WATCH: Glenn reveals 'the real Mitt Romney'

Its no secret that the media has spent the last several months going out of its way to dig up everything and anything it could find on Mitt Romney (remember the days spent analyzing the ethics of putting a dog on the roof of a car). Well, Glenn was fed up with the media’s inability to tell Americans the truth about Romney, so he asked his staff at TheBlaze to go out and find the stories about Romney the media isn’t covering.

It’s become more and more evident that Romney isn’t the kind of guy who goes around talking about all the good he has done, so on tonight’s program, Glenn chose to invite some of the people whose lives were changed for the better by Romney, many of whom had never even met him, so that Americans could get the real story on the Republican presidential candidate.

Glenn first sat down with the Nixon Family, whose two sons, Reed and Rob, were paralyzed in a car crash on their way home from a youth event at their church. It was a horrific crash that landed the children in different hospitals, and it took six months for Reed and Rob to complete their rehab and return home. Soon after they got home, Stuart and Sheryl Nixon, Rob and Reed’s parents, received a phone call from Mitt Romney. While the Nixon’s were not well acquainted with Romney, they knew one another through the Mormon community. Romney could have cut a check or sent some presents, but instead he asked to come over to the Nixon’s home. Mitt, Ann, and three of his sons, visited the Nixon’s on Christmas Eve, bringing along gifts for the entire family. It was a special moment, but it didn’t stop there. Romney went on to regularly attended benefits and fundraisers for the boys, and ultimately paid for both Reed and Rob to attend the college of their choice. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this story has never made it in the headlines, but it says more about Romney’s character than a policy or platform ever could.

Watch the Nixon’s share their story below:

Next, Glenn spoke to Bryce Clark, who, like Glenn, struggled with drug and alcohol addictions throughout his young life. Unlike Glenn, Clark was a member of the Mormon Church from birth, and the community would not tolerate such addictions. As it came time for Clark to embark on his mission, he had to meet with Romney, his state president (similar to a Catholic cardinal), to discuss his plans. Clark admitted to Glenn that he lied throughout his interview with Romney, not letting on to his personal struggles that kept him from feeling like he was worthy of going on a mission. That night at 11 o’clock, Clark realized he needed to come clean. Clark went to visit with Romney who did not fault him for his actions, but rather told him that he “was not alone.” Clark credits this moment as one that “changed the paradigm of his life.” It was not easy for him to overcome his addictions and demons, but Romney continued to be a part of his recovery: writing him letters and ultimately attending the blessing of Clark’s first child several years later. While the New York Times did cover Clark’s story, they refrained from publishing or referencing the many hand-written letters Romney had sent Clark over the years.

See one of the letters, and Clark share his story here:

Earlier this week on radio, Glenn previewed the story of Ken Smith, director of Boston veteran’s shelter, whose organization benefited from Romney’s generosity. During his 1994 run for Senate in Massachusetts, Romney visited Smith’s shelter to tour the property and get a better understanding of their financial situation. Smith recalled that Ted Kennedy, Romney’s opposition, stopped by for a quick tour lasting no more than 30 to 45 minutes, but Romney spent 45 minutes with Smith just looking at the organization's books before embarking on a tour of the facilities. There was a great deal of press at the walk through and on his way out, Romney asked Smith what his biggest problem was. Smith told Romney it was a lack of milk, to which Romney responded, “Well maybe you should teach them [the veterans] how to milk cows.” Needless to say, the press had a field day with the gaffe, and the following day Romney called Smith to apologize. The following Friday, the milkman arrived as usual with 7,000 pints of milk, only this time the bill for that milk was half price. When Smith inquired as to why the milk was less expensive, the man would not tell him. Two years later, on the milkman’s last day before retirement, he finally told Smith that it was Romney who picked up the tab for the milk. Again, where is the media’s coverage of a story like this?

Smith explains Romney’s charity below:

Finally, Glenn sat down with Reed Fisher, who lost his home in a fire. Fisher’s son Ethan was friendly with Romney’s son Matt because they lived nearby. In the days and weeks following the fire, the community came to the Fisher’s aid - helping them to remove debris from their property and helping to get their lives back in order. After things began to die down, Ethan received a call from Matt Romney, asking if it would be okay for him to come over and continue to help. Fisher came home a few days later to find four people out in front of his house working on breaking down the trunk of pine tree that had burned in the fire. More surprisingly, Fisher found Mitt and Matt Romney participating in the cleanup effort. Romney was campaigning in the area and chose to take the morning off to help the Fisher’s in their time of need. There was no press coverage of these actions, and it did little or nothing to further his campaign, but that didn’t stop Romney from lending a hand.

Watch the whole interview with Fisher below:

You may or may not have known these stories about Romney, and this may or may not change the way you vote, but it will hopefully change the way you think about this decent man. “Vote for Romney or don’t vote for him,” Glenn said at the end of the show. “It doesn’t matter to me. What I hope you take out of this is: ‘I could do better.’”

Without civic action, America faces collapse

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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.

'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.

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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 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.

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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.