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Ten Years of Turning Point USA [1]
['Matthew Boedy']
Date: 2022-01-28
Endnotes
[1] “Freedom Night In America feat. Charlie Kirk & Eric Metaxas at Dream City Church in Phoenix LIVE,” YouTube, posted by Turning Point USA on October 19, 2021,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtfCAkmsGmc [39:01]
[2] “Defending Christianity & Discussing Radical Islam (Pt. 2) | Charlie Kirk | POLITICS | Rubin Report,” YouTube, posted by The Rubin Report on January 18, 2018,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhCKfxy83BQ [3:09]
[3] “Freedom Night in America,” YouTube, posted by Turning Point USA,
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnZT7Gz_VSN4tCdBVtXhCQL4qtWI2_J8U
[4] As noted in “2017 Largest 100 Churches,” available at
https://ag.org/about/statistics
[5] “Turning Point Faith,” Turning Point USA, 2021,
https://www.tpusa.com/faith
[6] Andrew L. Whitehead and Samuel L. Perry, co-authors of Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, see four categories on a spectrum in relation to Christian Nationalism and Christians in the US: rejecters, resisters, accommodators, and ambassadors. See webinar featuring interview of Whitehead: “The Rise of Christian Nationalism,” Council on Foreign Relations, Feb. 9, 2021,
https://www/cfr.org/event/rise-christian-nationalism
[7] “School Board Watchlist,” Turning Point USA, 2021,
https://www.tpusa.com/topics/school-board-watchlist
[8] “School Board Watchlist,” Turning Point USA, 2021,
https://www.schoolboardwatchlist.org/
[9] Bailee Hill, “Loudoun County parent on explosive school board meeting: ‘This is an ideology war,’” Fox News, October 27, 2021,
https://www.foxnews.com/media/loudoun-county-parents-demand-school-offi…
[10] “Professor Profile: Jennifer Begeal,” Turning Point USA, 2021,
https://professorwatchlist.org/professor/jenniferbegeal
[11] “Professor Profile: Luis Leyval,” Turning Point USA, 2021,
https://professorwatchlist.org/professor/luisleyva
[12] “Professor Profile: Asao Inoue,” Turning Point USA, 2021,
https://professorwatchlist.org/professor/asaoinoue
[13] Carolyn Gallaher, “War on the Ivory Tower: Alt Right Attacks on University Professors,” Political Research Associates, May 17, 2018,
https://politicalresearch.org/2018/05/17/war-ivory-tower
[14] “Nonprofit Explorer: Turning Point USA,” ProPublica, 2021,
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800835023. A 2013 tax filing shows TPUSA had expenses of just over $50,000 with about $79,000 in revenue. It was spending half its budget on “travel.” The next year Kirk reported making around $1,700 from TPUSA.
[15] Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11), “Mandating vaccines for our 170+ full time employees at Turning Point USA? No chance. We will sue you Joe Biden, and win,” tweet on September 9, 2021,
https://twitter.com/charliekirk11/status/1436077998831136785?s=20
[16] For example, Poplitics
https://www.tpusa.com/poplitics
[17] For example, TPUSA Instagram page
https://www.instagram.com/turningpointusa/?hl=en
[18] Ben Lorber, “‘America First Is Inevitable,’” Political Research Associates, January 15, 2021,
https://politicalresearch.org/2021/01/15/America-first-inevitable
[19] Michelle Malkin, “Stapling Green Cards to Diplomas Is Stupid and Suicidal,” American Greatness, October 30, 2019,
https://amgreatness.com/2019/10/30/stapling-green-cards-to-diplomas-is-…
[20] Charlie Kirk, “Clearing the Air on the Right,” American Greatness, November 21, 2019,
https://amgreatness.com/2019/11/21/clearing-the-air-on-the-right/
[21] John Fea, “Charlie Kirk: Democrats are letting migrants into the country because they want to diminish and decrease ‘white demographics in America,’” Current, September 24, 2021,
https://currentpub.com/2021/09/24/Charlie-kirk-democrats-are-letting-mi…
[22] “Charlie Kirk ~ The Conservative Forum ~ 9-8-2015,” YouTube, posted by Liberty Forum on September 10, 2015,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihaMOHCVYsQ&t=164s (:50)
[23] “West Point Class Profile”, United States Military Academy West Point, July 6, 2018,
https://www.westpoint.edu/admissions/class-profile.
According to West Point, a little more than half of the students nominated actually are qualified academically. And only half of those qualified are accepted.
[24] “Wheeling High School (9-12) ACT,” Illinois Report Card, 2021; “West Point Class Profile”, 2018. While we don’t know Kirk’s test scores, Kirk’s high school ACT averages from 2012-2017 don’t generally match scores of those admitted to West Point. Kirk graduated high school in 2012.
[25] John Keilman, “Before Trump and Kanye became fans, Charlie Kirk battled ‘Marxist’ high school teachers in Chicago’s suburbs,” The Chicago Tribune, October 22, 2018,
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-charlie-kirk-turning-point-c….
One of Kirk’s Wheeling High School classmates told The Chicago Tribune in 2018 that “people would roll their eyes at Charlie for saying ridiculous things, but it’s not like he was punished. There was no teacher who was an open Marxist.”
[26]John Colapinto, “Armies of the Right: The Young Hipublicans,” The New York Times, May 25, 2003,
https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/25/magazine/armies-of-the-right-the-you…. This might have been true in Kirk’s school. But nationally in the early 2000s, there were a host of youth-orientated conservative groups with large followings.
[27] WHS Spokesman, Vol. 48, Issue 1, Wheeling High School, September 23, 2011,
https://issuu.com/whsspokesman/docs/whs_issue_1/1?ff. Kirk started that group with another student who had worked with Kirk the year before to protest their school district over the cost of cookies in the cafeteria. The school newspaper’s article on the protest only mentions Kirk started a Facebook group.
[28] “SOS Liberty high schoolers: ‘We are tomorrow,’” Illinois Review, April 25, 2012,
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2012/04/sos-liberty-we-ar…
[29] “Opinion: Joe Walsh Youth in Training,” WMAQ NBC Chicago, April 27, 2012,
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/joe-walsh-youth/1955286/
[30] Joe Walsh (@walshfreedom), “I helped Charlie Kirk get started ten or so years ago. And for that, I’m sorry. He is a grifter’s grifter. This is disgraceful and despicable,” tweet posted on July 21, 2021,
https://twitter.com/WalshFreedom/status/1417977621837750272
[31] Charlie Kirk, “Liberal Bias Starts in High School Economics Textbooks,” Breitbart News, April 26, 2012,
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2012/04/26/liberal-bias-starts-in-hi…. Kirk is identified as the co-founder of SOS Liberty in the biography at the bottom of his first Breitbart article.
[32] In at least two September 2012 political events the now high school graduate Kirk quotes the textbook in his hand. One event is archived on the TPUSA Youtube page: “Turning Point USA 9/15/2012,” YouTube, posted by Turning Point USA on September 17, 2012,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYN6KgA1tzs. The other can be seen here: “Freedom Fest - Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA,” YouTube, posted by DuPage Tea Party on September 25, 2012,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_AtwDW11H0
[33] To be fair, “supply-side” is mentioned a few times in the index and in the section Kirk aims his ire at. Art Laffer — who would go on to be one of Trump’s favorite economists — is mentioned 12 times. His “Laffer curve” — made famous by its mention by Ben Stein in the 1986 movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off — is also mentioned.
[34] Kirk failed to give the full quote in his article that notes the Reagan criticism was an estimate of economic output before Reagan’s tax cuts went into effect. Kirk made it seem the criticism came after the cuts were in place. See page 357 in the book found here: Krugman’s Economics for AP, posted by Jeffrey Gao
https://www.academia.edu/25564670/Krugman_s_Economics_for_AP
[35] “SOS Liberty educates peers about fiscal responsibility - Fox News 5-26-12,” YouTube, posted by skier137 on May 28, 2012,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADgEqMm1OO0
[36] The 2-minute speech is archived at the TPUSA Youtube page: “The Speech That Launched Turning Point USA,” YouTube, posted by Turning Point USA on July 27, 2017,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnrn9OKZLoY
[37] Rebecca Nelson, “The 21-Year-Old Becoming a Major Player in Conservative Politics,” The Atlantic, March 2015,
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/the-21-year-old-be…
[38] Charlie Kirk, “A high school student’s message for Washington,” Fox News, June 1, 2012,
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/a-high-school-students-message-for-wash…
[39] “The Charlie Kirk Show: A Tribute to My Mentor, Bill Montgomery,” YouTube, posted by Charlie Kirk on August 22, 2020,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wYj0LzRMd0 [5:06]
[40] Daniel Lippmann and Tina Nguyen, “Turning Point USA co-founder dies of coronavirus-related complications,” Politico, July 29, 2020,
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/29/turning-point-usa-founder-dies…
[41] “Freedom Fest USA,” DuPage Tea Party, August 23, 2012,
https://www.dupageteaparty.com/2012/08/23/freedom-fest-usa. As late as August 23, 2012, Charlie Kirk is being invited to speak under the banner of SOS Liberty.
[42] Noah Rothman, “Fox & Friends Use Two Young Republicans To Prove Young Voters Moving Toward GOP,” Mediate, July 5, 2012,
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-friends-shows-views-of-two-young-republ…
[43] “Turning Point USA on Neil Cavuto Show - July 7th, 2012,” YouTube, posted by Turning Point USA on July 7, 2012,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=U0wzZhgbYWc
[44] Charlie Kirk, “Honoring the Legacy of America’s Happiest Warrior—Foster Friess (1940-2021),” Turning Point USA, May 27, 2021,
https://www.tpusa.com/live/honoring-the-legacy-of-americas-happiest-warrior-foster-friess-1940-2021
[45] “Nonprofit Explorer: Turning Point USA,” ProPublica, 2021,
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/800835023
[46] “Charlie Kirk on the Dennis Prager Show,” YouTube, posted by Turning Point USA on November 18, 2015,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXMwDMjR-MM [1:33]
[47] “Charlie Kirk’s Anti-BDS Plan to Conquer Campuses,” YouTube, posted by Julia Carmel Salazar on October 9, 2015,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fidHYaI9qE [1:39]
[48] “The Power of Grassroots Campus Organizing — Big Government Sucks! 2014,” YouTube, posted by Turning Point USA on December 22, 2014,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOLALi6-690
[49] TPUSA Chapter Handbook College Edition 2017-18, Turning Point USA,
http://web.archive.org/web/20180227185002/https://tpusa.com/wp-content/…
[50] See the publications here:
https://www.tpusa.com/publications
[51] “Thank You for 5 Years with Turning Point USA!,” YouTube, posted by Turning Point USA on June 5, 2017,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFL2_imZouI [2:48]
[52] “Why You Should Work For Turning Point USA,” YouTube, posted by Turning Point USA on June 24, 2016,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HehXNinQyLo
[53] Christopher Mele, “Professor Watchlist Is Seen as Threat to Academic Freedom,” The New York Times, November 28, 2016,
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/us/professor-watchlist-is-seen-as-th…
[54] “Charlie Kirk On Professor Bias,” YouTube, posted by Turning Point USA on July 27, 2017,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggn35CRVcSU [1:00]
[55] Charlie Kirk, Time for a Turning Point (Post Hill Press, 2016),
https://books.google.com/books/about/Time_for_a_Turning_Point.html?id=A…. Kirk argues in the book that the “left” hates the idea of a “morally judging God” as seen in the “Bible-based religions.”
[56] “Defending Christianity & Discussing Radical Islam (Pt. 2) | Charlie Kirk | POLITICS | Rubin Report,” YouTube, posted by The Rubin Report on January 18, 2018,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhCKfxy83BQ [3:06]
[57] Sarah Pulliam Bailey, “‘Lecherous and worthless’: Megachurch pastor from Trump’s own evangelical council denounces him,” The Washington Post, October 10, 2016,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/10/10/misogyn…. Harvest Bible Chapel’s well-known pastor James MacDonald was an early member on President Trump’s evangelical advisory council, but left that group after Trump’s comments about women were leaked in October 2016.
[58] “Celebrating 30 Years of Ministry, Harvest Bible Chapel’s ‘Summer Revival’ Welcomes World Renowned Apologist Ravi Zacharias,” The Kairos Company, July 26, 2018,
https://thekcompany.co/press-release/release-celebrating-30-years-of-mi…
[59] Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11), “I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist, Atheism is rooted in hubris, and as the world adds more atheists the moral fiber of our civilization will continue to decay, And the more atheists there are in the world, the bigger government will grow, Atheism must be defeated,”
tweet posted on February 24, 2018,
https://twitter.com/i/status/967608728282378240
[60] “Charlie Kirk and Candace Owens - Western Conservative Summit 2018,” YouTube, posted by
Centennial Institute on July 13, 2018,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m4NboECfGI [32:18]
[61] This specific episode can be found here:
https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-charlie-kirk-show-845470/episode…
All episodes archived here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-charlie-kirk-show/id1460600818
[62] In the 2018 interview with Rubin [see note 2, 2:16] Kirk sums up his political beliefs in one phrase: “the non-aggression principle.” This Ayn Rand concept can also be found in John Locke and other political philosophers. It is not inherently a religious concept. While it primarily has been applied to private property rights Kirk applies it broadly to politics.
[63] Dennis Prager, “God, Liberals and Liberty,” The Dennis Prager Show, October 12, 2010,
https://dennisprager.com/column/god-liberals-and-liberty/. This concept of divine rights is a key tenet of Dennis Prager, the Jewish radio host and mentor for Kirk. Prager wrote in 2010 - two years before Kirk graduates high school - that “because the Creator of the world is the source of our freedom, no state, no human being, no government may take it away.”
[64] “The Charlie Kirk Origin Story,” YouTube, posted by The Daily Caller, August 3, 2019,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o0Kc09dSMU [5:20]
[65] Alene Tchekmedyian and Carolyn Cole, “Thousand Oaks councilman, a pastor, resigns, says he’ll defy coronavirus order,” Los Angeles Times, April 5, 2020,
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-05/thousand-oaks-counc…. McCoy resigned from the council in April 2020 to protest California’s strict pandemic rules, especially on churches.
[66] “Rob McCoy for City Council,” Facebook,
https://www.facebook.com/RobMcCoyForCouncil/
[67] “Rob McCoy (California),” Ballotpedia,
https://ballotpedia.org/Rob_McCoy_(California)
[68] “Christians needed in politics today as much as at nation’s founding,” American Renewal Project, November 2015,
https://theamericanrenewalproject.org/2015/11/christians-needed-in-poli…. David Lane, “Jesus Asked, ‘Where Is Your Faith?,’” Charisma News,March 8, 2016,
https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/renewing-america/55680-jesus-asked….
[69] Kellan Howell, “Evangelical David Lane begins effort to recruit pastors to run for political office,” The Washington Times, November 23, 2014,
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/23/evangelical-david-lane…
[70] “Rob McCoy: CPAC 2019 at Liberty University,” YouTube, posted by Liberty University on September 3, 2019,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcCLbCuo4_U [5:00]
[71] “APOLOGIA: Forum with Charlie Kirk,” YouTube, posted by Westgate Chapel – Edmonds on May 2, 2021,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_2gOjyBEE8 [8:02]
[72] “6th Annual AM590 The Answer Unite IE Conservative Conference,” posted on April 28, 2019,
https://www.evensi.us/6th-annual-am590-answer-unite-conservative-confer…
[73] “Liberty, Free Enterprise & a Constitutionally limited government” is the mission statement on its Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/UniteIE
[74] “2019 UNITE IE CONSERVATIVE CONFERENCE - Charlie Kirk,” YouTube, posted by AM 590 The Answer on April 29, 2019,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F18geHrRe4k
[75] “Charlie Kirk & Sr. Pastor Rob McCoy (9 am & 10:45 am),” Facebook, posted by Candlelight Christian Fellowship on September 27, 2020,
https://www.facebook.com/events/238040384313232/.
Their relationship has grown to the point that Kirk began to call McCoy his “personal pastor” in 2020.
[76] “The Body of Christ and the Public Square - 2019 - Charlie Kirk,” YouTube, posted by Christopher Thoma on February 7, 2020,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vK3GI87vGY [10:10]. At a speech later that year, Kirk adds this church was like “Rachel Maddow with organ music.”
[77] “The Body of Christ and the Public Square - 2019 - Charlie Kirk,” YouTube, posted by Christopher Toma on February 7, 2020,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vK3GI87vGY
[78] “The Body of Christ and the Public Square Conference 2019,” Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church and School, Hartland, Michigan,
https://www.oursaviorhartland.org/events-2/the-body-of-christ-and-the-p…
[79] Kirk seems to be referring to this misleading post on a far right Christian blog: “BOMBSHELL: “Justice Democrats” Founder is THE Organizer of Evangelical Social Justice Movement,” Pulpit and Pen, July 29, 2019,
https://pulpitandpen.org/2019/07/29/bombshell-justice-democrats-founder…
[80] “Happening Now featuring Charlie Kirk (December 2019),” YouTube, posted by Real Life with Jack Hibbs, December 5, 2019,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT6ju5ViWa4
[81] Tom Gjelten, “Faith Leaders Nearly Unanimous In Condemning Assault On Capitol,” NPR, January 7, 2021,
https://www.npr.org/2021/01/07/954581163/faith-leaders-nearly-unanimous…
[82] Michael Hernandez, “Calvary Pastor Jack Hibbs: ‘The Constitution will live or die this week,’” Citizens Journal, January 4, 2021,
https://www.citizensjournal.us/calvary-pastor-jack-hibbs-the-constituti…
[83] “Happening Now featuring Charlie Kirk (December 2019),” YouTube, posted by Real Life with Jack Hibbs on December 5, 2019,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT6ju5ViWa4 [9:24]
[84] Frederick Clarkson, “The Rise of Dominionism: Remaking America as a Christian Nation,” Political Research Associates, December 5, 2005,
https://www.politicalresearch.org/2005/12/05/the-rise-of-dominionismrem…
[85] Karen Kuruvilla, “Liberty University Students ‘Embarrassed’ By Jerry Falwell Jr.-Founded Think Tank,” Huffington Post, December 31, 2020,
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/liberty-university-students-falkirk-cent…
[86] “Liberty’s Falkirk Center Has an Extremely Concerning Mission Statement,” Relevant, January 15, 2020,
https://www.relevantmagazine.com/current/libertys-falkirk-center-has-an…
[87] Jack Jenkins, “Charlie Kirk out at Liberty University’s Falkirk Center,” Religion News Services, March 17, 2021,
https://religionnews.com/2021/03/17/charlie-kirk-out-at-liberty-univers…
[88] Andrew Ujifusa, “A Pro-Trump Student Group Will Launch a History Curriculum. It Could Get a COVID-19 Boost,” Education Week, March 31, 2021,
https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/a-pro-trump-student-group-will…
[89] “Turning Point Academy,” Turning Point USA, 2021,
https://www.tpusa.com/academy
[90] “Boom! Charlie Kirk tore apart the Radical Left’s Marxist Critical Race Theory in Just 1 Minute,” Facebook, posted by Turning Point USA on June 11, 2021,
https://www.facebook.com/turningpointusa/videos/155141003266155/
[91] “Charlie Kirk Confronts Scottsdale School Board Over Illegal Mask Mandate,” YouTube, posted by Charlie Kirk on August 25, 2021,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODUbifmEVB4 [3:05]
[92] “Careers,” Turning Point USA, December 1, 2021,
https://www.tpusa.com/careers
[93] “Freedom Night in America,” Facebook, posted by Cornerstone Chapel on October 17, 2021,
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=344656900791… [36:40]
[94] David Armiak, “Turning Point USA Seeks $43 Million to Escalate the Right’s Culture War in American Schools,” Center for Media and Democracy, October 25, 2021,
https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2021/10/25/turning-point-usa-seeks-43-mill…. The Center for Media and Democracy reported in October on a TPUSA investor prospectus circulated in August that seeks to more than double TPUSA’s current $40 million budget.
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