‘Enemy of the State’: Co-author Talks New Mitch Rapp Thriller Novel

September 07, 2017

WRITER

Vince Flynn was a best-selling author who gave the character Mitch Rapp to the world in a series of CIA thrillers. Today, co-author Kyle Mills is carrying on the torch by continuing the hit series. His latest novel is “Enemy of the State,” which centers on Rapp’s dangerous journey into Saudi Arabia to investigate the oil-rich country’s connections to terrorism.

“I just think Mitch Rapp is one of the best characters in fiction,” Glenn said on radio Thursday when Mills joined the show to talk about his new book as well as to analyze how the U.S. will react to world events.

In “Enemy of the State,” Rapp is working on his own in Saudi Arabia because the U.S. government can’t be seen plotting against an ally.

“Those redacted pages have a lot of information in them that’s been kept from the American people, and they’re not living up to their agreement to back off of the financing and supporting of terrorism,” Mills, who has been writing Rapp novels since 2014, explained the plot of the new book.

Glenn thought the plot was almost too on point.

“Well, that sounds like total fiction,” he joked.

This article provided courtesy of TheBlaze.

GLENN: I saw a movie -- I saw a movie, what? Yesterday -- night before last. It's -- it's Vince Flynn's first Mitch Rapp movie. American Assassin. And I -- I just think Mitch Rapp is one of the best characters in fiction now. In case you don't know, Vince is -- was the Tom Clancy, I think, of our day. He was a fantastic writer and a very good friend. And I remember sitting in -- just outside of my apartment in New York City. He and his wife and his daughter came to have dinner with me.

And we sat there. And the whole dinner, he talked about how worried he was about me with George Soros. And this was at the beginning of George Soros putting up a million dollars to destroy me and my career and everything else. And he was -- he just kept focused on that.

Then he said, I want -- I want to go up to your apartment, Glenn. Because we were -- we were going to go and have dessert. And he said, "I want to come up to your apartment. I'd really like to see -- because you really have to secure yourself."

And I said, "Okay." So we go up. And he's -- we're looking out the windows. And he's like, "Possible surveillance point." And I'm like, "Vince, for the love of Pete, I'm not living in one of your books." He said, "I'm just telling you, you're messing with George Soros." We sit down, and we're having some dessert. And he says to me, "I just found out I have cancer."

"Vince, isn't this probably a more important thing to talk about than what we've been talking about for the last 100 minutes?"

I really -- I didn't know what to say to him, other than, "If anybody is going to beat it, you are." Because he was convinced he was going to beat it, every time I spoke to him.

And then he died. He left behind a wife and daughter, just fantastic people. But he also left behind a lot of friends and amazing work.

Now, when he died, a lot of us who were fans thought, "Oh, this character cannot stop." They just made the first Vince Flynn movie: American Assassin. And it opens this weekend. I saw it, and it's absolutely fantastic.

But the series has continued with the guy named Kyle Mills who was selected -- imagine, you know, you're -- you're the replacement in the Beatles for Paul McCartney or John Lennon. And Kyle Mills stepped to the plate. And there's a new Vince Flynn novel out: Enemy of the State.

Welcome to the program, Kyle, how are you?

KYLE: I'm good. Thank you.

GLENN: Some big shoes. And we've talked about this before. Some big shoes that you have to fill. And you've done a fantastic job on it. Tell me about the new book, Enemy of the State.

KYLE: Well, this one is about Saudi Arabia and kind of puts forth whether or not maybe they had more to do with 9/11 than the governments let on.

GLENN: No.

KYLE: And those redacted pages have a lot of information in them that's been kept from the American people.

And they're not living up to their agreements to back off of the financing and supporting of terrorism.

GLENN: Well, that sounds like total fiction.

KYLE: Yeah.

GLENN: We know none of that is true.

What are you basing this on, Kyle, other than those redacted pages? Because, I mean, I love -- I love fiction writers because they -- they have to be accurate. You just have to have more information than -- than you ever let on.

What do you have, or what have you seen that led you down this path?

KYLE: Well, those pages have always kind of fascinated me, and all the other things swirling around about it that it's never been clear. No one has ever said, "Well, this is exactly what happened through the investigations." And we've completely cleared these people.

And I think there's a lot of incentive for the United States, because of its strategic interests. And this has always been the case with Saudi Arabia. We -- it seems like we'll sort of turn a blind eye to just about anything they do.

And so that was kind of what I wanted to play with. And also, because if you read Vince's book, and obviously you've talked to him quite a bit, he and I sort of share a distaste for the Saudis. So I thought it would be fun to explore that a little bit.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah. Your dad -- if I'm not mistaken, wasn't your dad one of the investigators on the Lockerbie bombing?

KYLE: On Pan Am 103? Yeah. That happened actually when I was graduating from college. And we found out about it at my college graduation dinner, that he disappeared to Lockerbie. And I didn't see him for a few months after that.

GLENN: How much did that affect your life, having your dad -- being surrounded by military guys and having your dad do that? How much of your life do you think is a continuation of your dad's? Have we lost -- it we lose him? I'm not -- we lost him.

STU: Sounds like we did.

You want to ask me that question, or you want to ask me something? Because I can answer some interesting stuff too. I'm a pretty interesting guy.

GLENN: No. Uh-uh. Have you ever thought about that though, how much of your life is a re-run of your dad's?

STU: I know you have. This is something you've dealt with for a long time. I don't think I have.

GLENN: Is it just me that does that? I mean, I know I overanalyze everything. But I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I've been thinking about it a lot lately, on how much -- how much am I like my dad? What is -- how much is a rerun of my dad's life and a continuation of his goals?

STU: That's an interesting question. I don't know how, in the middle of a really cool action thriller movie release interview, you got there. Exactly.

GLENN: Well, because I think it's interesting that he's writing this stuff now, and his dad was -- you know, his dad was on the investigation of the Lockerbie bombing.

So, Kyle, I didn't mean to offend you if I offended you with that question. But have you thought about that of how much of your life is a continuation of -- in some ways, your dad's work?

KYLE: A lot of it. I think that incident really affected me, hearing about the reality of what was going on on the ground there. You know, it's funny because Mitch Rapp, the character starts down his path in the CIA because his -- his girlfriend died on that --

GLENN: Right.

KYLE: And, I mean, hearing the stories of that, it was such a horrific event. You know, people would call my father and say, "There are two kids sitting in their seats in my backyard. They're sitting there holding hands. I really need you to come and get them now." And he had no manpower at that point. They were just flying people in. And he would have to say, "You know, you're going to have to wait. Just close your drapes, we're going to be there as soon as we can."

And in a way, it has kind of a similar effect on me as it did the character, understanding what that thread is and how great it is.

GLENN: Except Mitch went on to kill a whole bunch of people and you started writing books.

KYLE: You know, and that's a lot easier.

GLENN: You do that Saturday morning in your underpants, in your kitchen, where Mitch isn't -- isn't doing that.

When we talk about 9/11, which this book is based on, and Saudi Arabia and everything that's going on. It's the new Vince Flynn book, Enemy of the State. Kyle Mills is the author, and he's with us now.

When we look at that, do you think we will ever find out -- in our lifetime, will we find out what the real involvement was with Saudi Arabia?

KYLE: I don't think so. I think there's such a strong strategic interest and financial interest between us and Saudi Arabia that everything like that gets buried. But, I mean, it's clear -- it's obvious they're huge financiers of terrorism and really creating the schools that put forward that philosophy.

GLENN: The American Assassin talks about a nuclear weapon being used. And I just saw it, what? Two days ago. Great movie. Great story.

But you see nuclear weapons in play and in action. That's something that, really, we haven't really dealt with since I was a kid. Do you think this is something -- as you're playing this out with Kim Jong-un, is this something that we're going to have to start really dealing with? Do you think we'll see this play out?

KYLE: You know, it's such a terrifying situation because it's almost less about Korea than it is about China. They created this problem. They refused to do anything about the problem. And then they prevent other people from doing something about that problem.

And so it just gets worse. And it's on that trajectory. And, yes, I think at some point it will happen.

GLENN: So, Kyle, what -- so what happens? What should we be doing right now in North Korea?

KYLE: I think you have to convince China to rein them in. I just -- I don't see how there's any path to us acting unilaterally or with a Western coalition, like in Korea.

GLENN: Do you believe we go to war with North Korea? Do you believe that's in the cards?

KYLE: No. No. I just don't think it's possible. I think China would come down on us, and we've been there before.

GLENN: I am thrilled to hear that. The name of the book is Enemy of the State, by Kyle Mills. The new Vince Flynn book is out and the new Vince Flynn movie, American Assassin comes out. Have you seen it yet, Kyle?

KYLE: I have.

GLENN: What did you think?

KYLE: I thought it was terrific. I absolutely loved it. I thought Dylan and Michael Keaton did an amazing job. You know, those characters are in my head eight hours a day, and it's exactly what I pictured.

GLENN: I agree with you. And I think it's a new kind of character. I mean, it makes Jason Bourne seem like -- and it was written in the Cold War. This is a whole new kind of approach to a character, and I love it.

Thank you so much, Kyle.

KYLE: Thanks.

GLENN: It's Kyle Mills. Vince Flynn's new book, Enemy of the State. A Mitch Rapp novel. And the new Mitch Rapp movie opens this weekend everywhere.

URGENT: Supreme Court case could redefine religious liberty

Drew Angerer / Staff | Getty Images

The state is effectively silencing professionals who dare speak truths about gender and sexuality, redefining faith-guided speech as illegal.

This week, free speech is once again on the line before the U.S. Supreme Court. At stake is whether Americans still have the right to talk about faith, morality, and truth in their private practice without the government’s permission.

The case comes out of Colorado, where lawmakers in 2019 passed a ban on what they call “conversion therapy.” The law prohibits licensed counselors from trying to change a minor’s gender identity or sexual orientation, including their behaviors or gender expression. The law specifically targets Christian counselors who serve clients attempting to overcome gender dysphoria and not fall prey to the transgender ideology.

The root of this case isn’t about therapy. It’s about erasing a worldview.

The law does include one convenient exception. Counselors are free to “assist” a person who wants to transition genders but not someone who wants to affirm their biological sex. In other words, you can help a child move in one direction — one that is in line with the state’s progressive ideology — but not the other.

Think about that for a moment. The state is saying that a counselor can’t even discuss changing behavior with a client. Isn’t that the whole point of counseling?

One‑sided freedom

Kaley Chiles, a licensed professional counselor in Colorado Springs, has been one of the victims of this blatant attack on the First Amendment. Chiles has dedicated her practice to helping clients dealing with addiction, trauma, sexuality struggles, and gender dysphoria. She’s also a Christian who serves patients seeking guidance rooted in biblical teaching.

Before 2019, she could counsel minors according to her faith. She could talk about biblical morality, identity, and the path to wholeness. When the state outlawed that speech, she stopped. She followed the law — and then she sued.

Her case, Chiles v. Salazar, is now before the Supreme Court. Justices heard oral arguments on Tuesday. The question: Is counseling a form of speech or merely a government‑regulated service?

If the court rules the wrong way, it won’t just silence therapists. It could muzzle pastors, teachers, parents — anyone who believes in truth grounded in something higher than the state.

Censored belief

I believe marriage between a man and a woman is ordained by God. I believe that family — mother, father, child — is central to His design for humanity.

I believe that men and women are created in God’s image, with divine purpose and eternal worth. Gender isn’t an accessory; it’s part of who we are.

I believe the command to “be fruitful and multiply” still stands, that the power to create life is sacred, and that it belongs within marriage between a man and a woman.

And I believe that when we abandon these principles — when we treat sex as recreation, when we dissolve families, when we forget our vows — society fractures.

Are those statements controversial now? Maybe. But if this case goes against Chiles, those statements and others could soon be illegal to say aloud in public.

Faith on trial

In Colorado today, a counselor cannot sit down with a 15‑year‑old who’s struggling with gender identity and say, “You were made in God’s image, and He does not make mistakes.” That is now considered hate speech.

That’s the “freedom” the modern left is offering — freedom to affirm, but never to question. Freedom to comply, but never to dissent. The same movement that claims to champion tolerance now demands silence from anyone who disagrees. The root of this case isn’t about therapy. It’s about erasing a worldview.

The real test

No matter what happens at the Supreme Court, we cannot stop speaking the truth. These beliefs aren’t political slogans. For me, they are the product of years of wrestling, searching, and learning through pain and grace what actually leads to peace. For us, they are the fundamental principles that lead to a flourishing life. We cannot balk at standing for truth.

Maybe that’s why God allows these moments — moments when believers are pushed to the wall. They force us to ask hard questions: What is true? What is worth standing for? What is worth dying for — and living for?

If we answer those questions honestly, we’ll find not just truth, but freedom.

The state doesn’t grant real freedom — and it certainly isn’t defined by Colorado legislators. Real freedom comes from God. And the day we forget that, the First Amendment will mean nothing at all.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck joins Megyn Kelly LIVE — One night ONLY in Fort Worth!

Get ready for sparks to fly. For the first time in years, Glenn will come face-to-face with Megyn Kelly — and this time, he’s the one in the hot seat. On October 25, 2025, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, Glenn joins Megyn on her “Megyn Kelly Live Tour” for a no-holds-barred conversation that promises laughs, surprises, and maybe even a few uncomfortable questions.

What will happen when two of America’s sharpest voices collide under the spotlight? Will Glenn finally reveal the major announcement he’s been teasing on the radio for weeks? You’ll have to be there to find out.

This promises to be more than just an interview — it’s a live showdown packed with wit, honesty, and the kind of energy you can only feel if you are in the room. Tickets are selling fast, so don’t miss your chance to see Glenn like you’ve never seen him before.

Get your tickets NOW at www.MegynKelly.com before they’re gone!

What our response to Israel reveals about us

JOSEPH PREZIOSO / Contributor | Getty Images

I have been honored to receive the Defender of Israel Award from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The Jerusalem Post recently named me one of the strongest Christian voices in support of Israel.

And yet, my support is not blind loyalty. It’s not a rubber stamp for any government or policy. I support Israel because I believe it is my duty — first as a Christian, but even if I weren’t a believer, I would still support her as a man of reason, morality, and common sense.

Because faith isn’t required to understand this: Israel’s existence is not just about one nation’s survival — it is about the survival of Western civilization itself.

It is a lone beacon of shared values in the Middle East. It is a bulwark standing against radical Islam — the same evil that seeks to dismantle our own nation from within.

And my support is not rooted in politics. It is rooted in something simpler and older than politics: a people’s moral and historical right to their homeland, and their right to live in peace.

Israel has that right — and the right to defend herself against those who openly, repeatedly vow her destruction.

Let’s make it personal: if someone told me again and again that they wanted to kill me and my entire family — and then acted on that threat — would I not defend myself? Wouldn’t you? If Hamas were Canada, and we were Israel, and they did to us what Hamas has done to them, there wouldn’t be a single building left standing north of our border. That’s not a question of morality.

That’s just the truth. All people — every people — have a God-given right to protect themselves. And Israel is doing exactly that.

My support for Israel’s right to finish the fight against Hamas comes after eighty years of rejected peace offers and failed two-state solutions. Hamas has never hidden its mission — the eradication of Israel. That’s not a political disagreement.

That’s not a land dispute. That is an annihilationist ideology. And while I do not believe this is America’s war to fight, I do believe — with every fiber of my being — that it is Israel’s right, and moral duty, to defend her people.

Criticism of military tactics is fair. That’s not antisemitism. But denying Israel’s right to exist, or excusing — even celebrating — the barbarity of Hamas? That’s something far darker.

We saw it on October 7th — the face of evil itself. Women and children slaughtered. Babies burned alive. Innocent people raped and dragged through the streets. And now, to see our own fellow citizens march in defense of that evil… that is nothing short of a moral collapse.

If the chants in our streets were, “Hamas, return the hostages — Israel, stop the bombing,” we could have a conversation.

But that’s not what we hear.

What we hear is open sympathy for genocidal hatred. And that is a chasm — not just from decency, but from humanity itself. And here lies the danger: that same hatred is taking root here — in Dearborn, in London, in Paris — not as horror, but as heroism. If we are not vigilant, the enemy Israel faces today will be the enemy the free world faces tomorrow.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about truth. It’s about the courage to call evil by its name and to say “Never again” — and mean it.

And you don’t have to open a Bible to understand this. But if you do — if you are a believer — then this issue cuts even deeper. Because the question becomes: what did God promise, and does He keep His word?

He told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.” He promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and to give him “the whole land of Canaan.” And though Abraham had other sons, God reaffirmed that promise through Isaac. And then again through Isaac’s son, Jacob — Israel — saying: “The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I give to you and to your descendants after you.”

That’s an everlasting promise.

And from those descendants came a child — born in Bethlehem — who claimed to be the Savior of the world. Jesus never rejected His title as “son of David,” the great King of Israel.

He said plainly that He came “for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And when He returns, Scripture says He will return as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” And where do you think He will go? Back to His homeland — Israel.

Tamir Kalifa / Stringer | Getty Images

And what will He find when He gets there? His brothers — or his brothers’ enemies? Will the roads where He once walked be preserved? Or will they lie in rubble, as Gaza does today? If what He finds looks like the aftermath of October 7th, then tell me — what will be my defense as a Christian?

Some Christians argue that God’s promises to Israel have been transferred exclusively to the Church. I don’t believe that. But even if you do, then ask yourself this: if we’ve inherited the promises, do we not also inherit the land? Can we claim the birthright and then, like Esau, treat it as worthless when the world tries to steal it?

So, when terrorists come to slaughter Israelis simply for living in the land promised to Abraham, will we stand by? Or will we step forward — into the line of fire — and say,

“Take me instead”?

Because this is not just about Israel’s right to exist.

It’s about whether we still know the difference between good and evil.

It’s about whether we still have the courage to stand where God stands.

And if we cannot — if we will not — then maybe the question isn’t whether Israel will survive. Maybe the question is whether we will.

When did Americans start cheering for chaos?

MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND / Contributor | Getty Images

Every time we look away from lawlessness, we tell the next mob it can go a little further.

Chicago, Portland, and other American cities are showing us what happens when the rule of law breaks down. These cities have become openly lawless — and that’s not hyperbole.

When a governor declares she doesn’t believe federal agents about a credible threat to their lives, when Chicago orders its police not to assist federal officers, and when cartels print wanted posters offering bounties for the deaths of U.S. immigration agents, you’re looking at a country flirting with anarchy.

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic.

This isn’t a matter of partisan politics. The struggle we’re watching now is not between Democrats and Republicans. It’s between good and evil, right and wrong, self‑government and chaos.

Moral erosion

For generations, Americans have inherited a republic based on law, liberty, and moral responsibility. That legacy is now under assault by extremists who openly seek to collapse the system and replace it with something darker.

Antifa, well‑financed by the left, isn’t an isolated fringe any more than Occupy Wall Street was. As with Occupy, big money and global interests are quietly aligned with “anti‑establishment” radicals. The goal is disruption, not reform.

And they’ve learned how to condition us. Twenty‑five years ago, few Americans would have supported drag shows in elementary schools, biological males in women’s sports, forced vaccinations, or government partnerships with mega‑corporations to decide which businesses live or die. Few would have tolerated cartels threatening federal agents or tolerated mobs doxxing political opponents. Yet today, many shrug — or cheer.

How did we get here? What evidence convinced so many people to reverse themselves on fundamental questions of morality, liberty, and law? Those long laboring to disrupt our republic have sought to condition people to believe that the ends justify the means.

Promoting “tolerance” justifies women losing to biological men in sports. “Compassion” justifies harboring illegal immigrants, even violent criminals. Whatever deluded ideals Antifa espouses is supposed to somehow justify targeting federal agents and overturning the rule of law. Our culture has been conditioned for this moment.

The buck stops with us

That’s why the debate over using troops to restore order in American cities matters so much. I’ve never supported soldiers executing civilian law, and I still don’t. But we need to speak honestly about what the Constitution allows and why. The Posse Comitatus Act sharply limits the use of the military for domestic policing. The Insurrection Act, however, exists for rare emergencies — when federal law truly can’t be enforced by ordinary means and when mobs, cartels, or coordinated violence block the courts.

Even then, the Constitution demands limits: a public proclamation ordering offenders to disperse, transparency about the mission, a narrow scope, temporary duration, and judicial oversight.

Soldiers fight wars. Cops enforce laws. We blur that line at our peril.

But we also cannot allow intimidation of federal officers or tolerate local officials who openly obstruct federal enforcement. Both extremes — lawlessness on one side and militarization on the other — endanger the republic.

The only way out is the Constitution itself. Protect civil liberty. Enforce the rule of law. Demand transparency. Reject the temptation to justify any tactic because “our side” is winning. We’ve already seen how fear after 9/11 led to the Patriot Act and years of surveillance.

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / Contributor | Getty Images

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic. The left cannot be allowed to shut down enforcement, and the right cannot be allowed to abandon constitutional restraint.

The real threat to the republic isn’t just the mobs or the cartels. It’s us — citizens who stop caring about truth and constitutional limits. Anything can be justified when fear takes over. Everything collapses when enough people decide “the ends justify the means.”

We must choose differently. Uphold the rule of law. Guard civil liberties. And remember that the only way to preserve a government of, by, and for the people is to act like the people still want it.