The Glenn Beck Program: Best of the Program

Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Glenn Beck
Guests: Cheyenne Grace & Derek Hinckley
Podcast Network: Blaze Podcast Network

Overview

This episode of "The Glenn Beck Program" explores themes of American politics, culture, and the pressures and realities of modern family life, especially during the Christmas season. With holiday reflections, political analysis, and personal storytelling, Glenn mixes humor and earnest advice aimed at fellow parents—particularly fathers—against a backdrop of recent political events and the ongoing cultural debate.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Democratic Party Approval & Political Outlook

• Glenn and Stu discuss recent polling that signals a notable shift in Democratic approval ratings, highlighting intra-party dissatisfaction (05:45).
• Quote:
  • "Democrats on Democrats now, negative six points. Mighty unpopular boys and girls." — Glenn Beck (06:34)
• The conversation features tongue-in-cheek back-and-forth about whether this trend gives Republicans hope, and the challenges facing both major parties.
• Stu points out cyclical trends in midterms, suggesting Democratic pessimism is matched by Republican experience (07:20–09:14).

2. TPUSA's Growth and Young Conservative Activism

• Glenn reports on the TPUSA Freedom Fest—calling it the biggest ever event—and recaps visits from major conservative voices like Tucker Carlson and Ben Shapiro (10:05).
• There is an emphasis on TPUSA's organizational expansions:
  • Over 1 million students reportedly involved
  • 50 new chapters per day being formed (12:08)
• Quote:
  • "We're going to get J.D. Vance elected president of the United States." — Erica Kirk (12:08)
• Glenn notes the increasing influence of Turning Point USA in shaping the 2026 and 2028 electoral landscape.

3. Personal Reflection: The Real Gifts of Fatherhood at Christmas

• Glenn offers an extended, heartfelt reflection on the quieter struggles of men during the holidays—particularly financial stress, feelings of inadequacy, and memories of past Christmases, both joyful and difficult (starting ~22:30).
• He recalls both the inability to purchase even small gifts for his children when times were tough and the emptiness felt in the years he was able to buy "everything".
• Quotes:
  • "That lie is absolute poison. And it's absolutely not true. Because if it were true, then the men who built this country...were failures, and they weren't failures." — Glenn Beck (around 24:00)
  • "Some of the strongest, some of the kindest, some of the most resilient people...did not grow up with abundance. They grew up with stability." — Glenn Beck (~27:55)
• Emphasizes that what children remember most is the presence, strength, and love of their parents, not the quantity or quality of gifts.
• Stresses the lesson: "Just don't ruin Christmas. That's all you need to know." (End of last holiday segment)

4. Comic Holiday Realism: The Dad Christmas Checklist

• Glenn humorously deconstructs the myth that men don't prepare for Christmas, outlining the ways dads internally manage holiday gift-giving. Discussion includes:
  • The phase of denial ("plenty of time, online shopping exists")
  • Desperate last-minute "panic purchases"
  • The futility of trying to remember meaningful clues or creating spreadsheets
  • The checklist men should have—including not buying clothes for daughters and being tactful about gifts and comments
• Quote:
  • "Maybe this is just me. It could very well be because I'm not good at this. Actually, I'm really good at this in my head." — Glenn Beck (~40:00)
  • "When a gift is given to your daughter, don't say, 'wow, that's a little short, isn't it?'...just keep it to yourself. Got a question? Don't answer it. Don't ask it. You have a comment to make? Don't make it."
• Emphasizes silent solidarity: Dads should remember, above all, not to "wreck Christmas."

Notable Quotes & Moments by Timestamp

• 06:34 – Glenn Beck on Democrats’ negative approval:
  • "Did you see that, kids? Look at your stocking. Go in and pull that back out. They've never rated Democrats negatively. Democrats on Democrats now, negative six points. Mighty unpopular boys and girls."
• 12:08 – Erica Kirk on TPUSA growth:
  • "The number of student requests to get involved since 9/10—100 get involved requests have been submitted since 9/10, 40,000 total number of students involved...One million plus students involved in Turning Point USA."
• 24:00 – Glenn Beck on measuring fatherhood:
  • "That lie is absolute poison. And it's absolutely not true. Because if it were true, then the men who built this country...were failures, and they weren't failures."
• 27:55 – On what kids remember:
  • "Some of the strongest, some of the kindest, some of the most resilient people...did not grow up with abundance. They grew up with stability."
• ~40:00 – Glenn’s comedic take on dad’s Christmas preparation:
  • "Maybe this is just me. It could very well be because I'm not good at this. Actually, I'm really good at this in my head."
  • "Just don't ruin Christmas. That's all you need to know."

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 05:45 | Political analyst discusses Democratic polling | | 06:34 | Glenn jokes about Democrats' disapproval rating | | 10:05 | Recap of TPUSA Freedom Fest and speakers | | 12:08 | Erica Kirk's stats on TPUSA growth | | 22:30 | Glenn’s personal reflection on fatherhood and gifts | | ~40:00 | Comedy segment: Dad’s Christmas checklist |

Overall Tone and Style

Glenn Beck blends candid, sometimes self-deprecating humor with poignant personal stories and sharp political analysis. The episode toggles between earnest holiday advice and pointed commentary on America’s political system. The voice is conversational, relatable—frequently breaking the fourth wall with asides to “America” or “dads”—and marked by Glenn’s characteristic quick wit.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This installment brings a depth of perspective on what truly matters during Christmas for families, especially fathers, as well as offering updates and sharp takes on current political dynamics. Glenn's ability to alternate between moving family stories and satirical commentary on the state of American politics and culture is on full display. You’ll leave reminded that stability, presence, and love in the home matter far more than presents under the tree, and that sometimes, the most important thing a dad can do is make sure he doesn’t “wreck Christmas.”