The Glenn Beck Program — Best of the Program | Guests: Sen. Eric Schmitt & Melanie Phillips | 8/19/25

Episode Overview

This episode of The Glenn Beck Program features in-depth discussions on major developments in American politics and international relations, centering on the recent White House summit with President Trump, Zelenskyy, and EU leaders. Glenn is joined by Senator Eric Schmitt and Times of London columnist Melanie Phillips to explore U.S. leadership, the shifting world order, election integrity, lawfare, and the broader implications of America’s evolving political landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Eric Schmitt on Election Integrity, "Lawfare," and His New Book

Voter Laws and Federalism (04:19–06:21)

• Schmitt clarifies that elections are constitutionally a state affair, noting "Democrats are trying to federalize" election laws, especially regarding mail-in ballots.
• He references the Carter-Baker Commission: “One [recommendation] was to severely limit the ability to have mail-in ballots.” (04:53)
• Schmitt describes legal action in Missouri against efforts to loosen mail-in ballot restrictions, citing COVID-era challenges and alleging: “They just mailed out ballots to everybody... That’s the real problem with mail in balloting—there’s no real verification.” (05:31)

Mass Migration, Illegal Immigration, and Political Strategy (07:25–10:44)

• Schmitt argues Democrats’ "bet" on mass migration was intended as a means to gain lasting political control and pass sweeping institutional changes.
• He expresses hope that “the fever broke” with the 2024 elections and reflects on the intense “grip the woke left had on this country.”
• Schmitt’s new book, Last Line of Defense, provides a behind-the-scenes view of his tenure as Missouri AG, detailing legal victories regarding school mask mandates, student loan forgiveness, and alleged censorship:
  • “We fought vaccine mandate to the Supreme Court. We won. We brought the Missouri vs. Biden censorship case and ... exposed this vast censorship enterprise.” (09:53)
• On standing up under pressure: “That kitchen was hot. … There were reporters interviewing me ... in their cars ... asking, ‘Why are you trying to kill the kids?’” (10:21)

Lessons Learned and Warning for the Future (12:21–16:10)

• Schmitt stresses the enduring threat of emergency powers, describing COVID-19 as a “trial run” in government overreach, referencing the Milgram Experiment to illustrate the dangers of obedience to authority:
  • “The struggle against power is man’s struggle of memory versus forgetting, and we can’t forget that stuff.” (15:25)
• He expresses optimism about a judicial shift toward constitutionalism but cautions ongoing vigilance: “We can be in that arena. We can fight back, and we can win.” (15:57)

2. Glenn Beck’s Reflection on Legal Resistance, Leadership, and the U.S. Constitution

On the Importance of Legal Checks

• Beck echoes Schmitt’s approach, recalling Frederick Douglass’s evolution on the Constitution: “[The law] can be used to set people free.” (11:17)
• He presses the need for “smart, brave people” to leverage the law to check governmental overreach.

On Memory and Power

• Citing historical anecdotes, Beck underscores the necessity of remembering institutional failures and abuses—“if you forget, you’re doomed to repeat [it].”

3. Melanie Phillips on the White House Summit, U.S. Global Leadership, and European Strategy

World Leaders and Trump’s Influence (18:26–21:38)

• Phillips offers an outsider’s perspective, describing the visual of global leaders “all lined up like schoolchildren with a headmaster”—an image underscoring Trump’s unique authority even among skeptics.
  • “He was the most consequential politician of our lifetime and in the world today. … They have no option but to try and manage this presidency and get on with him.” (18:36)
• She notes European leaders’ anxiety about Trump potentially abandoning Ukraine, observing a shift in Trump’s rhetoric: “There was a bit of movement … Trump said, ‘if push comes to shove, America will help them [Europeans] defend against Putin’—that’s a very big change from his previous position.” (20:36)

On the Unique Nature of American Leadership (22:46–26:02)

• Both Beck and Phillips agree that the summit was “unprecedented”—demonstrating a resurgence of U.S. leadership by facilitating, not dictating, collective action.
• Phillips warns of American isolationism and argues, “It is in America’s interests to restrain Putin. … If Putin were to take over Ukraine, he would see that as a gateway to making further incursions.” (27:03)
• Beck contends Trump’s strategy is not “isolationist” but about compelling Europe to carry more defense responsibilities: “We’re not paying the bill anymore… You’ve got to carry bags.” (25:01)

4. Glenn Beck’s Takeaways from the Summit & Broader Implications

Two Key Messages (29:33–33:57):

• America is Again in Charge: “We are leading the world … not through military force … but because Donald Trump is actually going places and leading the world.” (29:35)
• True Leadership & a New Coalition Model:
  • Trump’s leadership is personal and hands-on. Beck argues that instead of building a “global coalition” for its own sake, Trump is acting decisively and forming coalitions organically around American leadership.
  • “He’s leading the coalition. … We’re not providing the arms; we’re selling ammunition … they can do it. So again, it’s a different kind of leadership.” (33:24)

Contrasting Leadership Styles and the Importance of Presidential Independence (34:00–39:50)

• Beck shares a candid story from the Bush era illustrating the constraints of the presidency—“the president isn’t really the president; he’s just listening to all these advisors …”
• He contrasts this with Trump’s approach at the summit: “He didn’t have anybody whispering in his ear … He’s leading the State Department. He’s leading the world. He’s keeping his own counsel. That hasn’t been done by a president in I don’t know how long.”
• On Trump’s independence: “The President of the United States keeps his own counsel; listens to his own gut, for the first time that I have seen since Ronald Reagan.” (41:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Comment | |-----------|---------|---------------| | 04:53 | Eric Schmitt | “One [Carter-Baker] recommendation was to severely limit ... mail-in ballots.” | | 09:53 | Eric Schmitt | “We brought the Missouri vs. Biden censorship case and ... exposed this vast censorship enterprise.” | | 13:37 | Glenn Beck | “If I remember right, they kept cranking it up … and they would still do it. They might have killed the guy in their mind.” (On Milgram Experiment) | | 18:36 | Melanie Phillips | “He was the most consequential politician of our lifetime and in the world today. … They have no option but to try and manage this presidency and get on with him.” | | 20:36 | Melanie Phillips | “President Trump said … the Europeans want to defend Europe against Putin, and if push comes to shove, America will help them do it. That’s a very big change.” | | 29:35 | Glenn Beck | “We are leading the world … not through military force … but because Donald Trump is actually going places and leading the world.” | | 33:24 | Glenn Beck | “He’s leading the coalition. … We’re not providing the arms; we’re selling ammunition … they can do it.” | | 41:46 | Glenn Beck | “The President ... keeps his own counsel; listens to his own gut, for the first time that I have seen since Ronald Reagan.” |

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Eric Schmitt interview start: 03:27
• Mail-in ballots & election law: 04:19–06:21
• On mass migration & ‘woke’ politics: 07:25–10:44
• COVID mandates, lawfare, & courage: 10:44–16:10
• Melanie Phillips interview start: 17:50
• European perspective on U.S. summit: 18:26–22:46
• America’s evolving role: 25:01–26:02
• Glenn’s monologue on summit takeaways: 29:33–33:57
• Presidential independence anecdotes: 34:00–39:50
• Final reflections on leadership: 41:46+

Overall Tone and Style

The episode presents a candid, passionate defense of constitutional, state-based approaches to governance while celebrating what the hosts and guests see as a renewed, effective American leadership on the global stage. The tone is assertive, patriotic, at times skeptical of establishment narratives, and frequently anecdotal, blending personal reflection with policy analysis.

Summary for First-Time Listeners

If you haven’t heard the episode, you’ll walk away understanding how leading conservative voices interpret recent shifts in U.S. domestic and international policy. You’ll get a critical view of the push for federalized elections, concerns over pandemic-era policies, and a British perspective on unique developments in U.S.-led world leadership. The discussions are rich in historical references, legal strategy, and personal anecdotes, making the case that America is once again leading, but in a new, pragmatic, and less interventionist way—driven by a president “keeping his own counsel” and resisting the inertia of the bureaucratic establishment.