New guard of conservative lawmakers discuss the dynamics of the new media with Glenn in D.C.

June 12, 2013

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Some of the biggest names in the cable industry are spending a few days in Washington, D.C. this week for the NCTA's Cable Show. For the last 50+ years, cable television has lead the information and entertainment industry in infrastructure and innovation…but in recent years, this industry has had to adapt to the new leader in innovation: the internet. The 2013 Cable Show, focused on integrating the 'new media' — digital entertainment innovation in the internet ecosystem.

TheBlaze has been ahead of the curve on this transition — starting online to empower our subscribers and just recently beginning to spread into the world of cable television. Tuesday afternoon in the nation's capitol, some of the most prominent names in conservative politics weighted in on the impact and power of the so-called 'new media' at TheBlaze's Cable Show reception and conversation about “News and Politics in a Multi-platform World” hosted by Glenn and TheBlaze with discussions lead by Mary Matalin.

TheBlaze's President of Business Development, Lynne Costantini, opened up the program by highlighting the amazing opportunity TheBlaze has to tap into an audience that is searching for a channel that represents their values. Before handing the mic over to Glenn, Lynne reminded attendees that there are 94 million libertarian and conservative Americans looking for more than just one option for news and information.

"I remember the when we first got cable television in our home," Glenn stated. "It was in the late 1970s and it was a time when the world was changing."

Glenn recalled all of the 'firsts' that came with cable television, and pointed out that we find ourselves in the position of experiencing new things and new technology every day now. Innovation is moving faster than ever before, he noted.

"The game is about to change — and it's about to change on every level."

Glenn noted that there are the people that see the future and the change coming and realize the implications: it could go horribly wrong or it could be amazing. Take the NSA for example…amazing technology that's monitoring law abiding Americans like criminals.

"There will be the people who embrace and create the changes," Glenn said noting Steve Jobs as an excellent example. "And the power grabbers. The ones who are too afraid they'll fail and do whatever they can to hold onto power."

"We [TheBlaze] are the change," Glenn said. "I've worked at CNN, I've worked at Fox — they're both great places to work. They both have a great product," Glenn added. "But there is a change coming. We have to bridge the gap."

"There is something to be said for the communal experience," Glenn continued. "The only thing that unites us now is the Superbowl. How can we go into the cable system and bridge that with technology."

"We're doing it in a way that's never been done before."

Glenn explained that TheBlaze isn't just a growing news and information network, it's a culture…a lifestyle.

"We find the people that are like-minded and want to live their lives in a certain way," he said. "Our audience is difference and we recognize that. Where everyone else is designing for the buck, we don't take a dollar if it's not right for them. I want a lifetime relationship. Find out who the audience is and connect of that."

"Our philosophy is not about politics. Politics are a waste…" Glenn said before apologizing to the audience full of politicians…

"What made us great is not about looking up what we're supposed to do in the regulation book, it's maximum liberty and maximum personal responsibility. The 'give me a chance' attitude — that's all great leaders have asked for," he explained.

Sounds great, right? Pretty simple…but how do Glenn and TheBlaze make that work as a business model?

"We empower the people on the other end."

After Glenn finished speaking, he passed the mic off to Mary Matalin who lead one-on-one discussions with Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee. Senator Rand Paul also made an appearance. Their discussions were centered around the evolving media and the impact it's having on empowering the average American, and in the case of the NSA leaks, possibly being used against them.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) is a big proponent of new and social media — the tools that have empowered much of the voting base that got her elected.

"The best way to use it is to think of it as the network of you," she told Mary when describing how she uses new media to get a message out.

Blackburn often reminds her staff to think of tools like Twitter and Facebook not just as a way to spread a message, but a way to listen to her constituents and the American people.

"It allows people to keep their attention on the kind of content that interests them — what they want to receive — and from there, build their own network.

"We now have the ability to meet and communicate with people where they are by utilizing the tools that are right in front of us, right at our fingertips. They have option on how they receive information," she added.

Rep. Blackburn also noted the ability of social media to remove the filter between the audience and information — something Matalin pointed out isn't always a good thing, noting the importance of context.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, highlighted the impact social media has had directly on Washington, making note of several instances where Twitter has had the power to shift the conversation back to the truth. He was reminded to the vital role Twitter played in Senator Paul's 13-hour filibuster on the Senate floors regarding drones.

"I was very proud, nine months ago, to stand side-by-side with Rand Paul," Cruz stated. "Most of our colleagues in the Senate thought what Rand was doing was curious if not quixotic. He began speaking up and talking about the principle…what quickly happened was incredible."

Cruz explained how tens of thousands of Americans got online and started to support Rand in a filibuster, that when it first started, was only viewable online and on C-SPAN. When #StandWithRand started trending, Cruz became the first person in history to read tweets from the American people (or anyone else for that matter) on the Senate floor. The Texas Senator was reminded of one tweet in particular from a 78-year-old woman who had never used Twitter, but got online and signed up so she could publicly support with Senator Paul was doing and stand with him.

"The next day Obama was forced to explain the policy, and polling showed the American people had shifted 50 points in just days," he noted.

The explosion of new media has led to a "phenomenal democratization of information," Cruz added. "Anybody with a cell phone can be Dan Rather — hopefully with a greater propensity for truth."

Cruz also noted that with the recent leaks regarding the NSA and the IRS scandals, that the American people are quite justified in having real concerns and that now is the time to use the tools to put a stop to it.

During Senator Mike Lee's discussion with Mary Matalin and Glenn, he explained how the new media empowering more citizens to get engaged and speak out against an over-bearing government made him optimistic.

"I think our best days are ahead of us," Lee explained, "in part because we are being put in the position of having to resort to federalism.

He explained the unique pattern that the ability to personalize the news and information you receive is having on the monopolized news industry.

"We've had a lot of consolidation in media outlets that give us our news. That fortunately is starting to change. we've got more alternatives out there for people to listen to. When people can have access to the truth and that truth can be checked and cross-checked because of the availability of multiple sources of media, we can all get better answers," Lee noted.

Highlighting Glenn and TheBlaze specifically, Lee continued, "not everyone in the news business has the same attention to detail as Glenn Beck. The more Glenn Becks that are out there — and I hope there will be many one day — the greater the opportunity there will be for people to know the truth. The thing about the American people is they will make the right choice when they are given the opportunity."

Closely tied to the evolution of the media was another popular topic of yesterday's event: the recent leaks regarding the NSA and the IRS targeting of conservative groups. Senator Rand Paul focused heavily on this issue while speaking at the event.

…after a quick parody of Glenn's silent monologue of course…

Senator Paul told the crowd that he plans to take the issue regarding the NSA's surveillance of law-abiding citizens to court to put a stop to the abuse of power. Paul explained the importance of informing the people around us who operate in the digital space that their government is abusing its power.

While all of the guests who joined TheBlaze on Tuesday didn't share the same opinion on the leaks, they all believed what the NSA was doing, if true, was wrong and an abuse of power. They were also quick to highlight that the solution is YOU and your ability to exercise your freedom of speech with new media.

Marsha Blackburn noted that to really solve the problem, conservatives NEED to start whittling away at the size of the federal government.

"They have too much time and money on their hands," she said.

Senator Cruz also noted the answer to government overreach and its growing power is new media.

"The answer is new media and social media — speaking out and education our citizens on liberty."

Mary Matalin wrapped up the discussions by noting the reason Glenn's network model is so amazing: You.

"Glenn's audience understands the need for virtuous citizens," She explained.

She went on to say that this understand the need for there to be MORE virtuous citizens and they're actively involved in spreading that message and the message of TheBlaze. That's what makes TheBlaze different than any other network — you.

'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 dangerous lie: Rights as government privileges, not God-given

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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