From WWE to Mayor: Glenn Jacobs on Freedom, Education, and Opportunity

It's great, right?

And I think something that we also,

there's some folks might discount, is by encouraging competition, you know, public schools are essentially government-opening. Yes, all right? So by encouraging competition, you actually improve the public schools as well because they have to compete with the private schools

and with some of the other things that are the home schools, you know, setters and the other things that are going on. So it's actually better for the entire education system. You know, and you'll see the criticism is, "Oh, you're taking money away from public schools.

No, we're making public schools better." But actually, and we're giving families more ability to choose the best pathway for their young person. I'm going to agree with one.

“I mean, the key is empowering families to make decisions”

because who knows better and who's more self-interested to make the best decision for that child. It really bothers me. Americans are capable of achieving extraordinary things when they have the freedom and opportunity to do so.

This is American potential. Welcome to the American Tentropodcast. I'm your host, David From. Well, we're coming to your life from Nashville, Tennessee, as part of our celebrating America's 250th anniversary

alongside AFP, Americans from prosperity. And we've talked to a lot of really great guests, but I'm super excited for the guests that we have here. He's taking an odd road, a non-traditional road to elected office. But you might know him as Kane, the Hall of Fame WWE wrestler.

Right now, though, we know him as the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee. Mr. Glenn Jacobs, mayor, we're so glad you joined us again and really looking forward to talking to you. Thanks for having me on, I appreciate it. Thanks. Well, you know, maybe can you tell folks a little bit

about, like, your pathway, you know, you gained international fame as a professional wrestler and then you end up being an elected office and seeking that and being in the political process. I know you're a, I mean, you're big dealing in Tennessee. Can you talk to us a little bit about your career

“and then, like, how that lead to what you're doing now?”

Yeah, I grew up on a farm in Missouri. My family really didn't have a whole lot. And I'm a proud American dream. I found something I was good at. I played sports throughout high school and then through college.

Look like I was going to play in the NFL, play professional football. I hurt my knee very badly. That was pretty much the end of that. Then I just kind of fell into professional wrestling. It was something that I was naturally good at.

Worked hard and my life has been incredible. I've traveled the world. Provided my family's life that I wouldn't have thought possible. And when I think about that, I don't think that journey is possible. Anyway, but here in this country, because of the liberty and the freedom that we enjoy this in this country to use our gifts.

To our benefit, but then also the benefit of the other people. And that's really why I got into politics.

I'm a big believer in what Ronald Reagan said that freedom is never more than one generation way from extinction.

For someone like me who has been such a beneficiary of the freedom that we enjoy in America. It's inexcusable that I wouldn't do something. For me that's something that I'm getting into political office, which is not what I envisioned earlier in my life. I've always been involved as far as I voted and say history and social studies are my favorite subjects in school. So I guess that's kind of fascinated by all of it, but I never saw myself getting into it.

But once you have a family and you realize it's not just about you, it's about other people. And what are my kids going to have, what are my grandkids going to have, what opportunities might not be available for them. If the country and summer specs keeps going down in the road that we have been 10 to seize a great state.

“I think it's a great state in the union.”

I don't worry so much about that here. I think that what we can do in 10 to seize, we can really be a beacon to the rest of the country that we do it right. And we are the land of opportunity. But that's really why I got into office. I'll tell you, as a lot of our viewers and listeners know, I live in the Chicago area in Illinois.

So a lot of my neighbors and friends are moving here, temp. Yeah, we tend to stress me. We know it. Hopefully, don't worry about the politics. Although you're actually getting the good ones.

We are. And that's, it's, you know, we worry about that in Tennessee is folks coming here and changing our state.

That's not what I see and people that are coming here, I always say that they're political refugees, not missionaries.

But on the, on the opposite side of that is, you know, my fear is some of these places that are already doing things, but I would consider incorrectly. Yeah. They're losing all the folks like that have common sense that, you know, when I think of America, you know, so the country's really becoming even more bifurcated.

You know, in that respect. It is.

You almost do. Yeah. But as you looked at.

When you decided to take that step to run for office, we we talked a lot on this on the show.

And I know it's a van for talking about the one small step camp. Yes.

“What are, what does that step that people take to getting engaged in the political process or public policy or their communities betterment?”

For you was, I mean, was that while you were wrestling was it while you were doing something else and like, what is there something specific that moved in that? Yeah. It was while I was wrestling as I said, I'd always been interested in government. And I think for me, like the one, the one small step was better educating myself about everything and wondering why things are like this. And then I would read now it.

I would look at many different perspectives though, you know, while all of us are in social media now, one of the dangers in social media is we only end up listening to the people who agree with us. Yeah. So we end up in an echo chamber. I'm glad that I didn't do that when I was kind of first.

When I was first exposed to some ideas that would never considered otherwise,

because I was, you know, setting my thinking. And then I realized, wait a second, you know, these folks have a point. Or, wow, what I believe is is right. And now I can see the arguments that opposite of that and they're wrong. It actually, you know, also made me even more, I guess more die hard in some areas of my political philosophy.

But that was my first small step. I kind of, I never, again, I, you know, if you'd asked me, I was going to be a public official 20 years ago. I said, you're insane. I never want to do that. But as I just got more and more into things, eventually that led into supporting candidates. And then doing things like that, supporting certain causes that were very important to me.

And for me, yeah, that was just literally like taking that small step, that small step. And until you get to the one big leap, yeah, I'm going to run for office. Well, I mean, yeah, running for office is a big deal. It really is that one ultimate forms of putting yourself out there, you know, and good and bad.

“And I give a lot of credit, you know, it's easy to, I think it's a past time to kind of rip on and down talk.”

Elected officials, politicians and all, but you know, I've had a career working with politicians and with elected officials. And I've made great ones and bad. I mean, I grew up in Illinois politics. So I've had a number of bosses go to jail. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. I get like there's good and bad. But I've also met some of the most wonderful principal people I've ever met. Yes.

Who are true leaders for good. What, what is, you know, the founding fathers set up our system of government representatives. Some, you know, now you really being a big part of it here in Tennessee.

“Like what do your reflections about serving an office and their responsibilities?”

Back to your, your previous comment. It was a little easier for me than it probably is for a lot of folks because I was already in the public eye. Now, that can freak out when all of a sudden, everyone knows who you are and everybody's talking about. You obviously, it's a little bit different, switching from politics to from the entertainment world. But nevertheless, I was already kind of used to that.

So that didn't bother me as much as it might some people. My family still, you know, you don't receive the negativity, even in wrestling, even if you're a bad guy. Yeah. Folks understand. Right.

In politics, it can be a lot more caustic. And my, by the way, my wife born that it does me, I'm like, ah, whatever. But yeah, and I think if you talk to any elected official, I think they're going to tell you the same thing. When it comes to our founding fathers, our system of government, our constitution, you know, back and up to the 250 years now from America, it's the Declaration of Independence.

That was a really revolution in world thought. And you had, you know, people like John Locke and, you know, and others who, these ideas were kind of floating out there.

But they'd never really been putting a practice to the extent that they were by people like Thomas Jefferson and some of our other founding fathers on a philosophical side.

And then actually put into practice on a practical side as well. And the result has been breathtaking. You know, if you think about what the world looked like up until the late 18th century, then what it is look like since then, it's there literally we could be on two different planets. And a lot of that is because of America and these ideas of liberty. In our constitution is now the world's oldest written constitution.

And it has been copied, at least the concepts of them copied all over the world. So what that tells you is everyone looks to American.

You know, even though obviously we have some flaws, every place does.

But when you go other places, I mean, you know, America is still that shining beacon of liberty. So for me that the founding fathers set something in emotion that literally changed the world. It was a revolution in that everything had, you know, you had authoritarian governments and that was everything ran. And then all of a sudden you had this clean break. To now the philosophy was not that the people were there to serve the king.

But the government was there to serve the people.

“I love that you talk about how we're able to share this was because I think sometimes we don't remember that or really realize it.”

And I'm really happy that we're talking about as part of our a 250 year America's 250 birthday series. We're talking about these concepts and the idea that our rights come from our creator and are not given to us from a king or a government was revolutionary. And then the idea of like the pursuit of happiness is such a was a revolutionary concept. It hadn't really existed and that people have a right to that. And that you know, I associate that with the American dream here.

And one thing I've been thinking about is how the American dream is and I'll actually always only for Americans.

I mean, there's people around the world who want a part of the American dream because it is some of the trust people. I love that you brought up as you guys get about your experienced internationally and going around and meeting people from other cultures and you know what America's viewed and means to them. So maybe in that like yeah, what did you observe from other folks a lot of folks around the world. Realize how much we take what we have here for granted. Yeah, and as you said, you know, they they want part of that and they're not allowed.

I mean, it's it's prohibited, whether it's actual government policy or it's just de facto how things work. What what separates us is, you know, like me. And I started my life basically and my family probably being considered lower middle class. You know, and then, you know, again, I just found something else good at and man.

“My life is just chains and I've been able to put my kids through college and they're both nurses with advanced degrees and doing great and just all the things that.”

The ability for me to take advantage of the gifts that God gave me in a rather niche industry. Yeah, and it's just been remarkable. When I say that that's only possible America, you look at the rest of the world where you're born is where you're going to end up. And you can actually do anything you can work as hard as you want, doesn't matter. Those opportunities are not going to be available.

You cannot create them for yourself like you can in this country. And the rest of the world, you know, they look at that and they really think, you know, how is it that, you know, how is that the Americans cannot realize just what a great deal. And what what a unique country this is because of the freedom that we enjoy. You know, when I wrap the show, we'll see later.

I always talk about like freedom and liberty and like don't take it for granted.

Just allowing me always say, because I do think, you know, this is an born here, grew up here, didn't do anything else. We can really take it for granted. It's not a criticism, you know, that I say that is just people don't know. And I think that someone like me who's had the great opportunity to travel around the world, I've just gotten exposed to, you know, exposed to those ideas.

And it really, that changed how I thought about our country too. I was the most people, you know, as, ah, you know, America, whatever. Now I'm like, we're awesome, you know, yeah, there's stuff that we need to work on. Sure. But for the most part, we're awesome.

You know, well, one of the things that I do think that we need to work on. And you mentioned that, you know, a lot of times around the world where you are born is what you're, that you're a lot in life. And I think one of the areas that lags in a lot of place to the country is that we do have that in education at times. And Tennessee took a big step passing education, same as accounts to, you know, really embrace education freedom to give more opportunity to kids. And I know that you're here in Nashville, I think you're adhering, lobbying to expand that some more kids can get a great education.

Can you talk about the effect that you've seen here in Tennessee and in your corner Tennessee and like what you're doing here about it? Actually, I'll tell you when I was younger. I have one brother and one sister. My sister is the most brilliant person academically you could ever make.

“She was just a rugged scientist, seriously, I mean, she did. She worked as a brains in the bra and that's why.”

And then she got a PhD in history and became a history professor. Um, excelled in school, graduated top of her class, all of those things. Um, my brother was, had some learning disabilities really smart. He just didn't, his, his way of learning did not apply itself to academics necessarily.

But fortunately, we had a tri-county back then there are called votes.

So check out. Now they're called CTE, but he was able to study auto mechanics. And because he had that pathway, he's been successful. And often think if he hadn't been able to do that, if that opportunity hadn't been there for him, he would have been able to travel maker. Maybe his life would have turned out completely different than it did. Then he looked at me and I was, yeah, I was the athlete in the family.

So all of us have different skills and gifts.

“And I think it's imperative that we have an education system that does not pigeonhole kids into, okay, this is the only way to be successful.”

You know, I think school choice is part of that because, um, and I was counting we have great public schools. We really do. And we've had some innovations over the past several years that we weren't doing before, which has made them even better. Um, you know, but there are still things that for some students, you know, that particular model does not benefit them the most, right? And I think something that we also, or some folks might discount, is by encouraging competition, you know, public schools are essentially government monopoly.

All right. So by encouraging competition, you actually improve the public schools as well because they have to compete with the private schools and with some of the other things that are the home schools, you know, setters and the things that are going on. So it's actually better for the entire education system, you know, and you'll see the criticism is, oh, you're taking money away from public schools. And then we're making public schools better. You know, actually, and we're giving families more ability to choose the best pathway for their young person.

I'm going to agree more. I mean, the key is empowering families to make decisions because who knows better and who's more self interested to make the best decision for that child. Exactly. It really bothers me when adults stand in the way of that and some of the arguments are so disingenuous. But I'm just, you know, I'm glad the Tennessee really show that leadership. I think it's one of the most important things that we've done and I think, you know, what happens is sometimes people are spending an institution, as opposed to what the institution does.

And, you know, it's really, I look, I don't care, you know, I just want young people to get the best possible education that they've had the best chance of life. So, Tennessee's just, you know, over the last few decades is really doing some remarkable things. It's become a beacon, imagine that for four other states, you know, I was joking. Like I said, that me living in Illinois a lot of folks that it's an inordinate of a number of people. I talked to somebody on Saturday night. They're like, oh, yeah, well, we're just getting ready to sell our house because we bought down to Tennessee.

“I in-laws are down there now too, our daughters move in down there. I have a daughter who lives in Florida. She's like, well, I get married. We're moving up to Tennessee and like, not Chicago area. So come on, Dad. Really?”

Where do you want? Where do you think? What are other areas? So there's a great race in the nation of different states that love freedom and are trying to do, you know, more and more competitive things to make their states at the cutting edge of innovation and free markets. And Tennessee's one of those states, what do you think are the areas that they can help carry Tennessee forward as a great state? For us in East Tennessee, where I live, it's the energy sector. Where we're home of nuclear energy and there's just so much happening around that in our area.

One of the most important things though is back to education. You know, it's not only the nuclear engineers and scientists and physicists,

but it's also the technicians and even construction, you know, in the skilled trades to build all these things that we're going to need.

“So that's one of the most important areas for us. AI is another area. Those work for us well because AI requires massive amount of electricity and nuclear ultimately as I think we're the way the country will go to find that.”

Tennessee has the third lowest state and local tax burden in the country and that makes an enormous difference when people get to keep their money when companies get to keep their money and reinvest. That's huge. So state and local government really does make a big difference.

And I think one of the most important things that we have to keep in mind nationally is to allow the states to compete with one another and actually encourage that.

And when that happens, when people vote with their feet. Again, competition is good for any system and what all end up happening is, you know, you'll have winners emerge and then the folks that aren't doing so well are going to have to change their ways to be able to compete with the winners, the states like Tennessee and frankly, Texas and Florida as well.

We get to talk to a lot of state leaders who, in fact, will do it later tonight even who are helping pass some of those great policies and shape in the future.

“And then hopefully we'll trickle them up to the federal level too.”

Yeah, exactly. You know, just just real quick. Well, for instance, you know, that a part of education downsizing ultimately eliminating it. It's just to be rockersy. Yeah.

You know, and what ends up happening is I call it bureaucratic black hole because the money which comes from the people in the states, by the way, ghost Washington, Washington keeps most of it. Some of them back. Well, why don't we just cut out the middleman and just allow the state to, you know, to do this. And if the Department of Education has a role, it's it's much more is information and those sort of things as opposed to these mandates that come out.

“And there are a lot of other areas where the federal government just really gets in the way and instead of sending all that money there to Washington so that they can send it back to us.”

How about we just keep it here and and do the money without paying the bureaucrat the bureaucracy? Well, that that's a smart idea.

I don't know why we just I don't get well, I'm excited for you. You're going to, I'm so glad that you've joined us to celebrate America, so it's 50th birthday year doing a Nashville, one of the great American cities. I just I love being able to come here walking around last night is just a blast and we're glad that you're all hosting us here. And I'm excited to hear tonight and be with a lot of Tennesseans. We're really excited about it as well. And I'd also like to thank AFP for all the great work that they do in our state.

Thanks, our pleasure. Hey, if it gets good leaders like you were doing pretty well. Well, folks, if you liked this episode, please subscribe to our channel as well as liking and following us on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

“No, just remember, freedom and liberty are easily taken for granted. Don't take for granted. Go out there and defend liberty and freedom. Thanks for joining us and we'll see you on the next episode.”

Thank you for listening to American Potential. You may listen to more stories from Americans working every day to expand freedom and opportunity in their communities by visiting Americanpotential.com.