FEMA Dropped the Ball, but Glenn Beck Made Sure We Saw

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The media man with a plan to promote conservative culture, help hurricane victims, and clown on the deep state.

In this edition of Faces of Intrepidity, a series where America Mission™ explores the brave and dauntless figures that the culture war has to offer, we’re profiling prominent conservative commentator Glenn Beck. He’s a TV and talk radio host who succeeded in media entrepreneurship by building a name for himself in American media and the conservative movement. Beck’s career spans decades, moving from local radio stations to becoming a voice for conservatives through his media company. Take a look through Beck’s major milestones and see how he became the major player in American media and the conservative movement he is now, including his recent efforts to expose the deep state while helping hurricane victims.

Radio Roots

Beck was born in Everett, Washington. Beck began his radio career in the 80s at 13 after winning a guest DJ competition on a local radio station in Mount Vernon, Washington. That early exposure sparked his passion for radio, leading Beck to pursue opportunities across various markets. By the end of the 80s and early 90s, he worked as a DJ at multiple music stations across the country. Over the next few years, Beck gained experience but struggled with personal challenges along the way.

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Truth talkin’ and troublemaking

The late 90s brought a significant shift in Beck’s career, transitioning from music radio to talk radio, a format that better suited his growing interest in politics and current events. In 2000, The Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated radio show that reached audiences across the United States, began airing on WFLA-AM in Tampa, Florida. It was here that he began to develop his distinctive style—combining news commentary, comedic stunts, and emotional appeals—which would become the hallmark of his media presence.

The show quickly gained popularity, landing in the top ten of talk radio programs nationwide. Beck’s ability to connect with listeners on an emotional level, through his discussions of conservative politics, societal issues, and personal stories, helped him build a loyal following.

However, Beck struggled with drug and alcohol abuse, culminating in his life almost completely falling apart. He later overcame his addictions and converted to Mormonism in 2000, a turning point in his life and career. Beck recovered and became a hit once again, starting his parent company Mercury Radio Arts in 2002.

Radio? How About TV?

By 2006, Beck expanded his reach, moving into TV. He was hired by CNN to host a new show, Glenn Beck, premiering that year. His television presence helped him bring his radio style to a broader audience, and the show became popular among conservative-leaning viewers. After that, Beck began hosting Glenn Beck from 2009–11 on Fox News. He left to begin his next major project—founding his media company.

Blazing Past The Competition

In 2011, Beck founded TheBlaze (Glenn Beck TV originally), shifting from being a commentator within larger networks to running his own media organization. This move gave him greater control over his content and messaging, allowing him to shape TheBlaze as a home for conservative views. TheBlaze became particularly popular with audiences that felt alienated by corporate media, offering a mix of political commentary, news analysis, and cultural discussions. TheBlaze was renamed Blaze Media after merging with CRTV LLC in 2018 and moved under Mercury Radio Arts. By the way, Beck has written 6 New York Times bestsellers.

FEMA the Failure

Fast forward to today, Beck became distrustful of FEMA and curious about the scene on the ground after Hurricane Helene. While Beck and Rep. Cory Mills (FL-7) were visiting the Hurricane Helene disaster zone in Asheville, North Carolina, they spotted a single FEMA truck parked off the main road where residents had a harder time spotting it. The pair stopped to talk with the FEMA workers to learn more about the situation.

According to the FEMA workers, they had arrived in town rather belatedly, almost a week after the hurricane. Somehow they still didn’t have all their supplies, and they were informing victims of their location by listening to radio or TV broadcasts, even though many no longer had access to such tech. Finally, the workers didn’t seem to know whether or not they would go door to door. In short, FEMA had woefully underprepared their workers and it showed.

This isn’t surprising in the least, given the bloated bureaucratic nature of the deep state. DHS Secretary Mayorkas recently warned that “FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season.” House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) called out Mayorkas, saying,

“The real story here is that the Biden-Harris administration has spurned the interests of the American people since day one, pushing for hundreds of millions of FEMA dollars every year, specifically for illegal immigrants,” Chairman Green said. “Last year, House Republicans eliminated this spending in the FY24 DHS appropriations bill, only for the Democrat-controlled Senate and White House to fight to add it back to the omnibus spending bill.

“This is an issue of priorities, and the Biden-Harris administration’s are completely backwards. It takes a lot of nerve for Secretary Mayorkas to ask for more money after he and his bosses in the White House fought for roughly $650 million just this year for the Shelter and Services Program. Under Biden and Harris’ leadership, our tax dollars are being used to help facilitate illegal immigration, while many American citizens are left to suffer following natural disasters.”

FEMA also has condemned the idea that FEMA disaster response was diverted to support international efforts or border-related issues as a false rumor. So, to quote Glenn Beck—”…did FEMA drop the ball on this mission? Watch the conversation and decide for yourself…“

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The Fight for Our Future Continues

From his humble beginnings in local radio to his media empire that commands a loyal following, Glenn Beck has left a lasting mark on the conservative movement and American media. Beck’s passionate defense of conservative values and the victims of Hurricane Helene is a testament to his adaptability and determination in an increasingly chaotic world fueled by political corruption. It’s nice to see people as prominent as Glenn Beck still making time to visit everyday people in very tough times.

Check out America Mission™’s timeline on Glenn Beck’s past.

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My name is Mike Melo and I made America my mission. We sincerely hope you join us — the many who’ve decided that America is their mission, too. If you enjoyed this week’s Faces of Intrepidity, please follow America Mission™ and Mike Melo on X. See you next time!