Which will you choose: Life or Death?

The Christian Holocaust being carried out by ISIS. The Iran nuclear treaty that jeopardizes the future of Israel. The Planned Parenthood scandal that sees baby parts being sold on a petri dish. God could not be making it any clearer on these three stories - do we choose life or do we choose death?

Listen in the opening monologue of today's podcast:

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it may contain errors:

Glenn: I was talking to the Kendrick brothers on television and Louie Gohmert. We had a fascinating conversation off the air. Kendrick brothers are the guys that made the made Fireproof. They just made a brand-new movie called War Room. I saw the movie last night with my family. It is fantastic. Really, really good. And the movie that America really needs to see.

But we were talking with Louie Gohmert. And one of the Kendrick brothers said to me, do you think something is coming here in September? And Louie kind of looked up. And I said, why do you say that? He said, I don't know. I just feel like it is.

And I said, I do. I do. I think something -- whether September, I don't know. I just feel like something -- I really truly believe that we have a red line put in front of us. And I've said this before on the air. But I want you to really hear this. Because I think this is important. And I don't mean it as a country. I mean it as you as an individual and you as a family. I think we have been given a few red lines, three of them, to be specific. And it all revolves around what happened to Moses.

Moses comes out. You know, where is your Moses now? And he goes up. And they make the golden calf. And Charlton Heston throws them down, and they all kind of fall in. Then he says, you have to choose. This mountain is life. This mountain is death. Choose today. Life or death.

Who do you serve? Life or death. That was a really important moment in the Moses story. Okay?

I think that's exactly what's happening to us right now on three fronts: One, ISIS. It's why we're standing on 8/28. Two of these are why we're standing. First one is ISIS.

We are being told to pretty much just ignore them. We're not really going after them at all. We have troops engaged all around the world. But are we really engaged over there? Not really. And we're ignoring them. And what's happening?

Today theres a new video that came out from ISIS where they buried bombs and put people on them kneeling. Now, listen. Think about any of those ISIS videos. If you've never seen the video, I urge you to watch them. Not for the violence, but for the example.

I have not seen one single ISIS video where any of the people are begging for their life. They're not crying. They don't even -- they look frightened, but they -- they look brave in their -- I mean, they look as frightened -- the bravest man in the world would look right before he died. All of them are mumbling something. I would imagine prayers. These guys are amazing. They just released a new ISIS video where they planted a bomb underneath each person that was going to be beheaded. And as soon as they move, they blow up. I mean, it's like 14-year-old boys are coming up with this. It's like a video game to these guys. So we're being told, just ignore them. Christians are being slaughtered. This is the biggest genocide of Christians since the church began after Jesus' death. Do you hear that? They're wiping out all of the Christians in the Middle East and we're not doing anything.

So we are choosing death. By our silence, we are choosing death. The next one is Iran.

41 percent of Democrats support the president's bill. Only 41 percent. Republicans, what is it? It's got to be two. But yet, what is our Congress doing? What is our administration doing? And what have we done to make sure that Congress has the cojones to stand up? What have you done to support Chuck Schumer? Democrats what have you done? Have you risen up to support him? No. Have we? No.

We are choosing -- we're being told, choose Israel or Iran. And we are choosing Iran. Israel, life. Iran, death. Choose.

And then, you know, something that I don't think -- I really truly believe that God is up there going, I can't make it any more clear. There's no way to make clearer. I've got a petri dish with a pile of baby parts. Choose today: Life or the culture of death. Which do you want?

I believe we are sitting at the red line. I believe we are sitting at that Moses moment. Choose you today, who will you serve? Choose today, light or dark. Life or death. Which will it be America? And I'm not talking about changing policy. I am talking about you sitting down at your dinner table and saying to your family today, those three things. Which do we choose? Which will we stand for? Which -- will we be the people that hide people in our basement because we believe in life and we will stand against the evil of the world? Will we stop just skating over the surface?

I truly believe that's coming. If you don't do it, God help us. No, he won't, actually. He won't.

I believe he can do no more for this country if we choose death on those three things. We will get the full ramification of those three things. A culture from Planned Parenthood. A culture of death and destruction. We will lose the blessings of choosing Iran over Israel. And we will have a global caliphate spread like nobody's business. And Christians all around the world will be slaughtered. As well as Jews, homosexuals, and those Muslims who aren't Muslim enough.

I believe we are on the verge of catastrophe, and we are being asked right now as individuals: Choose. This must be a visible moment for you to raise your hand and say, I stand with life. Not all black lives matter. All life matters. Iranian life and Jewish life. Muslim life and Christian life. Atheist life, Christian life. Homosexual life. All life matters.

Will you join us in Birmingham on 8/28? Bring your family and make this historic choice now. Make the choice. Just real quick. The people that are coming. Ruth Graham, Billy Graham's daughter, and Alveda King are going to be marching on each side of me on those historic streets. I don't think there's a better way to kick this off than the two people that kicked it off last time. Billy Graham and Dr. Martin Luther King. And we have their daughters, Alveda King and Ruth Graham coming. Then Johnnie Moore is going to be there. David Barton. General Boykin will be there. Matt Kibbe will be there. Jon Voight will be there. Rafael Cruz will be marching.

Will you? Will you and your family join us? August 28th and 29th in Birmingham, Alabama. You do need tickets. You don't need them for the march. You need them for the event afterwards. They're $10. And you can get them at now.mercuryone.org. Find out all the information about all the activities at now.mercuryone.org or GlennBeck.com. We'll see you in Birmingham on 8/28.

Without civic action, America faces collapse

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Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

I slept through high school civics class. I memorized the three branches of government, promptly forgot them, and never thought of that word again. Civics seemed abstract, disconnected from real life. And yet, it is critical to maintaining our republic.

Civics is not a class. It is a responsibility. A set of habits, disciplines, and values that make a country possible. Without it, no country survives.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Civics happens every time you speak freely, worship openly, question your government, serve on a jury, or cast a ballot. It’s not a theory or just another entry in a textbook. It’s action — the acts we perform every day to be a positive force in society.

Many of us recoil at “civic responsibility.” “I pay my taxes. I follow the law. I do my civic duty.” That’s not civics. That’s a scam, in my opinion.

Taking up the torch

The founders knew a republic could never run on autopilot. And yet, that’s exactly what we do now. We assume it will work, then complain when it doesn’t. Meanwhile, the people steering the country are driving it straight into a mountain — and they know it.

Our founders gave us tools: separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, elections. But they also warned us: It won’t work unless we are educated, engaged, and moral.

Are we educated, engaged, and moral? Most Americans cannot even define a republic, never mind “keep one,” as Benjamin Franklin urged us to do after the Constitutional Convention.

We fought and died for the republic. Gaining it was the easy part. Keeping it is hard. And keeping it is done through civics.

Start small and local

In our homes, civics means teaching our children the Constitution, our history, and that liberty is not license — it is the space to do what is right. In our communities, civics means volunteering, showing up, knowing your sheriff, attending school board meetings, and understanding the laws you live under. When necessary, it means challenging them.

How involved are you in your local community? Most people would admit: not really.

Civics is learned in practice. And it starts small. Be honest in your business dealings. Speak respectfully in disagreement. Vote in every election, not just the presidential ones. Model citizenship for your children. Liberty is passed down by teaching and example.

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We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Start with yourself. Study the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and state laws. Study, act, serve, question, and teach. Only then can we hope to save the republic. The next election will not fix us. The nation will rise or fall based on how each of us lives civics every day.

Civics isn’t a class. It’s the way we protect freedom, empower our communities, and pass down liberty to the next generation.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

'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.

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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 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.