NPR recently interviewed an author who spent a year practicing witchcraft in order to better understand it "as a religion." And apparently, the occult has gone from taboo to popular ... especially among a certain demographic. Glenn reviews the one thing most "witches" seem to have in common: They're VERY liberal. It also comes as no surprise to Glenn that many "witches" identify as trans. This, he argues, is due to another phenomenon: The witch and trans communities are full of "edge lords." What is an edge lord? Watch to find out ...

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Oh, my gosh. Yeah. Happy Halloween to you. And I have some scary stuff for you today. Scary.

Now, this may come as a surprise to you. But I learned this from NPR. Witches are real. And witches are liberal. Politically. Politically, okay?

Now, it's no surprise, really, if you want to think about it. Really no surprise at all, that witches are -- are liberal. And NPR would run a fluff piece about witches.

The segment featured a writer who devoted an entire year of her life to witchcraft.

Now --

STU: How did that work out?

GLENN: Well, here's NPR. Have a listen.

VOICE: Witches have long cast a spell on American entertainment. But they were just a figment of our imagination. Witchcraft are a real practice. And people who practice witchcraft are all around you.

STU: Really?

VOICE: But what does it even mean to be a witch? I mean, how does one begin their spiritual journey into a cult?

Well, one writer decided to figure that out for herself, spending an entire year as a practicing witch.

GLENN: Okay. Let me just say, what does it mean to -- you know, how do you even decide to look into a religion of the occult?

I don't know. I generally don't. You know, I want to try some of this occultish stuff. Really? No. Not at all.

So they're plugging a lady's book how witchcraft is a religion and fun. You know, witchcraft belongs to a religion. But it's not one they think. Maybe they're not aware of his outcome. They've chosen that side. And that side cannot actually win. But how are they so oblivious? Listen to this.

VOICE: I'm seven, before I try to make a connection with the goddess, who is a central figure in almost every form of witchcraft, whether or not she's a real deity up in the sky, or if she's a metaphor for the connectedness of everything on earth. There's this idea of the goddess.

GLENN: Yeah.

VOICE: And I was hesitant around it, because I didn't want to play make believe. Again, this goes back to just being so afraid of feeling stupid. So I go and set up this ritual to talk to a particular goddess. And I'm by myself in my office in Oakland. I'm sitting in front of an altar, that I made out of a cardboard box. I have a Strangers playlist going on Spotify. My cat is on the other side of the door staring at me.

And after about an hour, something happened.

GLENN: Hmm. What happened? Hello.

STU: Someone playing music?

GLENN: I was flooded with bliss.

STU: Flooded with bliss.

GLENN: She was flooded with bliss. So something happened.

Flooded with bliss. Maybe, I don't know. You know, maybe possessed by a demon. I don't know.

Is that the bliss that she -- I don't. Praying to a goddess. Hmm.

Now, my initial reaction to this NPR story was a little eye rolling. Of course, NPR is on the side of witches. Then with a little annoyance, a tinge of, oh, wow, we're going to get what we deserve really soon.

But they're supposedly according to NPR, more witches than Presbyterians. Hmm.

Okay. USA Today claims, we're in the middle of a witch moment, and that hip witchcraft is on the rise in the US. Now, I don't know the difference between witchcraft and hip -- you don't know what. You wear hats like this.

STU: That's hip?

That's what a hip witchcraft goes with that hat?

GLENN: Maybe in Brooklyn.

STU: Okay. In what year?

So, anyway, hip witchcraft is on the rise.

And you'll find articles on witchcraft all throughout the liberal media.

May I used to say, we used to know words like the occult. We used to know, don't go there.

STU: Even Michael Jackson, dressed -- remember he had that Thriller thing. I have no belief in the occult. You don't remember this?

GLENN: That's not helping the case.

STU: But like, it was such an issue. He made a movie about zombies dancing, and he had to have that disclaimer because people didn't like the occult.

GLENN: Correct. Correct. So here's where I ended up on this story. Actually, a little bit of hope for the future. Because we're just burning ourselves down to the ground.

And I think people are waking up. I love all the stories of -- of Jewish progressives, that were on the front lines of everything. And they're now going, wait a minute. I think I'm surrounded by anti-Semites. Yeah. Yeah. I've been trying to tell you that. But you've been calling me an anti-Semite for saying your friends are anti-Semites. So, anyway, what does it mean, to be a witch in 2023?

What are the demographics? Well, obviously, the NPR crowd is into it. Or NPR wouldn't be promoting books on witchcraft. And the way witchcraft is as trendy and as helpful as veganism or yoga.

Intersexuality is the buzzword here. The idea that the pests of society, are stronger if they come together. Combining their mental illnesses. And criminal instincts. Like those Power Ranger rings.

I keep wondering, what is it that unites all of these bizarre and obnoxious people, quite honestly.

Well, they claim to be united by all ideas.

Like witchcraft.

Christianity, no. No.

All ideas. Like the occult. Christianity? No. No. Like anti racism. Okay. So everybody can -- no. Not everybody can reach the goals.

I mean, you're white. You shouldn't be allowed to. Oh, okay. I got it.

It's all this social justice nonsense. They want the world to believe all of this. But they never stand up for their own belief. Everything they claim to care about, actually means nothing to them, in reality.

You can see this now, on our college campuses, that wanted diversity.

Who is the most downtrodden in the world?

In world history?

Probably, I would have to say, the Jews.

Nope. Not anymore.

Their most consistent characteristic is hypocrisy.

Generally, they're unreliable people. I don't know. I try not to hire them. It seems like they're evolving to -- too quick to understand all of this.

That the goalpost shifting so fast, they just can't keep track. But in reality, they never deviate from the mission, well, not mission. Because it's really about what motivates them. Why do they act the way they act? Why do they love to throw more tantrums than a teething toddler? Why are they constantly in your face? Why is it that they just love to annoy?

Well, this is where we just get back to witchcraft? Have you ever heard the term edge -- hang on. Edgelord?
(laughter)
Edgelord is a good word to know. Edgelord is a new fangled way to describe a certain personality type. They're an edgelord. It's like a person who is annoying and confrontational for no apparent reason. Although, nothing happens for no reason. This is one of the few truths, the left still acknowledges.

The literal translation of edgelord would be the sarcastic title, Lord of being edgy.

Merriam-Webster has a definition of edgelord. The word has taken hold to refer to one who has made wildly dark and exaggerated statements. Usually on an internet forum. With the intent of shocking others.

There is usually a tone of nihilism to such remarks. The kind that might be flagged by a counselor as antisocial behavior. So the Palestinian protests could be deemed full of edgelords.

Witchcraft is an edgelord practice. Because what do edgelords want more than anything?

They want to seem special. They want to seem very, very special.

I'm a witch, you know. Oh. Huh.

Well, that is special, I guess.

Which is why the most devastating -- devastating you can do to edgelords is to laugh them off. You know why?

Stalin was an edgelord.

Yeah. Hitler was an edgelord.

Mussolini was an edgelord.

They don't like it when people laugh at them. Uh-uh.

Now, most witches, I hear are liberal. And it should be no surprise, that witchcraft is especially popular among, believe it or not, transgender activists.

Which are some of the biggest edgelords on the planet, right now.

One academic article says, contemporary paganism. Another word we used to say.

Bad. Contemporary paganism portrays gender in a ray of different ways. And as such, is very inclusive of sexual diversity. No!

Paganism is? What does the occult have to say?

Much of this phenomena happens through what pagans call, witchcraft. But how does witchcraft help queer and transgender pagans take part in the pagan community?

Well, looked it up. One website describes witchcraft as an inclusive movement, which tends to appeal to a certain type of demographic.

I know that demographic.

Vice wrote about how to -- how witchcraft is empowering queer and young people.

So now they're soliciting, promoting witchcraft to trans young people, and queer people.

The article charts the spread of witchcraft through the history of feminism, pointing out that witchcraft is seeing a resurgence among queer-identified young people seeking a powerful identity that celebrates the freedom to choose who you are.

Yes. I promise you freedom.

Here's the secret. Here's what unites all of them. Witches. Leftists. Transgender activists.

NPR. The liberal media. All of them.

These edgelords are fighting for relevance.

That's what edgelords do. They pester. They annoy. They try to shock or try to shock, in a bid to get attention. They're fighting for relevance.

What they really need, is a hug. That's what they need. They need a big old hug.

They need love.

They need boundaries. Limitations. They need to be told, because it's like they're children. They don't believe that there's any rules at all. Yeah. I know. I remember when my children used to think that too. Why do we have to go to school? Well, because daddy says so. But remember, love is the fulfillment of law. Yes. Your prayers can overtake a million witch curses. In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of here.
(laughter)
Oh. I love that. The victory is already won. The best thing we can do, is try to be aware that -- and teach our kids, hey, witchcraft. Paganism. The occult. Not something we should experiment with. You know who did? Hitler. Oh, my gosh. And Hitler loved the Palestinian movement. They have so much in common. Is it all starting to come clear now? The best thing we can do with any and every edge sword is to pray for their entire soul. Other than that, edgelords lose their power when people stop watching them or stop caring.

But I'm never going to stop caring. I'm gag to love you and love and love you and love you. I'm going to show you the love of a real God.