Charlie Kirk Today

Steve Hilton: February 19, 2026 | Charlie Kirk Today

February 19, 2026 | 23:27

Join Charlie Kirk 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.

#News #Media #Government #Politics #Legacy #Culture #Faith #Christianity #CharlieKirk

Closed captions

Show Timecode

Charlie Kirk Today | Steve Hilton: February 19, 2026 | Charlie Kirk Today | February 19, 2026

On capitol hill, the senior trump
00:00:08.898 --> 00:00:10.467
Political command briefed its core team on the midterms.
00:00:10.467 --> 00:00:13.937
This is reporting from mark halperin,
00:00:13.937 --> 00:00:15.672
A frequent guest on this show.
00:00:15.672 --> 00:00:17.974
And i am reading from an account that he has given,
00:00:17.974 --> 00:00:21.377
To all some great reporting from mark halperin.
00:00:21.377 --> 00:00:23.847
I like his, he's got it here.
00:00:23.847 --> 00:00:26.549
It was a meeting at the capitol hill club.
00:00:26.549 --> 00:00:28.718
So that's where republicans often meet.
00:00:28.718 --> 00:00:30.887
The group of served chicken and steak.
00:00:30.887 --> 00:00:32.789
Very halperin detail there. get ready.
00:00:32.789 --> 00:00:35.024
Food gets the food detail.
00:00:35.024 --> 00:00:36.493
It was a two hour program starting around 530.
00:00:36.493 --> 00:00:40.096
This is a veteran group, not panicked or shaken, he says.
00:00:40.096 --> 00:00:43.333
Just focused on the work and the task at hand.
00:00:43.333 --> 00:00:45.268
There, they're about 75 to 100 people in the room.
00:00:45.268 --> 00:00:48.104
And cabinet members were there, including scott beasant,
00:00:48.104 --> 00:00:50.607
Howard luk, nick rfk, sean duffy,
00:00:50.607 --> 00:00:52.842
Along with their most senior aides.
00:00:52.842 --> 00:00:54.777
The meeting, not the president, was hosted.
00:00:54.777 --> 00:00:56.646
No, not the president.
00:00:56.646 --> 00:00:57.847
The meeting was hosted by susie wiles, who spoke briefly.
00:00:57.847 --> 00:01:00.016
The pollster and strategist
00:01:00.016 --> 00:01:01.384
Tony fabrizio, who charlie loved, presented
00:01:01.384 --> 00:01:04.954
With about 25 slides on the data of what voters care
00:01:04.954 --> 00:01:08.091
About, the demographics,
00:01:08.091 --> 00:01:09.292
The issues, the messages that resonate and what do not.
00:01:09.292 --> 00:01:13.763
The economy will be,
00:01:14.230 --> 00:01:16.866
The economy will be the issue in the election, he said.
00:01:16.866 --> 00:01:19.936
Messages that break through
00:01:19.936 --> 00:01:21.304
Banning stock trading for congress.
00:01:21.304 --> 00:01:23.706
That's a message that breaks.
00:01:23.706 --> 00:01:25.175
Yeah. let's let's yeah.
00:01:25.175 --> 00:01:26.376
Banning stock trading for congress is an interesting one.
00:01:26.376 --> 00:01:28.378
I know people.
00:01:28.378 --> 00:01:31.080
I think that is underrated because i do think there's been
00:01:31.080 --> 00:01:34.651
Really all the way back since the big crash in oh eight.
00:01:34.651 --> 00:01:37.654
Over and over again, public attention goes back to
00:01:37.654 --> 00:01:41.224
How wealthy members of congress are, how much wealthier
00:01:41.224 --> 00:01:44.961
They routinely get while they're in congress.
00:01:44.961 --> 00:01:47.463
The fact that insider trading for a long time
00:01:47.463 --> 00:01:50.300
Had no restrictions at all, it's still not that restricted.
00:01:50.300 --> 00:01:53.636
Now, there's always like new ways that you can cash in
00:01:53.636 --> 00:01:56.239
And people notice it.
00:01:56.239 --> 00:01:57.240
It's like you can literally buy a theme.
00:01:57.240 --> 00:01:59.876
Yeah, i see a theme in these issues that they list.
00:01:59.876 --> 00:02:03.313
There is a underpinning of the populist energy
00:02:03.313 --> 00:02:06.883
In each one of these.
00:02:06.883 --> 00:02:08.251
Right. and it's coming from a conservative angle.
00:02:08.251 --> 00:02:10.220
So the question is how can you get winds
00:02:10.220 --> 00:02:13.856
That resonate, that stick in the brain of voters?
00:02:13.856 --> 00:02:17.427
You're also accomplishing a massive portfolio
00:02:17.427 --> 00:02:20.697
Of policy agenda items that are having huge impacts,
00:02:20.697 --> 00:02:24.267
Actually on the economy, underlying economic momentum.
00:02:24.267 --> 00:02:27.870
But these are things that stick in the minds of normie
00:02:27.870 --> 00:02:31.374
People that are not plugged in to the day in, day out
00:02:31.374 --> 00:02:33.910
Of the political rigamarole. this is what i'm saying.
00:02:33.910 --> 00:02:35.878
And banning stock trading for.
00:02:35.878 --> 00:02:37.447
That's so interesting because it's not really a thing
00:02:37.447 --> 00:02:39.315
That makes any individual person richer.
00:02:39.315 --> 00:02:41.584
No, but it captures the idea of are the gates against us?
00:02:41.584 --> 00:02:45.588
Are they just exploiting us and playing by default?
00:02:45.588 --> 00:02:47.957
There is such a hunger in
00:02:47.957 --> 00:02:51.995
Tackling the corruption and draining the swamp.
00:02:51.995 --> 00:02:54.931
Now we're going to get
00:02:54.931 --> 00:02:55.865
To the potomac story in the next segment.
00:02:55.865 --> 00:02:58.568
So that brings a whole new meaning to draining the swamp.
00:02:58.568 --> 00:03:01.237
But that's what we're getting at,
00:03:01.237 --> 00:03:02.672
Is that the voters, the grassroots, they want
00:03:02.672 --> 00:03:06.242
To see accountability.
00:03:06.242 --> 00:03:07.443
They want to see the elites that have been getting away
00:03:07.443 --> 00:03:10.246
With it in their minds for so long be held accountable.
00:03:10.246 --> 00:03:13.583
And these are the issues.
00:03:13.583 --> 00:03:14.617
It's not gdp.
00:03:14.617 --> 00:03:16.152
It's not even according to tony fabrizio
00:03:16.152 --> 00:03:19.622
Stopping the invasion at the border,
00:03:19.622 --> 00:03:21.224
Which is a huge accomplishment
00:03:21.224 --> 00:03:22.992
That guaranteed has more impact on your daily life
00:03:22.992 --> 00:03:25.862
Than any of the things i'm going to.
00:03:25.862 --> 00:03:27.330
We didn't read that.
00:03:27.330 --> 00:03:28.531
He actually says apparently fabrizio, in his presentation,
00:03:28.531 --> 00:03:31.067
He said, this is from mark halperin.
00:03:31.067 --> 00:03:33.803
Taking credit for closing the border does not resonate much.
00:03:33.803 --> 00:03:38.074
Which does not resonate
00:03:38.074 --> 00:03:39.008
Is a bummer because it is an incredible
00:03:39.008 --> 00:03:41.010
Accomplishment of this administration.
00:03:41.010 --> 00:03:42.612
But if it's not resonating, it's not resonating.
00:03:42.612 --> 00:03:45.515
You should still do it, of course,
00:03:45.515 --> 00:03:46.649
Because it's good, of course. but check it out.
00:03:46.649 --> 00:03:48.418
Let's read these again.
00:03:48.418 --> 00:03:49.285
Banning stock trading for congress.
00:03:49.285 --> 00:03:50.753
Get those dirty, corrupt politicians, encourage
00:03:50.753 --> 00:03:53.222
Transparency on health insurance.
00:03:53.222 --> 00:03:55.124
Get big medicine.
00:03:55.124 --> 00:03:56.292
Get big hospitals, get big insurance.
00:03:56.292 --> 00:03:58.761
We want to know what we're paying for.
00:03:58.761 --> 00:04:00.263
We want them to stop getting away with with it.
00:04:00.263 --> 00:04:03.066
Lowering prescription drug costs, stopping big pharma
00:04:03.066 --> 00:04:07.070
And the trump tax cuts.
00:04:07.570 --> 00:04:08.838
The trump tax cuts will resonate.
00:04:08.838 --> 00:04:10.273
Because guess what?
00:04:10.273 --> 00:04:11.274
People are already experiencing about 11% boost
00:04:11.274 --> 00:04:14.210
In their tax returns.
00:04:14.210 --> 00:04:16.579
Housing affordability.
00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:17.680
This is a charlie kirk special.
00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:19.649
And we're going to get into this in an hour or two
00:04:19.649 --> 00:04:21.484
With secretary scott turner from hud.
00:04:21.484 --> 00:04:23.920
And we're going to talk about that.
00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:24.987
J.d. vance had a great interview
00:04:24.987 --> 00:04:26.189
With martha maccallum yesterday.
00:04:26.189 --> 00:04:27.623
I'm taking credit for closing the border
00:04:27.623 --> 00:04:30.193
Does not resonate much much to blake's earlier.
00:04:30.193 --> 00:04:32.929
But really one last thing.
00:04:32.929 --> 00:04:34.464
And then i want us to move into this, i do, i really like
00:04:34.464 --> 00:04:36.532
How it's not just, oh,
00:04:36.532 --> 00:04:37.600
We need a more of a domestic focus on the economy.
00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:40.203
It's that specific bit of this is a specific thing,
00:04:40.203 --> 00:04:43.106
Like banning stock trading or really
00:04:43.106 --> 00:04:45.208
Honing in, like on prescription drug prices
00:04:45.208 --> 00:04:47.076
That will be noticed and will produce result 1,000%.
00:04:47.076 --> 00:04:50.747
And by the way, if you think back
00:04:50.747 --> 00:04:51.547
To the campaign, it was similar.
00:04:51.547 --> 00:04:53.683
Right.
00:04:53.683 --> 00:04:54.584
No tax on tips.
00:04:54.584 --> 00:04:55.818
No tax on social security. yeah.
00:04:55.818 --> 00:04:57.520
These were things that people could hang their hat on.
00:04:57.520 --> 00:04:59.922
They could say oh that sounds good.
00:04:59.922 --> 00:05:02.125
And by the way it cuts through normie ville.
00:05:02.125 --> 00:05:04.327
It cuts through to main street.
00:05:04.327 --> 00:05:05.762
Yes. and speaking of stuff that goes back to 2024.
00:05:05.762 --> 00:05:08.698
So he goes on,
00:05:08.698 --> 00:05:09.465
He says he makes recommendations
00:05:09.465 --> 00:05:10.933
For how they should spend time in media.
00:05:10.933 --> 00:05:12.535
And he says spend time
00:05:12.535 --> 00:05:13.936
On podcast and social media, not national news interview.
00:05:13.936 --> 00:05:17.807
No one's watching meet the press anymore.
00:05:17.807 --> 00:05:19.609
He says paid media should go on targeted media like that.
00:05:19.609 --> 00:05:22.412
Social media apps not on broadcast.
00:05:22.412 --> 00:05:24.781
He says facebook is still king for voters.
00:05:24.781 --> 00:05:28.451
People then instagram are pushing back against this,
00:05:28.451 --> 00:05:31.788
And i want to push back against the pushback.
00:05:31.788 --> 00:05:34.657
Facebook is where normie voters live, aka older voters.
00:05:34.657 --> 00:05:38.528
They're the ones who will reliably turn out facebook.
00:05:38.528 --> 00:05:41.197
Facebook exists for one reason, and it's so boomers
00:05:41.197 --> 00:05:43.533
Can share anti-obama and anti biden memes.
00:05:43.533 --> 00:05:46.469
So there's actually data on this.
00:05:46.469 --> 00:05:48.104
It's older millennials
00:05:48.104 --> 00:05:49.605
Who were the first generation to have facebook.
00:05:49.605 --> 00:05:53.342
Their parents and that xer in between zone.
00:05:53.342 --> 00:05:56.612
So that it makes sense.
00:05:56.612 --> 00:05:58.381
They they're original users but they're still the most apt
00:05:58.381 --> 00:06:01.083
To vote right.
00:06:01.083 --> 00:06:02.018
Yeah i why don't we have a minute here.
00:06:02.018 --> 00:06:03.653
They're targeting he typo this.
00:06:03.653 --> 00:06:05.321
It's 36 targeted house races and seven key
00:06:05.321 --> 00:06:08.157
Senate races and they're frank for abc.
00:06:08.157 --> 00:06:10.793
And then james blair gets up the political czar.
00:06:10.793 --> 00:06:12.662
And they say historically they know it's common
00:06:12.662 --> 00:06:15.231
For the president's party to lose seats
00:06:15.231 --> 00:06:16.732
Often a lot of seats in the midterms.
00:06:16.732 --> 00:06:18.868
They believe
00:06:18.868 --> 00:06:20.036
They'll only lose the senate if we lose 50 house seats.
00:06:20.036 --> 00:06:22.905
So that's kind of an optimistic take.
00:06:22.905 --> 00:06:25.141
We're likely to keep the senate, keep
00:06:25.141 --> 00:06:26.642
The ability to confirm supreme court
00:06:26.642 --> 00:06:28.177
Justices, confirm appointees.
00:06:28.177 --> 00:06:29.679
And that's the same true massive bloodbath.
00:06:29.679 --> 00:06:32.148
And i think they're aware
00:06:32.148 --> 00:06:33.382
As long as they take the right moves, they might lose seats.
00:06:33.382 --> 00:06:35.718
It's likely they'll lose seats, but not catastrophically.
00:06:35.718 --> 00:06:39.689
He says, trying to argue about wages being up
00:06:39.689 --> 00:06:42.091
Will not help voters. just have to feel it.
00:06:42.091 --> 00:06:44.827
And then this is interesting.
00:06:45.461 --> 00:06:46.796
Apparently they said
00:06:46.796 --> 00:06:47.897
He since president trump wasn't there,
00:06:47.897 --> 00:06:49.232
He says trump will do what he wants to do.
00:06:49.232 --> 00:06:51.601
He will say what he wants to say.
00:06:51.601 --> 00:06:53.135
He goes on guts and instincts.
00:06:53.135 --> 00:06:55.471
He's not as data driven,
00:06:55.471 --> 00:06:56.706
But everyone else, you know, they can stay on their message
00:06:56.706 --> 00:06:59.876
And they'll expect, you know, trump has good instincts,
00:06:59.876 --> 00:07:02.678
But this is a parallel path
00:07:02.678 --> 00:07:04.313
That everybody that can stay on message do it.
00:07:04.313 --> 00:07:06.415
Trump is going to go with his gut.
00:07:06.415 --> 00:07:07.483
He's going to message on instinct.
00:07:07.483 --> 00:07:09.085
He's the president after all.
00:07:09.085 --> 00:07:10.119
He's earned the right.
00:07:10.119 --> 00:07:13.006
He's earned the right.
00:07:13.006 --> 00:07:18.534
According to axios, trump
00:07:19.101 --> 00:07:20.302
Moves closer to a major war with iran.
00:07:20.302 --> 00:07:24.072
So this is a, the sources noted it would likely be a joint
00:07:24.072 --> 00:07:28.010
Us-israeli campaign that's much broader in scope
00:07:28.010 --> 00:07:30.779
And more existential for the regime
00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:32.581
Than the israeli led 12 day war last june,
00:07:32.581 --> 00:07:35.384
Which u.s eventually joined to take out
00:07:35.384 --> 00:07:37.486
Iran's underground nuclear facilities.
00:07:37.486 --> 00:07:40.289
So this this is a huge buildup here.
00:07:40.289 --> 00:07:43.592
So we'll go through the numbers here.
00:07:43.592 --> 00:07:45.527
Trump's armada has grown to include two aircraft carriers,
00:07:45.527 --> 00:07:49.031
A dozen warships, hundreds of fighter
00:07:49.031 --> 00:07:51.800
Jets and multiple air defense systems.
00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:54.002
Some of that firepower is still on the way.
00:07:54.002 --> 00:07:56.638
And people have been seeing how over the last few days,
00:07:56.638 --> 00:07:59.174
A lot of the logistical stuff has been
00:07:59.174 --> 00:08:01.243
Because you can monitor those flights.
00:08:01.243 --> 00:08:02.644
So tankers have been flying across the ocean.
00:08:02.644 --> 00:08:04.980
This the supply vehicles that would support a major effort.
00:08:04.980 --> 00:08:08.750
All of that is heading from europe, from the united states.
00:08:08.750 --> 00:08:11.987
Like you get that long term build up that would let
00:08:11.987 --> 00:08:14.790
Them have sustained action against the country.
00:08:14.790 --> 00:08:17.593
Exactly. so more than 150 u.s.
00:08:17.593 --> 00:08:19.561
Military cargo flights have moved
00:08:19.561 --> 00:08:21.463
Weapons systems and ammunitions to the middle east
00:08:21.463 --> 00:08:23.832
Just in the past 24 hours, another 50 fighter jets,
00:08:23.832 --> 00:08:27.302
F-35s, f-22s and f-16s headed to the region.
00:08:27.302 --> 00:08:31.139
The israeli government, which is pushing
00:08:31.139 --> 00:08:33.375
For a maximalist scenario targeting regime change
00:08:33.375 --> 00:08:36.478
As well as iran's nuclear missile programs, is preparing
00:08:36.478 --> 00:08:39.114
For a scenario of war within days,
00:08:39.114 --> 00:08:41.283
According to two israeli officials.
00:08:41.283 --> 00:08:43.418
Some u.s.
00:08:43.418 --> 00:08:44.519
Sources tell axios that the us might need more time.
00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:46.755
Senator lindsey graham, this is the part
00:08:46.755 --> 00:08:48.390
It got my perked my ears right up, senator lindsey
00:08:48.390 --> 00:08:51.860
Graham said.
00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:52.995
Strikes could still be weeks away,
00:08:52.995 --> 00:08:54.830
But others say the timeline could be shorter.
00:08:54.830 --> 00:08:57.065
This is what it says.
00:08:57.065 --> 00:08:58.300
The boss is getting fed up.
00:08:58.300 --> 00:09:00.102
Some people around him warn against going to war with iran,
00:09:00.102 --> 00:09:03.171
But i think there is a 90% chance we see kinetic action
00:09:03.171 --> 00:09:06.675
In the next few weeks, one trump adviser said.
00:09:06.675 --> 00:09:09.978
And what is prompting a lot of this is
00:09:09.978 --> 00:09:12.347
That there has been attempted iran, u.s.
00:09:12.347 --> 00:09:15.784
Diplomatic negotiations going on, and there is no evidence
00:09:15.784 --> 00:09:20.055
Of a diplomatic breakthrough with iran on the horizon.
00:09:20.055 --> 00:09:23.458
But there's more and more evidence that war is, in fact,
00:09:23.458 --> 00:09:26.595
Now imminent.
00:09:26.595 --> 00:09:27.362
We should note that
00:09:27.362 --> 00:09:28.463
The president has done this a few times.
00:09:28.463 --> 00:09:30.198
We had we had the long buildup in venezuela.
00:09:30.198 --> 00:09:32.601
I feel like everyone thought we were going to topple
00:09:32.601 --> 00:09:35.404
That government.
00:09:35.404 --> 00:09:36.405
And then instead, he just yanked out maduro,
00:09:36.405 --> 00:09:38.340
And instead you have much just kind of a much friendlier
00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:41.810
Relationship with essentially the same government still
00:09:41.810 --> 00:09:44.479
And all reports from venezuela, to be fair,
00:09:44.479 --> 00:09:47.115
You even have former general petraeus,
00:09:47.115 --> 00:09:49.184
Retired general petraeus, praising trump's
00:09:49.184 --> 00:09:51.353
Handling of venezuela, which is interesting.
00:09:51.353 --> 00:09:53.588
And all reports indicate that it's going well now.
00:09:53.588 --> 00:09:56.725
There's going to be bumps along the road.
00:09:56.725 --> 00:09:58.093
There's no doubt,
00:09:58.093 --> 00:09:59.194
In a country that large and that's been that chaotic
00:09:59.194 --> 00:10:01.763
For that long, there's going to be bumps along the road.
00:10:01.763 --> 00:10:03.298
But that is one scenario that seems to be going well.
00:10:03.298 --> 00:10:05.767
And that was ahead of a snake operation. right.
00:10:05.767 --> 00:10:07.903
You take out maduro,
00:10:07.903 --> 00:10:09.571
You provide an olive branch to the rest of the government.
00:10:09.571 --> 00:10:12.974
Seems to go well.
00:10:12.974 --> 00:10:13.975
Maybe he could pursue a similar
00:10:13.975 --> 00:10:15.143
Maybe i would be skeptical of that.
00:10:15.143 --> 00:10:17.145
Now as the as i always say,
00:10:17.145 --> 00:10:18.714
Like who who runs iran and as they would say,
00:10:18.714 --> 00:10:21.316
You know, sean hannity voice like the mullahs in iran, it is
00:10:21.316 --> 00:10:24.786
You have the ayatollah, but the ayatollah
00:10:24.786 --> 00:10:26.655
And a really old guy who's a cleric.
00:10:26.655 --> 00:10:28.890
He's it's not a cult of personality around one guy.
00:10:28.890 --> 00:10:32.327
It is a guy who loves to tweet.
00:10:32.327 --> 00:10:33.628
It is a theocratic regime.
00:10:33.628 --> 00:10:35.297
I mean, they're strong enough that they had military forces
00:10:35.297 --> 00:10:38.133
Who could crush a large uprising in the country.
00:10:38.133 --> 00:10:40.936
You would.
00:10:40.936 --> 00:10:42.037
And also it's a much more, i think, ideologically
00:10:42.037 --> 00:10:45.307
Hostile regime.
00:10:45.307 --> 00:10:46.575
I mean, it's a religious religious extremists.
00:10:46.575 --> 00:10:49.277
It's not even just kind of communists.
00:10:49.277 --> 00:10:51.213
It is full bore, apocalyptic,
00:10:51.213 --> 00:10:53.281
Probably the most aggressive from a messaging standpoint
00:10:53.281 --> 00:10:56.618
Regime in the world against the americans. exactly.
00:10:56.618 --> 00:10:58.720
And so i don't think it's the sort of thing
00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:00.856
Where you could
00:11:00.856 --> 00:11:01.923
Helicopter out one guy and they'd be much friendlier.
00:11:01.923 --> 00:11:04.693
I think it is the sort of thing where if you were going to go
00:11:04.693 --> 00:11:07.229
In, you would have to overthrow the government
00:11:07.229 --> 00:11:10.065
And install a new one.
00:11:10.065 --> 00:11:11.099
And at that point you're risking more u.s.
00:11:11.099 --> 00:11:14.536
Troops.
00:11:14.536 --> 00:11:15.670
It's a more expensive operation no matter what happens.
00:11:15.670 --> 00:11:18.240
And we were just talking at the top
00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:21.510
That the goal is to pivot towards domestic stuff.
00:11:21.510 --> 00:11:24.179
Message on the economy, message on drug prices.
00:11:24.179 --> 00:11:28.950
I think it would be difficult to mix
00:11:28.950 --> 00:11:30.719
That with the sort of war unless
00:11:30.719 --> 00:11:32.888
President trump was highly confident
00:11:32.888 --> 00:11:34.689
It could be
00:11:34.689 --> 00:11:35.791
A rapid, decisive operation with no permanent u.s..
00:11:35.791 --> 00:11:39.027
What?
00:11:39.027 --> 00:11:40.128
Do you remember what trump said during the 12 day war?
00:11:40.128 --> 00:11:41.663
He said, we could have taken the ayatollah out.
00:11:41.663 --> 00:11:44.032
We had his location.
00:11:44.032 --> 00:11:45.367
We could have done it.
00:11:45.367 --> 00:11:46.501
He opted not to then.
00:11:46.501 --> 00:11:48.436
So it's an interesting thing to keep
00:11:48.436 --> 00:11:50.672
In the back of your mind that he
00:11:50.672 --> 00:11:52.040
We have the capability certainly to do it
00:11:52.040 --> 00:11:54.376
From a military standpoint.
00:11:54.376 --> 00:11:55.710
The question is and would that see
00:11:55.710 --> 00:11:57.345
You can see how they might have even been selling
00:11:57.345 --> 00:11:59.181
The president on this, that, for example,
00:11:59.181 --> 00:12:01.316
A lot of people, us included, were very concerned
00:12:01.316 --> 00:12:04.186
Last summer.
00:12:04.186 --> 00:12:05.053
This would escalate into a quagmire.
00:12:05.053 --> 00:12:06.855
And instead they said, no, we can do one strike.
00:12:06.855 --> 00:12:09.224
They won't detect it, there will be no losses
00:12:09.224 --> 00:12:11.359
And it'll succeed.
00:12:11.359 --> 00:12:12.427
And they did that with the strikes.
00:12:12.427 --> 00:12:14.062
Similar thing in venezuela.
00:12:14.062 --> 00:12:15.497
I think a lot of people would have said
00:12:15.497 --> 00:12:16.998
This is a very risky operation where a lot of soldiers
00:12:16.998 --> 00:12:19.634
Could be killed and instead total success, no us losses.
00:12:19.634 --> 00:12:23.905
And, and we like took them all out
00:12:23.905 --> 00:12:25.507
And they were completely,
00:12:25.507 --> 00:12:26.541
You know, completely humiliating for the regime
00:12:26.541 --> 00:12:28.243
Such that they basically had to submit to us
00:12:28.243 --> 00:12:30.145
Because they're worried
00:12:30.145 --> 00:12:31.213
We could blow them all to smithereens with no losses.
00:12:31.213 --> 00:12:33.915
So you can sort of see how
00:12:33.915 --> 00:12:36.451
The people who are most concerned that an intervention
00:12:36.451 --> 00:12:38.954
Would become a quagmire have, we should just say it.
00:12:38.954 --> 00:12:42.691
They have been incorrect.
00:12:42.691 --> 00:12:44.492
And the people who've said we can do this easily
00:12:44.492 --> 00:12:46.862
With no losses have been correct several times,
00:12:46.862 --> 00:12:49.965
Then, yeah, i have to offer that caveat that
00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:54.035
If you do that over and over, eventually you do get unlucky
00:12:54.035 --> 00:12:57.172
And you only have to get unlucky once.
00:12:57.172 --> 00:12:59.007
And we're in another five, ten year mess.
00:12:59.007 --> 00:13:01.543
So the ayatollah, i was just looking at his twitter feed,
00:13:01.543 --> 00:13:04.312
You know, and i you got to imagine this is playing into
00:13:04.312 --> 00:13:06.915
President trump's
00:13:06.915 --> 00:13:08.416
Psychology here because you don't threaten america.
00:13:08.416 --> 00:13:12.053
When president trump is president
00:13:12.053 --> 00:13:14.289
And basically get away with it.
00:13:14.289 --> 00:13:16.124
Americans say,
00:13:16.124 --> 00:13:17.626
Come negotiate with us about your nuclear energy.
00:13:17.626 --> 00:13:19.794
And the result, by the way, nuclear energy.
00:13:19.794 --> 00:13:22.163
It's not just energy you guys want.
00:13:22.163 --> 00:13:24.366
We know better.
00:13:24.366 --> 00:13:25.867
And the result would be that you won't have that energy.
00:13:25.867 --> 00:13:28.403
There is no need to negotiate.
00:13:28.403 --> 00:13:29.838
But if a negotiation
00:13:29.838 --> 00:13:31.206
Were to take place, pre determining its outcome is
00:13:31.206 --> 00:13:34.009
Is misguided and stupid approach.
00:13:34.009 --> 00:13:36.077
That's ayatollah khamenei.
00:13:36.077 --> 00:13:38.413
Khamenei. yeah. we have another one. yeah.
00:13:38.413 --> 00:13:40.649
Go ahead.
00:13:40.649 --> 00:13:41.616
Well we have another tweet 473 where he says
00:13:41.616 --> 00:13:45.020
The president keeps saying they have the strongest
00:13:45.020 --> 00:13:47.622
Military force in the world,
00:13:47.622 --> 00:13:49.224
The strongest military
00:13:49.224 --> 00:13:50.392
Force in the world may at times be struck so hard
00:13:50.392 --> 00:13:53.962
That it cannot get up again, which, yeah,
00:13:53.962 --> 00:13:56.264
Then they really love to broadcast
00:13:56.264 --> 00:13:57.766
These say every arab war or every middle eastern
00:13:57.766 --> 00:14:00.568
War is like threatened total annihilation of an enemy's die.
00:14:00.568 --> 00:14:04.205
One last thing.
00:14:04.205 --> 00:14:05.907
Iran has
00:14:06.174 --> 00:14:06.841
Tried to kill president trump.
00:14:06.841 --> 00:14:09.411
That's going on in the back of his head too.
00:14:09.411 --> 00:14:11.112
Next up, we have steve hilton.
00:14:11.112 --> 00:14:12.681
He's running for governor in the state of california,
00:14:12.681 --> 00:14:15.283
And there's some surprising polling
00:14:15.283 --> 00:14:16.885
Out of the state of california.
00:14:16.885 --> 00:14:18.219
We'll be right back.
00:14:18.219 --> 00:14:21.011
We'll be right back.
00:14:21.011 --> 00:14:27.101
We get contacted
00:14:27.501 --> 00:14:28.602
All of the time by
00:14:28.602 --> 00:14:31.772
Viewers and listeners of the show.
00:14:31.772 --> 00:14:33.441
They care for you.
00:14:33.441 --> 00:14:34.675
They always want to ask about california.
00:14:34.675 --> 00:14:36.177
They say, can you guys save california?
00:14:36.177 --> 00:14:38.679
And charlie was always honest.
00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:40.381
We're always honest.
00:14:40.381 --> 00:14:41.515
And we say we're focused on the core swing states
00:14:41.515 --> 00:14:44.819
Arizona, nevada, new hampshire, georgia, places like that.
00:14:44.819 --> 00:14:47.655
California.
00:14:47.655 --> 00:14:48.990
If you're there, you should fight for it.
00:14:48.990 --> 00:14:50.591
You should do everything you can.
00:14:50.591 --> 00:14:51.859
But it's not imminently about to flip.
00:14:51.859 --> 00:14:54.261
But there is a governor's election
00:14:54.261 --> 00:14:57.231
This year, and california has a very interesting law.
00:14:57.231 --> 00:15:00.768
They have jungle primaries, which is regardless of party,
00:15:00.768 --> 00:15:04.905
Everyone into a big pot and the top two vote getters
00:15:04.905 --> 00:15:08.376
Go to the general. and that's how it works.
00:15:08.376 --> 00:15:10.177
And they did this so they could get more left wing people.
00:15:10.177 --> 00:15:12.680
In a lot of a country you'd only have two democrats.
00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:15.016
You could get a more left wing one versus moderate and so on.
00:15:15.016 --> 00:15:17.151
Yeah, they wanted a dem versus a debate, but a side effect
00:15:17.151 --> 00:15:20.021
Of just a big jungle primary is well, it's a blue state.
00:15:20.021 --> 00:15:23.257
There are six democrats at least running
00:15:23.257 --> 00:15:26.994
In the governor's race, and there's only two republicans.
00:15:26.994 --> 00:15:29.230
And yesterday we got this poll.
00:15:29.230 --> 00:15:31.432
It's apparently done by tavern research and is,
00:15:31.432 --> 00:15:34.468
An internal poll for the javier becerra campaign.
00:15:34.468 --> 00:15:37.671
And these are top two advance.
00:15:37.671 --> 00:15:40.341
The top two polling are chad bianco
00:15:40.341 --> 00:15:43.310
20%, steve hilton 12%.
00:15:43.310 --> 00:15:46.580
Well, and then six democrats. this is what's great.
00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:49.250
So i called steve yesterday. i was like, steve,
00:15:49.250 --> 00:15:51.819
You're in the top two.
00:15:52.286 --> 00:15:53.287
Like this is great.
00:15:53.287 --> 00:15:54.121
And he goes, oh that's a fake polls.
00:15:54.121 --> 00:15:55.523
It's you know, is wonderful
00:15:55.523 --> 00:15:56.690
English accent saying, oh that's a fake paul
00:15:56.690 --> 00:15:59.060
Wait to see what comes out tomorrow.
00:15:59.060 --> 00:16:01.729
So now we have a new poll
00:16:01.729 --> 00:16:04.932
And i'm struggling to get the number here it is 450.
00:16:04.932 --> 00:16:08.602
So put up the new one.
00:16:08.602 --> 00:16:09.970
I think this is for miss emerson.
00:16:09.970 --> 00:16:11.705
Did a did a poll steve hilton's actually at 17% in december.
00:16:11.705 --> 00:16:16.477
He was down at 12%.
00:16:16.477 --> 00:16:17.645
So if you go to the left side of that graph, he is now
00:16:17.645 --> 00:16:20.614
Pulled ahead as the top, poll poll
00:16:21.382 --> 00:16:25.252
Receiving most favorable of all the candidates.
00:16:25.252 --> 00:16:28.055
This one has. swalwell. yeah.
00:16:28.055 --> 00:16:30.991
Eric swalwell as number two,
00:16:30.991 --> 00:16:33.260
Chad bianco, the other republican at number three.
00:16:33.260 --> 00:16:36.630
But also also they're both at 14.
00:16:36.630 --> 00:16:38.566
So effectively tied for secondly,
00:16:38.566 --> 00:16:40.334
Tied for second top to advance.
00:16:40.334 --> 00:16:42.036
Porter, steyer becerra, villaraigosa
00:16:42.036 --> 00:16:45.239
And then undecided is still a huge chunk because, you know,
00:16:45.239 --> 00:16:47.975
If we were to get if we were to get it,
00:16:47.975 --> 00:16:49.543
We're just two republicans
00:16:49.543 --> 00:16:50.878
Are the nominees in california for the governorship.
00:16:50.878 --> 00:16:54.081
That would be that would possibly be the funniest thing
00:16:54.081 --> 00:16:56.984
I've seen in state level politics.
00:16:56.984 --> 00:17:00.020
It would basically would be a literal coup.
00:17:00.020 --> 00:17:01.689
We would take over the state.
00:17:01.689 --> 00:17:03.257
Well, without further ado, one of those men
00:17:03.257 --> 00:17:05.993
And apparently the the leading candidate
00:17:05.993 --> 00:17:09.063
For the governor of the state of california,
00:17:09.063 --> 00:17:11.899
Steve hilton, joins us now.
00:17:11.899 --> 00:17:13.300
Steve, congratulations on these new breaking poll results.
00:17:13.300 --> 00:17:17.438
You are at 17%.
00:17:17.805 --> 00:17:20.040
I mean, that's a massively crowded field.
00:17:20.040 --> 00:17:21.742
So to get to 17 is a huge accomplishment.
00:17:21.742 --> 00:17:23.944
Welcome back to the show.
00:17:23.944 --> 00:17:25.045
Tell us what it means.
00:17:25.045 --> 00:17:26.814
Well it's great to be with you guys.
00:17:26.814 --> 00:17:28.048
Always fun.
00:17:28.048 --> 00:17:29.150
And i really appreciate the way you laid all that out.
00:17:29.150 --> 00:17:30.818
Exactly right.
00:17:30.818 --> 00:17:31.785
We've got this ridiculous top two system,
00:17:31.785 --> 00:17:34.088
And there is a crazy scenario is you just, mentioning
00:17:34.088 --> 00:17:38.459
Where you could get two republicans in the top two.
00:17:38.459 --> 00:17:40.828
That's theoretically possible, but in practice,
00:17:40.828 --> 00:17:43.664
It's not going to happen because the democrat machine
00:17:43.664 --> 00:17:47.601
Is not just going to surrender california.
00:17:47.601 --> 00:17:50.437
And right now they are
00:17:50.437 --> 00:17:52.573
There's there's another thing that's happened,
00:17:52.573 --> 00:17:54.275
Which is as well as the existing candidates
00:17:54.275 --> 00:17:57.178
That have been in the race for a while, people
00:17:57.178 --> 00:17:58.779
Like i can barely say their names without laughing
00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:01.982
That these are the these are the as the president would say,
00:18:01.982 --> 00:18:04.785
They're not sending their best.
00:18:04.785 --> 00:18:06.320
When you think about the democrats, eric
00:18:06.320 --> 00:18:08.923
Swalwell, katie porter, the billionaire
00:18:08.923 --> 00:18:12.459
Climate fanatic, tom steyer,
00:18:12.459 --> 00:18:14.628
Well, on top of that, you got another one.
00:18:14.628 --> 00:18:16.397
Now, a guy called matt mehan, he is the mayor of san jose.
00:18:16.397 --> 00:18:19.667
No one's really heard of him,
00:18:19.667 --> 00:18:20.868
But he's got big tech money behind him
00:18:20.868 --> 00:18:23.270
And they that's going to propel him up.
00:18:23.270 --> 00:18:26.140
He's got a lot of money.
00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:27.308
And and the other on the other side of it, the unions,
00:18:27.308 --> 00:18:30.344
They always get behind one candidate.
00:18:30.344 --> 00:18:32.947
They're going to pick their puppet, as it were.
00:18:32.947 --> 00:18:35.449
And it looks to me like they're
00:18:35.449 --> 00:18:36.917
Getting behind eric swalwell.
00:18:36.917 --> 00:18:38.185
So within a couple of weeks, even maybe suddenly
00:18:38.185 --> 00:18:41.922
Within months,
00:18:41.922 --> 00:18:43.023
You will get to a very well-funded democrats
00:18:43.023 --> 00:18:46.694
Moving up purely because of all the money
00:18:46.694 --> 00:18:49.430
That the government, unions
00:18:49.430 --> 00:18:50.798
And the tech communities you're putting in.
00:18:50.798 --> 00:18:52.399
So the real risk actually,
00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:55.069
Is that we get two democrats in the top two.
00:18:55.069 --> 00:18:57.972
That's what i'm really concerned about.
00:18:57.972 --> 00:19:00.107
And then, of course, the chance
00:19:00.107 --> 00:19:01.609
For change in california is gone.
00:19:01.609 --> 00:19:03.477
And it has a massively negative impact on the
00:19:03.477 --> 00:19:06.080
On the other races in california,
00:19:06.080 --> 00:19:07.982
If there's no republican in the governor's race,
00:19:07.982 --> 00:19:10.384
You can forget about any of the congressional seats
00:19:10.384 --> 00:19:13.087
In california that are in play that we absolutely need
00:19:13.087 --> 00:19:16.390
To protect the house majority.
00:19:16.390 --> 00:19:18.158
You can forget about voter id, which is on the ballot.
00:19:18.158 --> 00:19:21.161
I want an update on that, steve, actually,
00:19:21.161 --> 00:19:23.063
Because we had, calvert on the show
00:19:23.063 --> 00:19:25.099
Giving us the update where we stand on that right now.
00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:28.035
It's fantastic.
00:19:28.402 --> 00:19:29.603
It's qualified for the ballot.
00:19:29.603 --> 00:19:31.305
We've got more than enough signatures.
00:19:31.305 --> 00:19:33.207
It's been led by ken was
00:19:33.207 --> 00:19:34.608
It has been great on a friend of mine.
00:19:34.608 --> 00:19:36.143
Carl tamayo has been really working hard.
00:19:36.143 --> 00:19:38.545
I've been on the road getting signatures as well.
00:19:38.545 --> 00:19:41.282
It's qualified for the ballot.
00:19:41.282 --> 00:19:42.616
This is huge.
00:19:42.616 --> 00:19:43.851
It's not just huge in its own right
00:19:43.851 --> 00:19:45.519
Because it helps stop the cheating.
00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:47.421
It actually is a big part of why i believe
00:19:47.421 --> 00:19:49.723
We can really win this year, because voter id, of course,
00:19:49.723 --> 00:19:53.327
As we know it's popular across the board,
00:19:53.327 --> 00:19:55.262
Even in california,
00:19:55.262 --> 00:19:56.463
Even among california democrats,
00:19:56.463 --> 00:19:58.265
There's a majority for voter id,
00:19:58.265 --> 00:20:00.134
But of course, it's really popular with republicans.
00:20:00.134 --> 00:20:02.603
That means it's going to really help the turnout in november.
00:20:02.603 --> 00:20:07.107
And then a midterm, as you know,
00:20:07.107 --> 00:20:08.676
That's what it's all about getting your voters out.
00:20:08.676 --> 00:20:11.578
And so it's one of the main reasons
00:20:11.578 --> 00:20:13.213
I think we can actually win this year,
00:20:13.213 --> 00:20:15.482
Truly win in november.
00:20:15.482 --> 00:20:17.484
And i like me, governor, is voter id being on the ballot.
00:20:17.484 --> 00:20:20.988
We just got this interesting
00:20:20.988 --> 00:20:22.289
Report from mark halperin talking on the national level.
00:20:22.289 --> 00:20:25.092
They want to see banning stock trading.
00:20:25.092 --> 00:20:26.994
They want to see price transparency at hospital.
00:20:26.994 --> 00:20:29.430
So fabrizio is giving the the president
00:20:29.430 --> 00:20:31.632
And the administration these
00:20:31.632 --> 00:20:33.367
These messaging line items that will pierce the noise.
00:20:33.367 --> 00:20:36.770
Right.
00:20:36.770 --> 00:20:37.671
What's piercing the noise in california.
00:20:37.671 --> 00:20:40.941
So we're on the road.
00:20:41.442 --> 00:20:42.276
I mean, you can see it behind me
00:20:42.276 --> 00:20:43.310
Because this is i'm on the road with that.
00:20:43.310 --> 00:20:45.012
We call it
00:20:45.012 --> 00:20:46.113
The california bull tour because it's all of these.
00:20:46.113 --> 00:20:49.249
The everything is the most expensive in california
00:20:49.249 --> 00:20:51.985
Than anywhere else in the country.
00:20:51.985 --> 00:20:53.454
So my plan is incredibly,
00:20:53.454 --> 00:20:54.822
You got to end the democrat climate crusade.
00:20:54.822 --> 00:20:57.091
So you get $3 gas
00:20:57.091 --> 00:20:58.692
Cut electric bills and not
00:20:58.692 --> 00:21:00.060
We have the highest gas prices in the country,
00:21:00.060 --> 00:21:02.062
Even though we have abundant oil reserves higher than hawaii
00:21:02.062 --> 00:21:05.532
In the middle of the pacific ocean,
00:21:05.532 --> 00:21:07.000
We have the highest
00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:08.035
Electric bills everywhere apart from hawaii.
00:21:08.035 --> 00:21:10.838
These are the concerns.
00:21:10.838 --> 00:21:11.972
Tax is the highest in the country.
00:21:11.972 --> 00:21:13.974
Every rent, housing, all of these things, you know,
00:21:13.974 --> 00:21:16.844
Charlie used to talk about.
00:21:16.844 --> 00:21:18.112
And that's one of the things that so resonates,
00:21:18.112 --> 00:21:19.980
Of course, for all of us is that simple american dream,
00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:22.850
You know, get married, raise a family,
00:21:22.850 --> 00:21:24.618
Buy your own home, a good, decent life.
00:21:24.618 --> 00:21:26.920
They've made that impossible in california.
00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:29.056
It's actually those simple things.
00:21:29.056 --> 00:21:30.691
$3 gas.
00:21:30.691 --> 00:21:31.759
Cut your electric bills in half.
00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.527
Your first 100 grand tax free a home you can afford to buy.
00:21:33.527 --> 00:21:37.965
That's really what people are responding to.
00:21:37.965 --> 00:21:40.601
And i think that's.
00:21:40.601 --> 00:21:42.002
And the democrats have no answer,
00:21:42.002 --> 00:21:43.670
Like literally nothing to say about any of that.
00:21:43.670 --> 00:21:46.673
And the idea that we're just going
00:21:46.673 --> 00:21:47.775
To have more of the same of this nonsense
00:21:47.775 --> 00:21:50.177
In california, it's just unthinkable.
00:21:50.177 --> 00:21:52.079
And so i'm sure we can win the regulatory burden on
00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:55.616
Especially on gas.
00:21:55.616 --> 00:21:56.617
The refinery situation
00:21:56.617 --> 00:21:58.085
Didn't just have a refinery, just shut down.
00:21:58.085 --> 00:22:00.087
My my family in nevada was telling me
00:22:00.087 --> 00:22:01.789
Gas in nevada spiked
00:22:01.789 --> 00:22:03.090
Because a refinery shut down in california.
00:22:03.090 --> 00:22:05.459
And now there's a report out, a bloomberg that, gasoline
00:22:05.459 --> 00:22:09.163
Starved, is turning to fuel from the bahamas.
00:22:09.163 --> 00:22:12.466
This is this just came out from bloomberg.
00:22:13.367 --> 00:22:15.636
Gasoline starved.
00:22:15.636 --> 00:22:16.770
California's turning to fuel from the worst we need.
00:22:16.770 --> 00:22:19.873
California is so inept.
00:22:19.873 --> 00:22:21.708
They need fuel from the bahamas.
00:22:21.708 --> 00:22:23.410
All right, steve, here's a question for you.
00:22:23.410 --> 00:22:26.447
Like, what's it going to take to
00:22:27.181 --> 00:22:28.949
To unite the clans, consolidate the field you don't have?
00:22:28.949 --> 00:22:31.685
You can answer however you want, but it seems to me
00:22:31.685 --> 00:22:35.088
We do we we go to avoid splitting the vote.
00:22:35.989 --> 00:22:38.358
That's really important.
00:22:38.358 --> 00:22:39.526
Otherwise we could end up with two democrats.
00:22:39.526 --> 00:22:41.295
And that's an absolute calamity.
00:22:41.295 --> 00:22:42.896
So the truth is that for for you know, months now, actually,
00:22:42.896 --> 00:22:46.600
I've been i've made it clear my door is open.
00:22:46.600 --> 00:22:48.836
I'm building a team to get this done.
00:22:48.836 --> 00:22:51.004
It's never actually been done like this in california.
00:22:51.004 --> 00:22:53.273
I've got a running mate
00:22:53.273 --> 00:22:54.308
For lieutenant governor gloria romero.
00:22:54.308 --> 00:22:56.743
Michael gates, a fantastic fighter
00:22:56.743 --> 00:22:58.879
Running with me for attorney general.
00:22:58.879 --> 00:23:00.514
He he was a he was the city attorney in huntington beach.
00:23:00.514 --> 00:23:03.083
Worked for the trump administration.
00:23:03.083 --> 00:23:04.485
Yeah, with hamid dhillon in the justice department.
00:23:04.485 --> 00:23:07.120
Herb morgan running for state comptroller.
00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:08.856
We've set up cal dodge to find the fraud.
00:23:08.856 --> 00:23:11.158
So i'm building a team already.
00:23:11.158 --> 00:23:13.026
And i love chad to be part of that.
00:23:13.026 --> 00:23:15.796
I don't see any interest on his side.
00:23:15.796 --> 00:23:17.731
Charlie kirk and or steve hilton for governor.
00:23:17.731 --> 00:23:20.133
We're behind you 100%, my friend.
00:23:20.133 --> 00:23:21.902
Keep going, keep going.
00:23:21.902 --> 00:23:21.902

Steve Hilton: February 19, 2026 | Charlie Kirk Today

February 19, 2026 | 23:27

Closed captions

Share