Darlene Graham is considering running for her late brother's Senate seat.

FULL SHOW - The Charlie James Show - Friday July 17 2026 - Charlie James debates Darlene Graham's Senate run, Lindsey Graham's funeral, and election integrity.

On the July 17, 2026 broadcast of The Charlie James Show, discussions heavily centered around the political landscape of South Carolina following the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. The show detailed upcoming funeral services for the late senator across Washington D.C., Columbia, and Pickens County, while tracking major developments regarding his sister, Darlene Graham. It was reported that she dropped the "Nordone" name and received an endorsement from Donald Trump for the special Senate primary, prompting intense caller debate over her qualifications versus alternative candidates like Ralph Norman. Beyond local races, James offered sharp critiques of the mainstream media for ignoring a Trump speech on leaked voter files and slammed establishment Republicans, particularly Senator Tom Tillis, for stalling and opposing voter security measures like the Save America Act. The program also highlighted broader conservative anxieties, including systemic bureaucratic failures, corporate recalls, and a deep-dive investigation into Chinese election meddling.

H4: Charlie James debates Darlene Graham’s appointment and funeral plans for Lindsey Graham while Tom Tillis blocks the Save Act.

Host Charlie James reacts to The View co-host Sunny Hostin critiquing the appointment of Senator Darlene Graham to fill her late brother Lindsey Graham's vacant seat, with Hostin calling it a "DEI" move. James dismisses her comments, noting the upcoming heavily attended funeral services scheduled for Lindsey Graham across Washington D.C., Columbia, and Pickens County. Turning to the legislative battle over the Save America Act, James heavily criticizes North Carolina Senator Tom Tillis for opposing the bill under the pretense that it cannot be quickly implemented. A caller named Roger joins the show to discuss upcoming candidates for the South Carolina special primary, such as Mark Lynch and Ralph Norman, leading James to emphasize that the ultimate goal must be electing a candidate who can defeat the Democratic challenger, Dr. Annie Andrews.

A caller pushes for Winnie the Pooh memes due to Chinese election meddling

Host Charlie James hears from Rob in Westminster, who points out that despite current headlines, China is not an ally of the United States. Rob expresses hope that the public will revive political memes comparing Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh, reminding the audience of how heavily China has meddling in American elections. Charlie agrees, recalling past remarks about relations with China and criticizing previous administrative handling of foreign policy.

Brian vows to support Ralph Norman; James tracks the Save America Act poll.

During the segment, a first-time caller named Brian explained that his anti-Lindsey Graham Facebook group voted to support Ralph Norman in the upcoming South Carolina special primary rather than backing newly appointed Senator Darlene Graham. Host Charlie James emphasized that his priority remains tracking candidate support for key items like the Save America Act. Later, another caller named Robert criticized the lack of mainstream media coverage on Donald Trump’s recent election integrity speech, noting a stark contrast with the heavy coverage given to President Biden's addresses. James concluded by underscoring the deep media bias that downplays significant security allegations while amplifying standard establishment narratives.

H3 - Charlie James breaks down Trump’s endorsement of Darlene Graham, slams a blocked Ivermectin bill, and critiques liberal housing policies.

During the third hour of the broadcast, host Charlie James updates listeners on South Carolina's shifting political landscape following the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. While initially expected to act solely as an interim caretaker until January, Darlene Graham—who has formally dropped "Nordone" from her name—is now heavily considering a run for her late brother's full six-year seat. This potential campaign gained significant momentum after President Donald Trump issued an official endorsement for her via Truth Social, dramatically shifting the field for the upcoming special primary election. James additionally breaks down a controversial local housing recall impacting Taco Bell and strongly condemns Representative Davy Hiott for quietly killing a bipartisan bill that would have legalized over-the-counter Ivermectin, pointing out a blatant conflict of interest involving Hiott's son's role as a pharmaceutical lobbyist. He concludes the hour by warning listeners that conservative values are responsible for building thriving municipalities, contrasting them with progressive housing policies under figures like New York's Zohran Mamdani that systematically undermine private property and accelerate civic decay.