Three Things You Need to Know - January 29, 2018

January 29, 2018

WRITER

The 5G Crisis

Crisis creates opportunity. That’s the way every progressive and big government scheme takes flight. The threat of crisis gave us the federal income tax. The threat of environmental catastrophe gave us the EPA. The horror of people “dying in the streets” gave us Obamacare. And now, the fear of China is causing the government to consider nationalizing the countries mobile network.

Private companies like AT&T and Verizon built the networks you use to make cell phone calls and surf the internet on your iPhone. Call clarity and internet speeds have advanced rapidly over the years. From third generation, or 3G, in 2010 to 4G almost immediately after. But now there’s a global race for 5G, and the US government is scared to death that China will beat us.

In a leaked memo, the plan lays out two options. One: the US government pays for and builds the network. They would then RENT the airspace to private carriers. What could go wrong there?! And Two: private companies could build the network.

How is this even a hard decision? The leaked memo actually states that having private companies build the network isn’t even a real option because it would take too long and… wait for it… the Chinese might hack into it. And there it is. Every time you’re forced into one option due to a boogeyman, you need to take a step back and realize you might be getting manipulated.

This is America. We don’t nationalize private industry. We incentivize and promote competition. The Last time we nationalized an industry we got the TSA. Is anyone happy with the TSA? Show me almost anything built by the government and I’ll show you a private company building and maintaining it better.

The communications industry should be going absolutely crazy over this. Not only would this significantly hurt their business, but it’s a huge slap in the face. The government is saying, we don't believe in you. You can’t get this done, so we’ll do it for you.

We must not let fear of what’s difficult and challenging turn us into the object of our fear. If the government does this, you might as well call the new 5G network The People’s Network or The Democratic People’s Network. Give it a good communist dictatorship homage.

“He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster.” If we do this we’re no better than the Chinese. The government will have greater power to do exactly what the Chinese do to their people. Listen in on calls, track internet usage, monitor GPS… imagine all the applications 5G will have on our lives in the next decade.

As with all progressive power plays, this isn’t about any tangible or real threat, this is about control. Don’t give it to them.

Steve Wynn Steps Down

In 2018, sexual assault accusations have become a daily, maybe even hourly, occurrence.

This is our new reality.

So, it’s no surprise that over the weekend we learned about allegations against both a Republican and a Democrat.

Casino mogul Steve Wynn resigned as national finance chairman of the Republican National Committee amid dozens of sexual misconduct accusations published by the Wall Street Journal.

The worst of these accusations claims Wynn pressured a married manicurist into sex and then paid her a $7.5 million settlement, according to people familiar with the matter.

Wynn denied all allegations, citing that these accusations are the result of his ex-wife—who is trying to resettle the terms of their divorce.

Burns Strider, on the other hand, does not deny the claims against him.

Strider was the Clinton campaign faith adviser. Female colleagues have complained about him going back to 2007.

He is accused of kissing female peers on the nose or forehead, trying to plan commuting times with them, and sending late night emails that expressed loneliness and poor judgment rather than X-rated material.

Strider’s accusations don’t even begin to approach Steve Wynn level allegations, but nevertheless, people are angry that Hillary Clinton didn’t immediately fire him and that he continues to work in Democratic politics.

Whether you’re Steve Wynn or Burns Strider, in the eyes of the new America—you’re guilty the second someone, anyone, claims you’re guilty. You’re immediately a sexual predator no matter how insignificant or outrageous the accusation may be.

Everyone deserves to be believed, but let’s allow common sense back in our world.

Burns Strider is not Steve Wynn—if, of course, the allegations against Steve Wynn are true.

The People's State of the Union

Have you bought your tickets yet?

If not, it’s probably too late. I’m not talking about Super Bowl tickets. I’m talking about the most self-important political rally of our times…

“The People’s State of the Union.” That doesn’t sound communist at all.

President Trump is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address tomorrow night. So, tonight, several brave American patriots, who are more concerned about everyday Americans than you or I could ever dream of being, are banding together for a preemptive rally to protest what the President says in his State of the Union speech.

But, I thought you just said Trump’s address isn’t until tomorrow night. Yes, but don’t haggle over details like that. There’s no time to listen and critically evaluate what a Republican says when there’s so much hashtagging and outraging to be done.

Who are these patriots organizing the “People’s State of the Union?” Well, there’s Sam from Who’s the Boss, Hulk from The Avengers, and Michael Moore from Flint, Michigan, among others. So, regular people. The event is in Manhattan, one of the areas of the country least associated with the common man. And tickets cost $47.

“In essence, it’s a better reflection of our state of the union based on a more populist point of view, based on the people’s point of view,” said Hulk, who also goes by Mark Ruffalo. “We want to celebrate this moment that we’re in of what is now probably one of the most influential and powerful and really beautiful movements to come into play in the U.S. since the civil rights movement.”

Sorry, Hulk. “The people” aren’t going to rally to your cause, because they know you’re not for them. They’re also smart enough to know that President Trump saying dumb things, or signing a tax-cut bill, is hardly in the same universe as the injustices of the Civil Rights era.

The real people’s state of the union is that they’re not going to spend much time this week worrying about Donald Trump’s latest tweet or your phony exercise in outrage. Not because they don’t care about America or its leadership, but because they’re too busy making a living and raising their family. You know, important stuff.

Next time, you might want to get to know some of the actual everyday American people before you decide to represent them in your anti-Trump rally.

MORE 3 THINGS

'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

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

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?

NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

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?

Glenn's Show Prep

Three Things You Need to Know - January 29, 2018

The 5G Crisis

Steve Wynn Steps Down

The People's State of the Union

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

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.

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

Picking up his torch

Two turning points, decades apart

A time for courage

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

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

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

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

From Muhammad to Marx

Gifts from God, not the state

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

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?

Do you think the Gen Z support for Trump is an opportunity for conservatives to win them over with anti-establishment reforms that preserve liberty?