The Glenn Beck Program

Episode: Glenn Makes a BIG Announcement About His Future
Guest: Brandon Tseng, Co-Founder and President of SHIELD AI
Date: October 27, 2025

Overview & Main Theme

This episode is marked by Glenn Beck's highly anticipated "BIG announcement" about his professional future, ushering in a new chapter with the upcoming launch of "The Torch"—a cutting-edge educational platform focused on American history, original documents, and AI-powered learning. The episode also dives deep into current U.S. political turmoil surrounding the government shutdown and SNAP benefits, reflections on societal division and chaos, and closes with an illuminating interview with Brandon Tseng about AI-driven defense technology and the future of modern warfare.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Government Shutdown: Weaponizing Hunger and Political Chaos

• [04:35] – [25:24]
  Glenn explores the federal government shutdown, focusing on the Democratic Party's refusal to pass a continuing resolution (CR) and the potential fallout for SNAP (food stamp) beneficiaries.
  • Deep criticism of the Democrats' position, accusing them of weaponizing hunger and prioritizing political ambitions over vulnerable citizens.
  • Analysis of potential human costs: rising stress, increased theft, public unrest, and overloaded food banks.
  • Calls for direct community action: urging listeners to support local food banks and churches, reinforcing that “this is our job in the first place.”
  • Notable Quote:

    "The party that purports to represent the weakest among us... are the ones refusing to keep the lights on or now to secure the food on the table for the poor and the vulnerable." — Glenn Beck [06:10]

2. Call to Civic Action: “Be the Act”

• [25:33] – [33:09]
  • Glenn advocates for compassion and proactive service, especially during holidays, asserting that faith and civic responsibility—not government—should be the true social safety net.
  • Cautions of rising civil unrest and theft if the shutdown persists, urging listeners to disarm “the politics of hunger” through personal and community action.
  • Notable Quote:

    "Let’s be seen doing real good, politics be damned. Principles are what matter." — Glenn Beck [22:20]

3. Societal Unrest & Political Rhetoric

• [33:09] – [42:00]
  • Discussion of the escalation of "outrage addiction," revolutionary rhetoric on the political left, and alarming statements by Democratic leaders and strategists.
  • Glimpses into how politicians manipulate unrest for power, referencing the use of guillotines as protest symbols, historical analogies, and broad societal consequences.
  • Notable Quote:

    "We have become a nation addicted to outrage." — Quoting Jonathan Turley, relayed by Glenn Beck [33:12]

  • Glenn reiterates the need for "peculiar," principle-driven actions—feeding the hungry, serving the poor—as a Christian/conservative response to the crisis.

4. Glenn Beck's Big Announcement: The Torch

• [45:00] – [82:00]

  • The Big Reveal: Introduction of "The Torch"—a bold initiative blending AI, history, and education.

  • Key Details:

    • Launches January 5th, 2026; sign-ups via GlennBeck.com newsletter.
    • Features a massive, digitized private collection of American founding documents, artifacts, sermons, and more.
    • AI-driven library (“George”) based on writings of George Washington and founders, delivering direct, source-based answers to history, civics, and constitutional queries.
    • Vision for dynamic, immersive education—customizable to any audience from children to PhDs, with future VR and voice features.
    • New history podcasts and special investigative content planned for 2026, aligning with America’s 250th anniversary.

  • Impact & Legacy:
    Glenn frames this as the culmination of his career in media:

    • Empowering individuals with primary sources and real evidence.
    • Guarding against revisionism and the “AI rewriting of history.”
    • Expanding charitable and humanitarian missions via Mercury One, Nazarene Fund, American Journey Experience, including direct reporting from global hot zones (Nigeria, Korea).

  • Notable Quotes:

    "We now have created the first independent, proprietary AI-driven American historical library. George is built from the writings of George Washington himself." — Glenn Beck [57:24]
    "This is the moment that I try to pass the Torch to you... to illuminate, to bring light where there is darkness... This is my next and final step in my career." — Glenn Beck [80:00]

5. Listener Reactions & Tech Details

• [68:45] – [82:44]
  • Glenn and Stu field audience comments about the Torch’s technology, AI ethics, costs, and potential integrations (VR, online exhibits, historical fact-checking tools).
  • Discussion on AI’s risks of "truth spiral" and the importance of foundation-sourced, verifiable facts to counter misinformation online.
  • Technical ambitions and funding challenges discussed candidly.
  • Notable Exchange:

    "Is it expensive? Yes, it is." — Glenn Beck
    "When has Glenn ever done a project that's not expensive?" — Stu [71:07]

6. Modern Defense & AI: Interview with Brandon Tseng

• [87:41] – [123:15]
  • Brandon Tseng, co-founder and president of SHIELD AI, discusses cutting-edge military technology, the transition to AI-piloted unmanned systems, and the accelerated future of warfare.
  • Key Insights:
    • “AI pilot” technology is to drones as self-driving is to cars—intelligent, mission-driven, and continuously iterating.
    • U.S. and allies are moving away from traditional (vulnerable, expensive) assets—like battleships and aircraft carriers—to swarms of intelligent, flexible air and ground systems.
    • "Hive Mind" AI: Enabling collaborative, coordinated fleets of drones; human command remains critical for lethal decisions.
    • Reflections on Russia-Ukraine, Taiwan tensions, and China’s production edge.
    • The cost-effectiveness of smart assets vs. conventional systems, with optimism about AI’s societal value (and cautious realism about its dangers in the wrong hands).
    • Memorable Quotes:

      "What does AI autonomy mean?—It's a system's ability to make intelligent decisions about where it is... perceive its environment, think about it, and take action." — Brandon Tseng [102:42]
      "I believe the greatest victory requires no war—it’s about having such a dominant military that any adversary thinks twice before starting..." — Brandon Tseng [120:20]

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “The party that purports to represent the weakest among us... are the ones refusing to keep the lights on or now to secure the food on the table for the poor and the vulnerable.”
  — Glenn Beck [06:10]

• “Their inaction is truly a choice... it’s the condemning of the poor that they say they're for.”
  — Glenn Beck [08:35]

• “Let’s demonstrate leadership when everyone else wants to demonstrate... I don’t even know what.”
  — Glenn Beck [22:20]

• “We have become a nation addicted to outrage.”
  — Jonathan Turley (quoted by Glenn Beck) [33:12]

• “The Torch is a mission—to illuminate, to bring light where there is darkness...”
  — Glenn Beck [80:00]

• “George is built from the writings of George Washington himself... He can find any artifact, any document, any speech, and deliver it to you as evidence.”
  — Glenn Beck [57:24]

• “Being a Navy SEAL is really cool until you’re asked to either fight in a tunnel or in a war where there’s tons of drones being used against you.”
  — Brandon Tseng [98:40]

• “What does AI autonomy mean?—It's a system's ability to make intelligent decisions... to perceive, to think, and to act.”
  — Brandon Tseng [102:42]

Major Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Content | |---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:35–25:24 | Government Shutdown, Hunger, SNAP, Civic Call to Action | | 25:33–33:09 | Societal Unrest, Outrage Addiction, Leadership Through Service | | 45:00–82:00 | The Torch: Big Announcement, Details on AI-powered History Platform | | 68:45–82:44 | Listener Q&A, Tech Discussion, AI Fact-Checking & Ethics | | 87:41–123:15 | Interview: Brandon Tseng (SHIELD AI) on AI & Defense Technologies |

Tone & Language

Glenn Beck’s signature style—wry, passionate, and occasionally polemical—runs throughout, blending sharp political commentary with a deeply personal, even patriotic, vision. The discussion with Brandon Tseng is more technical but remains accessible, with a focus on real-world risks and the promise of innovation.

Conclusion

This episode is a milestone for Glenn Beck, marking his transition from “The Blaze” to an ambitious new chapter with "The Torch," aiming to shape the future of American historical education and civic empowerment. Listeners are called not only to witness but to participate in building resilient communities and defending civilizational values, whether responding to hunger at home or understanding new threats abroad.

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