Kirk praised as US martyr at memorial where religion and politics merged

Some called Charlie Kirk a modern martyr. Others said his death was a pivotal moment for the US. The potent blend of politics and religion that captivated the Sunday afternoon memorial service for the slain conservative activist left little doubt that Kirk's death had elevated him to iconic status for the American right. The event at State Farm Stadium outside Phoenix drew some of the most powerful political and religious voices in the country, led by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Kirk's widow Erika and many others. Its size, intensity and patriotic pageantry eclipsed many of Trump's own campaign rallies last year. But the impact of Kirk's assassination as he spoke on a Utah college campus on September...