The Glenn Beck Program – "Democrats Attack PRAYER After Minneapolis Tragedy" (8/28/25)

Episode Overview

In this episode, guest hosts Pat Gray and Stu Burguiere fill in for Glenn Beck to analyze and discuss the recent tragic shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis. The hosts dive into the details of the attack, the political and media response—particularly from Democrats—and the cultural discourse around prayer, gender identity, mental health, and gun control. The tone is a signature mix of outrage, sarcasm, and cultural commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Minneapolis Church Shooting – Facts & Immediate Reaction

• Incident summary:
  • A shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis resulted in two children killed and 17 injured. Most survivors are expected to recover ([04:54], Pat Gray).
• Details on the shooter:
  • Shooter was identified as transgender. Discussion arises about how media and politicians handle reporting on the shooter’s gender identity ([06:31], [07:41], Glen/Pat).
  • The shooter reportedly wrote extensively about their motives, including a fascination with violence against children and a desire for notoriety ([70:49], Glenn).
• Survival factors:
  • Pew benches inside the church acted as a shield, possibly saving lives ([06:11], Glenn).

2. Gender Identity and Narratives in Media Coverage

• Media's treatment of gender:
  • The hosts ridicule the insistence on gender pronouns for the shooter, suggesting that once someone commits such a crime, their pronouns are irrelevant ([07:05], Pat; [07:11], Glenn).
• Transgender mass shooters:
  • Statistics and discussion on the “disproportionately high” number of mass shootings by transgender individuals, considering their small portion of the population ([09:03], Pat; [13:29], Pat).
• Mental illness argument:
  • Arguments made around potential links between gender dysphoria, inability to discern reality, and susceptibility to radical or violent actions ([12:36], Glenn).
  • Clear that they insist this does not impugn all transgender people.
• Political discourse:
  • Frustration with left-wing politicians and the media for what hosts see as deflection and avoidance of core identity or mental health issues ([10:01], Pat).

Quote:

"It's the left. That infuriates them. They don't want us to mention it...They want to pretend it never happens." – Pat Gray [08:47]

3. The Political Response: Focus on Prayer and Gun Control

• Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey:
  • Hosts play and critique Frey’s statements that urge against 'vilifying' the trans community and instead acting "from a place of love for our kids."
  • Hosts find the mayor’s remarks to be insincere and politically motivated, focusing on identity politics over victims ([16:10]-[18:58], Glenn/Pat).
• Praise for the police chief:
  • Police chief's emotional, authentic response to the tragedy is lauded by hosts as a stark contrast to the mayor’s "performance" ([18:24], Pat/Glenn).

Quote:

"Kids died today. This needs to be about them. Why did you just lead with the trans community?" – Glenn Beck [16:48]

4. Outrage Over Attacks on Prayer: Jen Psaki and Politicians

• Jen Psaki tweet:
  • “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. Prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.” – Jen Psaki [25:44]/[26:49].
  • Hosts argue this is not only politically tone-deaf but signals open hostility toward people of faith. They draw a distinction between expressing sympathy ("thoughts and prayers") and actual policy, but assert that faith and prayer should not be mocked ([27:39], Glenn).

Quote:

"Prayer is enough. It actually is the most important thing you can do. Right? It's crucial and it always is enough. It's all you need...God is enough." – Glenn Beck [28:46]

"I don't want you praying. I don't want to hear about your prayers. ...I hate you. And everything you believe in, that's what that reveals." – Glenn Beck [30:14]

• Mayor Jacob Frey:
  • Further mocked "thoughts and prayers" in his statements, with hosts accusing the left of doubling down on faith-mocking rhetoric to please their base ([35:23], Glenn; [36:35]-[37:35], Glenn/Pat).

5. Gun Control – Rhetoric, Policy, and Myths

• Discussion of proposed gun laws:
  • Hosts are dismissive of calls for bans, noting the difficulty (and potential for civil strife) in removing hundreds of millions of firearms from society.
  • Reference is made to the ineffectiveness of Australia’s gun buyback program ([62:25], Glenn).
• Media ignorance:
  • CNN/MSNBC criticized for repeated errors about firearms, i.e. confusing semi-automatic with automatic weapons ([49:55] onward).
• Satirical segment:
  • Hosts mock the media’s lack of basic firearms knowledge and the tendency to sensationalize following mass shootings ([54:12], [54:58], Glenn/Pat).

6. Mental Health, Gender, and Parental Responsibility

• Minnesota Lieutenant Governor speech:
  • Critique of her statement that parents must "listen and believe" children who express gender dysphoria. Hosts point out the perils in uncritically affirming children’s assertions about gender (and other issues like eating disorders) ([78:13]-[82:19], Glenn/Pat).

Quote:

"If my 12 year old comes to me and says I'm tired of being a boy, I want to be a girl, I should just believe them and help them make that transition right then, right then and there because they know what's best." – Pat Gray [78:32]

7. Culture War & Media Landscape

• Smithsonian controversy:
  • Discussion of "woke" gender/sexuality exhibits at the Smithsonian and Trump’s pushback. Hosts frame this as part of a broader fight over national identity and the teaching of American history ([93:54]-[98:49], Pat/Glenn).
• Criticism of identity politics:
  • Return to theme of the left undermining MLK’s colorblind ideal, emphasizing immutable identities over character ([101:37], Glenn).
• Mocking left-of-center incentives:
  • Hosts repeat that outspoken anti-prayer or aggressively "woke" figures are rewarded with clicks, interviews, and popularity on their side, despite these views alienating most Americans ([33:49]-[36:21]).

8. Lighter Segments / Memorable Comic Relief

• Eyewitness account:
  • Sharing a 10-year-old survivor’s account, highlighting heroism and trauma ([42:02], [42:48], Glenn/Pat).
• Subway sandwich tangent:
  • Humorous extended riff on ordering at Subway, triggered by a discussion on the seriousness of "assault by sandwich," offering listeners unique, tongue-in-cheek culinary advice ([115:13] onward).
• Alien probe story:
  • Brief exploration of a viral news story about a supposed alien probe in the solar system (light sarcasm, not a key theme) ([111:47]).

9. Media Fairness & Polling

• CNN polling analyst Harry Enten discussed:
  • Cited as a rare example of a data-driven, fair-minded media figure, unafraid to break the network's preferred narrative when polling shows bad news for Democrats ([106:05]-[109:17], Pat/Glenn).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the left’s narrative after tragedies:

  "The first thing you need to do is what group committed the crime? Let's feel bad for them." – Glenn Beck [66:46]

• On double standards in how prayer is treated:

  "They certainly don’t have any problem with mentioning that cisgender males usually commit these crimes." – Pat Gray [12:36]

• On incentives in political discourse:

  "...every single part of Jen Psaki's life right now indicates to her she should do more of that. More money, more viewers, more attention..." – Glenn Beck [33:49]

• On colorblindness:

  "If you are judging people and making decisions based on skin color...it's just a silly, silly way to run a civilization." – Glenn Beck [103:36]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Minneapolis shooting details: [04:54]-[06:30]
• Trans/gender identity coverage debate: [06:31]-[13:29]
• Mayor Frey’s speech & political reaction: [16:10]-[19:24]
• Jen Psaki prayer tweet reaction: [25:44]-[30:14]
• Gun control and media ignorance: [49:10]-[56:56]
• Minnesota Lt. Governor on 'believing' children: [78:09]-[82:19]
• Smithsonian/LGBTQ segment: [93:54]-[98:49]
• Harry Enten segment: [106:05]-[109:17]
• Comic/Survivor/Alien/Light segments: [42:02], [115:13]-[120:13]

Conclusion

Pat Gray and Stu Burguiere, filling in for Glenn Beck, offer a fast-paced, highly opinionated breakdown of the Minneapolis church shooting and the ensuing media and political fallout. They express frustration with what they view as the left's antipathy toward faith, particularly prayer, their avoidance of discussions around mental illness and gender reality in such tragedies, and the tendency to push for more gun control at the expense of Second Amendment rights. Through sarcasm and cultural critique, they argue that these reflexive responses are alienating to mainstream America and that real solutions require acknowledgment of both cultural and individual breakdowns—spiritual, familial, and social.

For listeners seeking a summary:
This episode is a deep-dive into the politics and culture war following a tragedy, providing conservative critique of media, Democratic politicians, and progressive trends, while also mixing moments of levity and everyday advice. The core message is that faith, personal responsibility, and honesty about mental health and violent tendencies should be at the center of the discussion—not identity politics or dismissals of prayer.