The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Facebook Down + the Democrat 'Process' Unleashes on Sen. Sinema
Date: October 5, 2021
Host: Charlie Kirk

Episode Overview

Charlie Kirk explores three major headline topics:

• The massive and mysterious outage affecting Facebook and other major social media platforms
• The public harassment of Senator Kyrsten Sinema by left-wing activists at Arizona State University, and the implications for the Democratic Party's legislative agenda
• Intensifying concerns about the potential for conflict between China and Taiwan, and the U.S. response

Kirk analyzes these stories through his unapologetic, conservative lens, touching on broader themes of media bias, political activism on campuses, weaknesses in American foreign and domestic policy, and the increasing threat of the Chinese Communist Party.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Harassed at Arizona State University

Timestamp: 04:00–13:00

• Sinema’s Moderation in the Democratic Party

  • Kirk highlights Sinema's role as a moderate, and her resistance (alongside Sen. Joe Manchin) to the Democrats’ proposed $4–8 trillion spending package, noting Arizona's center-right leanings.
  • “Sinema, however, being far more moderate than Mark Kelly, is one of the roadblocks in the way of this massive transformational 4 to 8 trillion, somewhere between that, spending package.” (03:55)

• Viral Incident: Confrontation in the ASU Restroom

  • Sinema, while teaching at ASU, is confronted by activists (described as DACA 'Dreamers') who follow her into a restroom, recording and chanting "Build Back Better."
  • Kirk sharply criticizes both the activists (calling their actions a felony) and the university culture that encourages radical tactics.
  • “It is a felony to go into the bathroom and to record somebody. You are not allowed to do that. They did it anyway.” (07:00)
  • Notable quote: Play cut - Activist: “Will you support the Build Back Better plan so we can have justice and solutions for immigration, labor, climate change? Build back better! Pass the bill!” (08:04)

• Biden’s Response

  • President Biden dismisses the confrontation as normal political process:
    “I don’t think they’re appropriate tactics, but it happens to everybody... It’s part of the process.” (09:04 – Biden audio clip)

• Critique of Double Standards

  • Kirk points out what he perceives as hypocrisy: if conservatives behaved similarly, they'd be labeled "insurrectionists."
  • “If a Republican chased a Democrat senator into the restroom? Insurrectionist. Domestic terrorist. We would know their name and they would be arrested.” (12:18)

2. Refugee “Walk-offs” and Domestic Security Concerns

Timestamp: 14:50–18:40

• Afghan Refugees Leaving US Military Bases

  • Reports that hundreds of Afghan refugees have left military bases without authorization or vetting.
  • Kirk blasts Republicans for being “worthless” and only writing letters instead of acting.
  • “Explain to me how that’s not against the law. You just walk off a base? Were you born here? Are you a U.S. citizen? You just do whatever you want. It’s my country now.” (18:08)

• Rhetoric on Security & Cultural Integration

  • Kirk continues to raise concerns about crime and cultural incompatibility, referencing incidents in Europe and recent crimes at U.S. bases.

3. China, Taiwan, and the Drums of War

Timestamp: 18:45–29:30

• China’s Nationalist War Film and Anti-American Sentiment

  • Introduction to “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” the most expensive Chinese film ever, promoting anti-American narratives about the Korean War.
  • Kirk interprets this as part of a broader effort to propaganda and prepare the Chinese public for conflict with the U.S.
  • “It is an anti-American propaganda film that raises up the Chinese Communist Party of a time when they stared down the Americans and they won.” (19:37)

• Xi Jinping’s Statements & Taiwanese Response

  • Kirk cites Xi’s vow for “reunification” with Taiwan, reading at length Xi’s statement about resisting “Taiwan independence.”
  • Discussion of recent military escalations: record numbers of Chinese warplanes entering Taiwan’s airspace.
  • “Xi Jinping is getting older. He's growing impatient. And to stave off an inner party revolt, they want Taiwan.” (25:20)
  • Notable quote (Ret. Gen. Jack Keane, Fox clip, 21:16):
    “What he could do is prop down on one of Taiwan’s islands which is closer to the mainland with military capability… He could blockade a major port... He could go for what I call a ‘quick kill’ ...force a surrender very quickly in two to three days.”

• U.S. Weakness, Distracted Leadership

  • Kirk sharply criticizes the Biden administration for failing to deter China and instead arming the Taliban.
  • Argues the U.S. should support Taiwan as it does not have major allies—it is “literally and metaphorically an island.”
  • “Conquerors will not stop unless they are stopped. So who’s going to stop Xi Jinping from taking the sovereign nation of Taiwan?” (26:30)

4. The Social Media Outage: Coincidence or Cyber Attack?

Timestamp: 29:30–33:30

• Comprehensive Outage

  • Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other major platforms all suffer outages, along with disruptions at cellular providers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T).
  • Kirk reflects on the U.S. addiction to social media, offering anecdotal evidence of the general panic.
  • “What's going on here? Is there a state-sponsored attack against every single one of these programs? I mean, what would possibly tie all of these ones together?" (22:26)

• Speculation of Chinese Involvement or Broader Pattern

  • Kirk connects the outages to the “drums of war” with China, openly wondering if these events are related.
  • He repeatedly asks if there’s a “multi-institutional” attack, but admits no definitive evidence.

5. The Facebook Whistleblower and Calls for Censorship

Timestamp: 33:30–34:43

• Francis Haugen’s Revelations
  • Kirk frames the whistleblower’s claims—about the platform incentivizing angry, divisive content—as part of a left-wing campaign to justify more censorship.
  • “Understand, this whole whistleblower thing is a fake psychological operation to try to justify more government censorship over the Internet.” (33:21)
  • Notable quote (Francis Haugen, 32:31):
    “It’s easier to inspire people to anger than it is to other emotions... Facebook has realized that if they change the algorithm to be safer, people will spend less time on the site, they’ll click less, and they make less money.”

6. Culture, Media, and Fauci’s 'Canonization'

Timestamp: 34:43–36:28

• Dr. Anthony Fauci’s New Documentary
  • Kirk references the release of a Fauci documentary by Disney/National Geographic, criticizing it as “propaganda” to rehabilitate Fauci’s image amid controversy about his handling of COVID-19 and alleged lying to Congress.
  • “Fauci coming to Disney plus near you. Something happening on the Internet today and I don’t think we’re going to get much explanation.” (34:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Political Double Standards:
  “If a Republican chased a Democrat senator into the restroom? Insurrectionist. Domestic terrorist. ...They would be indefinitely incarcerated in solitary confinement.” (12:18)
• On the Outage, National Security, and Technology Dependence:
  “There is something going on right now that is multi-institutional… Is some state actor attacking every single major social media and communication company right now?” (33:30)
• On China’s Motives:
  “You know nothing of empires. It is not enough until… every blade of grass is under the flag that they prefer.” (26:55)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Sinema Harassment/Build Back Better Protest: 04:00–13:00 (notable quote at 08:04)
• President Biden’s Response on Harassment: 09:04
• Republican Response/Afghan Refugees: 14:50–18:40
• Analysis of Chinese War Film and Taiwan Escalations: 18:45–29:30
• Ret. Gen. Jack Keane Analysis, Potential Taiwan War: 21:16 & 24:26
• Social Media Outages—Cyberattack Speculation: 29:30–33:30
• Facebook Whistleblower Segment: 32:31–34:43
• Dr. Fauci Documentary & Media Reaction: 34:43–36:28

Tone and Style

Charlie Kirk’s tone is characteristically combative, provocative, and deeply skeptical of the political left, legacy media, Big Tech, and the Biden administration. He blends news, opinion, and direct calls-to-action, always with fervent appeals to his conservative audience.

Conclusion

In this episode, Kirk ties together viral political disruptions, foreign threats, and technology outages to underscore themes of leftist overreach, American institutional decay, and looming global conflict. Listeners are left with a sense of urgency regarding the defense of American values, skepticism about media narratives, and concern about both domestic and geopolitical uncertainties.