'This is a crime story': Putting polarizing politics aside to cover the killing of Charlie Kirk

One year after conservative figure and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated on a Utah college campus, Following Leads goes behind the headlines to examine the tragedy through a different lens: true crime reporting.

Arizona’s Family Chief Investigative Reporter Morgan Loew joins host Laura Hettiger to discuss why journalists had to put polarizing politics aside to cover the murder of a local father and neighbor, how the Phoenix community reacted, Erika Kirk’s public forgiveness, and whether Turning Point USA can survive without its charismatic leader.

Following Leads is a weekly video podcast hosted by Laura Hettiger that follows the stories everyone is talking about—and the people living through them. From missing-person cases and major investigations to high-profile trials and national tragedies, each episode goes beyond the headlines to explore the questions, consequences, and human experiences at the center of the story.

Through interviews, analysis, and powerful storytelling, Following Leads uncovers the connections between crime, justice, family, and community. Because the most important lead is often the one that reveals how real lives are changed forever.

A production of The Following Leads Podcast Network & Gray Media

Executive Producer/Creator: Wade Smith

Host/Co-Creator: Laura Hettiger