Charlie Kirk’s Debating Replacement

No time has been wasted to assure the fans of Charlie Kirk that a skilled debater, already seen with college students, has been selected in Charlie’s place: Ben Shapiro. The news is encouraging:

The announcement was made today, September 13, 2025, during a press conference in Washington, D.C. Shapiro, a prominent conservative commentator, emphasized his commitment to engaging with students and promoting conservative values across the country. ‘I will never stop debating and discussing the issues that matter to young Americans,’ he stated, highlighting the importance of open discourse in today’s polarized climate.

Some people might question the selection of Shapiro, since he is not a Christian. But I guess you could say he’s the next best thing; Charlie Kirk was a big fan of the Jews and the Old Testament. At the same time, we have to wonder if people will attack Shapiro simply because he is an Orthodox Jew and supports Israel.

But if they don’t use those excuses, you can be certain the Left will come up with other reasons to defame Shapiro, as he continues the mission of Charlie Kirk. One online college newspaper chose to mischaracterize what Kirk did, and by association, defamed Shapiro. They also exaggerated Kirk’s behavior and distorted his intent:

Since 2017, conservative political commentators Charlie Kirk and Ben Shapiro have riled up a viral debate culture of sensationalized party politics. They step onto college campuses and into online discourse platforms with a goal to embarrass and shut down left-leaning college students. [snip] In the end, these conservative political commentators are doing nothing to advance citizens’ political knowledge. Sensationalized campus debates are using unassuming students as political pawns to further right-wing agendas and surface-level critical thinking skills. They entrench partisan politics — aiming to win debates, amass as many views as possible and embarrass students online by any means necessary. To end this political polarization, people need to stop consuming showy TikTok debates by Ben Shapiro and Charlie Kirk. It’s a trap.

This article is so disingenuous and hateful. Much of the criticism comes from their interpretation of the word “debate.” It’s unfortunate that the word is used instead of a less inflammatory word, such as “dialogue,” which is in fact what the commentators and students are doing. No one is following the protocol or agenda for debates, and it’s foolish to suggest that they are. Also, to suggest that these students are “political pawns,” or that Kirk or Shapiro were determined to embarrass them, is simply false. If anyone has listened to either man, they have always been dedicated to educating students, to give them the facts, to clear up misunderstandings which the Left loves to present as facts, and to be fair in their interactions. To suggest that they want to humiliate these students—especially when both men know that it takes some gumption to step up to the microphone—is outrageous.

That isn’t saying that students don’t approach the mike with arrogance, Leftist propaganda and insults, but most that I have seen act sincerely and with curiosity.

Charlie and Ben have always been respectful.

Which is more than I can say about these college writers.

May G-d watch over Ben Shapiro.