Podcast Summary: "Why Everyone Is Fleeing California"

The Charlie Kirk Show
Host: Charlie Kirk
Guest: Lee Zeldin (EPA Administrator), Sen. Markwayne Mullin
Date: January 14, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode unpacks the ongoing exodus from California, focusing on economic, political, and cultural dynamics pushing people to red states. Charlie Kirk, joined by Senator Markwayne Mullin and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, delves into energy policy, taxation, the outcomes of progressive governance, and how these issues contrast sharply between red and blue states. They also discuss recent Supreme Court cases, current DC politics, and the Trump administration’s impact on regulatory policy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The California Exodus: Energy, Taxes, and Policy Failure

• Diverging Red vs. Blue State Realities: Oklahoma’s low gas prices epitomize successful “drill, baby, drill” policies, while California’s regulatory clampdown on fossil fuels results in soaring prices and drives mass emigration.
  • [01:09] Charlie Kirk: “Oklahoma has the lowest gas prices in the country because we embrace our fossil fuels... California has the highest gas prices... shutting down rigs on a daily basis.”
  • [03:23] Sen. Mullin: “They ran off the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk. And it’s just a matter of time before the New York Stock Exchange moves to Dallas.”
• California’s Proposed Wealth Tax: The proposed 5% annual tax on unrealized billionaire gains is prompting high-profile departures (e.g., Sergey Brin, Peter Thiel, Elon Musk).
  • [02:31] Charlie Kirk: “California has lost a trillion dollars of wealth...they’re proposing to tax the wealth—even unrealized gains—of billionaires.”
• Regulatory Overreach & Affordability: Excessive regulation in California is contrasted with “good governance” in Oklahoma, where building costs and overall living expenses are substantially lower.
  • [03:23] Sen. Mullin: “It’s half the cost to build in Oklahoma versus California... In Oklahoma, that’s just called daily life because we have good governance.”

2. Migration Patterns, School Choice, and Everyday Costs

• People Voting with Their Feet: Out-migration from blue states (California, New York, Minnesota) in favor of Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, and the broader South.
  • [04:24] Andrew (co-host): “People are leaving Minnesota for the first time in ages. They just can’t get out of California or New York fast enough.”
• School Choice & Family Considerations: Kirk discusses the advantages of moving to places like Phoenix, with school vouchers and lower everyday costs.
  • [05:45] Charlie Kirk: “You get a voucher if you send your kid to a private Christian school... right off the bat, saving yourself $7,500.”

3. California Aggressively Chasing Ex-Residents

• Tax Residency Issues: Personal anecdotes of California pursuing taxes from non-residents and those in the state for medical reasons.
  • [06:11] Sen. Mullin: Recounts needing “doctor’s notes” to avoid being taxed for residing temporarily in California during his son’s medical treatment.
  • [07:00] Charlie Kirk: “That’s... really amazing... we did not plan on talking about any of this.”

4. Law & Order and Societal Narratives

• Crime Policy Extremes in Blue States: Senator Mullin responds to controversial statements from progressive crime advisors defending looting as “learned from America.”
  • [07:44] (Audio Clip, Tameka Mallory): “I don’t give a damn if they burn down Target... America has looted black people.”
  • [08:27] Sen. Mullin (Cherokee): Pushes back, affirming Native American patriotism and law-abiding tradition: “There is no ethnic group that serves in the military at greater numbers than Native Americans... Don’t pull us into that picture.”

5. Judicial Politics & Supreme Court Appointments

• Critique of Supreme Court Justices: Senator Mullin openly rebukes Justice Gorsuch for arrogance and failing to keep his word.
  • [10:46] Sen. Mullin: “Gorsuch is the most arrogant man I've ever met... flat out lied to me... I have zero respect for him.”
• Concerns about SCOTUS Direction: Discussions about the Supreme Court’s stance on transgender athletes and the broader implications for conservative jurisprudence.
  • [13:23] Andrew/Charlie: “Apparently Justice Gorsuch... trending sympathetic on the trans issue... Men are men and boys are boys.”
• Judicial Appointments & Strategy: Deep dive into the legacy and age of Justices Thomas and Alito, the need for timely retirements, and future Trump nominees.
  • [43:11] Charlie Kirk: “There’s already names being floated... It’s very possible that Trump will have another pick, or potentially two.”

6. Lee Zeldin & the EPA: Deregulation vs. Progressive Narratives

• EPA under Trump & Zeldin: Zeldin celebrates record-breaking deregulatory action, pushing back against media claims that the Trump EPA ignores lives saved. He asserts that real science and economic growth don’t require sacrificing public health.
  • [23:30] Zeldin: “Of course we factor in the impact on lives... our core mission is protecting human health and the environment. But we’re not going to play along with the left-wing strategy.”
• Media Misinformation & Energy Costs: Zeldin calls out Governor Newsom for taking credit for lower gas prices actually driven by national policy, while ignoring California’s persistently high costs due to state policy.
  • [27:37] Zeldin: “California can have lower gas prices... if they advanced great energy policies like you see in states where energy costs so much less.”
• Trump Policies Enable Energy Investment: Trump and Zeldin’s EPA streamline processes for pipelines, nuclear energy, data centers, and overall innovation, while red states deliver lower utility costs compared to highly regulated blue states.
  • [29:59] Zeldin: “All across the country, numbers were going up under Biden. President Trump understands the need to unleash energy dominance... More pipelines being built, more power plants, new nuclear sites coming online.”
  • [32:23] Zeldin: “We’ll end up with more finalized deregulatory actions at one agency, in one year, than entire federal governments have done in the past.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [02:31] Charlie Kirk on CA Wealth Tax: “California’s lost a trillion dollars of wealth... they’re proposing to tax 5% of your wealth, just take it to fund their medical.”

• [06:11] Sen. Mullin on CA Tax Enforcement: “California found out about it and they tried to charge me taxes... had to get literally doctor’s notes.”

• [08:27] Sen. Mullin (Cherokee): “We’re not out there trying to have, you know, all trying to separate ourselves from someone else... We fly the [American] flag beside our Cherokee flag...”

• [10:46] Sen. Mullin on Justice Gorsuch: “Gorsuch is the most arrogant man I’ve ever met... flat out lied to me.”

• [23:30] Lee Zeldin on Media Narratives: “They like to write a headline like this to freak people out... trying to advance Trump Derangement Syndrome at its highest level.”

• [27:37] Lee Zeldin on Newsom: “If those Democrats in California wanted to truly be part of the progress, maybe they would get the heck out of the way going forward.”

• [32:23] Lee Zeldin on Energy Infrastructure: “The ground is being broken all across America already... we’re just going to keep, keep it going.”

Important Timestamps

• [01:09–04:16] Gas prices in Oklahoma vs. California, divergence of red and blue state governance
• [05:45–07:00] School choice and personal anecdote on California’s aggressive tax enforcement
• [07:44–09:50] Progressive rhetoric on crime, Native American service and patriotism
• [10:46–11:51] Senator Mullin’s strong rebuke of Justice Gorsuch
• [13:14–14:48] Concerns on Supreme Court direction regarding transgender athletics and fundamental definitions
• [22:42–29:10] Lee Zeldin discusses EPA’s pushback against media misinformation, deregulation, contrasting state policies
• [29:59–34:35] The Trump administration's proactive approach to energy policy, infrastructure, and deregulation as comparative advantages

Conclusion

This episode spotlights the widening chasm between red and blue state America, with a special focus on California’s economic and policy failures as a catalyst for demographic and financial shifts nationwide. Guests Lee Zeldin and Sen. Markwayne Mullin provide policy insight and personal stories, drawing harsh contrasts between progressive and conservative governance. The Supreme Court’s trajectory and the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda are also analyzed, with urgency about upcoming judicial appointments and their consequences for the future.

Throughout, the tone remains combative, unapologetically conservative, and steeped in culture war rhetoric—reflecting Kirk’s signature style and the animating spirit of his movement.