The caliphate is here: Glenn reacts to the state of the ever-crumbling Middle East

On Monday’s Glenn Beck Program at 5pm ET on TheBlaze TV, Glenn will be digging up some of the chalkboards and infographics he drew up during his Fox News days to break down what is currently unfolding in Syria, Iraq, and throughout the Middle East. Glenn has been talking about likelihood of an Islamic caliphate, or state, for a number of years, and now, as Baghdad hangs in the balance, it looks like the rest of the media is taking notice. On radio this morning, Glenn offered an in-depth look at the situation on the ground and the United States’ options and interests.

Because of the life that has already been lost fighting Islamic extremists in Iraq, Pat was frank in his explanation of why he would like to see American troops on the ground in Baghdad.

“Got to send 5,000 to 10,000 troops back in there,” Pat said. “You have to defend it, beat this back. You have to go all out and kill these guys. They are bloodthirsty murders, the worst of the worst. What has the last twelve years been about?”

“You know what it's been about,” Glenn interjected. “It's been about control, power, and manipulation. It is about building a base there in Iraq.”

“[But] you are going to lose that,” Pat added. “It just falls into the hands of these dirt bags.”

While Glenn recognizes that it is nearly impossible to reconcile the idea that the sacrifice made in Iraq was for naught, he absolutely will not support the deployment of American military personnel. In fact, he “hopes to God we detonate” we detonate the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

“When we were at CNN, we started looking into the Baghdad embassy… It was estimated [to cost] over $1 billion at the time, and there were no pictures of this. No one was talking about it… It’s bigger than all of Vatican City,” Glenn explained. “When we were on CNN, I started showing pictures of the ground of what they were… starting to build. I said what are we doing?”

It didn’t take long, however, for Glenn and his producers to get word from CNN brass telling them to stop talking.

“The Bush Administration called CNN and said, ‘Tell him to stop talking about the embassy.’ I got pressure from the network to stop talking. Imagine. CNN didn't like President [Bush], and CNN was telling us, ‘Hey, you know, you might want to stop talking. This is going to hurt our troops,’” Glenn continued. “There was no reason why we should stop. So we continued to talk about the embassy. There's something wrong with that embassy… I don't know if it's an NSA listening post or what it is. But that's not a normal run-of-the-mill embassy. Period.”

Glenn might not have been able to uncover what was going on at the embassy, he is confident we should not be putting more American soldiers in harms’ way.

“So what are we doing over there? I don't know. I will tell you this: I won't support sending another troop over there,” he said emphatically. “You cannot give freedom to people who don't understand it or don't want it. We are not the policemen of Iraq. We are not.”

For those who argue that we must weaken the ISIS leadership before the set their sights on the U.S., Glenn believes it is already too late for that. As a result, he believes we are best suited scaling back and strengthening our military as much as possible.

“They are coming here anyway. We are already letting them in over our southern border,” Glenn said. “We say, ‘Look, the world has changed dramatically. It is time for us to pull back and strengthen ourselves – strengthen our family, strengthen our communities, strengthen our schools and hospitals… Pull back and strengthen the United States of America because a storm is coming. Pull the fleet back in and reset because a storm is coming.”

If you are a longtime listener, you will remember that Glenn started talking about the desire and possibility of a caliphate for quite some time. Over the weekend, other media outlets finally started taking notice of what is happening. This morning, Pat put together a compilation of many in the media lambasting Glenn for talking about the danger of a caliphate several years ago.

Ultimately, Glenn reiterated how important it is for the U.S. to stay out of this conflict. He went so far as to draft a short speech President Obama should give to explain to the world where we stand:

The United States of America is 100% behind the nation of Israel. We put our chips behind the nation of Israel. We are not going to send ground troops, but they have a right to defend themselves, and all options, yes, the nuclear option is on the table for them. Whatever they have to do to defend themselves, the United States of America backs them.

To the rest of you: We did our best. I'm sorry to those who are being beheaded. I feel really horrible that that is happening. We tried. We did our best, but we cannot be the one that carries all the water. We have issues here at home. Right now our troops need to be on our borders here in the United States of America because we have MS-13 gang members being sent in. We need our troops on our border, and they are coming home.

I want you to know: America is not going asleep. America is not going to just sit here and lick her wounds. America is going to become strong again. We are not going to make the mistakes of the past. We are not going to push out. We are not going to send our troops everywhere. But I will tell you this: If you screw with us, we will pound you into glass. We have the capability. Everybody on earth knows when the United States of America puts her mind to it, she does everything she needs to do. She will destroy you in a heartbeat.

In my Administration, you come over and you mess with us, I don't give a flying rat's ass that you live in a cave or you live in the biggest city in the world. We will pound you into glass. Then we're not going to rebuild. We'll be done by 3:30 this afternoon, then we'll go home and we'll start designing new cars and new ways to make energy and new ways to make the world a better place and develop new medicines to help people who want to play together nicely and be a citizen of mankind. Not any individual country – a citizen of mankind.

You don't want to play as a citizen of mankind? You want to chop people's arms off? Go ahead. At some point, you will step over the line and you will cross into our territory. The minute you do, you're done. But not the way we've done it for the last 14 years. We'll be done by about 3:30. I'm going to be less arrogant – maybe by 6:00 tonight.

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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.

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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?

Do you think the Gen Z support for Trump is an opportunity for conservatives to win them over with anti-establishment reforms that preserve liberty?

Americans expose Supreme Court’s flag ruling as a failed relic

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In a nation where the Stars and Stripes symbolize the blood-soaked sacrifices of our heroes, President Trump's executive order to crack down on flag desecration amid violent protests has ignited fierce debate. But in a recent poll, Glenn asked the tough question: Can Trump protect the Flag without TRAMPLING free speech? Glenn asked, and you answered—thousands weighed in on this pressing clash between free speech and sacred symbols.

The results paint a picture of resounding distrust toward institutional leniency. A staggering 85% of respondents support banning the burning of American flags when it incites violence or disturbs the peace, a bold rejection of the chaos we've seen from George Floyd riots to pro-Palestinian torchings. Meanwhile, 90% insist that protections for burning other flags—like Pride or foreign banners—should not be treated the same as Old Glory under the First Amendment, exposing the hypocrisy in equating our nation's emblem with fleeting symbols. And 82% believe the Supreme Court's Texas v. Johnson ruling, shielding flag burning as "symbolic speech," should not stand without revision—can the official story survive such resounding doubt from everyday Americans weary of government inaction?

Your verdict sends a thunderous message: In this divided era, the flag demands defense against those who exploit freedoms to sow disorder, without trampling the liberties it represents. It's a catastrophic failure of the establishment to ignore this groundswell.

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

Labor Day EXPOSED: The Marxist roots you weren’t told about

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During your time off this holiday, remember the man who started it: Peter J. McGuire, a racist Marxist who co-founded America’s first socialist party.

Labor Day didn’t begin as a noble tribute to American workers. It began as a negotiation with ideological terrorists.

In the late 1800s, factory and mine conditions were brutal. Workers endured 12-to-15-hour days, often seven days a week, in filthy, dangerous environments. Wages were low, injuries went uncompensated, and benefits didn’t exist. Out of desperation, Americans turned to labor unions. Basic protections had to be fought for because none were guaranteed.

Labor Day wasn’t born out of gratitude. It was a political payoff to Marxist radicals who set trains ablaze and threatened national stability.

That era marked a seismic shift — much like today. The Industrial Revolution, like our current digital and political upheaval, left millions behind. And wherever people get left behind, Marxists see an opening.

A revolutionary wedge

This was Marxism’s moment.

Economic suffering created fertile ground for revolutionary agitation. Marxists, socialists, and anarchists stepped in to stoke class resentment. Their goal was to turn the downtrodden into a revolutionary class, tear down the existing system, and redistribute wealth by force.

Among the most influential agitators was Peter J. McGuire, a devout Irish Marxist from New York. In 1874, he co-founded the Social Democratic Workingmens Party of North America, the first Marxist political party in the United States. He was also a vice president of the American Federation of Labor, which would become the most powerful union in America.

McGuire’s mission wasn’t hidden. He wanted to transform the U.S. into a socialist nation through labor unions.

That mission soon found a useful symbol.

In the 1880s, labor leaders in Toronto invited McGuire to attend their annual labor festival. Inspired, he returned to New York and launched a similar parade on Sept. 5 — chosen because it fell halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving.

The first parade drew over 30,000 marchers who skipped work to hear speeches about eight-hour workdays and the alleged promise of Marxism. The parade caught on across the country.

Negotiating with radicals

By 1894, Labor Day had been adopted by 30 states. But the federal government had yet to make it a national holiday. A major strike changed everything.

In Pullman, Illinois, home of the Pullman railroad car company, tensions exploded. The economy tanked. George Pullman laid off hundreds of workers and slashed wages for those who remained — yet refused to lower the rent on company-owned homes.

That injustice opened the door for Marxist agitators to mobilize.

Sympathetic railroad workers joined the strike. Riots broke out. Hundreds of railcars were torched. Mail service was disrupted. The nation’s rail system ground to a halt.

President Grover Cleveland — under pressure in a midterm election year — panicked. He sent 12,000 federal troops to Chicago. Two strikers were killed in the resulting clashes.

With the crisis spiraling and Democrats desperate to avoid political fallout, Cleveland struck a deal. Within six days of breaking the strike, Congress rushed through legislation making Labor Day a federal holiday.

It was the first of many concessions Democrats would make to organized labor in exchange for political power.

What we really celebrated

Labor Day wasn’t born out of gratitude. It was a political payoff to Marxist radicals who set trains ablaze and threatened national stability.

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What we celebrated was a Canadian idea, brought to America by the founder of the American Socialist Party, endorsed by racially exclusionary unions, and made law by a president and Congress eager to save face.

It was the first of many bones thrown by the Democratic Party to union power brokers. And it marked the beginning of a long, costly compromise with ideologues who wanted to dismantle the American way of life — from the inside out.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.