The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: What to Be Thankful For in 2025
Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Charlie Kirk
Co-Hosts: Andrew Colvett (Executive Producer), Blake Neff
Special Appearances: Erica Kirk, Lane Schoenberger

Episode Overview

In this pre-Thanksgiving episode, the Charlie Kirk Show focuses on the discipline of gratitude during challenging times, reflecting on both political and personal reasons to be thankful in 2025. Alongside commentary on breaking news—including the dismissal of major Trump-related legal cases and leaked diplomatic efforts in Ukraine—Charlie’s team discusses recent media controversies, the state of the conservative movement post-2024, and the administration's tangible achievements. The episode is both a critical discussion of current events and a call to refocus on thankfulness for blessings, progress, and perseverance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Reflections and Calls to Activism (00:03–01:13)

• Charlie Kirk’s Philosophy:
  • Urges listeners to prioritize “doing good” over “feeling good”:

    “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.” (00:11, Charlie Kirk)

  • Promotes family values and skepticism about college:

    “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.” (00:19, Charlie Kirk)

• Call to Action:
  • Encourages activism through Turning Point USA and church involvement.
  • Shares the personal importance of his faith.

2. The Collapse of the Fani Willis Georgia Case (01:13–05:49)

• News Update: Georgia declines to pursue the Fani Willis case against Trump and associates, marking an anticlimactic end to one of 2024’s major stories.
• Analysis by Blake Neff:
  • The case and other Trump-related prosecutions are described as “entirely politically motivated” and fundamentally flawed.
  • Highlights the “humiliation” and resource waste resulting from high-profile legal attacks:

    “All of the Trump criminal cases were ultimately like this, even the one where he got convicted. Huge problems with it.” (04:30, Blake Neff)

• Notable Quote:

  “They would bring up these cases that are half baked, they're entirely politically motivated, and they go down to an embarrassing defeat.” (04:52, Blake Neff)

3. Leaked Ukraine Peace Negotiations and Intelligence Agency Skepticism (05:57–17:33)

• Leaked Call Overview:
  • Recent leaks suggest backchannel negotiations led by Steve Witkoff, with a 28-point peace plan for Ukraine/Russia.
  • Debate over the intent and beneficiaries (“cui bono?”) of the leaks; skepticism about the foreign policy establishment’s narrative.
  • Hosts frame negotiation “coaching” as normal business practice, especially in Trump’s dealmaking style.

    “That's a very standard form of negotiation.” (09:12, Unknown Female Commentator from audio clip) “If Trump says he likes it, that probably makes sense.” (09:54, Blake Neff)

• Comparison to Past Leaks:
  • Parallels drawn to the 2019 Vindman/Ukraine whistleblower saga, highlighting longstanding tensions with intelligence agencies and their influence on American politics.
• Discussion of Deep State/Intelligence Community:
  • Schumer’s infamous warning recapped:

    “They have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.” (15:39, Chuck Schumer)

  • Blake Neff emphasizes that the intelligence community should not have unchecked power over elected officials.

    “That's despicable. We live in a republic. Voters get to decide what actually happens in their country.” (16:36, Blake Neff)

4. Media Controversy: JD Vance, Erica Kirk, and Joy Reid (18:43–23:44)

• Joy Reid's Conspiracy Theory:
  • Reid speculates about a relationship between JD Vance and Erica Kirk, tied to racial and political subtexts:

    “They can't have the successor to Maga be the guy with the brown Hindu wife. ... That ain't gonna work. That's why he's throwing his wife under the bus. ... Or she's in on it, right. And she's playing slap and tickle with Erica Kirk.” (19:19, Joy Reid)

• Hosts’ Response:
  • Andrew and Blake denounce Reid’s remarks as “deranged,” tasteless, and revealing of the “spiritual core of the left.”
  • Erica Kirk offers a heartfelt explanation in a clip from Megyn Kelly:

    “I love. I hug is like you're an intense hugger. Whoever is like hating on a hug needs a hug themselves. ... If you want to take that out of context, go right ahead. Again, that to me shows that you need a hug more than anyone else.” (21:48, Erica Kirk)

    • The hosts praise JD Vance's leadership and empathy, and condemn the left for “jeering at the suffering of a widow.”

5. What to Be Thankful For in 2025 (23:44–36:10)

• Reframing the Right’s Mood:
  • Acknowledgement of “fracturing on the right” and “bad vibes,” but an emphasis on resisting negativity.

    “People have decided to fixate on things they are unhappy about rather than things they are happy about. ... This can easily just become a self perpetuating cycle." (24:25, Blake Neff)

• Major Points of Thanksgiving:
  • Border Security:
    Trump’s policies had an immediate impact—“no more open border, real ICE expansion.”
  • Peace Abroad:
    Notable ceasefires in Israel/Gaza and progress in Russia/Ukraine.
  • Policy Achievements:
    • Major rollbacks of DEI, quotas, and race/gender-based policies in executive agencies and universities.
    • Ending “woke” standards in the military, including name changes and gender-neutral combat standards.
    • Closure of 21+ transgender clinics, signaling a significant cultural/policy swing.
  • Economic Gains:
    • Core inflation down to 2.1% (lowest since Trump’s first term), and major drops in egg and gas prices.
    • $31 billion in monthly tariff revenue; onshoring manufacturing.
  • Justice Achievements:
    • Pardoning January 6th defendants.
  • Vice President JD Vance:
    • Praised as a worthy standard bearer for the movement and a close friend of Charlie's.
• Notable Quotes:

  “We have so much progress compared to a year ago.” (29:51, Blake Neff) “By God's grace alone, we took our country back.” (30:16, Thanksgiving tweet from Charlie Kirk) “Charlie modeled for all of us, gratitude and Thanksgiving and always looking up to God.” (31:09, Andrew Colvett)

• Reminders of Faith and Historic Gratitude:
  • Scripture and historic Thanksgiving proclamations cited.

    "Jesus Christ is the King of the world. ... Give your life to Christ.” (30:35, Charlie Kirk tweet)

  • Early Americans and pilgrims gave thanks even amidst hardship and mortality.

6. Listener Engagement & Closing Thanks (36:10–end)

• Listener Mail:

  “I am thankful for Charlie and the insight of those closest to him.” (36:10, Email from listener Rita)

• Hosts Wish Audience Well:
  • Thanksgiving wishes and encouragement to focus on gratitude.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “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.” (00:11, Charlie Kirk)
• “All of the Trump criminal cases were ultimately like this, even the one where he got convicted. Huge problems with it.” (04:30, Blake Neff)
• “They have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.” (15:39, Chuck Schumer)
• “That's despicable. We live in a republic. Voters get to decide what actually happens in their country.” (16:36, Blake Neff)
• “They can't have the successor to Maga be the guy with the brown Hindu wife. ... That's why he's throwing his wife under the bus. Poor Usha. Or she's in on it. ... And she's playing slap and tickle with Erica Kirk.” (19:19, Joy Reid)
• “[About gratitude] ... Charlie modeled for all of us, gratitude and Thanksgiving and always looking up to God.” (31:09, Andrew Colvett)
• “We have so much progress compared to a year ago.” (29:51, Blake Neff)
• “By God's grace alone, we took our country back.” (30:16, Charlie Kirk tweet)
• “I'm thankful for ... the insight of those closest to him.” (36:10, Listener Rita)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Life/Activism Philosophy: 00:03–01:13
• Georgia/Trump Legal News: 01:13–05:49
• Ukraine Peace Plan Leak: 05:57–13:03
• Intelligence Agencies/Schumer: 13:58–17:33
• Joy Reid/JD Vance Controversy: 18:43–23:44
• Conservative Movement Thankfulness: 23:44–36:10
• End/Listener Email: 36:10–end

Tone and Language

The episode blends serious news analysis with grassroots activism and faith-based exhortation, using unapologetic, sometimes confrontational conservative rhetoric, especially when reacting to political adversaries or media controversies. The Thanksgiving theme encourages a sense of hope, perseverance, and communal gratitude, in spite of adversity and opposition.

Conclusion

This episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, though rooted in the day’s major headlines, is ultimately a rallying call to be grateful—for enduring values, policy victories, national and personal resilience, and the leaders and friends who sustain their movement, especially at a time of profound grief and uncertainty. Even as the hosts wade through broken legal cases, media hostility, and difficult cultural battles, they close the show by modeling the very gratitude they advocate.