CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings has been selected by the Salem Radio Network to host the midday time slot previously occupied by the late Charlie Kirk. Jennings, known for his staunch defense of Donald Trump on CNN, will be joined by Breitbart News editor Alex Marlow in filling the noon-to-3 pm ET block that Kirk’s show had held.
Starting January 5, Jennings will expand his existing midafternoon show to two hours, hosting the 1-3 pm slot, while Marlow will anchor the noontime hour. The three-hour midday slot has long been considered a prime position in right-wing talk radio, historically dominated by Rush Limbaugh.
The Charlie Kirk Show, which has been hosted by Turning Point USA staffers Andrew Kolvet and Blake Neff since Kirk’s death in September, will continue as a podcast on Salem’s podcasting service. Kolvet expressed support for the changes, stating that Marlow and Jennings were the perfect hosts to take over the radio portion.
Jennings praised Kolvet and the TPUSA team for their stewardship of Kirk’s radio legacy, calling the time slot “some of the most important hours in talk radio.” Marlow, who was a weekly guest on Kirk’s show, said he “can’t wait to get started” with his new program.
Salem Radio Network expects the new shows to be picked up by roughly 300 stations and reach about 1.2 million listeners. Jennings, a former adviser to Mitch McConnell and George W. Bush administration official, has seen his profile rise due to his combative on-air exchanges and social media presence.
The transition comes amid turmoil in the conservative media sphere, with former Kirk colleague Candace Owens promoting conspiracy theories about Kirk’s death. Despite a meeting with Kirk’s widow, Owens has not recanted her claims, stating that TPUSA did not provide evidence to dissuade her.
