Fidel Expert Colin Kapernick May Have Glossed Over a Few Itty Bitty Atrocities

November 29, 2016

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Further cementing his place as the most hated man in the NFL --- and perhaps America --- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick continued sharing his wisdom on social issues and violent leaders prior to playing the Dolphins on their home turf in Miami.

"He said that Castro instituted universal healthcare in Cuba, invested in the education system, supported Nelson Mandela when he was jailed. What a wonderful man. What a wonderful, happy almost Disneyland type, almost Disney character type. And to say that right before you go to Miami," Co-host Pat Gray said, filling in for Glenn on radio.

WATCH: ESPN Anchor Finds Out Kaepernick Didn’t Vote, Teaches QB a Lesson He’ll Never Forget

Kaepernick's assessment may have glossed over a few key details.

"The Washington Post had an op-ed that listed some of the things from Castro's reign. I'm wondering if Kaepernick mentioned any of these things?" Co-host Stu Burguiere mused.

Here are just a few of the atrocities committed by Fidel Castro that should never be forgotten:

• He turned Cuba into a colony of the Soviet Union and nearly caused a nuclear holocaust.

• He sponsored terrorism wherever he could and allied himself with many of the worst dictators on earth.

• He was responsible for so many thousands of executions and disappearances in Cuba, that a precise number is hard to reckon.

Kaepernick's comments did accomplish one thing. They fired up Kiko Alonzo, a linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of Cuban decent, who hit Kaepernick intensely a few times.

Listen to this segment from The Glenn Beck Program:

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors:

PAT: You still have Colin Kaepernick --

STU: Oh, jeez.

PAT: -- who is you such an idiot. I -- he's really -- he's done a really good job of becoming the most hated man in the NFL. And maybe one of the more disliked in America.

STU: Hmm.

PAT: And one of the things he said about Castro was that -- you know, and this is right before he goes to Miami. What an idiot.

STU: Yeah.

PAT: But as Jeffy brought up, his girlfriend is a Black Lives Matter person, right?

JEFFY: Yeah. Nessa, I think, the D.J. I'm pretty sure that's her.

PAT: You want to bet he gets all his information form her. Because I don't remember Colin Kaepernick doing any of this before. Was he? I mean, he wasn't showing up at press conferences in a Malcom X T-Shirt before. He wasn't doing this kneeling thing.

STU: No. This is all -- most of that is this year. He had some stuff I remember early on about how, don't judge me on my tattoos. He was one of those guys.

JEFFY: Yeah.

PAT: Yes.

STU: Your whole tattoo stance is important, I'm sure. But it was like that type of thing, where it was somewhat implied.

PAT: Right. But it wasn't really radical social kind of things.

STU: No.

PAT: He said the Castro instituted universal health care in Cuba, invested in the education system, supported Nelson Mandela when he was jailed. What a wonderful man. What a wonderful happy almost Disneyland type -- almost Disney character type. And to say that right before you go to Cuba --

JEFFY: Miami.

PAT: Or, Miami. Is just unbelievable to me. But at least it fired up Kiko Alonzo, the linebacker for the Miami Dolphins.

STU: Oh, really?

PAT: Oh, yeah. Yeah. He was -- and he had a great game against Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick had a decent game too. But Kiko Alonzo hit him a few times I think a little extra intensely and said there was very bad blood between them.

JEFFY: I bet.

STU: The Washington Post had an op-ed that listed -- I'm wondering if Kaepernick mentioned any of these things.

Mentioned some of the things from Castro's reign: He turned Cuba into a colony of the Soviet Union and nearly caused a nuclear holocaust.

PAT: He did not mention that, no.

STU: He sponsored terrorism wherever he could and allied himself with many of the worst dictators on earth. Was that something --

PAT: I don't remember that part either. No.

STU: He was responsible for so many thousands of executions and disappearances in Cuba, that a precise number is hard to reckon. Is that --

PAT: No, he didn't mention that part.

STU: He brooked no dissent and built concentration camps and prisons at an unprecedented rate. Which is a pretty amazing sentence.

PAT: Yeah.

STU: And this is -- we've talked to people who have studied this before. This is actually true, especially when it comes to a percentage of population. You can find there are atrocities in Cuba, at times as bad or worse than some of the ones you would think of when you think of genocides. Really horrific.

PAT: Well, yeah, but he instituted health care. You're just looking at the negatives of the guy. Not the entirety of his life.

STU: Right. Did Kaepernick mention that he condoned and encouraged torture extrajudicial killings?

PAT: I don't think so. No, he was focusing on the positive.

STU: Did he talk about how he forced nearly 20 percent of his people into exile?

PAT: Right. It's an island of 11 million. Two million of whom live in the United States. Two million.

STU: That's pretty amazing. How about how he prompted thousands to meet their deaths at sea?

PAT: Right.

STU: Did he --

PAT: People have died to get off the island to Florida.

STU: Uh-huh.

He claimed all property for himself and his henchmen, strangled food production, and impoverished the vast majority of his people. Was that something that Colin mentioned?

PAT: I don't remember that part.

STU: No?

PAT: No. That he was living in luxury and cavorting with tons of beautiful women while his country starved, he didn't really mention that part.

STU: He outlawed private enterprise and labor unions.

Now it's funny --

JEFFY: You keep going down this road, but Kaepernick was talking about the positives.

STU: Yeah. Yeah.

PAT: Right. The education system, you haven't mentioned that yet.

STU: No, I haven't mentioned that. But it was interesting that, but it was interesting that Colin Kaepernick is both involved in private enterprise and labor unions. And doesn't see at all --

PAT: Right. That's very true.

STU: That's weird.

He persecuted gay people and tried to eradicate religion.

PAT: Have you seen how good their national baseball team is? I think that's Fidel Castro. I think in part. I think he really encouraged --

STU: But did Kaepernick go into the whole eradicating gay people thing?

PAT: No. Not really. Not extensively any other.

STU: He censored all means of expression and communication. One of the most interesting parts about this because --

PAT: You're pissed off that he created a safe space?

STU: No, he didn't. No.

JEFFY: Wow.

PAT: He created a safe space.

STU: He did. He really did -- a nationwide safe space, where you could not have --

PAT: That's right.

STU: It's funny because we did a special on communism back in the Fox days. And one of the things was Che. And it's amazing to see how Che and Castro are respected by prominent musicians and artists. People who would have been killed in the country they're talking about.

PAT: It's why I like Bono so much. Because he understands that -- he's one of the few rock icons who seem to understand brutal dictators aren't fun.

STU: No, that's weird.

PAT: They're not meant to be celebrated.

STU: It's not as joyous as you might think.

PAT: No.

STU: He mentioned this -- because we finally are getting to the good things, I think, the health care system and the education system. Because that's what he talked about.

PAT: Okay. Good. Good.

STU: He established a fraudulent school system that provided indoctrination rather than education and created a two-tier health care system with inferior medical care for the majority of Cubans and superior care for himself and his oligarchy. And then claimed that all his repressive measures were absolutely necessary to ensure the survival of these two ostensibly free social welfare projects.

Was that mentioned? Did he go into that sort of depth? Because he might not have had time in the press conference.

PAT: I don't think -- I think he was cut off before that. They asked him about an interception or something.

STU: Did he talk about how -- because this word is described -- his performance last couple years, how Cuba turned into a labyrinth of ruins, which has essentially been his quarterback rating the past couple years. How about, did he ever apologize for -- because I may have noted this. Fidel Castro, did all these things. Most people don't have any qualms about whether he did them. But he never apologized for them. Never even had a moment on his deathbed where he said, "Wow, I screwed that up." And never stood trial for any of the things that he did. I mean, none of those things were mentioned by Mr. 68.7 Quarterback Rating. None of that was mentioned.

PAT: Is it that high?

STU: No, it's got to be better than that.

(laughter)

PAT: I thought it was about 26.3. Somewhere in there.

STU: Mr. Guy who lost his job twice to Blaine Gabbert did not necessarily --

PAT: Oh, that's an insult --

JEFFY: That hurts.

PAT: That hurts.

JEFFY: That hurts.

PAT: That hurts.

STU: It's amazing though. Because this is the one time you'd think -- the media, which is all about talking about how there's fake news everywhere on the internet and how people aren't telling the truth, they can't even come together to criticize Fidel freaking Castro. It's amazing. It was amazing to see.

Featured Image: Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during a game against the Miami Dolphins on November 27, 2016 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

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

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

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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