Shameful: Where is the leadership in Baltimore?

April 28, 2015

The Glenn Beck Program

Glenn came on radio this morning and delivered a powerful monologue about the ongoing riots in Baltimore, Maryland. Where is the leadership? Where is the Martin Luther King Jr.'s of the world who inspired change without violence?

Glenn has long spoke of these coming tides, and these exact players. But, this is only the beginning. As Glenn said this morning, "Here are the riots, and they will only grow across the land. Police officers will be killed, God forbid. And so will protesters. And the hatred and the anger will only escalate. God forbid we repeat the assassinations of the 1960s, because we won't weather that storm like we did in the 1960s, I fear."

Listen to more of Glenn's powerful monologue below. The monologue begins around 1:20:49.

A portion of the transcript has been provided below.

Rough Transcript Below:

GLENN: What's happening in Baltimore is shameful. And Martin Luther King is truly dead. So soon will our country be, I fear.

Where is the leadership? The president at best is publicly silent. What he's doing privately, I don't know.

Can you imagine what the -- what the media would be saying about George W. Bush? Well, we don't have to imagine. Remember George W. Bush was on the phone with the mayor of New Orleans days before, the night before, begging him. Begging him. But the mayor of New Orleans decided not to do anything about it.

And yet it was George W. Bush's fault. Was the president on the phone with the mayor of Baltimore last night? If so, was he fine with the curfew starting tonight as opposed to last night? And if he wasn't on the phone, why wasn't he?

Hillary Clinton last night was tweeting about her new bumper sticker. But she was on the campaign trail telling those -- all that would listen, that we need to change our deep-seated religious beliefs. That's a quote.

Elected leaders haven't led in quite some time. But there is good news. I'll tell you where the leadership is. Because the leadership does exist.

The leadership is there. In the Crips, the Bloods, the Nation of Islam, and SCIU. Let me start with the last one. Union members, how do you feel about your union busing protesters in and funding and printing the posters for this riot? Is that what you labor for is that what your hard-earned money goes toward? To burn a city down? How do you feel about your union standing next to the Crips and the Bloods? How do you feel about your union standing and partnering with the nation of Islam? Food service workers of SCIU and anybody else in the labor brotherhood, it's time you stand up and stop this madness. Wake up, union members.

SCIU is playing an organizing role in these -- in these riots. This is how the 1960s would have ended if Martin Luther King hadn't been who he was, a God-fearing, intelligent, peaceful, rational, God-fearing man. Remember it was Malcolm X that wanted to push for guns and riots. It was Martin Luther King that stopped him. Malcolm X was the one that wanted what's happening in Baltimore today to happen on the streets all across America. It was Malcolm X who at the time was one of the leaders of the Nation of Islam. Some things never change. But when Malcolm X saw the error of his ways, the Nation of Islam had him killed.

I warned about these times. Anarchists. Socialists. Progressives. And Islamists. Would ban together. And set the streets of the world on fire.

I warned of these exact players while I was at Fox. If you're a long-time listener. I feel this is the beginning of the coming insurrection and the fulfillment of Frances Fox Piven's hope when she was asked three years ago, when she asked three years ago, where are the riots? They're here now, Frances. Job well done. And it will get worse. Our police force morale has been weakened. Our Secret Service is out of town, drunk with hookers.

Here are the riots, and they will only grow across the land. Police officers will be killed, God forbid. And so will protesters. And the hatred and the anger will only escalate. God forbid we repeat the assassinations of the 1960s, because we won't weather that storm like we did in the 1960s, I fear.

What's happening on the streets of Baltimore is as sick as when mothers who send their sons out to be martyrs in the Middle East. The radical left has become an American death penalty cult. Abortions. End of life. And now the riots. In the end, many will die. And they will forever stain our nation with disgrace.

Most of the protesters aren't looking for justice as much as they're looking for free booze, free CVS stuff, toilet paper, shoes, anything else they can take. Booker T. Washington would disown this race if he saw what was happening.

I believe Frederick Douglass would as well. What percentage of rioters can even tell me who those two great men were at any level of competence? Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King would denounce those who claim to be the men of the cloth. Who are sitting in their pulpits today silent.

Our founders in Lincoln would reject what is left of the lot who call themselves American. We will all be slaves soon because we are demonstrating to the entire world that we cannot govern ourselves anymore.

Lincoln said we'd never be destroyed from without. We would only be destroyed from within.

He said, our destruction in the end would be a choice to commit national suicide. Well, last night, I saw us fashion the noose and put a gun in our mouth! We've swallowed sleeping pills long before Baltimore. Do we ever get up?

We vote for corruption. We laugh at crime. We watch snuff films. The light snuff films from Hollywood for entertainment. We justify that and the games our kids are playing, saying that our kids know the difference between reality and virtual reality.

We teach our children to do as we say, not as we do while handing them an attorney's phone number. You know, should they ever be offended or not given a first place trophy.

Our marriage rate has plummeted, while divorce rates have skyrocketed. And those divorce rates are being beaten out by the out-of-wedlock bastard children rate, which at the same time is being challenged by the number of children we actually kill through abortions. Have another handful of sleeping pills, America.

While we're on killing, for 15 years, we've destroyed a generation of Americans by sending them off to war, ill-equipped. Armed with foolish PC rules of engagement that get them killed. We arm the enemy. We release the killers of Gitmo back on to the battlefield. We bring the Muslim Brotherhood, not only into the Oval Office, but into the DHS buildings that you and I couldn't get into. Then we make treaties with psychopathic killers in Iran, while they're chanting death to America. And then we ignore the daily beheadings and crucifixions of children by ISIS. Want another glass of warm milk to take your sleeping pills with? We abandon not only the Christians crying out for help, but also the troops when they cry out for help in Benghazi. And then the woman who didn't answer the phone call runs for president, and we all yawn.

Yesterday, I read that we're asking the Marines now to lower their standards because recruiting is down.

So we'll get the dregs of society, not train them. Not prepare them for what they're about to head into. And then ask them to kill in a war that most Americans can't explain or justify anymore. I mean, while at home we not only deny God, but we openly mock him. Our pulpits are silent. Because we don't -- as a pastor, we can't upset our tax exempt status. If I say something that might offend somebody, I could lose some tithing revenue. And if I didn't serve these people in this nice new church that the bank owns, who will serve them? You know, in today's world it's just best want to say the hard things. And so Christians, Jews, agnostics, atheists, turn a blind eye to the lies and the double dealings in our everyday life, in the life all around us, and in both parties in Washington.

We allow those in Washington to actually claim and enforce violations of class two lookalike firearms. That's a finger gun, if you don't know. The class two firearms in school. They're lookalike firearms. That sends our children to jail. While forcing Common Core nonsense math and testing on the remaining students so all the friends of Jeb Bush and Bill Gates can enrich themselves with the $30 per pupil testing. After we're done with that, they graduate, without the ability to reason, read, or think. And then we strap them with an out-of-control college loan that they have absolutely no chance of ever paying off.

And that's the only loan that can't be forgiven. But that loan is in exchange for a meaningless diploma for a job that doesn't or soon won't exist. Slaves, America. Welcome to slavery. Ignorant, growing hateful. Tragic and unnecessary.

Because we all pretend we're ignorant and say, what the hell is going on? What happened?

I could tell you, but the national attention span now is at about four and a half seconds. Not kidding. The attention span of a goldfish. A goldfish is longer than the attention span of most American's attention span. So I'll cut to the chase and tell you what's going on. Where there is a lack of vision, the people shall perish. The press reported the president huddled in private tonight to discuss Baltimore. What is there to discuss, Mr. President? You say you admire Dr. Martin Luther King, well, maybe you should damn well start acting like Dr. Martin Luther King, Mr. Obama. Yes, Mister. Not president. Because you're not acting like the president.

Maybe you should teach and take his oath of nonviolence. Or do you not agree with that vote of -- that oath of nonviolence? Oh, well. This time it's different. The police acted stupidly. This is sick!

It is sad. And it is a waste of life.

We as Americans should be running in to help those in Nepal. That's what we should be focusing on. We should be running in to help those Christians who are losing their children every day in the Middle East. Instead, let me be real honest. We're seeing a publicity stunt.

It wasn't started as a publicity stunt. But it will end up a publicity stunt. Probably to assist maybe Mr. O'Malley to win over the American first lady. The American royalty, Hillary Clinton.

In fear that we need somebody else besides her highness to beat the other royal that us subjects can look forward to and watch them as they enrich themselves as the Bushes, Clintons, and Obamas have. All the world is, but a stage. And we are watching theater of the highest caliber play out thanks to the labor unions.

To quote Poe, the play, the tragedy called man. And its hero. The conqueror worm.

The actor should know how it ends. The actor should also never forget that it is -- it's a union house. So don't touch anything without the members of the local stagehand guild. Just do as you're told and everything will be fine.

When I was growing up, I voted for my first president. I remember that president at one point said, it's morning in America.

It's sundown in America. Are we brave enough? Are we smart enough? Are we humble enough? Are we committed enough to make it through the long darkness? To renew our promise to each other and our country. So the next generation can greet the morning sun when it is morning in America again.

'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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