Overview of EXCLUSIVE: Leaked TPUSA Audio | Candace EP 296
Candace Owens examines a leaked Turning Point USA (TPUSA) corporate Zoom call led by Erica Kirk held 11 days after Charlie Kirk’s public assassination. She plays portions of the recording, critiques its upbeat tone and timing, and uses it as a springboard to raise questions about leadership changes at TPUSA, recent staff firings, the organization’s origins, and alleged ties between Charlie Kirk’s childhood schooling and military/intelligence-connected actors. The episode mixes audio excerpts, reporting, speculation from internet sleuths, and calls for further public investigation.
Key takeaways
- Candace obtained and shared excerpts from a corporate Zoom call held Sept 22 (less than two weeks after Charlie’s assassination) in which Erica Kirk thanks staff, recites metrics, urges “full steam ahead,” and references long-term strategic plans (Project 2030).
- Employees who worked intense hours on the memorial were reportedly later fired without clear reasons; Candace claims she’s spoken with former staff who found the call’s tone inappropriate and disorienting.
- Candace highlights a Sept 18 New York Times interview with Erica and a line in that profile where Erica describes becoming a single mother as “the least traumatizing thing,” which Candace finds jarring in context.
- The episode recirculates investigative threads about Charlie’s childhood (attending a school for gifted children in Palatine, IL — Creative Children’s Academy / Quest Academy), potential links to a Bill Montgomery, Shackley Corporation, and possible military/NASA ties. Candace frames these as leads that could change the accepted origin story of Turning Point USA.
- Much of the material is framed as investigative leads, tip-driven sleuthing, or conjecture (some referencing Project Monarch/MKUltra and Operation Paperclip). Candace asks listeners to submit tips to her inbox for follow-up.
Timeline (as presented)
- Sept 10: Charlie Kirk assassinated (public).
- Sept 18: Erica gives an in-person interview to the New York Times at her/Charlie’s condo.
- Sept 20: Private Catholic funeral mass (not public; top donors reportedly attended).
- Sept 21: Public memorial at State Farm Stadium.
- Sept 22: Private dinner reported (attendees described as “in joyous spirits”); same day — corporate Zoom call with staff led by Erica Kirk (recording excerpts played on this episode).
Summary of the leaked Zoom call (what was played)
- Erica opens with upbeat gratitude: praises staff for pulling off a massive memorial event (mentions ~275,000 in attendance, merch/orders, chapter requests, new donors).
- She repeatedly thanks teams (events, development, production), notes employees worked 20-hour days, and says resources (counselors, pastors, therapy dogs) were provided.
- Erica frames grief as “waves,” encourages employees to use TPUSA resources or paid time off if needed, but emphasizes “full steam ahead” and that “Charlie would want us to get back to work.”
- She references having Charlie’s journals and “Vision 2030,” promising leadership will enact long-term plans.
- Candace and some employees describe the call as jarringly upbeat, with laughter and an emphasis on metrics and momentum soon after a public assassination — they interpreted it as emotionally tone-deaf and potentially coercive.
Main allegations, leads, and lines of inquiry
- Abrupt firings: Candace reports former employees were fired shortly after the memorial without clear explanations and were required to surrender equipment; fired employees told Candace the culture felt cult-like and that leadership was inaccessible.
- Secrecy about “notebooks” or Charlie’s journals: Candace says leadership claims to have Charlie’s journals/strategy but the public hasn’t seen them.
- Origin story scrutiny: Candace challenges the well-known TPUSA founding myth (Bill Montgomery spotting Charlie at a college event and urging him to found TPUSA), suggesting an alternate/more complex backstory involving gifted-children programming and earlier associations.
- Creative Children’s Academy / Quest Academy: Candace highlights this private school for gifted children near where Charlie grew up and notes proximity to defense contractor Northrop Grumman.
- Bill Montgomery & Edith Walker Montgomery: alleged connections between Montgomery (Air Force reserves background) and school founders; Edith reportedly worked as an adolescent psychiatric nurse — Candace asks whether she treated gifted children like Charlie.
- Shackley Corporation and NASA: tips claim founders/staff had Shackley Corporation ties (a nutrition/evangelical sales firm with alleged NASA contracts) — Candace links this to deeper questions about military/intelligence influence (she references Operation Paperclip, MKUltra/Project Monarch).
- Internet-sleuth discoveries: background checks on public pro-Israel/evangelical figures (example: Lori Cardoza Moore) that claim acting/entertainment pasts and/or family/military ties — used to suggest performative or orchestrated public displays.
Notable quotes from the episode / call
- From the New York Times profile (quoted by Candace): Erica — “That new life…is actually the least traumatizing thing for me.”
- From the Zoom call (Erica): “We have so much to do…full steam ahead…Charlie would want us to get back to work.”
- From Erica on staff care: “We had our leadership teams provide for you — counselors, pastors…therapy dogs…we paid for your flights…you don’t want to grieve alone.”
- From Candace summarizing her view: “The energy of that call does not feel right to me…less than two weeks after Charlie was publicly assassinated.”
Evidence shown vs. speculation
- Evidence presented: audio excerpts of the Sept 22 Zoom call (host played ~15 minutes of a 15-minute recording), a NYT quote, a text message excerpt from Charlie (claiming he “knew” he might be wiped out), and tip-based documents/claims from internet sleuths and smaller outlets (Brave Reports).
- Speculation: links to Shackley Corporation, NASA contract inferences, Project Monarch/MKUltra linkages, and claims that Charlie’s life might have been staged (the “Truman Show” hypothesis). Candace frames many of these as leads rather than established facts.
Reactions, implications, and host’s stated next steps
- Candace and some former TPUSA staff described feeling unsettled and suspicious, particularly about tone/timing and subsequent firings.
- Candace frames TPUSA as a 501(c)(3) with public accountability; she argues the public deserves a deeper profile of Erica Kirk.
- She promises a multi-episode investigative series on Erica’s background, a master timeline to be published, and solicits tips (moretips@candaceowens.com and general tips at candaceowens.com).
- Calls for transparency about who is making leadership decisions, the organization’s direction under Erica, and the identities/backgrounds of figures tied to the org’s founding and regional institutions.
What listeners should know (credibility & caution)
- The episode mixes verifiable items (dates, NYT publication, quoted audio) with speculative connections and tip-driven leads. Some claims link to historical conspiracy narratives (Operation Paperclip, MKUltra, Project Monarch) and should be treated as inquiries, not proven conclusions.
- Several allegations rely on anonymous tips or internet-sleuth threads; Candace positions these as starting points for further investigation rather than definitive proof.
- If you’re following this story: prioritize primary sources (full Zoom recording, public filings for TPUSA, school/founder records, NYT piece) and be cautious about unverified connections.
Action items & things to watch
- Candace: promised follow-up episodes and a published master timeline.
- TPUSA watchers/investigators: look for public disclosures (board statements, charity filings, personnel announcements) and any responses from TPUSA leadership addressing firings or the call.
- Researchers/sleuths: Candace requested information on Edith Walker (Edith Walker Montgomery), Bill Montgomery’s military record, Shackley Corporation ties, and funding for Creative Children’s Academy / Quest Academy.
- Public: if you have verifiable information, submit tips to moretips@candaceowens.com (per the episode).
Bottom line
This episode centers on a leaked TPUSA internal call that Candace Owens argues is tone-deaf and suspicious given its timing and upbeat focus on metrics soon after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. She pairs the audio with an investigative push into Erica Kirk’s past, the organization’s founding story, and alleged military/intelligence-linked threads around Charlie’s childhood schooling. Much of the material is presented as leads and questions for further investigation rather than fully substantiated claims; listeners should weigh primary evidence and follow subsequent reporting for confirmation.