This is Power Hour with Gabriella Power. >> Hello and welcome to Power Hour. I'm Gabriella Power. Thank you for joining us on this incredibly sad day. We are and I'm sure like you just utterly devastated. We are heartbroken and completely shattered that Charlie Kirk has died aged 31. And I think we are all grappling with the enormity of this tragedy. I mean, Charlie was like no one else. He was a leader. He was an incredible debater. He was a visionary. And he was a man who was so clear on his values. He was driven by his love and faith of God, his love of family, and his dedication entirely to make America a better place. And we are all praying for his family right now. His wife Erica and his two young children. I mean, the impact that Charlie made in this world cannot be overstated. He touched the lives of people not just in America but right across the globe. I mean my phone has not stopped lining up from people here in Australia just devastated by what has happened right now. The world is mourning the loss of Charlie Kirk. The thing is about Charlie, he was so effective. He had this incredible ability to communicate and to crack open the hearts and minds of young people no matter where they were. He was a self-made man. He never went to university. Yet he could debate anyone at places like Oxford and other elite universities. And he was able to challenge liberal views in a way that was so clever, so entertaining, and so powerful. I mean, Charlie Kirk was fearless. He was brave. And this was the moment that he was shot at Utah Valley University. >> We're not counting gang violence. >> Oh my god. Go run. [Applause] I >> mean, watching that, it is so shocking. It's so horrific. And how is it that someone like Charlie, a personality who built an organization, Turning Point USA, from the ground up could be killed while speaking at a college campus. It makes me so angry. Makes so many of us just feel sick to our stomachs that this has happened. And the point or the other point I want to make about Charlie is he was a family man. I mean his message to the American people and young people around the world wasn't just about politics. It was about values about having faith in God, loving your family, loving your country. And he was inspiring young people that the best thing to do in life is to put your faith in God to get married and have children. And we are praying so hard for his wife Erica and all of Charlie's family. There are so many iconic and legendary moments that we are going to show you of Charlie Kirk as we honor him during this show. And this one stands out to me. We know that he poured his heart and soul into his work and he was instrumental in the US election result last year. And this was Charlie Kirk reacting to the news that Donald Trump had won. >> Fox News decides Donald Trump is president of the United States. We've got our republic back, folks. [Music] Let's go. >> There it is. >> Everybody should remember this moment. Look, I'm going to I'm going to echo Charlie from earlier. Remember where you were when this happened. Remember where you were when you realized that the uni party and all these, you know, just the establishment, you said it's time to actually participate. And look what you guys have done. And if anyone deserves to get tears in his eyes, it's Charlie. I think we all agree. >> I think Eric is one of his or something in the in the break room. >> No one has worked harder than Charlie. >> We love you, Charlie. The president has ordered all American flags throughout the United States to be lowered to half staff until Sunday at 6:00 p.m. to honor Charlie Kirk, a truly great American patriot. Here is the president. To my great fellow Americans, I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. Charlie inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror. This is a dark moment for America. Charlie Kirk traveled the nation joyfully engaging with everyone interested in good faith debate. His mission was to bring young people into the political process, which he did better than anybody ever, to share his love of country and to spread the simple words of common sense. On campuses nationwide, he championed his ideas with courage, logic, humor, and grace. >> The president also wrote on social media, "The great and even legendary Charlie Kirk is dead. No one understood or had the heart of the youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by all, especially me. And now he's no longer with us. Melania, and my sympathies go out to his beautiful wife, Erica, and family. Charlie, we love you. We're going to get to some of Charlie's best moments on college campuses as we honor Charlie Kirk today. And we'll be joined by CJ Pearson, Emily Jashinsky, Paul Murray, and Jack Hton in a moment. But first, I have to quickly call out these leftist news networks that seem to hate Charlie and hate America. Outlets like MSNBC that couldn't even wait a day before they started trashing Charlie Kirk. Here is MSNBC covering this enormous tragedy, appearing to put the blame on Charlie for his death. >> Talk to me about the environment um in which a shooting like this happens. >> Yeah, and again emphasize what you just emphasized. We don't know any full details of this that we don't know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration or so we have no idea about this. But following up what what was just said, he's been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that's the environment we're in that that people just you can't stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that's the unfortunate environment we're in. >> MSNBC, you are disgusting and you should be so ashamed of this. It is so sick. It is so low. It is heartless. Heartless rather. It is a disgusting network. And here is MSNBC again. Look at this. As we were just talking about a moment ago with with Allen after one of the Doge uh employees was allegedly attacked in Washington DC. That's what Donald Trump used as a justification to send in federal troops into Washington DC to to get things under control. The carjacking situation. He used that. And I I know it's hard to predict the future, Mark, but you can imagine the administration using this as a justification for something. MSNBC, you are soulless. Joining us now is Emily Jashinsky, host of art after Afterparty with Emily Jashinsky on MK Media. Emily, thank you so much for joining us today on this incredibly sad day. I mean, we are all heartbroken and all mourning the death of Charlie Kirk. Um, I want to get your thoughts on how you're feeling and millions of Americans must be feeling at the moment and just the significance of his death. >> There's so much to say. I mean, it's enormously surreal and I think actually really even for people outside of the United States because Kirk had become almost a fixture of popular culture. He was recently parodyied on South Park. uh it takes a certain level of fame, let alone of political fame as a commentator uh to, you know, be parodyied on a a massive juggernaut pop culturally like South Park. And I think the reason that so many people knew Charlie Kirk is that he took this medium of social media. Uh Charlie and I are, you know, almost the same age, almost exactly the same age, came up in the conservative media, conservative movement together. And he took this medium of social media and understood what people wanted to see, which was debate. And he brought it to them. And he bought it he brought it with this sense of moral clarity that especially a lot of younger Americans, but I think a lot of people just around the world are are looking for right now. whether they disagreed with him or agreed with him, you knew that he believed what he was saying. And you know, that was just like rocket fuel for him. Uh and because he was so everpresent in these new media uh channels or on these new media channels, he people felt like they knew him. Uh and then to see him, you know, tragically but almost poetically um slayed on that format, you know, we now see it on our phones. uh that that horrific video if if people are lucky to have not seen the video of uh him actually getting shot that they shouldn't go look it up. It's it's so graphic. But many many people saw that. >> Emily, you're exactly right. I mean, I'm here in Sydney, Australia, and my phone has not stopped going off with so many people here in Australia, right around the world, really feeling the impact of his loss. I mean, Charlie Kirk just touched the lives of so many people. We're going to play uh his reaction to uh him being featured on South Park that you mentioned in a moment, but also let's uh play Megan Kelly's reaction. She was speaking about this on air. They're reporting that Charlie has died, [Applause] that he's dead at the age of 31, which he would have to be if that video was real. [Music] There's no way he survived that. There's no way that the only good thing is It had to have happened quickly. >> Right. Right. >> Emily, it's just so heartbreaking. I mean, this is so raw um right now and for so many people. I think so many people are feeling overwhelmed with emotion. I mean, I just don't think we can really overstate what an influential figure Charlie Kirk was. >> That's right. Uh especially, you know, I think people in in Gen Z aren't fully represented in the media yet u because they're still young. Uh and you know, there there are more people who are outside of that generation in media, but for Gen Z, he was I mean basically a household name. You could talk to somebody on the left, you could talk to somebody on the center, the odds are they knew who Charlie Kirk was. And that's remarkable for somebody who just 10 years ago was basically an anonymous Chicago guy trying to start up um a new group and and get funding and and all of that to promote conservative ideas on college campuses. So, uh, his trajectory, I mean, he he was he accomplished so much just in his his 31 years, but I just think there was this sense because he was a a pioneer of the social media format, because he was a pioneer of the debate format >> in the social media uh in the social media sort of space, people just have this kind of intimate knowledge of him or they feel like they do. They feel like they grew up with him. They feel like they know so much about him. And that I think maybe that's why we're seeing such a you I would say unified response of horror. I mean Barack Obama, Joe Biden, these people have put out statements. Um Democrats, prominent Democrats mourning the loss of Charlie Kirk. >> Well, of course, and as they should. I mean, he was such an important figure and unfortunately we are seeing outlets like MSNBC trash Kirk. They've apologized for that. Let's um honor him, remember him. You mentioned just how well known he is for his debating skills and he would go out to these college campuses, draw in enormous crowds, and he could debate like no other. Let's look at this. >> Actually, I'm not scared. Anytime. >> I just I honestly I'm good. I just debated the governor of this state. I don't need to debate you, Parker. Okay. You keep interrupting me every time I actually try to >> Every time I try to actually explain my point and have a reasonable >> conversation with you, you cut me off. >> You're you're an English maker. I'm going to give you another chance. What's your favorite Jane Austin novel? >> Harry Potter. >> My shirt, everybody. My shirt says Charlie Kirk. Clearly, you're offended. >> Actually, I'm not. I find it hilarious. In fact, I'm so important that you have to make a shirt with my name on it. >> It's FBI statistics. It's well known >> statistics. Where can you show me that at? >> 70% of offenders were African-Amean. >> I know you're you're obviously very anti-trans. No, I'm pro reality. >> No one like him. I mean, he was so clever. He was so witty. He could bring so much humor, so much emotion. the way he could bring in crowds and it would go off online. As you say, he was kind of a pioneer of the social media movement and to get Gen Z's really involved and really engaged in politics. And then he'd also talk about uh issues that go that went went well beyond politics, his love of God, his love of family. Um you know, I I love watching those moments. He was absolutely brilliant. Um what can can I get your reaction? you know, his people who followed him over the years saw his faith deepen and grow in real time. And again, that just gets to this is somebody who was on social media every day, whether it was on podcasting, YouTube formats, Twitter, um, Instagram, Tik Tok, all of those places he was ever present on. And people over the years saw his faith deepen and grow. They saw him get married. They saw him become a father. and they saw him talk about it and integrate it into his worldview literally every single day. His politics were inextricably intertwined with his his personal life and his faith. And that's what I think is is hitting so many people hard. I mean, even the leftist streamer uh Hassan [ __ ] on Twitch who was supposed to debate Charlie Kirk in just a few weeks at Dartmouth College when he heard the news he was streaming live and it hit him like a ton of bricks. You could see it hit him like a ton of bricks. Um because basically everybody felt like they had some some insight into who Charlie was. >> Absolutely. And it was amazing. He's someone that didn't go to university yet. He'd go to Oxford and he would debate everyone at these elite universities and he would do it brilliantly. But to your point about how he was so open about his love of God and his love of family. I mean just the other day he was posting on his social media that it's it's important in that order. Love of God, love of family, love of country. And and and I mean we saw that day in and day out. He never stopped fighting and um he he just made such a huge impact in America and his vision for America trying to make it a better place. But I'm as we all are so heartbroken for his family, his wife Erica and their two children. His wife Erica uh posted recently um a bit of an insight into their relationship. She put up this photo on social media and she wrote, "Five years ago today, we sat inside Bill's Burgers in New York City, deep in conversation and banter over theology, philosophy, and politics. And at the end, you paused, looked at me, and said, "I'm going to date you." And I mean, that's Charlie Kirk's personality shining through. I think anyone that pays attention or knows Charlie Kirk can just hear those words. That's exactly how he talks. >> That's funny. Yeah. And I mean now part of the horror is that his his wife and and children um are left without such a a towering figure, such a larger than life person. Um and they have a a dad and a a Charlie-shaped hole in their lives. Uh so just unimaginable pain and suffering in the days to come for them and I'm sure we'll see some of it play out publicly, but I I know many people and of course myself included are are praying. >> Absolutely. have to keep praying for that family. Donald Trump has spoken or he's uh released a statement I should say. He wrote, "The great and even legendary Charlie Kirk is dead. No one understood or had the heart of the youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by all, especially me. And now he is no longer with us. Melania, and my sympathies go out to his beautiful wife, Erica, and family. Charlie, we love you." Uh Emily, can you talk to us about I suppose the the political impact this is going to have? He who was such a powerful figure. >> Yeah, and I mean because so many people knew Charlie, we're talking as we should be about his personal impact, but his political impact on the Trump family is enormous and actually on this entire administration is and was of course enormous. He was part of the inner circle that convinced Donald Trump to choose JD Vance as his vice president over other candidates. He is very close to the vice president. He was very close to Donald Trump Jr. He knew the president extraordinarily well and the president did, as you saw in that statement, credit Charlie uh with a lot of the movement. uh you know Charlie's traveling for for years in support of Donald Trump at this point and Trump obviously ended up doing extremely well with with young voters in 2024 and so obviously uh the the apparatus that Charlie built to help Donald Trump is greatly appreciated by Trump world but uh with that came this this deep respect and reliance on on Charlie for guidance and insight into the young uh conservative movement. So he will be irreplaceable for this White House and for the first family. >> Absolutely. RFK Jr. has released a statement as well. He wrote, "Once again, a bullet has silenced the most eloquent truthteller of an era. My dear friend Charlie Kirk was our country's relentless and courageous crusader for free speech. We pray for Erica and the children. Charlie is already in paradise with the angels. We ask his prayers for our country." Um, Emily, we've also heard, you know, so much reaction. Uh, but let's play. I think we have the reaction of Ben Shapiro and Michael Nolles. >> Yeah, I I can't I mean, there's legit nothing to say. I mean, it's it's rare that that, you know, there's nothing to say, but there's truly nothing to say. I mean, unthinkable. Absolutely unthinkable. I mean, I I've known Charlie Kirk since Charlie was 18 years old. I met Charlie when I was a significantly younger man. I was 13 years ago. So I was in my late 20s and I was working at the David Horitz Freedom Center. I met Charlie Kirk when he was a fresh-faced bushy tailed youngster who's starting Turning Point USA legitimately right out of high school. And he'd already found a couple of seed founders, but he was kind of walking around the the the David Horus Freedom Center event looking for for donors. And I started introducing him around to donors. And I remember turning to Jeremy Boring, our co-founder here at Daily Wire, and turning to him at the time, cuz we both worked there, and saying, "That kid is going to be the head of the RNC." We're all processing this awful news. The the first thing that comes to my mind beyond the the sadness for his family, for his wife, his young kids, his millions and millions of admirers, and his many many friends, is that Charlie Kirk would have been president. Charlie Kirk would have been president. His friends knew it. His many, many admirers knew it. And his enemies to whom he was always so gracious, they knew it, too. Emily, I don't think he's overstating that there. He He absolutely could have. >> He knew how to win people over. I mean, that's basically the predicate of his entire career, especially the last five plus years when he mastered uh the art of public debate in social media world. So, he was a very very powerful influential voice. And I think that's another important part of this is the effect he has had on generation Z which is coming into its own in the workforce right now. Uh in some ways he mirrored those trends. Uh the the return to church, the return to uh traditional institutions that we've seen like marriage and and home ownership and and having children that we've seen some uh people younger than than Charlie and I Gen Z return to. Um that in some ways he was mirroring that. Uh but in other ways he was causing it, you know, he was he was nudging it along um because he experienced it himself first. Uh he experienced, you know, getting to his into his late 20s um unmarried and without children and he wanted it and he made it happen and that's where a lot of young people find themselves. So again, there's just this deep deep emotional tether between him and young Americans um that explain why he was so powerful. And certainly Michael um is not wrong about where his career could have been going. >> No, absolutely right. Now Charlie's also spoken about assassination culture that was spreading on the far left. He's tweeted in the past that assassination culture is spreading on the left. 48% of liberals say it would be at least somewhat justify to murder Elon Musk. 55% said the same about Donald Trump. Emily, you know, an incident like this, it brings me back to uh the assassination attempts of Donald Trump, especially that one in Butler, Pennsylvania. And I think there's just so much anger that something like this could happen. Uh you know that they have all someone like Charlie already has security. Ben Shapiro has so much security. So does Donald Trump a and these assassination attempts get carried out and and and today the news is that Charlie Kirk was killed. But he was really on to something here that we have seen in the pockets of the extreme far-left. This kind of bizarre um justification to to carry out assassinations, you know, death threats for someone like Elon Musk. Um we saw people on the far left crying that Donald Trump wasn't assassinated in Butler. uh Pennsylvania in July last year. We've seen so much leftwing violence. Teslas's being being burnt. I mean, what are your thoughts about all of this? You know, I I worry that it's even deeper because I think the reason Charlie was so popular is exactly what we see in that post is he pushed back against moral relativism. and and moral relativism. This idea that maybe you could kill Elon Musk to save uh x number of people, which is what goes through the calculus of these sick demented people who answer a poll like that and say, "Yeah, well, maybe it's maybe it's somewhat justified, quote, somewhat justified, to borrow the language from the poll." What you're really getting at there is moral relativism is is saying certain lives are more or less valuable than others. And Kirk never uh gave Porter to that idea. He he was always a staunch offender of of the dignity of human life. And I think that's part of the reason he was so popular is because people today just feel overwhelmed and burdened by the sinking the sinking sense of moral relativism. And uh that's where we go. I mean I think it it it happens to people on the left. I think the left uh because of its attacks on on institutions uh whether they're the church whether they're uh you know anything basically that undergirds the fabric of society uh the attacks on those institutions themselves not just bad decisions they've made but the institutions themselves the existence of the institutions uh that comes from a place often of moral relativism but I I mean I think Charlie has probably spoken about this before or had probably spoken about this before that can infect people on the right too I mean it's just so easy now to get sucked into nihilism uh and to say you know we're it's all about um you we've seen this over the course of the last 100 years of history in the west. It's a very very dangerous time um as we come kind of unmed from the civilizational foundations um of of God of family community uh that that used to hold us together. >> Yeah, well said. And look, before I let you go, we still don't know anything about the suspect, but there would be pockets uh the far-left extremists that would want to see uh Charlie Kurt killed, of course, because he was so effective. I mean, you look at the impact he was was able to make. He could crack open the hearts and minds of so many young people and create such a big impact. >> Yeah. I mean, the fact that they have not caught this um assassin right now after hours and thousands of people were at this event with their cell phones up filming the moments. This was on a college campus that certainly has CCTV all over the place. >> Uh the the fact that they don't have anyone here uh suggests that there was a a highly strategic uh almost professional operation. um you know whether we know it was one person or more uh it suggests that there was a a very clear and strategic intent behind this and my my goodness uh we can only pray that that this changes things. >> Emily Dashinsky, host of Afterparty on MK Media with Emily Dashinsky of course. Thank you so much for your time. We really appreciate it. >> Thank you. God bless. Joining us now is CJ Pearson, RNC Youth Advisory Council co-chair. CJ Pearson, thank you so much for joining us, especially today, a day where we are all mourning Charlie Kirk's death. It's still doesn't really feel real. Um, you've known Charlie since you were 12 years old. I mean, we all feel like we've known him. We've watched him for years just being so brilliant, but he was with you when you were just 12. Can you share with us a bit about that time? you know, it's um insane to talk about right now, you know. Yeah, you're right. I've known him since I was 12 years old. I'm 23 years old now. When I was just starting out in this movement, making videos in my childhood bedroom growing up in a Democrat household, he was one of the first people in the conservative movement to reach out to me, to encourage me, to encourage me even when my parents weren't encouraging me. um someone who did that for many people uh in this movement, many young conservatives. He would reach out to them and say, "Hey, that was a great video. That was a great interview that you did." Um because he was >> dedicated to building up and uplifting the next generation of conservative leaders and and if that is the legacy um that he has, I think it will be an incredibly righteous one. >> Absolutely. I mean, talk to us about the impact that he had on last year's election result. I mean, Charlie Kirk and yourself, CJ, you two were able to get young people and turn out to vote Republican in a way that had really never been seen before. I mean, the huge wave of Gen Z voters voting for Donald Trump. I mean, speak to us about how he was able to do that. >> Yeah, Charlie was instrumental in all of this. You know, everything from, you know, the infrastructure that Turning Point USA had on college campuses all throughout the country, uh, to the incredible ballot chasing efforts that he led in key swing states. this was a man who was an integral part of President Trump's return to the White House and I think the president has spoken to that. Um, you know, we wouldn't have been able to turn out young men in the way in which we were or young voters alto together uh without the tireless effort of Turning Point USA and Charlie Kirk's incredible leadership. And so, uh, you know, it's this massive whole left, um, you know, in our party right now and our movement right now. Um but again to the point that I made earlier uh this was a guy who was always focused on building up the people that would succeed him even at such a young age right you don't think about successors at 30 years old right no one thinks about that but he was always someone who believed in building up the next generation and uh >> it's um yeah he's incredible >> he he absolutely is and I think so many of us just feel like we we do know him and we've seen his journey for a long time like he's been kind fighting for conservative voices bravely for such a long time. I mean, here is Charlie Kirk back in 2012 on Fox News >> chapters nationwide at TurningPoint USA. And on our website, turningpointusa.net, you'll see the unbelievable positive support we're having from my generation. And using these memes, we're able to engage them in such a unique and exciting way. We're going to open a chapter every single day leading up to the election. And kids are starting to wake up and they have to because the fiscal cliff is coming. And if we don't get our fiscal house in order, our country is never going to be the same. >> You know, looking at that, I just feel like he was so ahead of his time, wasn't he? He had such a strong vision and he dedicated his life to making America better. >> You know, he absolutely was. You know, for a lot of young conservatives, he was absolutely the blueprint, you know, for how we could figure out how to make an impact, how we could, you know, do what we could do uh to make America great again, but also uh the important work to keep America great. And so to see that video from 2012 and to see him sustain that incredible work uh up until now uh is a testament to just how dedicated he was to making sure the American dream was attainable for his children. Uh which I think is again another tragic element of this story. He was an incredible father, a husband. He leaves behind two incredible, beautiful children and um my heartbreaks for him uh for them and and his family as well. >> Oh, me too. You know, I I think when we all had our moments of of just feeling the the grief and the sadness, our hearts absolutely break for uh his wife Erica and two young children. And that is something he he spoke about so much that he proudly shared with his audience that that how proud he was to be a husband, to be a father, and he really had that message to younger generations that that is something to aspire to. no matter what side of politics you're on, really what matters is with especially for Charlie, faith in God, faith in family and your love of country. And he just became, of course, you know, such an influent influential figure as an icon and was featured on South Park just a couple of months ago, but he of course always had such a great sense of humor. He was able to laugh about it. Here's his reaction. >> Okay, everybody. Apparently, I am going to be on South Park next week. That's right. Cartman is going to be playing me on campus. Watch this trailer. >> Wednesday, August 6th. >> You can just shut up, baby, because you hate America and you love abortion >> on an all new South. >> Honestly, I think this is hilarious. They're probably going to roast me. They're going to make fun of me. And you know what? We need to be able to take jokes as conservatives. And that what that is what makes us different than libs, different than those on the left. We can laugh at ourselves. We can be made fun of. We can kind of have a light-hearted attitude about it. Can't wait to see these professional comedians and the South Park legends uh do what they will do with our viral campus tourism. >> CJ, I love it. He brought so much humor. He was happy to have a laugh about himself. And I actually loved the South Park roasting. I think he really kind of nailed Charlie Kirk there. Call out people saying you hate America. But he was it was amazing. He was able to change the minds of of young people in real time. and we were witnessing it. >> You're right. He was a happy warrior, but he was also someone willing to go reach young people where they were, which was their college campuses. He, you know, crisscrossed the entire country. And he invited discussion. You know, he wasn't going there just to lecture them. He wanted the people that disagree with him to be the first to come to the mic, the first to, you know, ask a question and he was going to go back and forth with them. And that's the type of dialogue that we're missing in America. It's the type of dialogue that we're missing in the West. You know, people often times want to, you know, uh, you know, isolate themselves, their echo chamber, and never talk to someone who disagrees with them. Charlie actively encouraged it and welcomed it. And I think that that's exactly what we need more of in this country. It's exactly what we need more of across the world because that's when we actually start to understand one another. And it's a shame that, you know, loving America, loving his God, loving his family, which should be uncontroversial in any country, was so controversial to someone that it cost him his life. It's disgusting. It's depraved. And it's the very definition of evil. >> Absolutely. Uh as you say, you know, Charlie was able to engage in debate on all topics and speak fearlessly, fiercely. And that is what we need in a democratic country. I mean, you should not should go without saying have to lose your life for speaking the truth. and he was he was so passionate about such important issues that often would get missed or overlooked by the mainstream media that you and I have spoken about uh previously, CJ. But most recently, he was constantly speaking out about the brutal murder of Arena Zerutska, this Ukrainian refugee, 23 years old, that was slaughtered on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina. And if it wasn't for voices like Charlie and others like Elon Musk was also calling out this horrific murder as well, this would have been missed by the mainstream media because they were ignoring this attack. And I was just on Charlie's um Instagram just obviously this morning and it was only I think 12 hours ago that he was posting about Arena Zerudska. Let's just take a look at this. >> Okay everybody, you've probably heard the situation that happened in North Carolina. Say the name Ireina Zerutska. Ireina Zerutska was just a writing public transit. By the way, she was a refugee from Ukraine of all places. And she came to Charlotte, North Carolina, and a terrible person. Well, you saw what happened. I can't describe it here on TikTok without some sort of community guideline being violated. But if you haven't seen the video, you absolutely should. Uh this individual should not have been on the streets. 14 prior arrests. And it really makes you wonder, why are we putting up with this? Why are we allowing so many people that have committed these crimes to keep on being released? The magistrate judge continued to release this individual. And uh this is a horrific thing. You know, it's really interesting. The media was totally covering George Floyd. Tens of thousands of articles reconfigured and changed the entire American body politic that when it came to Arena Zerutka, the entire media was quiet, silent. In fact, we they we were we forced them to cover the story. Why do you think that is? You know, I think it says so much that this is what Charlie was doing just in the moments um up until his death. He was speaking out uh he was speaking out for Arena Sutz. If it wasn't for people like Charlie, this story would have been completely missed by the media. >> You know, it was all gas no breaks for Charlie all the time. You know, this was a man who was so dedicated to his country in a way in which I find almost incomparable. You know, I tweeted earlier today, I don't think there are any there's anyone I know who loved his country, loved his family, uh, and loved his God more than Charlie Kirk. And, uh, you know, of course, God bless him for, uh, shining a light on what happened to Ireina and Charlotte, North Carolina. Uh, she was failed by progressive policies there. And, uh, hopefully she gets the justice that she deserves, but hopefully Charlie also does as well. Uh, you know, it's unfortunate that, you know, this assassin is still on the loose. We have not yet detained him. Uh hopefully uh you know that will change soon but it's uh it's tragic. It's very very tragic. >> It's so tragic. CJ, before I let you go, I just want to get your your kind of final thoughts really on the impact of course that this has had on on so many Americans, but particularly Gen Z voters. And I suppose there's going to be so much time where we have to to mourn and heal the loss of Charlie Kirk. I mean, I I I still can't believe that that it's real. But as you spoke about the legacy he leaves behind, I mean, what an incredible one that he was able to touch so many lives, make such a huge impact, and I suppose what do you see going forward? I know we'll continue to to honor Charlie Kirk, but really, can you speak to the movement that he's created and how that will live on? >> You to quote President Trump, we've got to continue to fight, fight, fight. I think that is the legacy uh that Charlie is leaving and I think that's what he would want us to continue to do. You know, this cowardly attack was meant to deter us. It was meant to instill fear into us that would make us become silent. We can't afford to be silent. We on the precipice of some of the most important fights that our country that Western civilization has ever seen in our entire lives. And it's up to Jin Z to channel uh his passion, to channel his energy, and to fight for the country that Charlie Kirk ultimately gave his life for. And so I think that is our command. That is our charge. That is what we must do. And uh I'm all in on that and I think many of my peers are as well because we have no choice but to be. We will not let these people win. We will not let these evil, satanic, just absolutely just terrible people win the day. We will win the day. >> So well said, CJ Pearson, RN Youth Advisory Council co-chair. Thank you so much for your time. We really appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Joining us now is Jack Hton, host of the media show here at Sky News. Jack, thank you so much for joining us. Let's start with MSNBC and other left-wing outlets coverage of Charlie Kirk's assassination. MSNBC has been forced to apologize because of its coverage of Charlie Kirk's assassination. We'll read you the statement that has been put out from Rebecca Cutler. It says, "During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dow made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive, and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise. And let's just take a look at why MSNBC was forced to apologize. Look at this. >> Talk to me about the environment um in which a shooting like this happens. >> Yeah. And again, emphasize what you just emphasized. We don't know any full details of this that we don't know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration or so. We have no idea about this. But following up what what was just said, he's been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that's the environment we're in that that people just you can't stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that's the unfortunate environment we're in. >> Jack, it is just disgusting. They couldn't wait a day before they start trashing Charlie Kirk, saying his comments were divisive, that hateful speech led to this. What do you make of this? >> It's some of the most despicable media coverage I think I've ever seen. A man, father of two. Yeah, >> he's murdered. These comments are made as he's dying. He wasn't yet declared dead at this point. And so rather than just reporting the mechanics of what's happened, rather than saying at this point, >> he was shot in the neck with precision, by the way. So this this whole notion that it could have somewhat been an accident by a supporter, to put that inference out there before you actually know what's happening is absolutely disgusting. But then to think, okay, the appropriate way to cover this story, this huge story, is to place some kind of characterization around him from a moral point of view, is absolutely despicable. Now, to say that it is hate speech to take some of his positions, I think is just absolutely appalling because you've got in America, it appears to be one of the only countries in the world where if you oppose illegal immigration at the levels that they are experiencing, >> you're somewhat of an extremist. In Australia, left-wing parties and more conservative parties are in complete agreement that borders should be protected. No serious country adopts a policy that their borders shouldn't be protected. But we have news outlets who are supposed they think that they're mainstream. I think that they're now on the fringe and this is why people are moving towards more independent uh voices because there is more integrity now. But you've got these people who are characterizing that of protecting your borders of a sovereign nation as somewhat of an extremist viewpoint. Now to say I think the quote was hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which then lead to hateful actions. Now think about that. That is a very deliberate argument that that action was somewhat justified or deserved or simply it's his own fault for having hateful rhetoric. I don't even accept that it is hateful rhetoric to suggest that there is a crime problem, but for a journalist or a commentator to put that viewpoint out there, I think is appalling. And I don't I don't accept their apology. >> I don't think Americans should. And I think that they should face some kind of congressional inquiry for why they are heightening the temperature in America and it's leading to multiple assassination attempts on conservatives. >> Really well said, Jack. I'm It's just absolutely disgusting. And you know what? I wish that that was the the only uh horrific statement that was made. It's get it gets worse. Here's more coverage from MSNBC. >> Charlie Kirk is a divisive figure. Um polarizing, lightning rod, whatever term you want to use. Why? >> Uh well, he's one of MAGA's most prominent voices online. He hosts a near daily podcast. He opines on almost everything. He's been very closely aligned with the president uh since his initial run for office in 2015 2016. and his ties to Trump really elevated his own brand. Um he was really quite young as an activist when the president launched his initial campaign and he has kind of ridden along with MAGA. >> Again, divisive figure. I mean how on earth is that okay when someone as you say a a husband, a father has just been killed and he was loved by so many people and we saw him of course lose his life doing what he loved fighting for America and made such a positive impact on so many people. fully reached people right around the the world. We're feeling it here in Australia. But those comments divisive figure. I mean, he was someone that that of course was happy to debate controversial issues. He didn't shy away from that. Um but I I I I just do not accept that that kind of language to describe um Charlie Kirk on the day that he died. You know, you made the point about how he was fiercely debating strong borders of policy we have here in Australia. It's it's not something that that that's really even that controversial. But even just a couple of days ago, Charlie Kirk was one of the the leading voices on this issue of this horrific murder of a Ukrainian refugee Arena Zerutka. And if it wasn't for people like Charlie Kirk, that story was getting pretty much dismissed by the mainstream media. But he was he was really leading the charge to call this out. And >> times had to be dragged to the table to even cover it. And he was making these points and holding the media to account, wasn't he? >> He absolutely was. And the thing is, CNN's um coverage of Charlie Kirk's comments were saying that Charlie Kirk's comments were shameful when he made the point that this murder appeared to be racially motivated. It was a black man attacking from the vision, it appears, you know, a a white woman. And there's audio of of the suspect who has been charged with the murder saying, "I got that white woman." So, there is evidence that this appears to be racially motivated. Charlie Kirk stated the facts, calling that out. And then you have CNN saying Charlie Kirk uh should, you know, those comments were shameful. I mean, these outlets, MSNBC, CNN, I I I I just do not understand um how they justify some of this language. >> Yeah, it's Well, it's incredibly upsetting. And look, just talking with you, I can see that you're upset by it. You're a young conservative woman. Um and um it's not easy uh being a conservative in today's world and and I think that um I know that we both um sometimes feel the pressure from outside >> making very considered and careful arguments is being hit with this new >> degree of hostility from the left and then from the mainstream and people who are refusing to call it out. Now if I want to make an argument um that there should be less immigration in my country that isn't an extremist viewpoint. It's a numbers game. It has nothing to do with race first and foremost. It has to do with facilities and and space and and GDP and and and it's an economic argument more than anything. And we have these figures in Australia, in America, who consider themselves to be progressive, who absolutely delight >> absolutely delight at the demise of somebody who was a father, who left a wife behind and two children. And I think that is upsetting for anybody on the conservative side of politics. And I how dare anybody in media trying to equate it with this both sides. Well, everyone's responsible for the rhetoric. No. No, that's not true. There are people on the left who are extremists and they are putting targets on the back of people that have very mainstream views. Views that a couple of years ago were held by the majority. And obviously in America, one of the suggestions um in that grab that you played was that he was divisive because of his links to President Donald Trump, who was a democratically elected president with the majority vote. So how could someone who has won the majority vote be this figure of division and extremism when the majority of people elected him? It is a denial of democracy. It is disrespectful to every single conservative in the West, not just America, because this manifests broadly across borders. This is a problem that we are seeing all across the world where we are tolerating the labeling of conservatives as being extremists. And what do you do if somebody is a far right? Um, and you're saying somebody's far right, by the way. The most further furthest right you can be as a Nazi. What do you do to somebody who's a Nazi? >> You are justifying violence by using that label irresponsibly. If you don't use that label rationally and carefully, then you are justifying this sort of stuff. And MSNBC um is the worst at this. >> Um they are they're trying to do a rebrand because their own parent company can't stand um some of the things they say and they're trying to distance themselves from it. But politicians, I think in this situation, they need to ask what these journalists are knowingly doing to the temperature. It's nothing to do with conservatives making arguments. It is to do with people on the left trying to assassinate mainstream conservative views. >> No, that is exactly right, Jack. And it's just absolutely terrifying to see this rise of extreme uh far-left violence. We've seen this with Elon Musk where people were encouraging others to go out and firebomb uh Teslas because Elon Musk was associated with President Trump. We saw Luigi Mangioni, an accused killer, uh being deemed a hero to parts of the far left. And then we had journalists like Taylor Loren going on CNN trying to sympathize with people that wanted wanted Luigi Manion to uh carry out uh this alleged killing. It's just absolutely horrific and it's something that worries me that potentially that kind of extreme viewpoint could be getting more and more mainstream because of outlets that are pro kind of promoting it and justifying it. >> Completely agree. >> Yeah. Let's take a look at um it's not just MSNBC. It's also people on social media. Um, absolutely disgusting. Let's take a look. [Music] >> I'm not saying she deserve a date, but I'm saying God's timing is always right. [Music] You know, looking at that vision, it just reminds me of Butler U last year when Donald Trump had his assassination attempt and we saw this kind of sick reaction from parts of the far left, people wishing that he had been killed. And now we've got someone actually celebrating Charlie Kirk's death. It's um it's horrific. Well, what what I would say is if you find yourself on the side that is celebrating the death of a father, just think long and hard about whether that is a side that you want to be on, whether these are people that you want to associate with. Because Charlie Kirk isn't the extremist. No. I >> If you are suggesting that somebody should be murdered for their political views because of his stance on immigration, you are the extremist. You are the radical. And that is the company that you keep. That's all I'll say about that. I don't want to give them any more oxygen. Really? >> Yeah. Neither do I. Jack Hton, thank you so much. Really appreciate it. >> Thanks. >> Joining us now is Paul Mari, host of Paul Marley Live here at Sky News Australia. Thank you so much for joining us on such a sad day. The news that we we can't believe. Our hearts are absolutely shattered. Charlie Kirk dead at 31. I mean, Paul, we're all feeling it. Absolutely. But can you speak to the significance of this in America? >> Well, he he I think to millions of people around the world, >> the impact of this is going to be similar to to the feelings of people around the Titanic figures of the 1960s. Right now, um that will inevitably be misqued as me suggesting that somewhere on the Washington Mall they should be building a monument. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about millions of people connected with their thoughts, their feelings, their politics and having that validated and having that uh channeled through people like uh Charlie Kirk uh his capacity at that time uh in particularly in around sort of 2122 when we're coming out of co when we're kind of at peak woke for him to go into the belly of the beast that is the university campus and to take on all comers was fun to look at in your algorithm and then it was inspiring because you saw a person engaging. You didn't see somebody cowering. And in many of the conversations that have happened today around Charlie Kirk, uh there's one in particular from his uh friend, colleague, and a co-host on a podcast and Real America's Voice in Jack Pobic. and he was talking about how he was aware of the security risk that a very open event like this was, >> but he didn't want a physical barrier. He wanted to have that that openness and that commitment to the debate has has created a vulnerability that some bastard has used to to kill him for that footage to be seen around the world for those kids that were in the audience. And I think that the trauma that we're all feeling and you're showcasing beautifully right now is because a generational figure who inspired you, who turned you onto an idea, who turned you on to >> how your values can match your politics and how your politics can change the world. Um, to have that taken from us is something that hurts because you loved it. Hurts because he did something special. And his legacy is too early to be discussed. But it is right up there with, as I said, those Titanic figures of the 60s that millions of people still have posters on their wall for. >> I couldn't agree with you more. Oh, I mean, he was such an influential, inspiring figure, and I love the way he could talk about politics, debate all issues, but then he would also fearlessly talk about his love of family. And we are absolutely praying for his wife and his children and everyone who loved Charlie so much. But I want to play this video that um Charlie Kirk's wife, Erica, posted on um July 4 just this year. And I'll just quickly read you some of what she wrote in in um in her post. She wrote, "On days like today, when the skies erupt in red, white, and blue, and their air hums with the sound of freedom, I find myself especially grateful for the man I call my husband." >> I love how much he loves this country. He believes that the freedoms we celebrate today are worth defending every day. Take a look at this. >> Wow. crown [Music] with brotherhood from sea to shining sea. Oh beautiful for spacious skies for amber waves of grain for purple mountainsties above the fruit. U Paul, I mean, we're all just feeling for his family so much, but he shared so much about his family, his love of America. And in that post, you also wrote, "Today, I thank God for freedom. I thank God for the gift of this nation. And I thank God for a husband who day in and day out gives everything he has to defend it. Happy birthday, America. May we never take you for granted. I love you, Charlie Kirk." I mean, I just looking at at um at Erica's feed and Charlie's feed, they were they were so proud of one another. And I think one of the amazing things about Charlie is he also um inspired a younger gener younger generation about the how the American dream is still achievable to get married, to have children, to have a phone, to have a home, you know, to to to fight for your country and the values that really matter and what's most important in life. The dad in me is breaking inside as I can see um the shine in your eyes and I'm trying not to look at you as well. Um again this man who they say you know was always contactable, always aggressive, always about going off and and achieving his goal. And you know the term 247 is used about someone like that. You know in the middle of the night, the middle of the day you get the best of them. Um again, uh his friend, uh Jack was saying today that he was 246 because apparently Saturdays were exclusively for family. That if it was urgent, you contacted his wife, but you knew to stay away on Saturday because while he gave all of the rest of the week to the cause, all the rest of the week to the public, that time was with uh his family. And the fact that his kids are so little that at some point their memory fades of what dad was like to hug, what dad was like to make you laugh being so little. And there's all of this footage and there's all this video that means they'll be able to see how how great their father was. There's something really special in knowing that how few years he had with those children, the priority once a week was to clear the decks. Like it didn't the president wasn't going to call you. He wasn't going to be distracted. It was about your family. And for all of us, >> we would dream of a relationship like that with our fathers or um as fathers with our children. And in the end, Gab, that's what all of it's about, right? The whole reason why you choose to get involved in the fight is to try to fight for a better place for the people who come next. And you might only move the ball an inch in your life. >> Well, Charlie Kirk was able to take it all the way downfield, right? Um, remember he was through Turning Point USA through that connection with young voters in the 2024 campaign. Uh, they were hired by the Trump campaign to do get out the vote. So, this wasn't just somebody who was sharp with his tongue, great with the clicks, all the rest of it. He also built a machine that was able to put Trump back as president. And that means change the world. >> Absolutely. That's an incredible thing that those kids will one day learn about their father. The the emptiness of not having their father is something none of us can get our head around. But this is this that's why I talk about this day as being one that if you get it, you really get why today matters >> 100%. And he was instrumental. I mean having Trump hire him and then we saw the result the Gen Z voters coming out to vote Republican like never before. Now, you have spoken with Megan Kelly and we uh are feeling her too. You know, a close friend of she Kirk was of course a close friend. They were meant to go on the road together in just two weeks time. Let's look at her reaction when she was on air today. They're reporting that Charlie has died [Applause] that he's dead at the age of 31. which he would have to be if that video was real. [Music] >> There's no way he survived that. There's no way that the only good thing is it had to have happened quickly. >> Right. Right. >> Paul, now you've spoken with Megan. She's going to be on your show later tonight. I mean, uh, we're all feeling that emotion, but you can't fake that. It's so raw. >> No. And I mean, in her live stream today, it was unbelievable to watch when she's immediately come up uh on the live stream to say Charlie had been shot. And then as the news gets worse, she's doing it all in real time. There's no cutaways. There's no um um putting of footage over this absolute raw reaction. At points she was in her own live stream saying, "I hope this video isn't even true." You could see her trying to process. >> And then in that moment when um >> she's on talking with Glenn Beck, she's talking with um a whole bunch of really significant people who had been part of Turning Point USA. She's going out on the road soon. Um and Charlie Kirk was supposed to be there. we talk about her um approach to security and what she has to do now. >> Um and also just I I I I approached the conversation with her about a friend because I considered her to be my friend. And you know it's good that in this program you've been able to have a look at some of the ghouls and the weirdness that happens further out and there are going to be people that are going to say much nastier things as the days roll on. But um for us to have the proximity that we do to people like Megan means uh the the world because they are again they're not just observers, they're participants and they're participants in a revolution um that we and you watching believe is one of the greatest things that's have happened this century. Yeah. Yeah. >> Um, so it's again privilege to call her a friend and and that video will be up soon on our on our website. >> And you know, I was listening to her and she makes a point about security and what a risk it is. She's been out on the road with Charlie Kirk before and you know Trump of course has his security, Ben Shapiro has his security around him. Charlie Kirk does as well and then this is just such a tragedy. Finally, before I get let you go, um, as you say, plenty of of horrible stuff betting getting spewed out there at the momentum from uh, leftwing media outlets. You know, it's so frustrating to seeing him being labeled as this right-wing activist. He was so much more than that. But let's look at this coverage from ABC. >> Charlie Kirk has been shot. during an event at Utah Valley University. The founder of TurningPoint USA, a conservative student organization, uh is known for his outspoken views on politics, culture, religion, often taking his messages to colleges and universities, sparking sometimes pretty heated debates on campus. You're right. His presence there at the university had divided the campus according to an article in the school paper where there were people on both sides uh debating whether he should even be allowed to bring his message often loyal to the agenda of President Trump to campus. But he was speaking at this outdoor event in a courtyard. We've seen some video of that event. A shot rings out. The entire crowd goes scattering. >> I mean, do they even listen to him? I mean, what he what is he talking about? Should he even be allowed to bring his message? >> These people. And look, I know I can swear, but I'm not going to out of respect for the situation, right? Um, f these people. Truly. Um, well, >> remember their names. Remember what they work for. Remember if they're suspended, remember if they're not sacked. F these people. Because the reality is that and again I don't want to sit here and list a whole bunch of people on the left right who are the equivalents of right the whole point is no one deserves to die for talking about what they believe in. No one deserves to die for that reason. And the fact that you see in the reporting the lack of humanity, you see in Twitter the lack of uh humanity. If you can't see that somebody was murdered for what they believe, for speaking their mind, and that that is a moment of dark, dark regret. >> Yeah. >> Then you just seriously f you. >> Paul Murray, well said. Can't believe we have to say it. Paul Murray, thank you so much for joining us on Power Hour. Brilliant to have you. >> Love you. >> And that is Power Hour. Thank you so much for joining us. We'll see you next week.
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