The Glenn Beck Program

Episode: Rob Reiner's SON in Custody for His Murder?! Glenn Beck Reacts | Guest: Bryan Stern
Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Glenn Beck
Guest: Bryan Stern, Gray Bull Rescue Foundation

Overview

This episode is a whirlwind through current events, cultural reflections, and personal tributes. Glenn Beck lends his signature blend of storytelling and analysis, as he covers major incidents from the weekend: the shocking murder of Rob Reiner and his wife (allegedly by their own son), a deadly antisemitic attack in Australia, shootings at Brown University, and developments in Syria. The program features a detailed and poignant breakdown of the violence facing Jewish communities worldwide, a commentary on Western values, and a tribute to the late Rob Reiner’s life and legacy. The hour closes with an adrenaline-fueled interview with Bryan Stern, the man who orchestrated opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s dramatic escape from Venezuela.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Antisemitic Attack in Sydney, Australia

[05:00-22:00]

• Event Recap: Beck describes a well-attended Hanukkah celebration in Bondi disrupted when two armed men opened fire from a bridge, resulting in 15 deaths and dozens wounded, including children and elderly.
  • “For 10 minutes these guys fired off this bridge. The carnage was unbelievable.” [06:45]
• Heroism: Beck spotlights Ahmed Al Ahmed, a Muslim fruit vendor who heroically tackled one of the gunmen, likely saving many lives.
  • “In a moment of pure resolve, he vaulted from behind a nearby car, tackled the shooter from behind and wrestled the rifle away.” [08:45]
• Cultural Reflection: Beck contemplates the fear permeating Jewish communities worldwide, drawing parallels to rising antisemitism in many Western countries.
  • “Jewish people carry history not as abstraction but as inheritance.” [13:10]
  • “Hatred with organization. Ideology. Hatred with teeth.” [14:30]
• Analysis: He names political Islamism (as distinct from peaceful Islam) as the ideological driver behind these attacks, warning that open societies are under threat if they do not confront this reality.
  • “Islamism is a political ideology. It’s not about faith. It is about power.” [18:45]

2. Brown University and Syria Attacks

[32:00-40:00]

• Brown University Shooter: Beck expresses skepticism over the limited surveillance footage and identification issues, questioning the efficacy of modern surveillance states.
  • “Apparently, the one thing that will help you get away with any crime is a hoodie.” – Beck [33:08]
• Syria Attack: Discussion about recent US casualties inflicted by ISIS (not Al Qaeda as first reported), and speculation on US strategy in the region.
  • Jason (researcher): “ISIS is still very much active and still very much planning attacks.” [34:35]
  • Glenn: “Trump does not want to be fighting in the Middle East. He’s hoping they will start to take care of themselves.” [37:08]
  • Jason: “We are in an absolute war with these radical Islamists. And it’s not just in the Middle East, it’s globalized.” [37:06]

3. The Rob Reiner Tragedy

[41:00, 92:20, 96:19]

• News Recap: Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle are confirmed murdered in their home; their 32-year-old son is arrested as the suspect. Beck offers a heartfelt tribute and explores Reiner's profound impact on American culture.
  • “He brought so much joy to so many. … His movies have brought me so much joy. Just The Princess Bride alone. But so sad, so incredibly sad.” [92:32]
  • Stu: “That is a run, man”—after listing Reiner’s string of classic films [96:19]
• Personal Tones: Glenn notes his personal disagreement with Reiner’s politics, but stresses the humanity that transcended those differences.
  • “You and I didn't agree on politics, but thank God politics is such a small role in our life.” [41:00]

4. Assisted Suicide & Decline of Western Values

[47:00-69:00]

• Illinois Legalizes Assisted Suicide: Beck connects the US legalization with Canada’s journey from compassion to "culture of death," warning of slippery ethical slopes and the dangers of bureaucratized life-and-death decisions.
  • “This is preparation for when the system can no longer afford to fulfill its promises.” [53:45]
  • “The west is not defined by its technology, even by its freedom or wealth … it’s the radical idea that the individual has inherent value, that nobody is expendable.” [63:45]
• Cultural Reflection: Emphasis on the value of life, and warning that efficiency and compassion are not the same—efficiency can lead to loss of moral virtue.
  • “Fighting this culture of death, it is the most important thing we can focus on … without the choice to protect life at its most fragile, we are no longer a civilization worth saving.” [65:35]

5. Nostalgic Interlude: The Story of Rudolph

[69:39-81:50]

• Origin Story: Beck tells the heart-tugging origin of ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ as a Christmas parable about hope born out of heartbreak—a struggling father writing for his daughter, rewarded by a company's compassion.
  • “All life is worthy.” [81:00] (Beck’s closing thesis)

6. Heroism in Australia & Gun Laws

[85:38-88:00]

• Replay of Heroism: Recounting again the video of Ahmed Al Ahmed’s heroic takedown of the shooter.
  • “He grabs him and grabs the gun and does not fire at him, just holds him in place. That’s frightening.” [85:38]
• Gun Law Misconceptions: Stu (co-host) dispels myths about Australia’s gun restrictions and their (lack of) effect on violent crime.
  • “The media has been lying about Australia’s gun laws forever. … It made absolutely no difference.” – Stu [87:12]

7. Bryan Stern: Escaping Venezuela

[114:20-128:51]

• Rescue Mission Details: Bryan Stern, head of Gray Bull Rescue Foundation, recounts the high-risk clandestine operation ("Operation Golden Dynamite") to extract opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from Venezuela to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.
  • “This is our 800th mission that we’ve done as a team ... Russia, Ukraine, Gaza, Israel—we’ve done it.” [114:37]
  • “Maria Corina Machado, from the Maduro perspective is like what Osama bin Laden was for us ... she is the most wanted person in the Western hemisphere.” [119:29]
  • Tactics included misdirection, reliance on contacts at the highest levels, and coordination to avoid military conflict during exfiltration.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Australian Attack:
  • “Jewish people carry history not as abstraction but as inheritance.” – Beck [13:10]
  • “Islamism is a political ideology. It’s not about faith. It is about power.” – Beck [18:45]
  • “Ahmed Al Ahmed, a Muslim fruit vendor, vaulted from behind a nearby car, tackled the shooter from behind and wrestled the rifle away.” – Beck [08:45]
• On Rob Reiner's Legacy:
  • “His movies have brought me so much joy … but so sad, so incredibly sad.” – Beck [92:32]
  • Stu: “1984, This is Spinal Tap. 1986, Stand By Me. 1987, The Princess Bride … That is a run, man.” [96:19]
• On Assisted Suicide:
  • “Fighting this culture of death, it is the most important thing we can focus on.” – Beck [65:35]
  • “When a society like ours stops choosing life, it does not become more compassionate, it becomes more efficient. And efficiency has never given birth to moral virtue.” – Beck [64:25]
• On Heroism under Fire:
  • “He grabs him and grabs the gun and does not fire at him, just holds him in place. That’s frightening.” – Beck [85:38]
• On Venezuela Rescue:
  • Bryan Stern: “Nothing we do is classified. I’m not government. … We’re just a foundation. What you see is what you get.” [122:14]
  • “Maria Corina Machado ... is the most wanted person in the Western hemisphere ... they were really looking aggressively.” – Stern [119:29]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:47] — Australia: Antisemitic Attack Overview
• [06:45] — Hanukkah by the Sea Massacre Details
• [13:10] — Reflection on being Jewish in a Time of Rising Antisemitism
• [18:45] — Defining Islamism vs. Islam
• [32:00] — Brown University Shooting Surveillance Failures
• [34:35] — ISIS Attack in Syria
• [37:08] — U.S. Middle East Policy Speculation
• [41:00] — Glenn’s Tribute to Rob Reiner
• [47:00] — Illinois Assisted Suicide Law and “Culture of Death”
• [63:45] — Western Values: The Value of the Individual
• [69:39] — Story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• [85:38] — Video Recap: Heroism in Australia Shooting
• [92:20] — Rob Reiner Murder Case Update
• [114:20] — Bryan Stern on Venezuela Noble Peace Prize Rescue

Tone & Style

The episode is marked by Beck’s classic mixture of urgency, emotional storytelling, and unapologetically opinionated analysis. Facts are interwoven with cultural anecdotes and philosophical reflections, maintaining a conversational, direct, and occasionally somber tone. Rapid exchanges with co-host Stu add familiar humor and camaraderie, especially in lighter moments.

Useful Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• The episode provides an emotional and detailed description of recent tragedies (notably the Rob Reiner murder and antisemitic violence in Australia), placing them in a broad cultural context.
• Listeners are urged to recognize ideological threats to Western society and the growing dangers of bureaucratic responses to life’s value (e.g., euthanasia laws).
• Rob Reiner’s professional and personal legacy receives a heartfelt and nuanced tribute, underscoring the power of art to transcend political divides.
• The closing interview offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at a real-world escape operation, highlighting modern heroism and international intrigue.

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