The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: "Holding America Hostage For Foreign Criminals"

Date: March 23, 2026

Host: Charlie Kirk (referenced), Andrew Kolvet
Guests/Contributors: Blake Neff, Senator Bernie Moreno, Dr. Chase Spears, Jack Posobiec, Harmeet Dhillon

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the current crisis of homeland security funding and the political standoff in Washington, with a particular focus on the Democrats’ refusal to continue Department of Homeland Security (DHS) payroll unless immigration enforcement is weakened. The show also addresses the impact on American families and airport travelers, discusses the geopolitical situation with Iran, analyzes Democratic presidential hopefuls, and ends with a discussion on high-profile crimes committed by immigrants. Interviews with Senator Bernie Moreno and Dr. Chase Spears, along with contributions from Jack Posobiec and Harmeet Dhillon, provide in-depth perspectives on the issues.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Joe Kent and the Group Chat Leak Controversy

Timestamps: 01:34–07:43

• Andrew Kolvet addresses media speculation regarding the leak of private group chat messages after Charlie Kirk’s murder.
• Kolvet admits sharing screengrabs privately with Joe Kent, at Kent’s request, for investigative reasons.
• Kent suggested making them public; Kolvet declined out of caution, but they were later leaked by an unknown party.

“I was told I could trust Joe Kent. I provided the screengrabs... Can I 100% categorically say that he leaked them? No, but those are the facts.” — Andrew Kolvet (04:15)

• The hosts reject conspiracies surrounding Israel or Jewish involvement in Charlie’s murder and reaffirm their commitment to truth and justice.

2. The DHS Funding Crisis and Airport Chaos

Timestamps: 07:53–29:31

• Senator Bernie Moreno joins to explain the ongoing standoff in Congress: 260,000 DHS employees (like TSA, Border Patrol, ICE agents) are unpaid due to Democrats’ refusal to fund DHS unless deportations are curtailed, including for criminal aliens.

“What they ultimately really want is no more deportations. And this includes criminal aliens, murderers, rapists. You see the death of Americans as a result of these lunatics.” — Sen. Bernie Moreno (18:30)

• Democrats rejected a proposal to withhold their own pay until DHS funding resumes, then left D.C. for a fundraiser.
• Trump attempts to send ICE agents to airports to help with congestion, but Moreno warns it pulls agents from immigration enforcement.

3. U.S.–Iran Ceasefire, Markets, and Security Risks

Timestamps: 08:51–15:55, 26:09–28:46

• Discussion of President Trump’s announcement of productive talks with Iranian leadership, resulting in a five-day infrastructure ceasefire.
• Market rebound attributed to ceasefire news; skepticism remains about Iran’s intentions and military capabilities.

“We have points of, major points of agreement, I would say almost all points of agreement... Mr. Witkoff and Mr. Kushner had them. They went, I would say, perfectly.” — Pres. Trump (09:41)

• Concerns that Iran may be conserving advanced weaponry for future escalation.
• Senator Moreno: U.S. destruction of Iranian naval and missile capacity has nearly neutralized threat, credits Trump’s military leadership.

4. Critique of Democratic Presidential Hopefuls

Timestamps: 30:08–36:56

• The hosts mock Axios’s coverage of Dem 2028 contenders—Josh Shapiro, J.B. Pritzker, Gavin Newsom—for foregrounding childhood trauma and family dysfunction in media profiles.

“Instead of lifting up, as Trump does, the fact that he had this wonderful, loving family that he's very proud of, they want to... tell you how awful their family members are.” — Blake Neff (33:27)

• Contrasts with Cory Booker’s positive childhood recollections.
• Hosts argue that modern Democratic politics is built around “resentment,” “victimhood,” and mental health struggle as status.

5. American Veterans and Betrayed Promises: The Dr. Chase Spears Interview

Timestamps: 39:16–47:20

• Dr. Chase Spears, U.S. Army (ret.), pays tribute to his friend Lt. Col. Brandon Shaw, recently killed in a terrorist attack by a released, foreign-born felon.

“America’s sin of empathy-based immigration and justice policy is a betrayal to all veterans.” — Dr. Chase Spears (42:39)

• Spears denounces America’s “empathy-based” immigration and criminal justice, arguing it endangers citizens and betrays decades of service-members’ sacrifices.

6. Campus Free Speech Battles & Turning Point USA Events

Timestamps: 48:34–56:39

• Jack Posobiec and Blake Neff discuss organizing a Turning Point event at ASU ("Pick up the Mic") amidst university bureaucratic obstacles.
• Both progressive and conservative campus events denied permits; the left-wing group responds with vulgar protest at Charlie Kirk’s memorial.

“Charlie was a guy who wanted to be in the arena because that was his mission, to change things.” — Blake Neff (54:21)

• They reflect on Charlie’s example and draw lessons about confronting adversity on campus.

7. Election Integrity: Supreme Court Case on Ballot Deadlines

Timestamps: 57:58–68:18

• Harmeet Dhillon discusses oral arguments in Watson v. Republican National Committee, challenging Mississippi’s law counting ballots post-Election-Day.
• Argues for strict Election Day deadline; notes eight states don’t require postmarks, undermining election trust and finality.

“Even countries that we consider to be not very civilized do [election results] on election day itself. ...We’re one of those places where we’re, I think, ignoring federal law.” — Harmeet Dhillon (60:08)

• Expects a split, but hopes Supreme Court will restore clarity and public confidence.

8. Violent Crime and the Cost of Lenient Immigration

Timestamps: 70:35–77:07

• Hosts review the killing of Loyola Chicago student Sheridan Gorman by Jose Medina Medina, an immigrant illegally residing in the U.S.

“They want people like Jose Medina Medina to stay in the United States so that they can put on masks, grab guns, go and hold up women like Sheridan Gorman.” — Blake Neff (73:20)

• Criticize Democrat policies as prioritizing illegal immigrants—even criminals—over Americans.
• Discussion expands to insanity plea abuses in violent domestic crime; expressed as symptomatic of societal dysfunction.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On DHS Standoff:

  “Democrats have created three hour wait times at the airport because they don't want illegal aliens deported. They care more about foreigners living illegally in this country than they do about Americans.” — Andrew Kolvet (29:31)

• On the Left’s Victimhood Politics:

  “The Democrats have built their entire new ideology... It is a resentment-based ideology, a victimhood ideology.” — Blake Neff (33:31)

• On Warrior Culture and Betrayal:

  “We fought them over there and then we ship loaded them right over here. We brought the threat home." — Dr. Chase Spears (44:37)

• On the Campus Censorship Double Standard:

  “Do you have any idea what it’s like being a conservative? …We don’t think about you. That’s the whole point.” — Andrew Kolvet & Jack Posobiec (53:07)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Description | Start | End | |----------------------------------------|----------|----------| | Joe Kent Leak Controversy | 01:34 | 07:43 | | DHS Funding, Moreno Interview | 07:53 | 29:31 | | U.S.–Iran Situation | 08:51 | 15:55 | | Dem Presidential Hopefuls Critique | 30:08 | 36:56 | | Dr. Chase Spears Interview | 39:16 | 47:20 | | Campus Free Speech Discussion | 48:34 | 56:39 | | Election Integrity with Harmeet Dhillon| 57:58 | 68:18 | | Illegal Immigration & Crime Segment | 70:35 | 77:07 |

Takeaways

• The show delivers a sweeping critique of Democratic priorities, arguing they’re holding Americans “hostage” for the benefit of criminal aliens and foreign interests.
• Guests and hosts repeatedly emphasize accountability, from Congress’s inaction to the leniency of immigration and justice systems.
• Personal loss (Charlie Kirk, Lt. Col. Shaw) is positioned as a rallying cry for stricter policy and adherence to values.
• The episode is charged with emotion but retains a combative, urgent tone typical of Charlie Kirk’s brand — blending news analysis, activism, and cultural commentary for a conservative grassroots audience.

Full episode and related news available at charliekirk.com.