Happy New Year everyone! I wish you health and happiness for 2026! Here are a few additional notes for this analysis.

1) at 23:05 after the big JD Vance line and freeze, after Erika speaks, Nicki's blink rate increases dramatically and we even see more than one flutter (rapid blinks in succession). This is very consistent with processing and stress (research in description under "sources"). She is also stammering with her words. This aligns perfectly with the mouth/eye block. It is taking her a very long time to recover and gather her thoughts after the freeze.

2) at 31:24 I coincidentally demonstrate the point I just made better than I could have ever planned. After having explained one sided shoulder shrugs, as I'm saying "what the heck's going on? what just happened?" I do 2 one sided shoulder shrugs which go perfectly with my confusion about this moment. I often illustrate with one hand which causes asymmetric arm movements but this is without a doubt a one sided shoulder shrug. I love moments like this because it goes to show that even for people who study and teach behavioral analysis these gestures are innate and completely involuntary. I had no clue I was doing it until I watched the playback.

3) at 22:29 as Erika is saying "I love you." There is a crystal clear lip retraction (lips compress and turn inwards) from Nicki. Lip compressions and retractions happen in moments of withheld opinion or disagreement, it's closely related to mouth blocking and a very logical follow up to that hand to mouth gesture.

4) There were a few sources that claimed Nicki Minaj took down her Instagram shortly after this aired. That would certainly put her whole “not noticing the backlash” statement into question. However, many other sources have reported that her Instagram was taken down in October, before this event, many of those sources have very high certainty. I would love more clarity on this.

5) We’re getting a LOT of theories on the meaning of “assassin” in the comments, a few commenters are certain she’s used it before to mean effective or strong like a killer or a shark. Another theory that came up a few times is that she might mean it like “he slays” speaking to how attractive he is, and i saw 2 comments who said the face scrunch following this line is more of a “he’s so good looking it hurts” expression. I can see how “assassin” might mean “attractive,” it’s a good theory I think especially because it lines up with what she said about Trump in that same playful way. But that face scrunch and eye block is definitely (and I very rarely use the word definitely) discomfort/ mess up. The playfulness goes away, it’s replaced by hesitation and awkwardness and her looking to Erika for help and it goes on for a while. Behaviorally there’s a clear shift in that moment and I do not believe it is a continuation of the “assassin” description, it’s a shift away from it.

I’m only 16 minutes in so maybe you say this later, but I see a scary pattern. Erika lights up and looks genuine when the discussion turns to something negative. She loves talking trash and getting others to do it with her. When it’s positive, she’s muted. But talking about ignoring haters, Newsom, etc… all of a sudden she’s delightful.

Mean Girls x 1000

This is not an interesting or intelligent conversation. These people are not role models for anybody with a brain.

Why would TPUSA highlight the very artist that Charlie Kirk said was not a good role model to young women? Walking out to Super Bass, the specific lyrics Charlie was referring to? Seems like a "Screw you" to Charlie.

The real question is WHY would you even joke about someone being an assassin? That is no joke.

Looks like two publicity addicts getting a fix.

“Black culture is being held captive by influences, songs and role models. Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, I don’t think that’s a good role model for 18-year-old Black girls" - Charlie Kirk

It's creepy watching two incredibly fake women treating each other as though each is making profound statements when it is actually like watching a couple of immature teenagers spouting cliche after cliche, many of which are contradictory,

This is super weird and super creepy both of them, what do they do pay people to be in their audience this is sick

What kind of surreal world are we living in? I cannot believe this is accepted as reality by anyone.

I'm just shocked about the low level of this entire conversation between Erika and Nicki and the audience finding it acceptable even funny. It's like the high school mean girls are running the show  now in a subject they can't even pronounce.

Nicki Minaj is the epitome of what Charlie Kirk stood against

Hypocrisy at its finest.

If my carpenter died, I would not hire his wife to finish building my house

She had ZERO reaction to the word "a$$assin" after her husband was recently a$$assinated. That's the most important thing here. When  you suffer a tragedy and someone uses a word that reflects that tragedy, we react. Why didn't she?

All I can think about is Charlie’s poor parents and wonder what they truly think of all this.

I’ve dealt with a lot of mean girls in my life and that’s exactly who these 2 are. Major mean girl vibes, especially in the part where Erika says for Candace to stop. She’s used to getting her way.

Who says “assassin” to someone  whose husband was just assassinated!!!?!  WEIRD!

Charlie and newsom did a podcast together totally respectful of one another for hours. While Charlie didn't agree with newsom he never would have called him scum he also didn't agree with Nicki Minaj. Erica is not honoring Charlie's legacy Erica is as ingenuine and opportunistic as they come

Why does this feel like hunger games