The Glenn Beck Program: Best of the Program | Guests: Richard Staropoli & Ze’ev Orenstein | 12/10/24

Released on December 10, 2024, The Glenn Beck Program on the Blaze Podcast Network delivers a compelling exploration of American culture and politics through engaging discussions with notable guests. This episode features in-depth conversations with former U.S. Secret Service Special Agent and former Department of Homeland Security Chief Information Officer Richard Staropoli, archaeologist Ze’ev Orenstein from the City of David Foundation, and Senator Mike Lee, alongside insights from legal expert Alan Dershowitz. The following summary encapsulates the key topics, discussions, and insights from the episode.

1. Presidential Security Concerns with Richard Staropoli

Overview: Glenn Beck initiates the episode with a serious discussion on the security shortcomings surrounding former President Donald Trump. Joined by Richard Staropoli, a seasoned expert in intelligence and security, they delve into the deficiencies of the Secret Service and the broader implications for national security.

Key Points:

• Secret Service Deficiencies: Staropoli criticizes the Secret Service for failing to provide adequate protection to President Trump, citing multiple incidents that highlighted these lapses.

  Richard Staropoli [04:41]: “The Secret Service has not fulfilled their primary mission. They've simply allowed way too many things to happen that could have ended in total tragedy.”

• Protection Allocation: Staropoli highlights the disproportionate allocation of Secret Service resources to members of the Biden family, questioning the rationale behind protecting figures like Hunter Biden over the primary target, Trump.

  Richard Staropoli [07:18]: “There are almost 40 protective details that are being worked out of the White House... a conscious decision by the Biden administration to suck resources away from where they should have been allocated to President Trump.”

• Immediate Threats: The conversation emphasizes imminent threats within the next 40 days, stressing the need for enhanced security measures to prevent potential attacks from organized threats.

  Richard Staropoli [12:24]: “It's the next 40 days, but it's also the next four years. How can someone be a Secret Service agent and not go to work every day with the mindset...”

• Recommendations for Improvement: Staropoli advocates for a complete overhaul of the Secret Service leadership, recommending experienced individuals who can command respect and manage the agency's substantial budget effectively.

  Richard Staropoli [15:07]: “You need somebody that will have the respect of the rank and file... And the current policy of the Secret Service continually promoting Secret Service agents that have backgrounds in sociology and science into positions where they're managing that kind of a budget that doesn't work.”

Notable Quote:

Glenn Beck [05:26]: “I've never seen security like what's happening right now with Donald Trump. Never.”

2. Archaeological Insights into the City of David with Ze’ev Orenstein

Overview: Transitioning from national security, Glenn Beck engages with Ze’ev Orenstein to uncover the rich archaeological tapestry of the City of David in Jerusalem. Orenstein provides insights into recent discoveries and the ongoing efforts to preserve Jerusalem's biblical heritage.

Key Points:

• Scale of Jerusalem: Orenstein sets the geographical and demographic context of Jerusalem, emphasizing its historical and spiritual significance to billions.

  Zev Orenstein [21:10]: “Jerusalem, by US Standards, is probably not the biggest city... but for billions of people, they look to Jerusalem as a source of meaning, faith, hope, identity, inspiration.”

• Historical Significance: The discussion highlights the City of David as the true biblical heart of Jerusalem, contrasting it with the modern Old City structures built in the Ottoman period.

  Zev Orenstein [23:03]: “None of those places are in the Bible... The City of David is today located just outside the walls of the Old City.”

• Archaeological Challenges: Orenstein explains the difficulties faced by archaeologists due to modern construction and political sensitivities, particularly around the Temple Mount.

  Zev Orenstein [24:12]: “They used bulldozers and dump trucks, and they took tons and tons and tons of earth and just threw it in the garbage dump... They are seeking to rewrite history, to erase the Judeo Christian heritage from Jerusalem.”

• Significant Discoveries: The conversation covers the excavation of the Pool of Siloam and the pilgrimage road, underscoring their biblical connections and historical authenticity.

  Zev Orenstein [29:16]: “The Pool of Siloam... is 100% the same pool of Siloam from 2000 years ago, the time of Jesus.”

Notable Quote:

Zev Orenstein [27:50]: “Every single day, we're unearthing antiquities... that show... Jerusalem's biblical heritage is true. That the connection that Jews and Christians have with Jerusalem... is real.”

3. The Abuse of Presidential Pardons with Senator Mike Lee and Alan Dershowitz

Overview: In a critical examination of presidential pardons, Glenn Beck converses with Senator Mike Lee and legal scholar Alan Dershowitz. The discussion centers on the misuse of pardons, particularly their application to future crimes, and the implications for justice and accountability.

Key Points:

• Historical Context of Pardons: Dershowitz provides a foundational understanding of the pardon power, referencing Alexander Hamilton's insights from Federalist Paper No. 74.

  Alan Dershowitz [36:18]: “It's better to have it there as a backstop for abuses into law and excesses in punishment, such that if we took it away, I think their problems would be greater.”

• Contemporary Misuse: Beck and Dershowitz address the recent trend of granting pardons that extend immunity beyond past convictions, effectively shielding individuals from future legal repercussions.

  Alan Dershowitz [38:39]: “Anything since then, you're immune because you're pardoned prospectively. And so you can't plead the Fifth if you don't have any sort of credible basis for arguing that it could lead to your criminal liability.”

• Political Implications: The conversation critiques the potential for abuse within the pardon system, especially when high-profile figures use it to avoid accountability.

  Glenn Beck [39:05]: “When you say the fifth, you're like, who are you protecting besides your dad?”

• Call for Transparency: There is a strong advocacy for greater openness and investigation into pardon practices to ensure they serve justice rather than personal or political interests.

  Senator Mike Lee [40:08]: “The American people need and deserve to know what has gone on in their own government and what those files say.”

Notable Quote:

Alan Dershowitz [36:19]: “It's an absolutely essential tool for mitigating what he called the cruelty of the law.”

Conclusion

This episode of The Glenn Beck Program weaves together critical discussions on national security, historical preservation, and the integrity of presidential powers. Through articulate and passionate dialogue, Glenn Beck facilitates conversations that challenge existing structures and advocate for accountability, transparency, and the preservation of foundational values. Whether addressing the immediate threats to presidential security, unveiling the layered history of Jerusalem, or scrutinizing the abuse of pardon powers, the program offers listeners a comprehensive and thought-provoking analysis of pivotal issues shaping American society and governance.

Notable Closing Quote:

Glenn Beck [46:10]: “You can follow him on what is it? Based Mike Lee. His ex account is based Mike Lee. It's very funny. Very smart as well, but very funny.”

References:

• The Glenn Beck Program Transcript, December 10, 2024
• Blaze Podcast Network