Guests - Drew Allen, Mohit Asnani, Stephen Mundt
AmericaFest 2025: Honoring Charlie Kirk's Legacy Amid a Resurgent Conservative Movement
In Phoenix, Turning Point USA's AmericaFest drew over 30,000 attendees for its first gathering since the assassination of founder Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025. The four-day event, held at the Phoenix Convention Center, celebrated faith, freedom, and Kirk's enduring influence on young conservatives. Erika Kirk, who assumed leadership of the organization following her husband's death, delivered a powerful opening speech, pledging to continue the mission he began.
Attendees from across the country gathered to renew connections and reaffirm commitment to grassroots activism. High-profile speakers included Vice President JD Vance, Steve Bannon, Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr., and House Speaker Mike Johnson on the opening day. The conference highlighted the growth of Turning Point chapters, with reports of 75,000 new high school and college groups nationwide.
Erika Kirk emphasized unity and resilience: "My mission is our mission—to finish what Charlie started." She described her late husband as a bridge-builder who exemplified grace in debate, even with opponents. The event underscored that Kirk's vision for empowering the next generation through faith and freedom remains stronger than ever, proving that attempts to silence the movement have only amplified it.
Drew Thomas Allen on "For Christ and Country: The Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk"
Author Drew Thomas Allen joined the discussion to share insights from his book, For Christ and Country: The Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk. Allen, who previously worked as a publicist for Kirk, described the profound personal impact of the assassination.
"It rocked my world. It devastated me," Allen said, recounting the moment he learned of the shooting while picking up his daughter from school. The realization that Kirk's young daughter would never again experience such joy prompted weeks of grief and introspection.
Allen explained that the book chronicles his own spiritual transformation, inspired by Kirk's unwavering commitment to faith-first leadership. "Charlie exemplified self-improvement. He sought mentors, had courage and conviction, and rigorously studied issues rooted in his Christian beliefs."
He argued that Kirk's death exposed a dangerous cultural rot: years of dehumanization from institutions like media and academia normalized contempt for faith and traditional values. "The left killed Charlie Kirk not with a single bullet, but with years of hatred that made his assassination inevitable."
Allen compared the event to a modern 9/11, shattering illusions of safety for conservative truth-tellers. Yet, he stressed Kirk's legacy as a martyr whose influence has grown in death, inspiring others to step into the void by becoming the best versions of themselves.
The book serves as a moral reckoning and rallying cry, urging readers to carry forward Kirk's fight for faith, family, and freedom in America's 250th year.
Mohit Asnani on President Trump's Cannabis Rescheduling Executive Order
Mohit Asnani, a Tucson-based cannabis industry leader, discussed the historic executive order signed by President Donald Trump on December 18, 2025, reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III—the first change to the Controlled Substances Act in 55 years.
"This recognizes that 82 percent of Americans support some form of medical or adult-use cannabis," Asnani said. With programs in 40 states serving over 200 million people, the order aligns federal policy with public sentiment and scientific evidence.
Trump clarified his opposition to recreational use but emphasized common-sense reform. Asnani highlighted therapeutic benefits, particularly for pain management in cancer treatment and PTSD among veterans, reducing reliance on addictive opioids.
The reclassification enables deeper federal regulation, background checks, and alignment between state and federal laws. It also opens pathways for prescriptions, improved product safety, and economic normalization—allowing businesses banking access, credit cards, and potential uplisting on major exchanges.
Asnani noted over half a million jobs in the licensed cannabis ecosystem and stressed treating American companies equitably. Age restrictions remain strict (21+ for adult use), mirroring alcohol regulations, ensuring safety while advancing evidence-based policy.
Retired Brigadier General Stephen Mundt on National Security and Political Discourse
Retired Brigadier General Stephen Mundt joined to reflect on Erika Kirk's leadership and broader issues of political violence, extremism, and foreign policy.
Mundt praised Erika Kirk's resolve: "She is leading from the front, filled with the Holy Spirit, fighting against darkness and evil." He echoed concerns about dehumanization fueling violence, citing celebrations of Kirk's death as evidence of moral decay.
"Words hurt, and we must choose respect over obsession," Mundt said, criticizing inflammatory rhetoric on all sides while noting left-wing extremism has become particularly dangerous.
On the Brown University shooting—where a suspect linked to the killings of two students, injuries to nine others, and an MIT professor was found dead—Mundt highlighted security failures and potential foreign ties, including reported Iranian connections via Israeli intelligence.
Discussing global hotspots, Mundt supported the Abraham Accords for stabilizing the Middle East through economic incentives. He warned against power vacuums in Venezuela post-Maduro and skepticism toward Chinese and Russian peace overtures.
Mundt endorsed designating major cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, enabling stronger interdiction of drugs killing Americans. "These narcotics are poisoning our kids—we must stop the flow at the source."
He closed with a call for kindness this Christmas season, honest debate, and rejecting sacrilegious politicization of religious symbols. "Merry Christmas—accept it graciously and move on."