The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Is the Culture Apocalypse Upon Us?
Date: December 12, 2025
Host: Charlie Kirk
Notable Guests: Allum Bokhari (Foundation for Freedom Online), Brandon Dray (TPUSA Frontlines manager)

Main Theme

This episode drills deep into what Charlie Kirk frames as "the culture apocalypse": the convergence of mega-media, censorship, and grassroots journalism in America. Topics span the proposed Netflix–Warner Brothers merger, European online speech laws, and Turning Point USA’s Frontlines journalism initiative. Kirk and his guests explore whether America's cultural controllers are pushing society toward irreversible change—and what conservatives are doing to fight back.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Netflix–Warner Brothers Merger: Media Monopoly & Ideological Power

[01:29–10:30]

• Market Concerns & Cultural Domination

  • Kirk and Allum Bokhari critique Netflix's bid to absorb Warner Brothers, describing it as dangerous both economically and culturally.
    • “Netflix is already the largest streaming platform in America with 81 million subscribers... This would make them even huger.” – Allum Bokhari [02:09]
  • Bokhari warns that this merger isn’t just about size, but ideology, arguing Netflix “combines the worst elements of post-2016 Silicon Valley wokeness with Hollywood liberalism to create something that’s worse than both.” [03:42]

• Ideological Entrenchment vs Big Tech Backsliding

  • Other tech platforms (Meta, YouTube, even Microsoft) are described as “rolling back” censorship, seeking neutrality or market survival. Netflix, Bokhari observes, “is sort of permanently 2020 over at Netflix” when it comes to progressive politics. [04:32]

• The CNN Question & Culture vs. News

  • The Trump administration’s pressure for CNN to be spun off is discussed, but Kirk casts doubt on TV news’ future: “The future is going to be much more decentralized... more independent shows.” [07:07]
  • Bokhari warns the real issue is “the power of storytelling,” which he says influences young people and shapes culture. [07:30]
  • “Do you really want to give companies like that more power?” – Allum Bokhari [07:55]

2. The Paramount Bid, Foreign Investment, and Political Pressure

[08:33–10:30]

• After Netflix’s offer, Paramount counters with a higher, all-cash bid, backed by high-profile investors and Middle Eastern sovereign wealth.
  • Kirk and co-hosts joke about the unlikely tradeoffs: “Is it better to have the Emir of Abu Dhabi on HBO?... probably wouldn’t get as many, like, trans kids [characters].” [09:26]
  • President Trump is referenced as demanding CNN’s sale and publicly targeting both sides, representing conservative concerns about media power concentration.

3. EU Digital Services Act, Free Speech, and the Censorship Wars

[11:39–17:07]

• EU vs. X (formerly Twitter):

  • Bokhari frames the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) as “probably the most dangerous censorship law in the world” and highlights its use to punish Elon Musk’s platform. [12:00]
  • The DSA’s penalties and requirements, notably forced data access for “researchers” used to identify and pressure accounts for deplatforming, are detailed.
    • “Disinformation researchers are essentially the Stasi of the worldwide science censorship complex…” – Allum Bokhari [14:05]

• Controversial Data Scraping

  • The case of “Antifa-aligned researcher” Travis Brown is cited: “when Libs of TikTok got doxxed, it was with information that he got off the website.” [14:34]
  • Bokhari and Kirk argue that European elites are desperate to shut down online dissent as young voters in their countries are “turning towards the populist right” because of what they see and share online. [15:58]

• Big Picture

  • The US is described as having a “more robust free speech culture,” but Kirk warns the European censorship push is an authoritarian trend to watch.

4. TPUSA Frontlines: Guerrilla Journalism & Cultural Battlefield

[18:11–36:18]

• Mission and Origins

  • Kirk introduces Brandon Dray, describing Frontlines as TPUSA’s on-the-ground rapid response team to riots, protests, and campus unrest.
    • “Out of the 2020 riots with BLM, Frontlines emerged as this on-the-ground journalism wing... giving people the real truth of what’s happening out there.” – Brandon Dray [18:45]
  • Their ethos: get “raw, unfettered footage” directly to social media to counteract legacy media “spinning” or ignoring key events. [19:15]

• Highlight Clips: Antifa, Protests, Violence

  • The show plays intense clips from protests, featuring Frontlines reporters confronting left-wing activists and covering violence. [20:43–22:49]
  • “These reporters are putting themselves in harrowing positions to cover these stories that matter. The amount of courage they display on a daily basis is truly remarkable.” – Charlie Kirk [31:36]

• Frontlines Reporter Spotlight

  • Jonathan Choe: Ex-mainstream journalist, now undercover in Seattle/Portland, infiltrated Antifa meetings. [23:53]
  • Savannah Hernandez: “Right place at the right time”—covers immigration, exposes underground black markets, and alleges police complicity in illicit activity. [25:20]
  • Julio Rosas: Covers border crises, protests in Mexico City, Kenosha, and more. [26:21]
  • Bo Diddle: “Man on the street” specialist, goes viral, attracts confrontations. [27:21]
  • Kalin Dalmeta: Viral videos of dangerous undercover work, including pedophile stings and being assaulted during coverage. [27:42]
  • Monica Paige: New White House and Pentagon press corps access; also does street interviews/protest coverage. [28:56]
  • Vicki Richter: Focuses on international exposes (e.g., alleged CCP links in Brazil, rise of Islam in the West). [29:21]

• Editorial Decisions and Safety

  • Deployment based on potential news value and team safety. “We need to make sure that a) it’s legit and b) you’re going to be safe...” – Brandon Dray [35:30]
  • Many stories are declined for safety concerns or lack of corroboration.

• How to Submit Tips

  • “You can reach out to us [at] frontlinespusa.com. There’s a tip sheet on our Turning Point website and you can always contact through X as well.” – Brandon Dray [36:00]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “[Netflix] combines the worst elements of post-2016 Silicon Valley wokeness with Hollywood liberalism to create something that’s worse than both.” – Allum Bokhari [03:42]
• “The power of storytelling, especially its influence over young people... Netflix is already a meme.” – Allum Bokhari [07:30]
• “Disinformation researchers are essentially the Stasi of the worldwide science censorship complex…” – Allum Bokhari [14:05]
• “You sort of realize the emperor has no clothes... Just how unimpressive it is.” – Brandon Dray on leftist protest organizing [33:53]
• “We’re not a think tank, we’re a battle tank.” – Charlie Kirk [32:16]

Important Timestamps

• [01:29] – Intro to Netflix–Warner Brothers merger analysis with Allum Bokhari
• [03:42] – Bokhari critique on Netflix’s “ideological gatekeeping”
• [08:33] – Paramount’s counter-bid and foreign investment concerns
• [11:39] – EU Digital Services Act and its impact on X/Twitter
• [14:05] – Disinformation researchers’ role in censorship
• [18:45] – Brandon Dray explains Frontlines’ mission
• [20:43–22:49] – Play audio of violent protest coverage by Frontlines
• [23:53–29:21] – Reporter-by-reporter spotlight, coverage highlights, and stories
• [35:30] – Editorial decision-making and discussion of safety risks
• [36:00] – How audience members can provide tips or leads

Tone & Language

The episode maintains Charlie Kirk’s unapologetically conservative, activist-driven tone—mixing urgency on cultural topics with occasional humor and camaraderie. Exchanges are feisty, sometimes provocative, especially when discussing ideological “gatekeeping” or the perceived existential threat from left-leaning media and institutions. The show champions its own grassroots journalism as a direct response to what they see as an increasingly hostile cultural environment.

For Listeners

If you missed the episode but want a sense of the urgent conservative narrative regarding the struggles for digital free speech, media consolidation, and on-the-ground reporting, this episode offers a look into the activist mindset shaping America’s right-wing youth movement. Expect tough critiques of Big Media and government censorship, praise for “battle tank” reporting, and a playbook for “fighting the culture war from the trenches.”