The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Why is Gen Z Going "Doomer"?

Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Charlie Kirk (various segments), Andrew Colvitt
Key Guests: Rep. Byron Donalds (FL), Blake Neff, Lane Schoenberger, Dino Fantagrassi (University of Arkansas TPUSA chapter president), Brady Salmon (University of Kentucky TPUSA chapter president), Danny Phillip (resident Gen Z contributor)

Overview

This episode dives into the rising sense of “doomerism” among Generation Z, exploring why young Americans feel disillusioned and frustrated with the current state of the U.S., their economic prospects, and the political system as a whole. The discussion features perspectives from young conservative activists, policy makers like Rep. Byron Donalds, and the show’s hosts and contributors, focusing on key issues such as student debt, job market conditions, housing affordability, and U.S. foreign policy. The episode is especially notable for its real-time engagement with college chapter leaders and deep dives into Gen Z political sentiment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The College “Scam” and Purpose vs. Pleasure (00:03–01:09)

• Charlie Kirk emphasizes the value of activism, faith, and purpose, denouncing college as a “scam” and urging young people to build families and get involved in conservative activism.
  • “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 (00:13)

2. Gen Z Frustration with Economic Structures (02:20–04:34)

• Rep. Byron Donalds highlights why today’s youth are dispirited: the promise that “just go to college and it’s all going to work out” hasn’t panned out.
  • “The degree did not have the value that they told us it would.” — Rep. Byron Donalds (02:27)
• Donalds recounts the surge in youth activism following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, highlighting a dramatic increase in Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter activity and student engagement.

3. The Property Tax Debate in Florida (05:00–08:15)

• Hosts discuss Florida’s property tax repeal debate, noting the generational split in support.
  • Blake Neff pushes back on repealing property taxes, fearing unintended consequences for younger families.
  • Donalds thinks repeal could help first-time homebuyers by lowering entry and closing costs:
    • “It actually… helps young people acquire that first home because it decreases the cost, decreases closing costs because you're not having to escrow taxes for acquiring the property.” — Rep. Byron Donalds (07:28)

4. Housing Affordability and Regulatory Burdens (08:15–10:27)

• The panel emphasizes that heavy regulation on permitting and construction, both at state and federal levels, stifles the supply of affordable housing, driving up prices and hurting Gen Z’s prospects.
  • “We have to really streamline the permitting and planning processes in our state. Right now in Florida… it takes anywhere from 18 months to 2 and a half years of permitting before you can put a shovel in the ground.” — Rep. Byron Donalds (08:42)
• Federal regulations (“green New Deal weatherization stuff”) and material supply issues make it more expensive to build homes.

5. Lawmakers, Military, and the “Defy Orders” Viral Video (11:42–17:12)

• Blake Neff and Andrew Colvitt dissect a video urging military officials to defy “illegal orders,” tying this to broader anxieties about the potential for constitutional crisis.
  • “They want to have the military just start openly defying President Trump's orders as commander in chief. And that is a very dark constitutional Rubicon to cross.” — Blake Neff (13:27)
• Discussion shifts to the impact of visible law enforcement (like National Guard in cities), which the hosts argue immediately reduces crime.

6. Gen Z on Campus: Growth and Apathy (18:22–22:32)

• TPUSA chapter presidents Dino Fantagrassi and Brady Salmon appear, discussing:
  • The huge increase in membership post-Charlie Kirk’s death.
  • The unique challenge of political apathy in “red states” (e.g., Arkansas), where conservatives assume the status quo is secure.

7. The “Doomerism” Phenomenon (30:35–34:15)

• The term “doomerism” is defined as pervasive pessimism about the future, government, and the prospects for real change.
  • “Doomerism, the black pill… is the idea that everything sucks. It's never going to get better. Nothing ever happens.” — Dino Fantagrassi (31:51)
• Persistent cynicism about whether political leaders (Trump included) can deliver on campaign promises; Gen Z feels progress is too slow.
  • “You've got to have a little grace, you've got to have a little patience. Like, our country did not become so screwed up overnight… we're not going to fix it overnight either.” — Dino Fantagrassi (32:19)

8. H1B Visas, Immigration, and Gen Z Discontent (22:32–30:35, 36:12–43:21)

• Massive frustration with H1B visa policies and foreign student programs, perceived as endangering American jobs and security.
  • “It is simply cheaper to pay somebody from out of the country… and it's insulting to people in my generation.” — Dino Fantagrassi (22:46)
  • Both guests reiterate that the H1B issue is front and center among their peers, cited as a direct, tangible threat rather than an abstract policy concern.
• The rise of anti-H1B and anti-foreign student sentiment is coupled with anxiety around AI, automation, and job precarity.

9. Foreign Policy and Israel: Shifting Sentiments (35:01–40:29)

• Both panelists agree that on campus, support for the traditional US-Israel relationship is very low across the political spectrum; Israel is seen as a “soft target” for anger.
  • “I'm honestly having trouble meeting people, conservative or liberal, that currently support the Israeli regime or their invasion of Palestine.” — Brady Salmon (35:02)
• The “fixation” on Israel is attributed to online echo chambers and a generational urge to direct outrage somewhere, often for engagement.

10. Islam in America and National Identity (41:20–43:10)

• Contributors argue that rising Islamic influence and a lack of assimilation focus is a far bigger threat than most acknowledge.
  • “Islam is making a concerted effort to actually take over our country and change our foundational values. That's legitimately scary.” — Dino Fantagrassi (42:13)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On college as a scam and the pursuit of meaning:
  “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.” — Charlie Kirk (00:10)
• On the housing affordability crisis:
  “When you go to buy a home… you have to escrow, pay up front a year's worth of property taxes...So it actually… helps young people acquire that first home” — Rep. Byron Donalds (07:28)
• On doomerism and generational pessimism:
  “Doomerism, the black pill, maybe you’ve heard it called before, is… the idea that everything sucks. It’s never going to get better. Nothing ever happens.” — Dino Fantagrassi (31:51)
• On the unique Gen Z view of H1B visas:
  “This [H1B] directly takes your job. The other issues only lead to it potentially. But this directly affects our generation.” — Danny Phillip (43:10)
• On the US-Israel relationship:
  “It’s slim to none. Look, I’m not a big fan of everything that’s going on with Israel...we have too many domestic issues right now.” — Dino Fantagrassi (35:27)
• On Islam and assimilation:
  “Islam is making a concerted effort to actually take over our country and change our foundational values… and we're putting up with it because we have this suicidal empathy.” — Dino Fantagrassi (42:13)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Opening remarks & life advice: 00:03–01:09
• Byron Donalds on youth disillusionment: 02:20–04:34
• Property tax & housing affordability debate: 05:00–10:27
• Military “defy orders” viral clip analysis: 11:42–17:12
• TPUSA chapter presidents on campus life & apathy: 18:22–22:32
• Gen Z economic anxieties (H1B, automation): 22:32–30:35
• Defining and diagnosing ‘doomerism’: 30:35–34:15
• Israel, Palestine, and foreign policy attitudes: 35:01–40:29
• On Islam and national identity: 41:20–43:10

Concluding Thoughts

This episode offers an in-depth look at the Gen Z psyche from the conservative grassroots perspective: anxiety about the future, economic displacement, skepticism toward higher education, and a broadening gap in trust between generations. The “doomerist” mood is framed both as a consequence of slow policy results and a media environment that amplifies negativity. The passionate TPUSA chapter voices underscore that it’s tangible pressures—jobs, housing, student debt, foreign competition—that drive this malaise, and that regaining hope depends on concrete policy changes and responsive leadership.