“Charlie Kirk has been shot.” I was in a production studio recording podcast episodes on September 10th last year when it happened. I look forward to each opportunity to spend time with a new guest and the phenomenal media production team at the Herzog Foundation. But this day was especially unique. My fellow military public affairs officer, and truth teller, Theresa Carpenter had flown in to record two special episodes. We had planned this day for months, to have an illuminating dialogue about the cultural difficulties of being both an honest broker, and military public affairs officer. The two unfortunately have a long history of being at odds, despite value-based oaths, creeds, and regulation. We completed the first episode about our shared experiences as military communicators frequently at odds with the institution, and decided to take a break. It was then that producer Noah Hoskins told us the news.

Charlie Kirk’s name was well known to me; though, I was not a close follower of his work. In 2024 I had the chance to see Mr. Kirk at a live event at the University of Kansas, and came away highly impressed at his intellect and mastery of facts drawing from history, culture, politics, philosophy, and faith. Back in the studio that afternoon, hearing the words “Charlie Kirk” and “shot” in the same sentence brought immediate shock.