RADIOMarch 04, 2024

Blaze Media Journalist Describes 'HUMILIATING' Treatment by FBI During Arrest

The FBI has temporarily released Blaze Media investigative journalist Steve Baker after arresting him for his reporting at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Now, Steve joins Glenn with the details of how the FBI treated him. Steve describes feeling "humiliated" and "overwhelmed" by the FBI's tactics, which included shackles around his wrists, legs, and waist. And he also tells Glenn that, although he was booked on misdemeanors, he was put in a cage with a meth dealer. Steve's attorney, James Lee Bright, also joins to make the case that this is NOT normal.. Out of the roughly 60 journalists who were at the Capitol on Jan. 6, Bright says that only 6 or 7 have been charged and "all of those have been right-of-center media."

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Steve Baker is with us.

He's the investigative journalist for TheBlaze. He's TheBlaze media correspondent. He's in today with his attorney. Because on Friday, he was arrested by the FBI.

If you happened to miss that podcast. It's kind of a don't miss. It's Friday's podcast.

James Lee Bright is his attorney, and he is with us, now. Welcome back.

JAMES: Hey, good to be back, Glenn.

GLENN: So I heard you say, the very first thing out, asked how you feel.

And you said, humiliated. Why?

JAMES: I thought I was mentally and emotionally prepared for this, because I've followed too many of these cases to not have been. I've seen too many of these guys, even misdemeanor defendants, even misdemeanor independent journalists. Marched before a magistrate in leg chains and the orange jumpsuit. So I thought I was ready for it, until they put the leg chains on.

And it -- I mean -- I've never even been fingerprinted for anything in my whole life.

And to actually, in the moment that it was happening, it was overwhelming.

And then on top of being chained, at your -- at your waist and your legs, then they put you in a cage with a meth dealer.

For -- and -- and, of course, Lee can speak to this better than I can. But the process of putting a non-violent misdemeanor defendant, who has been utterly and totally cooperative since the very first phone call, from the FBI, over two and a half years ago, it could have been just an order to appear. I could have walked in with Lee. Both of us with our jackets and ties on.

We could have sat in the gallery. They call us up. Stand for it. Just like they did for a felony defendant that day. But I am guarded by US marshals with leg chains on.

GLENN: So how many misdemeanors, Lee, have you -- have you done, where they're in -- leg chains?

How many times did you see this?

JAMES: In a case like this, almost never. I have clients right now, that are charged with felony drug cases, that we are negotiating with the DOJ for voluntary turn-ins. There's an active warrant with one, that I was speaking with this morning. And the DOJ is working with us, to do a voluntary turn-in to a magistrate. We'll do a same-day hearing. She'll process through pre-trial services. Will be out, no leg chains. Nothing. This is determined by the DOJ in Washington. They had us turn Steve in to the FBI at their headquarters, 7:00 a.m.

Walking through, processed him. Put him in leg chains, waist chain.

Handcuffs to his waist. And then took him directly to the marshals down at the Capitol Building here in Dallas.

GLENN: I mean, I don't remember anybody in leg chains and irons, for BLM, setting cities on fire.

JAMES: No. In fact, most of those were just catch-and-release, if they bothered to catch at all.

In fact, most of them had their cases dismissed. And then many of them had been awarded cash payouts from the government, because they were unfairly arrested, or prosecuted. Because obviously, we had to understand what their frustrations and, you know, what made them burn a building down.

GLENN: So I was really encouraged by -- by the op-ed that came out from Jonathan Turley. This weekend.

JAMES: Yeah.

GLENN: He makes the point that you, you know, might be an activist journalism. Or a journalist activist. You know, whatever this new thing is that they're doing.

BAKER: Right. Right.

GLENN: Because you have an opinion. And Stu and I were talking about it earlier this morning. Yes, you have an opinion. I have an opinion.

But that doesn't mean that you are finding the story you want to find.

You could still have an opinion on things. But as long as you're honest enough to say, I'm going in. And I don't know what's going to happen.

I have an idea of what could happen. But I'm going to tell the truth, no matter which side it falls on.

Is that who you are?

JAMES: Well, see, that's the thing that obviously not only the charging documents themselves. Because the charging documents are what they call the statement of fact. They are specifically put together for the purpose of constructing a narrative for prosecution.

GLENN: Okay.

JAMES: Out of context comments.

More importantly, and this is the key, Glenn.

And look, I'll tell you what. I'll let -- let me let an NBC. The court reporter. The guy who does every one of the cases, J6 cases for NBC.

He's there every day. His name is Ryan Riley.

And he tweeted out yesterday. He said, if it wasn't for Steve's language on January 6th, before he entered the Capitol. And then after that evening, this case almost certainly wouldn't have been brought.

GLENN: Okay. So let's -- wow, that's interesting here in America.

Let me go through the actual charges. And let's take them one by one. Can we do that. Here are the charges.

JAMES: You want me to read them?

GLENN: Yes, please.

JAMES: Okay. So these are the charges listed in the criminal complaint.

That's not the formal filing of the charge. That would either be an information, of misdemeanors, or indictment on felonies.

But this is the criminal complaint, that issued the arrest warrant, with the supporting affidavit and statement of facts contained.

And Steve is right. It is written. With the intent to create a language narrative. There's no question. So of the four charges that Steve has been charged with, 18 USC 752 A1. That's knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds, without lawful authority.

That's the one that carries up to a one year in jail penalty, minimum of six months.

18 USC 1752 A2. Disorderly, and disruptive conduct in a restrictive building or ground.

40 USC 5104e2d. Disorderly conduct, in a Capitol Building.

And then 40 USC 5104E2G. Parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

GLENN: Okay. So the -- I don't know.

I'm sure you know this now. I don't know when you found out.

But the Speaker of the House released 5,000 hours, of videotape.

Much of it is centering around you.

And showing that you weren't parading or picketing or being disorderly at all.

JAMES: Ever. Not at all.

GLENN: So, how they make that charge?

JAMES: That's going to be fascinating to see.

BAKER: You know, this is -- this is -- and, again, I don't want to get into being the legal expert or even trying. I did stay at a Holiday Inn express last night. But the point being, they always -- because I followed so many of these trials. They always overcharge. That's not just J6. And that's to scare you into a quick plea deal. They get their -- you know, their notch in their belt. And their points towards whatever their next career advancement goals are. And that's essentially what's happening here.

Technically, yes. I went in the building. Okay. So if that is a crime, then it is a crime.

But --

GLENN: Hang on. If that's a crime. Then the crime has to be punished equally.

So the New York Times, the Washington Post.

Every single journalist would have to be charged with that crime, right?

JAMES: I think Steve and I were talking earlier. And I think we estimated that roughly 60 journalists went into the rotunda. Went into the Capitol building that day. Six to seven have been charged now. Out of 60, rough.

All of those have been right of center media. All of them.

GLENN: So you -- you are being made -- let me see if I can find it.

From NBC. You're made into a total clown, by NBC.

BAKER: The same guy whose tweet I just read.

GLENN: Correct. Correct. And he -- he says that, you are just a -- you're in a cover band. You weren't a journalist, at the time.

I don't know who defines journalists now.

BAKER: He refused to call me a journalist. Instead, he said, now I'm a writer for TheBlaze website.

That was his only way of getting around having to acquiesce to what I was doing that day.

GLENN: Correct.

JAMES: I apologize. I got to know Ryan a little bit, when we were in trial, back in the fall of '22 for three months for the Oath Keeper's trial. I always found him to be a really reasonable fellow. I liked some of his work. But I agree, the article that he wrote, regarding Steve.

GLENN: Was a hatchet job.

JAMES: It was. It was petty. It was completely unnecessary. I thought it was really poor reporting. And it was done, not unlike the complaint. Not unlike what we're talking when we see the language. It was done to establish a narrative, solely to disparage Steve.

GLENN: So how do you -- first of all, how do you combat the journalist thing?

With him going in, that's a six-month sentence. And he has said, well, yes.

Technically, I did. I did violate that. So how do you defend that?

JAMES: Number one, I'm not the only attorney on this case. We have about five of us, that are volunteering on this.

And we are volunteering because we got to know Steve during trials in DC. Great reporting.

Always loved spending time with him. He was one of the few conservatives in the press pool there.

One of the other attorneys --

GLENN: No. He's a musician. A musician and Libertarian writer.

Who was a frequent presence at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC, during the Oath Keeper's seditious conspiracy trial. What were you doing, just hanging out there all the time?

BAKER: Well, the worst thing that I was doing, about half of my reporting was on the press pool.

They didn't like that. Because I always sat in the back of the room, so I could watch them and see what was on -- what they were doing. See what they were doing. See which games they were playing during the important testimonies.

To see who was prewriting their stories. And then just hanging out in the hallway, talking. Because that's what they do.

And they're really good at it. They can pre-write two or three stories in a day. And as soon as the rulings, or the motions are filed, fill in the blanks, and boom, submit, submit, submit.

And then get out. And then more importantly, I was able to show on certain very significant testimonies, how the comparison of how the various journalists withheld information.

Because see, we all know, it is -- it is -- it's not that they lie, it's the lie of omission.

It's when you're only covering the governments case-in-chief.

And their witnesses. And then all of a sudden, they get out, and go for coffee break during the cross-examination. How can you tell the truth about what happened on that trial?

Is This the REAL Reason Trump’s Inauguration Was Moved Indoors?

President Donald Trump’s second inauguration ceremony was moved indoors allegedly because of cold weather – the first time the ceremony hasn’t been held outside since Ronald Reagan’s 1985 inauguration. But Glenn believes there was another reason for the move. Glenn speaks with former Department of Defense intelligence analyst and security expert Jason Buttrill, who agrees that Trump’s staff was likely concerned about security. But the possible threat is likely not domestic. Jason explains why he believes it’s international. Plus, Glenn reveals what he was told by a “cabinet level” source about the Secret Service’s preparedness.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: Just saw Marine One moving towards the White House. That would probably be for the departure later of Joe Biden? They're having tea at the White House now. What is this? We're not England. Stop with the tea.

And if -- you know what, if I'm sitting in the morning, and I have to sit there with Jill and Joe Biden, put some whisky in that tea. In fact, just hold the tea. Just whisky. It will be an interesting day. Jason Buttrill is with us now. He's our head researcher, and national security kind of guy. And we're glad to have you here. It's been an interesting weekend, to see security. They put up, what is it? 34 miles of fence?

And this isn't chain linked. This is like especially designed fence for the Capitol. It is -- it's quite amazing, this fencing. You noticed it?

JASON: Yeah. I have. And the other thing I noticed. Coming in like on Saturday, they were dismantling, a lot of the security fencing around the Capitol mall area.

And a lot of people are just kind of wandering around, wondering, well, what do we do?

What's going on?

GLENN: I haven't heard a single complaint from anybody who flew in from some part of the country. And wanted to watch it.

You know, they're all kind of wondering. What are we going to do?

I haven't seen. I haven't heard anybody, but say, if this is security, I am happy.

JASON: Oh, that's absolutely been the main perspective that I heard everyone talking about.

Let's protect the man, and also protect the people.

GLENN: Yeah. And this is not -- at least, I don't think, Jason, you would know better than I would. But from the signs of the kind of security that I'm seeing being implemented, this is not domestic terror they're worried about.

This is international terror.

JASON: From the moment we started seeing video of the president's motorcade, with an electronic devices on top of the vehicles.

I've seen them before. But, Glenn, only in war zones.

I've never seen that just rolling around American cities before.

And those are -- that's the kind of equipment you're using to disrupt IED signals.

GLENN: Right. Or drones. Or drones.

JASON: Or drones. And who has that capability?

Not your average --

GLENN: Well, space aliens. Space aliens, have it.

JASON: Obviously space aliens.

GLENN: They're worried about a space alien invasion at some point today, obviously.

To me, it's very clear, that one of two things happened. Now, I -- I don't want to say, who told me this.

I will just say, it came from cabinet level.

To me. But I -- I got word last night, that it's not only the threats that they have internationally. But also, the fact that the Secret Service appeared to be wildly unprepared. To secure the president, today.

That made them -- made the administration. The incoming administration say, enough is enough. We're moving inside.

JASON: Okay. And that is infuriating.

GLENN: Yes, it is.

JASON: Because the Biden administration has known for four years, that there was a credible Iranian threat.

Four years!

GLENN: Uh-huh. And it seemed like they refused to do anything to beef up his security, once the president declared he was running, and once he was running away in the polls.

It seemed like they were just -- I don't know what they were doing. But we've known about this threat for a long time. Yes. It is a credible threat. Yes, they have said they wanted to do something ever since the Trump administration took out Soleimani of the RJC. This is known. This does not surprise me. Now Trump as he's coming in.

His people are saying, guys, can we for once, he's been a target twice for assassination.

Can we for once take this seriously?

GLENN: I am also very concerned.
There's one place that was very tense, in 2016. And the Secret Service was beg him, please, please, please, don't do this, and I think they'll do it again today.

That is, in the middle of the parade. He is going to say, let me out of the car. And he will walk with Melania and maybe the family.

And I -- pray that doesn't happen. He does not -- likes to project strength. Without fear.

And I know, because he told me what was going through his mind, when he was shot.

Or shot at.

And shot at and hit.

When he went down on the stage.

All he could think of was, this is pathetic. Get up. You're not afraid. You're not somebody who cowers. Get up.

And you can hear that in the audio, if -- if you would go back and listen to it. You can hear him say, get up. I want to get up. I want to get up. Let me put my shoes on. I want to get up.

He was embarrassed by that. He likes to project who he really is. That's not something who you fake. That is who he is. He is not afraid of things. And keeping him in that car, I think is really important.

But I don't think he will stay. We'll see this afternoon on our live coverage on Blaze TV.

Blaze47.com. Save 47 bucks off of your Blaze TV plus subscription. Today is the day to become a member of TheBlaze.

It's going to be great.

So what else are you expecting?

What are the key moments you're looking for, today?

JASON: Well, can I just say, before I get into that?

Hearing you say that, does my heart so well.

Because how many times when I was on your security detail, where we have credible threats. Where you were like, I'm just going to go down there. And we were like, what are you doing? No!

GLENN: But I'm different.

JASON: Stay in the car, sir.

GLENN: He's the president, we can't lose him. You can lose me any time.

Nobody -- there will be no one that's in the car on the way to the grocery store, that hears the news. Glenn Beck has been shot, and they would be like, I'm still going to the grocery store. With him, it's a little different.

JASON: Yeah, I am. It's interesting to see a president now, how he is acting in this moment, versus what we've seen from the Biden administration.

He was an absentee landlord it felt like in four years. Did you see at the Capitol one center yesterday. The president came down in the middle of the crowd.

GLENN: I know.

JASON: Walked through the people. And it felt like, this is the people's president. We finally have a people's president back in the White House.

It's a nightmare for security. But it was just amazing to actually see that.

GLENN: He expects people to do their job.

JASON: Uh-huh. Yeah.

GLENN: You know what I mean?

And he -- he trusts, yet verifies, with the Secret Service.

I mean, he's hired an outside security firm.

What's the name of that firm, do you know?

JASON: No. I can look that up in a second.

GLENN: Yeah. Hang on just a second.

Mark, what's the name of that firm? Marcus.

And he has -- he has hired an outside firm.
And they are on top of it!

I mean, I don't know if you heard this. Because any of us traffic, a couple of times. When the motorcade was going by. And there were helicopters, right up above that motorcade. I mean, I've never seen security like this before.

For a president, in Washington, DC. Normally, the motorcade, they just stop across the streets. And the motorcade goes by.

This time, it was stopped for a long time. Before you saw any blue and red lights.

And then you saw them. And you heard the helicopters first. And there was at least two helicopters, over his motorcade.

JASON: Yeah. And it's going to be needed. Today, we're talking 200-plus-ish. Executive orders.

Many of them targeting not only things like cartels. Terrorist organizations.

But also the Deep State. So I -- and on top of that, maybe one of the largest deportation operations, what? Since Bill Clinton, I guess.

GLENN: He will be mighty unpopular with all of the -- with all of the right people in my book. You know what I mean?

All of the people that should sure afraid, are going to be afraid. And try to make him afraid.

And I have to tell you, they -- they -- and this is not going to happen. This is just not going to happen.

But if they ever really try to take him out, and take him out, I just think of the line from Star Wars. Go ahead.

You will make me stronger than you can imagine.

You know, I don't remember what that exact line was. But strike me down. And I'll be stronger.

And that's true. I mean, J.D. Vance would be the LBJ, and he would reverse all of that Great Society. All that FDR stuff. The American people would be united on, this is going to stop right now.

And so the worst thing they could possibly do is kill him. But that's not going to stop some people from trying, you felt.

JASON: Which is essentially what they did to him, after that last assassination attempt. Look how powerful that image became.

STU: Do you think he wins without the assassination attempt?

GLENN: I'm not sure. I don't think so. Maybe. Maybe. I don't think so.

STU: Yeah. It could have gone the other way, court of appeals enough.

GLENN: Well, remember, that's when Elon Musk got in. It was just a few minutes after the assassination, he was like, that's my guy.

STU: My gut tells me, he still wins. But I'm certainly, less sure of it.

I mean, I think he brought -- brought a lot of people on board because of what happened there.

CHRIS: Even sane liberals!

Going on cable news. And saying, okay. No, that's pretty awesome.

STU: Zuckerberg. Look, Zuckerberg.

GLENN: He was a guy who everybody said. And they're still saying it about him.

He only cares about his personal wealth and his fame.

You don't do that. You know, if it's all about money and fame, you don't do that. But he -- he knew. And Americans knew, that's a guy who is brave. We haven't seen courage, in a very long time.

Just for people to stand up and go, okay.

That's a dude in a dress, man. People don't have a courage to say that.

This guy took a bullet. He's bleeding from it, and he stands up and looks right.

Exposes himself. And says, fight, fight, fight.

That was a moment of courage.

STU: Incredible.

GLENN: That inspired the world.

STU: Should make everyone proud watching this. Even if you don't like him.

The fact that that is the way our country freaking responds.

You try to shoot somebody.

We will put him in office. And he will sign a million executive orders, and he will show that we don't get intimidated by that crap.

Like that is -- that is American, it really is.

It's legitimately inspiring.

And I feel like, I mean, feel like, if you get shot on stage, you automatically get the presidency.

If you're at a rally, you run for president, you get shot on stage. You should win.

GLENN: What's amazing is. What's amazing is. We must know that to be true, until Election Day. Where in any other race, that would have been the winning moment.

STU: Yeah. I mean, it's true!

And we all talk about, you know, resounding victory for Trump.

I can understand it.

There were seven states. He won all seven swing states.

He needed to win one of those three wall blue states. The biggest blowout of those three states was two points.

That's how close we were to freaking Kamala Harris in office today, instead of Donald Trump.

GLENN: Which makes you look at California. I talked to a lot of people in California, last night. Who are here. And I felt bad for them. I happened -- from California to Washington DC. I'm sorry. There is other non-prison territory in the United States.

But, you know, I talked to them about, how is the state faring?

What are they doing? And they all said to me the same thing, if they don't wake up this time, they're not going to. They're not going to.

And it was split half and half, from the people that I talked to, that live in California. Whose houses didn't burn town, but all of their friends and neighbor's houses burned down. They still said, I'm not sure. I'm not sure how this is going to shake out. That's a little terrifying.

Glenn Beck’s LIVE Reaction to Donald Trump’s Second Inaugural Address

President Donald Trump’s second inaugural address let the world know that America is back. Glenn Beck, Stu Burguiere, and fellow BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey give their live reactions to the speech. Trump acknowledged God, proclaimed the day as “Liberation Day” for many Americans, and used “revolution language,” or as Trump put it, “a revolution of common sense.” Trump announced that the US Government will only recognize 2 genders and that he will open America up for drilling, rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, restore the name of Mt. McKinley, stop China from controlling the Panama Canal, and end wars. But Glenn also reveals the one thing Trump said that “disturbed” him because he’s never heard a president say it in his lifetime.

Will Donald Trump Usher In a New Golden Era of America?

On his final full broadcast of the Biden era, Glenn takes a look at what’s coming to an end when Trump takes office on Monday, January 20th, and what’s hopefully coming next. This is the end of an era of lies and destruction, of pure madness and unquestioning obedience to the so-called “experts.” It’s the beginning of the end of diversity being twisted into a weapon. Trump has a long road ahead of him, but he has the opportunity to renew America and start a new Golden Era.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

STU: Three days, Glenn! Three days!

GLENN: Until the fundamental transformation of America.

STU: Yeah. No more of this guy. No more of her. No more of them.

GLENN: You know, but I think it's a lot bigger than that.

I was thinking about this today when I was driving in. That this administration exiting. Is not just another exit of a president. It's not the same. And it -- it wasn't like this in 16.

Although, we hoped it would be.

But it is this time.

Because the people and the feeling in the country, even among Democrats, is different now. We're about to turn the page. And enter a new era, or a new chapter.

We're really standing on the edge.

Monday is a moment far larger than politics. But it's only the beginning. It's not just the end of a presidency. Not the changing of the guard. It is truly the end of an era. An era marked by madness, by confusion. By division. Distortion. Deafening cacophony of chaos.

All of that has drowned out reason and common sense. And it -- you know, it didn't -- it didn't start yesterday.

As much as the left tried to make this all about words.

By twisting meaning. Redefining words.

Or using words, quite honestly, to use their words. In mis, dis, or malinformation.

This era is not going to be remembered by the words, but by the actions of those who spoke, the millions of those meaningless words. We can see right now the destruction of our economy. Our security.

The -- and really, really clear terms, in the homes and the hearts of California. That it is the action of people that matter more than simple words.

By their -- by their fruits, ye shall know them. The fruit of this tree is rotted, and people now are beginning to see that.

Now, like I said, this didn't begin four years ago. It turned it up to volume number ten, but this has been brewing for decades. It has been in our institutions, far longer than any of us realized.

Metastasizing in our culture, our institutions, and our hearts. And hardening our hearts.

It is an era that we leave on Monday, that put truth itself on trial. Can you even define what truth is, anymore?

We -- we went into this place, that was so absurd, we couldn't define something as fundamental and self-evident as, can you tell me what a woman is?

Historians are going to look back on this last era that we're now leaving, as pure madness.

But it's also a time, when it took everything in people, to question the powerful mob.

To speak the truth, that you believe. It was a -- it was a risk that at first, far too many people wouldn't do. Because they were afraid of being shouted down.

Cancelled.

Or much, much worse.

Common decency. The once unspoken bond that united us, was thrown out the window.

It became not only unfashionable. But absolutely unrecognizable.

And everybody was at each other's throats. Common sense. Our old friend, just dismissed. Exiled seemingly to the fringes of our society.

As if it were dangerous now. Or just wildly outdated. And we know that happen. We didn't know that yesterday. But we know that today.

And I mean, literally yesterday. How many words changed. How many things. Concepts. Huge truths that we knew.

We wake up one day, and it was completely being dismissed.

And we would be like, where did this come from?

We're leaving a time of breathtaking hypocrisy. Where those who deny corruption themselves take bribes from hostile nations, where the righteous call for unity, while sowing division.

This era, racism has been repackaged and sown back to us under the guise of antiracism.

Hatred, we're told me, is perfectly fine, as long as it's aimed at the right people.

And those right people, may be the wrong people, tomorrow!

Faith in God, has been replaced by faith in climate models. Sexuality. Identity.

In this last era they can't be we're now getting ready to leave. All of those religions had their own dog has. Their high priests. Their rituals. And above all, their lack of forgiveness.

Meaning, that they were anti-Christ. Teachings.

But somehow or another. Many of our churches embraced them, as the message of Christ.

There cannot be Christ in any message, that doesn't include forgiveness.

But this isn't where the story ends. We thought before this election, this might be where our story ends.

But here is the really unbelievable news.

God stepped in.

And if you don't recognize that, there is no hope for us.

God stepped in and did something none of us could do.

First of all, he saved the president's life twice. And if you think that was a Secret Service. You're nuts!

God saved him, twice!

God changed him.

And suddenly our society is waking up. This guy, who is not our savior, won!

And people started flocking to him, and willing to take bold stands and say, you know what, all this crap. It's wrong!

So this is not the end of an era, alone. It's the beginning of the end of that era. The end of unreasonable hatred of others. Not because they look different.

Simply because they voted differently.

They didn't think differently.

You know, there was nothing about actual diversity.

It was all about voting!

It's the end of unquestioning obedience to the so-called media. And experts, who demand that we followed them, without question, into the slaughterhouse. Hoping, I guess.

Hoping against hope, many of us, that if we would just comply, our turn on the chopping block would never come.

It's the end of the era of, my body, my choice.

In everything -- in everything else, other than killing your baby. You can kill your baby, my body my choice.

Well, it's not your body that's being killed. It's the baby's body.

Makes no sense. But, boy, oh, boy.

Not with masks. Not with vaccines.

Not with the basic right to just use your legs and leave your home!

It's the end of an era where we have to ask ourself, whose side is this government on?

Who is actually running this thing?

What is the actual plan that our leaders have? How -- how is this helping the average American?

Who is actually the president?

That ends on Monday. It's the beginning of the end. There's a lot of work to do.

But it's the beginning of the end of diversity, twisted into a weapon. Where diversity of thought, values, and spirit, were just disregarded. Replaced by a narrow, suffocating dogma, that demanded conformity in all ways. Even if you were conforming yesterday, and then somehow or another, through the ether, the mob decided what was true yesterday. Is no longer true today.

The mob would get you!

On anything you disagreed with. It's the end of the era where dissent was met not with debate. But with just now, meaningless labels. Racist.

Fascist. Bigot.

I think it's really important, that all of us recognize, this is not about Democrats. There are a lot of Democrats that actually woke up. It's not about Democrats.

It's not about Republicans. I think both of them stink, quite honestly.

I do, and that's the message of this new administration. And you see it with diversity of people, that are actually in this administration. We don't agree in lockstep on everything.

Far from it! The establishment in the Democrats and the Republicans do. But this isn't about Democrat, Republicans, liberals, conservative, independent.

This is truly about something much, much deeper that begins Monday.

It's older and far more grander than a political party. It is truly about the rebirth or the rediscovering of what it truly means to be free!

Monday marks the rebirth of something absolutely extraordinary!

Things we used to find self-evident. The freedoms guaranteed just in our First Amendment. The freedom to question our government.

They work for us!

We don't work for them!

The freedom to speak our mind! Even the most unpleasant and disruptive things. You are allowed to say! The freedom to worship. To live out your beliefs. To be who you are, without demanding that others speak, affirm, or even accept your truth.

You know, the one thing that we have forgotten in this last era, that I hope we are remembering. Is that this nation weren't built by people who all walked in lockstep.

They didn't agree on everything.

In fact, far from it. It was built by people who often vehemently disagreed on the path forward.

But they shared the common commitment to respecting each other's rights, and fulfilling their own responsibilities.

It was built on the idea, that disagreement, when handled with humility and respect, makes us stronger, not weaker!

Diversity of thought is important.

Diversity of skin color doesn't matter.

And so as we say farewell to an era of absolute chaos, it's really important that we don't say goodbye in anger or bitterness. And that is hard!

We can't alienate our neighbors, our assume the worst of those who see the world differently, if we agree on the rebirth of the Bill of Rights, and each responsibility that is tied to those rights.

Monday, I hope we recognize, that this is an end of an era this weekend. And Monday is an invitation to rebuild. To restore. To renew.

An era, a golden era. An era that is dawning. Just in front of all of us.

And it belongs to all of us. Not just those who won an election. Or share my view.

Or your view.

It's an era that can only succeed if we remember the lessons of the past. And commit to something better.

To restore hope. Not just in our institutions. But in each other.

Renew our faith. Not just in God.

Though, that's vital. But also in the idea that people, flawed, though they are, can be capable of incredible good. Seek restoration, not just of our economy and our government, but of our hearts, of our communities, of our families. Our shared understanding of what it means to be human.

And to be free! This weekend, I want you to bid farewell to all of the chaos. It's the beginning of the end.

There will be more chaos as we go. But as we lay it down, leave it behind.

Walk forward.

Leave your fear behind.

Walk in encourage. Not in hatred. But in love.

Because the truth is, this country has faced darker days than these.

I didn't think we would make it here, gang!

But every time this country seems to find the light just at the end. And we found it. But it's just flickering, still so fragile in mighty gusts of wind. But what will happen is not because of a president or Congress or a court. It will all happen because of you! So don't wait for anybody else. Lead the way.

Be the one who chooses faith over fear. Courage over conformity. Love over hatred.

Let's be the ones who our words are meaningless. But our actions speaks volumes. The that one shows the world, that freedom actually works. Not because it's easy. But because it is right!

Biden's Farewell Address, Rewritten by Glenn Beck

President Biden’s farewell address was filled with all sorts of irony. Perhaps most shocking was his warning that an “oligarchy” of power-hungry elites “literally threatens our entire democracy.” Surely, he isn’t talking about the progressive elites, right?! Glenn decided to rewrite Biden’s farewell address to better reflect the reality of his administration’s legacy. No joke!

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: All right. So Joe Biden. And I know this is all going to come as new news for you, Stu.

Because I'm not going to lie. It came to me as new news this morning.

When I read it in the show prep.

This is not something, I would even care about. From this president.

But I think it's important just to notice how he's leaving office.

And there's a couple of things. One, have you ever seen a president who nobody gives a flying crap about more than this one?

STU: I don't think so. I mean, have I?

No. Has it ever occurred in American history is more the question.

GLENN: Right. It could be like John Tyler, or Taylor.

I don't even know.

STU: Tyler. That was the one I didn't even know existed. John Taylor, I think was the basis for Duran Duran. John Tyler, former president.

GLENN: Okay. Right. So former -- so I care about what's happening in this administration, just a little bit more than John Tyler!

STU: Or John Taylor. Right.

GLENN: Or John Taylor. Either.

I mean, I care a little bit more about John Taylor. He had some great songs.

STU: He had some great songs.

GLENN: So, I mean, I just don't care.

The only reason I do care. Is because what is he doing today, to destroy our country?

STU: Yeah. We've been doing this series of Biden's parting shots on our show.

Stu Does America, by the way. Blaze TV.

And there's a lot.

You could say, he's not doing anything. Because you think he's incoherent. And falling asleep on the job.

GLENN: No. He's not doing anything.

STU: It very well may be true. It also doesn't matter. He's doing a lot to the country here, as he walks out the door.

It does not seem that anyone seems to care.

GLENN: There was another 500 billion-dollar forgiveness of loans, yesterday.

STU: Not that much.

GLENN: How much was it?

STU: He did 150,000 people. And then another 200,000 people. I believe over the past few days.

GLENN: A lot of money and a lot of people.

STU: Yes.

GLENN: And this one he's saying, because the university scammed them.

Oh, Lord.

Okay and -- yes?

STU: I think that's just -- amazing. You go through a legal proceeding. That's how they get their money back.

They don't get the money back. We don't have to take that on as a country. And again, none of this is legal. None of this is constitutional.

Most of this will be overturned after he's out of office. Most of these poor people who believe they no longer have these loans, will wind up having these loans.

GLENN: Right, but they're still going. They're still going. They're filing all kinds of suits in court, and you're like, that's not going to stand in court. They're not going to pursue that.

It's just -- okay. Well, then stop it. Spend the time to stop it. That's what he's doing. He's just lighting little brushfires everywhere.

Thank goodness, Donald Trump is not California.

He'll put them out quickly, I think.

Now, the -- Biden gave a speech, and I -- I just rewrote it.

I'm sorry. I rewrote the speech.

STU: Okay.

GLENN: Because I said everything that he said, but I added a little bit of the truth.

Okay?

So let me give you what he said, last night.

First, do we have the -- the Hail to the Chief?

Or something that makes it sound official? Because it was very official.

It was in the White House. I'm not kidding.

He was sitting on a pillow last night.

Yeah. No. Real one. And just go ahead. So he's -- and now a message from the president of the United States.

My fellow Americans, folks, I'm serious. This is it.

This is my last address as your president.

No joke!

I've been in public service. For 50 years, now.

Maybe more.

I've seen a lot in my time.

But I've got to tell you, still believe in America.

Well, there's some things that we need to talk about. Things that really worry me.

I'm not kidding.

This is serious stuff.

First of all, the oligarchy thing.

Yeah. It's bad!

Folks, we've got billionaires and corporations running the shows right now, and it's dangerous. Come on. We can't have people, billionaires, who think they can run everything. Like George Soros.

Well, no.

Probably, he deserves a medal, but other people like that, that vote differently than the way we want them to vote.

That's just got to stop. Got to stop. Okay?

He's a good guy mostly. And big tech. Don't even get me started, folks.

Don't. Don't.

It's like my dad used to say. When I was growing up in Scranton, you know, just an average scrappy kid, hanging out with black people and minorities mainly.

You know, my dad used to say to me, don't trust big tech. He was way ahead of the game. Way ahead.

I loved my dad. I will cry. By the way, California, I can relate. Because I had a kitchen fire once.

Anyway, back to big tech. Don't even get me started. We had to work with them. You know. You know, to protect democracy. That's why we had an open line to Facebook and Twitter. Some people called it censorship. That's malarkey. Okay?

It was just, what's the word? Guardrails. Yeah, guard rails for democracy.

That's what that was. And misinformation.

Folks!

I'm serious.

It's everywhere. No joke!

Americans are buried in misinformation.

But let me be clear. We weren't part of that. Okay. Maybe a little bit. But not very much.

I mean, not that you know of.

It's coming out?

Okay. Well, all right.

Maybe a little. We did say Hunter's laptop was fake. Turns out, wasn't. That was a surprise.

No joke, people. I had no idea.

Maybe we had a few things wrong about COVID. You know, like the origins, the lockdowns, the vaccines. But come on! Folks, I'm serious.

It was confusing. You keeping it straight.

Come on.

Look, I know some of you are mad about my family making a few bucks overseas. But, folks, let me tell you, that's how business gets done sometimes.

You know, what are you going to do?

My son, Hunter, good kid. Smart as a whip. Oh, my gosh. What a talented painter he is. Did you hear? Five hundred million dollars of his paintings have been lost in the fire!

Damn it! But a good thing we had insurance on all of that art.

You know, he got some deals. China, Ukraine. Whatever. But it was all aboveboard.

I mean, I'm serious, folks. It's fine. Totally legit. And here's the thing about AI. It's scary.

Artificial intelligence. That's what they call it. I don't trust it. One day, you're talking to your phone.

The next thing you know, it's running your life.

That's why I wanted Congress to ban stock trading for government employees. No joke.

No joke. You can't have senators buying stocks when they know stuff about stocks!

It's just wrong, folks.

Never. I mean, not recently.

I have not recently benefited from stock trading. No joke.

My family made it the old-fashioned way. Through bribery.

That's what we did. All right.

That's America. And let me tell you about America and unity. Folks, we need unity now more than ever.

But you know what is stopping us?

And I mean it!

People who don't listen. They spread lies. They stir up television.

Some of them need to vote for the other guy, and I'm not kidding.

These people are dangerous. Folks, I'm not kidding. Makes me so mad. I could -- I don't know.

You know the rest. Now, I know I've made mistakes. Nobody is perfect. I mean, I'm pretty Tam close. But come on, folks. Give me a break. I'm just doing what's right.

You have to trust me on this. In closing, I want to remind you of the statute of liberty.

That lady has been swaying in the wind for years. But she never falls. Just like America.

She might lead a little to the right or left. But she stays upright. No joke.

It's a miracle. They wouldn't let me change that torch to an ice cream cone. Which I think that would have been great. You know, on her feet, we should have given her some socks or something. Because her feet has to be cold. They're made out of metal, seriously. Seriously, folks.

I'm not joking. What's her hair smell like?

So now it's your turn to stand guard.

Keep the faith. Protect democracy.

And remember, I love the little children.

Hey, God loves the little children.

He keeps them in the palm of his hand.

I've got my palm of my hand on little children.

It's good. Folks, come on!

I'm being serious.

It's real. I love it. I'm serious.

God bless you.

And God bless something else, I don't remember what it was.

So that is a summary of his speech last night.

And --

STU: He's good.

GLENN: Then he walked off into the sunshine.

With the -- and they're pretty close.

He had the seniors come this. You know, from his senior center.

And it was regulated. Ow! That one hurt there. But, hey, he was trying. No, folks, seriously, they're trying their best.

They're seniors. And look at them go. Look at them go.

STU: The Joe Biden players. Ladies and gentlemen.

GLENN: And we're going to miss it. We're going to miss them.

We really are. We really are.

You know, I was thinking, I really don't care except for the instruction.

And I think Democrats have it in the exact right place.

Because they don't care about the destruction, I don't think. At least the ones in Washington.

And they're not paying attention to him at all. They don't care what he's doing. They don't care, okay?

Isn't this exactly the way we should all feel about our president, all the time?

Without the fear of, good God, what is he doing behind the scenes?

Without that fear. He should not have that big of an impact. Nor should all of those clowns in Washington.

You know what I would like to do?

I would like to go back to doing comedy, like, remember, Stu. In the old days, 25 years ago, before 9/11. We were doing comedy.

Wouldn't that be nice? That would be nice.

Would love to do that. But we suddenly had to care. Because these people are out of their mind and out of control.

The way the Democrats care about Joe Biden right now is the way we should care about every president.

Okay?

They should have such little power. No. I'm not joking folks.

I'm not. I'm being serious.

Such little power. We don't care. Yeah.

Yeah. Now, let's go have some ice cream.

STU: I mean, that's -- what the Founders kind of wanted, right?

They wanted a country in which, where you didn't have to think about the cane all the time --

GLENN: Yeah, and you would say, shut up. Shut up.

That's what I think our Founders.

STU: Italian Founders. Yeah. Shut up.

Because, again, it's easy to think about now, as someone you probably like is coming into office.

So you might like the focus on them.

GLENN: Well, I like the focus on them. Because I will fix it. You know what I mean? And then we need to care enough to get those things out of an executive order. And passed as laws. Otherwise, four years from now. We can have somebody -- Karl Marx, they might bring back from the dead. And they will be like, Karl Marx, you know, his first time around didn't go well. But I'm serious, folks. He's great now. And look at that beard. I mean, that's a great beard. Especially for being dead for so long.

And they -- we can -- he will be like, I will do a few executive orders. What? What's the problem?

You know, no! We need to pay attention, so they actually pass these things, as bills.

STU: Interesting. A development on that front. The Republicans are trying to talk Trump out of doing some of these executive orders.

When he first starts. Because of a -- basically a technicality, that comes from this law that we want to pass, this reconciliation bill.

This is their one big bill. To do that. They can pass this bill with only 50 senators.

If it's cutting the deficit, essentially.

And so the -- what -- some of these executive orders that Trump wants to do, will help that. Right?

GLENN: But they need to have them in the pill.

STU: They need to have them in the bill to make sure the scoring is right, so they can pass it.

GLENN: You know, I have to tell you. I think there's more to cut than everyone thinks. Oh, gee, we've got to reduce the deficit.

And you will cut a lot of places. I think you could find more.

STU: I think you can. I think you can.

Again, if you're going to do it anyway. I would prefer, if it's a good measure. And it's going to improve the budget situation. I would rather have it in the reconciliation bill, than as an executive order, for the same reasons you're talking about.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah. But I would like to not give away, the stuff that we could get through executive order.

STU: Yeah.

GLENN: You know.

STU: If you can get it through the law.

GLENN: Get it through the law.

STU: Get it through the bill. Get it that way. If it's not available there. Then you go --

GLENN: Take it elsewhere.

Because there's a lot that can be cut. Gee. I don't know. We're a few hundred billion dollars away from being able to save the deficit. And pass this bill.

I don't know. Department of Education. Where are the keys?

STU: You can't do that by executive order.

GLENN: No. I'm saying Congress. I'm saying Congress.

We can't do it in the bill.

We can't just pass it with 50, because it's not enough.

Where are the keys to the Department of Education?

I would just like to see them, right now.

Let's put them in the pile. All right.