The Charlie Kirk Show | Michael Knowles, Matt Walsh, and Ben Shapiro Remember Charlie Kirk

Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Andrew Colvett (executive producer, filling in for Charlie Kirk)
Guests: Michael Knowles, Matt Walsh, Ben Shapiro
Theme: Remembrance, grief, and justice following the assassination of Charlie Kirk

Episode Overview

This special episode memorializes Charlie Kirk in the days following his assassination. Andrew Colvett is joined by Michael Knowles, Matt Walsh, and Ben Shapiro—three of Kirk’s closest colleagues and friends—to reflect on his life, legacy, and the cultural and political ramifications of his death. The discussion is raw and wide-ranging, focusing on grief, anger, justice, Kirk’s innate talent as a leader and coalition-builder, the ideological climate that led to his murder, and the urgent need to channel righteous anger productively. The guests share very personal stories, memorable quotes, and practical calls to action, making this episode both a tribute and a rallying cry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Loss of Charlie Kirk: Reactions, Grief, and Anger

• The episode begins with Andrew Colvett recounting the shock and pain of losing Charlie Kirk, describing an outpouring of anger and sorrow across the country. Matt Walsh details the moment he learned of Kirk’s shooting and the unshakable rage and grief that followed.

  • “You took something from us. You took someone from us that we needed, and you had no right to do that... What we need is justice for this, for this man who was robbed from us, and we need it now.” — Matt Walsh [07:55]

• Sympathy is extended to Kirk’s family and the broader conservative movement, with recognition that millions of people who never met Kirk feel the loss as personally as his friends do.

2. Charlie Kirk’s Character & Legacy

• Impressive and Irreplaceable: Walsh recalls his first impression of Kirk as simply “impressive,” noting his unprecedented ability to excel both in front of the camera and as a behind-the-scenes organizer. The consensus among the group: there will not be another Charlie Kirk.

  • “You only get one Charlie Kirk. We're blessed to have Charlie once, and we're not going to have him again.” — Matt Walsh [04:47]

• Gift for Coalition-Building: Ben Shapiro describes Kirk’s “inherent talent” for bringing together diverse and often opposed factions.

  • “The thing Charlie was always amazing at...was coalition building. It's something actually that Tucker talked about yesterday on JD's show...he was always an unbelievably great coalition builder.” — Ben Shapiro [15:25]

• Presidential Potential: Knowles and others assert that Kirk was destined for even higher office.

  • “Everybody who knew Charlie knew this guy was going to be the president...he just had greater skill and talent than any other political figure of our generation.” — Michael Knowles [10:32]

• Normie and Role Model: Shapiro highlights Kirk’s down-to-earth, “innocent at heart” persona, his willingness to embrace fame humbly, and his concern for the influence of his platform on young audiences.

  • “Charlie wasn't larger than life. He just was life. He was just so alive and so normal.” — Ben Shapiro [21:02]

3. The Broader Impact: Mourning, Unity, and Political Context

• A Fork in the Road: The assassination is painted as a watershed in American political life, with Colvett calling it a "fork in the road moment." The group emphasizes the need for truth and actionable justice, resisting calls for premature superficial unity.
  • “This is that fork in the road moment as a country…we need truth before unity.” — Andrew Colvett [25:32]
• Worldwide Mourning: The outpouring of grief crosses political and even religious lines, with Jewish communities honoring Kirk and people around the world, including South Korea, Israel, and New Zealand, holding tributes and marches in his memory.

4. Cultural Violence, Ideology, and Calls for Justice

• Left-Wing Violence and Media Excuses: The conversation touches repeatedly on how the left and the mainstream media encourage, excuse, or downplay leftist political violence. Walsh, Knowles, and Shapiro lament the "permission structures" and "ideological frameworks" that, in their view, led to Kirk’s assassination.
  • “There are permission structures that have been created on the left for violence. And these permission structures are deeply evil.” — Ben Shapiro [29:31]
  • “We have to recognize the left and the right...You have to begin with basic truths...If we now deny that murder is wrong, we're past reason.” — Michael Knowles [30:55]
• Cancel Culture vs. Consequence: The panel rejects equivalence between left-wing and right-wing ‘cancel culture,’ distinguishing between social ostracism for genuine evil (celebrating murder) versus for “saying things that are true and normal.”
  • “On the right, to the extent that anyone's being canceled...they’re getting it canceled for saying things that are objectively vile and disgusting and in some cases, illegal.” — Matt Walsh [26:40]

5. Charlie's Unique Approach to Activism and Outreach

• Campus Initiatives: The hosts describe Kirk’s work as a “tent revival”—a fusion of political and spiritual outreach. Shapiro and Colvett share stories about Kirk’s insistence on accessibility, innocence, and connecting with young minds.
  • “All Charlie did was ask extremely simple questions that people on the other side could not answer.” — Ben Shapiro [34:34]
• Viral Influence: Discussion of Kirk’s massive reach and influence—15 billion content views in the pre-election period and recognition as the “most trusted voice for Trump voters under 30.”
  • “I think it's a completely fair thing to say that I don't think we have President Trump if we don't have time.” — Andrew Colvett [39:16]

6. Notable Quotes & Charlie Kirk in His Own Words

• Advice to Young Men Clip [35:07]
  • “One of the reasons why so many young women are upset with the dating pool, I hear this all the time, Is that they see men that can't control themselves...Women want to be led. Women want to be led by strong men.” — Charlie Kirk (clip played by Matt Walsh, [35:07])
• What is a Woman Clip [45:09]
  • A viral segment where Kirk's style of uncompromising, Socratic questioning is showcased, highlighting his potent message delivery and the inability of opponents to respond to simple, truthful questions.
• Graceful Credit-Giving: Kirk’s humility and tendency to deflect credit for successes are repeatedly praised, as is his ability to support allies publicly and privately.

7. Calls to Action: What Comes Next?

• Practical Calls for Justice and Security:
  • The urgency of treating coordinated far-left violence as domestic terrorism is stressed, with specific mention of the need for legal action against groups that plan, fund, or incite violence.
  • “It's a vast domestic terror movement...We are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security...to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks and make America safe again for the American people.” — Michael Knowles [65:29]
• How to Channel Anger:
  • Anger, when laser-focused, can be a driver for justice and change.
  • “Focused anger, righteous anger directed for a just cause, is one of the most important agents of change in human history.” — Ben Shapiro [65:08]
• Next Steps for the Movement:
  • Commitment to continue Kirk’s planned events; surge in Turning Point USA chapter requests following Erica Kirk’s speech.
  • Direct support: The Daily Wire’s donation of $1 million to TPUSA, signaling commitment to sustain Kirk’s legacy.
  • “I just found out that the Daily Wire is donating a million dollars to tpusa. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you guys so much.” — Andrew Colvett [53:47]
• Unity Through Values:
  • The coalition must unite around core biblical and conservative values, not just the memory of a man.
  • “We can't build it around the man, but we can build it around the values he left behind and that he spent his entire life fighting for.” — Ben Shapiro [83:47]

8. Final Reflections & The Road Ahead

• A Changed Country: The assassination is described as catalyzing a fundamental shift in America’s political and cultural landscape.
  • “Everything is different now. Everything has changed. Everything changed. And I think that we don't know exactly how yet...We are really living in a new country now, I believe.” — Matt Walsh [77:55]
• Order, Law, and Civilization: The need for firm (if sometimes unattractive) legal and societal action to restore order is emphasized, as is the need for conservatives to set aside petty squabbles for the larger fight.
  • “You need order for civilization...putting people in prison is not a happy thing. Executing murderers,..should be done legally and swiftly.” — Matt Walsh [77:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “There is no new Charlie Kirk. You only get one Charlie Kirk. We're blessed to have Charlie once, and we're not going to have him again.” — Matt Walsh [04:47]
• “Being murdered in the way that he was, doing the thing that Charlie was all about—doing outreach...means there is an opportunity to reach out to people who weren't going to be devotees...That was always Charlie's idea. There are always people that we can reach out to.” — Ben Shapiro [23:32]
• “We have to recognize the left and the right...If we now deny that murder is wrong, we're past reason.” — Michael Knowles [30:55]
• “We are going to channel all of the anger that we have over the organized campaign that led to this assassination to uproot and dismantle these terrorist networks.” — Michael Knowles [65:17]
• “We are really living in a new country now, I believe...You have those moments...where you wake up the next morning and, okay, this is a different country now, and this is one of those moments.” — Matt Walsh [77:55]
• “We can’t build it around the man, but we can build it around the values that he left behind and that he spent his entire life fighting for.” — Ben Shapiro [83:47]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:42] Matt Walsh on initial reaction to Kirk’s assassination
• [10:16] Michael Knowles on Kirk’s destiny and political talent
• [15:11] Ben Shapiro on Kirk’s coalition building, innocence, and uniqueness
• [20:48] Discussion of Kirk’s “innocence with sophistication” and role-modelling
• [25:57] Cancel culture and “marketplace of ideas”
• [35:07] CLIP: Charlie Kirk addresses young men (“Women want to be led...”)
• [45:09] CLIP: “What is a Woman?” viral questioning segment
• [49:43] What happens next? Panelists discuss honoring Kirk’s legacy in action
• [53:47] Daily Wire’s $1 million donation to TPUSA announced
• [65:08] Focused anger and the pursuit of justice
• [77:55] The changed country, foundations for unity, role of law
• [83:47] Final thoughts: sustain the movement through values

Summary Table: Central Emotions & Calls to Action

| Theme | Expression (Speaker/Quote) | Timestamp | |------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Grief & Anger | “...rage. Just overwhelming anger. And I felt that ever since.” (Matt Walsh) | 07:55 | | Justice | “We need justice for Charlie. We need justice for all of us...” (Matt Walsh) | 07:55 | | Coalition-Building | “...an unbelievably great coalition builder...” (Ben Shapiro) | 15:25 | | Unity Through Values | “...we can build it around the values...” (Ben Shapiro) | 83:47 | | Next Steps | “What we need is justice for this man who was robbed from us, and we need it now.” (Matt Walsh) | 07:55 | | Practical Support| “Daily Wire is donating one million dollars to TPUSA...” (Andrew Colvett) | 53:47 |

Episode Tone & Language

The conversation is unvarnished and emotional, with the tone alternating between elegiac reminiscence, righteous indignation, and strategic resolve. Panelists frequently reference raw personal feelings and use explicitly moral language (“demons,” “evil,” “warrior,” “civilization,” “justice”). The subject matter is grave, with a few moments of humor in recalling Kirk’s quirks or positive influence.

For Listeners New to the Episode

This episode provides a deep, heartfelt perspective on who Charlie Kirk was, what made him so impactful, and how his loss is being processed—not only as a private tragedy, but as a pivotal event in the American political landscape. It is also a call to action for the conservative movement to pursue justice, unity, and renewal in Kirk’s name, and to recognize the serious challenges facing free discourse and public safety in America. The episode is both tribute and rallying point, blending personal memory, direct action, and unapologetically ideological critique.