Watch out, kids! You’re going to be a slave to debt unless this happens

May 12, 2015

Writer

Over the weekend, Glenn invited some friends over for dinner. (WARNING: Glenn will ALWAYS talk about his private dinners with friends on air). One of the guests is getting read to start college, and of course that triggered a discussion over the true value of a college education. The growing student debt issue is out of control - and no one seems willing to think outside of the box on how to fix it. Glenn shared some simple alternatives on radio this morning, and what could happen if things don’t change soon.

Below is a rush transcript of this segment

GLENN: I tell you, we had Mother's Day at the house on Sunday. And we had the Sheltons over, and their daughter is going to college this year. And, you know, she was looking at colleges. She was accepted to a bunch of colleges they were 50, $60,000 a year. And, you know, they can't afford that. So she is going to a community college for two years. So the conversation started talking about community college. And all the people there that were in their 20s were all saying the same thing. My friends who went to a good four-year college, they're all miserable. They don't have prospects, and they have this huge debt on their hands. Anybody that went to a two-year school, a community college and either ended it there or then transferred to the four-year, they're all, you know, looking at their first house. They're looking at jobs they can -- they're not underwater with debt.

PAT: That makes a lot of sense. Because two of my sons best friends. My son who got back from a church mission. One of his best friends went to Oklahoma for four years. And studied engineering. Wanted to become a petroleum engineer, which he now is. But has no job. The other of his best friends went to trade school for a few years. Met somebody at trade school. And the guy was impressed with him. Had him come out and do an intern with him for a while. He's now making $105,000 a year in central Texas. I think Midland. As a petroleum engineer.

[laughter]

So one of them went to school and accrued, you know, 150, 200,000 dollars' worth of debt. The other is paid up now and is getting paid. I mean, it's kind of amazing when you --

GLENN: I just -- you just don't send them to --

PAT: You really need to figure out what's best for you and not go down that road thinking a four-year school is the best way to go.

GLENN: If you want to be a doctor, four-year school, six-year, eight-year school, that's what you have to do. There's some things that you just don't have to have that for. And everybody goes to these expensive schools, and most kids go to find themselves.

STU: You can do that a lot more inexpensively. Ask Jeffy.

[laughter]

GLENN: Ask any of us. We all did it. We did it on our own dime making money.

STU: Yeah. It's weird because our field is a little bit different than I think some -- and obviously doctor. You need to know how to do your job here. So you go and you learn on the job. And that's the best way to learn this job.

PAT: And how many people have asked us, for years, should I go to broadcast school? The answer to me is always, no. Emphatically no. You want to pay $5,000 a year to go out --

GLENN: Pay me 1,000. I'll teach you more.

STU: Don't. No, you won't. You don't have the time. In theory, you would.

GLENN: Get me a bunch of kids to pay me $1,000. I'll teach them everything I know. I know nothing. Go out there and learn it on your own. Give me the check.

STU: So you're looking for a way to take people's money.

GLENN: No. I give them good advice. Don't listen to anybody like me. Don't spend -- do it your own. Here, give me your thousand dollars. Thank you very much. Here's what you do. There's a lot of people that will take you for a sucker, I just did. Learn from that.

PAT: That's an important life lesson. Yeah.

JEFFY: It does make you wonder why the government wants to get their hooks into the community colleges though by making it free.

STU: Well, it's just step one. Tom Hanks was just talking about this in a video yesterday. He was saying, I really hope this program sticks. This idea sticks. Free community college for two years. First of all, any idea sticks when it's handing free money to people. People will take that every single time. That's not an idea. That's purchasing someone. That's something different. But when it comes to free community college for two years, only if you work, I think is their -- if you work for it. Well, that becomes free community college for two years with no work. Then it becomes free community college for four years. Then any school you want for four years. Then free anything for all years. Like it's just immigration. Social Security is another example. Well, we need insurance for these widows, their husbands die early. You know, this is sad. This is why we'll make it after the age of death, we will start paying money. Because occasionally, there's this widow that lives really long. No one can plan for that. Now, it's, I got to get to retirement. Sure, I can work for another 20 years. I have to get to retirement so I can kick my shoes off on the beach and retire in some form of luxury. Now, when that was not the attempt of the -- the program at the beginning. They would never have been able to sell it if that sold it that way to that generation of people. But now we've had a long time of expecting thins from the government. Now those things some logical to even many conservatives.

GLENN: It's really interesting because you have a happier view of what I think they're doing.

STU: Wow. Really?

GLENN: You think they're just trying to bankrupt the country.

STU: Well, or make everybody dependent on government.

GLENN: Yeah, I think they are -- I think that's the goal. Enslaving them. Because once -- once they give you this for free, there's going to be work involved. And I don't think they're going to take away the work. I think you're going to have to pay these things back. Why is the federal government guarantees these things and then makes it the only thing you can't wipe off? You can go bankrupt. Wipe off houses, cars, everything else. But not your educational debt. You must pay your educational debt. Okay. All right. So now when people can't pay their educational debt. What do they have to do? Well, why don't you serve your country? I think our -- I think our children will be enslaved by this debt. And it's not just the educational debt. It's all of the debt. And, quite honestly, I think we're all going to be enslaved. You know, look at what's happening. Just with oil.

Canada is begging us. Take our oil. Take our oil. We're saying it's bad for the environment to put a pipeline across our country. Is it bad for the -- is that worse for the environment than loading up giant tankers in the Middle East and shipping them across the ocean?

STU: It's, of course, safer to go through the pipeline and at less cost.

GLENN: Not only less cost. Less fuel. Less carbon emissions. You're pumping -- those engines are running all the way across the ocean.

STU: Who do you have other than the senior editor at nature magazine or science magazine. One of the two. I can't remember which one it is. Who said just that, that actually preventing the pipeline is worse for the environment because these oil cents will be used anyway.

GLENN: Right. Think of this. We're paying to have all of that -- all of that oil shipped from Saudi Arabia, put on giant ships, all that carbon emission to get it over here. Then all that carbon emission to get it back for another load. While Canada is doing the same thing for China! Taking all that oil. Why don't we just try to keep it on our own continent?

STU: Yeah, there's no reason we can't be North American in energy.

GLENN: Exactly right. Exactly right. Between Mexico and Canada and the United States, we have more fuel than anybody else in the world by far. And what are we doing with it?

PAT: By far.

GLENN: So when we aren't paying our own debt, we won't tap our own resources, we won't sell our own land, we won't sell our own assets, we won't do anything to pay off our debts, at some point China will come knocking on the door and say, you owe me $7 trillion. Now, we can pay off that debt. But we won't. And they're just going to -- we're going to repossess. We want this area. This area. This area. Or, we want you to produce these things. And we'll all be making bamboo umbrellas for the Chinese. And we'll all be enslaved to that debt.

Does France's latest move PROVE lawfare is on the rise?

Sam Tarling / Stringer | Getty Images

An all-too-familiar story unfolded in France this week: the is law being weaponized against a "far-right" candidate. Does that ring a bell?

Glenn was taken aback earlier this week when he learned that Marine Le Pen, a popular French conservative, had been banned from the 2027 election following a controversial conviction. The ruling shocked French conservatives and foreign politicians alike, many of whom saw Le Pen as France’s best conservative hope. President Trump called it a "very big deal," a view shared by French commentators who fear this marks the end of Le Pen’s political career.

But this isn’t just about France—it’s a symptom of a larger threat looming over the West.

A double standard?

Fmr. President Sarkozy (left) and Fmr. Prime Minister Fillon (right)

BERTRAND GUAY / Contributor, Chesnot / Contributor | Getty Images

As of Sunday, March 30, 2025, Marine Le Pen led the polls with a commanding edge over her rivals, offering French conservatives their strongest shot at the presidency in years. Hours later, that hope crumbled. Found guilty of embezzling EU funds, Le Pen was sentenced to two years of house arrest, fined €100,000 ($108,200), and banned from public office for five years, effective immediately.

Glenn quickly highlighted an apparent double standard. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy and former Prime Minister François Fillon faced similar—or worse—corruption charges, yet neither was barred from office during their political runs. So why Le Pen, and why now? Similar to Trump’s "hush money" trial, legal troubles this late in the election cycle reek of interference. The decision should belong to voters—France’s largest jury—not a courtroom. This appears to be a grave injustice to the French electorate and another crack in democracy’s foundation.

This is NOT about France

Andrei Pungovschi / Stringer | Getty Images

This pattern stretches far beyond France; it’s a tactic we’ve seen before.

In early 2025, Bucharest’s streets erupted in protest after Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the first round of its presidential election. Călin Georgescu, a rising conservative, had clinched an unexpected victory, only to have it stripped away amid baseless claims of Russian interference. His supporters raged against the decision, seeing it as a theft of their voice.

Both Georgescu and Le Pen echo the legal barrage President Trump endured before his 2024 win. The Left hurled every weapon imaginable at him, unleashing unprecedented lawfare. In America, the Constitution held, and the people’s will prevailed.

Now, with Tesla vandalism targeting Elon Musk’s free-speech stance, a coordinated pushback against freedom is clear—spanning France, Romania, the U.S., and beyond.

The war on free will

Chip Somodevilla / Staff | Getty Images

Trump’s 2024 victory doesn’t mean lawfare is dead; Europe shows it’s thriving.

France and Romania prove its effectiveness, sidelining candidates through courts rather than ballots. Glenn warned us about this years ago—when the powerful can’t win at the polls, they turn to the gavel. It’s a chilling trend of stripping voters of their choice and silencing dissent, all the while pawning it off as justice. The playbook is polished and ready, and America’s turn could come sooner than we think.

Melania Trump's fashion influence inspires the next generation

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First Lady Melania Trump’s impeccable style has long captivated admirers across the globe, but for one young woman, it sparked a creative revolution.

Lorelai, a young Glenn Beck fan who requested a degree of anonymity, first met Glenn while attending America Fest 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona with her grandmother. An aspiring fashion designer and illustrator, Lorelai shared with Glenn some of her sketches of characters from Glenn’s latest book, Chasing Embers. She also explained how Melania Trump became the cornerstone of her artistic journey, inspiring her to craft modest yet beautiful clothing that redefines modern fashion.

Melania Trump’s elegance—stunning, powerful, and undeniably feminine—first captured Lorelai’s attention during the First Lady’s time in the White House. Unlike the casual, often immodest trends dominating her peers’ wardrobes, Melania’s wardrobe exuded grace and sophistication. From tailored coats to flowing gowns, her choices were a masterclass in balancing boldness with dignity, a philosophy that resonated deeply with Lorelai. This admiration grew into inspiration as Lorelai began designing apparel specifically with Melania in mind, aspiring to design pieces that could match the First Lady’s grace. She strove to reflect Melania’s breathtaking style in her sketches in an effort to demonstrate how modesty can be beautiful.

The First Lady’s poised and graceful presence has redefined modesty for the modern era. To Lorelai, the First Lady’s style proves that more fabric offers boundless room for imagination, allowing personality to shine without sacrificing dignity. Melania embodies this perfectly—her fashion commands attention with stunning, memorable elegance. Inspired by this, Lorelai’s mission is to craft clothing for her generation that mirrors Melania’s influence, blending contemporary flair with classic beauty.

After her meeting with Glenn at America Fest, Lorelai’s passion and resolve have only deepened. Through fashion and art, Lorelai hopes to inspire others with the same grace that Melania Trump exemplifies. Below are some of Lorelai's sketches she was eager to share with Glenn.

Melania Trump: First Lady

I really adore First Lady Melania Trump’s grace and timeless beauty. She is extremely intelligent and brave but also strong and poised. Her fashion style displays these traits. I was inspired to create these outfits for our First Lady in hopes that she would see these drawings. -Lorelai

Melania Trump: Lady Liberty

We, as a country, will be celebrating next year our 250th anniversary of independence. The designs that inspired this patriotic gown came from Lady Liberty and Lady Columbia art. I also love our American flag, and this design is a combination of all three. -Lorelai

Chasing Embers Character Art (Ember)

I chose to draw the characters Sky, Azaz and Ember from Glenn Beck and Mikayla G. Hedrick’s Chasing Embers series. -Lorelai

Chasing Embers Concept Art (Ember)

I was inspired to draw a younger and teen version for Sky and Ember. -Lorelai

Chasing Embers Character Art (Sky)

Chasing Embers Concept Art (Azaz)

I also gave multiple outfits designs for Sky and Azaz. I loved that their personalities and character development meant in my mind a wardrobe development too. -Lorelai

Glenn: Government workers bought luxury cars with YOUR tax dollars

Andrew Harnik / Staff | Getty Images

The deep state isn’t a conspiracy theory — it’s a reality. And the corrupt, free-spending Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is just one example of how Washington insiders enrich themselves.

A little-known agency in Washington perfectly encapsulates everything wrong with our bloated, corrupt government: the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. It should be the poster child of everything that Elon Musk is exposing.

The agency was established in 1947 under the Labor Management Relations Act to serve as an independent agency mediating disputes between unions and businesses — a noble mission, perhaps. But like so many government institutions, it has rotted into something far removed from its original purpose.

The FMCS goes beyond mismanagement into blatant corruption and theft.

What was once a mechanism for labor stability has morphed into an unchecked slush fund — an exclusive playground for bureaucrats living high on taxpayer dollars.

The FMCS is a textbook case of government waste, an agency that no one was watching, where employees didn’t even bother showing up for work — some hadn’t for years. And yet they still collected paychecks and spent government money — our money — on their personal luxuries.

Luxury cars and cell phone bills

The Department of Government Efficiency discovered how FMCS employees used government credit cards — intended for official business — to lease luxury cars, cover personal cell phone bills, and even subscribe to USA Today. The agency’s information technology director, James Donnan, apparently billed taxpayers his wife’s cell phone bill, cable TV subscriptions in multiple homes, and personal subscriptions.

FMCS officials commissioned portraits of themselves and hung them in their offices, and you footed the bill. They took exotic vacations and hired their friends and relatives to keep the gravy train rolling.

The FMCS goes beyond mismanagement into blatant corruption and theft — and it went on for decades, unnoticed and unchallenged.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to abolish the FMCS — a necessary and long-overdue move. But the FMCS is just one of many agencies within the federal government burning through billions of taxpayer dollars. How many more slush funds exist in the shadows, funneling money into the pockets of bureaucrats who produce nothing? How many government-funded NGOs operate in direct opposition to American interests?

Perhaps the most disturbing question is why Americans tolerate such corruption. Why do so many Americans tolerate this? Why is the left — supposedly the party of the people — defending the very institutions that rob working-class Americans blind?

Corruption beyond bureaucracy

The recent rallies led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and their socialist acolytes claim to be a grassroots uprising against corruption and greed. But GPS data from these rallies tells a different story. The majority of attendees aren’t ordinary citizens fed up with the status quo. They’re professional activists — serial agitators who bounce from protest to protest.

Roughly 84% of devices tracked at these rallies were present at multiple Kamala Harris events. A staggering 31% appeared at over 20 separate demonstrations, tied to Antifa, Black Lives Matter, and pro-Palestinian causes.

Many of these organizations receive federal grant money — our tax dollars — and they’re using those funds to protest the very policies that threaten to cut off their financial lifeline.

This isn’t democracy in action. This is political theater — astroturfing perfected. And the American taxpayer is funding it.

Rooting out corruption

Trump was a battering ram against this corrupt system. Elon Musk is a surgeon, meticulously exposing the infection that has festered for decades — and that’s why the leftists hate him even more than they hate Trump. Musk threatens to dismantle the financial web that sustains their entire operation.

When we allow the government to grow unchecked and our leaders to prioritize their own wealth and power over the good of the nation, figures like Trump and Musk are necessary. Rome didn’t fall because of an external invasion but rather due to internal decay that looked an awful lot like what we see today.

We must demand better. We must refuse to tolerate this corruption any longer. The FMCS may be gone, but the fight to root out this deep-seated corruption is far from over.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

Did the CIA hide the real truth behind JFK's assassination?

Bettmann / Contributor, NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

Many were disappointed by the recent release of the JFK files, frustrated by the apparent lack of answers to decades-old questions. The problem? They’re asking the wrong question.

Everyone wants a "who"—a smoking gun, someone to blame. It’s understandable; Americans crave justice for a slain president, to hold the culprits of one of the 20th century’s greatest crimes accountable. But the real answer isn’t a "who"—it’s a "what." That "what" is the CIA and proof of their nefarious dealings since the 1960s.

In his most recent TV special, Glenn delves into the JFK files, where he found the crucial information that everyone else seemed to miss. Be sure to watch the TV special here.

The CIA's Dirty Fingerprints

Did Oswald act alone? I tested the Warren Commission's "lone gunman" narrative and discovered something SHOCKING.

Watch the full experiment TONIGHT at 9PM ET only on https://t.co/Ki1CX633fq pic.twitter.com/DwNSUFXJ1r
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) March 26, 2025

While the recent JFK files don’t explicitly pin the assassination on the CIA, the evidence between the lines is compelling.

If you follow Glenn on X, you’ve seen his newest artifact: an exact replica of Lee Harvey Oswald’s rifle. Glenn tested it at the range, attempting to replicate the notoriously difficult shot Oswald allegedly made that fateful day in Dallas. While Glenn shares more takeaways in his TV special, one thing stood out immediately: the rifle’s abysmal quality, its shoddy scope, and the odd caliber of ammunition it uses.

Oswald’s rifle, a Mannlicher-Carcano, is chambered in 6.5mm—an unusual caliber. Much like today, the average gun store in the ‘60s didn’t stock 6.5mm rounds. The largest known supply was owned by the CIA, who had shipped the ammo from Greece after World War II. Suspiciously, there’s no record of where Oswald got his ammunition, but the JFK files confirm that the gun store where he bought the Mannlicher-Carcano had CIA connections.

It’s well-known that Oswald defected to the USSR and lived there before returning to the U.S. The JFK files reveal that from the moment he touched down stateside, the CIA tracked him like a hawk. They followed him across the country and even to Mexico City—but, conveniently, seemed to lose him in Dallas just as President Kennedy arrived. What a coincidence.

Whether by design or gross incompetence, the CIA greased Oswald’s path, letting him slip unhindered into that sixth-floor Book Depository window.

The Cover-Up

SAUL LOEB / Staff | Getty Images

If the JFK files aren’t the smoking gun many hoped for, why did the CIA fight so hard to keep them buried?

The answer is trust. Hard as it may be to imagine today, Americans in the ‘60s trusted their government—at least more than they do now. This cover-up preserved that trust longer than it might have lasted, allowing the CIA to pull off more scandals before the public caught on. From Benghaziand 9/11 to COVID-19 and January 6, the same dirty marks found in the JFK files stain these events. It’s about saving face. The files make the CIA look incompetent at best, complicit at worst.

This might feel like common knowledge today—especially to Glenn’s audience—but 40 or 50 years ago, saying such things could land you in the loony bin. It’s taken 60 years of growing suspicion to reach this point. Imagine if the JFK files had been available back then. Could we have stopped six decades of CIA shenanigans in their tracks?

The thought is chilling.

What Now?

Fotosearch / Stringer | Getty Images

The files don’t name a mastermind or explicitly confirm the darkest JFK assassination conspiracies that have swirled for decades—but they’re far from empty. They expose a disturbing truth: the CIA’s unchecked power in the ‘60s echoes into today.

In one of his most exciting TV specials yet, Glenn delves deep into the files, proving why we can’t ignore these revelations. Stop chasing a "who" and start demanding accountability for the "what." Only by confronting this can we hope to rein in the agency that’s dodged scrutiny for too long.

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