Doc & Skip: On the Ground Reporting From Iowa

February 02, 2016

Writer

Doc & Skip phoned in from Iowa Monday morning to share their experiences on the ground in Iowa. The duo attended both Republican and Democrat caucuses, offering interesting comparisons and discussing quite a range of topics, including the real story in Iowa, Mike Huckabee's plan B and tidbits about several other "lower tier" candidates (hint: Jeb Bush got booed).

Interestingly, the two asked Bernie Sanders supporters to define socialism and communism. When they asked Doc the difference between the two, he had a stellar answer: "About a year and a half."

Listen to the full segment below:

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

GLENN: They'll give -- because I'm totally sincere about that. No, I really mean that. Totally sincere.

All right, let's go to Doc and Skip.

DOC: Glenn, you mentioned Mike Huckabee. What he said about him. About an hour before the Iowa caucus, because we're here in Des Moines, actually HEP Altune, outside of Des Moines, but about an hour before, he was on a local radio station being interviewed, Donald Trump, and, again, he sings the praises of Mike Huckabee. He comes out, "Mike Huckabee, great guy. He came out to the event I had. Great guy."

SKIP: Rick Santorum too. Like you said, all you have to do is kiss the ring.

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: Well, I think he's trying to get Mike Huckabee's -- and Mike is going to endorse Donald Trump.

JEFFY: Well, those two ended up speaking at his opposing rally to the debate, so --

DOC: Here's what we heard from a friend of a friend who knows somebody who saw Ferris HEP pass out at 31 Flavors last night, that Mike Huckabee is now -- and this is not going to be a surprise, but officially has been for the last couple of weeks, jockeying for that VP week from somebody. And then you know Trump is a deal-maker. I don't know if Trump is willing to do it, but that's what Mike is thinking. Mike is looking for a -- he's playing the base on -- Fox is up, you know. Where is he going to go?

GLENN: So are you thinking that somebody is going to want that whopping 2 percent or 4 percent?

DOC: No.

STU: He's a deal-maker, but he's not stupid. He won't sell the VP slot for 4 percent.

GLENN: No, that's ridiculous.

DOC: Maybe he's ambassador to Uruguay or something like that.

STU: Yeah. Have you guys been able to track down and meet any one of Gilcrestmorelandson's 12 votes?

DOC: No, they're very scattered throughout the state, the way we understand. We put out an all HEP points bulletin for them, but we haven't got any one of the 12.

SKIP: Sorry. Go ahead, Glenn.

GLENN: No, please, you.

SKIP: I was going to say, yeah, at this point, we can chalk it up to a statistical anomaly that he even got any points at this points.

STU: He really did -- I'm not joking. He legitimately got 12 votes statewide. Twelve.

PAT: Literally 12?

STU: Literally 12.

GLENN: Come on. That's more than I thought.

PAT: No way. He got 12 votes?

(laughter)

DOC: Do you realize "other" got 116?

(laughter)

PAT: "Other" beat Jim Gilmore?

GLENN: Pat, put two fingers up. Right there, he got that many people in Iowa. That many.

PAT: That many. That's crazy.

SKIP: Essentially, Glenn, you got more votes than he did.

GLENN: That's crazy. That's crazy.

PAT: That's the real story of the night then. Jim Gilmore -- you got to try to only get 12 votes. That's hard to do.

STU: That's very hard.

PAT: Seriously.

GLENN: So Doc and Skip, you're in Iowa. You did one of the campaign rally things last night.

DOC: No, we went to one of the caucuses. Precinct 76. And we actually got to sit in and witness both the Democrats caucusing and the Republicans caucusing. And it's really a fascinating procedure.

The Democrats just get up, and they all start speechifying. Everybody in the room starts yelling to try to convince people to come over to their side and support their candidate.

The Republicans, a little more refined. They sit down. One person stands up. Just anybody there that is representing or wants to speak on behalf of the person they're supporting stand up and speak for three minutes. And then they do a written vote, and that's the end of it.

They go down the list and they're like, "Okay. Anybody for Ted Cruz?" By the way, it was like four to one in our precinct, the group sitting there for Ted Cruz. Guy stands up and speaks. Trump. Everybody goes down the list.

Then they go, okay. There was one person in there for Mike Huckabee. Chris Christie? No. Carly Fiorina? No. Jeb Bush? And the place busts out in laughter. I'm not kidding.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh. Did you get that on tape?

DOC: They laughed.

GLENN: Wow.

DOC: They were like, "Okay. Let us just move on."

GLENN: How many people did Jeb get?

PAT: Well, he only had 3 percent, right? Did he have 3 percent of the vote? Last time I saw he was at 2 or 3 percent. Really bad.

GLENN: This is the real story. The real story on both sides: The establishment, Washington, the Democrats and the Republicans are over. It's just over.

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: You put Hillary Clinton in, there's going to be nothing left of the Democratic Party. You put an establishment guy into the office, there will be nothing left of the Republican Party. Nothing.

DOC: We sat down and talked to a bunch of Democrats. They didn't know who we are. We said, hey, why are you supporting Bernie? Why are you supporting Hillary? They said a lot of things where you could tell they were buying into the talking points. You know, well, we need this. We need that. One old lady said, "Well, it's time for a woman, so a woman can finally make the same as a man." And I was like, "Okay. That's been disproven. Got it."

But then several of us told us about how poor they were. And it wasn't about just getting free stuff. These people were really poor. One lady told us how she lost her daughter last year because she didn't have health care. She couldn't afford it.

And another lady has a brain tumor and says, "I can't afford the medicine. It was $700 a month."

And another old lady said she can't afford her medicine. These people are saying, "I'm here because I don't know what else to do."

And it occurred to me, this is lost on the Republicans. If you don't want to this to be a competition anymore, then you've got to actually put forth a plan to fix the economy. And they're not doing it. I mean, they're in it for the same talking points. You know, we're conservative. And values. And the party of personal freedoms or whatever. But where are the big ideas? Where are the people leading that are saying, we are going to pass a balanced budget amendment? We're going to do true tax reform. We're going to shut down the Department of Education. And put learning online. Where are those ideas?

PAT: Well, Ted Cruz.

GLENN: That's what I've been hearing him say on the campaign trail the whole time. The problem is that nobody covers him.

PAT: Yeah. And they don't talk about his tax plan.

GLENN: No. 10 percent tax plan.

PAT: 10 percent tax plan.

GLENN: And when you want to talk about creating jobs, the thing with creating jobs is his idea of, I'm going to get rid of the EPA. I'm going to get rid of the bureaucracy to be able to create the jobs. I mean, that's the secret here, is Donald Trump says, "I'll make America great because I'm going to manage Washington better."

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: Donald Trump is saying -- I mean, Ted Cruz is saying, "There's no managing Washington better. Get Washington out of the way."

PAT: Right. Right.

GLENN: And that's what will create the jobs. But nobody is talked like that anymore.

DOC: No. But they have to explain it to these people. They have to sit down and say, "Guys, this is the way forward. We have to do it this way."

GLENN: But, you know what, play the cut where CNN asked the socialists, the people who are voting for a socialist, what is the definition of a socialist?

VOICE: Can you define socialism?

VOICE: Socialism?

PAT: No.

VOICE: Can you define socialism?

VOICE: Can I define socialism?

VOICE: Probably not. If I'm being totally honest.

VOICE: Socialism. Oh, boy, I don't think I can.

VOICE: Like Social Security. Roads. Medicaid, depending on the form that it takes. Anything that sort of comes together (?) and is publically funded through our government would be socialism. I might be wrong. So if you make me look like a fool on the news, I'll forgive you for it.

VOICE: Hillary Clinton, no, you can't. (?) you couldn't dream. It's nothing wrong with dreaming. You want to teach our kids to dream. Because you cannot dream. You can't dream. And it's possible for a political revolution.

PAT: Keep at mind, that's at a Bernie Sanders rally. That's at the big Bernie Sanders get together, and none of them know what the hell --

DOC: You guys think they can't dream?

GLENN: And that's not Fox News doing that, that's CNN doing that. They don't have any idea what socialism is. (?)

SKIP: The headlines are going to go viral with that headline. Media Matters is already writing up that post.

GLENN: It's amazing. It's amazing.

STU: We find that out on More-On Trivia.

PAT: No one knows what it is?

STU: It's like a social network when you socialize. (?)

DOC: Debbie Wasserman Schultz doesn't know what it is.

STU: To Chris Matthews' credit, nobody wants to answer. (?)

SKIP: Nobody has been able to answer that.

GLENN: Here's the answer, it is the step between capitalism and communism. That's what the answer is.

DOC: When they say what's the difference? I say, about a year and a half. It's a step in the process. On the way there.

PAT: That's good.

GLENN: Let me show you now Ben Sasse. Ben Sasse was asked to define conservatism. What does it mean to be a conservative? He answered it less than 90 seconds. We'll go to that in just a second.

Featured Image: Screenshot from The Glenn Beck Program

'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 Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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?

Glenn's Show Prep

Doc & Skip: On the Ground Reporting From Iowa

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

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.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Picking up his torch

Two turning points, decades apart

A time for courage

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

From Muhammad to Marx

Gifts from God, not the state

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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?

Do you think the Gen Z support for Trump is an opportunity for conservatives to win them over with anti-establishment reforms that preserve liberty?