The Charlie Kirk Show

Episode: Will Democrats Ever Be Proud to be American Again?
Date: October 29, 2025
Host: Charlie Kirk (A), with guests Blake Neff (B), Danny Phillip (C), and Cliff Maloney (D)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the increasingly stark divide between Republicans and Democrats on feelings of patriotism and national pride, particularly focusing on poll data that show a steep decline in how proud Democrats are to be American. The hosts analyze how these changing attitudes impact the political landscape, especially ahead of pivotal state elections in Virginia and New Jersey. Discussion weaves in culture war themes, on-campus experiences, and strategies for conservative engagement and turnout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Decline of National Pride Among Democrats

• Recent Polls Highlighted: A Gallup poll reveals that only 36% of Democrats now report being "proud to be American," in contrast to over 90% in the early 2000s.
• Historical Contrast:
  • In 2001: Republicans (90%) and Democrats (87%) were nearly tied in national pride.
  • Post-Obama, pride among Democrats declined steeply, never recovering even after Biden's presidency began.
• Noah Smith's Viral Commentary: The left-leaning commentator suggested Democrats "should try to like America," pointing out a fundamental branding and loyalty crisis for the Democratic Party.
• Cultural Shift Summarized:

  "It's gone from this offer of here's our plan to make America a better country...[to] here is our plan to punish America for its many sins."
  — Blake Neff (B), [04:32]

2. Culture War Dynamics and Campus Experiences

• Radicalization on College Campuses:

  • Conservative students targeted with hostility and "vile" behavior, particularly during election cycles.
  • Curriculum pushes narratives of systemic racism and white privilege, intensifying generational divides in patriotism.

  • “I'd heard stories of people in classes having to apologize for being white...this is who they want. They're teaching this to people who want to be teachers that are going to be teaching our next generation.”
    — Danny Phillip (C), [12:56]

• Generational Gap in Patriotism: Both younger Democrats and some Republicans express more cynicism about America’s future and cultural direction.

3. The Political Effects: Elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and Beyond

• Opening for Conservatives:
  • Public distaste for America on the left opens opportunities for Republicans, especially among independents and minority groups disillusioned with progressive overreach.
  • Discussed how visible left-wing contempt (e.g., flag burning, anti-American rhetoric) alienates voters.

  • “If they go up and say, we love America now, the crowd is gonna boo. And that's giving us a lot of hope in these races.”
    — Blake Neff (B), [16:52]

New Jersey & Virginia Races

• New Jersey AG Race:

  • Democratic candidate Mikey Sherrill polling at 49%, Republican Jack Cittarelli at 46% — a much tighter race than expected for a blue state.
  • Silent support for Republicans detected in "friends and neighbors" polls.

• Mail-In Ballot Urgency:

  • 180,000 Republicans requested ballots, but only 104,000 returned. Hosts urge action:

    “There are 80,000 Republicans right now in the state of New Jersey that have a ballot sitting on their dining room table. We've got to get every single one of them back.”
    — Cliff Maloney (D), [20:41]

• Virginia Delegates:

  • Republican momentum described as strong, particularly in flipping state house seats and winning AG races. Early voting stressed as critical.

4. Broader Themes: Civic Engagement & Movement Building

• Republican Messaging Needed:

  • Urged focus on practical issues (inflation, peace, blue-collar priorities), authenticity, and opposition to political violence.

  • “We care about blue collar Americans, we care about bringing inflation down, we care about peace around the world, but most importantly, we don't believe in political violence.”
    — Cliff Maloney (D), [14:44]

• Young Voters and Movement Growth:

  • Turning Point USA promoted as vital for youth engagement and conservative authenticity.

  • “Turning Points [is] needed now more than ever…everybody can get involved and that is a way that young voters can stay engaged. And that was what Charlie's main mission was all about.”
    — Danny Phillip (C), [34:42]

• Authenticity as a Winning Trait:

  “This election in 2024 really proved one thing, and that is that authenticity is what matters…when you compared [Trump and JD Vance] to Kamala Harris and Tim Walls, it was the greatest difference in authenticity.”
  — Cliff Maloney (D), [35:31]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Horror of Public Anti-American Sentiment:

  “If your opponents… are able to just burn the flag because it's so gross to look at, that they do that… it's allowing your opponent to hurt themselves when you allow them to just go out and just say, yeah, I hate America. I want to burn America's symbols.”
  — Blake Neff (B), [15:36]

• Cynicism about a Quick Fix:

  “It's such a centrist, technocrat thing to believe that you can do that, to think, oh, we can just tell everyone we have to love America again and it will happen. No, you guys broke it. You messed it up.”
  — Blake Neff (B), [16:52]

• Call to Action for Civic Participation:

  “An election is not won by rallies… it is won by whoever has the most pieces of paper with the candidate they support in the ballot box.”
  — Blake Neff (B), [21:56]

• On Political Realism:

  “Charlie was always a big believer in two things. He wanted to be realistic. He didn't want opium. He didn't want to just say, oh, it's all great, and then people feel lied to if it doesn't work out.”
  — Blake Neff (B), [26:15]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | Speakers | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | 02:19 | Discussion of Gallup poll on pride in America | B, C | | 04:32 | Analysis of Democratic messaging shift | B | | 11:49 | Gen Z and Millennial perspectives on patriotism | B, C | | 12:56 | On-campus anti-American and anti-white sentiment | C | | 20:41 | NJ election numbers, ballot-chasing strategy | D, B, C | | 26:15 | Realism about Republican electoral prospects | B | | 34:31 | Strategies for engaging young voters | B, C, D | | 35:31 | Republican authenticity as essential for youth appeal | D |

Episode Tone

The show maintains Charlie Kirk's signature unapologetic, grassroots conservative tone, blending urgency, critique of the left, and a persistent call to action for listener engagement—especially among young Americans. The hosts express measured optimism, frank assessment of challenges, and unwavering commitment to movement-building and electoral participation.

Conclusion

“Will Democrats Ever Be Proud to be American Again?” uses recent polling as a launching point for a broad critique of left-wing cultural narratives, especially their negative impact on political engagement and national unity. The episode intersperses election strategy, analysis of shifting political identities, and practical advice for activists—all underscored by a belief in the enduring appeal of patriotism and the necessity of direct action.