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As Part of the Fight Against Human Trafficking, Painter Creates ‘Underground Railroad’

December 14, 2017
Jon Boldt

Writer

Utah-based painter Jon McNaughton joined Glenn today to talk about “The Underground Railroad,” a painting commissioned by the Liberty89 Foundation on behalf of modern-day abolitionists who fight human trafficking.

“He paints these amazing paintings that tell stories,” Glenn described McNaughton’s work. “Stories of where we are as people.”

The detailed painting portrays “abolitionists of yesterday and today,” including some of the undercover Operation Underground Railroad operatives who fight modern-day slavery. All profits from sales of the painting will go toward the fight to end human trafficking.

GLENN: So I have to tell you, I'm -- I am -- I'm uncomfortable with this next -- with this next interview in some ways, and I think you'll understand once you hear what it is.

But John McNaughton is an artist. He is -- has been controversial over the last few years. But he -- he -- he paints these amazing paintings that tell stories. Tell stories of, you know, where we are as people. And he ties history and current events together. You'll recognize his paintings the minute you see them.

He's just done a painting that OUR did not request. It wasn't a commission. Because it's made all of us -- we're really flattered, but also really uncomfortable. He's made this painting, and he has made it and donated it to raise funds to help out the -- the stop of slavery around the world.

And it is the -- the modern day abolitionist side by side with the original abolitionists in a very powerful painting.

And welcome to the program, John McNaughton. How are you, sir?

JOHN: Hi, Glenn, I'm good. Thank you.

GLENN: I hope you don't take my -- I don't even know how to explain this. I guess my shyness on this as an insult. I'm honored that you would paint this and even include me in this. But it's really awkward.

JOHN: Yes, I know. You know, Tim Ballard told me that you would feel that way. HEP he told me 100 percent. You don't have the spotlight, but you're in there.

GLENN: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So Tony Robbins is in there. Mike Tomlin from the Steelers is in there. Montel Williams. Mia Love. Ashton Kutcher is there. Albert Pools is there. Eric Metaxas. HEP it's some of the really great people of our day.

STU: And Glenn as well. Glenn as well. So all the great people, plus Glenn.

GLENN: Yes. And I'm on the edge, so you can kind of airbrush me out of this.

So what was your inspiration? And tell me about why you did it.

JOHN: Yeah, sure. Someone who is friends with Tim Ballard was talking to me one day about the organization. And I had never heard about it before. And as he explained it to me, you know, I had this image in my mind, kind of where I saw this rescuer, or line of rescuers, you know, carrying children, walking down the tracks, you know, the underground railroad. And on both sides of the tracks, you had different abolitionists holding their lamps, guiding away. And I was just really taken by the idea.

And I thought, you know, this could actually be a project that could help the cause to save children. And, you know, I always tried to do paintings that I think will make a difference. But this one, I mean, to save a child, it was overwhelming. And so I just started painting it. And after I had gotten so far, my friends who knew Tim Ballard contacted them. And then from there, Tim gave me a lot of his suggestions of who should be in the painting.

GLENN: So we have just partnered with Tim Ballard. In case you're listening and don't know who Tim Ballard is, we've just partnered with the Nazarene Fund. We've been a partner. We raised the original money to open up, you know, Operation Underground Railroad, rescue our children.

It is a worldwide effort to stop slavery. And he is now the CEO of the Nazarene Fund as well.

And we are going to start going in, in a big way, next year. Rescuing slaves in the Middle East. These Christians that have just been left to die by the rest of the world. To live be sure life in slavery. And we're going to really double down and start rescuing them next year.

It's quite an amazing thing that's going on.

When you were picking -- when when you were picking the people -- the modern day -- or, I'm sorry, the earlier -- the original abolitionists.

JOHN: Yeah.

GLENN: How did you decide who would be in there?

JOHN: Well, we just looked at the history of, you know, abolitionists in the past and people who had interesting stories. And talking with Tim, he said, oh, you have to have this person. You got to have this person. And, you know, some of the names I recognized. A lot of them I didn't. People like William Wilberforce, you know, I remember seeing him in the movie Amazing Grace, you know, his story. But there was this woman named Harriet Jacobs that I had never heard of that had this remarkable story that Tim told me about. I think they only learned about her in the last six, seven years. And so she's in the picture. And just a lot of different stories that I just didn't know about. And they have an e- book that comes with the painting where people can learn all the details of each person in the picture and why they're there. It's pretty amazing.

GLENN: So you can buy it at ourpainting.org. Our painting.org.

How many of these are you selling or how much are they?

JOHN: They start at $29. And then they go up. You can get a nice framed one. And 100 percent of all the profits, everything is going to rescue children. And Tim told me it takes about $2,000 to rescue a child and to help rehabilitate them and go through that process.

And so we're hoping that we can just sell a lot of these prints and to -- to -- to rescue, you know, thousands of children, if we can.

GLENN: Well, I know that you left Tony Robbins in disguise because he goes on operations in disguise. And he thanks you. I wish you would have painted a beard on me to disguise me as well. It's an honor to have been thought of as part of that. And I tell Tim all the time, and he hates when I say this, I do believe that they're going to build statues of him someday because of the work that he has done. He is changing -- he is the modern day abolitionist for sure. And I sure appreciate your help. Thank you, John, so much.

STU: And, John, we really appreciate your efforts to not only stop slavery in the world, but also your efforts to make Glenn feel uncomfortable.

GLENN: Thank you. Thank you.

JOHN: I do my best.

GLENN: Well, thank you. You did a good job. John McNaughton. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. You see the painting and purchase the painting. It would be a good Christmas gift.

You might want to frame it in a little bit. There's some shady characters on the outside of it. But ourpainting.org. Ourpainting.org. All of the proceeds go to help rescue slaves all around the world, including the Middle East and the Nazarene Fund.

Are Gen Z's socialist sympathies a threat to America's future?

NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

In a republic forged on the anvil of liberty and self-reliance, where generations have fought to preserve free markets against the siren song of tyranny, Gen Z's alarming embrace of socialism amid housing crises and economic despair has sparked urgent alarm. But in a recent poll, Glenn asked the tough questions: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from—and what does it mean for America's future? Glenn asked, and you answered—hundreds weighed in on this volatile mix of youthful frustration and ideological peril.

The results paint a stark picture of distrust in the system. A whopping 79% of you affirm that Gen Z's socialist sympathies stem from real economic gripes, like sky-high housing costs and a rigged game tilted toward the elite and corporations—defying the argument that it's just youthful naivety. Even more telling, 97% believe this trend arises from a glaring educational void on socialism's bloody historical track record, where failed regimes have crushed freedoms under the boot of big government. And 97% see these poll findings as a harbinger of deepening generational rifts, potentially fueling political chaos and authoritarian overreach if left unchecked.

Your verdict underscores a moral imperative: America's soul hangs on reclaiming timeless values like self-reliance and liberty. This feedback amplifies your concerns, sending a clear message to the powers that be.

Want to make your voice heard? Check out more polls HERE.

Without civic action, America faces collapse

JEFF KOWALSKY / Contributor | Getty Images

Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

I slept through high school civics class. I memorized the three branches of government, promptly forgot them, and never thought of that word again. Civics seemed abstract, disconnected from real life. And yet, it is critical to maintaining our republic.

Civics is not a class. It is a responsibility. A set of habits, disciplines, and values that make a country possible. Without it, no country survives.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Civics happens every time you speak freely, worship openly, question your government, serve on a jury, or cast a ballot. It’s not a theory or just another entry in a textbook. It’s action — the acts we perform every day to be a positive force in society.

Many of us recoil at “civic responsibility.” “I pay my taxes. I follow the law. I do my civic duty.” That’s not civics. That’s a scam, in my opinion.

Taking up the torch

The founders knew a republic could never run on autopilot. And yet, that’s exactly what we do now. We assume it will work, then complain when it doesn’t. Meanwhile, the people steering the country are driving it straight into a mountain — and they know it.

Our founders gave us tools: separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, elections. But they also warned us: It won’t work unless we are educated, engaged, and moral.

Are we educated, engaged, and moral? Most Americans cannot even define a republic, never mind “keep one,” as Benjamin Franklin urged us to do after the Constitutional Convention.

We fought and died for the republic. Gaining it was the easy part. Keeping it is hard. And keeping it is done through civics.

Start small and local

In our homes, civics means teaching our children the Constitution, our history, and that liberty is not license — it is the space to do what is right. In our communities, civics means volunteering, showing up, knowing your sheriff, attending school board meetings, and understanding the laws you live under. When necessary, it means challenging them.

How involved are you in your local community? Most people would admit: not really.

Civics is learned in practice. And it starts small. Be honest in your business dealings. Speak respectfully in disagreement. Vote in every election, not just the presidential ones. Model citizenship for your children. Liberty is passed down by teaching and example.

Samuel Corum / Stringer | Getty Images

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Start with yourself. Study the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and state laws. Study, act, serve, question, and teach. Only then can we hope to save the republic. The next election will not fix us. The nation will rise or fall based on how each of us lives civics every day.

Civics isn’t a class. It’s the way we protect freedom, empower our communities, and pass down liberty to the next generation.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE