2,422 videos 1,389,747,653 views US Joined Aug 30, 2018
Charlie Kirk is the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, the largest and fastest growing conservative youth activist organization in the country with over 250,000 student members, over 150 full-time staff, and a presence on over 2,000 high school and college campuses nationwide. Charlie is also the Chairman of Students for Trump, which aims to activate one million new college voters on campuses in battleground states in the lead up to the 2020 presidential election. His social media reaches over 100 million people per month and according to Axios, he is one of the "top 10 most engaged" Twitter handles in the world. He is also the host of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” which regularly ranks among the top news shows on Apple podcast charts.
Ben Bergquam Reports From Texas Flood Disaster: 82 Dead, 10 Children Missing From Christian Camp
Ben Bergquam delivers a firsthand account from the catastrophic flooding in Kerrville, Texas, where 82 people have been confirmed dead, including 27 children. With 10 children from a Christian summer camp still unaccounted for and many more missing, Bergquam describes standing 15 feet below where floodwaters peaked after over 15 inches of rain fell in hours. He addresses false narratives blaming President Trump for the disaster response, contrasts this federal coordination with previous administration failures, and directs those wanting to help toward local organizations rather than national charities.
Ben Bergquam reported from the ground in Texas following a catastrophic flooding event that has claimed at least 82 lives, including 55 adults and 27 children. Among the most heartbreaking aspects of this tragedy are 10 children from Mystic Camp, a Christian summer camp, who remain unaccounted for.
Bergquam was traveling home to spend his first Fourth of July with family in four years when he received news of the disaster. He immediately turned around and headed back to the scene. Standing at a location that was 15 feet underwater during the flood's peak, he described the unimaginable scale of destruction, with water reaching the top of nearby bridges.
The Scope of Missing Persons Remains Unclear
When Bergquam pressed local officials about the total number of missing persons, he could not get a definitive answer. After asking whether they were dealing with dozens or hundreds of missing individuals, the response he received was simply "a lot," leading him to conclude the number exceeds dozens.
The recovery effort has now transitioned from rescue to recovery mode, as the 72-hour critical window for finding survivors has largely passed. Despite this grim reality, Bergquam emphasized the importance of continued prayer for the missing and their families.
Unprecedented Weather Event Devastates Community
The flooding resulted from a storm system that stalled over Texas for hours, dumping over 15 inches of rain in some locations instead of the forecasted four to six inches. Bergquam noted that while Texas and other dry areas have used cloud seeding for years to help farmers—particularly after the previous year was one of the driest on record, with the river actually stopping—this particular storm's behavior was exceptional.
He acknowledged that while questions about contributing factors are legitimate topics for future discussion, anyone suggesting the community should have known better is engaging in unfair hindsight criticism. Flood warnings and watches are common in the region, but events of this magnitude are not.
How to Help the Affected Communities
For those wanting to assist, Bergquam specifically recommended donating to the Hill Country Community Foundation rather than national organizations like the Red Cross. He emphasized that local communities know best how to allocate resources effectively. Information about donations can be found on the City of Kerrville's website or Facebook page.
He also urged people not to come to the area to conduct their own investigations or recovery efforts, as professional teams are handling the operation efficiently.
Federal Response Praised Amid Political Attacks
Addressing attempts to blame President Trump for the disaster, Bergquam called such accusations "absolute nonsense." He contrasted the current response with what he witnessed during East Palestine and the North Carolina and Tennessee disasters under the previous administration, which he characterized as "dismal failures" marked by wasted taxpayer dollars.
Bergquam, who has covered multiple disasters, stated that the coordination between President Trump, Governor Abbott, Kristi Noem, and local officials represents the best disaster response he has ever witnessed. He described Trump's approach as that of an efficient businessman making strategic decisions to help the country, with all levels of government working in unprecedented coordination.
He concluded by calling anyone claiming otherwise a liar, emphasizing that from the local to state to federal level, this response has been exemplary.
