Charlie Kirk’s Politically Charged Memorial

Conservatives from around the country flocked to Arizona on Sunday to memorialize the activist Charlie Kirk. The service included leaders from the highest levels of the U.S. government, including Vice President JD Vance and President Trump. Two clear strands emerged during the memorial addresses: a message of Christian unity, and a vow to fight political enemies on the left. Robert Draper, who covers domestic politics for The Times, explains how the collision of those two messages makes this a crucial moment for the MAGA movement. Guest: Robert Draper, a Washington, D.C.-based journalist for The New York Times, who writes about domestic politics. Background reading:  Thousands flocked to Phoenix for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service.President Trump remembered Mr. Kirk as a martyr while attacking political opponents.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.