Success! State Department Gives In to Pressure to Declare Christian Genocide

March 18, 2016

Writer

Mark Burnett delivered an impassioned plea on Glenn's radio program last week for Americans to demand the State Department declare what ISIS is doing to Christians in the Middle East a genocide.

Burnett joined Glenn again on Friday to share the results.

The House of Representatives voted 393-0 to approve the measure, and with the added pressure of the petition at StopTheChristianGenocide.org, the State Department gave in and made the declaration on Thursday.

Watch the clip of Glenn's conversation with Burnett or read the transcript below.

Positive Pressure

GLENN: We have really, really good news. Secretary of State John Kerry and the US State Department has declared that what's happening to the Christians in the Middle East is indeed genocide. Mark Burnett who is a leader on this, him and his wife Roma Downey have been working on this and dedicating their life to saving the Christians. And Roma and Mark are leaders on this front, and we are thrilled to have Mark on the phone to share this good news.

Hi, Mark, how are you?

MARK: Hi, Glenn. And I want to thank you and your subscribers, your listeners, because you guys made a huge difference in the last week.

It was so much pressure that there was a historic 393 votes to zero affirmation in the House, which really -- yesterday, in fact, John Kerry made that decision that the United States of America would declare it genocide. So I'm so grateful to you and everybody who follows you.

Language Matters

GLENN: So, Mark, here is the thing: In the old days, like, I don't know, five years ago even, language mattered. Tell me why this matters now that the United States has declared this genocide and it's going to change something.

MARK: Well, a couple of things. Well, several things. One thing is, it now means, if you are a member of ISIS or any such group and even 20 years from now, we find you, you are going to trial for genocide.

GLENN: For war crimes.

MARK: Another thing is that now there needs to be a place at the bargaining table for the Christian community. You know this Glenn. You've dealt with it.

For centuries, these Christian communities have been in towns and villages and have been in entire towns, entire regions, and because of ISIS, they've all fled or been killed and kicked out of their rightful Christian homeland.

The new borders are about to be drawn in the next few years. These Christian communities deserve and rightfully now will get a place at the bargaining table.

GLENN: So what you're saying is kind of -- I mean, I don't expect you to be this dramatic, but you have a shot of kind of what happened with Israel and the Jews after World War II. You have the chance of actually having their own control over their own lands.

MARK: Absolutely. And you should know that David Saperstein, who is the head of -- in United States, he's the head of religious freedom in the United States. Obviously, he's -- we all know that his last name is Jewish, and he stepped up in this and was a big voice to help the Christian community. And obviously, any Jew would know what "genocide" means to a great people.

And I think the biggest -- such a historic day, and I know from working so hard from the behind the scenes, this was touch-and-go. And you and your listeners made a huge difference.

Thank you, Glenn. I'm going to tell you something that's going to annoy you a little bit, which is, in the statement though -- this is so Glenn Beck going to get angry now.

It had a sentence, which said, "But this doesn't mean we're going to take any action."

GLENN: Yeah. So here's -- so, Mark, are so here's the question I have. And that's really my first question. Words don't really seem to matter.

But let me ask you this. You know because we've been working side by side to get these Christians out to any country that will take them. Will this help us negotiate with other countries to get these Christians a place to go?

MARK: Yes. It has to. Also, even though the State Department has added a sentence to the declaration, yes, we agree, this is genocide against Christians. However, it doesn't mean the US will do anything about it.

Well, the next thing we're pushing is, when you declare genocide against any group, and now it's been specifically about the Christians. You have to do something. The world knows what that word means. That's why the Department of State was so nervous about declaring genocide. But they've done it now. They cannot put the genie back in the bottle.

The Importance of Declaration

GLENN: I will tell you that in doing research on the genocide that happened in the 1940s with, you know, the Hungarians and the Jews and the homosexuals and the gypsies and you name it, the United States would not declare that genocide. Up until 1944, they wouldn't even look at it. They had all the information. This is a huge step for the United States at this point to say, "Yes. We've looked at it. And it is genocide."

MARK: Yes. It's amazing. And I'm so grateful. Listen, I've been friends of yours -- Roma and I friends of yours for a long time. And we love you. And we love what you stand for. And thank you. Because, yes, it has made -- it is historic. And I have to tell you, I didn't even know the last minute what was going to happen. I was so grateful when -- it passed 393-0.

And Thursday, for -- you know, on St. Patrick's Day, yesterday, for the Secretary of State to agree with that. Now we need to gather -- as a community, the Christian community, a powerful community, if we want to be, we need to take that designation and make sure something now happens to give our Christian brothers and sisters in Syria and Iraq a way they can live their lives without being forced to deny Jesus.

The Power of Transformation and the Spirit of God

GLENN: Can I ask you a question? You're a guy who up until recently has just been kind of -- you know, you were the guy who made reality television. What is it that changed in you that made you -- because I know, everything that you do now is dedicated to doing good and doing right. What happened?

MARK: Yes. It really shifted on making the Bible serious. I think it would be hard for anybody who is smart to be spending years taking the risk of bringing the Bible to prime time television, which means reading it every day, thinking about it, being part of the church community, to not be affected. It's supernatural. There's a natural world and a supernatural world. And I believe the Holy Spirit is a supernatural part of faith and Christianity. And it affected me.

And the good news is, that's a good question. But in the end, that's what it must be. And I'm just glad that it happened because it's given me more of a genuine purpose. Yeah, I'm making a lot of hit shows. But the Boy, Survivor, Shark Tank, all our shows, they're doing great. And I still love doing that. But in my rest of my time, I'm focused on more important things like this. And I'm just grateful for my relationship with you and that you've stepped up so quickly and that your listeners, your subscribers have made such an impact

GLENN: I will tell you, Mark, there have been a lot of TV greats in your position. You will not only be remembered for changing television, but you in the end will be remembered as a great humanitarian, somebody who actually did something because you believed it. And it is good to see a guy like a -- I don't know. A Jimmy Stewart or an Audrey Hepburn or a -- you know, somebody like that, Frank Capra, that is back in Hollywood and can be a real positive for good values.

Thanks, Mark, I appreciate it. God bless.

MARK: Thank you. God bless you. Thank you.

Featured Image: United States Secretary of State John Kerry attends the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict at ExCel on June 13, 2014 in London, England. The four-day conference on sexual violence in war is hosted by Foreign Secretary William Hague and UN Special Envoy and actress Angelina Jolie (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)

'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

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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.

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

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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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