The Michael Knowles Show: Ep. 1815

Title: JD Vance Takes On Left-Wing Terror After Charlie Kirk Assassination
Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Michael Knowles (The Daily Wire)
Key Guests/Speakers: Vice President JD Vance, Stephen Miller (White House Deputy Chief of Staff), President Trump (clip), Destiny (Stephen Bonnell, left-wing streamer)

Episode Overview

This episode addresses the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, focusing on right-wing responses to what is characterized as "left-wing terror." Michael Knowles discusses the sincerity and substance behind Vice President JD Vance's decision to guest host Charlie Kirk's show, the wider implications for civil society, the evidence pointing to more organized left-wing violence, and the political path forward—especially regarding the treatment and prosecution of groups like Antifa and those who celebrate or incite political violence.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. The Vice President Hosts Charlie Kirk's Show

[Timestamp: 02:25 - 04:19]

• Michael Knowles lauds JD Vance for stepping in to host Charlie Kirk’s show after his assassination, calling it a "beautiful gesture" both personally and politically.
• Emphasis on the multiple roles Kirk played in conservative media and activism, noting that his absence can't be filled by one person.
• "All of these projects that Charlie was running need to continue. The family wants them to continue, the organizations want them to continue. America needs them to continue." (A, 03:28)

2. Government Response: Declaring War on Left-Wing Terror

[Timestamp: 04:19 - 07:45]

• Vice President JD Vance and Stephen Miller (White House) affirm new concrete government actions to dismantle left-wing networks accused of fomenting violence:
  • JD Vance: "We're going to go after the NGO network that foments, facilitates and engages in violence. That's not okay. We are going to channel all of the anger…to uproot and dismantle these terrorist networks." (B, 04:19)
• Knowles draws parallels between current left-wing groups (e.g., Antifa) and historic organized crime or terrorist organizations like the KKK.

3. Left-Wing Violence: Personal and Political

[Timestamp: 07:45 - 09:50]

• JD Vance shares personal stories of harassment, including left-wing activists yelling at his children and doxing his government colleagues.
  • JD Vance: "You should disown your dad, you little..."—shouted at his kids (B, 07:45).
  • "After Charlie died, … had left-leaning operatives in his neighborhood, passing out leaflets … encouraging neighbors to harass him or God forbid, to do worse." (B, 08:11)
• Knowles: "We will not tolerate people coming up to the children of public figures and shrieking at them on the street. There's nothing conservative about tolerating that. There's nothing American about tolerating that. There's nothing civilized about tolerating that. And we've had enough." (A, 08:33)

4. The Question of National Unity

[Timestamp: 12:46 - 13:30]

• Vance addresses limits of unity, marking a clear line against those who incite or support violence and harassment:

  • JD Vance: "There is no unity with people who scream at children over their parents politics. There is no unity with someone who lies about what Charlie Kirk said in order to excuse his murder…. There is no unity with people who celebrate Charlie Kirk's assassination." (B, 12:46)

• Knowles supports this, arguing that a "marketplace of ideas" is impossible without suppressing "antisocial elements and suicidal ideologies."

  • “The step two… is that we must suppress the antisocial elements and suicidal ideologies that make step three [unity] impossible.” (A, 13:59)

5. Spiritual Foundation & The Nicene Creed

[Timestamp: 18:14 - 19:00]

• Vance states that Charlie Kirk’s deepest belief—and the nation’s civilizational core—is explicitly Christian, anchored in the Nicene Creed:
  • JD Vance: "The most important truth Charlie told is this, that long ago, a man begotten, not made, came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate… He was crucified… and rose again on the third day." (B, 18:14)
• Knowles reflects on the foundational role of Christian belief for American society and its importance to the nation’s moral order.

6. Evidence of Conspiracy and Social Media’s Role

[Timestamp: 19:40 - 27:55]

• Knowles explores growing evidence of conspiratorial coordination in Kirk’s assassination, referencing posts on social media that predicted or threatened Kirk’s murder.
  • “There are posts: ‘It’d be funny if someone like Charlie Kirk got shot on September 10th’ … ‘September 10th will be a very interesting day.’” (A, 22:00)
  • Discord chat evidence suggests others may have had foreknowledge or were involved.
• The argument is made that federal authorities must pursue not just individuals but groups/networks engaging in or enabling political violence.

7. Politicizing Antifa: Designating as Terrorist Organization

[Timestamp: 27:55 - 29:48]

• President Trump (clip) expresses willingness to designate Antifa as a domestic terror organization, referencing past and proposed use of RICO statutes:
  • Trump: “It’s something I would do, yeah, if I have support from the people… Antifa is terrible. There are other groups… I’ve been speaking to the attorney general about bringing RICO against some of the people…” (C, 27:55)
• Knowles and guests advocate using historical tactics against groups like KKK to dismantle left-wing organizations.

8. Left-Wing Commentary: Calls for Violence

[Timestamp: 33:22 - 34:07]

• Left-wing streamer “Destiny” (Stephen Bonnell) is cited as explicitly calling for conservatives to fear for their lives:
  • Destiny: “Not exactly like you need conservatives to be afraid of getting killed when they go to events so that they look to their leadership to turn down the temperature… I don’t care. I’m playing video games, okay? I’m done today. I don’t give a f.” (D, 33:22)
• Knowles argues this is “incitement to violence” and should be prosecuted. Further mentions similar past threats from Hasan Piker.

9. Societal Consequences and Need for Ostracization

[Timestamp: 34:07 - 38:55]

• Call for firings and ostracization of those who celebrate or incite political murder, especially in critical sectors—education, healthcare, service industry.
  • “You have to do that. You can’t have a company where half the employees think the other half are going to try to murder them or encourage their murder…” (A, 35:55)
• Cites new YouGov poll: 24% of “very liberal” respondents think it’s usually or always acceptable to celebrate the death of a political opponent vs. only 3% of “very conservatives.”
  • “That is extremely antisocial behavior that needs to be discouraged with every lawful means at our disposal.” (A, 36:55)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “We are going to channel all of the anger… to uproot and dismantle these terrorist networks.” – JD Vance (B, 04:19)
• “You can’t have a society if you don’t feel you can take your kids to Disneyland.” – Michael Knowles (A, 09:08)
• “There is no unity with someone who lies about what Charlie Kirk said in order to excuse his murder.” – JD Vance (B, 12:49)
• “The darkness has not overcome the light. The light shines in the darkness and still does.” – Michael Knowles (A, 18:49)
• “You need to use the government and the mechanisms of civil society in a just and prudent way to prosecute and to ostracize the people who are undermining the thing that we want.” – Michael Knowles (A, 15:52)
• “Stephen Bonnell should be prosecuted. He should spend a long time in prison for that, no question.” – Michael Knowles (A, 34:22)
• “No one wants vigilante political violence. We don’t want pogroms. We don’t want to overreach. We want action though, and we want consequences. And we need them.” – Michael Knowles (A, 38:42)

Conclusion

This episode lays out a comprehensive and urgent call to address ideological violence and the celebration of such violence by elements of the left. The emotional core is Kirk’s legacy and how it is entwined with Christian conviction. The episode emphasizes swift legal and social responses—prosecutions, firings, organizational designations, and ostracization—arguing these are not only justified but essential to preserving American society, civil discourse, and unity.