1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand. 2 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,560 Speaker 2: Mark Thompson here on a Thursday night in Los Angeles 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 2: and across the west on KFI. Wherever you are listening 4 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 2: on iHeartRadio in the app across the globe, we welcome 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 2: you in. It is Southern California in a beautiful period 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:32,640 Speaker 2: during which the rains have cleared. The air is crystal clear. 7 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 2: It just seems beautiful every morning, and we've had enough 8 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 2: rain to kind of relieve anxieties, it would seem, through 9 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 2: the holidays. And I'm hopeful that the frankly, the scenario 10 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 2: that we all know and we kind of sort of 11 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: have a cultural memory of and a cultural awareness of, 12 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: which is associated with fire and the dangers. 13 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 3: Of living in southern California. 14 00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 2: We hope that that can sort of recede for the 15 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: holiday season and we can get by without there being 16 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 2: any incidents. We just told you about the Eaton fire. 17 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 2: The first rebuild in that area of Altadena has been completed, 18 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:15,560 Speaker 2: and so it is not related to that kind of thing, 19 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 2: but sort of in this world of approval and might 20 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,000 Speaker 2: I say a green light that means something that the 21 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 2: Metro Board of Directors is re certifying the environmental documents 22 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 2: allowing Dodger Stadium to have the gondola project move forward. 23 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 2: This is this gondola that's going to run from Union 24 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 2: Station to Dodger Stadium. They approved a four hundred and 25 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: thirty seven page supplement in this environmental re certification, and 26 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 2: the Executive Management Committee advanced this report to the full 27 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 2: board a four to one vote, with La County Supervisor 28 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 2: and board member Janis Han voting against the item and 29 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 2: Jacquelin DuPont Walker not there for the vote. Anyway, re 30 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 2: certifying the documents for the project is allowing the project 31 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 2: to continue, and it's being led by the nonprofit that's 32 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 2: leading the project, and again the goal is to get 33 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 2: this gondola finished. A group of Chinatown residents and members 34 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 2: of the Stop the Gondola Community held red signs and 35 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 2: the red sign said anybody stop the Gondola solid. Since 36 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 2: it's to stop the gondola, group solid to decide that 37 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 2: the sign should say stop the Gondola. They also had 38 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 2: a banner that read protect Chinatown from Frank McCourt. You 39 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:52,800 Speaker 2: know he's involved in the ownership of some of these 40 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 2: areas affected and Oliveria Street is not for sale. Historic 41 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 2: Park is not for sale. This is the pushback on 42 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 2: the gondola. Critics say that there's no guarantee the taxpayer 43 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 2: aren't going to be on the hook with the bill, 44 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 2: and the bill could be five hundred million dollars in 45 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,520 Speaker 2: construction costs as well as maybe eight million to ten 46 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 2: million in annual maintenance and operations. The complex that is 47 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 2: being proposed for Dodger Stadium is way more than just this, 48 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:26,440 Speaker 2: and they're worried about that as well. So this is 49 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 2: part of a development project, if you will, that has 50 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 2: constituents on either side and their vocal constituents. Zero Emissions 51 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: Transit a nonprofit organization with an independent board of directors 52 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: leading this project. Formerly known as the Los Angeles Aerial 53 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 2: Rapid Transit. It was donated by the former Dodger owner, 54 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: Frank McCord, and the nonprofit says, you know, we're an 55 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 2: organization committed to all efforts of trying to get this 56 00:03:56,080 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 2: zero emission technology and any zero emission technology to the 57 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 2: transportation space, and that's what this is. It's a one 58 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 2: point two mile extension. The route goes through Chinatown and 59 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: the Los Angeles State Historic Park. It connects Union Station 60 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: and Dodger Stadium again through three stations Alameda Station, Chinatown 61 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:20,679 Speaker 2: State Park Station and the Dodger Stadium station. 62 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 3: There is a. 63 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 2: Junction, non passenger junction and three cable supporting towers. So 64 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 2: that's what this will be. I mean, it's still it's 65 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 2: an ambitious project for sure. I mean it's a big 66 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 2: aerial tram. But the idea is, and this is what 67 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 2: proponents of this talk about. 68 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 3: It's the first. 69 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 2: Permanent mass transit connection linking Dodger Stadium to the LA 70 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 2: Transit system. Then the gondola would operate with zero emissions. 71 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: It would be the first aerial gondola transit system to 72 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: include a battery electric backup sisions system. And the environmental 73 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,359 Speaker 2: study that was just approved said that it could reduce 74 00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 2: emissions reasonably over one hundred and fifty thousand metric tons 75 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 2: of greenhouse gases over the lifetime of the project. So 76 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,119 Speaker 2: it's a big, big deal, and big big deals have big, 77 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 2: big problems on both sides. So it's backed by several groups, 78 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 2: excuse me, the Chinese American Museum Coalition for Clean Air, 79 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 2: the LA and Orange County Building Trade Councils. You know, 80 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 2: so builders, the LA County Business Federation and Business People 81 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 2: Camber of Commerce, for example. They're behind this project and 82 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 2: they want to see it through to its conclusion. And 83 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 2: there are a lot of people in support. Four hundred 84 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: businesses in Chinatown, fifteen thousand people all signed up to 85 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 2: support this project. And again, this will employ a lot 86 00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 2: of people and it's viewed as something that would really 87 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 2: be a huge step to the next era in Los Angeles. 88 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 2: So this has been a big day because the Metro 89 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 2: Board of Directors again re certifies these documents and that 90 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: will allow the Gondola project to move forward. Watch for 91 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 2: it though, because it will continue in controversy. Meantime, bulldozers 92 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 2: moved into Marina del Rey. They're taking stuff down. What 93 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 2: is it, Well, it's something that a lot of people 94 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 2: in Marina del Ray wanted taken down. It's a homeless encampment. 95 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 4: People have been pushing for this for some time with 96 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 4: no action. Could be just the start long awaited movement 97 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 4: in Marina del Rey. Bulldozers ripping through a homeless encamment 98 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 4: that had grown out of control, full of trash, booze, furniture, 99 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:44,440 Speaker 4: and much more. 100 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 5: They are defecating in the area like they are choosing 101 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:48,039 Speaker 5: to live there. 102 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 2: Once you had your first report, some movement happens, so 103 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 2: hopefully that will continue in this area be cleaned up. 104 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 4: Last month, we exclusively reported on the tent city sandwich 105 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 4: between lanes of the ninety freeway. Many people do you 106 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 4: estimate are living over there? 107 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 5: One day I can see one hundred and fifty. Some 108 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 5: days there's only thirty shooting up drugs right. 109 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:10,679 Speaker 4: There, open drug use, burglaries, violence, then flames pushed fear 110 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 4: into nearby neighborhoods. 111 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 3: And this is the problem. I mean, these encampments grow. 112 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 2: I've lived next to two of them during my time 113 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: in southern California, and it's alarming and it's unnerving, and 114 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,440 Speaker 2: you call, and there's a limit to what can be done, 115 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 2: and then residents here call and call and call, push 116 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 2: and push and push and finally, and that's why this 117 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 2: is the story. Finally, the demands and the entreaties, the 118 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: please get rid of this encampment, those please are answers. 119 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 5: I would like to live in a society where you know, 120 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 5: we don't have to hound repeatedly to get just some basic, 121 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:52,680 Speaker 5: you know, community services done. 122 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:56,000 Speaker 4: Last summer, we were with Governor Gavin Newsom as he 123 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 4: cleared an encampment and urged cities across the state to 124 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 4: do the same. This Marina del Rey homeless campsite on 125 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 4: state Land. 126 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 6: We have already had two fatalities with people coming and 127 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 6: going from that area along the freeway. 128 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 4: L A councilwoman, Tracy Park says she has urged the 129 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 4: state to do something for more than a year. 130 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 6: My fear here is that when the state's work is done, 131 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 6: this encampment is just going to return. 132 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 3: They're getting started, but what comes next? How do they 133 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 3: keep them from coming back? 134 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 2: I mean, that is the whole game, you know, That's 135 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 2: always been the whole game. It's a whack a mole 136 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 2: with these encampments. You've got to make sure that they 137 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 2: don't regrow, Essentially. 138 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 4: Neighbors now hoping for a long term fix, they need 139 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 4: to secure the fence. 140 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 5: The fence has tripped apart, torn there are holes in 141 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 5: it that they're able to get. 142 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 2: In and out of. 143 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 7: I have asked the state and the governor and Caltown's 144 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 7: for those long term solutions, but so far we have 145 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:58,119 Speaker 7: not been able to find the path forwards. 146 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 4: The councilwoman says she wants some sort of secure fence 147 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 4: or wall put around this property. Otherwise, she warns, we 148 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 4: could be back reporting on this again in a few weeks. 149 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 2: We took a collection up with our neighbors and we 150 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 2: put a fence up in one instance. In another instance, 151 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 2: I think the same thing happened and we had moved away. 152 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 2: That was like a hot and cold running drug den 153 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 2: that we live forty feet from in a nice area, 154 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 2: I mean the home we were, and this is that 155 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 2: when our home burned, we had to move to a 156 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 2: temporary residence and it was a I mean multimillion dollar 157 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:32,559 Speaker 2: home we were living in, and we're forty feet from 158 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 2: a homeless encampment and all night people are coming and going, 159 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 2: there's fires. There was a real danger there, and so 160 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 2: as incidents erupted where we were, we would call the cops, 161 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 2: we'd call the fire department, and ultimately there's a limit 162 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 2: to what they can do. But why these people have 163 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 2: to wait so long to get this fence erected? Come on, 164 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 2: I mean, this really isn't representing a constituency that pays 165 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 2: a lot of money property taxes and in other ways 166 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 2: that they support city and county government. These homeless encampments, 167 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 2: they can't reflect a blemish on that constituency. So now, 168 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 2: at least in Marina del Rey, they've moved these on 169 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 2: after months of complaints. Mark Thompson on Thursday Night, KFI 170 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 2: AM six forty. We're live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. 171 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 1: You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand. 172 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 2: Mark Thompson on this Thursday night. I have a show 173 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 2: on YouTube and it's across the iHeartRadio network as well. 174 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 2: It's called the Mark Thompson Show. It's just I'm laughing 175 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 2: because we didn't spend a long time with the name. Yeah, 176 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 2: we just kind of it was based on a radio 177 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 2: show that was called the Mark Thompson Show. As we 178 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 2: just rather than try to rebrand it, we just said, 179 00:10:56,320 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 2: just keep the name we had in the radio, so 180 00:10:58,080 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 2: that Mark Thompsons. We kept the same people we had 181 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 2: in the day, and we just moved it over to 182 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 2: YouTube and it's on iHeartRadio and Spotify and in all 183 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:06,959 Speaker 2: the places that you find podcasts go it's called the 184 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: Mark Thompson John Off. You do a subscribe, it costs 185 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 2: you nothing on YouTube and Angel gets its wings. So 186 00:11:14,720 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 2: you didn't focus group the name. No, it's funny We 187 00:11:16,840 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 2: didn't really abta test it at all. We just kind 188 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,960 Speaker 2: of went with what you know, dance with the date 189 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 2: that brung you is what they say. I suppose, So 190 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 2: I have become a fan of the show. I think 191 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 2: it's terrific. Well, thank you. That means a lot because 192 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:30,319 Speaker 2: I know you're you know, you're taking a lot of 193 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:33,840 Speaker 2: media and so you're kind of a you know, committed 194 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 2: in a lot of ways in terms of your time. 195 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:37,839 Speaker 8: So how you get the guests you do, you must 196 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:41,559 Speaker 8: have donkey photos of them, but you get some great guests, we. 197 00:11:41,559 --> 00:11:43,960 Speaker 2: Get great Pulletzer prize winners. It's a lot of politics 198 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 2: and news, just to tell people, it's kind of a 199 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 2: little focused that way. So it's really cool, Mark, that 200 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,319 Speaker 2: means a lot, So thank you. Speaking of news, big 201 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,840 Speaker 2: news that they are going to charge this guy in 202 00:11:55,920 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 2: the January sixth pipe bomb investigation, the FBI making an arrest. 203 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 2: This guy's accused of placing two pipe bombs outside the 204 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 2: headquarters of the Republican and Democratic National Parties in Washington. 205 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:16,920 Speaker 2: They're headquarters. This was the night before the big capital 206 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 2: attack that you know about. So this was an investigation 207 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 2: that's been going on for a while right, I mean 208 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 2: years and now the arrest is a breakthrough. This is 209 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 2: the first time that they have publicly identified as suspect, 210 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:38,400 Speaker 2: and they centered on Woodbridge, Virginia, which is a suburb 211 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:43,640 Speaker 2: of Washington. And the suspect now identified as Brian J. 212 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:49,319 Speaker 2: Cole Junior. He's thirty years old. But it's a little 213 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 2: unclear if any act on the part of Brian J. 214 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 2: Cole Junior, thirty years old, was directed at any one 215 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 2: in particular, or even if it had links to the 216 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 2: January sixth protest the following day. So there, at least 217 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 2: thus far, they haven't publicized that linkage. Then they may 218 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 2: be aware of all this stuff, they just haven't made 219 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 2: it public. They reviewed credit card purchases of pipe bomb components, 220 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:28,880 Speaker 2: cell phone tower data, a license plate reader, and all 221 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 2: of these things helped them zero in on coal. The 222 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 2: FBI and Justice Department wouldn't say much more on this 223 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:41,679 Speaker 2: as to how they found this guy, but they characterized, 224 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:46,080 Speaker 2: of course, this investigation as reinvigorated under the new administration. 225 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:48,839 Speaker 3: They said there's no new tip. 226 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 2: Let me be clear, there was no new tip, said 227 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 2: Attorney General Pam Bondi. There were no new witnesses just good, 228 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 2: diligent police work and prosecutorial work, she said. Calls to 229 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 2: relatives of Coals and you know how the media then 230 00:14:06,240 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 2: fans out tries to get in touch with everybody who 231 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 2: might have known him. 232 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,679 Speaker 3: Those calls went unanswered. He was taken into custody. 233 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 2: And on his cul de sac there where his home is, 234 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 2: there were tons of unmarked law enforcement vehicles. They went in, 235 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 2: they searched his residence, they searched the surrounding area. The 236 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 2: pipe bombs were placed there again the evening of January fifth, 237 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 2: twenty twenty one, near the offices of the Democratic and 238 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 2: Republican National Committees. 239 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 3: Nobody was hurt. 240 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 2: The moms, you know, didn't go off, but the FBI 241 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 2: has said that both of those bombs could have been lethal. 242 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 2: They could have gone out. So you probably saw the 243 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,760 Speaker 2: surveillance video. It's very tough to tell it was, you know, 244 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 2: he's completely hidden essentially, But based on what they had, 245 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 2: they were able to move in and make this arrest. 246 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 2: They had information. I'm just looking at to see what 247 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 2: they came up with. Initially, they all they had was 248 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 2: really his height five to seven, and they had some 249 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:29,480 Speaker 2: video that they disseminated to the public, but they for 250 00:15:29,640 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 2: years had struggled to pinpoint a suspect. They really just 251 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 2: didn't have anybody, and so there were conspiracy theories that 252 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 2: respawned by this. You know, how has law enforcement failed 253 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 2: to detect these? Was it an inside job? Dan Bongino 254 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 2: was one of the people who was cooking up a 255 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 2: conspiracy theory, the current FBI deputy director before he was 256 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 2: tapped for that job. He was a popular conservative podcaster, 257 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 2: as you probably know, and he floated the possibility last 258 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:02,520 Speaker 2: year that it was an inside job and that there 259 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 2: was a massive cover up of the FBI. It's so 260 00:16:06,080 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 2: wild to hear people like Bongino and Cash Battel having 261 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 2: banged on the FBI for so long for the Epstein 262 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 2: files to be released and for the real truth about 263 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:20,960 Speaker 2: this bomber. There's an inside job for that truth to 264 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 2: be out there. Now they are the FBI, they are 265 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 2: the deep state, and now all of that is erased, 266 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 2: It all goes away. They describe, both of them describe 267 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:36,720 Speaker 2: the investigation into this bomber as a top priority for 268 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 2: the FBI. Bongino wrote that the FBI had brought a 269 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 2: new personnel to examine the case, had dramatically increased investigative 270 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:52,480 Speaker 2: resources also increased the public reward. So again, the biggest 271 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 2: conspiracy theorists now lead the biggest investigations. So the arrest 272 00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 2: is made again. A thirty year old pipe bomber Brian 273 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:08,399 Speaker 2: Cole arrested in wood Bridge, Virginia. Mark Thompson Here on 274 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 2: Thursday night. We're KFI AM six forty live everywhere on 275 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 2: the iHeartRadio app. 276 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand. 277 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 3: I gotta get some water in here, man, it's dry 278 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 3: and my throat is. 279 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 2: You know, if I were Ryan Seacrest, I'd have like 280 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 2: five different producers bring me. You know, what kind would 281 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,679 Speaker 2: you like? Room temperature water? Ryan, would you like? Is 282 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 2: that b carbonated water? Would you like ice with that? 283 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 3: Brian? Oryan, Brian, you're fired, Thank you, Thank you very much. 284 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 3: Excuse me while I take a dramatic drink asking you 285 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:49,439 Speaker 3: shall receive. 286 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 8: Let's have some asm mar. I've got a spereology tablet 287 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 8: in here if you like. I just had to take 288 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 8: one of those. Wow, I'm just it's really dry. I 289 00:17:57,880 --> 00:17:59,640 Speaker 8: guess that's the time of year. 290 00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 3: Santa Emma's No, that's it. 291 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, it really is we're that's Nicky, our producer for tonight. 292 00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:09,280 Speaker 3: You know Mark, you know the. 293 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 2: Bear Mario Hello, Hello, so we are, We're here, and 294 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 2: I have a Hollywood story for you. And it's sort 295 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 2: of a little inside Hollywood. But sometimes, you know, if 296 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 2: you're in southern California, maybe if you're not, you're listening 297 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 2: to the iHeartRadio Network somewhere, it's interesting to know what's 298 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 2: happening with media and with Hollywood, just so we can 299 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 2: set the stage. Hollywood's kind of in trouble. Hollywood's in 300 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:37,320 Speaker 2: trouble because of streaming. The buzz that used to be Hollywood, 301 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:42,520 Speaker 2: the lots that were always clotted with people and productions, 302 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 2: everything from commercials to features to TV series, those lots 303 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 2: are largely well, I don't want to say they're quiet, 304 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 2: but they're much quieter. 305 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 3: And it's a concern because. 306 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 2: It affects all of southern California in many, many ways. 307 00:18:57,440 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 3: There's a ripple effect throughout it. As you might imagine. 308 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:03,480 Speaker 2: Businesses are all interlocking with that business of Hollywood, and 309 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:08,360 Speaker 2: Hollywood has followed in tax incentives to Canada. They followed 310 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 2: tax incentives to different states in America. Georgia is one 311 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 2: Louisiana's another Texas is a third, and their whole studio 312 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:18,919 Speaker 2: is being built in these places and more. Those are 313 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 2: just a few of them, And there's a lot of 314 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 2: production going overseas. You saw that game shows, big game shows. 315 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,919 Speaker 2: It's cheaper for them to go to Ireland to shoot 316 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 2: them in Ireland, to send all of their contestants, host, 317 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:44,240 Speaker 2: everything to Ireland and shoot the shows there then it 318 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 2: is to shoot the shows here in the US. It's 319 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 2: just much cheaper there. So I guess why I mentioned 320 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 2: all of this is that there is a crisis of 321 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 2: sorts going on in. 322 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:56,120 Speaker 3: The Hollywood community already. 323 00:19:56,280 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 2: And now you have the mergers and acquisitions that are 324 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 2: just coming with everything that is America right now, you've 325 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 2: got all kinds of mergers, you have all sorts of 326 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 2: Now what sort of tepid regulations were associated with preventing 327 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 2: too big a company from merging itself into an even 328 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,360 Speaker 2: bigger company, you know, the anti monopoly type legislation that's 329 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:24,919 Speaker 2: all really been rolled back, and you just perhaps are 330 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:29,479 Speaker 2: aware of the major ruling was it last week that 331 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 2: Meta is not in violation of any sort of monopoly 332 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:40,040 Speaker 2: law as it continues its acquisition. You know with Instagram 333 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 2: and What's App and Facebook. So this is a story 334 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 2: though about Warner Brothers, and Warner Brothers is a huge, 335 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:52,640 Speaker 2: huge company and there is a major bidding war going 336 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 2: on and positioning for Warner Brothers and who ends up 337 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 2: what ends up being the entity to take Warner Brothers 338 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 2: will have a lot to do with the future of 339 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 2: Hollywood and the future of that that I was speaking of, 340 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:12,719 Speaker 2: for example, movies. And here's what I mean. A consortium 341 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 2: of top industry players. This is some variety have sent 342 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 2: an open letter full of alarm to Congress describing a 343 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:27,160 Speaker 2: potential economic and institutional meltdown in Hollywood if Netflix succeeds 344 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 2: in their efforts to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery. The letter 345 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,879 Speaker 2: was sent to members of Congress from both parties. It 346 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:40,439 Speaker 2: was just sent today. This is from an anonymous collective, 347 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 2: identifying themselves only as concerned feature film producers. They explained 348 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 2: that they're leaving the letter unsigned not out of cowardice, 349 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,880 Speaker 2: but of fear of retaliation because Netflix is the considerable 350 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,960 Speaker 2: power as a buyer. In other words, they're employers of 351 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 2: these producers. They're also distributor. Netflix is a major distributor, 352 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:07,880 Speaker 2: right so Netflix with deep, deep pockets, make no mistake, 353 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:13,679 Speaker 2: they are huge winners these days. They may have the 354 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 2: lead in taking Warner Brothers. And basically what they're worried 355 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 2: about is this Netflix, could they say, And it kind 356 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:32,160 Speaker 2: of makes sense destroy the theatrical film marketplace because Netflix 357 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 2: is about streaming. Netflix is about you subscribing and seeing 358 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 2: stuff at home or on your device somewhere. So the 359 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 2: theory is Netflix takes over Warner Brothers and they will 360 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 2: escalate or even eliminate the amount of time that films 361 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:52,440 Speaker 2: would play in theaters before hitting the Netflix HBO Max 362 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 2: streaming platform because they get HBO Max in this Warner 363 00:22:55,400 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 2: Brothers deal. Variety is saying that they have sources that 364 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 2: are saying that Netflix's proposal to acquire Warner Brothers would 365 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:11,479 Speaker 2: have a theatrical window as thin as two weeks. Major 366 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 2: films would run for only two weeks before moving to streaming. 367 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:24,160 Speaker 2: Rival bidders, Comcast and Paramount, both have big theatrical distribution outlets. 368 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 2: Paramount has specifically pledged to keep Warner Brothers operating as 369 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:31,640 Speaker 2: a standalone business that will make a minimum of fourteen 370 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:39,919 Speaker 2: films for theaters every year. Netflix would effectively eliminate the 371 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 2: theatrical marketplace in the way that we know it is 372 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 2: their concern. So the footprint of theatrical movies would be 373 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 2: so constricted and so limited. What happens, all of a sudden, 374 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:59,000 Speaker 2: the license fees for those films goes down, so Netflix 375 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 2: can get more movies made. For a song, the quotes 376 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 2: of everybody, from producers to actors to all those concerned, 377 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 2: they all get busted down. The jocking for position is huge, 378 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 2: and this is a letter that speaks to what I 379 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:23,679 Speaker 2: think is a real concern for these major constituencies that 380 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 2: are part of Hollywood. They talk about the fact that 381 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 2: the co CEO of Netflix, a guy named Ted Sarandos, 382 00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 2: has said before that Netflix's business model has nothing to 383 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 2: do with movie theaters. Driving folks to a theater is 384 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 2: just not our business, he said. So they're saying, like, 385 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 2: what more evidence do you need that if you give 386 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:52,119 Speaker 2: them Warner Brothers, they're essentially going to eliminate the theater business. 387 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 2: So all of us theater owners, they call them exhibitors 388 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:58,360 Speaker 2: in the business, all the exhibitors, they stand to lose 389 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 2: even more than they're already losing. It was tough for 390 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 2: them through COVID and now they somehow have to come back. 391 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 2: This letter to Congress finished up by urging members of 392 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 2: the House and Senate to speak out publicly against the 393 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:21,640 Speaker 2: acquisition and use this moment to impose the highest level 394 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:26,960 Speaker 2: of antitrust scrutiny. They say, millions of jobs and a 395 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 2: treasured art form. They note the movie business is at stake. 396 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 2: So all of you who live and work around Hollywood, 397 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:38,560 Speaker 2: who enjoy the fact that you know people who are 398 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:42,480 Speaker 2: in the movie business, you feel connected to that business 399 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,959 Speaker 2: at all, Even those of us who just enjoy movies, 400 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,679 Speaker 2: They would say certainly that that business is going to 401 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 2: change dramatically if Netflix becomes the party that takes over 402 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:01,879 Speaker 2: Warner Brothers. Netflix is a stream platform and they have 403 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 2: an interest in streaming, not in exhibitors and movie theater 404 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:11,440 Speaker 2: owners running their stuff. That's the state of the state, 405 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:15,400 Speaker 2: at least as many see it right now. The other 406 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,480 Speaker 2: part of that, and I won't get into it now, 407 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 2: is what happens to CNN. CNN could be taken over 408 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:24,199 Speaker 2: and would be taken over by the new owners if 409 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 2: it's the Ellison group, and it very well might be. 410 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 2: They're a right wing group, very Trump friendly and people 411 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:34,560 Speaker 2: are concerned that all of a sudden that becomes yet 412 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 2: another outpost that is essentially cranking propaganda for the right. 413 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:43,120 Speaker 2: So there's a lot wrapped up in this Warner Brothers deal. 414 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:45,920 Speaker 2: It'll be interesting to see what happens. And I'm leaving 415 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 2: the money completely out of it. I mean, there's a 416 00:26:47,880 --> 00:26:51,879 Speaker 2: whole oral of the offer and doubling the offer, and 417 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:53,919 Speaker 2: they're you know, it's like the hottest house on the 418 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 2: block finally comes up for sale and everybody's jockeying for 419 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 2: position and concerned about who's going to be moving in. 420 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 2: Mark Thompson sitting in on KFI were KFI AM six 421 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 2: forty live everywhere on the iHeartRadio app. 422 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:11,680 Speaker 1: You're listening to KFI AM six forty on demand. 423 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:20,920 Speaker 2: Mark Thompson sitting in on a Thursday night. Well, they 424 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 2: brought that Admiral Bradley in. Yeah, behind closed doors. He 425 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:30,400 Speaker 2: narrated the video. 426 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:31,879 Speaker 3: Of that second strike. 427 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:35,439 Speaker 2: There were actually, you know, four strikes on that alleged 428 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,680 Speaker 2: drug vessel that was off the coast of Venezuela. First 429 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:44,400 Speaker 2: there were none. And this is the problem you hear 430 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:48,440 Speaker 2: from the administration from Pete Hegseth. There's nothing to hear. 431 00:27:48,480 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 2: The whole thing is this is pectition's made up. Then 432 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:58,520 Speaker 2: turns out there was a second hit, and then it 433 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,560 Speaker 2: turns out that there was actually a third and fourth 434 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:04,800 Speaker 2: hit on the boat. But then there's a question of legality, 435 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,240 Speaker 2: and so they bring in the admiral who was mentioned 436 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 2: by heg Seth. Hag Seth is an interesting guy. He's 437 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:17,639 Speaker 2: I want to take full responsibility. You can imagine, we 438 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 2: are very busy at the Department of War, and I 439 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 2: saw the initial blast, but then I had other meetings 440 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 2: to attend. And then he mentioned this admiral, and so 441 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:34,360 Speaker 2: this admiral testified today in closed door hearings before Congress. 442 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 9: I saw in that room was one of the most 443 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:38,800 Speaker 9: troubling things I've seen in my time in public service. 444 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:43,280 Speaker 2: So this is what people who are legislators are saying 445 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 2: as they leave that closed door meeting. 446 00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 9: I saw in that room was one of the most 447 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 9: troubling things I've seen in my time in public service. 448 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:55,720 Speaker 9: You have two individuals in clear distress who were. 449 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 3: Killed by the United States. 450 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 9: The fundamental question is is the country safer than it 451 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 9: was under the Bide administration. 452 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:07,600 Speaker 3: I think the answer to that is not equivocally yes. 453 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 10: President Trump has stood by hag Seth, but pressure is 454 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 10: mounting as questions grow about the legality under international law 455 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 10: of targeting survivors. Congress is demanding the intel behind the strikes. 456 00:29:21,880 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 10: A new Pentagon report says Secretary Hegseeth put US troops 457 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:27,800 Speaker 10: at risk by sharing sensitive military plans. 458 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:29,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, this is the one thing that then leads to 459 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 2: the other thing, like Hegseth is, you know, okay, you 460 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 2: dodged the first thing where it's questionable. I mean, you've 461 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 2: got people like Rand Paul, who's probably his most vocal 462 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 2: GOP opponent, saying, what are we doing bombing these boats 463 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 2: off the coast of Venezuela. Anyway, I don't understand what's 464 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:49,560 Speaker 2: going on here. I don't get how this entire thing 465 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:52,600 Speaker 2: has been justified in any level. And then of course 466 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 2: Paul makes the additional point, which is, and I don't 467 00:29:56,680 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 2: see how you can justify doubling back and taking out 468 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 2: these survivors. So you've got that, but then this unrelated 469 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:11,280 Speaker 2: to that additional pressure on Hegseth because of the signal 470 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 2: chat scandal. 471 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,520 Speaker 10: A new Pentagon report says Secretary Hegseth put US troops 472 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:19,160 Speaker 10: at risk by sharing sensitive military plans on his personal 473 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 10: phone using the unapproved signal app. HeiG Seth had the 474 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:28,120 Speaker 10: authority to declassify the information, but critics say his actions 475 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:32,720 Speaker 10: and endangered pilots and active missions. Lawmakers argue lower ranking 476 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 10: officials would have serious penalties, would face those serious penalties 477 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 10: for the same thing. Hegseth denies any wrongdoing, calling the 478 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 10: report quote a total exoneration. 479 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean that was the that's kind of the plan. Right. 480 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:49,000 Speaker 2: Let's not look at the report. By the way, you 481 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:51,000 Speaker 2: can look at the report. You can read the report yourself. 482 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 2: I read it this morning, and you know, total exeneration 483 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:57,120 Speaker 2: is not what the report is. But it was a 484 00:30:57,120 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 2: little like you remember when the Motor report came out. 485 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 2: You had build bar come out and sa out, there's 486 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:03,200 Speaker 2: no collusion, there's no this, there's no when you actually 487 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 2: read the report, that's not what it says. But anyway, 488 00:31:06,800 --> 00:31:09,960 Speaker 2: Pete Hegseth, regardless of where you sit on all of 489 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:14,040 Speaker 2: these issues, is embattled. And I'll tell you frankly, I 490 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 2: think you're going to see Donald Trump hang on to 491 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:19,200 Speaker 2: him for as long as he possibly can. And there's 492 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:22,200 Speaker 2: one there's at least one reason, and I think two 493 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 2: reasons that Trump will hang on to Hegseths as long 494 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:29,920 Speaker 2: as he as he will. And I make this point 495 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:33,480 Speaker 2: because I think it's reasonable to ask, how come Trump 496 00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:38,520 Speaker 2: is so good protecting Hegseth, who's clearly got a bigger 497 00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 2: and bigger stink around him. You know, he's a controversial figure. 498 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,440 Speaker 2: He doesn't seem to have the respect of the military. 499 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 2: A lot of military resignations. One admiral actually resigned because 500 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 2: he didn't want a countenance. He wasn't cool with this 501 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:59,640 Speaker 2: plan and strategy in the Caribbean. How come there's no 502 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:04,600 Speaker 2: for too, you know, newter heg Seth. I think there 503 00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 2: are two reasons. One is I think that Donald Trump 504 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 2: expended a lot of capital politically to get heg Seth 505 00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:17,080 Speaker 2: across the finish line of confirmation. You remember, it was 506 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 2: a really controversial appointment. There were allegations, I mean demonstrable 507 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:30,160 Speaker 2: allegations of drinking. There were also allegations of sexual harassment, 508 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 2: which is kind of a polite way to put it. 509 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:35,920 Speaker 2: He paid off a woman fifty thousand dollars to drop 510 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 2: her allegations of sexual assault. 511 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:39,240 Speaker 3: These are all things. 512 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:43,080 Speaker 2: His mother wrote a letter saying that he had a 513 00:32:43,080 --> 00:32:48,240 Speaker 2: problem with drinking and womanizing and a general disposition that 514 00:32:48,480 --> 00:32:54,600 Speaker 2: was one that reflected misbehavior. He's kind of a frat boy, 515 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:59,719 Speaker 2: you know. And the more you got letters regarding his 516 00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 2: behavior through the years, it reflected that. 517 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 3: So Donald Trump had to really make calls and lean. 518 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:11,240 Speaker 2: On legislators to get it passed, that is to say, 519 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 2: to get that confirmation passed, and he did. And so 520 00:33:17,280 --> 00:33:21,760 Speaker 2: I think so much political capital was expended that he's 521 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:25,720 Speaker 2: loath to quickly let go of this guy, even though 522 00:33:25,800 --> 00:33:30,440 Speaker 2: clearly he has a radioactivity about him, or a growing radioactivity. 523 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 2: The second thing I think is related to and this 524 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:37,920 Speaker 2: may be something that you like, or it might be 525 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 2: something that you find abhorrent or that you find disgusting 526 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:46,040 Speaker 2: or you recoil from, and that is he's sort of 527 00:33:46,760 --> 00:33:50,880 Speaker 2: Trumpion in the fact that he smack talks, he goes 528 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:54,880 Speaker 2: after the press. He's very good going after the press 529 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:56,720 Speaker 2: and very aggressive going after the press. And if you 530 00:33:56,840 --> 00:34:00,080 Speaker 2: view the press as your enemy, as Trump does, and 531 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:04,440 Speaker 2: you view the strategy that hegset employees as a positive, 532 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:08,960 Speaker 2: so to have kind of an attack dog there, you know, 533 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:13,319 Speaker 2: the square jawed military man who can talk the talk 534 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:19,480 Speaker 2: and goes after the press. Trump likes that, so he 535 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:22,120 Speaker 2: fits the profile, if you will, And I think those 536 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 2: two things put hegset in a fairly secure position. But 537 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:31,760 Speaker 2: the last thing I'll say is he's losing the military 538 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:34,040 Speaker 2: in a big way. And the reason you know that 539 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 2: is that these stories are coming from press that isn't 540 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:41,759 Speaker 2: even at the Pentagon anymore. How do we know that 541 00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:44,839 Speaker 2: because they had to sign that pledge to remain at 542 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:48,120 Speaker 2: the Pentagon, and the Washington Post, New York Times, ABCCBS, 543 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:51,239 Speaker 2: NBC they didn't sign that pledge. The pledge was I 544 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:55,640 Speaker 2: won't report anything out of the Pentagon concerning the military 545 00:34:56,120 --> 00:35:02,560 Speaker 2: unless it's cleared through the Office Ofartment of Defense, and 546 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:05,400 Speaker 2: that seemed absurd. In fact, the New York Times is 547 00:35:05,480 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 2: suing over that right now. So how do we get 548 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:12,560 Speaker 2: this story. We get it because people inside the Pentagon 549 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:15,920 Speaker 2: are reaching out to the media. They're so shocked by this. 550 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,280 Speaker 2: So that's what I mean when I say he's losing 551 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:21,879 Speaker 2: control of the military. It'll be very interesting to see 552 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:23,680 Speaker 2: what happens over the next six months or so and 553 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:26,960 Speaker 2: their real lives at stake here. So the stakes are high, 554 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:31,520 Speaker 2: for sure. But again, those closed door hearings were completed, 555 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,480 Speaker 2: and it sounds like things are kind of breaking along 556 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:39,399 Speaker 2: party lines. Democrats shocked and Republicans it seems, at least 557 00:35:39,440 --> 00:35:44,799 Speaker 2: preliminarily able to hold their nose and deal with it. 558 00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:49,320 Speaker 2: So Mark Thompson here on Thursday night. We're KFI AM 559 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 2: six forty. By the way, when we come back, we'll 560 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:55,400 Speaker 2: check the what is it, nikki the line what do 561 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:58,040 Speaker 2: they call it? Talk back line? We'll check that way, Okay, 562 00:35:58,120 --> 00:36:01,279 Speaker 2: I just checking. I like to use the jargon backline. 563 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:01,600 Speaker 3: All right. 564 00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:05,240 Speaker 2: Thompson here at caf I AM six forty live everywhere 565 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:06,920 Speaker 2: on the iHeartRadio 566 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:10,480 Speaker 1: App KFI A M six forty on demand