Next Up with Mark Halperin How Charlie Kirk Made MAGA Mainstream, Plus Maureen Callahan Unfiltered
Sep 16, 2025
Maureen Callahan, a sharp-witted columnist and host of The Nerve, dives deep into the shifting landscape of media and culture. She passionately critiques Vogue's decline and explores the backlash against Meghan Markle. Callahan also shares her ambitions for dream book projects, including a personal investigative memoir. Meanwhile, the conversation reflects on the legacy of Charlie Kirk, emphasizing his role in redefining conservative success outside traditional media. It’s a whirlwind of insight on authenticity, celebrity, and the future of commentary.
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Why Kirk Mattered To MAGA
- Mark Halperin argues Charlie Kirk embodied the reasons MAGA resonated: non-Ivy background, faith, and anti-establishment success.
- These traits made Kirk a symbolic threat to liberal cultural institutions and a model for conservative youth.
The Education Divide Power
- Halperin highlights the education divide as central to modern American politics and MAGA's base.
- Kirk's success without a college degree amplified his appeal to less-educated voters who feel shut out by elites.
Faith As A Political Identity
- Halperin emphasizes religion as a core identity factor separating conservatives from the liberal establishment.
- Kirk's open Christianity made him relatable to religious conservatives who feel marginalized by elite institutions.
