The College Scam: How America's Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America's Youth by Charlie Kirk

In Memory of Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk (October 14, 1993 – September 10, 2025) was an American author, broadcaster, and political activist. Born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, he grew up in the Chicago suburbs and developed an early interest in civic life and public debate.

In 2012, at the age of 18, he co-founded Turning Point USA, a youth organization dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government and free markets on high school and college campuses. Over the following decade, under his leadership, the group grew into one of the most visible conservative youth movements in the United States. He also founded Turning Point Action, an advocacy branch, and was a familiar presence at student events, conferences, and public forums across the country.

Charlie was the host of The Charlie Kirk Show, a popular podcast and nationally syndicated radio program, where he interviewed political leaders, cultural figures, and young activists. He also wrote several books, including The MAGA Doctrine, The College Scam, and Rightwing Revolution, reflecting his views on higher education, American culture, and political ideas for the future.

Faith was an important part of his life. Charlie was an evangelical Christian and often spoke about the role of faith, family, and values in his public and personal journey. In 2021, he married Erika Frantzve, and together they welcomed two children—a daughter in 2022 and a son in 2024.

Charlie’s sudden passing on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah, was a profound loss to his family, friends, and those who followed his work. Remembered by his supporters as a passionate advocate for young people and a tireless voice in American public life, his legacy lives on through the movements he helped build and the lives he touched.