Podcast Summary: The Glenn Beck Program

Episode 279 | "We're ALREADY in WWIII with Islamists & Trump Knows It"
Host: Glenn Beck
Date: February 21, 2026
Main Guest: Brian (Greybull Rescue founder, ex-intelligence officer)

Overview

This episode dives into the current geopolitical crises facing the United States, arguing that America is already engaged in World War III against Islamist extremism—even if much of the public and U.S. institutions haven’t fully acknowledged it. Host Glenn Beck and guest Brian—a former Army intelligence/counterintelligence officer and head of GreyBull Rescue—explore U.S. intelligence failures, the harsh realities of global conflict, the evolving nature of war, America's private rescue missions, and how Trump's worldview and actions reflect a unique grasp on these turbulent times. The episode is marked by candid storytelling, sharp critique of governmental dysfunction, and a call for American seriousness in the face of existential threats.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origins and Value of Greybull Rescue

• Brian's Background:
  • Started military career in Army Intelligence/Counterintelligence.
  • Early involvement in tracking and analyzing hardened underground enemy targets, nuclear sites (e.g., Iran).
  • Pivot point: Survived the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11, profoundly shaping his worldview and career focus.
• Greybull Rescue:
  • Founded by Brian; volunteer-driven, conducts rescue missions for Americans in danger abroad.
  • Notable for 800+ missions in four years, pulling off intelligence-driven operations usually reserved for state actors (see [22:13-24:03]).
  • Operates independently of U.S. government, often filling the gaps left by official agencies.

"**We've never had anyone in the executive branch of government even acknowledge our existence. ...We broke this kid out of jail from Russia... first American victim of war crimes alive since World War II. We did the operation, turned over the intelligence... The least they could have done is say, 'Hey, Brian and your team, really appreciate it, man.'"
—Brian [22:31]

2. America’s Dysfunctional Security Apparatus

• Intelligence Community Woes:
  • Battered credibility, plagued by bad leadership and internal counterintelligence problems.
  • Good work done by patriots overshadowed by politics and bureaucratic malaise.
• Disconnect Between Public & Private Sectors:
  • U.S. uniquely draws a firm line between government and private sector on security, whereas nations like China, Russia, France, and Israel seamlessly integrate non-governmental actors (see [32:57-33:40]).
  • This gap hampers rapid, creative response to crises and underutilizes American capabilities.

"Every other country... it’s fully integrated. We have a hard divide. That’s a mistake."
—Brian [33:36]

3. Pivot Points: 9/11 and the Evolution of Military Experience

• Brian’s personal account of 9/11 (see [13:08-16:55]) is raw and revealing; surviving direct impact at the towers profoundly changed his outlook.
• Shift from post–9/11 fervor to present-day complacency: “I live every single day like it’s September 12th.”

"Every day since 9/11, I'm on gravy time. Lots of people didn't make it out... I wanted my pound of flesh... Who did this? Let’s go find them, hunt them and kill them."
—Brian [13:55, 18:28]

4. American Mistakes After 9/11

• Missed Opportunities:
  • The mishandling of Tora Bora, failure to kill Bin Laden early, and the resulting two-decade quagmire.
  • Long-term bureaucratic rivalries (DoD vs. CIA) stymie results and operational efficiency.
• Greybull’s Track Record:
  • 800+ missions, never follows Plan A—flexibility and resilience essential.

5. Venezuela: The Overlooked Nexus of U.S. Threats

• Why Venezuela Matters:
  • Host to the largest concentration of Hezbollah operatives outside Beirut ([36:24]), critical node for Russian and Chinese military/cyber activities.
  • Seed capital for BLM protests traced back to Maduro.
  • Nexus point for virtually every U.S. national security concern (terrorism, drugs, cyber, foreign interference, etc.).
• Maduro Operation:
  • Greybull Rescue helped extract opposition figure Maria Corina Machado in a daring clandestine mission ([68:38]).
  • U.S. elite operation to remove Nicolas Maduro lauded as "epic"; however, Brian warns that removing a figurehead does not mean uprooting underlying criminal cartel structures.
  • Glenn and Brian highlight the lack of gratitude or formal recognition for such high-level missions.

“Largest concentration of Hezbollah operatives outside Beirut is Maracaibo, Venezuela for years... There’s a disproportionate number of Venezuelan passport holders caught at the [US] border who don’t speak Spanish... These guys are hardcore Hezbollah.”
—Brian [36:24, 39:14]

6. The Nature of Modern War: Are We in World War III?

• Combat Across All Fronts:

  • For the first time since American combatant command structure was established, there is active conflict in every theater (CENTCOM, PACOM, EUCOM, AFRICOM) [45:11].
  • U.S. is in kinetic and non-kinetic conflict with China, Russia, Iran, terrorist networks—“we are failing at integrated deterrence.”

• Complacency and Lack of Seriousness:

  • U.S. leadership, military officers, and public not fully grasping or preparing for the threats.
  • Most Americans cannot name key foreign adversaries (“Who’s the leader of Hezbollah? Crickets.” —Brian [43:29]).

"If the bad guys are at war with us, and we aren't thinking we're at war with them, we just became Mike Tyson and get our butts whooped. That's a mistake."
—Brian [44:11]

7. The Trump Doctrine: Recognition and Readiness for War

• Trump’s Unique Readiness:
  • Beck and Brian argue Trump grasps the stakes and the shifts in modern warfare—technological, social, economic ([47:36-49:32]).
  • Trump recognizes both the acceleration of technological evolution in war and the necessity to act quickly and brutally to maintain advantage.
• Praise for Trump’s Communication/Strategy:
  • Trump’s ability to “focus public attention” and set the narrative is credited as a key strength ([75:56-76:18]).
  • However, Brian criticizes lack of “second- and third-order effects planning” post-Maduro, indicating the challenge of regime-change without follow-up.

"President Trump understands more than most... that we're at war now. I think he feels it at a very personal, emotional level."
—Brian [47:36]

“He knows how to get everyone to pay attention on a thing, whatever that thing is, rightly, wrongly. And he's okay with being attacked with that. And he accepts that risk...”
—Brian [76:22]

8. The Dangers of False Security and The Real Capabilities Gap

• Failure to Learn from Adversaries:
  • U.S. overconfidence in both hardware and strategic competence; adversaries adapting quickly.
  • Need for rapid decision-making, not mired in bureaucratic delay (“they don’t have 80 lawyers in between a decision”—Brian [49:32]).
  • The government should learn from nonprofits with “low overhead, maximum effect,” and seek greater integration with civilian experts.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I've never successfully completed a Plan A. 800 missions later as a nonprofit."
  —Brian [21:51]

• "If I'm Maduro, I'm like, 'Yeah, I got brand new shiny radars and this is great.' ...And we sailed 150 shiny American aircraft... nothing happened. ...If we can hack their stuff, well, surely they can hack our stuff."
  —Brian [55:18, 57:07]

• "We're in World War III with Islamists."
  —Glenn Beck [63:07]

• "I can't thank you enough for coming in and spending the time with me." —Glenn Beck
  "You know our motto at Greybull? Don't be a spectator. We've done 800 missions, 801 by tomorrow. Entirely donor funded, not a penny from the government. ...We work what we call at the speed of need."
  —Brian [80:46-81:04]

Important Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |---------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 01:53–06:30 | Brian’s early career, Army and intelligence roots | | 12:16–14:20 | Brian recounts 9/11 and its personal impact | | 18:28–22:11 | Motivation for joining post-9/11 wars; US missteps | | 22:13–24:03 | Greybull Rescue: missions & lack of gov’t recognition | | 36:24–41:59 | Venezuela's strategic danger, Hezbollah presence, BLM | | 43:29–44:15 | Lack of seriousness & knowledge among US officers | | 45:11–46:33 | Conflict in all combatant commands—"everywhere at war" | | 47:36–49:32 | Trump’s grasp of militarization, innovation | | 55:18–57:07 | U.S. military tech, Venezuela operation, false security| | 63:07 | "We're in World War III with Islamists" | | 68:38–69:20 | Maria Corina Machado extraction details | | 75:56–76:19 | Trump’s command of storytelling and strategic focus | | 80:46–81:45 | Greybull’s mission: “Don’t be a spectator” |

Conclusion & Takeaways

This episode is a clarion call for Americans to recognize both the seriousness of global threats and the deficiencies in their own readiness—mental, institutional, and material. Brian's war stories and operational critiques are matched by his admiration for “grit” as much as technical excellence. Trump’s administration, for all its flaws, is credited with adopting a war mindset, preparing for—and responding to—an era of accelerating chaos and conflict. The battle, Beck and Brian agree, is not merely on the horizon: it’s already being fought, abroad and at home, by professionals… and by ordinary, determined Americans like those of Greybull Rescue.

Greybull Rescue Information

• Motto: “Don’t be a spectator.”
• Over 8,400 people rescued, 800+ missions
• Volunteers, no government funding; requests help and attention from listeners

[End of Summary]