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No, Charlie Kirk Was Not Practicing Politics the Right Way His assassination deserves full condemnation; his full impact should not be sidestepped. https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/09/charlie-kirk-legacy-ezra-klein-2020-election-trump-turning-point/ Tragedy is a powerful shaper of narratives. In the aftermath of the horrific assassination of MAGA champion Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two, it was natural that his allies, including President Trump, lionized him as a patriot, free-speech advocate, and activist. And political opponents somberly denounced the terrible killing, as they should, with some hailing Kirk’s devotion to public debate. There’s a tendency in such a moment to look for the best in people or, at least, to not dwell on the negatives. That can be a good thing. Yet as Kirk is quickly canonized by Trump and his movement—on Thursday Trump announced he would bestow upon Kirk a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom—a full depiction of his impact on American politics is largely being sidestepped. In promoting a story on the murder of Kirk—headlined “Charlie Kirk killing deepens America’s violent spiral”—Axios described him as a “fierce champion of the right to free expression” whose “voice was silenced by an assassin’s bullet.” New York Times opinion columnist Ezra Klein, wrote, “You can dislike much of what Kirk believed and the following statement is still true: Kirk was practicing politics in exactly the right way. He was showing up to campuses and talking with anyone who would talk to him. He was one of the era’s most effective practitioners of persuasion.” Klein added that he “envied” the political movement Kirk built and praised “his moxie and fearlessness.” Here’s the problem: Kirk built that movement with falsehoods. And his advocacy was laced with racist and bigoted statements. Recognizing this does not diminish the awfulness of this act of violence. Nor does it lessen our outrage or diminish our sympathy for his family, friends, and colleagues. Yet if this is an appropriate moment to assess Kirk and issue bold statements about his participation in America’s political life, there ought to be room for a true discussion. Kirk, a right-wing provocateur who founded and led Turning Point USA, an organization of young conservatives, was a promoter of Trump’s destructive and baseless conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Two days before the January 6 riot, Kirk boasted in a tweet that Students for Trump and Turning Point Action were “Sending 80+ buses full of patriots to DC to fight for this president.” After the attack, Kirk deleted the tweet, and he claimed that the people his group transported to DC participated only in the rally that occurred before the assault on Congress—where Trump whipped up the crowd and encouraged it to march on the Capitol. The New York Times subsequently reported that Turning Point Action sent only seven buses to the event. Turning Point also paid the $60,000 speaking fee to Kimberly Guilfoyle, a MAGA personality, for the brief remarks she made at the rally. “We will not allow the liberals and the Democrats to steal our dream or steal our elections,” Guilfoyle told the crowd. (Kirk took the Fifth when he was deposed by the House January 6 committee.) Even prior to the election, Kirk helped set the stage for Trump’s attempt to subvert the republic. In September 2020, the Washington Post reported that Turning Point Action was running a “sprawling yet secretive campaign” to disseminate pro-Trump propaganda “that experts say evades the guardrails put in place by social media companies to limit online disinformation of the sort used by Russia during the 2016 campaign.” The messages Turning Point generated spread the charge that Democrats were using mail balloting to steal the election and downplayed the threat from Covid. (Kirk’s group called the story a “gross mischaracterization.”) Whatever Kirk’s group and supporters did on January 6, he was part of the MAGA crusade that largely broke US politics. Trump’s refusal to accept his 2020 loss, his conniving to stay in power, and his encouragement of a lie that led to massive political violence greatly undermined American democracy and exacerbated the already deep divide in the nation. Kirk was a part of that. Yet Klein overlooks that in praising Kirk. And a New York Times piece on Kirk’s political career made no mention of this, though it did report that he had been “accused” of “antisemitism, homophobia and racism, having blamed Jewish communities for fomenting hatred against white people, criticized gay rights on religious grounds and questioned the qualifications of Black airline pilots.” Kirk’s advocacy of vigorous debate ought not be separated from what he said while jousting in the public square. He hosted white nationalists on his podcast. He posted racist comments on his X account, including this remark: “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified.'” He endorsed the white “replacement” conspiracy theory. After the October 7 attack on Israel, he compared Black Lives Matter to Hamas. He called for preserving “white demographics in America.” He asserted that Islam was not compatible with Western culture. He derided women who supported Kamala Harris 2024 for wanting “careerism, consumerism, and loneliness.” Or, as he also put it, “Democratic women want to die alone without children.” When Paul Pelosi, the husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi, was brutally attacked in 2022, Kirk spread a conspiracy theory about the crime and called for an “amazing patriot” to bail out the assailant. He routinely deployed extreme rhetoric to demonize his political foes. Kirk did enjoy debating others. He visited campuses and held events in which he took on all comers, arguing over a variety of contentious issues. He was a showman, and his commitment to verbal duking was admirable. He appeared proud of the harsh opinions he robustly shared. Which means there’s no reason now to be shy about them while pondering his legacy. Moreover, as a movement strategist, he relied upon and advanced lies and bigotry—including falsehoods that fueled violence and an assault on our national foundation. That was not a side gig for Kirk. It was a core component of his organizing. He did not practice politics the right way. He used deceit to develop his movement and to weaken the United States. His assassination is heinous and frightening and warrants widespread condemnation. It should prompt reflection on what is happening within the nation and what needs to be done to prevent further political violence. It should not protect him or others who engage in such politics of extremism from critical review.

Hasan Piker on Charlie Kirk, Dangerous Rhetoric, and the Radical Power of Empathy

They have Eze Gyokeres and Noni a lively front line. However, fully confident Arsenal like their neighbours will go all Spursy at the end of the season if not before.

Kirk, like the vast majority of right wing Christian nationalists, was a purveyor of hate, the antithesis of the core message of Christ (love). He and his ilk are all about domination and power, all about eradicating anything they deem to not fit into their worldview. Christian Nationalism: The Rising Tide https://globalextremism.org/post/christian-nationalism-the-rising-tide/ America is confronting a rising tide of Christian nationalism, a political movement that imposes a narrow, exclusionary vision of Christian identity on the nation’s government, culture, and society as the term itself, Christian nationalism, has become a part of the nation’s vernacular. Christian nationalism, described in broad strokes as the belief that America is divinely ordained for Christian rule, has stormed from the fringes into the heart of American power, poised to reshape the nation. The movement is backed by a bevy of Christian nationalist advisors, appointees, and organizations who have placed Donald Trump at the helm. snip The Pentagon’s New Prayer Warriors: How Christian Nationalists Planted a Church Blocks from the Capitol The American flag hung upside down, a symbol of dire distress or danger, above Pastor Jared Longshore as he delivered his sermon on July 13. In the sweltering room just blocks from the U.S. Capitol, 120 worshippers packed into folding chairs listened intently. “We understand that worship is warfare,” the bearded pastor declared from behind the lectern. A pause. “We mean that.” Children whispered excitedly when Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a Christian nationalist, walked through the door. This was Christ Kirk D.C.’s inaugural service, and the defense secretary’s presence sent a clear message. By the time he left, supporters had mobbed him. Behind this latest church plant stands Doug Wilson. The self-described Christian nationalist pastor operates from Moscow, Idaho, where he’s built something remarkable: an expanding network of institutions designed to challenge the separation of church and state. His Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches now spans more than 130 congregations worldwide. And his followers? They’re making serious inroads into American political power. Hegseth’s attendance was no accident. The defense secretary has praised Wilson’s books, one of which defends slavery as “God-ordained.” He moved his family to Tennessee specifically to enroll his children in schools associated with Wilson’s Christian education movement. He joined a local CREC church. In May, he had Wilson lead a prayer service at the Pentagon. Even the venue tells a story. The Christ Kirk DC congregation meets in a building owned by the Conservative Partnership Institute — a far-right think tank with serious connections. Former Senator Jim DeMint leads it. So does Trump’s former Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Partner organizations include the Center for Renewing America, created by Russell Vought, and America First Legal, co-founded by current White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Political symbols filled the worship space. Multiple American flags. Revolutionary-era banners like the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag. An “Appeal to Heaven” flag — which has become associated with Christian nationalism and the January 6 Capitol attack. Old newspaper clippings praising Ronald Reagan dotted the walls. Nick Solheim sat among the worshippers. He heads American Moment, an organization founded with backing from then-Senator JD Vance. The group is listed among CPI’s partners. Wilson’s rise reflects something bigger — a movement of Christian nationalists who reject democratic pluralism entirely. They want explicitly Christian governance instead. Unlike other evangelical leaders who supported Trump reluctantly, Wilson and his allies embrace him as divinely appointed – a disrupter chosen by God. Over the years, Wilson has sparked serious controversies with anti-LGBTQ+ slurs and a book that downplayed the horrors of American slavery. These aren’t minor missteps — they reveal a worldview that many find deeply troubling. Hegseth embodies this militant strain perfectly. His military tattoos tell the story: “Deus Vult” (God Wills It), a Crusader battle cry and a Jerusalem Cross. These symbols led to his removal from President Biden’s inauguration security detail in 2021. Officials cited concerns about extremism. Pastor Longshore traveled from Wilson’s Idaho church to launch the DC congregation. He dismissed suggestions that the church was explicitly designed to influence politics. But he explained that the theology is clear. “We do believe that culture is religion externalized, always, whatever the religion. And politics is downstream from culture, and culture is downstream from worship.” During his sermon, Longshore made bold claims. America has become a “fallen” or “lapsed” nation, he said. Why? Because it drifted from its Christian roots. He stressed that “Christendom” has “marked this land from its founding.” Not everyone appreciated the message. Outside the building, two protesters jeered worshippers as they entered. One held a sign: “Christ Church Is not Welcome.” A protester who identified himself only as Jay spoke to reporters, saying that Christ Kirk espouses values that are “fundamentally un-American” and “un-Christian.” Even inside the church, skepticism emerged. Nathan Krauss, a United Methodist member who works in the federal government, attended as part of his effort to understand Christian nationalism. Much of the service seemed inoffensive to him. But he questioned something crucial: the disconnect between Scripture and the movement’s political goals. “I just really want to know: is the creation of this church going to create more liberty for the oppressed or less liberty for the oppressed?” he wondered aloud. Longshore relished the pushback. Wilson’s Idaho church faces regular protests too, he noted. As someone preparing for “spiritual warfare,” he welcomed the challenge. “What feels like crazy to you is actually normal stuff,” he told critics. Protest represents authentic American discourse outside “the secular bubble,” he argued. The church has plans. It will evolve from a satellite service of Wilson’s Moscow congregation into an independent mission church. Local leadership will emerge. But with Christian nationalists now occupying key positions throughout the Trump administration, Christ Kirk D.C. represents something more significant than just another church plant. It’s a symbol. A movement that has successfully translated theological conviction into political power. And it’s operating just blocks from the Capitol. David Barton: The Christian Nationalist Behind America’s Ten Commandments Takeover Twenty-eight bills. Eighteen states. One source. Across America this year, nearly identical legislation requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms has surfaced with startling uniformity — the same language appearing word-for-word from Louisiana to Nebraska, a new investigation by The 74, an education news outlet, reports. The bills specify identical poster sizes, identical placement requirements, and even identical funding mechanisms. The architect of this model legislation is David Barton, a 71-year-old Christian nationalist operating from Aledo, Texas — population 5,000. For four decades, Barton has methodically constructed what critics call a “bill mill,” designed to inject his brand of Christianity into American government. The self-described historian has built a lucrative career propagating the myth that church-state separation is a lie used by nefarious forces to obscure America’s supposedly Christian origins. Barton, who considers homosexuality an “aberration,” is a frequent invited speaker at conferences hosted by Project 2025 supporter Turning Point USA, and has been an advisor to House Speaker and fellow Christian nationalist Mike Johnson. From his small-town base, he’s created an operation that cranks out model legislation with factory-like efficiency. During an April hearing before the Texas House education committee, Barton’s influence became clear. There he stood, clutching a thick Bible with a dark brown cover worn smooth from years of handling. “This is actually printed by the official printer of Congress,” he announced, launching into a well-rehearsed performance. One prop followed another. A second book, smaller but equally weathered. Then a third. A fourth. “The courts have pointed to the Ten Commandments as the reason we have all types of laws,” Barton testified, “So there’s a lot of history and tradition for that document.” What didn’t lawmakers realize? Barton had delivered nearly identical testimony in Nebraska, Louisiana, and Arkansas. His words would echo in statehouses from coast to coast where 12 bills specify that displays must hang in “conspicuous” locations. Eleven demand they measure at least 11-by-14 inches. Twenty-five require the commandments to appear as a “poster or framed” display. This isn’t a coincidence — it’s the product of Project Blitz, Barton’s Christian “bill mill” operating through his organization, WallBuilders. He founded WallBuilders in 1988, choosing a name referencing the Old Testament passage about rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. The organization’s mission: “exert a direct and positive influence in government, education, and the family by educating the nation concerning the Godly foundation of our country.” After graduating from Oral Roberts University in 1976, Barton returned home to teach at a small Christian school. Basketball coach, then principal. But he discovered his true calling: rewriting America’s understanding of its own founding. His central claim flips constitutional law on its head. The First Amendment’s establishment clause, Barton argues, was never meant to separate church and state — not really. The founders only wanted to prevent “one Christian denomination” from dominating others. In his interpretation, the wall between government and religion was built to protect Christianity, not limit it. Professional historians have spent decades debunking these theories, accusing him of cherry-picking quotes and mischaracterizing documents. His 2012 book about Thomas Jefferson contained so many errors that its Christian publisher pulled it from the shelves. “Basic truths just were not there,” they explained. The academic criticism hasn’t slowed him down. Barton has turned scholarly debunking into fundraising gold, portraying himself as a persecuted truth-teller. WallBuilders reported $5.5 million in revenue in 2021. Every November, Barton hosts a conference at a four-star resort outside Dallas. State legislators arrive with scholarships and discounted hotel rates. They leave with model legislation and talking points memorized. Indiana Representative J.D. Prescott attended one gathering, then returned home to introduce a Ten Commandments bill matching Barton’s template. “I learned a lot of it at a WallBuilders conference,” Prescott acknowledged. The bills reveal sophisticated planning. Most specify that displays should be donated by private groups rather than purchased with taxpayer dollars — creating a closed loop where the same organizations that write requirements also supply the posters. Today, Barton’s influence reaches the highest levels. House Speaker and Christian nationalist Mike Johnson credits Barton as a “profound influence on me, and my work, and my life and everything I do.” One day after Johnson’s election, Barton appeared on his podcast to discuss staffing decisions. “We have some tools at our disposal now we haven’t had in a long time,” he announced. Both men envision America as an explicitly Christian nation. Johnson previously worked for Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-LGBTQ+ legal group that challenges church-state separation. Barton built the intellectual framework justifying such challenges. Three states have passed laws requiring the Ten Commandments in public schools: Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas. All follow Barton’s template precisely. Federal courts have begun striking down the mandates, with the Fifth Circuit ruling Louisiana’s law “plainly unconstitutional.” But Barton remains confident, pointing to recent Supreme Court decisions that have weakened church-state barriers. “The hostility is gone,” Barton testified in Nebraska. The court’s new standard focuses on whether religious displays reflect “longstanding practice” — exactly his argument for four decades. The opposition has noticed. Constitutional attorney Andrew Seidel calls Barton “the granddaddy of Christian nationalist disinformation.” Parents have filed lawsuits alleging students will be “unconstitutionally coerced into religious observance.” Texas Senator Mayes Middleton, who sponsored his state’s law, praised the coordination. “We just wanted uniformity in these displays,” he explained. From a town of 5,000 people, a self-taught historian with no formal training has built something unprecedented: a factory for Christian nationalist legislation, operating with assembly-line efficiency.

In which you don't bother going deep into context why he said that. You just take their word and that's it. It's superficial to me. In one of the link they just took one part of a long talk he had here: https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-goes-unhinged-racist-rant-prowling-blacks-go-around-fun-go-target-white

utter nonsense you are quickly devolving into a pure bad faith poster like Cosmic was the article was a list of KIRK'S OWN WORDS, with links to them THAT is the context

Ah so cheating is ok as long as you can hide it

Yeah blame the old owner for knowing how to keep it a secret and have these bunch reveal it when no one asked them.

But that is the point you search what others write. Have you taken the time to listen in context and without cuts? As you know how the journalist do with Chelsea that take things out of context and don't post the full information.

Yeah, I’m not annoyed at all that we sold him. Don’t and won’t regret it because he was so frustrating. What could end up bothering me is that the wide attackers we brought in to replace him may end up being even more frustrating than he was while Madueke thrives at a hated rival.

no you do NOT I do not use AI to research, or write I search and post exactly the same as I did before the main AI wave hit and grew in size starting on November 30th, 2022 with the release of ChatGPT

What are you talking about? Are you implying I am AI?? LOLOL Pro tip.... you do not need to use AI to find information on the internet. You do not need to use AI to write an article. The Guardian certainly does not use AI to write their articles.

The NRA needs to be challenged - but like the Israeli lobby they fund EVERY Presidents campaign. They then want payback when the incumbent is in office, That is why the colonial shoot first, right to bear arms lunacy will prevail That Kirk bloke thought that the murder of thousands of school children every year was a fair price

we will not have our titles strip. No one in social media his telling that Maybe transfer ban, point deductions or a fine

I wouldn’t hate the new owners for that, I would blame the previous, blaming the new because the old cheated is dumb as fuck.

Wait what are you thinking I'm saying? I'm not saying that info is false. I said well if he said that then made a lot of enemy's. That I wasn't aware of what everything he said because I'm not an AI. I only watch a couple YouTube videos in which he debated. In which I posted one. And as well that info you got it is not because you heard his video, took the time to hear what he said but you asked AI and gave you the article. That is what I'm saying. I'm not saying that AI info is fake. So I'm saying I only seen a couple of videos of him just debating on Campusus with college kids. All that other stuff I was not aware of. You need an AI to cycle all that stuff for you so that your are aware otherwise I can't know.

that is absolutely not true it's pure rubbish and it faces up like a gaslighting attempt it is just a standard article with LINKED proof of the things it states he said you are rapidly losing credibility with your continued attempts to false frame

And yes I don't argue with the truth. If he said that then yes he got a lot of enemy. As well I don't agree with everything he says But I do give him props is how he went and debated his viewpoint. I like that and that is the legacy we should continue. And with AI that looks like a AI generated article but if not then good work on them.

How do you come to that conclusion? It is a simple article detailing statements made by Kirk himself. AI has nothing to do with it, come on!

Yeah they've made signing that look like will have a impact. Wherever go all the way probably depends on injuries and all but today been a pretty good performance..

Had a good game today. He was already showing here that he was a very useful weapon vs low blocks. Arsenal unfortunately look like they have a squad to compete this year. Pace, power and dynamism across the pitch

Because they need to reduce gun control in which they are not in favor. (When I mean they I mean the people who believe the right to have guns) Like I said in the past why I don't agree. Not because I'm Republicans but because I'm a Christian first. Republicans view are not perfect and whatever does not align with my world view of the Bible I will say it right out. Not a blind Maga follower, or blind republican party follower. So yes they will play dumb because it doesn't do justice to their gun control. Now I'm a favor of the gun control but that doesn't mean we will get rid of these violent crime once and for fall. It will reduce a lot but it's not completely gone because we can smuggle gun from another part of the world.

3 nil Zubimendi on a hat trick

Shame they dont consider the 146 US School gun murders (so far this year) as being equally if not more important

Could you imagine the FA & Prem strip our titles during that period all because Clearlake reported themselves on something no one would’ve found out? If the fans don’t hate them already they will then.