Does NBC's 'Emerald City' Feature the First Transgender Kid Hero?

April 03, 2017

WRITER

NBC's Emerald City is based on the L. Frank Baum Oz books, which inspired the movie classic The Wizard Of Oz. The TV new series features different versions of beloved characters like Dorothy and The Scarecrow, as well as Tip, a young boy. Tip is a character from the original books who is ultimately revealed as the long-lost Princess Ozma, heir to the throne.

"This kid has been kept by a witch, locked in this room forever, and escaped. She kept giving him this medicine, otherwise, he would die. She was protecting him because he is not a he. He's a she," Glenn said Monday on radio.

In the last episode, the newly transformed Tip wears a dress and says, "I feel like a boy inside. I don't want to be a girl. You don't know the struggle."

While it's unlikely Baum was writing a book about transgendered people, Ozma works pretty well to promote the agenda --- and apparently the network was happy to oblige.

Listen to this segment from The Glenn Beck Program:

GLENN: Anybody watch the show Emerald City?

PAT: No.

STU: No.

GLENN: So Emerald City, the end of the season --

STU: What is this?

GLENN: NBC show. So at the end of the season, they had Ozma, who is this princess, okay? She's been lost. Well, you find out that Ozma --

PAT: Is this the spoiler alert for people --

GLENN: Yeah, spoiler alert. Well, I mean, we're going to talk about stuff. We're going to talk about life from time to time. It's an NBC show. And it doesn't really wreck anything.

This kid who has been kept by a witch, locked in this room forever, and escaped. And she kept giving him this medicine. Otherwise, he would die.

She was protecting him because he is not a he. He's a she. So in the last two episodes --

PAT: Oh.

GLENN: She's he -- he is wearing a dress, and he's like, "I feel like a boy inside. I don't want to be a girl. You don't know the struggle."

PAT: Oh, boy.

GLENN: I think it's the first kid trans hero of network television. And notice, nobody is really talking about it.

PAT: No. Nobody cares anymore.

[break]

GLENN: You know what's -- you know what's strange to me is how we have gone from a country 15 years ago and you can look at some of this and say, "This is really good." And some of it, not so good.

We are a country that has such tolerance, that while we are at war with Islam, we need -- and we are Islamists. While we're at war with Islamists, we elect a guy named Barack Obama.

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: That it just -- we know the difference.

PAT: Barack Hussein Obama.

GLENN: Yeah, Barack Hussein Obama. We know the difference. It's not like, oh, my gosh. Look at -- they all have slant eyes. Quick, let's put them in internment camps. We're not that people anymore.

PAT: No.

GLENN: We've gone from a country that 15 years ago it was a big deal to have Ellen have a kiss on her show.

JEFFY: Yeah.

GLENN: First lesbian kiss.

Now -- right? Wasn't it, Stu?

STU: Wasn't it Roseanne had the first --

JEFFY: I was just going to say, I think Roseanne did have the first one. But Ellen was --

STU: She was the first openly gay character, I think. That like --

JEFFY: It was a big deal.

GLENN: Was it?

STU: First openly gay character that had her own shoe, I think, was the -- she had some barrier --

GLENN: No, there was some --

JEFFY: She did have the big kiss.

GLENN: I remember -- because I remember there was a show that was important.

JEFFY: That was over the top, yes.

PAT: Yes.

GLENN: And I don't remember what it was.

STU: That was her coming out, wasn't it?

GLENN: I don't remember. But I remember it was a big deal. And even then, I don't think America had a problem with that episode. America had a problem with the agenda, that it just became the agenda, you know what I mean?

PAT: Right.

And what is it, 98 percent of all shows now feature homosexual encounters? I mean, it feels like that. It feels like that.

GLENN: Especially if you watch the BBC, it's almost every show.

JEFFY: Oh, yeah.

GLENN: And I was just telling you about, Oz, I don't know if this is where they're going. But you can't not see the parallels of what we're talking about. Here's something that we are still discussing, transgendered bathrooms.

And, by the way, for anybody who says that, you know, it's not a problem -- did you guys hear the woman from Disneyland. She went to Disneyland.

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: She said I was off to the side waiting with the two boys when I noticed a man walk into the restroom.

My first thought was, oh, crap, he's walked into the wrong restroom by mistake. He took a few more steps. At which point, he would definitely notice all the women lined up, and he kept walking.

My next thought was, maybe he's looking for his wife or his child. They had been in there for a while.

But he didn't call out any names or look around. He just stood there off to the side and leaned against the wall. At this point, I'm like WTF.

(chuckling)

GLENN: There is definitely a very large burly man in a Lakers' jersey who just walked in here. Am I the only one seeing this?

I surveyed the room, and I saw roughly 12 women and children in tow, staring at him with the exact same look on their faces. Everyone was visibly uncomfortable.

We were all trading looks and motioning with our eyes over to him. Like, what's had he doing in here? Every single one of us was silent. This is why I wrote this blog.

PAT: I mean, think of that. You're supposed to be okay with that. Right?

JEFFY: Yeah.

PAT: They're haters now. They're made to feel like you're not supposed to say anything. And that's what she kind of goes through here.

GLENN: She says, if this had been five years ago, you bet your ass every woman in here would have been like, what are you doing in here? But in 2017, the mood has shifted. We've been culturally bullied into silence.

PAT: Yep.

GLENN: Women were mid-changing their baby's diapers on changing tables. I could see them shifting to block his view, but they remained silent. I stayed silent. We all did.

Every woman who exited a stall and immediately zeroed in on him said nothing. And why? Because and I'm sure all others were scared of the, what if. What if I say something and he identifies as a woman? And then I come off as the intolerant one in the happiest place on earth.

STU: And I got news for you, in local news reports and national news reports, that would follow. You would be presented that way.

JEFFY: Yes, you would.

GLENN: Yep. Yep.

PAT: And, again, this guy is not identifying -- he's not saying anything about being a woman. He's just being a guy leering at women in the bathroom.

STU: And knowing he can now get away with it.

PAT: Which is what we said would be the problem the whole time.

STU: Yep.

GLENN: An older lady said to me out loud, what is he doing in here? I'm ashamed to admit I silently shrugged and mouthed, I don't know. She immediately walked out. I saw two other people leave with their children.

This is why -- and this is why pushing for laws to allow anyone to use the bathroom, whatever they identify with is absurd and dangerous. Before 2017, we shared the ladies' room with transgendered people, and we either didn't know, or we never said anything because we knew we weren't in danger. It's something you didn't talk about. You just pee and leave.

But the making of a capital case out of it, literally inviting anyone into a female safe space, the government has put women and children at risk for peeping Toms, rapists, pedophiles, drunks, and vagrants. Predators already capitalize and count on women's reluctance to fight back or speak out. Now it's worse because if you do speak up, you'll be labeled transphobic, and the predators know it. She goes on. This is quite an amazing thing.

She goes on. She was for -- she was for, you know, tolerance and everything else.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: She now has experienced for herself. The moral of the story is speak up, ladies. If a man walks into the bathroom, don't stop and think about it. Start yelling, get out, while dialing 911. Take whatever criticism any loon wants to throw at you. Your life and the lives of your children are worth more than public opinion.

JEFFY: Good luck.

PAT: And, again, that happened at Disneyland. Disneyland.

GLENN: So here's what -- and isn't Disneyland the place to go if you're a pedophile? You go by yourself.

STU: I will say, it's not in their advertisements, if that's true. That is not their slogan.

GLENN: No. It's not.

STU: The place to go if you're a pedophile!

GLENN: You know they hang out where there's children.

STU: Well, of course.

GLENN: Just leering at children.

STU: Of course.

GLENN: I mean, it only makes sense.

GLENN: The thing is -- remember when I went over to Auschwitz and I met with the woman, Paulina, she's the -- I know. I'm the only person who can make --

STU: We're joking about a ridiculous Disney slogan. You brought it to Auschwitz in 12 seconds. You're the only person in America who could do this.

GLENN: That's the charm of this show. That's why we are where we are. So, anyway, I brought this -- we met this woman named Paulina. I've told this story a million times. What did she say?

She's a woman who saved the Christians from the Germans.

PAT: She just didn't go off the cliff with the rest of the people.

GLENN: Right. That makes more sense to me now than ever before.

PAT: Yeah. She said, "The righteous didn't suddenly become righteous. We just didn't go off the cliff with the rest of humanity." Meaning, we just stood in place. We just continued to do the things we always would have done. Which is her point.

PAT: And we did something. They hid Jews. We can do something. All you have to do is speak up and say, "Get out of here. Get out. Get out of this bathroom."

JEFFY: Well, the people are speaking up a little bit with their money though because according to Marvel, their sales have been struggling. They've been wanting to sell more comics. And while feminists and progressive activists pushed for more diversity in comics, minority and female heroes, Dan Gabriel, senior vice president of sales, Marvel's core fan base just wasn't interested.

PAT: How about that? How about that?

GLENN: I will tell you this, I talk to Raphe all the time about going to get comic books. And let's get into comic books. Won't do it. Don't know where a local comic bookstore is even in Dallas. But want to go to a comic bookstore and get all the old ones. I don't want the new ones.

Just, I'm not interested. I'm not interested.

JEFFY: Yeah, he said we saw the sales of any character that was diverse, any character that was new, our female characters, anything that was not a core Marvel character --

GLENN: Nothing.

JEFFY: -- no sales.

STU: Not interested. Well, because they don't -- no one minds having a different character, having diversity. It's when it feels forced that people reject it.

GLENN: It's an agenda.

STU: When you're trying to make -- you know what, as a comic book, I'm going there -- if I'm going to read comic books, I'm going there to be entertained, be part of the story. You're not going there to be lectured by people about who you're supposed to accept and not accept.

GLENN: For instance -- for instance, didn't have a problem with Ozma from the Wizard of Oz because I don't know if that's the story or if they were trying to make it a political point.

Now, my radar is up on political point, so I thought -- I just assume, this is a political point. Stop it.

However, it might just be that that's logical, if he was -- if she was transformed by a motion into a girl. However, I just don't think that this is -- I mean, five years ago, ten years ago, that story line wouldn't have stuck out at all. You would be like, oh, wow. Yeah, that would suck. You see yourself -- right? But now, is NBC -- and it's NBC, that's another reason. Is NBC now telling us, oh, yes, the planet is on fire. You have to do something about the planet. And the progressive way of life is absolutely the right way of life. And, oh, look, here's this poor little character who is a kid who sees him -- sees herself as a him.

I mean...

PAT: Uh-huh.

STU: Well, it goes to your point -- we talked about this with Beauty and the Beast. Is that everyone was like, oh, there could be a gay character. The story is about bestiality.

JEFFY: Right.

GLENN: Right.

STU: We're all fine with the bestiality story for decades. But it's like, wait a minute. You're starting to see these things because a lot of times it is about agenda. I think it was NBC that aired it a few weeks ago. And I don't know, it was some mini-series about the struggle of gay Americans and something. And, look, there's been -- there are amazing stories in this world. I'm glad they're told. The one about World War II --

GLENN: Turing.

STU: Yeah, Alan Turing, that just came out. I mean, I'm glad these stories are coming out.

However, they just represent it in such a bizarre way. Like, they had this one conversation between like a son and his dad. And I just happened to flip it on. And the son is like, Dad, I want you to know that I'm gay.

No, you will not be gay! I have raised you in a way and you will not tell anyone that you're gay. And it's like, all right. How preachy do we have to be here?

JEFFY: Right.

STU: Like, I get that there have been these -- I get it. I understand. These networks, however, seem to have this idea that if we can tell these stories in the most overt way possible --

JEFFY: Yeah, they do.

STU: Try to make every person who has ever gone to church an alien, then we've accomplished our duty for the week. I mean, that is -- there's got to be some balance there between these two positions.

JEFFY: Remember when you went to Auschwitz?

(chuckling)

GLENN: Shut up, Jeffy.

'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

Does NBC's 'Emerald City' Feature the First Transgender Kid Hero?

'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?