Overview of Andrew Kolvet Blames Me For Erika PR Backlash | “Mormon Mafia” History Explained | Ep 364
In this episode, Candace Owens spends most of the show responding to backlash over a Daily Mail article about Erika Kirk (referred to as “Erica” in the transcript) and to Andrew Kolvet’s claim that Owens helped engineer the story. She argues that the PR strategy around Erika has been badly handled, then pivots into a long historical explanation of the term “Mormon Mafia,” tracing it to the Howard Hughes era and using that history to support broader claims about influence networks in Hollywood, politics, and Turning Point USA.
Daily Mail Backlash and Andrew Kolvet’s Accusation
Owens’ response to the article
- Owens says the Daily Mail article portraying Erika as hostile toward her “backfired” because the public reacted negatively to the contrast between:
- Erika’s compassion toward the alleged killer, and
- her anger toward Owens, who is investigating the case.
- She insists the article and surrounding PR were unfavorable to her and that she did not collude with the Daily Mail.
Kolvet’s claim
- Owens says Andrew Kolvet accused her of collaborating with the Daily Mail and even implied she effectively “called herself” a “B-word” and “soulless ghoul” for the sake of the show.
- She calls this claim absurd and says it would require a fabricated article and public retraction if it were true.
- She shows what she says are receipts proving the Daily Mail requested comment from her team before publication.
Her broader critique of the PR strategy
- Owens argues Erika’s public-relations approach has repeatedly backfired:
- inviting influencers and friendly media,
- trying to shape public perception instead of relying on evidence,
- and portraying Erika as overly pure or beyond criticism.
- She says this makes the campaign look manipulative rather than credible.
“Mormon Mafia” History Explained
What Owens says the term means
- Owens says she first heard “Mormon Mafia” in the context of Howard Hughes and his inner circle of LDS employees in Las Vegas.
- She explains it as a colloquial term for a trusted group of Mormon businessmen/accountants who worked closely with Hughes in his later years.
Howard Hughes and his inner circle
- Owens gives a long overview of Hughes as:
- a film producer,
- aerospace founder,
- investor,
- and the owner of major Las Vegas properties.
- She says Hughes became increasingly reclusive and placed great trust in Mormon aides because they shared his values around sobriety and discipline.
- She quotes an old Time magazine-style description of the men who managed his affairs.
Hughes’ decline and estate battle
- Owens recounts the circumstances of Hughes’ death and the ensuing estate fight.
- She says the story demonstrates how a powerful figure’s empire can be controlled by trusted lieutenants.
- She links that to the idea that inner-circle control matters more than public image.
Owens’ Larger Claims About Influence Networks
Hollywood, politics, and religion
- Owens broadens the argument to say that:
- “mafia” or influence networks often operate through trusted insiders,
- not every member of a religion or ethnicity is involved,
- but powerful networks can still exist.
- She makes a number of sweeping historical and political claims about Zionist influence, Hollywood, and terrorism history, presented as part of her interpretation of past events.
Turning Point USA and Charlie Kirk
- Owens says her central reason for bringing up the Mormon Mafia is that she believes Turning Point USA had a heavy Mormon presence.
- She claims:
- Tyler Boyer controlled major internal operations,
- many LDS members were involved in hiring and finances,
- and Charlie Kirk had begun moving away from a pro-Israel line before his death.
- She says the organization after Kirk’s death appears to be reversing many of his prior positions.
Erika’s public role after Charlie Kirk’s death
- Owens criticizes Erika Kirk’s public appearances and says the organization’s post-death messaging feels orchestrated.
- She says Erika’s relationship with prominent families and media figures raises questions, and she portrays the current Turning Point leadership as rewriting Charlie’s legacy.
Follow-Up Notes and Listener Q&A
On the event footage and the car
- Owens addresses viewer emails about:
- the look of the car panel seen in footage,
- and the fact that “Mikey” appeared to have two phones.
- She says those details are not necessarily suspicious by themselves and could have innocent explanations.
On the shirt/clothing theory
- She reads an email from a seamstress who believes an item in the footage was likely a shirt based on stitching and seam placement.
- Owens says she’s open to that interpretation but treats it as still unresolved.
Sponsors and Mid-Show Ads
The episode includes several promotional breaks for:
- Battalion Metals — gold and silver investing
- The Wellness Company — medical emergency kits
- Zipix — nicotine-infused toothpicks
- Loretto Publications — Catholic books and scripture editions
- American Financing — refinancing and debt consolidation
Closing Takeaway
This episode is less a straightforward news update and more a combination of:
- a public defense against PR accusations,
- a historical digression on Howard Hughes and the “Mormon Mafia,”
- and a broader narrative that Owens uses to argue that powerful inner circles can quietly reshape institutions after a leader’s death.
The recurring message is that, in her view, public image is being managed to obscure deeper power structures, and that the pushback against her reporting is itself evidence of how sensitive those structures are.