Podcast Summary: The Charlie Kirk Show
Episode: Why Charlie Loved Thanksgiving
Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Charlie Kirk (discussion hosted by Andrew Colvitt, executive producer, with guests Bill Federer and Dr. Jerry Newcombe)
Guests:
- Bill Federer, author & speaker, AmericanMinute.com
- Dr. Jerry Newcombe, Executive Director, Providence Forum
Main Theme & Purpose
This episode is a tribute to Charlie Kirk’s love for Thanksgiving, exploring the uniquely American origins of the holiday, its deep Christian roots, and the significance of gratitude in the nation’s history. Through lively discussion with historians Bill Federer and Dr. Jerry Newcombe, the show challenges modern misconceptions about the Founding Fathers and asserts the providential, faith-driven heritage of America—especially as reflected in Thanksgiving.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Thanksgiving’s Uniquely American & Christian Heritage
- Charlie’s Favorites – (01:46)
- Thanksgiving was among Charlie Kirk’s favorite holidays because it is “such a uniquely American holiday. It’s providential. It tells the story of our people and of our heritage.” (C, 01:46)
- “He liked it because it’s giving thanks to God.” (E, 02:19)
- Bill Federer on Self-Rule and the Pilgrims – (03:14)
- America as an “experiment of people ruling ourselves,” breaking from the global tradition of rule by monarchs.
- Pilgrims are highlighted for the Mayflower Compact, a model of government with origins in ancient Israel—before kings ruled, “everybody’s taught the law and everybody’s personally accountable to God.”
- “We have a covenant form of government in America that can be traced back to these pilgrims.” (A, 06:28)
2. The Pilgrims’ Story: Perseverance & Faith
- Suffering and Worship – Dr. Jerry Newcombe (07:14)
- Pilgrims endured persecution for their right to worship freely, migrating from England to Holland to the New World.
- William Bradford’s words: “...Satan hath raised, maintained and continued wars and oppositions against the saints... they suffered one hindrance and persecution after another.” (D, 07:31)
- The first Thanksgiving marked survival after “half their number died that first winter”; gratitude exemplified by putting five kernels of corn on each plate to recall starvation.
- Thanksgiving serves as “a great reminder of our Christian roots.” (D, 09:53)
3. Christian Roots of America’s Founding & Early Government
- Thanksgiving Proclamations by Early Leaders – (12:01)
- George Washington proclaimed Thanksgiving even during the Revolutionary War.
- Significance of faith in public life, demonstrated by Continental Congress and subsequent proclamations.
- Federal & State Constitutions
- “Every colony was started by a different Christian denomination.” (A, 13:41)
- Early state constitutions required declarations of faith—a deeply embedded Christian ethos.
4. Charlie Kirk’s ‘Ultimate Slap Down’ Clip – (18:39–21:09)
Charlie Kirk [paraphrased]:
“13 out of 13 [colonies] required a declaration of faith... 55 out of 56 [signers of the Declaration] were Bible believing, church attending Christians... The body politic of America was so Christian and was so Protestant that our form of government was built for the people that believed in Christ our Lord. One of the reasons we’re living through a constitutional crisis is that we no longer have a Christian nation, but we have a Christian form of government, and they’re incompatible. So you cannot have liberty if you do not have a Christian population.”
(B, 18:39–21:09)
- Dr. Newcombe’s Endorsement – (21:19)
- “Absolutely terrific. And he’s totally right. We have this foundation of the nation that is based on biblical principles... It was religion and morality, specifically Christianity, that gave us the freedoms we enjoy.”
5. Thanksgiving’s Evolution: From Jamestown to Lincoln
-
Attitudes and Declarations – Bill Federer (31:29)
- Early America: Days of prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving declared on an as-needed basis.
- Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation, making Thanksgiving an annual event, issued during the Civil War’s darkest days.
-
Economic Lessons from the Pilgrims (26:00)
- Pilgrims’ failed experiment with communal living; prospered after turning to private enterprise.
- The role of Squanto, providentially returned to America, bridging cultures and enabling survival.
6. Thanksgiving’s Modern Commercialization & Meaning
- Defending Thanksgiving’s Unique Place (30:25–31:16)
- Concern over Thanksgiving “being shortchanged” and absorbed into the Christmas commercialization.
- Reminder to keep Thanksgiving distinct: “It is related to Christmas, but it is not Christmas.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable 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.”
— Charlie Kirk [B], 00:14 -
“America is an experiment of people ruling ourselves.”
— Bill Federer [A], 03:14 -
“They set aside time to give thanks to God in all circumstances.”
— Dr. Jerry Newcombe [D], 08:34 -
“Every colony was started by a different Christian denomination... But their attitude changed to, ‘We may not always agree on religion, but you were willing to fight and die for my freedom; I need to let you practice your faith.’”
— Bill Federer [A], 13:41 -
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
— John Adams, cited by Charlie Kirk and Dr. Newcombe [B, 20:43; D, 21:19] -
“It was religion and morality, specifically Christianity, that gave us the freedoms we enjoy. And those freedoms cannot be maintained for long if we undercut that Christian foundation.”
— Dr. Jerry Newcombe [D], 21:47 -
“You cannot have liberty if you do not have a Christian population.”
— Charlie Kirk [B], 21:09 -
On Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation:
— “The annual, you know, Thanksgiving as we observe it, was born in the middle of the American Civil War... and I think there’s a lot of meaning in that.” — Blake Neff [E], 25:28 -
On Commercialization:
— “It’s hard to make gratitude marketable, which is why other holidays get more attention for their commercial opportunities.” — Listener email read by Blake Neff [E], 30:28
Important Segment Timestamps
- 01:12 – Show opens with Andrew Colvitt introducing guests
- 03:14 – Bill Federer: Pilgrims, self-government, Biblical roots
- 07:14 – Dr. Jerry Newcombe: Pilgrim suffering, faith, first Thanksgiving
- 12:01 – Blake Neff: Early U.S. Thanksgiving proclamations, rebutting myths about founders’ faith
- 13:41 – Bill Federer: Diversity of Christian denominations in early America, summary of early state constitutions
- 18:39–21:09 – Charlie Kirk's widely-shared explanation of Christian roots in America's founding
- 21:19 – Dr. Newcombe: Affirmation of Charlie’s comments, links to John Adams and Washington
- 26:00 – Bill Federer: Pilgrims’ economic system, encounter with Squanto
- 30:28 – Listener email: On why Thanksgiving is hard to commercialize and therefore underappreciated
- 31:29 – Federer: The evolution of Thanksgiving proclamations, Lincoln’s annual proclamation
- 34:12 – Clip (tribute): “Thanksgiving was a devout expression of gratitude the Pilgrims, to God for their survival.”
- 37:47 – Dr. Newcombe: Pilgrims as Christian outcasts, America as a “church relocation project”
- 38:43 – Bill Federer: How to follow and engage with his educational content
Closing Remarks & Resources
- Final encouragements – Keep the spirit of Thanksgiving alive, rooted in the nation's Christian foundation.
- Resources for further learning:
- Bill Federer: AmericanMinute.com
- Dr. Jerry Newcombe: ProvidenceForum.org
- Turning Point Ed resources and history videos at turningpointed.com
Tone Note
The episode is celebratory, reverent, and unapologetically faith-driven, echoing Charlie Kirk’s signature style: “no-holds-barred, unapologetically conservative, freedom-loving.” Discussions are rich in historical detail, aiming both to inform and to inspire the audience to appreciate Thanksgiving’s true origins and resist modern forgetfulness or commercial dilution.
For those who haven't listened:
This episode is a powerful, historically anchored reflection on what makes Thanksgiving deeply American and deeply Christian—a challenge to remember, celebrate, and defend those roots in the present day.