(Editor’s Note: This series on Restoring Gen Z’s Identity is dedicated to Charlie Kirk, 31, who was shot in Provo, Utah, on Sept. 10th at noon while on stage at his “American Comeback tour” at Utah Valley University while answering a question on transgenderism and violence. He was married to Erika Frantzve, Miss Arizona 2012, and father of two young children: a daughter born in Aug. 2022 and a son born in May 2024.)

CALIRED NEWS–Charlie Kirk (Oct. 14, 1993-Sept. 10, 2025) was a conservative political commentator, activist, author, media personality, who co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and served as its executive director. He was the chief executive officer of Turning Point Action, Turning Point Academy, and Turning Point Faith; president of Turning Point Endowment; and a member of the Council for National Policy.

Awards:

• Listed on the 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 in Law & Policy.
• Mary 2019: Awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities from Liberty University (Lynchburg, Virgina).
• Appointed by Donald Trump in 2020 to a commission promoting “patriotic education.”

Books:

• Co-wrote with Brent Hamachek, the 2016 book “Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations” (Simon and Schuster).
• Wrote the 2018 book “Campus Battlefield; How Conservatives Can WIN the Battle on Campus and Why It Matters.” 
• In 2020, “The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas That Will Win The Future.”
• In 2022, “The College Scam: How America’s Universities are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away The Future of America’s Youth.”
• In 2024, “Right Wing Revolution: How to Beat the Woke and Save the West.”

Media:

• As of Dec. 7, 2021, “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast was ranked as the 21st most popular podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Kirk’s “Turning Point Live” was a three-hour streaming talk show aimed at Generation Z.
• “Turning Point USA’s” monthly online average grew to 111,000 unique visitors in 2021.
• In April 2024, Kirk created a TikTok account posting numerous videos of him talking to college students during his campus tours with some videos garnering as many as 30 million views.
• In February 2025, Kirk signed with Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) to host a weekday talk show, “Charlie Kirk Today.”

(Editor’s Note: A prayer vigil will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the Redding City Hall, 777 Cypress Ave, Redding, CA starting at 7 p.m. Those participating are asked to bring a candle and a friend. For more info go to: #PrayerVigil #CharlieKirk #Redding Community #FaithOverFear. President Donald J. Trump has asked that all flags be lowered to half-mast until 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15.)

CaliRed News is a news site posted on Making California Red by the 2028 elections through reaching Gen Z (ages 13-28), Hispanics, and Christians with biblical traditional values and their pastors. CaiRed News (founder and senior writer is Mike Hernandez) reports on political, business, community, nonprofit, and church news.

Mike Hernandez is co-founder of the Citizens Journal–Ventura County’s online news service and writes for CitizensJournal.net and MountainTopMedia.com. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor, writer of “Prayer Over News Daily” and edits the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes” and other columns. Mr. Hernandez mentors citizen journalists and can be contacted here.