The Megyn Kelly Show

Episode: Media Gaslights on Alleged Shooter's Motivations, and Charlie Kirk's Legacy, with Victor Davis Hanson
Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Megyn Kelly (SiriusXM)
Guest: Victor Davis Hanson

Episode Overview

This episode tackles the media’s handling and alleged "gaslighting" over the motives behind the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Megyn Kelly and Victor Davis Hanson discuss the shooter’s motivations, highlighting perceived media bias toward downplaying clear evidence of left-wing ideological influence and shifting blame. The episode further delves into the political and cultural legacy of Charlie Kirk, the dangers of escalating political rhetoric, and the generational culture war playing out in America’s institutions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media Narratives Around Charlie Kirk’s Assassin (00:30–24:36)

• Media Denial and Deflection:
  Megyn Kelly criticizes multiple media outlets and personalities (e.g., Jimmy Kimmel, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins) for refusing to acknowledge the shooter’s left-wing motivations, despite direct evidence—including communications and statements from his parents.

  • Quote [04:46]:
    “It was made perfectly clear... this kid has been completely indoctrinated into left-wing ideology. His parents said that.” —Megyn Kelly

• Gaslighting & Projection:
  Victor Davis Hanson argues the left projects what they did after incidents like George Floyd onto the right, fearing a mirrored political movement:

  • Quote [08:32]:
    “They project. And what they're deathly afraid of is that someone might use this tragedy... in the way that they took George Floyd and they rioted for five months...” —Victor Davis Hanson

• Weapon Misinformation:
  The media’s confusion or misrepresentation of the weapon type and assumptions about the right’s “gun culture” are dissected and debunked (referring to the killer’s use of a deer rifle, not an assault weapon).

  • Quote [14:04]:
    “It wasn’t an assault weapon. She doesn’t know what an assault weapon is. A bolt-action hunting deer rifle, as I said.” —Victor Davis Hanson

2. Efforts to Reframe the Assassin’s Motives (16:19–29:29)

• Attempts To De-politicize:
  Kelly highlights bizarre and offensive attempts from TV personalities like Montel Williams and ABC’s Matt Gutman to frame the shooting as a “love story” or “emotionally motivated” rather than political.

  • Quote [17:20]:
    “I think this was motivated emotionally... who literally want to say it this way... tried to defend his significant other.” —Montel Williams (played by Kelly)

• Media Romanticization of Killers:
  Hanson points out a tendency among media outlets to romanticize or humanize left-wing political killers, turning them into folk heroes.

  • Quote [28:43]:
    “They try to romanticize them and try to make them into folk heroes... they're good looking or they're intimate or they're warm or they're sincere.” —Victor Davis Hanson

3. The New Culture War: Political Violence, Indoctrination, & Youth Trends (29:29–48:50)

• Campus Climate & Indoctrination:
  The episode highlights viral testimonies from college students supporting political violence, and even a teacher gleefully joking about conservative deaths to her children.

  • Quote [36:52]:
    “I have the best news ever. Donald Trump died... Okay. Third best news. Elon Musk died. Okay... No, no, no. Nobody died... Taylor Swift got engaged.” —Recording highlighted by Megyn Kelly

  Hanson attributes the rise in such attitudes to university environments and elite, over-credentialed social classes:

  • Quote [33:37]:
    “All of that... comes on the campus... and they're indoctrinated and they feel that there's no consequences for this crazy ideology.” —Victor Davis Hanson

• Charlie Kirk’s Enduring Legacy:
  Kelly and Hanson discuss the explosion in youth engagement with Turning Point USA in the wake of Charlie’s assassination, suggesting a spiritual awakening and counter-mobilization against leftist excess.

  • Quote [39:54]:
    “You’ve got now 54,000 new Turning Point chapters having been applied for... that's what's driving these 54,000 new applications…” —Megyn Kelly

• Testimonials of Faith:
  A TikTok user describes how the evil surrounding Charlie’s death has reignited her faith in God after a decade away—a trend both Kelly and Hanson say is increasingly common.

  • Quote [43:39]:
    “It was not Charlie Kirk's death itself that brought me back to God, but the pure, just evil that I have been seeing surrounding it.” —Amelia Grace (via Kelly)

4. Charlie Kirk’s Message and Its Political Impact (43:39–51:00)

• Restoring Faith and Values:
  Hanson notes Kirk’s unique ability to inspire young people to reject nihilism and secularism in favor of faith, family, and community, contributing to unexpected Republican youth turnout in key states.

  • Quote [43:39]:
    “He was trying to address, I think, root causes... a political, economic, social, cultural atmosphere... nihilistic, it's suicidal, it's all about personal appetites...” —Victor Davis Hanson

• Charlie as Respectful Messenger:
  A viral video is played where Kirk respectfully engages with adult film actors, urging them to believe that “God has a better plan for you,” countering media portrayals of him as hateful.

  • Quote [67:18]:
    “Maybe you'll have an encounter with God and Jesus loves all of you and he can transform your life...” —Charlie Kirk

5. Backlash, Security Issues, and Concerns About Repeated Incidents (51:00–95:02)

• Security Failures & Risks:
  Discussion about the lack of adequate security at Kirk’s event, drawing parallels with other political violence, and expressing concern for future conservative speakers and events.

  • Quote [88:51]:
    “Everybody said he didn't have good security, but it was more like he didn't have any security because you look at where he was talking...” —Victor Davis Hanson

• Parental and Social Responsibility:
  Debate over whether family or community members could have seen warning signs and potentially intervened before the killing, amid descriptions of the killer’s psychological decline and radicalization.

  • Quote [86:07]:
    “We as a free society need to know what, if any warning signs were there so we can prevent something like this from happening again.” —Megyn Kelly

6. Broader Political Context: Congressional Hearings, Narrative Control (101:01–113:55)

• Congressional Hearings & Political Theater:
  Kelly and Hanson discuss recent hearings involving Cash Patel, with both sides engaging in performative attacks and ideological grandstanding—underscoring the broader breakdown of civil discourse.

• Left-Wing Political Violence Enumeration:
  Senator Eric Schmidt's extensive list of recent acts of political violence, all attributed to the left, is recited for emphasis.

  • Quote [109:23]:
    “The man who tried to kill Republican congressmen at the Congressional baseball practice... Left wing violence or right wing violence, Sir?” —Sen. Eric Schmidt

• Democratic Messaging on “Fascism”:
  New books and media comparing the right to fascists are discussed, with Hanson warning that such rhetoric is dangerous and could inspire further violence.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Media Gaslighting on Motive:
  “There's a reason they won't say what we are being told ... nor will any on the left who are out there pretending it's all just a mystery. Maybe we'll never know.” —Megyn Kelly [07:58]

• Projection and Fear of Political Reprisal:
  “They project. And what they're deathly afraid of is that someone might use this tragedy ... the way that they took George Floyd.” —Victor Davis Hanson [08:32]

• Romanticizing Political Violence:
  “We're talking about a love torn child... Not trying to defend some ideology.” —Montel Williams (mocked by Kelly) [17:07]

• Media Double Standard:
  “Can you imagine, God forbid, anything ever happened to Barack Obama... Do you think Montel Williams would be on CNN saying he did it out of love?” —Megyn Kelly [24:36]

• Impact on Youth:
  “I mean, I can't do the math on that, but it's a huge number... our side is finally not going to cede the children anymore.” —Megyn Kelly [39:54, 65:28]

• Faith Resurgence:
  “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. That's so beautiful.” —Megyn Kelly (reading Joseph Massey’s poem) [52:49]

• On Political Violence:
  “It's people on the right who literally now need to worry for their lives. It’s inexcusable.” —Megyn Kelly [92:01]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:30–08:00: Media's handling of shooter’s motives; coverage of bullet casings, parental statements
• 08:00–14:15: Comparisons to George Floyd, BLM, weapon details and gun culture myths
• 16:19–21:06: Attempts to frame killing as emotional, not political; Montel Williams' defense
• 29:29–39:54: Cultural war on campuses, indoctrination, and youth response
• 43:39–51:00: Charlie Kirk’s lasting message and faith revival
• 51:00–70:12: Security discussion, reviewing the killer's background and warning signs
• 101:01–113:12: Congressional hearings, left-wing violence lists, government responses
• 113:12–End: Reflections on the future and the need for political change

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

The episode presents a fervent critique of mainstream media’s approach to the Charlie Kirk assassination, lambasting the selective and sometimes sympathetic coverage of politically motivated violence from the left. Kelly and Hanson argue that this narrative manipulation is both dangerous and corrosive to civil society. Yet, the legacy of Charlie Kirk, as discussed, is one of growing grassroots mobilization and a revival of faith-based values among youth—suggesting a counter-revolution to the cultural dominance of progressive ideology.

The conversation closes on a somber but hopeful note, blending mourning for Kirk with a call to action and resolve against violence and ideological extremism.

For further details or to support the causes discussed, visit MegynKelly.com and check out Victor Davis Hanson’s updated book, "The End of Everything".