The Glenn Beck Program

Episode: Project 2025 Is Back ... and It's SLICING Government
Air Date: October 14, 2025
Guests: Kevin Roberts (President, The Heritage Foundation), Winsome Earle-Sears (Lieutenant Governor of Virginia)
Main Topics: Project 2025, government reform, economic/tech threats (AI, China), Virginia gubernatorial race, alarming local stories

Episode Overview

This episode of The Glenn Beck Program is centered on dramatic shifts in global politics, technology, and the American governmental landscape. Glenn dives into the economic maneuvers signaling instability, the rising AI arms race with China, and the implications of Project 2025—a conservative blueprint to restructure federal government. He interviews Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts about the Trump administration’s willingness to dramatically reduce government size. Later, he features Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, for an insider look at the Virginia governor’s race and her sharp criticisms of the opposition. The show is interspersed with commentary, notable cultural asides, and coverage of a peculiar story involving a political takeover in a small West Texas town.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

I. Economic & Geopolitical Storm Clouds

Timestamp: 02:40–24:48

• Soaring gold and silver prices signal not just a weak U.S. dollar, but systemic worldwide instability.
• Rising tension over rare earth minerals: China tightening its grip over these crucial resources, further fueling concerns about Western vulnerability.
  • "Beijing just tightened its grip on rare earth elements... They control now 80% of the world's supply chain. That cannot stand." — Glenn Beck [07:06]
• The Pentagon's billion-dollar order for rare earths and a $1.5 trillion JP Morgan Chase investment in "security and resilience" signal government/corporate alignment for the AI race.
• Europe is also acting, with the Dutch government seizing a Chinese-owned chip maker to protect semiconductor sovereignty.

Glenn's Warning:

"Corporations now are aligning with state power...all of this is a single unspoken motive. And that is the race to dominate artificial intelligence...this is the new Manhattan Project." — Glenn Beck [13:55]

• He cautions about the risk: fighting the AI war might mean sacrificing American liberty in the name of security, potentially becoming a U.S. mirror of China.

Notable Quote:

"If in winning it, we become China, why not let China just win? If we adopt the same top down control...then what did we actually win?" — Glenn Beck [15:45]

II. Project 2025: Conservative Vision for Government Reform

Guest: Kevin Roberts
Timestamp: 24:48–38:41

• Project 2025, led by the Heritage Foundation and 110+ other groups, aims to drastically reduce federal government size and reform civil service protections.
• Trump administration, after reported hesitation, is seen as ready to fully back these reforms, notably via Russ Vought.
  • "I've got great faith that President Trump has already told Russ, go for it. Let's get this done." — Kevin Roberts [26:58]
• Major cuts proposed: Up to one-third of federal employees could be slashed, focusing on duplicative, non-essential positions.
• Kevin asserts this is not about punishing civil servants, but eliminating inefficiency and ideological entrenchment:
  • "Some of them...are ideological hacks who have been protected by an overwrought civil service protection that needs to be reformed as well." — Kevin Roberts [27:40]
• Discussion on the risks and permanence of these changes, with some reforms possibly immune to lawsuits.

Trump’s Shutdown Strategy

• If essential services stay open during a shutdown, Americans will question the need for so many "non-essential" roles.
  • "You let this go for eight weeks...the average person...they're going to get to a point where they're going to go, why do we have all these people? Non essential really does mean non essential." — Glenn Beck [29:40]

National Security Exception

• Heritage supports public-private partnerships only in the realm of national security, but warns against broader government-corporate collusion.
  • "We need to have full throated endorsement of free enterprise...With one exception. Anything that is in the realm of national security." — Kevin Roberts [32:30]

III. The AI Race & Energy Challenge

Timestamp: 31:11–36:11

• Acknowledgment that U.S. is behind China in AI, robotics, and power infrastructure.
• Real concern: China is building massive server farms, coal and nuclear plants at breakneck speed, boosting AI and industrial capacity.
  • "Last year China added 295,000 robots. Germany added 27,000. The US 34,000. The UK 2500. The UK is over." — Glenn Beck [35:05]
• America's regulatory burdens slowing much-needed energy buildout, especially nuclear microplants.
  • "If the government does two things—Number one, get out of the way...stop the overregulation...Then secondly, let private business do what private business does." — Kevin Roberts [34:33]

IV. Spiritual and Cultural Reflections

Timestamp: 36:11–38:41

• Discussion on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the effect on conservative morale/spiritual unity.
• Glenn shares an anecdote about acquiring historical American Bibles and their connection to founding principles.

V. Virginia Gubernatorial Race Spotlight

Guest: Winsome Earle-Sears
Timestamp: 44:20–59:49

• Earle-Sears criticizes her opponent Abigail Spanberger as "calculating and cunning," lacking response on moral issues in debate:
  • “[Spanberger] was cold and she was smirking...This woman can't be governor. She doesn't care about us.” — Winsome Earle-Sears [47:45]
• Dives into Virginia’s shift away from California-style regulations under the current admin, touting business growth, job creation, and deregulation:
  • "We've gotten rid of 91,000 plus job killing regulations and businesses are coming. The U Hauls are finally coming back to Virginia..." — Winsome Earle-Sears [52:11]
• Critiques radical policies—sanctuary state plans, weak crime policies, and unfunded/ineffective green energy mandates, warning of risk from a Spanberger win.
• Earle-Sears emphasizes her unique story as an immigrant, the first Black woman and veteran elected, and uses this to counter charges of systemic racism:
  • "I'm from a third world country...here I sit, second in command in the former capital of the Confederate States. Don't tell me that America is not a great country." — Winsome Earle-Sears [57:44]

VI. Local Oddities: Texas County Takeover

Guest: Dexter Himer (Houston Chronicle)
Timestamp: 87:25–99:23

• Investigative spotlight on an Indiana "philanthropist" moving dozens into tiny Loving County, Texas, promising them free homes and $5,000 per month in a bid to take over local government.
• The plan relies on the small population—just 70—making 30 new residents politically significant.
• Raises questions around election law, campaign tactics, and the future of the community.

Quote:

"If your plan is to run for office...primaries are not until March...that's quite a while to basically camp, you know, in some pretty harsh conditions." — Dexter Himer [96:12]

VII. Law, Equal Justice, and Media Transparency

Timestamp: 66:43–116:33

• Glenn discusses the principle of "equal justice under the law," using recent questions about AIPAC and the Foreign Agents Registration Act as an entry point to argue for tighter, more transparent foreign lobbying rules—applied equally.
  • “The problem isn't Judaism. It's not Islam. It's not any one nation...The problem is our laws and our politicians. Equal justice under the law.” — Glenn Beck [71:30]
• Raises concerns surrounding a Pentagon “pledge” for reporters, limiting access and barring publication of information not approved by DOD—a challenge to journalistic freedom.
  • “The press is not permitted to publish information that hasn't been approved for release...No, they shouldn't have the right to do that. You're right. We have to be able to have people whistleblow.” — Glenn Beck [112:33]
• Also includes offbeat commentary on viral biker protests and pop culture oddities.

Additional Noteworthy Moments

• On China and the Automative Race:
  • “We are in a global competition with China and It's not just EVs. If we lose this...there is no future at Ford." — Quoting Jim Farley, Ford CEO [42:00]
• On U.S. Resilience:
  • “If we lose sight of who we are...the tapestry is going to be strong, efficient and unbreakable. But it will not be free.” — Glenn Beck [14:40]
• On Speaking Truth:
  • “Do your own homework. Don't take my word for it...If there's more...then we have to correct that, and the argument would be over.” — Glenn Beck [71:35]
• Winsome Earle-Sears on the American Dream:
  • “I'm from a third world country. Think of this. I am an immigrant, and yet here I sit, second in command in the former capital of the Confederate States.” [57:44]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:40 — Economic warning signs, gold/silver, rare earth minerals, China
• 24:48 — Kevin Roberts/Heritage Foundation on Project 2025
• 31:11 — Public/private partnerships and the AI arms race
• 36:11 — Spiritual revival post-Charlie Kirk
• 44:20 — Winsome Earle-Sears on VA race, debate moments, policy differences
• 87:25 — Texas town takeover investigation with Dexter Himer
• 66:43/110:11 — “Equal Justice Under the Law” and Pentagon press restrictions
• 116:33–End — Miscellany: Naked protestors, Diesel Brothers arrest, pop culture, commentary

Summary & Takeaways

This dynamic episode blends sweeping global concerns—AI and economic war with China, with direct, actionable policy talk on government reform and American energy independence. It illustrates the conservative ethos behind Project 2025 and features the real-world, state-level stakes in Virginia. It is punctuated by colorful cultural commentary and a recurring focus: vigilance and debate are essential to the preservation of freedom in a dangerous, rapidly changing era.

Central Message: America stands at a crossroads: will it protect liberty while defending against technological and global threats, or become what it fears in the urge to ‘win’ at all costs? “Equal justice under the law” and continual public scrutiny—rather than blind polarization—are presented as the stakes for this moment.

For more details, visit glennbeck.com for referenced stories and subscribe to their newsletter for daily updates.