‘Dark Moment For America’: Charlie Kirk Assassinated (ft. Mark Halperin, Guy Benson, and Joey Jones)

On this edition of 'Will Cain Country,' Will continues to share his reaction to the shocking assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk. Will lays out why Kirk’s murder is more than a political headline, it’s a cultural turning point that exposes the rising tide of political violence in America, the media’s selective outrage, and what it says about our ability to live together in one country. Then, Will is joined by Co-host of ‘The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show’ and Founder of OutKick, Clay Travis to analyze how the Left and the press are framing the assassination, the chilling precedent it sets for free speech, and what it means for parents, students, and the future of open debate.  Former Major League Baseball All-Star & World Series Champion and Candidate for Congress in TX-21, Mark Teixeira also sits down with Will to bring his perspective as an athlete, a parent, and a citizen. The two dive into why he's running for office in Texas and tragic death of Charlie Kirk.  Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: ⁠⁠Watch Will Cain Country!⁠⁠ Follow 'Will Cain Country' on X (@willcainshow), Instagram (@willcainshow), TikTok (@willcainshow), and Facebook (@willcainnews) Follow Will on X: ⁠⁠@WillCain [00:00] Will Cain opens the show: Arrest in Charlie Kirk’s assassination and reflections on America’s rising political violence. [05:30] Will on social media toxicity spilling into real life — educators, neighbors, even friends celebrating Kirk’s death. [08:37] Clay Travis joins: reacting to Kirk’s murder, the Left’s broken rhetoric, and what it reveals about American culture. [14:30] Clay and Will discuss raising sons, schools honoring Kirk, and the hunger for meaning among young men. [23:20] Will warns that violence could trigger retaliation, risking civil conflict; Clay explains the danger of calling Trump “Hitler.” [30:30] Clay and Will reflect on Kirk’s connection with students and his unique impact on young men. [33:52] Mark Teixeira interview: why the Yankees/Rangers legend is running for Congress, motivated by faith, family, and service. [41:40] Teixeira on Kirk’s assassination as an act of evil, and the need for faith in a broken political culture. [45:45] Why Teixeira made Texas home, and how baseball prepared him for public life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Out of respect for the death of Charlie Kirk, a conservative thought leader, founder of Turning Point USA, and dear friend of both Fox News and Will Cain, this episode will be dedicated to honoring his memory. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Will opens with personal reflections on Kirk’s influence, their friendship, and the grief and anger sweeping America. He frames the moment as both a national tragedy and a test of the country’s moral compass. Editor-In-Chief of ‘2Way’ Mark Halperin then joins Will to examine the media’s coverage and the cultural divide surrounding Kirk’s death, calling it a historic loss and urging the press to confront its own role in shaping his image. Host of ‘The Guy Benson Show’ Guy Benson shares stories from Kirk’s early days, his fearless rise, and his generational impact on young conservatives. Benson highlights the shock-waves reverberating through politics and culture, noting this moment feels like a national turning point. Finally, Joey Jones, Author of ‘Behind The Badge’ and FOX News Contributor, reflects on Kirk’s legacy, the meaning of leadership, and the moral struggle between grief, anger, and honoring Kirk’s example. Jones stresses that Kirk’s greatest work was empowering America’s youth and that his influence will outlive all of us Together, the conversations grapple with what Kirk’s death means for politics, media, and America’s future, and how to carry forward his legacy. Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: ⁠Watch Will Cain Country!⁠ Follow Will on X: ⁠@WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story #1: In 'Quick Takes,' Will hits on three big stories of the day: a Texas A&M professor is fired after teaching gender ideology against state law, Los Angeles wildfire relief money is exposed for being funneled into questionable projects instead of directly to victims, and former Vice President Kamala Harris’s (D-CA) new book takes sharp shots at the Bidens. Story #2: Senior Columnist at Townhall.com and Author of 'American Apocalypse,' Kurt Schlichter joins Will to further break down the Charlotte light rail murder and the lies told since 2020. From George Floyd to race-based policies reducing jail populations, Schlichter and Will call out the media, politicians, and elites who created the conditions that put repeat offenders back on the streets and why ignoring crime stats fuels division and balkanization in America. Story #3: Will takes the audience behind the scenes of his fiery debate with Senator Rand Paul over using the U.S. military against drug cartels. Plus, Will responds to comments from you, the 'Willitia.' Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: ⁠Watch Will Cain Country!⁠ Follow Will on X: ⁠@WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story #1: Will exposes how cashless bail, failed prosecutors, and soft-on-crime policies kept predators like DeCarlos Brown on the streets to murder Iryna Zyrutska. Will also calls out the media for ignoring the story, or worse, shaming people for noticing, because it doesn’t fit their narrative on crime and race. Story #2: Editor of 'National Review' and Author of 'The Case for Nationalism,' Rich Lowry joins Will to discuss the rise of acceptance for socialism, the polling showing Democrats drifting left, and what it means for figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). They also dive into President Donald Trump’s impact on conservatism, how his disruption has permanently changed the Republican Party, and why Trump’s style succeeds where polite “jawboning” always failed. Story #3: Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo sits down with Will to explain his move to eliminate vaccine mandates in Florida schools. He lays out why the state is shifting toward parental choice, pushes back on the “scientific consensus” argument, and responds to critics who warn of outbreaks. Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: ⁠Watch Will Cain Country!⁠ Follow Will on X: ⁠@WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story #1: As more comes to light around a horrific murder of a young woman, Iryna Zyrutska, on the Charlotte light rail, Will exposes how decades of soft-on-crime policies, cashless bail, and political deflection from leaders like Lori Lightfoot and Brandon Johnson enable the same offenders to terrorize the same victims and why the national media has buried the story. Story #2: Author of 'Dream School,' Jeff Selingo, joins Will to rethink how parents and students should choose colleges. Instead of chasing Ivy League rejection rates, Selingo lays out what really matters: regional networks, affordable tuition, internships, and professors who mentor students. He reveals surprising “dream schools” where graduates earn just as much as those from elite universities without the crushing debt. Story #3: Will and The Crew dive into Josh Allen's incredible miracle comeback over the Ravens. Plus, a "Karen" berates a father and takes a baseball away from a boy on his birthday at Phillies game. Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: Watch Will Cain Country! Follow Will on X: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this Friday sports edition of 'Will Cain Country,' Will and The Crew break down the Cowboys-Eagles clash. Will thinks the Cowboys look very good after their statement win, but the spotlight is overshadowed by “Spit-gate” as Eagles DT Jalen Carter gets ejected for spitting on Dak Prescott.  Then, Will dives into the latest digital sports controversy: Streameast is officially shutdown. Is the villain the pirating company itself, or the dysfunctional streaming landscape that forces fans to hunt down alternatives in the first place? Finally, Ryan Clark is under fire for saying Peyton Manning and Tom Brady aren’t truly “generational” quarterbacks. Does he have a point, or is this just another hot take gone too far? Plus, Will asks a wild hypothetical: what would it actually take for you to steal merchandise from a kid? Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: Watch Will Cain Country! Follow Will on X: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story #1:  In Chicago, former Mayor Lori Lightfoot and current Mayor Brandon Johnson deflect the blame of their crime epidemic onto red states for the city’s violence and guns on the streets. Will breaks down the data, exposes the falsehoods, and explains how decades of failed leadership have left the same neighborhoods suffering the same crimes with victims paying the price for political lies. Story #2: Host of 'Kennedy Saves the World,' Kennedy, sits down with Will to hit on the week’s big cultural flashpoints, from comedian Druski’s NASCAR bit and the double standards of comedy, to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s bizarre hot mic chat about living forever through organ replacement, to why dystopian fantasies like The Handmaid’s Tale shape the Left’s worldview. Story #3: Comedian and former judge Vince August joins Will to break down the addition of commercials to the NFL Network's Red Zone channel, and the truth behind President Donald Trump's trolling of Rosie O’Donnell. Vince and Will also reminisce over completing the 'Pete & Bobby Challenge.' Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: Watch Will Cain Country! Follow Will on X: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story #1: Will takes on the bizarre “Trump Is Dead” conspiracy that trended on social media from the Left. From Jen Psaki to Gov. Tim Walz, the media and Democrats latched onto rumors about President Donald Trump’s health, reveling in misinformation and wishful thinking.  Story #2: UK comedian Graham Linehan was arrested at Heathrow Airport for tweets criticizing trans activism. Will unpacks what Linehan posted, why free speech is collapsing across Europe, and why America’s First Amendment is the last stand for Western civilization. Story #3: Rachel Campos-Duffy, Host of ‘Fox Noticias,’ and Will’s former Co-Host on 'Fox & Friends Weekend,' joins Will in studio (eventually) to cover everything from multigenerational living and grandkids to President Trump’s foreign policy doctrine in Latin America. Campos-Duffy argues that taking down President Maduro in Venezuela could reshape the Western Hemisphere and become President Trump’s defining foreign policy legacy. Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: Watch Will Cain Country! Follow Will on X: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Story #1: In 'Quick Takes,' Will hits on the big stories of the week: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) worry about President Donald Trump's help on crime as 54 people are shot in Chicago over the weekend, and Patrick Bet-David confronts socialists in online debate while the 'New York Times' denies Zohran Mamdani's socialism Story #2: 'Off The Weekend' takes you behind the curtain of two big interviews: Vice President J.D. Vance and Barstool’s Dave Portnoy. Will shares what you didn’t see on-air, the questions that hit hardest, and answers your questions. Story #3: Emmy-winning actress Drea de Matteo joins Will to talk about her career, the state of Hollywood, and why she’s charting her own path in an industry that feels more broken than ever. From The Sopranos to today, Drea opens up about fame, resilience, and reinvention. Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: Watch Will Cain Country! Follow Will on X: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will is off today, so we thought we'd open up the vault and revisit a fascinating conversation with Douglas Murray, Documentarian and Author of 'The War on the West.' Murray joined Will for a sobering conversation about his documentary 'Douglas Murray Investigates America’s Drug Crisis.' From the streets of Philadelphia’s Kensington Avenue to overdoses in New York high-rises, Murray exposes the devastating toll of fentanyl, “Tranq,” and America’s poisoned drug supply. He and Will discuss why today’s crisis is unlike anything before, how mass migration and an open border fuel the epidemic, and why families, parents, and policymakers must rethink the way we confront addiction. Have a great Labor Day! Subscribe to 'Will Cain Country' on YouTube here: Watch Will Cain Country! Follow Will on X: @WillCain Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices