The Glenn Beck Program

Episode: Best of the Program | Guest: Jeremiah Johnston | 4/3/26
Date: April 3, 2026
Host: Glenn Beck
Guest: Dr. Jeremiah Johnston, Apologetics Pastor and President of the Christian Thinkers Society

Episode Overview

This special Good Friday episode of The Glenn Beck Program features a deep dive into three major themes: exposing systemic fraud and corruption in American governance (with a focus on California), broader reflections on the role of faith and evidence in American life and public debates, and an in-depth interview with Dr. Jeremiah Johnston on the archeological and historical evidence for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—especially timely for Easter weekend. The program also touches on breaking news, current politics, and the enduring debate between science and faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Systemic Fraud in State Programs (California Focus)

[02:58 – 17:51]

• Glenn’s Overview: Outlines bombshell findings of fraud and corruption in California's government, based on investigative reporting by Christopher Rufo and the City Journal. Frames this not as a partisan issue, but as a systemic, national crisis.

  • Key Stat: California may have lost up to $180 billion to fraud and improper payments across multiple state programs.
  • Confirmed Example: During COVID, $20B in confirmed unemployment fraud, $55B classified as improper payments.

• Scale and Impact:

  • “If you spent $1 million every day, it would take 150 years to spend $55 billion.” (Glenn Beck, 06:21)
  • $55 billion “equals about $150 stolen from every man, woman and child in America … for a family of four, that’s $600. One program. One blue state.” (07:55)
  • Types of fraud: payments to prisoners (including death row inmates), international rings, money intended for the homeless diverted by nonprofit leaders.

• Patterns and Systemic Flaws:

  • “This is an entire system where oversight was weak to begin with, safeguards were removed or people told to ignore and massive amounts of money pushed out quickly. This, this is an environment where fraud isn't just possible, it's inevitable and they knew it.” (Glenn Beck, 13:22)
  • Whistleblowers, not routine oversight, have been key to exposing specific cases (e.g., Cheryl Davis in San Francisco).

• Non-Partisan Issue: Glenn urges for investigations to be non-political, suggesting Justice must be sought in both blue and red states. Touts J.D. Vance as a potential, credible national investigator.

2. Live News Brief: U.S. Fighter Jet Incident in Iran

[17:51 – 18:45]

• Jason (update segment): Reports that a U.S. fighter jet, believed to be an F-15, has been shot down in southern Iran. Ongoing search and rescue mission. Difficulty in confirming details due to Iranian state media “propaganda.”
  • “US Officials ... most of them are reporting the same thing, that a fighter jet was indeed shot down ... and a search and rescue mission is currently underway.” (Jason, 18:01)
• Glenn’s Reaction: Urges prayers for the crew, emphasizing the volatility of the situation and its potential to escalate.

3. Interview: Dr. Jeremiah Johnston—Archaeological Evidence for Jesus and the Resurrection

[18:45 – 29:31; resumes ~39:50]

A. Dating the Crucifixion

• Dr. Johnston’s Core Claim:
  • “We have the exact date that Jesus died by Roman crucifixion ... He died on Friday, April 3, AD 33.” (Jeremiah Johnston, 20:15)
  • Supported by Passover dating, lunar eclipses, and Roman records.
  • “If we cannot believe that, we cannot believe that Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC.” (20:23)

B. Faith, Facts, and Archaeology

• Christianity is unique among world religions for being grounded in verifiable historical, archaeological, and extra-biblical evidence:
  • “Archaeology is Christianity's closest cousin because Christianity is based in facts, real people, real places, real events.” (Jeremiah Johnston, 21:51)
• Dr. Johnston’s new book (The Jesus Discoveries) assembles 65 facts about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection from non-biblical sources—designed to be accessible, even to children.
  • “So we actually have images of all these books, discoveries and this will give you that X factor when you're talking about your faith that Jesus is based in evidence.” (23:11)
  • Notable anecdote: Dr. Johnston recounts how Glenn Beck’s emotional experience with the Shroud of Turin inspired a section of the book. (23:36)

C. Key Archaeological Discoveries

• James Ossuary (Bone Box)

  • “We actually have the very bone box of Jesus's brother, James ... it says James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” (Jeremiah Johnston, 26:03)
  • No other ossuary with ‘brother of’ inscription among 150,000+ found on Mount of Olives.

• Healing Magic Cup

  • “The earliest artifact that we have with the name of Jesus on it is actually a magic cup ... it says ho go through Jesus. The magician or the enchanter.” (Jeremiah Johnston, 27:53)
  • Indicates that Jesus’ reputation as a healer and exorcist was known throughout the ancient world, even outside Christian circles.

D. Faith and Evidence

• Both agree that evidence deepens—not replaces—faith:
  • “It doesn't strengthen your faith. It deepens it ... I can talk to you about the spiritual stuff, but I'm talking about the scientific stuff that is provable.” (Glenn Beck, 24:11)
  • “If Jesus did not walk out of that grave alive ... the Bible wouldn't exist ... Faith is always based in evidence.” (Jeremiah Johnston, 23:56)

4. The Faith vs. Science Debate, Social Media’s Impact, and Deliverance

[29:40 – 39:50]

• God is Great, Science is Great?

  • Glenn recounts posting “God is great” after the Artemis launch, prompting backlash from atheists/critics who claim “Science is great.”
  • Responds that the boundary between science and faith is artificial and culturally imposed.
  • “Science is constantly changing. Truth never changes. But what if ... there was no dividing line?” (Glenn Beck, 31:22)

• Social Media and Democracy

  • Heavy social media users less likely to believe democracy is the best form of government, more open to political violence (Washington Post survey). (30:40)
  • “The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but social media.” (Thomas Jefferson, paraphrased by Glenn, 31:06)

• Archaeological Corroboration of Exodus

  • Presents recent archaeological findings that align with biblical accounts of the Exodus: evidence of Semitic slave populations suddenly disappearing from Egypt, contemporary Egyptian records of calamities, mass burials of male children.
  • “Why does archaeology begin to echo what was written thousands of years ago? ... Maybe because the truth leaves fingerprints over time.” (Glenn Beck, 36:56)

• Synthesis—Faith and Science as Partners

  • Glenn: “When I said God is great, I didn't mean that God put the rocket into the sky. Man did that. Man used eternal principles ... but it's eternal principles.” (43:47)
  • Asserts that science measures how things happen, faith adds why it matters.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fraud and Corruption:

  • “This is an environment where fraud isn't just possible, it's inevitable and they knew it.” (Glenn Beck, 13:22)
  • “Multiply that across systems with weak oversight ... the numbers are going to be astronomical. And if we don't fix this, that's how the whole thing goes apart.” (Glenn Beck, 15:50)

• On History of Resurrection:

  • “If we cannot believe that [Jesus’ crucifixion, April 3, 33AD], we cannot believe that Caesar crossed the Rubicon.” (Jeremiah Johnston, 20:23)

• On Evidence and Faith:

  • “It doesn't strengthen your faith. It just deepens it.” (Glenn Beck, 24:11)
  • “If Jesus did not walk out of that grave alive ... the Bible wouldn't exist ... Faith is always based in evidence.” (Jeremiah Johnston, 23:56)

• On Social Media & Information:

  • “The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but social media.” (Glenn Beck, quoting Jefferson, 31:06)

• On Archaeology and Exodus:

  • “Truth comes out in the end. That’s the way it works. That’s the way God is. ... Truth leaves fingerprints over time.” (Glenn Beck, 36:56)

• On Science and Faith:

  • “When they begin to align, which science is starting to align, it doesn't diminish faith and it doesn't diminish science. It deepens it.” (Glenn Beck, 43:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:58] California Fraud and Corruption Deep Dive
• [17:51] Breaking: US Fighter Jet Shot Down in Iran—Live Update with Jason
• [18:45] Dr. Jeremiah Johnston Interview Begins: Evidence for Jesus' Crucifixion, Resurrection
• [21:47] Archaeology as Foundation of Christian Faith; James Ossuary Discussion
• [27:53] Earliest Artifact—Healing Magic Cup, Popularity of ‘Jesus the Magician’
• [29:40] Glenn on Science vs. Faith, Social Media, Archaeological Evidence for Exodus
• [39:50] Thematic Synthesis: Deliverance, Faith, Science, and Truth

Conclusion

This episode deftly weaves together urgent commentary on governmental corruption, the deep relationship between faith and evidence, and the cultural divides exacerbated by modern technology and skepticism. Glenn Beck and Dr. Jeremiah Johnston make the case—through discoveries old and new, from fraud in California to ossuaries in Jerusalem—that truth leaves a trail for the open-minded, whether in the realm of politics, history, or faith.