The Charlie Kirk Show — “Mandate Madness—A Special Frontlines Episode”
Date: August 12, 2021
Host: Andrew Colvett (filling in for Charlie Kirk)

Episode Overview

This special “Frontlines” episode focuses on personal stories and grassroots activism against COVID-19 mandates, specifically mask and vaccine mandates affecting schools and workplaces. Producer Andrew Colvett fills in for Charlie Kirk and interviews activists and a healthcare worker to highlight the pushback against what they describe as government and corporate overreach. The tone is urgent and unapologetically conservative, stressing themes of personal liberty, parental rights, and collective grassroots action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Washington State School Mandate Resistance

Guests: Sherry and Emma Bartles (Mother-daughter activists from Eastern Washington)

Background & Motivation

• Sherry Bartles pulled her kids from the local district over the COVID response and distancing from critical race theory (CRT), mask mandates, and sex education.
  “We live in a very small town…our town is about 280 people.” — Sherry Bartles [03:48]
• Frustration arose when local school boards said their hands were tied by Governor Jay Inslee’s emergency powers and the threat of lost funding and certifications. “They have their hands tied by Jay Inslee's Emergency Orders act, so they can't do anything.” — Sherry Bartles [05:52]

Organizing for Change

• Multiple small town advocacy groups merged to gain critical mass, emphasizing the power of numbers. “Alone we can't really do anything. But there is power in numbers.” — Sherry Bartles [06:28]
• A community rally was organized (August 12, 2021) with anticipated attendance of up to 500 people. “…we're just really trying to connect people to realize, you know, you're not alone...” — Emma Bartles [10:03]

Goals & Broader Movement

• The movement is about more than masks, aiming to reclaim local control over schools (dubbed the “six-headed monster”: masks, vaccines, CRT, sex ed, emergency powers, federal funding). “It's about taking our schools back. And it's called the Take Back Our Schools rally... not just about masks.” — Sherry Bartles [12:00]

Notable Quotes

• “I believe that we are like minded with our board. I think we are like minded with our very new superintendent. However, they have their hands tied…” — Sherry Bartles [05:43]
• “He [our ag teacher] has just really been an awesome leader… I'm going to stand up for what is right. I'm not just going to be another one that gets pushed over.” — Emma Bartles [10:34]

Getting Involved

• The rally was at Liberty High School, Spangle, WA, 6:30pm, with state legislators in attendance. “Liberty High School, 6:30pm on the football field... It's going to be a big start to a big movement.” — Emma Bartles [14:36]

2. Healthcare Worker Perspective: COVID Mandates in the Workplace

Guest: Anonymous Nurse (Phoenix, AZ/Banner Healthcare)

Personal Story

• The nurse shared her experience being monitored and “threatened” by her employer for discussing anti-mandate views on private social media. “I got an email a couple of days ago from a manager basically threatening me to stay quiet.” — Anonymous Nurse [18:42]

Views on Mandates

• Clarified stance as anti-mandate, not anti-vaccine, and critical of the lack of choice. “I am…by no means anti vax... I'm just anti mandates. I think that everybody should be able to do their own research and make their own decisions for their own body.” — Anonymous Nurse [20:28]
• Reported feeling of being bullied, isolated, and unable to speak freely at work. “I've had people say that I should lose my job. I've had someone tell me from the bottom of my heart, you're a piece of blank and I hope you lose your job.” — Anonymous Nurse [21:28]

Prevalence of Dissent

• Estimates that over half of nurses on her unit are against the mandates, and mass non-compliance could disrupt hospital operations. “There's well over half of the nurses that I work with are on the same page as me, and these include nurses that have been nurses for decades.” — Anonymous Nurse [22:19]

Employer Response

• Employer sent ambiguous, “ominous” messages mentioning violations without specificity. “…they said that I hope you can keep in mind that what you're saying reflects you. Not only you, but your unit and your team and Banner as a whole.” — Anonymous Nurse [23:32]

Call to Action

• Encouraged healthcare workers to get organized and speak out, emphasizing strength in numbers. “Get organized. I cannot stress this enough…once I did, I've been overwhelmed by the amount of support that I've gotten from other nurses.” — Anonymous Nurse [30:13]

3. Fact Checks and Data Discussion

• Colvett cites data to question the benefit-risk of mandates for children:
  • Risk of COVID hospitalization in kids 5-17: 0.3 per million
  • Risk of hospitalization due to vaccine-induced myocarditis: 50 per million “So when Joy Reid says that...Abbott are killing kids, it’s simply not true. But compare 0.3 per 1 million to the risk...50 per million for the same demographic.” — Andrew Colvett [30:54]
• References to studies showing breakthrough infections and waning effectiveness of vaccines, especially Pfizer.
  • “...Pfizer vax dropped to 42% effective in July.” — [approximately 31:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Masks are kind of what is getting people fired up right now... But it’s bigger than that… It's about taking our schools back.” — Sherry Bartles [12:00]
• “At some point, if nobody stands up, everybody’s going to get pushed over…” — Emma Bartles [10:53]
• “It’s really, really scary what’s going on in the hospitals right now.” — Anonymous Nurse [21:46]
• “You think you’re alone...Promise you, you are not alone. Find other people. Speak out. Because if enough of us speak up, they can’t run hospitals without nurses.” — Anonymous Nurse [30:13]

Key Timestamps

• [03:47] Sherry and Emma Bartles discuss local organizing in WA school districts.
• [07:05] Impact of state mandates on local school board autonomy.
• [10:03] Emma Bartles on the need for regional coordination among parents and families.
• [12:00] The mission of the Washington Community Coalition for School Change.
• [14:36] Event and rally information—how to get involved.
• [18:42] Anonymous Phoenix nurse shares her experience with employer pushback.
• [20:28] Perspective on being anti-mandate, not anti-vaccine.
• [22:19] Level of nurse dissent against mandates.
• [23:32] Description of employer intimidation tactics.
• [30:13] Advice for healthcare workers: get organized and unite.
• [30:54] Data discussion on vaccine risk versus COVID risk for kids.

Summary

This episode amplifies grassroots voices challenging mask and vaccine mandates, both in rural Washington schools and in a major Arizona healthcare provider. It spotlights the frustration of local parent-activists feeling powerless against state directives, describes efforts to consolidate small groups into a louder movement, and gives an inside view of the pressure healthcare workers feel to conform. The overriding message: organize, find solidarity, speak out, and keep fighting government and corporate overreach with a “frontlines” mentality.

The tone is fervent, attributing noble intent and courage to those resisting mandates and portraying their stand as both unpopular and critically necessary for safeguarding freedom and traditional values.