Glenn turns Thanksgiving Eve into a personal conversation and a moment for empowerment

November 27, 2013

Writer

Today is a very different day.

I've sent everybody here in the studios in Las Colinas, Texas, back home and told them to be with their families and spend the day so you and I can spend some time. Whether you're in the airport or in the car driving home or you're like me, somebody who has to work today, that we could be together and share the truth on the history of Thanksgiving, the history of our country, the history of the season and what it's really all about. I am convinced that Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Year's are put together really through divine providence, that when we are humble enough, we will see the meaning of Christmas and we'll be able to change our life in the new year. That's what it's really all about, I think, but it's the humility part that gets us and this is really one of those days that you either love or hate.

We all have people in our family that we don't necessarily get along with. We were talking at the family dinner table last night, my daughter and my new grandchild and my eldest daughter and my two youngest kids. We had my son-in-law's mom at the table last night. We read our -- we read our scriptures at the table last night and we started talking about family and we started talking about the holidays. And I just love having my family near, but there -- it hasn't always been that way. And I said to my -- I said to my kids, you know, it's important, I think, to get away from your parents and your family for a while because otherwise I would have been that stinky younger brother. I would always be who my family thought I was.

But I want you to come to the table today, and this is one of the reasons why I really wanted to spend some time with you one on one today. I really wanted to spend some time with you today talking about what this is really all about so you -- even if you have one of those family situations where you just don't want to go because you don't get along with somebody at the family or maybe you don't get along with anybody in the family, or maybe you're going into a situation where everybody disagrees with you. That's okay. And to recognize that we're all different and our jobs are to be a beacon of hope and not to engage in fear and worry and doubt but faith, hope and confidence and to give thanks.

Last summer I wrote, while we were in the midst of still putting together Man in the Moon, I was working on another project. It's called Believe Again. When they asked me what the name of the CD would be, I said "Believe Again." Believe, period, Again, period. So many of us have lost faith. So many of us are going to lose faith because things are going to get hard. And we live in a time now, in a world now where if it's hard, it shouldn't happen. It shouldn't be that way. "I was promised that it wouldn't be hard." You were never promised that. In fact, it is our struggles. It is the things that we question, the things that push us up against the wall. Those are the things that make us.

So at the end of spring of this year, I wrote a letter about Christmas. I had a guy who's never produced an album before get together with an album producer and get together with people that we found on YouTube. We went and we scoured YouTube. We thought, "This person sounds great." And we called them up and we asked them: "We'd like to try to do a CD but we want to do it with all people of different faith, all different faith. Is faith, does it play a role to you?" If the answer was yes, we asked them to join. Some of them quite honestly when they found out who was responsible for the CD didn't want to participate, and strangely not because of my politics but because of my personal faith. They missed the point. The point was people of all walks of life getting together and celebrating God and showing that we can work together.

But I wrote a note back in spring to all those involved and I said:

Out of all of the gifts that we can give to America as a gift, the only one that really will matter will be the gift of light. Such spiritual darkness is rolling over the entire planet and most of the world has let their light burn out over the years. Some have had their flame intentionally snuffed out. They've done it themselves. Our job will be to show the world that flicker of light again and gently rekindle that flame. With divine providence and guidance from above, if we are loyal, pure, and focused on the love that he expects from us and requires us to share, we will see that flicker begin and blaze back to life.
Freedom is slipping through the fingers of so many around the world. And I think it's about time that we accept the mantle of new civil rights leaders of the world, at least until -- at least until the time when those people that were supposed to do it show up. Our task is harder right now because much of the world has plunged into darkness and can no longer see the truth. But those of us who are awake have something that the others don't: The power of truth. The struggles against powers and principalities that nears our ancestors have conquered before. It was just the beginning, and there is more struggle that will come. But hopefully with these songs that you will put together, travelers from around the world will find their way and help preserve the rights of man.
So many in the world are whining about trouble or whining about struggle. And in our part of the world, so much of it is for no reason whatsoever. I feel as though our dad, our God, is about to say, "You want to cry about something? I'll give you something to cry about," just as any dad would. It will be our job to recognize that we brought most of this upon ourselves. Let us see and share the gift of redemption that is far more valuable than any gold, Frankincense, or myrrh. If we follow our promptings with joy and eagerness and exactness, that those of you who are recording this CD, your voices will fill the air with praises to our God and king.
Find out what you promised him you would do in your lifetime and then may we all live our lives in such a way that we may be a gift of light, of courage, of joy in a troubled and frightened world. Many mighty miracles will be seen in the coming days and I think mighty miracles just may come from what you set out to do.
It's strange I find myself believing in people sometimes more than the people themselves do. But I really think I know who they are and what they're capable of doing.
May they this season find blessings in the love and peace of God and may they never fear, no matter what the darkness tries to do, because the gift of life, the gift of light, conquers all.

'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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