It's been three weeks since Charlie Kirk, co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was assassinated during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University, but it seems like it just happened. So many Americans were - and remain - shaken by the political violence to a man who simply handed those who disagreed with him a microphone.
One of the people most shaken, who was closest to Charlie Kirk, is Andrew Kolvet
Kolvet also happens to be the executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show." (Full disclosure: The show is broadcast by Salem News Channel, and owned by the parent company of RedState.)
During a recent episode of his best friend's program, Kolvet moderated a panel consisting of two pastors speaking about the rise in faith and the future of revival in America. It's a pretty weighty subject.
One of the pastors present in the studio, Mark Driscoll, co-authored a book that Kolvet noted was one of Kirk's favorites, titled "Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe."
At one point in the conversation, Pastor Driscoll took a step back from the show's wider topic and in a moment of compassion, wearing his official minister's cap, checked in with the host about how he's doing in dealing with his friend Charlie's death.
When discussing the personal aspect of the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, both of the pastors and Kolvet simultaneously said they still feel like the assassination is "very surreal," after Kolvet said, "It still doesn't feel real."
He went further, saying "I miss him a lot and it's, these old habits that you put...we worked together for about eight years. You know, you're thinking about texting him, or it's something funny or some thing you know he would say about something....I just know that he's in glory and, as Erika said, he's on a work trip with Jesus. I'm just truly humbled that I got to see it so up close."
Kolvet shared that Army Special Forces members had counseled him on how to handle the grief he was struggling with, explaining that "it comes in waves, and don't be upset with yourself if you're not feeling what you feel like you should be feeling one moment; don't be upset if in the next moment, you feel like you can't take a step forward."
He said that it's been true of his experience, with moments when he hasn't been able to concentrate on his feelings because of so much happening with his work at TPUSA. Then he finds the grief hitting him when he least expects it, like during a recent guest appearance on Fox News.
He's certainly been keeping tabs on what's happening, as my colleague Katie Jerkovich shared in her story from Friday, with Kolvet confirming a report on X that the UVU school security force was supposed to handle securing the rooftops during the Kirk event.
Previously, the Turning Point USA spokesman sounded off over ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel's non-apology about his monologue that dragged the late Kirk--and conservatives as a whole--in the wake of the assassination on Sept. 10.
READ MORE:TPUSA's Andrew Kolvet Sounds Off on Jimmy Kimmel's Return Monologue: 'He's an Unrepentant Liar'
Watch:
The nation got to mourn on Sept. 21, also, with TPUSA's memorial for Charlie Kirk at Glendale, AZ's State Farm Stadium, keynoted by President Donald Trump, who reminded us that we all were "robbed of one of the brightest lights of our times, a giant of his generation, and — above all — a devoted husband, father, son, Christian, and patriot." As I wrote:
President Trump began with recognizing the deep wave of mourning that has engulfed many Americans in the wake of Kirk's assassination.
While the topic of death and grieving can be at times heartbreaking to witness, this honest talk on Charlie's program is a good thing. Kudos to Kolvet for speaking so candidly about how he's managing, too--since that could inspire reflection and healing for others going through the same universal part of being human.
You can watch the full episode of "The Charlie Kirk Show" below, courtesy of Salem News Channel, or here: