‘You may disagree with me…’ Glenn explains his personal journey as of late

July 24, 2014

The Glenn Beck Program

Over the last few months, Glenn has heard from supporters and detractors about the position he has taken on a number of issues. On radio this morning, Glenn sought to further clarify where he is headed both personally and professionally as he laid out the values and principles that inform his life. While he understands not everyone will agree with his logic, he felt it was necessary to explain his journey.

Below is an edited transcript of the monologue:

I want to take you on a journey with me today. If you've been listening to me for a while, you're not going to be surprised by this journey at all. But I think we started something last week.

When I first learned about the Bundy ranch, we were looking into it. And it was a Saturday when it was all coming to a head. I got up in the morning, and I was watching it, and I heard in my head, ‘So it begins.’ And I don't know what it means to you. I don't even know what it means to me right now. But I've been avoiding some things for about five years that I don't want to do. And, honestly, it's not that I don't want to do them as much as I don't know how to do them.

I'm not a perfect guy by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not a preacher. I am barely even a man of God. I'm just not that guy. And I'm not a guy who leads things. I mean we started the 9/12 Project, and I said, 'It's yours.' It's just not me.

But something has begun. And what has begun is the things that I have seen coming for a long time. The anti-Semitism, the hatred, the split between us that is The Coming Insurrection, and I have not had a solution for you. I've had little solutions, but I have not had a solution for you. And I've been telling you, ‘We're passing all the exits,’ and that has made me more and more withdrawn, mainly because I know the answer and it's: I don't want to do it. I don't want to do it.

But nobody else is. And I've come to a place where it doesn't matter if anybody else does it. It's where I have to be. You may not join me on this journey, and you may disagree with me. That's fine. There's no condemnation. There might be anger on my part, but it's only because I'm a flawed human being. And I say ‘anger.’ I mean, occasionally I'll fly off the handle and can't understand why people might not see it. And that's okay. In the end, I might be wrong. I don't know. But I know it's where I'm supposed to stand.

We cannot build the future that I see and that I think you believe in. And when I say that, I don't mean I have some vision of some utopia. It's just the future where our kids play together, where people do judge our kids by the content of their character, not the color of their skin, not if they're conservative or liberal or Christian or atheist or Jewish anything else – just, what is their character? We have not accomplished that, and we cannot accomplish building that future if we are constantly looking behind at the past and blaming everything on people.

Look, there's lots of blame to go around. I had this conversation with somebody. They were like, ‘I'm not going to be blamed for this.’ Why are we talking about blame? Let's fix the problem. How are we going to do anything if we keep looking back and saying, ‘Hey, it's not me. You got to get that guy.’ Stop it.

There was never a rally sign. There was never a single rally that changed the world, that won a revolution. And, quite honestly, no revolution really is ever won. No revolution is ever won by guns. Revolutions that are won by guns are like the French Revolution or the Cultural Revolution in China. You don't want to be a part of any of those. The revolution in Russia, you don't want to be a part of that. That's not a revolution you want anyone to fight or win. A revolution that wins and the one that you want to be a part of, is the one that ends like the American Revolution – and that one didn't start with guns. That one started with ideas. The idea that we're all created equal. What does that mean? That you judge a man on the content of his character, that we're all coming to the table, we're all the same. They had flaws. They had slaves. We don't have slaves. We can do it this time.

And there are millions of Americans who believe that all men are created equal. I don't care what other people say. I don't care about the Klan. I don't care about the anti-Semites. I don't care about them. They will find themselves in the dustbin of history if we can stop giving them so much time in power. Let's empower the people that actually believe all men are created equal and endowed by their creator with certain rights. Life. You cannot take my life from me. Liberty. You can't throw me in jail without a just court. And the pursuit of happiness. I get to keep the fruits of my labors. I do the things that I have inside of me. And if you don't like it, you don't want to go along with it, it's okay.

Those were the ideas, but they're only won when they're forwarded by men and women of integrity. How many of us have integrity? It's really hard to have. They're only won when they're forwarded by people of compassion. How many of us have compassion? Compassion really counts when you don't want to do it. And courage. How many of us are even afraid to say anything now because of a label? Justice and mercy. Justice falls apart when there is no mercy. Justice falls apart when a society goes so cold they no longer pay any attention, when the people fall into iniquity. The people in power know they don't have to do justice anymore because nobody is keeping them in check. So they don't care about mercy. Mercy does not come from a government. Mercy comes from the human heart. It must come from us.

It's what made America great. We were good. We were merciful. We tried to do the right thing. And doing the right thing really only matters when it goes against what you want to do, what you like to do, goes against your best interests. That's when it really counts. Doing good when somebody is watching, doing good when it's in your best interest, that's nice and everything, but doing good when it's against what you want to do, that's when it matters. That's when there's a man of integrity behind it.

As JFK said, we don't do the things because they're easy; we do them because they are hard. We have to look forward, not back. We have to do the things that are not for us, but for others. And when I say that – not for your particular group. If it's for your group, then you're getting a benefit out of it. You have to be doing the things and I have to be doing the things and I trust God will take care of my group.

My group is taken care of because I'm concentrating on others. And if we can get the Jews to worry about the Christians and the Christians to worry about the Jews and the atheists to worry about the Christians and Christians and the Jews to worry about the atheists, and we're protecting those inalienable rights for all men, and we look at our rights last and look at our responsibilities first – we win. We win. And the world changes. Period.

'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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