Joe Rogan Sparks Civil War Conversation

On November 12, Joe Rogan stirred conversation during an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” touching on the contentious aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death. He pondered, “Where are we on a scale from 1 to civil war right now? … I thought we were at a 4 or 5. But after the Charlie Kirk incident, I think, ‘Oh, perhaps we might be at a 7.'” This comment caught significant attention.

Glenn Beck believes Rogan’s fears are valid, suggesting that the U.S. is inching closer to civil conflict. But just how close is it?

In a segment of “The Glenn Beck Program,” he explored nine stages of civil war and assessed America’s current position on that spectrum.

Step 1: Erosion of Public Trust

According to Glenn, civil wars often emerge when there’s a loss of faith in the fairness of the system. He argues that the U.S. has long crossed that line.

A recent Gallup/Pew poll highlighted that trust in Congress, media, and even the judiciary has reached unprecedented lows. The latest Edelman Trust Barometer shows the nation as “deeply polarized,” with many Republicans questioning the integrity of federal elections, while a significant number of Democrats express skepticism toward the Supreme Court.

Glenn notes, “Americans seem united on one thing, but divided on another.”

Step 2: Identity Polarization

Here, Glenn points out that political disagreements are common, but problems escalate when these disagreements become entrenched in identities. “Marxists thrive on identity politics,” he claims. “It turns politics from policy to personal humanity.”

This binary division leads to a perspective of “oppressors vs. the oppressed,” with parties seen as dangerous rather than simply mistaken. Alarmingly, a Public Religion Research Institute study found that nearly 25% of people believe political violence is essential for saving the nation.

Step 3: Breakdown of Gatekeepers

“Gatekeepers,” Glenn explains, refer to societal referees like media, political structures, and religious institutions. Their failure opens the door for extremism.

As media shifts towards bias, universities adopt ideological stances, and religious organizations lose influence, Glenn suggests America has surpassed this stage.

Step 4: Diverging Realities

Glenn emphasizes that civil wars don’t require differing opinions—they need distinct realities. Conservatism and progressivism stem from fundamentally opposing viewpoints.

For instance, views on gender, child welfare, crime and immigration sharply contrast, exacerbating divisions. He notes that social media platforms just deepen these divides by creating echo chambers.

Step 5: Deterioration of Rule of Law

This stage, referred to by Glenn as a “pivot point,” happens when people begin to see the law as politically biased. Recent polling shows that 67% of Americans believe the justice system is being weaponized for political ends.

Examples abound: harsh sentencing for January 6th participants contrasted with leniency for 2020 protestors highlights this sentiment. Glenn asserts that states are pushing back against federal regulations, further undermining stability.

Step 6: Political Violence Becomes Normalized

Glenn reflects on how instances like violent fantasies by public officials and celebrated unrest can desensitize the populace to political aggression. “We’re further along than Step 6,” he asserts.

Step 7: Development of Militias

As states lose their exclusive power over force, political factions may begin to form their own forces; this is a concerning trend Glenn identifies. While groups are emerging that target federal agencies, he notes we are still in this stage without fully crossing into chaos.

Step 8: Potential Trigger Events

According to Glenn, civil unrest often ignites from specific incidents rather than premeditated plans. Although conditions are ripe for such an event—whether it be an election dispute, political violence, or economic collapse—such an event hasn’t happened yet.

Step 9: The Point of No Return

War typically commences when there’s a divide among police, military, or federal agencies. We haven’t reached this point, but signs of tension are apparent, especially with police actions varying by local governance.

In summary, Glenn lays out a dire outlook: “Steps 1 to 4: Completed. Step 5: Ongoing. Step 6: Happening. Step 7: Starting. Step 8: Just waiting. Step 9: Perhaps avoidable.” He delivers this analysis not to alarm, but to diagnose a troubling reality.

“A society that cannot unify, seeing its neighbors as enemies, is a society that is bound to fail.”

For more insights from Glenn Beck, further analysis is available through additional channels.