Podcast Summary: "Cultural Decay Leading to Left Celebrating Violence, and Defining 'Hate Speech,' with The Fifth Column"

The Megyn Kelly Show | Ep. 1150 | SiriusXM
Date: September 16, 2025
Guests: The Fifth Column (Camille Foster, Michael Moynihan, Matt Welch)

Episode Overview

Megyn Kelly hosts a deeply charged episode focusing on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the political and cultural response—particularly from the left—and the ongoing national debate over “hate speech.” Joined by the hosts of The Fifth Column, the conversation dissects media gaslighting, left-wing extremism, the dangers of both-sides-ism, and the problematic expansion of hate speech laws. The episode also explores controversies surrounding Israel, Charlie Kirk’s views, and recent missteps by public figures regarding the First Amendment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Charlie Kirk Assassination: Ongoing Investigation, Online Radicalization

• [00:00-03:30] The episode opens with updates on the murder of Charlie Kirk, including new FBI revelations about a Discord chat group involving the accused shooter, Tyler Robinson.
  • Multiple users tied to radicalized online spaces may have had foreknowledge.
  • “It’s going to be very hard for somebody to actually meaningfully argue that...these people had no foreknowledge.” – Megyn Kelly [02:01]
• The emerging narrative shows premeditation and digital complicity among fringe internet groups.

2. The Fifth Column’s Response & Reflections on Kirk

• [05:27-07:50] The hosts of The Fifth Column react emotionally to Kirk’s murder and discuss their own continued participation in public discourse despite risks.
  • “We’ll absolutely be there. Yeah, you can just put us around you in chairs.” – Camille Foster [05:30]
• Kelly emphasizes the real friendships formed through political debate and media.

3. Media Manipulation & Narrative Shaping

• [08:30-14:00]
  • Kelly and guests highlight the left's immediate attempts to misattribute Kirk’s killer’s motives, invoking terms like "groiper" (typically far-right) to confuse the narrative.
  • Kelly reads from a National Review piece by Jeff Blehar, criticizing the “social media charade” after Kirk’s death:
    • “I want to express my burning contempt for the social media charade...vast numbers of propagandists and people who know better tell us that Kirk was actually shot from the far right...and anyone but a person associated with a left coded cause...” [08:49]
  • The group unanimously calls out the gaslighting: “The gaslighting that we have been subjected to over the past five or six days is infuriating...” – Megyn Kelly [09:13]

4. Double Standards and the Celebration of Political Violence

• [14:00-19:15]
  • Michael Moynihan observes the uniqueness of violence against a pundit and the left’s hypocrisy in response versus past acts:
    • “It is kind of interesting that this is the only one I can think of of an act of violence against a pundit...Alan Berg...who was killed by neo-Nazis...” [13:08]
  • The group dissects why throat-clearing (“I didn’t agree with everything he said, but…”) is toxic, implying some speech might justify violence.
  • Kelly commends left-leaning commentators (e.g., Tommy Vietor of Pod Save America) who reached out with human decency, but notes:
    • “Not all leftists are insane and have lost their minds, you know, but far too many have.” [18:14]

5. Societal Decay & Moral Confusion

• [19:20-24:10]
  • Camille Foster draws broader lessons about the dangers of demonizing political opponents and the overgrowth of social justice fanaticism:
    • “One of the major defects of the kind of social justice epoch...is the magnification of any imagined defect in the people you most disagree with.” [19:21]
  • The importance of not painting entire political sides with the actions of their extremists is stressed.

6. Mainstreaming Denial & “Both Sides” Fallacies

• [24:10 – 30:34]
  • Kelly and Welch criticize the media’s “we may never know the motives” hedging, calling it destabilizing and dishonest.
    • “It feels like the mainstream message from most corners, which starts with we may never know the motives. Honestly, that is so infuriating. Go fuck yourself. We clearly know the motives...” – Megyn Kelly [24:18]
  • The “both sides” argument is torn apart as false equivalence, especially in the context of recent political violence.
  • Notable exchange: Greg Gutfeld’s interruption of Jessica Tarlov’s “both sides” rhetoric is praised:
    • “Don’t play that bullshit with me...the both sides argument not only doesn’t fly.” – Gutfeld via Megyn Kelly [40:35]

7. Institutional Acceptance of Left-Wing Violence

• [31:48 – 36:00]
  • Moynihan notes the shocking difference in how the academy embraces left-wing terrorists from the '60s and '70s, contrasting with the right.
    • “There is no people in universities who committed right wing terrorism who now have university jobs or are treated with respect. And I went down the list...” – Michael Moynihan [32:50]
  • The hosts argue that even a minority celebrating Kirk’s murder is “way too big.”

8. Media and Political Gaslighting Round-up

• [37:00 – 43:00]
  • Kelly details specific media failures (CBS, Guardian) in reporting the facts around the shooter’s motives, exacerbating division.
  • They reiterate that trying to maintain “both sides” parity excuses actual, targeted violence against political figures.

9. Debate Over Israel, Candace Owens, and Charlie Kirk’s Evolving Views

• [54:00 – 83:00]
  • The show pivots to controversy over how the late Kirk’s position on Israel has been portrayed.
  • Candace Owens claims Kirk was pressured by pro-Israel interests (notably at a Bill Ackman-hosted meeting) and that Netanyahu misrepresented his stance.
  • Moynihan is skeptical of Owens’ credibility, but Kelly plays back a tape of Charlie Kirk articulating his frustration at being called an antisemite for mild criticisms of Israeli policy:
    • “...the behavior by a lot, both privately and publicly are pushing people like you and me away. Not like we're going to be pro Hamas...But honestly, the way you are treating me is so repulsive…” – Charlie Kirk [67:57]
  • The panel agrees that debate about Israel is necessary, but conspiracy theories and bad-faith accusations (whether about Owens or Tucker Carlson) are problematic.
• [81:34] Michael Moynihan points out that even strong Zionists (like Eli Lake) question Israel’s war strategy, and debate within pro-Israel circles is essential.

10. Pam Bondi and the “Hate Speech” Legal Fiasco

• [92:25 – 104:09]
  • The show closes by lambasting former Florida AG Pam Bondi for advocating prosecution of “hate speech”:
    • “There's free speech and then there’s hate speech. And there is no place, especially now, especially after what happened to Charlie in our society...We will absolutely target you, go after you if you are targeting anyone with hate speech...” – Pam Bondi [92:25]
  • Kelly, Welch, and Camille Foster all excoriate Bondi for ignorance of the First Amendment and the American tradition of speech protection.
    • “Hate speech is not a legal category. Your job is as the top law enforcement person in the country and you've just been asked a question about putting people in cuffs...That is not how we do it here.” – Matt Welch [96:06]
    • “It is the most American thing is to have a First Amendment and to zealously protect it even for the worst, shittiest ideas.” – Michael Moynihan [101:45]
  • The show distinguishes between firing employees who celebrate violence and government censorship:
    • “If you are celebrating his death, I'm all for the firings. All for.” – Megyn Kelly [103:44]
    • “You get fired for being that dumb? Not for your speech, just for you being an idiot.” – Michael Moynihan [103:58]

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Megyn Kelly on free speech:
  “There’s nothing wrong with hate speech. Sorry, not legally. The only thing you do is to speak louder with your POV...” [00:37]

• Matt Welch (on narrative manipulation):
  “It is revealing to see who is doing that right now. Don’t have to do that. We can demand better of ourselves and of the people that we…and the institutions that we consume with in media.” [11:22]

• Michael Moynihan (on unique political violence):
  “It is kind of interesting that this is the only one I can think of of an act of violence against a pundit...this was, you know, somebody who had ideas.” [13:08]

• Camille Foster (on the moral imperative):
  “When you're fighting monsters, like, the thing you have to be careful of is that you don't become the monster.” [20:57]

• Megyn Kelly (on media dishonesty):
  “It feels like the mainstream message from most corners, which starts with ‘we may never know the motives.’ Honestly, that is so infuriating. Go fuck yourself.” [24:18]

• Greg Gutfeld (via Kelly) on equivocation:
  “Don’t play that bullshit with me…the both sides argument not only doesn’t fly.” [40:35]

• Michael Moynihan (on cultural standards):
  “If you commit crimes and your motivation is the appropriate one, we excuse the crime. No, no, no. It’s nonsense.” [47:15]

• Charlie Kirk (on frustration with his critics):
  “I have a bulletproof resume showing my defense of Israel…however, Megan, you’re hitting on something very potent...the behavior by a lot, both privately and publicly are pushing people like you and me away. Not like we’re going to be pro Hamas…but honestly, the way you are treating me is so repulsive.” [67:57]

• Matt Welch (on hate speech law confusion):
  “Hate speech is not a legal category. Your job is as the top law enforcement person in the country and you’ve just been asked a question about putting people in cuffs…That is not how we do it here.” [96:06]

• Megyn Kelly (on proper punishment):
  “If you are celebrating his death, I’m all for the firings. All for.” [103:44]

Important Timed Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00-03:30| Kirk assassination, FBI online investigation | | 05:27-07:50| The Fifth Column on risk/public life; real relationships | | 08:30-14:00| Media narrative, National Review piece, gaslighting | | 14:00-19:15| Violence against pundits, throat-clearing, humanity after tragedy | | 24:10-30:34| Motives, both-sides fallacies, mainstream media failures | | 31:48-36:00| Left-wing terrorism, universities, tolerance for leftist violence | | 54:00-83:00| Israel, Candace Owens, Bill Ackman, Kirk’s nuanced position | | 92:25-104:09| Pam Bondi’s “hate speech” gaffe, First Amendment defense |

Concluding Themes

• Cultural decay and the breakdown of universal norms against political violence
• Media and elites gaslighting or downplaying left-wing extremism
• Danger of expanding legal categories around "hate speech"
• Nuance and complexity of major controversies (Israel, intra-right debate) being lost in zero-sum politics
• Defense of free speech as a core American principle, regardless of whose side is speaking
• The need to maintain humanity and decency across political divides, especially after tragedy

Final Thoughts:
The episode is a charged, cathartic defense of truth-telling, free speech, and moral clarity in the face of tribalism, media malpractice, and rising violence. It warns against both institutional and cultural decay—urging listeners to resist the lure of partisanship that erases common humanity.