Join Michael Shellenberger as he breaks down the biggest news, challenges the mainstream narrative, and delivers fearless commentary on faith, culture, and politics. No spin. No censorship. Just the TRUTH.
Closed captions
Show Timecode
Charlie Kirk Today | Michael Shellenberger: March 25, 2026 | Charlie Kirk Today | March 25, 2026
- As you know, there's a lot of conspiracy theories
- 00:00:09.888 --> 00:00:12.558
- That we do not indulge, that we do not discuss.
- 00:00:12.558 --> 00:00:16.028
- This is different.
- 00:00:16.462 --> 00:00:17.629
- Joe kent was a government official at a very important
- 00:00:17.629 --> 00:00:21.900
- Post, and now he's saying he's willing to testify,
- 00:00:21.900 --> 00:00:26.105
- Ostensibly on behalf of tyler robinson. yes,
- 00:00:26.105 --> 00:00:29.708
- This is a bigger deal.
- 00:00:30.175 --> 00:00:31.143
- This is a line crossed that we have not seen.
- 00:00:31.143 --> 00:00:33.912
- Yes. let's i mean, let's just recite it where he says,
- 00:00:33.912 --> 00:00:37.983
- Kent, this is shellenberger reporting on substack.
- 00:00:37.983 --> 00:00:41.320
- Kent said he knew he might be called as a witness
- 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:43.856
- Before he made his statements that a, quote, foreign
- 00:00:43.856 --> 00:00:46.725
- Nexus may have been involved in kirk's assassination.
- 00:00:46.725 --> 00:00:50.462
- I was definitely warned of that over and over again,
- 00:00:50.462 --> 00:00:53.232
- Said kent.
- 00:00:53.232 --> 00:00:54.333
- If i end up having to play that role, then i'll do it.
- 00:00:54.333 --> 00:00:56.869
- It's not something i'm seeking.
- 00:00:56.869 --> 00:00:58.637
- When pressed that his testimony could help the robinson
- 00:00:58.637 --> 00:01:01.573
- Defense, kent said then honestly, so be it.
- 00:01:01.573 --> 00:01:04.743
- If it gets us to the truth, that's obviously the risk.
- 00:01:04.743 --> 00:01:07.880
- I'm taking.
- 00:01:07.880 --> 00:01:09.114
- Neither robinson's attorneys nor the prosecuting attorneys
- 00:01:09.114 --> 00:01:11.383
- Responded to a request for comment.
- 00:01:11.383 --> 00:01:13.485
- And then, look, i'm not sure if there's more
- 00:01:13.485 --> 00:01:15.053
- I might have to pay for shellenberger subscription.
- 00:01:15.053 --> 00:01:17.623
- Yeah, but yeah, i'm sure it does go go further.
- 00:01:17.623 --> 00:01:21.160
- And we're going to,
- 00:01:21.160 --> 00:01:22.227
- Like i said, be talking to michael shellenberger.
- 00:01:22.227 --> 00:01:23.862
- And, i can't wait to hear what he has to say.
- 00:01:23.862 --> 00:01:26.632
- This, this, this to me
- 00:01:27.099 --> 00:01:29.501
- Is this is galaxy brain run amuck.
- 00:01:30.235 --> 00:01:34.439
- And let me explain.
- 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:35.707
- Well, why i say that.
- 00:01:35.707 --> 00:01:38.010
- Jonathan turley,
- 00:01:38.010 --> 00:01:39.778
- Who is a i guess he's a contributor to fox news legal
- 00:01:39.778 --> 00:01:42.748
- Contributor, he's a professor of law at george
- 00:01:42.748 --> 00:01:45.784
- Washington university, said that 90% of the evidence
- 00:01:45.784 --> 00:01:50.189
- Accumulated against tyler robinson could be thrown out
- 00:01:50.189 --> 00:01:53.959
- So the defense
- 00:01:53.959 --> 00:01:55.060
- Could be successful during that 90% of the evidence,
- 00:01:55.060 --> 00:01:57.396
- And he would still be found guilty of murder.
- 00:01:57.396 --> 00:02:00.933
- Look, let's refresh people.
- 00:02:00.933 --> 00:02:03.168
- There is a murder weapon that was found near
- 00:02:03.168 --> 00:02:06.104
- The site of the shooting.
- 00:02:06.104 --> 00:02:07.506
- It was owned by tyler robinson's family, given to him
- 00:02:07.506 --> 00:02:10.342
- By his grandpa of the caliber used to shoot charlie.
- 00:02:10.342 --> 00:02:13.545
- It has his dna all over it.
- 00:02:13.545 --> 00:02:15.714
- All over the casings. he.
- 00:02:15.714 --> 00:02:17.382
- They released a photo of the shooter.
- 00:02:17.382 --> 00:02:19.051
- They are not able to find him otherwise.
- 00:02:19.051 --> 00:02:21.720
- Tyler robinson's parents see that photo and think
- 00:02:21.720 --> 00:02:25.023
- That looks like tyler.
- 00:02:25.023 --> 00:02:26.458
- They begin asking him things like, where is your.
- 00:02:26.458 --> 00:02:29.194
- I believe it was his grandfather's gun.
- 00:02:29.194 --> 00:02:30.963
- They start asking him this.
- 00:02:30.963 --> 00:02:32.998
- Tyler robinson starts talking like he might kill himself.
- 00:02:32.998 --> 00:02:36.268
- They get a friend of the family to sit down with him.
- 00:02:36.268 --> 00:02:39.004
- He actually he admits that it's him.
- 00:02:39.004 --> 00:02:41.506
- They get him to drive up to arm and turn himself in.
- 00:02:41.506 --> 00:02:44.910
- His parents helped him turn him in.
- 00:02:44.910 --> 00:02:46.678
- And when you run into people who say that that didn't happen
- 00:02:46.678 --> 00:02:49.715
- Or that's fabricated,
- 00:02:49.715 --> 00:02:50.983
- There's his confession, there's digital confessions, but also
- 00:02:50.983 --> 00:02:53.785
- His parents are out there.
- 00:02:53.785 --> 00:02:55.053
- They have never stepped forward and said, this is a lie.
- 00:02:55.053 --> 00:02:57.589
- They could easily do that.
- 00:02:57.589 --> 00:02:58.857
- It would be trivial to do that if it was the case.
- 00:02:58.857 --> 00:03:00.993
- They have not done that.
- 00:03:00.993 --> 00:03:02.427
- His parents turned him in.
- 00:03:02.427 --> 00:03:04.096
- That is the most obvious
- 00:03:04.096 --> 00:03:06.298
- Piece of evidence in the world that nothing can argue around.
- 00:03:06.298 --> 00:03:09.201
- And some people are so obsessed with these same conspiracies
- 00:03:09.201 --> 00:03:13.038
- That they concoct for every other thing that ever happens.
- 00:03:13.038 --> 00:03:18.043
- And so they have to shove it into this one too,
- 00:03:18.043 --> 00:03:20.245
- Because they care more about their conspiracy theories
- 00:03:20.245 --> 00:03:22.948
- Than about the person who murdered my friend.
- 00:03:22.948 --> 00:03:25.651
- Facing justice.
- 00:03:25.651 --> 00:03:27.319
- I am fed up with it.
- 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:28.887
- Yeah, and you should be.
- 00:03:28.887 --> 00:03:30.489
- And this. this is
- 00:03:30.489 --> 00:03:33.392
- I mean,
- 00:03:33.625 --> 00:03:34.860
- This is a tough
- 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:35.627
- Job for us today, to be honest,
- 00:03:35.627 --> 00:03:37.229
- Because this is really personal.
- 00:03:37.229 --> 00:03:39.698
- I have been open to everything.
- 00:03:39.698 --> 00:03:42.401
- I think, candidly, i don't get enough credit
- 00:03:42.401 --> 00:03:45.604
- For even the fact that i shared
- 00:03:45.604 --> 00:03:48.240
- These group chats in the first place.
- 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:49.408
- We shared a lot of information about trans, about charlie,
- 00:03:49.408 --> 00:03:52.711
- How charlie was more concerned
- 00:03:52.711 --> 00:03:54.780
- About than any other community,
- 00:03:54.780 --> 00:03:56.848
- About the trans coming after him.
- 00:03:56.848 --> 00:03:58.517
- You won't know the truth.
- 00:03:58.517 --> 00:04:00.085
- That's actually the truth.
- 00:04:00.085 --> 00:04:01.620
- I heard over the course of the last two years
- 00:04:01.620 --> 00:04:03.655
- Of charlie's life, probably about 50 references
- 00:04:03.655 --> 00:04:05.891
- Of how he, he knew the trans, trans
- 00:04:05.891 --> 00:04:09.461
- People was going to come after him.
- 00:04:09.461 --> 00:04:10.629
- And he was worried about that.
- 00:04:10.629 --> 00:04:12.464
- That's the truth.
- 00:04:12.464 --> 00:04:13.598
- Never mentioned one time about the jews.
- 00:04:13.598 --> 00:04:15.867
- Okay. never once.
- 00:04:15.867 --> 00:04:17.669
- And here's here's why it's so frustrating
- 00:04:17.669 --> 00:04:20.572
- Is because
- 00:04:20.572 --> 00:04:22.240
- There is going to be even more evidence
- 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:24.543
- That is presented to the public in may
- 00:04:24.543 --> 00:04:26.511
- At the evidentiary hearing. okay.
- 00:04:26.511 --> 00:04:29.147
- And it's a mountain of evidence,
- 00:04:29.147 --> 00:04:31.850
- Some of which has been made public,
- 00:04:31.850 --> 00:04:33.285
- Some of which has not been made public yet.
- 00:04:33.285 --> 00:04:35.620
- And the prosecution is going to lay out its case
- 00:04:35.620 --> 00:04:38.256
- Against tyler robertson.
- 00:04:38.256 --> 00:04:39.691
- And i'm told it's a whopper.
- 00:04:39.691 --> 00:04:40.992
- I'm told they've got this guy dead to rights.
- 00:04:40.992 --> 00:04:43.495
- And meanwhile you have government officials
- 00:04:44.429 --> 00:04:46.465
- That are now saying on the record, two journalists,
- 00:04:46.465 --> 00:04:49.368
- They are willing to testify on behalf of the defense
- 00:04:49.368 --> 00:04:52.637
- To get ostensibly to get tyler robertson off the hook
- 00:04:52.637 --> 00:04:55.874
- For something that he did.
- 00:04:55.874 --> 00:04:58.844
- And so the level of betrayal
- 00:04:59.444 --> 00:05:02.514
- That i currently feel is dramatic
- 00:05:02.514 --> 00:05:06.918
- And extreme, the level of just frustration,
- 00:05:06.918 --> 00:05:10.489
- The the idiocy that is on
- 00:05:11.056 --> 00:05:13.325
- Full display, we have to call it out.
- 00:05:13.325 --> 00:05:16.027
- Because if this ends up screwing up the jury pool,
- 00:05:16.027 --> 00:05:19.631
- If this ends up in some ways
- 00:05:19.631 --> 00:05:21.199
- Getting a hung jury, getting a getting this taste,
- 00:05:21.199 --> 00:05:24.536
- This case thrown out, or even just
- 00:05:24.536 --> 00:05:25.937
- Getting the death penalty off the case,
- 00:05:25.937 --> 00:05:28.807
- Of the potential, list of consequences here.
- 00:05:28.807 --> 00:05:31.910
- I'm not going to be happy with that.
- 00:05:31.910 --> 00:05:34.379
- But if this is how it reads, this is an egregious,
- 00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:37.883
- Egregious moment that, we're having to live through.
- 00:05:37.883 --> 00:05:43.992
- Egregious moment that, we're having to live through.
- 00:05:43.992 --> 00:05:53.329
- As we
- 00:05:53.563 --> 00:05:54.564
- Mentioned earlier we
- 00:05:54.564 --> 00:05:56.065
- We're going to be joined by michael shellenberger.
- 00:05:56.065 --> 00:05:57.901
- And he's joining us now.
- 00:05:57.901 --> 00:05:59.936
- Welcome to the show michael.
- 00:05:59.936 --> 00:06:01.471
- It's great to have you.
- 00:06:01.471 --> 00:06:02.405
- Thank you for you know, we
- 00:06:02.405 --> 00:06:04.307
- We talked this morning after your story broke,
- 00:06:04.307 --> 00:06:06.576
- And boy, oh, boy, it's, this is a big one.
- 00:06:06.576 --> 00:06:09.312
- And, you interviewed joe kent, and so i'll let you say it
- 00:06:09.312 --> 00:06:12.849
- In your own words.
- 00:06:12.849 --> 00:06:13.483
- What did he tell you?
- 00:06:13.483 --> 00:06:15.885
- Hey, thanks for having me on and for inviting me on.
- 00:06:15.885 --> 00:06:18.388
- Yeah. i mean, i think it's pretty big news.
- 00:06:18.388 --> 00:06:20.223
- Joe can,
- 00:06:20.223 --> 00:06:20.890
- Of course, the former director
- 00:06:20.890 --> 00:06:21.825
- Of the national counterterrorism center,
- 00:06:21.825 --> 00:06:23.726
- You know, has been saying for the last week that,
- 00:06:23.726 --> 00:06:27.063
- He thinks that, that he doesn't buy
- 00:06:27.063 --> 00:06:30.400
- The lone shooter theory of the assassination of charlie kirk.
- 00:06:30.400 --> 00:06:34.070
- He suspects there's a foreign nexus.
- 00:06:34.070 --> 00:06:37.073
- Was the words he used, involved in that investigation.
- 00:06:37.073 --> 00:06:40.376
- He said that the fbi prevented him from investigating it
- 00:06:40.376 --> 00:06:45.215
- And that he viewed that as, suspicious.
- 00:06:45.215 --> 00:06:48.318
- And if there was nothing there, he told me then,
- 00:06:48.318 --> 00:06:51.020
- Why did they prevent him from investigating it?
- 00:06:51.020 --> 00:06:54.057
- I asked him if he was aware before he went public last week
- 00:06:54.057 --> 00:06:58.962
- That, tyler
- 00:06:58.962 --> 00:07:00.396
- Robinson, the the suspected assassin of charlie kirk,
- 00:07:00.396 --> 00:07:04.267
- That his defense attorneys might actually call ken to the
- 00:07:04.267 --> 00:07:07.604
- Witness stand to argue that,
- 00:07:07.604 --> 00:07:09.439
- That robinson could not be convicted
- 00:07:10.206 --> 00:07:12.442
- Because the prosecution had not given them all
- 00:07:12.442 --> 00:07:16.012
- The information that available to them.
- 00:07:16.012 --> 00:07:17.714
- That's something known
- 00:07:17.714 --> 00:07:18.748
- As the brady rule, named after a supreme court
- 00:07:18.748 --> 00:07:21.017
- Decision, i believe, in the 1960s.
- 00:07:21.017 --> 00:07:23.820
- But nonetheless,
- 00:07:23.820 --> 00:07:24.888
- Most people are familiar with it from television,
- 00:07:24.888 --> 00:07:26.022
- Which is that the prosecutors can't deny
- 00:07:26.022 --> 00:07:28.291
- The federal government, can't deny
- 00:07:28.291 --> 00:07:29.926
- The government can't deny the defense.
- 00:07:29.926 --> 00:07:32.228
- Any information.
- 00:07:32.228 --> 00:07:33.663
- And kent is saying that there is information,
- 00:07:33.663 --> 00:07:36.165
- And that the investigation itself was inadequate
- 00:07:36.165 --> 00:07:39.569
- And that, you know, i spoke to a constitutional,
- 00:07:39.569 --> 00:07:42.572
- Law, legal scholar yesterday who said, you know,
- 00:07:42.572 --> 00:07:45.875
- It would be a no brainer for the defense attorneys.
- 00:07:45.875 --> 00:07:48.978
- Now, for robinson to use kent statements,
- 00:07:48.978 --> 00:07:51.814
- As a way to, you know, gain an advantage or potentially,
- 00:07:51.814 --> 00:07:55.518
- A hung jury or a mistrial or something of that nature.
- 00:07:55.518 --> 00:07:58.788
- So he was pretty serious for people
- 00:07:58.788 --> 00:08:00.723
- That, are interested in seeing,
- 00:08:00.723 --> 00:08:03.726
- Justice served with the assassination of charlie kirk.
- 00:08:03.726 --> 00:08:06.763
- Well, listen, michael, i know that you have to be sort
- 00:08:06.763 --> 00:08:08.965
- Of dispassionate. you're a reporter.
- 00:08:08.965 --> 00:08:11.568
- But to me, this feels like a giant red line.
- 00:08:11.568 --> 00:08:13.937
- This feels like like galaxy brain run amuck.
- 00:08:13.937 --> 00:08:17.340
- Did you.
- 00:08:17.607 --> 00:08:18.408
- Did you get a chance to ask him?
- 00:08:18.408 --> 00:08:19.876
- Just straight up.
- 00:08:19.876 --> 00:08:21.077
- Just because he didn't get led into the investigation doesn't
- 00:08:21.077 --> 00:08:24.314
- Mean it wasn't investigated.
- 00:08:24.314 --> 00:08:27.617
- Yeah, i mean, thanks.
- 00:08:28.117 --> 00:08:29.452
- I appreciate the the point.
- 00:08:29.452 --> 00:08:31.154
- I mean, i'm trying to,
- 00:08:31.154 --> 00:08:32.322
- You know, i mean, the truth is, i actually, like,
- 00:08:32.322 --> 00:08:34.457
- Kind of everybody involved in this.
- 00:08:34.457 --> 00:08:35.858
- I've always,
- 00:08:35.858 --> 00:08:36.926
- I've actually admired, kent and the things he said
- 00:08:36.926 --> 00:08:39.996
- In the past.
- 00:08:39.996 --> 00:08:41.130
- I also care a lot about the transgender, issue.
- 00:08:41.130 --> 00:08:45.668
- We we reported exclusively on leaks.
- 00:08:45.668 --> 00:08:48.137
- You've been amazing on this issue, michael.
- 00:08:48.137 --> 00:08:50.273
- Just a bit.
- 00:08:50.273 --> 00:08:51.107
- Just to underscore your point,
- 00:08:51.107 --> 00:08:52.141
- You have been one of the the lead voices
- 00:08:52.141 --> 00:08:55.244
- Exposing some of the craziness and the zaniness, behind the,
- 00:08:55.244 --> 00:08:59.515
- Behind the trans gender radical trans, ideology.
- 00:08:59.515 --> 00:09:03.319
- So i just wanted to give you some bonafides there.
- 00:09:03.319 --> 00:09:06.422
- Thank you.
- 00:09:06.723 --> 00:09:07.657
- Yeah. it's a obviously it's a big issue.
- 00:09:07.657 --> 00:09:08.791
- And i think many americans felt
- 00:09:08.791 --> 00:09:10.693
- That they didn't need to pay attention to the issue at all.
- 00:09:10.693 --> 00:09:12.562
- And but now we've seen, trans identified people, engaged
- 00:09:12.562 --> 00:09:17.333
- In, shootings, obviously, or maybe not obviously.
- 00:09:17.333 --> 00:09:20.803
- Probably obviously to your audience,
- 00:09:20.803 --> 00:09:22.038
- It was the last thing that charlie kirk was talking about.
- 00:09:22.038 --> 00:09:25.074
- Before he was assassinated.
- 00:09:25.675 --> 00:09:27.877
- It appears as though the evidence that tyler robinson,
- 00:09:27.877 --> 00:09:30.913
- Committed that assassination is pretty overwhelming.
- 00:09:30.913 --> 00:09:33.483
- And and to be fair to joe kent, he didn't dispute that.
- 00:09:33.483 --> 00:09:37.520
- What's really what he's raising here is that
- 00:09:37.520 --> 00:09:40.289
- There may be some broader conspiracy,
- 00:09:40.289 --> 00:09:43.393
- And there's not a lot of evidence for that.
- 00:09:43.393 --> 00:09:47.330
- And, but nonetheless, because kent is such
- 00:09:47.330 --> 00:09:50.833
- An important voice,
- 00:09:50.833 --> 00:09:52.735
- He could easily be used by the defense attorneys.
- 00:09:52.735 --> 00:09:56.406
- I did
- 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:57.607
- Directly ask him repeatedly that, you know,
- 00:09:57.607 --> 00:10:00.076
- Given that his agency is an intelligence gathering
- 00:10:00.076 --> 00:10:03.179
- And really intelligence synthesizing and
- 00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:06.416
- Coordinating agencies as part of the broader
- 00:10:06.416 --> 00:10:08.584
- Coordinating and intelligence mission
- 00:10:08.584 --> 00:10:10.053
- Of the office of the director of national intelligence.
- 00:10:10.053 --> 00:10:13.322
- You know, he didn't have the authority
- 00:10:13.322 --> 00:10:14.957
- To do a law enforcement
- 00:10:14.957 --> 00:10:15.925
- Investigation as fbi investigation.
- 00:10:15.925 --> 00:10:17.994
- And, you know, didn't he sort of need to trust that
- 00:10:17.994 --> 00:10:20.763
- His colleagues at the fbi and elsewhere
- 00:10:20.763 --> 00:10:23.666
- Or and also with the utah, police, law enforcement,
- 00:10:23.666 --> 00:10:27.170
- At some point, you know, you can pass along a tip or
- 00:10:27.170 --> 00:10:30.473
- An idea, but don't you at some point
- 00:10:30.473 --> 00:10:32.175
- Have to sort of trust unless you have other evidence,
- 00:10:32.175 --> 00:10:35.144
- You know, and i asked him if he had other evidence,
- 00:10:35.144 --> 00:10:37.580
- You know, of some sort of corruption or conspiracy.
- 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:40.249
- And he said he didn't.
- 00:10:40.249 --> 00:10:43.186
- So it kind of raises the question of,
- 00:10:43.186 --> 00:10:45.188
- You know, what is this sort of based on?
- 00:10:45.188 --> 00:10:47.256
- Because i think it's worth pointing out to people
- 00:10:47.256 --> 00:10:49.192
- That the restrictions on kent's authority
- 00:10:49.192 --> 00:10:52.161
- To investigate the kirk murder are not arbitrary.
- 00:10:52.161 --> 00:10:55.631
- It's not something that
- 00:10:55.631 --> 00:10:57.066
- Director kash patel or whatever you think of him,
- 00:10:57.066 --> 00:10:59.435
- Sort of invented as a way to stymie a proper investigation.
- 00:10:59.435 --> 00:11:03.172
- Those those restrictions on investigative
- 00:11:03.172 --> 00:11:06.375
- Power are what protect us as citizens.
- 00:11:06.375 --> 00:11:09.278
- It's written into our constitution.
- 00:11:09.278 --> 00:11:10.847
- It's part of our lockean system of government.
- 00:11:10.847 --> 00:11:13.449
- And i think we saw those, we saw the intelligence
- 00:11:13.449 --> 00:11:16.252
- Community abuse those powers, to create the russiagate hoax.
- 00:11:16.252 --> 00:11:21.324
- You know, the russian conspiracy hoax.
- 00:11:21.324 --> 00:11:23.693
- So. and it's not just that.
- 00:11:23.693 --> 00:11:24.961
- I mean, we can go through, you know, the intel.
- 00:11:24.961 --> 00:11:26.896
- It wasn't the first time
- 00:11:26.896 --> 00:11:27.930
- The intelligence community had abused its powers.
- 00:11:27.930 --> 00:11:30.233
- But when you go through so.
- 00:11:30.233 --> 00:11:31.601
- So these the restrictions on kent
- 00:11:31.601 --> 00:11:34.003
- That i think for people that maybe
- 00:11:34.003 --> 00:11:36.038
- Haven't thought about it a lot or haven't
- 00:11:36.038 --> 00:11:38.608
- You know, that don't work, don't aren't familiar
- 00:11:38.608 --> 00:11:41.544
- With the intricacies of why these laws exist.
- 00:11:41.544 --> 00:11:44.313
- I think it's important context like these laws are not there
- 00:11:44.313 --> 00:11:46.983
- To prevent a thorough investigation
- 00:11:46.983 --> 00:11:49.018
- Or to cover up things.
- 00:11:49.018 --> 00:11:49.886
- And it certainly wasn't
- 00:11:49.886 --> 00:11:51.120
- A subjective determination by the fbi director.
- 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:54.257
- It's written into laws.
- 00:11:54.257 --> 00:11:55.558
- And those laws are there, you know,
- 00:11:55.558 --> 00:11:57.660
- First and foremost, to protect us, obviously.
- 00:11:57.660 --> 00:11:59.595
- But obviously, part of the process
- 00:11:59.595 --> 00:12:01.531
- Of protecting innocent civilians is also,
- 00:12:01.531 --> 00:12:04.734
- To make sure that you get the guilty party
- 00:12:04.734 --> 00:12:06.169
- And you don't go off and engage in activities that would
- 00:12:06.169 --> 00:12:09.105
- Potentially, entrap innocent people.
- 00:12:09.105 --> 00:12:12.141
- Here's here's the problem though.
- 00:12:12.141 --> 00:12:13.676
- So he's now essentially said that he's willing to go
- 00:12:13.676 --> 00:12:17.246
- Testify ostensibly on
- 00:12:17.747 --> 00:12:20.149
- Behalf of the defense, on tyler robinson's defense.
- 00:12:20.149 --> 00:12:24.120
- I've heard him say in other interviews that,
- 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:27.890
- You know, he's he said, i'm sure there's a slam
- 00:12:27.890 --> 00:12:30.693
- Dunk case against tyler robinson.
- 00:12:30.693 --> 00:12:32.195
- I'm not saying it wasn't him,
- 00:12:32.195 --> 00:12:33.396
- But now it seems like almost he's moved on from that point.
- 00:12:33.396 --> 00:12:37.433
- Did did you ascertain his sense, his internal sense
- 00:12:37.433 --> 00:12:41.771
- Of the guilt of tyler robinson or not?
- 00:12:41.771 --> 00:12:45.107
- Well, this is let's get let's get into this part
- 00:12:45.107 --> 00:12:48.044
- Because this is extremely important
- 00:12:48.044 --> 00:12:49.545
- And, important to understand.
- 00:12:49.545 --> 00:12:51.147
- And i posted, the on all of the
- 00:12:51.147 --> 00:12:54.050
- On the record portions of our interview i posted.
- 00:12:54.050 --> 00:12:57.486
- And also, was very careful to make sure that the stuff
- 00:12:57.486 --> 00:13:00.690
- That was posted was on the record,
- 00:13:00.690 --> 00:13:02.592
- After the fact confirmed it, with kent,
- 00:13:02.592 --> 00:13:06.329
- Earlier, today before publishing.
- 00:13:06.329 --> 00:13:08.931
- So everything that's in there,
- 00:13:08.931 --> 00:13:10.299
- In that recording over 30 minutes,
- 00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:12.735
- I think what's he also said that he thought
- 00:13:12.735 --> 00:13:15.137
- That there was a strong case against robinson,
- 00:13:15.137 --> 00:13:17.840
- And i don't think he's changed that view.
- 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:20.476
- I'm not.
- 00:13:20.476 --> 00:13:21.711
- Well, i should have put it this way.
- 00:13:21.711 --> 00:13:24.080
- I don't think anybody in the media had yet asked him
- 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:27.917
- Directly and kind of consistently,
- 00:13:28.684 --> 00:13:31.787
- If he was aware that his allegations
- 00:13:31.787 --> 00:13:35.124
- Could be used by robinson's defense team to argue
- 00:13:35.124 --> 00:13:38.861
- That robinson was potentially a victim of a wider conspiracy.
- 00:13:38.861 --> 00:13:42.465
- And, and kent said that he was aware of that
- 00:13:42.465 --> 00:13:45.801
- Before going public.
- 00:13:45.801 --> 00:13:47.303
- The brady rule is not an obscure rule.
- 00:13:47.303 --> 00:13:50.139
- I mean, everybody knows that, right?
- 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:52.241
- Defense attorneys are going to need to know
- 00:13:52.241 --> 00:13:54.410
- Everything that went into some investigation.
- 00:13:54.410 --> 00:13:56.445
- Any government investigation.
- 00:13:56.445 --> 00:13:57.647
- That's a really important civil liberties protection.
- 00:13:57.647 --> 00:14:00.816
- You know, and similarly, it's a protection,
- 00:14:00.816 --> 00:14:03.986
- You know, it's protection of the innocent.
- 00:14:03.986 --> 00:14:05.321
- It's a strong protection of people, of defendants
- 00:14:05.321 --> 00:14:08.057
- That people may be very convinced already guilty,
- 00:14:08.057 --> 00:14:10.026
- But it's also there to make sure that,
- 00:14:10.026 --> 00:14:11.994
- That, that you're not, you know,
- 00:14:11.994 --> 00:14:15.765
- Like we've been talking about abusing those authorities, but,
- 00:14:15.765 --> 00:14:18.567
- He said he was aware of that.
- 00:14:18.567 --> 00:14:20.269
- He said he wasn't like volunteering to to testify,
- 00:14:20.269 --> 00:14:22.838
- But he said he was aware that he
- 00:14:22.838 --> 00:14:24.473
- He might be asked to investigate.
- 00:14:24.473 --> 00:14:26.175
- And like i said, i think
- 00:14:26.175 --> 00:14:27.743
- I think if i'd be shocked if robinson's attorneys
- 00:14:27.743 --> 00:14:30.112
- Don't use this.
- 00:14:30.112 --> 00:14:31.347
- Well, of course, yeah, this is the obvious.
- 00:14:31.347 --> 00:14:33.816
- This is the
- 00:14:33.816 --> 00:14:35.017
- Obvious result of this, is that he's doing this pr tour.
- 00:14:35.017 --> 00:14:38.354
- And and that's what infuriates me is he's like endlessly.
- 00:14:38.354 --> 00:14:42.058
- He's like someone who's vague
- 00:14:42.058 --> 00:14:43.092
- Posting on facebook where he's like,
- 00:14:43.092 --> 00:14:45.227
- There's there's things i might know.
- 00:14:45.227 --> 00:14:47.596
- People should know. i'm.
- 00:14:47.596 --> 00:14:48.698
- But i can't tell you what. so but i can't go.
- 00:14:48.698 --> 00:14:50.666
- I can't go on the record with this reporter
- 00:14:50.666 --> 00:14:52.401
- That i'm talking to, i can't like.
- 00:14:52.401 --> 00:14:54.904
- It's just what do you actually think happened?
- 00:14:54.904 --> 00:14:57.073
- If you want to do that, you can at least argue with him.
- 00:14:57.073 --> 00:14:59.342
- But like this endless appeal to.
- 00:14:59.342 --> 00:15:01.277
- Well, i had the senior job.
- 00:15:01.277 --> 00:15:02.545
- I saw things everywhere, like,
- 00:15:02.545 --> 00:15:04.714
- I'm sick and tired of seeing this, and i always see it
- 00:15:04.714 --> 00:15:07.683
- From the same people who are maximally conspiratorial.
- 00:15:07.683 --> 00:15:11.120
- I think michael, i can you can you stay right there?
- 00:15:12.154 --> 00:15:15.091
- I'm sorry. i we'll be right back.
- 00:15:15.091 --> 00:15:16.158
- More with michael shellenberger.
- 00:15:16.158 --> 00:15:17.259
- We'll be right back.
- 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:19.996
- We'll be right back.
- 00:15:19.996 --> 00:15:25.309
- Here's what i want everybody to know
- 00:15:26.110 --> 00:15:27.745
- Shortly after tyler robinson's arrest, the prosecutors
- 00:15:27.745 --> 00:15:31.148
- Released a probable cause affidavit
- 00:15:31.148 --> 00:15:33.450
- Detailing the evidence
- 00:15:33.450 --> 00:15:35.052
- Gathered immediately after charlie's assassination.
- 00:15:35.052 --> 00:15:38.255
- The evidence presented at that time was overwhelming.
- 00:15:38.255 --> 00:15:41.959
- But people also need to remember this
- 00:15:41.959 --> 00:15:44.028
- In the months that have followed.
- 00:15:44.028 --> 00:15:45.963
- We know the investigation has continued.
- 00:15:45.963 --> 00:15:49.033
- More details will come out in may,
- 00:15:49.033 --> 00:15:51.101
- When the assassin has a probable cause hearing,
- 00:15:51.101 --> 00:15:53.303
- And we are certain
- 00:15:53.303 --> 00:15:54.271
- There will be even more evidence
- 00:15:54.271 --> 00:15:57.274
- Submitted against tyler robinson by the state.
- 00:15:57.274 --> 00:16:00.778
- And that's a so so the frustration here, michael,
- 00:16:00.778 --> 00:16:04.214
- Is that we have this vacuum, this void that's been created
- 00:16:04.214 --> 00:16:07.785
- Where the investigation is kind of still ongoing.
- 00:16:07.785 --> 00:16:10.788
- They're still gathering it,
- 00:16:10.788 --> 00:16:12.156
- Getting it presentable for this may probable cause hearing.
- 00:16:12.156 --> 00:16:15.692
- But the internet never stops.
- 00:16:15.692 --> 00:16:17.361
- And joe kent resigned when he did.
- 00:16:17.361 --> 00:16:19.229
- And now he's doing this pr tour and it really does.
- 00:16:19.229 --> 00:16:22.166
- And i want to get this through the audience's head.
- 00:16:22.166 --> 00:16:25.469
- This really
- 00:16:25.803 --> 00:16:26.904
- Does have a potential to not only taint a jury pool,
- 00:16:26.904 --> 00:16:30.274
- But to undermine the very prosecution of tyler
- 00:16:30.274 --> 00:16:33.544
- Robinson, who i am 100% convinced
- 00:16:33.544 --> 00:16:36.413
- Pulled the trigger and killed charlie kirk.
- 00:16:36.413 --> 00:16:38.382
- Could you just speak to that?
- 00:16:38.382 --> 00:16:42.186
- Yeah, sure.
- 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:42.986
- I mean, i think,
- 00:16:42.986 --> 00:16:43.987
- You know, the first thing that's just worth
- 00:16:43.987 --> 00:16:45.055
- Acknowledging is that, you know, the american people,
- 00:16:45.055 --> 00:16:48.792
- All of us have seen, you know, real world conspiracies,
- 00:16:48.792 --> 00:16:53.630
- Exposed and i mean by conspiracies,
- 00:16:53.630 --> 00:16:56.733
- You know, illegal secret activity by the government.
- 00:16:56.733 --> 00:16:59.470
- Russiagate collusion hoax is the most famous.
- 00:16:59.470 --> 00:17:02.139
- We uncovered a censorship industrial complex,
- 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:05.642
- Whereby government officials working with, you know,
- 00:17:05.642 --> 00:17:09.746
- Intelligence community officials or recently departed
- 00:17:09.746 --> 00:17:12.116
- Intelligence community officials pressured
- 00:17:12.116 --> 00:17:13.851
- Social media companies to engage in mass censorship.
- 00:17:13.851 --> 00:17:16.620
- We saw a cover up of the,
- 00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:18.822
- Science of covid's origins,
- 00:17:18.822 --> 00:17:21.992
- Almost certainly in a laboratory in china.
- 00:17:21.992 --> 00:17:24.695
- So i think americans are.
- 00:17:24.695 --> 00:17:25.729
- And that's not even to get into,
- 00:17:25.729 --> 00:17:27.197
- You know,
- 00:17:27.197 --> 00:17:27.698
- Other spectacular
- 00:17:27.698 --> 00:17:29.366
- Potential conspiracies like jfk or,
- 00:17:29.366 --> 00:17:31.268
- You know, we've been on all of that stuff as well.
- 00:17:31.268 --> 00:17:33.137
- Michael, i'm not like the conspiracy
- 00:17:33.137 --> 00:17:35.405
- Theorists have been proven
- 00:17:35.405 --> 00:17:36.306
- Right about a lot, but that was before
- 00:17:36.306 --> 00:17:37.941
- You had people that charlie helped
- 00:17:37.941 --> 00:17:40.410
- Get into these positions in the first place.
- 00:17:40.410 --> 00:17:42.613
- You know, as part of the investigative arm.
- 00:17:42.613 --> 00:17:45.816
- You know, i just anyways, i'm sorry i cut you off.
- 00:17:45.816 --> 00:17:48.185
- Please.
- 00:17:48.185 --> 00:17:49.386
- Well, then that's i mean, i think that's just important
- 00:17:49.386 --> 00:17:50.888
- Context that, i, you know, i'm, i'm my opponent.
- 00:17:50.888 --> 00:17:54.825
- My critics call me, accuse me of being an irresponsible
- 00:17:54.825 --> 00:17:57.895
- Conspiracy theorist.
- 00:17:57.895 --> 00:17:58.795
- So, but i also just think it's important,
- 00:17:58.795 --> 00:18:01.598
- You know, obviously, that you have evidence
- 00:18:01.598 --> 00:18:04.635
- To allege, potential, you know, you know,
- 00:18:04.635 --> 00:18:08.338
- Really strong evidence,
- 00:18:08.338 --> 00:18:09.740
- Especially behind really strong allegations like this one.
- 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:12.976
- And i think a lot of times right now, you know,
- 00:18:12.976 --> 00:18:15.913
- Because the social media and podcasting is so powerful
- 00:18:15.913 --> 00:18:18.916
- That i think, you know, it's fun, it's entertaining.
- 00:18:18.916 --> 00:18:23.287
- You know, everybody loves a good conspiracy theory.
- 00:18:23.287 --> 00:18:25.589
- And, i think that's, you know, i think actually some amount
- 00:18:25.589 --> 00:18:29.293
- Of speculation is necessary.
- 00:18:29.293 --> 00:18:30.727
- I think you should ask, asking
- 00:18:30.727 --> 00:18:32.963
- Even outrageous questions is totally appropriate,
- 00:18:32.963 --> 00:18:35.732
- I think, to, i think, though,
- 00:18:35.732 --> 00:18:37.301
- That there are consequences potentially,
- 00:18:37.301 --> 00:18:40.504
- If that starts to affect things like juries, you know,
- 00:18:40.504 --> 00:18:44.208
- And it starts to, you know, i think the point is
- 00:18:44.208 --> 00:18:47.611
- That we want to have trust in our institutions.
- 00:18:47.611 --> 00:18:50.948
- It's not that we want to be in a state of permanent distrust.
- 00:18:50.948 --> 00:18:53.850
- We need to have, that's why you need a regular changes
- 00:18:53.850 --> 00:18:56.720
- Of government to have, you know, a clean house.
- 00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:59.289
- I, i have seen no evidence that
- 00:18:59.289 --> 00:19:02.459
- Anybody in this administration, would do anything.
- 00:19:02.459 --> 00:19:05.796
- I mean, this is an administration
- 00:19:05.796 --> 00:19:06.964
- That's absolutely passionate about charlie kirk.
- 00:19:06.964 --> 00:19:10.167
- The, you know, i think
- 00:19:10.634 --> 00:19:11.501
- Everybody knows that the reaction
- 00:19:11.501 --> 00:19:12.869
- From the trump administration, the white house,
- 00:19:12.869 --> 00:19:15.639
- All the federal agencies was of just shock
- 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:17.808
- And horror and outrage.
- 00:19:17.808 --> 00:19:19.276
- So i just don't see how you how any broader conspiracy
- 00:19:19.276 --> 00:19:23.046
- Could be either carried out or, or covered up
- 00:19:23.046 --> 00:19:27.451
- In the ways that i think, joe khan is suggesting here.
- 00:19:27.451 --> 00:19:32.189
- And, and so, you know, like, like,
- 00:19:32.189 --> 00:19:34.124
- You know, if there's this really not,
- 00:19:34.124 --> 00:19:35.759
- There's just not anything here that would suggest that
- 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:39.730
- There's a cover up going on that i'm saying,
- 00:19:39.730 --> 00:19:42.432
- Or that anybody else was involved, then, you know,
- 00:19:42.432 --> 00:19:44.801
- Then tyler robinson, you know, and i think can at one point
- 00:19:44.801 --> 00:19:48.438
- Sort of or a couple points maybe in the interview,
- 00:19:48.438 --> 00:19:50.974
- Sort of agreed that you don't need anybody else.
- 00:19:50.974 --> 00:19:54.711
- I mean, tyler robinson, you know, it appears
- 00:19:54.711 --> 00:19:58.282
- From the evidence
- 00:19:58.282 --> 00:19:59.349
- That's been released so far, there's ample motive
- 00:19:59.349 --> 00:20:02.019
- And, a lot of evidence that he did it.
- 00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:04.655
- So i don't
- 00:20:04.655 --> 00:20:05.822
- I just don't see the need to add something else to it.
- 00:20:05.822 --> 00:20:08.258
- And again,
- 00:20:08.258 --> 00:20:09.126
- You would think, well,
- 00:20:09.126 --> 00:20:10.294
- Maybe it's just for fun and, you know, just, you know,
- 00:20:10.294 --> 00:20:12.763
- You know, podcasting, entertainment.
- 00:20:12.763 --> 00:20:14.398
- But in this case,
- 00:20:14.398 --> 00:20:15.799
- I think the consequences could be quite serious.
- 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:19.269
- Yeah.
- 00:20:19.503 --> 00:20:20.504
- And that's what i think we're all terrified of.
- 00:20:20.504 --> 00:20:22.306
- And i,
- 00:20:22.306 --> 00:20:22.639
- And i just
- 00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:23.774
- Want to make a point here i am for asking questions.
- 00:20:23.774 --> 00:20:26.643
- This is why i shared the group chat with joe
- 00:20:26.643 --> 00:20:29.546
- Kent in the first place.
- 00:20:29.546 --> 00:20:30.614
- I'm not afraid of the answer to those questions.
- 00:20:30.614 --> 00:20:33.650
- If israel had a hand in killing charlie, i want to know.
- 00:20:33.650 --> 00:20:37.154
- I wanted to know.
- 00:20:37.154 --> 00:20:38.922
- What i'm telling you is that we've had six months
- 00:20:38.922 --> 00:20:41.358
- Plus since that time to track down all those leads,
- 00:20:41.358 --> 00:20:44.561
- None of which have been corroborated,
- 00:20:44.561 --> 00:20:46.063
- None of which have actionable evidence behind, none of which
- 00:20:46.063 --> 00:20:49.366
- Have been presented in any way, shape or form
- 00:20:49.366 --> 00:20:51.902
- To suggest there was there was, probably that there was any
- 00:20:51.902 --> 00:20:56.206
- The overwhelming evidence very rapidly.
- 00:20:56.206 --> 00:20:58.709
- There's zero evidence.
- 00:20:58.709 --> 00:20:59.710
- That's why we're currently facing trial.
- 00:20:59.710 --> 00:21:01.345
- Yeah.
- 00:21:01.345 --> 00:21:02.245
- I am willing to ask the hard questions.
- 00:21:02.245 --> 00:21:04.281
- We want the truth.
- 00:21:04.281 --> 00:21:05.716
- But when there's no evidence and there's no facts
- 00:21:05.716 --> 00:21:08.552
- That would back up those questions,
- 00:21:08.552 --> 00:21:10.120
- Then you have to say, okay, moving on.
- 00:21:10.120 --> 00:21:12.522
- All right. you couldn't corroborate it. okay.
- 00:21:12.522 --> 00:21:14.925
- So i'm not anti asking questions i'm
- 00:21:14.925 --> 00:21:16.993
- Not anti conspiracy theories i'm i'm open to it all okay.
- 00:21:16.993 --> 00:21:20.931
- But you have to have facts.
- 00:21:20.931 --> 00:21:22.432
- And the recklessness with which these accusations
- 00:21:22.432 --> 00:21:25.302
- Are being thrown out now has real world implications.
- 00:21:25.302 --> 00:21:27.904
- And i just it's this brain rot michael, that's driving me
- 00:21:27.904 --> 00:21:31.575
- Insane being on the other side of it.
- 00:21:31.575 --> 00:21:33.343
- I will never
- 00:21:33.343 --> 00:21:34.311
- Look at a conspiracy theory the same way,
- 00:21:34.311 --> 00:21:36.079
- Having been on this side of it,
- 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:37.748
- Because people make jumps to conclude,
- 00:21:37.748 --> 00:21:39.883
- They jump to conclusions, they connect
- 00:21:39.883 --> 00:21:42.386
- Disparate pieces of evidence,
- 00:21:42.386 --> 00:21:43.787
- And they connect them in ways that don't make any sense.
- 00:21:43.787 --> 00:21:46.690
- So anyways, i guess final minute to you, michael,
- 00:21:46.690 --> 00:21:49.593
- Where does this leave us,
- 00:21:49.593 --> 00:21:51.395
- And what do you expect to happen next?
- 00:21:51.395 --> 00:21:53.296
- Yeah, i mean, for me, i, you know, i've been worked on this
- 00:21:54.431 --> 00:21:56.500
- For now, a couple days
- 00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.701
- And really it's been heavy focus on it.
- 00:21:57.701 --> 00:22:00.937
- I kind of walk away,
- 00:22:00.937 --> 00:22:02.105
- Just reminded that these restrictions
- 00:22:02.105 --> 00:22:04.808
- On what intelligence agencies can do
- 00:22:04.808 --> 00:22:06.676
- Are really good and important.
- 00:22:06.676 --> 00:22:08.044
- And we wouldn't want to reduce those, protections.
- 00:22:08.044 --> 00:22:11.548
- I'm not seeing evidence of a wider conspiracy.
- 00:22:11.548 --> 00:22:14.818
- I don't think anyone's presented, evidence of that.
- 00:22:14.818 --> 00:22:17.821
- I am very worried about this affecting the trial.
- 00:22:17.821 --> 00:22:22.192
- I think most people, when they think about
- 00:22:22.192 --> 00:22:24.561
- What's occurred now, would share that concern.
- 00:22:24.561 --> 00:22:27.931
- And, you know, i think that people
- 00:22:27.931 --> 00:22:31.034
- Sometimes want to have a bigger meaning
- 00:22:31.034 --> 00:22:32.936
- For the charlie kirk assassination.
- 00:22:32.936 --> 00:22:34.604
- Like it couldn't just be one guy.
- 00:22:34.604 --> 00:22:36.006
- I mean, because the assassination is just
- 00:22:36.006 --> 00:22:38.375
- It's one of the, you know, most significant
- 00:22:38.375 --> 00:22:42.078
- Political assassinations in american history.
- 00:22:42.078 --> 00:22:44.514
- And so to kind of go it was just a guy, you know,
- 00:22:44.514 --> 00:22:47.818
- You know, that had a maybe a furry
- 00:22:47.818 --> 00:22:50.887
- Fetish and a trans identified boyfriend.
- 00:22:50.887 --> 00:22:53.623
- I think for a lot of people
- 00:22:53.623 --> 00:22:54.458
- That might feel like not big enough
- 00:22:54.458 --> 00:22:56.460
- For something or a significant enough,
- 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:58.328
- And i would say it is big enough.
- 00:22:58.328 --> 00:23:00.464
- What's i mean, charlie kirk's whole legacy
- 00:23:00.464 --> 00:23:02.866
- Is tied up with him not going along with the idea
- 00:23:02.866 --> 00:23:06.436
- That he needed to agree with a belief
- 00:23:06.436 --> 00:23:08.338
- That you could change your sex
- 00:23:08.338 --> 00:23:09.940
- Or that man could become woman.
- 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.907
- And it's a powerful inside.
- 00:23:10.907 --> 00:23:12.576
- Michael, we got to wrap it up. that's a powerful insight.
- 00:23:12.576 --> 00:23:14.911
- The. it's not psychologically satisfying enough.
- 00:23:14.911 --> 00:23:17.647
- The truth for some people,
- 00:23:17.647 --> 00:23:19.249
- But the truth has to be the truth at some point.
- 00:23:19.249 --> 00:23:21.551
- Thank you, michael, for joining us on short notice.
- 00:23:21.551 --> 00:23:23.820
- Thank you, my friend.
- 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:23.820