BLOGJune 28, 2017

People Lose Freedom When They Lose Hope—So Hold on to Hope

Today on radio, Glenn read a Facebook post from listener Cheryl McMurray. Here's what she wrote:

I've listened to you, Glenn, for at least six or seven years. The problem is I became so scared and so hopeless, I didn't know what to do. I still don't. I kept track of the predictions that you made. They keep coming true over and over again. I appreciate the fact that you tell us the truth. I just don't know how much more I can handle.

Glenn issued a tough, but inspiring message:

I know. And that's exactly what people who want power are waiting for. For you to say, I don't have any hope. "Just let them." That's how freedom is lost. The way free people lose their freedom is they first lose hope.

See, let me tell you some really hard news, knowing that there's good news on the other end of it. But here's the truth that no one will tell you: We keep waiting for somebody to save us on health care or whatever it is. "Oh, the president is going to save us. The next president will fix this. Well, once we get Congress!" The Democrats are saying, when we get Congress back, when we get a president back, we'll be able to fix this.

No one is coming to save you. There is no one that is going to solve this health care problem for you. I don't believe that most of them even understand the problem, let alone the solution to the problem.

I sat in a room yesterday full of Hollywood liberals. We were getting ready to leave, and one of them said, "I just have to ask you, what is your opinion on the health care thing, what is happening?"

And I said: We don't have anybody in Washington who actually cares about helping people. They're all getting rich, through all kinds of backdoor deals. They're getting their health care, but nobody cares, on either side. If they really cared, all they had to do was say, "Okay. Where are the people really suffering? Let's make sure they're on Medicaid. Let's make sure they're on Medicare. You need to expand that for this group of people, fine. Let's find a way to help the people at need."

Now people are suffering all over the country because health care insurance is going through the roof, the premiums. Why is that happening? It's easy. It's easy.

Are they solving that? No. In fact, those were the two things that they needed to take out of this health care bill, to be able to reduce premiums, and the GOP left them in. There is no way your premium is going down from what they've done. So why would they do that? They're not trying to solve a problem. They're creating a problem that will create more problems because you will turn to them and say, "You've got to help me." Oh, they're helping you, but they're helping themselves first.

No one is going to solve this problem. There is no white knight. There is no one that's going to come and save you. There's no cavalry. There's no SEAL Team 6 coming for you. There's no S.W.A.T. team. And let me tell you something: It's an un-American idea to hope for that. It goes against everything we ar, to hope for someone to ride in and save you. That's not what the American dream was.

Anybody have any doubt that Elon Musk will go to Mars? I don't. And it may not be him, but it will come out of his work. We will put private people on Mars because of Elon Musk. Why? Because he's not waiting around for somebody else.

The Enigma machine, great movie about what's his name over in England that broke the Enigma code --- Turing, great story. Except England and Turing had an Enigma machine. They knew what it was. The United States didn't have one. We didn't have the Enigma machine. England shared zero information with us on the Enigma machine. We just had two Americans who read the code and went, "Crap, this is hard." We solved it without the Enigma machine, without any information. We solved it in half the time. Why? Because we weren't waiting for somebody else to do it.

George Washington Carver goes out, he's trying to put fertilizer back into his soil, trying to find some way to replenish the soil. He figures it out, plant peanuts. Great! We plant peanuts. Now, what the hell are we going to do with all these peanuts?He's walking at night in his field, and he says a voice said to him basically the answer is in your problem. "But my problem is peanuts." The answer is in your problem. He came up with 300 products in his problem. What is the one thing that if you're ever told, hey, these people are really hungry, they're homeless. What is the most nutritious thing you can buy for them that people will eat that has all kinds of nutrients in it? Peanut butter. That was some man's problem.

The Americans are faced with a problem, and somebody in the private sector fixes it, someone finds a way around all of the "no's." And they finally get to a "yes."

How many times was J.K. Rowling told no? How many times was Dr. Seuss told no? They were only told "yes" once, only once. "This is trash. Nobody is going to read this."

For years, I was told, you can't do talk radio. (And I kind of know that I can't., and that's kind of the point.) You can't do that. That won't work. I was on television: That's not going to work. It sure seemed to.

Everybody is going to tell you "no." Everybody is going to throw an obstacle. One thing that we have forgotten as Americans is endurance. Bring it on, world! Bring it on! We have to get to a place to where we almost look up at the sky shaking our fist, "Is that the best you can do!" He helps those who help themselves.

Nobody is coming to us to save us, gang. Don't look for an answer in Washington. Look for it in yourself. Find the way to hack your world.

We can do that together. Together, we'll change the world. And you'll be more powerful than you can even imagine.

Enjoy the complimentary clip or read the transcript for details.

GLENN: Cheryl McMurray wrote: I've listened to you, Glenn, for at least six or seven years. The problem is I became so scared and so hopeless, I didn't know what to do. I still don't.

I kept track of the predictions that you made. They keep coming true over and over again. I appreciate the fact that you tell us the truth. I just don't know how much more I can handle.

I know. And that's exactly what people who want power are waiting for. For you to say, I don't have any hope. Just let them.

That's how freedom is lost. Freedom -- the way free people lose their freedom is they first lose hope.

See, let me tell you some really -- let me tell you some really hard news, knowing that there's good news on the other end of it. But here's the truth that no one will tell you: We keep waiting for somebody to save us on health care or whatever it is. Oh, the president is going to save us. The next president will fix this. Well, once we get Congress! The Democrats are saying, when we get Congress back, when we get a president back, we'll be able to fix this.

No one is coming to save you. There is no one that is going to solve this health care problem for you. They don't -- I don't believe that most of them even understand the problem, let alone the solve the problem.

I sat in a room yesterday full of Hollywood liberals. And they said -- we were getting ready to leave. And one of them said, I just have to ask you, what is your opinion on the health care thing, what is happening?

And I said: We don't have anybody in Washington who actually cares about helping people. They're all getting rich, through all kinds of backdoor deals. They're getting their health care, but nobody cares, on either side. If they really cared, all we had to do was say, "Okay. Where are the people really suffering? Let's make sure they're on Medicaid. Let's make sure they're on Medicare. You need to expand that for this group of people, fine. Let's find a way to help the people at need."

Now people are suffering all over the country because the health care insurance is going through the roof. The premiums. Why is that happening? It's easy. It's easy.

Are they solving that? No. In fact, those were the two things that they needed to take out of this health care bill, to be able to reduce premiums, and the G.O.P. left them in. There is no way your premium is going down from what they've done. So why would they do that?

They're not trying to solve a problem. They're creating a problem that will give them more problem because you will turn to them and say, "You've got to help me." Oh, they're helping you. But they're helping themselves first.

No one is going to solve this problem. There is no white knight. There is no one that's going to come and save you. There's no cavalry. There's no SEAL team six coming for you. There's no S.W.A.T. team. And let me tell you something: It's an un-American idea to hope for that.

It goes against everything we are, to hope for someone to ride in and save you. That's not what the American dream was. Anybody have any doubt that Elon Musk will go to Mars? I don't. And it may not be him, but it will come out of his work. We will put private people on Mars because of Elon Musk.

Why? Because he's not waiting around for somebody else. The Enigma machine, great movie about what's his name over in England that broke the Enigma code. Turing. Great story. Except England and Turing had an Enigma machine. They knew what it was. The United States didn't have one. We didn't have the Enigma machine. England shared zero information with us on the Enigma machine. We just had two Americans who read the code and went, "Crap, this is hard."

We solved it without the Enigma machine, without any information. We solved it in half the time. Why?

Because we weren't waiting for somebody else to do it. George Washington Carver goes out. He's trying to put soil -- put fertilizer back into his soil. Trying to find some way to replenish the soil. He figures it out. Plant peanuts. Great. We plant peanuts. Now, what the hell are we going to do with all these peanuts?

He's walking at night in his field. And he says a voice said to him basically the answer is in your problem. But my problem is peanuts. The answer is in your problem.

He came up with 300 products in his problem. He solved -- what is the one thing that if you're ever told, hey, you got to -- these people are really hungry. They're homeless. What is the most nutritious thing you can buy for them that people will eat that has all kinds of nutrients in it? Peanut butter. That was some man's problem.

The Americans are faced with a problem, and somebody in the private sector fixes it. Someone finds a way around all of the no's. And they finally get to a yes.

How many times was J.K. Rowling told no? How many times was Dr. Seuss told no? They were only told yes once. Only told once. "This is trash. Nobody is going to read this."

For years, I was told, you can't do talk radio. And I kind of know that I can't. And that's kind of the point.

You can't do that. That won't work.

I was on television: That's not going to work.

It seemed to. Everybody is going to tell you no. Everybody is going to throw an obstacle. One thing that we have forgotten as Americans is endurance. Bring it on, world! Bring it on!

We have to get to a place to where we almost look up at the sky shaking our fist, "Is that the best you can do!"

He helps those who help themselves. Nobody is coming to us to save us, gang. Don't look for an answer in Washington. Look for it in yourself. Find the way to hack your world.

And we can do that together. And together, we'll change the world. And you'll be more powerful than you can even imagine.

THE GLENN BECK PODCAST

Why Your Actions Matter More Than Words in the Eyes of God

Glenn Beck and Eric Metaxas expose the spiritual crisis gripping America’s churches — a moment they compare to Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s warning before World War II. As the culture descends into moral confusion, too many Christians retreat into silence, claiming faith while refusing to act. Together, they argue that true belief demands courage — that “faith without works is dead” — and warn that neutrality in the face of evil is itself a form of complicity.

Watch the FULL Interview HERE

RADIO

The American Dream is in CRISIS - How Freedom Was Replaced by Comfort

The American Dream used to mean freedom and the chance to build your own life through hard work, faith, and independence. But today, it’s been replaced by comfort, consumption, and debt. Glenn Beck breaks down how America traded liberty for lifestyle, why socialism is gaining ground, and what it will take to reclaim the real American Dream before it disappears for good.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: I don't know if you saw the visualizing the American dream, Stu.

You know, what the American dream actually is, is that you can forge your own way.

You can -- you know, you can have a scrap of land, and grow your own food if up.

You can, you know, go to school. Not go to school.

You can find a job. If you're qualified for it, you have an equal chance of getting it, you know, based on merit.

But the percentage of Americans who say the American dream is retirement is 86 percent. Health care, 86 percent. Owning a home, 85. Raising two kids, 78. Owning a car, 72. Vacations, 71. Pets, 66. A wedding, 55 percent. That's the American dream, I can get married.

The American dream, if that's what you think, they've now estimated, the cost per household over the cost -- over the lifetime, retirement is $1.6 million. Owning a home now, 30-year mortgage, 20 percent you want to, is $957,594. Owning a car, buying and finance to begin with new cars every ten years is now $900,000 over your lifetime. Raising two kids to 18, plus four years of public college, $876,092. Two kids. Health care, over your lifetime, spending from ages 22 to 85, $414,000. Vacations, annual vacation from '22 to '85, $180,000. One dog and one cat for 11 to 13 years is $40,000!

That's more expensive than a wedding. The engagement ring, the ceremony, and the reception is now estimated to be $38,200.

There's a reason socialism is doing well. You look at that, and you're like, wow. I mean, if that's the American dream. And for a lot of people, that is the American dream!

That's not what the American dream is supposed to be, but, you know, once -- you know, once Woodrow Wilson and FDR got a hold of us and they started advertising, it became stuff instead of freedom. It became stuff. And, you know, when there's a new report out. Let me see if I have that.

There's a new report out now that shows, first time home buyers made up just 21 percent of the home purchases. That's the lowest on record.

The typical age of repeat buyers hit an all-time high of '62. The median downtowns, reaching 23 percent.

The highest since 2023.

And also, where is it?

The last one is -- the median age for first time home buyers, in 1981, it was 29 years old.

I'm sorry. Yeah. Twenty-nine years old. In 2021, it was 33 years old.

What is it this year?

Median age, first time homeowner, forty.

You're 40 before you can buy any kind of home. That puts these things that people want, dream about, out of reach, until you're 40?

You know, 29 is one thing. But if you're not seeing -- you're not seeing your life really kind of settling down until you're 40, I -- I can understand why you're like, you know what, this system doesn't work.

Because you've never seen it work. It's betrayed you.

Or so you've been sold. It's betrayed you.

And everything is being pushed out of your reach. And when you're young, the one thing you're not is patient.

And at 40, I can see why people are not, you know, yeah. Well, socialism is neat because capitalism isn't working. How would you respond to that?

STU: I mean, it's more lengthy than we have time for. But I would say that the response to, you know, you thinking that you want a home is not to embrace an ideology that murders 100 million people.

That's not -- that's not a good answer to the problem that you think you have.

GLENN: But they're not learning that anywhere.

They're not -- that is our responsibility! To teach those things. Because they're not learning it anywhere.

Glenn Beck Warns of 3 Economic Outcomes That Could Change EVERYTHING | Ep 467

Socialism is spreading fast among America’s youth, and the shocking election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani for mayor in New York City marks a major cultural and economic shift. Glenn exposes how runaway debt, record home prices, AI job disruption, and the collapsing stake in capitalism have led many Millennials and members of Gen Z to embrace socialism and communism. He reveals the three possible economic futures for 2026: two that are disastrous and one that could change everything if the Trump administration’s global financial overhaul succeeds. Plus, Justin Haskins, president of the Heartland Institute, joins to reveal some terrifying truths about why young Americans are embracing socialism from a poll he conducted with Rasmussen Reports.

RADIO

The world is about to realize the DEADLY enemy we face

"The world doesn't understand yet. We're already in World War III," Glenn Beck warns. "That foe is not China. That foe is militant Islam." Glenn explains the battle we're currently facing and what's to come if we don't wake up soon...

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: From New Jersey, it's Brian. Hello, Brian.

CALLER: Hello!

GLENN: Hey.

CALLER: Yeah. Thanks for taking the calls today.

GLENN: Sure.

CALLER: Yeah. I'm worried that we are headed towards another French Revolution-style because we have entire generations. Or actually people just not being heard by their representatives.

GLENN: Hmm.

CALLER: And it's not just here. It's around the world.

GLENN: Uh-huh.

I -- actually, I had scheduled for this time, I'll just do it some other time. Talking about what's happening in -- in England.

I think England is headed for a Civil War. And -- and it's very close.

I mean, you can't put 4,000 people. 4,000 people, in jail, or try them for hate crimes. And speech crimes.

You can't -- you can't do it. In England!

You can't do that in one year. And expect people to just put up with it!

You can't -- you know, we're -- we're -- America doesn't understand yet.

The world doesn't understand.

We're in World War III. We're already in World War III.

I don't know when it becomes a hot war. Or even a war that we on our side recognize. But we are in World War III. And that -- that foe is not China.

That foe is militant Islam, period. And, you know, when we have a situation to where people are -- when the government is just like, no. It's not a problem.

It's not a problem. You know. You've got illegals all over.

It's not a problem.

It's not a problem.

It is a problem. Don't tell me what -- what the problems are not!

Because we're the ones living it!

You're the experts, who keep telling us, no. It's going to work out fine.

And it doesn't work out fine. And it just gets worse and worse.

Oh. We can spend this money. No. It looks like we can't spend this money. Oh, we can afford this. No. It looks like we can't afford this.

You know, if we do this with Ukraine, it will work out fine. No, it didn't, did it? These endless wars, all of this stuff, don't tell me what the problem is. Listen to the people and start talking to the people. Honestly, this is the reason why I'm doing this today. I -- I need to hear from you.

I need to know what's on your mind, so I stay focused and -- and clear on what America is saying.

Because I don't think -- look, you know, me taking phone calls is -- is not a true representation of anything, but it does give me a sense of -- of where you are, as an audience. Maybe not as America, but as an audience. And there are lots of things that concern me. But I want to hear it from you.
But I think you're right! We're headed for real, real trouble. All you need is real economic trouble.

You start getting real, true economic trouble. 1930s kind of depression stuff. And we're in Civil War.

Dan, Oregon. Welcome!

CALLER: Hello, Glenn. How are you?

GLENN: I'm great!

CALLER: Yeah. Good. It's been a long time.

I guess it's been over ten years, since I've had a chance to talk with you. I was one of your first insiders. I was listening to you, since you were in Florida.

GLENN: Wow. Wow.

CALLER: So it's been a long -- yeah. It has been. And I can't say I've enjoyed all of it.
(laughter)

GLENN: Neither have I!

STU: I can't say that either, I'll be honest with you.

CALLER: You know, you were talking on yesterday's show, reminiscing with Stu about how you guys started. And I remember those old shows. And, you know, at the end of the -- the fusion of entertainment and enlightenment.

STU: Hmm.

GLENN: Right.

CALLER: And there was a lot more entertainment. I remember I laughed a lot.

GLENN: Oh, yeah. I know. I know. Those days are long dead.
(laughter)

STU: There's nothing to laugh about now.

CALLER: Yeah. I -- I'm 78. I still work 40 hours a week. I love my job.

GLENN: Good for you.

CALLER: Been married for 55 years. I have seven kids.

GLENN: Good for you.

CALLER: I've got a daughter -- I've got a daughter who is in her 40s. And she has severe TDS. She -- we don't -- I mean, we're not cutting each other off. She hasn't done that at all. We're still very close as a family. But she was down visiting the other day, and got into a conversation with my wife. And I wasn't in the room. But Kathy said it was just like listening to one of those young people out on the street that was being interviewed by the news media. And she was -- and she was in tears about it. My wife and my daughter both.

And, I mean, I love her, and I continue to support her. She's a single woman, not by choice. She just never found the right guy.

GLENN: Yeah.

CALLER: And I really think that's part of the problem. Because she started reading -- back when Trump was first running, she started reading all of this stuff about him being misogynistic and all of this stuff.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah.

CALLER: And it's just gotten worse. I -- I'm at a loss. I really am. Because I -- like, I see the country doing better. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. But I still feel like that at least right now, we're doing better as a whole. But what do we do about -- what do we do about our kids about -- she went to Portland State University for the last two --

GLENN: Oh, jeez, for the love of --

CALLER: Well, yeah. For the last two years, she went to -- she went to a little college in Idaho called Ricks for the first two years, and Utah State.

GLENN: Oh, yeah.

CALLER: And then she served a mission for our church in Brazil and came home, but then she went to Portland State University. And it just seems to have gone downhill from there.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah. So, Dan, I think you are suffering from the same thing that almost all parents are suffering from. If you're not suffering from this, then, I mean, God bless you. You know, get on your knees and thank God. Because you are a lucky, lucky family. Everybody has in their family. I have it in my family.

And you have to ask yourself, what is your goal?

My -- what is your goal with your daughter? Your real goal?

CALLER: My real goal is for us to be united eternally. That's my goal. That's my goal as a father and has been to teach her --

GLENN: And how -- and how is that going to happen with politics?

CALLER: We just stay together as a family regardless of what politics does.

GLENN: That's exactly right. Exactly right.

I think we're in a place now where as parents, you can ask your kids, but it has to be honest. It cannot be trying to win. It has to be honest. How did you get there?

I mean, I remember. You know, we've talked about this before. And you didn't believe that before. What has changed?

Can you help me with that?

I would like to see what you're reading, or what that was.

And just ask questions. But they have to be honest. They can't be, you know, because I'm setting you up. Because I want to change your mind.

But keep a dialogue open with them. And just love them!

Just love them!

Because if you do anything else, you're going to drive them away. And then they're really lost. So just love them.

CALLER: Oh, I know that. Glenn, when she was young -- when she was young, I considered her one of the elect. And the Scripture says, that in the last days, even the elect are going to be deceived. And that's what I'm seeing. But everything you've said, I -- I am doing. I'm doing it that way. Because I know --

GLENN: Okay. Good. Then you didn't need to -- I appreciate it. I'm so glad you called me. But you didn't need to -- my advice, you already have it down. You're a very wise man.

Glenn's Show Prep

People Lose Freedom When They Lose Hope—So Hold on to Hope

Why Your Actions Matter More Than Words in the Eyes of God

The American Dream is in CRISIS - How Freedom Was Replaced by Comfort

Transcript

Glenn Beck Warns of 3 Economic Outcomes That Could Change EVERYTHING | Ep 467

The world is about to realize the DEADLY enemy we face

Transcript