RADIO

Why the REAL story of Hanukkah sounds all too FAMILIAR

Hanukkah (Chanukah) is an 8-day Jewish festival that many non-Jews don't know much about, besides menorahs and dreidels. But Glenn believes that we should all learn an important lesson from this holiday — now more than ever. Glenn recounts the real story of Hanukkah: a story of persecution, perseverance, and "of the culture being overtaken by the spirit of the age, which turns out always to be an evil lie." It is a story that is all too familiar these days. But "even though the darkness is everywhere," Glenn says, we must never back down because "YOU might be the last spark in sight."

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Well, tonight, is the first night of Hanukkah. Classic Jewish holiday.

That answers the age tested formula. They tried to kill us.

We're still here.

Let's have a doughnut.

Yes. Considering --

STU: Officially. That's an official subscription?

GLENN: It is. It is. Well, fried dough. Hanukkah involves eight days of eating large amounts of fried food or fried dough. And that's not a joke. And that's why I'm considering, I don't know.

Maybe we should put a little more emphasis on the Jewish side of Judeo Christian, you know.

We get doughnuts.

Anyway, it's also a -- a -- an odd holiday. Its story has no book. The book -- the Books of Maccabees exist, but they're not in Jewish canon.

They were actually preserved by Christianity.

And when locking that canon, the sages apparently felt uncomfortable with the books of Maccabees. Not because they weren't relevant.

But most likely, because they were too relevant.

It risked making waves at the time, when Jews were, again, dependent on the mercies of others.

So on Hanukkah, Hannah -- candles are lit for eight days. And it commemorates the miracle of one day's pure oil, burning for eight days. The miracle of the oil.

When the Maccabees reconsecrated the temple in Jerusalem, it burned for eight days. The real story actually has to do with that, as much as Christmas has to do with trees and presents.

And this relates to everyone, especially those in America, today, and those in the Western world.

It takes place in the mid second century BC, some time after Alexander the Great. The Greeks were ruling the known world, including the backward corner still known then as Judea.

Polytheistic culture dominated. And first, it was just toleration for local religion and custom.

And then less and less. Until eventually, the local Greek overlords tried to erase Judaism.

Oh, again.

And they tried to force people to worship idols, and the king thought that everybody ought to worship his idols or die.

And that's usually how it runs. First, you're told, you need to tolerate this.

And who are you to say otherwise?

And if you tolerate him, then we'll tolerate you.

I promise. I pinkie promise. Then you're told, that your God is -- is not really God.

And their God is not worse than any other God. Certainly, it's not your intolerant God. So pipe down. Then you're told, bow down to the idol, along with everybody else. Or else. Right?

Familiar yet?

This happens every time the world tries this. Many of the Jews, at the time, went along, seeking refuge through assimilation, into the dominant culture.

See Germany, as an example.

But then some of the extremists went and spoiled the game for everybody. One of the priests said, no.

And he and his sons took to the hills, starting a hopeless revolt against the mighty Greeks.

Except, it wasn't so hopeless.

In the words of the holiday prayer, that begins tonight, God gave victory to the few over the many. And the revolt actually succeeded in restoring Jewish sovereignty. And the rededication of the temple.

For a brief time, the book continues on with the cautionary tale about what happens when too much power is accumulated in one person. Even if they start out as noble.

And a victor for a righteous cause. Here's a hint. The story doesn't end well.

Through the centuries now, Jews have correctly, I think, read this story, against dissimulation, into the current dominant culture at the cost of the abandonment of Judaism.

Also, to teach that Jews should stick with God, even when that may be dangerous. I want to show you, if you happen to be watching Blaze TV.

I want to show you a very famous picture, in a Berlin window. This was taken in 1931. And it's a picture of a menorah, in the front of a window.

The house is owned by -- was owned by a rabbi.

And he put the menorah, in the front window.

Anti-Semitism was starting to run ramp rampant. But he decided, I will not hide my light. And he put his menorah right in the front window.

The reason why this picture is very, very famous. Is because that window faces in the picture, you'll see a swastika, and a banner of the Nazis across the street.

It's not just a banner with a swastika across the street. Okay?

That is the -- the swastika, and banner that marked the Nazi headquarters. So this was the headquarters of all the Nazis, and across the street, lived Jew. And he was like, yeah.

Yeah. That's nice and everything. But I'm not afraid of you.

It's an amazing. Amazing picture.

By the way, on the back of that snapshot, on the original, it says, the flag says death to Jude a lot of people. The light says, Judaism will live forever. It's an amazing picture.

Now, Hanukkah is the story. And this is why it's so important to all of us.

Is the story of the few against the many.

Those who should get crushed like bugs, facing down the mighty empire. And somehow or another, coming out on top.

Why? Because the cause is just. And they stand on the right side.

1776, anyone?

Rebels against the galactic empire. Good versus evil. David versus Goliath. The kind of story that we tell, we seek out, again and again and again.

Because it stirs something deep inside all of us.

This is our story. Or it can be.

And it might have to be.

The story that tells us, yes.

Sometimes everyone else can be wrong. But maybe you can be right. Even if you're standing all alone, and you scared the piss out of yourself.

That just because the majority. Even the overwhelming majority goes along, doesn't make it right.

The story of Hanukkah is the story of the culture being overtaken, by the spirit of the age.

Which turns out, always to be a lie. And an evil lie.

It tells us that deep within, we know, all of us know when it's a lie. Deep down.

When we're told, there's settled consensus. Or whatever it is.

And we're the only primitives to hold out.

Because an unborn baby is not a person.

That man is a woman, if he says so.

You know, there are just too many humans. We have to get rid of some of the useless ones.

You know, for their own good. And the good of the planet.

We know deep down, when somebody is telling us, there is no God. No meaning to your life. Only submission.

And how do we know it's true? How do we know that's a lie?

We read -- we know it, when we remember the light. The light that Jews all over the world will kindle tonight, should speak to us, all of us. Because the light is the refusal to quit.

To give up when there's no hope. Even -- even though the darkness is everywhere, you might be the last spark in sight.

The last priest who will just not bow down to the idol.

The last one who will just not stand aside. Won't stand down. Won't sit down. Won't shut up.

Even when told, the alternative is destruction. It's oblivion. It is death.

Don't you dare put that candle in that window. Don't you know there are hundreds of Nazis, and all of the leaders of the Nazis, in the building, directly across the street, what are you doing?

You know, when somebody says, sit down and shut up. Or we'll destroy you.

You know the exact reverse is true. That giving in, means oblivion, and death, and worse.

It means the loss of what is most precious about our existence, here on earth.

The loss of meaning. The extension of everything that is true.

The desertion of our reason, for being.

To be a light against darkness.

To stand for what's good and true.

And you know that standing up means life itself, even if others are threatening death. Maybe you'll pay a price. But the spark, I bear. Will always live.

This Hanukkah, this holiday season, I rejoice at the opportunity to bear the spark. Now, of all times, that spark says, I'm alive.

Here and now.

I'm here precisely to do this. And so are you. That spark that you liked, will say the same thing.

I'm not alone. I have a power that is stronger than all the powers on earth. I know who I am. I know whose light I bear. Every night of Hanukkah, Jews all around the world, light one more candle.

And the light grows, as if one candle lights up the next and the next. As if light and fire, like courage, is contagious.

And guess what, it is.

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The rise of Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old socialist who just won the Democratic primary for mayor, is not just a political earthquake shaking New York City — it’s a warning for the rest of America. Backed by Bernie Sanders, AOC, and the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani promises free everything, to tax the rich, and to dismantle capitalism. There’s nothing new about this tired strategy, but the media is propping him up as a new political genius. And with Democrat leaders lining up behind him, it’s clear: This radicalism isn’t fringe anymore. It’s the Democratic Party’s future. Mamdani’s rise is part of a larger movement that’s rewriting America’s values. Glenn Beck explains how New York is the prototype for the Left’s socialist makeover of America. Victor Davis Hanson, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Standford, gives a terrifying prediction on Mamdani’s mayoral race chances and warns the revolution is coming for mainstream Democrats. He also dives into MAGA’s frustration with the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files.

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RADIO

INSIDE Trump’s soul: How a bullet changed his heart forever

“I have a new purpose,” then-candidate Donald Trump told reporter Salena Zito after surviving the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Salena joins Glenn Beck to reveal what Trump told her about God, his purpose in life, and why he really said, “Fight! Fight! Fight!”, as she details in her new book, “Butler: The Untold Story of the Near Assassination of Donald Trump and the Fight for America's Heartland”.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Salena, congratulations on your book. It is so good.

Just started reading it. Or listening to it, last night.

And I wish you would have -- I wish you would have read it. But, you know, the lady you have reading it is really good.

I just enjoy the way you tell stories.

The writing of this is the best explanation on who Trump supporters are. That I think I've ever read, from anybody.

It's really good.

And the description of your experience there at the edge of the stage with Donald Trump is pretty remarkable as well. Welcome to the program.

SALENA: Thank you, Glenn. Thank you so much for having me.

You know, I was thinking about this, as I was ready to come on. You and I have been along for this ride forever. For what?

Since 2006? 2005?

Like 20 years, right?

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah.

SALENA: And I've been chronicling the American people for probably ten more years, before that. And it's really remarkable to me, as watching how this coalition has grown. Right?

And watching how people have the -- have become more aspirational.

And that's -- and that is what the conservative populist coalition is, right?

It is the aspirations of many, but the celebration of the individual.

And chronicling them, yeah. Has been -- has been, a great honor.

GLENN: You know, I was thinking about this yesterday, when -- when Elon Musk said he was starting another party.

And somebody asked me, well, isn't he doing what the Tea Party tried to do?

No. The Tea Party was not going to start a new party.

It was to -- you know, it was to coerce and convince the Republican Party to do the right thing. And it worked in many ways. It didn't accomplish what we hoped.

But it did accomplish a lot of things.

Donald Trump is a result of the Tea Party.

I truly believe that. And a lot of the people that were -- right?

Were with Donald Trump, are the people that were with the Tea Party.


SALENA: That's absolutely right.

So that was the inception.

So American politics has always had movements, that have been just outside of a party. Or within a party.

That galvanize and broaden the coalition. Right? They don't take away. Or walk away, and become another party.

If anything, if there is a third party out there, it's almost a Republican Party.

Because it has changed in so many viable and meaningful ways. And the Tea Party didn't go away. It strengthened and broadened the Republican Party. Because these weren't just Republicans that became part of this party.

It was independents. It was Democrats.

And just unhappy with the establishment Republicans. And unhappy with Democrats.

And that -- that movement is what we -- what I see today.

What I see every day. What I saw that day, in butler, when I showed I happen at that rally.

As I do, so many rallies, you know, throughout my career. And that one was riveting and changed everything.

GLENN: You made a great case in the opening chapter. You talk about how things were going for Donald Trump.

And how this moment really did change everything for Donald Trump.

Changed the trajectory, changed the mood.

I mean, Elon Musk was not on the Trump train, until this.

SALENA: Yeah.

GLENN: Moment. What do I -- what changed? How -- how did that work?

And -- and I contend, that we would have much more profound change, had the media actually done their job and reported this the way it really was. Pragmatism

SALENA: You know, and people will find this in the book. I'm laying on the ground with an agent on top of me.

I'm 4 feet away from the president.

And there's -- there's notices coming up on my phone. Saying, he was hit by broken glass.

And to this take, that remains part of this sibling culture, in American politics.

Because reporters were -- were so anxious to -- to right what they believed happened.

As opposed to what happened.

And it's been a continual frustration of mine, as a reporter, who is on the ground, all the time.

And I'll tell you, what changed in that moment.

And I say a nuance, and I believe nuance is dead in American journalism.

But it was a nuance and it was a powerful conversation, that I had with President Trump, the next day. He called me the next morning.

But it's a powerful conversation I had with him, just two weeks ago.

When he made this decision to say, fight, fight, fight.

People have put in their heads, why they think he said it. But he told me why he said that. And he said, Salena, in that moment, I was not Donald Trump the man. I was a former president. I was quite possibly going to be president again.

And I had an obligation to the country, and to the office that I have served in, to project strength. To project resolve.

To project that we will not be defeated.

And it's sort of like a symbolic eagle, that is always -- you know, that symbol that we look at, when we think about our country.

He said, that's why I said that. I didn't want the people behind me panicking. I didn't want the people watching, panicking.

I had to show strength. And it's that nuance -- that I think people really picked up on.

And galvanized people.

GLENN: So he told me, when he was laying down on the stage.

And you can hear him. Let me get up. Let me get up.

I've got to get up.

He told me, as I was laying on the stage. I asked him, what were you thinking? What was going through your head? Now, Salena, I don't know about you.

But with me. It would be like, how do I get off the stage? My first was survival.

He said, what was going on through his mind was, you're not pathetic. This is pathetic.

You're not afraid. Get up.

Get up.

And so is that what informed his fight, fight, fight, of that by the time that he's standing up, he's thinking, I'm a symbol? Or do you think he was thinking, I'm a symbol, this looks pathetic. It makes you look weak.

Stand up. How do you think that actually happened?

SALENA: He thinks, and we just talked about this weeks ago. He -- you know, and this is something that he's really thought about.

Right? You know, he's gone over and over and over. And also, purpose and God. Right? These are things that have lingered with him.

You know, he -- he thought, yes.

He did think, it was pathetic that he was on the ground. But he wasn't thinking about, I'm Donald Trump. It's pathetic.

He's thinking, my country is symbolically on the ground. I need to get up, and I need to show that my country is strong.

That our country is resolute.

And I need people to see that.

We can't go on looking like pathetic.

Right?

And I think that then goes to that image of Biden.

GLENN: You have been with so many presidents.

How many presidents do you think that you've personally been with, would have thought that and reacted that way?

SALENA: Probably only Reagan. Reagan would have. Reagan probably would have thought that.

And if you remember how he was out like standing outside.

You know, waving out the window. Right?

After he was shot.

GLENN: At the hospital, right.

SALENA: Had he not been knocked out, unconscious, you know, he probably would have done the same thing.

Because he was someone who deeply believed in American exceptionalism.

And American exceptionalism does not go lay on the ground.

GLENN: And the symbol.

Right. The symbol of the presidency.

SALENA: Yeah. Absolutely. And I think that affects him today.

GLENN: So let me go back to God.

Because you talked to him the next day. And your book Butler.

He calls you up.

I love the fact that your parents would be ashamed of you. On what you said to him.

The language you used. That you just have to read the book.

It's just a great part.

But he calls you the next morning. And wants to know if you're okay.

And you -- you then start talking to him, about God.

And I was -- I was thinking about this, as I was listening to it. You know, Lincoln said, I wasn't -- I wasn't a Christian.

Even though, he was.

I wasn't a Christian, when I was elected. I wasn't a Christian when my son died.

I became a Christian at Gettysburg.

Is -- is -- I mean, I believe Donald Trump always believes in God, et cetera, et cetera.

Do you think there was a real profound change at Butler with him?


SALENA: Absolutely. You know, he called me seven times that day. Seven times, the take after seven.

GLENN: Crazy.

SALENA: Talked about. And I think he was looking for someone that he knew, that was there. And to try to sort it out.

Right? And I let him do most of the talking. I didn't pressure him.

At all. I believed that he was having -- you know, he was struggling. And he needed to just talk. And I believed my purpose was to listen.

Right? I know other reporters would have handled it differently. And that's okay. That's not the kind of reporter that I am.

And I myself was having my own like, why didn't I die?

Right?

Because it went right over my head.

And -- and so I -- he had the conversation about God.

He's funny. I thought it was the biggest mosquito in the world that hit me.

But he had talked profoundly about purpose. You know, and God.

And how God was in that moment.

It --

GLENN: I love the way you -- in the book, I love the way you said that as he's kind of working it out in his own he head.

He was like, you know, I -- I -- I always knew that there was some sort of, you know -- that God was present.

He said, but now that this has happened.

I look back at all of the trials.

All of the tribulations. Literally, the trials.

All of the things that have happened. And he's like, I realized God was there the whole time.

SALENA: Yes. He does. And it's fascinating to have been that witness to history, to have those conversations with him. Because I'm telling you. And y'all know, I can talk. I didn't say much of anything.

I just -- I just listened. I felt that was my purpose, in that moment.

To give him that space, to work it out.

I'm someone that is, you know, believes in God.

I'm Catholic. I followed my faith.

And -- and so, I thought, well, this is why God put me here. Right?

And to -- to have that -- to hear him talk about purpose, to hear him say, Salena. Why did I put a chart down?

I'm like, sir. I don't know. I thought you were Ross Perot for a second.

He never has a chart. And he laughed. And then he said, why did I put that chart down?

By that term, I never turned my head away from people at the rally. That's true.

That relationship is very transactional. It's very -- they feed off of each other.

It's a very emotive moment when you attend a rally. Because he has a way of talking at a rally. That you believe that you are seeing.

And he said, and I never turn my head away.

I never turn my head away.

Why did I turn my head away?

I don't remember consciously thinking about turning my head away. And then he says to me, that was God, wasn't it?

Yes, sir. It was. It was God.

And he said, that's -- that's why I have a new purpose.

And so, Glenn. I think it's important, when you look at the breadth of what has happened, since he was sworn in.

You see that purpose, every day.

He doesn't let up.

He continues going.

And it brings back to the beginning of the book.

Where you find out, that there was another president that was shot at in Butler.

And that was George Washington. And how different the country would have been, had he died in that moment.

And now think about how different the country would be, had President Trump died in that moment. There would be --

GLENN: We're talking to -- we're talking to Salena Zito. About her new book called Butler. The assassination attempt on President Trump. And it is riveting.

And, you know, it is so good. I wish the press would read it. Because it really explains who we are, who Trump supporters are. Who are, you know, red staters. It is so good at that. She's the best at that.