Motherhood, Meaning, and the Road Ahead ft. Riley Gaines

Summary

---

The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Motherhood, Meaning, and the Road Ahead ft. Riley Gaines

Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Charlie Kirk (joined in spirit and tributes after his assassination)
Guest: Riley Gaines

---

Episode Overview

This heartfelt and energetic episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, recorded in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, features an extended conversation with Riley Gaines—former All-American swimmer, outspoken advocate for women’s rights, and now, a new mother and cultural leader. The discussion weaves together themes of campus activism, the meaning and challenges of motherhood, conservative values, and the ongoing struggle over women’s spaces and sports. The episode is marked by moments of candid humor, reflection on loss, and powerful calls to action for young conservatives, especially regarding faith, family, and defending what’s right in an increasingly secular culture.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Riley’s Journey from Athlete to Activist

• Her Backstory & Relationship with TPUSA
  • Riley recalls her political awakening after speaking out for women’s sports rights in 2022 ([02:10]):

    “I knew nothing, honestly nothing about the political sphere, nothing about our government, I'm ashamed to say it...But Turning Point and Charlie specifically was very quick to reach out in a way that was different than other people who were reaching out.”

• Support from Charlie and TPUSA:
  • Riley notes the unique support she felt from Charlie and TPUSA, contrasting it with more opportunistic outreach from others.
  • She credits TPUSA with personal investment in her well-being, not just political utility ([02:50]).

2. Campus Activism, Courage, and Resilience

• Riley’s Continued Presence on College Campuses:
  • Despite threats and a frightening experience at San Francisco State, Riley doubled down on speaking at campuses ([04:51]).
  • She highlights the critical need for active engagement in “spheres” increasingly controlled by “the Left”—media, academia, even healthcare ([05:00]).
• Bringing Motherhood into the Advocacy
  • Riley shares stories of her newborn daughter Margo attending 10 different campuses and travelling to 15 states in the first 10 weeks of life ([05:40]):

    “Your life doesn’t end when you have children. What I have found...is your life really begins when you have kids, especially a little girl.”

3. Motherhood, Family Values, and Policy

• Motherhood as Purpose and Fulfillment:
  • Riley and other panelists joke about parenting woes but return to the fundamental joy and meaning found in family. Notably ([07:23]):

    "I’ve realized—it’s pretty hard to kill them. Like, she doesn't want to die, and I don't want her to die."

  • She celebrates the adaptability and “portability” of babies and speaks directly against cultural narratives that frame children as burdens rather than blessings.
• Pro-family Policy at TPUSA:
  • Riley lauds Turning Point's robust maternity leave policy ([08:27]):

    “It shows how it’s not just words or a slogan. Like, these are things they really mean and they really live by.”

  • Discussion contrasts authentic pro-life and pro-family commitments versus performative conservative rhetoric.

4. Grieving Charlie Kirk & The Call to Carry On

• Immediate Aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s Assassination:
  • Riley describes shock, disbelief, and the surreal emotional journey of learning of Charlie’s death while 38 weeks pregnant ([11:58]):

    “Even still saying that out loud, it gives you just chills over your body...It was at that point I went to X and I opened X, which I wish desperately I never did, because you're immediately met with a video.”

  • She details the “pivotal” experience at Charlie’s memorial, where his widow Erica offered forgiveness to his assassin:

    “What a beautiful display of forgiveness, of strength, of compassion that I think only God can provide a grieving widow so soon after her husband had been killed.” ([15:36])

• Riley’s Resolve & The New Generation:
  • The loss galvanized Riley to greater action, especially engaging with young people and continuing Charlie’s message.
  • She recounts meeting 2,000 students in a single meet-and-greet, marveling at the emerging force of young activists.

5. Challenging Cultural Narratives: Marriage, Motherhood, and Timing

• Pushing Back Against Negative Narratives:
  • Both Riley and Blake comment on how society warns young people about marriage and children, when in fact these are life’s greatest blessings ([19:10]):

    “Why would you downplay how wonderful that is? Why would you try and warn people against that experience?"

• Personal Testimonials About Motherhood:
  • Riley’s experience: no morning sickness, “perfect” baby, and pregnancy as joyous and surprisingly easy ([17:17]):

    “I literally lived my life as I did prior to conception. The labor and delivery process—a breeze.”

  • She encourages women that positive stories are possible, countering much of the fear-based talk around pregnancy.

6. Timing of Family Life & Discouraging Delay

• Against the Myth of the “Right Time”:
  • Riley pushes back against the idea that one must wait for the perfect time to have kids ([21:17]):

    “Let me tell you, there is no, like, right time to have kids. You’ll never reach that point. No, you’ll never reach that point.”

  • Blake: “There isn’t a right time. There’s a limited time.” ([21:39])

7. Audience Q&A: Birth Control, Faith, and Parental Responsibilities

• On Birth Control:
  • Riley shares her personal experience and concerns about hormonal effects, encourages openly questioning standard medical advice, and applauds a new generation for questioning received norms ([24:54]):

    “I regretted it, though, after the fact, more so because of how it affects your hormones… I think it’s super duper cool now that we have a whole generation willing to question these things.”

• Work-Life Balance, Faith, and Sabbath:
  • Riley stresses faith as central and discusses growing spiritually with her husband. She cites Charlie’s mantra:

    "God, family, country—in that order." ([29:39])

  • Panelists connect the Sabbath to the importance of rest and reflection amid activism ([29:58]).
• Protecting Children and Parental Responsibility:
  • Riley emphasizes the primacy of parental example and willingness to defend children’s innocence, warning not to abdicate this duty to politicians or institutions ([32:00]):

    “It starts in your House, not the White House… Do I have to care more about your kids than you do?”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Motherhood and Meaning:

  “It’s just the most magical, transformative thing I think that as a woman you could possibly go through is being a mom.” — Riley Gaines ([06:56])

• On Navigating Tragedy with Faith:

  “To see Erica...forgive her husband’s assassin...What a beautiful display of forgiveness, of strength, of compassion that I think only God can provide a grieving widow.” — Riley Gaines ([15:36])

• On Family Values:

  “Marriage, children—these are the best things in life.” — Blake ([19:10])

• On Taking a Stand:

  “Do I have to care more about your kids than you do?” — Riley Gaines ([32:30])

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:03 — Charlie Kirk’s opening values statement
• 02:10 — Riley’s journey from athlete to advocate, support from TPUSA
• 05:00 — Importance of campus activism, motherhood, and purpose
• 08:27 — Discussion of TPUSA’s maternity leave policy & pro-family practices
• 11:58 — Riley recounts learning of Charlie Kirk’s assassination
• 15:36 — Memorial and Erica Kirk’s public forgiveness
• 17:17 — Riley’s testimony of positive pregnancy and childbirth
• 19:10 — Conversation about changing the cultural narrative around marriage and kids
• 21:17 — Challenging the notion of waiting for the “right time” to have children
• 24:54 — Riley’s nuanced take on birth control and questioning received wisdom
• 29:39 — Faith as foundation: “God, family, country”
• 32:00 — Parent’s role in defending and influencing their own children

---

Tone & Language

The episode blends candid humor, warmth, and vulnerability with unapologetic advocacy for conservative values. Riley’s conversational style—forthright, self-deprecating, and relatable—shines through, while panelists echo Charlie Kirk’s “no-holds-barred” ethos. The conversation vacillates between lightness (parenting jokes, pregnancy stories) and solemnity (public mourning, calls to action), always returning to the themes of purpose, faith, and cultural renewal.

---

Summary Takeaway

"Motherhood, Meaning, and the Road Ahead" stands as both tribute and rallying cry. It showcases Riley Gaines as a living example of the values Charlie Kirk championed: defending truth, living boldly, putting faith and family first, and refusing to be silenced by fear or tragedy. It urges young conservatives—especially women—to embrace life’s blessings fearlessly and to actively shape the culture for the next generation.

Transcript

[Charlie Kirk]

My name is Charlie Kirk. I run the largest pro American student organization in the country, fighting for the future of our republic. My call is to fight evil and to proclaim truth. If the most important thing for you is just feeling good, you're going to end up miserable. But if the most important thing is doing good, you will end up purposeful. College is a scam, everybody. You got to stop sending your kids to college. You should get married as young as possible and have as many kids as possible. Go start a Turning Point USA College chapter. Go start a Turning Point USA High School chapter. Go find out how your church can get involved. Sign up and become an activist. I gave my life to the Lord in fifth grade. Most important decision I ever made in my life. And I encourage you to do the same. Here I am, Lord. Use me. Buckle up, everybody. Here we go. The Charlie Kirk show is proudly sponsored by Preserve Gold, the leading gold and silver experts and the only precious metals company I recommend to my family, friends and viewers.

[Blake]

Oh, hey, Riley.

[Riley Gaines]

What's up?

[Blake]

I was gonna give you a formal introduction. Go back, go back. No, you can come in.

[Riley Gaines]

So sorry.

[Blake]

Is everybody having a good time? Are we excited about Riley Gaines? The Riley Gaines, formerly known as an all American swimmer and now known as just an all around amazing person, an amazing American, an advocate for women's rights. What aren't you known for now?

[Riley Gaines]

Being a man.

[Blake]

And she's quick on her feet, too.

[Riley Gaines]

I don't know about that.

[Blake]

Not just in the swimming pool.

[Riley Gaines]

No, that, that was like. Yeah, well, that's why I went to swimming is because I didn't have to be quick on my feet. You don't have to be very, like, agile. It's all in the water.

[Blake]

It's all in the water.

[Riley Gaines]

As swimmers, we're typically not that good at land sports.

[Blake]

Did you just get like bad balance or something?

[Riley Gaines]

Yeah, yeah.

[Blake]

So, Riley Gaines, you have had a front row seat to Charlie Kirk, to Turning Point for I think like three years now, basically. Is it three years? Yeah, two and a half.

[Riley Gaines]

Yeah, yeah, three. Yeah, yeah, I guess I spoke out in March of 2022, so, gosh, three and a half. Turning Point was very quick to offer me guidance and resources and encouragement. And in a time where I knew nothing, honestly nothing about the political sphere, nothing about our government, I'm ashamed to say it, like, never took a government course. I mean, I literally knew we had three branches and that was the extent of my knowledge. Didn't know what they did. I still don't know what they do. I don't even think they know what they do half the time.

[Blake]

I was about to say, yeah, that's why they all retire before finishing.

[Riley Gaines]

But Turning Point and Charlie specifically was very quick to reach out in a way that was different than other people who were reaching out. And I feel like I have a fairly decent amount of discernment and very self aware and can pick things out in a time where it was, I guess, politically expedient. The topic of keeping men out of women's sports. There were lots of people who claimed the slogans of faith, family and freedom who were quick to reach out. But I could see it as they were using our experience as an opportunity to capitalize, which I even appreciated at the time, because anyone talking about it was a good thing in my eyes. But when Charlie and Turning Point reached out, it was different. It was in a way, in an effort to make sure that I was okay as a human being, because Charlie understood, like, I know it's hard to read these things that are being said online about you. We just want to make sure you're okay. We're here for you. Different than anyone else who had reached out. So it was a very quick, I think, relationship that had been developed between myself and Turning Point and one that has really fostered and grown over the past three years.

[Blake]

Well, you've been an amazing advocate for not only Turning Point, but for not only women's rights and, you know, obviously for protecting women's sports and all of these things. But you have become a political powerhouse. You have become somebody that a lot of politicians want to bring to Washington D.C. and testify at their committee hearings or get behind their campaign. And what's fascinating to me is that despite all of these things that you could do with your time, I have seen you more and more and more at college campuses. You had that terrifying experience at San Francisco State University, which was speaking at a Turning Point chapter. You had every excuse to not double and triple down on the campus activism and doing the things that Charlie was doing. I remember you were at. You went back to San Francisco State. Right. And you did approve me wrong with Charlie was last year.

[Riley Gaines]

Yeah, yeah, it was.

[Blake]

And so you, you have, you have not shied away, you have not shrunk back. You have gone even harder.

[Riley Gaines]

Well, we can't right otherwise. I mean, you think about it, you think about all of the different spheres that the left has acquired and runs, certainly media, mainstream media, these academic institutions, health care even, which is supposed to be a place that is totally not biased or have anything to do with the polarization and the politicization that we've seen, even in healthcare, our government, the list goes on. They've acquired all of these spheres. So of course, anything that I can do as just say one person as a Now, I don't know if I can call myself a recent graduate. I'm getting kind of old. But yeah, I know, me at the ripe age of 25, I'm like married with children now I'm getting up there. But anything that I can do, goodness gracious, I'm willing to do it. My husband and I, we welcomed our daughter into this world about 10 weeks ago, which is super cool. But Even in those 10 weeks, seeing the necessity and the urgency of getting on campuses, high school campuses, college campuses. And so she went with me to 10 different campuses. Even this semester. She's traveled to 15 states, she's met the president, she's been to the White House, she's been to Mar A Lago. She's going to be really dangerous at two truths and a lie one day. So all that to say to speak to the importance, of course, of campus activism and reaching the youth, but also to speak to motherhood as well and how. I think the best way to describe our little baby girl, Margo, at this point in her life is portable and adaptable. And your life doesn't end when you have children. What I have found to be the case, and certainly what Charlie spoke to, is your life really begins when you have kids, especially a little girl. Gosh, I look at her and it's just the most magical, transformative thing I think that as a woman you could possibly go through is being a mom.

[Blake]

So, yeah, and I remember when we had our first. Our daughter, she's seven now, but she, we were like, you know, you're kind of like a accessory. We can just sort of like a handbag we can take you with, wherever you want. Well, it gets trickier with two, I will say, because then you got to play a little man on man defense. The third, then it's like zone.

[Riley Gaines]

Yeah, you're outnumbered at that point. You're outnumbered. Yeah, but it's so true.

[Blake]

But you'll figure it out.

[Riley Gaines]

You know, I've realized, like, it's pretty hard to kill them. Like, she doesn't want to die, and I don't want her to die.

[Blake]

Therefore, like, I'm not convinced they don't want to die. I feel like they just like, oh, it's like a, you know, like the, you know, let's put our finger in the socket. Or let's run downhill when we could barely walk. Lots of different things, but yeah, we'll get there. They are pretty resilient creatures.

[Riley Gaines]

Yes, they are. So she rock. She's here. She's in Amfest. So she can now say, I don't know. She might be the youngest person at Amfest.

[Blake]

We have a lot of.

[Riley Gaines]

I know, I know. I've seen a bunch of little girls.

[Blake]

We have a. I think this is a weird way to say it. We have a nursing room because there are nursing mothers here at Amfest and we want to make sure they have a place too. So. But yeah, we encourage families. We're very pro family. Pro family. Even in the workplace. Daisy's about to have a baby. So give it up for Daisy. She's around here somewhere. Marina, our CMO's about to have a baby and I'm terrified of both of them going on maternity. So pray for us.

[Riley Gaines]

Turning Point now. I actually spoke to this on stage. They. And I think this is important in the context of understanding how, yes, of course, the values that Charlie and Turning Point stands for are pro life, but so much so that in pro life is not just the baby in the womb, it's supporting moms before, during and after pregnancy. And so one of the super awesome things about Turning Point and what they've implemented, what Charlie was working on putting prior to his assassination, his murder, but what they've implemented after is a six month maternity leave policy for Turning Point employees. If you've been at the company for a certain amount of time, and so you'd be really hard pressed to find that sort of policy anywhere else in any realm, any career. And so again, it shows how it's not just words or a slogan. Like, these are things they really mean and they really live by. So I think that's super awesome.

[Blake]

If you're going to go as hard in the paint as Turning Point and Charlie have about having babies and getting married, you probably should put your money where you want this. I think that's only fair. People would start calling out the illogical inconsistencies. But no, we are super. You know, it's fun having those conversations with Daisy and Marina. It's like, listen, whatever you gotta do. Like that is the most important thing. And keeping the first things, the first things. Blake, you know all about this topic. Nope.

[Riley Gaines]

You don't know about being a mom.

[Blake]

Yeah, not in the slightest. No maternity leave for you, Blake. That's not how we roll around here. That would cost. That would raise even more eyebrows. Yes. Exactly. Christmas. Yes, we can say Christmas. It's a time of giving. And there is nothing better than knowing that what you give results in saving the life of an innocent baby. And for every baby we save, there is a mom who is saved from a lifetime of regret. Preborn provides free ultrasounds to girls and women, and an ultrasound doubles the chance that she will choose life. Say that again. If she gets an ultrasound, it. It doubles the chance that she'll choose life for her child. $140 gives free ultrasounds and saves babies. Just $28 a month can save a baby a month for less than a dollar a day. And today, thanks to a dollar for dollar match, your gift saves twice as many babies. And if you're looking for the perfect tax deductible year end idea, I can't think of a better one than a $15,000 gift providing an ultrasound machine, saving thousands of lives for years to come. Join me saving babies right now and making it a merry Christmas. Call 833-850-2229. That's 833-850-2229, or click on the preborn banner at charliekirk.com. so talk about. Because one of the things, I mean, when Charlie was assassinated, you know, I think Blake and I were so close to it that, I mean, it was. I saw all this media, and I could barely look at it, honestly. I barely opened my phone for the first couple of days. And as a matter of fact, Mike, I got so many phone calls and texts that my phone stopped working. And I was kind of huddled in this. It felt like a bunker, you know, just trying to do the. Every 15 minutes, just get through every 15 minutes. And, you know, you were one of those people that I noticed in the immediate aftermath that you just stepped up and you did more things. It felt like I saw you more vocal. I saw you more defend. You were defending Charlie. You were advocating on behalf of the organization, on behalf of the country. You were speaking out. Tell me what it was like for you to be in your position in the immediate aftermath. What was that? That. What was the reaction? And like, where's your headspace now?

[Riley Gaines]

It's one of those moments where, of course, you'll never forget where you were, which being 25, I don't. I don't think I have too many of those in my life. First when President Trump was shot, and now this. I was actually in line at Chick Fil A. I was in the Chick Fil A line. Don't tell Alex Clark. And I was Inside the building. And I was waiting in line. And actually, it was. I was getting a call from my boss at Fox, and I didn't think anything of it. I was out doing stuff, about to order, didn't answer my phone. I get another call. He called right back, still didn't answer. And I get a text, and it said, hey, are you okay? Are you in Utah? And I knew, of course, about Charlie's campus stops. And I'd been following online, very excited. Bear in mind, at this point, I was 38 weeks pregnant or so, right? And so, you know, by all means, in the chaotic and unconventional schedule and career, I guess that I have, like, maternity leave, whatever that means. Anyways, in line. Are you okay or are you in Utah? Didn't cross my mind. And so at this point, I call him back. I'm like, hey, what's up? He's like, I. I'm so sorry. And at this point, I had no idea what he was talking about. I'm like, what? What's going on? He says, charlie's been shot and it doesn't look good. And it was at that point, you know, even still saying that out loud, it gives you just chills over your body. It was at that point I went to X and I opened X, which I wish desperately I never did, because you're immediately met with a video. And I had convinced myself that it was AI. Honestly, I'm like, oh, that's not real. Like. Like, that can't be real. I turn off my phone. It was in the few hours following that you hear the news that his life was prematurely ended by a coward. Initially, it's total shock, right? And just disbelief. Disbelief that something like that could happen, that he's really gone. Disbelief that in the immediate, you're seeing people online who are celebrating, like, 20, total disbelief. And then that night, you go to bed, and you really can't go to bed, and you just think of Erica and you're thinking of his children. You're thinking of the future of the company. There are so many questions. How, you know, what does this mean for the nation? He was such a profound and important and influential, the most effective of voices for our time. And he's gone. What does this mean? And so it was kind of like eight hours of. You're in and out of sleep. You're kind of like in this constant state of prayer. It was really weird. And then it turns to grief and tearfulness in the next few days, and then it turns to anger, honestly, and rage again when you see the Things that were being said online by peers. Even knowing what they thought about Charlie and his assassination, it makes you think, well, gosh, what would they say if I was assassinated? These are people who I know in my life, and they're celebrating this. Healthcare workers, government employees, school teachers, the people who are trusted to educate your children, celebrating this. Who you trust to. To save your life if you were in a, you know, a dire medical situation. They're celebrating death. But I will say I went to the memorial service, which it was on my due date. So you can imagine my OB GYN when I tell him, hey, I've got to get on a plane. Actually, at 40 weeks pregnant, he honestly totally understood. He's like, look, Riley, this is like, it's our nation's loss. I'm going to print out your paperwork for you. God forbid you give birth in Arizona. Here's your papers. Go to a hospital. They'll know what to do. If you give birth on the plane. Tell your husband to watch YouTube videos before you take off. I still remember being angry, though, honestly, walking into the memorial service, but watching as Erica. Well, first, it was so cool to see so many publicly elected officials proclaim the name of the Lord in front of. I mean, tens of thousands who were there, but millions who were watching online. That was amazing. But to see Erica in what you have to imagine is the hardest moment of her life. Forgive her husband's assassin. 11 days, I think it was after he was murdered. Like, what a beautiful display of forgiveness, of strength, of compassion that I think only God can provide a grieving widow so. So soon after her husband had been killed. And so it was. That was kind of like a pivotal point where it wasn't really anger anymore, of course. There's still the level of disbelief and grief, of course, but it was feelings of hope and optimism and inspiration for the future. And that's where I'm at now, of course, being here at Amfest, seeing so many people, young people, especially in the audience, smiling ear to ear. We just did the student meet and greet, and they estimated there were 2,000 kids lined up to say hi to me, which is, like, the craziest thing ever. I've literally only said there are two sexes. Like, I don't know. I'm really not that cool.

[Blake]

Did you do that when you were in third grade? They're like, what do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be famous for saying there are boys and girls. That's actually really cute.

[Riley Gaines]

Riley did that in kindergarten. So third grade was Way too late.

[Blake]

Then you had your baby.

[Riley Gaines]

Then we had the baby. Which that whole process was and is still just the coolest, most fulfilling, purposeful, satisfactory thing I will say. I honestly, of course, one of Charlie's messages that. That he gave on campuses and beyond was to have kids, get married, have kids as young as you possibly can in your married life, and as many as you possibly can. I was scared to get pregnant. I think a lot of women really are because you hear all these awful horror stories of pregnancy, pregnancy, and the delivery, and then you'll be sleep deprived for the rest of your life, to infinity once you have a newborn. I'm here to say none of those things happen to me. None of them. I had the best pregnancy ever. No morning sickness, no tired, no fatigue, no aversions, no nothing. I literally lived my life as I did prior to conception. The labor and delivery process, a breeze. She was here in, like, 10 minutes, easy peasy. And now I know there's, like, so many moms who are like, shut up. I hate you. But I think it's important.

[Blake]

Do we have a security barrier right here? Because we have to get the stage rushed.

[Riley Gaines]

I think, honestly, it's important for women to hear that. There are good stories, too.

[Blake]

I totally agree.

[Riley Gaines]

And we live in this. And that's not to discount the things that can potentially happen and do happen to women. I'm not here to discount that, but I am here to say my experience was not like that at all. And my baby, I think we just gave birth to a perfect little human. She has slept fully through the night since day one. Never one time. I know I need to, like, knock on wood.

[Blake]

Seriously. Security.

[Riley Gaines]

Everyone says, just wait until the 2nd, which I'm a second child. So if, you know, karma is real, it's coming after me hard. But it's been a dream, honestly.

[Blake]

So I totally agree with what you're saying that I definitely had so many people warn me, and they're like, oh, you know, and then you just wait. By the way, they would do this with marriage, too, by the way. Did you notice this? Like, just. You got to tell the wife what to. You know, they would. There's like, culturally, we've built into the vernacular just a constant degradation of the institution of marriage. We just. You know what I mean? It's like, we just downgrade it. We downplay it, we mock it, we laugh about it. And, like, okay, some of that's fine, sure. But that's why it's so important to have strong voices like Charlie, like, you hopefully, like, this show that say, no, these are the. These are the best things. These are the best things in life. And I can tell you, I mean, after Charlie was assassinated, I didn't see my family for, you know, weeks on end because I was traveling around. I was, you know, they were living in a different place. I had to worry about security. And when I finally, finally got to just, like, see them, like, and have my three little ones tackle me, literally tackle me, and just. They had no idea what I had been through. They had no idea what we had been through and just tackled me, smiling, tears. They started crying because they missed me and I missed them. There's, like, why would you downplay how wonderful that is? Why would you try and warn people against that experience? And we do need to do a better job just as a culture. And I think that is changing about, hey, have kids. Have them as young as you can. I mean, I'll never forget the interview with Tucker that's gone viral like, 48 times with Charlie. He goes, you know, take a job. You can't. You're not qualified for. You know, have more kids than you can afford. Live boldly, don't waste time. And I think just that message is. Is powerfully transformative to our culture. And now you can actually be a living embodiment of that. Because, you know, 25. I mean, I was living in LA at the time, and I don't think any of my friends had kids at 25. And I think it's really. It's really important to get started younger than you think, because you'll wake up and you'll blink and you'll be 30 and you'll have no children, and then all of a sudden, you know, you're not married. Did you ever hear anything like that from people who even would say, oh, you should wait to have kids because it'll mess with your incipient media career or any of that.

[Riley Gaines]

100%. 100%. Or people who just say, even friends in my life, friends who I love very dearly, who would classify themselves as conservative even, who say that, you know, well, we just need to find the right time. Let me tell you, there is no, like, right time to have kids. You'll never reach that point. No, no, you'll never reach that point.

[Blake]

There isn't a right time. There's a limited time.

[Riley Gaines]

Exactly. Precisely. But, yes, you do have people who. Who tell you those things, which my husband and I, we were married for. We got married in 2022, which is even that in and of Itself like you don't hear of people who are engaged at 21 years old anymore. We were engaged at, and Married at, at 21. Waited a few years to, to start, you know, trying to have kids and, and maybe this is tmi. But I had delivered the baby. My legs are still in the syrup. I'm like, okay, I'm ready for another one. And my doctor's like, Riley, I've never heard someone in the state that you're currently in say that.

[Blake]

So I, so I'm like, no, I'm.

[Riley Gaines]

Let's do it again.

[Blake]

So Irish twins.

[Riley Gaines]

Yeah. Oh my gosh.

[Blake]

Yeah.

[Riley Gaines]

Yeah. The last appointment though, he was because you know, you go back for follow ups and they're, you know, just making sure you're good. And he says, Riley, like you really should wait his timeline. He said, you need to wait until April. I said, we'll see about that. I've never been very great at following directions.

[Blake]

So you're good, you're good at one thing. Speed.

[Riley Gaines]

Yeah. Yeah. Unless it's against a man.

[Blake]

Oh, There's some inappropriate jokes in there somewhere, but we're gonna skip em. I don't want to have to fire myself today.

[Riley Gaines]

This is Lane Schoenberger, chief investment officer.

[Blake]

And founding partner of yrefi.

[Riley Gaines]

It has been an honor and a privilege to partner with Turningpoint and for.

[Blake]

Charlie to endorse us.

[Charlie Kirk]

His endorsement means the world to us.

[Riley Gaines]

And we look forward to continuing our.

[Blake]

Partnership with Turning Point for years to come.

[Riley Gaines]

Now here Charlie in his own words.

[Blake]

Tell you about why refi.

[Charlie Kirk]

I'm going to tell you guys about why refi calm that is yrefy.com why refi is incredible. Private student loan debt in America totals about $300 billion. Why refi is refinancing distress or defaulted private student loans. You can finally take control of your student loan situation with a plan that works for your monthly budget. Go to yrefi.com that is whyrefi.com do you have a co borrower? Why refi can get them released from the loan. You can skip a payment up to 12 times without penalty. It may not be available in all 50 states. Go to yrefi.com that is yrefy.com let's face it, if you have distress or default to student loans, it can be overwhelming because of privacy loan debt. So many people feel stuck. Go to yrefi.com that is yrefy.com private student loan debt relief. Why refi.com.

[Blake]

Get a few questions. Yeah, let's do some Q and A with Riley interview coming up. So Emma should be out there. We've got a first question over here, Emma. Okay.

[Riley Gaines]

Hi.

[Audience Member]

I have a question for Riley, which, by the way, I'm a huge fan, and I know you say you shouldn't be famous for just saying there are two genders, but I think that's really important this day and age, especially for young women as myself. And I want to ask you, as a Christian woman, I've heard a lot of different opinions on this from my peers and from older women. And I know this is a little bit of a personal question, and I apologize for that right off the bat, but what is your opinion on birth control? Because I know that it's quite controversial, especially in the groups that I circulate in, and I know that there's a lot of different types for women, and I just don't know what to think or who to believe. So I wanted to ask your opinion 100%.

[Riley Gaines]

You can approach this conversation in two ways, and I'll answer in two ways. Number one, in the position of being pro life, how do I feel about birth control? Actually, I'll be totally transparent here. I was on birth control in college, not for anything other than the fact that when you're competing at the level of which I was competing at, it was really just to regulate your menstrual cycle when you have big competitions and you can have some sort of hand in controlling that, like to be totally transparent. I regretted it, though, after the fact, more so because of how it affects your hormones. Someone who speaks really well to this, of course, is Alex Clark and the effects of the birth control pill on your hormonal cycle. And so I wouldn't do it again. Obviously now I'm in a marriage and would have no problem having more kids. So on that front. But I have a lot of friends who feel the exact same way. And I will say I think it's super duper cool now that we have a whole generation of people like our generation who are willing to question these things. Right. I would imagine some of you, you know, moms who are out there, maybe grandmoms who are out there, maybe you were on birth control and you didn't think anything of it because your healthcare provider said, oh, if you don't want to have kids, take this. And you didn't question it because you trust that your healthcare provider has your best interest at heart. Right? We are seeing a whole new generation of people who are willing to push back and question things. And I saw that when we were Talking about vaccines for our daughter. Super cool to see some of the stuff come out of HHS surrounding the Hep B vaccine and the correlation between children or infants, newborns who receive that, and different allergies or allergens that they have. We're seeing a whole new generation of kids, really. At least I feel like a kid. Maybe I'm not a kid anymore. I feel like a kid who are willing to question things like birth control, and I think it's super duper cool.

[Blake]

I also just want to say I think it's weird that, you know, women, young girls as young as, like, 13 get just automatically prescribed birth control to help with, like, I don't know, cramps or something.

[Riley Gaines]

And they do.

[Blake]

It's weird, actually, if you. If it's been normal for a long time, but then when you take a step back and you're like, wait, why do we do this for little young girls? Like, that's weird. I think it's culturally weird, and we need to call it out. It doesn't mean that. I mean, I'm not gonna give you the opinions that Riley or no uterus.

[Riley Gaines]

No opinion.

[Blake]

Yeah. I could just tell you from a common sense perspective, it seems very weird. Okay. Where do you want to go next, Blake? Oh, there we go. All right.

[Riley Gaines]

We're on the side. You want. So I was wondering, as I was a college athlete and I know you're big in your athletic career, I feel like the world is very big around trying to make your schedule as busy as possible, and I think that poses as a big threat to our faith and also to developing families. I was wondering how you, like, just manage that when you were done with your sport and what that transition was like for you. Well, of course. I mean, faith is central to my life. I think there's opportunities in every sphere to highlight your faith and to. To live by your faith. And so while we have these demanding, crazy schedules, if you make living a Christlike life the priority, it's actually kind of cool to have a crazy schedule and do that. I've been so inspired recently. We talk about this cultural revival that's happening that. That has been happening, I think, intensified in the last three months following Charlie's assassination. But even on the football field, you know, of course, with college football playoffs and different things, to see so many players proclaim the name of the Lord, like, it's the coolest thing ever. So I think in every sphere and sector of life, there's an opportunity to. To speak to God's goodness, to. To his Grace to how he sent his son to live on this earth, who died on the cross for our sins, who rose again three days later with the hope and the promise of eternal life. That's a really cool thing. And if you can. Can have the opportunity to say that on every stage, there's lots of people who can have their hearts and minds changed and brought to the Lord. But in my personal life now, it's been cool. I think, especially being married young, because being tested in the way that I feel like I've personally been tested in, it gives you the opportunity to grow spiritually individually, but also being married, it gives you the opportunity to grow in your faith together. And so that's been the biggest blessing, as well as kind of having an accountability partner in your spouse. So that. That's kind of my take. There is faith first and foremost, which Charlie said this. One of the things he would say is God, family, country, in that order. And I think that's a fantastic mantra to live by.

[Blake]

Well, and, you know, Charlie's book that just came out, stop in the name of God. You know, take a Sabbath, take a rest. And it's not a. It's not a. It's not a negative thing. It's a blessing. It's a. It's a know. Cease. Cease your action so you can focus on your faith, so you can reflect on what God is doing in your life and doing in your heart. So definitely take. Make it a discipline like Charlie did. If you get. If you find yourself so busy that you're spinning out of control and losing kind of your grounding, especially, it's a gift to you. It's designed to be a gift to you. I think we have time for one more.

[Riley Gaines]

Hi, Riley. I'm Stacy from Alabama. I want to say thank you because you encouraged me, because I was actually supposed to go against someone who said. Said they were a female, but they weren't in a jiu jitsu competition. And you actually gave me the courage.

[Audience Member]

To stand up, and I did not.

[Riley Gaines]

Have to do that. So thank you very much. My second question as a mom of four is how do we keep the momentum going for our children to not have to deal with this if Democrats get elected again, God forbid, but just to keep the momentum going. Well, first of all, I hate that the onus is placed on you to have to make that decision where ultimately you've. You're in, like, this impossible spot where what do you do? Like, do you not do the sport that you love, or do you compromise on what you know, to be true and right and fair and just. And so I applaud you. We've dubbed that at Turning Point. One of the initiatives that, that we've been working on is called Project Boycott, with emphasis on the word boy. And really encouraging those girls in, whether it's team sports, whether it's something as, like, physical as jujitsu, gosh, like, I can't imagine grappling. Is that the verb that you would use? Grappling on a mat with, like, smashing skulls? Yeah, with a man. That's insane. And anyone with eyeballs and a shred of honesty and integrity or common sense would be able to see it that way. But secondly. Okay, what. How do we keep the momentum if. If Democrats get back in charge? First and foremost, understand it starts in your House, not the White House. There is so much performance and theatrics in Washington, D.C. and praise God that we have Donald Trump in the Oval Office and we have a Republican majority in both the House and the Senate. Those are great things. But let's be real. In terms of longevity, the things that they're accomplishing or not really accomplishing, you have far more influence on your children and how they live their life as parents than who is in the Oval Office, who is the President of the United States. So with that responsibility, really an obligation, I believe, as parents, number one, lead by example. But two, be willing to defend your kids against any harm, any threat, any risk that could possibly present itself. I have so many parents who reach out to me on a daily basis who say, you know, this is happening in my daughter's school. Can you talk about it? I can't, because I'll lose my job. And of course. Right. Anything I can do, I'm willing to do it because this is my passion. It's what I care so deeply about. But do I have to care more about your kids than you do you know, be willing to take that risk? I saw a video yesterday of this little girl. I don't know how old she was or where even in the world she was. But we've seen so many of these videos of girls at school board meetings, right? And they're standing and there's the podium. This I posted on my ex account. This girl, she was so short, she couldn't even see above the podium. I think she's 8 years old. I don't know how many people failed that little. She was there to speak about how she didn't want boys in her bathroom. Think of how many people failed that little girl to be there. Saying those words, defending herself in that way. She's so short she couldn't even see over the podium. That's not Joe Biden's fault. I mean, I guess you could point a finger at Joe Biden.

[Blake]

You mean Auto Pennsylvania.

[Riley Gaines]

Yeah. Auto pen, the Democratic Party. You could point a finger at the principal. But I think at that point there's a finger to be pointed back at parents as well. Defend your kids against any harm, any threat, any risk that presents itself.

[Blake]

Yeah, you've got to go. Yeah.

[Riley Gaines]

It's always something.

[Blake]

All right. The great Riley Gaines, everybody.

[Riley Gaines]

Thank you.

[Blake]

Thank you for joining us.

[Riley Gaines]

Thank you guys.

[Blake]

And thank you everyone who was here throughout the day. Yeah. Thank you, guys. We appreciate all of you. For more on many of these stories and news you can Trust, go to charliekirk.com.