The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Team USA or Team Woke? + TPAction Endorsements
Date: February 12, 2026
Host: Charlie Kirk (with Andrew, Blake, Tyler Boyer, and guests)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into two major themes at the heart of the conservative grassroots movement:

1. The cultural struggle over American patriotism, especially in music, sports, and the Olympics—with a focus on whether Team USA represents the country or “Team Woke.”
2. Turning Point Action’s (TPAction) latest political endorsements, behind-the-scenes insight into their process, and the broader conservative plan ahead of the 2026 midterms and 2028 presidential cycle.

The show features special guest Jeffrey Steele, a Hall of Fame country songwriter, discussing his tribute to Charlie Kirk, as well as in-depth conversation about political activism, recent controversies in the music industry and Olympic sports, and details from TPAction’s executive leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jeffrey Steele and “A Voice”: Country Music vs. The Industry Narrative

[01:19–10:13]

Highlights:

• Jeffrey Steele joins to discuss his song “A Voice,” a tribute to Charlie Kirk and “Americans who feel unspoken for.”
• The song was inspired by the outpouring at Kirk’s vigil in Franklin, Tennessee—“5,000 people... overflowing... praying and singing. It was just people praying for a better outcome and a representation of who Charlie really was.” (Jeffrey Steele, 03:27)
• Steele details industry pushback: “A lot of people heard the song... said, ‘we can help you, but you’re going to have to change a couple of the lines...’ I said, no, I can’t do that. That’s my job as a songwriter. I write what I see. I write the truth.” (04:41)
• Notes on industry double standards: Steele compares his struggle to get airplay to Bruce Springsteen’s immediate pop success with a political anthem—“Mine, they won’t even... tell me it’s too right wing... That’s what we’re up against as a conservative music listener: you can’t find the music unless I find a way.” (06:11)
• Personal testimony: “Everywhere I went and played this song live, people are on their feet.” (07:59)
• Steele’s message: “Charlie was a voice for everybody that felt like they didn’t have a voice... His whole mission was to bring what he knew, just try to bring some common sense...” (08:54)
• Where to listen: All streaming services and jeffreysteele.com (09:40)

Notable Quotes:

• “We’re the coal miners, the firefighters, the Charlie Kirk choir, all lighting our ladders, finally waking up. We’ve had enough.” (Jeffrey Steele, Song Lyric, 02:22-02:28)
• “You either get all of it out there or you get none of it out there.” (Jeffrey Steele, 08:54)
• “Thank you for your courage.” (Andrew, 05:30)

2. Team USA or Team Woke? Olympic Athletes, Patriotism, & Media Bias

[11:39–19:22]

Highlights:

• Discussion on patriotism among US Olympic athletes, and the controversy when athletes criticize America:
  • Many athletes, when questioned by the press, air grievances about representing the US. Example: Freestyle skier Hunter Hess expressing “mixed emotions” about representing Team USA: “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the US.” (Hunter Hess, 12:50–13:16)
  • Figure skater Amber Glenn: “I hope I can use my platform and my voice throughout these games to encourage people to stay strong in these hard times... Politics affect us all.” (Amber Glenn, 14:13–15:03)
• Hosts’ critique on media and athletes:
  • “It’s so offensive to me because all these people enjoy wonderful lives... If you can’t say nothing nice, just don’t say anything at all.” (Andrew, 15:53)
  • Emphasis that foreign press exploits American athletes for political soundbites, unlike athletes from other nations.
• Double standard (Eileen Gu/Springsteen examples):
  • Eileen Gu, American-born skier competing for China—“Perfect example. She supports BLM, legal abortion, but when asked about China: ‘I do not comment on internal matters within the People’s Republic of China.’” (Blake, 13:16)
• Response from Vice President JD Vance:
  • “My advice to them would be to try to bring the country together. When you’re representing the country, you’re representing Democrats and Republicans... You’re not there to pop off about politics.” (JD Vance, 18:43–19:22)
  • Host translation: “Shut up and dribble. That’s all we want you to do.” (Andrew, 19:22)

Memorable Quotes:

• “It started a few years ago with the national anthem and taking a knee... Every year this thing gets crazier, more outlandish, more sex-driven, less morality, less about faith, less about country.” (Jeffrey Steele, 06:11)
• “Deport. That’s my word for them.” (Andrew, 15:03)

3. Turning Point Action Endorsements—Process, Strategy, and 2024–2028 Vision

[20:42–39:21]

Highlights:

• Guest: Tyler Boyer (TPAction) explains endorsement strategy:
  • Endorsements based on a holistic scorecard—“Most is based off of our scorecard... American culture, big tech, border security, school choice, election integrity, Second Amendment, etc.” (Tyler, 21:22)
  • Endorsements factor in “most conservative candidate that has the best chance of winning” (Buckley Rule). (23:43)
  • Recent major Texas endorsements: Ken Paxton (U.S. Senate), Chip Roy (AG). Emphasis on looking past personal/political conflicts for the greater conservative cause.
  • Focus on swing states for 2026 and laying critical groundwork for 2028—staff training, “laying the ground game now.”
  • “If we lose the presidency in 2028... you lose the country maybe for a generation.” (Tyler, 29:36)
• Emerging young leaders:
  • Michael Alfonso (WI), Joe Mitchell (IA)—“really exciting hope for the future. Great young dudes... shooting stars.” (Andrew, 27:34)
• Ground game and infrastructure:
  • TPAction boasts full-time staff in every swing state, now deploying for upcoming primaries and midterms. (Tyler, 28:32)
• Federal staffing implications:
  • Blake and Tyler discuss federal bureaucracy—the importance of sustained hiring power for conservatives if Trump/Vance win in 2028—“12 years of hiring at the federal level, man, we have to win...” (Tyler, 39:12)
  • “It does come down to who’s staffing things in D.C.” (Blake, 39:09)

Notable Quotes:

• “No one is perfect in politics... you want to find the person that aligns most with the value system and then has the most importance for us to win long term.” (Tyler, 23:43)
• “We are the only national organization in the conservative movement that has full time staff in all the swing states.” (Tyler, 28:32)

4. Contemporary Political Drama—The SAVE Act and Thomas Massie

[31:25–37:27]

Highlights:

• Real-time update: House passes SAVE America Act (requires proof of citizenship to vote); only GOP “No” was Thomas Massie.
• Discussion of Massie’s principles and reputation—hosts express disappointment at his turn: “The downfall of Thomas Massie is a very heartbreaking story...” (Blake, 31:25)
• Debate over political influence, funding, and the “warping” of Congressional representation.
• The dangers of political isolation and “Trump Derangement Syndrome” discussed in light of an exchange with Pam Bondi.

Memorable Quotes:

• “There’s literally no excuse to be anti-SAVE ACT... at this point they just look ridiculous.” (Tyler, 33:16)
• “He’s such an impressive guy, you really want to love him... but I do think he’s feuded with President Trump a long time and I do think that’s warped him a bit over time.” (Blake, 33:51)
• On the effects of power and echo chambers: “When you’re peppered by people who talk to you the most, who influence you—the fundraisers, ideological fanboys—they warp your sense of representation.” (Tyler, 34:19)

5. Why Conservative Consolidation Matters (Staffing & Endorsements, Looking Ahead)

[38:09–39:21]

Highlights:

• Blake and Tyler reflect on the stakes of upcoming elections, emphasizing the lasting impact of federal appointments—“A lot of consolidation happens in the second half of an administration. Especially in a second term, you just... have a kind of generation of federal hires. That’s why all these Turning Point endorsements matter... it’s all about consolidation.” (Blake, 39:09)
• Tyler’s final take: “We have to win in 2028. And we need people to work together. We’ve got to work, we got to stick together as a movement.” (Tyler, 39:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:19–10:13 – Interview with Jeffrey Steele & the music industry’s bias
• 11:39–19:22 – Olympic “Team Woke” controversy, athlete/media criticism, JD Vance’s response
• 20:42–39:21 – TPAction endorsements, strategy, youth movement, and federal ground game
• 31:25–37:27 – The SAVE Act vote and Thomas Massie controversy
• 38:09–39:21 – Why endorsements and staffing matters for the conservative movement

Conclusion

This episode captures the ongoing tug-of-war over American cultural values—whether expressed on a song, a sports field, or the campaign trail. Through interviews and spirited discussion, the hosts highlight the challenges facing conservative voices in the media, sports, and political spaces, while laying out Turning Point Action’s plan to build a durable, long-term infrastructure for the American right.

For more information:

• Music by Jeffrey Steele: jeffreysteele.com
• Endorsements and involvement: tpaction.com/endorsements