Podcast Summary: The Glenn Beck Program – Best of the Program | Judy Shelton | 2/17/26

Date: February 17, 2026
Host: Glenn Beck
Guest: Judy Shelton

Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Glenn Beck delivers his trademark blend of political commentary, cultural critique, and economic analysis, highlighted by an insightful interview with economist Judy Shelton. The show traverses a range of issues—from U.S.-Canada relations and Chinese influence, to sound money policy and America’s fiscal future, to mental health and social decline—capturing the sense of urgency and frustration Beck feels about America’s current trajectory. The interview with Judy Shelton provides rare optimism via a nuanced proposal for re-linking the US dollar to gold, presented as a practical, gradual path to restoring monetary discipline.

Key Segments and Insights

1. U.S.-Canada Relations & The Threat of Chinese Influence

Timestamps: 02:00–18:00

• Canada’s Pivot Towards China:
  Beck unleashes a passionate warning about Canada potentially forming closer alliances with China, specifically criticizing former Bank of England and Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and Canada’s leaders for embracing policies he sees as socialist or authoritarian.

  • “Canada, your last two prime ministers have loved communism. Love it, love totalitarianism. Your policies are so close to matching the Chinese system.” (A, 03:30)

• Red Lines for U.S.-Canada Alliance:
  Beck proposes a hypothetical speech for the U.S. President, demanding Canada reconsider strategic partnerships with China. He stresses trust as foundational for the relationship and warns that deeper integration with China—especially in tech or critical infrastructure—would necessitate dramatic changes in U.S.-Canadian cooperation, including NORAD.

  • “Defense requires absolute trust. The minute you start doing anything with telecommunications, with China, you’re out. … Without trust, we can’t protect you.” (A, 15:45)

• Economic Interdependence and Consequences:
  Beck details how deeply intertwined the U.S. and Canadian economies are and underscores that a Canadian pivot towards China would hurt both countries, albeit Canada more acutely.

  • “A country of 340 million can adjust a little faster than a country of 40 million whose largest customer is us.” (A, 14:25)

  • Memorable Moment:
    Glenn’s “Valentine’s Day” analogy, using parental discipline as a metaphor for tough geopolitical choices, reflects his sentimental but stern tone.

    • “My father used to say, right before he disciplined me, it's gonna hurt me more than it's gonna hurt you. … Nobody wants to do it. I warned you. I don't want to do it. This is gonna kill me. Because it's my son.” (A, 16:45)

2. Interview with Judy Shelton: Sound Money & America’s Fiscal Crisis

Timestamps: 18:17–28:30

• Judy Shelton’s Credibility:
  Introduced as someone who forecast the Soviet collapse in 1989 when few thought it possible, Judy recounts her research showing the Soviet Union’s finances were built on unsustainable deficits and deception.

  • “… Western banks and Western governments were lending twice as much as any of them thought to the Soviet government, which was really bailing out Gorbachev and all of his programs… it became apparent that it wasn’t adding up. … they were running a huge budget deficit and financing it by printing rubles.” (B, 18:44–19:37)

• Parallels to Today’s America:
  Shelton expresses alarm at the U.S. running chronic deficits, stating such behavior reflects a lack of faith in the country’s future.

  • “We’re dealing with the fallout of fiscal deficit spending every day with this dread we all feel from perpetual inflation. We’re never able to catch up, no matter how much we’re reassured that wage gains are helping to keep up.” (B, 21:30–22:14)

  • “… Until we establish a beachhead… and demand honest government, which means an end to deficit spending—which I consider immoral, because you’re allowing people to consume today goods and services that haven’t even been produced yet, which is robbing the next generation.” (B, 22:34)

• A Gradual Return to the Gold Standard:
  Shelton presents a practical plan: a new Treasury security redeemable for a pre-established amount of gold in the future. This instrument would be voluntary, symbolize a commitment to sound money, and use existing U.S. gold reserves as collateral.

  • “It’s not a matter of the government having enough gold to cover even the paper money that’s out there... What I’m really talking about is... the first time for there to be an official link between the dollar and gold since President Nixon ended the Bretton Woods system...” (B, 24:58)

  • “If you had an instrument that said to people who are willing to lend money to our government... at maturity, you could be paid in the face value of the bond... or receive this much gold... it’s at your option. … We’re putting our gold where our money is.” (B, 26:00–26:55)

  • “I want to lock that up. Those are the family jewels, but I want to use them as a stake to say we are moving our way toward sound finances and sound money.” (B, 27:45)

• Beck’s Endorsement:

  • “This is the only, you know, return to the gold standard idea that I have heard ... that actually would work. Everything else would be too disruptive... but this one allows us to go back to a gold standard ... slowly forces us back...” (A, 24:08)

3. Mental Health, Mass Shootings & Social Decline

Timestamps: 28:30–39:55

• Rhode Island Shooting—Identity Politics and Mental Illness:
  Beck shares news of a tragic shooting at a Rhode Island hockey game, emphasizing the perpetrator’s transgender identity and long history of mental health problems.

  • “First, let’s recognize that this man was a father who just killed his family...”
  • Beck plays a quote from the shooter’s daughter:
    • “He has mental health issues... he was very sick. Yeah, yeah. You think Roberto Roberta might have been a little sick? You think?” (A, 29:45)

• Critique of Mental Health Professionals & Cultural Shifts:
  Beck fiercely criticizes the mental health community, doctors, and left-leaning cultural norms for “refusing to call a spade a spade,” implying that denial about mental illness and radical gender ideology are contributing to violence.

  • “We have sick people who need help... The definition of insanity is not insane. … [Medical professionals say] 'You’re born in the wrong body. Shut up… mutilating them and filling them full of drugs… it won't change the way they feel about anything.'” (A, 31:05)

  • “You are going to be remembered as the bad guys. … Just like we did in 1930. We’re doing the same damn things they were doing in the 1930s. And you know who’s causing it? Progressive ideas that have embedded themselves in medicine.” (A, 32:18)

• Statistics & Increasing Transgender Perpetrators:
  Beck cites mass shooting demographic statistics, highlighting the high rate (relative to group size) among trans/non-binary shooters, attributing this to untreated mental health conditions.

  • “Gee, one of these things is not like the other. … Maybe something's wrong. Or do you just think it's the rest of society giving them a hard time that's causing all of this? They're mentally ill. Call a spade a spade.” (A, 34:13)

  • “We are literally killing ourselves.” (A, 34:56)

• Medical Assisted Dying ("MAID") and Societal Suicide:
  Beck warns that Canada’s physician-assisted dying laws are spreading to the U.S. and that, in his view, these policies will lead to broader social harm.

  • “Look at what's happening in Canada. And by the way, MAID—it's infected the US. There are 18 states ready to pass death laws.” (A, 35:18)

4. American and Western Values under Threat

Timestamps: 37:00–39:55

• Cultural Erosion:
  Beck rails against what he describes as the erosion of Western, Judeo-Christian values in the face of ideological activism, referencing a news story that claims dogs shouldn’t be in NYC because it "isn't Islam," and mockingly asserts American traditions.

  • “This is Western, Judeo, Christian, Western values. We like our dogs. Now, I don’t like cats, but … you want a cat, have a cat. … You love cats. Enjoy cats. … But you are more than welcome to have as many cats as you want. … Who do you think you are? You’re coming over to our country and you’re telling us we can’t have dogs. Screw you. I’m sick of it.” (A, 37:50–39:30)

Notable Quotes

• “Nations everywhere on earth have to make hard choices about who are you, who are you, what do you really believe and who do you want to stand beside?” (A, 07:54)
• “It's alarming that our own country is running what everyone admits is an unsustainable budget. … No one ever says this is day one of the long run.” (B, 20:28)
• “Until we... demand honest government, which means an end to deficit spending—which I consider immoral...we just need to, to face this and say we believe in honest jobs, that is productive labor, that results in genuine output, that increases real prosperity...” (B, 22:34)
• “If you decide to jump into the arms of China, America won't be there to catch you. Choose freedom. Choose transparency. Choose values that built the West. Individual liberty, ethical responsibility. The moral foundations that shaped our nations.” (A, 17:32)
• “Call a spade a spade. So sick of it. I’m so sick of it. We’re killing ourselves. We are literally killing ourselves.” (A, 34:38)

Episode Flow & Tone

• Glenn Beck’s signature style: passionate, often humorous but urgent, sharply critical of progressive influences in government, medicine, and media.
• Judy Shelton’s contribution introduces a measured, scholarly yet practical perspective amid otherwise fiery polemics.
• The episode flows from broad international concerns (Canada/China), to economic/monetary policy (Shelton), to cultural and domestic decline (RI shooting, MAID, cultural conflicts).

Recommended Listen

• For in-depth economic policy proposals and historical analysis:
  Start around [18:17] for Judy Shelton’s segment.
• For international relations and Beck’s “state of the union” monologue:
  [02:00–18:00] is the focus.
• For commentary on social and mental health crises:
  [28:30–39:55] is dense with Beck’s opinions and emotional delivery.