Episode Overview
Theme:
This episode of The Glenn Beck Program (Best of the Program | 9/22/25) centers on reflections from the recent Charlie Kirk Memorial, a discussion of forgiveness and justice in the wake of a national tragedy, and a deeper examination of American cultural and political divides. Glenn Beck shares personal insights, analyzes the spiritual and civic responses to Kirk's assassination, and warns listeners about coming societal challenges.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Reflections on the Charlie Kirk Memorial
- Glenn emphasizes the significance of the memorial service, particularly urging listeners to watch Dr. Ahern’s speech from Hillsdale College—lauded as “one of the best speeches I have heard for clarity, for youth. It was absolutely perfect.” (02:10)
- Beck highlights Erica Kirk’s strength and the responsibility she now carries as she steps into leadership; she discovered Charlie’s detailed diaries and plans for the future after his death.
“She said, he's got stacks of diaries. He wrote a diary every day. … He left me the plans for 2028. He left me the budgets for the future. … And she is a force to be reckoned with.”
— Glenn Beck (04:38)
2. An Act of Radical Forgiveness
- Erica Kirk’s public forgiveness of her husband’s killer is presented by Beck as a pivotal moment of living faith and Christlike behavior.
“My husband Charlie, he wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life … our Savior said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. … The answer to hate is not hate. The answer … is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”
— Erica Kirk (06:05)
- Glenn describes the reaction: “I don't think I've ever seen a stadium like that, that quiet. … She's here, she's whispering, pin drop, pin drop, pin drop.” (07:55)
3. The Meaning and Duty of Forgiveness
- Beck explores the tension between spiritual and civic responses, arguing forgiveness is a “requirement for your first citizenship… into the Kingdom of God,” while also acknowledging a citizen’s responsibility to justice in the temporal realm.
“Forgive those who hate you, persecute you, kill you, forgive them. But there is a second citizenship that we hold. … You cannot lose your first citizenship passport because you're doing something in the second citizenship that you should not be doing.”
— Glenn Beck (08:45)
4. Comparing Responses: Spiritual Revival vs. Societal Unrest
- Erica Kirk notes that instead of riots, there was an outpouring of faith and “revival” after Charlie’s assassination.
“We didn’t see violence. We didn’t see rioting. We saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country. We saw revival this past week. We saw people open a Bible for the first time in a decade. … took the first step toward a spiritual life.”
— Erica Kirk (10:55)
- Beck contrasts this peace with recent incidents of violence (e.g., shootings at a wedding and TV station), seeing both as symptoms of rising evil and as moments demanding spiritual resolve over rage.
5. Community, Family, and Personal Renewal
- Glenn reminisces about his own family history, underscoring the importance of marriage, children, and putting “first principles first.”
“You want to fix the world, fix you first. If we can find those pastors, priests, and rabbis that are actually saying those things and tying it to... It gives your life meaning. And it is true.”
— Glenn Beck (13:00)
- He reflects on his and others’ imperfect family backgrounds, advocating for intentional community building and spiritual focus.
6. Justice vs. Mercy: The Christian Civic Dilemma
- Beck unpacks the calls for the killer’s execution, differentiating between revenge and justice.
“First of all, that's not justice. … Justice is about order, accountability, and the consequence of choices. But if you just go for justice, that hardens into deep and profound cruelty. … Mercy by itself is compassion. … But mercy without justice loses its meaning entirely.”
— Glenn Beck (23:20-25:55)
- He supports the application of state law (i.e., the death penalty for such egregious crimes) but insists it be administered “with a soft and gentle heart and mercy” rather than vindictiveness.
7. Coming Societal Threats and a Call to Goodness
- Glenn shares his fears of increasing violence spurred by chaos and foreign intervention, urging listeners (especially those with any kind of audience) to model forgiveness, justice, and love, even in the face of atrocity.
“I encourage every single person. … If you have a Facebook page or anything else, you have an audience. … I want you to preach the gospel. I want you to forgive. … I want you to demand justice, but I want you to turn to Christ and ask for his help, for forgiveness … and love one another.”
— Glenn Beck (32:35)
8. America’s Founding Principles Vs. Today’s Divides
- Beck contrasts the positive vision of America’s founders (and Kirk’s legacy) with what he views as the negative, destructive energy animating modern radical movements.
“Unlike when you say that when you're actually breaking up and you don't mean it is like you stink on ice, but I'll take the blame here. It's me, is now. I just got some things going on in my head. That's not true. It was with the founders. It's us. You don't understand us. … You believe certain things, but we hold these things to be self-evident.”
— Glenn Beck (35:50)
- He positions “the left” as being “against something,” while Kirk and his supporters are “for forgiveness… for equal justice… for God, which leads you to freedom of speech… and the rule of law.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
Erica Kirk’s Radical Forgiveness
“That man, that young man, I forgive him. Because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate.” (06:32) -
Glenn on Family’s Role
“Fame, fortune, success, vacations. Whatever it is you're working for, I promise you, is meaningless compared to your family, compared to finding somebody that you truly love and they love you.” (14:40) -
On Civilization’s Crisis of Justice:
“One of the problems that we're having right now is justice is never paid by anybody. They get away with anything, and we are crying out for justice, which makes it harder, because sometimes mercy is confused with no justice.” (24:50) -
On Christian Response:
“Want to take real revenge, deny evil what it wants, do good instead. The real enemy shrieked in pain when she said that. … We are denying what evil wants.” (22:55)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Reflections & Erica Kirk’s Leadership: 00:00 – 06:05
- Erica Kirk’s Forgiveness Statement: 06:05 – 07:55
- Beck on Forgiveness & Dual Citizenship: 07:55 – 12:47
- Spiritual Revival & Community Response: 10:55 – 12:47
- Family, Faith, and Personal Growth: 12:47 – 16:00
- Justice vs. Mercy Discussion: 20:29 – 29:20
- Warnings of Societal Division & Call to Action: 32:35 – 38:15
- Founding Principles Comparison: 35:50 – end
Flow and Tone
Glenn Beck’s tone throughout the episode is urgent, earnest, and often emotional—moving seamlessly from admiration for Erica Kirk’s spiritual resolve, to deeply personal reflections, to larger warnings about the state and future of American society. He is candid about his own family struggles, strong in his opinions about faith and justice, and calls for listeners to resist the lure of hate or vengeance by following the example set at the memorial. Quotes are woven into each thematic section and Beck often returns to the refrain that cultural renewal and justice can only be accomplished through moral and spiritual strength.
Summary
For listeners and non-listeners alike, this episode powerfully blends memorial, personal reflection, philosophical inquiry, and civic exhortation. It centers on the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, holding up acts of Christian forgiveness in the face of hate as the path forward, while warning that justice—tempered by mercy—must prevail in society. Beck ties these events to the broader American story and the existential threats he sees on the horizon, urging everyone with a voice to choose the light and work for true renewal.