The Glenn Beck Program Podcast Summary

Episode: How Iowa Made the Most Insane DEI Hire Ever | Guests: Bridget Phetasy & Liz Wheeler
Date: October 3, 2025
Host: Glenn Beck
Guests: Bridget Phetasy, Liz Wheeler

Episode Overview

This episode of The Glenn Beck Program delves into several key topics in American culture and politics, with a primary focus on a controversial DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) hire in Iowa. Glenn and his co-host Stu discuss the story of Ian Andre Roberts, a superintendent who was hired under questionable circumstances, and reflect on the deeper implications for DEI culture and societal standards. The episode also features commentary on the current state of news media, government shutdown dynamics, cultural issues, interfaith dialogue, and the power of community action. Special guests Bridget Phetasy and Liz Wheeler join to talk about comedy, global culture, anti-Semitism, and challenges within the Catholic church.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Iowa DEI Hiring Debacle

Timestamps: [05:11]–[18:22]

• Main Story: Glenn and Stu break down the story of Ian Andre Roberts, recently detained by ICE, who was hired as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools.
• Concerns and Allegations:
  • Faked his credentials (claimed degrees from MIT, Harvard, Georgetown, Morgan State University—none verified).
  • History of visa overstaying, previous ICE orders of deportation.
  • Prior misconduct: Having sex with a coworker on school property; described as a pathological liar and unvetted by authorities despite red flags.
  • Previously fired from another superintendent role amid sex discrimination lawsuits.
• DEI and Meritocracy:
  • Glenn criticizes DEI-driven hiring as neglecting merit and safety considerations in favor of social optics.
  • Quote ([17:06]):
    "None of this stuff matters to the left. This is why you must be a merit-based society." — Glenn Beck

2. Broader Political and Cultural Commentary

a. Government Shutdown and Immigration

Timestamps: [44:36]–[57:38]

• Shutdown Cause: Dispute over Democrats' demand for healthcare for those in the country illegally.
• Glenn's View: Biden has enabled large numbers of illegal migrants to access federal benefits by abusing parole authority.
• Macro Perspective: This is depicted as a coordinated move across Western nations to overwhelm welfare systems—a modern variant of the Cloward-Piven strategy.

b. Media Crisis and CBS Shakeup

Timestamps: [63:11]–[65:21]

• Public Trust in Media: Only 28% of Americans now trust traditional news sources.
• Potential CBS Turnaround: Reports that Bari Weiss may soon head CBS News, signaling a possible shift toward more honest journalism.
  • Quote ([63:43]):
    "If she does what she's done at the Free Press at CBS, it will be an incredible improvement." — Stu

3. Social Media, Youth, and Mental Health

Guest: Jonathan Haidt (from a featured podcast preview)
Timestamps: [27:59]–[40:31]

• Haidt's Findings: Social media is uniquely harmful to children, compounding anxiety and mental health crises.
• Evidence:
  • Youth themselves report negative effects and feel trapped by social pressure.
  • Parents and even whistleblower industry insiders agree on harm.
  • Social platforms (Meta, TikTok, Snapchat) are compared to the tobacco industry in knowingly fostering addiction.
• Developmental Impact:
  • Lack of real-world experience stunts neurological and emotional growth during adolescence.
  • Quote ([29:08]):
    "These companies, especially TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat, are harming children at an industrial scale." — Jonathan Haidt

4. U.S. and Global Cultural Clashes

a. The Riyadh Comedy Festival & Western Hypocrisy

Guest: Bridget Phetasy
Timestamps: [88:30]–[101:56]

• Topic: Prominent comedians (e.g., Dave Chappelle, Louis CK) performed in Saudi Arabia under strict censorship.
• Discussion:
  • Double standards: U.S. entertainers criticize censorship at home while accepting it abroad for money.
  • Broader point about American elites being willing to work with repressive regimes for financial gain.
  • Quote ([90:02]):
    "Maybe comedians in general just need to go back to being kind of viewed as dumb losers again. I think some of these guys are out over their head skis a little bit, and they got really huge." — Bridget Phetasy

b. Anti-Semitism and Fraying of the Center

Timestamps: [102:28]–[105:21]

• Bridget’s Observation: Rising anti-Semitism is deeply worrying, as is the increasing breakdown of centrist, moderate positions in American public life.
• Cultural Divide: Even familial and long-standing relationships are fracturing along political fault lines.

5. Catholic Church, Christianity, and Modern Politics

Guest: Liz Wheeler
Timestamps: [110:36]–[119:57]

• Recent Actions: The Pope’s involvement in climate justice events raises concerns about entanglement with leftist, even anti-Christian, politics.
• Doctrinal Consistency:
  • Church doctrine remains unchanged by papal virtue signaling; true Catholics look to the enduring tenets, not personal statements.
  • Quote ([111:14]):
    "The Catholic Church is the Davidic kingdom and it will endure regardless of infiltrators. It’s not a political organization. It’s a spiritual one." — Liz Wheeler
• Interfaith Reflection: Glenn and Liz discuss the need for all Christian denominations to return to universal, eternal values.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DEI Culture:
  "If you're just going to say, well, DEI, he's good at DEI... Well, does he have all those degrees? I mean, pathological liar." — Glenn Beck ([17:06])

• On Social Media:
  "Our kids moved their social lives onto social media platforms around 2012, 2013, and the results have been completely disastrous." — Jonathan Haidt ([29:08])

• On Populist Divide:
  "I think the center right is the new center. It feels like the two Americas are really moving apart from one another more and more." — Bridget Phetasy ([103:23])

• On CBS and Bari Weiss:
  "For the first time in a very, very long time, we may get some honest, solid reporting, some interesting perspective from one of these three major networks." — Stu ([64:56])

• On Comedians in Saudi Arabia:
  "I also think they're getting paid to legitimize these people. That’s what they're getting paid." — Bridget Phetasy ([90:45])

Important Segment Timestamps

• [05:11–18:22]: Iowa DEI hire, failures of vetting, DEI vs. merit, school administration scandals.
• [27:59–40:31]: Preview of Glenn’s interview with Jonathan Haidt—social media and youth.
• [44:36–57:38]: Government shutdown, immigration policy, Cloward-Piven strategy.
• [63:11–65:21]: Bari Weiss, CBS News, trust in media.
• [88:30–101:56]: Bridget Phetasy on Saudi comedy festival, double standards, Western pop culture.
• [102:28–105:21]: Anti-Semitism, collapse of the American center, public fracturing.
• [110:36–119:57]: Liz Wheeler on the Pope, Catholicism, and faith under cultural siege.

Tone and Style

• Language: Direct, sardonic, often humorous but pointedly critical of progressive narratives, establishment media, and elite hypocrisy.
• Energy: Both deeply concerned and energetically hopeful for grassroots and faith-based solutions.
• Approach: Engaged, conversational, and often openly polemical—deliberately challenging mainstream and 'woke' assumptions while promoting traditionalist and meritocratic ideals.

Summary for Listeners

For those who missed this episode, Glenn Beck and guests dissect a scandalous DEI hiring gone wrong in Iowa to illustrate greater societal and institutional flaws, with pointed humor and cultural critiques. The episode explores the dangers of unchecked DEI, the crisis in children’s mental health due to social media (with expert commentary from Jonathan Haidt), growing global and national double standards in cultural exchange, the erosion of trust in media, and both the challenges and hope for religious communities. Bridget Phetasy and Liz Wheeler bring sharp, relatable insight into the relationship between faith, politics, and the cultural moment, making this episode essential listening for anyone looking for critical perspective and constructive advice during turbulent times.