Technology entrepreneur Ben Lamm and his team at Colossal Biosciences are attempting to achieve a goal that’s never been successful before: Bringing back to life an extinct breed of animal. Using the gene-editing CRISPR technology, Lamm’s team wants to resurrect the woolly mammoth (and a few other breeds as well). But even if the technology exists, SHOULD they attempt such a feat? In this clip, Glenn challenges Lamm on the potential risks to such a project: ‘Have you ever seen Jurassic Park?!’
RADIO
January 13, 2025
The INFURIATING Reason Why Fire Hydrants Ran Dry in Los Angeles
The wildfires around Los Angeles are a historic disaster. But why was California so unprepared? Glenn reviews one of the biggest issues that has allowed these fires to spread: fire hydrants have dried up. At first, Governor Gavin Newsom, who loves big government, said this was a local issue. However, since then, he has started an investigation. But why, Glenn asks, did he first try to avoid the blame? Glenn reviews where California’s water situation came from: public-private partnerships between companies and unelected bureaucrats. “California, are you starting to understand?” Glenn says. “That’s why we say the Deep State is bad…no one is accountable.” So, will this tragedy be enough for Californians to wake up?
If you would like to help with the relief effort, you can donate at https://MercuryOne.org
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: So as of yesterday, yesterday afternoon, the LA Times reported that at least five people have died in the fires raging across Los Angeles.
Officials believe the actual numbers are much higher than that. Thousands of homes have been destroyed. There is zero containment at this point. Over 130,000 people are under evacuation orders. The freeways are parking lots. It's absolutely out of control.
With it not even contained and heading towards Los Angeles, it is projected to possibly the costliest wildfire disaster in history.
Now, I mean, there's a tendency when things like this happen, to rush to politics, and that's understandable. There are questions that need to be answered.
Why does this keep happening in California? And why do the people in California, keep putting up with it?
Why is California never prepared?
You would think California would be prepared for wildfires. Right?
I'm going to address part of that, first. But first, let me tell you about Mercury One. As usual, one of the first responders there is Mercury One.
We are collaborating with multiple partners to get food and supplies to those who need it most. We are working with churches on the ground. Yes. There are some.
We are working with the nonprofits. If you would like to help the relief effort, go to MercuryOne.org. And contribute to the relief effort. A lot of work that needs to get done, and a lot of work that has to happen quickly.
By the way, so you know, and I'm going to give you all the information on this later. In North Carolina, while the president is saying that he's going to take care of everybody in Los Angeles. Don't worry about it. He's -- checks are on the way. The government will cover absolutely everything.
While he was saying that, Mercury One was on the phone, doing a transaction with several hotels, to pay for people who have nothing! And got their big 700-dollar check from the government. They were being kicked out. And I think we've -- I think -- I think we've put them up now for another six or seven weeks.
So, you know, what -- whatnots used in California, or they don't need in California, they still in need other disaster areas.
And we are there. So go to MercuryOne.org and help if you can. Now, many questions have to be asked and answered. Story came out yesterday, and I believe it was a pretty chilling example of what is to come in California.
If it continues to be as crazy. And it will be a blueprint for the rest of the country, if we don't all wake up. The story from The Daily Mail reads, quote, Governor Gavin Newsom's infuriating reaction after being asked why fire hydrants ran out of fire during the LA fires. Now, the fire hydrants ran dry. Right as firefighters were going to try to contain the breakout.
Now, this sounds like a conspiracy theory. But it happened!
And what was governor Newsom's response. I will read the quote. And try not to lose your breakfast when you hear it.
Quote, well, local folks will have to figure that out. That will be determined by local authorities.
Wait a minute. Hang on just a second. So the guy that holds the highest political office in California, who is constantly meddling in every single person's personal life. Who loves big government. More than comfortable with the phrase, trust us. We're the government. We know better. We're here to help.
The rubber meets the road. He's been doing all the deals with water. And he looks. Has the balls to look at the camera and go, what do you want from me? It's those guys. You talk to your local person, I have nothing to do with it. No, sir. That's not the way you guys have set California up.
California's water situation.
I mean, we've talked about this for years.
Years, we've talked about.
It is interesting to look at it. Because it's exactly what the Biden administration was doing with public/private partnerships.
It's all public/private partnerships. We talked about this before. We first saw this spoken out loud with places like the World Economic Forum
And then later canonized from the Biden administration. But what do public/private partnerships have to do with water in the Palisades.
Drying up in the middle of the most costliest wildfire disaster in American history.
Well, I recently saw Ana Kasparian send out a tweet on X.
Straight up dunking on Democratic leadership in California. She said, the Democrats were responsible for this disaster. No more passing the buck! She said.
Ana, quote, tweeted a video from an organization called, more perfect union. The tweet from the video states, quote, one billionaire couple owns all the water in California.
In 1994, the Resnicks, secretly seized control of California's public water supply. Now their companies use over 150 billion gallons every year.
While working class people suffer under drought conditions. Now, the video goes on to demonize Resnick and the family.
And the business conglomerate, for owning a vast amount of California water.
Now, I'm not letting this California company off the hook, okay?
But this is the response that always happens from the left. They treat corporations all across the spectrum the same way. And you see it in health care. Food production. Pharmaceuticals. On and on and on.
It's never the government's fault. It's those damn corporations.
It's always the corporation. Well, the corporations.
You know, a lot of people were mad when Donald Trump said, you know, the debate in 2016.
Well, how much taxes did you pay? He said exactly the amount I was supposed to pay.
Well, you didn't pay, you know, income tax on this or this.
And he's like, you want me to pay more taxes, then you have to change the law. I am operating in the system, you've gamed.
And everybody does this! So don't try to stick me out, because I'm rich. This is the way the income tax code works.
And he's right!
Well, they're doing the same thing with these corporations.
They make it so you can public/private partnership. They make it so you can go in and game the system.
And everybody has taken their share. All of -- you know why people aren't talking about Panama? The Panama Canal run by China now? You know why you never heard that?
Because all of the politicians. Most of them on both sides, were taking money from China. So they're never going to say anything. But now that China is bad, now that that's been exposed, I'm shocked that Donald Trump is actually exposing it. Because it's going to expose the graft on all sides.
And I'm happy about that. It's never the government's fault. May I propose, maybe there's a little bit more to the story here. Let's stick with California water here.
How did one family get into position where they hold the keys to a vast amount of the state's water. Well, the video goes into it. Listen.
VOICE: In 1994, state water officials, water infrastructure contractors, and agricultural land owners with water rights, arranged a secretive meeting at a resort in Monterey, California.
These groups, a mix of private companies and public agencies, rewrote California's water rules, without any input from voters, taxpayers or legislators. The new rules, called the Monterey Plus Agreement or the Monterey Amendments were devastating for working Californians and great for agricultural billionaires.
GLENN: Okay. This is going to make you very, very happy. Let's stop here for a second.
Is it really only good for the agricultural billionaires. And bad for the voters?
Were the giants of agricultures, the only ones at this, quote, secretive table.
No!
Now, they tried to make it sound, well, there was no legislator over there. There was no government officials.
Huh. Well, it's interesting.
Because corporations don't write laws. Or do they?
Can you get things done without your congressman or senator being involved at all?
Yes, you can!
Through the administrative state. Exactly what conservatives have been saying about the United States government. This way, there's no one to blame!
The members of the California assembly can all say, I didn't have anything to do with this.
And they didn't. They just set the system up. To be run by a bunch of bureaucrats. Who can make the deals for them. So who was joined in this secret table conversation?
State water officials. That's who. So in 1994, the Resnicks didn't twist their mess tash I don't see while simultaneously screwing over the state.
And I will tie Nel to the railroad tracks too. They were given this deal. They were made public/private partners with the lawmakers in California.
Now, after this deal was struck, water control, in times of shortage, went to the agricultural conglomerates, and first, then the urban areas like the palisades second.
You've got a problem with that? Well, who will you take it up with? The unnamed water officials that made this deal?
No! It should be with the elected officials. So there's someone you can go to and say, wait a minute. You made this deal.
This is a corrupt deal. Or this is a deal not in the best interest of the people. We're voting you out!
But see, progressives don't like accountability.
Progressives make it so the agencies have all of the power. California, is this starting to maybe come together for you?
You're starting to understand? That's why we say, the Deep State is bad?
Because they can get into all these public/private partnerships and do deals, and no one is accountable for it?
And then when it falls apart, then when people die, that's when all the government officials come out with their cronies in the media. And say, well, we had no idea.
This is wrong.
Those res nicks. Bad!
Well, they might be. I don't know. They might be bad.
But who sat at the table and put that deal together?
All right.
GLENN: So all the money that is exchanging hands here, isn't just good for the private businesses.
Oh, man, oh, man.
It's good for public lawmakers as well. Let's go back to the video.
Cut two.
VOICE: The Resnicks donate millions of dollars to politicians and research institutions, which help them secure control over water systems.
And even get more water and more taxpayer funding.
One important project is the proposed California Delta Tunnel, a taxpayer-funded project which would send water from Northern California to Central, where the Resnick's farms are.
They expend hundreds of thousands of dollars on state and federal legislation, and politicians who support the tunnel.
But their favorite politician is Senator Dianne Feinstein.
VOICE: You come in here and say it has to be my way or the highway.
VOICE: Chair of the energy and water subcommittee. She's a close personal friend of the Resnicks, attending their holiday parties in Aspen, and maintaining their financial interests.
A quick look through the bill she sponsored, shows several which would direct money to current adjacent water projects. The Resnicks even ask for things directly. When a pesky study about endangering salmon and fisheries, threatened the Delta Tunnel, Stewart wrote a letter to Feinstein, demanding a new study. She immediately forwarded it to the Obama administration, who agreed to spend 750,000 dollars on a new study.
GLENN: Yeah. A study came out the same way.
So we saved Chad Fishes. I don't know. I know one of the reasons why California is burning down is because we had to save the smelt. And who doesn't like a good smelt from time to time?
Okay. You buy the politicians. Then you buy off the experts.
You buy off the scientists. And you put it all together. And then you bring it to some bureaucrat. And they shut town the water.
That's what's happening in California. Oh, well, that and fact that remember, one of the last forest fires was blamed on the electrical companies.
Because they had a transformer blow.
And, well, that just never happens. And it started a wildfire. And so what did they do?
This time, when there was a wildfire, the electrical company said, we don't want to make this worse, shut down the power. Well, when they shut down the power, that also shut down the pumps, at the water pumping stations.
So they couldn't pump any water, if they had any water.
And the -- Gavin Newsom actually addressed this yesterday.
And he said, we've talked to the -- we've talked to the White House. And we're having generators shipped out here, as fast as we can get -- you don't even have generators at your water pumping station?
What the hell!
I mean, how did you not think this?
How?
What -- what was your plan? I would love to see their plan!
But this just explained. What you're seeing in California is exactly what is set up by the progressive left, all over the country.
It also explains how corrupt government officials and their crony relationships are destroying more than just California. It describes what's happened to American health care. It explains what's currently happening with big pharmaceutical companies.
Big food. The media. The border. The homeless problem.
In blue states all across the country see California?
That's what you're going to get. Public/private partnerships are poisoning the soul of our country.
They're also causing some to turn violent.
The stage is being set for the coming insurrection. If you know what that means, I don't use that lightly.
Taxpayers give their money to the government. The government then goes into business with private partners.
The money and the profit stays in their lucrative little circle.
But when anything goes south, who gets the blame?
It's not the government. They get off scot-free.
Progressive, leftists, they will pin the blame solely on corporations. Or when it comes to water, Gavin Newsom tries to pin it on the local people. I don't know. You will to have talk to the local people.
What does the local person have to do with the water coming out of the water fire hydrant?
What? What do they have to do with that?
They sit back and laugh over and over again.
I think it's country. We're going in deep on this. On Blaze TV very soon.
But I think -- I think this is a turning point.
You know, who had on their bingo card, the complete and total destruction, of the second largest city in the country?
As the turning point for progressives?
And if they don't turn on this one, man, what is it going to take?
The moon coming crashing through the roof of your house. That's been painted. Wake up!
Would that -- would that do it? Maybe. Space aliens. They took out their little drones. And they spray-painted the moon, wake up. And California still didn't wake up. So they just started dragging the moon closer and closer and closer to your house in California!
My gosh. Wake up, California.
I think they are. I think they are.
But will they just replace Gavin Newsom with somebody else exactly like this?
Or will they start to wake up and say, wait a minute.
Our government is corrupt. It's making deals that don't actually help or represent the people of California.
They may not have our best interest at heart.
RADIO
January 13, 2025
Microsoft Elites EXPOSE the Entire Playbook by Re-Opening Three Mile Island
Want to know how the elites’ playbook works? Take a look at Three Mile Island. For decades, the media used Three Mile Island, the site of the worst commercial nuclear accident in US history, as the poster child for why we CAN’T invest in nuclear energy (even though the incident resulted in ZERO deaths). But now that Bill Gates needs more power for Microsoft’s data processing centers and AI programs, the media is once again rejoicing over nuclear energy! Glenn explains how this tells us all we need to know about how the elites work: They’ll use propaganda and lies to stop average Americans from having nuclear energy, but as soon as THEY need it, they’ll reverse course.
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: I need to you hold my hand, a little bit. A little bit.
Because my head is going to explode.
STU: Uh-huh.
GLENN: Let's start first with Biden ending his regime, the same way he started.
Ask that is banning energy.
He has just banned offshore drilling in 625 million acres, of federal waters.
So that is -- land area as large as, think of this.
As large as Alaska, Texas, and Montana, combined. Just Alaska and Texas, isn't that -- wouldn't that cover the entire United States?
Isn't Texas like half of it, or just a little less than half.
And Alaska is -- is more than half?
STU: I mean, no.
Not that big.
But --
GLENN: Pretty close. It's pretty close.
STU: I'm sure, the way they describe that being Alaska. I mean, Texas is already in the map.
So you know how much of that -- that covers. But, you know, the way they wrote that.
Pretty big, right?
Alaska, Montana. Texas, together.
Pretty significant.
GLENN: Okay. Now, he has stopped the drilling for oil.
Now, the good news is, there's no oil being drilled anywhere in this. It just puts a cap on the future. Which I love, when old people decide to dictate the future from the grave. I love that.
STU: I love that too. By the way --
GLENN: They're digging it.
STU: And not good news. That there's no development there railroad.
GLENN: Yeah. Yeah.
STU: It's plainly not good news.
But, you know, you're right. He's just trying to put these things into place. So they cannot even be reversed.
GLENN: So this is the entire east coast. The eastern Gulf of Mexico. Along Florida's coast. And the Pacific coast, California, Oregon, and Washington State.
It also closes off the remaining 44 million acres, of the northern Bering sea, climate resistance area, in northwest Alaska.
Now, this is quite amazing. And as Stu said, and as Donald Trump said yesterday, he is -- he's doing everything he can, to make this transition as difficult as possible.
He did this one, because it's going to take an act of Congress, to be able to reverse it. Because of the way this particular law was written. It gives the president the ability to block land. Think of this.
But through executive order. But not unblock that land.
That's got to go through Congress.
If that's not absolutely the reverse of common sense, I don't know what is!
So, anyway, Trump has vowed to fight this. But it will have to go through Congress.
Now, think of what has happened with us and energy.
When -- when Joe Biden came into office, we were energy independent, for the very first time.
Energy allows us to have heat. Energy allows us to have hospitals, that work.
Energy allows to us produce products, here in America. It helps you get to work, with your car.
What did they do?
They took the oil and petroleum industry, and did everything they could to shut it down.
Who -- who really got hurt in that?
Well, you did. You did.
You got really hurt in that. Because everything, including food, went up.
Because petroleum is in almost everything. Which is another story, and we'll talk about with RFK at some point.
But you cannot run a modern society, without petroleum. Just can't be done.
But they didn't care.
And I said, at the time. If you want to go to clean energy, that's fine!
But you have to have something in between, and I said, you know, if you were coming out and saying, that we were going to open up, nuclear power plants.
If you were going to go that way. Which has proven the cleanest energy. And the safest energy of all time.
If you were doing that, well, then, you know, we could have a conversation. But you wouldn't.
In fact, in 2022. California, they were so desperate for power, that they kept the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, extended it for five more years. But they were shutting down everything they could!
Everything they could. Power plants! Nuclear power plants.
Gone! Okay?
Because how many times do we have to hear it? It is so dangerous.
We could all die.
From bad nuclear burns.
It will be so bad, when those nuclear power plants melt down in China syndrome.
I saw the movie. Okay?
It is not even up for discussion.
Right?
Now, let me give you this story from NPR. Now, this came out a few months ago. But it ties into what we were talking about yesterday. And I don't think this ever got enough attention.
Bill Gates is going nuclear. Okay? Good. The Three Mile Island power plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania, that was the scene of the worst commercial nuclear accident in US history. Now, remember, that's the only reason why you know Three Mile Island, it was the home of the worst commercial nuclear accident in US history. Stu, how many people died?
STU: Glenn, zero people died.
GLENN: Okay. I want a recount on that. I want on a recount on that.
STU: I know. It was exactly, precisely zero. In fact, the worst thing that happened in the Three Mile Island tragedy, was that a few people were subjected to the same radiation you would receive, getting a chest x-ray.
GLENN: Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. You can see why this has stopped us from pursuing nuclear energy.
STU: No, I can't.
GLENN: Would you agree with me, Stu? That it was because of that accident, and the movie, that came out, China Syndrome. That really led to America going, well, you know what, maybe we should hold off on this nuclear energy thing, because it is so dangerous?
Even though, count again. Stu.
Count again. You sure you have that number?
STU: Hold on just a second.
Let me get my calculator out here.
GLENN: Carry the one. Carry the one.
STU: Hold on one second.
GLENN: Okay. All right. You have it? He's crunching the numbers right now, America. Crunching the numbers.
STU: No. No deaths. Zero.
GLENN: Zero. That is --
STU: I can't tell if it's zero. Or the letter O. Either way, it's no deaths.
GLENN: All right. Now, this is a story from NPR.
Okay.
Constellation energy. Which Bills itself as America's largest producer of clean, carbon free energy, announced Friday that it has signed the largest ever power purchase agreement with Microsoft.
Powering industries, critical to our nation's global, economic, and technological competitiveness. Including data centers. Require an abundance of energy, that is carbon free, and reliable every hour of every day. And nuclear power plants are the only energy sources that can consistently deliver on that promise.
Wow! Well, what about solar panels, Bill?
What about wind power, Bill?
Bill Gates is reopening Three Mile Island. And as NPR said, I mean, thank goodness with Constellation Energy, which is the largest producer of clean, carbon-free energy.
By the way, constellation energy also is a major contributor to NPR.
I just -- I mean -- you know, these people not only create clean energy. They also help get the truth out.
You know, because they're dedicated to the truth at NPR.
Except, the problem is, NPR is against nuclear energy.
Every time you talk about a nuclear power plant. Can't be built. Can't be built.
Now, let me ask you: If -- if powering industries critical to our nation's global economic and technological competitiveness, if that industry was, oh, I don't know, Tesla. Do you think Musk, everybody at NPR would be like, oh, Elon Musk is opening up Three Mile Island, and it wouldn't be a big deal?
The deal, still quoting NPR -- the deal will create approximately 3400 jobs and bring more than $3 billion in state and federal taxes according to the company. It also said the agreement will add $16 billion to Pennsylvania's GDP.
Oh. So now money. Money is a good thing.
Over the radiation, that you're going to receive!
The agreement will span 20 years, and the plant is expected to reopen in 2028.
Pennsylvania's nuclear energy industry plays a critical role in providing safe, reliable, carbon-free electricity that helps reduce emissions and grows Pennsylvania's economy, says Governor Josh Shapiro.
Unlike power plants using fossil fuels, NPR writes, like coal or natural gas -- nuclear power plants do not directly release carbon dioxide or any other greenhouse gas emissions that drives global warming.
The particular nuclear reaction meltdown, at Three Mile Island, NPR reminds you, happened on March 28th, 1979, when one of the plants, two reactors cooling mechanisms malfunctioned.
The reactor will be reopened to power Microsoft's data centers, and was not involved in the accident before it was prematurely shuttered due to poor economics. This plant was among the safest and most reliable nuclear power plants on the grid.
We look forward to bringing it back with a new name, and a renewed mission to serve as an economic engine, for Pennsylvania.
However, some state activists are worried that taxpayers are going to foot the bill for the plant's reopening. We were told, let the marketplace decide. Well, the market decided.
And they decided it was not nuclear. Said Eric Epstein, of the watch to go group, Three Mile Island alert.
Former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates invested $1 billion in a nuclear power plant, that broke ground in Kemmerer, Wyoming, last June.
Okay. So hang on. Now, two power plants, both of them nuclear. I mean, has he been working on the paperwork to get that Wyoming power plant to be built.
Has he been working on it, since 1983. Because that's what it would take for anybody else.
By the way, editors note, from NPR. Constellation Energy. And Microsoft are among NPR's recent financial supporters.
Oh. Well, it's good to know, that there's nothing to worry about here. Bill Gates is a responsible human being. So is nuclear power. It's clean, and it's good for the environment. And it's totally acceptable.
Now, here's why my -- here's why blood shoots through my eyes.
Why do they need this power?
Not because you're having a hard time affording electricity.
Not because you're having a hard time affording heat. For your house.
Not because they want to get rid of natural gas! And want all of our stoves and everything else to be run on electricity!
Not because we are switching over to battery cars, or that's what they hoped.
It will never happen now. But they hope that we will all go to electric vehicles. And as we found out, when California was having their latest crisis. I don't know if it was snow or floods, or landslides. Or earthquakes.
Or wildfires. Or any of the other things that happen in California.
But the last time they had a real problem, they had a drain on power. And they said, by the way, if you have a new electric car, please do not charge it for a week!
Because we have a drain on the power supply!
Huh! Did anybody talk about nuclear power then?
No.
We weren't even allowed to talk about nuclear power. It was off the table. We're not going to build nuclear power plants in the United States of America.
Okay. All right. Hang on just a second.
But Bill Gates can.
Hmm. Before I explode, to explain that one, give me 60 seconds.
GLENN: Okay. So you have been struggling with power. We all know that power is going to be a problem for the United States.
We know that if we don't increase oil production, if we don't increase fracking, natural gas. Or the easy way, and the cleanest way to do it, is to build nuclear power plants. We're not going to survive as a nation.
They have taken everything, that will benefit you and either cancelled it, made it more difficult, or just taken it off the table.
Number one, is nuclear power. We've had to go to windmills. We've said, it's not reliable. Okay.
Well, that's what you're getting. And you couldn't even discuss it. Okay?
They wouldn't even discuss it with you. It's just going to happen.
Now, that Bill Gates wants power, because he wants to be the king of the world, with AI. He needs nuclear power plants.
So he gets to build them. It's almost as if, we're not allowed to talk about that, either! We're not allowed to talk about the -- the unbelievable gall, that this guy, who is well-connected, and has access to AI. And wants to control the world through AI.
He and his rich buddies, and all the people he's paid for in Congress, he's able to buy or start up a nuclear power plant.
And build another one. But we're not allowed to even talk about one for us. No, no, no, no.
We have to have nuclear power plants, for our new God of AI.
If this doesn't show you, where you rank, in this oligarchy.
Nothing will!
There is nothing that would save more lives, than cheap, reliable energy.
The cheapest, most reliable, and the most climate friendly, is nuclear power.
Off the table, for you!
But we can crap nuclear power plants like they're coming out of our butt for Bill Gates.
THE GLENN BECK PODCAST
January 13, 2025
Trump Should Pardon ALL Jan. 6 Defendants?! | John Strand | The Glenn Beck Podcast | Ep 240
“You never forget your first time being on an FBI Most Wanted list,” says January 6 defendant John Strand. “The process is the punishment ... they punish you at every nook and cranny of the bureaucratic machine.” For what came down to four misdemeanors, John faced a year in prison, including four months in solitary confinement, where he was often denied his time outdoors, phone calls, or even a book to read. “It was so totalitarian,” John says. “I didn’t really expect justice.” He and Glenn discuss the Supreme Court ruling that shortened his 32-month prison sentence, the “uniparty attack on the American populist resistance,” and the aftermath of John’s “digital assassination.” The two consider whether or not government officials like Nancy Pelosi and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser “benefited by creating the conditions” that made January 6 possible. Did at least 26 FBI agents know what was coming that day? What about the pipe bombs at the DNC and RNC headquarters? The main question is what do we do now? John suggests that the January 6 prosecutions are legally “irredeemably tainted.” Will President-elect Donald Trump issue a blanket pardon?
RADIO
January 13, 2025
The REAL Reason for Trump's "Unconditional Discharge" Sentence
Judge Juan Merchan has sentenced Donald Trump to "unconditional discharge" in his New York hush money trial. This means Trump will remain a felon, but receive no punishments. Glenn rips apart the joke of a sentencing that perfectly sums up the joke of a trial that this was. Trump never should have been charged with ONE felony count, Glenn argues, never mind 34! This sentencing is just another piece of evidence that New York's real goal wasn't to give Trump a fair trial, but to keep him from winning the presidency - a goal that utterly failed. So, should Trump continue to push back and appeal this verdict?
Transcript
Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors
GLENN: All right. The sentence has been handed down by the judge in the Donald Trump felony.
Remember, 34 felonies!
And he was given unconditional discharge. Not to be confused with premature discharge. This means the judge -- this is usually combinative for somebody who, you know, has broken a minor, minor law.
And that's when they -- you know, they're like, okay. Yes. You did cross the street. And jaywalk
But there's no punishment here. Just don't jaywalk again. So it's usually used for very light sentences.
As I read it, Stu.
Is that right?
STU: Yeah. That's what I've been reading as well. Typically, given for minor offenses, where the judge deems formal punishment unnecessary. However, the conviction is so recorded, and it may appear on your criminal record, depending on your jurisdiction. So they --
GLENN: So, in other words --
STU: They'll say he's a convicted felon. They can still say all those things.
GLENN: Correct. Correct. But he doesn't need to serve any time, because he's president of the United States, and he failed on our real goal, which is keep him out of the office of the presidency.
We don't want to get him into any more trouble. So we'll just say, okay.
Well, he's a felon. But it doesn't really matter that much.
It's unbelievable.
Maybe. Maybe. Maybe this judge has tried new Grudge-i-tol. Grudge-i-tol works fast within 24 hours. You'll feel like a whole new person.
Capable of eye rolls. Sassy comebacks, and even declining invitations you don't want to attend. Grudge-i-tol. Not for everyone. Side effects maybe include excessive passive-aggressiveness, overuse of the phrase "not my problem."
And a sudden urge to start every sentence with, well, let me start you right there.
Some patients reported being too good at holding grudges, and refusing to forgive minor transgressions, like spilling salsa on the carpet. Ask your therapist if Grudge-i-tol is right for you!
Remember, it's your boundaries. It's your rules. Grudge-i-tol. Maybe he had some of that.
STU: Maybe he did. Maybe he did.
It seems like he's been throwing those things back like crazy.
He did go through a long dissertation on the extraordinary powers, granted to the president of the United States when it comes to immunity.
And -- and so he's -- he was basically saying, I would have loved to have punished him with more. But there's not much more I can do. So this is what I'm going to do.
GLENN: Yeah. There's not much more legally I can do. Because really, the whole court case was a farce of legality.
STU: Well, that's the truth. That's the truth. That's not what he was saying though.
He was trying to make the opposite case. That we got him on 34 felonies. I can't do anything.
So this is all --
GLENN: I can't do anything. I can't do anything.
What a weasel.
This -- this -- how much did this trial cost the state of New York?
STU: Oh, my God.
GLENN: How much did they spend?
STU: Millions of dollars.
GLENN: Millions of dollars.
How much time did the state of New York, the officials spend. Instead of tracking down killers and everything else.
On running this case against Donald Trump. Which was -- which was a complete farce, from the beginning.
The statute of limitations didn't even apply.
Nobody has ever been tried for this!
Okay? The 34 felonies are just because they kept counting the same felony over and over again. Yeah. Well, he did that on Tuesday, too.
Well, he did it on Wednesday and Thursday.
STU: Even worse than that, Glenn.
It was each count of this. Each payment, right?
The payments are going to Michael Cohen. Essentially what they're saying is a crime.
Again, it's idiotic. But each --
GLENN: It's a monthly payment.
STU: Right. A monthly payment.
So really what we're talking about a monthly payment. There's one instance of this, if you really want to go into it.
They decided to expand it on 12 monthly payments. And on top of that, they said the payment. The -- the invoice was a separate crime.
For each payment. And then I think, the recording of it in the ledger was a third crime for each of these.
So it came to 34, because a couple of details on a couple of the months. The bottom line, that's how they came up with 34 felonies.
They just wanted that number to be high. And they wanted that number to be high enough, so that you in Pennsylvania. Or you in Nevada, would not vote for Donald Trump.
This, of course, backfired, enormously.
And, you know, you're left with unconditional discharge.
GLENN: Which is so funny.
Is so funny.
I mean, that's just -- it's the perfect ending for this. Perfect ending.
STU: It is!
GLENN: Except, it shouldn't be the ending.
Donald Trump should pursue this. And have his record wiped.
So he should pursue this. So he doesn't have 34 felonies.
I mean, I won't sit that with that on my record.
I want to expose the bums for what they did.
So I think he should pursue this. And maybe then, give the judge some of that discharge.
And see how that works out for him.
STU: I do think for the country though, the best-case scenario would be that none of this ever happened.
But now that it has happened. Now that they have convicted him. I know Trump was fighting the sentencing.
Didn't want it to occur.
Now that we all know that it was absolutely nothing.
I'm glad that it was over. It would be hanging over -- they would still be bringing it up. As soon as, they get out of office. They will sentence him. And who knows. Maybe they will sentence him to something more seriously.
This is over.
If he wants to challenge it. I think that's great.
I think if he just wants to get it expunged from the record.
I hate to say expunged when we're talking about.
GLENN: I've had to use that sponge. Those are the sponges, I have one on my sink right now.
STU: New Pfizer. Yeah.
GLENN: Expunged.
(laughter)
STU: I think there is a real argument for him to pursue this -- just for his legacy. And just because it's -- it was wrong from the beginning.
GLENN: Yeah.
STU: But at least there's not a possibility.
GLENN: You have to fix the country. Yeah. I mean, here's the thing. I was having dinner with some of my friends. And we were talking about the Epstein case. The January 6th case. Don't mention discharge here.
STU: No, I'm not. I promise I won't go there. But I just want to highlight, I was having dinner with some friends, we were talking about the Epstein case, is such a Glenn Beck thing to say.
GLENN: What?
STU: And then we went into how big is the room in your bunker that you're protecting yourself from the nuclear apocalypse.
And this is --
GLENN: No. We were talking about the January -- we were talking about the January 6th case. We were talking about the P. Diddy case. The Epstein case.
And -- and the question was: That I posed. Was are any of -- is the truth ever coming out on this know.
Is Donald Trump going to release this?
Because of the danger that I think anyone who is involved in exposing that. Is going to be in.
I mean, this is -- this is Jason born level stuff.
To where, you've got all of these names. Of the most powerful people on earth.
Epstein did not kill himself.
You have all the names of the most powerful people on earth, that can make things happen!
And you're going to put that case together? And then try it. Or put that case together.
And then try to find the journalists that are going to release all of this?
I mean, that's a dangerous job.
And I wondered, because it's going to affect both the Republicans and the Democrats, are we ever going to find out about these things?
And I think, what would make Donald Trump Abraham Lincoln, would be to take it on!
And release all of the raw facts of all of it.
And let the chips fall where they may.
That's the -- you have to lance a boil, if -- and that was a good phrase to use at dinner last night. You have to lance a boil, that is on our country. And that is, all of this infection of lies and deceit and corruption, we have to get that out of our system. And the only way to do it, is to just walk through that fire.
STU: He is -- he is Lincoln-esque, in that his political opponents keep trying to kill him. So we have that going on.
GLENN: Yes. Never in a play though.
STU: No. No. I don't think he's a big Broadway guy. For as New York friendly as Donald Trump is. Big Manhattan guy. Don't see him on Broadway a lot.
Do you think he will do this?
Look, it's something he promised. Right?
He ran, during the campaign. I would say, it was his most prominent promise.
But he has run on releasing all this stuff, and being that transparent president we were promised back in the days of Barack Obama and never received!
He wants to get all of this stuff out there. He says he has. He was going to. Now, I know he said that about Kennedy, in the first term. And then some stuff comes up.
So that's why I wonder, at this point, whether that sort of thing will be what we see here.
Because you're right!
There's a lot of people that he knows were involved in this. Not all his enemies, either.
GLENN: And I don't think it's -- see, that's the thing. I think if Donald Trump is really, truly wants to be the transformative president.
Part of transforming our nation is resetting it. Resetting it on truth!
And so you have to expose all of those lies. So it can't be. And I'm not sure Donald Trump is the one who will say, hey, I will protect you, because you're a friend of mine.
I think he's the type that would look at this as, how much trouble will this cost? Will it be worth it? Because that will just cause turmoil like crazy all over the world.
Will it be worth it, in the end?
I believe it is, because truth has to be restored.
And we have to know who the bad guys are. I mean, if -- if -- if this, you know, P. Diddy stuff is happening in Hollywood, we went after with the Me Too movement. We went after people, and, you know, we got Harvey Weinstein out. Now, why didn't we get P. Diddy out? Why didn't we get other people out?
Weinstein was just the one that everyone targeted. And they did get some. A couple.
But we haven't cleaned that out. Why were we willing to take on that?
Why were people brave enough to step up and say, this is what's going on with Weinstein because we were all disgusted by it.
But why won't they continue to do that?
And I think it's because I think there are too many very, very powerful people. Weinstein in the end, they made it seem like, he was really the only one.
And then there was a couple of others. But it wasn't widespread. But I think this stuff is widespread.
STU: Yeah. To be fair, to our justice system, a little bit.
Which takes a decent amount of beating. Deservedly so. You know, Jeffrey Epstein died in prison.
How you think he died or not. He died in prison.
P. Diddy is in prison.
Right? Some of this stuff is happening. We should be able to get some of these answers. We have -- we have received a lot of the answers on Epstein. This was covered widely by the media. As much as we bash the media. If they did actually uncover this, after the justice system failed us the first time. He went, quote, unquote, quote to prison. Where he would just basically hang out in a building that he was paying for.
That all went down. And we did eventually find out.
I just think, it takes a long time. Number one.
And number two, it never really feels like we get the full story. Like, I think we do know a lot about what Jeffrey Epstein did.
We know a lot of his quirks.
GLENN: We do.
STU: We have a lot of these accusations against P. Diddy. But we don't know all the people involved in the periphery. And that's what people want.
GLENN: Correct. They want to know -- look, if this was happening to the average person.
If this was just a ring of people who weren't famous or powerful, every single one of those. Their names would be known. Their pictures would be known.
And they would number jail.
And that's what America needs. And must have. On all of these cases.
We've got to fumigate and start from Catholic Church.
You've got to -- if you want to reset it. You cannot let the infection be anywhere in the body politic.