The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: "The Left Learns To Love The Confederacy"

Date: October 7, 2025
Host: Charlie Kirk, with guests from The Federalist and independent journalist Nick Sorter

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the increasingly visible tensions between federal and local law enforcement in "blue" cities, focusing especially on Portland and Chicago. Charlie Kirk and his co-hosts examine what they describe as “neo-Confederate nullification” by progressive leaders resisting ICE and federal authority, drawing provocative parallels between contemporary leftist governance and historical Southern resistance during the Confederacy. Ground reporting from Nick Sorter, plus analysis from Federalist journalists, sets the stage for a broader discussion on rule of law, the consequences of local government policy, and ideas for countering these trends nationally.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Portland: Lawlessness and Antifa’s Rise

• Nick Sorter’s On-the-Ground Report (01:43–06:47):

  • Sorter describes open intimidation and violence by Antifa members against journalists and citizens in Portland.
  • Key Insight: Local police are demoralized and allegedly ordered by leadership to allow Antifa free rein.
    • “The Portland Police Department has been, you know, cucked, I guess by antifa. They are afraid of antifa.” – Nick Sorter [03:08]
  • Portland police officers reportedly delegated traffic control to Antifa militants, blocking access to businesses.
  • Federal agent presence has doubled, but is drawn away from core duties to defend government property. National Guard deployment has been blocked by an activist judge, causing further strain on resources.

• Judicial and Political Obstacles:

  • A US District Judge stays National Guard deployment, celebrated by progressive leaders (07:12–09:53).
  • “They’re using every tactic in the book to make sure it’s a long, drawn out process.” – Nick Sorter [08:53]

• Federalist Analysis (09:53–17:48):

  • Molly Hemingway and Sean Davis assert that activist local governments and officials are engaged in lawless resistance to federal authority.
  • The tension between federal and local powers is described as historically rooted, but now weaponized by the left against immigration enforcement.

2. Chicago: ICE-Free Zones and ‘Anarcho-Tyranny’

• Aggressive Anti-ICE Directives (19:03–25:17):

  • News broke that Chicago police were directed not to aid ICE/Border Patrol, even in dangerous situations (e.g., an armed ramming ambush by a far-left activist).
  • Mayor Brandon Johnson issues an executive order creating "ICE-Free Zones" in the city [24:06].
    • “The order establishes ice free zones. That means that city property and unwilling private businesses will no longer serve as staging grounds for these raids.” – Brandon Johnson [24:06]
  • Federalist panel points out historical precedent—South’s resistance to civil rights law—and predicts federal courts will eventually override these efforts.

• Concerns Over Rule of Law

  • Discussion emphasizes the "uneven application of the rule of law," coining the term “anarcho-tyranny.”
    • “It is one standard for my friends, one standard for my enemies…at that point you don’t have a country, you truly do just have a narco tyranny.” – Sean Davis [22:33]

3. Nullification, Civil War Rhetoric, and the Culture War

• Parallel to Confederacy

  • “Nullification crisis resistance, neo-Confederate nullificationist.” – Blake [11:37]

• Local vs. Federal Power

  • Panel draws comparisons to Whiskey Rebellion and Civil War, framing current progressive resistance as a modern echo of historic secessionism (06:47–09:53, 24:06–25:17).

• Progressive Narratives & Accusations

  • Mayor Johnson accuses the right of seeking to rekindle Civil War tensions, flipping the script on who is threatening national unity [28:04].
  • Panel views this rhetoric as projection and a way to rally progressive support by painting federal immigration enforcement as tyrannical.

4. Political and Institutional Strategies

• Importance of Local Elections (14:32–16:43)

  • Federalist guests stress how left-wing activists have taken root via local offices—district attorney, city council, school boards—often supported by donors like George Soros.
  • “He found like an arbitrage in the system and basically found a way to hollow out the rule of law in America from the inside out.” – Molly Hemingway [15:57]

• Conservative Response

  • Suggestion to use federal authority creatively, especially during a government shutdown, for leverage against resisting cities (11:43–12:59).
  • Charlie Kirk’s past advocacy is cited: “Charlie always believed in playing offense, offense, offense, use legitimate power.” – Host [12:23]

5. The Charlie Kirk Legacy and Broader Themes

• MAGA vs. “Mangionism” and Left-Wing Extremism (34:38–35:29)

  • Replay of Charlie’s categorical framing: reform vs. revolution, nationalism vs. left-wing radicalism.
    • “You get reform or you get revolution. We at Magawan, reform stuff…” – Charlie Kirk [35:00]

• Reflections on Charlie’s Impact (35:49–37:03)

  • Panel pays tribute to Kirk’s ability to synthesize and communicate complex ideas, his campus activism, and his call to “fight for every inch of America, including our cities.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Portland’s breakdown of law and order:
  • “It’s total mob rule out here in Portland. Like, like no other city in the United States. It doesn’t feel like an American city at this point.” – Nick Sorter [03:56]
• On judicial tactics:
  • “It seems like these activist judges, their entire goal is to stall and delay…So that seems to be the play here: stall and delay.” – Nick Sorter [08:40]
• On local vs. federal dynamics:
  • “This aggressive anti ICE efforts that are happening in blue jurisdictions…real, you know, nullification crisis resistance, neo confederate nullificationist.” – Blake [11:37]
• On the left’s approach to immigration enforcement:
  • “They keep trying to act like we’re doing what they’re doing and we’re not.” – Molly Hemingway [12:23]
• On the principle of local governance:
  • “The leverage is so much higher if you vote and get…local prosecutors that the ROI was like huge pound, you know, bang for buck.” – Blake/Federalist [15:54]
• On dereliction of duty:
  • “Can you imagine being so vitriolic, being so antagonistic to federal law enforcement agents that are, by the way, are doing a job that the American people elected them to do?” – Host [21:13]
• On taking back cities:
  • “He would always say, no, you should…You should fight for every inch of America. We should fight for our biggest cities because those are tremendous monuments to American achievement.” – Federalist [29:57]
• On Charlie Kirk’s mission:
  • “He didn’t want to win the debate. He wanted to change people’s hearts. He didn’t want to win the argument. He wanted to change their minds.” – Sean Davis [36:28]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:43–06:47 – Nick Sorter reports live from Portland; Portland lawlessness and Antifa dominance.
• 06:47–09:53 – Judicial rulings hampering federal response; implications for National Guard deployment.
• 11:21–14:32 – Expansion on nullification crisis, emails from listeners about federal leverage strategies.
• 19:03–25:56 – Chicago develops “ICE-Free Zones”, police ordered not to assist ICE.
• 28:04–28:29 – Brandon Johnson accuses the right of seeking a Civil War rematch.
• 34:38–37:03 – Reflecting on Charlie Kirk’s legacy, MAGA vs. leftist extremism, motivational closing remarks.

Structure, Tone, and Flow

The episode retains Charlie Kirk’s characteristic forthright, outspoken, and at times polemical tone, blending grassroots activism with cultural and political analysis. The interplay between panelists and the on-the-ground reporting lend a sense of urgency and immediacy to issues that are framed as existential for the republic, regularly referencing historical parallels and exhorting listeners to action at the local and national level.

Conclusion

In “The Left Learns To Love The Confederacy”, the Charlie Kirk Show frames current progressive resistance to federal authority in blue cities as the new face of nullification, equating leftist strategies with historical Confederate tactics and warning of the dangers posed by what they term “anarcho-tyranny.” Through firsthand reports, political analysis, and debate, the episode calls conservatives to assert themselves in local politics and protect federal law, drawing on the legacy and ideas of Charlie Kirk himself.