Transcript

A (0:03)

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 gonna end up miserable. But if the most important thing is doing good, you will end up purposeful. College is a scam, everybody. You gotta 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.

B (0:46)

Use me.

A (0:48)

Buckle up, everybody. Here we go. Noble Gold Investments is the official gold sponsor of the Charlie Kirk Show, a company that specializes in gold IRAs and physical delivery of precious metals. Learn how you could protect your wealth with Noble gold investments@noblegold investments.com, that is. Noblegold investments.com.

B (1:17)

ladies and gentlemen. Thought Crime Thursday is upon us. They tried to shut it down and they tried to cancel Thought Crime Thursday. They tried to do everything they could, but they couldn't stop it. Because even without songs, even without presents, Thought Crime Thursday always comes. I was going for a Grinch thing. I don't know why I did that, but I just did that. Let's see who we have here.

C (1:43)

Because I was like, where is Jack going?

D (1:45)

How the Grinch Stole Thought Crime.

B (1:46)

How the Grinch Stole Thought.

C (1:48)

That'll be our.

D (1:49)

You're a normie, Mr. Grinch.

C (1:52)

This is allowed.

B (1:54)

It totally works.

D (1:55)

You're a man of boring thoughts.

C (1:59)

No, it's like an establishment.

B (2:01)

And on that day, the Grinch's thought crimes grew five sizes.

Summary

The Charlie Kirk Show: THOUGHTCRIME Ep. 125

Red Button or Blue Button? MJ The Innocent? Shooter Selfies?

Date: May 2, 2026
Host: Charlie Kirk, with Jack, Andrew, Blake, Tyler, Russ, and others

Episode Overview

This episode of the Charlie Kirk Show—specifically the recurring “Thought Crime Thursday”—brings together regular panelists for a rapid-fire and irreverent discussion on culture, politics, morality, and media. The team jumps between topics that gripped the news and the internet this week: the aftermath and spectacle of a recent (fictionalized) attempted attack at the White House Correspondents Dinner, viral “red button vs. blue button” moral hypotheticals, debates on whether Michael Jackson was wrongly maligned, the generational branding of toys and board games, and more. The style is loose, provocative, and sometimes tongue-in-cheek, marked by a blend of Millennial nostalgia and staunch conservative perspectives.

Key Discussion Points

1. Millennial Nostalgia: Crossfire and Commercial Culture

[01:17–08:05]

Nostalgic Dive: The team begins with a nostalgic and comedic breakdown of the 1990s Crossfire board game commercial, an ad many panelists see as a “cultural artifact” of their generation ("Crossfire! You'll get caught up in the crossfire!" [03:11]).
Millennial Theme: Jokes about how the reality of the Crossfire game was far less fun than its commercial, which, according to them, typified ‘America’s greatest cultural export: insane commercials for things of middling quality.’
Comparison ensues to other iconic game ads (Battleship, Dream Phone, Pizza Party, Mousetrap), leading into a comedic reckoning with generational references and “coolness.”
Quote:

"Crossfire is a testament to America's greatest cultural export, which is insane commercials for things that are of middling quality, and we should be proud of that." —Jack [07:48]

2. White House Correspondents Dinner Incident & Shooter Selfies

[08:17–13:14]

First-hand Accounts: Andrew describes attending a (fictionalized) White House Correspondents Dinner where chaos erupts after what seems like an attack ("We got stuck under the tables... The scariest part was, don't make any abrupt moves, because the Secret Service looked, like, very intense, like, which they should have. Right? ... Did I just witness the assassination of President Trump?" [10:00]).
Journalistic Behavior: The panel is shocked to see many journalists immediately taking selfies and selfie videos during the confusion:

"2200 people in this room, at least a third of them... were taking selfie videos of what just happened." —Andrew [11:19]
Generational Divide: Blake discusses generational differences regarding “selfie journalism,” suggesting younger reporters see video selfies as more authentic and relatable on social media, while older or more traditional journalists view it as narcissistic.
Critical Reflection: Some pushback: “If you're in a room where something like this happens, you’re supposed to point your phone at the thing that's happening, not at yourself.” —Blake [13:46]

3. The Selfie Shooter: Main Character Syndrome

[18:46–22:33]

Shooter Selfie: The group discusses images of Cole Thomas Allen, the perpetrator who took a stylized selfie before an attack, commenting on his appearance (“DreamWorks face”/“main character syndrome”) and the narcissism implicit in self-documentation even in criminal acts.
Reflection on Society: The conversation veers to the culture of narcissism, “main character syndrome,” Redditor identity, and even the question of whether selfies taken by criminals are for themselves, their audience, or to be found post-arrest.
Quote:

“That's called, though—you know what that's called? That's main character syndrome.” —Blake [21:19]

4. The "Red Button or Blue Button" Moral Dilemma

[32:47–53:44]

The Hypothetical (Context [33:00]):

Premise: Secretly, everyone must pick either a red or blue button. If over 50% pick blue, everyone lives. If not, only those who pick red live.
Debate:
- Red is ‘logical’ for self-preservation; blue is ‘pro-social’ but risky.
- The panel explores generational responses, gender breakdown, Christian ethics, libertarian philosophy, and the parallels to "game theory" and collective action societal problems.
Shopping Cart Analogy:
- The “shopping cart test” becomes a metaphor: returning your cart (blue) is altruistic and pro-social, while ditching it (red) is selfish but risk-free.
"Leaving the shopping cart out like an animal is the red button push." —Blake [37:22]
Christian Angle:
- Is pushing red “unchristian” or just pragmatic self-defense?
"As a Christian, you would want to save everyone." —Sergeant1978 (chat) [44:24]
Game Theory and Cynicism:
- Deep distrust of human nature emerges:
  
  "I don't trust people. I think at the end of the day people are going to go for their selfish nature, which is going to be to click red." —Russ [51:20]
Relevant Segment:
- [33:00] – Explanation of dilemma
- [36:27] – Shopping cart analogy
- [44:29] – Christian perspective
- [51:02] – Discussion of games like Mr. Beast’s Beast Games & human selfishness

5. Michael Jackson: Guilt, Innocence & Media Narratives

[61:09–87:10]

Was MJ Innocent? (Catalyst: Release of the biopic "Michael")

Biopic Reception:
- Critically panned yet loved by audiences (38% critics vs. 97% audience on Rotten Tomatoes [63:54]); debate is revived because the film omits child abuse allegations.
Panel’s Mixed Beliefs:
- Most panelists admit to having grown up believing Jackson was likely guilty.
- Blake and Jack raise doubts, citing the weirdness of Jackson’s behavior but also documentary bias, financial motives for accusers, and the “documentary effect” (audience manipulation via one-sided storytelling).
Discussion of Childhood, Trauma, and Fame:
- The panel sympathizes with Jackson’s abusive upbringing and the psychological toll of fame, comparing him to other tragic megastars (Kanye West, Madonna, etc.).
Nuanced Reflections:
- They draw a line between eccentric, stunted childhood and criminality; stress the “cancel culture” feeding frenzy of the 1990s media monoculture.
- Notable defense by Macaulay Culkin is mentioned.
Quotes:

"This is kind of the first big child sexual abuse scandal involving a celebrity... it sets the template that we've seen." —Blake [73:58] "Michael Jackson is actually so weird and the fact pattern around is so strange. I'm much more open to the defense... he's not a molester, he's just a weirdo." —Blake [65:19]
Relevant Timestamps:
- [61:09] – Introduction to MJ topic
- [66:47] – Criticism of "Leaving Neverland" documentary
- [78:58] – Michael’s physical/psychological struggles and the “monoculture”

6. J.P. Morgan "Sex Slave" Lawsuit—Satirized

[56:05–60:49]

Story Overview:
- The panel laughs through reporting on an outlandish and likely fake lawsuit against a JP Morgan executive by an Indian male colleague allegedly forced into being a “sex slave.”
Takeaway:
- “Clickbait,” comedic incredulity, and observations about bizarre workplace allegations.

7. Upcoming Review: Angel Studios' Animal Farm Adaptation

[88:20–91:13]

Background on Controversy:
- Angel Studios is distributing a new adaptation of Animal Farm, but with a twist: allegedly, the movie critiques capitalism rather than communism, causing uproar among the right.
Panel Response:
- Commitment to watch and “review with an open mind,” with skepticism but also willingness to be surprised.

Notable Quotes & Moments

[02:07]

"On that day, the Grinch's thought crimes grew five sizes." —Comedic opening sequence
[10:00]

"Was I just present for the assassination of President Trump?" —Andrew
[13:46]

"If you're in a room where something like this happens, you're supposed to point your phone at the thing that's happening, not at yourself."
[21:19]

"That's called, though—you know, that's main character syndrome." —Blake, on the psychology of shooters/selfies
[37:22]

"Leaving the shopping cart out like an animal is the red button push." —Blake
[44:24]

"As a Christian, you would want to save everyone." —Sergeant1978 (chat)
[53:08]

"If everybody picks red, we lose. No one." —Liz, on the paradox of the red/blue button game
[65:19]

"Michael Jackson is actually so weird and the fact pattern around him is so strange. I'm much more open to the defense... he's just a weirdo." —Blake
[73:58]

"This is kind of the first big child sexual abuse scandals involving a celebrity, and it sets the template we've seen." —Blake
[83:17]

"90 million people watched it [Oprah interview]. ... Because he looked weak, people thought they could take advantage." —recapping the turning point in MJ's public narrative
[90:14]

"It's actually a critique on capitalism where the original is a critique on communism. So they flipped the roles." —Charlie, on the Animal Farm adaptation controversy

Additional Insights & Cultural Themes

Generational & Media Shift:
- Panelists repeatedly highlight the differences between Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z in terms of references, values, media consumption, and trust in institutions.
Meta-commentary:
- There’s a strong meta-narrative about conservatives feeling besieged in culture, but also self-aware humor about conservative "branding" and internet culture.
Chat Participation:
- Live audience chat is incorporated into the show’s discussion, with the panel reading and riffing off audience reactions and polling.

Conclusion

Episode 125 of “ThoughtCrime” on The Charlie Kirk Show delivers a raucous blend of nostalgia, cultural criticism, and moral questioning—mixing dead-serious hypotheticals with playful banter. From the frivolity of 1990s board game ads to the seriousness of collective moral conundrums and the ambiguities of public figures like Michael Jackson, the episode embodies the show’s signature mix of partisan commentary, generational satire, and ideological provocation.

Listeners are left with:

A greater awareness of how “viral” content and generational divides color news coverage and personal ethics.
A skeptical lens on both the media’s treatment of legends (like MJ) and trending “moral” memes.
A preview of conservative unease about adaptations of classic literature (Animal Farm) and their message for culture warriors.
Several notable one-liners, memes, and concepts (“main character syndrome,” “red button logic,” and the “shopping cart test”) to chew on.

For Next Week:
The crew will watch and review the new Animal Farm adaptation and report back with “open eyes”—with an eye toward the continuing culture war in mass media.

End of Summary

wavePod

THOUGHTCRIME Ep. 125 — Red Button or Blue Button? MJ The Innocent? Shooter Selfies?