A staffer in the office of a prominent Democratic elected official called “I’ve Had It” podcast host Jennifer Welch a “sicko,” alleging that she had asked for advice on handling the backlash to a joke about digging up Charlie Kirk’s body. Welch denied speaking with a senior Democrat. She and co-host Angie Sullivan also renewed their criticism of Turning Point USA, with Sullivan telling the group to “f— all the way off” despite the hosts’ earlier apology.
The fallout has reached the podcast’s sponsors. Cash App said it was ending its sponsorship, writing that it did not condone violence. Boll & Branch, a luxury bedding company, also reportedly dropped its support. Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet said several other advertisers had pulled out as well.
Welch and Sullivan apologized over the weekend. But in a video posted to the podcast’s YouTube channel, Welch accused Turning Point USA of leading an online campaign to get the show canceled. She said the organization wanted to show its donors it could “cancel libs.”
Welch said the apology was not intended for Turning Point USA. She explained that someone close to her had died from gun violence two years earlier, and that laughing at the joke had not felt right. She said she wanted to be able to advocate for gun reform without that moment hanging over her.
The Democratic source alleged that Welch had called for advice about handling the controversy and blamed Turning Point USA rather than expressing regret. The source said the party did not need people like Welch, calling her a “sicko,” and estimated that the podcast had lost tens of thousands of dollars in sponsorships over the weekend. The source also claimed Welch’s team had used ChatGPT to help draft a response and look for a way out of the situation.
Welch rejected those claims, saying she had not spoken with a top Democrat and that the podcast had not used ChatGPT. “Those are both wholly untrue,” she said.
Welch said the hosts regretted laughing at an insensitive joke and had apologized. She added that they removed the segment and donated to Everytown for Gun Safety. She also accused Turning Point USA of mocking violence without apologizing, and said the podcast still had advertisers and would continue.
As the hosts discussed their apology, Welch called Turning Point USA a hateful organization. Sullivan said she would not take a lecture from the group, then accused its supporters of backing politicians who protect sexual abusers and traffickers, tolerating violence against civilians in Minnesota, and supporting the detention of people in degrading conditions. She ended by telling the organization to “f— off.”
The controversy began in an episode last week, when the hosts read social media posts celebrating Democratic victories in the midterm elections. They laughed after Welch read a post saying, “We’re digging up Charlie Kirk and doing it again.” The hosts also suggested, without offering evidence, that the man accused of killing Kirk supported President Donald Trump. Voter records showed he was unaffiliated and had not voted in the previous two general elections.
In their apology, posted Saturday, Welch and Sullivan said they should not have laughed and that there was nothing funny about gun violence.
The comments also drew criticism from Democrats. Strategist Kaivan Shroff said the hosts were not helping the party, but drawing attention away from the results Democrats had earned at the ballot box.
