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Glenn's Show Prep

What the Election Should Be: Bernie Sanders Versus Ted Cruz

January 25, 2016
Ted Tuttle

Editor

A lot happened over the weekend. Glenn went to Iowa and officially endorsed someone he hopes will be the next President of the United States. Unlike what some headlines would lead you to believe, he did not endorse Bernie Sanders.

"The press is reporting that I like Bernie Sanders over Donald Trump," Glenn said Monday on The Glenn Beck Program. "Would I vote for Bernie Sanders over Donald Trump? No, I wouldn't. I'll vote third party."

He went on to correct the misrepresentations from the media.

"What I did say this weekend is, 'Here's what the election should be: The election should be Bernie Sanders versus Ted Cruz.' Because here's two honest men who are telling you exactly who they are, exactly what they believe and exactly what they'll do," Glenn said.

Unlike Martin O'Malley and Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders isn't trying to hide the fact that he's a complete socialist.

"Let's be really, really clear---the truth matters," Glenn said.

Glenn also shared a moment he had with his family over the weekend, explaining to his children what he thinks will complete America's fundamental transformation.

I sat down at the dinner table last night with my children. My older children and my whole family, we get together on Sundays, and we eat with the children and the grandchildren. And I said, "If we have Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, or Donald Trump, kids, I can't tell you what America looks like in four years. But the fundamental transformation is complete."

Because the fundamental transformation of this country that Barack Obama talked about was making---finishing Woodrow Wilson's dream, making this a place where it's just an administrator. Congress doesn't really matter. It's all about the whims of the president of the United States and what he can get done with his phone and his pen. That is what has been happening for the last 100 years, and it's been happening in both parties.

Listen to the segment from radio or read the transcript below for more. Start at 7:34.

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

GLENN: I've pledged, as Thomas Jefferson said, on the altar of God, to do all that I can to stand against tyranny. Because I have pledged to many in this audience eyeball to eyeball, my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor. And more importantly, because of my children.

I sat down at the dinner table last night with my children. My older children and my whole family, we get together on Sundays, and we eat with the children and the grandchildren. And I said, "If we have Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, or Donald Trump, kids, I can't tell you what America looks like in four years. But the fundamental transformation is complete." Because the fundamental transformation of this country that Barack Obama talked about was making -- finishing Woodrow Wilson's dream, making this a place where it's just an administrator. Congress doesn't really matter. It's all about the whims of the president of the United States and what he can get done with his phone and his pen. That is what has been happening for the last 100 years, and it's been happening in both parties.

I said this weekend -- the press is reporting that I like Bernie Sanders over Donald Trump. No. Would I vote for Bernie Sanders over Donald Trump? No, I wouldn't. I'll vote third party.

Do I think Bernie Sanders will be better for the country than Donald Trump? No, I think they're both a disaster. For completely different reasons. But what I did say this weekend is, here's what the election should be. The election should be Bernie Sanders versus Ted Cruz. Because here's two honest men who are telling you exactly who they are, exactly what they believe, and exactly what they'll do.

Bernie Sanders, unlike O'Malley, unlike Hillary Clinton, who will play around the corner and say, "Oh, well, we're not social -- we're not socialists at all. That socialism. Stop being so racist. Stop being so antiwoman by calling Hillary Clinton a socialist. I'm not socialist. What? I'm hiding all of my papers from college on Saul Alinsky. Saul, who? What?" She's lying to you. And let's be really, really clear, the truth matters.

And as I said in my speech this weekend, here's one truth that is self-evident that needs to be spoken. Hillary Clinton should be in prison, not running for president. She should be in prison.

If you and I did what she has admitted to doing, we would number prison. We are a nation of laws and not men. But, see, that is the final transformation. That is the fundamental transformation that Barack Obama has wanted, that we are a nation of men and not laws, that men make the decision when they're in office. And Donald Trump has said that he will -- he'll still do executive orders; his will just be good. Not constitutional: Good.

I went to Iowa against my own self-interests to endorse Ted Cruz this weekend, to break something that I have sworn that I would never do: Endorse somebody for president. Because I think we're at the end, gang. This is it.

What happens in Iowa in nine days may -- may mean the difference between our country surviving as a constitutional republic or not. Are you for the Constitution of the United States of America? And will you protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America from all enemies, foreign and domestic?

Ted Cruz was -- was born for this time. He was raised for this time. He memorized the Constitution when he was 13. He can still quote it back.

And America is angry. And it's only going to get worse if we play into the anger. We never make a good decision when we're angry. The press wants Donald Trump. They want Donald Trump to be the candidate on the Republican side because they're going to unleash hell on him.

Now, whether he wins or loses at that point doesn't matter to me. If he is the candidate, he has destroyed the Republican Party because then you don't stand for principles. You stand only for winning and the same kind of progressive ideas.

If he wins the presidency, you can kiss the Constitution goodbye, just as much as you can with Hillary or Bernie Sanders. Something that I've warned since I was on Fox. I'm consistent. If you are thinking about voting for Ben Carson, who is a really good man -- I like Ben. If you're thinking about Marco Rubio, who is a really good man, I like Marco. If you're thinking about voting for Rand Paul -- I like them. But I have to tell you. They do not have a chance of winning in Iowa. And if Donald Trump puts 13 points ahead of number two, it's over. Donald Trump will be the G.O.P. candidate. I'm convinced of it. Unless he implodes. But we've been saying that for a while.

He got up this weekend and he said -- and I quote: I could shoot people on Fifth Avenue, and I won't lose a vote. The hubris on that is stunning. To think that you could say, "Yes, my people are lemmings. It doesn't matter what I do. I could shoot people, and they won't abandon me." Oh, my gosh. It's stunning and dangerous.

But people want to win. And if he's 15 points, 13 points, 15 points ahead of number two in Iowa, it's over. And so I went to Iowa this weekend to look those people in the eye and say, "Can you give America a chance? Can you give the rest of America a chance to have their vote count?" Because the media -- even if it's close -- I think if -- I think if Cruz won by three points, the media will say, "You know what, he wasn't expecting to win in Iowa anyway and, I mean, that's an evangelical -- for him to do that great, it's almost really a win anyway." And then he'll win by ten points in New Hampshire, and then it's over.

Now, I hope I'm wrong. I don't think I am.

I know I'm not wrong on Ted Cruz. Might be wrong on Donald Trump. Hope I am. But I know I'm not wrong on Ted Cruz.

PAT: You're not wrong on Donald Trump either.

(chuckling)

Featured Image: Screen shot from The Glenn Beck Program.

Remembering D-Day: We are called to the same standard

Universal History Archive / Contributor | Getty Images

79 years ago today, my grandfather jumped out of a plane. He was 17 years old when he joined the 101st Airborne Division, and at the ripe age of 18, he boarded a C-47 aircraft with the rest of his company destined for Normandy. On June 6, 1944, he jumped out of that plane onto Utah Beach, becoming a part of what would become the largest amphibious invasion in military history, Operation Overlord, or, as it's more commonly known, D-Day.

Though only 18, my grandfather was one of the oldest soldiers in his company. He recounted how many, like himself, lied about their age in order to have their shot at fighting for their country. As Omaha Beach veteran Frank Devita recounted:

We were all kids. We were too young to drink. We were too young to vote. And we were too young to die.

And many of them did.

On June 6, 1944, almost 160,000 troops from the United States, the British Commonwealth, and their allies began what would become the ultimate demise of the Third Reich, concluding one of the darkest chapters in human history. 2,500 of these soldiers were American boys who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Normandy, where most of them remain, their bodies never making it back home to the country for which they paid the ultimate price.

2,500 of these soldiers were American boys who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Normandy.

Underwood Archives / Contributor | Getty Images

In an age seemingly devoid of courage and virtue, it is natural to picture these soldiers as the greatest of men. And they were. However, we must remember these exemplars of manhood were boys, young boys, who exhibited the courage and virtue that we so seldom see in those twice their age today.

We must remember these exemplars of manhood were boys.

Remembering D-Day is not only sobering regarding the loss of life and innocence; it's sobering to consider how far our country has strayed from the ideals exemplified by the "greatest generation."

79 years ago, Americans knew what they were fighting for. As a Jewish man born in Berlin, witnessing the rise of fascism and socialism at the expense of individual liberty and the sanctity of life, my grandfather was eager to go back to his birthplace as an American soldier to fight for the fundamental principles of life and liberty that he and his family had been denied in Nazi Germany.

They were some of the lucky individuals who were able to escape—and there's a reason why he and his family chose America as their new homeland. The life and liberty they had been denied in Germany were regarded as sacred in the United States.

Yet, do we still regard these things as sacred?

JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / Contributor | Getty Images

Most of the United States still hold that the sanctity of life is contingent upon convenience and circumstance. Economic policies continue to morph closer to the socialism adopted by the rest of the world in the 20th century, penalizing the success and merit that was once tantalizing to immigrants like my grandfather. Moreover, 2020 extinguished any doubt that the freedoms we hold dear are expendable at the whims of our ruling class.

This isn't the same America that provided refuge to my grandfather's family nor is it the same country that he and his brothers-in-arms fought for.

On this anniversary of D-Day, it is important that we remember the sacrifice given by the young American boys, who became the greatest of men, on the beaches of Normandy. However, perhaps it is just as important to remember that we are called to the very same standard as they so powerfully exemplified: to love our country and the principles of life and freedom that stand in stark contrast to much of the onlooking world and to have the courage to defend it, even if it requires the level courage that these young men were called to.

5 new AI your children may be using and how to counter them

NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

With the rapid emergence of widely available AI, it's no surprise many parents are concerned about how interacting with AI might affect their children. It feels like we are just barely beginning to understand how the internet and social media affect childhood development. Now, we suddenly have a whole new dimension to unpack, with reports of people developing emotional attachments to AI and students using AI to write entire essays. It's no wonder why some parents are starting to feel overwhelmed.

Here are 5 of the most prevalent AI programs discoverable to children and the options parents have to deal with them.

Snapchat “My AI”

Image of chat with MyAI on Snapchat

Snapchat

What is it?

My AI is an AI chatbot built into Snapchat. It's designed to look just like another human user, though it will always stay on top of the "Chat" page and can be identified by a robot emoji on the right side of the screen. The bot can be given a custom name and avatar, answer questions, chat, and provide recommendations, much like ChatGPT—the software that powers My AI, albeit less powerful.

Like ChatGPT, My AI has many biases—typically left-leaning, and is subject to mistakes and inaccuracies. Unlike ChatGTP however, My AI may claim to be a real person and a friend to the user, which might be misleading to a young person. Perhaps most disturbing, it can access your location—provided you allow Snapchat to know your location.

If you want to protect your children from My AI, you have a few different options.

The first is to disable My AI within Snapchat. Naturally, Snapchat has made disabling the bot a premium feature, only available to Snapchat+ subscribers. Assuming your child does not already have a Snapchat+ subscription, you can purchase a one-month subscription for $3.99, disable My AI from the Snapchat+ management screen, then cancel the subscription. Users are reporting that once the subscription ends the bot remains disabled, though note that your child can easily re-enable the feature at any time and it cannot be password protected.

Your other options are to either block or limit the use of the entire app from within the settings of your children's phones or to educate your child on the dangers and nature of AI.

ChatGPT/OpenAI

What is it?

ChatGPT is one of the most popular AI programs available on the internet. Its sophistication and power make it as formidable as it is fascinating. Glenn had a conversation with ChatGPT, which demonstrated its power and intelligence. It's an AI-powered chatbot and much like other chatbots, it can answer questions, chat, and provide recommendations. It can also write essays, do math worksheets, translate back and forth between many languages, write computer code, and much more. Like My AI, it can be inaccurate at times and has major left-leaning biases. The company responsible for ChatGPT, OpenAI, has other AI tools, such as DALL·E 2, an image creation program that utilizes the same AI as ChatGPT.

If you want to protect your children from ChatGPT, you have a few different options.

The first and most important thing to do is to make sure that your children know that using ChatGPT or any other AI to do homework, write essays or complete tests or quizzes IS CHEATING. There have been multiple stories recently about students using ChatGPT to write papers or do homework and the consequences they faced once they got caught. Long story short, it never ends well for the student. Make sure your children understand that although AIs are not humans, using them to complete school work IS STILL cheating.

If you want to prevent your children from accessing ChatGPT altogether, you can block it along with other websites using your web browser's child settings. Here are instructions on how to block websites for your child on Google Chrome.

Replika

What is it?

Replika is an online companion that custom builds an AI "companion," a chatbot with a customizable name and avatar. Though similar to My AI, Replika creates an avatar whose appearance and function is much more lifelike than My AI, and, consequently, more intimate. Replika advertises itself as "The AI companion who cares" and will remember things that are important to you in order to be the perfect "companion."

The app rewards users for time spent talking with their AI companions with points that can be spent on unlocking more clothes, jewelry, hairstyles, accessories, etc., and gives the user the option to skip the points altogether and purchase the digital items with real money, a common tactic in apps and mobile games.

The major thing that sets Replika apart from other chatbots is its ability to "role play," flirt, and send "hot photos." These features, which play a major role in Replika's advertising, are meant to promote Replika's use as a replacement for a "partner."

If you want to protect your children from Replika, you really only have one option.

You can block the app and website on your children's devices. Replika does not have a child mode or any way to disable explicit content, it is either all or nothing.

AI Dungeon

What is it?

AI Dungeon is a spin-off of the popular role-playing game, "Dungeons and Dragons." It's a text-based game where the player chooses or creates a scenario and plays out the scenario with the AI. For example, the player might be cast in the role of a knight and can type out what the knight says and does, and the AI will give text responses to the players' actions in an attempt to create an interactive story.

The game can be played for free, but players can also purchase access to more powerful AI, which in theory creates better stories. Moreover, you can purchase additional game modes. The major concern is that the AI can generate explicit material as well as violent scenarios, which it can describe quite graphically.

If you want to protect your children from AI Dungeon you really only have one option:

You can turn on "safe mode" from within the app settings, but it can easily be deactivated. Your best bet is to block the app on your children's devices.

YouTube

What is it?

It might surprise you to learn that the algorithm that decides what content gets recommended to you on YouTube is AI-powered. It sorts through millions of videos and decides which ones to recommend to you based on many factors, such as the channels you are subscribed to, your watch history, trending videos, etc. The goal of this AI algorithm is to keep you hooked and watching, which generates ad revenue for YouTube.

YouTube is owned by Google, and both companies have a long track record of left-wing biases, which permeates YouTube's algorithm. This can lead to videos about gun safety being labeled as "promoting violence" and videos of drag queens being promoted to children.

If you want to protect your children from the YouTube algorithm, you have a few different options.

You can set up a YouTube Kids account for your children, which gives you a lot of control over what your child can and can not find and watch on YouTube. Be warned, due to YouTube's left lean, videos such as "Drag Queen Storytime" are still available, though the channels that post them can be blocked.

It might take a while to set up properly, and things may get through the cracks, but you could set up a relatively safe YouTube account for your children. The other option, of course, is to block YouTube on your kids' devices, and web browsers, keeping them from accessing it at all.

TAKE THE POLL: Are your CHILDREN using AI?

It feels like lately hardly a week can go by without some new AI advancement—or warning—making headlines, but unless you have been paying VERY close attention you might believe the power of AI is something relegated to technical institutions or Silicon Valley labs and only accessible by the most highly trained computer wizards. But as Glenn has demonstrated, AI can now be accessed by anyone with internet access and can take many different shapes and forms—not just that of the ominous and awkward ChatBot. In fact, you are probably using AI without even realizing it.

If AI can enter into your life without you realizing it, would you even know if your CHILDREN were interacting with it?

We want to hear from YOU. Do you allow your children to use AI? Do you know if they are? Do you use AI? Are you aware of the many shapes and forms AI can take?

Do you use AI?

Do you allow your children to use AI?

Do you know if your children are using AI?

Did you know that AI is integral to the functions of many social media content recommendation algorithms, including YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram?  

Did you know that many messaging platforms your child may be using, like Discord and Snapchat, now have built-in AI chatbots?

Are you aware that AI such as ChatGPT can be easily accessed from any internet browser?

Are you aware that AI such as ChatGPT can be easily used to CHEAT school assignments?

Are you aware that AI applications exist that are meant to replace intimate human relationships and are available on most smartphones?

Are you teaching your children about AI and its potential dangers and misuses? 

5 POWERFUL quotes from Eisenhower's farewell address that still ring true

M. McNeill / Stringer | Getty Images

In Glenn's latest TV special, he mentioned a warning from President Eisenhower's Farewell Address about the dangers of the Military Industrial Complex and its tentacles stretch into every town and every industry across the country. As it turns out, Ike's farewell address was full of the wisdom and foresight of a man who had served in both World Wars and spent his entire life in service to his country.

Here are 5 powerful quotes from Eisenhower's farewell address:

Eisenhower seemed to predict the rise of the internet and social media, which has had the effect of making the world smaller. Unfortunately, Ike's warning was not heeded as "a community of dreadful fear and hate" summarizes social media pretty well. 

Down the long lane of the history yet to be written, America knows that this world of ours, ever growing smaller, must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.

Eisenhower recommended that America's strength be used as a tool to forge diplomatic peace and that our strength should instill confidence in weaker nations' negotiations instead of fear.

The weakest must come to the conference table with the same confidence as do we, protected as we are by our moral, economic, and military strength.

Eisenhower predicted the rise of a "scientific-technological elite" and warned of the danger of these elites holding power and influence over government policy.

In holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.

Eisenhower stressed the importance of diplomacy for a nation as strong as America, whose military strength not only enables more diplomatic solutions but also brings the temptation of fast, "easy" resolutions. 

Together, we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose.

Earlier in the speech, Eisenhower acknowledged the modern need for a ready and prepared military. However, he warns that this new military-industrial complex has the potential to exert its influence upon other sectors of the government, an influence that, by nature, seeks war. 

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.