Speech and Religion with Melody Smith & Shannon Salmon-Haas

Saturday, September 27, 2025

In this powerful episode of Talk Law Radio, attorney Todd Marquardt, along with co-host Shannon Roberta San Antonio and guest Melody Smith, dives into one of the most polarizing cultural and legal conversations of our time: the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination on September 10th.

The panel examines:

• 🎙️ Free Speech & Social Media — What is protected speech? Where are the limits when posts celebrate tragedy or criticize political figures?
• 🙏 Religion & Politics — Reflections on Charlie Kirk’s massive memorial service at State Farm Stadium, blending evangelical faith with Republican politics. What does the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause really mean in today’s America?
• ⚖️ Legal Boundaries & Social Consequences — From expulsions on college campuses to job losses, what happens when free expression collides with institutional codes of conduct?
• 💡 Sinners & Saints — A conversation about morality, redemption, and how legacy shapes our lives, featuring real-world examples from students, public figures, and families.
• 🏛️ Legacy & Estate Planning — Why planning matters, from naming guardians for your children to preserving family history.

Join us for thoughtful discussion, honest perspectives, and a reminder to look for hidden legal blind spots before they become problems.

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🌐 Learn more at marquardtlawfirm.com

As the dust settles from Charlie Kirk's assassination on September 10, 2025, a firestorm of firings and expulsions has erupted over social media posts expressing "joy" or criticism about his death. This segment probes whether these private and public employer actions violate First Amendment protections, unpacking the legal boundaries of speech in workplaces and campuses. Does the conservatives' push for "consequences" undermines the very free speech Kirk championed?

In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination and the massive memorial service on September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, this segment dissects the event's fusion of evangelical fervor and Republican rallying cries. Drawing on legal, cultural, and theological lenses, the hosts explore how the service blurred sacred and secular boundaries, raising questions about the entanglement of Christianity and politics—and whether such mergers risk turning national devotion into a form of idolatry.

The mission of Talk Law Radio is to help you discover your legal issue blind spots by listening to me talk about the law on the radio. The state bar of Texas is the state agency that governs attorney law licenses. The State Bar wants attorneys to inform the public about the law but does not want us to attempt to solve your individual legal problems upon the basis of general information. Instead, contact an attorney like Todd A. Marquardt at Marquardt Law Firm, P.C. to discuss your specific facts and circumstances of your unique situation.

Leave a legacy that makes a positive impact on people's lives

Chat online at MarquardtLawFirm.com to schedule an appointment to help you create a legally enforceable last will, living trust, or tax protected inheritance plan.

Tell a friend what this show is about discovering hidden legal issue blind spots like in business and estates and elder law. Today's hidden legal issue blind spot is "Citizenship." Subscribe to the Talk Law Radio YouTube channel to watch the show in four separate segments.

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