The World and Everything In It – December 31, 2025

“Fragmentation on the right, global news of 2025, and Charlie Kirk’s courageous faith”

Episode Overview

On the final day of 2025, this episode of The World and Everything In It reflects on significant stories of the year: the fragmentation of the conservative movement after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, major global news, and poignant commentary for the Christian New Year. The show features in-depth reporting, interviews with scholars and experts, and a tribute to Charlie Kirk’s life and legacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Remembering Charlie Kirk: His Impact and Legacy

[08:02–14:21]

• Main Focus:
  The assassination of Charlie Kirk in September 2025 and his enduring influence as a conservative political organizer and founder of Turning Point USA.

• Key Insights:

  • Kirk inspired a generation of young conservatives, emphasizing faith, freedom, free markets, and limited government.
  • Known for championing civil discourse, engaging in respectful debates using the Socratic method.
  • Quoted for his courage and faith, which he hoped would define his legacy.
  • Advocated traditional Christian values, urging young men to embrace marriage and the blessing of children.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “America is the only country where even those who hate it refuse to leave. That’s how you know you live in a great country.” – Charlie Kirk ([09:06])
  • “I want to be remembered for courage, for my faith. That would be the most important thing.” – Charlie Kirk ([14:10])
  • “As Christians, we should change the environment that we come in contact with… So why should we then not care about changing government to be more Christ-like?” – Charlie Kirk ([12:18])
  • “Enough of this dating thing. Get married and have a bunch of kids, okay? Seriously.” – Charlie Kirk ([13:45])

2. Washington Wednesday: Fragmentation of the Conservative Movement

[14:21–27:36]

• Host Interview:
  Political scientist Hunter Baker analyzes the conservative landscape post-Kirk, governance in 2025, and the ongoing challenge of government waste and fraud.

• Key Insights:

  • Kirk’s death created a brief moment of unity but soon led to heightened division; questions now loom about the movement’s direction.
  • Young conservatives are anxious about their prospects compared to prior generations, especially as AI’s impact on society accelerates.
  • Immigration policy radically shifted under President Trump’s return; formidable border enforcement succeeded, but the fate of millions of newcomers remains unresolved.
  • The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), initially led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, lost momentum; major fraud uncovered in Minnesota day care grants signals a wider crisis.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • “He was really a movement builder. He was somebody who understood that politics is about addition, not subtraction. But right now, we’re going through maybe some subtraction.” – Hunter Baker ([15:04])
  • “We love to give out tons of grant money and lots of political support comes with that. But…there is just gigantic fraud.” – Hunter Baker ([20:30])

3. Reflection on Political Losses in 2025

[22:06–27:36]

• Focus:
  Remembering political giants who died in 2025 and the impact they had on U.S. policy and the conservative movement.

• Key Figures Remembered:

  • Dick Cheney: Architect of post-9/11 Middle East policy.
  • Richard Armitage, William Webster, David Gergen: Significant roles in foreign policy, law enforcement, and media strategy.
  • Ed Feulner: Founding trustee and president of The Heritage Foundation.

• Notable Memento:

  • “His founding of the Heritage Foundation…represented maturation of the conservative movement to start up really a serious policy shop.” – Hunter Baker ([27:36])

4. Global Headlines: Conflict, Persecution, and Hope

[29:39–35:46]

• World Tour Segment:
  Onize Odua reports on international crises, persecution, and cultural milestones.

• Major Stories:

  • Sudan: Ongoing political conflict displacing millions, rising famine, and international sanctions.
  • Democratic Republic of Congo: Rebel advances and Christian persecution, including mass killings.
  • Syria: Post-Assad unrest and persecution of minorities.
  • Israel: Hostage releases and hopes for peace.
  • Nigeria and China: Shockingly high levels of Christian persecution (statistics: 380 million under threat globally, 5,000 killed, mainly in Nigeria).
  • Uplifting: South Sudan’s Christian chaplains, efforts to preserve Syriac Orthodox language in Germany, and UK Supreme Court defining “sex” as biological sex in equality law.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “This is not a civil war in the classic sense…this is about a political conflict between these two military leaders who want to control the state.” – Joseph Siegel ([30:13])
  • “As Christians, when we see that other brothers and sisters in the world are praying for us… it really means so much.” – Grace, daughter of detained Chinese pastor ([33:36])
  • “We needed to train these men to be able to defend those that cannot defend themselves.” – Wes Bentley, Far Reaching Ministries ([34:06])

5. Cultural Commentary: Numbers, Trends, and Faith

[28:19–29:29; 35:49–40:05]

• Words of the Year:

  • ‘Parasocial’ and ‘Slop’—terms relating to social bonds with media/AI and the prevalence of low-quality content online.

• Biblical Reflection for the New Year (Daniel Darling)

  • Calls listeners to “number our days” and apply hearts to wisdom, grounded in Psalm 90.
  • Laments tragedies and violence in 2025, including Kirk’s assassination and other incidents.
  • Highlights global Christian persecution and urges ongoing prayer and advocacy.

• Quotes:

  • “A review of 2025 is an occasion to lament. Our headlines this year were filled with tragedy.” – Daniel Darling ([36:04])
  • “For those who suffer for their faith, the pain…the trauma is real, and it’s incumbent on us to not forget them.” – Daniel Darling ([39:05])
  • “Attempts to stop the spread of the gospel will ultimately fail, for Jesus promised…the gates of hell will not prevail over his church.” – Daniel Darling ([39:35])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “America is the only country where even those who hate it refuse to leave. That’s how you know you live in a great country.” – Charlie Kirk ([09:06])
• “Politics is about addition, not subtraction.” – Hunter Baker ([15:04])
• “For those who suffer for their faith…the trauma is real, and it’s incumbent on us to not forget them.” – Daniel Darling ([39:05])

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:44–07:18 – National news headlines (fraud in Minnesota, China-Taiwan tensions, NYE security, winter storms)
• 08:02–14:21 – Remembrance and tribute to Charlie Kirk
• 14:21–27:36 – Washington Wednesday: Fragmentation of the right, immigration, waste, and loss of key political figures
• 29:39–35:46 – World Tour: Sudan, Congo, Nigeria, China, Israel, and positive international stories
• 36:04–40:05 – Daniel Darling’s New Year’s Reflection: Lamentations and call to pray for the persecuted church

Tone & Style

The episode balances somber reflection, rigorous analysis, and a faith-anchored outlook. It is serious yet encouraging, aimed at equipping Christian listeners to understand the world through both journalistic and biblical lenses.

Conclusion

The final 2025 episode stands as a thoughtful retrospective on an eventful year—marked by both fragmentation and resilience in politics, global crises, and persistent Christian witness in the face of persecution. The memory of Charlie Kirk’s courage and faith, and the host’s call to prayerful engagement, frame a new year and remind listeners of the enduring power of conviction and hope.