Let's make sure Washington clearly understands: ‘Without us, they're doomed’

January 27, 2014

The Glenn Beck Program

Tomorrow night, President Obama will deliver his sixth State of the Union address. The Constitution says the president "shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." While the concept may be noble in theory, in reality, the annual address has devolved into nothing more than a campaign stump speech filled with empty promises.

On radio this morning, Glenn previewed President Obama’s remarks. You can guarantee the election-year themes of ‘income inequality’ and ‘change we can believe in’ will be on full display as President Obama promises to level the playing field by taking from the rich and giving to the poor. There is no question Americans are hungry for change, and President Obama will promise to right some of the wrongs and change the course of the country. But as Glenn explained, the change Americans seek can never come from Washington. We the people must be willing to fight for the change we wish to see.

Tomorrow night the President is going to give his State of the Union address before Congress and the American people. Well, actually, let me rephrase that first before we go on. Tomorrow night the President's going to give a campaign speech full of misleading data, some outright lies, some good sounding platitudes, and none of it will mean anything. And instead it will become a circus. And the only ones that will really watch it are those who are part of the circus – the media and those who are somehow or another involved in the parties. I don't think the American people are there anymore.

The President tomorrow will use the Second Amendment again to divide us, to talk about inequality and how the game is rigged and how it is so unfair. He's not going to mention those things like a good education, experience [that] will actually help you find things that are fair – that in the end… kind of equal out. Those with little education and not much experience will learn that those things… are the great equalizers.

But this society now is a society that doesn't like to work, doesn't want to do the hard things. We are being pitted against each other and envy is our real enemy now. But there is some luck involved. Corporate cronyism is a disease that is spreading, but by and large you still reap what you sow in this country. But that's not going to be good enough for the President or, quite honestly, those on the other side of the aisle, either, because they're all there to help you. It doesn't give them power, you see, if they actually tell the truth that you can make it, that this is a country still with the greatest opportunity on planet Earth, but it's fading fast.

So he wants to take from those who are educated, either in school or on their own, who have worked hard for years for the people who have taken risks that are now successful. They want to take it from them and give it to those who didn't do any of those things because, in their world, that is the definition of fairness. In my world that's robbery. But the good news is most Americans won't even watch or listen because it's not the America that we want.

Why have we allowed this to happen and go on year after year after year? Why are we doing that? Why do we just accept it? We've been asleep. Are we still asleep? We've had our heads down and we've become part of the herd instead of being heard. Look at the people around you. Next time you go to the airport, look around you. As people wind through the maze at airport security, heads down, following the winding path, oblivious to what's going on. If somebody in that line looked up and said, "Good morning," would you smile and respond, or would you think that they were some sort of crazy person? "What the hell's wrong with that person?"

Go to New York City and stand by the doors of Grand Central Station in the afternoon as commuters head home and head for their trains, their heads down in a trance, not paying any attention to those around them. What if you stopped somebody on the street or stopped somebody at Grand Central Station and said, "Excuse me, do you know of a good restaurant nearby?" How many would even slow down now…

That's the nation we used to be. And the good news is I think we still have that within our grasp. I think we're starting to realize who we were and what we've allowed ourselves to become, and we don't like what we see and so change is in the air. We want to change it. But know this: The change isn't going to come from the President tomorrow night. The change we actually seek is not coming from anybody who says "Vote for me and I'll change it." Oh, they'll change things, but the change you seek is not coming from Washington. The change will happen when we all start to look up. The change will happen when we take the time to connect with the stranger next to us, or when we take the time to connect to the strange news that we're hearing.

The big bank HSBC has restricted people from taking $10,000 or more out of their bank accounts without a note, I think from their mom, explaining what exactly they're doing with that money. "Why are you taking the money out?" Excuse me. It's my money. I'm taking my money out… The change will come when we stand at the teller of the bank and we look them in the eye and we say, "Excuse me. That's my money. If I want to take it all out, I'm going to take it all out.” "Well, sir, for your own safety, we are concerned when you leave the bank." And I want to take my own out and I walk out into the chat R into the street and I want to throw it out in the air, I have a right to do it. It's my money.

Things will change when we start looking up and connecting, connecting to what is really happening and then connecting with each other. There's a video up on TheBlaze that we watched this weekend… Just the greatest videos. Go watch it… Such a great video of hope. It's a little ripple, one kind moment, one kind gesture that will lead to another. Common sense, common values, common courtesy. And none of these are on display in Washington. So let's display them ourselves. We the people, three words that are self-evident. It's up to us. It always has been up to us. We the people.

Tomorrow night will be about manipulation and power and greed, envy, but we're so much better than that. The greatest presidents we've ever had have always been those presidents that made us want to reach inside of ourself and be better because all of us know we are better than this. We are the people.

I said to my wife, because I've been having some back problems, Pat has been having some back problems. And I said to my wife this weekend, "I am so sick of being sick. I'm so sick of feeling like crap." Don't you feel this way as an American? Aren't you sick of feeling this way? Aren't you sick of being less than we are? I know I'm not the only one. We're so much better than this! And nobody else is going to demand it of us, nor should they demand it. I don't want a president demanding, "Oh, I'll tell you this. You'll not be who you think you are. You're going to be better than…" What? We have to demand it of ourselves. We're awake. Finally we're awake and we're looking up.

The best days of this country, the best days of humankind are still ahead of us, and don't you ever believe otherwise. Don't you ever listen to anybody else tell you differently. Something those who want power, those who want you to consume something, buy something, they will always tell you: Well, you'll be so much better if you have X, Y or Z. Well, I'm a guy who has a lot of stuff for you to buy. I got a lot of books for you to buy. I've got a lot of tickets that I'd like you to buy. I've got a lot of news stories I'd like you to read. I'd like you to go to the advertisers on this radio station and buy some of their stuff if that's what you need. But I'm telling you right now, I don't need you to buy anything. You will not be better if you're listening to this program. You will not be stronger. You don't need me. You need to know the truth, and the truth is you were born with everything that you need. You're smart enough. I'm cobbling the stuff together that we're finding. You can do the same thing. Don't you ever believe anybody who says "Without me, you're nothing. Without this system, you won't be able to make it."

Washington wants you to believe that without them we are doomed. Well, let's flip the tables, shall we? Let's make sure that they clearly understand: "We the people. Without us, they're doomed."

'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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