BLOGAugust 01, 2017

Heartbreaking: Glenn Sheds Tears With Mother Whose Children Were Taken by the State

Oregon couple Amy Fabbrini and Eric Ziegler lost custody of their son Christopher about four years ago, shortly after he was born. Fabbrini gave birth to their second son in February --- and he was taken by the Department of Human Services before leaving the hospital. Fabbrini and Ziegler claim the state took these actions because of their low IQ.

Tuesday on radio, Glenn spoke with Fabbrini and her advocate Sherrene Hagenbach, who was appointed by the state as a volunteer supervisor during the couple's visits with their children. Hagenbach was relieved of her position after siding with the couple. She's on record as saying there's "no sign of abuse" and that Fabbrini is "perfectly qualified to have and hold and love her children."

"I am so bothered by this story. I think you will be, too," Glenn said.

The story unexpectedly hit Glenn hard.

"I don't know what you expected her to sound like, but she sounded perfectly normal to me. She is a mother who loves her children. Sorry this . . . hits close to home. I have a daughter with cerebral palsy who is a wonderful . . . and would make the best mother ever," Glenn said emotionally, following the interview with Fabbrini.

The couple has gone through rigorous testing to prove their competency, but their children remain in foster care, awaiting adoption.

TAKE ACTION

To learn more or get involved:

• Visit Sherrene Hagenbach online at aktionnow.com

• SIGN THE PETITION to get Christopher and Hunter back in their parents' care

• DONATE via GoFundMe to assist with the family's legal expenses

GLENN: In light of Charlie Gard and now Alfie Evans, and in the past, it was Justine Pelletier, governments and hospitals are taking children from their parents. And we want to make sure that you are aware of this. We welcome Sherrene Hagenbach, her mentor, and Amy Fabbrini, the mother who is going through this in Oregon. Amy, how are you?

AMY: I'm doing good. Thank you.

GLENN: Tell me -- tell me what's happening to you and what's happening to your children.

AMY: So Christopher, my oldest, he was taken -- he was taken into CPS custody almost four years ago. And we have been fighting the state for almost four years now to get him back, trying to represent him as best as we can, trying to get our story out there, trying to get a lawyer, an attorney that will represent us in court so we can get our -- get Christopher back. We have a trial coming up in December to terminate our rights for Christopher.

And then Hunter, he was born in February. He was two days old. CPS came. Took him right from the hospital. I didn't even get to bring him home. So since then, we've been fighting for him as well. We've been getting our story out there to try and find someone that can represent us so we can go up against the state to get our kids back. And we just -- we want our story out there so they know that you can get your kids back.

GLENN: Amy, are -- are you a good mom?

AMY: I'm a wonderful mother. I love my boys. I would do anything for my boys.

GLENN: Sorry. This has caught me off guard. I have a daughter of special needs. And so this has caught me off guard. I'm sorry to be emotional with you.

What does it feel like to now have to be on national radio with people discussing your IQ and saying that you're not smart enough to be a mom?

AMY: It's -- it's been hard. But it's worth it to get my story out there so that people know that you can get your kids back, as long as you just fight. Fight for everything you have because your kids are worth it.

PAT: Has a lawyer stepped up to help you, yet, Amy?

AMY: I have a court-appointed attorney and an appeals attorney. But I would like to see if I could find someone that's out of state that can better represent me.

GLENN: Sherrene.

SHERRENE: Hi. I'm doing good. Thank you.

GLENN: You worked for the state of Oregon?

SHERRENE: So, yes. Actually, I was a volunteer. So I'm a professional mediator by trade. And I went there to just volunteer my time in the community. And because of my credentials and education, they put me in the role of a caseworker that came into the home and observed visitations with the children.

GLENN: What did you observe?

SHERRENE: Well, first, I should preface this with I've had over 20 years' experience working with children, youth, and families.

So my undergrad is in psychology. And I have, you know, a ton of certificates regarding safety and health and abuse. And what I found when I came into the home is a home. I found two parents that just loved their child. It was just Christopher at the time. It was last summer.

And definitely, my first impression was that Amy, in particular, didn't speak to me very much.

GLENN: Didn't --

SHERRENE: She was very insecure.

GLENN: She didn't, what?

SHERRENE: She didn't speak with me at first. It took about four weeks at least to gain her trust in me as a caseworker.

And once she felt comfortable with me in the home, you know, it was -- it was clear to see that she had had years of -- you know, just this unhealthy relationship between her and the state of Oregon when they came in. So, you know, I just had to build that trust up with her. But I just saw a loving environment. There was -- you know, they've got the same dog apparently for the last five years. There's really nothing going on, at all, that I discovered other than maybe they were depressed and, you know, that was -- that was the only thing that I could see. And obviously, if they had their children back, that depression would have lifted.

GLENN: Yeah.

SHERRENE: In the ten months I had worked with her after -- she's just. She's got her voice now. She's fighting. You know, she's -- she's really looking for more than an advocate. Because we live in a small town here. And that's been the hardest thing for me is, one, to speak out against Child Protective Services and care for my family. My stepdad is a lawyer and judge in town. And my mom has got a pretty high position. So I wanted to protect them. But also stand up for people that don't feel like they have a voice and they're not being heard. So I'm pretty much the lone star out here. (chuckles)

And their attorneys are representing them. But, you know, they all know each other here. So I know that they're not being fought for properly.

GLENN: So -- can you hang on just a second. I need to take a quick break. I'm going to come back after a commercial break. We'll continue our conversation.

[break]

GLENN: Welcome back to the program. We're talking about Amy Fabbrini, who the state has decided -- the state of Oregon that she does not have a high enough IQ to be able to have her two children. Her first child was taken from her after being fine in the home and living for two or three years with mom and dad. And her second child has just been taken from her at the hospital at birth. Go ahead, Amy. Did I get something wrong?

AMY: Yeah. Christopher was only in our home for like four days when CPS came and took him.

PAT: Wow.

GLENN: So, Amy, what is the thing -- talking to the mother, who, remember, is not smart enough to have her own children, according to the state of Oregon -- Amy, what caused this? Why did the state come over to your house? What was the complaint?

AMY: The initial complaint was that we had an ex-friend that was living with us. And they called CPS and reported that the father, Eric Ziegler, had been neglecting Christopher. He hadn't been picking up on his keys (phonetic). He wasn't cleaning him properly. And then there was also put in the report that he wasn't properly feeding our dog. That was the first report. And that's why CPS came in and took Christopher.

GLENN: Okay. And so the woman who came out -- Sherrene, you were the person that came out with that report?

SHERRENE: I am not the first person that came out with the initial report.

GLENN: Okay. And what did that first report say? That report took the child away?

SHERRENE: Yeah. The first report was called in supposedly by a roommate of theirs. And the second report was actually from Amy's father who was upset that she decided to move in with the father of her child.

GLENN: Okay.

SHERRENE: So they've just gone with that for, you know, the last almost four years now.

GLENN: Okay. Now, Sherrene, you have been with Amy over the last couple of years. You see her quite often, or not?

SHERRENE: Yes. So I was placed in the home as a volunteer. I gave my time. So I was placed in the home last May of 2016. And performed weekly visitations for three hours a piece with Amy, Eric, and their child Christopher.

GLENN: Over the last -- over the last year?

SHERRENE: So it was from May of 2016 until August of 2016, when their attorney asked for my -- my observations, because Child Protective Services was not releasing them. So --

GLENN: And, Amy, when was the birth date of your second child?

AMY: February 16th of 2017.

GLENN: February of 2017?

AMY: Yes. Yes.

GLENN: So, Amy, I have to ask you a tough question because this is what the people who are against you say, that you didn't know that you were pregnant until you had your child. And they find that unreasonable. It has happened before with people who are supposedly intelligent. But it is difficult to not know that you're not pregnant. Can you tell me about that. Is that true? What happened?

AMY: So that was with -- that was when I was -- I didn't know I was pregnant with Christopher. And I didn't. All I thought was -- because I have -- I have kidney issues. It's been passed down through my family. So when I was getting these -- when I was getting these pains in my side, I just thought it was my kidneys acting up. I had no indications that I was pregnant. I didn't have any movement or anything.

GLENN: And when you had no -- when you weren't having your period, is that normal for you?

AMY: Yes.

GLENN: And were you -- were you growing in size? Did you look pregnant?

AMY: No.

GLENN: Sherrene, can you help me out on that.

SHERRENE: Yeah. So, Amy's figure has just -- it's just always been the same ever since I met her actually. And when I came into the home last summer, she actually -- we didn't know at the time, but she was beginning, you know, her pregnancy for the second child. And she had stayed the same since the first time I've met her until today. She looks exactly the same. So -- and she just gave birth in February. How big are you? What is your size about?

GLENN: We don't have to get into that -- we don't have to get into that. Please.

AMY: It's something where you just -- you just can't -- you don't notice. It's just -- it's the way that she's built. But she did know she was pregnant with Hunter, the second child. And we discussed extensively about her coming forward. But they just had an incredible amount of fear that they would take their child. So --

GLENN: Which they did.

SHERRENE: Which they did, yeah.

GLENN: So your aunt, Amy, agrees with you and your husband and Sherrene, that --

AMY: Yes. She does.

GLENN: Your children are now up for adoption by the state.

AMY: Christopher is.

GLENN: How do you feel about that?

AMY: I don't feel it's right. He shouldn't be put up for adoption. He should be with us. It's completely wrong.

GLENN: Sherrene and Amy, how can we help you? Is there anything, first of all, that I've missed?

SHERRENE: Well, I would like to advocate that Amy and Eric have remained together. They live in a three-bedroom, two-bath home. It's owned by Eric's father. And they've taken extensive courses on parenting. What abuse and neglect looks like. Health and fitness. I mean, they are very proactive in showing the courts that they want to learn what they want them to learn. And that -- and they're proving to the courts and to everybody around here that they're very capable of learning. They're -- the IQ that is given, you know, is debatable anyway. That can be subject to depression, all kinds of things.

GLENN: Yes.

SHERRENE: But she's very articulate. They're very sweet. They're very kind. And what could help them is finding good representation to help them advocate for their rights to have their children. That is truly what we're looking for, for this family.

GLENN: How do they get in touch with you?

SHERRENE: They can go to either my website or they can contact me via email.

GLENN: Okay. Give me the information right now. Yeah.

SHERRENE: Okay. So my website is www.aktionnow.com. But it's spelled with a K. So it's A-K-T-I-O-N-N-O-W.com.

GLENN: Okay.

SHERRENE: And my email address is support@aktionnow.com.

GLENN: Sherrene, thank you for -- you know, you're in a small town, and you have apparently a very visible family. And it takes guts to stand up and to do it with class and grace. And it sounds like you're doing that. And God bless you for standing up.

Amy Fabbrini, we will not forget you, and we will further this story on any platform that I have to do with. And I will do everything I can to help you out. And I wish all of the best. And we'll talk to you again soon.

Back in just a second.

AMY: Thank you so much.

GLENN: God bless you.

[break]

GLENN: On a personal note, if you just joined us, we did an interview with a -- a mother of two children in -- in Oregon that have just been taken. One of them had been taken from them a few years ago. They have been fighting to get their child back. A -- a mother and father.

Father has a borderline on the higher end IQ of mental disability, 66. Mom has an IQ of 72. I don't know what you expected her to sound like. But she sounded perfectly normal to me.

She is a mother who loves her children. Sorry this is -- this hits close to home. I have a daughter with cerebral palsy who is a wonderful -- and would make the best mother ever.

(crying)

And I can't imagine what it would be like to have to defend your intelligence and to have everyone calling you stupid, when most likely, that's the way you have felt your whole life anyway. And all of the cruel remarks that probably came your way through your whole life, to now have a child and have it taken from you at the hospital, when there is no sign of abuse nor neglect, is an injustice that is beyond comprehension to me.

As I started this break, on a personal note, last night, I have these sweet women who -- who come to the studios. And they pray. And they pray for us. And they pray for me. And we're in my studios or office last night. We had a great conversation. And the last thing they said was, "What can we pray for, for you?"

And I said, "Two things." And I would like to ask you to pray for the second thing more than the first. But I said, "Empathy and courage."

We can't solve anything unless we can feel one another, unless we really have empathy for what people are going through, and we can stop seeing things through the prism of policies or even the Constitution. But start to feel where other people are.

I need more empathy for people. And I have been praying for that gift. But at the same time, I know that we will find things like Amy. And I need the courage and the -- the spine to be able to walk through it. And not because it's difficult, but because it's hard on the heart after a while.

And so if you would join us in -- in that prayer, I would appreciate it. I would appreciate it.

So what they're looking for is an attorney that can represent them. They're in a small town, and it sounds a little incestuous this town. No, I don't mean to speak ill of this town. I don't know anything about it. But we all know how small towns are and can be. And once people make their mind up about a person, it's hard to reverse that. I found very early on, the great joy, which in some ways, was so hard. And I didn't like it. Moving away from my family and my own hometown, you become that -- whatever people have known you as -- you know, I was -- you know, I -- to my sisters, I was their stinky little brother. And, you know, you -- you just grow up, and people have this image of you.

By going away, you can start fresh. And so I don't know Amy's story in this small little town and what they thought of Amy. But I know what the state worker thought when they went in and they found no abuse and no neglect. So we need somebody -- and would Kelly Shackelford -- would this be something -- he is, what? Is the Liberty Counsel? I mean, he does more religious freedom, but he might know somebody that could take on a case like this.

STU: Yeah, that would be interesting to hear. I mean, because there's a lot to this story. But if you back up for a second -- and I don't mean to get scientific, but it's like, this is just completely bonkers. Like this woman -- you expected to hear something completely different from that interview. At least I did. And I know that's totally judging a book by its cover, but...

GLENN: We never -- we had never talked to her before.

STU: No.

GLENN: Our phone screeners had never talked to her. Our producer had not talked to her.

STU: No.

GLENN: Talked to the mentor or the state advocate who was her state advocate until the state fired her. Talked to her. But we didn't -- I mean, I did not expect that conversation.

STU: It's similar to the Charlie Gard thing in a way, that, you know, there is a line you can find with a story like this. Where if they are so disabled that they can't do basic functions of life, there may be -- you know, there's an argument to have. This is not that case. I mean, she's smarter than 80 percent of the people I interact with on a daily basis.

GLENN: And they're taking parenting classes. And his parents are around. And they have help. And the -- the people are aware of them.

I mean, this is why you -- I mean, I will tell you, I feel like adopting their children and building a house next to mine and giving them the house and we would be the adoptive parents. But we would right next to them and they could keep the -- I mean, that's what families are supposed to do. Not state. That's what the family is supposed to do.

You have your child live close enough to where the grandparents help. You don't just take the children away. And, again, the state found no evidence of neglect.

STU: And it's important to note too, IQ is one of those things that has been beaten into our heads for decades and decades and decades as this actual measure of intelligence, that it has some level of accuracy to it. There's no real -- you cannot decipher. These are not accurate enough measures to decipher the difference between someone who has a 72 and a 78 IQ.

Listen. This is from a Canadian university. Dr. Adrian Owen did a huge study, the largest study ever on IQ and the accuracy of it. He was the senior investigator in the Canadian Excellent Research Chair in cognitive neuroscience and imaging at the university's Brain and Mind Institute. When we looked at the data, the bottom line is the whole concept of IQ or of you having a higher IQ than me is a myth. There is no such thing as a single measure of IQ or a measure of general intelligence.

And we're taking people's children away based on some random test they took on some day. Some number that has no real basis in science anyway. And just the sniff test here. You listen to this woman speak, and blatantly she has the intelligence to raise children.

How many people have you met in your life and you think, "Those people shouldn't have children?" This is not one of them. I mean, this is an absolute horror show. A complete outrage!

And how have we not heard more about this story? How does she not have the help that she needs? I mean, look, you may look deeper into this story and find something that indicates something different. But, I mean, so far, we have not found it. And I think just by -- on its face, you listen to that interview, if you heard that interview, I mean, there are times -- and you could not tell the difference if it was the mother or the mentor. Speaking.

GLENN: There was at least one time that that happened. I wanted to ask who is speaking.

STU: Yeah.

GLENN: I could not tell the one who had their master's in -- what did she say it was? And the one who just graduated from high school. The one whose kids are being taken away because they're not smart enough and the one who has all the degrees and certificates to be hired and sent in by the state to do family counseling and observations. I mean, when you can't tell the difference between the two, there's a problem.

STU: And do we live in a country in which the state decides whether they'll allow you to have your children? Or do we live in a country in which they're your children and with only the most incredible exceptions and incredible circumstances would the state even consider stepping into -- into a parent/child relationship. That is the country we're supposed to live in. And if we live in -- I mean, I know Oregon is a lot different than other states. And maybe this wouldn't happen in other states. I don't know. But this is a complete outrage, on its face.

GLENN: So here's what I want to say to you: Have you -- my aunt was -- she married an abuser. And he wasn't abusing her at first. Not physically. Before they got married. Mentally, he was. My grandfather spotted him a mile away. And all the way down the aisle, my aunt told me, my dad, I thought at the time just wrecked my ceremony. Because grandpa was walking her down the aisle and said, "Please. Please, Joanne, don't do this. Please, don't do this. Please, don't marry him. Please turn around right now and come with me. Please, I'm your father. I'm begging you."

And she said, "Dad, stop it." When they got to the end of the aisle, he kissed her on the cheek and said, "I will always be your father. And I will always be there. But I cannot be there to watch my daughter be abused. When you are done, you let me know."

And he gave her to this abuser. She would come over to my grandfather's house from time to time with a black eye or whatever. And she would come crying to my grandmother, her mother. And grandpa would answer the door. And his heart would break. And he would look at her, and he would hug her. And she would cry. And then he would look at her and say, "Are you done yet?" She'd say, "Dad, no. You don't -- he stopped listening. And he would walk away. And grandma would spend the time.

Until that time came when she came home and said, "Dad, I'm done" -- we never saw the abuser again. He went away. And they had a very easy divorce.

I think it involved my grandfather and the man who became my uncle and her husband later showing up at his door with a shotgun or two, but I could be wrong. But here's why I tell you that story: Are you done yet? Are you done yet? Are we done arguing politics? Are we done making that the center of our universe? Because I'm done. I'm so done.

That's not getting us anywhere. This, we can make a difference on. This, we can do. This is a noble cause. This is something we should be spending our time on.

I'll pick this up tomorrow. But today, I just want to ask you that question. Are you done yet?

If you are, when you are, let me know. Because we have to focus on other things.

RADIO

Did These Republicans Just Doom Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill?

Glenn Beck has had ENOUGH of Republicans in Congress who can’t seem to find enough spending to cut. Glenn and Stu break down every Republican faction that’s opposing Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Some want more spending. Others want to cut, cut, cut! But it’s time for Congress to come together and DO THE RIGHT THING!

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: So now, Stu.

Bring me up-to-date, on what is happening today. This morning. In Washington.

STU: Yes. This is your chance.

GLENN: With the big, beautiful bill.

STU: Your chance to play Mike Johnson here, Glenn. For a moment.

See if you can solve these problems. Because I will say, the criticisms are just.

But also, it's pretty hard to solve.

So the current House count is 220, to 213. That means, you can lies four Republicans. From your vote. That would bring -- you would be underwater, if you would lose four.

So that's all you can do stop there are four different the groups, that are holding up the bill, right now.

GLENN: Okay.

STU: We start with SALT. The SALT deduction people. Okay? This is theoretically the easiest one to solve. There's six of them. Six people in that group. The SALT deduction, if you don't know, is if you're in, like, one of these high-tax blue states, you have a chance to deduct the money that you're paying to the state government in in state taxes, out of your federal tax bill. Basically, it's an extra deduction for those states.

You know, of course, Republicans are like, well, wait a minute. We're just incentivizing blue states to raise taxes, because you get to create this tee deduction.

Of course, if you live in this state, you're paying federal taxes on money that you didn't even get. You had to just give to the state government.

So you don't understand why blue states might have a problem with it.

So these are generally speaking, Republicans in states like California and New York.

They want to get that deduction raised. Right now, it's at a 10,000-dollar limit for your SALT deduction.

They want to get it to 30, reported this morning, maybe up to $40,000.

So that's the fight there.

Now, the ways you can get rid of that problem is you can either try strong arm them, and have Donald Trump come in and kind of yell at them. And say, hey, what the hell are you guys doing?

And try to get them to just give up on that deduction.

I will say, they all ran on trying to get that deduction back.

So it's a difficult thing for them to do. But you can kind of just strong arm them. There's only six. So you just get a couple of them. You might be okay there. The other thing you can do is give in to their claims. Right? You can just raise that deduction. That will make the deficit a little worse.

But that is what they're offering right now, is to just raise this deduction to as high as $40,000 from where it is now, to $10,000.

Okay. That's step number one. The next group is the group that probably most people in the audience. And you, would fall into, Glenn.

Which are deficit hawks. Okay? People who are saying, wait a minute. This bill sucks. You guys didn't go far enough cutting spending.

GLENN: Chip Roy.

STU: Chip Roy is in this group, exactly. He's probably the main example of it.

But there's 31 in this group.

So think of what that means with the SALT deduction group, we just talked about. You can't give them this extra deduction, because there's already 31 people in this much larger group who are saying, wait a minute, you already didn't do enough on the deficit. You can't give more. So you have those people.

Now, how do you solve that group?

Of course, that group, you would go and you would say, okay. We will cut more.

Right? We will make sure that more of these programs will go away. We will go after these programs and cut even more.

So you will want to please that group, you might get those 31. But you probably lose the six from the SALT group. Okay?

GLENN: So far, I can compromise enough to get all of them.

STU: Okay. That's good.

GLENN: But I know we're not done with the groups.

STU: Right. Do you want to go through how you would do that between those two groups, or do you want to wait until the end?

GLENN: Yeah. Just real quick, I'll say, I'll give you a partial bid of what you want. I might give you 15,000, instead of, you know, ten.

We're going to come up a little bit, but you have to understand where the country is.

But I want you to join these guys in demanding cuts, across-the-board. Green new deal. Gone. Gone.

STU: Hmm. Okay.

GLENN: Back to 2018 spending.

That's what we should all be standing for.

Okay. All right. Introduce the next one.

STU: The next one. You just mentioned the Green New Deal.

Well, guess what, there's a group of Republicans who are trying to protect some of the Green New Deal/Inflation Reduction Act. The group size there is 14.

And the reason why, you're saying, why would Republicans be defending Joe Biden's terrible bill?

And they're not defending all of it. But they are defending parts of it.

GLENN: No. They're defending the parts that come into their districts. That's what's happening.

STU: Exactly right. Exactly right.

GLENN: And those are the ones -- those would be the ones that I, as president, would use the bully pulpit and say, America, let them know enough is enough. This is bad for America.

Might be good for them. But it's bad policy. It was a bad bill.

And we can't afford it!

STU: So that is the -- the balancing act with that group.

For example, there's a lucid. One of the car companies.

The electric car companies.

They had a big -- they were going to get a benefit out of the Inflation Reduction Act. They expanded their factory in Arizona. The Congressman for that area is like, hey, we've had a bunch of new jobs.

You know, this is a company that is trying to grow the economy in my community. And now we will change the law. That's unfair to them, and unfair to the people who got hired.

GLENN: Yeah, it was a giant -- it was a giant mistake, made by the last administration, we're not going to continue --

STU: Uh-huh. Yeah. Uh-huh.

And that's understandable. Like you don't want to continue that. Right. It's got to stop.

GLENN: Stop.

STU: Again, I'm totally with you on this stuff. I'm just trying to explain how the dynamics are. The last group are the group --

GLENN: Right. I know. I know.

STU: That made the difference, when it came to the election in 2024. The reasons why Republicans have the House majority right now are because they won a bunch of moderate districts in New York.

And California.

So there's 12 in this group. And those are the ones that say, actually we don't want what they call cuts to Medicaid.

They don't want to reduce the spending. We're in these moderate districts, and we're on the borderline. And if we do these things, we're going to lose these seats, and we're not going to be in the majority anymore. Obviously, 2022, a major concern here. You've got 12 of them there. Now, of course, these are people in direct opposition to the deficit hawks, we talked about earlier.

GLENN: I personally would go all George Washington on those guys.

RADIO

What an FBI source told me about Epstein's death

An FBI source reached out to Glenn Beck about Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s statement that Jeffrey Epstein DID kill himself. Glenn reveals what he can about the conversation, including whether the FBI plans to release any evidence to back up Director Patel’s statement and quell conspiracy theories.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: I am kind of in a really bad -- we'll do it live kind of mood today! So you never know what might happen.

STU: Uh-oh.

GLENN: Let me start with. I got off the phone with a very well-placed source, in the FBI.

Very well-placed source.

One that has access and knows.

Would you agree with that, subscription, Stu?

STU: I would, yes.

GLENN: Yeah. Okay.

And I said, well, first of all, it started with the Mediaite article, which I'll get into here in a second.

And -- and -- and I said, I just would like to know, what Dan saw that changed his mind. Because I know Dan Bongino. I know Kash Patel. I like both of those guys.

I trust both of those guys.

I do not trust the government. I don't trust the FBI.

I don't trust the DOJ. I don't trust the treasury. I don't trust the fed.

I don't trust the milkman at this point.
So I think most of America is like that. My point yesterday was to make sure that we all understand that the lack of trust in our government, is very, very dangerous. And none of us should be doing you anything, to enhance that lack of trust!

Now, how do you repair it? Well, not by ignoring it. Not by just saying, don't talk about it.

You have to address it, head-on. So I trust Kash Patel, and I trust Dan Bongino. And I have said on this program, I am going to give them a year, before I say anything.

And including Pam Bondi. I'm not going to sit here and condemn them for what I don't know, what is happening. I know they're both, or all three of them, are surrounded by sharks.

Okay? I know that the corruption is very deep, in the FBI and the DOJ.

So if I'm not seeing some arrests in the next year, a year from now, I will be coming on, and I will be saying things. And Dan Bongino and Kash Patel would be the first to say, you should be!

But the point I was making yesterday is, I gave you the seven phases of a republic or an empire. And all empires in history have fallen.

And the last two things -- only two things that remain in this -- you know, 3,000-year epic story of the rise and fall of multiple empires.

When you look at all of them, there are only two things left, before we fall. And that is a complete lack of trust. In everything.

And a collapse of the dollar.

That's like -- that's it!

After that, we're done. And so yesterday, I said, I don't believe -- I mean, I don't know what to believe.

But I don't believe that Epstein killed himself.

Now, that is my belief, as I said to you, yesterday.

We cannot operate just on belief.

We need facts. And my -- in my monologue yesterday, I was saying, what kind of facts would you need to believe?

For some people, Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, coming out and saying that is enough!

I told you yesterday, Stu. Remember when we played the video of Dan Bongino saying, I've seen the evidence. He didn't kill himself.

Remember? What I said right after that?

STU: Yes.

GLENN: He's telling the truth. You have that video. Go ahead. Play the video.

VOICE: You said Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide for him people don't believe it.

VOICE: Well, I mean, listen, they have a right to their opinion. But as someone who has worked as a public defender, as a prosecutor, who has been in that prison system, who has been in metropolitan detention center. Who has been in segregated housing. You know a suicide when you see one. And that's what that was.

VOICE: They tell themselves. Again, I've seen the whole file. He killed himself.

GLENN: Okay. I believe him. I believe him.

That's not good enough for America, however. Now, I've also said on this program, do you want to feel good, or do you want people to go to jail?

I want people to go to jail. That's why I said, with Pam Bondi, went on day number two, after that debacle of the release of the file.

I said, look, perhaps this is because they are still gathering evidence.

They want to put people in jail. Yada, yada. I don't know why they withheld that evidence.

But to believe that Pam Bondi. Because I asked the president on this.

To -- to believe that Pam Bondi has sold out. And then Kash Patel and Dan Bongino all sold out, means that you must then believe that Donald Trump knows it and is part of it!

That's the problem. Who is left to believe?

Now, I want to see the evidence, because the country must see the evidence.

You don't fix -- you don't fix things. And they know this!

You don't fix things by saying, you know what, trust me!

Dan Bongino, you've heard him for years. He's never said that to me. I never heard him say that on the air. Trust me!

That's not the way he is. He is very much like me: Don't trust me! I don't ask for your trust. I don't want your trust. I don't ask for your trust. Don't trust anyone in my position.

You can trust that we have the best intentions.

But don't anything I say as gospel truth. Because it's not.

It's my opinion. It's the understanding of what's about to go, to the best of my ability. You can trust my intentions.

But don't trust what I say!

Do your own homework.

The only way truth is sustainable, is if it's your truth!

Anybody who -- if you're a Christian, you know this.

You have a testimony. You can't feast on somebody else's testimony. I can't sit here or fix the country or feast on the testimony of Donald Trump. Of Kash Patel. Of Pam --

STU: And we've lost Glenn here. Pam Bondi here, he was talking about as well. As a real problem. Glenn, I think you might be back with us here. Sorry about that little drop. Yeah, you're saying, lease everybody your trust.

GLENN: Correct. Correct. And people that you should trust, tell you, don't trust me!

Do your own homework. It has to be yours.

So the thing that we are waiting for, that has to happen. Is the release of information.

And that will come.

And if it doesn't, well, then, you have a problem.

But it will come!

I talked to this source yesterday.

Now, I have read stories that disagree with this.

Just yesterday, I think NPR, a very reliable source. As reliable as Mediaite.

A very reliable source. Says that there is no tape of the hallway in front of the prison cell.

I talked to a well placed source yesterday, at the FBI, that told me. Yeah. That tape does exist.

And I saw it.

And I saw the last person to go in the cell, when he was alive.

And the first person to go back in the cell, after he was dead.

And I said, so there was no foul play?

He said, no. Wait. Wait. Wait.

I want to separate two things. One, did someone go in the cell, and kill him?

Did somebody kill him?

The answer, because of the of the video evidence, that they say they saw, and I believe this source.

They said, the -- the video evidence shows no one went into that cell. No one.

Okay. But it doesn't show the cell. It doesn't show what happened. That's the first thing.

Now, the second thing. So are you saying, there was no -- I mean, all of this was a coincidence?

No, no, no, no. I'm not saying that. I am not saying that there wasn't a desire to set him up. There might have been a desire to have somebody go in and kill him.

There -- there -- it's a long string of things that happened, that don't make any sense.

Was there a conspiracy -- conspiracy to kill him?

I don't know. But probably!

A lot of people needed him dead. But did he kill himself, or was he murdered by those people?

The answer is, he killed himself.

Now, that doesn't mean, that you don't create the conditions, that make you want to kill yourself.

And I don't mean just sending you to prison.

Yesterday, I spent all morning, and I am so frustrated because the Republican is at stake. You know that, and I know that.

I try to do my best, to not -- Stu and I talked about this yesterday.

You know, neither one of us, are the type to go in.

I mean, if something happened at a store or something.

Got it wrong. And we're just. And it's going to be a fight. Both Stu and I are like, just leave it alone. I don't care.

Because we don't like conflict in our life. And yet, this is what we do for a living.

This is not what we wanted to do. We started doing this show, because we were making fun of talk radio.

And then it got serious after 9/11.

And we found ourselves doing it. We don't like conflict.

You hate -- I'm from an alcoholic family. I was the one that tried to make everybody laugh, so we didn't -- didn't see mom. Or dad falling down the stairs, or whatever was happening.

I don't like conflict!

But I find myself in a situation, where the truth does cause conflict.

And you must discipline yourself, to search for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing, but the truth.

We cannot live in sound bites.

We must understand the depth of what is going on.

Because as I'm going to tell you here in a few minutes.

There is a new concerted effort to bring our streets into chaos.

Bring our country into chaos.

The left -- the -- I shouldn't say this.

The Democrats are completely dead.

It is run now by the uber, dangerous left.

That's who is calling the shots.

And that -- they are going to -- well, I'll use their own words.

Do everything that they've done in the past, and take it to the next rung on the ladder.

That's a quote! You want to save your republic? We cannot dismiss the people that we have grown to trust. That we have put our faith in. We need to give them time. And let them show us the evidence! I want to see some arrests on a few things. I want to see the -- the progress being made.

RADIO

U.S. Faces TOTAL Ruin Unless Patel Acts NOW!

Americans on both the Left and Right are losing trust in our institutions FAST. Without this trust, empires across history have collapsed. Glenn reviews the 7 stages of civilization, which eerily describe the rise and fall of many empires, including possibly the United States. Have we reached the final stage before total destruction? Glenn believes it’s very possible…and there’s only one or two steps left before collapse. But there is a way for us to turn around, and he believes FBI Director Kash Patel could make a big difference by releasing the TRUE evidence surrounding Jeffrey Epstein’s death.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: We've been -- we've been talking about all of the lies that have been told.

Who believes anymore that the traditional media is telling you the truth on anything?

Who believes, that, you know, the media didn't know about Joe Biden.

Who believes that Joe Biden's cancer is a new subject?

Now, that someone hard. Because that very well could be brand-new. But it also, because we don't believe in so many other things. It might have been known when he was still in the White House.

We don't know. But do you believe it?

I'm not asking you what you know, I'm asking you what you believe. Then Kash Patel comes out, along with Dan Bongino.

Two very credible people, on our side.

On Donald Trump's handpicked inside team.

And they say, the -- the Epstein suicide, was a suicide.

And my first response was, uh-uh.

And then I immediately went, but it's coming from these guys. I believe these guys.

I know these guys. So then I started getting into critical thinking.

Okay. What would it take for me to believe them?

And they just have to show us, what they saw.

Because that's a role reversal. They've switched!

They've said it wasn't a suicide.

Never now, all I need to know is, what did you see?

And show it to me!

Okay. Why is this important to use critical thinking?

We just went through four of the seven stages of -- it's called the seven-stage cycle of civilizational collapse.

Okay?

First, the age of pioneers. That's the revolutionary war. Then the age of conquest.

That's the expansion out west. The age of commerce.

That is the really -- the 20th century. Early 20th century.

The age of affluence. Beginning around the Reagan years, where the decay guns. And it becomes about leisure and stuff.

And then fifth, and this is where the last time I read this, I thought we were here, and maybe a little in the sixth. Maybe.

The age of intellect.

Elite rule and fragmentation. Experts and technocrats dominate. Reason replaces faith. Society becomes obsessed with process, bureaucracy, identity, and division. People grow disconnected from elites. Populist backlash begins.

This is France pre-1789. Weimar, Germany, in the 1920s. And the US, post-2000.

The values, relativism, narcissism, hyper-education with moral void. So technocrats dominate? Yes. Reason replaces faith? Yes. Society becomes obsessed with process? Yes. Bureaucracy? Yes.

Identity? Absolutely. And division? The people grow disconnected from elites? Yes. Populist backlash begins? 2016.

Yes. Then you get into the sixth stage. The age of decadence. Moral decline and decline of courage.

Tell me if you can't check every box on this one. National identity collapses.

Hmm. Almost there. Almost.

Immigration, without assimilation. Yes. Public debt surges? Yes. Breads and circumstances replace responsibility? Yes.

Political corruption is normalized? Yes.

Gender confusion? Yes. Family disintegration? Yes. Loss of fertility? Yes. The use of drugs? Yes.

Hedonism dominates? Yes. That's Rome the third through the fifth century. And is this us today?

The values, hedonism, nihilism, and entitlement.

I think yes, yes, and yes.

Then you get into the last phase. Would you agree, Stu, that we've hit everything else in that?

STU: Yeah. We're -- we're here. At some degree or another, we've hit all of those.

GLENN: Okay. The age of decline and collapse. Disintegration.

There is only two things. Number one, internal distrust. Factionalism, and scapegoating.

That's the first. All of that is where we are today, with those stories.

Internal distrust. I don't trust anything. Do you?

Factionalism? Hello! MAGA.

And the -- what? Anti-MAGA. You're either a racist or an antiracist.

And scapegoating.

I don't know.

Jake Tapper. How is your book going?

I think we're there! The last thing to happen, currency collapse. Loss of external power or invasion.

When Donald Trump is in power, I don't think we're going to lose the external power or invasion, unless our currency collapses. And our currency collapse could happen. Nobody -- did you see they downgraded us, yet again, Stu?

You remember 2008?

I'm saying in 2006. 2007. And we will lose our AAA+ status. They will downgrade us.

The -- the quote was, never, from every institution in America. Never.

It will never happen. Ever, ever, ever, ever. It will never, ever happen.

Well, it happened in like 2009. Then it happened again '12 and '16. And they just did it again.

So currency collapse is on the board.

Values, of this era, despair, tribalism, and the choice between authoritarianism or anarchy.

We're there! Okay.

So I don't tell you this to bum you out.

I tell you this, because there is something you can do.

That's why I started today's show with those questions. We must -- I believe this is a national emergency. And I believe Donald Trump should declare our trust in these institutions, a national emergency. We must be transparent.

This is why I said, I want Kash, and I want Dan Bongino, to show the American people what changed their minds. I would love a hearing on it!

And not some big drawn-out, you know, hearing in Congress with the budget. I just want to see. I want to see the files because internal distrust is a choice!

Because if you're saying today, I don't believe Dan Bongino and Kash Patel, which I'm stuck. Because I do believe them.

I just -- I think I don't have enough information to go with them on this.

I believe in them, but I also believe that Epstein killed himself.

Sorry, my throat is killing me.

STU: I mean, liked the fact that you crunched the ice, as you took the sip.

GLENN: I believe them. I just believe also that Epstein killed himself. That he didn't hang himself with a paper sheet.

Those two don't match. When something doesn't match.

You have to go back and say, which one do you actually think is right? I can't. Because I don't have enough information.

But I must do that.

Because trust and distrust, at this point, is a choice!

Now, let me show you where distrust leads.

If you don't trust Kash Patel, and Dan Bongino, then you can't trust the FBI and the DOJ.

And anything that they're doing there. That's pretty bad.

Because we just have the biggest reformer in, of all time.

A guy who said, he would reform those two institutions.

That he would be transparent. And he hired these two guys. And we all cheered for those two guys.

So if you don't trust them, if you just immediately go, something is wrong.

I don't trust them. Without saying, here. I don't trust, that that is true.

But I want to see what changed their mind.

Then your next step is: Well, does Donald Trump know?

And if he doesn't do something about them, on something this egregious, they're clearly covering something up.

Then I have a problem with Donald Trump. Where does this end?

This ends in -- this ends in guillotines in France.

This is what happens. You betrayed the revolution.

No! I didn't. That's just not true.

So the good news is, this is -- this is up to you.

These things can be reversed. They just haven't been. But they can be reversed. For instance, why would our currency collapse?

Because we're being downgraded. Why are we being downgraded.

Because we're spending too much. Why are we spending too much?

Because the people in Washington won't listen to the American people. They have no courage!
Back to stage six. Decline of courage.

That means, we need more people who have courage, that will say, this is the end of the republic, if we don't do certain things! So where will you stand today?

Will you dedicate yourself to not changing what you believe, per se, but at least demanding critical thinking answers for good, critical thinking questions. Pragmatism I don't believe you. Thus, I am asking you to produce and have a conversation with the American people, to show us what changed your mind.

Show us the facts.

We must restore trust!

RADIO

Could Mexican Ship Crash Expose Deadly Cyber Sabotage?

A Mexican Navy ship has crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge and Glenn wants answers: Why are so many massive ships crashing into major US bridges?! Is it really just coincidence that these ships, including the Dali that hit Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge back in 2024, keep losing power around these bridges? Glenn demands investigations into these incidents that look for the possibility of foreign foul play. Are our enemies using these instances as “shark bumps” to show off their hacking capabilities and see how the US responds?

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Wow. All right. Well, what was on the last episode was another giant ship hitting another giant bridge.

STU: What is happening?

GLENN: Now -- now, I've never seen this in my lifetime. Okay? I mean, I'm 62. I've seen it happen now, two times, and it's been recently.

I don't know about you, but I think -- I think there's a problem. Now, what's happening?

Two ships. Two major American bridges, less than, what? A year and a half apart from each other?

STU: Uh-huh.

GLENN: Both ships lose power. Now, we've seen this happen before. We've seen other ships lose power. I'll get into that here in a second.

Recently, Baltimore. March 2024. Francis Scott Key bridge collapses into the river because a Singaporean cargo ship, the Dolly, loses propulsion, slams into the support column. Six workers are killed. The whole country watches in shock.

And you're like, wow! That doesn't happen.

Well, then again, on Saturday, it happens again. A Mexican Navy tall ship loses power while departing New York harbor.

It drifts straight into the Brooklyn Bridge. Two sailors die.

Dozens were injured. The mast shattered like match sticks. The Brooklyn Bridge, an icon of American resolve, shakes. But apparently, everything is okay!

Now, first of all, our condolences to all of those who were on the ship, that lost their lives or were injured.

We feel for you. That was an awful -- they were all standing there on the masts. Can you imagine standing there and going, we're not stopping. We're not stopping. I've got to get down. Then when the mast goes down, you saw them. They were all tangled in the ropes.

And they were just hanging there. Some of them upside down. It's nuts!

Okay. So the reason for that one, we're told.

Again, power.

Okay. Okay. Maybe once. Maybe twice.

Both on foreign vessels.

Both involved with high-profile American infrastructure. Now, we've been talking the last hour about trust. And I'm sorry. I just don't trust that this is -- if this is what it is. Then we should stop having computer systems run everything on these ships.

Okay? This is the only reason why -- you could say, well, no. We just put in these new computers, athat are running these ships, and nobody has ever seen computers run things like ships before.

And we don't know if they're safe and stable yet.

Then don't put them in the ship!

If there's a problem with that, why don't we know there's -- I can't use my phone an airplane.

Why?

Why?

Because the FAA couldn't come up with a reason, we had a plane crash.

I think it was in Long Island years ago.

And they were like, cell phones!

And we've been being told to turn off our cell phones and everything else.

Because it interferes with the navigation systems on the plane!

It does, what?

Excuse me?

What does it do?

Nobody believes that.

Nobody believes that.

Okay?

That is not true. Just not true. How come -- if you've ever flown in a private plane, they don't tell you that.

Is there something special in private planes that makes their super, super navigational systems so much better than it is on a commercial airliner?

No!

It's a lie. It's a lie. So what's wrong with these ships?

Do you remember the ship that also lost power, and then made like a loopedy-loop and then slammed into another ship, that was I think off the coast of Singapore?

Remember that? It happened like three, four years ago. It was this insane thing, where we lost power and navigation. I mean, it was two, like, large freighters. And I think it was a freighter and a Naval ship. And it just pounded into the Naval ship.

Well, we lost power, and lost navigation.

Okay. All right. There's something happening in the pit of my history section of my stomach that says, Hmm.

This isn't -- this isn't right. Warning bell. Okay? What history would tell me is these are shark bumps. Okay? Do you know what a shark bump is?

I worked with Anderson Cooper one time. And we were sitting, getting ready to -- he was doing his show on CNN. I was doing my show on CNN Headline News.

Which is strangely has better numbers now, than any show on CNN currently. But, anyway, so I'm getting ready to do my show on CNN Headline News.

And, and walks in.

And he was always very kind. You know, to me. And we had a nice relationship.

STU: Yeah. He always was.

GLENN: Yeah. And he said, what did you do this weekend?

And I said, I took my kids, I don't know. To the park or whatever.

I said, what did you do?

And he said, I went shark diving off the coast of Australia.

I was like --

STU: You get a lot of those weird stories.

GLENN: I was like, oh, okay.

I haven't done that. I said, why would you do that know.

He said, well, we were going to make a doc on it. And something happened. And he said -- you know, I justmented to be in the cage and have the sharks. You know, to see the sharks.

And I'm like, I could live my whole life, without ever doing that. And he said, and then when they pulled the cage up. I'm coming out. And he said, it was pretty wild when you're in the cage. And he said, then I see the captain of the ship, as the cage is coming up. He's getting ready to dive. And I said, what are you doing? And he said, I'm going to go dive and just be with the sharks for a minute.

Okay. What the hell is wrong with these people? All right. Maybe all the blood is constantly -- it can't get to their feet or something, coagulated in their head, because they're upside down?

What is wrong with you people? So he says, I would like to go with you. And he said, oh, this is only for experienced divers. And, and said, I'm an experienced diver. I got all my license and everything else.

And he was like, oh, okay. So come on. You can come with me.

Now, Anderson didn't have any of those things. He's not an experienced diver. This was his first time. He puts on everything, and he goes off the back of the ship with the -- the captain.

Just before they do that, the captain says, by the way, they're going to come up to you, and they're going to bump into you. Do not move. Because if you do, they'll eat you.

And he said, I'm sorry. What?

He said, don't move. They bump into things. To see the reaction. If you're just a floating, you know, bag of something they don't want to eat, it won't move.

But if you move, they'll eat you. He said okay.

All right. Now, this is, again, the time that I take off, you know, the -- the eye mask. And I'm like, okay.

Have a good time.

I'm staying here.

He goes down.

And the sharks do just that.

And he's -- I was sitting here and listening to him. And he was like, oh, you wouldn't believe what it's like, to have one of these great whites come up and bump you in the chest.

And I'm like, no. I can't imagine that. I may not have moved. But there would have been poop in the water everywhere, okay?

So that's what I get here.

So I think what's happening is these are shark bumps. These are, I don't know.

A, a country. Multiple countries. I don't know.

Can we collapse the navigational system on ships?

Can we cover it up enough, and can we take control of ships, and just let people in the upper end know, oh, boy.

Look what they're doing.

I think this is -- that's what this looks like.

This looks like the opening act to a war. A different kind of war.

But a war. That one we're not even allowed to call a war yet!

And what chills me the most is the silence on this.

The mainstream media. They didn't blink on this.

Government assures us, nothing to see here.

Same experts that tell you, that men can have babies. Are telling you, it's just a coincidence.

I'm sorry. Can you show me exactly how this is happening so many times?

Because maybe it is!

But if that's true, maybe we should stop with that kind of navigation system, on these ships! Maybe it's not ready for prime time!

And ideas it always seem to lose power and navigation right around an American bridge!

Right around a Naval ship. A US Naval ship. Or two US bridges.

Why -- why is that happening?

Now, there's a shipping giant, I guess it's Maersk. M-A-E-R-S-K. Right? Maersk. The shipping giant had its entire global system shut down by ransomware in 2017. Did you know that?

The Navy has had ships colliding multiple times since 2016. Again, what was blamed?

Steering loss, or loss of power. Ask the port of Los Angeles, which just last year, was under daily cyber attack from foreign adversaries. You don't need a missile to hit us anymore. You need somebody with a keyboard, and some bad code!

And let me ask you this: What kind of war doesn't even need a tent, just capability?

Because when infrastructure is digitized. When our bridges, our tugboats, our radar systems. Our engine controls, all depend on centralized code. It doesn't take a villain in a cape.

It takes a firmware update.

Or a rogue packet of data from a US bee sting. Remember, before 911, the intelligence community had over 40 separate warnings, that something big was coming. They just didn't connect the dots.

Well, we have several dots here, and they all seem to -- they all seem to lead to the same thing: power or steering loss.

Somebody should solve that, if it's a software, or a -- a hardware problem. Solve that.
How come I'm not hearing about that?

You can't just keep saying, yeah. That's a steering loss. And then we just accept it.

No, this is national security. Is anybody serious about national security? Anybody.

Now, I'm not saying that this was an attack. But this is -- this is exactly what it would look like, if it was.

This looks like a shark attack. Or a shark bump. Except, this time, the shark is seeing how you're going to move.

By us not moving, it makes that foreign shark. Or whoever might be doing it, more apt to eat us.

If we move and harden things, it makes them less apt to eat us.

So when a shark bump with a real shark bump. You don't move.

In this particular scenario, where it could be a foreign adversary, give is us a shark bump. You must move!

And I haven't -- I haven't seen anything, yet.

We need cyber forensics on all of those boats.

Independent experts. Not just the insurers or foreign governments.

Independent experts.

We need an immediate national audit of our port, bridge, and maritime infrastructure vulnerabilities.

So electromagnetic or cyber interference.

And we need -- we need people to at least start investigating the possibility of hybrid sabotage.

I believe we're being tested. Are we going to do the same thing with the 40 things that happened before 9/11.

And not connect the dots.

Or are we going to go, you know, it might not be that.

But we should be all over this.

Glenn's Show Prep

Heartbreaking: Glenn Sheds Tears With Mother Whose Children Were Taken by the State

Did These Republicans Just Doom Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill?

Transcript

What an FBI source told me about Epstein's death

Transcript

U.S. Faces TOTAL Ruin Unless Patel Acts NOW!

Transcript

Could Mexican Ship Crash Expose Deadly Cyber Sabotage?

Transcript