Will families soon lose their medical rights? Terri Schiavo's brother speaks out

March 25, 2015

Writer

The Terri Schiavo case was a big turning point for Glenn and his views on life and the rights of the disabled. Back when he was a DJ in Florida, Terri Schiavo’s story was making national headlines. She had been in a coma for ten years, and her husband wanted to remove her feeding tube. At the time, Glenn said on air that he sided with the husband and disagreed with her parents who wanted to keep their daughter alive. But a listener called in and convinced him to think about it. A few days later Glenn was back on radio telling people just how wrong he was. On radio this morning, Glenn spoke with Terri’s brother Bobby Schindler about his sister and what he has done to fight for the rights of the disabled.

GLENN: If you are a long-time listener of this program, you remember the plight of Terri Schiavo, the really long-term listeners, those that have been with me since I was on WFLA remember I was on the wrong side of the Terri Schiavo case and I remembered what the listener said to me last night. The listener called me on a Friday, and I was against the Schindler family. I was saying pull the plug, pull the plug. A listener called me and said Glenn, you are thinking about this all wrong.

I say, how is that?

Because there's no plug to pull.

What are you talking about?

I just want you to think about this. Is food and water life support? Is that a medical procedure?

I said, well --

Just think about that this weekend and pray on it.

STU: I got to go to commercial.

GLENN: So I promised him I would think about it, and I came back that Monday, and I announced that I was wrong, and nobody in radio at the time -- I don't think anybody does now. They just look over and just stop talking about it. And I said no, I have a responsibility. I was wrong and I misled people, and so I tried to make it up to the family and to Terri and tried to do the right thing. In the end, they did take the life support away from Terri Schiavo and they stopped feeding her and starved her to death, over, I believe, a three-week period.

Some good has come from that. Bobby Schindler is here with us now Terri's brother.

SCHINDLER: Hi, Glenn. Thanks for having me.

GLENN: What did you do, Bobby, before this?

SCHINDLER: I was teaching high school at Tampa@lick.

GLENN: So you are just a regular high school teacher, and now you are the head of a major organization that stands up for life, for people who are in a persistent vegetative state. You want to tell us a little about that?

SCHINDLER: I'm sorry. Sure. We saw -- our battle with Terri lasted better part of five years. It really started in '93, when Michael started his pursuit to end Terri's life, but we saw the danger that people like Terri were in, and the families who were scared to death of the same thing happening to loved ones caring for their loved ones in similar conditions to my sister, so our family just felt, I guess a responsibility to continue to advocate for these people. That's what we did. We started a non-profit. We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. The calls we have been safe receiving the past ten years have grown significantly and it's an indication to us that our health care system is really targeting these people, Maying on these people that are medically vulnerable and we are trying to do what we can to protect them.

GLENN: You are giving an award on Tuesday. Tell me about the family.

SCHINDLER: The award is going to mother of Kyle Dantzler. Bridgett Henson is her name. Her son went in for a transplant surgery. As a result from that, he developed some complications and lost oxygen to the brain, and experienced a profound brain injury. The mother was just battling with the hospital for a better part of the year to get proper treatment. We got into the case and we have been trying to help her. Her primary goal was to get him transferred to a facility close to her home in Atlanta. This was happening in Philadelphia. So we're working with the families trying to do that, but just her story and so many others that we have received over the years, it's just chilling to hear the pressure and how hospitals are just looking at these people and treating them really as an inconvenience and the best them for them would be to kill them.

GLENN: I'll tell you, I don't know if you saw the -- I know you were on the show and you were in the green room and everything else, but I don't know if you saw the thing we put together about Pennhurst Hospital. It is truly frightening. People should watch this. See if I could post it on Facebook or online, but something I found a couple months ago, and it started in 1908, went to 1976, and we were just shoving -- the Progressive era took anyone that had any defect -- one person we showed on an admitting paper, a little kid, he died an old man in Pennhurst, and his only thing his father swore out and said I want to put him in the home, he has one seizure and also said "poon" instead of "spoon," and they hospitalized him his whole life.

And this system was lock them up and forget them. And it was a horror show what was happening in this hospital. And I'm so afraid that we're headed back that direction, we are not seeing people for people. We are not having compassion. We are seeing them as a burden on our society, and that's what happened in the Progressive era around the turn of the century. They saw these people as burdens and why should I pay for them when it's -- when they're not going to turn around and get any better, so why are we paying for them? Are you concerned about that at all?

SCHINDLER: Yeah, I think it's much worse. I think what you described is probably happening at different facilities across the country. I went over to Austria to speak and I went into a facility where they were killing the medically and physically inferior. That's what it was inscripted on the wall over there. This was back prior to the holocaust, talking about this attitude by the German doctors and how they were systematically killing those that were medically and physically inferior. I look at what's happening now in the calls we receive and what happened to Terri, and it's the same thing. There are so many parallels, Glenn what was happening then and now. For me to sit back and see the ordinary attitude that we have with starving and dehydrating to death people because they have a disability and the elderly -- and these people are not dying like Terri, they are not hooked up to machines, they simply need to be cared for. How we have grown accustomed to or accepted that it's okay to Kyle these people and one of the most barbaric ways, by starving and dehydrating --

GLENN: Tell me what you sister went through when they starved her and

dehydrated her.

SCHINDLER: It's -- well, I'm going to try -- the graphic nature of Terri and how she deteriorated is probably something I will never describe. It got so bad, three or four case before she did die, we refused to let me mom go and see her. It was horrible, Glenn. Something nightmares are made up. Toward the end, there was blood pooling in her eye, her skin was turning different shades of colors she was breathing so fast, it was like she had just been outside sprinting. I could go on, Glenn. If you look at those pictures we see from concentration camps, it remind me of my sister, but I believe my sister's -- what we saw in her experience was worse. I have a piece coming out, Glenn, and I will release an image of my sister from my family. I plan to do this before the 31st. I hope people look at it. It is my best recollection of what she looked like. There's a lie out there, that this is a peaceful hand painless way to do. That's absurd. This is the death of dignity.

PAT: Barbaric. Since your sister was starved to death, there's been several people who have made the news after coming out of these supposed vegetative states, that had no quality of life, the same thing was argued, pull the plug, let them die with dignity, all those things. And several of them, including a guy we just interviewed a couple weeks ago, Martin Pistorous have come out of it -- he came out of it after twelve years and is living a productive life. Have you seen these stories? Do you see others in that situation? And is that something --

SCHINDLER: Yes. We see it when it makes news, and when people call us. It seems hospitals are making decisions much quicker new than they used to, determining within hours -- even hours that someone will

have no recovery. Pressuring the family to stop life support. And this is what we are talking about. Our medical rights being eroded. Seems the shift that's occurred, where decision-making power now is resting in the hands of hospitals and physicians rather than family members. That's what should frighten us all. No longer do we look out for the best interest of the patient. We are looking out for the best interest of the hospital. That always comes done not bottom line, so I think decisions are being made with cost in mind, and much quicker decisions are being made to end a person's life than they have been in the past.

GLENN: The one thing I learned from Martin -- and I know you know him -- is he heard everything that was happening around him. He was locked in hell and he heard everything. It must make you feel good knowing what your family did and how you spoke around her and that she probably heard you. And knowing that she knew how much you loved her.

SCHINDLER: There was no doubt. We were with my sister when she was in this condition for 15 years. We know how alive and responsive she was. At times, she was able to communicate with us, at least at some level, but Glenn, from all those people that have emerged from this PVS, like Mr. Pistorius and others that we read about, even some we have come to know, none of them ever said when they were in this condition, they wished they didn't want to live this way or someone killed me. All these people would have emerged. Seems they are all happy they are alive and now they are living life to the fullest.

GLENN: This is Terri's brother, Bobby Schindler. Thank you so much for everything that you guys are doing, and thank you for your friendship for all of these years and being willing to stand. I will tell you, I don't think I have ever seen a family that's gone through more than you guys. Just an average family that has weathered an unbelievable storm for as long as you have, and I have tremendous respect for you and your mom and your whole family. You are just great people.

I'm going to be up in Philadelphia. It is the 10th anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo on the 31st, so I will be in Philadelphia at the Life and Hope Award Gala. Tickets are available at lifeandhopeaward.com. This is going to be an important speech, an important night, and I hope that you would come and join us and help fund life, but more importantly, bring a friend and bring your family and meet like-minded people, brave, brave people, and be on the side of good and right and righteousness. It is lifeandhopeaward.com. Go there now, grab your tickets. Life and Hope Award. It is happening on Tuesday. That's this coming Tuesday, the 31st, in Philadelphia. Where is it going to be -- where exactly is it being held?

SCHINDLER: At the Union League, downtown Philadelphia.

GLENN: Kind of a nice place to go into as well. Thank you very much Bobby. We will see you next week.

SCHINDLER: Thanks. God bless you.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

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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

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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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