The Tim Dillon Show – Episode 461: The Silencing Of Charlie Kirk

Release Date: September 13, 2025
Host: Tim Dillon
Guest: Max Blumenthal (Editor in Chief, The Grayzone)

Overview

This hard-hitting episode centers on the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the disturbing public and political reactions in its aftermath. Tim Dillon opens with a reflection on the cultural and spiritual state of America, then brings on investigative journalist Max Blumenthal to discuss his viral Grayzone exposé about the mounting pressures Kirk faced leading up to his death—including alleged threats and influence from Israeli interests. The conversation explores deep, controversial intersections of US politics, media, lobbying, and the rising generational backlash against traditional power centers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dillon’s Opening Monologue on Dehumanization

• Condemnation of Celebration: Tim expresses shock at people celebrating Kirk’s murder, questioning the morality and emotional well-being of those taking joy in such violence.
  • “If that's the first reaction you have to that video… you can't be doing great. You can't be doing great if you… are celebrating the murder of this man.” (08:20)
• Political Disagreement ≠ Joy in Death: Emphasizes that disagreement on issues should not escalate to condoning assassination, regardless of political differences.
  • “You do not have to agree with someone to not enjoy their murder. This is something that should be obvious.” (10:24)
• Reflection on America’s Crisis: Sees this celebration as a sign of social decay, “a terrible omen for the future of America.” (12:05)
• Dark Comedy Disclaimer: Asserts he is not policing jokes but disturbed by genuine delight in tragedy.

2. Setting the Stage for Blumenthal’s Article

• Tim previews Max Blumenthal’s viral article exploring the months before Kirk’s murder, focusing on the psychological toll and the political/lobbying pressures Kirk faced, especially from pro-Israel actors.

3. Blumenthal’s Years-Long Coverage of Kirk & TPUSA

[19:11]

• Blumenthal has followed Kirk for a decade, initially as a critic, observing how Kirk and TPUSA (Turning Point USA) evolved with heavy influence from American billionaire donors with strong ties to Israeli interests.
• The primary donor class “actually don’t care about issues like abortion or LGBTQ… their issue is Israel and Charlie Kirk was going to advance that for them.” (20:07)

4. The Groypers, October 7th, and the Republican Youth Shift

• Origin of Principal Pressures:
  • Details the “Groypers”—a Nick Fuentes-associated group—who confronted Kirk over his Israel alignment during TPUSA events several years ago.
  • After the October 7th Gaza war, skepticism toward US-Israel policy exploded among young conservatives. Blumenthal notes, “now only about 25% of Republicans under 35 support Israel over Palestine.” (25:25)
• Tucker Carlson Moment:
  • TPUSA’s July Youth Summit becomes a turning point—Tucker Carlson and others openly criticize Israel and its influence, which Blumenthal calls “the seminal moment.” (26:17)
• Immediate Backlash:
  • Top right-wing media figures and donors react with fury. “At some point Netanyahu personally called him [Kirk] and offered to basically fund his organization to new levels…” Kirk refuses. (28:55)

5. Netanyahu’s Unprecedented Reaction

[29:25]

• Blumenthal highlights the oddity of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly denying involvement in Kirk’s death on cable news, suggesting it raises suspicion further:
  • “When someone that sleazy and that blood soaked links innocent Jews to the murderous campaign that Israel’s carrying out, it’s bad, it’s actually bad for the Jews...” (30:18)

6. Was Kirk Afraid for His Life?

[32:00+]

• New revelations suggest Kirk had expressed fear “that Israel will kill him” if he continued to allow anti-Zionist voices in TPUSA (reported by Infowars personality Harrison Smith).
• Blumenthal can’t confirm direct Israeli responsibility but emphasizes the climate of fear when defying powerful lobbying interests:
  • “There’s this fear when you go against the Israel lobby, and you’re that powerful. And it’s a fear that I’ve been told Donald Trump shares.” (33:23)

7. Alleged Espionage, Trump’s Fears, and Lobbying Power

• Trump’s own concern about being targeted by Israeli intelligence is discussed, referencing past cases of Israeli spy devices found near the White House.
• The conversation addresses the lack of diplomatic fallout when “an ally is found to be” conducting espionage:
  • “There is a kind of a class of 0.1 percenters… who exist completely above the law, who are like molesting people and carrying out all sorts of sordid financial crimes and bribery and manipulating institutions.” (42:15)

8. Congressional Crackdown & The AIPAC Influence

• APAC’s outsized influence shown by ousting anti-Israel Congressmembers (Cori Bush, Jamal Bowman), spending “$20M, like Super Bowl style ads against them.” (37:51)
• Ongoing campaigns against Thomas Massie and threats against Marjorie Taylor Green underscore the relentless pressure.

9. Epstein, Media Power, & Narrative Control

[42:15+]

• Trump’s anxiety over releasing Epstein files—“he thinks he’s one of them [who’d be smeared].” (42:24)
• Israeli intelligence links, elites above the law, and control over political/media narratives highlighted.
• Notably, the Senate voted not to release the Epstein files the day Kirk was shot. (44:58)

10. War, Gaza, and the Looming Iran Showdown

[46:24+]

• Blumenthal paints a dark picture of the intended “ethnic cleansing” of Gaza, describing current actions as “not a construction project, it’s a destruction project.” (46:24)
• Predicts the US is being pressured toward a potentially catastrophic war with Iran, with Israel “manipulat(ing) the United States… [for] boots on the ground, all out war,” motivated by Netanyahu’s legacy ambitions before Trump leaves office. (51:30, 53:15)
• “Netanyahu wants to be… to leave this world with that as his legacy, but he cannot accomplish that in Iran… without the US military.” (51:46)

11. Media Desperation and Generational Backlash

• The power grab in media (e.g., Barry Weiss at CBS) seen as a “sign of desperation and not necessarily a sign of total control.”
• The narrative is slipping, especially among the young, which is driving the urgency seen in elite maneuvering.

12. Unanswered Questions About the Assassination

[58:24+]

• Multiple well-placed sources in Trump’s orbit reportedly “don’t accept the official story” of Kirk’s murder.
  • “I heard subsequent to publishing this story from another source… that corroborated the account… that Kirk was actively… lobbying Trump against bombing Iran in June, and that the FBI ‘is not being forthcoming.’” (60:22)
• Blumenthal carefully clarifies he is making no direct accusation against Israel, but asserts the weight of evidence and context raises serious questions.
• “No one even knows what the official story is.” (59:33)

13. How Threatening Was Charlie Kirk?

• In a hypothetical, Blumenthal explains Kirk posed a “gigantic threat to Israeli control over the Republican Party, maybe the biggest threat since… [Trump].” (65:43)
• Believes the establishment would first seek to remove him politically, though the risk to power structures was extraordinary.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dillon (on public reaction):
  "I cannot get to that place where I can understand enjoying that. And it scares me that there's a lot of people that are there and people that… I know." [07:47]

• Blumenthal (on Netanyahu’s denial):
  “I've never seen anything like this and I'd never seen anything like what Netanyahu was doing relating to a tragedy or a crime in the United States since 9/11.” [29:39]

• Blumenthal (on the future):
  “A new generation is rising and turning against [Israel] simply because they are sick of the slaughter, the manipulation and the censorship.” [51:30]

• Dillon (on the state of America):
  "This is a terrible omen for the future of America, if people think that a guy ... should be assassinated." [12:05]

• Blumenthal (on sources’ skepticism):
  “So a highly placed person in the Trump inner circle doesn't believe the official story of Charlie's murder.” [59:33]

• Blumenthal (on Kirk’s influence):
  “He was sort of a unique figure, and I don't think he can be replaced. It will also be interesting to see who steps into his wake.” [65:53]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:45 – 14:00: Tim’s detailed monologue on the murder’s cultural impact and the problem of dehumanization
• 19:11: Blumenthal’s background following Kirk and TPUSA
• 23:19: The Groypers and the youth right’s Israel turn
• 26:21: The TPUSA Youth Summit and its aftermath (Tucker’s speech, donor backlash)
• 29:25 – 32:00: Netanyahu’s reaction, conspiracy, and Kirk’s fears
• 32:32 – 34:07: Claims that Kirk feared for his life, Trump’s alleged fears, Israeli espionage
• 41:30 – 46:24: Epstein, the media, and the crisis of U.S. policy
• 46:24 – 54:09: The Gaza “destruction project,” ethnic cleansing, and Iran war pressure
• 58:24+: What do insiders and sources really believe about the Kirk assassination?

Tone & Takeaways

This episode is urgent, critical, and layered with dark humor and deep skepticism. It offers a blunt, controversial window into the machinery of modern political power: foreign influence, political assassinations, generational change, and media manipulation. Both Dillion and Blumenthal urge listeners to resist becoming dehumanized or radicalized by events—and to recognize the scale of the struggles beneath the headlines.

For more, visit TheGrayzone.com and follow The Tim Dillon Show for breaking updates.