RADIOJune 09, 2025

“We’re looking at alternative medicine”: VA Secretary reveals MAJOR changes

U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins joins Glenn Beck to review some of the major changes he’s making at the VA, including the possible approval of alternative medicine. For too long, veterans have felt that the VA has failed them. But Secretary Collins promises that’s “not going to be acceptable” anymore.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Doug Collins is with us. He's with the US secretary of Veterans Affairs. Can we privatize the VA? What's being done with the VA? We talk to Doug Collins in 60 seconds. First, let me tell you about the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. When you give to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, you're just not making a donation, you're providing essential support to Israel's most vulnerable. And your contribution helps deliver food to the hungry, medicine to the sick, and shelter to those who are displaced by conflict. Again, perfect and the possible. The perfect is everything, you know, goes back to what it should be, where we're all living peacefully, next to one another. That's not really possible, right now. But here's what is possible: If I help, maybe -- maybe we can strengthen the Jewish people to fight their own wars, and we don't have to get involved in it. Let them do their own stuff, so we don't have to get involved. If we want the government to do less, that means we have to do more. And I want to support the good people of Israel. I believe the Bible commands us to do it, or, you know, at least highly recommends it by saying, I will bless those who bless you.

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Doug Collins is joining us now. US Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Doug, how are you, sir?

DOUG: I'm good, Glenn. How about you?

GLENN: I'm really good. I can't thank you for everything you guys are doing at the VA. I mean, I just think there are so many of our veterans that have been treated so miserably, they're killing themselves, like they've never -- never done before. I mean, I -- I know that you heard some of the things that we've talked about here, where, you know, people are just killing themselves trying to -- you know, trying to make a point, that we've got to -- the VA is -- it is in dire need of transformation. So thank you for caring, and thank you for doing everything you are to transform it.

DOUG: I appreciate it. I appreciate it. There's a lot.

GLENN: Can we get out of this? How can we get and privatize as much as of this as we can?

DOUG: Well, I think the issue of privatization is probably not the right answer in this. I think what we have is, is we have the tools that President Trump and I, frankly have worked on when I was in Congress, a couple years ago. Was actually beginning to make this system less about the VA, and more about the veterans. And that is getting care out of the centralization services all the time.

Everything having to do with coming to our hospital, but using our community. One of the big issues that's always brought up is privatization. It's a valid conversation, but it's not something we're looking at.

Mainly because, the thing gets separated so much from the VA is the VA has the other issue, the same issues as the private and the public hospital, and that's in recruitment doctors, a lot of other things going on.

But then the specialty nature of what's going on with them. The big thing we can do.

One, I think we can streamline this issue. To save money. That's what we're looking to do.

Literally, hundreds of millions of dollars of bad contracts. Bad subsidies. But it's the same as getting the veterans, especially those that you just talked about a minute ago, which are on my heart.

That are coming into a system that is not listening to their needs, and then in turn, believing there is nowhere else to turn for them, and many of them are taking their own life. And that's just something that will not be acceptable in anything.

But we're finally asking the right questions. And putting the -- the community. And our private doctors. Our public doctors, to help get these veterans the help they need.

GLENN: Okay. So let's talk about a couple of things that you are doing.

You know, you had a massive backlog of cases. And you've brought -- you've brought that backlog down over 25 percent in 100 days. What did you do? And what does it mean, to the veterans?

DOUG: Well, it means. It's several things. What it means is leadership. That what gets measured gets done. I think there was an accountability factor that we have. And I brought that to us now, an accountability factor that says, you will either do your job, or you will not work for us.

And so 260,000 backlogs. Let me explain what that means. So 260,000 cases of people asking or applying for benefits -- disability benefits, that went over 125 days. Okay? It should never have been there.

260,000. We've cut that to under 200,000, maybe 108.

We've also begun, because that is now freeing up work. We're now actually processing more. And you remember the greater scenario, that all the mainstream media, the New York Times, and the Post said, if you brought people back to work, it would be terrible.

It would be awful. We actually are processing more claims per day right now, than we ever have in our history. We actually are processing more than we are getting in, for the first time in a long time. What it took was simply saying, no, you're going to do this. It's not a choice anymore.

What I inherited, a department, in which -- how do you say it? If it feels good, do it. You know, everybody was just operating on their own time zones. And I said, we're not going to do that anymore. The VA is going to actually be about the veterans. So that's how we've done it, and it makes the difference. And not calling your congressman. Or calling everybody else. They're getting what they've earned, and we're fulfilling that promise

GLENN: So help me out on this. You know, we reached out to you and your team after I interviewed a dad from San Antonio last night, whose son Mark took his own life in April, right in front of the VA hospital. Because he believed he didn't receive adequate care for pain he was having. Mental health issues, et cetera, et cetera.

Speak to the dad who feels like the VA has failed his son, and what you're trying to do to make this right.

DOUG: I will just as I did one night, I was actually on with him. And it shows you a difference, Glenn. I do whatever I can, to say, look, when we're doing it wrong. Or we're doing an issue, that we need to at least address. And in this situation, I think this is something that we need to address. And I did this with him before. Is my heart hurts. And I think it shows that the problem we have in our system, that has drug itself into a point, where we have just sort of handled the mental health process.

We've handled the traumatic brain injury. The PTS issue. In such a way, that this is sort of the way we do it.

And, you know, I've got -- I'm telling our doctors. I'm telling our folks that we partner with, nonprofits and others, saying, we have to try something different. We're not moving the needle.

Since 2008, the suicide number has not changed in this country, and yet we're spending $588 million or more, every year, to quote, prevent it. But yet, in our services, still treating it many times with medicine.

We have got to do a better job of getting more counseling in there. We're getting more clinical. But also something -- I took from -- we've been looking at from many of our veterans groups and others, including folks we've been dealing with.

With Bobby Kennedy as well, and HHS. We're looking at alternative medicine. We're looking at possible use of psychedelics, along with counseling.

Anything we can, to get them the help that they need, so they don't feel like the VA is not listening to them. Or they're getting handed a bottle of pills. And that's something we don't need to be looking at.

They need to be getting help, and not just a medical condition.

GLENN: I mean, it's -- it's interesting to me. That the Germans look -- handed a lot of their soldiers, bottles of pills. So that they can fight, fight, fight, fight. And become animals. And we train our people differently. Humanely. But we train our people to be able to go in and pull the trigger when they have to.

But is it fair to say, we spend all that money doing that. But when they come home, we don't spend enough money and enough time to try to deprogram that. To bring them back into our society, and how to deal with all the stuff that they were trained to do.

Is that fair?

DOUG: Yeah. I think it's a fair assumption. And I think it's also the changing face of warfare. And I'll quit in just a moment here. In World War II, I had, you know, I've had -- they went with only two things in mind. They were either going to win or come home dead.

They had no time frame to come home.

As war as progressed. Now, it's -- you bring it up the last 20 years.

That you have generations.

Less than -- about one and a half percent of population, have participated in foreign soil, in the battle. But we've done it over and over and over again.

So what we're having, these folks, four to six, eight years who have all this stuff built up. We have broken them down to become the soldier, the marine, that we needed.

GLENN: The machine.

DOUG: The machine, and then they come back out, and when they're doing so much, they never have time to process. And for some of them, they get out within four, to six, to eight years. This is something that is not enough time to get into the system. To say, this is how I copy. So you've hit it exactly, in the sense that we're not spending the time in the transition.

This is why Secretary of Defense and I, on an unprecedented level, it did not happen that we found before, where us, as secretaries sat down and said, we've got a transition problem.

And so it's owned by the DOD. They do the transition of something coming out. If anything happens, then I get blamed for it. So I just don't think -- we've got to fix this. We've got to start working -- it may be -- you may own it. But I get blamed for it, and I'm not going to get blamed for something I can't do.

So right now, we're working on getting that transition better so we have a warm handoff, especially for those who are hurting already, to come into our system, and receive all of -- you know, white glove treatment, where they're coming in with a warm handoff, so they have a better chance of affecting change. And here's another thing.

I open it back up, to where we're going to parter with nonprofits. We will partner with groups, that are already doing good stuff.

And instead of us wasting money that we don't need. I will use other groups that are already in this arena to say, help us here. And connect them with --

GLENN: Yeah. It always -- it kills me.

When you have something. For instance, in a different subject.

When you have something like AA. That works. That always works.

And then you find these people, who are running these centers. Who are like, well, we're going to change it. We will do our own thing.

It's like, but that works. Why not just do that?

It's free! Why not just do that?

DOUG: Glenn, you would be amazed what I see here.

We're already starting to fix. And so, you know, we're taking out -- so that our doctors aren't having to go through a second opinion or third opinion, to get somebody to the help they need.

We now actually will be taking amputees. I have real experience with this. My daughter is in a wheelchair.

We will make them going to primary care. To PTs. Before they could just get reset for a new chair.

That's bullcrap. We're cutting that out. So they get a better experience.

We give them the earned respect that they have.

GLENN: Oh, my goodness.

You know, a lot of critics, Democrat lawmakers, especially look at the proposed 15 percent staff reduction, that you -- you know, are -- are championing here.

And they're saying, that will lead to a shortage of doctors and nurses.

How do you plan to protect the front line health care services for veterans and cut 15 percent of staff?

DOUG: Well, first off, the 15 percent is the goal.

That was something the president, we will see what you can do.

And if you don't set a goal, nothing gets done, Glenn.

Your listeners know that.

Can you do that? If you can, how do you do that?

What we did, we knew, and the president knew it, the VA is a really unique organization. With all this everyday facing department, that we have dealing with the medical kind of conditions that we deal with. So what we did early on, we said, we won't put in jeopardy, doctors and nurses, that the Democrats and others are lying about. We protected over 300,000 positions within our health care system and our disability rating system, that said, look, you're not even eligible to take an early retirement.

You're not eligible.

Because we're not going to cut the various things that we need.

But I've got literally thousands of other employees, on duplicated HR processes, contracting processes.

You know, human resource processes.

I mean, I was amazed here. And I talk about a permissive attitude.

We were supposed to centralize our payroll several years ago. The previous administration said, no. You want to -- I figured out, we had over 60 locations doing their own payroll!

GLENN: What!

DOUG: And a lot bigger expense. So this -- look, here's what has come up. Everybody talking about -- GAO has said, for ten years, we've been (inaudible). The Democrats, Republicans, everybody on the Hill, and I've said this in my hearings, all of you, I can show you comments where you say you want efficiency, you want the VA to work better. And yet the first moment I start saying, here's some changes that need to be made, then all of a sudden, it's about the worker. Well, I believe our VA workers are great folks. The VA is not a jobs program. The VA is a service organization.

And we're changing that mindset.

GLENN: Have you thought of -- I'm sure you have. But have you thought of doing things like in a private company, you know, I like to incentivize people and say, hey. We are way overbudget. Or we're trying to make this a better process one way or another.

Just tell us. And then we'll give you the employee, you know, a kickback, or a bonus, or whatever. If that works. And it came from you.

Have you thought about incentivizing the people to streamline, and to save?

DOUG: Yeah. We're looking at that. I've been saying it everywhere I go.

Identify been in 16 states. In our facilities, that I'm not even close to halfway yet.

Everywhere I go, that's exactly what I'm telling them.

Unfortunately, I'm bound on how I can offer incentives and such.

Also offering and saying, hey. How can we make this better?

I found that you empower American workers, Glenn. You empower our American people to do good. They will do good.

When you believe in them, like I believe in them. And say, I want you to go be the best that you can be. And if you see something stupid, you let us know. And we'll fix it.

They will go out and do things.

Also, here's the other alternative. Also, good people aren't working where bad people are tolerated.

And we're making it very much an emphasis to get rid of bad people who are not wanting to do good things. It used to be a culture of failure up here.

Or a failure sideways. If you failed, we just put you somewhere over the top.

That stopped, the minute I came in.

And we're getting rid of people who can't do the job.

GLENN: Doug, I really appreciate it.

I love the fact that you're a servant of the Lord. And, you know, so I know your priorities are right, and that's on people.

So thank you for what you're doing. We appreciate you.

DOUG: I appreciate it. Anything you need, you let me know, okay?

GLENN: You got it. Doug Collins. US Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Are these SIGNS a war with Iran is about to begin?

The United States just made some major moves in the Middle East that usually indicate a war is about to begin. Is the US or Israel about to go to war with Iran? Glenn Beck and his head researcher Jason Buttrill discuss what we currently know.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Stu, do you have any idea what it's like?

Jason is up this week. And he is staying up at the ranch. Do you have any idea what it's like to have me and Jason in the same house for a week?

It's not a happy place.

STU: No. Many visions of global apocalypse have been discussed. Yeah.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah.

I was working yesterday on what -- what's happening with Hamas and Hezbollah. I just finished the show.

What is happening on the streets of Los Angeles and everything else.

And I'm sitting there. I'm a little exhausted, and he comes up.

Have you heard the news? I'm like, no. What?

I think Israel will bomb the -- it could be tonight. It could be tonight.

Do you know what that means?

No. I don't think -- it means total collapse. It will be ugly.

Dogs and cats will be tearing each other's eyes out.

And it's very good. Very good possibility.

Kamala comes back. And she's the president of the United States.

It will be that bad, Glenn.

Okay. Thank you. And I'm not going to sleep.

STU: Sounds like a fun time. This is why you moved into the mountains, right?

GLENN: Yeah. It is. To get away from Jason.

STU: Right.

GLENN: Well, okay. Jason, take me to this.

Because yesterday, the government did some things that they don't ever do.

At least I haven't seen them do, unless war is pretty imminent.

Right?

JASON: Yes. Can I start with the maybe possible upside, before we freak everybody out.

GLENN: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

JASON: The possible upside, as we were watching the possible upsides yesterday, so was Iran. So were their people.

Especially because the negotiations between us and the Iranians is still going on.

And, in fact, I think they're supposed to meet Sunday because the original ultimatum that Trump gave Iran was, I think it was 60 days. It's supposed to run out, I believe today. So this is the negotiation of negotiations. Like, this Sunday it's big.

GLENN: Okay. Okay. So this all might be Kabuki theater, to get them to the table.

JASON: You saw Trump.

Even Trump's interview. He's a master negotiator and strategist on this thing.

So this could be, hey. This is what you're playing with.

GLENN: He didn't give this to me, last night.

JASON: I have to save some --

GLENN: I was awake all night.

Yeah. Bits probably negotiation.

JASON: He was like Tania, give the food to the blind. Let's go!

GLENN: All right. So it might be, but do we make these things?

That's a master negotiator. That's an expensive move.

And a big move to pull everybody out of the embassies.

And to pull all of the families out. From the military bases?

JASON: Yes. Yes. So that is very big.

In a single 24-hour period, we had the Pentagon authorizing the voluntary withdrawal of dependents and family members from some of these locations within the Middle East. Almost immediately after that, another I don't know if you call this a leak or a release came out, that we were sending out emergency information, to all of the diplomatic facilities. Embassies, within striking range of Iran.

So you're talking about northeast Africa.

All of the Middle East. All those areas. Saying, put together a comprehensive emergency plan. And instead of diplomatic cable back to us, to let us know what that plan is.

Now, at this point, we were like, okay.

What exactly is going on?

Now, again, at the same time. We get senator cotton saying, that Pete Hegseth confirmed to them, inside Congress.

Saying that, okay.

Now Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon.

Actively pursuing a nuclear weapon.

This guy said right after that, yes. For the first time the UN is admitting to us, that for the first time in 20 years, Iran is just not -- they don't care about any of the proliferation, anything.

They're just going all out.

GLENN: Good! That's good.

JASON: This was all spewing out immediately, within 12 hours.

GLENN: Stu. Help me.

STU: You've already run away outside of all civilization. I don't know what more help you can get.

GLENN: Is there a shovel?

I can tunnel in -- you know, remember when -- what was it, the dwarves?

You know, they tunneled into that mountain. In one of the Lord of the Rings thing.

They were in that mountain with the dragon and stuff.

I think we can do that. Get some shovels. Let's go.

Let's go.

So I know you were up. Until the sun rose, in Tehran.

Because you were monitoring it.

Because you were waiting for the skies to light up.

JASON: Yeah.

GLENN: I said this morning, if there is a strike, it will happen after the stock market closes on Friday.

Because this would cause massive disruption.

And let's just talk about first, before we get into what the response would be. And what we would have to do.

And what other countries would have to do.

When Israel goes over, they're saying, they will bomb the nuclear facilities.

But we don't think they have enough to build a bomb yet.

But there's a chance.

And if they don't get all of it, it's real trouble!

GLENN: Yeah, you best not miss.

There's multiple, multiple nuclear sites within Iran. Just off the top of my head, I can think of six to nine, I believe, that they would have to at least have some kind of strike on.

Some of the facilities are so well-entrenched, because they've been playing this for a long time.

And to defend specifically against an attack like this, they're so dug under the ground and protected and hardened.

You're probably talking about multiple strikes, at a single target.

GLENN: Right.

JASON: So it's not like a single strike.

GLENN: This is like -- in a way, it's kind of like Top Gun 2.

Where they were going after, and they had to -- you know, they had to first land a bomb. And another one had to fall into that hole. Right?

Because it was all buried so deeply. This is going to be precision stuff.

JASON: Precision stuff. Top Gun 2. But probably spread over a week of multiple dangerous runs.

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

JASON: Yeah. It's more than a single night operation. It will go on for several days.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh.

Okay. So now, how's Iran respond?

JASON: That's the question.

GLENN: Yeah.

JASON: And immediately counterattack. With a strike like what we saw. What was that a month ago?

Something similar to that. Just to start. Then the scary stuff happens.

GLENN: Okay. So let's get into that here in just a second.

Also, I want to talk to you about what's happening in New York, on the medical front.

And governor Hochul. What she's -- I mean, it's -- it is amazing how dark the left can go.

Be the light.

Sneak peek: Trump’s STUNNING 250th Army celebration—What you NEED to know!

The media and Democratic politicians like California Gov. Gavin Newsom have lied about the June 14th military parade in Washington, DC. They claim Trump is throwing the parade for his birthday, like a dictator. But U.S. Chief of Protocol Ambassador Monica Crowley joins Glenn Beck to make the truth CLEAR: The only purpose of this parade is to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary, which happens to fall on Trump’s birthday.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Monica Crowley. Good friend of the program. Good friend. How are you, Monica?

MONICA: Hey, Glenn, I'm so great. I am sitting in Washington, DC. And I'm so blessed and honored to be serving as ambassador.

And chief of protocol of the United States under the leadership of president Donald J. Trump.

It's really extraordinary.

Glenn, I think we spoke with -- during President Trump's first term. When I was serving at the treasury department.

The vibe this time, is completely different.

Not just across the administration.

But across Washington, DC. It's like a new day has dawned.

GLENN: So you are the ambassador, I mean, that is so cool.

And the chief of protocol.

What -- what does that mean, exactly?

MONICA: Well, that is a very good question, a lot of people are asking me that question.

It does come with -- I'm now master Monica Crowley.

I did have to go to Senate confirmation to achieve this position, and chief of protocol essentially helps to manage all of the presidents, the vice presidents, and the Secretary of States's diplomatic engagements.

The chief of protocol, myself. Handles the president and the vice president.

And then my extraordinary team, at protocol, usually handles the State Department. And the secretary's diplomatic engagement.

But what we really tried to do is create the most welcoming, incredible environment, so that -- those principles can engage in the most robust, effective diplomacy possible for the United States.

GLENN: So your job would be, no.

That does not mean reset in Russian.

Or no. It wouldn't be appropriate to give all your speeches on DVDs to the queen?

That would be the chief of protocol's --

GLENN: Yes, I would intervene before that red button that was just translated, Glenn. Being given to the Russian foreign prime minister. Yes, that would be.

GLENN: Good. Good. Good.

Okay. So I can't believe what they're saying about Donald Trump. That everybody is saying, this is about his birthday.

What part of the 250th anniversary of America do people not get? This is the 250th birthday, on the day that happens to be his birthday.

But it is also the birthday of the U.S. Army.

It -- what part of that, don't they understand here?

MONICA: Well, they don't want to see the truth. Of course, they will take any cudgel even if they have to make one up and hammer Donald Trump with it. This happens to fall on the president's about right back door, which is very providential. And it also happens to fall on Flag Day. And I just want to make a bigger point about all of this, Glenn. Because you have been so extraordinary, in talking about America's exceptional history.

For years and years and years. And I know you've gotten entire warehouses, full of American historical pieces that are absolutely priceless. And invaluable.

GLENN: I do feel a little like Citizen Kane at times.

But go ahead.
(laughter)

MONICA: You are Citizen Kane, Glenn Beck.

But this is not about him.

And the bigger point about this.

The fact that all of this -- so the president is giving this big portfolio, to be his representative.

To these big US hosted events over the next couple of years.

Including America 250.

Including the FIFA World Cup happening next year.

Including the 2028 Olympic games happening, in we assume Los Angeles.

And it's providential that all of this is happening while Donald Trump is president.

GLENN: Yeah, it is.

MONICA: Because America first generation. The MAGA generation. We are the natural heirs to the revolutioner generation.

And, you know, the other day I was in the Oval Office with the president.

And we were talking. And he said, you know, Monica, in retrospect. 2020 has to happen this way.

And I said, yes, it did.

God knows what he's doing. It has to happen this way. Because to have President Trump preside over the semiquicentennial, which is a big word to say America's 250th birthday. Is just such a gift. Isn't it, Glenn?

It's a gift.

GLENN: It is. It is.

So let me ask you, we haven't done a military parade since I think George H.W. Bush did it with the end of the Gulf War. We don't see that very often.

What are we expecting?

What is this going to be like?

MONICA: So on Saturday, again June 14th in Washington, DC, the United States will commemorate 250 years of the U.S. Army's history, strength, service, and sacrifice with this extraordinary landmark celebration in Washington.

And I can tell you, Glenn, I was born on an Army Day. My father was U.S. Army. I was born in Arizona. So this means a lot to me, personally.

And I know to so many others, who are associated with, and -- and have served not just in the army, but across the military branches of service.

We will put on a grand military parade.

That will bring to life, 250 years of army history.

From the revolution, to today's cutting-edge technology.

So I encourage everybody to come out and see this parade.

Watch on TV. However you can observe this. Because it is going to be just massive. We're going to have historical reenactors. We are going to have restored military vehicles.

Precision flyovers.

Performances by elite military vans.

We will honor those who have served past and present.

Including wounded warriors and gold star families.

And we are going to have -- let me just tell you this.

Over 120 military vehicles, and artillery pieces, going back to the historic World War II era.

We will have Vietnam-era flyovers.

And we will have very cool F22 flyovers.

GLENN: Wow. I have to tell you -- wish -- this -- yeah. This is one thing that I wish I could be at. Thinks -- I think this is going to be extraordinary.

I would imagine the coverage will be different on Fox, than it would be on CNN.

But we'll -- we'll see.

The other thing I have to ask you. And I don't know if you can comment on this.

But I'm very concerned about this no kings thing. I mean, these are radicals, again.

And they have been planning something, all week. Have been planning it for quite some time.

And they decided to select Saturday, in Washington, to do these big protests. What are you expecting?

Any comment on that, if you can?

AARON: Well, peaceful protests are protected under the Constitution, and Karoline Leavitt made it clear, that peaceful protest, the president has no issue with. But if they veer into violence, they will be dealt with very harshly.

I can tell you, we're expecting countless people to descend on Washington, DC, for this parade this weekend. And if you want tickets, they're still available. America250.org.

America250.org. The tickets are free.

But you do have to register because of the security issue. Because obviously, the president is going to be president. But we are well aware of the potential for these kinds of protests, and this kind of activity.

So the -- America 250 commission is working hand-in-glove with the Department of Homeland Security with the US Secret Service.

With the park police, with the Department of the Interior. As will happen to all the events over the next year. To make sure that this is the safest, most secure event that you can attend.

So everybody will have to go through security.

And that's why we're making everybody register, at the website, if you want to attend.

Again, it's free.

But we want to ensure that this is a showcase, Glenn. For American leadership. Dynamism.

Military strength.

As well as, we're honoring those who have served.

Honoring the U.S. Army. Honoring the country. But we want to make sure that everybody will be safe and sound, attending this parade.

GLENN: I will tell you, that the left tried to do this, when I did that big event on the Lincoln memorial. We had about three or 400,000 people show up.

And right before, they made this big deal. That the -- that we had to up security. Because the panthers were going to show up.

And Al Sharpton's group. And all these lefties. The teacher's unions. They were all going to boycott.

They were all going to be there.

Our crowd was totally cool.

In fact, the Black Panthers walked through our crowd, trying to spark something. And everybody is like, hey, join us.

Just sit down. Come on.

Let's just watch. It's cool.

And they just gave up and walked away. But I really think they did that to try to suppress the numbers.

And if you -- if you are anywhere near the Washington, DC, area, you will not see anything like this again.

I mean, and it's our 250th.

You need to get your tickets and go.

Don't let them frighten you.

I have -- you know, when it comes to protection of our people.

I -- I tend to think that we might have that down.

Under this president.

But -- make sure --

MONICA: Yes, nobody does it better.

Nobody. And President Trump will not tolerate violence of any kind.

So, again, the website is America250.org for your free tickets.

He also will do one really cool thing at the end of the parade, Glenn. Of course, we will have fireworks, and the rest of it. But at the end of the parade, President Trump is going to preside over the live reenlistment of 250 U.S. Army soldiers, which is going to be an incredibly powerful symbol. And a visible reaffirmation of honor, respect, and duty.

Being restored to our armed forces. Thanks to President Trump.
(music)

GLENN: It's really great. It's really great. Monica, thank you so much. Just really appreciate it.

MONICA: Oh, it's my pleasure, as always, Glenn.

GLENN: God bless. You bet. Buh-bye. So it's America250.org. America250.org.

You know, its funny, because Biden put something in.

And I don't remember the name of the other one.

But it's not America 250.

And this one is also to celebrate America's 250.

But in their -- in their own documents, it says, we want to deemphasize, American history.

How do you -- it's like, please come to Glenn Beck's birthday party. But we want to deemphasize Glenn and his birthday.

I mean, how do you -- how do you do that?

Oh, my gosh. We are so fortunate that President Trump is the guy who is in office, otherwise, you wouldn't have even known that America was 250 years old.

And that is extraordinary.

Countries don't last that long.

This Constitution has lasted 250 years.

The average length of life for a Constitution, is 17 years.

That's the average!

I don't know. Says something good about our Constitution.

1992 Rooftop Korean SPEAKS OUT amid 2025 LA riots

"Rooftop Korean" Tony Moon, who helped protect his Los Angeles community during the 1992 riots, speaks out amid the 2025 LA riots. He tells Glenn Beck why today's riots are very different than those in 1992: "they're NOT organic."

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: From 1992, I believe this is the NBC report on the '92 riots in LA.

Listen.

VOICE: March 16th, 1991, Latasha Harlans, a black teenager is shot and killed by a Korean store owner.

Sun Ja Do (phonetic). Do is convicted of voluntary manslaughter, but is sentenced only to parole and a small fine.

The black community is outraged and remembers.

VOICE: Six months probation?

I mean, the people were pissed then.

VOICE: Today, local Korean radio is broadcasting which stores in the area are threatened.

Young men like Eddie Kim rush over to try to defend them.

VOICE: I don't care about anything.

But it's not a riot. Okay?

You know, it's not a riot.

VOICE: He spent last night, and will spend tonight, guarding his appliance store.

A small battalion of employees and relatives will try to help.

VOICE: I only have one shotgun.

That's all I have.

What do they have?

They have hundreds of people. Hundreds of young people.

With lots of guns!

VOICE: After the destruction, many Koreans have lost all faith that the authorities can protect them.

GLENN: We have one of those Koreans that were protecting people.

Tony Moon, a rooftop Korean from 1992. Welcome, Tony, how are you?

TONY: I'm doing well, Glenn. Thank you for having me on the show. It's a pleasure.

GLENN: I've got to tell you what an honor it is to you have you on.

Can you take us through the experience that you had in the '92 LA riots?

TONY: Of course.

I was 19 at the time. And I was fairly similar -- a little familiar with Latasha's verdict.

But being 19, I wasn't really plugged into politics. Or current events.

Then when things blew up, after the Rodney King verdict, I came down on a Wednesday.

It's when we saw the outrage from the black community. And that's what it was in '92. It was basically the community, that had legitimate reasons to be upset.

And there was a rift between the black community and the Korean community, because the Korean community actually went into the black areas that were predominantly black, and open businesses there. And were doing businesses in the community.

Because of the cultural differences between the two. There was a lot of, I guess you can say, a lot of built-up animosity towards each other. And that's where I guess that's -- the riots, a lot of the pent up frustration was targeting Korean business owners because of that.

And it went on from Wednesday, until through the weekend. Until the National Guard showed up.

But we were fending for ourselves by Thursday.

And the call went out on Thursday. And it went out, when many of us answered the call. A lot of the misconception, is that it was just Korean shop owners. Which wasn't true.

There were a lot of young men like myself. Nineteen, 20. 22-year-olds that went out there.

That's kind of what I'm writing in my book right now.

From that perspective.

Growing up in Los Angeles, at that time.

And what the culture was like. And who some of these young men were.

One of them being Eddie Lee. Who gave his life that week.

You know, for the community.

And unfortunately, it was -- you know, through friendly fire. And I detailed that in my book. Regarding why that happened.

And who some of these young men were, like myself. And my driver, who was out there.

And we weren't always, always. You know, we weren't all on the roof.

Which is -- it's a misconception.

Some of us were out there. Literally --

GLENN: What do you mean, by we were hunting?

JASON: You know, they think -- a lot of people think we're just shooting at looters, which is not the case.

In '90s, LA it was a very gang-rich culture in the '90s. I mean, there were a lot of gangs. One of the large gangs that came out of LA.

And which is -- which is, a Salvadorian gang, that started in the mid-'80s.

And a lot of them, were shooting at these business owners. And some of us who had a background in the streets. Knew -- knew their territory. And knew who they were.

So we actually went into some of these areas. To basically let them.

Put them on notice.

That it's not just the older generation that is shooting at them.

But we actually will be actively hunting them down too. And LA is very layered and complicated. There's a lot of pockets and neighborhoods, where they have different ethnic groups.

And the rule is that, you don't go into other people's area, and mess around.

GLENN: Yeah.

TONY: And you stay in your own neighborhood. You be respectful of other people's different neighborhoods. You don't go there. And just start popping off shots. And that's kind of what they were doing. And it worked out, in the end. It worked out.

GLENN: No. I know. I lived in New Haven, Connecticut. That has a very rich Italian history. And that was what the way it was. You know, the it's not protected their neighborhood. And don't come into the Italian neighborhood and try to stir anything up, or you'll be in trouble with the Italians. And they won't mess with you and your neighborhood. Just everybody take care of yourself.

TONY: Exactly.

GLENN: So did you ever feel like a vigilante in any way? Did you feel that maybe this was questionable to take this on yourself?

TONY: No. Not at all.

When you -- you don't have law enforcement out in the streets anymore.

You know, the streets become a lot -- it's everybody for themselves. You become -- you kind of gain kind of a tribal sense of protecting your own.

Right?

So it's no longer a sense of vigilantism. Just protecting your own. And making sure there's any encroachment into your territory.

So I didn't see it as being a vigilante.

But just maintaining law and order.

Somewhat law and order, some semblance of peace.

And that was done through the barrel of -- you know, a firearm.

GLENN: Compare what you went through, you know, the Rodney King riots.

The George Floyd riots.

And this riot. Is there any difference?

TONY: Absolutely. Absolutely. The 1992 riots were organic. You had different parts of L.A. County that were upset. And you had fires and looting. Because the black community was spread out through south LA, Compton, south-central -- La Habra Heights.

Different areas. And you could actually see that. You know, when you are -- looked at the city, as a whole. From let's say Hollywood. You saw the fires from different parts of the city.

This -- these riots that are occurring now, with like the 2020, what I call the BLM riots. Now the 2025 LA riots are happening now.

They are very centralized. And they're not organic. They're being funded by NGOs. And it's a leftist Marxist agenda, that's being pushed to make it seem as if there's widespread support for this.

For example, the criminal rights that are occurring right now. It's just happening in downtown LA.

And the curfew that was by the mayor is only -- I don't know it off the top of my head. Two square mile radius. Right? One square mile.

Yeah. That's what it is.

Anyone outside that one square mile. Life always proceeds as it has been.

It doesn't look like there's anything going on. Where the difference in 1992, whether you were in Hollywood, Culver City, which is further out west.

And then Hollywood is up north, past downtown LA. August, you stop at downtown LA. You had fires. Looting. I mean, it was widespread.

This isn't anything like what's going on down to 1992.

And it just kind of shows the incompetence of the current leadership of not being able to get their arms around something like this.

Because of their lack of leadership.
And I would say common sense. They're letting these protesters spiral out of control.

Because many of them, the playbook is for them to start in downtown LA at City Hall.

Then make their way down, which really pisses off a lot of people. Because, you know, it's -- it's a highly traveled freeway in LA.

GLENN: I know. It's a parking lot.

You stop me from getting home, I don't care -- I don't care if you're for free candy bars. Reindeer and Santa. I hate your guts if you delay me on that how. I hate you when I'm driving home.

TONY: Absolutely. Absolutely. So there's no widespread recourse for this.

GLENN: Okay. So tell me about how the feeling -- what the feeling is on Trump and the National Guard coming in.

TONY: I think it's awesome.

I think this should have been done back in 2020. But obviously, you know, during that time. It was the administration.

First time going through this.

I posted it recently on Twitter. That, you know, when you take a shot at a man, and you try to assassinate him. He comes back different.

You know, and that's what he's shown.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah. It is. It is.

Newsom and Bass both say, the riots are contained. Didn't need the National Guard.

This is Trump just trying to turn into a dictator. This is their communities having enough of the people being disappeared on the streets.

What do you say?

What is the average person that you talk to say about those kinds of things?

JASON: I would trust the meteorologist more than I would trust Newsom or Bass.

They -- they're in the same basket as Pelosi. They lie about what's going on. Because of social media. And because of, you know, the lack of reporting, from the local news.

Which covers for the current leadership in L.A. County.

Including the mayor and the board of supervisors. The people that are not getting 100 percent of the news.

And this is no different than what happened in early -- earlier this year with the fires. With what was going on in palisades. Altadena.

You know, the news, in order to get coverage for the local leadership. And to get on their good side, they're not going to report anything bad that's happening.

Currently, I believe there's a class-action lawsuit, gets an board of supervisors. The mayor. I think there are tons of lawsuits being filed right now.

And the problem is that it's not these individuals that will be detained for this.

It's the city and the county.

It will be a drain on the budget. And it will affect the social services, like paramedics, firefighters, you know, law enforcement.

GLENN: I can't imagine being those guys.

TONY: Yeah.

GLENN: Let me ask you for any advice you would give to mom and pop business owners that are vulnerable today?

TONY: A lot of them are downtown LA. I would say, board up. What I've noticed, 1992, the shops that were spared were the ones that had steel roll-up doors. Those do well.

Otherwise, lock your doors.

GLENN: Yeah.

TONY: And deterrence is really a great way to keep looters out. So you don't have to necessarily take shots at them. But displaying, I outlined it in my Twitter feed. I pinned it to my profile.

Deterrence is actually really great.

Because these individuals are looking for low-hanging fruit. So they're looking for an opportunity. So they want to go for the easiest shop or whatever they're going to loot.

So if they move -- you know, you have a shotgun or, you know, an AR. Right?

And they see you're armed. They will think twice before answering. And they will move on to the next target.

GLENN: By the way, you can follow Tony Moon @RoofKorean7. That's his Twitter handle.

RoofKorean7. When does your book come out? You have to send me a copy so I can read it in advance, because I want to have you back when it's out.

TONY: Absolutely. Absolutely. You've been most gracious to me.

I don't know if you know, but I did an interview with Morgan from three years ago in your studio, which turned into a museum, I think. You have some really great artifacts in there.

GLENN: I do, thank you. Yeah, thank you. I didn't know that.

TONY: Yeah.

I'm trying to release it. Well, I'm finishing it up by the end of -- near the end of this month.

My kids are going to read it. Because the book is tailored towards the next generation like Gen Alpha. Gen Z.

GLENN: Yeah, yeah.

TONY: Because these kids weren't alive during that time.

And they only see what online social media is portraying. And also, you know, what they may hear from the news. So I want to give them an account from being -- from a teenage perspective at 19, in terms of what it looked like, and how it played out. So my kids are read the first half.

Some of them are in my book. They will read it too, and once they give their blessing and they're okay with it, I will try to push it out before the end of the summer.

GLENN: That's great. Well, do me a favor. As soon as you're comfortable, send a copy to me so I can read it.

Because I would love to be ahead on it.

But, Tony, best of luck. Thanks for coming on with me, I really appreciate it.

JASON: Thank you, Glenn. Thank you for this time. I really appreciate it.

GLENN: You bet. Tony Moon. 1992. Rooftop Korean on the LA riots, then and now.

A Riots: The Marxist Revolution Disguised as Anti-ICE “Protests” | Glenn TV | Ep 438

Remember this old prediction from Glenn’s chalkboard on Fox News: “Marxists, anarchists, radical leftists, and Islamists will work together to destroy capitalism and the West”? Well, that movement has cascaded all over the world and has now arrived on American streets. As Los Angeles continues to spiral into violent riots, more anti-ICE demonstrations are popping up all over the country in cities like Chicago, San Antonio, Atlanta, and New York. Democrat politicians and rioters blame the violence on President Trump’s deportation agenda, but the chaos isn’t organic — it’s well-organized and well-funded. Interim U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli joins to separate fact from fiction on what actually ignited the protests. He also reveals an ongoing investigation into the organizers and their sources of funding and gives an update on the FBI manhunt for the suspect who hurled rocks at law enforcement vehicles.