Highest Power: Church + State Ep58: Charlie Kirk's Popularity with College Students & How Universities Should Respond, with Matthew Boedy
Sep 18, 2025
Matthew Bodie, a professor at the University of North Georgia and an expert on Christian nationalism, dives into Charlie Kirk's growing popularity among college students. He discusses how Turning Point USA plays a vital role in this trend and Kirk's 'truth-teller' appeal at high-energy campus events. The conversation also explores the dangers of online meme culture linking young men to far-right extremism. Bodie emphasizes the need for universities to create safe dialogues and protect scholars from online harassment, urging a reevaluation of political discourse on campuses.
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Rush Limbaugh's Early Endorsement
- Rick plays a clip of Rush Limbaugh praising a young Charlie Kirk and predicting political success.
- The story shows early media endorsements helped launch Kirk's national profile.
Cultish Comparisons Reveal Sacred Politics
- Rick Pidcock highlights extreme, religiously framed comparisons of Kirk to Jesus and apostles among some evangelicals.
- He suggests such cultish rhetoric illustrates how political figures become sacred symbols in parts of white evangelicalism.
Turning Point As Central Hub
- Matthew Bodie says Turning Point and Charlie Kirk sit at the center of networks linking Christian nationalist groups and conservative institutions.
- He argues Turning Point is the indispensable organization for contemporary Christian nationalism.
