Glenn Beck’s dramatic question — should Americans really prepare for civil war — taps a nerve because a string of violent, chaotic incidents this year has made ordinary citizens sweat. Conservatives are right to demand clarity and action from leaders who are supposed to keep the peace, and we should call out the media that downplays threats to conservative speech and safety. Fear-mongering from the left and weak institutions can create a dangerous brew, and patriots must speak plainly about what’s at stake.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University in September shocked the nation and crystallized fears that political violence is no longer abstract. What happened on that rooftop was an attack on our ability to speak openly on college campuses and a grim demonstration that American conservatives are now being targeted in public spaces. Reporting shows investigators tied the suspect to the crime through forensic evidence as the nation demanded answers and accountability.
Federal interventions in American cities this year have only heightened tensions and fed the narrative that the center cannot hold. Deployments of National Guard units and even Marines to Los Angeles and other municipalities during mass protest periods have been controversial and legally challenged, with governors and mayors rightly alarmed at federal overreach. The heavy-handed posture from Washington risks turning ordinary demonstrations into flashpoints if local authorities and residents feel overridden.
Mass protests like the No Kings demonstrations and related unrest have been widely reported, and while many Americans peacefully protest, some events descended into violence and tragic outcomes. The reality is that when millions take to the streets and federal forces show up in force, the atmosphere becomes combustible — and the blame game that follows only deepens the divide. This is precisely why responsible leaders should de-escalate and protect civil liberties rather than stigmatize half the country.
Intelligence agencies have also warned about increased online chatter among extremists preparing for violence, and that signal should not be dismissed as mere hype. The Department of Homeland Security and investigative reports note pockets of people discussing the fantasy of a civil war or violent retribution, which creates real threats to election workers, public officials, and everyday Americans. Conservatives must both condemn violence and recognize when rhetoric is pushing unstable people toward action.
At the same time, hard data tells us that most Americans do not believe a full-scale civil war is imminent, and a large majority view such a catastrophe as unlikely. A nationally representative study in mid-2024 found that overt support for civil war or willingness to take up arms was limited to a small minority, and many who flirt with violent ideas say they could be persuaded otherwise by family or faith leaders. This is a reminder that preparedness should be sober and constitutional, not panicked and apocalyptic.
So what should patriots do? First, prepare responsibly: know your neighbors, strengthen community ties, and support lawful local institutions that protect speech and property. Second, get politically engaged — vote, run for school boards and city councils, hold university boards and mayors accountable, and build a conservative infrastructure that defends freedom without resorting to lawless behavior. Third, demand that law enforcement and campus administrations take threats seriously and protect attendees regardless of political viewpoint.
The worst thing conservatives could do is surrender to fear or escalate into the very violence we condemn. We must stand firm for law and order, for free speech on campuses, and for a government that respects the Constitution instead of weaponizing agencies against dissent. If Democrats return with a vindictive agenda and a taste for retribution, we will respond through civic power, electoral mobilization, and unflinching defense of our liberties — not by surrendering to chaos.
