELPRO: FBI campaign to infiltrate and disrupt domestic political organizations, including civil rights groups and the KKK.

  • Project Artichoke & MK-Ultra: Experiments in psychological and chemical mind control, with Project Artichoke specifically testing if a person could be brainwashed into committing assassination.

  • "This is all legit by the way. You guys can look it up yourself." (15:44)

  • "Over 2,000 FBI agents were also active KKK members." (16:32)

  • "Is Project MK ULTRA still going on?...These are questions that I think we deserve answers to." (17:41)

• Need for Accountability: Kirk laments that these chapters of U.S. history are not widely taught, suggesting both parties have reasons for keeping them out of the spotlight.

4. The New "War": Domestic Terrorism Strategy

• Biden's New Strategy: Kirk characterizes the Biden administration’s domestic terrorism framework as a new phase of government overreach, substituting foreign enemies for dissenting citizens.
  • "The new war is against you...against those of you that have the Make America Great Again hats." (24:08)

5. Tucker Carlson's Claims & Open Questions About January 6

• Suppression of Evidence: Kirk highlights Carlson’s points about the ongoing withholding of thousands of hours of Capitol surveillance footage and the secrecy surrounding officer identities.

  • Tucker Carlson: "Why is the administration still hiding more than 10,000 hours of surveillance tape from the US Capitol on January 6th?" (26:38)
  • "We know that the government is hiding the identity of many law enforcement officers who were present at the Capitol...sometimes in violent ways." (28:32)

• Unindicted Co-Conspirators: Kirk and Carlson build on reporting suggesting that numerous individuals called "unindicted co-conspirators" in court filings have not been charged despite participating in similar or worse conduct than others who remain jailed.

  • "There's a huge difference between using an informant to find out what a group you find threatening might do and paying people to help organize a violent action..." (30:06)
  • "In all, Revolver News reported there are, quote, upwards of 20 unindicted coconspirators in the Oath Keeper indictments." (30:54)

6. Parallels to the Gretchen Whitmer Plot

• Government Infiltration: The episode draws attention to the foiled 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, where several plotters were federal informants or agents. Kirk uses this to illustrate how government actors can play central roles in orchestrating or enabling plots, possibly including on January 6.

7. Expansion of Surveillance and Political Suppression

• Direct Targeting of Dissenters: Kirk quotes former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi discussing "squelching dissent against the regime," equating the government's language to that of dictatorships.

  • "The goal is to squelch dissent against the regime, even people in elected office...That’s literally what they said." (34:07)

• Potential for New Church-Style Investigations: Kirk calls for a new “Church Committee”—a 1970s Senate investigation that exposed major intelligence overreaches—to uncover the truth.

• On FBI-Enabled Crimes:

  • “Trevor Aronson wrote a book…[finding] at least 50 defendants were on trial because of behavior the FBI had not only encouraged but enabled. FBI agents were essentially the plotters in these crimes.” — Tucker Carlson (35:57)

8. Final Warnings & Calls to Action

• Urgent Need for Accountability: Kirk closes by reiterating that unless this security state expansion is challenged, dissent—especially among conservatives—will be suppressed under the guise of domestic terrorism.
  • "The real problem is not Al Qaeda. The real problem is not ISIS…The real problem is Lowen Boebert. That’s the problem, according to this guy." (36:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Expansion of Surveillance Powers:

  • "If you're white, you're white supremacist unless we prove otherwise. And therefore we get the entire national security apparatus to be able to spy on you, infiltrate your groups, audit you..." (10:34, Charlie Kirk)

• On Repeated Intelligence Abuses:

  • "Martin Luther King Jr. was like the most surveilled man in the last 50 years." (16:14, Charlie Kirk)

• On January 6 Footage Suppression:

  • Tucker Carlson: "Why is the administration still hiding more than 10,000 hours of surveillance tape...What could possibly be the reason for that?" (26:38)

• On Government Involvement:

  • “So FBI operatives were organizing the attack on the Capitol on January 6, according to government documents…” (31:37, Tucker Carlson via Charlie Kirk)

• On Historic Parallels:

  • "Instead of Watergate, why don’t we call it Capitol Gate Tapes?" (32:07, Charlie Kirk)

• On FBI-Enabled Crimes:

  • "FBI agents were essentially the plotters in these crimes." (35:57, Tucker Carlson)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 04:45–10:45 — Framing of the racial crime narrative and the use of “white supremacy” as justification for expanded surveillance.
• 14:30–17:45 — Deep dive into Cold War and civil rights-era government operations (Mockingbird, COINTELPRO, Artichoke, MK-Ultra).
• 22:00–25:45 — Introduction of Biden’s domestic terrorism strategy as an “internal war.”
• 26:30–32:00 — Tucker Carlson’s monologue: suppression of January 6 footage, unindicted co-conspirators, FBI agents’ possible role.
• 33:35–36:18 — Discussion of FBI's intent to “squelch dissent,” calls for Church-Committee style oversight, and critique of FBI-enabled prosecutions.

Structure and Tone

Kirk maintains a tone of urgency and skepticism, heavy with historical references and what-if scenarios, interspersed with direct quotes or audio cuts from Tucker Carlson and government officials. The episode’s language remains combative, critical of the current administration, and explicitly distrustful of federal law enforcement.

Conclusion

Kirk concludes by urging listeners to demand transparency, challenge federal overreach, and support investigations into potential abuses of power, likening the moment to the revelations of the Church Committee era. He warns that “dissent against the regime” is at risk and closes with calls for listener action and support.

For further details or to support the show, visit: CharlieKirk.com