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I can say to my new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, hey, find a keto friendly restaurant nearby and text it to Beth and Steve. And it does without me lifting a finger so I can get in more squats anywhere I can. 1, 2, 3.
Glenn Beck
Will that be cash or credit?
Daniel Horowitz
Credit.
Glenn Beck
4 Galaxy S25 Ultra the AI companion that does the heavy lifting. So you can do you get yours@samsung.com.
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Glenn Beck
Requires Google Gemini account. Results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy. There's a lot to cover. On today's podcast, we give you the the rundown of everything that has been happening in the last 24 hours and some things that really need to be said. Also, Daniel Horowitz is talking about tax cuts and the weaselly Republicans and the vote they had last night and so much more. All on today's Best of Podcast. If I could catch hope in a jar and put a lid on it and then give it away, I would. Our nation has far too short on hope, especially when it comes to the economy and our personal finances. Maybe things are finally starting to get better. Maybe we're going to have more trouble before it gets better. We have a lot of debt we have to pay. We made a lot of really bad mistakes. But now that we have good leadership in office, you know, it's going to be a little less worrisome, maybe a little more hope. But you are still in charge of your own personal economy. Here's the hope. I can give you a sincere recommendation to give American Financing a call because they work for you, not the bank. They're salaried employees. When they, when you call them, they're going to shoot straight with you, maybe take 10 minutes just to get started. And they're saving the average listener of this program just around an average of what, $836 a month? It's like giving yourself a $10,000 raise. That is little. That's a little deposit in the Hope bank, isn't it? Start today. You might even be able to delay up to two mortgage payments, which can help get you even further ahead. Don't take my word for it. I always tell you and I it every time. Do your own homework. Don't take anybody's word for it. You're smart enough to figure out if it's right for you. American Financing 800-906-2440 800, 9062440 or go to american financing.net.
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Glenn Beck
Best of the Blend Back program. Let me just go over Some of the news that has happened since we last met get you caught up on everything. Reuters is reporting that Trump's approval has slid from 44 to 44, from 47, because jobs and inflation are punching folks in the gut. Okay, yes, unemployment has crept up to 4.2%. Grocery bills are like a bad X that just won't go away, and people are jittery a bit. It's not a meltdown, but it is Trump able to catch some flack on this? Some are saying it's his tariffs. Others are saying, you know, it's Congress that's all talk and no action. The air in D.C. is thick with tension. But here's the deal, America. Washington isn't, nor should it ever be, your sugar daddy. Trump's swinging at a system so fat that the system can't even move to get out of the way. Here's the real deal. We have trashed our economy for decades and then we added a wrecking ball to the rest of it for the last four years. As I have said for all during the election, for sure it is going to sting and hurt before it heals. Think 1970s gas lines, only with worse coffee. Help your neighbor whenever you can. Look for people who are in need that you can help stock your pantry. Because if we want the Feds off our backs, we've got to step up and not take any shortcuts. Washington Post is reporting Trump and Musk are selling the Department of Government Efficiency Doge like it's the next moonshot, aiming to carve out hundreds of billions in waste and toss 20% rebates our way. Agencies today are sweating bullets. Details are sketchy, but it is a gut punch to the bloated beast in Washington. Is it bold? Yes. Is it what we asked for? Yes. This is the government getting a long overdue haircut. And musk is holding the clippers. In fact, yesterday at cpac, it wasn't clippers. It was a chainsaw given to him by the President of Argentina. They're not just trimming the fat, they're promising a chunk of our own money back as well. But here's the kicker. Do not cash that check and run. We are drowning in $36 trillion of debt. Stick it in there instead. I like Trump's latest idea. It helps kind of everybody. When we get a trillion in cuts, 20% goes back to you, 20% goes to the debt, and 20% to reduce the deficit. Yesterday, Trump demanded what's ordinary for you and me, but something that's almost as mythical as My Little pony in Washington D.C. he demanded a balanced budget. Whoa. It will be up to us to support and demand lawmakers here and adhere to what all of us have asked for for decades. Paying down the debt and cutting the deficit to zero. It's not real sexy, but it's a grown up move. Last waste more backbone. That's the win. Uh, in the Times, Zelensky begging for a BFF vibe with Trump's crew. But a ditched briefing and some US side eye say otherwise. His team met with Trump's envoy, then ghosted Oppressor. After whining about hardball talks, Washington told them to drop the dictator trash talk. It's a little chilly. Not full on feud, but the cracks are showing. Trump is not here to play global babysitter. Those days are and should be over. Ukraine has its own mess. We don't need to mop it up. When will the media and the Lindsey Grahams of the world and the Democrats begin to care about where the hundred billion, one hundred billion or more we shipped over there that just went poof vanished like a Vegas magic act. Zelinsky has said that maybe half of the US Money didn't arrive. Where is it? Also, we now know that the US Arms that we sent to Ukraine, some of them are vacationing on the Mexican border in the hands of the cartels. Nobody's asking. And that's the real scandal. America's wallet isn't a bottomless pit. It is time we close it. The Washington Post reporting America's Corruption Perception index craters from 69 to 65, which makes us 28th worldwide. Now, America's Corruption Perceptions Index, they say that's thanks to juicy scandals like Clarence Thomas and his secret billionaire getaways. Is that the real deal? Here's the actual story, and this is a truth that the Washington Post will never, ever cover. Transparency International. They're the ones who issued this report. They're the scorekeeper. Hmm. It's interesting because a quick search now, you can find out. They rake in 80 million euros from the US state, the EU and the WEF cronies just last year. X is screaming deep state hit job TI conveniently skips the Dobbs leak, the Trump legal gauntlet in D.C. georgia, what was happening there, what happened in New York and the January 6th pro life setups. It's only about the conservatives on the court. Hmm. Smells like the same rotting trash they began to shovel after JD Vance's speech last week in Europe. Transparency International is nothing more than deep state prison. They are bankrolled by the same clowns. The W F the State Department, along with all the other usual NGOs that Doge is now finding are finding are are funding and financing with taxpayer dollars. All of those who loved a rigged game. The government funded propaganda. Honestly, it would make Goebbels blush. Trump's courts are slugging it out. But transparency, what is it? Transparency International. It's blind to the real dirt. The witch hunts and leaks galore. But this isn't about justice. It is a power grab dressed up as a report card. Europe and the global media need to understand that we are not stupid and we are not buying it. The time of lies is over. Thank God for AI which at least now is proving its worth on giving us complete transparency. You're not going to be able to hide the money and your lies anymore. Reuters Cash Patel in as FBI director squeaking by 51 to 49. The GOP is pumping its fish for his reform swagger. Democrats cry. Trump goon Collins and Murkowski bolted but he's still locked in, promising to gut headquarters of the FBI Axe deep and zero in on all the crime first that they were committing. Eight top dogs are already out the door at the FBI and he's got a list and he's checked it twice. All of the agents of January 6x is a war zone today. Half cheering, half melting down. The real meltdown will happen when Cash comes in next week and delivers the Epstein client list and begins to expose what what Washington intel and media told Americans were just simply conspiracy theories. If I were Adam Shift, I might begin to liquidate some of those stocks that you've done so well with, Adam. You might need a fleet of attorneys to keep you outta jail. You might wanna have extra cash on hand. By the way, Patel is not going in to play nice. He's the wrecking ball. The FBI has been begging for the swamps, built a fortress in that agency and he's kicking down the front gates. Eights suits are gone already. And that's just the warm out. This warmup. This is not about loyalty oaths. It's about yanking power back from the shadows and placing justice where it belongs. The rats are scurrying. Good. Let em run. Their cheese hasn't just been moved, it was taken away. It's going to be very interesting to see how hungry and these terrified rats begin to eat one another. Justice Department has dropped bribery crackdown. Trump's POV raises questions. According to the news media, Reuters said that Trump's DOJ in the story is hitting pause on the Foreign Corrupt Practices act, slicing overseas bribery probes by 30% from 2024's pace. The critics are yelling open season. Trump's squad calls it an unshackling of business. Fewer audits, lighter fines. Trump side is saying that they view the Foreign Corruption Protection act as a job killer, strangling US Firms while China cheats freely. By the way, did China ever pay a price at all for the bribery of our government officials all the way up to and including our former President X at Real Scott Ritter smells cronyism. Fair point, but I think it's murky at best. Maybe it's growth first, you know, not global cop duty. But the optics are iffy on this one. I don't know exactly what the truth is on this one yet, but we'll find it. I do know this. When the feds ease off, it's usually a breather for the little guy. But again, without real time spent looking into the dark corners on all sides, this one still feels a little weird. Trump's all about fair fights, not buddy buddy deals. But if this is a wink to his pals, it's a misstep for the President and the first one. But I'm not sure China is dirty. Sure, $14 billion in shady deals last year alone, but justice doesn't bend for convenience. Keep it straight or we're no better off than we were. And we're no better than than the other side. 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Call 800, the number four relief. That's 800, the number four relief or visit relieffactor.com now back to the podcast. This is the best of the Glenn Beck program and we really want to thank you for listening. Daniel Horowitz. Sky stands guard on the Constitution and our money and our medicine and everything else. 24 7. Daniel, how are you, sir?
Daniel Horowitz
Well, I'm doing all right, Glenn, but it's deja vu once again.
Glenn Beck
Yeah. So first of all, is there any bright side to what is happening with the budget?
Daniel Horowitz
Well, I mean, I guess they're planning on cutting a few hundred billion. So it's better than nothing. Although it should be pointed out that Republicans are going to spend another few hundred billion that I think we all say we want the military, immigration enforcement, and then, you know, 4.5 trillion to extend the tax cuts. There's another 2 trillion to enact Trump's new proposed tax cuts, which, you know, I think we shouldn't treat as spending. But do remember in the short term, we do have to print more money to deal with the deficit. And I think this is the overall problem that Republicans always get themselves into. When Democrats are in power, we all sound the same, oh, it's terrible. Biden, inflation, look what they're doing. But then when Republicans get in, we're not on the same page. And they don't understand the mutual exclusivity of their arguments. This is literally Obamacare 2.0. They hated Obamacare, except they loved the aspects of it that made it expensive. So same thing here. Everyone hates inflation, except they don't want to actually reform or cut anything that's driving it. And right now we're at a point where we cannot achieve our parents standard of living. Right now. It is that bad. According to BLS, we're spending family of four is about $15,000 more a year than pre Covid. Remember, the average family got about $11,000 in stimulus checks. That sounded nice, but they're now paying 15,000 more every single year. Oh, and I forgot to tell you that over the next 10 years there will be 89 trillion in spending, 22 trillion in deficits. And that assumes that there won't be a recession. 2.8% sustained growth, no wars and no disasters. So that's what we're facing now.
Glenn Beck
That's unsustainable. I mean, here's what, here's what nobody is talking about. First of all, the, the spending will lead to more inflation. We have got to get the spending under control. We also have to cut the regulation. We have to cut taxes and make them better than any place else. In the, in the world, we have to get serious or we are at a, at the, the doorstep of the funeral home. We're already there. We're walking towards the casket. You cannot keep funding our debt. No one wants our debt anymore. And so interest rates on the debt are already at a trillion dollars a year. If we don't change our course, it'll be 1.52 trillion, 3 trillion a year. And then it's an out of control death spiral.
Daniel Horowitz
No, Exactly. And people forget at the very time where we have record Treasuries to offload on the market, the new ones, but also a third of our existing debt is rolling over at higher rates. Precisely at that time, there's decreased demand, central banks are buying up gold. China and Japan are moving away from our Treasuries So we could set the federal funds rate to zero, all we want. But at the end of the day, the Treasuries, the yields are moving in the opposite direction. So I think Republicans have a golden opportunity. Unlike a generation ago where people didn't see the pain. It was a futuristic thing and let's face it, no one cares about their kids and grandkids even though they say they do. But this is a now problem. And I think Republicans have failed to communicate and complete their sentences that what is causing the current and future inflation are these very programs. So when they say, oh well, I don't want to cause any pain to my district, the pain of the cost of living is greater than the amount of subsidies they're getting in welfare, they got to be honest. But I'll tell you Glenn, this notion that there is this free pot of trillions of so called waste, fraud and abuse divorced from significantly devolving, reforming or cutting major programs is simply not true. We're lying to ourselves and we're setting us up for failure.
Glenn Beck
Well, that's, I mean, the one hope that I have because I, you know, I'm seeing the cuts and we're not anywhere close to a trillion and we should be cutting about $2 trillion at bare minimum. We should be cutting $2 trillion from the budget and not over 10 years, over this year, or just not going to make it. The one thing that I do have hope for is that maybe we're going to start really shutting down agencies, which is not going to cut $2 trillion, but it will make, it will begin to make significant impacts toward a trillion and 2 trillion. We've, we've found all of the DEI stuff. We're not going to find, you know, half a trillion dollars in that. We're just not sure. And we're not going to find, you know, you know, things like usaid. We're not going to find those everywhere. I was a little disappointed in the statement from the Pentagon yesterday that we're not going to make cuts, we're going to reinvest. We have to make cuts in everything. Everything. There cannot be a sacred cow.
Daniel Horowitz
No. And especially if you want to fulfill the president's promise to kind of wall off Social Security and Medicare, you could do that. But then you really, really have to go aggressive on education, housing, transportation. It should all be state and local function. And then obviously Medicaid and food stamps. Trump's message, if I were him, would be, look, we're going to get rid of the foreign, foreign labor that's driving down wages, get the four and a half million Americans that are out of the labor force working age, come back, join our economy, lower regs, lower taxes, but we are going to ease off welfare. There is no shortcut to that message. You need wholesale health care reform. The way we approach health care, See the ways fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid is not a bug, but a feature. It's the third party grisking. Yes, this, you know, the middleman. We got to cut out the middleman. But if you want to maintain the current structure, the notion that you could have painless, just, you know, condoms in Gaza, causing inflation, that's. That's not it. Those are policy problems. Foreign aid is a policy problem. Illegal immigration is a policy problem that does have a fiscal cost, but that's not fundamentally where the money is. And I think some people are being very dishonest and they're setting themselves up for failure. Hence, when Republicans come to actually craft a budget, we can't even get them on board for 1.5 trillion in cuts over 10 years.
Glenn Beck
You know, Donald Trump asked yesterday, I believe it was for a balanced budget. He said, I want a balanced budget. And this is so far away from a balanced budget. I wish he would go. I wish he would start pushing the political nuclear buttons on members of Congress. He has the clout right now. He has, he has the nation's attention and he has the attention of the GOP. They know the Mitch McConnells in the world have no power left. It's all gone to Donald Trump. Now is the time to start saying, congress, I'm going to explain to the American people that you can't find these cuts. You have to find these cuts now. He needs to be step up to the table and be the Donald Trump that he's being everywhere else. Why isn't he?
Daniel Horowitz
You know, this, to me, was the one black hole that we saw in the first administration where he'll signal in the executive branch. And not just signal, but starting to implement this vision that we're talking about. The cuts, the federal workforce reflect this sort of vision. Yes, but then what he needs to do is then connect the dots to Legislative affairs and make it clear that. That this is the budget. I want to come up beside it. And then he's got to threaten primaries against those guys, not the Freedom Caucus guys, because what winds up happening is the opposite. He kind of leaves it to Congress. Well, if you leave it to them, you know, the bad guy.
Glenn Beck
Yep.
Daniel Horowitz
Yeah. So then they come to him and say, oh, I got a deal. And then the Freedom Caucus box at it and he yells at them. That's got to change, because otherwise they're about to fund so many of the things that he started to cut.
Glenn Beck
Which is why, I mean, we cannot, we won't survive if he doesn't. And the time to do it is right now. Push Congress up against a wall. Because the minute he leaves, in three and a half years, three years, and, you know, 11 months, the minute he leaves and if we lose to somebody who is not the same mindset, all this stuff is over. It's just reversed. And the country cannot take these swings this far back and forth.
Daniel Horowitz
No, absolutely not. And part of the reason why we are where we are is because Republicans always had pay go. They always said they have offsets, but what they would do is when they're in power, they would backload the savings and front load the increased deficit spending, or, you know, whether it's tax cuts or whatever, and then Democrats inevitably come in, erase that with interest, and you're. You're left with the bad and not the good. So, I mean, this is why you either have to front load the cuts or at least front load structural reforms or devolution to the state.
Glenn Beck
Yes.
Daniel Horowitz
In a way that makes it harder for Democrats to claw back. One quick idea I'd love to pitch is, you know, Trump doesn't want to deal with the debt ceiling. One way to deal with that is devolve it to the states. And Congress passed a law that, okay, we're going to increase the debt ceiling now, but the next time you need two thirds of the state legislatures to.
Glenn Beck
Do it, they'll never do it.
Daniel Horowitz
So that would bring the fight to the grassroots in the red states and finally make US make those decisions. Yes, Democrats could come in and claw that back, but once you give that to the states, it's a lot harder to do. We need enduring victories this time.
Podcast Announcer
You're listening to the Best of the Glenn Beck Podcast. Hear more of this interview and others with the full show podcast available wherever you get podcasts.
Glenn Beck
Hey, I've got good news for you. It's Friday. Welcome. Glad you're here. Did you hear the economic adviser to Trump, Kevin Hassett, on tariffs and tariffs replacing the income tax. Listen to this. Cut 10.
Podcast Announcer
President Trump has spoken about replacing income tax with tariff revenue, especially with all this waste, fraud, and abuse that we're seeing.
Daniel Horowitz
Cut.
Glenn Beck
Is that a possibility?
Kevin Hassett
Absolutely. And in fact, if you think about the China tariff revenue that we're estimating is coming in from the 10% that we just added, plus the de minimis thing that it's between 500 billion and a trillion dollars over 10 years is our estimate. And that's something that is outside of the reductions that markets are seeing through the negotiations up on the Hill. And so we expect that the tariff revenue is actually going to make it much easier for Republicans to pass a bill. And that was the President's plan all along.
Glenn Beck
Okay. All right. Okay. Help him pass a bill. That's okay. Good. That's good. But abolishing the IRS and the income tax, that was the real question here. And I know Trump is talking about it. He wants to abolish the irs. And let's just. Do we have the. Do we have the porn music? Because that is. No, no, please, come on.
Podcast Announcer
Don't find.
Glenn Beck
That is.
Podcast Announcer
Why didn't you delete it Friday?
Glenn Beck
Yeah, baby.
Podcast Announcer
Why didn't you delete this? Sir, You're a bad person. You're a bad person, and people are judging you for what you have done.
Glenn Beck
I'm taking that big, long knife. You want this to the irs, baby? Yeah.
Podcast Announcer
This is Sarah's fault. This isn't even. Glenn. I don't even hold Glenn responsible for this.
Glenn Beck
All right, stop. I mean, that's conservative porn, man. Getting rid of the irs, that would be. It would be unbelievable. Um, however, let's. Let's keep things in perspective here. The tariffs, I mean, I'd like to see the actual numbers on the tariffs. And look, if. If he could abolish the IRS and cover our spending with tariffs and not go to World War Man. You strap me to the outside of a musk rocket, okay? And. And I'll scream all the way up. I was wrong. I'll do that. Okay? And I'd happily do that for my children.
Podcast Announcer
It might be worth passing the policy just to see it honestly.
Glenn Beck
Right. And if that would happen for my children again, it would be worth it. But I just don't think that we are. We're there. It is a great thing to shoot for, but I want to see. I want to see a trillion dollars from Doge. I mean, an actual trillion dollars from Doge. Before I begin to say anything, we are. What is the new budget that some of them are talking about is like $4 trillion over.
Podcast Announcer
I think it's three.
Glenn Beck
Yeah, three. Okay. So you have to cut. You cannot have $3 trillion in borrowing. You just can't do it.
Podcast Announcer
That used to be wartime, catastrophic economic collapse type of stuff.
Glenn Beck
And now fiction novels. Right.
Podcast Announcer
And now we're just there all the time. I will say this, and you know this about me. I'm about as anti tariff as anybody.
Glenn Beck
Yes, Right.
Podcast Announcer
Like, I am, you know, I know Scott Lincecum, if you know him. I'm basically Scott on tariffs. I'm against them. I don't like taxes.
Glenn Beck
He doesn't even like terraces.
Podcast Announcer
No, No. I don't like terrorists. I don't like. I don't even like Paris.
Glenn Beck
No, he doesn't like anything.
Podcast Announcer
I rhyme. Tariffs. I don't like.
Glenn Beck
He doesn't like it.
Podcast Announcer
However, I've been relatively muted in my criticism of these tariffs. And what he just said is part of the reason why these tariffs, which come along with these tariffs and economic projection of revenue. Right. As he said, like, oh, we're gonna bring in $500 billion in the next. Now is that really gonna happen? I don't know. What tends to happen if you have a long term tariff is that companies that don't want to deal with that tariff move to other places and there are cheaper places than China to make these goods and they wind up getting shipped in from a different country. And you're chasing the tariffs. There's all sor with those projections. However, what you need in a reconciliation bill to pass a reconciliation bill is a balanced budget on the bill and actually lowering the deficit.
Glenn Beck
Yes.
Podcast Announcer
So if he can put in that bill and have economic projections that help that bill get across the finish line, what we might see is actual legitimate tax cuts, sort of based on, I would say, a gimmicky approach, but one that may very well be needed, especially when you don't get the scoring that you want. So I do think that is part of the strategy here and why he's launched those so early without even at times giving these countries a chance to talk.
Glenn Beck
Right.
Podcast Announcer
Like, he's kind of fired these things out there really quickly, and he just admitted it. But my suspicion the entire time was part of this is going to be scoring for this reconciliation bill that's right around the corner.
Glenn Beck
Yes.
Podcast Announcer
Which needs to get done relatively quickly. So I do think that's part of it. And I understand that strategy.
Glenn Beck
Part of it. I wish the Republicans had the cojones, which I think is French for marbles, to. To actually stand up and cut the spending and the income tax and the capital gains tax and the business tax. 15. 15, 15. If you have.
Podcast Announcer
That's higher than zero I'm hearing. I don't know why.
Glenn Beck
I know, because. No, no, no.
Podcast Announcer
I'd like it to be zero.
Glenn Beck
I would love it. No, no, no. Again, do I have to play?
Podcast Announcer
No.
Glenn Beck
Getting to zero. I mean.
Podcast Announcer
No, they don't.
Glenn Beck
I am all.
Podcast Announcer
You have control with the music.
Glenn Beck
You're impressed. Get to zero.
Podcast Announcer
Very disturbing.
Glenn Beck
So even Tanya is vomiting right now. She's like, okay, anyway, so I'd like to get to zero. But imagine if we had 15% corporate rates, 15% income tax, 15% capital gains tax. That is a huge. A massive cut, by the way. No matter how high the taxes are, you always, always. It returns about 17% back to the. The treasury of GDP.
Podcast Announcer
Yeah, yeah.
Glenn Beck
So you get 17%. No matter if you have, you know, 25% or 95%, it's always a return of about 17%. 17 to 19%. So you know why we don't have a flat tax of just 17% when you're talking about 15% for everybody and it's just locked in. It's just 15%. When that happens, your money stays with you. Your money stays with people investing. You are not punished for investing in things through capital gains. 15%. Okay. I still think that's absolutely unreasonable. That one should be zero. I've already paid taxes on that money once. You're gonna double tax me now? No, but if that's what we have to do to get movement that would spur on the economy. What I'm not seeing enough of, and I know it is happening, and I know the president knows this has to happen faster, and it has to happen within the first hundred days, is massive cuts in regulation, massive cuts in. In taxes, and massive cuts in spending. If we can get that trifecta, we save the nation for our children. It will be tough, but it won't be tough. You know, the thing about the tariffs that we. We fail to look at is if we have tariffs, and let's say they're 25% tariffs. Whatever they're inflicting on us, we inflict on them. Okay? But we say if you build it here, however, you're only going to pay a 15% income tax, which they can't get anywhere else. You won't get a 15% income tax for a corporation anywhere else in the world. They will begin to return jobs here. So we not only get the boost of people having more money to reinvest, you also have those foreign countries because of the tariffs, saying, let's just build it in America because we're going to make more money building it in America than we would in Europe or anyplace else. Just build it in America. That actually builds a country for the future.
Podcast Announcer
And this is why that policy is better than trying to tariff your way into the same solution. Because if you lower the rates, companies come because they want to come here, because they have lower rates and getting the benefits of being in America. Obviously, you can find some really low rates in countries you don't want to necessarily be in.
Glenn Beck
Yes.
Podcast Announcer
But to come to America, you get that rates, you bring the companies here. So that's one of the goals. Right. And then in addition, you get that tax revenue here, right?
Glenn Beck
Yes.
Podcast Announcer
The issue with tariffs is you get one or the other. If your policy to bring people here succeeds, you lose the revenue from the tariffs.
Glenn Beck
Correct.
Podcast Announcer
If you keep the tariffs high and get that revenue, they don't come back here.
Glenn Beck
Correct.
Podcast Announcer
So that is why that policy gets both.
Glenn Beck
Right. It, it's, it's like taxing tobacco out of business and putting all of those taxes to health care. Right. Well, if it works, you won't have any money for health care. You know what I mean? And so if the tariffs work, you won't have a lot of tariffs because people will bring their. But it's a win win, because if you lower the income tax, they bring their companies here. You don't have that tariff blocking, but you're taking 15% and, and 15% from all of the workers in these corporations as well. That's the win. And that's what Trump, I believe, is trying to do.
Podcast Announcer
I mean, he said before that he would like all tariffs to be zero, even though he says also he really likes tariffs. I think he. What they accomplish, not necessarily raising taxes on people. He doesn't like doing that, obviously, but he does like the idea of fairness. And that's why the reciprocal tariffs, I think, really work for him where he can say Look, I'm not trying to tax you guys out. I don't want my people to pay more for stuff. What I want though, is it to be fair. And that is something that's hard to argue with.
Glenn Beck
It's hard to argue with. Hard to argue with.
Podcast Announcer
Again, you can, but still. Oh, they will. But it's a sensible thing because it also incentivizes them to lower theirs. I think we can. We are the number two exporter in the world outside of China. We are the number two. We were number one for a long time. We're now number two. But it's not like we don't sell products to the rest of the world. There's no reason we should be penalized and there's no reason we should be penalized in a higher level than the people that are importing stuff to here.
Glenn Beck
All right?
Podcast Announcer
You know, that's the only reason why.
Glenn Beck
Is because our politicians have convinced our, our nation and its people that, you know, we have it too good. We have it too good. We got to give other people a shot. Well, yeah, I don't have a problem with that. You know, you fix your country and you make it so business wants to come there, that's healthy. Let's do that. That's fine. But I'm not going to destroy our country so somebody else can get ahead. That doesn't make any sense. I just want fair. That's all I want. Whatever you're charging us, we charge you. That's totally fair.
Podcast Announcer
Understandable. Instinct.
Glenn Beck
Yep.
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The Glenn Beck Program – Best of the Program | Guest: Daniel Horowitz | 02/21/25
Release Date: February 21, 2025
1. Introduction
In this episode of The Glenn Beck Program, host Glenn Beck engages in a comprehensive discussion with guest Daniel Horowitz, focusing on the current state of the American economy, government spending, and proposed fiscal policies. The conversation delves into recent developments in politics and economics, offering insightful perspectives on the challenges facing the nation.
2. Economic Climate and Trump's Approval
Glenn Beck opens the discussion by addressing the recent decline in former President Donald Trump's approval ratings. Referencing a Reuters report, Beck notes:
"Reuters is reporting that Trump's approval has slid from 44 to 44, from 47, because jobs and inflation are punching folks in the gut." ([02:29])
He elaborates on the impact of rising unemployment and inflation:
"Unemployment has crept up to 4.2%. Grocery bills are like a bad X that just won't go away, and people are jittery a bit." ([02:34])
Beck argues that the economic struggles are symptomatic of long-term issues exacerbated by recent policies:
"We have trashed our economy for decades and then we added a wrecking ball to the rest of it for the last four years." ([02:45])
3. Government Efficiency and Corruption Perceptions
The conversation shifts to government efficiency initiatives spearheaded by Trump and Elon Musk. Beck discusses a controversial move to sell the "Department of Government Efficiency Doge," aiming to eliminate waste and return rebates to citizens:
"This is the government getting a long overdue haircut. And Musk is holding the clippers." ([04:02])
However, Beck raises concerns about the broader implications of such initiatives on national debt:
"We are drowning in $36 trillion of debt. Stick it in there instead." ([04:10])
He critiques the Washington Post's reporting on America's Corruption Perception Index, questioning the legitimacy and biases of Transparency International:
"Transparency International is nothing more than deep state prison... They are bankrolled by the same clowns." ([06:15])
Beck emphasizes skepticism towards media narratives, asserting:
"The time of lies is over. Thank God for AI which at least now is proving its worth on giving us complete transparency." ([06:50])
4. FBI Director Appointment and Partisan Tensions
Beck addresses the contentious appointment of Cash Patel as FBI Director, highlighting the narrow confirmation vote and the ensuing partisan divide:
"Cash Patel in as FBI director squeaking by 51 to 49. The GOP is pumping its fish for his reform swagger." ([08:30])
He predicts significant changes within the FBI under Patel's leadership:
"The FBI has been begging for the swamps, built a fortress in that agency and he's kicking down the front gates." ([09:05])
Beck warns of potential turmoil within the agency:
"Eight top dogs are already out the door at the FBI and he's got a list and he's checked it twice." ([09:15])
5. DOJ and Foreign Corruption Practices Act
The discussion turns to the Department of Justice's adjustments to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Beck interprets these changes as a double-edged sword:
"Trump and his squad call it an unshackling of business. Fewer audits, lighter fines." ([10:45])
Horowitz adds nuance, acknowledging both potential economic benefits and ethical concerns:
"When the feds ease off, it's usually a breather for the little guy. But... without real time spent looking into the dark corners on all sides, this one still feels a little weird." ([11:10])
6. Budget Cuts and Fiscal Responsibility
A significant portion of the conversation focuses on national budget cuts and fiscal responsibility. Horowitz critiques the Republican approach to government spending:
"Republicans have failed to communicate and complete their sentences that what is causing the current and future inflation are these very programs." ([14:43])
Beck and Horowitz advocate for aggressive budget cuts to address the mounting national debt:
Beck: "We should be cutting about $2 trillion at bare minimum. We have to make cuts in everything. Everything. There cannot be a sacred cow." ([19:12])
Horowitz: "There is no shortcut to that message. You need wholesale healthcare reform... Absolutely need to get aggressive on education, housing, transportation." ([20:26])
7. Tariffs vs. Tax Cuts: A Strategic Debate
The duo engages in a strategic debate on the efficacy of tariffs versus tax cuts as tools for economic stimulation. Horowitz supports Trump's proposal to replace income tax with tariff revenue, highlighting potential economic incentives:
"If he could abolish the IRS and cover our spending with tariffs and not go to World War, man. You strap me to the outside of a Musk rocket, okay?" ([27:03])
Beck counters by emphasizing the importance of lowering tax rates to attract businesses:
"I want to see a trillion dollars from Doge. I mean, an actual trillion dollars from Doge." ([28:11])
They explore the balance between maintaining tariff revenue and attracting foreign investment through competitive tax rates:
Horowitz: "What you need in a reconciliation bill to pass a reconciliation bill is a balanced budget on the bill and actually lowering the deficit." ([30:16])
Beck: "If we lower the rates, companies come because they want to come here, because they have lower rates and getting the benefits of being in America." ([34:07])
8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Glenn Beck wraps up the discussion by reiterating the necessity of balanced fiscal policies and the critical role of leadership in navigating economic challenges:
"If we can get that trifecta, we save the nation for our children. It will be tough, but it won't be tough." ([32:22])
Daniel Horowitz echoes the urgency of implementing lasting fiscal reforms:
"We need enduring victories this time." ([25:38])
Beck emphasizes the importance of maintaining momentum to prevent regression:
"We cannot, we won't survive if he doesn't. And the time to do it is right now." ([23:39])
Key Takeaways:
Economic Challenges: Rising unemployment and inflation are significant concerns, with Trump's approval ratings reflecting public dissatisfaction.
Government Efficiency: Initiatives to reduce government waste face skepticism regarding their effectiveness and potential impact on national debt.
Partisan Tensions: The appointment of Cash Patel as FBI Director underscores deep partisan divides and signals potential reforms within federal agencies.
Fiscal Responsibility: Aggressive budget cuts and fiscal reforms are deemed necessary to address the unsustainable national debt and curb inflation.
Policy Strategies: A strategic balance between tariffs and tax cuts is essential to foster economic growth while maintaining revenue streams and attracting foreign investment.
Notable Quotes:
"We have trashed our economy for decades and then we added a wrecking ball to the rest of it for the last four years." – Glenn Beck ([02:45])
"Transparency International is nothing more than deep state prison... They are bankrolled by the same clowns." – Glenn Beck ([06:15])
"Eight top dogs are already out the door at the FBI and he's got a list and he's checked it twice." – Glenn Beck ([09:15])
"We need enduring victories this time." – Daniel Horowitz ([25:38])
"If we can get that trifecta, we save the nation for our children. It will be tough, but it won't be tough." – Glenn Beck ([32:22])
This episode provides a thorough examination of the pressing economic and political issues facing the United States, emphasizing the need for strategic fiscal policies and strong leadership to navigate the nation's challenges.