Glenn breaks down the real-life 'Game of Thrones' playing out in Russia

June 15, 2015

WRITER

In January, The Root: Red Storm laid out the shocking and terrifying geo-political developments emerging in Russia. Since TheBlaze aired Red Storm we are seeing our predictions play out at an alarming rate. On Monday's Glenn Beck Program, Glenn revealed the next phase of Russia’s aggressive agenda and connected all of the dots, showing you exactly how their plans will shock the globe and cause a worldwide domino effect.

Below is a highlight from the episode, focused on the shifting balance of power in Putin's own version of 'Game of Thrones'.

Below is a rush transcript of this segment

This is a critical episode that goes into addition of the episode we did back in January where we showed you the shocking and quite frankly terrifying developments emerging out of Russia. It was during our Root episode Red Storm Rising, which we are now making all of those episodes available on demand at TheBlaze.com/RedStorm.

Now, in that, we tried to give you history, but there were things that were happening at the time that didn’t make any sense, and we said we’re going to have to follow this and watch it because it could be even more dangerous depending on which way it goes. We predicted that one of two things would happen, and they’re this: Either Putin would continue his military aggression, and he would start annexing more regions throughout Europe as he did in the Ukraine, or he would be pushed back, and that would actually anger the more dangerous radical fascists such as the guy we introduced you to, this guy, Aleksandr Dugin—really dangerous radical.

He runs the University of Moscow. He is really a bad guy. He thinks that Hitler just didn’t go far enough. This guy loves fascism. If this guy gets pissed off, it will lead to even more violence and possibly a coup attempt on Putin. Those were the two things: He either grows and becomes stronger, or things start to split up, and he’s in trouble.

The only thing we didn’t know was the timing, how long would it take before all of these Russian stacking dolls start to choose sides? It turns out not very long. It’s almost as if the Kremlin is watching TheBlaze because just days after our episode aired, almost on cue, all the dominoes began to actually fall. As it turns out, we find out now from the New York Times that they are watching TheBlaze.

The New York Times reported that Putin has hired armies of Internet trolls to spam and discredit the comment section of a few news sites, one of which was TheBlaze. So, they are watching. But here’s how the series of events began almost immediately, and I want to go over tonight five key moments that we’re going to focus on tonight.

At the time of the episode, Putin’s military aggression was running wild, and everybody was in his camp, especially the radicals. The radical fascists wanted to rebuild mother Russia again. So, here’s the first key moment. It happened on February 11. Suddenly, Putin, who is becoming extraordinarily aggressive, reverses course. For some reason, he backs up.

First key moment, he agrees to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Now, here’s why that’s important. Everybody thinks Putin now has given up on what he started. You might not. I might not, but all of these guys do. They thought he was going to begin annexing all of the other regions that Russia once had, and they were hoping for more military action, especially these guys—more tanks, more bloodshed, more war, but instead, Putin says, “Niet,” and puts on the brakes.

That’s when the fascist radicals really begin to step up. They begin to try to push Putin into battle, and they are now angry that you won’t. We’re talking about Aleksandr Dugin is one of the key players. It’s people like Dugin that actually have the ability to start a movement and rally other fascist radicals and possibly stage a coup to take Putin out. And who doesn’t want to see fascists and Vladimir Putin in a bloody battle for power? That could be deadly.

Putin knows because this is a pattern that we have seen with all of the other rulers of Russia in the last hundred years. He knows that by abandoning the military actions, he is putting a huge target on his back for fascist radicals. He knows he’s just triggered the Russian Game of Thrones. So, what does he do? Who is sticking with him?

Well, we know Dugin is out. Putin’s top priority quickly became let’s build a coalition to protect my empire, so he brings us to the second big moment, transfer of power from the Federal Security Service to the Ministry of the Interior. What are those? Well, he started to strip the FSB of its power. The FSB is the KGB. It’s the Russian version of the Secret Service—unbelievably powerful.

Putin said no more power for you, and he shifted all of their power, which takes them out with Dugin. He shifted it over to this, the Ministry of the Interior. The Ministry of the Interior is like our Department of Homeland Security, so you have like the CIA and the Department of Homeland Security. He’s just stripped their CIA of all their power, and he’s given all of that to the Department of Homeland Security.

Now, this is our Homeland Security on steroids. They have a 200,000 strong military army, and they have already the CIA type intel operation. So, Putin is putting all of the chips with these guys. Now, here is one of Putin’s top henchmen, Zolotov. Right, is this Zolotov? No, which one is Zolotov? I can’t see. This guy, right? Viktor Zolotov, Putin is putting him in charge of this organization. Those 200,000 federal troops are now at his disposal.

Now, think how handy it would be if anybody decides to rise up. There’s a social unrest that happens or an internal threat to Putin, all of a sudden he’s got a military guy in charge who used to be, by the way, his personal bodyguard for years. Putin completely trusts him, needs him now more than ever, somebody that can run this agency and put any unrest down.

Putin knows now he’d better be watching his back. The FSB and the MVP do not have a good history together. They are rivals, and they are constantly locked in power struggles, so you can imagine they’re not happy when Putin gave all the power here. Then on February 27, something crazy happened, an outspoken and influential critic of Putin was assassinated in cold blood on the streets of Moscow.

This was in our episode. You remember this? This was the hit job caught on city surveillance cameras. Theories swirled. Many people jumped to the conclusion that this is the work of Putin. We said at the time we don’t know. He is a Putin critic, and being a Putin critic is kind of dangerous business, and it wouldn’t be the first time that somebody was an opponent of Putin all of a sudden was killed. Nevertheless, what happened?

It’s a headache to Putin. He doesn’t want to have to deal with this. He’s in the news again having to deny I slaughtered a political opponent. But what happened immediately after the murder changed everything, and very few people, but our staff did, paid close attention, and it happened on March 8.

Shortly after the assassination of Nemtsov, Putin’s new enemies in the FSB claimed they had two suspects. Both of them were Chechens. The first one is one of the president of Chechnya, one of the president’s top commanders. So, why does this matter? Because the president is Kadyrov. He’s in the camp of Putin. He’s not over here. So, these guys say the top commander of this man is the one who killed Nemtsov. It’s an implication that this was all set up now by these guys to hurt Putin and potentially unleash retaliation.

Well, Putin’s ally immediately defended the suspect in custody, saying that’s not true, he’s a Russian patriot. He’d never do anything to harm the state. So, now he’s in this camp. He was desperately trying to let it be known that they were framed, and Putin was desperate as well. He responded by awarding Kadyrov one of Russia’s highest awards, the Order of Honor. So, he is strengthening his friends.

The world dismissed this assassination as just another chance to joke about Putin, but it appears more likely it is the opening salvo to something much, much bigger. Then a few short weeks later, the major power structures in Russia, these guys, had to choose sides—are you over here or are you here? It’s Putin and his Department of Homeland Security or it’s the former KGB and fascist radicals.

Which brings us to the fifth and final key moment, another one that the rest of the media just jokingly covered. March 6, Putin mysteriously goes missing for ten days. At the time, we didn’t know why, but when you look at the series of events that we now know happened just prior to his disappearance, the likely reason seems to come clearer into focus because if you’re Vladimir Putin, you just don’t vanish. You’re a big doll. You just don’t vanish off the world stage for ten days, not if you’re him.

Can you imagine if the president was not seen, nobody knew where he was, he wasn’t at the White House, he was just gone for ten days? First of all, a leader like this has far too big of an ego for that. The most likely scenario now is that Putin was being held somewhere against his will. It was a show of force by the FSB, Dugin, or perhaps another influential fascist radical. They wanted to make sure that Putin got back into the business of taking more land and restoring Russia to her previous glory. Whatever the reason, you can bet that Putin wasn’t off writing his memoirs in some remote cabin. Something went down. We don’t know what, but it looks like the fascists took him. There’s even more evidence that suggests this was part of an ongoing power struggle among the elites, and we’ll share that with you next.

For more on tonight's episode and get the rest of the story, watch on TheBlaze TV.

'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 America’s next generation trading freedom for equity?

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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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