Producer: Liu Chang

Hosts: Wang Zongnan & Aiwei

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk — Trump ally and leader of Turning Point USA — was shot and killed on stage in Utah on Sept. 10. The suspect faces the death penalty. His death has triggered grief, anger, and political finger-pointing, while also reviving a debate about America’s divisions.

In this episode, Zongnan and Aiwei look at who Kirk was, why his death matters, and what it says about political violence in today’s America.

Timeline

• • [00:50] The Incident – How prosecutors built the case, the suspect’s alleged confession, and Trump blaming the “radical left.” 
• • [01:44] Who Was Charlie Kirk? – From launching a conservative youth group at 18, to multimillion-dollar fundraising, viral campus debates, and controversial clips that resurfaced after his death.
• • [03:59] Youth Politics – Why more young Americans are shifting right, with one researcher calling it a “fatal miscalculation” by Democrats.
• • [05:17] Reactions – Divided media coverage, late-night satire, and Secretary of State Rubio saying visas are being denied to those celebrating the killing.
• • [07:10] Political Violence – Other recent attacks, rising polarization, and the idea that perception can turn into reality when mistrust grows.

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