The Left Mourns Kimmel; Conservatives Honor Charlie; and Erica Kirk Steps Forward
Let's unpack today's conservative conversations
A New Chapter for Turning Point
The biggest development of the day was Turning Point USA’s announcement: Erica Kirk has been unanimously elected as CEO and board chair of the organization her late husband founded.
Ben Shapiro called it “exactly the right move.” He opened his show with the news, quoting from Ecclesiastes: “To everything there is a season.” The board’s message was clear: the mission continues, led by the woman Charlie trusted most.
Megyn Kelly, still reflecting on her emotional trip to TPUSA headquarters, echoed that sentiment. Hosting from Charlie’s studio, she described a campus covered in flowers and tributes—“the only thing I can compare it to is after Princess Diana died.” Meeting Charlie’s team, she said with confidence: “Erica can do this. And that staff, hand-selected by Charlie, can do it with her. So we’re good.”
A movement built around one man now rallies around his vision—and his family.
Kimmel the “Martyr”
Meanwhile, the cultural Left continues its performance. Jimmy Kimmel’s indefinite suspension for lying about Charlie Kirk’s assassination has triggered what Shapiro mocked as “wailing, gnashing of teeth, sackcloth and ashes.” Hollywood elites are treating his removal as if the Republic itself has collapsed.
Michael Knowles pointed out the inversion:
“They’re rallying around Jimmy Kimmel as a free speech martyr—not Charlie, who was literally assassinated for his speech.”
— Ep. 1818, The Michael Knowles Show
Matt Walsh said it even plainer: the Left views losing Kimmel as a greater tragedy than Kirk’s murder.
That inversion tells us everything about priorities in the cultural elite. A comedian who lies is defended, but a conservative leader gunned down for his ideas is memory-holed.
The Spin and the Truth
Adding insult to injury, Knowles suggested the entire story about Kimmel’s suspension may itself be a lie—wrapped up in corporate maneuvering and government pressure. Clay & Buck raised the same concern: affiliates may have acted under FCC pressure, given Disney and Nexstar’s ongoing merger talks.
The truth may be that Kimmel’s fate is as much about politics as it is about his words. That’s a dangerous precedent. As Shapiro cautioned earlier this week, public outrage is legitimate—but government censorship is not. Today’s tool against Kimmel will tomorrow be used against conservatives.
Grief, Grassroots, and Resolve
On The Sean Hannity Show, Linda McLaughlin of The Rogue Recap cut through the noise. She spoke personally about her years working with Charlie on messaging and digital strategy, describing him as a friend in the conservative space.
“What happened to him really just threw me for a loop like so many other people. And I just really mourn and grieve for his wife Erica and their children.”
That personal testimony grounds the larger story. This isn’t just about politics. It’s about a family and a movement left behind—and determined to continue.
Closing Thoughts: Who We Choose to Elevate
This week has revealed a sharp divide. The Left has elevated Jimmy Kimmel as a free speech martyr, ignoring the fact that his suspension came after a malicious lie. Conservatives, meanwhile, have elevated Erica Kirk, TPUSA’s staff, and the memory of a man assassinated for his convictions.
One side wails over the loss of a TV host. The other side builds on the legacy of a leader taken too soon.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer.