The Glenn Beck Program
Episode: Iran Just Admitted Exactly What Trump Wanted?
Date: April 20, 2026
Guest Hosts: Pat Gray & Jeff Fisher
Episode Overview
This episode, hosted by Pat Gray and Jeff "Jeffy" Fisher filling in for Glenn Beck, combines sharp critiques, political commentary, and typical Beck program banter to break down the current political situation in Iran, debates about American leadership and global alliances, domestic policies on public transit and social welfare, and a celebratory look at the Artemis moon mission. The episode features listener-favorite segments like the "Fat Five" and includes special guest Jason Buttrell for detailed foreign policy insight.
Tone: Sarcastic, irreverent, and energetic, with a focus on conservative takes on current events.
Main Discussion Themes & Key Segments
1. Iran Crisis: Who’s Really in Charge?
(00:54 – 15:45, 24:13 – 36:34, 87:00 – 105:57)
Key Points:
- Ongoing chaos: Ceasefires start and stop, the Strait of Hormuz constantly opening and closing.
"There's a ceasefire. There's not a ceasefire. The strait of Hormuz is open. Now it's closed. Now it's open. Then it's closed." – Pat Gray (01:16)
- Uncertainty over Iranian leadership with speculation on whether Supreme Leader Moshtaba Khamenei is dead, incapacitated, or actually in control.
"There's a lot of people that believe he's dead. Or if not dead, then in a coma and seriously, seriously wounded." – Pat Gray (07:49)
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)'s claim to total power and readiness to defy US pressure.
- Essence of American strategy: Hosts insist on total destruction of Iran’s military capabilities if Iran does not surrender and ensure open straits.
“We need to put the hammer down, I think.” – Pat Gray (05:47)
- Dismal outlook on US credibility if Iran is not forced to surrender and the risk of repeating past mistakes.
- Iranian public powerless to retake their country while IRGC and militancy dominate.
Notable Quotes:
- "If they don't show up for whatever reason tomorrow... we have to let them know we're not kidding around." – Jeff Fisher (05:52)
- “Is there anybody worse than the Ayatollah? Maybe the IRGC?” – Pat Gray (07:15)
Expert Segment:
Jason Buttrell joins (87:00 – 100:36)
- Asserts IRGC is always the true power, with political leaders as window dressing.
- Describes Western media’s failure to report reality, emphasizing the unprecedented success of US military operations.
- Warns about European allies’ unreliability and dependence on US power.
- Discusses likelihood and ramifications of Trump pulling out of NATO or leveraging US commitments to extract further concessions internationally.
- Recognizes deep difficulties in regime change, given the IRGC’s ruthless grip on power and civilian vulnerability.
Memorable Moment:
- Joking speculation about Khamenei having lost limbs and an eye and a tongue-in-cheek debate about the “gay rumors”—satirizing Iran’s notorious anti-LGBT stance.
"And it turns out he's gay. So that makes it even more funny, I guess, because there are no gays in Iran." – Pat Gray (08:33)
Timestamps:
00:54—First discussion of Iran
24:13—Continued Iran analysis
87:00—Buttrell’s expert breakdown
105:00—Reflections on Iranian civilians and regime change
2. American Leadership, Political Rhetoric & Social Division
(16:57 – 22:12, 43:33 – 56:03)
Key Points:
- Outrage at inflammatory rhetoric: Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker and an Irish priest’s public wish for Trump’s death met with disgust.
- Contrasts public decorum, highlighting “double standards” for left vs. right in political violence and wishes of ill.
- Criticism of politicians “trashing America abroad”—specifically Senator Chris Murphy’s speech in Spain declaring the US in crisis due to Trump.
"You don't bash America when you're overseas. You don't do that." – Pat Gray (21:08)
- Calls to censure or eject such politicians from office.
“Borders on treason, frankly. It does to me—that borders on treason.” – Pat Gray (21:36)
Memorable Moments:
- Satirical back-and-forth about "taking away bathhouse privileges" as punishment—used to illustrate the unseriousness with which hosts view “leftist” outrage.
- Emphasis on the lack of national unity, symbolized by politicians publicly excoriating their own country on foreign soil.
3. Artemis Moon Program—A Rare Moment of Unity
(24:13 – 36:34, 117:07– 119:55)
Key Points:
- Praises for NASA and the Artemis crew after the successful splashdown, noting the program achieved 97% public approval—a near-miracle for American consensus.
- Discussion of space technology’s role in inspiring national pride and technological advances.
- Debates over the role of international partners like Canada, with playful jabs at the size of foreign flags at press events.
- Review of upcoming Artemis missions, and why it's “vital” the US beats China back to the lunar surface.
- Recognition of astronauts’ spiritual responses to seeing Earth from space.
- Brief tangent into Chinese robotic advances—a humanoid robot marathon runner is both “amazing” and “chilling.”
Notable Quotes:
- “97% of Americans support it because we're all looking to the skies, man.” – Jeff Fisher (27:48)
- "That Artemis video … you see the Earth setting behind the moon. It is pretty cool." – Pat Gray (29:00)
4. Domestic Policy & Economics
(10:25 – 15:45, 46:03 – 56:47, 101:52 – 104:38)
Key Points:
- Fuel prices and global oil market volatility linked to Middle Eastern events: Even though US gets little Iranian oil, disruption causes widespread price hikes.
- Critique of ideal “happy medium” in pump prices to keep Texas/US economy strong, balancing corporate and consumer interests.
- SCOTUS rules in favor of oil companies, moving major suits from state to federal court—a “win” for consumers, according to hosts, since penalties get passed on at the pump.
- Marxist/socialist policies in New York City (Zaran Mamdani), decried as class warfare: “There shouldn’t be any billionaires,” free buses/groceries fail to materialize, history of failed public bus/grocery programs.
- Cynical recounting of how progressive promises consistently fall short in practice.
Notable Quotes:
- “You want the oil companies...to do well because then Texas does well, you know, it helps every business.” – Pat Gray (11:40)
5. Immigration, Anchor Babies & Omar’s Finances
(61:08 – 61:58, 63:00 – 64:01, 75:18 – 79:11, 99:03 – 100:36)
Key Points:
- Pramila Jayapal claims Trump’s real goal is ending all legal immigration, not just stopping illegal immigration. The hosts mock and dismiss this claim.
- Startling statistic: Anchor babies (US-born children of illegal immigrants) now make up nearly 10% of all births in the US—320,000 in 2023.
- Ilhan Omar's dramatic financial “error,” amending her declared wealth from $30 million to $18,000 due to an "accounting mistake"—hosts find this laughable and indicative of widespread political corruption.
- Critique of government agencies and politicians for dodging responsibility, always blaming errors on accountants.
Notable Quotes:
- "[Anchor babies] make up nearly 10%...that's 320,000...which is something we gotta get a grip on and haven't yet." – Pat Gray (64:01)
- “Does anybody believe that it was just some accounting error? Because I certainly don’t.” – Pat Gray (78:39)
6. Fat Five: News Bites & Culture
(65:58 – 73:55)
Stories touched on:
- Coachella festival—Justin Bieber, Madonna, and a minor controversy involving Sabrina Carpenter.
- Psychic Americans: 19% believe themselves psychic, but discussion turns to intuition versus actual psychic power.
- Major Ford recall: 1.4 million trucks for gearshift issue.
- Hollywood backlash over major studio merger—over 2,000 creatives oppose Paramount–Warner Bros. deal.
- United Airlines proposed (and possibly rebuffed) merger with American Airlines.
Notable Quotes:
- “Nothing is more blue collar than Hollywood, I think we can all agree on that.” – Pat Gray (73:04)
7. Space, Science & Tech Oddities
(38:08 – 41:18, 117:07 – 119:55)
Key Points:
- Scientists discover “unusual matter” inside Uranus and Neptune—complete with gleeful, juvenile banter.
“Hot ice. Yeah. Right there deep in Uranus.” – Pat Gray (40:45)
- China’s rapid progress in humanoid robotics—robot marathon runners now beat humans, seen as both "amazing" and "frightening" advancement.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On International Alliances & Allies’ Reliability
- "Europe is our 35-year-old son that is living in the basement right now. It's so stupid.” —Jason Buttrell (98:20)
On Social Welfare Policy Failures
- "Every single one of them went out of business. Every one of them. Kansas City was one of the cities that had a free bus program, and it's out of business." – Pat Gray (52:09)
On Political Double Standards
- "We don't rejoice when people on the left die...it's gotten so bad on the left that not only are they reveling in people who die...but they're praying for the death of our president." —Pat Gray (19:02)
Useful Timestamps
- 00:54–15:45: Iran ceasefire, oil, SCOTUS oil ruling
- 16:57–22:12: Political violence, rhetoric, Chris Murphy
- 24:13–36:34: Artemis moon landing, space program pride
- 43:33–56:03: Socialists/Marxists, NYC transit/groceries, Obama/Zaran Mamdani
- 61:08–62:52: Jayapal, Trump & legal immigration
- 65:58–73:55: Fat Five (culture, mergers, psychic stats)
- 75:18–79:11, 99:03–100:36: Ilhan Omar’s finances, blame-shifting
- 87:00–100:36: Iran military analysis with Jason Buttrell
- 117:07–119:55: Chinese robot marathon advances
Episode Takeaway
This high-energy episode delivers a whirlwind tour through national security threats, the challenge of authoritarian regimes, partisan divides in American politics, the resurgence of space exploration, and the ideological battle over America's social and economic direction. The hosts deliver their critiques via sarcasm and humor, but are resolute in laying out their vision for a strong America—both at home and abroad—rooted in free markets, national pride, and skepticism of elite technocrats and socialist promises.
If you like your news laced with biting humor, skepticism, and unapologetic patriotism, this is a classic Glenn Beck Program you shouldn’t miss.
