Two members of Glenn's staff prepare to depart for the Middle East, right to the front lines of ISIS

October 01, 2015

Editor

Glenn announced the upcoming departure of two of his staff members for the Middle East on his TV show Wednesday night. Glenn's head writer, Dan Andros, and his chief researcher, Jason Buttrill, made the decision to travel there so the audience could visually experience what it means to be a Christian in that part of the world.

"I'm going to be hobbling here for a couple of weeks because two people that I depend on to help me put this show together every day are going away," Glenn said. "This is the first team that we're sending over in the next 8 to 12 weeks."

Glenn described Jason - a former Marine previously on Glenn's personal security detail - as a "warrior," both in the physical sense and spiritually.

Dan was quick to point out, "I'm not a warrior. I am going to be standing behind Jason at all times."

Requesting prayers on their behalf, Glenn said they're going to be "literally on the front lines with ISIS."

Why would they want to do something so potentially dangerous?

Dan explained he felt moved after reading what one refugee said after being kicked out of his community by ISIS.

"He just said, 'I feel like nobody cares,'" Dan said. "My hope for this trip is that you get to meet these people and that it moves more of the country into some sort of action."

Jason agreed, saying, "We want to show everyone that there is something that you can do. Everyone can play their role," Jason said.

Glenn's response?

"This is what I've been saying that we're at a time of heroes," he said.

Watch the dialogue below.

Your browser does not support iframes.

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

JASON: On this issue, now, full disclosure here, we’re not journalists.

GLENN: Good.

JASON: Dan’s a writer, and I’m a researcher. I’m a former military guy. I’m basically a Marine that does research now, and Dan’s a writer. We’re basically just like the audience is. We’re the same. But I think that the whole reason for this is to get two guys that are not journalists, we’re not part of the mainstream media, but we want to show you the same thing that The Root was designed to show, which is what is going on. We want to take the audience on a trip with us to the front lines right there. We want them to say who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys?

GLENN: There are good guys there.

DAN: Because that’s what the media does is they just show you the wreckage. That’s all they want to do is show you the wreckage. What we want to do, since we’re not going in there as one of these guys to just sit there and point to the carnage that’s going on, we want you to see who the good guys are, meet them.

GLENN: They’re heroes.

DAN: Honestly, it’s not like, I know Jason’s just been chomping at the bit to get over there, but it’s not been my dream to go on the front lines against ISIS. I clearly drew the short straw here. But I’ll tell you though, what turned it for me is when I see quotes like, there’s one quote actually in the media that stuck out for me where they interviewed some refugee who got chased out by ISIS. He just said, "I feel like nobody cares." When you just watch the wreckage and you just see some shots and some explosions, it’s easy not to care because it’s just so far away. But when you meet the people and when you get to know them, that’s what my hope is for this trip is that you get to meet these people and that it moves more of the country into some sort of action.

GLENN: This is what I’ve been saying that we’re at a time of heroes. Dan, I’ve known you for 15 years. You’re no hero, and I’m not a hero, not even close.

DAN: We’re not heroes.

GLENN: You’re closer to a hero than we are. We’re not heroes. Can you believe we’re here, where not for money, not for fame, not for anything else, just because I do care, and it’s time for somebody to stand up? That’s amazing.

JASON: And that’s part of the purpose of this trip. We want to show everyone that there is something that you can do. Everyone can play their role.

Five times Glenn had J.D. Vance on his show and where he stands on key issues

CHANDAN KHANNAMANDEL NGAN / Contributor | Getty Images

We finally have an answer to the long-awaited question of who Trump will pick for his running mate, and it's none other than Ohio Senator and friend of the show, J.D. Vance. At the RNC in Milwaukee, Trump officially accepted the party's nomination as the Republican candidate and announced J.D. Vance as his running mate.

Glenn has had Senator Vance on the show several times to discuss everything from DEI to the Southern Border. If you are looking to familiarize yourself with the next potential Vice President, look no further, here are five conversations Glenn had with Trump's VP pick:

Why Biden Won't Stop "Racist" Government DEI Programs, But Trump Would

How Trump’s Trials Could HELP Him in the 2024 Election

Could THIS new Senate bill DOOM a Trump presidency?

MIDTERM UPDATE: What Republicans must do to WIN BACK the Senate

'Greatest risk of a terrorist attack in 20 years': Senator SLAMS 'atrocious' Biden move

How RFK's example can help our nation in the wake of Trump's attack

Rowland Scherman / Contributor | Getty Images

How did you feel last Saturday when you heard the news that a former president of the United States narrowly avoided an assassin's bullet by a mere few inches? Were you angry at the media for their constant demonization of Trump and his conservative contingency? Did you blame the left for curating a political climate that fostered an assassination attempt?

In his immediate reaction to the news, Glenn pointed us back to a similar moment in American history: April 4th, 1968—the day Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

"The best speech I've ever heard given was by RFK Sr. on the day Martin Luther King was killed" - Glenn

Robert F. Kennedy, the father of current independent presidential candidate RFK Jr., was en route to Indianapolis when he heard the terrible news. His security team, expecting violent outrage across the country, asked RFK Sr. to turn around and head back to safety. But as Glenn said, RFK Sr. believed in the good in people and demanded to give his speech. He arrived in Indianapolis Park late in the day, and he addressed the crowd of predominantly black campaign supporters.

There were no riots in Indianapolis that night.

The message RFK Sr. gave that night wasn't one of vengeance, hatred, or hopelessness, but of calm and goodness. He appealed to the best in people. He called for people to set aside their differences, anger, fear, and confusion and instead express love and compassion towards one another. RFK Sr. asked for wisdom and the pursuit of justice so that we might be resolute in our unity as the country faces another difficult chapter.

What we need in this country is love and wisdom and compassion toward one another.

Glenn has made a similar plea to our nation—a plea for unity and not to lash out in fear and anger. Don't use this time to blame your friends and family who disagree with you politically for what happened or to tell them "I told you so!" Instead, reach out with compassion and grace. This is a turning point in American history. Let's turn it upward, away from hatred and violence and towards unison and compassion.

Remembering Corey Comperatore: The man who died at the Trump rally protecting his family

Allyson Comperatore | Facebook

Fortunately, President Trump walked away from his attempted assassination with very minor injuries. The bullet that wounded Trump's ear could have just as easily ended his life, and his survival is nothing short of a miracle.

Sadly, that miracle didn't extend to everyone attending Trump's ill-fated Pennsylvania rally. Three other people were shot. David Dutch and James Copenhaver, both Pennslyavia residents, are thankfully in stable condition. Corey Comperatore, however, tragically died after being shot while protecting his wife and daughter from the hail of gunfire.

“Corey died a hero."

Camperatore, a 50-year-old loving father and husband from Buffalo Township, Pennsylvania leaves behind his daughter Allyson, his wife Helen, sister Dawn, and many other friends and family. Camperatore was a man of service, having spent 43 years as part of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company and had worked his way to becoming the fire chief when he stepped down to spend more time with his daughter.

Corey Comperatore's firefighting gear outside the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company. The Washington Post / Contributor | Getty Images

Corey's friends and family have nothing but good things to say about him, and judging by their testimonies, Corey's final heroic act was consistent with how the volunteer firefighter lived his life.

According to many people who knew Compertore, he was a true patriot who loved his country. He was a fan of President Trump. Compertore was very excited to attend Saturday's rally, which he expressed in his last social media post.

Corey_Comper/X

During his speech addressing the shooting, President Biden expressed his condolences to the Comperatore family, stating that "He was a father. He was protecting his family from the bullets that were being fired.”

Democrat Mutiny? These prominent Progressives and Democratic leaders DEMAND that Biden withdraw

NurPhoto / Contributor, Justin Sullivan / Staff, Cindy Ord / Staff | Getty Images

Biden is still taking hard blows from both sides of the aisle after his abysmal performance in last month's presidential debate. As Glenn pointed out in his post-debate coverage, Biden came across as so incompetent that it has made many Americans scared that, should the country face a major threat, Biden would be unable to respond to it. This includes many Democrats, who are finally admitting that Biden isn't as fit as they have been claiming for the last four years.

Many names have already been suggested as potential replacements for the Democratic nominee, but many people, including some Democrats, don't believe Biden should even stay in office for the election. Here are some prominent progressives and Democratic lawmakers who have called for President Biden's resignation: