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.
Charlie Kirk and Alex Marlow Discuss Bill Maher Interview, MS-13 Gang Member Deportation Case, Democrat Party Infighting
Charlie Kirk sits down with Alex Marlow of the Salem Podcast Network to discuss Kirk's appearance on Bill Maher's show and what it means for political discourse in America. The conversation shifts to analyzing the deportation case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member whose removal has sparked intense legal battles and accusations of judicial overreach. Kirk and Marlow also examine the emerging civil war within the Democratic Party, as figures like David Hogg challenge establishment leaders like Hakeem Jeffries, drawing comparisons to the Tea Party movement that transformed the Republican Party. Marlow warns that while Democrats appear to be defending gang members and losing the public debate, their real strategy may be to create legal traps for the Trump administration that could lead to impeachment proceedings.
Charlie Kirk reflects on his conversation with Bill Maher, highlighting the cordial and friendly nature of their exchange. Alex Marlow offers his perspective on why Maher's platform remains valuable despite some frustrations with his approach. Marlow explains that while Maher often articulates positions conservatives have held for years, his unique ability to bring together people from across the political spectrum for substantive conversations is rare and valuable in today's media landscape.
The exchange between Kirk and Maher demonstrated how Americans with vastly different lifestyles and viewpoints can engage in meaningful dialogue. As Marlow points out, Kirk is married, deeply Christian, and doesn't drink or smoke, while Maher is twice his age with no children and a completely different worldview. Yet they managed to have a productive conversation that serves as a model for healing national divisions.
The Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deportation Controversy
The conversation transitions to the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member whose deportation has become a flashpoint in immigration debates. Marlow describes this as a "Rorschach test" where both sides believe they're winning. The evidence against Garcia appears overwhelming, including MS-13-style tattoos on his hands and circumstances suggesting involvement in human smuggling.
However, Marlow cautions against overconfidence. While Democrats appear to be defending MS-13 gang members and losing the immediate public relations battle, their actual strategy may be more calculated. According to Marlow, the left is attempting to force the Trump administration into violating a court order, creating grounds for impeachment proceedings or at least consuming the presidency with legal battles.
Kirk raises the question of whether the Trump administration should bring Garcia back to satisfy the courts and then immediately deport him again, a strategy that Stephen Miller has suggested is legally viable. Marlow, typically a "don't give an inch guy," expresses some openness to this approach while maintaining that the broader principle of not bowing to judicial activism remains important.
Judicial Overreach and Constitutional Crisis
Both Kirk and Marlow express concern about the proliferation of district court judges acting as mini-presidents with veto power over executive branch actions. Marlow emphasizes that while Trump has not yet crossed any of these "lawfare judges" or done anything illegal, the current situation is unsustainable. The administration cannot function with 675 judges each having the power to block presidential directives.
The discussion reveals evidence presented in the case, including congressional trips to El Salvador where Democrats met with officials, and photographic evidence of gang-related tattoos on Garcia's hands. Despite the apparent strength of the case for deportation, Marlow warns that the Democrats' endgame isn't just about this one individual but about creating legal precedents and political momentum.
Primary Challenges and the Democrat Civil War
Kirk and Marlow turn their attention to emerging tensions within the Democratic Party, particularly David Hogg's announced effort to primary sitting Democratic incumbents. This represents a potential shift from the Democrats' recent "vote blue no matter who" mentality that discouraged intra-party challenges.
Marlow draws parallels to the Republican Party's transformation following Mitt Romney's 2012 loss. After that defeat, the Republican establishment pushed for amnesty for illegal aliens, claiming it was necessary to win elections. Conservatives like Marlow rejected this approach, leading to a civil war within the party that ultimately produced Donald Trump's candidacy and two presidential victories.
The question becomes whether a similar civil war would benefit Democrats. Marlow suggests it might actually hurt them because their most energetic faction consists of "insane people" who would push the party further into "dark woke" territory. While Republicans benefited from their populist insurgency, a Democratic civil war might elevate their most extreme elements at a time when the broader public is rejecting progressive ideology.
The AOC-Bernie Sanders Movement
Kirk shares observations from his recent appearance in Boise, Idaho, where he drew 3,000 people for a college debate. However, he honestly acknowledges that the night before, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders drew 12,000 people to their event. Kirk questions whether this represents a genuine grassroots populist counter-movement to MAGA or simply a continuation of ultra-radical policies.
Marlow offers a more skeptical assessment, calling Bernie Sanders "a total fraud" who refused to support Democrats he supposedly aligned with when Trump nominated them for confirmation positions. He suggests the large crowd numbers may be inflated through "astroturfing," with musical acts drawing audiences who then sit through political speeches as an add-on.
Despite his skepticism about the authenticity of the crowds, Marlow insists conservatives should "go to the woodshed" and prepare as if Democrats are building a robust grassroots resistance. He warns against complacency, noting that much of the resistance is funded by groups like Indivisible and Arabella Advisors. The right must maintain a "war footing" rather than acting as if the political battle has been won.
The Ongoing Campus Tour
Kirk reveals that Turning Point USA is conducting even more campus tour stops this semester than during the election cycle, reflecting a 24/7, 365-day mentality. This approach treats elections not as endpoints but as mere moments within a broader cultural conflict. The 3,000-person turnout in Boise demonstrates genuine grassroots engagement, and Kirk's team continues pressing forward with their campus outreach efforts across the country.
