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Glenn's Show Prep

Glenn talks with O'Reilly about his new book, the NSA, Rand Paul, and more

June 11, 2013
Wilson

Writer

Glenn and Bill O’Reilly don’t always see eye-to-eye on everything – this morning was no exception – but they had a great conversation about some of today’s most pressing issues. On radio this morning, Glenn spoke with O’Reilly about his latest children’s book, Kennedy’s Last Days, the NSA whistleblower, Senator Rand Paul, and much more.

O’Reilly’s new book, Kennedy’s Last Days, is a kid friendly adaptation of his bestselling Killing Kennedy. “I mean, Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing, you know, McKinley and Garfield and whatever else, I've read them. I've actually read them… And I think they're really, really good,” Glenn joked.

“The book that comes out today is the kids book of Killing Kennedy called Kennedy's Last Days,” O’Reilly explained. “Our goal on the children's history books is basically to introduce the kids to people that they may have heard of but, of course, know nothing about because the public school system doesn't teach history anymore.”

With all that is currently going on in the news right now, Glenn switched gears to get O’Reilly’s thoughts on what is happening with the NSA. While the reaction to the whistleblower’s actions continues to be mixes on both the right and left, O’Reilly explained that he believes the PRISM program is unconstitutional and he supports Edward Snowden’s actions if the government overreach proves to be true.

“The PRISM program is unconstitutional if it's actually happening,” O’Reilly said. “See, we haven't seen any evidence that emails are being bundled and sent out to Utah where they're stored. That is clearly unconstitutional. And the Supreme Court, it would take them 10 seconds to forbid that, and it's a violation of the law to do it. But we don't know yet because the whistleblower who is now apparently on the run hasn't really put out anything to back that up.”

“I have to tell you, Bill, I am proud to call you friend on that,” Glenn responded. “You're usually – I mean, you're never mealy mouth or wishy‑washy but you're usually not one to jump ahead of the game. And as you say, ‘Well, he hasn't, you know, he hasn't proven anything, he hasn't – yada, yada, yada.’ But for you to be this strong, I'm pleasantly, I'm just proud. I'm proud to call you my friend.”

O’Reilly reiterated that he is always consistent in his analysis, and the Constitution clearly states what is legal and what is illegal when it comes to government intrusion and privacy rights.

Glenn pressed O’Reilly on why so many on the right – including Speaker of the House John Boehner and Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham – have come out against the whistleblower. Speaker Boehner went so far as to call Snowden ‘a traitor.’

“There's a lot of denial, you know, in that area. But again, we haven't seen any evidence that the government is doing that, if they are bundling e‑mails, seizing e‑mails from Americans and putting them, storing them for use in their own way as we you is an over at the IRS, what they did with private information, then it's clearly unconstitutional,” O’Reilly said. “And I think Graham and McCain would admit that if the evidence was put forth. I think they're operating in a theoretical world now, the war on terror world. I think that's where they are. I could be wrong. I got Rand Paul on tonight. You know, I'm going to ask him that question: What about your colleagues McCain and Graham, why are they on the opposite side. Maybe he will have some insight on that.”

It is no secret that Glenn is a big fan of Senator Rand Paul, and while O’Reilly said he generally doesn’t like politicians, he applauded Sen. Paul as an independent thinker.

“I think he's an independent thinker. I mean, I wouldn't say he's part of the establishment, no,” O’Reilly said. “But he's got to be sane about Iran and things like that. You know, if he's going to follow his father down the yellow brick road to insanity he's not going to get anywhere, you know. You've got to recognize the danger when the danger is hitting you in the head.”

TheBlaze broke a story this morning about the State Department considering a formal request from the United Nations to take in Syrians as refugees and allow them to settle in California, Illinois, Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.

Glenn believes the refugees will be allowed to enter the U.S., but O’Reilly was not convinced. “How do you think the Boston bombers got here? That's how they got here. So, you know, is that a smart thing to do? Probably not,” he said. “There is a humanitarian situation going on over there. Turkey can't take them all. But I think, you know, with our problems with the jihadists that would be a very controversial thing. I do not think Kerry is going to do that.”

Ultimately, O’Reilly asked Glenn to bet him his Texas ranch that the Syrian refugees will not be allowed to enter the U.S.

“That's jealousy, ladies and gentlemen,” Glenn quipped.

But he did have one word of advice for O’Reilly. “I tell you what: you just consider one thing: Get the hell out of New York and the Northeast because the people are going crazy. And there's two kinds of people: There's half of them that don't mind if you spy on them, if you give, just give me free stuff and I'll live in any totalitarian state you want. It doesn't matter. And the other half of the country that says, I want some freedom, and you're in the wrong half. Just sayin'.”

The West is dying—Will we let enemies write our ending?

Harvey Meston / Staff | Getty Images

The blood of martyrs, prophets, poets, and soldiers built our civilization. Their sacrifice demands courage in the present to preserve it.

Lamentations asks, “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?”

That question has been weighing on me heavily. Not just as a broadcaster, but as a citizen, a father, a husband, a believer. It is a question that every person who cares about this nation, this culture, and this civilization must confront: Is all of this worth saving?

We have squandered this inheritance. We forgot who we were — and our enemies are eager to write our ending.

Western civilization — a project born in Judea, refined in Athens, tested in Rome, reawakened in Wittenberg, and baptized again on the shores of Plymouth Rock — is a gift. We didn’t earn it. We didn’t purchase it. We were handed it. And now, we must ask ourselves: Do we even want it?

Across Europe, streets are restless. Not merely with protests, but with ancient, festering hatred — the kind that once marched under swastikas and fueled ovens. Today, it marches under banners of peace while chanting calls for genocide. Violence and division crack societies open. Here in America, it’s left against right, flesh against spirit, neighbor against neighbor.

Truth struggles to find a home. Even the church is slumbering — or worse, collaborating.

Our society tells us that everything must be reset: tradition, marriage, gender, faith, even love. The only sin left is believing in absolute truth. Screens replace Scripture. Entertainment replaces education. Pleasure replaces purpose. Our children are confused, medicated, addicted, fatherless, suicidal. Universities mock virtue. Congress is indifferent. Media programs rather than informs. Schools recondition rather than educate.

Is this worth saving? If not, we should stop fighting and throw up our hands. But if it is, then we must act — and we must act now.

The West: An idea worth saving

What is the West? It’s not a location, race, flag, or a particular constitution. The West is an idea — an idea that man is made in the image of God, that liberty comes from responsibility, not government; that truth exists; that evil exists; and that courage is required every day. The West teaches that education, reason, and revelation walk hand in hand. Beauty matters. Kindness matters. Empathy matters. Sacrifice is holy. Justice is blind. Mercy is near.

We have squandered this inheritance. We forgot who we were — and our enemies are eager to write our ending.

If not now, when? If not us, who? If this is worth saving, we must know why. Western civilization is worth dying for, worth living for, worth defending. It was built on the blood of martyrs, prophets, poets, pilgrims, moms, dads, and soldiers. They did not die for markets, pronouns, surveillance, or currency. They died for something higher, something bigger.

MATTHIEU RONDEL/AFP via Getty Images | Getty Images

Yet hope remains. Resurrection is real — not only in the tomb outside Jerusalem, but in the bones of any individual or group that returns to truth, honor, and God. It is never too late to return to family, community, accountability, and responsibility.

Pick up your torch

We were chosen for this time. We were made for a moment like this. The events unfolding in Europe and South Korea, the unrest and moral collapse, will all come down to us. Somewhere inside, we know we were called to carry this fire.

We are not called to win. We are called to stand. To hold the torch. To ask ourselves, every day: Is it worth standing? Is it worth saving?

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Pick up your torch. If you choose to carry it, buckle up. The work is only beginning.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Stop coasting: How self-education can save America’s future

Joe Raedle / Staff | Getty Images

Coasting through life is no longer an option. Charlie Kirk’s pursuit of knowledge challenges all of us to learn, act, and grow every day.

Last year, my wife and I made a commitment: to stop coasting, to learn something new every day, and to grow — not just spiritually, but intellectually. Charlie Kirk’s tragic death crystallized that resolve. It forced a hard look in the mirror, revealing how much I had coasted in both my spiritual and educational life. Coasting implies going downhill. You can’t coast uphill.

Last night, my wife and I re-engaged. We enrolled in Hillsdale College’s free online courses, inspired by the fact that Charlie had done the same. He had quietly completed around 30 courses before I even knew, mastering the classics, civics, and the foundations of liberty. Watching his relentless pursuit of knowledge reminded me that growth never stops, no matter your age.

The path forward must be reclaiming education, agency, and the power to shape our minds and futures.

This lesson is particularly urgent for two groups: young adults stepping into the world and those who may have settled into complacency. Learning is life. Stop learning, and you start dying. To young adults, especially, the college promise has become a trap. Twelve years of K-12 education now leave graduates unprepared for life. Only 35% of seniors are proficient in reading, and just 22% in math. They are asked to bet $100,000 or more for four years of college that will often leave them underemployed and deeply indebted.

Degrees in many “new” fields now carry negative returns. Parents who have already sacrificed for public education find themselves on the hook again, paying for a system that often fails to deliver.

This is one of the reasons why Charlie often described college as a “scam.” Debt accumulates, wages are not what students were promised, doors remain closed, and many are tempted to throw more time and money after a system that won’t yield results. Graduate school, in many cases, compounds the problem. The education system has become a factory of despair, teaching cynicism rather than knowledge and virtue.

Reclaiming educational agency

Yet the solution is not radical revolt against education — it is empowerment to reclaim agency over one’s education. Independent learning, self-guided study, and disciplined curiosity are the modern “Napster moment.” Just as Napster broke the old record industry by digitizing music, the internet has placed knowledge directly in the hands of the individual. Artists like Taylor Swift now thrive outside traditional gatekeepers. Likewise, students and lifelong learners can reclaim intellectual freedom outside of the ivory towers.

Each individual possesses the ability to think, create, and act. This is the power God grants to every human being. Knowledge, faith, and personal responsibility are inseparable. Learning is not a commodity to buy with tuition; it is a birthright to claim with effort.

David Butow / Contributor | Getty Images

Charlie Kirk’s life reminds us that self-education is an act of defiance and empowerment. In his pursuit of knowledge, in his engagement with civics and philosophy, he exemplified the principle that liberty depends on informed, capable citizens. We honor him best by taking up that mantle — by learning relentlessly, thinking critically, and refusing to surrender our minds to a system that profits from ignorance.

The path forward must be reclaiming education, agency, and the power to shape our minds and futures. Every day, seek to grow, create, and act. Charlie showed the way. It is now our responsibility to follow.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck joins TPUSA tour to honor Charlie Kirk

Joe Raedle / Staff | Getty Images

If they thought the murder of Charlie Kirk would scare us into silence, they were wrong!

If anything, Turning Point will hit the road louder than ever. On Monday, September 22, less than two weeks after the assassination, Charlie's friends united under the Turning Point USA banner to carry his torch and honor his legacy by doing what he did best: bringing honest and truthful debate to Universities across the nation.

Naturally, Glenn has rallied to the cause and has accepted an invitation to join the TPUSA tour at the University of North Dakota on October 9th.

Want to join Glenn at the University of North Dakota to honor Charlie Kirk and keep his mission alive? Click HERE to sign up or find more information.

Glenn's daughter honors Charlie Kirk with emotional tribute song

MELISSA MAJCHRZAK / Contributor | Getty Images

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