Podcast Summary: The Charlie Kirk Show – "What Did The Founders Think About Immigration?"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Charlie Kirk Show
• Host: Charlie Kirk
• Episode: What Did The Founders Think About Immigration?
• Release Date: April 25, 2025
• Description: Charlie Kirk, America's hardest-working grassroots activist and founder of Turning Point USA, delves into pressing cultural and political issues. In this episode, he explores the Founding Fathers' perspectives on immigration alongside guests Steve Hilton and Dr. Kevin Slack.

I. Introduction and Guest Overview

[00:00] – [33:30]

Charlie Kirk opens the episode with introductions, welcoming Steve Hilton—his endorsed candidate running for Governor of California—and Dr. Kevin Slack, an author and Hillsdale College instructor. The focus of the episode revolves around the Founders' views on immigration and the current political climate in California.

II. Steve Hilton’s Campaign for California Governor

[00:00] – [15:07]

A. Campaign Endorsement and Vision

• Charlie Kirk endorses Steve Hilton, highlighting his leadership in building Turning Point USA into a significant youth movement.
  • Charlie Kirk: "[...] Steve Hilton is hopefully going to be the next governor of the great state of California." [02:15]

B. Critique of Current California Policies

• Steve Hilton criticizes California's Democratic-led governance, labeling it a "catastrophe" and "tragedy" due to policies that have increased taxes, housing costs, and bureaucratic hurdles.
  • Steve Hilton: "It is a catastrophe. It is a tragedy. What they did to this place, what they did to California is one of the greatest acts of self and deliberative destruction in American history." [03:05]

C. Key Policy Proposals

1. Taxation Reformation

   • Eliminate state income tax for individuals earning up to $100,000 to alleviate the financial burden on working families.
     • Steve Hilton: "Take working people and working families out of state income tax. Because it's insane." [04:10]

2. Business Environment Improvement

   • Simplify regulations to foster entrepreneurship and support small businesses.
     • Steve Hilton: "We have to cut it right back and allow people to just follow their dream." [04:40]

3. Housing Market Overhaul

   • Remove restrictive building codes and zoning laws to facilitate affordable housing development.
     • Steve Hilton: "Get rid of the complexity and all the building codes, make it easy and cheaper to build the homes we want." [05:15]

4. Education System Enhancement

   • Implement transparency and accountability in schools to improve educational standards.
     • Steve Hilton: "We have to have grades for every school, a grade for every teacher so that parents can see what's going on." [06:00]

D. Overcoming Political Challenges

• Steve Hilton emphasizes that California is more Republican-leaning than perceived, citing recent county flips and successful Republican ballot initiatives.

  • Steve Hilton: "California is already much more of a Republican state than people think." [10:25]

• He outlines his campaign strategy, highlighting a robust, ground-up approach to mobilize voters across diverse regions.

  • Steve Hilton: "Every day I'm going to be telling the story of how we can change things for the better." [13:48]

III. Founders’ Perspectives on Immigration with Dr. Kevin Slack

[17:31] – [33:23]

A. Historical Context of Founders' Views

• Dr. Kevin Slack delves into the nuanced stance of the American Founders on immigration, debunking the modern myth of America as a "nation of immigrants" from its inception.
  • Dr. Slack: "It wasn't a nation of immigrants. That's a much later teaching that I think you can trace to the 1920s." [18:50]

B. Concerns Over Unity and Assimilation

1. Common Mind and Unity

   • Founders like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson prioritized a unified citizenry sharing common values, language, and customs to maintain republican freedoms.
     • Dr. Slack: "The Founders wanted a common mind among citizens, concerned that diversity can undermine the unity necessary for republican freedoms." [20:10]

2. Assimilation Over Diversity

   • Emphasis on assimilation to prevent cultural fragmentation and maintain societal cohesion.
     • Dr. Slack: "Franklin rails against German immigrants for not assimilating: 'They don't learn our language, they don't have our habits, they don't appreciate our laws.'" [19:15]

C. Legislative Implications

1. Naturalization Acts

   • 1790 Naturalization Act: Restricted citizenship to free white individuals, reflecting Founders' hesitance towards a racially diverse electorate.
     • Dr. Slack: "Only free whites could become citizens. They were afraid that diversity undermined unity." [21:30]

2. 14th Amendment Misinterpretations

   • Dr. Slack argues that the original intent of the 14th Amendment did not include the children of illegal aliens as citizens, contrary to contemporary interpretations.
     • Dr. Slack: "I think it's kind of absurd that those who wrote ratified the 14th amendment would have thought that it applied to the children of illegals." [28:41]

D. Modern-Day Factionalism

• Dr. Slack connects the Founders' warnings about faction to today's societal divisions, attributing increased tribalism and group identity politics to weakened national unity.
  • Dr. Slack: "Once you begin to import more and more groups, they keep their tribal identities and there's no longer a pressure to assimilate." [30:16]

E. Federalist 10 Insights

• John Madison’s Federalist 10 is referenced to explain the Founders' fear of factions disrupting the republican structure and lack of a cohesive national identity.
  • Dr. Slack: "Madison defines faction as groups whose interests would deprive other citizens of their rights." [25:30]

IV. Concluding Remarks and Calls to Action

[33:23] – [33:31]

Charlie Kirk wraps up the episode by thanking Dr. Kevin Slack for his insights and encouraging listeners to engage with Turning Point USA and support initiatives that align with preserving republican freedoms and national unity.

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps

• Steve Hilton on California’s State of Affairs:

  • "It is a catastrophe. It is a tragedy." [03:05]

• Steve Hilton on Tax Reform:

  • "Take working people and working families out of state income tax. Because it's insane." [04:10]

• Dr. Kevin Slack on Founders’ Immigration Views:

  • "It wasn't a nation of immigrants. That's a much later teaching that I think you can trace to the 1920s." [18:50]

• Dr. Kevin Slack on the 14th Amendment:

  • "I think it's kind of absurd that those who wrote ratified the 14th amendment would have thought that it applied to the children of illegals." [28:41]

Key Takeaways

1. Political Reform in California: Steve Hilton outlines a comprehensive plan to reverse Democratic policies in California by reducing taxes, deregulating businesses, addressing housing shortages, and reforming the education system.

2. Founders’ Stance on Immigration: Dr. Kevin Slack provides a historical analysis, revealing that the American Founders were cautious about mass immigration, emphasizing assimilation and unity to preserve republican ideals.

3. Modern Implications: The discussion highlights the ongoing challenges of factionalism and cultural diversity in maintaining national unity, drawing parallels between historical perspectives and current societal issues.

4. Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to support political candidates like Steve Hilton who aim to restore foundational American principles and promote policies that foster unity and economic prosperity.

This summary encapsulates the episode's core discussions, providing an in-depth overview of the political strategies proposed for California and the historical context of immigration policies as viewed by the American Founders. Notable quotes enhance the narrative, offering direct insights from the speakers.