We’ve documented how Newsmax rushed to capitalize on the death of Charlie Kirk by hyping a book — published by Newsmax, not it has disclosed that information to readers — for which Kirk wrote a foreword. Newsmax has continued to hype the book’s author, Lucas Miles, and his connection to Kirk (and, ocr course, Kirk’s purported martyrdom) in more Newsmax TV appearances in the days after Kirk’s death:
- Lucas Miles to Newsmax: ‘We’re Continuing Fight’ for Kirk
- Lucas Miles to Newsmax: Erika Kirk ‘Best Person’ to Helm TPUSA
- Pastor Miles to Newsmax: Kirk Must Be Excited About the ‘Momentum’
- Pastor Miles to Newsmax: Kirk Understood the Threats Facing America
- Pastor Lucas Miles to Newsmax: Kirk’s Message Resonates ‘More Than Ever’
- Pastor Miles to Newsmax: Kirk Remembered as a Christian Martyr
- Pastor Miles to Newsmax: Kirk Faced Threats but Refused to Back Down
- Pastor Miles to Newsmax: Church Leaders Must Bolster Security
A Sept. 24 TV appearance was used to link Kirk more closely to Miles’ book:
Pastor Lucas Miles, senior director of Turning Point USA Faith and author of “Pagan Threat,” told Newsmax Wednesday that slain conservative leader Charlie Kirk was a “no-brainer” to write the foreword for his book because he understood the threats facing America “better than anybody.”
[…]“Charlie was a no-brainer to ask to do this foreword,” he said. “He understood the pagan threat and, really, the threats of this nation better than anybody. It’s really those threats that took his life. Charlie knew that there was a risk every single day that he went out, but yet, his determination to reach this generation — not only with conservative principles but most importantly the Gospel — it drove him beyond any sort of fear of personal peril.”
With his Amazon No.1 bestselling book “Pagan Threat,” Miles said he set out to “really demonstrate that wokeism has evolved” into “a religion.”
One article included the following promotion for Miles’ book:
“Pagan Threat” is available on Amazon, but can also be obtained for free through a special promotion on the Newsmax website. Kirk’s foreword was a call to action in which he urged Americans not only to read the book, but to internalize it and share it.
All of these articles were published before Sept. 28, a little over two weeks after Kirk’s death. Miles then took a short break from Newsmax TV hits, returning for an Oct. 13 appearance in which he declared that Kirk is “more than deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
All that grifting paid off, however, as described in an Oct. 23 article:
The new book “Pagan Threat,” written by evangelical pastor and Turning Point USA Faith leader Lucas Miles, has taken the publishing world by storm — debuting this week at No. 4 on The New York Times bestsellers list in the “How-To and Advice” category for the week of Nov. 2.
The book’s success comes just weeks after the sudden death of conservative leader Charlie Kirk.
Kirk penned the book’s foreword before his passing, his last published words before his death.
Published by Humanix Books, “Pagan Threat” already has topped Amazon’s charts in multiple categories.
The book’s blend of theology, cultural criticism, and political warning has struck a deep chord with Christian and conservative audiences nationwide.
[…]Keith Pfeffer, publisher of Humanix Books, praised the title’s runaway success but expressed frustration over what he described as the Times’ “effort to downplay” conservative authors.
“This book has been a runaway bestseller,” Pfeffer said in a statement. “The numbers are clear, and the response has been incredible. But it’s disappointing that The New York Times continues to relegate conservative titles to secondary lists. ‘Pagan Threat’ deserves recognition alongside the leading nonfiction books in America.”
Pfeffer added that Humanix has seen record demand for the title, with multiple reprints already ordered to meet holiday demand.
The anonymously written article failed to disclose that Humanix is owned by Newsmax. Miles returned to hype the claimed achievement in an Oct. 24 appearance:
Evangelical Pastor Lucas Miles told Newsmax on Friday he’s “grateful” for the response to his new book, “Pagan Threat,” which has climbed to No. 4 on The New York Times bestseller list.
The book’s success comes just weeks after the sudden death of conservative leader Charlie Kirk, who penned the book’s foreword before his passing, his last published words before his death.
Appearing Friday on “Greg Kelly Reports,” Miles said he’s been humbled by the overwhelming support.
“I’m blown away, honestly, by the support,” Miles told host Greg Kelly. “I’m just so grateful for the readers out there and people such as yourself that understand the importance of this book and the danger that’s out there.
“It’s been a very exciting week, and I’m just trying to hang on and enjoy the ride.”
Again, it was not disclosed that Newsmax published Miles’ book. That, along with its upcoming publication of an insta-book about Kirk cranked out by Dick Morris, suggests that maybe we should change Newsmax’s name to Griftmax.