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Alex Clark and Andrew Kolvet Address Every Conspiracy Theory Surrounding Charlie Kirk's Death and Legacy
Alex Clark sits down with Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show and one of Charlie's closest friends, to address the rumors, conspiracies, and questions surrounding Charlie Kirk's death. From alleged $150 million bribes to Catholic conversion speculation to missing tent camera footage, Andrew provides firsthand answers about what really happened. They discuss Charlie's final week abroad in Seoul and Tokyo, his views on Israel and foreign policy, his relationship with Erika Kirk, and what's next for Turning Point USA. Andrew shares intimate details about Charlie's faith, his vision for the Make America Healthy Again movement, his disciplined lifestyle, and the profound spiritual transformation he experienced in the days following the tragedy. This conversation offers clarity, truth, and insight into the man behind the mission.
Addressing the Conspiracy Theories Head-On
Alex Clark opens this episode with a direct promise: to address every conspiracy theory surrounding Charlie Kirk's life and death. She's joined by Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show and one of Charlie's best friends, to set the record straight on rumors that have circulated since the tragedy. From allegations of $150 million bribes from Israel to speculation about Charlie converting to Catholicism to questions about why tent camera footage disappeared, Andrew provides clear, firsthand answers.
Andrew confirms that Charlie Kirk never accepted foreign money and that Turning Point USA has a strict policy against it. He reveals that the organization turned down foreign donations on multiple occasions, even canceling wire transfers. As for the alleged $150 million offer from Israel, Andrew states he never heard anything about it and emphasizes that regardless of the amount, Turning Point would have refused it. Charlie was extraordinarily principled about keeping American funding only and refused government handouts, including PPE loans during the pandemic despite financial pressure.
Charlie's Final Week: Seoul, Tokyo, and Coming Home
Charlie Kirk spent his final week traveling abroad in Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan. Andrew shares that after a major speaking event in Korea, event organizers gathered around Charlie to sing and pray over him, performing "How Great is Our God." Charlie was visibly emotional, bowing his head with his hand on his heart. When he came off stage, he was misty-eyed. Andrew reflects on how beautiful it was that Charlie spent his final days being prayed over by Korean Christians, whom he describes as incredible prayer warriors.
While in Seoul, Charlie enjoyed rare moments of solitude, walking the city streets alone—a luxury he rarely experienced given his fame and security needs. He sent selfie videos to his team, clearly enjoying the freedom to explore. In Tokyo, Charlie made it a priority to share the gospel with a predominantly non-Christian audience, carefully crafting his message to be respectful yet clear about his faith. When he returned to Phoenix, Charlie was energized and excited to start the tour, looking forward to addressing contentious issues in the movement and helping unite the conservative coalition.
Charlie's Position on Israel: Nuanced and Misunderstood
One of the most contentious topics surrounding Charlie Kirk in his final months was his stance on Israel. Andrew provides crucial clarity: Charlie's position was that he liked Israel more than Hamas, but he wanted the freedom to criticize Israel without being labeled an anti-Semite. Charlie was frustrated that he could criticize his own government without being called anti-American, but couldn't extend the same scrutiny to a foreign government. He felt he had earned the right as a friend of the Jewish people to say things like "it's time to end the war" or "it's time to stop the killing."
Andrew dispels the misconception that Turning Point USA's funding base is predominantly Jewish donors, stating that simply wasn't true. While they did lose some donors over inviting Tucker Carlson to speak, it wasn't exclusively or even primarily Jewish donors. Charlie was upset about what he perceived as moral blackmail, and whenever someone tried to pressure him to disavow Tucker or cancel speakers, he would dig his heels in further. At an event in Myrtle Beach, Charlie told an audience member asking if he would debate Candace Owens or disavow Tucker: "I don't appreciate being morally blackmailed." Andrew notes that both pro-Israel and anti-Israel factions are now trying to claim Charlie, which he finds somewhat humorous given the nuance of Charlie's actual position.
Was Charlie Converting to Catholicism?
Andrew addresses the widespread rumor that Charlie Kirk was converting to Catholicism. The answer is no. However, Charlie did love attending Catholic mass. He appreciated the ritual, the beauty of old Catholic churches with stained glass, and the ancient feel of the liturgy. He loved that Catholics around the world were worshiping in the same way. Erika Kirk is a cradle Catholic, and she and Charlie would attend mass together sometimes. Andrew himself grew up Catholic and later became a Christian through Protestant churches, a path similar to Erika's.
Charlie had theological disagreements with Catholicism, which he enjoyed debating with friends like Michael Knowles. But he also had a strong distaste for worshiping in gyms or blank spaces converted into churches. He preferred the sacred atmosphere of traditional church buildings. Andrew emphasizes that while Charlie loved Catholic mass, he remained theologically Protestant and had no plans to convert. Erika herself had previously addressed this on social media when someone asked if they were converting, responding simply, "No, we just like attending sometimes."
The Reality of Donor Pressure and Tucker Carlson
Andrew confirms that Charlie did face donor pressure regarding Tucker Carlson speaking at Turning Point events, but Charlie's response was to double down. Charlie believed in platforming diverse ideologies, religions, and viewpoints within the conservative movement. He wanted everyone to have a chance to share their ideas. While Turning Point did lose some donors over the Tucker invitation, Charlie never wavered. In fact, whenever people tried to pressure him, he would joke about inviting Tucker to give two speeches or inviting even more controversial figures.
This principle extended beyond Tucker. Charlie had a personality trait where being told what to do made him want to do it even harder—a characteristic Andrew notes that Alex Clark shares. Charlie was principled about free speech and open dialogue, even when it cost the organization financially. He viewed these pressures as attempts at moral blackmail and refused to compromise his values.
What Happened with the Tent Cameras?
One of the conspiracy theories that emerged immediately after the shooting concerned the tent cameras. Why were they taken down so quickly? Andrew explains that the team was in massive shock but still had enough presence of mind to secure the SD cards. They understood that the cameras were in close proximity to the crime scene and would contain crucial evidence. They also knew that people can be evil—videos circulated of someone running in to grab Charlie's hats—and they didn't want anyone stealing the cameras or the footage.
The team removed the SD cards specifically to preserve them for law enforcement. It wasn't an attempt to hide evidence or cover anything up; it was an effort to protect the evidence in a chaotic moment when they feared someone might tamper with or steal the cameras. Andrew emphasizes that all footage was turned over to authorities and that the quick action was motivated by a desire to help the investigation, not hinder it.
Do They Have the Right Shooter?
Andrew states that Erika Kirk and the organization have confidence that law enforcement apprehended the right shooter. However, he notes that important questions remain open: Who knew in advance? Who radicalized the shooter? Was there a funding network? These are fair questions that should continue to be investigated. Andrew expresses confidence in Kash Patel and the leadership at the FBI and DOJ, as well as the cooperation with local law enforcement.
He acknowledges that other theories exist and says everyone should remain open to new information, pursuing every lead and being willing to be surprised. That said, there's a high level of confidence that they have the right person and that the focus now should be on understanding how deep the conspiracy goes. Andrew notes how fortunate it is that this happened under a Trump administration rather than a Harris administration, pointing out the irony that Charlie helped elect the very administration now overseeing the investigation into his death.
Charlie and Erika's Relationship: The Private Side
Andrew shares intimate details about Charlie and Erika's relationship that reveal a deeply loving and mutually supportive partnership. Charlie never raised his voice to Erika, even in disagreements. When traveling together, they would have differing opinions about logistics—where to meet, how to coordinate with the kids—but they would work through it with phrases like "yes, sweetie" and "I love you" woven throughout. Andrew describes watching them problem-solve in this remarkably sweet way.
Charlie would drop everything when Erika called. No matter how important the conversation or meeting, he would say "Hold on, Erika's calling" and take it immediately. She was always his number one priority. He would move heaven and earth for her, and she put her life on pause to support his mission. Andrew recalls a family vacation in the Northeast when Charlie was invited to guest host Fox and Friends. Erika was completely on board with interrupting their family vacation so Charlie could fly to New York, demonstrating her support for his work.
Charlie went straight home to Erika every night. Unlike many influencers who party after events, Charlie's pattern was to go directly home, spend time with Erika, talk, and bounce ideas off her. She was his confidant and support system. Andrew emphasizes that Erika knew everything about Charlie's work, his world, his mission. When an important person called her within hours of Charlie's death and asked "What do you know?" implying knowledge of Charlie's work, Erika responded definitively: "I know everything."
Erika Kirk as CEO: What the World Will Discover
Andrew has tremendous confidence in Erika Kirk as the new CEO of Turning Point USA. He describes her as shrewd, smart, and sharp. While she was happy to defer to Charlie's leadership and empower him as the head of their household and the organization, that doesn't mean she lacks leadership capability. In fact, Andrew argues that her leadership is just as efficient, focused, and strong as Charlie's—just more feminine in approach and tone.
Andrew explains that those who spent years around Charlie couldn't help but absorb his energy, rhythms, and training. He compares it to a soldier whose training kicks in during war. When Andrew found himself doing media hits at the White House after Charlie's death, he realized he was operating exactly as Charlie would have—his training had kicked in. If this is true for Andrew, he argues, imagine how much more true it is for Erika, who put her head on the pillow next to Charlie every night, talked to him constantly, and was in regular contact throughout each day.
Erika knows who to trust, who to embrace, who will be allies in fights ahead. The world is about to discover, as Blake from The Charlie Kirk Show team put it, that Erika is "what a woman." Andrew mentions that just before Charlie died, Turning Point announced six months paid maternity leave for female employees—a decision that had Erika's influence written all over it. Charlie had been resistant to the idea for years due to cost, but he ultimately put his values into practice, something he was passionate about as part of his vision to rebuild the American family.
Charlie's Vision: Rebuilding the American Family
Andrew reveals that if Charlie Kirk had ever been elected president or put in charge, his central focus would have been rebuilding the American family. This was absolutely core to Charlie's passion. He defended the nuclear family and traditional family values repeatedly, often receiving nasty headlines for it. Andrew now sees Charlie as a modern-day prophet—not in the fortune-telling sense, but in the biblical sense of being God's instrument who goes into a wayward place, speaks truth, and calls people to repent.
Some people accept the call and love you for it; others reject it and hate you. That was the central dynamic of Charlie's entire ministry—and Andrew deliberately uses the word "ministry" rather than just "mission" or "activism." Charlie would go into places like college campuses, London, or Asia and call people to repent, to remember themselves, to return to their greatness. He was like an icebreaker ship breaking through frozen water so that other ships could follow behind. He would confront cultural lies so boldly and clearly that others could come after him and continue the work.
One of the main issues Charlie addressed was family formation, getting married, pursuing the "MRS degree." People would get offended, often stirred up by mainstream media, but millions of young people listening online would think, "That actually makes sense. I secretly want that." Charlie said out loud what many were afraid to say. His focus on family, on the Make America Healthy Again movement, on rebuilding civilization from the ground up—these were the issues that truly energized him, not the day-to-day political maneuvering.
What Charlie Was Really Passionate About
Andrew reveals something that might surprise people: Charlie Kirk was bored with politics. He knew he had to engage because politics is important, but he wasn't passionate about it in the way people might think. Andrew shares that he would try to book members of Congress on the show and Charlie would say, "I don't want to talk to them." Charlie wasn't a policy wonk. He didn't care about the minutiae of legislative details. He cared about big ideas, truth, and movements like Make America Healthy Again.
Charlie loved Bobby Kennedy and thought the MAHA movement was the most underappreciated and most critical part of Trump's 2024 coalition. He wanted to grow it and had a real vision for it. That's why he encouraged Alex Clark so strongly—he knew he couldn't speak to women the way she could, and MAHA Moms were central to the coalition he wanted to build. Charlie did an interview with RFK in December 2023 where he challenged Kennedy with tough questions, and RFK got a little upset. Charlie's response was, "Bobby, I respect you, but I've got to ask these questions." That was Charlie—respectful but unflinching.
The event where RFK endorsed Trump, hosted by Turning Point in Phoenix, was one of Andrew's favorite events in the organization's history. Charlie was excited because he saw the power of the MAHA movement and loved that Turning Point was taking on something he had so much personal passion for. This wasn't about political calculation; this was about issues Charlie genuinely cared about and believed were true.
Charlie's Discipline and the Medical Mystery
Andrew reflects on Charlie's extraordinary discipline regarding his health. Charlie was obsessed with biohacking—how to get more energy, how to sleep deeper, how to maximize his body's potential. When he first started working with Charlie, Charlie was running 10 miles a day. Eventually, back problems from constant plane travel forced him to switch to walking, but he remained intensely disciplined. He was a pacer and a walker, keeping up a brisk pace with his long legs that made him hard to keep up with.
Andrew now sees this discipline through a spiritual lens. He wonders if God put this wiring in Charlie's brain because He knew Charlie had a huge purpose and limited time. Charlie got the most out of his body that was physically possible in the years he had. There's even a medical mystery that speaks to this: after the shooting, despite the devastating wound to his spine and brain, Charlie's heart kept beating. Doctors told Andrew and Erika that this was because Charlie's heart was so strong—so conditioned through years of discipline—that even after the trauma, it continued to beat.
Erika told Alex that Charlie's heart was "beating for you and your kids." Andrew agrees there's truth to that emotionally and spiritually, but also a medical reality: Charlie had built such a strong, healthy body that even in death, his heart fought to keep going. The wound was instant and Charlie didn't suffer—he blinked and was in heaven—but the strength of his heart was a testament to the discipline and intentionality with which he lived his life.
Charlie's Last Trip to Asia: Walking Alone in Seoul
One of the most poignant details Andrew shares is about Charlie's experience walking alone in Seoul. Charlie was extraordinarily famous, even in Asia, but Seoul gave him a rare gift: anonymity. He woke up early one morning and went for a long walk by himself, adventuring and exploring the city. For someone whose life was defined by being surrounded—by security, staff, crowds, cameras—this solitude was precious.
Charlie kept sending selfie videos to his team showing the route he was taking and how he was exploring. Andrew emphasizes how rare this kind of experience was for Charlie in his day-to-day life. He simply didn't have opportunities to be alone much. The fact that his final international trip included these moments of peaceful solitude, followed by Korean Christians singing and praying over him, feels deeply significant in retrospect. It was as if Charlie's final week abroad was a gift—moments of rest, prayer, and preparation he didn't know he needed.
The Fox News Relationship: Fully Embraced
Andrew addresses rumors about Charlie's relationship with Fox News, confirming that while there was a period when Charlie wasn't on as much—around the time of Tucker Carlson's departure from the network and some comments Charlie made—the relationship had been fully restored and strengthened. Fox wanted to embrace Charlie completely. They wanted him to host weekend Fox and Friends regularly, possibly appear on The Five, and explore documentaries on topics close to Charlie's heart. Charlie was excited about these opportunities.
Andrew shares a hilarious story from over the summer when Charlie was at a bar-restaurant in the middle of nowhere with two very prominent Fox hosts—top talent people should recognize. They tried to sit in the back, but people noticed them. Over the course of an hour and a half to two hours, people came up for selfies about 100 times—almost all for Charlie. The two Fox anchors were asked multiple times to take the picture of Charlie with fans. Andrew says these stories must have gotten back to Fox leadership, demonstrating just how popular Charlie had become with grassroots Americans. The relationship was strong, the opportunities were there, and Charlie was fully appreciated by the network.
What Happens Next: The Show and the Tour
Andrew outlines the path forward for both The Charlie Kirk Show and the speaking tour. The Prove Me Wrong segments are being discontinued for now due to security concerns—those outdoor, open formats are too difficult to secure. However, the evening events will continue because indoor venues can be secured much more easily. Special guests already lined up include Michael Knowles (who already appeared), Megyn Kelly, Governors Doug Burgum and Greg Gianforte, Vivek Ramaswamy, Glenn Beck, and another major figure Andrew couldn't yet confirm. He also reveals that Erika Kirk will appear at at least one or two tour stops, which speaks to her strength and commitment.
As for the daily show, they're bringing in guests to studio and pulling the Turning Point family together, which has been cathartic for everyone. Week one featured JD Vance from the White House, the Daily Wire team, Glenn Beck, Megyn Kelly, and Tucker Carlson. The regular "Thought Crime" crew—Blake, Tyler, Cliff Maloney—will continue to be part of the show. Andrew says the vision is still taking shape, possibly including something like "Tuesdays with Erika." While no one can replace Charlie's world-class talent, Andrew feels a strange peace because the people closest to the show understand Charlie's DNA, his spirit, his magic. Whatever form the show takes moving forward must be driven by people who did the show with Charlie and absorbed how he wanted things done.
Andrew's Moment of Repentance
In response to Alex's final question about offering one remedy to heal a sick culture, Andrew gives perhaps the most vulnerable and powerful answer of the entire interview. His answer is simple: give your life to Jesus, repent and be saved. But he explains what repentance really means—it's not just saying sorry, it's turning around. When you hear "repent," something instantly comes into your head, the thing you know you need to stop. That's what you need to focus on: the addiction, the lie, the thing you're holding onto, whether it's wealth, comfort, or expectations for your future.
Andrew then shares his own experience. When he got the news about Charlie, he told his wife, "Everything just changed." He realized he didn't want it to change. Beyond the devastating grief of losing his best friend and brother, he had to confront that all his little comforts had evaporated and his vision for his future had gone out the window. He wrestled with this quietly and alone. The Saturday after the shooting, Andrew was alone in his hotel room when Allie Stuckey sent him a song by Matthew West. He listened and began weeping—an ugly cry, he admits. In that moment, he repented.
He repented because he didn't feel capable of what would be called of him in the days and weeks ahead. What was holding him back was his unwillingness to let go of his flesh and his selfishness. In that hotel room, he surrendered completely: "Lord, it is all whatever you want. I throw my hands up and out to you. I'm open to you. I understand this is not what my flesh wanted, but I don't want my flesh. I want what you want for me. Come Holy Spirit, change me. Don't let me hold on to these things I think I need because I know that I don't. If you bring them back to me, so be it. If you don't, so be it. Your will be done, not mine." It's a profound testimony of transformation through grief and a powerful answer to how culture can be healed—through genuine repentance and surrender to God.
Video Transcript
[Music] What if I told you we're diving into every single conspiracy theory surrounding the life and death of Charlie Kirk? From $150 million bribes to Catholic conversion rumors to why the tent camera footage disappeared, we're pulling back the curtain today. I'm joined by someone who knew Charlie better than almost anyone. Andrew Kovette, executive producer of the Charlie Kirk show, and one of Charlie's best friends. We talk about what Charlie and Erica's family vacations were really like, the biggest disagreements they ever had, and what's next with Erica stepping in as CEO of Turning Point USA. No question is off limits. This is the episode where we go there. Watch this episode on the Real Alex Clark YouTube or you can watch it on the Culture Apothecary Spotify channel. Leaving a five-star review right now is crucial as we rebuild without Charlie. I'd love to know how you found the show. If you're new, if you've been here forever, but you haven't left a review, tell us what you think about it. You can find the show on Instagram at Culture Apothecary or find me at real AlexClark. Support the organization and the show with merch at tpusa merch.com. Code Alex Clark, by the way, will get you 10% off. Please welcome executive producer of the Charlie Kirk show and one of Charlie's best friends, Andrew Kovvette, to Culture Apothecary. I always describe you as Charlie's right-hand man, one of his very best friends, producer. I mean, you're like a founding father of Turning Point USA. I will never forget the first time that I met you. We were at a house party. Dan Krenshaw was there and he took his eyeball out. >> Do you remember that? >> I don't. I think I blacked it out, but I do I think I remember the the event that you're talking about. >> Yeah. So, that was the first time I ever met you and and so you've been around since, you know, before I was. >> Yeah. >> You know Charlie better than probably anyone else um in this company. You and Mikey McCoy, I would say, were the very closest to him. >> What was his very last week like? Like what was he talking about? What was he doing? >> He was traveling abroad. He was in Soul, South Korea, and he was in Tokyo. And then he came back to Phoenix and he did the show on Monday, Tuesday, and then I guest hosted the show on Wednesday for him and then it happened. It's interesting. I posted on X a video that was taken kind of, you know, that that portal where you enter the stage from kind of behind the stage. So Charlie was doing a live a big event in Korea. It was um about two weeks ago and he got done with his speech and the event organizers came onto the speech and they asked them to come forward and to sing and pray over Charlie. And it's a beautiful video because they just start singing how great is our God. How great is our God. Sing with me. How great is our God. And you can see Charlie's head. He bows it and he puts his hand on his heart and he just sits there and he absorbs it. And I wasn't with uh the team when they traveled. I've got three little kids. Charlie was always very good about trying to insulate me from having to travel too much, right? Because we could have just been traveling non-stop. And so, so he's just sitting there like this and you can hear them shouting and praying for him. The Koreans are really amazing prayer warriors actually. And when he got off stage, Mikey told me that uh he was like misty eyed. He was really emotional. >> It really hit him. And I just think that's so beautiful because he spent this time in these foreign countries. And I remember kind of going, >> why are you going away? You know, what's the, you know, what's the And but it was after the election year. He was trying to carve out some of these international trips that have been the requests have been piling up. So we went to London right earlier in the year. And we have a Turning Point UK. >> Yeah. Like, >> yeah, they they're pretty independently operating, but yeah, they're connected to Charlie and I remember the team that started that and it's kind of transitioned, but they they've been mourning and honoring Charlie as well in some amazing ways. But one of the things that I love about that last trip to Asia is he was still extraordinarily famous in Asia, but he woke up really early in the morning one day and he just got to go for a walk and he was he's a walker. He >> Oh my god, he's a pacer. >> He paces well his pace that he keeps up when he walks cuz he had these big tall long legs and so it's hard to keep up with him when you're walking but he just loved walking. He loved it. He used to run a ton. So, when I first started working with Charlie, he was running like 10 miles a day. I'm not even kidding. And he eventually uh couldn't do that because he hurt his back from all the plane flights and his back was a was a constant problem for him. So, he just was like, "Okay, I'm going to I'm going to walk." And he walked all around Seoul just by himself and adventured and explored. And that was if if you get into the day-to-day real life of Charlie, he just didn't have that kind of an experience being alone much. >> Yeah. I was going to say that's really interesting >> because he had to be surrounded by security or he had his team or the staff and so he just loved it and he got to do that and he kept sending us like selfie videos from the route he was taking how he's exploring the city and uh he did a couple other walks with his team but then he went to Tokyo and I think this is really telling of Charlie he was talking to a non-Christian audience the Koreans are really Christian, the Japanese are not. >> Mhm. >> And he was, it was very important to him as he was preparing his remarks that he shared the gospel. And so there was a whole lot of thought that went into how to do it appropriately, how to do it respectfully, but to do it. And so he did that. And then he got home from that trip and all I heard about was how excited he was to start the tour. He was so pumped. And it was interesting because anything that was in the news that was contentious or that there was infighting, he was excited because he was going to he knew he was going to get those questions and he was going to the a lot of those clips go viral and it was going to be an opportunity for him to sort of help steady the ship and bring the movement together and articulate what he he thought was the best way forward. >> And what was that? >> It just depended on the question. It could be the Israel question. It could be the Epstein thing. It could be anything that was kind of hard, foreign policy. >> One of our last conversations, he brought that up. He said, "Alex, I'm really worried. Like, this is really serious, isn't it? The the infighting and the splitting of the movement. Like, this is really a problem." And I said, "Yeah, but then like, you know, I don't know, one of us got pulled away or whatever. We didn't we literally only said that, so I didn't get to hear more of his thoughts on that." But what was he telling you behind the scenes? >> It's interesting because there's been a lot of people who don't know what they're talking about saying a lot of things about this issue. And I, you know, on the one hand, I love it because you've got the pro-Israel side claiming him and you've got the anti-Israel side claiming him now, which is aostumous thing. But I think I think that's interesting. You got the Catholics claiming him and the evangelicals claiming him. And >> was he becoming Catholic? >> No. But he really loved Catholic mass. He loved the ritual of it. Uh he loved the beauty of old Catholic churches and the stained glass >> and him and Erica would go sometimes. >> Yeah. Well, Erica's a cradle Catholic, but she ended up kind of like me. I grew up Catholic and first communion and went to Catholic high school, but then I ended up becoming a Christian in college through a Protestant church through a non-denominational kind of more experience. It's actually a Presbyterian and then it was kind of non non non-denominational and and I think Erica kind of follows that same path. She and I share that. >> Also, by the way, I I just want to draw attention to she's posted a photo of her and Charlie and the kids in mass before and somebody in the comment section said, "Oh, are you guys converting?" And she said, "No, we just like attending sometimes." So, she herself had said no. >> Yeah. And I think Charlie, one of one of the things Charlie really hated worshiping in like a a gym, you know, or a >> some some sort of kind of blank space that that you just turn into church. I don't there's no problem. He didn't have a problem with the the act of that. He just didn't prefer it. And he loved again the ritual, the ancient, you know, feel of a Catholic mass and the fact that everybody around the world that was worshiping is is Catholic. He loved he loved that. So he had some really big theological hang-ups with that. You can go check the videos out him debating with uh Michael Nolles, you know, in good fun. I mean, they were dear friends, but they loved kind of debating the whole Protestant versus Catholic thing. >> So So tensions were rising in the movement. This is not news to anybody. If you are participating in the movement, you see it with your own eyes. You see it on X if you live online like we do and Charlie was aware of it. Oh yeah. >> I I will say as far as the rumors go for for donor pressures and and all of that and you can tell me if I'm wrong internally. What I noticed was yes, he was getting pressure about having Tucker speak. There were people angry that we were allowing Tucker to speak. He wanted to double down and said, "I don't care that people are mad. I have tons of different ideologies on this stage, religions, viewpoints within the conservative movement. Everybody's welcome. I want everybody to have a chance to share their ideas. >> And that's the only pressure I know of as far as donor pressure that he ever received recently. >> Couple things that it's worth clarifying. >> You know, and you asked me this earlier, so let me make sure I I say it. Charlie's position on Israel was very clear. I like them more than I like Hamas. I just wish I was free to criticize Israel and not be labeled an anti-semite because I can criticize my own government and not be called anti-American, >> right? >> But why do I have more freedom to do, you know, that and not criticize, you know, a foreign government? And he was really upset that that there was this sort of clampdown on the freedom of expression, the freedom of ideas, free speech when it came to a foreign government. And I will say this, he felt like he had earned the right as a friend of the Jewish people over the years and all of the things that he had done. He felt like his bonafides in that respect were unassalable and that he should have the freedom to say, "Hey, it's time to end the war. Hey, it's time to stop the killing." But, you know, when you with Tucker for example, yeah, I mean, we took some push back. We lost some donors. And what's interesting is it wasn't necessarily Jewish donors, although there was because that's a misconception about Turning Point's funding base, by the way, is, you know, it's not a whole lot of Jewish donors. It It's just not We never, you know, there was always I saw the comments online like, "Oh, the Jewish shekels or something like I mean, it's all this gross stuff." It just wasn't true. Um, and it isn't true. Uh, but we did lose, you know, one in particular towards the end that was frustrating. There's this great clip when we were in Myrtle Beach and he got asked if, you know, from somebody in the audience if he was going to, you know, debate Candace or, you know, disavow Tucker and Tucker and Charlie's answer I thought was amazing. I remember he came off stage, he was like, "Do you like that one?" And I was like, >> he would always ask that for reassurance. Yeah. He always he always loved like, "Did you see that?" Listen, >> yeah, do I look good? Was that a good clip? Do you think that'll go viral? >> Yeah. And I remember saying like, "Yeah, I thought it was amazing." It was morally so crystal clear and he basically said, "I don't appreciate being morally blackmailed." And you know, and every time people would say that to him, he would dig his heels in. It's like, "Well, maybe Tucker's going to give two speeches now at NFest or maybe I'll invite so and so." >> That was one thing like Charlie and I um I relate to him so much is that him and I both do that where we don't like being told what to do. >> Oh, I've noticed that before, by the way. >> Yeah, I know. Yeah, Andrew. I'm like, "Oh, there's so many things that we could talk about. how many times that Andrew and Charlie have had to put out fires for me that I've started. But like, yeah, when I'm told I I can't do something, it's like, well, I'm going to do it even harder then. That's just my personality. Charlie is very much the same way. >> I think that's the key. It's like Charlie was a friend of the Jewish people and a friend of Israel. >> Did he have opinions about the prosecution of the war, about he thought their PR was abysmal, thought they were doing more harm than good in many ways for their own cause. So all of those things were true and he was upset that he couldn't express those things freely without without all of this pressure coming down on the organization. He has a lot of great Jewish friends and you know and some people that maybe some not so good ones, right? But I think there's just it's just a nuanced thing. >> Was Charlie offered $150 million from Israel? >> As far as I know, no. >> I had never heard anything like that. Everyone I've asked has said the same thing. Well, and and by the way, just for what it's worth, it doesn't matter the amount that would have been coming down. We would have said no because there's evidence that that is true. >> Turning point does not Charlie would not accept foreign money. >> Exactly. >> We only took American money. There was money sent to us like practically in multiple instances where they're trying to cram it down our our bank account and we said no. We canceled like money wires and things. >> No foreign money and also no handouts from the government. during the pandemic, he refused to do mass layoffs that everybody else in the country was doing. Said no to the to the um whatever that check was. What was that that they were handing out? Stimulus check. >> Yeah. The PPE loans, right? I always get PPP and PPE mixed up, but Yeah. >> Yeah. But it was a big it was a good amount of money that at the time we could have used. >> Yeah. >> He put out a company statement saying, you know, this was tempting for sure, but we're going to say no. I mean, he was very principled in that way. >> He was extremely principled, especially on foreign money. I have in I remember moments we'd be at like an event, you know, and some foreign people would come up and like demand a meeting or try and get a meeting with Charlie and Charlie would look at me and go, "Deal with them. Get rid of them." Like just I don't want to talk to them. >> So I I often had the job of >> being the bad guy. >> Being the bad guy and say, "I'm so sorry. Charlie's schedule's busy and you know it's unfortunate his you know we we just can't fit you in. Oh well here's my card. Please, let's, you know, and I mean, on one occasion when that happened a couple years later, those people got we we saw him in the news and they got arrested and he text me. He's like, "See, I knew it. I knew it. I my my Spidey sense could feel it." And Charlie did have a Spidey sense for who he could trust and who he couldn't trust. And you know, in this business, there's a lot of shady people that will try and insinuate themselves into your circle, into your orbit. And you have to be as wide as a serpent, as gentle as a dove. And you have to be able to really assess people's motives and cross-check things and Charlie was the best at that. >> Have you guys had a conversation um you know on the board and just sea level executives of the company? Have you guys talked to Erica about that? Just like looking out for opportunists that are going to be circling around her at this point. >> I don't think I need to tell Erica that. Erica is very shrewd. She's very smart. She's very sharp. There's a a great story. can't really tell you who this this was, but it was a very important person and it happened within hours of the news and the call goes in, she takes it because it was a very important person and the question was to her, okay, so just as a starting point, like what do you know? And I think it was in reference to like Charlie's world, his work, his mission. Like how much do you like know about what he was doing? Like what what was he doing? But it was inferred it was like so what do you know? And she was like I know everything. And I was like that's amazing cuz she did because Charlie would go home and if you knew Charlie I mean a lot of influencers a lot of people in the space they go out and they party they they do that. Charlie did not. He went he went straight home to Erica. If she was traveling with him, he went straight home to her very early and hung out with her and they talked and they talked and he would bounce ideas off of her and she really was this support to him and and the world is about to discover that Erica is one of the most exceptional and amazing women you're ever going to meet. Or as Blake says on from our the Charlie Kirk show side, Blake goes, "What a woman." >> And the world Yeah. the world the world's gonna find out that Erica is in fact what a woman. What's amazing about Erica is that she was so happy to defer to headship to the leadership of Charlie Kirk in the household at Turning Point USA. But there that was and to empower him and be like this support uh structure for him. and to provide a steadiness and she thrived in that role. But that is not to say that she is not capable of leadership. In fact, I heard you mentioned kind of that call that she had with the staff and she is she's it's very feminine. It's a change in that sense cuz she's she's a woman. It's very feminine. It's a different approach. which is a different tone, but it's almost like just as efficient and just as on point and just as focused and and just as strong. And so it's the fe the feminine version of it. It's like so many of us who have been around Charlie for as long as we have, he has it's almost like you can't help but absorb his energy and absorb his rhythms. And I noticed this too because I spent so many years doing Charlie's media hits and setting them up for him and prepping him and doing talking points and and going through, you know, how how we're going to present the arguments. And then here I am, you know, it was the Monday JD hosted the show from the White House and I had five or six media hits with all the networks lined up. You know, they all wanted to find out more, you know, hugest biggest story in the world. And so I end up going and doing all these hits from Pebble Beach right in the White House where they have all the media tents set up. And so all of a sudden I find myself in this surreal place where I'm the one now doing the media hits about the man that I used to do the do that job to like set him up y >> for those media hits. And I'm I'm having this almost outer body experience because I I start sort of, you know, not barking orders, but in the sense like when you're in that seat and you're like, "Hey, can I get this?" "Yeah." "Hey, did you check on this?" And I find myself I was doing what Charlie would do. >> Yep. >> I caught myself. I was like, "Whoa." >> Like these lessons went in deep and I didn't even realize it. And when the when you your back's against the wall and you're drinking through a fire hose and you can barely keep up, all of a sudden the lessons, it's kind of like a soldier. You you you you train for the war and then when the war happens like your training will kick in. >> It was like my training kicked in and the training was Charlie Kirk. If that's true for me, imagine being Erica Kirk that, you know, they put their heads down on the pillow next to each other. They talked at the, you know, before going to bed every night and in the morning and they were constantly in contact. And so she knows everything. She knows who to trust, who not to. She knows who to embrace. She knows who's going to be the allies in the in the fights ahead. And uh you can rest assured that Erica Kirk is up to the task. So, one thing that I was so excited about and I just am so upset that I didn't get a chance to say thank you or I'm so excited myself to him was right before he died, it was announced that we were going to be giving our female employees at Turning Point 6 months paid maternity leave. Now, this is unbelievable. I mean, progressive organizations are not doing that. That's huge. And, you know, that was something that they tried to use against him on the left. like you're probably so um you know misogynistic and you hate women and all of this. And I mean we have more I believe still right more female directors at Turning Point than male. >> We just love uh women more than they do. So we want to like treat them better and we want to make sure that we love families more than they do. There's no question. >> So did Erica have influence on that decision before he died? >> A thousand%. Do you think that we're going to see even some more um really exciting announcements as far as like work family balance that Erica will want to institute here? >> Not going to get ahead of Erica, so I don't know, but I'm sure she would love to hear your opinions on that, Alex. And you can you can >> Well, my opinion I I had said we should be doing longer maternity leave and um I'd said that for a few years, and I think at the time that was like really controversial, so everybody was like, "Do not say that. That's insane. and that would cost us a fortune. And I'm like, okay, but it goes with our values. So, and so when he finally said that, I was like, no way. Cuz I had been thinking that. But >> yeah, no, Charlie like I mean was very very much about putting his money where his mouth is and putting his values on full display so that so that we knew that we weren't hiding behind something. We wanted to be proud about that. And as Eric has said, Charlie, if he was ever elected, you know, president, you know, if he was ever in charge of the world, his job, he he was going to focus on bu rebuilding the American family. I mean, that was absolutely center and core for Charlie as far as a passion. We we talked about and by the way, I mean, you know this, how many times did he get like these nasty headlines when he would just defend the nuclear family and the traditional values of a family because and and I realize this so much now that Charlie was essentially just a modern-day prophet, not not in the sort of like fortuneelling sense, but in the biblical sense of like here's God's instrument. He goes into a weward place and he speaks truth to them and calls them to repent. Mhm. >> And then then what happens when that when when you call a people to repent? Some accept it and they love you for it and some reject it and they hate you for it. >> And that was Charlie Kirk. That was Charlie Kirk's that's the central like dynamic of his entire and I will call it a ministry. >> Yes, it was a mission. And yes, he was an activist, but he was a ministry was that he would go into a place, whether it was a college campus or a country like London. And that's what he was doing in London. I realized this now. He was calling London to repent. He was calling England to remember itself and to come back to your greatness. Repent and be saved. And in that sense, like literally save your civilization because you need to you need to find who you are again, identity. And so Charlie did that in when he went to Asia. It was the same thing. And he would do it on these college campuses. He would speak about issues like family formation and getting married. And he would speak into the cultural lie so directly like an icebreaker breaking through uh the water. And somebody had to be that icebreaker. Somebody had to go forward so the ships behind could could do it. And that was Charlie's mission. He would speak so boldly and clearly to confront the cultural lie so that other people could come behind him. And one of the main issues he would do that on is getting married, the MRS degree or whatever it was, and people get so offended. And yet, when you get past that level of offense, usually by the mainstream media, there was millions of kids listening online going like, you know what, that actually makes sense. >> It makes sense. >> And by the way, I secretly want that. >> I can't say it out loud, but Charlie did. >> Does Erica have full confidence that we got the shooter, the right shooter? >> I think so. And I also think, you know, I I think we're waiting to see if there's more details that will follow. Did who knew in advance? Who radicalized them? Was there a funding network? All of that stuff, I think, is fair and open-ended questions that we can keep asking and we should. But I have every confidence that Cash and Dan at the FBI and the whole DOJ are behind this and the cooperation with local law enforcement has been tremendous. And so, yeah, I'm very aware that there are other theories of the case. And I would just say, listen, we have to open every door, pursue every lead, and be open to being surprised. That being said, there's a pretty high level of confidence that this is the truth and that they got the guy and now we need to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. >> How do you think this would have potentially played out differently if we would have had a Harris administration instead of a Trump? >> Oh gosh. it, you know, it it would have been an utter disaster. Somebody said to me this morning actually like how fortunate we are that if this was going to happen. >> Yep. I said the same >> that that that we have this administration in place. The administration that Charlie helped get elected and then obviously flew to Mara Lago within 72 hours of the election to help with the transition. So Charlie basically, you know, helped his, you know, helped hand select some of the people that are now um overseeing the investigation and um ensuring that justice is is done. >> As we wrap, there's just a couple things I want to hit. One, >> by the way, very good doing this without questions. >> Thank you. You're doing well. I love to be super prepared and write out all my questions for my guests. And with Andrew, I know him so well. And you know, I'm just asking questions that have been in my mind for the last week that we've been just grieving and dealing with this. So, I was like, I'm just going to let it roll. >> You're doing great. I always wanted Alex to be a lot less rigid. >> You think I'm rigid and everyone else that knows me knows I'm a spaz. >> When we first started working with Alex and we'd book her on Fox or something, she'd be like, "But wait, what are the questions? They have the exact." I like, "No, they're not going to give me the exact questions, Alex. Like, you got to it's a com you have to be a human and hear what they say and then think about it and then maybe respond." And she was, you know, I was just trying to like dumb it down for her. she but she ended up I mean obviously you've had such amazing success and Charlie was so proud of you and so you've you've uh taken any advice I could have given you and >> what were some of the things about me that aggravated Charlie the most or gave him the most trouble >> you just like sometimes don't think the consequences through of your wild statements sometimes so like what did you ask so and so like oh okay how did you word oh you worded it that way okay that was good what did you tweet did you run that by anybody Oh, okay. Yeah, that's fine. Yeah, free speech. No, totally. Yeah. Well, and we don't censor you. Like, it's so funny, you know, it's it's like most of our job is more reactive when you don't see all the asking for forgiveness. >> Yeah. And it's like we don't we don't believe in in that control. We think like we hire good people and good people are going to do good things. >> No, there was only and I said I said this in my solo episode that came out yesterday. There's only one time in my six years of working here and it and I don't think it was Charlie. I think it was other management. I had an >> me. >> I don't even think it was you. >> It was other management and I had a guest coming on who kind of talked negatively about some people that happened to be donors. >> Oh. >> And so it was like, "Hey, we really are thinking that maybe you shouldn't put this episode out." And I wrote like a the one and only time I threatened to quit ever working here. It was like my most strongly worded letter just saying if I am expected to go on campuses and defend free speech to these students that my free speech and my guest free speech should not be squandered within our walls of Turning Point USA. And I just said we don't have to agree with everything that my guests say and I have guests with different opinions and if those donors want to you know come out and disagree that so I don't think it was you and I don't think it was Charlie but when I said that I think Charlie was notified and then it was like just let her post it never to be no one ever said anything to me again. And then any other times that I said controversial things I would always get little messages from Charlie saying like keep up the good work. I support whatever you want to say. Just like very kind like that. >> Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about the behind thescenes relationship of Charlie and Erica. And I mean, this is an audience of women that want all the giddy little weird details. Did they go out to eat? Did they cook at home? Who was messy? Who was clean? You know, what were their little funny like tiffs that they would have? Things like that. >> Traveling them with them was always very telling because they had this way of, you know, Charlie never raised his voice to her. Uh, but they might have a disagreement about what was the right, you know, next few steps in the travel plan and like should we pick you up here and do this? And then Erica always kind of would go, you know, she kind of has that no baby like thing where, you know, I feel weaving even weird saying cuz I don't use the B- word. Um, and then he would say back like yes, yes, sweetie or something. And like they were always like so nice in their disagreements, but you could tell they were like had a they they definitely had different plans about how we were going to get the kids to the hotel and then with the dinner and then when she should meet him and you know and so watching them kind of problem solve and work things out in this really sweet way with all these these little window dressings of like >> I love you in there was kind of something I >> you look beautiful but you were so wrong right now like stuff like that. >> Yeah, kind of. Yeah. in their own way. That was that the equivalent of whatever that would be for them. But um that that always I'm always reminded of that. And I'm always reminded that Charlie would always drop everything. You know, we'd be talking about something extraordinarily important. He would just be like, "Okay, hold on. Erica's calling." And just take it. And she was always the number one priority and everything else would stop if she needed something. And there wasn't anything in the world that he wouldn't do for her. I mean, he would move heaven and earth to make sure Erica was taken care of. And her for him, I mean, she was she would put her life on pause to sort of support his life and his mission and his work. One of the things that struck me just thinking about it, they were just on vacation in the Northeast, um, you know, this summer. >> He loves Maine. >> Yeah, he loved he Yeah, he loved Maine. He loved Montana. He there was certain places where he loved to vacation and I remember thinking like it was basically like a week and a half they had on the schedule and they had a really cool spot to go vacation in and and they had planned it out like pretty far in advance and then you know he got invited to guest host Fox and Friends so they in the middle of their vacation on the weekend which would have been like the chillest time of the vacation she was like let's go to New York let's do it I mean she was totally game for it to interrupt her family vacation for so Charlie could guest host Fox and Bre. >> And that ended up being such an incredible weekend for him. I mean, those moments of him hosting, it was so fun. You got to see his really endearing, you know, fatherly side on on a horse out in Manhattan. >> Like, it was so funny for Charlie to do that. And I'm so glad that they did because I mean, and Megan Kelly brought this up so I have to ask you. I mean, Megan says she knows for a fact that there were internal issues with Fox wanting to have Charlie on for several years. >> Let me just put that to rest. And I actually talked to Megan about this when she came in to guest host Charlie's show. It it is true that he was on a lot and then he wasn't. And that was kind of around some comments that you know he had made um around in and around the Tucker parting of ways. >> Here's the thing. They have been so supportive and people I I I don't know what I'm at liberty to say and what I'm not. But Fox really wanted to fully embrace Charlie. They wanted him to come host the Sunday the weekend Fox and Friends again. They wanted maybe put him on the the five a couple of times. Like it was they they wanted to maybe talk about documentaries and things that were close to Charlie's heart. They and and Charlie was, you know, was excited to do that. And I like very much in life, Charlie was fully appreciated, embraced by by Fox and they understood his talent. And there's actually a really funny story. So Charlie um found himself at a very nondescript out in the middle of the boonies kind of place with a couple of very prominent Fox hosts >> recently or a long time. >> Very recently. >> Okay. >> Um it was over the summer sometime. I think it was like June or something. I kept trying to tell people I was like, "Charlie has become like like super famous." So, like super super famous. Like you can't take him anywhere. >> Yeah. It totally changed in the last like year and a half. >> Two years. Yeah. And and a lot of that was like Tik Tok and some other things, but he became like super famous. And he finds himself at this bar restaurant and they're kind of out. They tried to get it into the back of this place and people noticed them and again this is the middle of nowhere, middle of the boonies and we're talking top talent like you should know who these people are and thought you would know who they are >> of course. Yeah. And so they're sitting there and then people start coming up for selfies and apparently about this happened about a hundred times >> over the course of about an hour and a half, two hours >> and I don't know if they ever got asked for questions as well, but it was basically all for Charlie. So you get like these two top talent at Fox and Charlie Kirk >> and they and on more than a couple of occasions probably about half the other people were asked these two anchors were asked to take the picture of Charlie with the people coming up. So imagine these very well-known media. Yes. So, right, and I I think Fox, you know, probably and by the way, Fox had already sort of fully embraced him at this point, but I think those little stories must have got back and and Charlie, you know, was extraordinarily popular with We the People and the Grassroots and the the and and you know, so it's it's an amazing thing, but yeah, I mean, the the the vibes were good at Fox. >> How much did Charlie believe in Ma Charlie was like Mr. Maha? He, you know, I don't know what how what percentage of your audience is Christian, but I would just say I look at so much now of Charlie's decision making as like these weird little Holy Spirit nuggets and these little clues. Charlie obviously didn't know he was going to die so young, but he had so much discipline that he he got the most out of his body that was physically possible in the years that he had. It was almost like God put this little wiring in his brain because he knew that he had this huge larger purpose for him. And so he disciplined himself. He was obsessed with biohacking like how can I get more energy? How can I sleep deeper? And it's really amazing actually and I don't I don't I think this is okay but you know there was these reports after it happened that they found a pulse. >> Yeah. Era and Erica told me that when she so I was we were there was a select group of us when Erica gave her first statement to the media that were there in the same room and she came out and she hugged all of us and talked to each one of us and she said that she said you know his heart kept beating even when his like spine and brain were severed or whatever. And I said, "It was beating for you. >> He was holding on for you and your kids and you know it." >> Well, and that's that's a beautiful Yeah. thought. And I think there's that which is very true. And then there's there's the medical angle. And I talked to the doctors. It was that his heart was strong. Like it was so strong. And he that that even sort of Yeah. after this traumatic thing that had just happened to his body that his heart still beat. I mean, there he was. People need to know that it was instant. He didn't feel a thing. He didn't even he didn't even know it. He blinked and he was in heaven. That's I think the truth. It was a devastating wound. >> Why did our team start taking down cameras immediately? Was it just in shock and just thinking like this is what we do and just not thinking it's a crime scene? >> I think massive shock. I I think there's been some stories about the SD cards or whatever that was because even in the shock there was an understanding that the proximity of those cameras uh were a going to be evidence and they wanted to make sure they didn't get stolen out of the cameras but b they didn't want anybody to run in. I mean there was those videos of that the kid running and grabbing the hats >> hats. Yeah. >> So there was an understanding. I mean, I talked to the team on that and they said because we know people can be evil. >> Yeah. >> And they grabbed the SD card so that nobody could get that. But >> so that law enforcement could get it. >> Did I answer your Maha question sufficiently? Yeah. Okay. He loved Maha. >> Well, >> he loved Maha Moms, too. He thought that Maha was the most underappreciated and the most critical of the coalition of Trump's 2024 coalition. And he wanted to grow it. And he had a real vision for that. And he I think that's why he was always like, "Run, Alex, run. Like, do your thing." Because obviously he couldn't speak to the women like you could speak to the women. But he just loved he loves Bobby Kennedy. Loved Bobby Kennedy and really respected him. By the way, there's this fun interview that RFK did with Charlie in I think it was December of 2023. RFK was here in Phoenix. >> Okay. And they did that they did that interview and Charlie like challenged him and RFK got a little mad at him for one of the questions and and I remember Charlie looked at me he goes Bobby you know I respect you but I got to ask these questions and I remember you know going like good for you Charlie. Yeah asking the hard questions but like even in a moment of tension Charlie was like you know I respect the heck out of you like let me ask like the questions I have to ask. >> That's a good interviewer. It was a it was a good it was a good interaction and then obviously we got to host the when he endorsed him and that was like your favorite event of all time in here in Phoenix as well. Massive massive event and one of my favorite in the history of Turning Point actually. >> Oh 100%. >> Yeah. And but but like he was so excited because he saw the power of it and loved that we were taking on this thing that he had so much passion for personally. >> So he wouldn't want us to stop talking about this cuz I think right now I mean I struggle with that. I'm like, man, everybody right now we is just like wanting to talk politics because, you know, this is this is important. And I do I love talking politics. >> Charlie was bored with politics. If you want to know the truth, Charlie was bored by it. He knew he had to because politics is so important. Cannot tell you how many times I tried to book Congress people on the show and he'd be like, I don't want to talk to them. >> He was excited by Maha. >> He was excited by ideas and maha and things that like he was actually interested in. >> Yeah. >> And you know, he was not a policy wonk. Charlie was not a policy wonk. He didn't care about the, you know, he just um he cared about big ideas and and truth and he believed that Maha is the truth. >> What happens now with Charlie's tours? >> They're going to continue. Um obviously we did Nolles yesterday and um that's amazing and we're going to keep we have so Nolles was previously booked. He was always supposed to be at that event. Uh I think the prove me wrongs are going to go away for now. There's just too many questions about security. But the evening events which you can you can secure the the the venue much much more easily inside and those are going to keep going and we have special guests uh out the yin-yang for that. We have Megan Kelly uh Governor Ynan, we have Governor Gianforte, VC Ramaswami. Um we are working on a another really big person that I can't confirm yet. Ooh, >> but another really big person and I think it's safe to say that you and we got Glenn Beck. I'm trying to think. I don't want to leave anybody off, but we've got some big names and we're not going to pull back. We're not pulling back. We're actually moving forward in earnest. And I think it's safe to say that you will see Erica Kirk, you know, at least one or two stops. >> Wow. You know, >> wow. That shows a lot of strength and says a lot about her character and her mindset with all this, I think. what happens to the Charlie Kirk show. >> Well, we're going to keep doing guests in studio and bringing like the family together. I think that's been really cathartic for everybody. You know, week one was JD, the Daily Wire guys. We had Glenn Beck, Megan Kelly, and Tucker Carlson. And, you know, we've got Benny Johnson. We've got, by the way, we have a great team of just that are here in our thought crime crew. you know, Blake and Tyler and Cliff Maloney, who was on a lot during the the run-up to the 2024 election. I think he's gonna be kind of a hanging in there with us. And so, it's a little TBD, but we're working it out. And maybe we do like a, you know, Tuesdays with Erica or something and she can she can be a part of that. But it's the vision's coming together. It's taking shape. And obviously with, you know, Charlie being such, you know, a world-class talent, there's no way to fully ever even come close to replacing that. And so, yeah, it's a daunting task, but I have this weird piece in my heart because we you you kind of mentioned like the DNA of Charlie, the fingerprints of Charlie, how we've all absorbed it and and in some ways the people closest to that show need to be the people closest to that show moving forward because M >> we saw the way he did things and we saw the way he wanted things done and we saw what he was passionate about. I remember I tried to get guest hosts uh before when we first started when he you couldn't make a a a show and you know they just didn't have the DNA. They didn't know how to keep the spirit of the show alive. And so whatever form it takes, I think it has to be it has to have his DNA in it. It has to have his spirit and his magic in it. And I think that has to be driven by the people that did the show when he was doing it every day. >> I ask every guest this question at the end of my episodes. If you could offer one remedy to heal a sick culture, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, what would that remedy be? >> You know the way I'll answer this? So yes, the answer is give your life to Jesus. Repent and be saved. And I know that sounds like kind of fire and brimstone age, but like it's literally that simple. But what does repent mean? It means it's not just saying sorry. It's like turning around. So the thing that when I say like you should repent like repent. You know what it is that whatever that thing is like instantly there will be something that comes into your head and you'll be like I know the thing that I'm really like I know I have to stop. That is the thing that you need to spend all your time and heart energy, like quiet time. Figure out how you're going to stop that. Is it an addiction? Is it a lie you're telling? Is it something you're holding on to? Is it wealth that you refuse to let go? Is it a comfort? Is it an expectation for the future of your life? M >> and I will just tell you because when this happened, I remember I got the news, my wife came in and I looked at her and I said everything just changed. And I remember thinking I didn't want it to change. Not only was I tragically like devastated that one of my best friends in the whole wide world, my brother, like my business partner, the leader of Turning Point and this icon of our culture had just been assassinated in cold blood. All those things are going through your head. But I had also to confront the fact that all of my little comforts had just evaporated. Mhm. >> All of the things that I thought about the future of my life had just gone out the window. >> Mhm. >> And I would say that I wrestled with that quietly alone. Like I didn't have a time to think about it, but I would get up to my hotel room and just be hit by the weight of I don't know what's coming next. And then actually it was Ally Stucky sent me this uh song by Matthew West. Just weird. I was was like the Saturday after was in my hotel room. My wife's like, you know, back with our kids and I'm just like alone and it's just it was probably the first second I stopped for a second and it just I listen to this song and it just just started weeping. I was like balling like ugly cry like you know talking to you ladies you know what I'm talking about. I uh this would be the right podcast to to say this to reveal this. >> Yeah. I just had this like ugly cry, you know, but it was I needed to get it out. I don't know. And and I just like I repented. And I repented because I think up until that moment, I didn't feel like I could do what was going to be called of me in the days and weeks ahead. And in that moment, I repented because what was holding me back from feeling like I could rise to this moment and rise to this occasion was that I was not willing to let go of my flesh. And I wasn't willing to let go of my selfishness. And in that moment, I realized like, Lord, it is all whatever you want. Like I throw my hands up and I throw them out to you. I'm open to you and I understand that I this is not what my flesh wanted but I don't want my flesh. I want what you want for me. So just come Holy Spirit like change me. Don't let me hold on to these things that I think I need because I know that I don't. And if you bring them back to me so be it. If you don't so be it. Like your will be done not mine. >> You said that probably one of the best of any guest that's ever been on. I just want you to know that. I love you so much. >> You're one of my favorite people that I've gotten to know working at Turning Point. And um >> I as sad and horrific and traumatic as this has been, I was the most excited to talk to you just cuz you were the closest to him. You knew him the best. I was I'm just so sick of some of the misconceptions and things that people are saying online. And I just was like, you're the person to just like let's get the truth out there and and and his right motives and mindset before he passed away. So, thank you for coming on Culture Apothecary. >> Been an honor. Thank you, Alex. If >> you still have questions, leave them in the comments if they weren't answered. But I feel like we hit everything. Please leave a fivestar review. Tell others why they've got to listen to Culture Apothecary. We've got one more special episode this week with somebody who knew Charlie very well, actually since childhood. We're on a mission to heal a sick culture physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Twice a week, I have new guests who bring their own unique remedy to do just that on Mondays and Thursdays, 600 p.m. Pacific, 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Although, this is a special week. Don't forget to subscribe to Real Alex Clark on YouTube or find me on Instagram at real Alex Clark. TPSA merch.com. Use code Alexclark for 10% off merch. I'm Alex Clark and this is Culture Apothecary. [Music]
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