The Glenn Beck Program

Episode: The 'Terrifying' Fallout from the Government Shutdown | Guest: Eric Trump | 10/1/25
Date: October 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Glenn Beck Program dives into the implications of the recent U.S. government shutdown, the ongoing polarization in American politics, and the cultural battles defining the country today. Glenn and co-host Stu analyze the fallout from the shutdown with their signature mix of satire and sharp political critique, then welcome guest Eric Trump for an in-depth discussion about the Trump family's experience being "under siege." The episode also explores themes of forgiveness, faith, media bias, and the future of American conservatism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown: Chaos or Overreaction?

Main Theme: The hosts open with a satirical riff on doomsday media narratives about the shutdown, mocking the idea that the world is ending due to halted government operations.

• Hysteria and Blame

  • Glenn pokes fun at claims that “planes are going to be falling out of the sky” (05:18–05:45), noting how blame for the chaos alternates depending on partisan perspectives.
  • “Now the Democrats are in a really precarious situation because they had to acquiesce to the extreme left because their base wants to fight. And I think literally fight.” — Glenn Beck (06:52)

• Healthcare for Illegal Immigrants

  • Glenn critiques progressive demands for universal healthcare, including for non-citizens.
  • “No country can afford to pay for illegal immigration, healthcare for everybody that comes into the country. And that’s what they’re insisting… I have an obligation to not accept that that would affect everybody.” — Donald Trump, quoted by Glenn (12:00–13:10)

• Predictions & Pessimism

  • Glenn, cynically, predicts the shutdown will end with both parties increasing spending:
    “We’ll shut down, but we’ll spend more money and we’ll end up paying for it.” (08:10)
  • Stu suggests, however, that political dynamics this time could shift the blame to Democrats (08:20–08:40).

• Democratic ‘Goalpost Moving’

  • The team note how talking points change from shutdown to shutdown:
    “They just change, move the goalposts, change the arguments, and act as if this all makes sense.” — Stu (11:09)

2. Weaponization of Government & Trump’s Shutdown Plan

Main Theme: Glenn and Stu praise what they see as Trump's resolve to cut non-essential government spending, referencing Russell Vought's conservative government reform plan.

• “Yeah, we’re just gonna shut these things down. We don’t want them. And it’s a permanent thing. You’re going to have to go through reauthorization to get these non-essential programs back. And if they’re not mandated, he’s saying Russ is planning to just cut them all. If it's not mandatory spending, cut it.” — Glenn Beck (13:16)

• The hosts debate the likelihood of court challenges and the effectiveness of mass firings as a political strategy (13:57–14:22).

3. Migration of Progressive Policies & Media Memory

Main Theme: The discussion highlights the gradual acceptance of policies once labeled radical, illustrated by the evolution of providing healthcare to illegal immigrants.

• “This is by definition, progressivism… you move in the direction, but you say, ‘no, it'll never be that,’ then the next president, the next opportunity, you move a little further...” — Glenn Beck (16:30)

• The media’s short memory is satirized:
  “Then you say, how dare you hurt these poor people by taking away that plan we said didn’t exist?” — Stu (16:52)

• Glenn interviews listeners about their changing views and calls out “riding a wave of feelings and propaganda.” (17:01–17:30)

4. Trump’s Prescription Drug Plans & Free Market Concerns

Main Theme: The hosts discuss Trump RX, a direct-to-consumer website aiming to lower drug costs, raising concerns about a slippery slope toward socialized medicine.

• “It’s not socialized medicine, although it is kind of a public partner, public, private partnership which I am not for in any way shape or form. But it is the government just negotiating…” — Glenn Beck (21:36)
• “For a true free market, I don’t like it, but we’re not going to have a free market of medicine. We don’t have one now.” — Glenn Beck (22:13)

5. Military Fitness, Media Bias, and ‘The View’

Main Theme: Glenn ridicules The View’s criticism of military fitness standards and reflects on the cultural divide over merit and standards.

• “Sometimes the truth sucks a lot, but it sets you free… If you’re out on the battlefield and you can’t pick up a member of your team… you’re of no help if you’re like, ‘I am so out of breath. Hang on.’” — Glenn Beck (27:40)

6. Historical Perspective & National Identity

Main Theme: The show weighs how history is used politically—whether to unite or divide.

• “I want both sides told. I want the balance told. The only reason why you would do it the way they want to is you want to destroy the belief in the nation.” — Glenn Beck (36:44)

• “It would be understandable for a nation to brush some of their dark spots in their history under the carpet. Lots of countries do this… What would the motivation be to only highlight the bad things we've done in our history?” — Stu (35:10–36:40)

7. Miracles, Forgiveness, and Spiritual Reflection

Main Theme: Glenn devotes an extended, personal segment to real-life miracles of forgiveness in the aftermath of violence, focusing on recent church shootings and the response of faith communities.

• “To forgive when you naturally want to hate is a miracle.” — Glenn Beck (89:00)
• Glenn shares an intensely personal story about spiritual discernment, survival, and connecting with people amid death threats and touring (93:00–97:00).

Eric Trump Interview (46:19–81:32)

Eric Trump: Under Siege—Inside the Trump Family’s Ordeal

Their Ordeal and Motivation for Speaking Out

• “I was a guy who didn’t have any constitutional protections. I wasn’t in government. So guess who they came after. They came after me. I was the most [subpoenaed] person in American history, all because I ran the Trump Organization.” — Eric Trump (49:58)
• “They wanted to see us nonexistent. They wanted to see our family broken. They wanted to see my father in jail.” (50:44)

Weaponization of Law Enforcement

• Eric details the Mar-a-Lago raid, claiming the National Archives justification was absurd:
  “You have 30 FBI agents there with machine guns because NARA asked for the raid. I wasn’t born yesterday… you better believe Biden was behind this.” (53:03)
• “We had never been in politics before… They needed some way to justify [Hillary’s] embarrassing performance.” (55:05)

Family Resilience

• “At this point, we were neck deep in it. I mean, we had no other choice. I mean, if we would have given up, then, you know, we would have been dead. They would have taken us out.” — Eric Trump (62:30)
• “[My father] was the Energizer Bunny in a red tie, wearing a suit on steroids. And the harder they hit him, the harder he worked, the harder he fought back.” — Eric Trump (59:28)

On Trump’s Reputation as a Builder and the Library

• “There’s no one that’s a better builder. I had his genetics. The two of us are like two peas in a pod with that.” (65:08)
• Announces Trump’s presidential library project in Miami:
  “It’s going to be a spectacular building.” (65:40)

Charleston Rally Assassination Attempt

• Eric emotionally describes watching the day Trump was shot at a rally:
  “I heard the shots… I instantly knew what the sounds were… I don’t think any of us will ever forget.” (69:29–70:57)
• Raises ongoing questions regarding security failures:
  "I'm still pissed off... The fact that somebody could get on a roof at 130 yards... is just unthinkable to me." (71:16)

Crypto, De-banking, and the American Financial System

• “I found cryptocurrency when they de-banked us… traditional finance is doing nothing well… It’s slow, antiquated, unfair unless you have a lot of zeros behind your name.” — Eric Trump (76:01)
• Predicts Bitcoin at $1,000,000 due to systemic issues and global demand.
• On transparency: “Cryptocurrency as a whole is exponentially more transparent than the TradFi system.” (79:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Glenn Beck:

• “Nobody knows because people are just so stupid. They don’t remember ‘you lie.’ They have been ratcheted up into their hatred for the other side.” (17:01)
• “To forgive when you naturally want to hate is a miracle.” (89:00)
• “Death is an artificial construct. No, not for… Well, all of us. It’s really not.” (123:41)

Eric Trump:

• “I was the most [subpoenaed] person in American history, all because I ran the Trump Organization…” (49:58)
• “They came after us relentlessly… So do I think that criminality has to be paid for in some way? I do.” (56:44)
• On family strength: “We had no other choice. If we’d given up then, we’d have been dead. They would have taken us out.” (62:30)
• On crypto: “Cryptocurrency will replace traditional finance. There’s no question about it.” (81:21)

Stu:

• “Most conservatives don’t act this way. This is the act of a mentally deranged person.” — (111:23, reading a listener comment)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Government shutdown hysteria & healthcare debate: 05:18–09:30
• Trump’s plan for government cuts: 13:16–14:22
• Progressive policy migration: 15:08–17:30
• Discussion on Trump RX and healthcare policy: 21:51–23:15
• Military fitness and The View: 25:41–28:10
• Historical narrative and progressive critique: 34:42–36:44
• Miracles and forgiveness after tragedy: 87:04–90:50
• Eric Trump interview begins: 46:19
• Eric on the family’s ordeal: 49:24–51:58
• Weaponization/Mar-a-Lago raid: 52:56–55:25
• Family resilience and motivation: 59:28–62:30
• Charleston rally shooting account: 69:29–70:57
• Crypto/Bitcoin discussion: 76:01–81:21
• Eric Trump signs off: 81:21–81:35

Episode Tone and Style

This episode blends Glenn Beck’s trademark humor, acerbic political commentary, and deep dives into themes of resilience, media bias, and the enduring power of faith. The candid, conversational style keeps the pace lively and accessible, while not shying away from emotional or spiritual moments. The interview with Eric Trump is direct, personal, and at times, deeply reflective about the family's trials and the condition of modern America.

For Listeners New to the Episode

If you haven’t listened, this episode provides a sweeping view of post-shutdown politics, critiques of progressive policy momentum, and pointed questions about government weaponization—anchored by a rare, candid interview with Eric Trump. The program’s emotional high point comes in Glenn’s reflections on forgiveness, faith, and discernment in a divided, sometimes dangerous America. Listeners walk away with not only a rundown of current events, but a meditation on character, legacy, and hope.

For further reading/listening:

• Eric Trump’s Under Siege (book discussed at length)
• GlennBeck.com for show highlights and newsletters

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