Why now? Glenn reacts to the accusations in former Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ new book

January 08, 2014

The Glenn Beck Program

Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ new book, Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary of War, is gaining a tremendous amount of attention because of the things it ‘exposes’ about the Obama Administration. Gates claims President Obama and then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both told him that their opposition to the surge in Iraq was purely political. Meanwhile, Gates accuses Biden of “poisoning the well” against military leadership and says “he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”

While conservatives and Republicans may appreciate the opportunity to say “I told you so” when it comes Gates' reports about the current Administration’s feelings towards the military, Glenn has a major problem with the timing of Gates’ revelations.

"So Robert Gates is coming out with this book, and I have no interest in it,” Glenn said on radio this morning. “And when we were on the winter break, I realized what it was. And Pat went off on a rant. And I said, you know, that's it. That's why I have no interest in it.”

The book, as Glenn sees, is remarkably hypocritical and a way for Gates to make a quick buck off of some of the more controversial things he witnessed during his tenure as Secretary of Defense. When you consider the gravity of the decisions Gates’ was involved in and how much he seems to disapprove of the Obama Administration’s decisions, one has to wonder why he didn’t speak up sooner.

“Where were you, you miserable worm, when this was all going on and you were carrying out the policies? Where were you then,” Pat asked exasperatedly. “They used you as a shield… And now that he can make money off it, [he] writes a book and stabs everybody in the back. Now he has a problem. Where were you then? Where were you then?”

In the book, which will be released later this month, Gates describes why he nearly quit his job at several points during the Obama presidency because he disagreed with the policy decisions. But, as Glenn, Pat, and Stu explained, telling the world how much you disagreed at the time – when tens of thousands of American lives were on the line – is simply unacceptable.

“If you think this is dangerous policy that's hurting America, I think you have an obligation to speak up,” Pat said. “[This is about] saving lives on the battlefield. This is about war. This is pretty serious stuff.”

Glenn: General Boykin is an honorable man, such a remarkable man. And I'll never forget when he said, on my set, and I think he said it on air. If he didn't, I know he wouldn't have a problem with me saying it. He said, it is past time that somebody with actual stars on their shoulders walk in to the Oval and put them down. I cannot do it another day. I resign and I am going outside of this building and I'm going to hold a press conference and say why I resign. He said, there's nobody left that will do that. Gates should have done that. Now Gates will play this little game in his head, well, I couldn't have done that because they would replace me with somebody worse. So I did my duty by standing in the line of fire. And then what? Then what? You write a book? You go write a book? Oh, okay. I got it. If you are going to dedicate your life to now reversing all of the things that you were a part of, it's despicable. Really despicable. I have a problem with people writing books.

Glenn has no problem with Gates’ right to write a book about and make money off of his experience, but he does have a problem about the way in which Gates has handled this situation.

“I don't have a problem with people writing books and making money. I don't have a problem with people staying in [a job] because they think: ‘If I leave, they are going to replace me with somebody worse.’ I don't have a problem with people resigning when they figure out what's going wrong,” Glenn explained. “But I do have a problem with people that resign their commission or post and go out and try to repair, try to correct the injustice and the problems that they found. What's he doing? He's writing a book. Making money. Then what? Then what? What are you doing then?”

When you consider the platform Gates had while he was in office and power his opinion had, one has to question his true intentions if he could wait four plus years to make these fear known to the American people.

“Can you imagine what this guy could have done if he was in front of a Congressional hearing? Can you imagine if he didn't have that conversation behind the scenes,” Glenn asked. “He could have gone to his people and said, ‘I want to you have a joint session that it's televised.’ And he could have gone up to Capitol Hill and… [said], ‘I want the American people to know, and I want Congress to know exactly what I have found and what's going on.’ Do you know how this man could have changed the world?”

Ultimately, Glenn concluded that he will not be lining up to purchase Gates’ new book, and he had this to say to anyone in government who is not speaking up about problems they have observed:

The world is looking for heroes. We're not looking for revolutionaries. We're looking for heroes. Looking for somebody who has the balls to stand up. Somebody who has the balls to say, ‘You know what? To hell with it all… Something else is bigger than me. Something else is bigger than my bank account. Something else is bigger than my fame, my fortune. Something else is bigger than even my family.’

Well, Mr. Gates… how can I trust you? How can I trust anybody? How can I trust you to tell me the truth about the NSA? Did that play a role in you staying? Has that played a role with anybody in Congress? The NSA still won't answer the question: Are you spying on members of Congress? Can we trust members of Congress to tell us the truth on the NSA, when the NSA will not confirm that they are not spying on members of the Congress?

And oh, by the way, do you trust the NSA? Do you think Mr. Clapper is going to tell you the truth? Do you think Mr. Clapper, even if he was on truth serum, knows what the truth is? The guy was the one who told us that the Muslim Brotherhood is totally fine. And he's the one that we're getting our guarantee from on the NSA?

I'm sorry, Mr. Gates, I'm a busy man… And I get home and just like every other American, Mr. Gates. All I want to do is play with my kids. All I want to do is be with my kids. All I want to do is study the things that are important. I'm sorry, Mr. Gates, I don't have time to purchase or read your book. But thanks for the tip that we can't trust this administration. That comes as a total surprise.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

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Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

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When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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