The Rob Carson Show

Episode: “Carl Higbie, Kid Rock & Michael Charbon: The Voices Taking on the Radical Left”

Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Rob Carson
Featured Guests: Carl Higbie, Michael Charbonne, Kid Rock, Stephen Miller

Overview

This episode of The Rob Carson Show tackles the aftermath and cultural reverberations of the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. Through a mix of humor, seriousness, and passionate dialogue, Rob Carson and high-profile guests like Carl Higbie, Michael Charbonne, and Stephen Miller explore topics such as political violence, the rise of a “spiritual movement,” left-wing versus right-wing violence, media narratives, threats to free speech, and the future of political and cultural movements in America and abroad. The conversation is framed within a deeply personal, emotional, and often spiritual tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: A “Turning Point”

• Immediate Reactions:
  • (02:06) Rob opens by describing the rapid expansion of Turning Point USA and calls Kirk’s death both a political and spiritual catalyst:

    "The movement my husband built will not die. No. In fact, it accelerated to light speed… They did the exact opposite of what they thought they could do." (Rob Carson, 02:06)

  • The episode repeatedly frames the murder as a galvanizing event that has supercharged conservative activism, not just in the U.S. but worldwide.
• Moral Equivalency “Destroyed:”
  • Rob argues that attempts to create moral parity between left and right violence have failed.
  • "99.9% of the violence in this country is from the left and caused by the rhetoric and the actions of the Democrat Party." (Rob Carson, 02:41)

2. Left-Wing Violence vs. Right-Wing Response

• Carl Higbie’s No-Holds-Barred Commentary:
  • (05:04) Higbie passionately lists incidents (from BLM riots to Trump assassination attempts) which he attributes to left-wing forces, condemns “tolerance” of radical views:

    "We're not doing that anymore. We're not taking it anymore... My mother-in-law is banned from my house." (Carl Higbie, 05:04)

  • He emphasizes conservatives’ restraint in the face of violence:

    "There is no conservative that I know that thinks we should shoot anyone for calling us a Nazi. But they call us Nazis to justify somebody shooting at us." (Carl Higbie, 06:23)

  • (06:57) On personal resolve:

    "I'm a savage that in the not so distant past killed a ton of bad guys... I'll never be the aggressor. But if you seek to harm me and my family, you’re gonna find out what savage is." (Carl Higbie, 06:57)

• Rob’s Take:
  • Rob echoes Higbie’s assessment, arguing conservatives are better morally, intellectually, and physically equipped.

3. Celebrating Violence and the “Assassination Culture”

• Moral Decay and Radicalization:
  • (11:44) Stephen Miller points to a growing “assassination culture” and increasing acceptance of violence among younger generations.

    "We need to bring the fricking nuthouses back..." (Stephen Miller, 11:53)

• Social Media and Professional Fallout:
  • Rob discusses healthcare and education professionals being identified for celebrating Kirk’s death online and calls for their dismissal (07:13–10:00).
  • Emphasizes that freedom of expression does not entitle employees to promote violence or celebrate assassinations at work.

4. Conservative Restraint and “Spiritual Awakening”

• Contrast in Responses:

  • (20:46) Higbie celebrates the absence of violent response from conservatives, focusing on prayer, vigils, and faith:

    "Millions have seen that video. But conservatives did not riot. Conservatives did not loot… Instead of burning buildings, rioting and looting, conservatives spent the weekend holding vigils…" (Carl Higbie, 20:46)

• Expansion of the Movement:

  • (14:03) Higbie notes:

    "We've had over 37,000 inquiries... to start new college and high school chapters... Charlie's going to achieve his dream much, much more quickly..." (Carl Higbie, 14:03)

• International Impact:

  • Rob and Charbonne discuss a “spiritual awakening” in Canada and Europe, citing burgeoning conservative rallies (24:38-25:34).

    "I'm seeing Canadians getting together in candlelight vigils to pray. Maybe this is the spiritual awakening… that Canada needs." (Rob Carson, 24:38)

5. Generational and Cultural Gaps on Political Violence

• Polling and Data:

  • Michael Charbonne cites polling showing rising acceptance of political violence among Millennials (29%) and Gen Z (42%), compared to older generations, sparking concern (26:03–27:08).

• Assassination Culture Research:

  • (27:20) Higbie references Rutgers research on the “memeification” of assassination, with alarming numbers of left-leaning respondents finding political murder justified:

    "When it came to the left of center, 50% thought that it was justified to murder Elon Musk, 56% for President Trump. I mean the numbers are just incredible, jaw dropping here." (Carl Higbie, 27:46)

6. Free Speech and University Climate

• Best and Worst for Free Speech:

  • Michael Charbonne names colleges ranked highest and lowest for free speech:
    • Top: University of Virginia, Michigan Tech, Florida State, Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Tech
    • Worst: Berkeley, Harvard, Columbia, NYU, UPenn, Barnard (31:44–32:31)

    "That means it’s trouble in River City when you can't hear the other side of an agreement…" (Michael Charbonne, 32:13)

• Role of Universities in Current Crisis:

  • Host and guests agree that many elite universities are manufacturing division and stifling real dialogue, feeding into what Rob labels a “brainwashed factory.”

7. International Context: UK, France, and Godly Mobilization

• Europe’s Political Shifts:

  • Discussion of rising conservatism in Poland, Turkey, France (reference to Le Pen), and a dissatisfaction with open borders and radicalism in the UK and France (34:28–35:45).

    "A million people in London did said, I don't recognize the London and the England that I grew up in. And this is wrong..." (Michael Charbonne, 35:45)

• Global “Awakening”:

  • Rob repeatedly frames these political reversals as both political and spiritual victories, accelerated by Kirk’s death.

8. Memorable Moments & Inspirational Rhetoric

• Spiritual Call to Action:
  • (36:33) Charbonne encourages Rob to keep speaking out:

    "Don't let your voice grow dim." (Michael Charbonne, 36:33)

  • Rob ends with a stirring, biblical-themed summation:

    "God Almighty's gonna cut him down… There's only so long that evil is going to be able to run roughshod over the world… If you want to leave the Democrat Party and get on this life-saving moment, I would do it before the door is closed." (Rob Carson, 37:05)

• Integration of Pop Culture:
  • References to Kid Rock’s performance at the RNC as reflective of America (10:00–11:15).
  • Personal anecdotes, 80s/90s nostalgia, references to Johnny Cash’s “God's Gonna Cut You Down” and Audio Slave’s “Show Me How to Live” to underscore spiritual themes (36:55–37:05).

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Carl Higbie:

  "We sat idly by while your party supported BLM riots and you burned down cities. Antifa spitting on cops, church shootings, Trump assassination attempts times two. Burning Tesla dealerships…" (05:04)

• Rob Carson:

  "It's going to be a rock solid ass kicking." (05:37)

• Carl Higbie:

  "You guys shot the nice one. Conservatives have figured out... we can be called racist, homophobic bigots, Nazis and fascists and lose. Or... win." (05:43)

• Stephen Miller:

  "We need to bring the fricking nuthouses back." (11:53)

• Michael Charbonne:

  "The problem is to be a conservative is to be a target… 40% of students in Canada who believe that they are conservative don’t want to express their point of views because they feel a retaliation…" (28:43)

• Rob Carson:

  "There has never been a more apt comparison between Daniel and the lion's den." (29:22)

• Carl Higbie:

  "We have a left wing political violence problem in America." (29:49)

• Rob Carson:

  "I do believe we are at a period of great awakening... Charlie Kirk’s assassination… has set the world on fire and it’s going to be for good." (35:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:06] Show opens; framing episode purpose; shift from ads/banter
• [02:06] Discussion of Charlie Kirk’s legacy and movement growth
• [05:04–07:13] Carl Higbie’s extended commentary on left-wing violence and conservative resolve
• [11:44] Stephen Miller and Rob discuss the roots of young radicals
• [14:03] Rise in new TPUSA chapter inquiries after Kirk’s death
• [20:46] Higbie: conservatives’ nonviolent response to Kirk’s death
• [24:16–28:43] Michael Charbonne’s Canadian perspective, generational polling on violence
• [31:44–32:31] University free speech climate best/worst list
• [33:31–35:45] Cultural/European context, awakening in France, UK, and Canada
• [36:33–37:05] Show closing—spiritual call to action and memorable sign-off

Tone & Language

• Direct, informal, anecdotal, and often emotionally charged
• Frequent mixing of humor and gravity (e.g., "ass kicking," pop culture call-backs, biblical metaphors)
• Unapologetically partisan, with sharp condemnation of the political left and celebrations of “spiritual revival”

Summary Conclusion

Through candid, often impassioned exchanges, Rob Carson and his guests convey that Charlie Kirk’s assassination marks not a defeat, but the ignition of an unprecedented conservative and spiritual resurgence. The show sharply critiques the left for what the panel sees as a monopoly on political violence, questions the current state of American education and media, and highlights a global trend towards conservatism. The tone is one of determination, defiance, but also hopefulness—for a “moral and spiritual awakening” both in the U.S. and across the world.