The Glenn Beck Program — Best of the Program

Episode: Remembering Charlie Kirk: Reflections, Grief, and Legacy
Guests: Megyn Kelly, Liz Wheeler, Steve Deace, Allie Beth Stuckey
Date: September 11, 2025

Overview

This emotionally charged episode of The Glenn Beck Program focuses on collective mourning and reflection following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Host Glenn Beck is joined by friends and colleagues of Kirk — including Megyn Kelly, Liz Wheeler, Steve Deace, and Allie Beth Stuckey — to share personal stories, process the shock, and discuss the implications for the conservative movement and American society at large. Faith, grief, anger, and hope are central themes, with guests emphasizing the importance of resilience, unity, and spiritual grounding in the aftermath of tragedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Processing Tragedy and Grief

• Initial Reactions: Glenn Beck recounts hearing the news of Charlie Kirk’s shooting through his family, describing “a knot inside of us trying to make sense of our world and remember a great, great man and a true friend.”
  [01:44] A: “I could see in her eyes. She was on the phone and I could see confusion and I could see trouble.”

• Shock in the Conservative Community: Multiple guests speak about still being in disbelief and feeling a “fog of grief.”
  [19:17] D (Liz Wheeler): “I. I'm in a fog of grief, Glenn. I think that a lot of us are. I feel. It still feels very unbelievable what happened to our dear friend Charlie Kirk.”

• Stages of Grief: Megyn Kelly describes being “still refreshing my ex account, like hoping somehow there's a reversal.” She and Glenn discuss denial, bargaining, and anger as natural stages in sudden loss.
  [10:03] B: “It's absurd. We know what the answer is. But that's a natural reaction when you had a sudden loss in particular. And anger's completely appropriate now too.”

Charlie Kirk’s Legacy and Character

• Courage and Effectiveness: Kirk is described as “larger than life,” both physically and morally, with an “uncanny ability to say what others thought but wouldn’t speak aloud, taking slings and arrows for it.”
  [06:27] B (Megyn Kelly): “We say that term, but it was true about him. At 6 foot 5, he truly seemed larger than most of us. And he was in his gifts and his tirelessness and just knowing exactly where the seam in every story was and his raw courage.”

• A Martyr for Liberty: Multiple speakers frame Charlie’s assassination in the tradition of historical martyrs.
  [33:04] A (Glenn Beck): “When the tyrant is killed, his reign is over. When the martyr is killed, his reign has just begun. And make no mistake, for liberty, Charlie Kirk was a martyr.”

• Personal Generosity: Stories abound of Kirk uplifting friends and colleagues; many share anecdotes about his private encouragements and unwavering support.
  [25:54] D (Liz Wheeler): “For as busy as this man was, he never neglected talking to his friends... During some of the most challenging moments in my public life, who was texting me encouragement, but Charlie Kirk.”

Faith, Redemption, and God’s Purpose

• Faith as Anchor: All guests emphasize reliance on God during grief, viewing Charlie’s life and death as part of God’s larger redemptive plan, even as they struggle with the pain and unanswered questions.
  [21:36] A (Glenn Beck): “If we trust in him, great and glorious things are going to happen because of this.”

• Charlie’s Faith: Liz Wheeler shares that the quality Kirk wished to be known for, above all, was his faith.
  [22:31] D (Liz Wheeler): “Charlie once said... he wanted to be known for his faith. And that's. I mean, it's so powerful.”

• Forgiveness and Restraint: Glenn recognizes the coming challenge of forgiveness, predicting it will be “much harder than lowering the flag to half-mast.”
  [24:54] A: "The forgiveness and the compassion and the restraint that is going to be required from all of us in the coming days... I don't know how you do it if you don't have God."

The Political and Social Implications

• A Turning Point for America: The guests agree that Kirk’s assassination is not just a personal loss but a watershed political event, likely to galvanize and reshape movements.
  [19:17] D: “This is one of the most significant, not just political assassinations, but political events that we've experienced since the inception of our country.”

• Call to Unity and Action: There’s strong talk of moving out of passivity, particularly from Steve Deace, who exhorts his generation (Gen X) to stop “sitting on the sidelines” and lead.
  [38:12] C (Steve Deace): “Our generation has sat on the sidelines for too long. We must lead. It is our children now that are grown... We have to step to the forefront now.”

• Rejecting Violence: Although anger is palpable, all speakers distinguish their stance from calls for retribution, advocating instead for lawful, constructive response grounded in faith and principle.
  [35:09] C: “...the Lord said something to me that won't stay with me the rest of my life. And he said, Stephen, I'm sorry, Stephen, I need apostles, not assassins.”

Investigative Updates and Security

• Details of the Shooting: Megyn Kelly provides updates from law enforcement and media, including reports of the shooter’s possible motivations and law enforcement’s progress.
  [10:03] B: “Steven Crowder ... posting a document saying he received from an ATF source on the investigation ... [alleging] cartridges had transgender and anti-fascist ideology something written on them … The FBI revealing that they have a picture of him, that they did, of course, track him on his way to the shooting spot with surveillance cameras …”

• Personal Safety: Glenn briefly shares personal fears as a parent, wishing his daughter had carried a non-lethal "burner launcher" during the campus chaos.
  [17:27] A: “I gave my daughter a burner launcher. She was there on the campus yesterday. She was just a few feet from the tent and she didn't have anything.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Mourning and Resilience
  [16:40] B (Megyn Kelly): “This is like, I don't want to say a call to arms because I'm not encouraging violence, but I mean a unifying call for us to stand shoulder to shoulder and stand up.”

• On Forgiveness
  [24:54] A (Glenn Beck): “I think that is going to be easy compared to the forgiveness and the compassion and the restraint that is going to be required from all of us in the coming days.”

• On Inspired Leadership
  [33:04] A (Glenn Beck): “When the tyrant is killed, his reign is over. When the martyr is killed, his reign has just begun.”

• On Kirk’s Legacy and the Future
  [30:00] D (Liz Wheeler): “We are not going to be silenced by an enemy who harms us. We are not going to back down. We are not going to be quiet. We are going to honor Charlie's legacy.”

• On Answering the Moment
  [38:12] C (Steve Deace): “No more we're too cool for school. ... It is time now to lead. This is our moment.”

• On Faith and Living Boldly
  [50:09] E (Allie Beth Stuckey): “If Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, like if he wasn't resurrected, then we don't have a hope of a resurrection. ...Just tell them that Jesus is the only way to fulfillment. That is what he would say.”

• Personal Testimony of Impact
  [49:26] A (Glenn Beck): “I have received so many emails from people who have said, I don't know how to get back up again.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening & News of Kirk’s Death: 00:00–06:11
• Megyn Kelly on Grief & Investigation Updates: 06:11–17:25
• Liz Wheeler on Faith and National Awakening: 19:06–30:25
• Steve Deace on Generational Responsibility: 30:42–39:20
• Allie Beth Stuckey on Continuing the Mission: 45:44–56:31

Tone and Language

Throughout the episode, the language is raw, candid, and deeply emotive, cycling between grief, anger, faith, and hope. Speakers lean on personal stories, affirm their Christian faith, and encourage listeners to “stand shoulder to shoulder” moving forward. The mood is both mourning and charge — determined to honor Kirk’s memory by redoubling efforts for faith, liberty, and truth.

Summary

This special episode offers a moving tribute to Charlie Kirk, blending eulogies, reflections on grief, updates on the investigation, and calls for unity and courage. It provides listeners who missed the live discussion with both the emotional tenor and the central messages: though shaken, the community chooses faith over despair and resolves to honor Kirk’s legacy through steadfast action. The episode stands as both an elegy and a rallying cry for its audience.