BLOGAugust 11, 2017

‘Sheer Panic’: Georgia Dad Couldn’t Find His Daughter Because the State Took Her — by Mistake

A dad in Georgia went to pick up his daughter from after-school care one day – only to discover that she was nowhere to be found.

Sean Harris shared his horrifying encounter with Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services, which mistakenly took his daughter from her school instead of another child, on radio Friday.

“You thought this was a normal day, and everything was going to be fine,” Glenn introduced Harris’ story on the show.

Harris detailed the “sheer panic” going through his mind when his daughter never made it to her normal after-school care, while the school wouldn’t answer any questions from her daycare. He called 911 while driving back to her school and then had to fight to find out what happened.

“I just had straight confusion as far as not understanding where she was or how she could have gotten on the wrong bus,” Harris said of the senseless situation.

At first, the school told him she was taken to a different after-school care facility, but eventually Harris got the real story: DFCS officials had mistakenly taken his daughter away for questioning.

GLENN: From the -- from the Atlanta area, Sean Harris, the dad of a 7-year-old girl who he dropped off at school, went to pick her up, and she was gone. Without skipping to the end of the story, let me pick it up to, Sean, you thought this was a normal day and everything was going to be fine, right?

SEAN: Yes, I did.

GLENN: And then you go and pick her up. And what happens?

SEAN: I went to her after-school care to pick her up as always. So about 3:20 in the afternoon. When I got there, they had told me that her bus had just arrived. So they called her on the PA. And I went to the back where I would normally pick her up, in either a classroom or the cafeteria area, if not on the playground. And I could not find her. So I came back to the front, and they acknowledged that they looked at the roll call and realized that, in fact, she was not on that bus.

So they then called her elementary school, at which time they kind of gave the runaround. They wouldn't ask for any specific questions and continued putting them on hold, at which time they then just hung up on the day care.

So I immediately got in my vehicle and raced over to her school, while calling 911 en route, to have a police officer there to look out for her and to also respond to me when I got there.

GLENN: Okay. So hang on just a second. As you're going there, all you know at this point is that the school may know something, but they're not telling, you know, the day care. And you don't know what's happening. What is going through your mind on what you think at this point is happening?

SEAN: Sheer panic. So once I got to the school, contacted the vice principal and demanded to know where my child was. They then told me that she was okay and she was en route. So as a concerned parent, I asked, "Where is she, and where has she been?" I was told that she was put on a bus, taken to a different after-school care. And I asked again, "Well, which after-school facility was this?" They couldn't tell me.

Then after another five minutes or so of frustration, on my part, they then decided we needed to tell him the truth.

And that's why --

GLENN: Okay. Stop. Stop.

At this point, when you are talking to the school, are you thinking somebody screwed up and put her on another bus, that somehow or another you guys haven't been watching where my daughter was? Did you -- were you getting feelings that something else is going on?

SEAN: No. I -- I just had, just straight confusion, as far as not understanding where she was or how she could have gotten on the wrong bus. She's very familiar with her bus that she takes. She's been going to that since she's been two years old, the after-care facility. So she's very familiar with the proper bus that she needed to catch.

GLENN: So how much time has gone by now between the time that you first find out that your daughter is not at school, not where she's supposed to be, to I assume the police have arrived now and are there with you?

SEAN: Yes.

GLENN: And how much time has transpired until you -- until you are given the truth?

SEAN: I would say about 20 minutes.

GLENN: And your daughter, when does she call you?

SEAN: She didn't call. At that time, when I was speaking to the vice principal, they told me that the Rockdale County DFCS office had picked her up inadvertently, by mistake. There's another child at the school, with the same name. The first names are spelled differently, however. And there's a two-year age difference with different birthdays.

So when I instructed the administration of the elementary school to contact that DFCS worker who, in fact, had her, I needed to speak to my daughter. So they contacted the driver that came to pick her up and put my daughter on the phone.

When she got on the phone, I asked if she was okay. And she was visibly -- well, audibly shaken. She was crying. I could tell she was panicking. I just tried to comfort her and told her that she would be with me momentarily. And I then asked the driver what their estimated arrival time would be, she stated 20 to 30 minutes, which she had actually taken her to a different county. They subsequently came to the school, at probably about 4:20 at this time.

I merely laid eyes on my daughter, made sure that she was okay, and quickly asked the driver, "What was their protocol for identifying students before they pick them up?" And I asked her, "Did they have a photo or any other identifying measures in which to identify the proper child in which they were going to pick up?" And she just stated that the paper said the name and the birthday. And at no time had anyone ever cross-referenced to see that the spellings were different, as well as a two-year age difference, and different birthdays.

GLENN: Okay. Sean, hang on just a second.

I don't know about you, but I got -- I got a buttload of problems here. And it's not just that they didn't check the birth day and they picked up wrong child. I am assuming, Sean, that you have taught your child, you know, don't get into a car with strangers.

SEAN: Absolutely.

GLENN: What kind of trauma has your daughter gone through? How did they approach her in the first place? Who told her -- how did she know she wasn't being kidnapped by a bad guy?

SEAN: Well, later that evening, when I spoke to her, she was not comfortable with being with the lady from the beginning. And, yes, we definitely taught her, don't go with strangers. And that was one of my number one concerns.

But, again, when you send your child to school, you're trusting in the school, and your children also trust in the school, being that you trust the school to keep custody of them. So, of course, she went, reluctantly, of course. But, of course, this is part of the school system that she felt that was -- she went along with them with an adult. And when I spoke to her later that evening, I also asked her, what happened when she got there also? She stated that she was just sitting in her room. I asked, were the people nice to her? Were they mean to her? She said no.

They offered her a bottle of water and a small pack of crackers. And she said she cried while she was there. And they were questioning her, asking on the way to the location, the driver was asking, "Has she ever been to DFCS before? Does she know what DFCS is?"

Of course, my child has no idea what DFCS is. So when she got there, she again asked her, "Do you know where you are?" And my daughter said, "No." They went ahead and took her inside and started asking her questions about her father and what type of vehicle he drives and something about her grandmother.

And they then just waited for a little while. And that's apparently when they realized they had the wrong child --

GLENN: Oh, my gosh.

SEAN: -- and started heading back to the school.

GLENN: Okay. So if you don't know what DFCS is, this is a Georgian Division of Family and Children Services. These are the protectors of your children.

So what -- I hope you have a good woman in your life. Because that would been the one thing that stopped me from going on a rampage, quite honestly, Sean.

How -- how -- how did you react to this? And what happened in the subsequent days?

SEAN: Of course, I was devastated. At the time, the principal showed up. And we also talked with the school police. And I was in sheer panic. Sheer panic.

And once we sat down and had a conference, we talked about the events that had occurred and how could this have possibly happened. They -- at that point, the school system, they responded immediately. They took full responsibility, and I do applaud them for that.

(chuckling)

The subsequent morning, I spoke with the superintendent. We've had conversations since then, numerous times, as well as the principal.

The next morning -- well, that night at home, she cried a lot that night. She was scared. She stated that I never want to go back to that school. And I had to take time to comfort her and just kind of encourage her that everything would be okay the next morning. I personally took her to school the next morning. The school system had a counselor on hand to speak to her.

GLENN: Oh, probably somebody from DFCS, probably?

SEAN: No. No one.

GLENN: Nobody there? Because I know the state likes to, you know, counsel children and make sure that they're safe. I thought maybe the state would have somebody there to help your child out.

SEAN: No, the state never offered. This was the school system that offered.

Subsequently, the next day, when I contacted DFCS, I was speaking with the director. Her name was Ms. Perot. And she kind of had the demeanor and the attitude of, "Well, you got your kid back, so let's just move on."

GLENN: Oh, my gosh.

SEAN: And she promised that I would hear back from her at 1 o'clock that afternoon, which to this point I still have not heard anything back from DFCS.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh. Well, the state just doesn't have to respond back to you little people, do they?

Do you have a good attorney?

SEAN: Yes.

GLENN: You do? Like a really good attorney?

SEAN: Yes.

GLENN: Good. And what does your really good attorney say?

SEAN: We're in communication. So we're just going to kind of keep it at that point.

STU: You do have a good attorney. Because that's exactly what you're supposed to say.

GLENN: That's exactly what you're supposed to say.

Okay. So how do you feel about the -- sending your children to, you know, school, where they allow this just to happen and -- how do you feel about sending them to school? And how do you explain to your child that they're safe from the government just picking them up, taking them someplace?

SEAN: Well, of course, I'm still concerned. Still have a little apprehension. I've never had any problems with the school. This was her third year at the school. Never had any problems. The staff has always been great and professional.

It's more so the DFCS aspect of not cross-referencing and verifying. It's rough every day just convincing her that it's okay to go to school. And at the same time, I have to ensure that nothing happens because her trust is solely in me as far as trusting that it's okay to return back to school.

So I kind of watch her while she sleeps. I don't know if she's having nightmares or not. I guess that will kind of tell in the near future here.

So my number one concern, of course, is for her well-being, her emotional mental stability, how this can affect her in the future.

And most importantly, it never happens again to her or any other student. And just different measures and protocols have to be in place, particularly in identifying children. Because the only identifying factor they had was a name and a birth date. But they should have height, weight. Other identifying measures.

GLENN: You know, Sean, the other part of this -- because I dwelled on this -- in the 24 hours since I've known about this story, I've dwelled on, how could they possibly screw this up? How incompetent do you have to be and scar a 7-year-old child? And, oh, well. That's outrageous.

However, let's remember that they're doing this to kids, and some of those kids are abused. Some of them are not abused. And the idea that they can just come in and take your children and not notify anybody is just a total and complete outrage. Just an outrage.

Especially when they're sloppy.

Sean, I -- I appreciate you coming on the program and -- and talking about this. I hope that you fight with all your might so this does not happen to other children, that they are not -- you know, that -- we got to do what we -- no, we don't have to do what we have to do. We have to do the right thing to protect children. But the state -- the arrogance of the state to just do this and then not even to call and apologize to you is just eye-bleeding outrageous.

SEAN: Yes. Very disturbing.

GLENN: We will pray for your daughter. We will pray for you. And thank you so much for sharing your story. Anything we can do to help? Is there anything we can do to help?

SEAN: Just stay on top of the story with me. And I just want to get this out so that people can understand what's happening with this particular agency. And more importantly, the young lady who was supposed to be picked up. Was picked up for a reason obviously. And it could have been that she in fact could have been in an abusive relationship. And by them dropping the ball, she could have been in harm's way as well, as my daughter was in harm's way being with a stranger.

GLENN: Unbelievable.

SEAN: So the system definitely has to be corrected immediately.

GLENN: Thank you very much, Sean. We will follow the story. You stay in touch with us. Let us know the turns and the twists. And if there's anything we can do to help, I know this audience would love to help you. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

SEAN: Thank you.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh.

STU: Can you imagine the anger? Not to mention the fear. But I don't know what the -- the series of events there are, but it's fear and anger are prominent.

GLENN: Ever lost your child for even a few minutes? Ever not known where your child was for even a few minutes?

STU: Thankfully, not yet.

GLENN: Pat? No?

PAT: No.

GLENN: Jeffy?

JEFFY: No. They come back.

(laughter)

GLENN: I know I've told this story before, but I lost -- July 4th thing, I lost Mary for about 20 minutes. It was the most horrific 20 minutes of my life.

PAT: Yeah. I bet.

GLENN: And you just -- I mean, you just -- you become -- you become a bear. A caged animal. And it's the things that are going through your mind. I can't imagine. I can't believe the guy actually was lucid enough to get into a car and drive. Your daughter is missing?

JEFFY: Right.

GLENN: You think something is wrong. Oh, my gosh. You're not -- you're no longer yourself. You are in full-fledged dad or mom protective mode.

JEFFY: Panic.

GLENN: And to -- to have the state -- and all of us pretty much yawn. To have the state be able to go in, when you've taught your children the whole time, don't go in with strangers. And to have them just go, "Hey, little girl, is this your name?" Oh. You need to come with me. And get into a car.

Can you imagine how terrifying that is for a kid?

STU: Hmm.

GLENN: Even a kid who has been abused. And maybe even more so.

PAT: And not notify the parent.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.

PAT: I mean, even if it had been the right kid, you notify the parent of what's happened, right?

JEFFY: Correct.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh.

PAT: That's just -- that's unconscionable.

RADIO

Why RFK Jr.’s Former Running Mate OPPOSES Casey Means for Surgeon General

President Trump’s nomination of Dr. Casey Means for Surgeon General had many MAHA fans cheering. But RFK Jr.’s former running mate, BlazeTV host Nicole Shanahan, has major reservations. She joins Glenn, who has been a fan of Casey, to explain why she believes there are stronger candidates. Means, Shanahan claims, may have “conflicts of interest” because of the “biometric harvesting company” she founded and its close ties to Silicon Valley. Shanahan also questions whether RFK Jr. is playing “political 4D chess,” or if she was lied to when she was promised that the Means siblings wouldn’t be in government. Is RFK Jr. reporting to someone other than Trump? Shanahan explains why she believes it’s possible.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Nicole Shanahan. Nicole, how are you?

NICOLE: Glenn, how are you doing?

GLENN: I am very good. It's great to have you here.

So I want to ask you, the Surgeon General thing, are you for Casey Means? Or not for Casey Means?

NICOLE: Well, I will tell you who I am for, Glenn.

GLENN: Okay.

NICOLE: I'm for all of those Americans. Those hundreds of thousands of doctors, seeking truth, honesty, and dignity in our medical system once again. That is what I'm for. That is what propels MAHA into existence.

That's what propels Bobby Kennedy into the position of running for president of the United States. That's why I joined the campaign. It really is about listening to this group of doctors that did the right thing during the COVID pandemic.

That spoke up, when it was dangerous to speak up.

That lost their licenses. And so when I hear from that base, concern or research. About individuals, in and around MAHA.

I have to listen to them.

And I do listen to them.

Because oftentimes, they are right. They're brave, and they're principled. So the concern I've been hearing from that group of people is that MAHA -- you know, any movement. MAGA had this issue too of infiltration by different groups that are more self-serving, than they are for the movement itself.

GLENN: Uh-huh.

NICOLE: And so just one example, Casey Means is a founder of a company that does biometric harvesting. She's very close with many of the big data biometric harvesting companies.

In Silicon Valley. And this -- I noticed with all these people. You do not want them running in a government position that is responsible for everybody equally. Right?

GLENN: So wait. Wait. Wait.

What is -- what is that?

They're harvesting, what?

NICOLE: Well, so biometric data is anything between heart rate data, to all of the data that is collected from your FitBit or high glucose monitor. It could be labs. It could be -- then there's all the DNA harvesting. And big data that's being done.

So, you know, I think that the base -- MAHA really came from medical freedom. And medical sovereignty.

And the idea that we have to keep conflicts of interests. Out of the government.

And so when I -- you know, see some stuff going on. That we could be doing better.

Right?

Our job.

And I learned this from the MAGA base.

Our job is to ton seek the best possible people. For government, that are truly putting the principles of this country first.

The principles of American sovereignty first.

GLENN: So you wrote yesterday.

It's very strange. It doesn't make any sense. I was promised that if I supported RFK Jr. in the Senate confirmation, that neither of these siblings would be working under HHS or an appointment.

And that people much more qualified would be. I don't know -- I'm sorry.

RFK very clearly lied to me. Or what's going on. It's been clear in recent conversations that he's reporting to someone regularly, who is controlling his decisions, and it isn't President Trump.

With regards to the siblings, there is something very artificial and aggressive about them. Almost as if they were bred and raised as Manchurian assets. Wow!

NICOLE: So keep in mind, I was responding to Dr. Suzanne Humphries.

Who was also expressing very similar sentiment.

GLENN: Concern. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

NICOLE: Concern. There's better candidates.

So what's going on? I also heard from other MDs in the field.

That there was another doctor that RFK had wanted for the position. Very, very qualified doctor.

And -- and, you know, he was caught by surprise as well. By -- by this other choice.

So, you know, there's -- again, they -- they don't call it the swamp for no reason. Right?

GLENN: Right.

NICOLE: And, you know, I'm not officially within the administration at all.

In fact, I decided to take the path of staying an independent --

GLENN: Smart.

NICOLE: -- media person. Which I think -- I think and you know this, Glenn. It's really important that when you are an independent media voice, that you -- you stick by your principles. And that you are not just a mouthpiece for any government organizations.

That you're really on the outside, reflecting back the hopes and wishes of the constituents.

GLENN: Yeah. There's -- it's very hard to do.

I mean, I take stances against the president.

And for the president. You always have to -- you always have to balance, you know, I have my opinion.

And I'm never going to be bought out by anybody.

I'm never. But you also want to make sure that you're being fair to the people that you trust. And I know you have trusted RFK for a very, very long time.

And for what struck me on this. Is, you know, I don't know if RFK lied to me. Which I hope he didn't, or what's going on. It's been clear in recent conversation that he is reporting to someone regularly, who is controlling his decisions.

That's a remarkable thing to say, especially about RFK.

Because he does not strike me as somebody who is afraid of somebody else.

NICOLE: You know, I don't know if it's fear or that he's playing political 4D chess. And, again, they don't call it the swamp for no reason.

It's just, at some point, there's certain decisions, that are worth fighting for.

And I do appreciate what a very complex political environment this is.

GLENN: Oh, yeah.

NICOLE: And I do understand that even within these agencies, there are groups that are intentionally keeping and withholding information from the new leadership.

So, you know, I -- I fully appreciate how complicated it is.

So I fully appreciate how complicated it all is, but there are definitely things that the base is -- is, you know, like, this is an easy one. This could have gone better. Right?

You don't truly -- and, you know, everyone is guessing what precisely this 4D chess is all about. And why these moves are being made. And trying to anticipate the next one.

But it's something that I think that, you know, there's just certain things that indicate that whomever he's giving -- whoever his chess coach is. Could be making some better decisions for him. And --

GLENN: But Casey.

I mean, when I talk to the twins, during -- or after COVID.

They seemed pretty clear on what was bad and what was good.

They -- they both seemed to be good on -- on COVID. And the vaccines. Didn't they?

Or is my memory --

JEFFY: They talk a great talk.

I will say, I was once a fan of it as well.

It was only after I received many comments from individuals, in and around the transition team.

As well as new research that came up.

And then really, like, you know, when the base expresses these things and provides that degree of inquiry, and it shows that kind of concern.

I think we owe it to them.

GLENN: Yes. I agree. I agree.

ANNA: Yeah.

GLENN: So overall, how do you feel things are going?

NICOLE: I think, again, there's been a lot of focus around food dives. Meanwhile, there's millions of people suffering from vaccine injuries, that still feel very neglected.

So I do think -- I do appreciate the executive order, regarding gain of function and limiting overseas research.

GLENN: And shutting down a dangerous -- and shutting down a very dangerous bio lab here.

NICOLE: Yes. And there are many of these bio labs that are kind of flying under the radar.

GLENN: Right.

NICOLE: So it's a big step in the right decisions sedition. I'm a huge Jay Bhattacharya fan. Probably one of his biggest.

I really am excited for him, as he built out his team.

I hope, he has a very, very strong team around him. In the next coming weeks. Because he's going need to it.

As far as HHS goes, you know, I would love to see Bobby bring in more of those doctors that have been around him for the last ten years, very regularly.

Because these are the individuals that, you know, I -- I trust these people with my life. They have sacrificed everything to do the right thing time and time again.

They are so deeply principled. They will never take a check over helping a patient out.

And they actually do have the answers. So I'm hoping to see more of those people around Bobby too.

GLENN: So I'm wondering because this is the way I feel about a couple of things with the FBI. And Intel.

That if I don't see some people in the next year or so, go to jail, or at least brought in for a fair and honest trial, you know. I don't want to just scoop people up. And just assume that they're guilty.

But build a good, strong case. Bring it to trial.

Have it a fair and honest trial. And let the chips fall where they may.

But if I don't see some prosecution, at least. I think I'm very upset at the G O.J.

Pam Bondi. Head of the FBI. Kash Patel. And I don't -- and I'm trusting them so far, that they are doing that.

Do you feel the same way at all, about -- you know, if you don't see some people who go to jail there, that clearly lied about the vaccines.

If they don't go to jail. You have -- you really haven't fixed anything.

You're just eating around the edges.

NICOLE: Yeah. Yeah. I think that really explains it. And this is why I think it's important to continue to voice those concerns, because they're only going to grow and mount.

And it really is the American people, that were sold this vision of accountability.

And as we want to see it. We have to see it. Anywhere. Several months into the administration now.

HHS, you know, lags behind the Oval Office in terms of getting going.

But they're -- people were seriously injured. There were many crimes committed against the American public.

Crimes committed against our bravest doctors. Crimes committed against children.

We need accountability.

We really, really need to see that.

Because, you know, there's -- there's a preciousness in this moment. We have to -- we have to deliver. This country deserves it.

GLENN: And, I mean, if we're -- if we can't correct the things that, for instance. Washington State. Just passed a law where if there is another pandemic, everybody seems to be, you know, claiming there's another one, right around the corner.

But if there is another pandemic, that they will have absolute control, over what you put into your body. And what you do. That's terrifying.

NICOLE: I do.

And those emergency orders, they will scrutinize them. They have revisions.

GLENN: Washington State just revised it to just codify it. Washington State just codified it. It's crazy.

NICOLE: Yeah. Yeah.

So I would like to see more focus around that, not Red Dye 40 and not Kellogg's.

I'm totally fine leaving Kellogg's alone, in favor of HHS spending. All of its energy. And all of its focus. And all of its leverage, making sure that we are actually properly ready for the next pandemic.

And not to cause the catastrophic harm, that was caused during COVID-19.

GLENN: Nicole Shanahan. She's got the podcast Back To the People. And it's now coming to Blaze Media.

It's the same podcast she's been doing. Now as she says, with a wider reach. Glad to have you.

Nicole, thank you very much.

NICOLE: Thanks, it's a pleasure to come on.

GLENN: We'll talk to you again.

Is America’s Grid a Ticking Time Bomb? Trump’s Energy Secretary REACTS | Glenn TV | Ep 430

President Trump is working hard to right the wrongs of the Biden administration. But did Biden harm our energy grid even more than we thought? While Glenn was on vacation in Italy, two other European countries — Spain and Portugal — suffered one of the biggest blackouts in their history. The mainstream media, as they always do, rushed to blame it on ANYTHING other than the countries’ heavy reliance on unreliable green energy. But Glenn has the receipts and the evidence that leftists tried to make America’s grid just as unreliable. Glenn speaks with Energy Secretary Chris Wright about how the Trump administration is reversing these dangerous policies. Secretary Wright also discusses his department’s discovery that Biden shoveled out $93 BILLION in energy loans after Kamala Harris lost the 2024 election and before Trump could take office. Plus, he comments on Trump’s plans to deal with OPEC, why Trump must refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and why Trump is planning the biggest energy project in American history to help accommodate AI. But first, Glenn recaps the biggest media lies that he missed while on vacation. Topping the list: Are these elitists like Axios and Jen Psaki finally admitting that they lied about Biden’s cognitive decline, or do they STILL not get that their charade is over?

THE GLENN BECK PODCAST

Is the New American Pope Catholic? | Bishop Strickland | The Glenn Beck Podcast | Ep 256

A new pope has been chosen! As the recording of this episode of "The Glenn Beck Podcast" began, white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the selection of the first American pope. Glenn and Bishop Joseph Strickland react live to the news as the whole world wonders if Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, will continue in the ways of his predecessor Pope Francis or go a more traditional route. Bishop Strickland, who was removed from office by Pope Francis, says the former pope pushed a church “in the world and of the world” and reviews “duplicity,” “corruption,” and potential abuse overlooked by the Vatican, including the infamous McCarrick scandal. The pair discuss the resurgence of the Latin Mass, globalism, the Catholic Church’s approach to homosexuality and gender identity, and whether the Shroud of Turin is an “icon” or a “relic.” As the new pope greets the world, Glenn asks, “If we have a more progressive pope, does that set the Church back?” Bishop Strickland advises that “even if we are disappointed and dismayed,” we must pray and keep our focus on God.

RADIO

Meta’s AI “Friends” Nightmare: How Zuckerberg’s Latest Move Could Enslave Your Mind

Meta and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg has a new goal: to give lonely Americans AI “friends.” But Glenn sounds the alarm: this must NEVER happen! Glenn explains the hidden danger in Zuckerberg’s seemingly kindhearted plan: “AI cannot, must not, and will never be your friend.” Opening that door will only give Meta insane levels of potential for manipulation and control over you.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Let's start with this: Mark Zuckerberg. Good guy. I mean, he brought us Facebook.

And, you know, that is the thing that brought all of us together.

Brought out families together. All the people that we lost touch with.

Oh, the world is so much better now that we have Facebook.

So now, he's got another idea. Could we play the clip of Mark Zuckerberg?

VOICE: There's a stat that I honestly think is crazy. The average American has I think it's fewer than three friends. Three people they consider friends. And the average person has demand for meaningfully more. I think it's 15 friends or something.

I guess there's probably at some point, I'm too busy. I can't deal with more people. But the average person wants more connectivity, connection than they have. So, you know, there's a lot of questions that people ask.

Of stuff like, okay. Is this going to replace kind of in person connections or real life connections?

And my default is that the answer to that is probably no.

I think it -- it -- I think that there are all these things that are better kind of about physical connections, when you can have them.

But the reality is that people just don't have the connection when they feel more alone, a lot of the time, than they would like.

GLENN: Hmm. True.

Now, let me ask you. Is there a time when you don't remember feeling so isolated? When you didn't really feel like I don't have any real friends?

When you didn't -- you had real connections with people, instead of a million connections with people that are your friends, but not really your friends?

Can you think of a time, way back in history?

I mean, probably have to go back to the cavemen, to find a time.

Oh. Before Facebook, and social media!

When we weren't all killing ourself, because we have no meaning.

Now, from the people who brought you kill yourself, because you've been on Facebook too much.

Brings you new AI friends. Oh, this is going to be good.

By the way, you know, that's a crazy stat, I think the average American has, what? Three friends. And they have a capacity for, I don't know. Fifteen or 20. I don't know.

Really think about it right now.

How many true friends, do you have?

How many true friends?

People that when you are down and out, there is nothing -- the whole world is against you!

That that person will actually stand by your side. And go, yeah.

I'm their friend.

And I don't care what you say.

How many? How many do you have?

I think I would count myself lucky if I have three.

Now, I have a lot of consequences.

I have a lot of people who we all think are friends. But as a recovering alcoholic, I've been there.

I've done that. As a recovering alcoholic,
who then also is a conservative and spoke out about the Obama administration, I know who my friends are.
I know who my friends are not.

And I think there's a lot of people that have counterfeit friends.

If you've got. Oh, I've got ten or 15 friends.

Eh.

No, you don't. No, you don't.

I've always grown up thinking, you're lucky, you're lucky, to have three, five, really good friends.

That will walk through anything with you. Do you agree with that, Stu?

STU: Yeah.

GLENN: You've never been there.

STU: For you? Oh, God no. But I'm just saying, generally speaking. No. I think -- I mean, you're describing a great friend. You're describing a really --

GLENN: A real friend.

STU: Yeah. Like someone you know and stick around for multiple decades.

GLENN: Yeah, I have lots of friends. You know what I mean? I have millions of Facebook friends.

STU: Right. Those aren't real.

GLENN: Right. And I have lots of friends. But the ones that are there for you always, no matter what, I have family.

And I have family.

STU: Right.

GLENN: And I have a handful of friends. I would consider you one of those.

STU: Thank you. I would as well.

GLENN: Why?

Remember, I have a drinking problem.

STU: Yeah. A lot of brain cells killed to make that decision.

But I think that you -- yes. I think the only thing that I think I'm drilling down a little bit on to try to understand. When you say, well, I have a lot of friends.

In a way, I think that's what Zuckerberg is talking about.

It's not even necessarily a great friend that you have for multiple decades. And can count on at any time.

Just the mid-level consequences, are drying up for a lot of people.

GLENN: Yeah. And why is that?

Why is that?

Because we don't talk to each other anymore.

STU: Yeah.

GLENN: Because of social media.

You know, when this generation says, I don't know.

I just think it's weird. I'm just now in a bar someplace.

And some stranger comes up to me and wants to strike up a conversation. I'm like, hello, weirdo. I don't know!

You think it's less weird to go online?
When people can fake everything!

Thank you, Mark Zuckerberg.

But no thanks. Okay.

STU: And they're just -- to build up on this point for one second.

There's a study that came out, the last 20 years, of how much time do you spend socializing with the people.

Again, that's not with your best friends.

This is just socializing with anyone, a human.

Every single group. Every single group has massive drops.

GLENN: Massive.

STU: Massive drops. Just give you some examples.

Ages. Fifteen to 24-year-olds. Thirty-five-point down.

In 20 years. 35 percent. So a typical 15-year-old, as compared to what they are, in 2003 and 2025, where were the two measurement years?

They're spending 35 percent less time, with other human beings.

GLENN: Okay. Hang on just a second. Can you please stop distracting me? Because I'm trying to figure out why our kids are killing themselves.

STU: No, it's really hard.

GLENN: It's very hard to figure out.

STU: To understand.

And this is the coup de grâce of this entire study, which is, the typical female pet owner spends more time actively engaged with her pet, than she spends face-to-face contact with her friends of her own species.

GLENN: Uh-huh.

STU: That is unbelievable -- not like you're in the same house as your cat.

Right? No. More face-to-face time with your cat!

GLENN: And I've got news for you. If you think your cat is your friend, wait until you die, and your cat is trapped in the house with you and you have no friends to check. They will eat your face.

STU: They will still have a use for you.

GLENN: Yeah. They will have a use foy.

STU: Not the other way around.

GLENN: Okay. Here's why I'm bringing this up today.

This is a lie, that is going to be sold to you, like crazy. And it's going to be wrapped in a beautiful, shiny package. And it's going to have from Mark Zuckerberg and others like him, on the tag.

They want you to believe, that AI and bots can be your friends.

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