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Line 1: − TPUSA relies on funds from many big donors, including the [[Koch Brothers]]<ref>https://www.prwatch.org/news/2020/04/13557/koch-foundation-criticizes-turning-point-usa-even-koch-network-funds-group</ref><ref>https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Turning_Point_USA</ref>. They claim to advocate for conservative values, yet their conservatism is lukewarm at best, despite what Charlie Kirk may say. They were recently heard telling their employees to avoid discussing controversial social issues, and to instead focus solely on agreeable [[fiscal policy]]. − Former employees of the organization have accused it of engaging in [[racist]] practices, as well as potentially illegal involvement in the [[2016 presidential election]]. Line 64:
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Turning Point USA (view source)
Revision as of 17:28, September 18, 2025
, 17:28, September 18, 2025no edit summary
'''Turning Point USA''' ('''TPUSA''') is an [[American]] [[right-wing]] [[nonprofit organization]] founded by [[Charlie Kirk]] that advocates for limited government, [[free market]] [[capitalism]] and the [[Republican Party]]<ref name="threat">{{Citation|last=Mele|first=Christopher|title=Professor Watchlist Is Seen as Threat to Academic Freedom|date=November 28, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/us/professor-watchlist-is-seen-as-threat-to-academic-freedom.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name=spec>{{Cite web|url=http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2016/11/30/columbia-professor-targeted-watchlist-published-conservative-group|title=Columbia professor targeted on 'watchlist' published by conservative group - Columbia Daily Spectator|website=Columbiaspectator.com|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>. They work closely with [[PragerU]].
'''Turning Point USA''' ('''TPUSA''') is an [[American]] [[right-wing]] [[nonprofit organization]] founded by [[Charlie Kirk]] that advocates for limited government, [[free market]] [[capitalism]] and the [[Republican Party]]<ref name="threat">{{Citation|last=Mele|first=Christopher|title=Professor Watchlist Is Seen as Threat to Academic Freedom|date=November 28, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/us/professor-watchlist-is-seen-as-threat-to-academic-freedom.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name=spec>{{Cite web|url=http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2016/11/30/columbia-professor-targeted-watchlist-published-conservative-group|title=Columbia professor targeted on 'watchlist' published by conservative group - Columbia Daily Spectator|website=Columbiaspectator.com|access-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref>. They work closely with [[PragerU]].
==Formation and activities==
==Formation and activities==
==Controversies==
==Controversies==
TPUSA early on relied on funds from many big donors, including the [[Koch Brothers]]<ref>https://www.prwatch.org/news/2020/04/13557/koch-foundation-criticizes-turning-point-usa-even-koch-network-funds-group</ref><ref>https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Turning_Point_USA</ref>. They claim to advocate for conservative values, yet their conservatism is lukewarm at best, despite what Charlie Kirk may say. They were recently heard telling their employees to avoid discussing controversial social issues, and to instead focus solely on agreeable [[fiscal policy]].
Former employees of the organization have accused it of engaging in [[racist]] practices, as well as potentially illegal involvement in the [[2016 presidential election]].
In 2016, Turning Point at [[Grand Valley State University]] filed a lawsuit against the trustees of the school. The complainants asked the court to prohibit enforcement of GVSU's Speech Zone policy and declare it a violation of the students' 1st and 14th Amendment freedoms. They have since reached a settlement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/03/gvsu_reaches_settlement_with_s.html|title=GVSU reaches settlement with student group alleging it restricted free speech|work=MLive.com|access-date=February 7, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2016, Turning Point at [[Grand Valley State University]] filed a lawsuit against the trustees of the school. The complainants asked the court to prohibit enforcement of GVSU's Speech Zone policy and declare it a violation of the students' 1st and 14th Amendment freedoms. They have since reached a settlement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2017/03/gvsu_reaches_settlement_with_s.html|title=GVSU reaches settlement with student group alleging it restricted free speech|work=MLive.com|access-date=February 7, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' reported in February 2019 that [[Benny Johnson]] – who was fired from [[BuzzFeed]] in 2014 for multiple instances of [[plagiarism]], and later let go by [[Independent Journal Review]] for multiple problems, including plagiarism – was joining TPUSA as their "Chief Creative Officer".<ref>Kirell, Andrew (February 6, 2019) [https://www.thedailybeast.com/serial-plagiarist-benny-johnson-joining-charlie-kirks-turning-point-usa "Serial Plagiarist Benny Johnson Joining Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA"] ''[[The Daily Beast]]''</ref>
''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' reported in February 2019 that [[Benny Johnson]] – who was fired from [[BuzzFeed]] in 2014 for multiple instances of [[plagiarism]], and later let go by [[Independent Journal Review]] for multiple problems, including plagiarism – was joining TPUSA as their "Chief Creative Officer".<ref>Kirell, Andrew (February 6, 2019) [https://www.thedailybeast.com/serial-plagiarist-benny-johnson-joining-charlie-kirks-turning-point-usa "Serial Plagiarist Benny Johnson Joining Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA"] ''[[The Daily Beast]]''</ref>
=== Instances of racism ===
=== Accusations of racism ===
In December 2017, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' published an article by [[Jane Mayer]] showcasing interviews with former minority members of the organization. Former staff members said they witnessed widespread discrimination against minorities in the group, and stated "the organization was a difficult workplace and rife with tension, some of it racial."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity at a Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses|last=Mayer|first=Jane|date=December 21, 2017|url-access=limited|work=The New Yorker|access-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Conservative Campus Org Turning Point USA 'Rife' With Racism, Probably Illegal Campaign Activity|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/conservative-campus-org-turning-point-usa-rife-with-racism-possibly-illegal-campaign-activity|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=December 22, 2017|accessdate=December 23, 2017}}</ref> One former employee, an African-American woman, said she was the only person of color working for the organization at the time she was hired in 2014; she then said that she was fired on [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]]. The article also revealed text messages sent by Crystal Clanton – who was a leading figure in the organization and served as the group's national field director for five years – to another Turning Point employee saying "i hate black people. Like f*** them all . . . I hate blacks. End of story." Kirk responded to the revelations by saying that "Turning Point assessed the situation and took decisive action within 72 hours of being made aware of the issue."<ref name=":0" /> The article also noted that Kirk had explicitly praised Clanton in his book ''Time for a Turning Point'', saying that she had been "the best hire we ever could have made," and that "Turning Point needs more Crystals; so does America."<ref name=":0" />
In December 2017, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' published an article by [[Jane Mayer]] showcasing interviews with former minority members of the organization. Former staff members said they witnessed widespread discrimination against minorities in the group, and stated "the organization was a difficult workplace and rife with tension, some of it racial."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity at a Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses|last=Mayer|first=Jane|date=December 21, 2017|url-access=limited|work=The New Yorker|access-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Conservative Campus Org Turning Point USA 'Rife' With Racism, Probably Illegal Campaign Activity|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/conservative-campus-org-turning-point-usa-rife-with-racism-possibly-illegal-campaign-activity|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|date=December 22, 2017|accessdate=December 23, 2017}}</ref> One former employee, an African-American woman, said she was the only person of color working for the organization at the time she was hired in 2014; she then said that she was fired on [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]]. The article also revealed text messages sent by Crystal Clanton – who was a leading figure in the organization and served as the group's national field director for five years – to another Turning Point employee saying "i hate black people. Like f*** them all . . . I hate blacks. End of story." Kirk responded to the revelations by saying that "Turning Point assessed the situation and took decisive action within 72 hours of being made aware of the issue."<ref name=":0" /> The article also noted that Kirk had explicitly praised Clanton in his book ''Time for a Turning Point'', saying that she had been "the best hire we ever could have made," and that "Turning Point needs more Crystals; so does America."<ref name=":0" />