The nation is in shock following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a fearless defender of truth and faith. This special episode of The Mike Gallagher Show brings an introspective look into Charlie’s immense contributions to free speech and his formidable battle against ideological suppression. From his humble beginnings at Turning Point USA to becoming a national icon, Charlie’s inspiring journey is marred by this tragic end. Tune in for heartfelt tributes, an exploration of his enduring legacy, and the search for answers in the aftermath of this political assassination.
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America in shock. Salem’s Charlie Kirk assassinated in Utah. Here’s Mike Gallagher.
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This was a cowardly and vile act of violence. Carried out to silence one of America’s boldest Christian conservative voices, our hearts are shattered for Charlie’s wife, family, friends, colleagues, and the countless people whose lives he touched through his words, his work, and his unwavering commitment to faith and country. Charlie was more than a broadcaster. He was a fearless defender of truth and a faithful servant of God. This assassination was not just an attack on Charlie. It was an attack on free speech and on the values Charlie championed every day. His absence leaves a tremendous void, but his legacy of faith, courage, and conviction will continue to inspire generations. Charlie’s partnership with Salem Media was defined by his uncompromising defense of biblical values, liberty, and truth. He epitomized Salem’s mission to impact lives and communities by amplifying truth, faith, and self-governance through media. We are blessed. To have worked with such a man as Charlie and to have watched him grow into the legacy he became, Salem Media extends its most heartfelt condolences to the Kirk family, Charlie’s friends, and the millions of Americans and people across the world who are grieving this senseless loss. David P. Santrella, Chief Executive Officer, Salem Media. This is going to be a tough day. And during tough times, we lift each other up. We get through all of this. We can get through anything together. Those of us who were fortunate enough to know him are treasuring every exchange, every shared text, every comment, every laugh, every warm memory with this profoundly impactful young man. And I don’t think it’s any mystery how much we here at the Mike Gallagher Show admired and respected and loved him. There are way more questions right now than answers. How the sniper pulled this off from between 200 and 250 yards away. How this was accomplished with a clean getaway. how this could have happened to a young man who constantly was surrounded by security. I know that his security folks are devastated. I’m sure, I would think instinctively, their feeling is that they let him down. as any bodyguard or Secret Service or security personnel must feel when their charge, when their subject, when their protected person is indeed taken down. During times of mourning and national despair, One of the things that I appreciate the ability to do is to open our phone lines so that we can be together in our grief, in our sorrow, in our anger. Although I have to tell you that I am trying my best to avoid even looking at the angry leftists who are reveling and celebrating this. Charlie’s assassination. I’m not ready to go there. I know it’s out there. I’m trying to avoid it at all costs because, frankly, I don’t want to bring that evil into my heart right now. My heart is heavy. All of us at Salem are gutted. And I am reminded of the admonition that we must not despair, that we know right now that Charlie is in the arms of our Creator. But we also just grieve for his young family, for his mom and dad. Charlie was an only child. Charlie, of course, founded Turning Point USA in his mom and dad’s garage in the Chicago area. They are in Utah to be reunited with their late son. I appreciate all the text messages and the emails already that have come in with love and support for the Salem family. But look, this is a country that is grieving. America is right now in shock. And I admit, personally, I’m shell-shocked. I’m numb. I can’t believe this is even happening. I frankly can’t believe we’re talking about Charlie in the past tense. But here we are, and we have a job to do, and that means every one of us. Because one of the important things that has been said in the aftermath of Charlie’s brutal assassination is that there are a million Charlie Kirks who were created yesterday. There are millions of people who will not let evil win. There are millions of people all over the world who will see this indeed as a turning point. Our number is 800-655-MIKE. It’s 12 past the hour. We will have guests. We will have tributes. I want to play some of the most memorable Charlie Kirk moments. And we will, of course, give you an update on the manhunt that is underway for the shooter who has yet to be caught. And, of course, as law enforcement will tell you, every hour that ticks by after a crime like this it becomes harder and harder to find the assailant. So we must pray not only for the Kirk family and for our country, but we’ve got to pray that the good guys catch the bad guys so that they can be brought to justice. Again, I want to throw our phone lines wide open to you, 800-655-MIKE, 800-655-6453. I look up at the MyPillow text line with all the sentiments pouring in, like Indiana, who just wrote, Mike, we all need to live like Charlie, bold in our faith and beliefs, respectful to all. Let’s make his voice even stronger. So we will do just that, and we’re going to do our best to honor Charlie as he would want in this community here at Salem Media that is grieving his horrific, horrific death. It’s a good time probably with his death. staunch loyalty and his support for Israel to remind you about God’s plan. Have you ever wondered why some people seem to experience God’s favor in extraordinary ways? There is a secret hiding in plain sight throughout Scripture. God has designed a pathway to blessing that runs directly through our relationship with Israel. This isn’t complicated. It’s not mysterious. It’s beautifully simple. A promise found in Genesis 12. God said, I will bless those who bless you. This holy equation has been working for 4,000 years. From Abraham’s time to today, God rewards those who align their hearts with his heart for Israel. I support the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. I know, of course, Charlie, clearly supported the state of Israel and Israel’s right to survive and to thrive. We’re plugging into God’s ancient blessing, and we’re choosing to follow his plan. As Christians, we believe we’ve been grafted into God’s family tree. Let’s discover what it means to be united with his chosen people through faith. To learn more, visit ifcj.org, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, ifcj.org. That’s ifcj.org. Coming up, your prayers, your memories, your reaction, your thoughts. I know that we are all hurting. We’re angry. We’re grief-stricken. We lost a true patriot yesterday, a great, great, great American warrior, Charlie Kirk, dead at the age of 31. More of this special episode of The Mike Gallagher Show coming up. 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The Mike Gallagher Show.
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I want to make it crystal clear right now to whoever did this, we will find you. We will try you. And we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law. And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah.
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In the ReliefFactor.com studios, here’s Mike.
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Mr. Governor of Utah, Governor Spencer J. Cox. Of course, President Trump weighed in from the Oval Office. I’ll share with you his message over this devastating assassination of Salem’s own Charlie Kirk. Many, many thanks to all the wonderful tributes and messages of support that are pouring into our studios. Text message on the MyPillow text line from Virginia. Dear Mike and everyone at SalemMedia.com. I want to send you all, Charlie’s family and friends, our deepest condolences. My heart is broken for you all. I enjoyed watching Charlie as well. He was one of a kind. Absolute one of a kind. And he was. Indiana, the loss of Charlie is not only shocking, it is profound. He did nothing wrong. and merely defended the sanctity of values and the foundation that were played, the Christian values played in our country. I hope all young conservatives rise up and carry on the legacy he worked so hard to achieve. That’s a question right now that many people have in their hearts. Gary in Delaware, thanks for your patience, Gary. And I know that you spoke to Tracy, and your question is, what can we all do to help in the battle, right? Yeah.
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Well, what can we all do, but also especially what can I do as an individual, as one human being? I can’t go to New York City and vote against Mondami. I can’t go to North Carolina and make them keep their murderers. in jail instead of letting them run around on cashless bail, what can I do as one human being to help?
SPEAKER 05 :
Well, that’s a great question that one that I think Charlie Kirk would answer, and that is you’ve got to carry on Charlie’s legacy with your voice, with your feet, with your voice. your vote whenever you can. Yeah, you’re not a New Yorker, but elections matter in every city, county, state in the country. You participate in a show like this one. Your voice cannot, we cannot be broken by this evil. We cannot let evil win. And we won’t. Greg Gutfeld yesterday on Fox News, and you’ve bleeped it appropriately, right, Christian? I’m sure you have. But Greg was so fired up that he – I know he slung around some F-bombs. But, look, everybody at Fox News – Here at Salem Media, we’re all gutted. We’re just wrecked. We’re beyond devastated. And here was Greg talking about the attempt to silence Charlie Kirk’s voice. And to your question, sir, to your profound query, what can we all do? Oh, okay. Well, we’ve got to wait until that gets bleeped. And then we’ll come back to that in just a moment. Here’s Mike in Jacksonville, Florida. Mike, you’re on the Mike Gallagher Show. Hello.
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Hey, Mike. How are you? Just want to say that sorry for your loss. Yeah, sure.
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I’m sorry. We got two people talking at the same time.
SPEAKER 09 :
Mike, sorry about your loss of your friend and all your colleagues and to his family. I’m sorry for the loss of a great man. I’d like to say that I feel that he was assassinated because he went to the very core against the establishment. He went to the police. where they have been trying to ideology all these children in college, and he tried to make these kids think outside the box. He was murdered because of that. His freedom of speech was taken from that. Our freedom of speech was taken away. I’d also like to say that retired FDNY, my thoughts are out there for my brothers for 9-11, and I think it would be a terrible shame to have a Muslim mayor say, for the 25th anniversary of New York City, who’s never denounced 9-11 attacks in 2001. Thank you. God bless America.
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Thank you, Mike. 22 minutes before the hour, we have an open line, and of course, all of us are embracing Charlie’s legacy. I hope you’ll join us with your calls, your texts, your emails. Selfishly, and I feel stupid, I can’t stop staring at my text message exchanges with Charlie. The most recent from just a couple of weeks ago, Charlie was a lover of radio and grew up listening to conservative talk radio. And not long ago, I was with Andrew Colvette, who is hurting right now, and we’re praying for Andrew. Andrew is really kind of Charlie’s right-hand man. And Andrew told me that Charlie grew up listening to folks like me. And I was so profoundly touched by Andrew’s remarks in front of the group that we were at in Florida that Charlie had deep admiration for those of us who’ve been in this business for a long time. He loved radio. He loved Rush. And he was inspired to create Turning Point USA, which I can feel very confident is going nowhere. they will be stronger and more profound than ever. And Mike, to your point, it’s also, of course, the anniversary of 9-11. Look, you have to appreciate that here at Salem and for many people around the country, this is a catastrophic event for us, just as 9-11 was a catastrophic event for the nation. Obviously, I’m not equating one young man’s assassination to the monstrous act of the thousands of those who perished on 9-11. But you understand my point, that we are all just wrecked here at Salem Media. I want to read a statement from our official sort of organization structure. Salem Media announces with profound sorrow that it mourns the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was taken from us in a vile attack at Utah Valley University. This was a cowardly and vile act of violence carried out to silence one of America’s boldest Christian conservative voices. Our hearts are shattered for Charlie’s wife, family, friends, colleagues, and the countless people whose lives he touched through his words, his work, and his unwavering commitment to faith and country. Salem CEO David Santrella said Charlie was more than a broadcaster. He was a fearless defender of truth and a faithful servant of God. This assassination was not just an attack on Charlie. It was an attack on free speech and on the values Charlie championed every day. His absence leaves a tremendous void. But his legacy of faith, courage, and conviction will continue to inspire generations. Bradley Parscale, chief strategy officer of Salem Media, said, I have had the privilege of working with Charlie for nearly a decade. He was part of the Salem family. His voice was fearless, unyielding, and relentless in the defense of faith and freedom. This heinous act of evil was meant to silence him, but as Christians we know darkness cannot overcome the light. Charlie’s influence cannot and will not be silenced. Charlie’s partnership with Salem Media was defined by his uncompromising defense of biblical values, liberty, and truth. Through his nationally syndicated show and podcast, he reached millions who relied on his voice to cut through lies, honor truth, and give courage to those fighting for faith and freedom. Salem Media extends its most heartfelt condolences to the Kirk family, to Charlie’s friends, and to the millions of Americans and people around the world who are grieving this senseless loss in this painful hour. We urge believers everywhere to join us in prayer. asking God to comfort Charlie’s family, strengthen those who grieve, and give us the resolve to continue the mission he so boldly carried. A couple of housekeeping items to share with you. On today’s show, I’m going to interview the chief executive officer of Salem Media, David Santrella. He will join us from California to reflect on his relationship with Charlie where, of course, the country goes from here. And I know Dave is anxious to express his heartfelt prayers and condolences for God’s healing after this awful, awful assassination. I’m also very proud and honored to share that I will be co-hosting Charlie’s show today with Mark Davis, which is very special to me because Mark Davis is one of my dearest friends. Mark is the morning host on 660 AM The Answer in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and Mark and I will be co-hosting the Charlie Kirk show today. because it feels just like we need to honor him that way and work and share his legacy. It’s going to be a tribute to Charlie. Today we’re covering, of course, the news items and the breaking news on the investigation, but we also are going to be honoring Charlie today, noon to 2 Eastern time, by a tribute show to this great American patriot who was martyred by an assassin’s bullet yesterday in Utah. 17 before the hour, here’s Alan here in Tampa Bay joining us on the Mike Gallagher Show. Hi, Alan. Thank you for joining us.
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Mike, I can hear it in your voice, and I know from us in the general public, we never got to necessarily meet Charlie. We got to hear him, but you did know him, and I wanted to send my condolences personally to in addition to his family, but also to you, because I know how important he was in your life. And I want to send my condolences to your whole Salem family. And I can only imagine the pain you’re also going through. I don’t want to lose sight of how you all are doing in this time as well. So my prayers will be for not only Charlie, his family in the world, but also particularly Salem, and how he was able to be brought into our lives today. God bless you, Mike. God bless Salem. And God bless everyone, especially today on 9-11.
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We appreciate you very much, Al. Thank you. 16 before the hour, 800-655-MIKE. You know, I hate to stay in this sad, sad place, but I keep thinking about all the young people who loved him so much. And I was heartbroken to talk to Tom Trattup, one of the Salem executives last night. His daughter, Ellie, just worshipped him. And he sent me a picture of Charlie with Ellie on my phone. And it’s just heartbreaking. He said Ellie is just overcome with just grief. And Ellie, I know, speaks for thousands and thousands and thousands, millions of young people all over the world. who appreciated Charlie as he tried to begin the American comeback yesterday. That was what he was calling his tour. Maybe this will lead to the kind of spiritual revival, the comeback that we need. I posted a picture. In fact, I think, Christian, you’ve got the B-roll of Charlie and me at an event that our friend Seth Leipson sent from Phoenix. And it’s Charlie kind of laughing at me as we’re both on stage, and I was belting out the national anthem. Don’t worry, we’re not going to play the audio of the… of me singing the national anthem, but the video of Charlie and me together. We’ve posted it on our website, mikeonline.com. It’s a picture that I’ll treasure because, again, as I’m bellowing away, Charlie is kind of looking at me with a sort of amused expression. We share a lot of laughs, and he just meant so much to many of us. There’s the video of me up on stage, and there’s Charlie. And that was at our friends in Phoenix at 960 The Patriot. You can see Charlie’s giving a thumbs up. And I told Christian and the gang, I want no audio of me warbling the Star Spangled Banner. I want video of Charlie’s big grinning face next to us on stage. And he said afterwards, hey, you got great chops, Mike. Didn’t know you could sing. I said, well, I’m great in the shower, Charlie. And he laughed, and we just had a great time together. Thanks to Seth Leipson for sending that video to us last night. And thank you, Alan, for those incredible words and that kindness. 13 Before the Hour, more coming up. America remembers and mourns. The great Charlie Kirk assassinated yesterday in Utah. There’s an update, too, from the law enforcement authorities, hoping that they are getting closer to catching the killer. We’ll give you that update coming up next. Stay with us. Every single day, it’s a joy to remind you that portions of our show are sponsored by MyPillow. As you know, our friend Mike Lindell, big legal victory last week. He’s been in a ton of hot water, as you know, because he believes in election integrity. Of course, due to his friendship with President Trump. Well, last week, there was a $5 million vote. judgment against Mike that was overturned by the courts. Good news for MyPillow. So you keep praying for MyPillow, and you keep supporting this great American company. The premium MyPillow, limited time, great price, $18.98. If you go to MyPillow.com, this pillow is a godsend. Look, I bring the MyPillow products with me when I’m on the road. Here at the hotel in Washington State, I’ve got the MySlippers with me, those unbelievable slippers, because I pat around in the hotel room. I don’t know what’s on that rug. I bring the MyPillow with me. I roll it up into the suitcase. I’ve even got my MyPillow loungewear. Tons of great products. If you haven’t been to the site in a while, go check it out. Go to MyPillow.com. Look for the Mike Gallagher specials. Click on that box. And with anything you order, enter the promo code MikeG. You’re going to save big. The slippers, the doggy beds, and the Giza dream sheets. MyPillow.com. Promo code MikeG. MyPillow.com. Promo code MikeG. Or call 800-928-6034. 800-928-6034. Like we love to sing. For the best night’s sleep in the whole wide world, visit MyPillow.com. Promo code MikeG.
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America in shock. Salem’s Charlie Kirk assassinated in Utah. Here’s Mike Gallagher.
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This is a very sad time for our nation. President Trump announced today that Charlie Kirk will be honored posthumously with the Medal of Freedom for the work that Charlie has done for our country. All of us, of course, here at Salem Media are devastated. This feels surreal. It is… Inconceivable that this could have occurred on the campus of a college, one of many, many, many colleges and universities where Charlie engaged with young people. I keep thinking today of all the thousands and thousands of high school and college kids around the country and the world who are broken right now. As somebody who has been a broadcaster, who has been blessed to work with Salem Media for nearly a quarter of a century, clearly none of us have experienced anything like this. It’s been a tough year, a very tough time. As you know, our dear friend and colleague Dennis Prager suffered a catastrophic fall last November. and, of course, was paralyzed due to the spinal injury that he suffered. Charlie Kirk stepped into Dennis’ time slot with Dennis’ blessing. Dennis, with a beautiful message of condolences and heartfelt anguish, really, said, Even in Dennis’s current condition, Dennis was able to share his sentiments. And I’ll read Dennis’s statement for you here in just a moment. But, you know, all of this first, you know, Dennis and now the assassination yesterday of Charlie Kirk. And so all of us here at Salem Media are just wrecked. We are we’re shattered. We’re shattered. And I thought it would be appropriate to hear from the guy we affectionately call the big boss. We have many bosses here at Salem. It’s a big company. We have many, many, many, many masters. We have many platforms. Of course, Salem Media is ubiquitous. We are all over the country with, of course, hundreds and hundreds of radio stations. with Town Hall, with Salem News Channel, with the Salem Podcast Network. And the guy who’s the head of it all has got a very heavy burden on his shoulders right now, and I thought it would be very appropriate to welcome to our show the Chief Executive Officer of Salem Media, David Santrella. Dave, this is a first. All the years we’ve worked together to interview you under this awful, awful circumstance has is unprecedented. Clearly, Salem is shocked and horrified, Dave, by Charlie’s assassination, one of Salem’s biggest stars. Dave, can you tell us how you’re dealing with all of this as CEO of our company, how you’re balancing the obvious personal pain that we’re all suffering with the duties and responsibilities that Salem has going forward?
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Yeah, certainly, Mike. First off, Mike, I want to thank you Because, you know, you really, I mean, have been working 24-7 right now. You and I were texting last night at midnight my time, which I think was 3 in the morning your time, and now you’re on the air again. You were covering until 1 a.m. last night, East Coast time. So you’re just working around the clock right now, and I just appreciate so much your passion. and your talent for what we’re doing. In terms of how we balance things right now, it’s, you know, being very transparent, it’s difficult, right? Because we have emotions, we have the same emotions that everybody else has. I woke up this morning from a dream that I was at an event with Charlie Kirk and Charlie and I hugged and he kind of backed up for me and gave that kind of famous Charlie Kirk smile and then that smile turned to a very sincere look and he pointed at me and he said, you be careful. And I woke up. And so, you know, we’re dealing with those same emotions of loss that so many other people are dealing with right now. And yet at the same time, right, we have to be journalists, right? We have to be professionals and cover the story. Our listeners expect us, our audience expects us more than anybody else to cover this story and to cover it well. And so we have to kind of walk that tightrope and put our emotions aside And do the job. And yet, I also think we have that unique ability to truly let our heart be shown while we do our job excellently. And Mike, you’re epitomizing that, by the way.
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Well, our hearts are heavy, Dave, but we know that – first of all, we know where Charlie is right now, and that sustains us. But we’re broken for Erica, for the children, for his parents. You know, 24 years ago when I began my journey with Salem, I knew that Salem Media – It was a very and is a very unique company. And between I shared Dennis’s catastrophic accident and now this, David, it definitely feels like we’re being put to the test. How is it from your perspective as CEO of our organization? How is Salem Media uniquely positioned to respond to this terrible, terrible crisis?
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Well, you know, I agree with you. I think we are being put to the test. I was actually composing an email yesterday that will be going out to our staff on Monday, I think. And I was thinking about everything that happened with Charlie. And then as you brought up, Dennis Prager came to mind. And I thought, you know, gosh, we just lost Charlie. And earlier, actually, we’re coming up on a year. November 12th will be a year. that Dennis Prager slipped getting out of the shower and had a life-altering accident. And the next thing that came to mind, Mike, for me, was Ephesians 6.12, where in Ephesians 6.12, Paul says, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil. in the heavenly places. And I thought, you know, we are, you know, the person who assassinated Charlie Kirk was flesh and blood. But the motivation was evil. The motivation was darkness. There was a darkness that wants to silence what we do. There is a darkness that wants to put an end to what it is that we do. And how do we respond to it? I think we respond by allowing events like this to embolden us that much more. I think we use events like this as our opportunity to say, you’re not going to stop us. You’re not going to knock us down. Maybe you can knock us down, but we’re going to get back up and we’re going to dust off and we’re going to go back at it and we’re going to go back at it that much harder than we were yesterday. Because the more you try and silence us, the louder we will get.
SPEAKER 05 :
We’re visiting with the CEO of Salem Media, of course, the big boss here at Salem, Dave Santrella. Dave, you’ve had many dealings with Charlie. You knew him quite well. He certainly loved radio. He told me many times that he grew up listening to folks like Rush and even a big mouth like Mike Gallagher. He was proud of Turning Point USA, but he was proud of his legacy, of course, and what he accomplished with Turning Point. But, Dave, it’s safe to say that he cherished his family. He cherished his beautiful wife and those two beautiful children, his mom and dad. Family was everything to him, right?
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Oh, my goodness, yeah. I mean, you would go to an event, and his wife and his kids many times were there. They were, you know, first and foremost. In fact, probably, and Charlie and I got along really well, but, you know, as you can imagine, there were times when we would rub up, you know, kind of have a rub on something. And as I think about it, most of the times that we had kind of dust-ups, it was around… us wanting him to do something and him saying, I don’t want to take that time away from my family. You know, I tried to convince him to go on one of our famous listener cruises that we do. And, and he said, I’m not, I can’t be away from my family for seven days. And I said, well, you can bring the family with, I’ll put them in a big suite. It’ll be, it’ll be great. And it’ll be honest. It’ll be fantastic. And he said, no, no, I don’t want to do that. I just can’t be away from the kids for that long. And so family was everything to Charlie. But, you know, you mentioned Rush Limbaugh. And, you know, he grew up, Charlie grew up in Elk Grove Village, which oddly enough is where our radio stations in Chicago are located, AM560, The Answer. WIND is right there in Elk Grove Village. And he grew up listening to Rush Limbaugh on one of the other talk radio stations in that market. And, you know, Salem really gave him that opportunity, right? We gave him the opportunity to move into the Rush Limbaugh time slot. Phil Boyce worked tirelessly to – and this was before Charlie Kirk was as big as Charlie Kirk is today – we moved him into that time slot competitive to Rush Limbaugh. The only time we’ve ever offered two hosts in the same day park offering both Dennis Prager and Charlie Kirk in that day park, knowing that Charlie likely would kind of be the heir apparent to, to Rush Limbaugh. He would replace Rush as the, the conservative voice. And, um, So we’re honored that we were able to provide that opportunity.
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Dave, on a very personal note, I can share with you that Charlie expressed to me his deep admiration for you, his appreciation and admiration for Phil Boyce, the executive team here at Salem Media, of course, Brad Parscale. and the folks who have guided Charlie and have worked closely with him. I know you’re hurting every bit as much as all of us are, and I’m so grateful that you could take time out of your day to talk to our audience and to share your thoughts about the life, the legacy, the extraordinary impact. of Salem’s very own Charlie Kirk. I am very, very honored to be hosting today Charlie’s show in the noon to 2 p.m. Eastern time slot. Mark Davis out of Dallas and I are going to co-host it together. Mark and I are dear friends, and so we’re going to lean on each other to get through it, and we’re going to provide a tribute to Charlie during that time slot, which would have been Charlie’s show today, because I think the Charlie Kirk audience will appreciate it. And Dave, we appreciate you very much. Keep fighting the good fight. I know there’s a lot on your shoulders and the whole executive team, but we’re grateful for your time today, boss. Thank you for joining us on the Mike Gallagher Show, sir.
SPEAKER 06 :
Let’s warrior on, man. Let us warrior on.
SPEAKER 05 :
Amen. We’re going to warrior on. We’re going to do it for Charlie. Dave Centrella joining us here on the Mike Gallagher Show, the CEO of Salem Media. Look, we’ve been through a lot together. We’ve been through 9-11 together. We’ve been through the pandemic together. We’ve been through some awful, awful times, but we’re going to soldier through this together. I hope you will join me at 800-655-MIKE. 800-655-6453. One number does it all. You can call or text. But join us. Put your voice front and center as we remember the life, the legacy, and we will give you the very latest, incidentally, on the investigation. The sniper still on the loose, but the law enforcement community sounds pretty optimistic that they are honing in on the culprit. This very special edition of the Mike Gallagher Show coming up.
SPEAKER 07 :
the mike gallagher show it’s interesting you know we don’t know who did this but i do know it doesn’t help the left which makes me think, is it the left? I don’t know. I don’t know. We don’t know. But it feels professional. That’s all it feels to me.
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In the ReliefFactor.com studios, here’s Mike.
SPEAKER 05 :
There’s reporting coming in right now that we cannot yet verify that the ammunition discovered, the ammo, was engraved with ideological phrases and expressions. Again, very preliminary. I don’t know that anybody would doubt that this was an ideologically driven assassination. This was a political assassination. This was somebody who wanted to silence Charlie Kirk permanently. And all of those details are going to be coming out. I want to focus… a little bit on unity for a moment. There’s a lot going to be said about the vicious… demonic people who are celebrating Charlie’s assassination. But there are people on the left who want no part of that. And I always believe in giving credit where credit is due. There’s a fellow named Cenk Uygur. Cenk Uygur is one of the young Turks. This guy’s been around for a long time. He is a bombastic lefty. And he is disgusted and angered by the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a man for whom he very rarely agreed with. But here was Cenk Uygur on social media last night on X expressing his reaction to the senseless and horrific assassination of Salem’s own Charlie Kirk.
SPEAKER 04 :
Charlie Kirk was shot in Utah giving a speech there. I just found out he’s passed away. I can’t believe he’s dead. He was shot in the neck. Some of you might have seen an elderly man being dragged away. Turns out it was not him. Authorities don’t know who did it. Violence is not the answer. This is a horrific tragedy. And we’re all in danger now. This is a terrible, terrible thing to do. Violence is intellectual surrender. It’s giving up and saying, I’m a loser. I don’t know how to win in a battle of ideas. I’m going to resort to violence like an animal. It is the very last thing anyone who’s progressive or on the left would ever do. We are for nonviolence. We are for peace. We are for our fellow human beings and humanity overall. So I don’t know who did this, but whoever they are, they’re a monster. And they’ve done something terrible. That was not just a pundit. That was a human being.
SPEAKER 05 :
That’s, of course, the way normal people should react to this awful, awful assassination. Last night, I saw the young Democrats of Connecticut and the young Republicans of Connecticut issued a joint statement of condemnation together. That’s the way. That is the way. And I urge you, and I want to see if my friend and colleague Hugh Hewitt agrees with me, I think you should avert your eyes for now to the ugliness, to some of the viciousness that is present on social media. Look the other way from it and stay away from it because it’s just evil and you don’t need that cancer, that poison in your soul right now as America grieves. Hugh Hewitt and I have been Salem media hosts for many years together. Hugh this year moved from mornings to afternoons on the Salem Radio Network. Many stations around the country carry Hugh. Let’s welcome again our friend and colleague Hugh Hewitt to the Mike Gallagher Show. Hugh, you and I were texting while you were in flight last night, which you’ve got to love the technology of being able to stay in touch over your phone. But I know you are as shocked. And as heartbroken as all of us are, give us some of your thoughts here in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Charlie and the manhunt for his killer that is currently underway in Utah and beyond.
SPEAKER 03 :
Well, thank you for your coverage, Mike. I think you’ve been doing a very difficult thing very well. I had the great blessing of not being able to talk to anyone yesterday because I was coming from the West Coast to the East Coast through Dallas. I got back here about 1 o’clock last night. The advantage of that is time for prayer and reflection, and like you, overwhelmed with text messages. I want to tell the audience one thing. I don’t know that it’s been covered enough. I think you and Dave touched on it. I met Charlie Kirk at the campus of Colorado Christian University in the summer of 2012. He was 18 or 19, I think 18. And I was teaching a seminar there for high school kids because Senator Bill Armstrong, who was then the president of CCU, our friend Eric Hogue, is now the president of CCU. And Senator Armstrong said, I’d like to bust into your schedule. Could you accommodate this young man, Charlie Kirk? Bill Armstrong had an eye for talent. And Charlie had one or two people with him. And he came in and he mesmerized these high school and college students. I was teaching a week-long course in Constitution and Western Civilization to. I’m 57 at the time, and he’s 18. I’m thinking to myself, this kid’s got skills, and those skills are going to go a long way. I had no idea he would become, he’s not the next Rush Limbaugh. He reached Rush Limbaugh status, right? He was Rush. He had the reach. if not the number of stations via his podcast, via Turning Point. And he had nothing in 2012 except an idea. Arizona Supreme Court Justice Bill Montgomery was helping him get started, but it was on a wing and a prayer. And in 13 years… He built a machine so threatening to people that someone felt the need to kill him. Now, he is, you’ve noted again and again, he’s a father, two toddlers, and a wonderful wife. I do not know Erica, and I haven’t met the babies. Charlie and I, like you mentioned earlier, we would text, we would talk. He would think of you and Dennis and me, more you and Dennis than me, as sort of uncles in the business, and he would seek advice occasionally. But he didn’t need any advice. Charlie is a force majeure. I mean, in my entire life, I don’t remember… anyone besides Rush evoking this kind of reaction from people who love to listen to him. And it’s because Charlie was filled with joy, great Christian witness, great friend of Israel, great friend of the president’s. But he began, and I want to emphasize, before President Trump got into politics, four years earlier, Charlie had set out to change young America. And he has. He did that. Almost an absurd dream, right, in 2012, to start visiting high school classrooms and college classrooms with the idea of getting back the youth demographic for… the Republican Party, and for liberty and for freedom. And he built, and then it just took off. And you remember the hockey stick that was discredited about global warming? Well, the hockey stick really does apply to Charlie Clark. He started down there at the XY axis where they meet and took on about three years, and then he took off. And during Trump won, he continued to grow, grow, grow. During the exile of the president, he grew, grew, grew, never stopped working, He would go on these college campuses. You and I have done thousands of the events, and we always joke when we meet a young person, it brings down the demo in our room by about 30 years. That was Charlie’s demo, and nobody else, no one in broadcast has that demo. And by broadcast, I mean network television, network radio. Nobody comes close. There are podcasters, but no one comes close.
SPEAKER 05 :
Nobody comes close. Well, what a tribute. What a wonderful tribute, which is, of course, typical of you. Hugh, I know you changed coasts because you were interviewing Justice Amy Coney Barrett. We’ll look forward to hearing your interview on your show. You’re doing some of the finest work of your career. And since you’ve been around 110 years and you’re like 40 years older than me, that’s a real tribute to you, my friend. So, Hugh, again, a tough day, hard day. All of us are grieving, but thank you for your smiling face and your love and your remarks of Charlie on this difficult day.
SPEAKER 03 :
Thank you and Mark for taking his show today, Mike.
SPEAKER 05 :
Of course. Mark and I will be co-hosting the Charlie Kirk show today. I can’t even believe I’m saying that. Hugh Hewitt, thank you, sir. Keep fighting the good fight, our friend and colleague, and all of us together getting through this as we remember Charlie Kirk’s legacy here on the Mike Gallagher Show.
