Historic Cubs Win Achieves the Impossible: Glenn Talks Sports

November 03, 2016

Writer

The Chicago Cubs achieved the impossible. Okay, yeah, they ended their 108-year-old losing streak by winning the World Series, but more incredibly, they actually got Glenn Beck to talk about sports.

"Is Chicago the only city that has two baseball teams?" Glenn asked Thursday on his radio program.

Brilliant sports talk, no, but sports talk nonetheless.

"No, the Mets and the Yankees, perhaps," Co-host Stu Burguiere answered as gently as possible.

What fascinated Glenn most was the world of 1908.

"The Constitution still mattered. Taft was our president . . . a fat man," Glenn said.

Glenn later corrected that Roosevelt was still president in 1908, with Taft sworn into office in 1909. One thing's for sure, the times have certainly changed.

Read below or watch the clip for answers to these questions:

• Could a fat man (or woman) be elected today?

• Did New York ever have three teams?

• Did income tax exist in 1908?

• How did Glenn and Stu turn a baseball conversation into one about taxation?

• How old was Jeffy when the Cubs first won the World Series in 1908?

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

GLENN: Is Chicago the only city that has two baseball teams?

STU: No.

PAT: New York.

STU: The Mets and the Yankees perhaps.

GLENN: Good. Good. That's a question I could have answered.

STU: Yeah, you could have answered. Dodgers and Angels.

PAT: Sort of in the same city.

GLENN: Were they always like this because of the White Sox and the Cubs? Do they predate the two teams?

STU: I don't even understand this question.

GLENN: The Dodgers come from New York?

PAT: Yeah, they did. Yes, they did.

STU: We know that.

GLENN: So then did New York then have three teams?

PAT: No. They got the other --

GLENN: They got the Mets.

PAT: After the Dodgers.

GLENN: After the Dodgers. Right. Right. Stu.

STU: Well, yes. Did they have three at one point very early on?

JEFFY: They may have.

GLENN: Uh-huh. See. This is a question that maybe should be asked more often.

STU: Right. But you obviously couldn't answer it.

GLENN: Oh, yeah. I can. I can. I'm with you. I'm not sure if they had three at one time or not.

PAT: I'm pretty sure they didn't. But...

GLENN: So when was the last time the White Sox were in?

STU: The one in 2005, I think.

PAT: Yeah, they beat the Astros in 2005.

STU: But, I mean, the Cubs -- 1908. We went through the list of what had happened since, you know, the --

GLENN: The progressives weren't a thing yet, really.

STU: I mean, think about this -- it's incredible.

GLENN: The Constitution still mattered. Taft was our president.

(laughter)

A fat man.

STU: Yeah.

GLENN: Taft. When was the last time we had a fat man as president?

PAT: Taft. Taft.

GLENN: Right? I saw an ad for Taft. I saw a poster for Taft. And what was his first name?

JEFFY: William.

PAT: William Howard.

GLENN: Yeah. All it said underneath it was Bill. And it just had his -- it was like an illustration of him. Just his face. But they included his double chin.

And I thought to myself, "You couldn't reduce the double chin in the illustration? Nobody thought that was a good idea back then. Nobody was like -- he's a little fat. Can we make him a little thinner in the poster?" That was a good-looking man. It didn't matter. It didn't matter.

PAT: Yeah, it didn't matter.

GLENN: Boy, how far we have fallen. Or have we? Have we? Because look at the two candidates we have.

PAT: That's exactly right. I'd rather have a fat man. I'd rather have Chris Christie.

GLENN: I --

PAT: Over these two -- oh, my gosh, in a heartbeat.

JEFFY: Ooh.

GLENN: Yeah, I think I would.

PAT: In a heartbeat. I mean, I never thought I'd say I'd vote for Chris Christie --

GLENN: Between these two, I think I would.

PAT: Of these two --

STU: I mean, I still wouldn't vote for him. I would not vote for Chris Christie, although he would be a better president.

PAT: If he was up against Hillary Clinton, oh, I would.

STU: I wouldn't. I would never vote for Chris Christie.

GLENN: I think you could talk me into it. I think you could talk me into it.

PAT: I think I would have been talked into it by now.

GLENN: Yeah, I will tell you, the corruption stuff on her is just frightening.

JEFFY: Nothing on Chris Christie though.

GLENN: I know. I know, but Chris Christie is --

JEFFY: Yeah, but Chris has only got one state. Big deal.

GLENN: Yeah, he's totally corrupt as well. But she's just at a different level.

STU: This is 1908. Cubs win the World Series. Dow closes at 60.

PAT: Sixty. Wow.

STU: The Dow closed at 60.

PAT: Wow.

JEFFY: The Wright brothers -- it was five years after their first flight. The Model T.

PAT: So were you paying for your second bag on -- on Delta by then?

STU: No.

(laughter)

STU: The Model T had just come off the assembly line.

GLENN: But not really. They weren't really a success until like 1918, were they?

STU: I don't know.

GLENN: Yeah.

STU: I'm just -- the world's tallest building. Of course, everyone remembers it, the Singer building, lower Manhattan. Forty-seven stories tall.

PAT: Gee.

STU: Forty-seven stories. Taft, of course, president, as we mentioned. Bette Davis, born.

GLENN: Born. Wow. She was old when I was five. Wow.

STU: Let's see.

JEFFY: Fox did a thing. Al Capone was nine. You know, things like that, that was doing.

STU: Yeah, yeah, Al Capone was 9.

JEFFY: Babe Ruth was 13.

STU: Babe Ruth was 13.

PAT: Jeez.

STU: They started -- in 1904, which was a few years before. They were in the middle -- it was when it started, but they were in the middle of building the Panama Canal. I mean, Jack Jackson was the heavyweight champion. Oh, May 10th, 1908, the first Mother's Day. That was at the Methodist church in West Virginia. I don't think it was national until later on.

GLENN: Yeah.

STU: But it was the first one there. I mean, that's pretty incredible. I mean, that is a complete different world. 1908. That's a long freaking time.

[break]

GLENN: We have a correction here on a couple of things. You're right. '08 was the election. '09, Taft was in. Roosevelt was still president in '08.

STU: Right. And also correct that there were three teams in New York with the Giants.

GLENN: Right.

PAT: We knew that.

GLENN: Because the Giants --

PAT: The Giants.

STU: We always make fun of the fact that they call them -- still call them the New York football Giants.

PAT: There are no baseball Giants in New York. There's no need for that anymore.

STU: Right. But there was at one time.

PAT: There was at one time.

GLENN: There was. That's what I knew, and I was wondering why you guys were not bringing that up.

STU: Also, important questions that came in, including what -- how old was Jeffy when the Cubs first won the World Series in 1908.

PAT: That's a good question. How old were you then? Sixty-nine?

JEFFY: 1908 was the year?

STU: Yeah, do you remember?

GLENN: Back in aught eight.

PAT: The first aught eight.

JEFFY: It was somewhere after the first 50.

STU: Also, income tax did not exist in 1908.

GLENN: Yeah. Right.

STU: I mean, think about what a different country this is. The freaking income tax. It's still to this day -- and I know Glenn rails about the Progressive Era. You do that all the time, obviously, with real reason. But the idea that this country was able to pass a constitutional amendment to allow itself to be taxed, allow itself to have its money ripped off their own pockets is one of the most inexplicable things in history.

GLENN: No, it's not. No, it's not.

STU: Yes, it is.

GLENN: How did they do it?

STU: They lied, of course.

GLENN: About? What did they do?

STU: I mean --

GLENN: They pitted the rich against the poor.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: And they said it's the evil rich people. And it will only be them. It will never be over 5 percent.

STU: Or, ten. Right? I thought it was 10 percent.

GLENN: I thought it was five. Five or 10 percent.

STU: Whatever. It was very low.

GLENN: Five or 10 percent. It will never be over this low percentage, ever. And it will only be for the very wealth -- the wealthiest 1 percent. That was 1913. By 1919, the tax was 95 percent.

STU: It was 7 percent in 1913.

GLENN: Seven.

STU: And then by 1916, it was up to 15 percent. Then there was a slight rise in 1917, when it went from 15 to 67. There's a little bit of a bump there. Some people may have noticed it.

GLENN: Yeah, but that was only for the war, Stu.

STU: That only lasted one year to be fair. The next year was 73 percent.

GLENN: Right. But it was only for the war.

STU: Yeah.

GLENN: And then that whole thing went back to 7 percent for just the wealthiest 1 percent.

STU: No. Never again.

GLENN: No, it's not.

STU: Never again. Never close. Yeah, weird.

GLENN: Really? Sounds like a lot.

Featured Image: A Chicago fan sits on top a street pole as people gather to watch the Chicago Cubs take on the Cleveland Indians in Cleveland in game seven of the 2016 World Series, outside Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois late on November 2, 2016. Ending America's longest sports title drought in dramatic fashion, the Chicago Cubs captured their first World Series since 1908 by defeating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in a 10-inning thriller that concluded early on November 3. (Photo Credit: TASOS KATOPODIS/AFP/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

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?

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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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