RADIOMarch 29, 2023

How our ‘SICK SOCIETY’ is causing tragedies like Nashville

Mental illness is real. Sometimes people are chemically predisposed to it, Glenn says. But sometimes, it’s our ‘freaking sick society’ that pushes others to the brink of destruction. In the Nashville tragedy at The Covenant School, Glenn says, it doesn’t matter what the killer’s pronouns or gender were. Because at the end of the day, he says, it takes somebody with severe mental illness to do what she did. And THAT’S the crux of America’s biggest issue today. So, where do we go from here? In this clip, Glenn explains how speaking out and telling the TRUTH is one of the best things any individual — and our society — can do moving forward…

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: There is a sickness. It is not the guns. It is mental illness, that is causing these things. And you don't have to be trans to be mentally ill.

You don't have to be a bad guy, to be mentally ill. Mental illness is real. Going in and looking at eight and 9-year-olds and plotting to kill them, is a mental illness.

It is a mental illness.

There is something so rotten at the core. What do you suppose that could be?

Now, it could be many things. Just chemical mental illness. Sometimes people are predisposed to mental illness.

Okay?

We could find that out by talking to mom.

All right. Might be that. It could be that she had some sort of -- some sort of problem growing up, and she wasn't comfortable in her body. And all of the answers, because all of the medical people in her life and all the school people in her life were probably telling her, yeah. You're probably a guy.

And so she identified as a guy. And she didn't get any happier. It could be, that she identified as a guy and she was happier, except, people were telling her that there is a liquidation. A literal genocide, that is going on. And she felt she had to do something about it.

By the way, I mean, I hate to point this out. I'm sure the -- you know, media is -- is all on top of this.

But there was a take action take, that was scheduled this week. Revenge day, specifically for the trans community, one democratic supporter and cofounder of this movement, was actually paying for people to get gun -- gun training.

Now, if you're doing vengeance and training for guns, I don't know. There might be something to that.

Our friends at the daily wire. Our prayers are with you. Daily wire was mentioned by trans revenge day.

Or vengeance day.

Okay. Great. Great. It could be that. You know what it wasn't?

The gun.

That -- that definitely, not that.

It was something inside of this girl.

It was either a chemical imbalance, that she was born with, that confused her on the truth. Or it's this freaking sick society, that is doing it.

My bet, is the society.

But I could easily be convinced that it was the society that pushes sick individuals, even deeper and in the wrong direction. But maybe that's just me. I mean, I have always -- always given the -- the left, the benefit of the doubt in any of these shooters.

When -- when a guy tried to kill half of Congress, by killing all of the Republican congressmen on a baseball field and he was a Bernie Sanders supporter. And he stated he wanted to kill all the Republicans. I still said, this is a person with mental illness.

They've never given us the benefit of the doubt, on the other side.

I always do.

You have four trans people that have just done multiple shootings. Okay?

You have four.

Four multiple shooters.

Now, I'm sorry. But that's such a small slice of the population, that you shouldn't have four of -- of them on anything. Except maybe I don't know. Story hour at libraries.

You -- you don't have a statistic about -- about mass shooters, and have four of one category.

Something is wrong. Something is wrong. And you know what the press will say? It is a response to things like this. They will say, it's my bigotry and my hatred of trans. I don't care.

I really don't care. Call yourself whatever you want.

Are you happy? Are you a better person, because of it?

Are you moving forward? Are you being more peaceful?

Good. Then I'm fine. You know, if you're trying to shove anything down my throat, right or left, from religion to transgenderism, shut the hell up.

Shut up. I don't have to listen to you. I'm not going to accept something because somebody else tells me to!

That's not the way the world works.

That is fascism. But they're going to say, that things like this, I'm only saying this, because of my hatred. I don't have any hatred. You know what I hate?

I hate lies.

I hate the constant lying from everyone in the press, everyone in politics, it seems.

Everyone at this White House.

All of its supporters.

I am sick and tired of the medical industry telling me about raccoon dogs, and lying in such a -- such an insidious way.

Put a report out, but don't put any of the -- don't put any of the facts out. Don't -- make sure you don't have any of the real science-y stuff there.

Because you'll get caught. Put it out. And then pull it off real quick.

Make sure that somebody like the Atlantic. Atlantic. Are you at any point -- is anyone in the media, ever going to be -- are you ever going to be offended, that they think you're so dumb, and they used you as a front?

Or at some point, I have to assume, you were part of it. Because they've lied to you so many times, a normal human being would go, okay. I'm not listening to you anymore.

And, in fact, I'm going to expose you. Because you told me this. I put my reputation on the line.

And you were lying. And you knew that they were lying.

I'm not listening to you anymore.

But they keep listening. They keep listening. Don't listen to these so-called experts. What is happening to our children, right now, is dangerous. It is confusing our children. Our children are innocent.

They are ripping the innocence away from our children!

And you know what really frustrates me so much. I think about this almost all the time. Almost all the time. I'll be off doing something else. And I'll see something, or news will come in. Or whatever.

And almost always, the first time is, what the hell happened to people?

What happened to people?

Where are they?

Well, what -- why don't they see this? Why won't they see this?

Why do they refuse to open their eyes?

Is it because you're afraid? If you open up your eyes, it will mean that you have to open up your mouth. And you're afraid of losing your job in

It will be the greatest thing you've ever done, mark my words. To lose your job, because you stand for the truth.

It will be the greatest thing. Have no fear.

Have no fear.

Or is it because if you admit to yourself now, that it was wrong, you've yelled at so many people, and condemned so many people, that you don't think that you can be forgiven by those people?

Or maybe you don't want to admit you're wrong. I don't know what it is. But those are all lies. Whatever that is, that's lies.

The truth will set you free. But do we even recognize the truth anymore?

Do you know 1998 -- 1998 when they took a poll and said, what's an important attribute to an American? To be an American?

Seventy percent said, patriotism. The love of country.

There's nothing wrong with the love of country. In 2019, they had whittled that away to 61 percent. But that's 1998 to 2019, 70 to 61 percent. Loss of nine points.

From 2019, to today, we've gone from 61 to 38 percent. 38 percent.

PAT: Wow.

GLENN: Same time period. Religion.

Important as an attribute to America. Religion.

Sixty-two percent in '98. Forty-eight percent in '90. And 39 percent today.

Having children, 59 percent in 1998. Now 43. I'm sorry. 2019. Forty-three.

Now it's 30 percent. Only 30 percent of people think that having children is important. Let me tell you something, I didn't want to have children. Gee, how many times have you heard me say that?

I didn't want children. When I first got married. I didn't want any children. I had two children.

Then I got divorced, and then I got married again. And she wanted to have children. And I said, I don't want to have children. I already have two children. I don't want more children.

I have two children. Do you know, it takes -- it takes years to be able to get wisdom like this. There is nothing more important in my life than my children. It is the only thing that gives me true joy is my children and my family. It's what we were sent here to do, to have children and cherish them and raise them.

And now 30 percent -- 30 percent -- what the hell is happening -- what is not happening to your country. What is happening to you as a human being? What is more important, than the family? Is it your job?

Do you think -- I mean, maybe Americans just don't ask this question anymore. Why was I sent here?

What is my purpose? Was my purpose of life, to get a good job and to buy a car and have a house in a certain neighborhood?

Is that the meaning of my life? What a colossal waste of time.

How meaningless is that. Was -- is the meaning of my life, to just sit here and endure all things. Just to endure them and just say, I'm not saying anything about it. I don't care what they do to me.

I don't care. I just don't want to be -- I don't want to be -- you know, pointed out, as an oddball.

Jeez. And, by the way, important American attribute, 1998, 31 percent said money.

In '19, 41 percent said money. Today, 43 percent say money.

THE GLENN BECK PODCAST

Are Epstein's "Blackmail Videos" Being Used for Leverage RIGHT NOW?

What was Jeffrey Epstein's operation all about. If he was at the center of a massive blackmail operation to compromise those in positions of power, who is in possession of that information now? Glenn Beck and ATF Whistleblower John Dodson analyze the details of this situation and give their thoughts on what is the most likely reality surrounding Epstein.

Watch Glenn Beck's FULL Interview with ATF Whistleblower John Dodson HERE

WARNING: How America Elects a Socialist President in 2028 | Glenn TV | Ep 444

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.

Salena Zito reveals WHY Trump said “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

“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.