The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk has sent shockwaves through the conservative movement—and through the nation. But while we mourn the loss of a bold patriot, we cannot ignore the deeper issue at play: the war on free speech. This week, the team from the Ruthless Podcast joined Fox News Sunday to talk about how the First Amendment is under attack, and how the American left continues to twist the truth and silence anyone who stands in their way.
Shannon Bream opened the segment by raising the issue of cancel culture and how it’s affecting public debate. Podcaster Josh Holmes, a longtime conservative voice, didn’t hold back. He reminded viewers that the First Amendment is about protecting speech from government interference—not about guaranteeing jobs for left-wing celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel.
“The thing about understanding the First Amendment is that you actually have to understand it’s a government action,” Holmes said. He pointed out the hypocrisy of the left, who were fine with silencing conservative voices on social media during COVID, but now cry foul when one of their own loses a TV deal.
Holmes is right. During the pandemic, Americans were banned, censored, and labeled “misinformation spreaders” just for questioning the government’s guidelines. Big Tech, in coordination with unelected bureaucrats, silenced doctors, parents, and anyone who dared to speak truth. Where was Jimmy Kimmel’s outrage then?
Michael Duncan, another Ruthless co-host, added that maybe the real issue is that people are tired of Hollywood elites pushing liberal politics every night. “You have to wonder if maybe the marketplace for left-wing late-night talk show hosts is getting smaller and smaller and smaller,” Duncan said.
Let’s be honest—Americans are fed up. They want truth, not propaganda. They want comedy, not lectures. The left created a culture where people get canceled for speaking their minds—and now they’re shocked when it comes back to bite them.
But this conversation wasn’t just about speech. Co-host John Ashbrook took it a step further, calling out the left’s violent response to tragedy. He made a powerful point: conservatives mourn peacefully. The left riots.
“If you look at the left, the left is the violent side of everything that is happening in our country,” Ashbrook said. “They weren’t burning buildings after the tragic death of Charlie. You look at how the left has handled tragedy, it’s very different.”
Ashbrook is absolutely right. After Charlie Kirk was murdered—for his beliefs, for his courage, for standing up to the mob—conservatives didn’t loot stores or torch cities. We prayed. We gathered in peace. We recommitted ourselves to the fight for truth. The left, on the other hand, has a long record of chaos—from Antifa riots to BLM arson to threats against Supreme Court justices. It’s not even close.
The left wants to pretend that free speech is still alive, but only if you agree with them. They want to silence our voices, erase our history, and punish anyone who stands up for America. But we will not be bullied. We will not be silenced. The First Amendment is not optional. It is the cornerstone of our Republic.
In times like these, we must stand firm. We must speak louder. We must remind our fellow citizens that liberty is not given—it is earned, defended, and, if necessary, fought for.
Watch the full segment below and see it for yourself. The truth is being spoken, and it’s high time America listens.
WATCH: @RuthlessPodcast on free speech issues and the fallout from Charlie Kirk’s assassination. pic.twitter.com/qdymHN0EQp
— Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) September 21, 2025
Charlie Kirk gave his life speaking the truth. Now it’s our turn to carry the torch. Let’s honor him—not with silence, but with courage. Let’s fight for the Constitution, for free speech, and for the America our Founders gave us. Because if we don’t, no one else will.
