Loading summary
Glenn Beck
Your data is like gold to hackers. They'll sell it to the highest bidder. Are you protected? McAfee helps shield you blocking suspicious texts, malicious emails and fraudulent websites. McAfee Secure VPN lets you browse safely and its AI powered tech scam detector spots threats instantly. You'll also get up to $2 million of award winning antivirus and identity theft protection, all for just $39.99 for your first year. Visit mcafee.com/incancel anytime terms apply.
John Irwin
Hey, we have a rapid fire recap of the top stories from the weekend and some perspective on all that. Also pull up a chair because Uncle Glenn has a new children's story for the folks and the governor of Wisconsin. Also, John Irwin of the Irwin Brothers joins us to talk about a new Hollywood venture. And believe it or not, it's good. And he's got the control of the stories he'll be telling with Amazon. Another chuck, another win up for the right. All this and so much more on today's podcast. Let me tell you about preborn Abortion is a tragic part of our lives as Americans and the rest of the world. Even after the overturning of Roe vs Wade, it continues to rob children of the right to live. In fact, what's more devastating is that a majority of women who get abortions say they would have chosen life if they just had some simple support. Now you have the abortion pill and abortions are going through the roof. Preborn's network of clinics saves 200 babies every day by offering free ultrasounds to expecting moms, doubling that baby's chance that the mom will choose life. You could make a difference between the life and death of so many babies. As abortion continues to rise, Preborn is expanding their life, affirming care in the darkest corners of our nation to help more hurting women and save more babies. If you have the means, would you consider a leadership gift to save babies in a big way? If you put $15,000 in all tax deductible, it'll place a mach, an ultrasound machine, in a needy women's center, saving countless lives for years to come. To donate, dial £250. Say the keyword BABY. It doesn't have to be 15,000. It could be $15. It could be 15 cents. Every penny helps. That's £250. Keyword BABY or donate securely@preborn.com Beck preborn.com Beck A single heartbeat can echo across generations. Preborn sponsored by preborn. You're listening to the best of the Glenn Beck Program. All right. Let me just give you the news as I see it. What happened over the weekend of February 15th and 16th, what happened this weekend, I think is liberty, justice, and the truth breaking free. So let's dive in here. Cash Patel is taking the FBI helm. His first full official day is today. He was sworn in as FBI director with the hand on the Gita of a pledge to upload, uphold his Constitution. Um, it's not a bureaucratic. Bureaucratic shuffle. It is a shot across the bow of the weaponized deep state. This one makes all the difference in the world. Cash is making people in Washington sweat, and he should. Patel has vowed to root out corruption left, right, or center. And the whispers of the Epstein client list that he told me over the summer was in a. In a safe behind the desk of the director of the FBI. I know that Cash Patel must have been in the office of the FBI on Friday because Pam Bondi said the client list is now sitting on my desk. I'm reviewing it. I have a feeling Cash took it out from behind that desk safe and brought it over to Pam Bondi. She looked at it and I'm hoping as today is his first full day in office, it will be released today. But transparency, one way or another, is coming. And justice isn't going to care who you voted for. I'm going to tell you more about this coming up in just a minute. Uh, also, Trump has locked in his cabinet now. He has finalized his cabinet this weekend. Patel, RFK junior Tulsi Gabbard, the folks you know, who have bucked the system, not bowed to it, are all in the Senate's buzzing. But this crew is built to shrink government and not meddle abroad unless America is directly threatened. No more endless wars, no more nanny state, just constitutional governance. That's what they're promising. And so far, that's what they're delivering. The elites absolutely hate it, which makes me love it. Uh, by the way, I don't understand Democrats. You've been preaching against the the Pentagon forever. Now, Wait, Donald Trump says cut 8% of the the defense budget in the next four years and you're somehow or another against that now? Wow. Hello, Democrat Lindsay Grahams of the world. Midwest storms all through the states. Uh, but FEMA wasn't there. Oh, no. If you read the stories about this this weekend, you heard that it was chaos because FEMA had been cut. Really? Is that what caused the chaos, Bruce? Storm buried the Midwest. Snow piled high, power was out, lives disrupted. The media is whining about FEMA and the FEMA cuts. But hang on, because I think everyone saw this storm coming. It wasn't like, oh my gosh, it was a tornado that came out of nowhere. The storm had to travel halfway across the country to get to your state. Illinois, Michigan, you didn't have warnings. Were you in Ghana? How come you didn't prepare? You see, it's weird. When we know a hurricane is coming, Florida seems to be able to pull their head out of their rectum and actually prepare so when it hits, they can turn the lights back on. But gee, Illinois, Michigan, you just couldn't get it done. What does Illinois and Michigan have in common? Where are the governors? Florida shrugs off hurricanes without federal babysitters. Why can't Michigan and Illinois? FEMA is nothing but a bloated crutch. States need to step up or ask for help. Oh my gosh. Wouldn't it have been crazy if when you knew there was this storm coming, you as a governor could have been in the same room with the President at the White House last week. Maybe you got to pull them aside and said, hey, we got a big emergency coming, can you help us? Seems other states did that. Why weren't you ready? People, you need to start relying on your states and demanding that your governors pull their heads out of their rectum. Next story that I saw. The homeless. Homelessness crisis. Oh my gosh. It's a crisis. Ha ha. This is the first time I've seen that one. There's a homelessness crisis in our country. What? Yes. Tent cities grew this weekend. Yeah. You know why? According to the mainstream media, the HUD staff cuts by the Doge team. Hang on just a second. It's been a week for those cuts. So you cut the staff at the top of HUD a week ago and all of a sudden homelessness is outta control. Show me the cut that tanked housing overnight. Could you do that for me? I think this might predate Donald Trump. I don't know. I've never seen any pictures of homeless camps all around the country before this last weekend. This is decades of blue state failures, not a seven day staffing trim. Governors and mayors, you all own this now, not Uncle Sam. Accountability is about to go local. Hmm. Closer to the people. Maybe we can make changes. Also Trump and Zelensky, we're back at it. Zelensky says he's not gonna give the United States anything unless, I mean, he'll retire if. If Ukraine's allowed to join NATO in this, where we started this whole thing in the first place. Germany's election if we have time today, I want to talk about that. They had a snap election campaign that went on the far right. AfD is on the rise. That's because Vance was stirring the pot, you know, in Munich. That's what happened. Vance was meddling. Now, you know what we did is we cut all those USAID programs that were actually meddling in everybody's elections around the world. We decided, nah, we shouldn't do that. We should let the people of those countries decide themselves. Yeah, you wanna talk about a danger to democracy? Stop meddling in people's elections. Right? Am I right? Their vote was held yesterday and the fallout is Germany's to handle. We'll watch. Will not wait in hopefully. I mean, unless it starts to hit our shores, it's not our business. Stateside, we have bigger fish to fry. But there are some things that, if I have time, we need to talk about on that. And Elon Musk is pushing for AI innovation. The Doge crew cheered California's AI safety veto this weekend. Less red tape, more breakthroughs. At the same time, he just came out and said, we are at the event horizon of the Singularity. Big deal. What are the price of eggs? I don't know, but we might have robot chickens that eat us soon if you don't pay attention to the Singularity. We'll talk about that coming up next hour. And the FCC has called out cbs their bias. The FCC zeroed in on CBS this weekend. Probes into news distortion, hinting at real consequences. Fascist. This not censorship. This about accountability. Now hear me out on this. Should stations be able to lie? Well, no, but notice I said stations, not outlets. When you have a license from the United States government, you're in bed with the United States government. I know. I've done this my whole life. I had to get an FCC third phone. I'm a third phone license holder, I'll tell you that. I don't even know what that means, but I've got one. I had to take a test for it. Yeah. 13 years old, I'm at the FCC taking a test for my third phone license. I promptly lost that license. I mean, I still have it. I didn't. I mean, I. I lost it. Kind of like I lose my driver's license all the time. But if you want to lose a license, what you have to do as a local broadcaster is to break FCC rules. You see, local CBS stations have to have a license through the fcc. They serve the local community. Now, perhaps in New York and San Francisco, those people believe in their local community that lying to the American people and changing interviews to be able to make one politician look better than the other in a newscast is a public service. I mean, we can't have people knowing what they really believe and what they're really like. We need them to win as a public service. But I can't imagine all the red states and red cities feel that that was a public service. From CBS News. My question is, have you written a letter to your local CBS affiliate? You see any complaint letters where somebody writes in from the local community and says, I think this was wrong and I hope the FCC investigates you? And I've cc'd the FCC. Too many Cs for me to even follow. I've cc'd the FCC and so the FCC is going to know about it asap. I'll tell you that right now. And hopefully they're going to kick your ass anyway. Have you written your local affiliate yet? And manufacturers warn of trouble. New York Times says the New York Fed's latest is PEG Manufacturing at peak pessimism this last week. And a slowdown is looming. We can't wait to blame Trump. No, they didn't actually say that, but you know, they were thinking, I, this is from years of overregulation, globalism. It's all biting back. States can lead the fix, cut taxes, ditch the green tape. Washington shouldn't be the only savior here. Uh, every state should take it on. And finally, one last story, and it's a sad one. It seems another major chain might be ready to bite the dust. Bloomberg has reported that Hooters, the country's most famous restaurant, is in talks with the law firm Ropes and Gray to prepare bankruptcy. It is always sad to see people struggle. But even more sad when a a great institution, American institution like this ghost tits up. Making the decision to shoot somebody isn't something that should be taken lightly. It's not a decision you usually get to hesitate on, not the decision that you make every day. Honestly, the guy threatening your family is not going to wait while you have some internal debate. Should I kill him? Should I not? Should I shoot him in the leg? That's the dumbest thing ever. You have to make that decision right then. Now, wouldn't it be great if you had an extra option? A non lethal alternative. The burner launcher is the non lethal alternative that's being used all over the country by police and government officials. It is the alternative to safeguarding your home, your person, your car. It's legal in all 50 states. No permits or background checks. Required. It can be used by all age groups over 18. It's the burner launcher. It has powerful deterrents like tear gas and kinetic rounds with a 60 foot range. And one shot can incapacitate an attacker for up to 40 minutes. With the burner launcher, you can be confident that you are prepared to defend yourself against potential threats. They're trusted by over 500 government agencies, police department security firms all around the country because they work if a situation calls for action but not lethal violence. You want the Byrna launcher by r n a.com glenn save 10% now burna.com glenn now back to the podcast. You're listening to the best of the Glenn Beck Program. Welcome to the Glenn Beck Program. We're glad that you're here. So I don't know if you, I don't know if you saw the Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. He's not exactly on the Trump train. Really. Yeah.
Co-host
That's a shocking.
John Irwin
It's a shocking. Yeah, it is, it is, it is. You know, it kind of amazes me that, I mean, I get it when you're against, you know, going in and cutting the spending of any of these crazy things. I got it. Because you're probably on the take, you know what I mean? You're probably part of that system that somehow or another benefits you. I don't know exactly how, but I can, I can get it. I mean it just tells me who you are. But when you are still on the bandwagon of you know what, boys are girls and they're going to compete in sports. I don't get it. I really don't get it. Cuz nobody really thinks that way really anymore.
Co-host
I mean I, Is that true? I mean they lost, right? They lost with that approach. Which is something they should note if they care about winning in the future.
John Irwin
Correct.
Co-host
That being said, they, you know, they.
John Irwin
Does nobody think about that? No, no, you're right. Nobody, not nobody.
Co-host
It's not even close to nobody.
John Irwin
Right.
Co-host
Like they still got millions. I mean what, 40 something percent of the vote?
John Irwin
I'm not sure that that 40% though was, was, I'm far bandwagon for sure. I'm against cisgenderism. That's not, that's not what they were voting on.
Co-host
I agree. That's not, that's not what they are voting on. But there is a large, there's still a good chunk. I don't know, what is it, a quarter, 40% of Democrats, 30% of Democrats somewhere in there maybe that really still do believe in this, you know, woke sort of line.
John Irwin
So do the, do the math for me. How many Democrats are there now? 30% of the population.
Co-host
Yeah, yeah.
John Irwin
Okay.
Co-host
But I mean, obviously.
John Irwin
And only 30% of that population.
Co-host
10%.
John Irwin
So you got 10%. 10%. It's always nuts.
Co-host
Yeah, that's true.
John Irwin
That's true.
Co-host
I mean, obviously, you could also say some. Some. I'm saying. I was going to say Democratic voters. 30% of Democratic voters, but still it's only 15, 20%.
John Irwin
Yeah.
Co-host
So it's not that big, but it is, I think, still a significant. You're talking about tens of millions of people.
John Irwin
Sure, sure. And we, we look, you know, the reason why we all, you know, we look at these people who are online and we think, good heavens are crazy. Right. I wouldn't want to live next to that guy. We've all lived next to that guy. Right. Our whole lives. We look, we just didn't talk to that guy. We told our kids, don't talk to that guy. Something wrong with that guy. You know, the old lady down on the street with all the cats, don't talk to her kids. You know, we all had those crazy people. Nobody listened to them. And they were kind of isolated in our neighborhoods. Well, now they all have the Internet and now they're all getting together like, oh, yeah, well, I can outdo that. I'm even crazier than you are. But it's. It's the same number of crazies. Right. It's just that they're. They're now in a group and you're like, oh, wow. It seems like there's a lot of them. They've just all been hanging out in our neighborhoods. We, we just didn't see all of them around the world together in one place.
Co-host
I think that's true. I think it's a healthy thing to have some separation in your life from all of this, you know, and realize that, you know, some people, like, if you're believing crazy things, you, you, you might.
John Irwin
Congratulations.
Co-host
Good. Good job.
John Irwin
Like you.
Co-host
Everyone had that crazy person around the town.
John Irwin
You're right.
Co-host
And it's.
John Irwin
And most of them were harmless.
Co-host
Most of.
John Irwin
But when they get together.
Co-host
Yeah.
John Irwin
It's a problem.
Co-host
It's one thing. Again, I always think about this with, with so many of these issues. It's one thing for you to have opinion. That's, in my view, crazy. It's another thing for you to ask me to participate in your delusions.
John Irwin
Yes.
Co-host
And like, I don't. You know, that's right.
John Irwin
We used to. The Guy would be out getting the mail, and you'd be driving by and you were on a small street and you'd be like, oh, crap. Oh, crap. He's gonna look at me. I should stop and say hi. And so you. You know, he'd look at you like, you're not driving past me without saying hello. And so you'd stop and you kind of roll down the. Hey. Hey, you. I love you. What's happening? And then he would tell you some crazy things and you'd be like, oh, man.
Co-host
Crazy times, man.
John Irwin
Crazy times.
Co-host
I'll see you.
John Irwin
Yeah. And you roll up the window and.
Co-host
You go away and everything's fine.
John Irwin
But now he's like, you're not going anywhere until you absolutely agree and wear this badge and put it online.
Co-host
Say the word Hamas, Right?
John Irwin
Like, you're like, well, no. Yeah.
Co-host
No.
John Irwin
Okay. That's the difference. So Tony Evers, apparently, is that crazy guy who lives. Who lives on the street, you know? But we're just hearing about him because a lot of people got together and went, he should be our governor. Okay, well, you know, whatever. So he introduced a budget that, you know, he announced. And he was very excited. Of course, he didn't mention the language thing. You know, language. Part of the budget in there. They changed the word mother to inseminated person, which I think has a lot of respect, don't you?
Co-host
Oh, it's lovely.
John Irwin
I mean, I think that that that shows the love that most of us were created in, you know, hey, inseminated person. Inseminated person. I'm on the phone. You know that. I mean, that's good. That's good. Shows a lot of love and respect. Also, besides mother. Inseminated person. Also, paternity has been changed to parentage. I don't know what the parentage.
Co-host
I don't even understand how that even.
John Irwin
I don't even know. Yeah, I don't have any idea. References to wife or husband are now spouse. The word father is changed to parent. Mother is swapped out for person who gave birth to the child or inseminated person.
Co-host
So wait, father is an inseminator.
John Irwin
It should be. It should be, right? Inseminate.
Co-host
Consistent. It's just parent.
John Irwin
That sounds like.
Co-host
Because you could use parent for.
John Irwin
Doesn't that sound like a superhero, though? I'm the incentive inseminator. Inseminator here to inseminate. There's no need to fear. An inseminator is here. Yeah, I like that. That's good. That's good.
Co-host
In fact, I gotta use that as a new pickup Line at the bars.
John Irwin
Yeah. Hey, I'm the inseminator. Okay, good, good, good. I like that. Okay, so anyway, he's done that and I thought, you know what? Let's just get on the bandwagon. Let's just get on the bandwagon. Oh, really? Yeah. So I want to start something just a. Wrote a little. Wrote a little children's story today. I think you're gonna like it. I think it's time for Uncle Glenn's non inseminator story time. Because I didn't inseminate anybody that created you, but I want to read a story to you. So it's a little story. It starts out with. Well, it's in a batcrap crazy town of genderland. And little Timmy is there and he's scratching his head and he's screaming, which Pat is my dad? Which Pat is my mom? If any of you are you colonizer enablers. It starts out the way every great story starts out, doesn't it? So pat1, pat2 and pat3, three gender neutral anti racist warriors snorted over their intersexual oat milk lattes wearing spouse spectrum sashes and the parentage puzzle pins and the decolonized family armbands. And the first one said, I'm the inseminated person of color who birthed you. Dismantling white supremacy. That was PAT1 rejecting mom or mother for maximum wokeness. Then pat number two grinned and said, I handled parentage duties centering bioptic joy and no cisgender father is here. Oh, little Timmy just smiled as Pat number three, twirling a secret splice cape with a land back patch, cackled, My indigenous genes got spliced into your cells at conception. Smash the patriarchy, kiddo. Well, Timmy just looked at those three people, said, no, I mean male, female. Which one's my mom? All of them looked at little Timmy. Male, female. Then Timmy realized once more, none of these freaks knew any longer how to even describe a woman. Okay, okay. Which one of you chest fed me? Timmy asked. Pat1 waved a pump me non binarily in solidarity with trans folks, which we spell with an X. Pat number two brandished a buddy system bottle me amplifying queer joy. Pat number three giggled. I chess fed via eco friendly proxy climate justice baby. Then all three in the parentage patrol began chanting, spouse, parent inseminate. Smash the white fragility. It didn't really rhyme, but none of them do nowadays. Just then, Timmy's friend Sammy, another gender neutral name, burst in shrieking. My inseminated person says I'm. I'm a non binary climate refugee. Help. I don't even know what that means, Timmy. And I don't think the people who came up with that know what it means either. Well, Timmy and gender neutral named Sammy then hatched a plan. Later that day at the gender neutral anti racist jamboree, Timmy grabbed a mic, yelling, I identify as a Realsville revolutionary and I outwoke you all. By genderland law. My specialized spliced genes make me the supreme intersectional ruler of all. You three are my subordinate spouses. Time out in the parentage penalty box without any trigger warnings and without any oatmeal milk. While the crowd gasp as the Pats tripped over their pronouns, drenched in their non binary glitter. Timmy then hijacked the progress wagon, blaring old Louis CK Monologues, zooming to Realsville, where mom and dads still liked normalcy. The Pats chased him, yelling, but we're for dismantling the systems. Timmy mooned them, shouting, see you later, crazies. Just then, the wagon crashed into a barbecue joint. Timmy escaped with a rib, giggling, sanity and meat. Perfect. So there's your little story. Story time from Uncle Glenn today. I think they probably really will enjoy that, you know, in Wisconsin, where it's always sane, it's always truly sane. You're streaming the Best of the Glenn Beck program, and you can find full episodes wherever you download podcasts. So do you remember what it used to be like when you would go to a movie and it was a Christian movie, and you'd be like, oh, and it was just embarrassingly bad. And, you know, it just was. It just was very few times, you know, gone were the filmmakers like Cecil B. DeMille that actually understood the scriptures, understood what he was doing, didn't want to mock that, and actually liked people who were, you know, following the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and tried to make something that was true? Those guys had been long gone and dead and run out of Hollywood. But then came the Irwin brothers. Then came Dallas Jenkins, you know, from the Chosen John Gunn. And they formed kind of a fellowship of the ring, if you will, storming the gates of Mordor, otherwise known as Hollywood. And the Irwin brothers, they are responsible for the Jesus revolution, which is a fantastic movie. The Unbreakable Boy. I just had Zachary Levi on, and he is. This movie, I told him, is just one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. It's just such a good movie, and on top of it, it just makes you feel good and you can Just learn so much. You. I mean, you. At least I did. I watched it the whole time going, I don't think I'm that guy. I don't think I'm that guy, unfortunately. But just great movie. Doesn't feel like a Christian movie. Used to feel the Irwin brothers have really kind of mastered this as they, you know, as they made their films. They came out and started the Wonder Project, which is something that's going to produce film and television, and now has a seat at the Hollywood table, you know, but we've sanitized it for their protection, and it's a seat that I think they're going to keep. And they're working in the system, but not. They're not of the system that has long neglected the Christian audience. And they're coming out with something brand new this week on Netflix. And John Irwin is with us now. Hey, John, how are you?
Unknown Guest
Glenn, how you doing, man?
John Irwin
It's.
Unknown Guest
It's good to, as always, manage. Has been a wonderful friend for a very long time. And. And yes, it is an exciting time in our industry, for sure. It's sort of an unprecedented moment. And I think that's just because the voice of the audience has been so clearly heard, you know.
John Irwin
Yeah.
Unknown Guest
That it's given us the ability to maintain control, creative control, but also really harness the relationships with some of these studios and streamers.
John Irwin
And I feel like I may have made a mistake. Is it Netflix or is it Amazon Prime?
Unknown Guest
Amazon. It's Amazon Prime.
John Irwin
Amazon Prime.
Unknown Guest
Okay, good.
John Irwin
Sorry about that.
Unknown Guest
Thank you. It's House of David. It comes out this Thursday. It's the project that I've. I remember When I was 16 years old, my dad bought me a camera with money he didn't have, and I didn't know how to use it. And we went straight to Israel and filmed a little walk and talk documentary. And there's something just. The Bible came to life in a whole new way. And I went to King David's tomb, and right there I started dreaming about eventually getting to do the story of David. And so a lot of the films that I've made that you mentioned, I'm grateful for, that are kind of working up the courage and the skills to try to helm David's story. And there's this wonderful group of filmmakers. You're exactly right. That we're willing each other on to success and talking all the time. And I do feel like I'm in Dallas Jenkins wake, and he's a wonderful friend and collaborator. And so it's amazing to finally get to tell biblical stories. It's been a dream of mine for quite a long time.
John Irwin
You guys have. I mean, I love all of you. You're just cut from the same cloth and just not willing to give up. And you get better and better with every movie that comes out. So you made the first one. The first episode of King David starts with him, with Slingshot. Right. And Goliath.
Unknown Guest
Yeah, it really is the classic hero's journey. Season one of House of David is the story of the rise of this young outcast shepherd boy chosen to be king in a nation that already had one slaying a giant. And it really is that classic storytelling. And I think in many ways, David is the origin of many of those other origin stories. I mean, this is the original hero's journey. And so if you like those classic stories like Lord of the Rings or Star wars or Harry Potter, I think a lot of those stories have their roots in many ways in David. And this is the first. The original hero's journey kind of, or one of them. And. And so it's going to feel very familiar, even if you're not familiar with the material.
John Irwin
I've always thought when I read that story that everybody was like, david, shut your mouth. What are you doing? This kid doesn't have a chance. What are you doing? How did you explain or deal with the. Here's this kid that nobody thinks has a chance stepping up. How did you deal with the rest of the army that was there?
Unknown Guest
Well, that's the fun thing, you know, Ken Burns, I think, calls it emotional archaeology is the idea of, you know, when you study history and then you really make it real and emotional. And that was one of the questions that I had was, how in the world did King Saul let this kid go out and fight this giant? And we really spend a lot of time answering that question. And I think the reason is that Saul sensed David was also anointed king, and he sensed that courage and conviction. And when no one else was willing to challenge Goliath, David was so passionate about it that somehow that convinced a king to say yes. And that was a pretty cool thing to dramatize and really try to get right. I had not seen anything in film and television that really was like, you know, I feel like that. That feels real to me. And so we. It's a pretty spectacular episode of the series. And the series really is. I've never had resources to put things on an epic stage like this, and it really is an epic TV show, and I love it. And I really hope the audience loves it as well. And I hope it draws attention to. I remember, you know, when some Amazon executives first read the scripts, they're like, we really like these scripts. I'm like, you know, it's based off a bestseller. You should ch it out. It'll change your Life. You know, 5 billion copies can't be wrong. Something in there that's good. So that's what, that's my hope. I hope people will read the Psalms of David in a whole new way.
John Irwin
How did you deal with Goliath? You know, he's described as a giant, blah, blah, blah. And I think you have him portrayed as something like 14ft tall. Why do we believe he was, I mean, other than the scriptures tell us he was a giant. What do we think was happening there with this guy?
Unknown Guest
Well, you know, what's interesting about that is we really go into a lot of the sort of, I would call it the mythology of at least what Israelites at that time would have thought Goliath was. And this whole backstory of the Nephilim and of sort of fallen angels and that there was sort of at least a myth in that day or who knows, that that would have struck fear into Israel. That really explains why he would have taunted them for 40 days. And so we needed an enormous guy, not only tall, but also broad. You know, Thanos in Avengers was always sort of my sort of benchmark for the character. And Martin Ford, who's just wonderful in the Mortal Kombat movies and just a great guy, played the role and you get to know the character as well. I think that's what television gives you the opportunity to do. And we went big. I mean, he is, he's, he's as tall, he's as big as could be historically justified. But I also think it's justified by the material. I mean, he really did strike terror into, you know, into the army. And that's why they. There was this 40 day standstill. And when you see Martin Ford, when I saw him in person, one of the questions people asked from the trailer is, was David afraid? And I can assure you he would have been afraid. And I think anytime you try something great or something that you feel you're destined or called to do, you're going to have to step beyond your fear. And, and so, and so Martin is just, is just terrifying when he's in costume. And then when you use visual effects to blow him up.
John Irwin
So did you.
Unknown Guest
It's even more scary.
John Irwin
Did you have him like eat snacks or anything? Because He's. I mean, he's really ripped. But I was just watching a cowboy movie. I had a cowboy movie I was painting this weekend. And then I don't remember who it was, John Wayne or somebody. And they took their shirt off and I was like, oh, that's not a good look, John, because back then you weren't cut. You know, now you take your shirt off and you better be cut. But especially back then, he just would have been enormous and not exactly right.
Unknown Guest
Yeah, yeah. I'm glad you mentioned that, because he was coming off the Roland Emmerich TV show was about to die on Peacock, and he was very sort of. He played a gladiator. He was very sort of cut.
John Irwin
Right.
Unknown Guest
And I did say that, you know, these people would have had to survive on the land and with really formidable circumstances. He just would have been big. He would have been like a gigantic grizzly bear, you know, And. And so that's what we went for. And he started, whatever bodybuilders say, carving, I don't know. But he did whatever he needed to do to just get big. And he does. He looks like, okay. I buy that this character would have just been a formidable beast, you know, of a human, but not necessarily a bodybuilder. And I credit Martin for doing that. I mean, he's just very, very, very dedicated as an actor, and he did the work well. If you ever really looks great, and I'm very proud of.
John Irwin
If you ever need somebody that just looks big and fat and doesn't have, like, a bodybuilding shape, you know, to them, you can call me. I'm willing to eat as much as you want.
Unknown Guest
You know, you'd be like the spectators.
John Irwin
Like, I'm not gonna go out there.
Unknown Guest
I am. I am. Often I remind myself how glad I am to be on the dark side of the camera. And I love working with a great actor. Yeah, but. But it's nice to be on. It's nice to be on the camera. On the side of the camera, where no one recognizes you and you can eat Taco Bell whenever you want.
John Irwin
So the Wonder Project is the company that you started. You're the Wright Brothers.
Unknown Guest
Yeah, we're developing quite a bit. Jimmy Latham, that produced Iron man and many other movies. At Marvel, you know, there's just this movement. And, you know, the things that I'm really passionate about are, you know, the Bible and then also the American story.
John Irwin
You doing George Washington still?
Unknown Guest
I'm doing. Yeah. My next movie, as soon as I wrap. I guess it's okay to say this, it's live. Who knows? It's my next film that I go immediately into pre production on is the Young Life of George Washington. I know we share that passion for just the great figure in American history and his formation. We're developing the Wright brothers and there's just quite a bit of stories. I just, I love America's story and what it represents. And, you know, how are you.
John Irwin
Hang on just a second, hang on. When you're doing the Young George Washington, are you. Are you making his mother a giant pain in the ass?
Unknown Guest
Because she was, you know, there's been in the three revisions of the script. It's trying to figure out on a dial of like 2 to 9, how much of a pain she could be. I mean, not many people realize. I think you pointed this out. I remember that she wrote a letter like in criticism of him, not, he shouldn't like being president for a second term because of his ice cream habit.
John Irwin
Yeah. And she got him when he was, when he was young, he went up the gang plane, he was going to join the British Navy. And he was, I don't know, 15. And she was like, no, Joe. You can.
Unknown Guest
Real elements of the story and, and it brings comic relief. But also, you see the pressure he was under really had to become a man long before his time because of the death of his father.
John Irwin
Yeah. And it also, it also is important to show that, I mean, when he came back down off that gangplank and brought his stuff back and said, mom, if you need me by your side, by your side, I will remain. It shows that he sacrificed everything he wanted to do his whole life. His whole life. He sacrificed for others.
Unknown Guest
He did that over and over again. Yeah. That is a common thread of his relationship to what he felt was his duty and purpose was so strong. And long before there was an American anthem or an American flag, there was one man that galvanized this idea for a long period of time. And so I love to study the formation of leaders like that. And that's also a story I've been wanting to tell for a long time. And I do want to just say it is the voice of the audience that allows us to do these projects. When we started negotiating with Amazon prime, creative control was an essential non negotiable item. And they were glad to give it to us because of the success of the work. And so there's a relationship between a small group of filmmakers that I'm so grateful to be a part of, but there's also a relationship with all of us as an audience. And when we support these things, it gives us leverage to get more things made. And if you watch the trailer House of David, you know, I've never been able to put anything on this sort of epic scope and scale. And it really is because of our unified voice that these things are happening. And I'm telling you, there is a revolution of values and belief going on in Hollywood right now.
John Irwin
John, great to talk to you. I hope to see you later this week. Thank you. God bless you.
Unknown Guest
Yeah, God bless. Good to talk to you.
John Irwin
John Irwin, House of David. He's the executive producer, co director and it airs beginning, I believe he said, on Thursday on Amazon Prime. It is called House of David. It is a new series that begins that is really good.
Glenn Beck
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.
John Irwin
Will that be cash or credit?
Unknown Guest
Credit.
John Irwin
4 Galaxy S25 Ultra the AI companion that does the heavy lifting. So you can do you get yours@samsung.com compatible select apps requires Google Gemini account Results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy.
Summary of "The Glenn Beck Program" Episode Featuring Jon Erwin | February 24, 2025
The Glenn Beck Program, hosted by the Blaze Podcast Network, delivers engaging storytelling, insightful commentary, and compelling perspectives on American culture and politics. In the February 24, 2025 episode titled "Best of the Program" with guest Jon Erwin, Glenn Beck and co-host John Irwin delve into a range of pressing issues from political appointments to social debates and the evolving landscape of Hollywood filmmaking.
FBI Director Appointment
Glenn Beck opens the discussion by highlighting significant developments in the political arena, notably the appointment of Cash Patel as the new FBI Director. Beck emphasizes the symbolic importance of Patel's swearing-in, stating, "Patel has vowed to root out corruption left, right, or center" (16:00). Beck suggests that Patel's appointment signals a direct challenge to what he refers to as the "weaponized deep state." He anticipates increased transparency and accountability, mentioning, "Justice isn't going to care who you voted for" (16:15).
President Trump's Cabinet Finalization
Beck further discusses President Donald Trump's consolidation of his cabinet, praising the inclusion of figures like RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard. He asserts that this team is committed to "shrink government and not meddle abroad unless America is directly threatened" (16:40). This, he argues, marks a significant departure from previous administrations, leading to policies aimed at constitutional governance without the entanglements of "endless wars" or a "nanny state."
Midwest Storms and FEMA Cuts
The conversation shifts to natural disasters, specifically recent Midwest storms affecting Illinois and Michigan. Beck criticizes the reduced role of FEMA, questioning the preparedness of these states: "Were you in Ghana? How come you didn't prepare?" (17:10). He contrasts this with Florida's proactive measures, suggesting that states should "step up or ask for help," thereby minimizing reliance on federal agencies.
Homelessness Crisis
Beck addresses the escalating homelessness issue, attributing it to recent staff cuts at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He challenges the media narrative, asserting, "It's decades of blue state failures, not a seven-day staffing trim" (18:00). Beck calls for local accountability, stating, "Governors and mayors, you all own this now," emphasizing the need for state-level solutions over federal intervention.
Language and Gender Neutrality
A significant portion of the episode focuses on the contentious shift in language and gender identity policies. Beck critiques Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers for adopting gender-neutral terminology in his budget, mocking terms like "inseminated person" and "parentage" (21:00). He introduces a satirical children's story he crafted to illustrate his disdain for what he perceives as excessive political correctness:
"Pat1, pat2 and pat3, three gender neutral anti racist warriors... 'I'm the inseminated person of color who birthed you...'" (21:30)
Beck uses humor to underscore his opposition, highlighting the confusion and frustration he feels towards evolving gender terminology.
Impact of Online Communities
The hosts discuss the role of the internet in amplifying extreme viewpoints, noting how isolation of "crazy people" in neighborhoods has transformed into organized online groups. Beck remarks, "They are now in a group and you're like, oh, wow, it seems like there's a lot of them," (19:59) pointing out the visibility and influence of such groups in the digital age.
Introduction to Jon Erwin
Jon Erwin, a prominent figure in Christian filmmaking, joins the program to discuss his latest venture, "House of David," available on Amazon Prime. Erwin shares his journey from a young aspiring filmmaker to a leader in producing faith-based content:
"I remember When I was 16 years old, my dad bought me a camera... and there's something just the Bible came to life in a whole new way." (30:25)
"House of David" and Storytelling
Erwin elaborates on "House of David," describing it as a modern retelling of the classic hero's journey, akin to "Lord of the Rings" or "Star Wars," but rooted in biblical narratives. He highlights the show's focus on character development and emotional depth, particularly in portraying King David's rise and his confrontation with Goliath:
"It's the classic hero's journey. Season one... the story of the rise of this young outcast shepherd boy chosen to be king..." (31:50)
Collaboration and Creative Control
Erwin emphasizes the importance of creative control in his projects, crediting the support of the audience and collaboration with platforms like Amazon Prime. He states, "When we support these things, it gives us leverage to get more things made," (40:57) highlighting a growing movement within Hollywood to produce content that aligns with Christian values and resonates with faith-based audiences.
Towards the end of the episode, Beck reflects on the transformation within Hollywood, celebrating the emergence of filmmakers like the Irwin brothers and Dallas Jenkins who prioritize Christian storytelling without compromising on quality. He lauds their efforts in creating impactful content that caters to a Christian audience, moving beyond the stereotypical "embarrassingly bad" Christian movies of the past.
Erwin shares insights into upcoming projects, including a film on the "Young Life of George Washington," further cementing his commitment to portraying American and biblical history through a faith-driven lens.
Glenn Beck on Abortion:
"What's more devastating is that a majority of women who get abortions say they would have chosen life if they just had some simple support." (00:35)
John Irwin on Political Figures:
"I don't get it. It really doesn't make sense to me when politicians don't align with their voters' needs." (16:55)
Jon Erwin on Filmmaking:
"When we support these things, it gives us leverage to get more things made." (40:57)
This episode of The Glenn Beck Program offers a robust discussion on current political appointments, state-level crises, and cultural debates surrounding language and gender identity. The inclusion of Jon Erwin provides a unique perspective on the intersection of faith and Hollywood, highlighting the efforts to produce high-quality Christian content that appeals to a broader audience. Through sharp commentary and engaging storytelling, Beck and his co-host navigate the complexities of modern American society, advocating for transparency, accountability, and values-driven leadership.
Note: Timestamps correspond to the provided transcript segments and are indicative of the location within the episode where the quoted or discussed content appears.