Processing the Last Week

Live on air, and in print

The past week and a half has been… heavy. One of the most difficult parts has been the strange reality of grieving in real time, on air.

On the day Charlie was murdered, I wrote on Facebook that I had learned about his death by opening my phone and seeing the video. The news alerts that followed—statements from the president, updates on the manhunt for his killer—made it feel surreal, almost like I was watching my own life from the outside. It was an out-of-body experience. I don’t post much on Facebook anymore, but that day I felt compelled to share something personal: that Charlie was one of the rare good guys in a messy industry, someone whose generosity and integrity stood out. I admitted that, as a fellow conservative commentator, the day was not just devastating but frightening. But I promised myself I would get up the next morning and do what Charlie would have wanted: keep speaking, keep fighting for the country we want to save for our children.

And so I did. At 3:30 a.m. I was on Fox News for special coverage, then in the WMAL studios by 5:00 to co-host morning radio until 9:00. Processing the loss live, while covering the biggest news story of the year, was painful and surreal. But it was also comforting to watch so many mutual friends do the same, each carrying the burden together.

In the days since, I’ve asked myself: where does the conservative movement go from here? And where do I? On a practical level, my family is upgrading our security systems. But on a personal level, I want to do two things: return to stronger Sabbath observance—which has slipped since October 7, 2023—and strive to be a bridge builder like Charlie was.

I’ll be honest: I often rolled my eyes at some of the lineups at TPUSA events. Alongside the brilliant speakers were others I thought didn’t deserve the platform. But Charlie insisted on building a big tent. He knew exactly what he was doing, and his ability to welcome people—even those I might not have—was part of his genius.

I rarely send updates like this, but in the wake of Charlie’s death, I’ve been writing more than usual and wanted to share:

• For the New York Post, I wrote about how Charlie’s practice of Sabbath observance grounded him, and why I’m recommitting to that discipline myself:
  This ritual saved Charlie Kirk’s sanity — do it in his honor

• In the Washington Examiner, I contributed to a symposium on how conservatives should respond:
  How should the conservative movement respond to Charlie Kirk’s assassination?

• Also in the Examiner, I explored how progressive nihilism has infected youth culture and, in some cases, metastasized into violence:
  Progressive nihilism, extremist language, and Charlie Kirk’s murder

• I’ve been reflecting on Hugh Hewitt’s suggestion of a “Kirk Commission” to investigate how young people are being radicalized online:
  Hugh Hewitt: A Kirk Commission

• And on my Mom Wars Substack, I wrote about the responsibility we as parents bear to actively engage our children—parenting as a verb, not just a title:
  Parenting as a Verb

Alongside all of this, I’ve continued co-hosting morning talk radio in Washington, usually on Thursdays. It’s been a joy to hear from friends who listen on their way to work or the gym. For me, it’s a rare chance to enjoy a hot drink while it’s still hot (not coffee, oddly enough) and have uninterrupted adult conversation for hours. During commercial breaks, I sneak in life admin—paying bills, rescheduling kids’ violin lessons—and then dive back into the conversation. It’s been grounding in a season when so much else feels unsteady.

You can listen there (the show is posted as a podcast later) and also at my podcast, the Mom Wars, which I co-host weekly with my friend Kara Kennedy. Please subscribe and leave a nice review.

Perhaps I’ll make these emails a part of my commercial-break ritual… until next time. Stay safe out there.