What is the future of US dissent in the post-Charlie Kirk era? | The Take

A wave of firings has followed since the killing of controversial right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. From TV hosts and journalists to professors, critics who spoke honestly about his record have faced consequences, even as Kirk is elevated as a martyr by the right. What does this backlash reveal about who gets to speak freely in the US today?

In this episode:

- Manisha Krishnan, Senior Culture Editor, WIRED

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Tamara Khandaker, Tracie Hunte, and Sarí el-Khalili, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Chloe K. Li, Melanie Marich, Farhan Rafid, Kisaa Zehra, and our guest host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Kylene Kiang.

The Take production team is Marcos Bartolomé, Sonia Bhagat, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Diana Ferrero, Tracie Hunte, Tamara Khandaker, Kylene Kiang, Phillip Lanos, Chloe K. Li, Melanie Marich, Catherine Nouhan, Amy Walters, and Noor Wazwaz. Our editorial interns are Farhan Rafid, and Kisaa Zehra. Our host is Malika Bilal. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan.  Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

Post from Al Jazeera on September 22, 2025

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