Glenn: This is probably the hardest thing I have ever asked of you

June 23, 2014

The Glenn Beck Program

Glenn and TheBlaze have been covering the growing crisis at the southern border for a number of weeks now. With the situation further deteriorating, Glenn came before his audience on Monday morning with an interesting ask. In fact, Glenn described what he was about to say as “the hardest thing” he has ever asked for. But as he shared troubling new information about the humanitarian crisis at the border, Glenn asked his listeners to consider donating to Mercury One.

Below is an edited transcript of the monologue:

I'm not going to tell you who is giving me this information because things down at the border are extraordinarily difficult and not what you are being told it is. The Administration – and I believe this also includes the progressives Republicans – are trying to keep the lid on the media right now. And the churches are the ones who are pulling people's feet out of the fire. Our state reps now have gone and toured the facilities that are happening in Laredo, Brownsville, Van Horn, McAllen, and all across the border. This one particular facility that I want to talk to you about holds 400 people but currently it has 1,200 kids in it. Some of them are toddlers. 1,200. 400 is what the max capacity is.

Let me ask you: How fast would the federal government or the state shut you down if you had anything that said maximum capacity 400, and you had 1,200 people if there? Three times the amount. Is anybody seeing a problem with this? The federal government is breaking their own laws and they are keeping this information from us.

I am told by people who have toured and work at this facility that when they open the doors to go in, the stench is so bad the politicians that were to go in gagged and backed out. One of the churches is planning on converting their entire church, the largest in the area, to become a holding facility because of how bad things are. Things are so desperate right now, hygiene and food are the number one problem. Clothes are further down the list. They need portable showers and Port-A-Johns. They have no way to wash their clothes. They need food and hygiene care right now. Many of them have not eaten in days. FEMA is supposed to be down there. They are not down there.

The more I get into it, the more angry I get. The more I see and the more I hear from both the Republicans and the Democrats, the more disgusted I am with them. And then we're sitting here in this situation to where we have to ask ourselves: Who are we? What is it we're going to do?

I have come to a place this weekend that I believe in the Constitution of the United States. I believe in the United States of America. And that is my citizenship. But that is my secondary citizenship. The Constitution of the United States of America was God-inspired and man tried to write. It guarantees some basic freedoms for us, and that's why it exists. But that is not where those freedoms come from. Our freedoms come from a higher citizenship. And now we have people who are in need. As I sit and I look at what's happening on the border and then I look at whose border it is, we've never seen a humanitarian crisis like this. We never had refugee camps in America that I know of unless we were the progressives that rounded the Japanese up or the Germans or the Italians. We've not done that. In America, we pride ourselves on the fact that we're the good guys, right?

That's who we are. We pull our wounded enemies off the battlefield and we treat them in our hospitals. We offer medical care to our prisoners – even those who have done the most heinous things, the worst of the worst, we still believe in treating them in humane ways. And it's because it's simple. It is really simple to Americans. And this is what makes us different. We believe humanity is a higher standard on the battlefield. We believe humanity is a higher stand than the rule of law. We believe helping people, being charitable, being good, is what makes us. We have a higher calling.

The same thing goes for our borders. Humanity, our humanness, is a higher standard than immigration. To consider the well-being of others is what makes us human. It's what makes us Americans.

I have to tell you, I am so mad at our politicians right now, I can't take it. I'm to the point now where I'm beyond mad. I beg them, please, please, for everything that is good and decent, secure our borders and fix our immigration policies. Please, don't you see the misery that is being caused all over the country? Please. Can you not hear, can you not smell what's happening on our borders? Please. But I have no faith in Washington anymore.

I still have, thank God, my faith in you. Now we have a choice. We can run down to the borders and secure it ourselves. Let's get our guns. Let's go down there and secure it ourselves. But that doesn't fix the humanitarian crisis. And we have to err on the side of humanity. If we're going to be Americans, a choice has to be made. And we always make the right choice. We really do. As people, we always do. We would rather extend ourselves and see the life of a child protected than err on the side of being silent or still and harm coming to a child while politicians do what politicians do nothing, debate meaningless words. That's what makes them politicians. Acting in a compassionate way is what makes us human. It's what makes us Americans.

I don't know what's going to happen on our border. I don't know what's going to happen with our politicians. I have a feeling I know. And I want no part of it. These people have to be sent home. They have to be sent home. But I can't sleep at night knowing that we know what's going on.

When I got that email, I reached out to Mercury One and asked them, can we send trucks? We just helped with a tornado up in Nebraska. We sent five tractor-trailers within hours. We had five tractor-trailers. This is going to take a lot more than five tractor-trailers. I want to be really clear. I am not for amnesty. I am not for open borders. The policies have to be debated. The laws have to be written. But we can't allow the suffering to happen on our side of the border and know about it.

If you don't want to know about it, you better turn off the radio. Well, oops, it's too late for that. You now know about it. It's like if we were in the hospital, and there was a sick child and they were an immigrant and they're sitting there, anybody, it doesn't matter. We always say, we didn't need universal health care. We know our system was broken. We got that. But we don't want it running through the government because it's going to make it worse. And they said, ‘Well, you can't let people just die of cancer in the streets.’ Nobody was dying of cancer in the streets. You and I both know that when people would go into the hospital, they would get treatment. You know that, and I know that. Because it's what Americans do.

Today, I want to appeal to you. I want you to just think about this, please. The two citizenships that we hold. We will destroy our country if we only recognize the citizenship that we have in our country. If the Constitution of the United States of America is our god, then we are lost already. Our God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Our God demands certain things from us. He demands us to see each other. He demands that we help each other. He demands that we help the child. We help the suffering. We are the Good Samaritan.

There are some who are going to say, ‘I'm not going to help the people. They came across the border.’ Well, okay, but they're here now. They're on our border. Yes, some of them may be MS-13. That's a different argument. We can sort out who's who after we take care of people. That's for the government to do. I'm not talking about we're going to send them into our cities.

I'm saying can we please get them Port-a-Potties. Can we get them portable showers? Can we feed them? You want to show the world what it means to be an American? Then let's do that. Let's put the well being of others on the highest pedestal. I beg our politicians, please, stop seeing Rs and Ds. Stop seeing votes. Start seeing people. You got to get this one right. You can't swamp our cities. You can't swamp our churches. You can't swamp the American people. We're the only lifeboat out there. You want to help people? We have to be strong. You have to get this one right because the American people are charitable.

But the cause of charity, even though it's noble, is not a solution. It's just a means of closing the gap. You have to close the gap. You have to be strong and say, ‘Stop sending us your 3-year-olds. It's not right. It's dangerous for the 3-year-old. Please. Implore to people.’ They are just like you. What parent sends a 3-year-old across the border with a drug smuggler? I'll tell you what. Somebody who sees what's on the other side. Somebody who says there's nothing here. They'd be better off up there. I'll take the chance. What does that tell you? That tells you that things are so out of control in their country, that things are so lawless in their country, that their children don't even have a chance. Why in our wildest dreams would we try to help people in other countries by becoming lawless ourselves? The laws matter. It is up to the President, it is up to the Department of Justice, it is up to our Congress to actually stand by those laws and enforce those laws and if you don't like those laws, then change those laws. But until you do, you have to enforce them and until they do, we have to be charitable.

I don't know how you're going to react. I really don't. This is probably the hardest thing I've ever asked of you because I know how angry you are. I know what you feel on the border because I feel exactly the same way. But what makes us Americans is empathy. What makes us Americans is charity. When our game is divine, and everything that we do is noble, at least everything we strive for is noble, that's when we become America.

Could I ask you to donate to MercuryOne.org. I will promise you that every dollar – even if it is only a dollar – will go to help those in need. We will not stop helping those who are hit by a hurricane or hit by a tornado here in our own country. But now for the first time in my lifetime, we have a humanitarian crisis because the politicians have dropped the ball. Let's not drop the ball ourselves. Let's continue to be Americans. MercuryOne.org.

You can donate to Mercury One HERE.

Front page image courtesy of the AP

What our response to Israel reveals about us

JOSEPH PREZIOSO / Contributor | Getty Images

I have been honored to receive the Defender of Israel Award from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The Jerusalem Post recently named me one of the strongest Christian voices in support of Israel.

And yet, my support is not blind loyalty. It’s not a rubber stamp for any government or policy. I support Israel because I believe it is my duty — first as a Christian, but even if I weren’t a believer, I would still support her as a man of reason, morality, and common sense.

Because faith isn’t required to understand this: Israel’s existence is not just about one nation’s survival — it is about the survival of Western civilization itself.

It is a lone beacon of shared values in the Middle East. It is a bulwark standing against radical Islam — the same evil that seeks to dismantle our own nation from within.

And my support is not rooted in politics. It is rooted in something simpler and older than politics: a people’s moral and historical right to their homeland, and their right to live in peace.

Israel has that right — and the right to defend herself against those who openly, repeatedly vow her destruction.

Let’s make it personal: if someone told me again and again that they wanted to kill me and my entire family — and then acted on that threat — would I not defend myself? Wouldn’t you? If Hamas were Canada, and we were Israel, and they did to us what Hamas has done to them, there wouldn’t be a single building left standing north of our border. That’s not a question of morality.

That’s just the truth. All people — every people — have a God-given right to protect themselves. And Israel is doing exactly that.

My support for Israel’s right to finish the fight against Hamas comes after eighty years of rejected peace offers and failed two-state solutions. Hamas has never hidden its mission — the eradication of Israel. That’s not a political disagreement.

That’s not a land dispute. That is an annihilationist ideology. And while I do not believe this is America’s war to fight, I do believe — with every fiber of my being — that it is Israel’s right, and moral duty, to defend her people.

Criticism of military tactics is fair. That’s not antisemitism. But denying Israel’s right to exist, or excusing — even celebrating — the barbarity of Hamas? That’s something far darker.

We saw it on October 7th — the face of evil itself. Women and children slaughtered. Babies burned alive. Innocent people raped and dragged through the streets. And now, to see our own fellow citizens march in defense of that evil… that is nothing short of a moral collapse.

If the chants in our streets were, “Hamas, return the hostages — Israel, stop the bombing,” we could have a conversation.

But that’s not what we hear.

What we hear is open sympathy for genocidal hatred. And that is a chasm — not just from decency, but from humanity itself. And here lies the danger: that same hatred is taking root here — in Dearborn, in London, in Paris — not as horror, but as heroism. If we are not vigilant, the enemy Israel faces today will be the enemy the free world faces tomorrow.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about truth. It’s about the courage to call evil by its name and to say “Never again” — and mean it.

And you don’t have to open a Bible to understand this. But if you do — if you are a believer — then this issue cuts even deeper. Because the question becomes: what did God promise, and does He keep His word?

He told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.” He promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and to give him “the whole land of Canaan.” And though Abraham had other sons, God reaffirmed that promise through Isaac. And then again through Isaac’s son, Jacob — Israel — saying: “The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I give to you and to your descendants after you.”

That’s an everlasting promise.

And from those descendants came a child — born in Bethlehem — who claimed to be the Savior of the world. Jesus never rejected His title as “son of David,” the great King of Israel.

He said plainly that He came “for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And when He returns, Scripture says He will return as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” And where do you think He will go? Back to His homeland — Israel.

Tamir Kalifa / Stringer | Getty Images

And what will He find when He gets there? His brothers — or his brothers’ enemies? Will the roads where He once walked be preserved? Or will they lie in rubble, as Gaza does today? If what He finds looks like the aftermath of October 7th, then tell me — what will be my defense as a Christian?

Some Christians argue that God’s promises to Israel have been transferred exclusively to the Church. I don’t believe that. But even if you do, then ask yourself this: if we’ve inherited the promises, do we not also inherit the land? Can we claim the birthright and then, like Esau, treat it as worthless when the world tries to steal it?

So, when terrorists come to slaughter Israelis simply for living in the land promised to Abraham, will we stand by? Or will we step forward — into the line of fire — and say,

“Take me instead”?

Because this is not just about Israel’s right to exist.

It’s about whether we still know the difference between good and evil.

It’s about whether we still have the courage to stand where God stands.

And if we cannot — if we will not — then maybe the question isn’t whether Israel will survive. Maybe the question is whether we will.

America’s moral erosion: How we were conditioned to accept the unthinkable

MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND / Contributor | Getty Images

Every time we look away from lawlessness, we tell the next mob it can go a little further.

Chicago, Portland, and other American cities are showing us what happens when the rule of law breaks down. These cities have become openly lawless — and that’s not hyperbole.

When a governor declares she doesn’t believe federal agents about a credible threat to their lives, when Chicago orders its police not to assist federal officers, and when cartels print wanted posters offering bounties for the deaths of U.S. immigration agents, you’re looking at a country flirting with anarchy.

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic.

This isn’t a matter of partisan politics. The struggle we’re watching now is not between Democrats and Republicans. It’s between good and evil, right and wrong, self‑government and chaos.

Moral erosion

For generations, Americans have inherited a republic based on law, liberty, and moral responsibility. That legacy is now under assault by extremists who openly seek to collapse the system and replace it with something darker.

Antifa, well‑financed by the left, isn’t an isolated fringe any more than Occupy Wall Street was. As with Occupy, big money and global interests are quietly aligned with “anti‑establishment” radicals. The goal is disruption, not reform.

And they’ve learned how to condition us. Twenty‑five years ago, few Americans would have supported drag shows in elementary schools, biological males in women’s sports, forced vaccinations, or government partnerships with mega‑corporations to decide which businesses live or die. Few would have tolerated cartels threatening federal agents or tolerated mobs doxxing political opponents. Yet today, many shrug — or cheer.

How did we get here? What evidence convinced so many people to reverse themselves on fundamental questions of morality, liberty, and law? Those long laboring to disrupt our republic have sought to condition people to believe that the ends justify the means.

Promoting “tolerance” justifies women losing to biological men in sports. “Compassion” justifies harboring illegal immigrants, even violent criminals. Whatever deluded ideals Antifa espouses is supposed to somehow justify targeting federal agents and overturning the rule of law. Our culture has been conditioned for this moment.

The buck stops with us

That’s why the debate over using troops to restore order in American cities matters so much. I’ve never supported soldiers executing civilian law, and I still don’t. But we need to speak honestly about what the Constitution allows and why. The Posse Comitatus Act sharply limits the use of the military for domestic policing. The Insurrection Act, however, exists for rare emergencies — when federal law truly can’t be enforced by ordinary means and when mobs, cartels, or coordinated violence block the courts.

Even then, the Constitution demands limits: a public proclamation ordering offenders to disperse, transparency about the mission, a narrow scope, temporary duration, and judicial oversight.

Soldiers fight wars. Cops enforce laws. We blur that line at our peril.

But we also cannot allow intimidation of federal officers or tolerate local officials who openly obstruct federal enforcement. Both extremes — lawlessness on one side and militarization on the other — endanger the republic.

The only way out is the Constitution itself. Protect civil liberty. Enforce the rule of law. Demand transparency. Reject the temptation to justify any tactic because “our side” is winning. We’ve already seen how fear after 9/11 led to the Patriot Act and years of surveillance.

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / Contributor | Getty Images

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic. The left cannot be allowed to shut down enforcement, and the right cannot be allowed to abandon constitutional restraint.

The real threat to the republic isn’t just the mobs or the cartels. It’s us — citizens who stop caring about truth and constitutional limits. Anything can be justified when fear takes over. Everything collapses when enough people decide “the ends justify the means.”

We must choose differently. Uphold the rule of law. Guard civil liberties. And remember that the only way to preserve a government of, by, and for the people is to act like the people still want it.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Stand with Voddie Baucham’s family in this time of loss

In the quiet aftermath of a profound loss, the Christian community mourns the unexpected passing of Dr. Voddie Baucham, a towering figure in evangelical circles. Known for his defense of biblical truth, Baucham, a pastor, author, and theologian, left a legacy on family, faith, and opposing "woke" ideologies in the church. His book Fault Lines challenged believers to prioritize Scripture over cultural trends. Glenn had Voddie on the show several times, where they discussed progressive influences in Christianity, debunked myths of “Christian nationalism,” and urged hope amid hostility.

The shock of Baucham's death has deeply affected his family. Grieving, they remain hopeful in Christ, with his wife, Bridget, now facing the task of resettling in the US without him. Their planned move from Lusaka, Zambia, was disrupted when their home sale fell through last December, resulting in temporary Airbnb accommodations, but they have since secured a new home in Cape Coral that requires renovations. To ensure Voddie's family is taken care of, a fundraiser is being held to raise $2 million, which will be invested for ongoing support, allowing Bridget to focus on her family.

We invite readers to contribute prayerfully. If you feel called to support the Bauchams in this time of need, you can click here to donate.

We grieve and pray with hope for the Bauchams.

May Voddie's example inspire us.

Overcoming loneliness: Connecting in a disconnected world

Loneliness isn’t just being alone — it’s feeling unseen, unheard, and unimportant, even amid crowds and constant digital chatter.

Loneliness has become an epidemic in America. Millions of people, even when surrounded by others, feel invisible. In tragic irony, we live in an age of unparalleled connectivity, yet too many sit in silence, unseen and unheard.

I’ve been experiencing this firsthand. My children have grown up and moved out. The house that once overflowed with life now echoes with quiet. Moments that once held laughter now hold silence. And in that silence, the mind can play cruel games. It whispers, “You’re forgotten. Your story doesn’t matter.”

We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

It’s a lie.

I’ve seen it in others. I remember sitting at Rockefeller Center one winter, watching a woman lace up her ice skates. Her clothing was worn, her bag battered. Yet on the ice, she transformed — elegant, alive, radiant.

Minutes later, she returned to her shoes, merged into the crowd, unnoticed. I’ve thought of her often. She was not alone in her experience. Millions of Americans live unseen, performing acts of quiet heroism every day.

Shared pain makes us human

Loneliness convinces us to retreat, to stay silent, to stop reaching out to others. But connection is essential. Even small gestures — a word of encouragement, a listening ear, a shared meal — are radical acts against isolation.

I’ve learned this personally. Years ago, a caller called me “Mr. Perfect.” I could have deflected, but I chose honesty. I spoke of my alcoholism, my failed marriage, my brokenness. I expected judgment. Instead, I found resonance. People whispered back, “I’m going through the same thing. Thank you for saying it.”

Our pain is universal. Everyone struggles with self-doubt and fear. Everyone feels, at times, like a fraud. We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

We were made for connection. We were built for community — for conversation, for touch, for shared purpose. Every time we reach out, every act of courage and compassion punches a hole in the wall of isolation.

You’re not alone

If you’re feeling alone, know this: You are not invisible. You are seen. You matter. And if you’re not struggling, someone you know is. It’s your responsibility to reach out.

Loneliness is not proof of brokenness. It is proof of humanity. It is a call to engage, to bear witness, to connect. The world is different because of the people who choose to act. It is brighter when we refuse to be isolated.

We cannot let silence win. We cannot allow loneliness to dictate our lives. Speak. Reach out. Connect. Share your gifts. By doing so, we remind one another: We are all alike, and yet each of us matters profoundly.

In this moment, in this country, in this world, what we do matters. Loneliness is real, but so is hope. And hope begins with connection.