The Glenn Beck Program

Episode: Why the US Olympic Hockey Win Against Canada Felt SO PERFECT
Guests: Brandon Darby & Lue Elizondo
Date: February 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Glenn Beck Program takes listeners on a compelling journey through three major topics: the state of Mexico's cartel wars and their implications for US security, the US men's Olympic hockey victory over Canada and why it resonated so strongly with Americans, and the continued intrigue surrounding UFO disclosures. Glenn’s signature wit, cultural commentary, and candid conservative perspective drive the conversations, joined by investigative journalist Brandon Darby and former Pentagon UAP head Lou Elizondo.

Main Themes & Key Segments

1. Danger South of the Border: Mexico as a Narco-State

(07:10 – 40:18)

Key Discussion Points

• Glenn paints a harrowing portrait of Mexico's evolution from drug trafficking hub to failed “narco-state,” focusing on the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and its notorious (now dead) leader, El Mencho.
• Explains the rise of paramilitary-style cartels ("This is a paramilitary organization... they have armored vehicles, military grade weapons, rocket propelled grenades, drones that can drop explosives. It's bad." – Glenn Beck, 08:15)
• Draws connections between cartel violence/corruption in Mexico and growing criminal “no-go zones” in US cities.
• Brandon Darby, Breitbart’s Cartel Chronicle co-founder, breaks down the significance of El Mencho’s killing and US-Mexico cooperation under Trump’s strongman pressure.
• Concerns about cartel operations within all 50 US states—no longer just a border problem.

Notable Quotes

• "Mexico is a failed narco state, period." – Glenn Beck, 06:56
• "The chaos that happened from the older cartels splintering and failing, he [El Mencho] came in and he built something new, something faster, something younger, and something far more aggressive." – Glenn Beck, 07:50
• "If someone this powerful, the top of the top, can be taken out, it tells everyone in Mexico who's involved in cartels that they can also be gotten—better keep it in check or they might be." – Brandon Darby, 29:18
• "This isn’t the end of the war…this was definitely D-Day." – Brandon Darby, 38:24

Highlights & Insights

• The US cartel conversation is not just about drugs, but about corruption, death cults, and failed institutions on both sides of the border.
• Cartel-linked instability makes travel to Mexico unusually dangerous—Brandon emphatically urges families not to visit, even tourist zones.
• Political fallout and possible destabilization in Mexico with the cartel kingpin’s death; potential for short-term upticks in violence as rival factions battle for control.
• Continued US vigilance is crucial: if Democrats in power weaken border/security stances, the cartels (and their death cult mentality) can retake momentum.

Memorable Moment

• "This isn’t the armistice. This isn’t the end of the war. This isn’t, you know, Germany surrendering. But this is definitely, yesterday was definitely D Day. Right. And we definitely took land and we definitely established a beachhead." – Brandon Darby, 38:24

2. Why the US Olympic Hockey Win Felt So Perfect

(43:34 – 67:09)

Key Discussion Points

• Glenn unpacks the cultural and emotional weight of Team USA’s men's hockey gold in Milan, particularly defeating rival Canada for the first time since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
• The win, powered by Jack Hughes, symbolizes a generational and stylistic shift—America is not just borrowing hockey talent, but producing it.
• America’s longing for unity is reflected in the team’s selfless play and unabashed national pride.
• Glenn criticizes efforts to politicize the win, calling for moments that all Americans can share, beyond left/right divides.

Notable Quotes

• "I'm lucky I'm from the best country in the world. We got great dentists there, too. So I'm lucky I'm American, and they're gonna fix me right up."
  — Jack Hughes, post-game interview (55:28)
• "There was a time when America felt like a team. And I don't know about you, but I'm longing to feel like a team again." – Glenn Beck, 57:00
• "I'm tired of being ashamed of my country. I'm not ashamed—I should say, I'm tired of people trying to make me ashamed of my country. I'm tired of people being ashamed of our country." – Glenn Beck, 52:28

Highlights & Insights

• Five reasons the win felt different for America:
  1. New generation of homegrown, confident American talent.
  2. Hughes’ distinctly modern American style—confidence, grit, and charisma.
  3. Hockey gold still feels rare and hard-won for the US.
  4. The timing—a moment of cultural division where unity is desperately needed.
  5. The Hughes family as a paragon of discipline, structure, and the American ideal.
• Emotional scenes: the team’s raw, out-of-tune but proud national anthem moment, and bringing out the late Johnny Gaudreau’s children for a gold medal team photo.
• Glenn lampoons Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s sour “you can’t take our country and you can’t take our game” comments and Trump’s trolling eagle-vs-goose meme ("That is the President trolling. And I don't think there is anyone better than President Trump at trolling." – 64:17).

Memorable Moments

• Jack Hughes, after winning gold with blood on his face: “I'm lucky I'm from the best country in the world… I'm so proud to be American…USA Hockey brotherhood is so strong.” (55:28–56:37)
• The team bringing out Gaudreau’s kids in tribute (57:16)
• Glenn on leftist “cognitive dissonance”: “Cognitive dissidents of rooting for US sports while hating the US government is so common… These are the most pathetic wieners I have ever seen.” (70:48)

3. UFOs, Disclosures, and Lou Elizondo’s Warning

(91:53 – 105:02)

Key Discussion Points

• Recent calls (accelerated by Trump) for release of government files on UFOs/UAPs.
• Interview with Lou Elizondo, former Pentagon UAP chief.
• Why governments need to “beat the clock” on disclosures: adversarial nations are working hard on these phenomena, and a “strategic surprise” is a real risk.
• Speculation on pivotal years (2027, 2036) for possible major revelations or events.
• Spiritual implications of UAP encounters—some in government believe “they are demons,” underscoring how this subject challenges scientific, political, and religious boundaries.

Notable Quotes

• “In the world of national security, the clock is always ticking... All of a sudden you have country X or Y out there that may not necessarily be friendly to the US and all of a sudden they find they have a breakthrough…” — Lou Elizondo, 92:13
• “There were people in the Pentagon that believe that UFOs...we shouldn't be looking into them because they are demons, they're demonic, they are… we know exactly what they are.” — Lou Elizondo, 102:11

Highlights & Insights

• Worries about “strategic surprise” on UAPs: either a foreign adversary mastering these technologies or the public being blindsided by proof of alien life.
• Government secrecy possibly motivated by liability—if alien technology aided specific contractors, competitors could sue for unfair advantage.
• Elizondo shares a Vatican anecdote and historical references of “flaming Roman shields in the sky,” indicating this phenomenon is not strictly modern.

Memorable Moment

• “If it turns out that maybe some general somewhere in the halls of the Pentagon gave a company an unfair advantage, you can imagine in 10 years, 20 years, company A becomes a multi-billion dollar aerospace company where company B goes bankrupt, 200 jobs are lost…trillions of dollars worth of liability.” — Lou Elizondo, 100:00

4. Other Culture, Politics, & Listener Insights

• Glenn expresses concern about Republicans’ voter turnout in Texas: “If Texas falls, America falls. No ifs, ands, or buts.” (124:56)
• Encouragement for listeners to read Dennis Prager’s new book If There Is No God, powerful segments on enduring faith and tragedy (120:31–122:45).
• Frequent lampooning of modern leftist culture, particularly around victimhood, “cognitive dissidence,” and perpetual pessimism.
• Overnight news on an attempted attack at Mar-a-Lago triggers a brief, firm lecture on the vital importance of security for the presidency and the nation’s stability.

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Start MM:SS | Notes | |----------------------------------------------|---------------|----------------------------------------| | Mexico narco-state discussion begins | 07:10 | Glenn’s monologue, link to death cults | | Brandon Darby live interview | 25:25 | Detailed cartel analysis | | Key exchange on fallout for US | 33:14 | Decapitation strategy, US implications | | Warning to spring breakers about Mexico | 39:36 | Personal safety advice | | US Men’s Hockey Gold – opening reaction | 43:34 | Glenn’s five reasons analysis | | Jack Hughes post-game quote | 55:28 | Pride and American confidence | | Tribute to Johnny Gaudreau | 57:16 | Gold medal emotional moment | | Glenn’s riff on cognitive dissonance/leftists| 70:48 | Humorous, pointed cultural critique | | UFO segment with Lou Elizondo begins | 91:53 | Strategic surprise/UAPs | | Spiritual/demonic UFO discussion | 102:11 | Pentagon’s unease with the spiritual |

Notable Quotes (with Attributions)

• Glenn Beck (08:15): “This is a paramilitary organization…they have armored vehicles, military grade weapons, rocket propelled grenades, drones that can drop explosives. It's bad.”
• Brandon Darby (29:18): “If someone this powerful, the top of the top, can be taken out, it tells everyone in Mexico who's involved in cartels that they can also be gotten—better keep it in check or they might be.”
• Jack Hughes (55:28): “I'm lucky I'm from the best country in the world. We got great dentists there, too. So I'm lucky I'm American, and they're gonna fix me right up.”
• Glenn Beck (52:28): “I'm tired of being ashamed of my country. I'm not ashamed—I should say, I'm tired of people trying to make me ashamed of my country. I'm tired of people being ashamed of our country.”
• Lou Elizondo (92:13): “In the world of national security, the clock is always ticking...you want to be as proactive as possible. You want to be able to have the conversation, socialize the idea with your citizens.”

Summary & Takeaways

• The American victory over Canada in Olympic hockey provided not just a sports triumph, but a deeply-felt moment of unity, pride, and affirmation of core values, standing in marked contrast to the nation's fraught political and cultural climate.
• The crisis in Mexico and the pervasive reach of cartel violence underline the urgency for strong security policies and introspection about the health of American institutions.
• UFO/UAP disclosure, while fodder for pop culture, is being handled as a serious issue—one with spiritual, technological, and geopolitical overtones, and the potential for profound societal impact.
• Above all, Glenn Beck urges listeners to move beyond shame and division, instead seizing opportunities—athletic, political, or existential—to “feel like a team again.”

Additional Resources & Next Episode Tease

• Visit glennbeck.com/torch for access to additional episodes, community chats, and exclusive content.
• Glenn teases a powerful interview with Dennis Prager on faith, tragedy, and God—available early to subscribers.