The Victor Davis Hanson Show

Episode: Charlie Kirk, RIP
Air Date: September 11, 2025
Hosts: Victor Davis Hanson & Jack Fowler

Overview

This episode of "The Victor Davis Hanson Show" is a somber, in-depth reflection on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Victor Davis Hanson and Jack Fowler discuss the context and consequences of Kirk's death, political violence in America, the reaction to such events from the media and political establishments, and broader social and cultural issues related to crime, immigration, race, and the direction of Western democracies.
The show transitions through multiple topics but centers on the chilling effect of rising political violence and polarization.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Assassination of Charlie Kirk

[07:31–24:12]

• Personal Remembrance and Irreplaceability:

  • Victor shares a personal connection with Charlie Kirk, having appeared on his show recently and describes Kirk as "very misunderstood" and "kind."
  • Emphasizes Kirk’s unique skillset: young, charismatic, organizationally talented, media-savvy, and fearless in engaging youth and campuses on cultural issues.
  • Quote (Victor, 08:30): “He is irreplaceable... I can’t think of anybody who could do that, and that’s what’s really stunning.”

• Nature and Consequences of the Killing:

  • Framed as a potential political assassination, marking a disturbing turn in targeting American public intellectuals and journalists.
  • Raises concern about a new level of "assassination culture" in America, especially if the perpetrator is from the left—seen as an attempt to “thwart the dissemination of knowledge.”

• Media, Politics, and Culture of Violence:

  • Points to rhetoric and imagery from the political and media left (e.g., calls for violence, inflammatory language from figures like Chuck Schumer, Jasmine Crockett, Joy Reid) that lowers social inhibitions against political violence.
  • Quote (Victor, 12:42): “The left always says we’re more sophisticated, we’re more moral than you… so we’re going to use tough language… and you get all of this, and you get the impression that they are lowering the bar of what’s acceptable.”
  • Jack underscores Kirk’s own warnings (reads Kirk’s X post):
    • Quote (Kirk, read by Jack, 14:18): “Assassination culture is spreading on the left… The left is being whipped into a violent frenzy…”

• Trends and Societal Response:

  • Cites a spike in approval for political violence in polls, referencing attempts on Trump’s life and general demonization in media that may encourage unstable individuals.
  • Critiques the tendency to neutralize or excuse perpetrators as “mentally ill,” arguing the motive doesn’t matter to victims’ families.
  • Urges increased security for prominent conservatives, especially Trump.

• Kirk’s Legacy and the Loss to the Conservative Movement:

  • Stresses Kirk’s ability to connect across divides, promote nuclear family values, and embolden young conservatives.
  • Quote (Victor, 18:21): “He talked about things that most people don’t talk about… he was way ahead of his leftist counterparts.”

• Lament on Societal Callousness:

  • Disturbed by social apathy in the aftermath of brutal crimes, comparing reactions to violence in America to incidents abroad.

2. Crime, Race, and Urban Decline

[24:33–36:56]

• Recent Violent Crimes:

  • Discussion of recent murders involving black perpetrators and white victims (retired Auburn professor, Ukrainian woman on Charlotte light rail), media coverage, and systemic failures.
  • Critique of official responses prioritizing rhetoric about not “stereotyping” versus acknowledging systemic urban violence.

• Statistical Realities and Taboo Topics:

  • Victor highlights disproportionate rates of violent crime among young black men (“three percent of the population responsible for fifty percent of violent crime”), and obstacles to open discourse.
  • Argues that the refusal to acknowledge these patterns, for reasons of historical guilt or ideology, perpetuates dysfunction.

• The Media’s Role:

  • Points out selective reporting based on racial dynamics, juxtaposing reactions if racial roles were reversed.

• Root Causes Debate:

  • Argues that leftist social policies have undermined the black family and enabled cycles of crime.

• Roland Fryer’s Research:

  • References economist Roland Fryer's work showing no racial bias in police shootings when controlling for encounter rates.

3. US-China Relations, Technology Transfer, and Elite Hypocrisy

[36:56–43:38]

• Collaboration Between DoD and China:

  • Jack cites reports about US military research conducted with Chinese entities, giving adversaries potential access to sensitive information.

• Elite Complicity:

  • Criticizes figures like LeBron James for partnering with China, despite human rights abuses, in pursuit of wealth.
  • Quote (Victor, 39:14): “LeBron James was very active in take the knee and the BLM accusations… why wouldn’t he extend that same concern to over a million people not who were in slavery until 1865 but are in slavery now?”

• Hunter Biden and Corruption:

  • Outlines Hunter Biden's alleged protection of Chinese business partners and the lack of accountability.

4. Immigration, Populism, and Europe's Crisis

[43:38–52:35]

• Populist Uprisings in Europe:

  • Observes populist backlash in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands: “four horsemen of the Western apocalypse”—green energy, demographic decline, immigration disaster, and DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) policies.

• Fertility and Immigration:

  • Warns about demographic suicide through low birth rates and the challenges of integrating large numbers of migrants.
  • Quote (Victor, 43:38): “Any society in history that can’t reproduce itself gets elderly, ossified, shrinks, and is overrun by societies that do…”

• DEI Hypocrisy:

  • Critiques double standards in media and politics: white people formerly exempt, now "flipped that paradigm" with minority privilege claims.

5. Democrats and the Shift Toward Socialism

[55:33–61:37]

• Polls Show Democratic Preference for Socialism:

  • Gallup poll shows 66% of Democrats favor socialism, only 42% favor capitalism.

• Victor’s Theory:

  • Argues the left's destruction of functional capitalism (via overregulation, socialism-lite policies) creates lack of opportunity for young progressives, who then blame "capitalism" rather than left-wing policies for their grievances.
  • Quote (Victor, 56:32): “When the left is driving the capitalist car, they try to wreck it... so then young people come up...and they say: this isn't fair... and so they become socialists.”

• Elite Enrichment as Socialists:

  • Points out hypocrisy of wealthy left-wing politicians using socialism to demagogue, while accumulating private wealth (referencing Ilhan Omar, Elizabeth Warren).

6. New York’s Political Future – Should It “Crash and Burn”?

[61:37–69:54]

• Charlie Gasparino’s Column:

  • Jack introduces Gasparino's argument: let New York City elect a socialist mayor and collapse, then rebuild.
  • Victor, drawing on personal history and the example of 1970s New York, counters this approach would bring decades of suffering and warns against "accelerating decline" as a solution.

• Demographic and Political Change:

  • Notes permanent changes in California and New York due to out-migration, demographic shifts, and entrenched radical policies.

7. Transgender Issues, SSRI Usage, and Cult Dynamics

[69:56–76:44]

• Listener Letter:

  • Jack reads an email from a parent of a transgender child, expressing concern over medicalization (hormones, SSRIs) leading to drastic personality changes, unpredictable behavior, and a culture of excuse-making for violence.

• Victor’s Analysis:

  • Observes the left once distrusted pharmaceuticals and hormones; now, in the DEI era, risk and accountability are thrown out for certain causes (“exemption from accountability leads to more antisocial or criminal behavior”).

8. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Exemptions and Absurdities

[76:44–81:29]

• Hiring Practices:

  • Example from Minnesota: a Kenyan immigrant with a felony sexual assault conviction hired for state government work (due to DEI priorities).
  • Victor satirizes the hiring logic: “So you're not black, you're not a felon, and you're not an illegal alien... Why would we hire you?”

• DEI and Immigration in Academia:

  • Relates campus experience where illegal immigrant students received more benefits than out-of-state Americans—controversial, unsustainable, and resented, but defended by establishment figures.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Death of Charlie Kirk:
  “He is irreplaceable… it’s really stunning… when you look at people under the age of thirty-five on the conservative side who combined photogenic ability, to speak to people without notes, to do a podcast, to have the administrative skill… to help the conservatives… he’s irreplaceable.”
  — Victor [08:14]

• On Political Rhetoric and Violence:
  “If you really believe that Charlie Kirk is part of a Nazi movement… that all filters down and there’s people out there that interpret that as: well, we have a Hitler, we have a fascist, if I do something to him, what will be the reaction?”
  — Victor [13:13]

• From Charlie Kirk's Final Social Post:
  “Assassination culture is spreading on the left... fifty-five percent [of liberals] said it would be at least somewhat justified to murder Donald Trump... The left is being whipped into a violent frenzy... This is the natural outgrowth of left wing protest culture tolerating violence and mayhem for years on end…”
  — Charlie Kirk, as read by Jack [14:18]

• On Replacement of Cities and Societies:
  “Any society in history that can’t reproduce itself gets elderly, ossified, shrinks, and is overrun by societies that do reproduce themselves.”
  — Victor [43:38]

• On Socialism Among Democrats:
  “When the left is driving the capitalist car, they try to wreck it… so then young people... become socialists... but they're really angry at socialism, and nobody explains that to them.”
  — Victor [56:32]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [07:31] – Breaking news, Charlie Kirk assassination: initial reactions
• [08:14] – Kirk’s character, legacy, and impact
• [12:42] – The rhetoric of political violence and responsibility of public figures
• [14:18] – Reading Charlie Kirk’s social media post on “assassination culture”
• [18:21] – Kirk’s focus on family, fertility, and youth outreach
• [24:33] – Transition to broader crime and urban violence
• [35:34] – Roland Fryer’s research on police shootings
• [39:14] – US-China tech transfer, LeBron James’ China ties, Hunter Biden issues
• [43:38] – Populist backlash in Europe; green energy, immigration, fertility, DEI
• [55:33] – Democrats trending toward socialism
• [61:37] – Letting cities “hit bottom”—the case of New York
• [69:56] – Transgender issues, SSRIs, and cult dynamics
• [76:44] – Government hiring DEI absurdities
• [81:29] – Immigration policy hypocrisy in academia and reflections on 9/11

Tone and Style

Victor Davis Hanson’s tone is urgent, deeply concerned, and at times mournful, especially reflecting on the loss of Charlie Kirk and the breakdown of civil discourse. Jack Fowler adopts a supportive, sometimes incredulous voice, pressing Victor on details and linking to contemporary news stories. Both are candid, sometimes sardonic, and unafraid to address taboo or controversial issues head-on. The conversation is dense with reference to history, political actors, and recent events.

For Listeners New to the Show

This episode delivers a sobering look at the state of U.S. society through the lens of political violence, the erosion of norms, demographic and cultural crises, and challenges facing Western democracies. The assassination of Charlie Kirk is not only mourned, but analyzed as a symptom of deeper, systemic dysfunctions in culture, politics, and public rhetoric. Throughout, Victor and Jack challenge listeners to confront uncomfortable facts and demand accountability from both leaders and the broader public.

(This summary omits all commercial and non-content segments as requested.)