Glenn Beck facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Glenn Beck
Beck in 2024
Born	Glenn Lee Beck (1964-02-10) February 10, 1964 (age 61) Everett, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Talk show host, political commentator, producer entrepreneur
Political party	Republican (before 2014) Independent (2014–present)
Movement	Conservatism
Spouse(s)	Claire ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1994)​ Tania ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	4
Awards	Gene Burns Memorial Award for Freedom of Speech, 2013 (Talkers Magazine) Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award, 2013 Marconi Award Personality of the Year, 2008
Signature

Glenn Lee Beck (born February 10, 1964) is an American conservative political commentator, radio host, and television producer. He is also an entrepreneur. He founded and owns Mercury Radio Arts, which is the company behind his TV and radio network, TheBlaze.

Beck hosts The Glenn Beck Radio Program, a popular talk show heard across the country. He also hosts the Glenn Beck television show. This show was on HLN and Fox News before moving to TheBlaze. Beck has written several books that became New York Times bestsellers.

In 2011, Beck announced he would leave his daily show on Fox News. His last show there was on June 30, 2011. He then launched TheBlaze in 2011. He hosts a daily afternoon TV program and a morning radio show, both on TheBlaze. Beck has received both praise and criticism for his strong opinions.

Early Life and School

Beck was born in Everett, Washington. His family later moved to Mount Vernon, Washington, where they ran a bakery. He grew up as a Roman Catholic. He attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School.

When Beck was 15, his mother passed away. He then moved to Bellingham with his father. He graduated from Sehome High School in 1982. After high school, he started working at radio stations.

Personal Life and Family

Glenn Beck speaking at the Restoring Honor event at the Lincoln Memorial

Beck met his first wife, Claire, while working in radio. They married in 1983 and had two daughters, Mary and Hannah. They divorced in 1994.

In 1999, Beck married his second wife, Tania. They joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in October 1999. Beck and Tania have two children together. They lived in New Canaan, Connecticut, with all four children until 2011.

In 2010, Beck shared that he was diagnosed with macular dystrophy. This eye condition can make it hard to read or recognize faces. In 2014, he announced he had been dealing with a severe neurological disorder. He said he felt much better after receiving treatments. In 2022, Beck announced he had a second case of COVID-19 that affected his lungs.

Media Career

In 2002, Glenn Beck created Mercury Radio Arts. This company manages all his work, including his radio shows, books, and live events. He named it after the Mercury Theatre, which was famous for radio shows in the 1930s.

Radio Shows

Beck started his radio career in the 1980s. He worked at stations in Texas, Kentucky, and Arizona. He was known for his energetic and sometimes controversial style. In 1989, he was fired from a Houston station due to low ratings.

He later moved to Baltimore and then to New Haven, Connecticut. In 1995, a radio station apologized after Beck and his co-host made fun of a caller. This led to protests from activist groups.

The Glenn Beck Program first aired in 2000 in Tampa. It quickly became very popular. In 2002, it started being broadcast across the country. By 2008, it was on over 280 stations and had millions of listeners. It was one of the most listened-to radio shows in the nation.

Television Shows

In 2006, Beck began hosting a nightly news show called Glenn Beck on CNN's Headline News. The show offered his unique view on the news. By the end of his time there, he had one of the largest audiences on the channel. In 2008, he won a Marconi Radio Award for his work.

In 2009, Beck moved his show to the Fox News Channel. His program quickly gained many viewers. It often had more viewers than the other shows in its time slot combined. However, his show also faced criticism for its strong and sometimes harsh language.

In 2011, Fox News and Beck's company announced he would leave his daily show. His last show on Fox was on June 30, 2011. He said the show had become "a movement" and no longer belonged on television.

TheBlaze TV

After leaving Fox News, Beck launched his own television network called TheBlaze TV. It started as a subscription-based internet TV network in September 2011. It quickly gained many subscribers.

Books and Publishing

Beck founded Mercury Ink in 2011. This is a publishing company that works with Simon & Schuster. Mercury Ink publishes books for adults and young adults.

Beck has had several books become No. 1 bestsellers on The New York Times list. He has topped the list in different categories, including non-fiction and children's books.

Live Stage Shows

Since 2005, Beck has toured cities across America with his one-man stage show. These shows combine comedy and inspiring speeches. His events have attracted hundreds of thousands of fans.

In 2003, Beck organized "Rallies for America" to support American troops. He also hosted the "Stadium of Fire" event in Utah in 2007. In 2008, he gave a speech at the NRA convention.

In 2009, the mayor of Beck's hometown, Mount Vernon, Washington, planned to give him the "Key to the City." This caused some debate, but many supporters and critics gathered for the event.

In 2010, Beck teamed up with fellow Fox News host Bill O'Reilly for a live stage show tour. In 2013, Beck produced and hosted a large stage event called Man in the Moon in Utah.

Helping Others

In 2011, Beck started a non-profit organization called Mercury One. Its goal is to help people by providing aid, preserving history, and encouraging truth.

In 2014, when many immigrant children arrived at the U.S.–Mexico border without parents, Beck announced that Mercury One would bring food and supplies to help them. He said it was important to help these children, even while working to change laws.

By 2017, Mercury One's Nazarene Fund had helped thousands of Christian refugees from Iraq and Syria move to other countries. The fund has also provided humanitarian aid to many people.

Major Projects and Rallies

9–12 Project

In March 2009, Beck started the 9-12 Project. It was named after nine principles and 12 values that he said represented the American spirit after the September 11 attacks. Some groups even hosted "Patriot Camps" for kids to learn about the U.S. Constitution and founding principles.

Restoring Honor Rally

Beck organized and hosted the Restoring Honor rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 2010. The rally focused on religious faith and patriotism. Many people attended this event.

Restoring Courage International Tour

In August 2011, Beck led his "Restoring Courage" events in Jerusalem, Israel. He said the goal was to encourage people worldwide to support the Jewish people.

2012 Presidential Campaign

Beck actively supported Mitt Romney for president in 2012. He spoke at campaign events and discussed Romney's faith on his radio show.

Restoring Love Rally

In August 2012, Beck held a rally in Irving, Texas. The event focused on serving others and showing love. Mercury One volunteers helped feed homeless people and worked on community projects.

Restoring Unity

In August 2015, Beck and Mercury Radio Arts organized a rally in Birmingham, Alabama. Over 20,000 people marched to show unity and support for persecuted Christians.

Political Views

Beck describes himself as a conservative with some libertarian ideas. He believes in personal responsibility, helping others, and limited government. He supports individual gun ownership rights and opposes gun control.

Beck does not agree with the scientific consensus on climate change. He believes there is not enough proof that humans are causing climate change.

In 2015, Beck announced he left the Republican Party. He felt the party was not strong enough on certain issues. In 2016, he supported Ted Cruz for president. He later said he would vote for Donald Trump in the 2020 election, calling Trump's record "pretty amazing."

Views on Progressivism

Beck has often spoken out against what he calls "progressivism". He believes it is a "disease" that threatens the U.S. Constitution. He argues that progressive ideas from the early 1900s have changed America from its original design.

He has suggested that certain "progressives" are part of a secret plan to change the United States. He has compared himself to "Nazi hunters" in his effort to expose these ideas. Some historians and commentators have criticized Beck's views, saying they are based on inaccurate history and conspiracy theories.

Views on Barack Obama

Beck promoted several conspiracy theories about President Barack Obama. He suggested Obama was planning to fake a terrorist attack. He also often compared Obama to Adolf Hitler.

In 2009, Beck said Obama showed "a deep-seated hatred for white people." These comments led to criticism and a boycott by advertisers. Beck later apologized for these remarks. In 2016, he said he regretted calling Obama a racist and supported Black Lives Matter.

Van Jones

In 2009, Beck focused on Van Jones, an advisor in the Obama White House. Beck called Jones a "radical revolutionary communist." While Jones had been open about his past communist beliefs, he had since changed his views. Jones resigned from his position after Beck's criticisms.

Cass Sunstein

Cass Sunstein, another Obama White House official, was also a frequent target of Beck's. Beck called Sunstein "the most dangerous man in America." He suggested Sunstein was trying to "ban" conspiracy theories.

ACORN Controversy

In 2009, Beck and other commentators criticized ACORN, a community organization. They claimed ACORN was involved in voter registration fraud. Beck broadcast videos that seemed to show ACORN workers giving inappropriate advice.

After these videos, ACORN lost government funding. However, later investigations found that the videos were "heavily edited." They found no evidence of criminal behavior by ACORN staff. ACORN eventually closed its offices due to loss of funding.

George Soros Theories

Beck has promoted George Soros conspiracy theories. He falsely claimed that Soros, as a boy, helped to "send the Jews to the death camps." Beck has often called Soros a "puppet-master." The Anti-Defamation League called Beck's comments about Soros "horrific" and "bigoted ignorance." Beck later apologized for some of these remarks.

2011 Norway Attacks Comments

Beck condemned the 2011 Norway attacks. However, he was criticized for comparing the victims to the Hitler Youth. He said, "Who does a camp for kids that's all about politics? Disturbing." This comment was not well-received in Norway.

Donald Trump Comments

Beck opposed Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. He compared Trump to Adolf Hitler. Sirius XM suspended Beck for remarks made during an interview. Beck's opposition to Trump affected his businesses. However, in 2018, Beck said he would vote for Trump in the 2020 election.

Images for kids

• 
• 

  In Beck's hometown of Mt. Vernon, Washington, supporters and detractors hold handmade signs on the day Beck was honored by the mayor.

• 

  Israeli citizens holding banner at the Jerusalem Restoring Courage rally, in which Beck was the main speaker

See Also

• Beck University
• Conservative talk radio
• List of most-listened-to radio programs

Works

Non-fiction

• An Unlikely Mormon: The Conversion Story of Glenn Beck, Deseret Book 2008 (Audiobook).
• Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government, Simon & Schuster 2009.
• Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Simon & Schuster 2009.
• America's March to Socialism: Why We're One Step Closer to Giant Missile Parades, Simon & Schuster Audio 2009 (Audio CD).
• Idiots Unplugged, Simon & Schuster 2010 (Audio CD).
• Broke: The Plan to Restore Our Trust, Truth, and Treasure, Simon & Schuster 2010.
• The 7: Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life, with Keith Ablow; Threshold Editions, 2011.
• The Original Argument: The Federalists' Case for the Constitution, Adapted for the 21st Century, with Joshua Charles; Threshold Editions, 2011.
• Liars: How Progressives Exploit Our Fears for Power and Control, Threshold Editions 2016.
• The Great Reset: Joe Biden and the Rise of Twenty-First-Century Fascism, with Justin Haskins; Forefront Books, 2021.

Fiction

• The Christmas Sweater, Simon & Schuster 2008.
• The Overton Window, Threshold Editions 2010.
• The Eye of Moloch, Threshold Editions 2013.
• Agenda 21: Into the Shadows, Threshold Editions 2015.
• The Immortal Nicholas, Mercury Ink 2015.

Children's

• The Christmas Sweater: A Picture Book, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 2009.

Beck also authorized a comic book:

• Political Power: Glenn Beck, by Jerome Maida, Mark Sparacio (illus.); Bluewater Productions, 2011