Blog
LatestArticlesVideos
Radio
LivePodcastSerialsStations
TV
Podcasts
The Glenn Beck ProgramThe Glenn Beck PodcastThe Beck Story
Fine Art
Real Estate
More
AboutCharityBooksSponsorsShopContact
SEARCH
Live Radio

©2024 MERCURY RADIO ARTS.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY POLICY

Live

Glenn's Show Prep

Morning Brief 2025-09-29

September 29, 2025
Chris Brady

TOP OF HOUR 3
GUEST: Jason Buttrill
TOPIC: Europe mandates digital ID in order for its citizens to be able to work.

News...

FBI lab report, contradictory witness statement inject fresh mystery in unsolved J6 pipe bomb case
The devices had destructive potential but never went off despite being reportedly planted 16 hours ahead of time set with one-hour timers. And one witness told investigators that at least one of the bombs may not have been planted the night before.

Left-wing terror attacks reach record highs in 2025
Violent plots planned or perpetrated by the far left in the U.S., as a percentage of all terrorist attacks and plots, hit a record high in the first half of 2025 and are on pace to reach a three-decade high, according to a study from the Center for Strategic & International Studies.

5 dead after gunman crashes truck into Michigan Mormon church and opens fire
The attacker, a Marine veteran, rammed his vehicle into a Grand Blanc Township chapel, shot congregants with a semiautomatic rifle, and set the building ablaze before being killed in a firefight with police.

North Carolina gunman with history of conspiracy lawsuits kills three after firing at restaurant from boat
Armed with a suppressed AR rifle, the suspect sprayed bullets into a crowded Southport eatery, killing three and wounding eight before fleeing by boat and being caught by the Coast Guard; records show he had filed bizarre conspiracy lawsuits earlier this year.

North Carolina gunman once escorted ‘American Idol’ star to Country Music Awards
In various lawsuits and a book he wrote about his combat history, he claimed he was the victim of friendly fire in a plot orchestrated by “LGBTQ White Supremacists” who wanted him dead for being a straight man.

Furious Elon Addresses Why He’s in New Epstein Files
Sky News ran the headline “Elon Musk and Prince Andrew Named in the Latest Epstein Files Release,” to which Musk responded, “Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED,” adding, “yet they name me even before Prince Andrew, who did visit.”

Ex-Soros Fund manager indicted, accused of abusing women in Manhattan ‘sex dungeon’
Howard Rubin and his longtime assistant face federal sex trafficking and bank fraud charges after prosecutors said they lured women — including former Playboy models — to a penthouse outfitted with restraints and shock devices.

Dearborn residents raise concerns about loudspeaker used by mosque for call to prayer
"The mosques in East Dearborn are at times waking us up at 5:30 a.m. with a call to prayer and, at other times, forcing us to listen to the prayer in our yard and in our own home."

Victor Davis Hanson: The US left’s hatred — of Trump and the right — has now gone global
Trump’s U.N. visit was marred by mysteriously timed malfunctions, from a stalled escalator to a failed teleprompter.

Grotesque Halloween display shows MAGA mannequins hanging by rope with Mexican flag flying above
Video of the grotesque mock execution shows two mannequins, a male and female, being hanged by rope beneath a small Mexican flag.

Boeing settles lawsuit on wrongful death claim related to deceased whistleblower
The settlement involves confidential provisions that address the retaliation lawsuit, with Barnett's mother agreeing to withdraw her allegation that Boeing played a role in her son's death.

FBI informant may have slayed 50 victims
A former FBI agent says a serial killer who doubled as an FBI informant for years manipulated agents into believing he was helping them, all the while preying on unsuspecting victims.

Politics...

The Hill: Shutdown fight leaves Democrats with no good options
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought revealed in a memo days ago that the administration is planning mass firings of federal workers in the event of a shutdown, rather than just furloughing them as has been custom in the past. But Democrats are not taking the threat seriously.

Eric Adams drops out of New York City mayoral race
It could also put increased pressure on Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee, to drop out and clear the way for a one-on-one match up between Mamdani and Cuomo.

Mamdani’s Political Party Mourns Convicted Cop Killer Assata Shakur
A trio of House Democrats also paid homage to Shakur, who was on the FBI’s "most wanted terrorist" list.

Kamala Harris says one-hour flight to Rogan podcast ‘wasn’t feasible’
Harris writes she skipped the interview because Rogan’s team only offered 8:30 a.m., while Rogan says he told her camp he was willing to record at any time, day or night.

Missouri governor signs Trump-backed plan that could help Republicans win another US House seat
Gov. Mike Kehoe on Sunday signed into law a new U.S. House map designed to bolster Republican chances in next year’s congressional elections.

Fetterman rejects calls to switch parties but blasts Democrats’ rhetoric
"I'm not going to switch. I'm just going to be an independent voice in the Democratic Party. I'm not going to be afraid of people," he told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo.

Economy...

New law lets car buyers deduct up to $10,000 in auto loan interest
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act allows middle-class taxpayers to write off interest on new U.S.-assembled vehicles through 2028, offering real relief from high rates while phasing out federal EV subsidies.

Florida man arraigned in plot to bomb New York Stock Exchange
Harun Abdul-Hamid Yener faces charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to use an explosive device against a building in interstate commerce, threatening to murder federal law enforcement officers, and possession of child sexual abuse material.

Immigration...

Video Shows ICE Agents Shielded Detainees During Deadly Shooting
Detainees, who were shackled by the wrists and ankles, were moved swiftly down a hallway by ICE agents.

Bondi orders Justice Department to send federal agents to guard ICE facilities
Bondi’s order follows the death of one detainee and two others critically wounded in Wednesday’s shooting at a Dallas ICE facility.

Trump Admin Warns California: Stop Giving Illegal Aliens Commercial Licenses Or Lose Funding
Foreigners with illegal commercial licenses have been in five fatal crashes this year alone.

Dem Prosecutor Broke Law By Treating Illegal Aliens More Favorably Than Americans, Virginia AG Says
Virginia attorney general refers Soros-backed prosecutor to DOJ for investigation.

2 Houston-area baseball shooters’ immigration applications approved under Biden
DHS also says two of the men never should have been allowed into the country or been granted the immigration status they were by the Biden administration.

WAR News...

Reuters: Trump Says He Will Tell US Military Leaders 'We Love Them'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned senior U.S. military leaders from around the world for a meeting in Quantico on Tuesday — a rare gathering of the country's military leadership in one location.

Newsweek: Trump Contradicts Vance Over Hegseth’s Mystery Meeting with Top Generals
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump claimed the meeting of military officers, which is set to take place in Northern Virginia next week, was "a big story" after his VP called it "not unusual."

NBC: US preparing options for military strikes on drug targets inside Venezuela
U.S. military officials are drawing up options to target drug traffickers inside Venezuela, and strikes within that country’s borders could potentially begin in a matter of weeks, sources said.

Israel / Judaism...

Signs of optimism on Gaza peace plan emerge as Netanyahu meets with Witkoff, Kushner
Trump aides worked to secure Israel’s backing for a U.S.-brokered deal that has won initial Arab support, though disputes over Hamas’ disarmament and the Palestinian Authority’s role still loom.

Hamas slams US plans to appoint Tony Blair to Gaza, call him a war criminal
It follows a report in Israel's Haaretz quoting an Arab political source as saying the U.S. administration has drawn up a plan to appoint Blair to head a temporary administration in Gaza.

Israeli cycling team excluded from Italy event
The Jewish team is verboten, but not out of hate, no ... it's for their own protection.

Flashback 2023: New pogroms and old mob mentalities
At Cooper Union in New York, Jewish students were locked inside the library “for their own protection” as demonstrators outside pounded on the doors and chanted for the eradication of Israel.

Flashback 1938: Nazis burn synagogues, smash stores as German police watch
Owners of Jewish shops in many towns were taken into custody "for their own protection."

Ukraine - Russia...

US tells India that Russian oil curbs are key to trade deal progress
India defended its oil imports from Russia on economic grounds, claiming benefits and accusing Western nations of hypocrisy for continuing trade with Russia despite sanctions.

China...

Lawsuit claims baby monitors may be feeding data to Beijing
The 39-page lawsuit, filed in Nebraska state court, claims the company marketed its cameras as "private by design" and safe for places like children’s bedrooms, while concealing that the devices rely on a Chinese firm sanctioned by the U.S. over national security and human rights violations.

Europe...

New digital ID will be mandatory to work in the UK
Downing Street insists there’s “no requirement to carry it,” yet by 2029, every worker will need a government-issued digital ID to prove their right to earn a living — all, we’re told, just to tackle illegal immigration, because you know how much the progressive left hates illegal immigration.

Swiss voters approve plan for electronic ID cards
With all votes counted, 50.4% of those who voted said yes to the proposal, while 49.6% rejected it. The closeness of the ballot is a surprise. Opinion polls had suggested up to 60% backed digital IDs, which also had the approval of the Swiss government and both houses of parliament.

NATO Increases Baltic Presence As Mystery Drones Swarm Denmark
A NATO spokesperson said they would not provide details on which countries were contributing the extra assets.

Denmark Bans Drone Flights After Fresh Sightings At Military Bases
Drone sorties earlier this week forced Denmark to shut airports, including a nearly four-hour closure of Copenhagen Airport on Monday.

Africa...

Bill Maher says slaughter of Christians in Nigeria being ignored because 'the Jews aren't involved' in the killing
"They are systematically killing the Christians in Nigeria. They've killed over 100,000 since 2009. They've burned 18,000 churches. This is so much more. These are the Islamists, Boko Haram. This is so much more of a genocide attempt than what is going on in Gaza," he said.

Entertainment...

Best-selling #MeToo memoir beloved by elites might hinge on made-up memories
Amy Griffin’s "The Tell" drew glowing endorsements from Oprah and Gwyneth Paltrow, but her rape claims were recalled under MDMA with no evidence, raising doubts about whether the abuse ever happened.

Ice Cube's tour bus was 'firebombed' in Portland, many online think it was related to Antifa
Online speculation, which isn't backed up by anything at this point, is that Antifa attacked it thinking it was an ICE bus. Meanwhile, an Ice Cube spokesperson downplayed the attack as "random vandalism." But not to worry, Portland authorities are investigating and will surely get to the bottom of it.

Riyadh Comedy Festival Draws Fire over Human Rights Watch Condemnation, Pete Davidson and Bill Burr Set to Perform
Marc Maron says “from the folks that brought you 9/11” as Atsuko Okatsuka reveals censorship demands.

Bruce Springsteen calls for Trump to be impeached, again
The elderly left-wing activist said he “absolutely couldn’t care less" what Trump thinks about him, as he ranted about Trump for the umpteenth time.

Media...

Sinclair ends Jimmy Kimmel ban
"In our ongoing and constructive discussions with ABC, Sinclair proposed measures to strengthen accountability, viewer feedback, and community dialogue, including a network-wide independent ombudsman."

MacIntyre: Violence gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back
Threats shut down tributes; bullets restore careers. Each victory teaches radicals the same lesson: Blood buys power.

Education...

Professor at elite college belongs to offshoot of leftist gun club celebrating violence at Georgetown: Group
A UNC Chapel Hill professor belongs to Redneck Revolt, a gun club that opposes capitalism and joins armed protests against right-wing demonstrators.

Former teacher, ex-clown accused of murdering wife drops dead moments before sentencing
James Paul Anderson collapsed in a Houston courtroom just before a judge could hand down a 35-year prison term, after witnesses say he ingested a substance and became violently ill.

Health...

California to let doctors anonymously mail abortion pills under new law
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation allowing providers to send abortion drugs without revealing their identity and ensuring access to mifepristone even if federal approval is revoked.

Trump derangement syndrome comes for heralded off-label autism treatment after president endorses
The chemo side-effect drug has long been used to treat autism, with quickly observed improvements and little risk to children, but it's not a moneymaker. A Trump endorsement prompts CBS to change the old story from promising to skeptical.

Religion...

Russell M. Nelson, oldest president of the LDS Church, dies at age 101
Nelson served as an apostle beginning in 1984 and became the church's leader in 2018. His ministry spanned more than 30 countries and U.S. territories. He was also an internationally recognized heart surgeon who helped develop an artificial heart and lung machine.

AI...

AI can now create working viruses in lab tests
Stanford researchers used an AI model to design new bacteriophages that successfully killed E. coli, sparking warnings that the same technology could just as easily be weaponized for bioterror.

Sports...

Serena Williams showed off cotton art piece in Florida home before NYC hotel comments
Williams once praised a Radcliffe Bailey sculpture featuring cotton in her Miami mansion but later posted an Instagram video from a New York hotel where she panned a cotton plant decoration, saying it “doesn’t feel great.”

Bad Bunny revealed as Super Bowl 2026 halftime performer
“Ve y dile a tu abuela, que seremos el HALFTIME SHOW DEL SUPER BOWL,” Mr. Bunny wrote.

Sept. 29, 2008 - Bailout bill... Big mistake... No one is telling us the truth... Glenn talks with Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Jim DeMint... Spending beyond our needs... Dismantling the free market system... Remembering our values...

Revealed: The quiet architect behind Trump’s war on Big Gov’t

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

Trump’s OMB chief built the plan for this moment: Starve pet programs, force reauthorization, and actually shrink Washington.

The government is shut down again, and the usual panic is back. I even had someone call my house this week to ask if it was safe to fly today. The person was half-joking, half-serious, wondering if planes would “fall out of the sky.”

For the record, the sky isn’t falling — at least not literally. But the chaos in Washington does feel like it. Once again, we’re watching the same old script: a shutdown engineered not by fiscal restraint but by political brinkmanship. And this time, the Democrats are driving the bus.

This shutdown may be inconvenient. But it’s also an opportunity — to stop funding our own destruction, to reset the table, and to remind Congress who actually pays the bills.

Democrats, among other things, are demanding that health care be extended to illegal immigrants. Democratic leadership caved to its radical base, which would rather shut down the government for such left-wing campaign points than compromise. Republicans — shockingly — said no. They refused to rubber-stamp more spending for illegal immigration. For once, they stood their ground.

But if you’ve watched Washington long enough, you know how this story usually ends: a shutdown followed by a deal that spends even more money than before — a continuing resolution kicking the can down the road. Everyone pretends to “win,” but taxpayers always lose.

The Vought effect

This time might be different. Republicans actually hold some cards. The public may blame Democrats — not the media, but the people who feel this in their wallets. Americans don’t like shutdowns, but they like runaway spending and chaos even less.

That’s why you’re hearing so much about Russell Vought, the director of the United States Office of Management and Budget and Donald Trump’s quiet architect of a strategy to use moments like this to shrink the federal bureaucracy. Vought spent four years building a plan for exactly this scenario: firing nonessential workers and forcing reauthorization of pet programs. Trump talks about draining the swamp. Vought draws up the blueprints.

The Democrats and media are threatened by Vought because he is patient, calculated, and understands how to leverage the moment to reverse decades of government bloat. If programs aren’t mandated, cut them. Make Congress fight to bring them back. That’s how you actually drain the swamp.

Predictable meltdowns

Predictably, Democrats are melting down. They’ve shifted their arguments so many times it’s dizzying. Last time, they claimed a shutdown would lead to mass firings. Now, they insist Republicans are firing everyone anyway. It’s the same playbook: Move the goalposts, reframe the narrative, accuse your opponents of cruelty.

We’ve seen this before. Remember the infamous "You lie!” moment in 2009? President Barack Obama promised during his State of the Union that Obamacare wouldn’t cover illegal immigrants. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) shouted, “You lie!” and was condemned for breaching decorum.

Several years later, Hillary Clinton’s campaign platform openly promised health care for illegal immigrants. What was once called a “lie” became official policy. And today, Democrats are shutting down the government because they can’t get even more of it.

This is progressivism in action: Deny it, inch toward it, then demand it as a moral imperative. Anyone who resists becomes the villain.

SAUL LOEB / Contributor | Getty Images

Stand firm

This shutdown isn’t just about spending. It’s about whether we’ll keep letting progressives rewrite the rules one crisis at a time. Trump’s plan — to cut what isn’t mandated, force programs into reauthorization, and fight the battle in the courts — is the first real counterpunch to decades of this manipulation.

It’s time to stop pretending. This isn’t about compassion. It’s about control. Progressives know once they normalize government benefits for illegal immigrants, they never roll back. They know Americans forget how it started.

This shutdown may be inconvenient. But it’s also an opportunity — to stop funding our own destruction, to reset the table, and to remind Congress who actually pays the bills. If we don’t take it, we’ll be right back here again, only deeper in debt, with fewer freedoms left to defend.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

U.K. forces digital IDs on workers—Is the U.S. next in line?

OLI SCARFF / Contributor | Getty Images

From banking to health care, digital IDs touch every aspect of citizens’ lives, giving the government unprecedented control over everyday actions.

On Friday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stood at the podium at the Global Progressive Action Conference in London and made an announcement that should send a chill down the spine of anyone who loves liberty. By the end of this Parliament, he promised, every worker in the U.K. will be required to hold a “free-of-charge” digital ID. Without it, Britons will not be able to work.

No digital ID, no job.

The government is introducing a system that punishes law-abiding citizens by tying their right to work to a government-issued pass.

Starmer framed this as a commonsense response to poverty, climate change, and illegal immigration. He claimed Britain cannot solve these problems without “looking upstream” and tackling root causes. But behind the rhetoric lies a policy that shifts power away from individuals and places it squarely in the hands of government.

Solving the problem they created

This is progressivism in action. Leaders open their borders, invite in mass illegal immigration, and refuse to enforce their own laws. Then, when public frustration boils over, they unveil a prepackaged “solution” — in this case, digital identity — that entrenches government control.

Britain isn’t the first to embrace this system. Switzerland recently approved a digital ID system. Australia already has one. The World Economic Forum has openly pitched digital IDs as the key to accessing everything from health care to bank accounts to travel. And once the infrastructure is in place, digital currency will follow soon after, giving governments the power to track every purchase, approve or block transactions, and dictate where and how you spend your money.

All of your data — your medical history, insurance, banking, food purchases, travel, social media engagement, tax information — would be funneled into a centralized database under government oversight.

The fiction of enforcement

Starmer says this is about cracking down on illegal work. The BBC even pressed him on the point, asking why a mandatory digital ID would stop human traffickers and rogue employers who already ignore national insurance cards. He had no answer.

Bad actors will still break the law. Bosses who pay sweatshop wages under the table will not suddenly check digital IDs. Criminals will not line up to comply. This isn’t about stopping illegal immigration. If it were, the U.K. would simply enforce existing laws, close the loopholes, and deport those working illegally.

Instead, the government is introducing a system that punishes law-abiding citizens by tying their right to work to a government-issued pass.

Control masked as compassion

This is part of an old playbook. Politicians claim their hands are tied and promise that only sweeping new powers will solve the crisis. They selectively enforce laws to maintain the problem, then use the problem to justify expanding control.

If Britain truly wanted to curb illegal immigration, it could. It is an island. The Channel Tunnel has clear entry points. Enforcement is not impossible. But a digital ID allows for something far more valuable to bureaucrats than border security: total oversight of their own citizens.

The American warning

Think digital ID can’t happen here? Think again. The same arguments are already echoing in Washington, D.C. Illegal immigration is out of control. Progressives know voters are angry. When the digital ID pitch arrives, it will be wrapped in patriotic language about fairness, security, and compassion.

But the goal isn’t compassion. It’s control of your movement, your money, your speech, your future.

We don’t need digital IDs to enforce immigration law. We need leaders with the courage to enforce existing law. Until then, digital ID schemes will keep spreading, sold as a cure for the very problems they helped create.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

The West is dying—Will we let enemies write our ending?

Harvey Meston / Staff | Getty Images

The blood of martyrs, prophets, poets, and soldiers built our civilization. Their sacrifice demands courage in the present to preserve it.

Lamentations asks, “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?”

That question has been weighing on me heavily. Not just as a broadcaster, but as a citizen, a father, a husband, a believer. It is a question that every person who cares about this nation, this culture, and this civilization must confront: Is all of this worth saving?

We have squandered this inheritance. We forgot who we were — and our enemies are eager to write our ending.

Western civilization — a project born in Judea, refined in Athens, tested in Rome, reawakened in Wittenberg, and baptized again on the shores of Plymouth Rock — is a gift. We didn’t earn it. We didn’t purchase it. We were handed it. And now, we must ask ourselves: Do we even want it?

Across Europe, streets are restless. Not merely with protests, but with ancient, festering hatred — the kind that once marched under swastikas and fueled ovens. Today, it marches under banners of peace while chanting calls for genocide. Violence and division crack societies open. Here in America, it’s left against right, flesh against spirit, neighbor against neighbor.

Truth struggles to find a home. Even the church is slumbering — or worse, collaborating.

Our society tells us that everything must be reset: tradition, marriage, gender, faith, even love. The only sin left is believing in absolute truth. Screens replace Scripture. Entertainment replaces education. Pleasure replaces purpose. Our children are confused, medicated, addicted, fatherless, suicidal. Universities mock virtue. Congress is indifferent. Media programs rather than informs. Schools recondition rather than educate.

Is this worth saving? If not, we should stop fighting and throw up our hands. But if it is, then we must act — and we must act now.

The West: An idea worth saving

What is the West? It’s not a location, race, flag, or a particular constitution. The West is an idea — an idea that man is made in the image of God, that liberty comes from responsibility, not government; that truth exists; that evil exists; and that courage is required every day. The West teaches that education, reason, and revelation walk hand in hand. Beauty matters. Kindness matters. Empathy matters. Sacrifice is holy. Justice is blind. Mercy is near.

We have squandered this inheritance. We forgot who we were — and our enemies are eager to write our ending.

If not now, when? If not us, who? If this is worth saving, we must know why. Western civilization is worth dying for, worth living for, worth defending. It was built on the blood of martyrs, prophets, poets, pilgrims, moms, dads, and soldiers. They did not die for markets, pronouns, surveillance, or currency. They died for something higher, something bigger.

MATTHIEU RONDEL/AFP via Getty Images | Getty Images

Yet hope remains. Resurrection is real — not only in the tomb outside Jerusalem, but in the bones of any individual or group that returns to truth, honor, and God. It is never too late to return to family, community, accountability, and responsibility.

Pick up your torch

We were chosen for this time. We were made for a moment like this. The events unfolding in Europe and South Korea, the unrest and moral collapse, will all come down to us. Somewhere inside, we know we were called to carry this fire.

We are not called to win. We are called to stand. To hold the torch. To ask ourselves, every day: Is it worth standing? Is it worth saving?

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Pick up your torch. If you choose to carry it, buckle up. The work is only beginning.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Stop coasting: How self-education can save America’s future

Joe Raedle / Staff | Getty Images

Coasting through life is no longer an option. Charlie Kirk’s pursuit of knowledge challenges all of us to learn, act, and grow every day.

Last year, my wife and I made a commitment: to stop coasting, to learn something new every day, and to grow — not just spiritually, but intellectually. Charlie Kirk’s tragic death crystallized that resolve. It forced a hard look in the mirror, revealing how much I had coasted in both my spiritual and educational life. Coasting implies going downhill. You can’t coast uphill.

Last night, my wife and I re-engaged. We enrolled in Hillsdale College’s free online courses, inspired by the fact that Charlie had done the same. He had quietly completed around 30 courses before I even knew, mastering the classics, civics, and the foundations of liberty. Watching his relentless pursuit of knowledge reminded me that growth never stops, no matter your age.

The path forward must be reclaiming education, agency, and the power to shape our minds and futures.

This lesson is particularly urgent for two groups: young adults stepping into the world and those who may have settled into complacency. Learning is life. Stop learning, and you start dying. To young adults, especially, the college promise has become a trap. Twelve years of K-12 education now leave graduates unprepared for life. Only 35% of seniors are proficient in reading, and just 22% in math. They are asked to bet $100,000 or more for four years of college that will often leave them underemployed and deeply indebted.

Degrees in many “new” fields now carry negative returns. Parents who have already sacrificed for public education find themselves on the hook again, paying for a system that often fails to deliver.

This is one of the reasons why Charlie often described college as a “scam.” Debt accumulates, wages are not what students were promised, doors remain closed, and many are tempted to throw more time and money after a system that won’t yield results. Graduate school, in many cases, compounds the problem. The education system has become a factory of despair, teaching cynicism rather than knowledge and virtue.

Reclaiming educational agency

Yet the solution is not radical revolt against education — it is empowerment to reclaim agency over one’s education. Independent learning, self-guided study, and disciplined curiosity are the modern “Napster moment.” Just as Napster broke the old record industry by digitizing music, the internet has placed knowledge directly in the hands of the individual. Artists like Taylor Swift now thrive outside traditional gatekeepers. Likewise, students and lifelong learners can reclaim intellectual freedom outside of the ivory towers.

Each individual possesses the ability to think, create, and act. This is the power God grants to every human being. Knowledge, faith, and personal responsibility are inseparable. Learning is not a commodity to buy with tuition; it is a birthright to claim with effort.

David Butow / Contributor | Getty Images

Charlie Kirk’s life reminds us that self-education is an act of defiance and empowerment. In his pursuit of knowledge, in his engagement with civics and philosophy, he exemplified the principle that liberty depends on informed, capable citizens. We honor him best by taking up that mantle — by learning relentlessly, thinking critically, and refusing to surrender our minds to a system that profits from ignorance.

The path forward must be reclaiming education, agency, and the power to shape our minds and futures. Every day, seek to grow, create, and act. Charlie showed the way. It is now our responsibility to follow.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.