Glenn's plan to restore America begins with 'first principles'

August 19, 2015

WRITER

Millions of Americans believe our nation is in trouble. A troubled economy, attacks on our homeland, corrupt leadership and floundering educational and health care systems threaten to wreak havoc on this country. But everyone views these problems through a different lens - and that's what divides us.

On radio Tuesday, Glenn suggested we establish our "first principles" before even attempting to come together on solutions.

"It is easy to diagnose the problems. It is harder then to prioritize the solutions," Glenn said.

Our nation's founders believed God and the Constitution were their first principles, Glenn said. If you're going to restore America, he explained, those must be your first principles as well.

He then began writing down his own first principles:

1. God.

2. Constitution.

3. Life. (And that means all life. That goes into health care. That goes into war on ISIS. That goes into Planned Parenthood.)

4. Government corruption. (And that goes to limited government and rule of law. That would include immigration.)

Glenn lists his "first principles" during radio, Aug. 19, 2015.

When looking at problems through the lens of these first principles, Glenn found it much easier to know how the problems of our nation should be dealt with.

"You can't fix immigration until you fix corruption. You can't fix corruption until you fix the Constitution. You can't fix the Constitution until you fixed it right with God and you know where those constitutional principles come from," Glenn said.

Watch the segment or read the full transcript below.

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

GLENN: It is easy to diagnose the problems. It is harder then to prioritize the solutions. What are your first principles? Our founders believed God and Constitution were the first principles. So if you're going to restore America, not back to 2000 or 1980 with Ronald Reagan, you're going to restore it back to its first principles, those must be your first principles. That's my goal.

So when I talk about things, you can understand -- this whole -- this whole self-examination here is so I can understand you better. And you can understand me better. And we can stop calling each other traitors. We disagree.

STU: Yeah, look, I certainly never called anyone a traitor. And I know you haven't. But it's out there.

GLENN: No. It's happening online from people.

STU: Certainly.

GLENN: And we will divide ourselves. And we will destroy -- we will be our own worst enemy. We will destroy ourselves.

The difference is the lens. So I think we should look at our lens and say, what are our first principles? My first principles: God, Constitution, life. And that means all life. That goes into health care. That goes into war on ISIS. That goes into Planned Parenthood. Then I would say corruption. Government corruption.

PAT: It's important to have that. Is that what you're saying?

GLENN: No. And that goes to limited government and rule of law.

PAT: Yeah. Which would also include probably immigration.

GLENN: The border. Yeah, it would include the border.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: See, I mean, once you go into first principles, you say what are the problems? You can't fix the -- you can't fix immigration until you fix corruption. You can't fix corruption until you fix the Constitution. You can't fix the Constitution until you fixed it right with God and you know where those constitutional principles come from.

So this is my thinking on -- on Donald Trump. It's not that I don't like the guy. It's not that I -- I mean, I've seen his -- I was watching MSNBC, and they're like, Donald Trump and his crazy immigration policy. And I'm looking at the talking points, and I'm like, I agree with those. So I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy too, MSNBC. Because I agree with those.

STU: MSNBC has confirmed, you are also crazy. That is true.

GLENN: I know that. I know that.

PAT: Yes.

GLENN: So why is it that we're at each other's throats? Because of first principles. And so I tell you my first principles, the question is, what are your first principles? If you want to just fix jobs, we're not going to be able to do that. If you say we just want to fix jobs, well, then that gives Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders the opportunity to fix jobs. Bernie Sanders says he can fix the economy and jobs. Why don't we go for him?

Because his first principles, we disagree with. His first principles are, we live in a collective. Our first principles are all men are created equal. And endowed with things that make them individuals.

So we don't agree with Bernie Sanders, not on policy. On first principles.

I heard something yesterday from Hillary Clinton I thought was astounding. She said -- she was talking to Black Lives Matter people. And it was before I think she was speaking in Ohio. And it was caught on tape behind the scenes. And it was billed as this tense moment between her and Black Lives Matter. Do you have it?

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: Okay. Play it. It's good so far.

VOICE: This is and has always been a white problem of violence. It's not -- there's -- there's not much that we can do to stop the violence against us.

HILLARY: Okay. I understand what you're saying.

(talking over)

VOICE: And also respectfully --

HILLARY: Yeah. Well, respectfully, if that is your position, then I will talk only to white people about how we're going to deal with the very real problems.

VOICE: That's not what I mean. That's not what I mean. That's not what I mean. But, like, what I'm saying is, you -- what you just said was a form of victim blaming. And you were saying what the Black Lives Matter movement --

PAT: Oh, jeez. Help me!

GLENN: Listen. Listen.

PAT: It's agonizing, first of all. But there's more.

GLENN: I know. There's more. Listen to what she says, not what he says.

HILLARY: Look, I don't believe you change hearts. I believe you change laws. You change allocation of resources. You change the way systems operate.

GLENN: Stop. This is why respectfully, I say Hillary Clinton is possibly the Antichrist. I'm just saying. This is why I think she's wrong for the country. What she just said. I don't believe you change hearts. I do. I believe you could have all the policies. All of the laws in the world. But until you change hearts, you change nothing. You only have to have a bigger and bigger police force if you don't change hearts. Okay.

Her first principles are wrong. Her first principle is, government will solve this with the right policy.

PAT: Yes. Yes.

GLENN: So I don't hate Hillary Clinton. I honestly don't think she's the Antichrist.

PAT: But that falls right in line with her first principles. Her first principle is government.

GLENN: Correct. So this is what we have to concentrate on. When we talk to people who are Trump supporters: What are your first principles? And not in an accusation way or anything else. Knowing that we'll disagree on things: What are your first principles? And does he satisfy those first principles?

'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?

NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

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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