Know Your Enemy Death, Power, and the Charlie Kirk Memorial (w/ Pat Blanchfield)
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Sep 29, 2025 
In this discussion, writer and psychoanalytic thinker Pat Blanchfield dives deep into the Charlie Kirk memorial's unique fusion of evangelical worship and MAGA politics. They explore how the event turned grief into a tool for political power, drawing parallels between Kirk's portrayal as a martyr and historical figures. The panel dissects the emotional resonance of communal mourning, and how such spectacles are embraced or alienate broader audiences. They also address the role of figures like Trump and examine how martyrdom shapes political identity and revival.
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Evangelical-MAGA Fusion As Revival
- The Charlie Kirk memorial fused evangelical worship and MAGA spectacle into a single revival-style event.
- That fusion created emotional intensity that made political mobilization feel sacred and inevitable.
Hagiography Replaces Factuality
- Speakers repeatedly compared Kirk to saints, philosophers, and warriors to elevate his death into myth.
- This feverish hagiography emptied factual detail in favor of a pliable, mobilizing symbol.
Martyrdom As Political Authorization
- Martyr language converted private tragedy into public weaponry by promising revenge and righteous violence.
- Religious framing authorized political actors to demand harsh measures 'in Charlie's memory.'
