RADIOJanuary 29, 2025

Is THIS the Answer to Trump's Cartel Problem?

How should President Trump handle the Mexican cartels? Glenn is “in love with” an idea that Sen. Mike Lee proposed: Hidden deep within the Constitution is a clause that allows the government to let private citizens basically act like pirates against hostile forces … MAGA pirates?! Sen. Lee joins Glenn to explain what “letters of marque and reprisal” are, why the government hasn’t used them in centuries, and whether Trump can issue them to stop the cartels.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Boy, there are no crazy ideas, right now. It is an interesting time to be alive, in America.

Senator Mike Lee is joining me now.

Yesterday, he proposed using letters of marque and reprisal to weaken the drug cartels.

And I -- I mean, I'm in love with this old timey constitutional idea. But it basically would make private citizens or companies. It would give them permission to kind of be like pirates.

Where they could just go and bust them up.

And take all their booty.

As long as they share it with the United States.

It would be great. It would be cheaper.

And we wouldn't have to put our military in harm's way. Mike Lee joins me now.

Mike, explain the letters of marque and reprisal.

MIKE: A letter of marque and reprisal amounts to a government-issued commission of sorts, authorizing private citizens, known as privateers, to perform acts that would otherwise be considered piracy, like attacking enemy ships during wartime.

And privateers are typically rewarded with a cut of whatever loot they will bring home.

But they're able to make it back to the United States, and bring home assets that can be sold, liquidated, reduced to an economic value, then the government sets up what's called a prize court, which decides who gets what.

And typically, the government keeps half of it. And then has -- has a system for giving the privateers involved in it. Each -- each -- their fair share, of the 50 percent.

GLENN: So -- so these guys.

Let's say Eric Prince -- Eric Prince loves this idea. He was like, I'm all in.

He would go down to the border, and he would, what?

Break up the cartels, by -- as they're shipping stuff across the border. Grab their cash. Their guns. Their cash. They're using boats, whatever.

And the drugs. And then give those to the government. And the government would say, okay. Eric, this part is yours.

MIKE: Yeah. Now to be clear, when you say the border, we're talking outside the United States.

I don't think this works for things found in the United States. But if outside the United States, they recover assets, typically, what we would be looking at are assets that could be liquidated by the government.

Gold, silver, cash, equipment.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh.

MIKE: If they can bring those things back into the United States, then they can be sold.

It also raises the question of the drugs. You notice, they won't allow those to be sold.

So you either will have exclude those, or the government would just have to go out of pocket to reward them for bringing that back in.

And that's one of the things that have to be discussed.

This is a tool that hasn't been used by the United States for a long time.

But it's a tool that harnesses, you know, self-interest. It harnesses what people could gain by this, in a way that could be really advantageous for the United States.

GLENN: Boy, I have to tell you, I love this idea.

Donald Trump Jr loves this idea.

But it does seem like something that Mexico would hate.
(laughter)

MIKE: Sure. Sure. It depends on who you are talking about with Mexico. Hard-working, independent, Mexican citizens who have lived under the tyranny of these cartels who have been affected by the violence, that is rampant throughout the country.

And sponsored by the cartels.

A lot of them would perhaps not have much an objection. If any objection at all.

Because they want to be free of this stuff.

But, yeah. I can imagine that the Mexican government might have feelings about it.

GLENN: Yeah.

MIKE: But this is different. This is different in the sense, that it's not the United States, undertaking any kind of effort to have a military presence in Mexico. Which would, of course, be unacceptable to Mexico.

This is about private citizens, going out and trying to seize assets, of these chair organizations.

Of this international criminal enterprise, bring it back to the United States. With the understanding, that they will be entitled to a cut of about half of it, once they get back.

GLENN: So one thing that I was thinking before this idea was, we're going to send in SEAL teams.

And they'll just be gone before the sun comes up, and you will never know who did it. And there will just be a lot of dead cartel members laying there in the sun, as it starts to rise.

And, you know, Mexico will hate that. But as long as we're gone in the morning, I mean, we've -- we've deemed them a terrorist organization. Don't we have the right to do that?

Well, once that happens, you can imagine, there might be circumstances in which that would occur.

But again, a letter of marque and reprisal allows to avoid doing that, that creates an additional set of difficulties for us, that we wouldn't face if we were sending -- if we were authoring privateers to do that. It matters to the degree, of course.

But it would be foolish for us to assume, that our only option involves sending in the Marines, so to speak.

US boots on the ground has a very different feel than privateers going in and doing something on their own.

And it's one of the reasons why I felt important enough, I put out a thread for my at base Mike Lee account, in which I explained a brief history of letters of marque and reprisal. How they function, and that they ought to be considered here.

GLENN: So, I mean, I really like it.

And I like the fact. I mean, I'm for anything constitutional.

Anything extra constitutional, I'm against. But this is literally in the Constitution, that you can do this.

But it seems old timey. You know, it does -- does anybody do this anymore?

MIKE: No. And the United States hasn't done it arguably.

GLENN: In over 100 years.

MIKE: In a couple hundred years.

GLENN: Yeah.

MIKE: But the focus of this, would be something that I think may well be perfectly suited for our time. And for this situation.

Focus on disrupting supply lines. Capturing high value targets.

Or seizing assets like boats, vehicles, cash, gold. Equipment used in criminal activities.

Because we all know, you know, private entities and individuals can operate with a degree of agility, that you can't replicate in government.

Allowing them to adapt quite quickly.

To the tactics of the cartels. And to max those.

GLENN: But what would other countries say?

Is anybody using this country anymore? It used to happen, when there were pirates. With the black flag. With the bones on it.

Does anybody use anything like this anymore? What would they say, if we started?

I don't really say, but what would they say?

GLENN: Not aware of any countries using them right now. And I'm sure there are countries where they say, this violates this or that principle of international law, either of some treaty, that we haven't ratified or of what they refer to as customary international law, which is a fancy way of saying, people don't do this anymore.
And so, therefore, it violates international law.

But all of that is beside the point. If it is within our authority to do this, and if we haven't forsworn the authority through some treaty that we have ratified, which I'm quite certain we have not.

So that's why this is a tool that we shouldn't take off the table. And it's -- they may have well come. We haven't used it in a long time.

But where has -- we have a different type of adversary, than we sometimes face in the past.

This is not the government of Mexico.

But these are criminal organizations, within Mexico, that have an international footprint. That affect the United States.

And that have taken actions that are hostile to the interests of the United States, and her citizens.

So with this circumstance, would it be irresponsible of us, not to consider it.

And I think we ought to explore this. And perhaps issue some letters of marque and reprisal.

The fact that it hasn't happened in a long time, likely since the 1800s, doesn't mean that the power does not exist. And certainly does not mean that we couldn't benefit from it.

GLENN: Right. Right. Mike, I love this idea.

I hope it gains some traction. Just because, it will make Mexico. You know, I was talking to my wife the other night about this.

She would say, what would Mexico say?

And I said, you know, just like you said, the people of Mexico will love this.

Because they're tired of this. You would know pretty quickly, who is under the thumb of the cartels. And who is not.

Just like we would with our government. If someone is coming in and saying, hey, you've got terrorist organizations. And we will take them out.

If we knew them to be terrorist organizations. I think, you know, we might say. Well, come on now. We can take care of that.

But if they could do it, for us. I'm all for that. I would be all for that.

The people who would be against are the ones really under the thumb of the cartels.

And the people of Mexico, should know who those people are. As if they don't already know.

Mike, one last went. How do you think RFK will fare in the Senate?

RON: Look, he faces a tough fight. Democrats are institutionally inclined to oppose anyone, who was at once part of their party. And has moved in the other direction.

Particularly with someone with as prominent a name as RFK Jr has. And particularly someone who has shown a degree of contempt for the Deep State. For the administrative state.

For things that have gone wrong.

And so we're going to have to -- rely on. My hope is that we can pick up some democratic votes.

GLENN: You're for him?

MIKE: We have to assume that we won't be able to do to. And we will need to produce enough Republicans to make sure he gets through. Just we did with Pete Hegseth.

It will be a tight vote there. I do think he can get through. But it's by no means certain, and that's why we have to line up behind him to support him.

GLENN: Wow. And you're for him?

MIKE: Oh, 100 percent. I had a great meeting with him the other day. And I think he brings to the table, an innovative approach with a fresh set of eyes that can see, that we've created a lot of problems through our own government.

The very department that he's been asked to head, as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Has been a big part of the problem.

He recognizes that. That's exactly why we need him in there.

GLENN: Oh, yeah.

And our other nominees is -- is Kash Patel going to get through?

MIKE: Yeah. So similarly, to what we face with RFK, with Kash Patel and also with --

GLENN: Tulsi.

MIKE: Tulsi Gabbard.

We're going to have to confront both of those with the expectation, that we may not get a single democratic vote.

And so that's why Republicans are so important. Remember, it's unusual for an incoming president to not have his top level picks supported by pretty much every member of the president's own party in confirmation votes.

And we've -- we've got to remember that. So a lot of the same people, who are on the list of those who might oppose them. Are people who time and time again, voted to confirm democratic nominees.

Named by President Biden.

I hope they will give Republican nominees, nominated by President Trump, at least the same degree of deference, that they give to those nominated by President Biden.

Often, by the way, with the justification, that he is the elected president.

We -- we can't run the world as if our guy were president.

Well, if that's the case. It should be the case here.

GLENN: Well, that's a nice way of saying, what I believe, which is vote these weasels out, if they -- if they fail to support the president.

We have one shot at this.

And so far, Donald Trump and those who are supporting him, are doing amazing things in the first week.

Things that I never thought that I would see.

And I for one, am excited about it. Mike, appreciate it very much.

Senator Mike Lee.

THE GLENN BECK PODCAST

J6 Prisoner's Insane Story of Being Arrested & Imprisoned by Feds

Former January 6th prisoner John Strand recounts how his door was broken down by a battering ram and arrested in a chilling raid without warning by the Feds for being at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Strand goes on to tell Glenn Beck about how he was then thrown into prison and not allowed to make a phone call for four days in this shocking story.

Watch Glenn Beck's FULL Interview with John Strand HERE

Kristi Noem reveals INSANE spike in anti-ICE attacks

“Attacks on ICE officers are up by OVER 1000%,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem tells Glenn Beck. Sec. Noem tells Glenn who she thinks is to blame. Plus, she comments on removing the age cap for joining ICE, whether she would respect the Supreme Court’s ruling on Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order, and what’s to come at the TSA. Glenn also gets her reaction to her recent portrayal on South Park.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Kristi Noem, welcome to the program, how are you?

KRISTI: Oh, Glenn. Thank you, I'm doing great. Thank you for inviting me.

GLENN: No, it's great. First of all, thank you for the shoe thing.

Thank you. I feel like a human being again.

KRISTI: Oh, that was like the first thing when I got here to the TSA.

I was like, I think the shoe thing is made up. I'm not sure our technology hasn't devolved enough, where we don't have to take our shoes off anymore.

So they ran the security protocols, and made sense. And we're continuing to evaluate everything TSA does. And hospitality needs to be a part of this equation too.

I see so many people that encounter our security checkpoints wonder, just wonder, is this necessary? And why is everybody yelling at us?

GLENN: Yeah. I don't think a lot of it is necessary. At least the way we are doing it.

I know you've seen the numbers. What is it?

Seattle or San Francisco, one of them that has the private security, is better. Than the government-run security.

KRISTI: Yeah. So we've got I think 16 or 18 airports that have private security, that we have contracted with for those measures. So we're continuing to evaluate that, at every location and implement it where we can. If we think it's more -- better protocols for security, but also works better for the traveler.

My vision is that at some point, we get to, you walk in the door at the airport with your carry-on suitcase, you walk through a scanner, pulling your suitcase, and go right to your gate. And that technology is available and out there. But we just need to get it updated and get it implemented.

GLENN: Good.

I want to talk to you about ICE.

First of all, you're removing the age limits for new applications to join ICE.

I mean, I'm only 61. Does that mean somebody like me, I could have the velcro shoes?

I'm sure I have a bad back. I could barely walk. But can I be a part of ICE?

KRISTI: They will still have to pass a physical test, sorry, Glenn. There will be a physical exam and training. Yes, we do want.

We want some of these folks that retired from law enforcement, under the Biden administration.

Get frustrated. Maybe former Border Patrol.

Former federal officers, that weren't allowed to do their jobs before, to come back. And to be a part of literally saving America, and saving these communities and cities that have been so victimized by the crime. And drugs of these illegal criminals that have been out there, attacking their families. So it has been amazing. We have 10,000 new officers, that we received funding from, in the big, beautiful bill.

That to hire for ICE, and we have already had over 80,000 applicants for those 10,000 positions.

So we're -- we're rolling through that, and getting them through the process, to see if they can qualify. To give them final offers. But what I like about that, the most, Glenn, is that the media and the socialists and Marxists have done nothing more than try to demonize our ICE officers. And to see that kind of response in less than a week, just shows that the American people stand with the rule of law. That they want to help. And they want to be a part of this.

So that in itself has been so encouraging to ICE, just to see if people want to join the team and be they're excited about it.

GLENN: Yeah. Now people on the left are saying, you're turning ICE into a teenage Army for deportations.

KRISTI: We're not. Nothing is changing. You know, I'm shocked every day by the amount of stories that we have to refute, that just are completely false.

There will be so many stories shared. So many things said. So many narratives. That we spend half of our time, over here at the department of security, saying, that's not true.

No, we didn't.

That's not a fact. You know, just even -- anecdotal stories about families.

That just never even happened.

GLENN: Right. I am amazed. When you're talking about somebody like Mamdani.

And they're accusing ICE now of kidnapping people.

KRISTI: Yes. Yes.

GLENN: Kidnapping.

When you start planting things like they're pulling up in unmarked trucks. And they're wearing masks.

Because they're Nazis.

And they're just kidnapping people off the treat.

You are telling people, you have a reason and a license to stop these people with any means necessary.

It is so dangerous. So dangerous.

KRISTI: It's so dangerous.

Well, and we just got this morning, the notifications that a tax on ICE officers is up by over a thousand percent.

Than what it was, six months ago.

GLENN: Jeez.

KRISTI: So, you know, because those politicians and those, you know, extremists talk that way.

I mean, I've told people, I've said this my whole life.

Words have consequences. What you say matters.

And the consequences of using dangerous language like that is people take action on them.

Anybody who has a tendency to be unstable or be violent. That almost gives them permission to go out there and take action against these individuals. Who all -- these guys, they're not picking and choosing winners or deciding who the law applies to.

They're just doing their job. Upholding the job. And they want to go home at night to their families too.

GLENN: So this is what amazes me that you're getting 80 or 90,000 applicants.

When you have these radicals putting wanted posters up of people in their own neighborhoods.

I mean, just as -- I mean, as a dad, I don't know if I could put my family in danger.

KRISTI: No.

GLENN: And, I mean, how are we?

What are we going to do to stop this kind of stuff?

KRISTI: Well, we are going to keep doing our job, no matter what.

And we are building special operations teams to handle go to positions we face out on the streets. One of the things when we're in these communities. And that's why I've spent so much time with our agents and officers. Because I want to know what they go through when they run these ops.

And it's amazing to me, when we're out on the street, in New York City. Or in the Bronx. Or in LA. You're running -- you're doing an operation in an apartment. Where you have a warrant.

And you're -- but people are walking by. Taking their kids to school.

Or they're walking to work. And they are saying thank you.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you. We have lived with this for years. And our mayor. Our won't do anything.

Thank you for being here.

So people are overwhelming. And that's what I tell our ICE officers all the time. You're not all over the country, like I am. Or out of these communities so much. With different components all over the street.

But overwhelmingly, people say thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So I think what happens so much in this country, is the extremists are allowed. And the normal people just go to work and keep their head down.

GLENN: Go ahead.

KRISTI: We just have to be vocal about our support. Like, guys, I'm encouraging people that our hard-working, everyday Americans to be bold about saying, I support our law enforcement officers. I support what they're doing to arrest these rapists. And these murderers.

I mean, just these last couple of days, we've arrested dozens and dozens of sexual predators, pedophiles.

You should see these the chases we built, to get these individuals from Honduras and from Mexico.

They're here illegally. Some from Ukraine. They're -- and they're raping people. And murdering them.

We had ones that have been arrested two or three times and released by their city. They don't honor -- and then we end up. Killing someone, in a drunk driving accident, or assaulting someone, and then we finally get the chance to incarcerate them when we pick them up before the locals do.

Because if the locals do in their sanctuary city, they don't honor our detainers. They just turn them loose again.

GLENN: So let me ask you this.

This might be unfair. I don't know if this falls under Homeland Security at all. You know, we had Delia Ramirez.

And Ilhan Omar has done it too.

Declare that they are more -- you know, they feel more akin to Somalia, or to Guatemala, than America.

And they're serving in Congress.

KRISTI: Right. Right.

GLENN: Do we enforce the oath of office?

KRISTI: The Department of Justice would make that determination.

But that is alarming to me.

GLENN: If you -- if you had an officer that said that, I mean, I'm assuming with, your ICE officers take an oath to the Constitution.

If -- if -- if they had -- would you consider that a fireable offense?

KRISTI: Yes. Absolutely.

And we do take action on that.

And when we -- I've used every authority.

There's expansive authority. This is a national security position.

And I tell people, consistently, Department of Homeland Security. I have the authority over every person in this country, that leaves this country or comes into this country.

We have the authority over every product or good that is in this country, or leaves this country or comes in.

And we also have jurisdiction over the internet.

So what is said and done, was a security concern.

And what is communicated in protecting our critical infrastructure.

But also, how bad actors would wish to do us harm.

So the authority is there.

I have -- and I have been using -- when these specific situations, where we have people who don't love America.

I will use polygraphs.

I will use the authority I have. To find out. If you are going to be in this federal government. Where our mission and our oath is to protect this country. You're not going to be allowed to be here, if that is not trillion where your efforts go every single day.

So those members of Congress, I was -- you know, I don't sleep much.

And when I'm laying there, thinking about it at night.

I just think, they must -- it's our poor education system, that we didn't spend enough time, in -- in our schools, teaching the Constitution.

Teaching the Declaration of Independence. The fact that how hard this country was fought for, and why it was established.

And that we facilitate, where someone can actually get elected to a high office like that. And say something like that.

And we would have people nod their heads.

That -- that is the ripple affect, I think of many years of neglect.

GLENN: Yeah. I think -- I used to believe, it was just neglect.

And that might have been at first. But it was what they were actively being you taught.

It's not what is just being left out.

They're actively being taught to hate this country, at this point.

Let me ask you a couple of quick questions.

SCOTUS.

If they rule against birthright citizenship. President Trump's order.

Will you aspect the ruling of the Supreme Court?

KRISTI: We have always respected the federal rulings, and will do so. I think that would -- I don't know when that ruling is expected, for sure.

GLENN: Yeah.

KRISTI: But that would be a very consequential ruling, that we would have to figure out how to handle and deal with.

GLENN: Yeah. Do you agree with SCOTUS, that illegal aliens have some due process rights? And why or why not?

KRISTI: I do.

But I do believe due process looks different, according to the law. And according to what's afforded to them.

Most people, when they think of Tuesdays, they don't do their homework. And research. To truly understand, it's not a guaranteeing of a hearing. On in persons. Presentation in front of a judge.

Or the due process looks very different for an illegal alien that's in our country. Than it does for US citizen.

And that's appropriate. I think that's entirely appropriate.

And we have always afforded every single illegal that's within this country, due process. Before they are removed.

There has not been an instance, where ICE or immigration officials haven't done so.

GLENN: Tom Homan told me months ago, he said, there are several phases of this. What phase are we in?

And how many phases do we have?

Or where are we in the process of really getting this done?

KRISTI: Well, I asked President Trump for this job, because I knew he was going to have to have someone that was actually tough enough to do it.

But tough enough to do it for a long period of time.

That wasn't going to say, you know, this is a six-month operation. And then we're going to soften, and get ready for midterms.

You know, I knew he needed somebody that could sustain this.

But what -- what Joe Biden broke by allowing this invasion.

Can't be undone overnight.

So it will be an ongoing efforts.

We have funding, through the reconciliation bill.

To sustain it, for the next four years. And we will.

And it will only get stronger and stronger.
And bigger. We intend to grow it, not shrink it.

And we are going after the worst of the worst. And those criminals that are killing Americans, and victimizing Americans.

As well. But, I mean, overwhelmingly, I've been to, I think 11 or 12 different countries in Central and South America. In negotiating security agreements, and sharing of information on criminals and people that they think are in our country.

And talking about those presidents of those countries. And sitting down with their leadership.

It's amazing.

They're telling me that hundreds and hundreds of thousands of their people have already come home voluntarily. That just because we've been so strong on the messaging, the commercials, the CECOT videos have convinced people that were in this country illegally, you know what, I will leave now. And then I will have a chance to go back to America, the right way.

And I think the President of Mexico and her team were telling me, they believed that 500,000 Mexicans have just voluntarily came home, that may not even be on our radar. That we haven't counted, because they didn't come home through our app and our systems.

And I was just in Ecuador, and Chile, and Argentina. The same conversations. So I do believe we're making a big difference. Even in just our message being people that were here illegally, understand that they should go on their own first.

And then we need to figure out, if they're given the advantage to go back to this country, how do we do that?

GLENN: Well, I don't know about you, I imagine you were -- you're far more busy than I ever have been.

But I remember when I -- when South Park did an episode, and Cartman played me the whole time.

KRISTI: Oh, really?

GLENN: Oh, yeah.

It took me about a year before I -- I didn't even know it happened, until maybe a year later. I was so busy.

And I ended up years later, watching it with my son. And we both laughed over it.

KRISTI: Uh-huh.

GLENN: But welcome to the club.

KRISTI: Well, I guess so. I didn't get to see it.

I was -- I was going over budget numbers and stuff.

But, you know, I think it's -- yeah. It -- it never ends.

But it's so lazy, to constantly make fun of women for how they look. Only the liberals and the extremists do that. If they wanted to criticize my job, go ahead and do that. But clearly, they can't. They just pick something petty like that.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah. Kristi, thank you so much. God bless.

KRISTI: Yeah, thanks, Glenn. You too. Absolutely. Thank you. Keep praying. We're doing good.

Jon Stewart just revealed EXACTLY how the Left works

"The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart recently tried to dunk on Glenn Beck by claiming he flip-flopped on the Epstein Files. But Glenn reveals how Stewart inadvertently exposed exactly how the Left's spin machine works.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Now, let me take you to another thing that Jon Stewart.

Because Jon Stewart has been mocking me for years.

And that's fine.

Here he is, on Epstein.

And he's taking me on.

But it -- I just want to -- the only reason why I want to play this. Because it's really not worth it.

Other than for somebody who doesn't know how the left works. What they do, is they take everything I forgot context.

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: And they twist it, to make it look, as though I'm saying something that I'm not.

Or -- or making it look like, that is the conclusion.

So watch Jon Stewart here.

VOICE: I honestly think my favorite thing about this is watching conspiracy theorists have to unravel the red string, that they themselves originally strung out.

Here's the OG conspiracy theorist Glenn Beck at his excitement for Trump's beginning of the second term.

GLENN: The only thing I care about is the -- the scandal of the pedophiles and in the next ten days, you will see the Epstein file released. Day number one, Kash Patel walks in. By the end of the day, it will be released.

VOICE: Day one!
(laughter)

VOICE: Deep State exposed. Oh, I'm sorry.

Trump is in the rough?

I'll get right on that ball drop.

GLENN: Stop. Stop. Stop for a second. Stop. So what did he do here?

PAT: He switched the person, from Kash Patel to Donald Trump. He didn't say Trump was going to release it day one. He didn't say that.

GLENN: Exactly right.

No. Kash Patel was going to release that. And I have that on very, very good authority.

Trust me, very good authority on that.

I can't help that that -- that person told me that was wrong.

PAT: Uh-huh.

GLENN: It was hard to be wrong.

But they were wrong.

And so I looked like, I was just out there on a limb.

I don't really care. I don't care.

But it was -- it was not Donald Trump that said that.

And that was a prediction, that I made.

And based on, some information that somebody -- that was very reliable, at least at the time.

Or I thought was very reliable. Told me, that that was what was going to happen on day one.

It didn't!

Now he immediately jumps to me, in a chalkboard, what?

Six months later. 70 pounds different.

Okay?

You can tell, some time has gone. Because Glenn has lost 70 pounds.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: So watch -- watch what he says next.

VOICE: What the left is saying. And EMS people are now saying.

He's in the report, with 15-year-old's. Really?

Do you actually believe that?

VOICE: Yes!

VOICE: I have seen some clips that would be consistent with --

PAT: No. You haven't.

VOICE: With teenage --

GLENN: Stop. Okay. Stop for just a second.

So he brings up. He bought a teenage, you know, what do you call it?

You know, Miss Teen USA. He bought that. That doesn't make you a pedophile.

PAT: Oh, jeez. Oh, my gosh. Talking about the beauty pageant?

GLENN: Yeah. He's talking about the beauty pageant.

PAT: Oh, good golly.

GLENN: And, again, so that doesn't make you a pedophile. There's a difference, you know, between a teenage beauty pageant and a pedophile.

And I would like to know what clips you've seen?

And notice it's clips. The same thing that he's doing here.

He's taking a clip, and he's formatting it in a way, where you can't see, that what I'm talking about, I'm going to the chalkboard.

And there is one option up there, that Trump was on the tape. It doesn't show that there were five different options up on there.

And I am -- I am -- what I'm doing, is I'm laying out all of the options. And saying, which is the most likely? Now, if you hate Donald Trump, and you just expect the worst of Donald Trump, of course, you're going to say no to that.

But I wasn't talking to Jon Stewart's audience.

I wasn't talking to the people who hate Donald Trump. I was talking to the people who will at least give Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt.

Does Donald Trump -- I mean, if he was with -- well, go on, because he plays this.

Now, listen to this.

VOICE: You die a teenage beauty pageant. Now, listen, Beck, you're the master at making connections, so let's see you unconnect it.

PAT: Oh, jeez.

GLENN: I mean, let's be honest, 20 years ago, if this was like, hey, he was on an island with 25-year-old models, I -- I would be going, probably.

Okay? Fifteen, 16-year-olds? That's not Donald Trump. It's not Donald Trump.

I don't believe that. Do you?

VOICE: Yes!

GLENN: I say that's -- no way that's true.
(laughter)

VOICE: No! Do not -- there's no magic X.

GLENN: Okay. Stop. So stop for just a second. Notice what he did there.

I said, do you believe that? I don't believe that. Do you?

Then I said, I didn't believe that. And I put an X over that. I don't believe that.

But I asked, do you believe that?

Leaving it open for you to say, yes, I do believe that!

But remember, this whole chalkboard was, what do I feel is most likely?

Not what happened. What do I feel is most likely, to have happened?

Why?

I wasn't excusing no release.

I was saying, why wasn't there a release?

Why didn't it happen.

But, again, you'll notice, he doesn't cover that.

This is exactly the way the left works.

And especially with people like Jon Stewart, who are doing comedy.

You take it out of context.

And you -- you take it out of context, so you can make it funny.

Because you make it the most extreme.

Instead of showing the entire conversation, which he can't do.

Because he's a comedian. But then, he goes and says serious things afterward, like he's just a crazy man.

He believes all these crazy things.

Well, no, Jon.

They look crazy to you, because you're not paying attention. You're not seeing the entire context.

You're not giving anyone the benefit of the doubt, of -- of having a different opinion.

And being sincere about it.

So I give you the benefit of the doubt.

I know you're doing comedy.

I disagree with -- with your point of view on many things.

But I've also seen you do things that I believe in. That I think, okay. Well, he's got something there.

When you were questioning the pentagon?

Wait a minute. How can you keep failing all of these audits. That doesn't make any sense.

I cheered for you.

But I also watched it in context, not the thing that Jon Stewart has done, and they have perfected this smear on me, and everybody else.

I don't really care about me. I mean, honestly, we've had this conversation before we went on the air today. And we were just talking about, how it's not worth playing this.

Because, you know, it doesn't matter to me, anymore. It doesn't matter -- I don't think it matters to you, the audience.

But it should matter to you, to be able to see how it works. If you don't know yet.

See how it works. And how they take things out of context.

Why Jim Acosta’s AI Parkland victim “interview” is GROTESQUE

Former CNN host Jim Acosta recently “interviewed” an AI-generated depiction of Parkland shooting victim Joaquin Oliver. Glenn Beck calls the stunt dystopian and sick, asking: “What does it truly mean to be alive if, in death, you’re more useful?”

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: So here's a story that I think, if we don't stop and pay attention to right now, just one small story, it may seem like something small. But if we don't pay attention to it right now. I don't think we recognize what it means to be human in a generation, from now, if that long. Journalist. I shouldn't say journalist.

Publicity hound Jim Acosta just did an interview -- I can't even say that. Just did -- I don't even know what you would call it.

Did a publicity stunt, not with a witness.
Not a grieving parent. He sat down with an AI ghost.

It's an AI recreation of a 17-year-old kid, named Joaquin Oliver. He was murdered in the Parkland Massacre.

And then he called it journalism. He called it a conversation, but it wasn't.

It was neither!

It was -- it wasn't even human. Let me play this grotesque pantomime for you. Listen.

VOICE: Joaquin, I would like to know, what your solution would be for gun violence.

VOICE: Great question. I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support, and community engagement. We need to create safe spaces for conversations and connections, making sure everyone feels seen and heard.

It's about building a culture of kindness and understanding; what do you think about that?

VOICE: I think that's a great idea, Joaquin.
(laughter)

STU: That is the worst thing I've ever seen in my life. I had -- I had seen all the headlines. I hadn't actually seen the...
(laughter)

GLENN: Now, it is so --

STU: Sorry.

GLENN: It's so bad, it's funny, at this point. Right? It's just horrible.

I want to put this into perspective: This is a digital ventriloquist act. He's a puppet. It's the image of a dead kid, long buried, animated. Like a puppet, for the politics of those who are still living.

Now, let me ask you something, that, you know, we haven't dared to ask out loud yet.

And that is, what does it mean?

What his it truly mean to be alive?

In death, you're more useful.

What are the Republicans saying. Or sorry, the Democrats saying right now to some of the people in Congress.

They're saying, you need to take a bullet. Why?

Because you're more useful, if you're dead.

If somebody assassinates you. So what does it mean to be alive, if in death, you're more useful?

What does it mean when your image. Your voice. Your soul as captured by a memory or photograph, can be summoned back again.

Not by God. But by algorithms and agenda.

I hate to go all religious on you. But I have to tell you, if this isn't the making of a graven image, I don't know what is.

Thou shall not making a graven image.

You don't make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven, above, or on earth beneath.

You know, the Native Americans used to -- they would never let you take your picture.

Some of them. Some tribes.

They would never let you take your picture. Because they thought it would steal your soul.

This doesn't have a soul. This is taking your image, bringing you back to life, without a soul.

When man starts creating a likeness, to wield power or emotion, we stop serving God. And we start serving ourselves.

And I'm going to be generous here. And say, don't blame the parents.

I don't -- I don't question their grief, in any way, shape, or form.

But this -- this -- this is no longer theirs.

This is not their son. This is a political puppet.

The minute Joaquin's AI avatar spoke political opinions into a camera, it stopped being about grief, and became propaganda!

And this, my friend, is only the beginning.

What happens when governments use AI resurrected faces for propaganda?

What happens when terrorists Use Deepfake hostages?

Hostages who are already dead? Pleading for help?

You don't think that could happen with Hamas?

You don't think that Hamas couldn't have made an image, in fact, the video that we say last week, could have very well been AI.

And the kid could be dead.

Now, it's not. But that's what's coming.

What happens when we begin to trust synthetic testimony, over human -- actual human experience?

This isn't just immoral.

This is very, very dangerous. This is soul-erasing.

This is post-human.

You are entering a world now, that is -- it's post-human!

This is the dystopian world. And we're just beginning to step into it. We're entering an age, where the dead can be programmed, to speak the words of the living.

Where the brief is nothing more than a marketing tool.

Where death is not your end!

But just the data set now, to be parsed and projected. And used politically.

And here's the real sick part of this: The more meaningful your death, the more valuable your ghost.

If that doesn't shake to you your core, nothing is going to.

If this doesn't wake you up to the dangers of AI, nothing will.

If this doesn't wake you up to go, oh, dear God, I've got to get back to the basics, I have to start asking the questions, what does it mean to be human? Nothing will!

We -- we have to draw really strong, ethical hard lines in the sand, on the use of AI. The use of likeness of the dead. It should be codified into law, internationally. And I'm not saying, you know, you're not bringing characters back. You know, you're not bringing -- you're not bringing things back to, you know, show them in movies, or for entertainment or whatever.

But when you're bringing dead children back, I don't know. I think there's a problem here.

There's a problem. We -- and we also have to teach our kids discernment here. Critical thinking.

You know, and more than critical thinking. Moral reasoning has got to be taught.

We need a generation that knows the difference between the real and the artificial.

Between the sacred and the synthetic.

Because that's going to be blurred.

All of it is blurred. How long before a Jim Acosta clown isn't the one doing it, but somebody serious? Transparency, from media. From tech.

Not after the fact. But before the images even appear on the screen.

Now, to his credit, he did say, this was AI. Of course. But it's a ghost!

We have to reawaken the soul, the concept of the soul. This is why I've said for years, that Ray Kurzweil is one of the scariest guys I have ever met. Because he doesn't believe in the soul.

He believes that that -- what you just saw, is just as real, as the real kid.

Some -- the soul can't be copied. It can't be coded.

It can't be commodified.

Because we lose our soul, in our culture.

If we lose it in our -- in our culture, in our politics. In our mourning. In our journalism.

Then you've got nothing left.

And doesn't Joaquin Oliver deserve dignity in life? Everybody knows he deserves peace in death.
Right?

What he didn't deserve, is to be animated by code, to deliver a political message like a branded mascot.

I'm sorry, but if this is the parents' doing, the parents -- the parents, shame on you. Shame on you.

I -- I understand your grief as much as a person can, that hasn't lost a child. I understand your grief, but this is sick.

You know where this road leads? It lees to a future where grief can be licensed.

Where every dead child becomes a campaign.

And where being alive, no longer requires a pulse.

Just a well-trained AI model.

You never die!

That's not compassion. That is not progress. That is hell, wearing the mask of empathy.

Shame on you, Jim Acosta!

Because out of all the people that could have done this, you're only doing it for PR. You're only doing it because you need the attention.

It's sick. And Americans have to stand up and say, no more. You have to at least, in your personal life, make a decision, what is life?

And what is death worth?