The Glenn Beck Program
Episode: Hamas’ REAL Goal on Oct. 7 | Guests: Dinesh D'Souza & Buck Sexton
Date: October 7, 2025
Episode Overview
On the second anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Glenn Beck uses the day as a lens to explore the rise of what he describes as a “death cult” mindset infiltrating American and Western society. The episode features in-depth conversations about the dangers of normalized political violence, the strategic threat posed by China to Taiwan, the crucial role of American values in distinguishing the West, and a chilling look at how rhetoric and actions are shifting away from the sanctity of life. Guests include Buck Sexton, recently returned from Taiwan, and Jason Miyares, current Virginia Attorney General and candidate, who discusses concerns about violent political language in the Virginia AG race.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Rising “Death Cult” Mentality in the West
[20:00-31:40]
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Definition and Characteristics:
Glenn defines a “death cult” as a movement that sanctifies violence as a political tool, celebrates the destruction of perceived enemies, and requires members to accept moral blind spots in the name of absolute ends. -
October 7th Hamas Attack Used as Example:
Public celebration in Gaza over the massacre is contrasted with an alleged growing American indifference or even celebration of opponents’ misfortune or death."Public celebrations of Enemy slaughter... Do you want to live in a society like that? I don't." (A, 22:02)
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Normalization of Harm:
Glenn draws parallels between the Hamas attack and current American political rhetoric that celebrates or excuses violence against opponents, warning that toleration of such rhetoric erodes the fundamental Western principle of "choose life." -
Memorable Quote:
"If you lose that one thing, that life is sacred, then you've lost the west because you have no... That is the basic fundamental cornerstone: Choose life." (A, 21:12)
2. The Threat of Political Violence and Silence
[31:40-42:00]
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Recent Incidents Highlighted:
Glenn references social media reactions to the (fictional) assassination of Charlie Kirk and violent rhetoric in the Virginia AG race as proof of a death cult mindset taking hold domestically."There's others I'd kill and then I, I'd piss all over their...graves. I'd send them out with glee. If I have Pol Pot, Hitler and a Republican and I only have two bullets, the Republican gets two bullets in the head." (A, 28:41)
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Institutional Silence = Complicity:
The lack of condemnation from political and media institutions is described as tacit endorsement. Glenn references Bonhoeffer’s adage:"Silence in the face of evil is evil itself." (A, 29:13)
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Erosion of Taboo:
The shift from "safe, legal and rare" abortion language to “shout your abortion” is cited as evidence of cultural drift towards celebrating or normalizing death and destruction.
3. The Taiwan-China Crisis: Buck Sexton’s Briefing
[03:10-17:12]
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Firsthand Report from Taiwan:
Buck Sexton describes his recent meetings with Taiwanese leaders and TSMC (the key chip manufacturer), stating that China is preparing for full-scale war, with a likely attempted invasion of Taiwan by 2027."Taiwan is gearing up itself for the defense of its island...The Chinese are getting ready for this and Xi Jinping has said it's coming in 2027." (C, 03:48)
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American Military Industrial Bottleneck:
Supplies for allies like Taiwan are already stretched thin because of support to Ukraine. Buck warns that U.S. weapons manufacturing isn’t keeping pace with China’s military buildup."Our military industrial capacity for just providing the tools to allies ... is already at a bit of a breaking point. And China knows that." (C, 05:18)
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Tech and Security Stakes:
Glenn and Buck discuss the global economic and security impacts if China gains control of Taiwan’s advanced chip manufacturing; both agree U.S. and allies should prevent this at any cost—including, if necessary, sabotaging TSMC’s facilities."We cannot let those chip manufacturers fall into the hands of China. Can't." (A, 07:57)
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Prediction on Conflict Timeline:
Buck believes Xi may wait until after the Trump presidency to move, aiming for a blitzkrieg invasion to force quick surrender, referencing Tom Clancy’s "A Debt of Honor" as an illustration."China is hoping that they can do a blitzkrieg...so rapidly that the US isn't even able to respond." (C, 14:24)
4. Manifestations in U.S. Society: Law, Policing, and Political Discourse
[32:01-35:44]
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America's Withdrawal from Afghanistan:
Glenn cites the 2021 rushed pullout and abandonment of allies as another violation of the "choose life" principle, showing a degradation of honor and societal values."We left people behind. It was dishonorable. We sensed our honor was at stake here." (A, 32:15)
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Chicago Police Radio—A Breakdown in Social Order:
Glenn plays audio of police being ordered not to respond to fellow officers surrounded by crowds in Chicago, interpreting this as institutional cowardice and a sign of societal breakdown."Just to confirm they were surrounded. And I'm supposed to tell everybody, go away. Yes. Death cult now." (A, 34:43)
5. Virginia Attorney General Race: The Dangers of Violent Rhetoric
Guest: Jason Miyares
[37:15-49:49]
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Background:
Miyares recalls the viral text messages of challenger Jay Jones, who allegedly fantasized about murdering political opponents and wishing pain on their families as a way to provoke policy change."He was upset that Republicans had said nice things in memory of a Democratic delegate that had recently passed away at their funeral. He said he wanted to piss on the graves of his political opponents and obviously said he wanted to put two bullets in the head of Todd Gilbert." (B, 37:37)
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Moral and Professional Disqualification:
Miyares argues such rhetoric fundamentally disqualifies anyone from the role of chief law enforcer, regardless of party.- He shares a Thomas Jefferson quote about respecting political differences for context.
- Emphasizes that adopting a "might makes right" mentality is antithetical to American and Western tradition.
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Political Violence as a Slippery Slope:
Glenn draws a straight line from celebratory violence abroad to rhetorical violence at home, warning “this is a very big test... once you choose death and choose to tolerate this kind of stuff… I don't know how you can be helped, you know, spiritually.” (A, 48:20) -
Right versus Wrong, Not Left versus Right:
Miyares and Beck agree: the contest is now about basic decency and whether society will demand a return to civility and life-affirming values.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Glenn Beck:
"If you lose that one thing, that life is sacred, then you've lost the west because you have no...That is the basic fundamental cornerstone: Choose life." (21:12)
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Buck Sexton on China-Taiwan:
"Taiwan is gearing up itself for the defense of its island...The Chinese are getting ready for this and Xi Jinping has said it's coming in 2027." (03:48)
"We simply cannot allow them to have that level of influence over global markets." (C, 08:19)
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Jason Miyares (on opponent’s violent rhetoric):
"For him to say these things...this is not an imaginary person. He's met her before. He's met and seen the children on the floor before. For him to say these things… he certainly, I think, in my opinion, completely disqualified from serving as attorney general." (B, 39:17)
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On American Cultural Crisis:
"Death cults reward glee at an opponent's death… The glee is the same. The death is the same." (A, 26:24)
"If Virginia...they're not getting out to vote and say no to this, I don't think you survive as a society in Virginia. I think this is a vote that says we choose life or we choose death." (A, 48:20)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [03:10] — Buck Sexton returns from Taiwan: U.S. ally at risk, military-industrial constraints
- [10:56] — Drones, AI, and the changing face of war
- [13:56] — Will China wait out Trump before invading Taiwan?
- [20:00] — Glenn's definition and warning on the rise of "death cult" thinking
- [26:13] — Social media glee over Charlie Kirk example
- [29:13] — "Silence in the face of evil is evil itself"—Institutional complicity
- [32:01] — Afghanistan withdrawal as violation of American values
- [34:43] — Chicago police told to stand down, interpreted as a sign of societal decay
- [37:15] — Jason Miyares: Explosive rhetoric in Virginia AG race
- [48:20] — "Choose life or choose death"—final warning about the stakes
Tone & Language
- Candid, Urgent, Reflective: The episode is marked by Glenn’s impassioned and sometimes stark warnings, Buck Sexton’s intelligence-community analytical style, and Jason Miyares’s prosecutorial gravity.
- Moral Clarity: Strong invocation of traditional American and Western values, particularly the sanctity of life.
- Unfiltered: Direct reproduction of controversial or explicit rhetoric from political figures to illustrate concerns.
Summary
This episode uses the anniversary of Hamas’s attack as a warning about a deeper malaise in American and Western life: the normalization of violent rhetoric and a drift from life-affirming values. With real-world stakes in the Taiwan-China conflict and personal stakes in American state elections, Glenn Beck and his guests warn that tolerating or celebrating violence in the political sphere may pave the way for the real violence seen elsewhere. The existential choice, Beck insists, is clear: “choose life” – or risk losing Western society’s moral foundation for good.
