The 2024 presidential election season has already proven to be unprecedented and bizarre. Everyone is asking, “What’s at stake?” A lot. BlazeTV host Steve Deace has made a career parsing this exact question, and, as he tells Glenn on this episode of "The Glenn Beck Podcast," America has never been more reliant on the answer. Steve is the #1 best-selling author of "Faucian Bargain: The Most Powerful and Dangerous Bureaucrat in America History." His latest is “Rise of the Fourth Reich.” This year, he took on Hollywood with his underdog success, “Nefarious.” He and Glenn walk through many of his biggest ideas, fears, and suspicions, as well as his proposed solutions, from a new era of the GOP to a bold, new devotion to religion, with some interesting examples, including Billy Graham's fight against Soviet propaganda. In the wake of the first Republican presidential debate, Steve explains why he’s cautious about supporting Vivek Ramaswamy and why he has endorsed Ron DeSantis. With former President Donald Trump facing another arrest, Steve lays out the dubious events of Fulton County. The nation is approaching a breaking point, and, as Steve tells Glenn, there are really only two possible outcomes: policy or violence. It has to be policy. It can’t be violence. But in order to do that, Americans have to make giant choices right now.
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They Broke America's Social Compact. What Now? | Steve Deace | The Glenn Beck Podcast | Ep 191
The BIGGEST LESSON From the California Wildfires
The California wildfires that have ripped through the Palisades and other parts of the Los Angeles area have been unbelievably devastating. Many have lost their homes, including famous celebrities. But was this tragedy avoidable? While Glenn doesn’t want to make this about politics, he says we must note that “California has been playing with fire, literally, for a long time.” The state has neglected its forests for decades thanks to bureaucracy, politics, and “eggheads” from the cities. Glenn also explains how the region’s water infrastructure has also been neglected, which has led to fire hydrants running dry. Finally, Glenn addresses what is likely the biggest lesson for California: “How you vote matters.”
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: All righty. So -- so let's talk about what's happening in California. And my heart is truly heavy for those people, who have families in California. The people in California, that have lost their homes or are still faring that they might lose their home.
You know, this is a -- if you've never seen a forest fire, you can't really describe it.
It's almost like a tornado.
Unless you've been in a tornado, or seen the damage after his, you really don't know what you're talking about with the tornado.
It's unlike anything I've ever seen.
Same thing with a forest fire.
We had a small forest fire here, up in the -- up in the mountains, of Idaho last summer.
It was just about, oh, I don't know, 2 miles down the street for me.
Luckily, the winds weren't there.
But if the winds had kicked up, it probably would have burned my house down. I mean, it is -- you cannot describe a forest fire. It is -- when it's out of control, you have no chance. Just get out of there.
And my heartbreaks for people, who are going through this, right now. And breaks for the people of California.
I -- let me address that person right now, if you happen to be in California. Know that you're not alone.
You may feel like the flames have stolen everything from you.
But -- and, boy, I was thinking about this, well, this summer, when I came back from that forest fire. And thought, all of this could be gone.
The things that you have in your house, they are just things. But there are certain things. Memories, pictures. Things that you have collected over the years, with your family. That can't be replaced.
And I know what that must feel like.
But two things: One, you're alive. You have your family.
And help is on the way. My charity, Mercury One is along with the Red Cross and everybody else.
Is working tirelessly to bring relief and comfort and assistance to those who are affected right now.
We are -- we are doing what our government is asking us to do. We don't want to get in the way of forest. Or firefighters.
They have enough trouble.
But I -- I -- I want to talk to you first, with compassion. About why this keeps happening.
And what California needs to do about it.
This is not my state. This is their state. But if you're asking for our help, you know -- one of the hardest things I've ever had to do is -- I had a friend I went to church with.
And he called me. One time. And he said, Glenn, I really need -- I don't remember what it was. Say a thousand dollars.
Because I have to get home. Some family stuff.
And I -- I was about to say, yes.
But in my -- in my faith, we -- it's the largest welfare program, I think in the world.
And we take care of, you know, not just our own. But anybody who lives in the district of that particular church.
The bishop is responsible for them.
And we have to take care of our neighbors.
And so with that, it's very orderly.
You know, when you have a problem with or if there is a problem with is the neighbor or something. You go to the church. Hey, my neighbor. Who is not a member of the church. Is really in trouble.
Can you help? And they usually will. But with that, there are certain things you have to do.
You just don't get free money. You know, you have to change can't life.
You'll take classes on how to, you know, manage money. Or whatever the thing is. So I said, to this person, I was just about to say yes. And I said, hey, have you talked to the bishop yet?
And he said, no. No. I haven't.
Now, that's unusual, in my faith, if you have a big problem. Especially with money, you normally would go to the bishop.
And I said with be okay. Let me call you back. And I called the bishop.
And I said, hey. So-and-so just called me. And I can do this.
Is there anything I'm missing here.
And he said, Glenn, I'm so glad you called me.
He said, yes. This particular individual is struggling, and we've been helping for a while.
But he won't connect with the problem. And correct the problems.
And he said, he's doing this from time to time. He'll call people. And they'll just give him money. And that hurts it.
So I ask you to do the thing. This is probably the hardest thing you've ever done. I know you have the money to help. Please don't. Because it will help set him back, and not help him feel the full ramifications. So I had to call my friend back and say, I can't right now. And I felt awful. I felt absolutely awful about it.
But if we don't talk and face the problem, you're never going to solve it. Now, this, again is not my problem.
California, you're not my problem.
Okay? I mean, I want to help. And as a citizen of America, you're another citizen.
You're my neighbor. I want to help. I want to help people all over the world. But first, you have to help yourself.
You know, natural disasters, most times are out of our control.
The extent of the destruction, in California, you know, could be mitigated. If we made smarter choices about how, you know, Californians manage their land. And their resources.
Examine their votes. California has been playing with fire, literally for a long time.
Their forests are full of underbrush. Dead trees. Dry vegetation. Which is kindling for those flames.
The material builds up on the forest floor. It's a perfect condition. For fire -- if you're going to start a fire, go to California. Because that's a perfect condition.
I'm not saying that literally, by the way. But it doesn't have to be this way.
You know, you go to places like Sweden or Finland or Austria. Countries that have large, vulnerable forests.
They understand the importance of forest management.
Can they prioritize the clearing out of underbrush. And the clearing out of trees.
And because they're a little socialist in nature, they do it in a sustainable way. They partner with local industries, that will take that material, from the forest floor.
And they use it as bio mass energy for other products.
So it doesn't just reduce the fire risk.
It creates jobs. And a healthier ecosystem.
Here in America, some states do it right.
I mean, Florida has fires. But not like California.
Why?
Because they do controlled burns.
Forest thinning.
Routine practicing. You know what, honestly, God does this.
Lightning.
Before we would put forest fires out, or could.
Lightning would strike.
That would burn the forest down. And it replenishes the soil and everything else.
We don't want to do that. Because our houses are surrounded by trees and forest and everything else. So we either have to do a controlled burn, or we have to go in and take all of that stuff, that lightning would have taken out, to replenish everything.
But California's won't do that.
Why? The answer lies in bureaucracy. And priorities.
And -- and really, honestly, egghead.
You know, these people from the cities, that want to manage our forests have no idea, it's common sense.
The environmental regulations. The lawsuits that block or delay, any kind of forest management.
Ideology has gotten in the way of the practical. The lifesaving solutions.
And this has to change, California. It has to.
You see devastation every year. And, you know, honestly, I -- I really don't like insurance companies.
But insurance companies, what they do, it's -- honestly, it's legal gambling.
They are gambling, that you are going to pay them more money, than they have to pay out. As a collective.
Somebody's house might burn down. You might have something catastrophic. Cancer or something that costs a buttload of money. But they're betting, that all of the people in their community, they're sharing the risk.
And not everybody is going to get cancer at the same time.
That way, they can make money. It's legalized gambling.
Honestly, it is. Well, that's the way insurance works. And I don't like insurance companies.
Because many times, they're scamming people, or hurting people. However, let's not blame the insurance companies for getting out. If I'm a company and I have to make a bet, I'm pulling out of California. It's landslides. It's fires. It's floods. It's every year, whole swaths of the state are -- are -- are burning down to the ground!
What kind of bet is that? How do you keep a country -- now, what they'll say is they'll do what they did, when you couldn't get flood insurance, on the coastlines.
We used to say, well, then don't live there. Or if you live there, accept the risk yourself.
Okay.
Instead, we didn't think that was fair. So we came up with government funding.
If you couldn't get flood insurance. No longer was it, don't live in a flood zone!
Build your house somewhere else.
I don't know if you've seen the country, but there's lots of open space.
Don't build in a flood zone.
Instead, we wanted to help everybody, live their dreams. On now, we pay as a federal government, for insurance, for the coastlines.
Why? Okay.
The other issue is water. And let me tell you what the problem is in California.
Now, we know what the immediate problem is: They don't -- firefighters don't have water coming through the fire hydrants. Why is that?
GLENN: We all know that -- I mean, when we look for life on another planet. We look for water.
Because water is essential to life. At least the life we understand.
And that is a major issue, in California, and has been for -- forever.
However, California, take responsibility for the fires to some degree.
You haven't built a new major reservoir, since 1979.
That was four decades ago.
Now, I don't know if you know this. But 40 years ago, the population of your state. Was not the population that it was now.
So the reservoirs, that you had, 40 years ago, is way out of step, with your population, and your needs today!
Your water storage capacity is exactly the same as it was, almost half a century ago!
And on top of that, and this is something Trump has addressed recently. Billions with a B. Billions of gallons of rainwater, flow straight to the ocean every year. Because you haven't built the infrastructure, to capture and store the rainwater.
Now, imagine what could be different, if you had reservoir and aqueducts and desalination plants, to store and provide water for all of the dry seasons!
Water is life. California has spent decades neglecting its water infrastructure, while prioritizing projects that make no meaningful impact on people's lives. This is not a failure just of government. It is a failure of vision.
When the -- when the -- the -- when a leader is not around. When the people lack leadership, there is no vision. And without vision, people perish.
That's what's happening.
Now, on leadership, I'm sorry to make this about politics. But you have to learn the lesson. It has to be said.
How you vote matters. Look at Los Angeles. The progressive mayor cut the fire department's budget. To fund other programs, to give money and housing, they say for the homeless. But it's also a legal program since she gave it to NGOs.
Now, these NGOs, they're not fighting fires in the -- in comparison of the cost of lives, homes, and communities that have been lost in these fires. Those NGOs. There's no comparison, dollar for that are. You have to have leadership that prioritizes the safety and the well-being of the citizens, over their political jeopardize.
And that's not happening in Los Angeles. Okay?
It wasn't happening in Lahaina either. Same goes for the environmental policies. Progressive leaders block sensible forest management practices. Because they're more concerned about pleasing activists, than protecting lives. They're more concerned about the dead trees in the forest, than they are about the live animals who live in that forest!
It's not compassionate. It's dangerous.
Now, Mercury One, we help everybody. I don't care where you come from. I don't care who you voted for.
We are there to you. But we're also in North Carolina, and other areas, reeling from the hurricanes.
We're also still in Lahaina. And no one is talking about those guys. And they will be out of a home for years!
They're not the celebrity influencers who can afford to stay in a luxury hotel.
God and the universe for those in California, require us to do everything we can to help our neighbor.
But help ourselves, before we expect others.
DEBUNKED: Media Says Trump May Take Panama Canal & Greenland by FORCE
Donald Trump is making some big – and unusual – promises before taking office for the second time. Trump has said he will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”. He has suggested that Canada should become the 51st state. He said he wants to buy Greenland. And he also wants the Panama Canal back. But recently, the media used a loaded question to make it sound like Trump isn’t ruling out a military invasion of the Panama Canal and Greenland. Glenn debunks the media’s lie and explains what he believes Trump is really doing: Is this imperialism? Or is it “The Art of the Deal”?
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: Okay. So let me -- let's start with Greenland. Shall we?
Green land, Panama, and Canada.
I -- I have to tell you, well, let's start with his -- Donald Trump's press conference yesterday.
They are always fun.
Cut one.
This is a green landman.
VOICE: So if you could tell Trump anything, what would it be?
VOICE: Buy green land.
VOICE: Why do you Trump to buy green land?
VOICE: We don't want to be colonized by the Danish colony anymore. We get taken our minerals, from Greenland. We are the richest nation in the world, and we don't get to use it. Denmark is using us too much.
VOICE: Do you like America?
VOICE: I love America.
GLENN: Right. Okay. So stop. So here's the thing. Greenland. They've got like 12 people. And Denmark owns it.
And they have no intention of giving it up.
But it's like Alaska. I mean, it is rich with rare earth minerals. As he said, it's the richest nation in the world. But Denmark won't let anything be explored. It is also a strategic place for bases, et cetera, et cetera.
It would -- there's been like four or five presidents that have tried to buy green land in the past. And it's never been done. I will get to why all of this makes sense here, in a second. And how you're supposed to read it.
Because he also went in, yesterday, about Canada and they asked him, would you rule -- would you rule out military strikes to take Alaska?
Here's his response.
VOICE: You're considering military force to acquire Panama and Greenland. Are you also considering military force to annex and acquire?
DONALD: No. Economic force. Because Canada and the United States, that would be really something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like. And it would also be much better for national security. Don't forget, we basically protect Canada.
GLENN: Okay. So he's just -- well, all he's doing is -- well, let me say -- let me give you the third one, and that is Panama.
Before we get to Panama, why not stop at the gulf of America? Cut three.
DONALD: Mexico is really in trouble. A lot of trouble. Very dangerous place. And we're going to be announcing a future date, pretty soon.
We're going to change. Because we do most of the work there, and it's ours. We will be changing. Sort of the opposite of Biden, where he's closing everything up, essentially getting rid of 50 trillion worth of assets.
We will be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico, to the Gulf of America. Which has a beautiful ring. That covers --
STU: I love this guy.
DONALD: Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And it's appropriate. And it's appropriate. And Mexico has to stop allowing millions of people to pour into our country. They can stop them.
And we're going to put very serious tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Because Canada, they come through Canada too. And the drugs that are coming through are at record numbers.
GLENN: Okay.
Okay. So now the press is freaking out. This is an imperialist president. He's trying to create new Rome. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Are you -- do you have absolutely no brain cells that work in your head, anymore?
The final one is Panama. And I've told you this. In fact, I'm doing a prediction show tonight.
And I've been telling you the last few weeks. Panama is going to be a problem for the United States.
And there is going to be -- there is going to be some serious things happening in Panama this year. And I will get into that a little later.
But he's also talking about the Panama Canal. Okay. Why is that?
Because he wants to take over all these countries. And these places. He wants war everywhere?
No. No.
The one thing you have to understand about Donald Trump is he's a negotiator. He's merely negotiating.
That's all that's happening here. You speak softly and carry a very large stick.
Hey, Mexico. By the way, you're so irrelevant.
You know, you're going down the tubes. We're even thinking about changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. That's how irrelevant you are, okay?
And you've got some serious problems. It's a very dangerous place.
Well, there goes tourism, if the president keeps saying things like that. And we will have to put some tariffs on it. But, you know.
I just think the gulf of America is just a beautiful, beautiful name. All he's doing is signaling, you -- you're a speed bump to me.
I don't -- I don't need to do anything. I've just got these giant tariffs.
And we'll probably end up owning you, anyway, because you're a failing state. Okay?
He's negotiating. He's setting the table.
On Greenland, the same thing. He's just setting the table. He is saying to Greenland, you know, I think we should take it. Now, is he serious on that one. Yes, not take it, but buy it.
Is he serious?
Yes. And it would be -- I have to use a word that the New York Times has been talking about for a long time. They just used it in a different context.
It would be a huge coup, if Donald Trump could buy Greenland. It would be huge for America.
All the rare earth minerals, and everything else. All the riches of green land. And the strategic placement of Greenland would be a very, very smart move. Again, New York Times. Glenn Beck did say Donald Trump would pull off a coup. I mean it in a different context than you worry about.
That is smart! And if we could buy it, great!
If we could just negotiate to have some bases there and to be able to sell and buy some of their rare earth minerals, that would be very smart and strategic!
Now, Canada, okay. Canada is -- Canada. Being the 51st state. Okay.
Would it be great to have all of us combined?
Greenland. Canada. The United States, combined?
Yes. A 51st state? No. No.
Canada responded with, well, maybe we'll buy Alaska and Minnesota. All right. Let's open up those talks.
How much for Alaska? I'm willing to negotiate.
And I tell you what, negotiate for Alaska, I would give you Minnesota for a sandwich.
So I'm good. All he's doing there, is, again, throwing out a big idea. Negotiating, because you're not paying for your own defense.
We're paying for your defense.
What are we getting in -- in -- in return?
Well, right now, we're getting open borders from you, and Canada.
And we're getting a lot of crap from you too. So we're still friends. We still like Canada.
We're not going to take military action, to take Canada. It's not what he's doing. He is, again, negotiating. If you forget, that Donald Trump is possibly the greatest negotiator to be in our lifetime, you might begin to understand what he's doing here. But if you forget that he's a deal maker, that's what he does, walks in and says, you know what, I will vaporize that little dude over. And then they end up having tea in a Communist country!
That's negotiation. What is he doing with Russia? What is he doing right now? The only place I think he's absolutely clear. I mean, he doesn't -- he doesn't make threats.
He makes promises. And he's not threatening anything, but Panama, which we'll get into here in just a second.
Panama is a problem. A real problem.
And we need to talk about that. The other real problem is Hamas. And yesterday, he said about Hamas. That there's going to be hell to be paid.
Hamas doesn't release those hostages. The gates of hell are going to open up. And I believe him.
The -- the thing is, with a negotiator, you have to be able to see -- I mean, Trump always kind of means things. He's the -- you don't win. You don't become a good negotiator, if the people on the other side, always think you're bluffing, because you always are.
That's why America is in the Dumpster fire we're in right now. Because the rest of the world, just thinks that, you know, oh. You know what, well, don't do this.
Or we will give you a strongly worded letter. If the world or anybody sitting across the negotiating table from you, whether this is in your life or global politics, if they believe you're someone who will do what they say, you have all the negotiating power.
Because, you know what, I -- I would love to work here. But I can't work here. And I won't work here, unless these things happen.
He's just negotiating. Really? Watch me walk out, and I will. And no offense. No problems. I don't hate you. You shouldn't hate me.
I'm not trying to hold a gun to your head. I'm just saying, I can do better. And these things are a requirement for me.
When Donald Trump says, look, you're going to have to close the border.
He means that. Now, when he says, we also will -- you know what, we might just annex Mexico or Canada.
That's part of the negotiation process. Because honestly, he just might do it! This is the kind of president we've always wanted, one that is a hard negotiator on our side! On our side!
When he says, America first, he means it.
Which brings me back to Panama. When you understand Panama, you'll understand Donald Trump entirely. And you will look at Donald Trump in a completely different way.
GLENN: All right.
Panama. We know of Panama Canal as the place that we built.
It was the biggest undertaking. It was probably the biggest human achievement, at the time. Making the canal, so you didn't have to go all the way down, to South America, to the tip of South America.
Almost to Antarctica. And come back to get to the -- to get to the Pacific Ocean. Or to get to the Atlantic, if you're going the other direction.
We made the Panama Canal. Teddy Roosevelt was the one who did it. Jimmy Carter sold it to Panama for a dollar.
Now, when you make a deal like that, you don't expect to be screwed after his. You know, you kind of have, hey, favored nation.
You know, you will be our pal. Well, Panama has been palling up with China.
And the president of Panama had just said with be there are -- there are no Chinese, at the canal. Nobody is -- no. No. There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal.
Uh-huh. Uh-huh.
So Donald Trump, on Christmas, sent a message, again, negotiating, letting everyone know where he stands. Merry Christmas to all.
Including the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally operating the Panama Canal.
Now, if you don't know anything about the Panama Canal. You might think this is crazy. This is -- this shows how much homework Donald Trump has done. This shows -- this is the first time I have seen since maybe Reagan, where we are actually talking about our national security.
Not in a reactive way. We have now a president who is looking at real national -- our national security is not in Ukraine!
Our national security is here at the home front.
And why -- why is he so obsessed with Panama?
It's just not that we're having our eyes pushed into our his and being gouged.
It is also because China has -- has purchased a lot of the Panama Canal operating permits.
So, in other words, the -- the one that is the last, I think lock.
I don't know enough about it.
But the last area of the Panama Canal. Going into the Pacific. It's now run by a Chinese company.
Now, is that honestly Chinese soldiers?
No!
No.
But it is the People's Liberation Army, that can take over that business because that's the deal.
Do you really think all of these investors just got together, on their own. Which doesn't happen in China.
And went, you know what, we should buy up all the land surrounding the Panama Canal? It would be a good idea. But good investment for us. No!
STU: And, Glenn, clarification on that. We were okay with Hong Kong taking it over. Not China. It was before that transition happened. So we were like, okay. Hong Kong, we're working with them all the time.
Okay. And then China basically takes over Hong Kong.
And now China has it.
We weren't okay with China having that, even back then.
GLENN: Yeah. You cannot have -- this is a huge strategic asset.
If our fleet. Our Atlantic fleet needs to get over to the other side, and into the Pacific, you want them to get there as quickly as possible. And that's why we build the Panama Canal.
This is a Cuban missile crisis moment. And this is -- honestly, it might even go back to JFK. To where you have a president, who is forward thinking enough, to go, this is a real threat to our national curate.
And an actual threat to our national security.
All they have to do is close the Panama Canal. Or cause trouble at the Panama Canal. And the United States is in real, real trouble.
So the one that you should pay attention to, that is actually trouble, is the Panama Canal.
The rest of it, negotiation.
EXCLUSIVE: Charlie Kirk Returns from Greenland & Explains Trump’s Plan
Amid Donald Trump’s talk about buying Greenland, Turning Point USA founder @RealCharlieKirk traveled with Donald Trump Jr. to Nuuk, Greenland, to have a look around. After returning home, Charlie joins Glenn for an exclusive interview about what he saw and what President Trump’s plans actually are. Is this just a negotiation tactic, or is he serious about buying Greenland? Charlie tells Glenn that one thing was made very clear when he visited Nuuk: The people of Greenland are tired of Denmark and love America! Charlie also touches on Trump’s plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”, to annex Canada, and to regain control of the Panama Canal.
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: You know, one of the best things about growing older is, you're able to watch people grow and come into the business and witness the mistakes and how they pick themselves back up. And how they do things, and what they really turn into as they grow. Charlie Kirk is a guy who I've been watching for a very long time. And is really remarkable. Has his head on right. Is playing a very big role, and none of it is going to his head. At least that I have seen. And that is extraordinarily difficult, when you are as young as he is and up against so much power and fame all around you. Charlie Kirk was in Greenland yesterday. He joins me now. Hello, Charlie.
CHARLIE: Hey, Glenn. An honor to be here. I've got to tell you, that is an introduction I never thought I'd get in my life. Charlie Kirk was in Greenland yesterday, so honored to be here.
GLENN: Yeah, it doesn't usually happen unless like your plane is having an emergency, you know.
CHARLIE: No, that's right. It's not always a destination. Glenn, you're a friend and a teacher and a mentor and honored by those words, thank you.
GLENN: Yeah, so how did this come about?
Did you just get a call from Don Jr like, hey, let's go to Greenland?
CHARLIE: Yeah, you know, it was in the news cycle.
And Don is a big outdoorsman, and I'm very close friends with him.
And he said, hey, you know, before the new administration comes in, he said, why don't I just do a trip to Greenland? And get to know the culture.
And get to see what is going on there. And one thing led to another.
And I was invited on this. And it took Trump Force One in the middle of the night. Flew all the way up to Nook.
You can only land within their little window of daylight there. The sun rises at 11:00 a.m. And it sets at 3:30. So for all of you listening right now in Minneapolis or Chicago, you think you have it bad.
You have no idea. It gets even worse. But I have to say, Glenn. I was blown away at the worldwide movement that -- that MAGA has created. We were met by hundreds of people. People in MAGA hats in the streets of Nook. People that love America. That want to be part of America.
And Don wanted to go. And I wanted to go also, just to learn, what is Greenland's place in the world? You know, what does it have to offer?
First of all, striking butte. There's only one state that I think compares, and that would be Alaska. I mean, it's breathtaking, Glenn. You would love it.
I mean, the pictures don't do it justice. I'm talking about untouched, serene beauty. That's number one.
Number two, incredible natural resources that the current Danish government who controls Greenland does not allow locals to exploit or use or take advantage of. I'm talking about resources we might not be aware of. They have gold, they have rubies, they have oil, natural gas. Just remarkable. And number three --
GLENN: Rare earth minerals.
CHARLIE: Oh, big time.
GLENN: It is wildly. But the problem is, Denmark won't let them do anything. Well, America won't let Alaska do anything either. I mean, we're taking advantage of some of it.
I think this is the best investment America could make in my lifetime. I think this would be a great investment.
But it would take a Donald Trump to let us actually use it responsibly too.
CHARLIE: Totally. And, I mean, thankfully, President Trump will get Anwar back and Alaska.
But what I saw also that the people of Greenland, they can't stand Denmark. They think the Danes mistreat them, take advantage of them. And they want to be part of America.
And if this deal were to be brokered, which just looking as a tourist coming there and back, I think it's totally possible, especially with President Trump coming in.
This would be such a net benefit for the United States, for national security reasons.
The Arctic is becoming an increasing hot center with China and Russia. We're seeing --
GLENN: Oh, yeah. And Canada has let Russia just walk all over the Arctic Circle.
CHARLIE: That's right. Exactly. Exactly. The people are wonderful. We also went to a cultural center, Glenn, their local museum.
And they had drawings and pictures of people, 600 years ago, before any heating, obviously, existed.
That were able to survive in these winters. I mean, they're a very active people that have been through a lot.
There's a largely forgotten island, and now it's one of the costs of the world. And I think that's just really exciting.
And I think if -- it's, again, if the deal were to be brokered, only President Trump could do it.
And Denmark is not utilizing it, instead, they're actually I think harming the great people of Nook, and Greenland. And, hey, one day we may have lots of non-stop flights from New York to Chicago to Nook. And I would love to watch the people of Greenland and the United States of America.
GLENN: You know, it would be interesting, because the real obstacle here is Denmark.
They have -- you know, we've tried to buy Greenland several times, you know, back in the 1800s, it began.
And Denmark is, no, no, no, no, no, no.
But, you know, a trillion dollars. We've given a trillion dollars away to the banks. This would be the best expenditure of a trillion to -- a trillion and a half dollars, that America could -- could make.
That's a real investment. But do you think the Danes would be interested at all?
CHARLIE: Well, again, it's The Art of the Deal. Right?
Kind of thinking out loud here. Number one, how much of a say do the Danes actually have?
We pay for all of their military defense basically for NATO. We're the ones keeping Putin at bay. We're the ones continuing to fund all these military bases throughout Europe.
It's time we flex a little bit of that muscle, and use a little be of that leverage of all these blank checks that we've been writing all throughout Europe. That's number one.
Number two though, is that Denmark is not even using the natural resources that are at their disposal to be able to guess what, make Europe no longer dependents on Russian oil.
To make Europe no longer dependent on Middle Eastern oil.
So what you have is this incredible reservoir of oil and natural gas, that is much closer in approximation to Europe than any of the other places that you get oil from.
And finally, I think you make this astute point. Denmark is nowhere near as wealthy a country as America. And the people -- this is the final kicker, the people of Greenland do not like their current rulers. If it was held to a vote, they would vote to leave Denmark. In fact, you saw the Greenland I can Prime Minister in the news saying besides we want our independence. We no longer want to be a part of this.
We want to be our own sovereign nation.
That's a great first step. That means they want to break free of the shackles of the -- government, who mistreat them.
And, Glenn, you would really appreciate this.
There are young people of Nook. I'm talking 18, 19 years old that follow us on TikTok. And they're fans. They said, when we put Copenhagen.
We are mistreated. We're called racists. They're racists. They don't like us.
They say, get out of Copenhagen. Go back to your home with Nook. But when we need Americans, we are treated like human beings that have opportunity. And isn't that the American story?
We don't care about where you're from. We care about your potential. And they finally said this. They said, the nicest people that ever come to Greenland on the planet are always Americans. They said, they always come, they're so warm.
They said, the Europeans, they don't want anything to do with us. So there's a lot here, Glenn. It's not just that these people are thrilled with their current relationship with Denmark, and I think this deal could be brokered.
GLENN: Yeah. I know.
CHARLIE: And it would exponentially benefit the United States of America.
GLENN: So, you know, the things that Donald Trump is talking about now, Greenland. He is absolutely serious about that. And he should be.
I think it would be a tremendous -- I mean, that's a moon shot. That's a --
CHARLIE: Correct.
GLENN: That's a president looking to the future. And the same with Panama Canal. Panama Canal is in the hands of China right now.
CHARLIE: Correct.
GLENN: And this is a Cuban missile crisis kind of scenario. That I haven't heard anybody talk about until Donald Trump.
It is true national security.
Canada, I think he's just trolling Canada.
And negotiating.
You know, he's serious about the border. But what a great way to say, instead of saying, I am going to rake your people over the coals with all kinds of tariffs, if you don't stop what's happening on the border.
Instead, saying, you know, trolling Trudeau, at the same time saying, hey, why don't you join the family, man?
We love you. We already love you. Let's just come together. Brilliant strategy, I think.
CHARLIE: Right. And, look, the Canadian thing, to be honest as an American, Glenn, I don't know if I want Canada.
GLENN: I don't either. If they want to buy Minnesota, I'll sell it to them for a cup of coffee and maybe half a sandwich.
CHARLIE: Exactly. I think we could trade Alberta for Minnesota.
GLENN: That would be great. Calgary.
CHARLIE: I love the people of Minnesota, but Minneapolis is not great.
Edmonton is great too, by the way. Tons of natural resources and wonderful people. But, look, the Panama Canal, we can talk extensively about that. The president is serious as sin on that one.
That is the choke point right now. We built it. America -- a lot of Americans died building it.
We never should have given away control of it, it's what connects two hemispheres together. And, look, the Chinese are trying to build another canal right now.
In a neighboring country. Because, you know, they're afraid that America may actually take back control of the Panama Canal.
Greenland plus Panama would strengthen the northern hemisphere. The western hemisphere. Would strengthen it in a way for generations to come, especially as we're seeing the rise of the belligerent Chinese Communist Party.
GLENN: I haven't been able to get a hold of Mr. Rand or McNally. Can the president just say, it's going to be the Gulf of America?
CHARLIE: You know, that's a really interesting question.
The answer is yes.
So there's these boards and commissions that barely get any attention. You might remember, Obama went through one of those boards and commissions and renamed Mount McKinley to Denali.
So it's just a naming commission. And the president's full authority of who sits on them.
So the president will probably put five or six loyalties there, and rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
GLENN: I love that. I love that.
CHARLIE: Our coastline is there. Why is it that we named it the Gulf of Mexico?
So out of all the ones, it will be the Gulf of America.
GLENN: I love that.
CHARLIE: And President Trump wanted that as his legacy.
GLENN: So, Charlie, what is your role? Are you part of the transition committee? Or are you just kind of -- just, you know, there from time to time?
CHARLIE: My title is friend of the president, friend of the president.
No. I'm just here to be helpful. I'm still running Turning Point. Still doing the show. And I'm just blown away, Glenn, at the opportunities I'm being given.
GLENN: I bet.
CHARLIE: I have to pinch myself. I'm humbled by it.
GLENN: I'm so excited by everything that Trump is doing. I become more optimistic every single day in watching him and seeing where we're going.
Can I ask you something really self-serving?
CHARLIE: Yes.
GLENN: The pause. Oh, God. Yes.
I would like to see how powerful you are.
I want to be on the 250th anniversary committee, that is putting together the -- the anniversary of our country in '26. And I've got a lot I can bring to the table. Who do I talk to, Charlie?
CHARLIE: I think you would be spectacular, and there is going to be a special commission for that.
By the way, it's not the bicentennial. It has a very long name. I can't remember.
GLENN: I know. I know. I keep calling it the 250th.
CHARLIE: No, no, that's right. Just to educate the audience, though. Coming up next July, not this July. Next July, July '26 is our 250th birthday, and the president wants to do something spectacular and bold.
GLENN: Oh, it should be.
CHARLIE: It will be amazing.
GLENN: Hey, real quick. I have 40 seconds. Any update on Dennis Prager?
CHARLIE: You know, it's funny. Dennis went to Greenland this past summer. So I called him from Greenland, and he was just thrilled to hear from me. He's in a very serious condition right now. He's fighting every day. I'm not at liberty to talk about all the medical details. But everybody in your audience, please, pray and fast for Dennis Prager. We need that extraordinary mind, back behind the microphone and finishing his tour.
GLENN: I love it.
CHARLIE: But I'm communicating with him and his family on a daily basis. So please pray for Dennis Prager.
GLENN: Charlie, great to talk to you. So proud of you. And so happy for your success. God bless.
CHARLIE: Thank you, bye.
Is This the Real Reason Facebook Got a "Conservative" Makeover?
Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg recently announced a surprising 180-degree turnaround for Facebook and Instagram. The companies will no longer use third-party fact-checkers to censor users. Instead, they will switch to a community notes system, much like Elon Musk’s X uses. Zuckerberg also lamented the political bias of elitist fact checkers and added Trump supporter Dana White to Meta’s Board of Directors. But can we trust this “conservative” Big Tech makeover? Glenn explains what he believes is REALLY driving Zuckerberg to seemingly embrace free speech once again.
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: I want to talk to you, did you see what just happened with Facebook, Stu? And Mark Zuckerberg?
STU: Yeah.
GLENN: Yeah.
STU: Yeah.
GLENN: Yeah.
STU: Uh-huh. Fascinating.
GLENN: Uh-huh. Yeah. It is.
And I'm wondering what is happening here.
You know, beyond the -- beyond the headline.
Here it is, just so you know.
Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday morning, that content moderation. And other restrictions on speech will be lifted across Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms, as Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Huh. Now, wait. Hold on just a second.
What?
So you know, all traffic decline has been as high as 85 to 90 percent across all Blaze media pages. So when I've said. I mean, we've had -- and, Stu, you can -- you probably know the numbers better than I do.
We're having more success and a bigger platform, bigger voice, than any time in my career.
In the last three years.
The show and everything is just on fire!
And yet, our traffic on social media, has declined by 85 to 90 percent?
It's just not possible! Okay? There's no way, other than, we've been severely contained, if you will.
And, you know, I would like to ask Mark Zuckerberg, where do I go to get my audience back?
Where do I -- you know, you've kind of -- people have kind of fallen out of the habit. If you get all of your news from Facebook, God forbid.
Or Instagram.
We've been so suppressed, all of a sudden, are we going to pop back up?
It would be interesting to see. By the way, this is why your direct support to Blaze TV, means so much.
We wouldn't have been able to survive everything, if we hadn't had built TheBlaze. And built it the way we did. So thank you for your subscription. If you haven't subscribed, please do today.
So he's ending all of the -- the content moderation.
Now, what he did before, was to go to places, that, you know, they're absolute experts.
You know, like the Southern Poverty Law Center. They know what's going on. Poynter Institute they know what's true.
And they've decided, that they are going to go back to their roots, I'm quoting.
And focus on reducing mistakes.
Simplifying our policies. And restoring free expression on our platforms. More specifically, we're going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes, similar to X!
Now, hmm.
Hang on just a second.
Wasn't X the most dangerous platform in the world?
Weren't those community notes just not enough?
The company's third party fact-checking program was put into place, following Trump's first election to manage content and misinformation on its platforms, which executives conceded was a result of political pressure.
But now they say, they've just gone too far.
We went to independent, third party fact-checkers says the global chief of affairs officer at Meta. It's become clear, there's too much political bias in what they choose to fact-check.
Because basically, they get to fact-check whatever they see on the platform.
STU: No!
It can't be true!
No!
Too much bias for the fact-checkers.
But they're just checking facts, Glenn.
GLENN: Yes. I know. I know.
Isn't that weird?
Now, listen to this.
I mean, today, I think today's show is kind of -- kind of based on, no!
Really? You know. The things that are happening now. Wait until next hour.
I'm going to tell you a story, that is -- is just jaw, dropping in how the world works, between you and the elites.
Here's a case, in this hour. We're talking about Facebook.
How does it work between you and the elites?
Well, they didn't listen to you. They wanted to shut you up.
They went to the elites, who were on the winning side last time. And said, okay.
What do we need to do?
What do we need to do, to make sure that, you know, we're on your side? And we can get all that government money.
And nobody will hassle us.
What do we need to do?
So they did it. And they went to the elite's selection of fact-checkers.
Now that the world has changed, at least here in America.
Now, they're still not listening to you.
This isn't because you said something. This is because Donald Trump has changed America.
And now they see the writing on the walls. And so, again, it's not you.
It's power! And it's disgusting. The company is ending their fact-checkers, completely.
And it will instead, rely on the platform users to false flag -- or, yeah. Flag false or misleading content.
Instead of going to some so-called. This is Facebook saying this.
Instead of going to some so-called expert, it will rely on the community.
And the people on the platform, to provide their own commentary.
To -- to something that they've read.
This is what freedom of speech is!
There's no -- there's no expert that sits around in your -- you know -- in your -- in your town, that checks everything somebody says. And then says, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
That's untrue.
And they have a political bias?
It just doesn't happen in real life. But, again, let's remember that social media, is not real life.
But at least it's starting -- maybe, it will start reflecting it a little bit more. Where you have the freedom to say, what you think.
STU: But -- for one quick second.
Because Zuckerberg and Elon Musk have like a rivalry.
Remember, they were going to have a fight? Like, a cage match, a year or two ago. There's a rivalry here.
For him to come out, and say this, he said this on video, Zuckerberg.
Saying, that they would go to -- not just go to community notes. Not just get rid of their fact-checkers. But go to their community notes. As he said, similar to the way X does it.
He actually admitted that basically, we tried something. They tried something. Theirs is better. We're going with theirs.
It's like a tech bro, you know, federalism.
That's -- that's a good thing. And I think a tough admission for a guy like Mark Zuckerberg.
I mean, I -- I am with you, in that, I think they've run this so poorly.
And they have taken companies and content companies. And given them this impression.
That they could advertise to people. Gain followers, and then get their content distributed. And then pull the rug out from underneath them, years ago. And destroyed to any and dozens of websites.
And companies, because of it.
That being said, this does kind of seem like a good change. I don't know if it's just, Glenn, them kissing Trump's butt.
And realizing, if Trump comes in, he's going to be a different kind of president. And in a different environment. And they better change, or they will get hammered.
Or if it's a real change. But either way, I think it's a positive one.
GLENN: Well, you know me. I always look for the best in people. Honestly.
STU: You do.
GLENN: I am kind of a poor judge of character, because of that. Because I -- I see people for who I think they could be. Maybe. At times.
And I kind of look at it like, I think that's who they really are going to be. And they usually disappoint. Because people don't become the people they could be, most times. Instead, they settle for what they allow, or what they've allowed themselves to become. Because they don't have a true center of truth. They don't know who they are. And how they relate to all of eternal truths.
And so they get lost really easily. But when I sat with Zuckerberg, this is more in line with the Zuckerberg that I sat with.
However, you know, I -- can I was -- I think I was -- what did we decide, Stu?
Greatly conned with Zuckerberg.
STU: Yeah. Yeah. I don't know. I mean, we went back and forth on it, I think.
GLENN: Yeah. We did.
STU: Because I do think there's a part of him, that would like to be clear of all of this.
GLENN: Yes.
STU: I think he has other, you know, large goals in his -- in his life, other than navigate every political thing that pops up.
GLENN: So I am so glad, you said that.
What are his big goals?
What does he really want to do? Do you know?
STU: I --
GLENN: What is he focusing on?
STU: Hmm. I mean, I -- he has gone through several faces, right.
The company started going towards the metaverse. That changed the company to meta.
A couple years ago.
GLENN: Uh-huh.
STU: That -- that was --
GLENN: That tells you everything you need to know.
Tells you everything to know.
Meta is all about virtual reality, correct.
So virtual reality.
Guess who has invested billions of dollars in VR?
The United States Army, Navy, and Air Force.
All going to virtual reality.
STU: Hmm.
GLENN: Okay?
Meta has lost about $50 billion in its Reality Labs division and the Meta verse. So what -- so what? What's happening here?
I think what this is, partially. I mean, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. To some free.
But I think partially, what this is about, is making sure that the government contracts don't stop with Meta.
Make sure, that they are able to get some of that money, from the United States, in the use of VR. Because that's where he really -- where his heart is.
That's what he really wants to do.
Now, they lost $50 billion in their reality labs. However, if you look at Facebook's revenue, they're subsidizing all of this stuff.
Facebook, the revenue was expected to go up to $100 billion in 2024.
Facebook's advertising revenue is now expected to grow over $127 billion by 2027. So that's the cash cow. But where his heart is, is VR.
And AR. He wants to make sure that he gets -- he's not off the government teat. Otherwise, his -- his real passion is gone.
I think that's what's happening.
Speculation, but I think that's what's happening.
STU: It's got to be part of it, right? It's got to be part of it.
GLENN: Yeah. Yeah.
STU: I wonder and hope that it is more than that.
Because I had the same reaction to Elon Musk, when he started having this transition of real skepticism. I didn't buy it.
The guy has been the biggest climate activist in America. Why would we believe all of a sudden, he's coming around to these sorts of ideas?
It does seem now, that that's pretty legitimate from Elon Musk. Could it be legitimate from Zuckerberg?
Remember, he's done some of this stuff before the election.
He did signal this stuff.
He did testimony.
He outed some of the government intrusions, before the election happened. He called Trump a badass after the assassination attempt.
GLENN: Correct.
He said, that was his turning point. Was the assassination attempt.
He said, that's when he realized, oh, this guy is really a badass. This guy is actually -- you know, what he says he is. To some degree, at least. According to Mark Zuckerberg.
But there's something else that Mark Zuckerberg has done to Facebook, that is very important and interesting.
So guess who else is joining Meta now?
In another announcement, they've decided, that Meta is going to have three new members on its board of directors, one of which is Dana White. What do you think of that one, Stu?
STU: I mean, it's fascinating. It's a huge Trump ally.
Big Trump supporter. Spoke at the convention. On Trump's behalf.
Now, you know, Zuckerberg is into the sort of UFC stuff.
Right? That's part of his world.
But, I mean, it's -- think of the change. Think of the people being kicked off Facebook. Think of where we were, not that long ago. With Facebook.
GLENN: Four years ago. We were just -- we knew we were walking into a bloodbath. We're walking into a buzz saw.
STU: Yeah.
GLENN: And now look at what we're walking into.
STU: Glenn, I was thinking back into the book, the history of the future. By Blake Harris.
We had him on a bunch of times. It was a story of Palmer Lucky. The guy who invented the Oculus Rift and became Meta Quest. He developed that device in his trailer.
And he eventually got bought out by Zuckerberg, for, you know, a billion dollars. Eventually was fired because he gave $10,000 to a group that was putting up an anti-Hillary Clinton billboard.
GLENN: Right. That's right.
STU: They -- they tried to destroy this guy, completely.
GLENN: Yeah.
STU: Now, in the interim, built a 14 billion-dollar other separate company.
GLENN: Yeah. So he's --
(laughter)
STU: He -- you know, Palmer Lucky.
GLENN: I wonder if we can even get him on the phone now.
Because we had him on the show when he was destroyed.
STU: Yeah. We had the offer --
GLENN: Oh, you're right. Yeah, that's right.
STU: But the story was like, painted a picture of Zuckerberg, of like this guy. You know, it struck me like he was some Huffington Post blogger, running Facebook and Instagram.
This person, who we have seen here in the last 24 hours and over the past few months, seems like a totally different guy.
Whether that's just self-preservation or it's real, it's better.
GLENN: Self-preservation. I think.