- Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of the right-wing political organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was shot dead during a campus event in Utah on Wednesday.
- Kirk was an 18-year-old Chicago college dropout and Ronald Reagan admirer when he founded the organization in 2012.
- TPUSA, a grassroots movement promoting conservative values in educational institutions, grew significantly by embracing the ascent of Donald Trump and now has a presence at 3,500 institutions.
- The organization is known for its 'Professor Watchlist' and 'School Board Watchlist' and has several spin-off ventures, including Turning Point Action and Turning Point U.K.
- Appealing to young men through podcasts and new media was seen as a key strategy behind Trump’s election victory over Harris last year, and TPUSA has been widely credited with helping to drive turnout for the Republican ticket.
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