What did John Wayne say about liberalism in 1975 that has even greater significance today?

Glenn opened the radio program this morning with a flashback to 1975, playing some eerily germane audio from John Wayne about liberalism in America.

“You know, I got up early this morning. I was up at about 4:30 this morning. I couldn't sleep. I decided to get up and, God help me, exercise. I thought I'd try exercise for a day and if that didn't make me feel better, I'm going to start drinking again. It didn't work. I'm going to start drinking again,” Glenn joked. “I just hate all of the stupid people around the rest of the country nowhere near my life. You know what I mean? I just, I can't take the people in Washington anymore. I want to go back up to the farm and just hang out with my cows and people who make sense, and my cows make more sense than the people in Washington do.”

While Glenn was ‘exercising’ bright and early this morning, he found the story with excerpts from a 1975 interview between Tony Macklin and Wayne on TheBlaze. His words, which are nearly 40 years old, sound like they could have been uttered today, as Wayne digs into liberal political tactics and fiscal policies.

(Content Warning: Perhaps unsurprisingly, a bit of salty language ahead)

“That could have been recorded yesterday,” Pat said. “Amazing.”

“Yeah. I was working out this morning, and I heard that and I thought: That's everything that I want somebody to say. That's everything I want somebody to say. You know, I've listened to people from all walks of life, and then I decide what I want to believe. And they go off and they decide what they want to believe. That's who Americans are. That's who we've always been,” Glenn said. “But, as he says, some son of a bitch is out there and they want to make the decision on what you think and then, because they control the press and control the media and control culture, they'll go out and they'll try to make you into something that you're not.”

Yesterday, Glenn talked about the research done by a Yale law professor, Dan Kahn, who much to his surprise discovered the TEA Party was a lot brighter than he expected. Kahn candidly owned up to his misjudgments, but many people today are not nearly as open-minded.

“Look what they tried to do to, you know, conservatives. They try to make us look stupid. And Stu just showed yesterday a research paper that came out of Yale that shows the TEA Party have a better grasp of scientific knowledge than the average person does,” Glenn explained. “[The] researcher at Yale said ‘I was surprised’ and then did the right thing and said, ‘I guess I have to change my opinion on this. I expected to find one thing. I found something exactly the opposite. And so I have to change my opinion.’ But that's not going to happen with most people.”

Whether it be Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s nanny policies in New York City or Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign, the government is trying to dictate people’s lives. As Wayne explained so bluntly, you cannot legislate people’s morality.

“So we keep trying to change the laws,” Glenn said. “Now, this is [1975]. Think of this. He's saying as communication gets better, you're going to be able to show people where people are hurting, and people will help because that's who we are. That's who we always have been. And we'll go out and we'll help, and that's true.”

With 75,000 cows dead in South Dakota after a record-setting blizzard, the ranchers in that area are hurting. But, as Glenn has heard from several of his listeners who have called in from the region, these people may be down, but they are not looking for a government handout.

“I got a letter from the guy who runs a few of the cows for me [on my ranch]. He helps me on the farm… making sure the cows don't starve to death because I'd have no idea, you know. And he wrote to me last night and he said, ‘You know, the people up in South Dakota, Glenn, they don't want all of these handouts. They don't want the government coming in when they lost so many cattle.’ Cattle are expensive. Now, here's a guy in a small little town. He said, ‘Glenn, I want to talk to you because we've been talking about it as neighbors, and maybe all of us will get together and we can send some of our cows up.’ And he said, ‘I know this would work if you could just get the word out. I know there'd be a lot of ranchers out there that would donate a cow. And they would replenish the stock for them,’” Glenn explained. “That's what John Wayne was talking about. He said, ‘With a voice like yours, we could get the word out.’ That's what John Wayne was saying. As communication gets better, we can change things. As communication gets better, then all of a sudden people will help because that's who we are.”

It is really easy to listen to the narrative of this Administration, to listen to the narrative of the media and feel discouraged. The ‘us against them’ mentality of hatred and divisiveness is a tactic of the left seeks to break the sprit that Wayne speaks of. But Glenn believes there is hope.

“They want you to be angry. They want you to feel uncomfortable. They want to punish. But that's not who we are,” Glenn concluded. “Well, we have hope. At the first opportunity, you throw that out. It's like fish. They bite on it. That is who we are. Hope. People that want to believe that there are good people out there, and there are.”

Glenn's daughter honors Charlie Kirk with emotional tribute song

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On September 17th, Glenn commemorated his late friend Charlie Kirk by hosting The Charlie Kirk Show Podcast, where he celebrated and remembered the life of a remarkable young man.

During the broadcast, Glenn shared an emotional new song performed by his daughter, Cheyenne, who was standing only feet away from Charlie when he was assassinated. The song, titled "We Are One," has been dedicated to Charlie Kirk as a tribute and was written and co-performed by David Osmond, son of Alan Osmond, founding member of The Osmonds.

Glenn first asked David Osmond to write "We Are One" in 2018, as he predicted that dark days were on the horizon, but he never imagined that it would be sung by his daughter in honor of Charlie Kirk. The Lord works in mysterious ways; could there have been a more fitting song to honor such a brave man?

"We Are One" is available for download or listening on Spotify HERE


Murder is NOT debate: The line America cannot cross

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Celebrating murder is not speech. It is a revelation of the heart. America must distinguish between debate and the glorification of evil.

Over the weekend, the world mourned the murder of Charlie Kirk. In London, crowds filled the streets, chanting “Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!” and holding up pictures of the fallen conservative giant. Protests in his honor spread as far away as South Korea. This wasn’t just admiration for one man; it was a global acknowledgment that courage and conviction — the kind embodied by Kirk during his lifetime — still matter. But it was also a warning. This is a test for our society, our morality, and our willingness to defend truth.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently delivered a speech that struck at the heart of this crisis. She praised Kirk as a man who welcomed debate, who smiled while defending his ideas, and who faced opposition with respect. That courage is frightening to those who have no arguments. When reason fails, the weapons left are insults, criminalization, and sometimes violence. We see it again today, in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Charlie Kirk’s life was a challenge. His death is a call.

Some professors and public intellectuals have written things that should chill every American soul. They argue that shooting a right-wing figure is somehow less serious than murdering others. They suggest it could be mitigated because of political disagreement. These aren’t careless words — they are a rationalization for murder.

Some will argue that holding such figures accountable is “cancel culture.” They will say that we are silencing debate. They are wrong. Accountability is not cancel culture. A critical difference lies between debating ideas and celebrating death. Debate challenges minds. Celebrating murder abandons humanity. Charlie Kirk’s death draws that line sharply.

History offers us lessons. In France, mobs cheered executions as the guillotine claimed the heads of their enemies — and their own heads soon rolled. Cicero begged his countrymen to reason, yet the mob chose blood over law, and liberty was lost. Charlie Kirk’s assassination reminds us that violence ensues when virtue is abandoned.

We must also distinguish between debates over policy and attacks on life itself. A teacher who argues that children should not undergo gender-transition procedures before adulthood participates in a policy debate. A person who says Charlie Kirk’s death is a victory rejoices in violence. That person has no place shaping minds or guiding children.

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For liberty and virtue

Liberty without virtue is national suicide. The Constitution protects speech — even dangerous ideas — but it cannot shield those who glorify murder. Society has the right to demand virtue from its leaders, educators, and public figures. Charlie Kirk’s life was a challenge. His death is a call. It is a call to defend our children, our communities, and the principles that make America free.

Cancel culture silences debate. But accountability preserves it. A society that distinguishes between debating ideas and celebrating death still has a moral compass. It still has hope. It still has us.

Are Gen Z's socialist sympathies a threat to America's future?

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In a republic forged on the anvil of liberty and self-reliance, where generations have fought to preserve free markets against the siren song of tyranny, Gen Z's alarming embrace of socialism amid housing crises and economic despair has sparked urgent alarm. But in a recent poll, Glenn asked the tough questions: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from—and what does it mean for America's future? Glenn asked, and you answered—hundreds weighed in on this volatile mix of youthful frustration and ideological peril.

The results paint a stark picture of distrust in the system. A whopping 79% of you affirm that Gen Z's socialist sympathies stem from real economic gripes, like sky-high housing costs and a rigged game tilted toward the elite and corporations—defying the argument that it's just youthful naivety. Even more telling, 97% believe this trend arises from a glaring educational void on socialism's bloody historical track record, where failed regimes have crushed freedoms under the boot of big government. And 97% see these poll findings as a harbinger of deepening generational rifts, potentially fueling political chaos and authoritarian overreach if left unchecked.

Your verdict underscores a moral imperative: America's soul hangs on reclaiming timeless values like self-reliance and liberty. This feedback amplifies your concerns, sending a clear message to the powers that be.

Want to make your voice heard? Check out more polls HERE.

Civics isn’t optional—America's survival depends on it

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Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

I slept through high school civics class. I memorized the three branches of government, promptly forgot them, and never thought of that word again. Civics seemed abstract, disconnected from real life. And yet, it is critical to maintaining our republic.

Civics is not a class. It is a responsibility. A set of habits, disciplines, and values that make a country possible. Without it, no country survives.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Civics happens every time you speak freely, worship openly, question your government, serve on a jury, or cast a ballot. It’s not a theory or just another entry in a textbook. It’s action — the acts we perform every day to be a positive force in society.

Many of us recoil at “civic responsibility.” “I pay my taxes. I follow the law. I do my civic duty.” That’s not civics. That’s a scam, in my opinion.

Taking up the torch

The founders knew a republic could never run on autopilot. And yet, that’s exactly what we do now. We assume it will work, then complain when it doesn’t. Meanwhile, the people steering the country are driving it straight into a mountain — and they know it.

Our founders gave us tools: separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, elections. But they also warned us: It won’t work unless we are educated, engaged, and moral.

Are we educated, engaged, and moral? Most Americans cannot even define a republic, never mind “keep one,” as Benjamin Franklin urged us to do after the Constitutional Convention.

We fought and died for the republic. Gaining it was the easy part. Keeping it is hard. And keeping it is done through civics.

Start small and local

In our homes, civics means teaching our children the Constitution, our history, and that liberty is not license — it is the space to do what is right. In our communities, civics means volunteering, showing up, knowing your sheriff, attending school board meetings, and understanding the laws you live under. When necessary, it means challenging them.

How involved are you in your local community? Most people would admit: not really.

Civics is learned in practice. And it starts small. Be honest in your business dealings. Speak respectfully in disagreement. Vote in every election, not just the presidential ones. Model citizenship for your children. Liberty is passed down by teaching and example.

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We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Start with yourself. Study the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and state laws. Study, act, serve, question, and teach. Only then can we hope to save the republic. The next election will not fix us. The nation will rise or fall based on how each of us lives civics every day.

Civics isn’t a class. It’s the way we protect freedom, empower our communities, and pass down liberty to the next generation.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.