‘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.

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

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

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 Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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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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