Glenn Experiences Worst Interview of His Career With NPR

November 04, 2016

Writer

Yesterday, Glenn had what he described as the most outrageous, unprofessional interview he's ever experienced in his entire career --- and he's had a lot of bad interviews. Regularly taken out of context and asked to rehash comments from years earlier, Glenn has become accustomed to navigating challenging interviews. However, the reporter from NPR, who also happens to be a journalism professor, came in with a clear, predetermined agenda.

"He wanted to get even," Glenn said Friday on his radio program. "Because he disagrees with me. He thinks I'm a bad guy."

The final question posed by the reporter confirmed his biased agenda.

"You would not believe his last question. And I guarantee, if you hear it on NPR, he's going to leave one part of his question out . . . the most unprofessional thing I've ever experienced," Glenn said.

An edited version of the interview will likely be aired on NPR this weekend.

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

• How many toads will Glenn have to kiss?

• Why is it critical to reach outside our circles and talk to people?

• Why did NPR say the interview would actually be about?

• Did NPR conduct its research from 2006?

• What were Glenn's parting words to the reporter?

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

Yesterday, I did absolutely -- I can't say I did it. I was asked to be interviewed by the most unprofessional interviewer I have ever experienced in my career. The most shameful display of hatred and destruction I have seen in my career. And I've done some pretty rough interviews.

I have been as -- the boys keep telling me every day, "Stop doing them, Glenn. Stop doing them."

I'm doing it because I feel we have to reach out, outside of our own circle. If we just continue to talk to each other, we're never going to make any progress because it will be us versus them. And I've got to find somebody -- I'm going to kiss a thousand toads, hoping that one of them will be a princess. And, you know what, all 1,000, all of them may be toads, but I am not giving up that there is somebody outside of our circle that feels exactly the same way we do, that this has got to stop.

PAT: Charlie Rose may have been a princess.

GLENN: I think he was. I think he was.

PAT: Or a prince. He might like that better.

GLENN: We'll see -- yeah. We'll see how that works out.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: And I don't expect any of them to have the same attitude with me after the election, if Hillary wins. I know. I know how they treated John McCain and everybody else on our side -- there's nobody -- unless you sell out your values and you become, what's his name, that Brooks or whatever his name is. Not Brooks.

PAT: David Brooks?

GLENN: Yeah, David Brooks. No, he's the left. The guy on the right who is always a conservative that flipped over to the liberal side and he still calls himself a conservative.

STU: David Brooks is the New York Times conservative --

GLENN: Yeah, okay. So it must be him.

STU: Yeah. Yeah. I think that's who you're thinking of.

GLENN: So -- so I'm not changing my principles. I'm not changing my policies. I'm trying to change my approach and be a better person. I said when I was on Megyn Kelly two years ago, I don't know what I would have done differently when I was on Fox.

Well, I still don't know. But I know what I didn't try was trying to watch every word to not say something inflammatory. Well, that's really hard. To be honest, to be clear, to know what the difference is between turning over the tables and being very, very clear and being inflammatory.

PAT: Plus, much of what they call inflammatory or hate speech was just telling the truth. And they just didn't want to hear it. And that's what pisses me off. Because we said -- we called Barack Obama what he was, and that's a Marxist. And that was perceived as racist and hateful. And it just -- he just was.

GLENN: Yeah.

PAT: Marxist -- being a Marxist isn't a sign of hatred. It's not a sign of racism.

GLENN: Well, there's nobody asking --

PAT: It adheres to a set of policies that we don't agree with, and we called him out on it.

GLENN: Right. Right now, there's no evidence that Donald Trump is a racist. There's no evidence of that, but I have heard journalists --

PAT: In the past, there is. But...

GLENN: Yes. Yes. Okay. But that's, again -- the -- but you're not going to hear people grilled over calling him a racist. Even though, there's no real --

PAT: That's for sure.

GLENN: -- no real evidence of that.

PAT: That's for sure.

GLENN: You're not going to hear anybody grilled on that on the right. Do you think, Stu?

STU: I was reading a review of Dr. Strange.

GLENN: Right. Okay.

(laughter)

GLENN: I mean, it's -- I mean, there are people who are saying those things who believe it. Those who don't. And you're having a conversation, trying to figure out who this guy is. Okay?

I take full responsibility for -- for my cavalier attitude on everything.

Anyway, I don't want to get back into this.

Here's where I'm headed: I'm doing this interview with NPR. And they want to talk about the future of, "Can we come together?" The future of the conservative movement. That's what I'm sold.

They start --

PAT: Wow.

GLENN: Yeah. They start with, you know, something that I said ten years ago.

JEFFY: Ten years ago.

GLENN: That was clearly explainable. He has the tape. I explain it. He has the tape. And he's like, "Well, let me take you back down." And it's exactly basically what I said. And it's all out of context.

And they then he asks, you know, so where have you been, you know, since you were on Megyn Kelly?

GLENN: And I said, "Well, I've helped raise $11 million to help the Syrian and Iraqi Christians to escape ISIS. We have held the largest peace march in Birmingham, Alabama, since -- since Martin Luther King."

JEFFY: I've employed hundreds of people here in the United States of America. What have you been doing, WNYC professor?

GLENN: Stop.

So I did blow a gasket there.

(chuckling)

And so the last question he asked me -- now, tell me -- tell me how we move forward. If we don't allow people to say, "I take responsibility for everything I did and I've asked for forgiveness -- and there's a time when you say, "Okay. I'm done asking for forgiveness. We have to move forward." And if it's not on -- if you need to keep dwelling on it, it's on you. You've got to let it go.

I've asked for forgiveness. I've been very public about it. Now it's on you. You have to move past it. And if you can't and you keep trapping somebody in the same place -- if we keep doing this -- if there's somebody with a change of heart and they really have a change of heart and we continually say, "No, they're a bad person." Well, then, that's on us. Watch them. And watch the fruits of their labors.

What are they actually doing?

Okay. This is what he said to me.

He said, "So this is -- and I'm paraphrasing. "This is a big show. I mean, you're an actor, and you just say things for show. You've said you're a rodeo clown." Blah, blah. Isn't this just a way for you to make more money and grab a new audience, and isn't this all just for show? And, by the way, I consider that a rhetorical question."

(laughter)

STU: Wow.

PAT: Jeez.

GLENN: I consider that a rhetorical question.

This is a journalism professor.

STU: Huh.

GLENN: I didn't know that at the time.

STU: It's a great point on -- that you've made a million times about the way we are teaching our young journalists.

GLENN: What are those -- what are those kids learning in his class? That's a question -- and I'll bet you, they edit out, "I consider that a rhetorical question." I can guarantee you they edit that out. I said nothing. I let it go for about a minute of silence.

And he said, "Mr. Beck." And I said, "Yes."

He said, "Do you have an answer?" And I said, "No, you said it was a rhetorical question."

(laughter)

JEFFY: You said it was rhetorical.

GLENN: It's unbelievable. Unbelievable.

PAT: And is that where it ended then?

GLENN: I said to him, "I hope that some day you can find in your heart a place where you can accept that people do change, people are trying to be better people."

(music)

JEFFY: You can count on that airing. Yeah, no kidding.

(music)

GLENN: Yeah.

STU: Did he start -- it seems like he started researching this interview in 2006 and then stopped after that.

PAT: Yeah, I know.

GLENN: It doesn't matter. Anyway, let's not do what they do.

PAT: No, let's. Let's.

GLENN: No, let's not do what they do. No.

Featured Image: The Glenn Beck Program

Are Gen Z's socialist sympathies a threat to America's future?

NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

In a republic forged on the anvil of liberty and self-reliance, where generations have fought to preserve free markets against the siren song of tyranny, Gen Z's alarming embrace of socialism amid housing crises and economic despair has sparked urgent alarm. But in a recent poll, Glenn asked the tough questions: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from—and what does it mean for America's future? Glenn asked, and you answered—hundreds weighed in on this volatile mix of youthful frustration and ideological peril.

The results paint a stark picture of distrust in the system. A whopping 79% of you affirm that Gen Z's socialist sympathies stem from real economic gripes, like sky-high housing costs and a rigged game tilted toward the elite and corporations—defying the argument that it's just youthful naivety. Even more telling, 97% believe this trend arises from a glaring educational void on socialism's bloody historical track record, where failed regimes have crushed freedoms under the boot of big government. And 97% see these poll findings as a harbinger of deepening generational rifts, potentially fueling political chaos and authoritarian overreach if left unchecked.

Your verdict underscores a moral imperative: America's soul hangs on reclaiming timeless values like self-reliance and liberty. This feedback amplifies your concerns, sending a clear message to the powers that be.

Want to make your voice heard? Check out more polls HERE.

Without civic action, America faces collapse

JEFF KOWALSKY / Contributor | Getty Images

Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

I slept through high school civics class. I memorized the three branches of government, promptly forgot them, and never thought of that word again. Civics seemed abstract, disconnected from real life. And yet, it is critical to maintaining our republic.

Civics is not a class. It is a responsibility. A set of habits, disciplines, and values that make a country possible. Without it, no country survives.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Civics happens every time you speak freely, worship openly, question your government, serve on a jury, or cast a ballot. It’s not a theory or just another entry in a textbook. It’s action — the acts we perform every day to be a positive force in society.

Many of us recoil at “civic responsibility.” “I pay my taxes. I follow the law. I do my civic duty.” That’s not civics. That’s a scam, in my opinion.

Taking up the torch

The founders knew a republic could never run on autopilot. And yet, that’s exactly what we do now. We assume it will work, then complain when it doesn’t. Meanwhile, the people steering the country are driving it straight into a mountain — and they know it.

Our founders gave us tools: separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, elections. But they also warned us: It won’t work unless we are educated, engaged, and moral.

Are we educated, engaged, and moral? Most Americans cannot even define a republic, never mind “keep one,” as Benjamin Franklin urged us to do after the Constitutional Convention.

We fought and died for the republic. Gaining it was the easy part. Keeping it is hard. And keeping it is done through civics.

Start small and local

In our homes, civics means teaching our children the Constitution, our history, and that liberty is not license — it is the space to do what is right. In our communities, civics means volunteering, showing up, knowing your sheriff, attending school board meetings, and understanding the laws you live under. When necessary, it means challenging them.

How involved are you in your local community? Most people would admit: not really.

Civics is learned in practice. And it starts small. Be honest in your business dealings. Speak respectfully in disagreement. Vote in every election, not just the presidential ones. Model citizenship for your children. Liberty is passed down by teaching and example.

Samuel Corum / Stringer | Getty Images

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Start with yourself. Study the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and state laws. Study, act, serve, question, and teach. Only then can we hope to save the republic. The next election will not fix us. The nation will rise or fall based on how each of us lives civics every day.

Civics isn’t a class. It’s the way we protect freedom, empower our communities, and pass down liberty to the next generation.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

'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

Glenn's Show Prep

Glenn Experiences Worst Interview of His Career With NPR

Are Gen Z's socialist sympathies a threat to America's future?

Without civic action, America faces collapse

Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Taking up the torch

Start small and local

'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