What A Day — September 11, 2025

Episode Summary:

“Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Killed In Utah”
Host: Jane Coaston (Crooked Media)
Main Topic: The assassination of Charlie Kirk—a pivotal Gen Z conservative figure—its reverberations across the American right, the escalation of political violence in the US, and what Kirk’s legacy means for the culture wars and youth engagement.
Additional Stories: Kamala Harris’s new memoir and NASA’s Mars discoveries

Episode Overview

On this emotionally charged episode, Jane Coaston leads with the breaking news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University. The show explores Kirk’s impact on conservatism, youth politics, and the ongoing cycle of political violence. Jane interviews journalist Tess Owen, who specializes in the modern conservative movement, to unpack Kirk’s legacy, influence, and what his death portends for American politics.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking News: Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

• Timestamp: 00:32–01:59

  • Incident Details:
    • Kirk, aged 31, was shot at a “American Comeback Tour” event at Utah Valley University.
    • Died at Timpanogos Hospital.
    • No suspect or motive yet; investigation ongoing with local, state, and federal authorities.
  • Contextualization:
    • Jane Coaston underscores the rapid escalation of political violence in the US, referencing the January 6 riot, assassination attempts on Trump, and the recent killing of a Minnesota legislator.
    • “Political violence makes more political violence more likely.” (Jane Coaston, 01:32)

• Governor’s Response:

  • Quote:
    • “Nothing I say can unite us as a country. Nothing I can say right now can fix what is broken. Nothing I can say can bring back Charlie Kirk.”
      (Governor Spencer Cox, 01:59)

2. Who Was Charlie Kirk? His Rise & Influence

• Interview with Tess Owen (Vox Media) | 03:04–12:00

a) Kirk’s Youth Appeal & Turning Point USA

• Origins:
  • Founded TPUSA at 18, revitalizing campus conservatism that had been “withered” (03:19).
  • Leveraged conspiracies about “cultural Marxism” and “liberal rot” in education.
• Quote:
  • “Charlie's influence cannot be overstated… He capitalized on conspiracy theories and they became his brand.”
    (Tess Owen, 03:19)

b) Making Conservatism ‘Cool’

• Embraced Gen Z’s “nihilistic Internet humor,” becoming a “troll” who turned liberal targets into memes (04:20).
• Quote:
  • “[He] helped do that… turning liberals into a meme, basically.”
    (Tess Owen, 04:55)

c) Translating Internet Influence Into Political Capital

• TPUSA’s campus impact credited with rallying young voters for Trump.
• The line between culture and politics blurred; Kirk was “the temperature” for MAGA youth sentiment (05:14).
• Kirk and the MAGA movement radicalized together.
• Quote:
  • “The culture wars became politics… whenever something has happened in the news in the last few years… one of the first places you go is Charlie Kirk.”
    (Tess Owen, 05:14)

d) Challenges from the Far Right: The Groyper Wars

• Far-right “Groypers,” led by Nick Fuentes, would heckle Kirk, pulling him further right even as he tried to “buttress” mainstream conservatism against extremism (06:44).
• Quote:
  • “They dragged him further to the right as his base became more radicalized… we've seen this with other MAGA personalities as well.”
    (Tess Owen, 06:44)

e) Debate Tactics and Political Respect

• Kirk embraced public debates—even appearing on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s podcast, getting concessions others couldn’t (08:14).
• Kirk’s “Pied Piper of Gen Z men” status made him a must-watch for politicians across the spectrum (09:00).
• Quote:
  • “He is their voice, and he has helped organize them into this solidly Trump voting bloc.”
    (Tess Owen, 09:00)
• Noted for being quick and media-savvy, “not an idiot… [but] quick and quite savvy.” (Tess Owen, 09:00)

f) Kirk’s Digital Legacy & the Right's Online Ascendancy

• Kirk was ubiquitous online—podcasts, livestreams—shifting the landscape from left- to right-dominated digital politics.
• Jane notes, “Kirk's impact...is not just about rhetoric, but also about medium.” (Jane Coaston, 09:43)
• Trump ordered federal flags at half-mast in Kirk’s honor, underscoring his movement importance (10:21).

3. Implications: Political Violence and Future Fallout

• Martyrdom & Narrative: Tess Owen predicts Kirk’s killing will fuel the right’s “war against left-wing violence,” and become a central talking point.
  • “I think this turns Charlie Kirk into a martyr… part of the right’s war against ‘left-wing violence.’” (Tess Owen, 11:16)
• Expectation that the tragedy’s narrative will be weaponized by the Trump administration, regardless of the facts.
• Both Jane and Tess stress uncertainty due to fast-moving developments; urge listeners to be cautious about speculation.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Coaston:
  • “Political violence begets political violence. Let me say that again. Political violence makes more political violence more likely.” (01:32)
• Gov. Spencer Cox:
  • “Nothing I say can unite us as a country… Nothing I can say can bring back Charlie Kirk.” (01:59)
• Tess Owen on Kirk:
  • “He was kind of a troll, right?... Bringing that kind of Gen Z nihilistic internet humor to conservatism…” (04:20)
• Tess Owen on Groyper Wars:
  • “...they dragged him further to the right as his base became more radicalized…” (06:44)
• Tess Owen on Kirk’s Savvy:
  • “He has very problematic and very controversial opinions, but he is quick and he's quite savvy in the way that he's operated.” (09:00)
• Owen on Kirk’s Martyrdom:
  • “I think this turns Charlie Kirk into a martyr. I think this becomes part of the right’s war against quote-unquote left wing violence…” (11:16)

Segment Timeline (Timestamps)

• 00:02–01:59 — Opening; news of Charlie Kirk's shooting; Governor Cox’s statement
• 02:42–03:04 — Jane sets up Kirk’s significance; introduces Tess Owen
• 03:04–12:00 — In-depth interview on Kirk’s rise, strategies, influence, and the far right
• 12:00–13:22 — Outro to interview; transition to ads
• 13:23–14:17 — Ads skipped per instructions
• 14:19–18:34 — Additional headlines:
  • Harris memoir excerpt critical of Biden’s run (14:29)
  • Trump v. Lisa Cook at the Fed (15:40)
  • Russian drones cross into Poland; NATO reaction (16:30)
  • NASA’s Mars microbial discovery (18:34)
• 18:34–22:07 — Show closing, commentary, promos, credits

Additional News Highlights

Kamala Harris Memoir Bombshell (14:29)

• Harris calls Biden’s 2024 decision “recklessness”:
  • “This wasn’t a choice that should have been left to an individual’s ego, an individual’s ambition.”
• Memoir excerpt criticizes Biden’s aides for sabotaging her.

NASA Mars Discovery (18:34)

• Mars rover findings may suggest ancient microbial life; “emphasis on the word possible.”

Tone & Style

• Somber and direct on violence: No “fake outrage,” just clear-eyed reporting (Jane).
• In-depth, knowledgeable, and occasionally wry (see NASA segment).
• Candid, substantive dialogue—especially in Tess Owen’s analysis.

Listener Takeaways

• Charlie Kirk’s assassination is a pivotal, destabilizing event for US political culture, with repercussions beyond the conservative movement.
• Kirk’s skillful digital and interpersonal strategy cemented his influence, especially among young, online conservatives.
• His death is expected to intensify polarization and the narrative battle over political violence.
• Cautious news consumption is vital; facts still developing.

For Listeners Who Haven't Heard the Episode:

This summary walks you through the fraught, evolving story of Charlie Kirk’s killing, places his life and impact in clear context via expert interview, and highlights how this moment fits into larger cycles of political violence and radicalization in America. If you want to grasp why this moment matters, and what it says about the state of the country, this episode delivers both clarity and nuance.