As the War Drums Begin to Beat, Echoes of the Fear From the Cold War Era Come Back to Mind

August 09, 2017

The Glenn Beck Program

Last night, I came home, and I turned on the news. It was 8 o'clock last night, I was so exhausted. I just laid down on my bed and my son came in. And he laid down next to me and he was talking to me about the car chase videos that he had seen. These amazing car chase videos where, you know, the police are chasing these guys. "They're so stupid. And, Dad, how could they possibly think they're going to get away?" I was less than a great dad last night. I was so tired. And the news was on.

And he told me about a few of the car chases. And I think he could tell that I was distracted. And he just paused. And he then just kind of looked at the news. And he said, "What's happening, Dad?"

Now, they were talking about everything that was going on with North Korea.

I said, "I'm not sure, son." Not lying to him. But I didn't need to fill him with my fears.

I said, "I don't know. But, you know, the world has seen this stuff before. The Cuban missile crisis was the last time we saw something like this perhaps, and we backed away from the brink." Thanks to X-Men, I didn't have to explain the Cuban missile crisis to him. He had seen that in the movies.

I'm not so sure this time that we are the people or that even the press is behaving the same. Last night, it felt almost as if the press was egging the president on, just egging him on. "Come on. Come on. You're not going to have any credibility unless you back it up."

"Gee, Mr. President, you can't just say things like that." I never heard that during the Obama administration. And I -- and maybe it was just me. Maybe this was not what was being said, but this is what I heard last night, that we are entering a position to where we have to go to war. We have to do something now or we have no credibility.

No. You know, perhaps we don't have to do anything, except the right thing. Because of our credibility? What credibility do we have, for the love of Pete?

I was watching it last night, and I saw Kim Jong-un. He's not crazy.

I did a whole chalkboard, a whole entire episode on Kim Jong-un, which --- you need to understand, he's not a crazy guy. He's not. You think he is. But he's not.

He's actually quite measured. He is in his own country, if you understand who he's speaking to, who his audience is, he's ruthless. He is evil, but he's not crazy.

The one thing he can't do is back down. He cannot look like he is under the thumb of the United States, or he will lose power.

As I was watching this last night, what was going through my head was, why are they so far ahead of the estimates? Where is that coming from? How are we that bad at intelligence in North Korea? And if so, could it also be that they don't have working nuclear weapons that are, you know, able to go on the ICBM? Is that possible?

So what kind of faulty information could we be operating under? And I'm not one to bury my head in the sand. How will we know what's good information and what's not? And how are they so far ahead? Is Russia or Iran helping them? Is anyone else involved in this?

Personally, I'm a big fan of our president making promises and then keeping them. I was a big fan of what he did in Syria. However, we're way over that self-imposed red line. We've been over that red line that we put out there --- you know, months ago we've crossed that line. Let's stop ratcheting up the rhetoric because we have to. No, no, no, we don't. Perhaps this is a time to say, hey, it looks like all of the past presidents have failed on North Korea.

That the world has failed on North Korea. And the time to act on a rogue state is before they have nuclear weapons. Most Americans don't begin to even understand what war with North Korea even really means.

And let me tell you really clearly: It could mean the end of the western way of life. It could mean millions of dead, unlike anything we've seen since World War II. Millions of dead.

The collapse of the western economies. And perhaps nukes used on Japan, Guam, Los Angeles, all from North Korea. And us using most likely tactical nukes.

We've missed the opportunity. The world did nothing. Former presidents have failed because they've appeased or ignored or were in a dream world. Let's not blame this president for the mistakes of the past presidents. And let's not encourage this president to act hastily.

How long before Iran has nukes? I don't know if Kim Jong-un will use nukes, but I am really pretty clear that anybody who is saying that the Mahdi, the Twelfth Imam, who is the Promised One from their, you know, religious scripture, that is going to come and bring fire and death and wash the world in blood and fire --- any president of --- of the supreme council now in Iran, who is coming out and making statement day after day, the Mahdi is here, he has arrived, he's walking among us, and soon, that day will come. And they believe in their religion, that that is a good thing, those guys will use nukes. What are we doing on that one?

The media never paid attention to that. They won't pay attention. I could say that until I'm blue in the face. They wouldn't pay attention to the caliphate. "Oh, that's just talk." Really? Was it just talk? Was it?

And so you lectured me about how you can't take people at their word. And yet, last night, all I saw on television was the excoriation on television and how we have to take him at his word, when everybody in America knows, he did not mean we're going to rain nukes down on North Korea. At least everybody in America knows that.

The rest of the world doesn't. North Korea doesn't. It was a huge mistake. But for you to hold him to his language and say how important language is when you're a leader of a state, but then never to have held North Korea or Iran to their language, when you've never held the PLO to their language, the Muslim Brotherhood to their language, please, don't start with me.

I didn't tell my son any of these things last night. He fell asleep next to me holding my hand. He was not afraid. He was not worried. He wasn't thinking about any of the things that were going through my head.

And as I watched television, I remembered I was his age when I was worried about missiles flying over the polar cap, that I knew 18 minutes from the Soviet Union to Seattle, 30 minutes tops, the only warning you would have. I grew up in the Cold War. Anybody who is my age knows and is not looking forward to going back to a world where you and your children are afraid of things like that.

I watched in my head those scenes that I could vividly remember of Jason Robards in the movie The Day After. And now that I'm old, I realized that that came out in 1983. Why? Because Ronald Reagan was calling them the evil empire and talking tough. And the Democrats didn't want to talk tough on the communist nation and the Soviet Union. They thought that was the fastest way to nuclear annihilation. They have been proven wrong. But now knowing what I know as an adult, that movie was not to tell the American people anything, other than: Your president is evil.

A loud commercial came on and brought me out of that memory and back to where I was, laying side by side over the blankets, horizontally across my bed with my son, watching the news of the day. And as I came back in, I realized he hadn't been holding my hand. I had been holding his.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

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Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

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When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is America’s next generation trading freedom for equity?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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