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The Hilarious and Unrealistic Eco Consequences of a Border Wall

April 21, 2017
Staff

WRITER

Uh oh. According to Jeff Corwin, American wildlife biologist and nature conservationist, there could be some unexpected and "unprecedented environmental catastrophes" should a border wall go up:

It's poised to cut through more than 1,200 miles of habitat along the border between the United States and Mexico. There are over 90 threatened and critically endangered species that are in the crosshairs because of this wall, and we've got over 100 migratory birds that will be impacted from this wall. The endangered Mexican gray wolf, only 133 individuals left of this iconic carnivore, this amazing canine. Its head is on the chopping block and likely could fall prey to extinction. The expanse of the jaguar, just now, being restored into its habitat in Arizona, will likely be extirpated, pushed back towards the precipice of extinction because of this disastrous wall.

Yikes.

"Hang on just a second. Animals don't have passports. There are no borders for animals, okay? They don't have pockets, so we can't require them now to have passports. They do not have pockets, except for the kangaroo, but that's a different continent," Glenn said Thursday on radio.

It turns out, borders are complicated with animals.

Listen to this segment from The Glenn Beck Program:

GLENN: If you were for a border fence or a border wall, you're for stronger immigration laws or at least enforcing. Not for stronger. You just want to enforce the laws that we have.

PAT: Hateful.

GLENN: You're going to probably change your mind. And this is going to be that moment that I always say, what was the pivot point? This will be the moment where you will say, this is my pivot point. I had never thought about this while we were talking about the border wall. Listen to this.

VOICE: Well, Craig, if this border wall happens, it will be an unprecedented environmental catastrophe.

PAT: This is Jeff Corwin, by the way. Jeff Corwin, who is -- I mean, he's an animal expert. We all know that. Remember, from -- was it Animal Planet, he did all those shows? And now he's on an ABC special.

GLENN: Yeah. Now, this is -- I want you to know --

PAT: Unprecedented.

GLENN: Unprecedented environmental tragedy and disaster.

PAT: Disaster.

VOICE: It's poised to cut through more than 1200 miles of habitat along the border between the United States and Mexico. There are over 90 threatened and critically endangered species that are in the -- in the crosshairs because of this wall. And we've got over 100 migratory birds that will be impacted from this wall.

GLENN: Now, listen to this. I want you to listen to this.

VOICE: The endangered Mexican gray wolf. Only 133 individuals left of this iconic carnivore. This amazing canine. Its head is on the chopping block. And likely could fall prey to extinction. The expanse of the jaguar. Just now, being restored into its habitat in Arizona will likely be extirpated. Pushed back towards the precipice of extinction because of this disastrous wall.

(talking over)

GLENN: Hang on just a second. Animals don't have passports. There are no borders for animals. Okay? They don't have pockets. So we can't require them now to have passports. They do not have pockets. Except for the kangaroo, but that's a different continent. So if we were talking about kangaroos, we could give them passports because they have pockets. Other than that, they don't have pockets. They don't have hands either. So they couldn't really step up to the little thing and they can't talk. It's complicated with animals. Borders are complicated with animals.

PAT: It is.

GLENN: Now, the one I'm worried about because we're talking about an environmental disaster, we're worried about the birds.

VOICE: At the risk of sounding ignorant or foolish, the bird specifically, wouldn't they just be able to fly over the wall?

PAT: This is great. He's almost afraid -- it's such an obvious question. He's afraid to ask it.

GLENN: I don't want to sound ignorant to anyone, but I'm going to dial in some common sense. All right. I'm just going to say it.

PAT: They fly, right?

GLENN: Birds, they can fly left and right, but I think they can fly up and down as well.

STU: Not 30 feet off the ground.

JEFFY: No.

PAT: And, by the way, the wall will not wind up being 30 feet, would be my guess. It will be ten, tops.

GLENN: Yes.

VOICE: Well, it's interesting you should say that, and it's actually an excellent question.

PAT: It is.

GLENN: Stop.

VOICE: And I'm sure many animals that fly can migrate over that wall.

PAT: Okay.

JEFFY: See.

STU: So, yes, they will fly over the wall.

GLENN: Yes.

PAT: So, in other words, sure.

GLENN: So it's a good question because it's an obvious question.

PAT: I didn't think you would ask it because you're on NBC. Who knew?

GLENN: Yeah, it's not a question that you should have asked. But it's a good question.

PAT: It sounds like Fox News propaganda to me. Birds can fly.

VOICE: But many animals actually stay very low. Many of these animals, for example, birds and bats are actually passing close to the -- to the ground's surface because they're heading towards plants.

PAT: I say, if they're that stupid, they probably deserve to run into the wall.

GLENN: Darwin. Darwin. If you're a bat and your sonar radar, whatever it is that makes you fly around without eyes is so bad that you can't find and see a 1700-mile fence --

(chuckling)

GLENN: -- natural selection should kick in for that bat.

PAT: It seems like trees would be killing them too. Right?

GLENN: Right. They're flying low because they're going for the plants. A rock.

PAT: Yeah.

STU: Private fences around homes. Yeah, anything.

GLENN: Come on. A home. A home.

STU: And a parked car. Anything would be --

GLENN: Can I tell you something --

PAT: Are we saying that the wall will be built out of glass and we're going to use Windex on it so they won't be able to see that it's a wall?

GLENN: Thump. Thump. Thump.

PAT: Maybe that's what it is. Maybe that's what it is.

GLENN: But let me tell you something, I think you're all dismissing the pictures that we've all seen of the Great Wall of China and all of the dead birds and the bats on both sides of that wall. Giant piles.

STU: Piles of bats?"

GLENN: And it doesn't -- after a while, the wall doesn't matter because the dead bats are just -- they become ramps. And you just walk on the bodies of dead bats.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: Yeah, it's a bat ramp. You're mocking. Were you mocking?

STU: No, I said it was a bat ramp. A bamp.

GLENN: But that was not mocking?

STU: No, no, no. It's a very important part of our security.

GLENN: We should use that. You know what, I'll give that free to the scientific community. Vamps. It's yours, but I ==

STU: Bamp. Bat ramp.

GLENN: Or a bamp. Yeah, bat ramp. A bamp. You can use that in all your -- all your, you know, scientific literature on why this is going to be such a hassle.

PAT: Devastating. Devastating disaster.

GLENN: Devastating disaster for the birds that can't fly.

PAT: They're on the chopping block. The wolves are on a chopping block. Are they actually going to put wolves' heads on chopping blocks and cut their heads off?

STU: Right. The imagery is so great.

PAT: Well, I'm sorry. We can't build this wall until I cut your head off.

GLENN: If there are 150 of them, what do you say that we make sure that it's not all the male wolves on one side and female wolves on the other.

STU: Or, you know, there is an argument against free-range wolves. I don't know if anyone knows this.

GLENN: No, no. These are beautiful animals. They're carnivores. They're beautiful carnivores.

STU: That sounds terrible, actually.

GLENN: Have you ever seen a wolf?

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: In real life?

PAT: Yes.

GLENN: They are terrifying.

STU: Yes.

GLENN: I saw -- you know, Little Red Riding Hood, it was a wolf that ate her and the grandma. I mean, hello.

STU: That's right.

PAT: And then jaguars. Do we really want jaguars roaming free on the border?

GLENN: I'd like them to stay on the Mexican side. I mean, that's cool. I don't have a problem with that.

STU: Yes.

PAT: Yeah. Yeah.

STU: That's one of the benefits of the wall. I think we put all the dangerous animals on the other side of it.

GLENN: On that side. You can have the jaguars. I love that about you and Mexico. And I'll go visit and see those jaguars. You let them mate on your side of the wall.

PAT: But even so, I'm kind of confused as to why they can't just move out of the way of the wall being built and then go back their business.

STU: Well, the imagery there is amazing. These animals are in the crosshairs. They're on the chopping block.

PAT: Yeah.

STU: Like none of these things are real.

PAT: What are you talking about?

STU: What, they wouldn't move 100 yards? I understand that that is -- it could be theoretically --

GLENN: Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay.

PAT: There's actually a river between the two countries too. Now that they navigate --

GLENN: Okay. Okay. All right. Oh, my gosh.

JEFFY: Thanks to the bridge.

GLENN: Do we need to look? Do I need to bring up north and South Korea where all of the DMZ, where all of the little wolf family members are living in freedom and the -- and the North Korean wolves are living in slavery and they're not able to see each other anymore and they don't know if they're alive or dead?

Imagine, you're a wolf, and you don't know if you're alive or dead. If you're -- if your relative who you love is on the other side of the wall with a concussion or worse because it didn't see the wall and ran right into it, trying to come home to you. It's wrong. It was wrong with the Berlin wall. It was wrong with the Great Wall of China. Jina. It's -- it's wrong for birds. It's wrong for bats. It is wrong for panthers, jaguars. BMWs.

PAT: Mexican timberwolves. Whatever.

GLENN: All of them.

PAT: All of them. Separating wolf families.

GLENN: Bad. You go ahead. You break up the families.

Could we -- could we go to Victoria in New York. Yes, Victoria. You're on. More on bird talk. You're on bird talk. Go ahead. Hello, Victoria. Line one.

That's Mary. Hang on, put Mary on hold. And let's go to Victoria. Line one, please. There we go.

Victoria, hi.

CALLER: Yes, hi. I just love this show.

GLENN: Thank you.

CALLER: I wanted to make a comparison here. They're so concerned about the wall.

GLENN: Uh-huh. Uh-huh.

CALLER: But, meanwhile, what about those windmills that are out there killing birds that are supposed to be great for the environment?

PAT: Right. Where is Jeff Corwin on those?

Trump's 3 BIGGEST border victories

SAUL LOEB / Contributor | Getty Images

The Southern Border is healing!

Just hours after his inauguration on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border. A little over a month later, the tide of migrants pouring into the United States has been significantly stemmed. Trump is delivering on his major campaign promises: stopping illegal crossings, rolling back Biden-era border policies, and using every available resource to fortify the border against future challenges.

In his recent congressional speech, Trump highlighted these border security successes—achievements often overshadowed by the flood of other news stories this past month. To spotlight this monumental progress, we’ve compiled a list of Trump’s three most significant border victories.

1. Significantly reduced border encounters

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / Contributor | Getty Images

When Trump took office, it was clear—the sheriff was back in town. According to the Department of Homeland Security, daily border encounters have plummeted by 93 percent since his inauguration. Meanwhile, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has ramped up its efforts: in the past month alone, ICE doubled arrests of criminal aliens and tripled apprehensions of fugitives at large. This dramatic shift stems from reinstating strict border policies, restoring common-sense enforcement, and unleashing the full capabilities of ICE and Border Patrol.

2. Major policy changes

John Moore / Staff | Getty Images

President Trump has also made sweeping strides in border policy. He reinstated the “Remain in Mexico” policy, requiring immigrants to wait in Mexico during their immigration proceedings instead of being released into the U.S. He also terminated the controversial “catch and release” practice, which had allowed millions of illegal immigrants to stay in the country pending court dates. Additionally, Trump signed the Laken Riley Act, mandating detention for all illegal immigrants accused of serious crimes.

Another key victory was designating cartels like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua as terrorist organizations. This classification empowers law enforcement and border agencies to tackle these ruthless gangs with the seriousness and resources they demand.

3. Deployed major muscle

John Moore / Staff | Getty Images

Trump is doubling down on border security—and he’s not holding back. He deployed 1,500 U.S. troops to secure the southern border and restarted construction of the border wall. Among the forces sent is a Stryker Brigade, a rapid-response, high-tech mechanized infantry unit equipped with armored ground and air vehicles. This brigade’s mobility and long-range capabilities make it ideal for patrolling the rugged, remote stretches of the border.

Fort Knox exposed: Is America's gold MISSING?

Christopher Furlong / Staff | Getty Images

President Trump promised that we would get a peek inside Fort Knox, but are we ready for what we might find?

In this new era of radical transparency, the possibility that the Deep State's darkest secrets could be exposed has many desperate for answers to old questions. Recently, Glenn has zeroed in on gold, specifically America's gold reserves, which are supposed to be locked away inside the vaults of Fort Knox. According to the government, there are 147.3 million ounces of gold stored within several small secured rooms that are themselves locked behind a massive 22 ton vault door, but the truth is that no one has officially seen this gold since 1953. An audit is long overdue, and President Trump has already shown interest in the idea.

America's gold reserve has been surrounded by suspicion for the better part of a hundred years. It all started in 1933, when FDR effectivelynationalized the United States's private gold stores, forcing Americans to sell their gold to the government. This gold was melted down, forged into bars, and stored in the newly constructed U.S. Bullion Depository building at Fort Knox. By 1941, Fort Knox had held 649.6 million ounces of gold—which, you may have noticed, was 502.3 million ounces more than today. We'll come back to that.

By 1944, World War II was ending, and the Allies began planning how to rebuild Europe. The U.N. held a conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, where the USD was established as the world's reserve currency. This meant that any country (though not U.S. citizens) could exchange the USD for gold at the fixed rate of $35 per ounce. Already, you can see where our gold might have gone.

Jump to the 1960s, where Lyndon B. Johnson was busy digging America into a massive debt hole. Between the Vietnam War and Johnson's "Great Society" project, the U.S. was bleeding cash and printing money to keep up. But now Fort Knox no longer held enough physical gold to cover the $35 an ounce rate promised by the Bretton Woods agreement. France took notice of this weakness and began to redeem hundreds of millions of dollars. In the 70s Nixon staunched this gushing wound by halting foreign nations from redeeming dollars for gold, but this had the adverse effect of ending the gold standard.

This brings us to the present, where inflation is through the roof, no one knows how much gold is actually inside Fort Knox, and someone in America has been buying a LOT of gold. Who is buying this gold? Where is it going and for what purpose? Glenn has a few ideas, and one of them is MUCH better than the other:

The path back to gold

Mario Tama / Staff | Getty Images

One possibility is that all of this gold that has been flooding into America is in preparation for a shift back to a gold-backed, or partial-gold-backed system. The influx of gold corresponds with a comment recently made by Trump's new Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, who said he was going to:

“Monetize the asset side of the U.S. balance sheet for the American people.”

Glenn pointed out that per a 1972 law, the gold in Fort Knox is currently set at a fixed value of $42 an ounce. At the time of this writing, gold was valued at $2,912.09 an ounce, which is more than a 6,800 percent increase. If the U.S. stockpile was revalued to reflect current market prices, it could be used to stabilize the dollar. This could even mean a full, or partial return to the gold standard, depending on the amount of gold currently being imported.

Empty coffers—you will own nothing

Raymond Boyd / Contributor | Getty Images

Unfortunately, Glenn suspects there is another, darker purpose behind the recent gold hubbub.

As mentioned before, the last realaudit of Fort Knox was done under President Eisenhower, in 1953. While the audit passed, a report from the Secretary of the Treasury revealed that a mere 13.6 percent was checked. For the better part of a century, we've had no idea how much gold is present under Fort Knox. After the gold hemorrhage in the 60s, many were suspicious of the status of our gold supply. In the 80s, a wealthy businessman named Edward Durell released over a decade's worth of research that led him to conclude that Fort Knox was all but empty. In short, he claimed that the Federal Reserve had siphoned off all the gold and sold it to Europe.

What would it mean if America's coffers are empty? According to a post by X user Matt Smith that Glenn shared, empty coffers combined with an influx of foreign gold could represent the beginning of a new, controlled economy. We couldstill be headed towards a future where you'll ownnothing.

Glenn: The most important warning of your lifetime—AI is coming for you

NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

Artificial intelligence isn’t coming. It’s here. The future we once speculated about is no longer science fiction—it’s reality. Every aspect of our lives, from how we work to how we think, is about to change forever. And if you’re not ready for it, you’re already behind. This isn’t just another technological leap. This is the biggest shift humanity has ever faced.

The last call before the singularity

I've been ringing this bell for 30 years. Thirty years warning you about what’s coming. And now, here we are. This isn’t a drill. This isn’t some distant future. It’s happening now. If you don’t understand what’s at stake, you need to wake up—because we have officially crossed the event horizon of artificial intelligence.

What’s an event horizon? It’s the edge of a black hole—the point where you can’t escape, no matter how hard you try. AI is that black hole. The current is too strong. The waterfall is too close. If you haven’t been paying attention, you need to start right now. Because once we reach Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI), there is no turning back.

You’ve heard me talk about this for decades. AI isn’t just a fancy Siri. It isn’t just ChatGPT. We are on the verge of machines that will outthink every human who has ever lived—combined. ASI won’t just process information—it will anticipate, decide, and act faster than any of us can comprehend. It will change everything about our world, about our lives.

And yet, the conversation around AI has been wrong. People think the real dangers are coming later—some distant dystopian nightmare. But we are already in it. We’ve passed the point where AI is just a tool. It’s becoming the master. And the people who don’t learn to use it now—who don’t understand it, who don’t prepare for it—are going to be swallowed whole.

I know what some of you are thinking: "Glenn, you’ve spent years warning us about AI, about how dangerous it is. And now you’re telling us to embrace it?" Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. Because if you don’t use this tool—if you don’t learn to master it—then you will be at its mercy.

This is not an option anymore. This is survival.

How you must prepare—today

I need you to take AI seriously—right now. Not next year, not five years from now. This weekend.

Here’s what I want you to do: Open up one of these AI tools—Grok 3, ChatGPT, anything advanced—and start using it. If you’re a CEO, have it analyze your competitors. If you’re an artist, let it critique your work. If you’re a stay-at-home parent, have it optimize your budget. Ask it questions. Push it to its limits. Learn what it can do—because if you don’t, you will be left behind.

Let me be crystal clear: AI is not your friend. It’s not your partner. It’s not something to trust. AI is a shovel—an extremely powerful shovel, but still just a tool. And if you don’t understand that, you’re in trouble.

We’ve already seen what happens when we surrender to technology without thinking. Social media rewired our brains. Smartphones reshaped our culture. AI will do all that—and more. If you don’t take control now, AI will control you.

Ask yourself: When AI makes decisions for you—when it anticipates your needs before you even know them—at what point do you stop being the one in charge? At what point does AI stop being a tool and start being your master?

And that’s not even the worst of it. The next step—transhumanism—is coming. It will start with good intentions. Elon Musk is already developing implants to help people walk again. And that’s great. But where does it stop? What happens when people start “upgrading” themselves? What happens when people choose to merge with AI?

I know my answer. I won’t cross that line. But you’re going to have to decide for yourself. And if you don’t start preparing now, that decision will be made for you.


The final warning—act now or be left behind

I need you to hear me. This is not optional. This is not something you can ignore. AI is here. And if you don’t act now, you will be lost.

The next 18 months will change everything. People who don’t prepare—who don’t learn to use AI—will be scrambling to catch up. And they won’t catch up. The gap will be too wide. You’ll either be leading, or you’ll be swallowed whole.

So start this weekend. Learn it. Test it. Push it. Master it. Because the people who don’t? They will be the tools.

The decision is yours. But time is running out.

The coming AI economy and the collapse of traditional jobs

Think back to past technological revolutions. The industrial revolution put countless blacksmiths, carriage makers, and farmhands out of business. The internet wiped out entire industries, from travel agencies to brick-and-mortar retail. AI is bigger than all of those combined. This isn’t just about job automation—it’s about job obliteration.

Doctors, lawyers, engineers—people who thought their jobs were untouchable—will find themselves replaced by AI. A machine that can diagnose disease with greater accuracy, draft legal documents in seconds, or design infrastructure faster than an entire team of engineers will be cheaper, faster, and better than human labor. If you’re not preparing for that reality, you’re already falling behind.

What does this mean for you? It means constant adaptation. Every three to five years, you will need to redefine your role, retrain, and retool. The only people who survive this AI revolution will be the ones who understand its capabilities and learn to work with it, not against it.

The moral dilemma: When do you stop being human?

The real danger of AI isn’t just economic—it’s existential. When AI merges with humans, we will face an unprecedented question: At what point do we stop being human?

Think about it. If you implant a neural chip that gives you access to the entire internet in your mind, are you still the same person? If your thoughts are intertwined with AI-generated responses, where do you end and AI begins? This is the future we are hurtling toward, and few people are even asking the right questions.

I’m asking them now. And you should be too. Because that line—between human and machine—is coming fast. You need to decide now where you stand. Because once we cross it, there is no going back.

Final thoughts: Be a leader, not a follower

AI isn’t a passing trend. It’s not a gadget or a convenience. It is the most powerful force humanity has ever created. And if you don’t take the time to understand it now, you will be at its mercy.

This is the defining moment of our time. Will you be a master of AI? Or will you be mastered by it? The choice is yours. But if you wait too long, you won’t have a choice at all.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

Trump's Zelenskyy deal falls apart: What happened and what's next?

SAUL LOEB / Contributor | Getty Images

Trump offered Zelenskyy a deal he couldn’t refuse—but Zelenskyy rejected it outright.

Last Friday, President Donald Trump welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington to sign a historic agreement aimed at ending the brutal war ravaging Ukraine. Joined by Vice President J.D. Vance, Trump met with Zelenskyy and the press before the leaders were set to retreat behind closed doors to finalize the deal. Acting as a gracious host, Trump opened the meeting by praising Zelenskyy and the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers. He expressed enthusiasm for the proposed agreement, emphasizing its benefits—such as access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals for the U.S.—and publicly pledged continued American aid in exchange.

Zelenskyy, however, didn’t share Trump’s optimism. Throughout the meeting, he interrupted repeatedly and openly criticized both Trump and Vance in front of reporters. Tensions escalated until Vance, visibly frustrated, fired back. The exchange turned the meeting hostile, and by its conclusion, Trump withdrew his offer. Rather than staying in Washington to resolve the conflict, Zelenskyy promptly left for Europe to seek support from the European Union.

As Glenn pointed out, Trump had carefully crafted this deal to benefit all parties, including Russia. Zelenskyy’s rejection was a major misstep.

Trump's generous offer to Zelenskyy

Glenn took to his whiteboard—swapping out his usual chalkboard—to break down Trump’s remarkable deal for Zelenskyy. He explained how it aligned with several of Trump’s goals: cutting spending, advancing technology and AI, and restoring America’s position as the dominant world power without military action. The deal would have also benefited the EU by preventing another war, revitalizing their economy, and restoring Europe’s global relevance. Ukraine and Russia would have gained as well, with the war—already claiming over 250,000 lives—finally coming to an end.

The media has portrayed last week’s fiasco as an ambush orchestrated by Trump to humiliate Zelenskyy, but that’s far from the truth. Zelenskyy was only in Washington because he had already rejected the deal twice—first refusing Vice President Vance and then Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It was Zelenskyy who insisted on traveling to America to sign the deal at the White House. If anyone set an ambush, it was him.

The EU can't help Ukraine

JUSTIN TALLIS / Contributor | Getty Images

After clashing with Trump and Vance, Zelenskyy wasted no time leaving D.C. The Ukrainian president should have stayed, apologized to Trump, and signed the deal. Given Trump’s enthusiasm and a later comment on Truth Social—where he wrote, “Zelenskyy can come back when he is ready for peace”—the deal could likely have been revived.

Meanwhile, in London, over a dozen European leaders, joined by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, convened an emergency meeting dubbed the “coalition of the willing” to ensure peace in Ukraine. This coalition emerged as Europe’s response to Trump’s withdrawal from the deal. By the meeting’s end, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a four-point plan to secure Ukrainian independence.

Zelenskyy, however, appears less than confident in the coalition’s plan. Recently, he has shifted his stance toward the U.S., apologizing to Trump and Vance and expressing gratitude for the generous military support America has already provided. Zelenskyy now says he wants to sign Trump’s deal and work under his leadership.

This is shaping up to be another Trump victory.