RADIODecember 26, 2023

WHAT?!? How much the 'Home Alone' shopping trip would cost TODAY

Remember in "Home Alone" when Kevin buys a load of groceries for $20? What would that cost with today's insane inflation? Glenn, Pat, and Stu discuss the disturbing truth: Kevin would have to find nearly $100 to pull off the same stunt today! But hey, look on the bright side. At least the job market is SKYROCKETING ... for federal employees. Soon, nearly a tenth of the country's entire population will be on the federal payroll!

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Did you see that government jobs now are through the roof.

We're going to set a new record.

PAT: Highest ever, right?

STU: Yes. Creating jobs.

GLENN: 23 million government employees.

PAT: My gosh. It's unreal.

GLENN: Away from 10 percent of our entire population, working for the entire federal government.

PAT: That's why he still has 37 percent approval. Those are all government workers.

GLENN: Exactly right. Exactly right. So here's the stats. In 2000, it was 20 million.

In 2010, it was 22.9 million. In 2020, it was down just a little bit. It was 22.5. Right now, it's 22.96. It will be 23 million by the end of the month.

STU: Jeez.

GLENN: And you're letting people go. If you're a small businessperson. You're struggling right now, like, how will I not let people go? Just tell them, the government is hiring.

STU: And they will say, this is great news for the economy. Right?

PAT: It's obscene.

STU: They will say, oh, this is working. Bidenomics is working.

And if there is anything that is central to Bidenomics, it is this. This expansion of government.

PAT: Yeah.

STU: So I guess you are creating. It is a straight line to creating jobs. You're just making up jobs for, you know, BS, you know, institutions.

And I guess you could get everyone hired there eventually.

This is a path to socialism, wage accept.

GLENN: So let me give you a look at inflation.

Has anybody watched Home Alone lately?

STU: I feel like I watch it every year.

But it's been, I haven't watched it in probably at least a year.

We watch, you know, The Miracle on 34th Street on Thanksgiving.

We watch planes, trains, and automobiles, the night before.

And then Home Alone is coming up next week. Right? Watch when Kevin goes in to buy groceries.
You want to talk about inflation.

STU: Wow.

PAT: A little cheaper.

GLENN: He has $20 on him.

That's all he has. Do you remember what he buys?

PAT: I don't.

GLENN: Half a gallon of milk.

A half gallon of orange juice. A TV dinner. Bread, frozen macaroni and cheese.

Laundry detergent. Cling wrap. Toilet paper, a pack of Army men, and dryer sheets.

$19.83 with tax. Okay?

Last year, now, remember, it's -- it's going to be better this year.

Last year, the same grocery list went from $19.83 to $44 and 40 cents.

PAT: Jeez.

GLENN: But the White House is telling us, this is the most inexpensive year for grocery shopping.

PAT: Right. Right.

GLENN: It's gone from $44 and 40 cents last year, to 72 dollars 28 this year.

STU: In one year?

GLENN: In one year.

STU: Why?

GLENN: For those -- well, the economy is doing so well.

STU: Oh. We're alling with by -- yeah. No, seriously, like why?

Are dryer sheets going nuts? What's going on?

GLENN: No. I don't know.

It's all the individual stuff.

STU: I mean, you can have some of those weird -- I mean, obviously, overall has not gone up that much.

GLENN: But this isn't weird. A gallon of milk -- or, a half gallon of milk, half gallon of orange juice, TV dinner -- that's weird. Bread, frozen mac and cheese, laundry detergent, cling wrap, toilet paper, the Army men is weird, and the dryer sheets. That's not weird.

STU: What do you mean weird?

Like things that normal people don't buy?

GLENN: Those are things that people buy.

STU: TV dinners aren't called TV dinners all the time, but people buy frozen entrées all the time. So that's pretty rational.

That's interesting. I wonder why it's -- I wonder if there's one real outlier product, in there for it to go up that much, that quickly.

PAT: So the moral of the story though, is don't leave your kid home by himself when you're going to France with the rest of the family.

GLENN: Yeah. Leave at least 100 bucks.

PAT: Right. Yes. Yes.

GLENN: No 20-dollar bills anymore. It won't cut it.

STU: And really, if you're in the situation as a child. The softness of your dried clothes. That's not a priority.

GLENN: He learned from his mother.

Do not take that little boy down, for learning how to do his own laundry from his mother.

STU: It's impressive that he do.

PAT: Thank you. Thank you, Pat.

STU: There's some prioritization that he should also learn from his mother. Although, his mother is also prioritizing her trip to France over her son. So --

GLENN: Well, not really.

She just forgot how many -- how many times -- has that happened you to?

STU: I mean, zero, but I've only been to France once.

GLENN: So you know what is weird?

I saw one conservative outlet saying, just watching -- watching Home Alone shows you how far the middle class has fallen.

PAT: That's not a middle class family.

GLENN: That was never a middle class family.

STU: That's a beautiful house.

GLENN: Never. Not only a beautiful house, but who can afford to take --

PAT: Take the whole family to France!

GLENN: To France, during the holidays!

STU: Right.

GLENN: Okay?

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: And, you know, mom -- mom and dad are sitting in first class. That's not a middle class family.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: I remember looking at that you house thinking, oh, my gosh.

PAT: Yeah. Nice. Nice.

GLENN: And that was the height of remember Ralph Lauren. And he had the wallpaper and everything else.

That was such a Ralph Lauren kind of look.

PAT: Yeah.

GLENN: Which again, even back then, wasn't even affordable.

PAT: Uh-huh.

STU: Are they still editing Donald Trump out of the sequel?

GLENN: I don't know.

STU: They were doing that for a while.

And you have to believe that's now -- yeah. They would take him right out of it, where they would re-air it.

PAT: Wow? Is Macaulay Culkin, is he going to be in the sequel?

STU: Yes, he is.

GLENN: This time, he was in New York.

STU: Yes. His parents are terrible people. Let's be honest about it. They just don't care about their son.

PAT: No kidding. CPS should be paying them a visit for sure.

GLENN: Can I bring up something else? Maybe we can talk about this tomorrow because we're out of time. But you know who else is a horrible, horrible person?

Santa.

STU: Who? Wow.

GLENN: Yeah. In all of those Christmas tales.

PAT: Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer especially.

GLENN: Oh, my gosh, he's a bastard.

STU: He's tough on some of those.

GLENN: Tough?

STU: The fictional portrayal of Santa in some of these specials is not what I believed to be accurate.

GLENN: Yes. Thank you. Thank you.

Yes. Santa, I'm sure is a good guy.

PAT: It's portrayed poorly there.

Yeah. He tells -- he tells Rudolph's dad that he should be ashamed of himself. Because he has a kid with a red nose.

GLENN: Oh, you didn't have a cripple, did you?

PAT: You should be ashamed of yourself!

GLENN: Next thing you know, you'll have a kid in a wheelchair. Wow!

THE GLENN BECK PODCAST

Why Your Actions Matter More Than Words in the Eyes of God

Glenn Beck and Eric Metaxas expose the spiritual crisis gripping America’s churches — a moment they compare to Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s warning before World War II. As the culture descends into moral confusion, too many Christians retreat into silence, claiming faith while refusing to act. Together, they argue that true belief demands courage — that “faith without works is dead” — and warn that neutrality in the face of evil is itself a form of complicity.

Watch the FULL Interview HERE

The American Dream is in CRISIS - How Freedom Was Replaced by Comfort

The American Dream used to mean freedom and the chance to build your own life through hard work, faith, and independence. But today, it’s been replaced by comfort, consumption, and debt. Glenn Beck breaks down how America traded liberty for lifestyle, why socialism is gaining ground, and what it will take to reclaim the real American Dream before it disappears for good.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: I don't know if you saw the visualizing the American dream, Stu.

You know, what the American dream actually is, is that you can forge your own way.

You can -- you know, you can have a scrap of land, and grow your own food if up.

You can, you know, go to school. Not go to school.

You can find a job. If you're qualified for it, you have an equal chance of getting it, you know, based on merit.

But the percentage of Americans who say the American dream is retirement is 86 percent. Health care, 86 percent. Owning a home, 85. Raising two kids, 78. Owning a car, 72. Vacations, 71. Pets, 66. A wedding, 55 percent. That's the American dream, I can get married.

The American dream, if that's what you think, they've now estimated, the cost per household over the cost -- over the lifetime, retirement is $1.6 million. Owning a home now, 30-year mortgage, 20 percent you want to, is $957,594. Owning a car, buying and finance to begin with new cars every ten years is now $900,000 over your lifetime. Raising two kids to 18, plus four years of public college, $876,092. Two kids. Health care, over your lifetime, spending from ages 22 to 85, $414,000. Vacations, annual vacation from '22 to '85, $180,000. One dog and one cat for 11 to 13 years is $40,000!

That's more expensive than a wedding. The engagement ring, the ceremony, and the reception is now estimated to be $38,200.

There's a reason socialism is doing well. You look at that, and you're like, wow. I mean, if that's the American dream. And for a lot of people, that is the American dream!

That's not what the American dream is supposed to be, but, you know, once -- you know, once Woodrow Wilson and FDR got a hold of us and they started advertising, it became stuff instead of freedom. It became stuff. And, you know, when there's a new report out. Let me see if I have that.

There's a new report out now that shows, first time home buyers made up just 21 percent of the home purchases. That's the lowest on record.

The typical age of repeat buyers hit an all-time high of '62. The median downtowns, reaching 23 percent.

The highest since 2023.

And also, where is it?

The last one is -- the median age for first time home buyers, in 1981, it was 29 years old.

I'm sorry. Yeah. Twenty-nine years old. In 2021, it was 33 years old.

What is it this year?

Median age, first time homeowner, forty.

You're 40 before you can buy any kind of home. That puts these things that people want, dream about, out of reach, until you're 40?

You know, 29 is one thing. But if you're not seeing -- you're not seeing your life really kind of settling down until you're 40, I -- I can understand why you're like, you know what, this system doesn't work.

Because you've never seen it work. It's betrayed you.

Or so you've been sold. It's betrayed you.

And everything is being pushed out of your reach. And when you're young, the one thing you're not is patient.

And at 40, I can see why people are not, you know, yeah. Well, socialism is neat because capitalism isn't working. How would you respond to that?

STU: I mean, it's more lengthy than we have time for. But I would say that the response to, you know, you thinking that you want a home is not to embrace an ideology that murders 100 million people.

That's not -- that's not a good answer to the problem that you think you have.

GLENN: But they're not learning that anywhere.

They're not -- that is our responsibility! To teach those things. Because they're not learning it anywhere.

Glenn Beck Warns of 3 Economic Outcomes That Could Change EVERYTHING | Ep 467

Socialism is spreading fast among America’s youth, and the shocking election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani for mayor in New York City marks a major cultural and economic shift. Glenn exposes how runaway debt, record home prices, AI job disruption, and the collapsing stake in capitalism have led many Millennials and members of Gen Z to embrace socialism and communism. He reveals the three possible economic futures for 2026: two that are disastrous and one that could change everything if the Trump administration’s global financial overhaul succeeds. Plus, Justin Haskins, president of the Heartland Institute, joins to reveal some terrifying truths about why young Americans are embracing socialism from a poll he conducted with Rasmussen Reports.

Glenn Beck warns: We're already in World War III

"The world doesn't understand yet. We're already in World War III," Glenn Beck warns. "That foe is not China. That foe is militant Islam." Glenn explains the battle we're currently facing and what's to come if we don't wake up soon...

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: From New Jersey, it's Brian. Hello, Brian.

CALLER: Hello!

GLENN: Hey.

CALLER: Yeah. Thanks for taking the calls today.

GLENN: Sure.

CALLER: Yeah. I'm worried that we are headed towards another French Revolution-style because we have entire generations. Or actually people just not being heard by their representatives.

GLENN: Hmm.

CALLER: And it's not just here. It's around the world.

GLENN: Uh-huh.

I -- actually, I had scheduled for this time, I'll just do it some other time. Talking about what's happening in -- in England.

I think England is headed for a Civil War. And -- and it's very close.

I mean, you can't put 4,000 people. 4,000 people, in jail, or try them for hate crimes. And speech crimes.

You can't -- you can't do it. In England!

You can't do that in one year. And expect people to just put up with it!

You can't -- you know, we're -- we're -- America doesn't understand yet.

The world doesn't understand.

We're in World War III. We're already in World War III.

I don't know when it becomes a hot war. Or even a war that we on our side recognize. But we are in World War III. And that -- that foe is not China.

That foe is militant Islam, period. And, you know, when we have a situation to where people are -- when the government is just like, no. It's not a problem.

It's not a problem. You know. You've got illegals all over.

It's not a problem.

It's not a problem.

It is a problem. Don't tell me what -- what the problems are not!

Because we're the ones living it!

You're the experts, who keep telling us, no. It's going to work out fine.

And it doesn't work out fine. And it just gets worse and worse.

Oh. We can spend this money. No. It looks like we can't spend this money. Oh, we can afford this. No. It looks like we can't afford this.

You know, if we do this with Ukraine, it will work out fine. No, it didn't, did it? These endless wars, all of this stuff, don't tell me what the problem is. Listen to the people and start talking to the people. Honestly, this is the reason why I'm doing this today. I -- I need to hear from you.

I need to know what's on your mind, so I stay focused and -- and clear on what America is saying.

Because I don't think -- look, you know, me taking phone calls is -- is not a true representation of anything, but it does give me a sense of -- of where you are, as an audience. Maybe not as America, but as an audience. And there are lots of things that concern me. But I want to hear it from you.
But I think you're right! We're headed for real, real trouble. All you need is real economic trouble.

You start getting real, true economic trouble. 1930s kind of depression stuff. And we're in Civil War.

Dan, Oregon. Welcome!

CALLER: Hello, Glenn. How are you?

GLENN: I'm great!

CALLER: Yeah. Good. It's been a long time.

I guess it's been over ten years, since I've had a chance to talk with you. I was one of your first insiders. I was listening to you, since you were in Florida.

GLENN: Wow. Wow.

CALLER: So it's been a long -- yeah. It has been. And I can't say I've enjoyed all of it.
(laughter)

GLENN: Neither have I!

STU: I can't say that either, I'll be honest with you.

CALLER: You know, you were talking on yesterday's show, reminiscing with Stu about how you guys started. And I remember those old shows. And, you know, at the end of the -- the fusion of entertainment and enlightenment.

STU: Hmm.

GLENN: Right.

CALLER: And there was a lot more entertainment. I remember I laughed a lot.

GLENN: Oh, yeah. I know. I know. Those days are long dead.
(laughter)

STU: There's nothing to laugh about now.

CALLER: Yeah. I -- I'm 78. I still work 40 hours a week. I love my job.

GLENN: Good for you.

CALLER: Been married for 55 years. I have seven kids.

GLENN: Good for you.

CALLER: I've got a daughter -- I've got a daughter who is in her 40s. And she has severe TDS. She -- we don't -- I mean, we're not cutting each other off. She hasn't done that at all. We're still very close as a family. But she was down visiting the other day, and got into a conversation with my wife. And I wasn't in the room. But Kathy said it was just like listening to one of those young people out on the street that was being interviewed by the news media. And she was -- and she was in tears about it. My wife and my daughter both.

And, I mean, I love her, and I continue to support her. She's a single woman, not by choice. She just never found the right guy.

GLENN: Yeah.

CALLER: And I really think that's part of the problem. Because she started reading -- back when Trump was first running, she started reading all of this stuff about him being misogynistic and all of this stuff.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah.

CALLER: And it's just gotten worse. I -- I'm at a loss. I really am. Because I -- like, I see the country doing better. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. But I still feel like that at least right now, we're doing better as a whole. But what do we do about -- what do we do about our kids about -- she went to Portland State University for the last two --

GLENN: Oh, jeez, for the love of --

CALLER: Well, yeah. For the last two years, she went to -- she went to a little college in Idaho called Ricks for the first two years, and Utah State.

GLENN: Oh, yeah.

CALLER: And then she served a mission for our church in Brazil and came home, but then she went to Portland State University. And it just seems to have gone downhill from there.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah. So, Dan, I think you are suffering from the same thing that almost all parents are suffering from. If you're not suffering from this, then, I mean, God bless you. You know, get on your knees and thank God. Because you are a lucky, lucky family. Everybody has in their family. I have it in my family.

And you have to ask yourself, what is your goal?

My -- what is your goal with your daughter? Your real goal?

CALLER: My real goal is for us to be united eternally. That's my goal. That's my goal as a father and has been to teach her --

GLENN: And how -- and how is that going to happen with politics?

CALLER: We just stay together as a family regardless of what politics does.

GLENN: That's exactly right. Exactly right.

I think we're in a place now where as parents, you can ask your kids, but it has to be honest. It cannot be trying to win. It has to be honest. How did you get there?

I mean, I remember. You know, we've talked about this before. And you didn't believe that before. What has changed?

Can you help me with that?

I would like to see what you're reading, or what that was.

And just ask questions. But they have to be honest. They can't be, you know, because I'm setting you up. Because I want to change your mind.

But keep a dialogue open with them. And just love them!

Just love them!

Because if you do anything else, you're going to drive them away. And then they're really lost. So just love them.

CALLER: Oh, I know that. Glenn, when she was young -- when she was young, I considered her one of the elect. And the Scripture says, that in the last days, even the elect are going to be deceived. And that's what I'm seeing. But everything you've said, I -- I am doing. I'm doing it that way. Because I know --

GLENN: Okay. Good. Then you didn't need to -- I appreciate it. I'm so glad you called me. But you didn't need to -- my advice, you already have it down. You're a very wise man.