Best of the Program | Guest: Ryan Mauro | 3/16/26 - The Glenn Beck Program

Summary

Episode Overview

Title: Best of the Program | Guest: Ryan Mauro | 3/16/26
Date: March 16, 2026
Host: Glenn Beck (Mercury Radio Arts)
Guest: Ryan Mauro

This episode of The Glenn Beck Program delves into the fracturing media landscape, the dangers of “almost right” thinking, current American political and cultural divides, and the global threat of a new kind of world war. Glenn is joined by national security analyst Ryan Mauro for a deep dive into the “Red-Green Alliance,” the fusion of Islamist and far-left forces, and why their cooperation matters now more than ever. Packed with stories, personal insights, and sharp commentary, the episode blends urgent warnings with calls for principle-driven engagement in turbulent times.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

I. Glenn Beck on the State of Talk Radio & Information Wars

Timestamps: 04:00 – 15:00

Glenn’s Reflection:
- Shares candidly about his near-50-year broadcasting career, how motivations changed, and the impact of 9/11 on his show's tone.
- Observes the negativity and infighting among podcasters and media personalities.
- Urges a return to principle-driven dialogue over tribal warfare:
  “We have to talk about principles and what we are for instead of who we’re against or who’s our Enemy today.” (10:30)
On Audience Responsibility:
- Glen notes that everyone—regardless of platform size—now wields influence, bringing a responsibility to verify before sharing:
  “Don’t just repost things without thinking… If you don’t know it’s true, then you shouldn’t post it.” (12:53)
- Critiques the popularity of inflammatory opinion over careful truth:
  “Those aren’t popular. Opinions are popular. And opinions without principles—you know, most people never choose evil, they never choose evil. Not knowingly.” (14:26)
Principles as Compass:
- Glenn lays out a series of guiding principles for navigating today’s information landscape.
  - Truth before tribe
  - Human dignity before ideology
  - Liberty under law
  - Equal justice (due process applies to all, including enemies)
  - National loyalty without state worship
  - Moral clarity without dehumanization
  - Free speech with accountability
  - Scrutiny of power
  - Means matter as much as ends
- Notable Quote:
  “Means matter as much as ends… Every tyranny in history was sold as an emergency shortcut. We have to do this right now because reality doesn’t care what helps your side. The bill always comes through.” (16:45)
- Suggests self-examination questions for truth-seeking:
  “Ask yourself: Is this factual? Is it fair? Is it consistent? Is it lawful? Is it moral? Would I defend this rule if my enemy was using it against me tomorrow?” (17:00)

II. Introduction and Context: Ryan Mauro & The Red-Green Alliance

Timestamps: 17:24 – 24:25

Why Ryan Mauro?
Jason (producer) praises Mauro as one of the leading researchers into ideological alliances threatening America, highlighting his documentation (“he’s the guy with the receipts”).
Glenn’s Framing:
The choice to feature Mauro is described almost as providential given today’s global instability.
“It could not be more appropriate and more important than it is right now because we are at war… I believe we are in World War Three. People just haven’t caught up to it yet.” (18:55)
Ryan Mauro’s Take:
- Agrees with Glenn:
  “Absolutely. I think people recognize that there’s a global conflict. But as for it actually being a world war, I don’t think people understand the gravity of it or how expansive it is because all of our adversaries are talking about defeating us the exact same way.” (19:22)
- Reveals that Islamist and far-left (communist, anarchist) groups are using similar playbooks and forming effective alliances.

III. The Red-Green (and “Anarchist”) Alliance Explained

Timestamps: 20:06 – 24:25

Origins and History:
- Glenn and Ryan trace their history discussing these alliances, including when Glenn’s early coverage at Fox helped normalize discussion of the “Red-Green Alliance.”
- Ryan introduces the “Oval Theory”—it’s not just convergence (“horseshoe theory”), but a fusion into a single, more dangerous entity.
  - “There’s this interesting fusion happening where they not only ally with anarchists and the communists, but… I call it the Oval theory now that there’s been an actual fusion into a single entity.” (21:21)
Motivations and Beliefs:
- The relationship is more than tactical; it’s growing emotional affinity:
  “From monitoring their internal chats for so many years… There’s very often brotherly affection. And they put their differences off to the side because they each believe it’s so inevitable that their ideology will prevail once they defeat the west it’s like, not really worth arguing about.” (22:09)
- They rationalize working together by assuming their side will reconstruct society once the West falls.
Example: 1979 Iranian Revolution
- Ryan: The revolution saw communists and Islamists team up to overthrow the Shah. Afterward, the Islamists destroyed their allies, but within their circles, that history isn’t necessarily seen as a betrayal worth avoiding next time.
  - “So the [Iranian] far left, which was the communists and the Marxists, [teamed up] with the Islamists... A joint red-green alliance came to power. Ayatollah Khomeini and the theocrats then slaughtered and destroyed the communists and sidelined them.” (23:26)

IV. The Reality of Emerging Domestic Threats

Timestamps: 24:25 – 36:00

Violence and “Blowback:”
- Glenn rebuts the narrative that recent domestic terrorist incidents (Austin bar shooting, New York protest bombing, Michigan synagogue attack, Old Dominion shooting) are merely reactions to US foreign policy—arguing these threats existed regardless.
- Ryan prepared to address whether these attacks are unavoidable or the direct result of US actions.
Case Studies & News:
- Glenn recounts several chilling stories:
  - Kyle Chris incident (Texas elementary school):
    “Armed man wearing tactical gear walked into a Texas elementary school… Kyle Chris, 39, also known as Muhi Mohand Najeem… He comes over and doesn’t name himself Chris Kyle. He names himself Kyle Chris.” (25:29)
  - Assailant had a military background from Iraq, changed name after naturalization, and gained entry due to a security lapse. Highlights the plausibility of “bad actors” infiltrating communities.
  - Michigan Synagogue Attack:
    - The suspect’s brother was a Hezbollah commander; the media (NPR in particular) is critiqued for omitting this in their reporting, instead emphasizing the attacker’s tragic family story.
    - Glenn sarcastically notes that de-funding NPR was “absolutely right.” (31:05)
- Additional Stories:
  - Dallas hospital standoff (Mike King, head of security for Rep. Jasmine Crockett, wanted for impersonating an officer, killed during a police standoff)
  - Criticizes political leadership and inaction on national security, especially regarding border security and DHS funding.
  Notable Glenn quote:
  “You should be on different footing. Watch yourself. We are in troubled times, and there’s a lot of people that would like to dismiss all of the warning signs.” (30:15)

V. The Political Landscape: Uncertainty & Self-Destruction

Timestamps: 36:30 – 38:09

Democratic Party in Disarray:
- Points out warnings from Obama’s former campaign managers about the party lacking clear positions, suggesting both parties are in crisis.
- Critiques a lack of serious media coverage about the Democrats’ internal confusion.
  - “When they do stand for something, the American people are against it.” (37:50)
On Misinformation and Accountability:
- Briefly references Rep. Dan Crenshaw blaming “misinformation” for political losses, stating:
  “No, Dan, I think it was you that played a stunning role in your stunning loss.” (36:54)

Notable Quotes & Moments

Glenn Beck:
“Most people never choose evil. They never choose evil. Not knowingly… because the real choice in life is between right and almost right.” (13:46)
Ryan Mauro:
“Our adversaries are talking about defeating us the exact same way. And it’s through using the model that we’re going to be exposing… So it’s the Islamists and then everyone else is taking their cues from them because they’ve been so darn successful.” (19:32)
On Truth and Responsibility:
“Truth before tribe means you don’t lie for your side. You don’t trim the facts for your side… You don’t pretend you don’t know what you know because the other team might benefit.” (15:02)
On Information Overload:
“Every single review helps us break through Big Tech’s algorithm to reach more Americans who need to hear the truth. This isn’t a podcast. This is a movement. And you’re part of it.” (05:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

04:00 – 15:00: Glenn’s monologue on media, principles, “almost right” thinking, and responsibility
17:24 – 19:22: Ryan Mauro introduced; context for featuring him
19:22 – 21:41: The forming of a “World War” and global ideological alliances
21:41 – 24:25: Red-Green-Oval alliance history, 1979 Iran, fusion of leftist and Islamist movements
25:29 – 30:15: Domestic terror threats, specific cases (Kyle Chris, Michigan synagogue), media coverage
30:15 – 34:45: More headlines illustrating national security lapses, political responses
36:30 – 38:09: Political self-destruction, misinformation, lack of clear principles in parties

Episode Tone & Style

The tone is candid, urgent, and occasionally sardonic.
Glenn oscillates between personal anecdote, philosophical challenge, and satirical news commentary.
Ryan Mauro provides analytical, research-driven insights focused on threats often minimized or ignored by mainstream discourse.

Summary:
This episode urges vigilance—both in civic responsibility and in truth-seeking. Glenn Beck, with Ryan Mauro, explores how ideological alliances threaten American (and Western) stability, criticizing both the media’s negligence and the public’s susceptibility to manipulation. Both the global “war” and the domestic crises discussed are framed as outgrowths of unchecked, “almost right” judgment and a lack of foundational principles, calling listeners to be more scrutinizing, principled, and aware.

Ideal for listeners who want:

An explanation of ideological fusion among America’s adversaries
A framework for distinguishing truth, “almost right,” and outright misinformation
Real-world examples of evolving national security threats
Critical commentary on American media and politics

Transcript

A (0:00)

Wow. The show is full of bizarre things. I mean, you know, I do some rapid fire news, just all the news stories of the day. And wait until you get to the story about Kyle Chris from Texas. No, no, no. Not Chris. Kyle. Kyle. Chris. Wow. I mean, the guy is so sneaky as a villain. I mean, only one that could possibly stop him is man bat. But we'll tell you that story. Also, Ryan Morrow is here about the real enemy that we face. World War three is upon us. Most people don't know it. Need to talk about that. Also, what is the difference between right and almost right? All that and more on today's podcast. As America turns 250 this year, there's a lot of talk about the founding fathers and declarations and big moments in history. And that's all good. But there's another group of people who built this country, too. People who never signed a document. They just showed up before the sun even came up. American Ranchers. Their legacy is what good ranchers is built on. 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We work tirelessly to bring you the unfiltered truth because you deserve it. But to keep this fight going, we need you right now. Would you take a moment and rate and review the Glenn Beck podcast? Give us five stars and lead a comment. Because every single review helps us break through Big Tech's algorithm to reach more Americans who need to hear the truth. This isn't a podcast. This is a movement. And you're part of it. A big part of it. So if you believe in what we're doing, you want more people to wake up. Help us push this podcast to the top rate. Review. Share. Together we'll make a difference. And thanks for standing with us. Now, let's get to work. You're listening to the best of the Glenn Beck Program. Welcome to the program. I am. I find myself in a weird position. I have done radio for 40. This is my 49th year. Next year will be my 50th year of broadcast. And, you know, I did it for, you know, when I was, you know, teenage years, I did it for the chicks which never really showed up. That didn't happen. I did it for the fame and the funny and the fortune and whatever that showed up temporarily and just was so meaningless and so empty. I found my purpose and drink. And then I decided to do a radio show, talk radio. And I was going to parody talk radio. And 911 happened and everything on this show changed. I mean, the show used to be very, very funny, and in some ways I wish it. It still was as funny as it used to be, but the world just changed and it just got so, so darn serious. And so I started doing what I thought was right, and that was telling you what's right, what's wrong. And I became, honestly, in some ways, I became the guy that I wanted to parody. You know, the talk radio host was like, I know everything because I'm the smartest guy alive. And everybody on talk radio does that. It's hard not to fall into that because this job requires you to have enough of an ego to say, this is the way it is and actually believe it and back it up, but also, somehow or another, keep that humility that, no, I don't really know what I'm talking about. I'm guessing, you know, like everybody else, I might have a better guess than everybody else, but I don't know anything. And so I find myself today looking at a landscape, and I'm going to talk about this next hour, looking at a landscape where our podcasters are all taking each other on. And I don't understand it. And I do understand that some people are very right in my opinion. Some people are very wrong, in my opinion. But I just wish people would stop tearing each other apart, because that's not helpful at all, at all. And it's not going to change anybody's mind. I know because I've tried it before and it doesn't work. It only just makes us into a smaller and smaller community. We have to talk about principles and, and what we are for instead of who we're against or who's our Enemy today. And I'm going to get into something that I heard this weekend, next hour, that is really important, not for the podcasters or for the broadcasters, but for you, because we all have a responsibility. You know, for the first time in human history, people have always had audiences. Okay, you can. Ben had been in Shakespeare at the Globe Theater, and, you know, Shakespeare had an audience, had to come to the theater, but he had an audience. But for the first time in human history, audiences have an audience in your pocket. Whether it is five followers or five million followers, you have an audience. And so they put you in a place where you have real responsibility. Especially at times like today, you don't. Don't just repost things without thinking. And I know it's really tempting, and you can say, well, I don't know what's true. Well, if you don't know it's true, then you shouldn't post. Post it. Or you should post it with, can anyone verify this? I mean, at the very least, can anyone verify this? And if they can't, if, you know, I heard that. No, I have a source that told me. Then you shouldn't be posting it. Okay, you. It's an opinion. And, you know, when the war broke out with Iran, I was watching the news all weekend long, and I'm trying to get an update on things, and I kept hearing these people from both sides of the argument yelling at each other and each saying that they were right. And, you know, this war is going to turn into a massive massacre for everybody, you know, in the Middle east, going to massacre of everybody in the United States. And I thought neither of you know, you don't know. You don't know this. Where. Where are the facts? Can you just give me facts, please? Those aren't popular. Opinions are popular. And opinions without principles. You know, most people never choose evil. They never choose evil. Not knowingly. Most. I mean, some do, but most don't. People get lost and they find themselves surrounded by evil. Because the real choice in life is between right and almost right. Almost right. You can pick. And that almost right could be picked even, you know, consciously. You can go like, yeah, but that one's a little easier. So I'm going to pick that one. Okay. And so you might do it for your own comfort, for your own ease. You don't want to be a hardliner or whatever it is, but you'll choose almost right. And if you keep choosing almost right, before you know it, you're standing in a place that you're surrounded by evil, and you're like, how did I get here? Well, because you kept choosing almost right instead of right. Wrong has an odor to it. Wrong leaves fingerprints. Wrong will set off an alarm bell in your soul. Almost right just slips in wearing the clothes of justice or patriotism or compassion, security, faith or common sense. Almost right. It says, relax, we're on the same side. But 10 almost right decisions later, and you're standing with people who do not share your principles, only your grievance. And so you're left standing there without a compass. And you're like, I don't know. I don't even know how to do the truth. I don't know how to. How do I even find the truth? How do I know what the truth is? May I give you some. Some principles that you can use as a compass. Truth before tribe. Truth before tribe means you don't lie for your side. You don't trim the facts for your side. You don't just leave some important details out for your. You don't pretend you know not to know what you know because the other team might benefit. Truth before tribe. Really important. Number two, human dignity before ideology. That means you don't ever turn people into abstractions. You know, whether they're Jews or Arabs or immigrants or protesters or soldiers or political opponents, talk radio hosts. Whoever it is, we have to start looking at people as individuals. Human dignity over ideology. Liberty. Number three, liberty under law. That means freedom never comes from mob permission, ever. It is ordered, ordered freedom restrained by principle and law. Equal justice means your enemy gets due process, too. This one is so hard, and this is one that is going to come into play in 2006 maybe, or, sorry, 2026, maybe 2028. Because, you know, people think an injustice is done and they're just going after. So we're going to have trials. Okay, well, be very careful on what you're doing today. Equal justice means your enemy gets due process, too, because if it disappears from him today, it will not be there for you tomorrow. Here's one that I think people are having a hard time with on both sides. National loyalty without state worship. What does that mean? I love my country, but I don't worship it. I love it. And because I love it, I recognize it can go wrong quickly. And so I love my country enough to tell the truth about my country, not just to drag it around in the streets, but to tell the truth in hopes that there is a way to fix it. Not just to bitch about it, but to motivate people to take the steps to fix it. So we're not that country. Next principle, moral clarity. Without dehumanization, it means there is good and evil. But let's. Let's be careful when we name evil that we don't dehumanize people. You can call it out by name, but don't become infected by it. Don't become everything you despise. Here's one that I think so many people miss, especially in my business currently. Free speech with accountability. You have the right to speak. You have the right to question. You have the right to say things that I really am dead set against. But you don't get to escape the moral judgment for reckless speech or dishonest speech or speech that is just meant to inflame instead of illuminate. And we need to figure out how to tell the difference between illumination and inflaming speech. Because there's a lot of speech that happens now. They're just trying to get you to react. Because if you react, they become bigger. They control the narrative. And it's hard not to react. It's really hard. But stop it. It's meant to inflame. Don't, don't. Don't become the gasoline or the match that they want you to be. Power must always expect scrutiny because every institution lies to itself sooner or later. And same with people. You must. I expect it. I don't like it. I expect scrutiny. And I do want to know what people who are honest are saying about where I got it wrong. Because it's easy for me or you or anybody else to grow arrogant. It's really easy for me to grow arrogant and say I don't know what they're talking about. I want to know what people are saying so I can get better. And the last one is, means matter as much as ends. Right now we live in a world where it doesn't matter what you say or what you do today. Ends justify the means. No, they do not. Every tyranny in history was sold as an emergency shortcut. We have to do this right now because reality doesn't care what helps your side. The bill always comes through. It always shows up in the end. You need to have principles. You have to be able to train yourself to know the difference between true, almost true, and false. Ask yourself, is this factual? Is it fair? Is it consistent? Is it lawful? Is it moral? Would I defend this rule if my enemy was using it against me tomorrow? If the answer on any of those is no, stop, because you are on the almost right road. You know what's strange about back pain. It usually doesn't show up with blaring sirens and crashing cymbals. It just sort of becomes a part of your daily routine. And before you realize you've totally changed, you sit a little more carefully than used to. You avoid certain movements. 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So I begin to make my, my edits and my changes today, which I know everybody loves. But tell me a little bit about your relationship with Ryan and how this has worked before I bring Ryan in.