The Megyn Kelly Show at Turning Point AmFest 2025

Episode Theme:
A candid, emotionally charged discussion at Turning Point AmericaFest 2025, with Megyn Kelly reflecting on the loss of Charlie Kirk, the unfolding rift in the conservative movement—especially around Israel—and the much-discussed peace summit between Candace Owens and Erica Kirk. The episode explores grief, unity, the impact of prominent conservative voices, internal disputes, and a call for putting America first.

1. Reflections on Charlie Kirk’s Legacy and Loss

[00:18–04:56]

• Grieving in the Movement:
  Megyn Kelly and co-host Jack openly mourn the loss of Charlie Kirk, highlighting his unique ability to unite people within the conservative movement.

  • “He had a very good judgment for what was interesting to the audience, too, and was always so generous with his time and his, you know, his approach... I can't believe it's been three months. In some ways, it feels like yesterday. And in some ways, it feels like another lifetime.” (Megyn Kelly, 00:31)

  • Vulnerability and Faith:
    Jack reflects on how sudden tragedy forces reflection on fate and divine will:

    • “Everything was just normal life. And then suddenly, God snaps his fingers and shows you that you are not in control, that he is in control, that you are a spectator, you are a reactor. You are someone who is living out God's will.” (Jack, 01:11)

  • Justice and Forgiveness:
    The conversation pivots to whether it’s possible for Christians to seek justice, including the morality of capital punishment, emphasizing that justice is about honoring the victim rather than vengeance.

    • “It is done, as Charlie said himself, out of valuing the life of the victim and showing that that life had worth... That's a debt that needs to be paid.” (Jack, 03:48)
    • Megyn adds the communal sense of loss:
      “We've all been robbed. We've all been cheated. And so, yes, we will both be watching that trial minute by minute. And I believe justice will be done.” (Megyn, 04:25)

  • Touch of Humor Amid Grief:
    Jack offers a light note imagining Charlie hosting a radio show in heaven, with Rush Limbaugh as his “lead-in.”

    • “I'm not sure quite what the radio schedule is, but I think Charlie's probably on from 9 to noon, and then from noon to 3 is Rush.” (Jack, 05:12)

2. The Rift on the Right: Israel and the Conservative Divide

[05:14–08:18]

• Origin and Escalation:
  Megyn explains the rift in the conservative movement began before Charlie’s death, centering on Israel post–October 7 ("10 7") and accelerating with changing party sentiment.

  • “It revolves around Israel. There just is. It's gotten worse without him. He was helping us navigate it.” (Megyn, 05:45)

• Fox News and Conservative Shifts:
  She notes that past unwavering support for Israel has given way to growing dissent as the conflict continued, with conservatives feeling pressure to police discourse.

  • “When I was at Fox, you supported Israel, period... The party started to turn after 10 7. Uniform support and sympathy... but as the war went on... people were starting to turn on them.” (Megyn, 06:47)

• On Censorship:
  Both Megyn and Charlie opposed the idea of silencing dissent within the movement.

  • “Neither Charlie nor I felt like that was what we wanted to do at all, nor was it our job. We're not the policeman of the conservative movement.” (Megyn, 07:55)

3. Responding to Ben Shapiro and Bari Weiss

[08:18–13:49]

• Megyn vs. Ben Shapiro Feud:
  Megyn addresses Ben Shapiro’s public criticism, expressing frustration over his attempt to “excommunicate” her and others for their approach to Israel-related controversies.

  • “Ben thinks he has the power to decide who gets excommunicated from the conservative, which shows a willful blindness about his position.” (Megyn, 08:34)
  • “He had the nerve to call me a friend right before he called me a despicable coward for not calling out the people he wants called out... So I don't think we are friends anymore.” (Megyn, 08:59)

• On Bari Weiss:
  Similarly, Megyn pushes back on Bari Weiss inserting herself as a defender of Erica Kirk, questioning Weiss’s authenticity and motivations.

  • “Barry doesn't know anything about Erica. Barry Weiss has never been to a Turning Point event... I don't remember her defending Charlie the many times he was called a racist or an anti Semite.” (Megyn, 11:06)

• Candace-Erica Town Hall Incident:
  Megyn and Jack criticize Hunter Kozak’s question to Erica Kirk (about Trump’s rhetoric) during the Bari-moderated event, calling it disrespectful.

  • “To put Erica in the position of having to defend whether Trump uses hateful rhetoric. The nerve.” (Megyn, 12:46)
  • “This is a man who was standing in front of Charlie, in front of her husband when he died. And he never once... said to her the basic human decency of saying, I'm sorry for your loss.” (Jack, 13:12)

4. Behind the Scenes: The Candace Owens & Erica Kirk “Peace Summit”

[14:01–20:27]

• Megyn the Broker:
  For the first time, Megyn tells the full story of brokering the private sit-down between Candace Owens and Erica Kirk to address weeks of public and private tension.

  • “Erica called me, said, I want to do a sit down with Candace and I want you to moderate it... So Candace and I were in touch and she was very nice. She said, I'm thrilled it's you. I'll do it.” (Megyn, 14:31–17:49)

• Empathy and Caution:
  Megyn contextualizes Candace's behavior as that of someone grieving and postpartum after Charlie’s murder, arguing for empathy—even as she disagrees with Candace’s public statements.

  • “Candace had like literally just had a baby...that is a vulnerable position for a woman. And then her friend got shot in the neck...she deserved a wide berth right after Charlie's death to explore what she wanted to explore.” (Megyn, 15:55)

• Limits of “Censorship”:
  Megyn stands firm about not feeling obliged to censor those asking questions about Israel, despite internal and external pressure.

  • “It's okay to ask questions about Israel...why did I have an obligation to stop Candace from asking those questions? I didn't.” (Megyn, 19:44)

5. Path Forward for Turning Point and the Movement

[20:27–21:34]

• Unity Over Division:
  Megyn insists that the movement remains more united than it appears and calls for less bullying by “pro-Israel activists,” clarifying her respect for average Jewish Americans while criticizing factionalism.

  • “I think we're far more united than we are divided... I think [pro-Israel activists] need to stop being such ardent bullies because it's dividing our movement unnecessarily. Over a country that is not ours, over Israel, not America. We need to care about America. America first is the principle that will get us through.” (Megyn, 20:44)

• Identifying Real Threats:
  She reminds the audience to focus on the actual political adversaries:

  • “I think we need to remember that the people who are literally killing us, like literally killing us, are the ones who are the true enemy. These crazy radical leftists.” (Megyn, 21:18)

6. Human Touch—Closing Stories

[21:34–24:41]

• Impact on Audience and US Military:
  Jack shares that Megyn’s show was a source of morale for those in the military, especially in tough political times.

  • “There are so many people in the United States military, United States law enforcement that would be out there watching you day in and day out, and there still are today. And we wanted to thank you for having our back.” (Jack, 22:47)

• Lighthearted Banter:
  The two reflect humorously on Megyn Kelly’s signature wardrobe at Fox, with anecdotes about office bets on which color she’d wear—neon pink, red, or yellow, but never orange.

  • “The One thing that would have cost you the bet immediately was orange. Orange. Because Roger did not allow orange.” (Megyn, 23:35)

• Personal Thanks & Mission Statement:
  Jack thanks Megyn for her courage in peacemaking, underscoring the mission to keep focus on "America first" and honoring Charlie Kirk’s legacy.

  • “Thank you so much for your leadership on this, for your guidance for brokering peace in a situation like this, for stepping up and being a leader when you could have been divisive...” (Jack, 24:12)

Notable Quotes

• On Grief and Fate:
  “You are someone who is living out God's will.” (Jack, 01:11)
• On Justice for Charlie:
  “That's a debt that needs to be paid.” (Jack, 03:48)
• On Internal Policing and Division:
  “We're not the policeman of the conservative movement. I'm not. He wasn't. Ben Shapiro isn't either.” (Megyn, 07:55)
• On Being Called a Coward:
  “He had the nerve to call me a friend right before he called me a despicable coward for not calling out the people he wants called out.” (Megyn, 08:59)
• On Focusing on America:
  “America first is the principle that will get us through.” (Megyn, 21:18)
• On Unity:
  “I think we're far more united than we are divided.” (Megyn, 20:44)

Conclusion & Tone

The episode melds heartfelt memorial, insider tension, and realpolitik—all delivered in Megyn Kelly’s signature direct, unsparing, and occasionally irreverent style. The discussion acknowledges pain, exposes fault lines, names names, and yet circles back to unity, leadership, and keeping the focus on American interests. This is a must-listen for anyone following the evolving conservative landscape post-Charlie Kirk, with a rare glimpse behind political and personal headlines.