The Glenn Beck Program — December 18, 2025

Episode Title: How Trump Trolled the Networks with His Presidential Address | Guests: Phil Wickham & Harmeet Dhillon
Host: Glenn Beck (with regular co-host Stu)
Guests:

• Phil Wickham, worship singer and voice of “David” in Angel Studios’ new animated film
• Harmeet Dhillon, DOJ Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights

Episode Overview

This episode examines Donald Trump’s recent highly-disciplined presidential address, analyzing its content, strategy, and impact. Glenn Beck and Stu discuss key political issues, including economic messaging, internal party infighting, healthcare legislation battles, and the “Warrior Dividend” for military personnel.
The program also features deep discussion with DOJ’s Harmeet Dhillon regarding accountability for DOJ/FBI abuses and the daunting challenges for bringing about justice and restoring faith in institutions.
The closing segment includes an uplifting interview with Christian singer Phil Wickham, now the voice of David in a new animated musical.

Tone: Candid, critical of political reality, with moments of warmth (holidays, faith, community).

Main Segments & Timestamps

1. Trump’s Presidential Address: Analysis and Reactions (07:40 – 24:00)
2. The Warrior Dividend for Military Members (25:54 – 30:20)
3. Healthcare Legislation & GOP Realities (30:18 – 36:43)
4. The DOJ, FBI, and Real Accountability ft. Harmeet Dhillon (46:29 – 63:33)
5. International Affairs: China, Taiwan, and Global Security (70:29 – 74:56)
6. Community Resilience, Faith, and Antisemitism (116:14 – 125:19)
7. Phil Wickham on The New “David” Movie and The Power of Worship (97:15 – 105:36)
8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

1. Trump’s Presidential Address: Analysis and Reactions

(07:40 – 24:00)

Key Points

• Glenn Beck’s Take:
  Trump delivered an unusually “disciplined,” “forceful,” and tight speech, staying on message for only about 20 minutes—possibly to ensure major TV network coverage.

  “I’ve never seen him more disciplined… He stayed on script the whole time. He was extraordinarily disciplined. He was forceful with it.” (Glenn Beck, 07:40)

• Messaging “Troll” Theory:
  Beck speculates rumors of a major war announcement were circulated to guarantee coverage.

  “I wonder if the war thing wasn’t a way to get them to cover this, if it wasn’t a leak from the White House.” (Glenn, 09:37)

• Content Highlights:

  • Trump opened with claims about transforming the U.S. over the past year (“the hottest country in the world right now”), citing economic turnaround, bringing down costs, and increasing investments.
  • Specific statistics: inflation, car prices (+22%), gasoline (+30-50%), hotels (+37%), airfare (+31%), with Trump saying those numbers are now improving.
  • Declared victory over “woke radicals” in schools, ending multiple wars, peace in the Middle East.

• Critical Response:

  • Beck cautions about “I inherited a mess” rhetoric. While true, it’s a tired line overused by recent presidents.
  • Claims the economy is “doing better than ever” ring false for many Americans who still feel the pinch.

  “People don’t feel the relief yet. They see prices coming down, but they’re still paying out the same amount of money they were paying under Joe Biden.” (Glenn, 12:20)

• Economic Realities:

  • Inflation now at 2.7% (down from prior 9%), some prices falling, but general public still struggles with costs of rent, groceries, etc.
  • Discussion of perception vs reality—political messaging struggles if it tells people their lived experience is “wrong.”
  • Importance of truly improving lives, not just marketing slogans.

• Housing & Immigration Link:

  • Beck ties housing cost crisis directly to mass migration.

  “You cannot solve the housing prices and not solve the immigration crisis. You have to send people back home or you’re going to have to wait five years as we build new apartment complexes…” (Glenn, 15:00)

• Fed Chair Appointment:

  • Trump teased “wait until you meet the guy I’m going to appoint the head of the Fed.” Beck expresses concern and curiosity.

Notable Quotes

• “He said, ‘I inherited a mess.’ True. It’s absolutely true. But people have heard that now from the last three presidents, and they’re tired of it. It has no meaning anymore—even though it’s true.” (Glenn, 10:44)
• “Perception is reality… People don’t feel the relief yet.” (Glenn, 12:18)

2. The Warrior Dividend for Military Members

(25:54 – 30:20)

Key Points

• Trump’s “Warrior Dividend” allocates a $1,776 one-time payout to each of 1.45 million military personnel, supposedly sourced from tariff revenue.

  “If anybody… can use it, it’s the military. Seventeen hundred dollars is a huge amount for most people in the military. … that will make an actual impact.” (Glenn, 26:40)

• Critique and Process Questions:

  • Stu voices support for the intent but raises concerns about spending unallocated money and bypassing congressional approval.

  “We’re not exactly at a place where we just have tons of extra money lying around to throw around to people… how is the President able to do this without Congress?” (Stu, 27:54)

• Both note Congress would overwhelmingly support such a bill if it were submitted “the proper way.”

3. Healthcare Legislation & GOP Realities

(30:18 – 36:43)

Key Points

• House GOP passes a health plan merely to maintain the status quo (Obamacare, minus new insurance subsidies); not expected to pass in the Senate.

• Bets are that while the public’s distracted over holidays, subsidies/extensions will be renewed by Congress as part of backroom deals.

• Glenn and Stu lament the GOP’s perpetual excuse-making and lack of follow-through, even with technical control of all branches.

  “Understand the reality… We can’t get things done unless we have the House and the Senate and the White House and the Supreme Court… but it’s never quite enough to get the job done.” (Glenn & Stu, 34:00–34:48)

• Realization that most “conservative” politicians do not share grassroots limited government goals.

4. The DOJ, FBI, and Real Accountability

Harmeet Dhillon Interview

(46:29 – 63:33)

Key Points

• Dhillon explains the landscape: She leads the civil rights division, with major attrition after “setting new rules.” Staff leaks, bureaucracy, and the Senate “blue slip” process are massive obstacles.

• Recent DOJ lawsuits filed against several states and Fulton County, Georgia, regarding 2020 election issues.

  “When I set the rules of what we’re going to do here… two thirds of the people pieced out and quit. And some… are leaking to the press what we’re doing.” (Harmeet, 56:40)

• DOJ actively considering action against state/federal officials who weaponized prosecutorial or investigative powers, but requires strong evidence, conspiracy connections, and must pierce legal immunities.

• DOJ’s internal culture is resistant; genuinely dedicated “patriots” are a minority fighting uphill.

  “If we let that lie, this just becomes like Venezuela or some other tin pot dictatorship. We lose our ability to hold our heads up as the paragon of the rule of law in the world.” (Harmeet, 54:08)

• Senate “blue slip” tradition blocks or delays placing DOJ attorneys in key states.

• Dhillon calls for more “base lawyers” to join the DOJ and help restore trust.

Notable Quotes

• “There are some of us who are kind of true believers and feel like, you know, this is our mission in life, to make sure this country that we love stays this country that we love. And I’m one of those people.” (Harmeet, 54:20)
• “If I leave here and nothing was changed and nobody was charged… that will simply be a green light for it to happen again, happen harder…” (Harmeet, 61:30)

5. International Affairs: Arms to Taiwan, the Threat from China

(70:29 – 74:56)

Key Points

• The U.S. is sending the largest-ever arms package ($14 billion) to Taiwan.
• Jason (military analyst) notes this upholds the status quo, but is contextually important given increasing China/Japan tensions.
• China’s 2027 readiness for potential Taiwan invasion is a concern; Trump administration seen as pushing allies, especially Japan, to assume stronger local defense roles.
• Importance of Trump administration setting durable foreign policy moves that cannot easily be reversed by a future administration.

6. Community Resilience, Faith, and Antisemitism

(116:14 – 125:19)

Key Points

• Emotional highlight: Story from Australia, where a Jewish family, frightened by recent violence, briefly turned off their menorah at their children’s request—but, inspired by a Christian neighbor’s sadness and solidarity, decide to turn it back on.

  “We don’t turn off menorahs. We don’t hide our kippahs. We stand proud and loud.” (Australian mother, 116:24)

• Glenn draws parallel to broader need for faith communities (Jewish and Christian) to stand visibly for their values against rising hate and fear, emphasizing the deep roots of antisemitism, not as a political but a spiritual battle.

  “If you don’t stand and say, ‘No, I’m not crossing this line…’ All we have to do is remember who we are…” (Glenn, 123:35)

7. Phil Wickham on “David” and The Power of Worship

(97:15 – 105:36)

Key Points

• Glenn praises the extraordinary power of worship music at Charlie Kirk’s funeral:

  “I’ve never felt Him—it was like He was there… That’s God showing up. It was incredible.” (Glenn, 98:38)

• Phil Wickham discusses the serendipitous, “God thing” way he was cast as the voice of David and how the film can plant lasting seeds of faith for children:

  “Animation, music, you’re in the hearts of children forever… These are stories that have been handed down for generations of what I believe are truths.” (Phil, 102:01)

• Film opens December 19; Glenn’s daughter raves about it.

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments <a name="quotes"></a>

• On Trump’s campaign discipline:
  “I saw this as the kickoff of the campaign. It was so disciplined and so tight.” (Glenn, 09:37)
• On political messaging and economic pain:
  “You can’t tell people their perception is wrong. You have to change that perception… You actually have to change people’s lives to change their perception.” (Glenn, 12:28)
• On legislative excuses:
  “We need all three branches of government—plus turbo. It’s never quite enough to get the job done.” (Glenn, 34:17)
• On civil rights and justice:
  “If we don’t hold people accountable… we lose our ability to hold our heads up as the paragon of the rule of law in the world.” (Harmeet Dhillon, 54:08)
• On the menorah story (Australia):
  “We don’t turn off menorahs. We don’t hide our kippahs. We stand proud and loud… That’s the only way to push out darkness.” (Australian mother, 117:24)

Additional Highlights

• Cynicism and systemic obstacles: Beck highlights the challenge of restoring faith—in the economy, in government, in media—without genuine change.
• **Groans over Congress now embracing “Obamacare Turbo” while pretending opposition.
• Deep dive on FBI/DOJ internal culture—mass understaffing/attrition post-Trump, and the chilling effect on “true believers” seeking justice:

  “Patriots gave up comfortable lives to come here. … It’s demoralizing to be here and just be criticized all day.” (Harmeet, 60:15)

• Interview closes with both urgency (American patience wearing thin) and a call for more mission-driven lawyers to join public service.

Episode Takeaways

• Trump’s campaign is recalibrated to hit discipline and focus, but must still bridge the gap between improving macro stats and real-life pain.
• Victory will require connecting economic and immigration policy in a way that resonates with everyday experience.
• GOP dysfunction is endemic; only a small minority in government truly shares limited-government and constitutional values.
• Restoring DOJ/FBI accountability will be a “grueling, slow process” riddled with resistance, unless personnel and process change.
• Global security and faith communities face new tests; visible solidarity and principled stand are needed.
• Faith, music, and storytelling remain powerful tools—for resilience and hope in difficult times.

(End of summary. Sponsored segments and advertisements omitted. For complete interviews, see podcast timestamps.)