Opening Arguments - Charlie Kirk sucked and we won’t be pretending otherwise

VR 7 - Part 1 of 2. Vapid Response Wednesday has been blessed with a surplus of truly awful takes in the days following the murder of MAGA luminary Charlie Kirk. After a brief reminder of who this man actually was in his own words, we go on to see who has achieved honors in categories ranging from Worst Obituary to Most Pretentious Response and beyond. (Next up: more of the worst, but also some of the best responses to this moment.)

You can also watch this episode on YouTube!

  1. “Charlie Kirk: The American Socrates,” Owen Anderson, The Blaze (9/14/25)

  2. “Je Suis Charlie Kirk,” The Editors, The Free Press (9/12/25)

  3. “Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Should Herald the End of the American Left,” John Daniel Davidson, The Federalist (9/12/25)

  4. “He May Have Pulled the Trigger But Charlie Kirk’s Suspected Killer Didn’t ‘Act Alone’,” M.D. Kittle, The Federalist (9/12/25)

  5. “We must not posthumously sanitize Charlie Kirk’s hateful life," Erin Reed, The Advocate (9/11/25)

  6. “Charlie Kirk’s Legacy Deserves No Mourning,” Elizabeth Spiers, The Nation (9/12/25)

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Consider This from NPR - The U.K.’s response to Trump, like America’s, is divided.

The first day of President Trump’s historic trip to the UK was dominated by ceremony.

A carriage procession around the grounds of Windsor Castle with the royal family.

Inspection of the guards.

Exhibits from the Royal Collection.

A lavish banquet preceded by a joint US- UK military flypast. 

All the royal pomp and pageantry that might be expected for the first ever second state visit by an elected politician to a British monarch.

But the sights and sounds beyond the castle were far different.

Thousands of protestors filled London’s streets with chants, signs and Trump baby blimps. 

Protestors told us they were demonstrating over what’s happening in the United States over what’s happening in Gaza and over Trump’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The U.K.'s response to Trump is like America's: divided

Coming up, opposing perspectives on President Trump’s visit to the United Kingdom.

This episode was produced by Kathryn Fink and Beth Timmins in London and by Tyler Bartlam and Elena Burnett in Washington. It was edited by Courtney Dorning, Nick Spicer, Roberta Rampton and Nadia Lancy.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.



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Newshour - Trump given spectacular royal welcome in Windsor

King Charles welcomes US President Donald Trump on his second state visit to Britain. There was plenty of pomp and pageantry but also protests.

Also on the programme: we'll hear from inside Gaza City where thousands of people are trying to escape heavy Israeli bombardment; and a powerful new AI tool which can estimate the long-term risk of more than a thousand diseases.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump and King Charles III watch a flypast by the RAF Red Arrows during a Beating Retreat military ceremony at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on day one of the president's second state visit to the UK. Credit: PA)

CoinDesk Podcast Network - Stablecoins, Survival and Trust in Emerging Markets | Markets Outlook

Exploring the nuanced reality of stablecoins in emerging markets with The Flip Founder Justin Norman.

To get the show every week, follow the podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In today's Markets Outlook, CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie and Sam Ewen are joined by Justin Norman, Founder of The Flip, to dive deep into his new documentary series and explore the nuanced, on-the-ground reality of stablecoins. From the complex legal gray areas in Argentina to the surprising role crypto plays in Bolivia's economy, Justin shares what he's learned from people around the globe who depend on stablecoins.

This content should not be construed or relied upon as investment advice. It is for entertainment and general information purposes.


-

This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie and Sam Ewen.



The Daily Signal - Victor Davis Hanson: The Left’s Cancel Culture Frankenstein Turns on It After Charlie Kirk’s Death  

The Left’s preferred method of vengeance for the past few years has been cancel culture, in which it deplatforms, doxes, blacklists, and suppresses speech for being illiberal. But now, after justifying and even celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death, the Left is pretending to be free speech warriors.

 

Victor Davis Hanson breaks down why the Left can’t handle the backlash after Charlie Kirk’s assassination and why cancel culture is finally turning on its creators on today’s episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”


“They have been canceled and they're very, very angry. And they feel that the Charles Kirk death, assassination has opened the gates of censorship. No, it hasn't. It's making a larger point, that when somebody dies, there's a period, traditionally, of grace. They're also very angry because the murder of Iryna Zarutska opened the gates, they feel, of collectivizing, stereotyping black crime in a way that's unfair. 


“And they kind of say the Right wants a George Floyd moment. But remember one thing, it's very, very important about this dichotomy, this dialogue back and forth: When George Floyd died under police custody, he was used by the Left to advance a larger agenda, based on a premise. And we were told that George Floyd died violently while in police custody because this was a normal event in the United States, where police systematically killed suspect, unarmed black males. That was not true. That was not true.”


👉Don’t miss out on Victor’s latest videos by subscribing to The Daily Signal today. You’ll be notified every time a new piece of content drops: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1 

 

👉If you can’t get enough of Victor Davis Hanson from The Daily Signal, subscribe to his official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@victordavishanson7273 

 

👉He’s also the host of “The Victor Davis Hanson Show,” available wherever you prefer to watch or listen. Links to the show and exclusive content are available on his website: https://victorhanson.com 


(0:00) Introduction to Cancel Culture

(1:15) Elon Musk and Free Speech

(1:55) Media Reactions and Censorship

(2:50) Race and Media Personalities

(4:44) The George Floyd Comparison

(7:22) Final Thoughts

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WSJ What’s News - How America Fell in Love With Cocaine Again

P.M. Edition for Sept. 17. Cocaine use is rising in the U.S., in part because of an excess supply smuggled in by Mexican cartels. WSJ deputy editor for Latin America Santiago Pérez joins to discuss why, and how Trump administration policies may play a role. Plus, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates by a quarter point today. We hear from WSJ investing columnist Spencer Jakab about how the central bank is shifting its priorities. And after poorer workers closed the gap with the rich in recent years, the gulf is now widening again. WSJ economics reporter Jeanne Whalen talks about what’s causing the growing rift. Alex Ossola hosts.


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Motley Fool Money - EV and Autonomy State of the Union

Autonomy is advancing quickly with Waymo leading the charge, but where are there opportunities for investors? And we discuss the future for Rivian and Tesla as EV tax credits expire.


Travis Hoium, Lou Whiteman, and Rachel Warren discuss:

- Waymo’s rapid expansion

- Rivian breaks ground

- Tesla’s Robotaxi challenges

- Our top EV/autonomous stock


Companies discussed: Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), Mobileye (MBLY), Tesla (TSLA), Lyft (LYFT), Uber (UBER).


Host: Travis Hoium

Guests: Lou Whiteman, Rachel Warren

Engineer: Dan Boyd



Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement.


We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode.


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WSJ Minute Briefing - Fed Rate Cut Leads to Mixed Results in U.S. Stocks

Stocks ended mixed after a rally following the central bank’s rate cut. Plus: StubHub falls on its NYSE debut. And Lyft announces a partnership with Waymo. Katherine Sullivan hosts.


Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter.


An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor.

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State of the World from NPR - The Evolving Relationship Between the U.S. and the U.N.

The United Nation is holding its annual General Assembly this month as the organization marks 80 years since its founding. But the body created in the aftermath of World War II to save future generations from scourge of war is struggling. With wars in Ukraine and Gaza and now with a Trump administration which wants to reshape the U.S. relationship with the U.N.

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