1 00:00:04,755 --> 00:00:08,995 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:28,115 --> 00:00:32,035 Speaker 1: Late yesterday afternoon, the Speaker of the House, the Minority Leader, 3 00:00:32,075 --> 00:00:34,635 Speaker 1: and the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee were taken 4 00:00:34,635 --> 00:00:39,235 Speaker 1: into a sensitive compartmented information center at the US Capital 5 00:00:39,515 --> 00:00:43,755 Speaker 1: by the Director of the CIA, William Burns. The Axios 6 00:00:43,755 --> 00:00:48,915 Speaker 1: and Puck News organizations reporting to such secure meetings yesterday 7 00:00:48,915 --> 00:00:51,995 Speaker 1: another involving the so called Gang of Eight Intelligence Group. 8 00:00:52,635 --> 00:00:56,235 Speaker 1: No clue yet as to what or why. But if 9 00:00:56,275 --> 00:01:01,595 Speaker 1: that phrase sensitive compartmented sounds familiar, it should. It's what 10 00:01:01,755 --> 00:01:04,355 Speaker 1: was marked on some of the documents Trump stole. And 11 00:01:04,395 --> 00:01:08,595 Speaker 1: now we know officially trump stole classified documents marked h 12 00:01:08,755 --> 00:01:12,795 Speaker 1: c S identifying people spying for this country, identifying human 13 00:01:12,875 --> 00:01:15,875 Speaker 1: sources for this country, identifying people who worked in secret 14 00:01:15,915 --> 00:01:19,595 Speaker 1: for the CIA. And now we know officially that Trump 15 00:01:19,635 --> 00:01:25,715 Speaker 1: stole classified documents marked s I identifying signals, intercepts, communications 16 00:01:25,755 --> 00:01:29,075 Speaker 1: including bugs, and wire taps undertaken by the National Security 17 00:01:29,115 --> 00:01:32,715 Speaker 1: Agency for this country. And now we know officially that 18 00:01:32,755 --> 00:01:37,435 Speaker 1: Trump stole classified documents marked FISA identifying the Foreign Intelligence 19 00:01:37,475 --> 00:01:42,235 Speaker 1: and Surveillance Act anti terrorism surveillance and wire taps ostensibly 20 00:01:42,275 --> 00:01:46,715 Speaker 1: directed against suspected espionage or terrorism operations. And now we 21 00:01:46,795 --> 00:01:50,715 Speaker 1: know officially that Trump took thirty eight top secret documents 22 00:01:50,715 --> 00:01:54,715 Speaker 1: marked f s I or HCS at least thirty eight, 23 00:01:55,155 --> 00:01:57,995 Speaker 1: since that number thirty eight is how many were returned 24 00:01:58,595 --> 00:02:01,235 Speaker 1: when the Archives and the Department of Justice and FBI 25 00:02:01,355 --> 00:02:04,395 Speaker 1: first got their subpoena to get materials back from our 26 00:02:04,755 --> 00:02:09,475 Speaker 1: clear kleptomaniac. A series of news organizations now have reported 27 00:02:09,915 --> 00:02:13,275 Speaker 1: all of this data previously, but this is now official. 28 00:02:13,395 --> 00:02:17,235 Speaker 1: This is now released publicly Tuesday in a second, less 29 00:02:17,315 --> 00:02:20,715 Speaker 1: redacted version of the affidavit used to get the August 30 00:02:20,755 --> 00:02:25,155 Speaker 1: eighth search warrant at Mari Lago connected to the two 31 00:02:25,195 --> 00:02:28,075 Speaker 1: sudden secret meetings with the CIA chief at the Capitol 32 00:02:28,115 --> 00:02:32,435 Speaker 1: at close of business yesterday coincidence we do not know, However, 33 00:02:33,235 --> 00:02:36,835 Speaker 1: we do know that it is incontrovertible. Now Donald Trump 34 00:02:36,915 --> 00:02:41,875 Speaker 1: is at minimum a suspect in dozens of cases of espionage, 35 00:02:42,315 --> 00:02:47,195 Speaker 1: of classified document misshandling, a classified document theft, and he, 36 00:02:47,875 --> 00:02:51,915 Speaker 1: this treacherous criminal, continues to try to hide in some 37 00:02:52,035 --> 00:02:55,755 Speaker 1: gray area in which he can publicly claim he declassified 38 00:02:55,795 --> 00:02:58,755 Speaker 1: all these documents, while his lawyers continue to avoid such 39 00:02:58,795 --> 00:03:02,395 Speaker 1: a claim on the record. Because they know it is refuted. Factually, 40 00:03:03,235 --> 00:03:07,075 Speaker 1: the government has warned appointed Judge Eileen Cannon that she 41 00:03:07,275 --> 00:03:10,355 Speaker 1: needs to stop hiding in the same gray area because 42 00:03:10,395 --> 00:03:13,675 Speaker 1: she is now providing a legal fig leaf for Trump's 43 00:03:13,715 --> 00:03:20,315 Speaker 1: tiny morality. The documents had, the filing reads quote markings 44 00:03:20,315 --> 00:03:25,195 Speaker 1: signifying that their unauthorized disclosure reasonably could be expected to 45 00:03:25,235 --> 00:03:29,155 Speaker 1: result in damage to the national security. The phrases irreparable 46 00:03:29,235 --> 00:03:34,715 Speaker 1: harm and exceptionally grave damage were also used. Legal experts 47 00:03:34,755 --> 00:03:37,675 Speaker 1: say the new filing also hits Trump's attorneys where they 48 00:03:37,715 --> 00:03:41,155 Speaker 1: live and could erase at least some of any attorney 49 00:03:41,195 --> 00:03:45,355 Speaker 1: client privilege. His lawyers repeatedly told the government they had 50 00:03:45,435 --> 00:03:48,555 Speaker 1: been told that all the secret documents had been returned. 51 00:03:48,715 --> 00:03:51,635 Speaker 1: Who told them that? Who could have told them that? 52 00:03:52,155 --> 00:03:55,235 Speaker 1: But Trump. If the lawyers lied to the government, they 53 00:03:55,235 --> 00:03:58,435 Speaker 1: could face prison time. If they misled the government, because 54 00:03:58,475 --> 00:04:02,755 Speaker 1: Trump lied to them, they could avoid any punishment. And 55 00:04:02,835 --> 00:04:07,195 Speaker 1: the investigation of Trump has also been in progress far 56 00:04:07,275 --> 00:04:10,595 Speaker 1: longer than any of us knew. The new government filing 57 00:04:10,635 --> 00:04:14,235 Speaker 1: says the d o J sought surveillance video from Marilago 58 00:04:14,315 --> 00:04:18,555 Speaker 1: from as long ago as January, and the House Oversight 59 00:04:18,595 --> 00:04:21,955 Speaker 1: Committee Chair Carol and Maloney confirmed something else we thought 60 00:04:21,995 --> 00:04:25,235 Speaker 1: we've known all along that the National Archives still is 61 00:04:25,275 --> 00:04:28,395 Speaker 1: not sure it has gotten back all of our documents 62 00:04:28,515 --> 00:04:31,675 Speaker 1: from the trees and his thief Trump, the treason, his 63 00:04:32,475 --> 00:04:37,155 Speaker 1: Q and On member thief Trump. He has reposted a 64 00:04:37,195 --> 00:04:41,875 Speaker 1: photoshopped image of himself on social media wearing a Q 65 00:04:42,115 --> 00:04:45,515 Speaker 1: and On pin on his lapel, an image surrounded by 66 00:04:45,515 --> 00:04:48,875 Speaker 1: a Q and On catchphrase, including one which should make 67 00:04:48,955 --> 00:04:51,475 Speaker 1: us fear that he is about to bring violence back 68 00:04:51,475 --> 00:04:54,435 Speaker 1: into the madness. We still inexplicably permit and suffer from 69 00:04:54,435 --> 00:05:01,155 Speaker 1: this scoundrel quote, the storm is coming, As Q and 70 00:05:01,235 --> 00:05:04,475 Speaker 1: On experts remind us, the quote storm unquote is a 71 00:05:04,715 --> 00:05:08,755 Speaker 1: very specific scenario to the Q and On collective psychosis. 72 00:05:09,435 --> 00:05:13,715 Speaker 1: Trump rounding up all his political enemies, forcing them before 73 00:05:13,715 --> 00:05:18,675 Speaker 1: a military tribunal, and then having them hanged. And it's 74 00:05:18,675 --> 00:05:23,115 Speaker 1: all idle madness until you hear that police in Pennsylvania 75 00:05:23,195 --> 00:05:25,955 Speaker 1: have now acknowledged that they have charged a sixty one 76 00:05:26,035 --> 00:05:28,475 Speaker 1: year old man who walked into a dairy queen in 77 00:05:28,475 --> 00:05:31,555 Speaker 1: the town of Delmont a rainbow wig on his head 78 00:05:31,795 --> 00:05:33,915 Speaker 1: and a revolver in his hand and two more in 79 00:05:33,995 --> 00:05:36,315 Speaker 1: his car, and he told the police. He needed the 80 00:05:36,355 --> 00:05:40,435 Speaker 1: weapons to protect himself from quote drug traffickers, and he 81 00:05:40,515 --> 00:05:43,515 Speaker 1: needed them in order to quote kill democrats and liberals 82 00:05:43,875 --> 00:05:47,875 Speaker 1: and force the police to quote restore Trump to president 83 00:05:48,035 --> 00:05:51,515 Speaker 1: King of the United States. But tell me again, Judge, 84 00:05:51,555 --> 00:05:57,515 Speaker 1: about the necessity of a special master. The dairy queen 85 00:05:57,595 --> 00:06:00,315 Speaker 1: would be killer. Is only about a step or two 86 00:06:00,355 --> 00:06:03,395 Speaker 1: pass the level of insanity required to run for the 87 00:06:03,435 --> 00:06:07,475 Speaker 1: Senate as a Republican, ask Lindsay Graham. First came Graham's 88 00:06:07,475 --> 00:06:11,475 Speaker 1: repudiation of his repudiation of Trump. Then came his second 89 00:06:11,515 --> 00:06:15,275 Speaker 1: repudiation of his repudiation of Trump in January two one. 90 00:06:15,435 --> 00:06:17,875 Speaker 1: Then last month he warned that if Trump were indicted, 91 00:06:18,035 --> 00:06:22,035 Speaker 1: there would be riots in the streets. Now Graham has 92 00:06:22,075 --> 00:06:25,515 Speaker 1: gotten himself in trouble with his own party. After the 93 00:06:25,635 --> 00:06:29,555 Speaker 1: years of political machinations carefully designed to get Roe v. 94 00:06:29,795 --> 00:06:35,275 Speaker 1: Wade overturned without well without riots in the streets, Graham 95 00:06:35,395 --> 00:06:39,395 Speaker 1: ruined the plot line the Mitch McConnell plan all along 96 00:06:39,635 --> 00:06:42,275 Speaker 1: was to get it repealed by a Supreme Court full 97 00:06:42,315 --> 00:06:46,595 Speaker 1: of political hacks. Then insist, at least insist through the 98 00:06:46,635 --> 00:06:50,195 Speaker 1: next election that the Republicans wanted to leave regulation of 99 00:06:50,235 --> 00:06:53,955 Speaker 1: abortion to the states, and then after that election revealed 100 00:06:54,355 --> 00:06:58,995 Speaker 1: national legislation to all but eliminate abortion. Lindsey Graham can't wait. 101 00:06:59,475 --> 00:07:02,235 Speaker 1: He has announced a bill, and he has no Republican 102 00:07:02,315 --> 00:07:05,835 Speaker 1: Senate co sponsors yet because the party line is no. 103 00:07:06,195 --> 00:07:08,275 Speaker 1: Of course, the Republicans want this left to the states. 104 00:07:08,395 --> 00:07:11,835 Speaker 1: It states rights, That's all it was about. Graham has 105 00:07:11,875 --> 00:07:16,715 Speaker 1: announced his bill to ban abortion after fifteen weeks. On 106 00:07:16,955 --> 00:07:20,675 Speaker 1: May three of this year, Lindsey Graham not only said 107 00:07:21,035 --> 00:07:23,195 Speaker 1: abortion should be left to the states, but insisted he 108 00:07:23,235 --> 00:07:25,355 Speaker 1: had always said abortion should be left to the states 109 00:07:25,515 --> 00:07:29,075 Speaker 1: and insisted he would always say it should be left 110 00:07:29,115 --> 00:07:32,315 Speaker 1: to the states. I've been consistent. I think state should 111 00:07:32,355 --> 00:07:35,275 Speaker 1: decide the issue of marriage and stay should decide the 112 00:07:35,275 --> 00:07:40,515 Speaker 1: issue of abortion. May three, four months and ten days later. 113 00:07:40,555 --> 00:07:47,235 Speaker 1: The hypocrisy was so extraordinary that even reporters noticed Steel 114 00:07:49,115 --> 00:08:02,435 Speaker 1: every single decide, yes, here you are introducing awide. I'm 115 00:08:02,435 --> 00:08:05,635 Speaker 1: wondering how you swear those two states pretty easy. After 116 00:08:05,715 --> 00:08:08,875 Speaker 1: they introduced the bill to define who they are, I 117 00:08:08,875 --> 00:08:10,635 Speaker 1: thought it would be nice to introduce a bill to 118 00:08:10,715 --> 00:08:13,835 Speaker 1: find who we are. We know who you are. We're 119 00:08:13,875 --> 00:08:17,435 Speaker 1: just arguing about the price. Graham may not have any 120 00:08:17,475 --> 00:08:20,315 Speaker 1: co sponsors, and he may not have any Republican senators 121 00:08:20,315 --> 00:08:22,915 Speaker 1: who don't want to strangle him. But he did bring 122 00:08:23,115 --> 00:08:26,435 Speaker 1: charts showing that the fifteen week limit is in line 123 00:08:26,475 --> 00:08:30,115 Speaker 1: with the limits in France, England, Sweden, Switzerland. He tweeted 124 00:08:30,315 --> 00:08:33,155 Speaker 1: quote to oppose this legislation makes you out of the 125 00:08:33,235 --> 00:08:37,235 Speaker 1: mainstream of the world, which is interesting because it says 126 00:08:37,275 --> 00:08:40,475 Speaker 1: to his America first maga clowns that they must accept 127 00:08:40,595 --> 00:08:44,395 Speaker 1: laws crafted in another country. And it also underscores that 128 00:08:44,435 --> 00:08:46,995 Speaker 1: all of those countries whose laws Graham wants to apply 129 00:08:47,195 --> 00:08:51,675 Speaker 1: here also have comprehensive sex education and free abortion and 130 00:08:51,715 --> 00:08:59,035 Speaker 1: pregnancy care and free contraceptives. And on a more base level, 131 00:08:59,875 --> 00:09:01,955 Speaker 1: Lindsey Graham just shot his own party in the foot. 132 00:09:02,435 --> 00:09:08,715 Speaker 1: To my Democratic friends, you're going around call on all 133 00:09:08,715 --> 00:09:11,915 Speaker 1: of us every name you can think of. We're a 134 00:09:11,915 --> 00:09:16,915 Speaker 1: bunch of wackos. Your ideas wacko, not ours. It's like 135 00:09:16,995 --> 00:09:20,275 Speaker 1: getting to listen to Senator Daniel Webster live or Senator 136 00:09:20,355 --> 00:09:25,715 Speaker 1: Charles Sumner, Senator Thaddeus Stevens. Your idea is wacko, not ours. 137 00:09:25,795 --> 00:09:27,995 Speaker 1: Let's put that on the base of a statue. By 138 00:09:28,035 --> 00:09:30,115 Speaker 1: the way, lindsay to my Democratic friends. You don't have 139 00:09:30,155 --> 00:09:33,155 Speaker 1: any Democratic friends, and after this, I'm not sure you 140 00:09:33,155 --> 00:09:36,555 Speaker 1: have any Republican friends. Lindsey Graham also needs to be 141 00:09:36,595 --> 00:09:39,035 Speaker 1: reminded that he is now a fringe figure in the 142 00:09:39,115 --> 00:09:44,195 Speaker 1: party of Lauren Bobert and Mike Lindell. Mike Lindell says 143 00:09:44,195 --> 00:09:48,395 Speaker 1: the FBI confronted him at a fast food restaurant in Mankato, Minnesota, 144 00:09:48,675 --> 00:09:51,995 Speaker 1: and showed him a search warrant for his phone. Lindell 145 00:09:52,115 --> 00:09:54,795 Speaker 1: has told two versions of this story, one in which 146 00:09:54,835 --> 00:09:58,435 Speaker 1: the FBI got him in the Mankato Hardias and he complained, 147 00:09:58,995 --> 00:10:00,835 Speaker 1: and another in which the FBI got him in the 148 00:10:00,835 --> 00:10:05,475 Speaker 1: Mankato Arby's and he complained. One can only hope that, 149 00:10:05,555 --> 00:10:07,635 Speaker 1: in fact, the agents turned to him and said, sir, 150 00:10:07,795 --> 00:10:12,155 Speaker 1: this is a Wendy's and speaking of morons and food 151 00:10:13,075 --> 00:10:17,035 Speaker 1: Representative Lauren Bobert, and she has storm from behind to 152 00:10:17,115 --> 00:10:20,115 Speaker 1: regain the top spot in the rankings for dumbest person 153 00:10:20,235 --> 00:10:23,675 Speaker 1: in Congress. These are the people Trump has given to 154 00:10:23,795 --> 00:10:29,435 Speaker 1: us like a venereal disease. Bobert addressed the Truth and 155 00:10:29,555 --> 00:10:34,075 Speaker 1: Liberty Coalition, a theocratic Christian nationalist organization, demanding that the 156 00:10:34,155 --> 00:10:38,315 Speaker 1: nation apply the Bible as law. Bobert actually made a 157 00:10:38,435 --> 00:10:42,595 Speaker 1: jackass out of herself simply while reading the Bible aloud 158 00:10:42,875 --> 00:10:47,195 Speaker 1: in Woodland Park, Colorado, last Friday, but the sound and 159 00:10:47,275 --> 00:10:51,675 Speaker 1: the video only turned up last night. Are you there? God? 160 00:10:51,955 --> 00:10:58,475 Speaker 1: It's her stupid all hell proc louse, rampant evil grabbing 161 00:10:58,475 --> 00:11:03,275 Speaker 1: and crasping, vicious factstabbing. They made life hell on earth 162 00:11:03,595 --> 00:11:05,795 Speaker 1: with their envy on Tom killing. I don't know what 163 00:11:05,795 --> 00:11:08,955 Speaker 1: a Wanton killing is. I'm gonna have to look that 164 00:11:08,995 --> 00:11:14,715 Speaker 1: one up, but it sounds interesting. I don't think I 165 00:11:14,755 --> 00:11:17,635 Speaker 1: want to be a part of it. That would be wanton, 166 00:11:18,355 --> 00:11:23,515 Speaker 1: not Wanton Wanton. The Wanton killings oc Curd of course 167 00:11:24,595 --> 00:11:28,715 Speaker 1: at the heartsease in Mankato, Minnesota, so bad they had 168 00:11:28,755 --> 00:11:41,875 Speaker 1: to send in the Gaspacho police. Still ahead on countdown 169 00:11:41,995 --> 00:11:45,755 Speaker 1: polling that has Rapiel Warnock up by ten in Georgia 170 00:11:45,835 --> 00:11:49,395 Speaker 1: over herschel Walker, Josh Shapiro up by nineteen over mass 171 00:11:49,395 --> 00:11:53,195 Speaker 1: Triano in Pennsylvania. Could it be real? Aaron Judge has 172 00:11:53,235 --> 00:11:56,235 Speaker 1: fifty seven home runs now, and he's got competition for 173 00:11:56,275 --> 00:11:59,355 Speaker 1: the record from a twenty two year old baseball player 174 00:11:59,435 --> 00:12:03,115 Speaker 1: you have never heard of. And it's Steve Bannon's War Room, 175 00:12:03,195 --> 00:12:07,155 Speaker 1: brought to you by brought to you by who who 176 00:12:07,395 --> 00:12:21,555 Speaker 1: sponsors Steve Mannon's Insurrection Hour. That's next this Ciscountdown. You know, 177 00:12:21,675 --> 00:12:28,875 Speaker 1: this is Countdown with you know Keith Alan and still 178 00:12:28,915 --> 00:12:32,555 Speaker 1: ahead on Countdown Richard, the infamous Clinton persecutor Ken Star 179 00:12:32,795 --> 00:12:34,595 Speaker 1: is dead and it looks like a lot of us 180 00:12:34,675 --> 00:12:38,395 Speaker 1: were able to skip that thing that says, don't speak 181 00:12:38,435 --> 00:12:42,715 Speaker 1: ill of the dead. Plus in sports, the Los Angeles 182 00:12:42,795 --> 00:12:46,395 Speaker 1: Angels than Anaheim Angels California Angels. Could they have been 183 00:12:46,475 --> 00:12:52,755 Speaker 1: named the Southern California Angels New historical research First. In 184 00:12:52,795 --> 00:12:54,955 Speaker 1: each edition of Countdown, we feature a dog in need 185 00:12:54,995 --> 00:12:57,915 Speaker 1: whom you can help. Every dog has its day. We 186 00:12:57,995 --> 00:13:00,955 Speaker 1: go to St. Charles, Illinois and more of the nightmares 187 00:13:00,995 --> 00:13:04,795 Speaker 1: of Puppy Mills and Geraldine. At seven years old, this 188 00:13:04,915 --> 00:13:08,355 Speaker 1: Golden retriever has been pregnant virtually her entire adult life. 189 00:13:08,795 --> 00:13:12,115 Speaker 1: Tiny and Tall Rescue has saved her from this forced breeding, 190 00:13:12,435 --> 00:13:15,115 Speaker 1: but there's still four to five more puppies on the way. 191 00:13:15,475 --> 00:13:18,155 Speaker 1: Plus she needs a home and care, and Tiny and 192 00:13:18,235 --> 00:13:20,915 Speaker 1: Tall is doing a fundraiser for Geraldine with a modest 193 00:13:20,915 --> 00:13:24,395 Speaker 1: goal of raising five You can find Geraldine on Cuddley 194 00:13:24,675 --> 00:13:27,035 Speaker 1: and donate to her there, or just look for my 195 00:13:27,075 --> 00:13:29,995 Speaker 1: tweet about Geraldine on my account for Dogs in Need 196 00:13:30,515 --> 00:13:33,675 Speaker 1: at Tom Jumbo Grumbo on Twitter and thank you for 197 00:13:33,715 --> 00:13:48,435 Speaker 1: doing so. Coming up and countdown, Ken Starr has died. 198 00:13:48,995 --> 00:13:51,195 Speaker 1: That old thing about not speaking ill of the dead 199 00:13:51,715 --> 00:13:54,155 Speaker 1: Ken Star seems to have broken it. A lot of 200 00:13:54,195 --> 00:13:57,595 Speaker 1: ill has been spoken, and I will pile on. Also 201 00:13:57,795 --> 00:14:03,435 Speaker 1: Steve Bannon's War Rooms sponsored by by who. No, this 202 00:14:03,515 --> 00:14:07,715 Speaker 1: isn't possible. First postscripts to the news. Some headlines, some thoughts, 203 00:14:07,835 --> 00:14:20,355 Speaker 1: some snark. Dateline Alexandria Virginia Senator Raphael Warnuck leading herschel 204 00:14:20,395 --> 00:14:24,435 Speaker 1: Walker in polling in the Georgia Senate race by ten points. 205 00:14:25,155 --> 00:14:29,315 Speaker 1: Stacy Abrams up by one for Governor Katie Hobbs up 206 00:14:29,315 --> 00:14:32,355 Speaker 1: fifty to forty over Carry Lake in the Arizona governor race, 207 00:14:32,515 --> 00:14:38,475 Speaker 1: Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro fifty five, mass Ccriano thirty six. Ordinarily 208 00:14:38,515 --> 00:14:40,915 Speaker 1: I'd say all that is fantasy. But these are new 209 00:14:40,995 --> 00:14:45,475 Speaker 1: polls out from Echelon Insights, which bills itself as the 210 00:14:45,595 --> 00:14:49,155 Speaker 1: Fun Polling Firm. More importantly, it was founded by polster 211 00:14:49,235 --> 00:14:54,835 Speaker 1: Patrick Raffini. Republican and pollster Kristen Saltis Anderson, Republican, whom 212 00:14:54,955 --> 00:14:58,835 Speaker 1: MSNBC once dreamed of as a co host for My 213 00:14:58,995 --> 00:15:03,595 Speaker 1: Possible return There Abrams plus one, Warnuck and Hobbs plus 214 00:15:03,595 --> 00:15:08,395 Speaker 1: ten Shapiro up by nineteen go on Dateline Moscow. Another 215 00:15:08,475 --> 00:15:13,275 Speaker 1: Russian oligarch is dead. Ivan Petrarin, supposedly Putin's favorite to 216 00:15:13,355 --> 00:15:17,675 Speaker 1: develop Russia's resources in the Arctic, is dead at thirty nine, 217 00:15:17,795 --> 00:15:21,795 Speaker 1: just weeks after he attended a major conference hosted by Prutin. 218 00:15:22,435 --> 00:15:26,035 Speaker 1: The good news is he did not defendis s rate. 219 00:15:26,955 --> 00:15:30,435 Speaker 1: He drowned, fell off the side of his boat. They 220 00:15:30,435 --> 00:15:35,275 Speaker 1: couldn't find him for a day. Well, I mean, it's 221 00:15:35,315 --> 00:15:37,355 Speaker 1: just common sense. You probably shouldn't have had your boat 222 00:15:37,475 --> 00:15:50,755 Speaker 1: up there next to that open sixth story window. Thank you, 223 00:15:50,915 --> 00:16:11,115 Speaker 1: Nancy Faust. This is Sports Center. Wait, check that not anymore. 224 00:16:11,755 --> 00:16:20,515 Speaker 1: This is Countdown with Keith Alberman in sports Munitaka Murakami 225 00:16:20,635 --> 00:16:23,675 Speaker 1: and the occult Swallows of Nippon Pro Baseball. The major 226 00:16:23,755 --> 00:16:28,475 Speaker 1: leagues of Japan are off today so well. While Aaron 227 00:16:28,555 --> 00:16:30,395 Speaker 1: Judge of the New York Yankees tries to break the 228 00:16:30,475 --> 00:16:34,315 Speaker 1: legitimate seasonal home run records, here sixty by Babe ruth 229 00:16:34,315 --> 00:16:36,675 Speaker 1: In a hundred and fifty four games sixty one by 230 00:16:36,755 --> 00:16:40,355 Speaker 1: Roger Morrison, a hundred sixty two. Murakami of the Swallows 231 00:16:40,475 --> 00:16:43,715 Speaker 1: is pursuing the Japanese record of sixty homers. He has 232 00:16:43,755 --> 00:16:47,235 Speaker 1: already tied the Japanese native records set by Sadaharu oh 233 00:16:47,235 --> 00:16:51,235 Speaker 1: with fifty five. With seventeen games to go in the season, 234 00:16:51,435 --> 00:16:53,835 Speaker 1: he still has a chance to break the record all 235 00:16:53,955 --> 00:16:56,915 Speaker 1: times set in two thousand thirteen in Japan by the 236 00:16:57,035 --> 00:17:00,875 Speaker 1: Cure Sound native Vladimir Balantine. It is a great story 237 00:17:00,875 --> 00:17:04,355 Speaker 1: to begin with with this twist. Moon A. Murakami is 238 00:17:04,395 --> 00:17:07,715 Speaker 1: two years old, the third baseman will not turn twenty 239 00:17:07,755 --> 00:17:10,355 Speaker 1: three until next February, and he's already hit a hundred 240 00:17:10,395 --> 00:17:13,115 Speaker 1: and fifty nine career homers in Japan and has three 241 00:17:13,155 --> 00:17:16,595 Speaker 1: seasons of thirty six homers or more. Murrakami would not 242 00:17:16,595 --> 00:17:19,115 Speaker 1: be eligible to come to the United States Majors as 243 00:17:19,115 --> 00:17:22,995 Speaker 1: a free agent until he's twenty five. That would be season, 244 00:17:23,355 --> 00:17:25,995 Speaker 1: but that was also the rule for showhy Otani, and 245 00:17:26,035 --> 00:17:28,955 Speaker 1: look he got here when he was twenty three. Otani, 246 00:17:29,035 --> 00:17:32,955 Speaker 1: of course, plays for the Los Angeles Angels pitches designated 247 00:17:33,035 --> 00:17:35,475 Speaker 1: hits and every once in a while threatens to play 248 00:17:35,515 --> 00:17:38,955 Speaker 1: the outfield. And a footnote to Angels history I never 249 00:17:39,035 --> 00:17:42,595 Speaker 1: knew courtesy of my friend Benji Kays, whose father IRV 250 00:17:42,755 --> 00:17:46,075 Speaker 1: was the Angel's original media relations guru and later had 251 00:17:46,115 --> 00:17:49,275 Speaker 1: similar mastery for Al Davis with the l A Raiders. 252 00:17:49,755 --> 00:17:53,675 Speaker 1: The Los Angeles Angels, who has perceptions of what geographical 253 00:17:53,755 --> 00:17:56,635 Speaker 1: designation made the most marketing sense for them, became the 254 00:17:56,715 --> 00:18:00,355 Speaker 1: California Angels in nineteen sixty six, then the Anaheim Angels, 255 00:18:01,715 --> 00:18:05,035 Speaker 1: then the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in two thousand five, 256 00:18:05,395 --> 00:18:07,915 Speaker 1: then back to being the Los Angeles Angels who just 257 00:18:07,995 --> 00:18:10,955 Speaker 1: happened to actually play in Anaheim. In two thousands sixteen, 258 00:18:11,235 --> 00:18:16,515 Speaker 1: they almost became the Southern California Angels. In a nineteen 259 00:18:17,275 --> 00:18:20,995 Speaker 1: memo to erv Ks and four other Angels executives from 260 00:18:20,995 --> 00:18:24,755 Speaker 1: team president and co owner Bob Reynolds, Reynolds ruminates on 261 00:18:24,835 --> 00:18:27,035 Speaker 1: what to call the team when it completes its move 262 00:18:27,075 --> 00:18:31,595 Speaker 1: from Los Angeles to ANAHEIMI in nineteen quoting an interesting 263 00:18:31,675 --> 00:18:35,275 Speaker 1: aspect of this subject, Reynolds rights was a very brief 264 00:18:35,315 --> 00:18:38,595 Speaker 1: conversation with Walter O'Malley. I told him that we hadn't 265 00:18:38,635 --> 00:18:41,755 Speaker 1: determined as yet what we were going to call our club, 266 00:18:42,035 --> 00:18:45,915 Speaker 1: and he immediately volunteered his thought that Anaheim would be 267 00:18:45,955 --> 00:18:50,235 Speaker 1: our best designation. Actually, I sensed that Walter sincerely hopes 268 00:18:50,275 --> 00:18:54,755 Speaker 1: that we do not name ourselves Southern California Angels, because 269 00:18:54,755 --> 00:18:57,555 Speaker 1: such a title would then be one he could never use, 270 00:18:57,955 --> 00:19:00,635 Speaker 1: and someday we might wind up with a greater regional 271 00:19:00,715 --> 00:19:06,235 Speaker 1: support than the Dodgers. Two postscripts. This is totally prophetic. 272 00:19:06,795 --> 00:19:10,955 Speaker 1: Why why aren't they the Southern California Angels. People in 273 00:19:10,995 --> 00:19:16,555 Speaker 1: Southern California love calling their region Southern California so cal 274 00:19:17,035 --> 00:19:19,755 Speaker 1: They did that when I moved there in five It's 275 00:19:19,755 --> 00:19:23,955 Speaker 1: a natural. Second PostScript. This memo from Bob Reynolds to 276 00:19:24,355 --> 00:19:27,035 Speaker 1: Case and the others about the Southern California Angels. It 277 00:19:27,155 --> 00:19:48,315 Speaker 1: is dated January nine, my sixth birthday yesterday. This the 278 00:19:48,395 --> 00:19:52,795 Speaker 1: toccata from Bach is my inner monologue when I think 279 00:19:52,835 --> 00:19:56,235 Speaker 1: of a memo being written on my sixth birthday. Still 280 00:19:56,275 --> 00:19:59,275 Speaker 1: ahead here usually my career recollections things I promised not 281 00:19:59,355 --> 00:20:02,595 Speaker 1: to tell commemorate an anniversary of some kind. Not this time. 282 00:20:02,675 --> 00:20:04,635 Speaker 1: This time it's about the death of the Clinton leew 283 00:20:04,675 --> 00:20:09,035 Speaker 1: Innskey prosecutor Ken Starr, and the lengths NBC tried to 284 00:20:09,035 --> 00:20:11,835 Speaker 1: go to to keep me doing a show that served 285 00:20:11,915 --> 00:20:15,395 Speaker 1: Ken stars perverted purposes. I'm going to read you a 286 00:20:15,475 --> 00:20:18,595 Speaker 1: quote from the president of NBC News from that you 287 00:20:18,635 --> 00:20:21,995 Speaker 1: will not believe even after you hear it first. The 288 00:20:22,075 --> 00:20:24,715 Speaker 1: daily round up of the miscrants, morons, and Dunning Krueger 289 00:20:24,715 --> 00:20:29,795 Speaker 1: effect specimens who constitute today's worst persons in the world. 290 00:20:30,795 --> 00:20:35,475 Speaker 1: The Bronze former NFL quarterback Brett no Pants Farv the 291 00:20:35,595 --> 00:20:38,115 Speaker 1: net is tightening around him in a scandal that saw 292 00:20:38,235 --> 00:20:42,075 Speaker 1: five million dollars worth of Mississippi state welfare funds diverted 293 00:20:42,195 --> 00:20:46,155 Speaker 1: to build a volleyball stadium at Farves alma mater the 294 00:20:46,235 --> 00:20:50,235 Speaker 1: University of Southern Mississippi. Texts now entered into the civil 295 00:20:50,275 --> 00:20:54,035 Speaker 1: lawsuit over the scandal show that Farves push was supported 296 00:20:54,435 --> 00:20:58,555 Speaker 1: by former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. The texts also show 297 00:20:58,635 --> 00:21:01,515 Speaker 1: that there was a separate one point one million dollar 298 00:21:01,875 --> 00:21:06,075 Speaker 1: fund funneled to Farv, quoting him, I could record a 299 00:21:06,115 --> 00:21:09,835 Speaker 1: few radio spots and whatever compensation could go to the 300 00:21:09,915 --> 00:21:12,635 Speaker 1: University of Southern Mississippi. The money he was to get 301 00:21:12,675 --> 00:21:14,955 Speaker 1: for some sort of project would then go into building 302 00:21:14,955 --> 00:21:18,995 Speaker 1: this volleyball stadium, and then five asks, if you were 303 00:21:18,995 --> 00:21:20,995 Speaker 1: to pay me, is there any way the media can 304 00:21:21,035 --> 00:21:23,475 Speaker 1: find out where it came from and how much? And 305 00:21:23,555 --> 00:21:28,355 Speaker 1: one of the other schemesters says no, which obviously turned 306 00:21:28,355 --> 00:21:30,395 Speaker 1: out to be wrong. Since we're hearing about it, Farve 307 00:21:30,395 --> 00:21:33,955 Speaker 1: has not been charged the silver the latest CNN talent 308 00:21:34,035 --> 00:21:36,475 Speaker 1: to sell themselves out in hopes of keeping their job. 309 00:21:36,595 --> 00:21:40,675 Speaker 1: Aaron Burnett's Monday New York magazine put everything and had 310 00:21:40,715 --> 00:21:45,555 Speaker 1: behind what it called a six month investigation into Huns 311 00:21:45,555 --> 00:21:49,635 Speaker 1: Your Buds Laptop Well went over like a lead balloon. 312 00:21:50,195 --> 00:21:53,515 Speaker 1: No traction, no interest in the story almost anywhere on 313 00:21:53,595 --> 00:21:56,995 Speaker 1: social media. Not even the right wingers seemed hopped up 314 00:21:56,995 --> 00:22:02,115 Speaker 1: about it, except from Aaron Burnett's a five minute segment 315 00:22:02,275 --> 00:22:05,755 Speaker 1: on it in a sixty minute news broadcast, including a 316 00:22:05,795 --> 00:22:08,435 Speaker 1: live interview with one of the co authors. The irony 317 00:22:08,475 --> 00:22:13,155 Speaker 1: here is the story wasn't even interesting or salacious. It's 318 00:22:13,195 --> 00:22:15,715 Speaker 1: hard to imagine that what CNN did with that will 319 00:22:15,715 --> 00:22:18,235 Speaker 1: save Burnett from the wrath of the new right wing 320 00:22:18,275 --> 00:22:21,675 Speaker 1: hatchetman running CNN, Chris Licht, or, as I always like 321 00:22:21,755 --> 00:22:24,515 Speaker 1: to to give him, his full title Chairman and chief 322 00:22:24,555 --> 00:22:28,035 Speaker 1: executive Officers CNN Worldwide and the guy who when we 323 00:22:28,035 --> 00:22:31,595 Speaker 1: were at MSNBC together, I used to think eight paced. 324 00:22:32,755 --> 00:22:36,635 Speaker 1: But the winners Etsy and every innocent craftsman making their 325 00:22:36,715 --> 00:22:39,955 Speaker 1: mark via the e commerce home of the vintage and 326 00:22:40,035 --> 00:22:43,515 Speaker 1: handmade stuff. No response yet from at Sea to the 327 00:22:43,515 --> 00:22:46,835 Speaker 1: stunning news from the check my Ads organization that one 328 00:22:46,875 --> 00:22:50,155 Speaker 1: of the big online sponsors on the streaming network Real 329 00:22:50,275 --> 00:22:55,675 Speaker 1: America's voice advertising the site and your Etsy products on 330 00:22:56,355 --> 00:23:01,955 Speaker 1: Steve Bannon's war Room is Etsy. Check my Ads is 331 00:23:01,955 --> 00:23:04,595 Speaker 1: the watchdog revealing how people who would never be caught 332 00:23:04,675 --> 00:23:07,715 Speaker 1: dead on sites like Steve Bannon's war Room are unknowingly 333 00:23:07,795 --> 00:23:10,555 Speaker 1: advertising on them because of deals like the one Etsy 334 00:23:10,635 --> 00:23:15,955 Speaker 1: has with online advertising clearinghouses. Etsy, which helps to fund 335 00:23:16,035 --> 00:23:20,155 Speaker 1: Steve Bannon, has said nothing, but an Etsy seller notes 336 00:23:20,195 --> 00:23:22,995 Speaker 1: this is actually terrifying because they forced sellers to opt 337 00:23:23,115 --> 00:23:26,435 Speaker 1: into advertising after selling a certain amount. The idea that 338 00:23:26,475 --> 00:23:28,515 Speaker 1: my product could show up on a site like that 339 00:23:28,715 --> 00:23:32,955 Speaker 1: absolutely disgusting. Just remember the next time you buy that 340 00:23:33,075 --> 00:23:36,155 Speaker 1: cute medallion for your dog's collar on Etsy, you are 341 00:23:36,275 --> 00:23:44,555 Speaker 1: indirectly paying Steve Bannon. Etsy dot com two days worst 342 00:23:45,395 --> 00:24:02,555 Speaker 1: persons in the world to the number one story on 343 00:24:02,595 --> 00:24:04,875 Speaker 1: the Countdown, and it is still my favorite topic me 344 00:24:05,075 --> 00:24:07,235 Speaker 1: and it is still things I promised not to tell. 345 00:24:07,275 --> 00:24:09,795 Speaker 1: But it is animated this time not by an anniversary, 346 00:24:09,835 --> 00:24:14,555 Speaker 1: but by the death of Kenneth Star. If you miss 347 00:24:14,675 --> 00:24:20,715 Speaker 1: that particular page of history, congratulations. Ken's Star was the 348 00:24:20,755 --> 00:24:25,155 Speaker 1: special counsel in the Bill Clinton case. Ask not for 349 00:24:25,195 --> 00:24:27,475 Speaker 1: whom the bell tolls, it tolls for the I honor 350 00:24:27,595 --> 00:24:31,075 Speaker 1: that sentiment. It resonates with me. But it is just 351 00:24:31,155 --> 00:24:35,915 Speaker 1: as important not to lie about society's malefactors when they die. 352 00:24:37,195 --> 00:24:39,595 Speaker 1: And this society has had a lot of malefactors in 353 00:24:39,635 --> 00:24:41,715 Speaker 1: the last twenty five years, but Ken Starr was near 354 00:24:41,795 --> 00:24:45,755 Speaker 1: the top of the list. Star did not start us 355 00:24:45,755 --> 00:24:48,355 Speaker 1: on the path towards Donald Trump, but he made certain 356 00:24:48,395 --> 00:24:51,795 Speaker 1: that we were stuck on that track, and also on 357 00:24:51,915 --> 00:24:54,795 Speaker 1: the path to nine eleven two. Maybe the most important, 358 00:24:54,835 --> 00:24:57,315 Speaker 1: certainly the most overlooked part of the Star Hunt of 359 00:24:57,355 --> 00:25:01,795 Speaker 1: Bill Clinton, was that the week before it began, the 360 00:25:01,915 --> 00:25:06,715 Speaker 1: guests on My show on MSNBC included terrorism experts warning 361 00:25:06,755 --> 00:25:09,875 Speaker 1: about some guy named Osama bin Laden and his crazy 362 00:25:09,955 --> 00:25:14,435 Speaker 1: plan to attack America in America, and then all of 363 00:25:14,475 --> 00:25:17,155 Speaker 1: a sudden, there was a stained dress and a president 364 00:25:17,275 --> 00:25:19,755 Speaker 1: and an intern, and nobody mentioned Bin Laden again for 365 00:25:19,835 --> 00:25:25,235 Speaker 1: three and a half goddamned years. Most importantly, Ken Starr 366 00:25:25,355 --> 00:25:29,795 Speaker 1: stuck us on that track in which disreputable, dishonest scum 367 00:25:29,835 --> 00:25:32,795 Speaker 1: can dress themselves up in the law so that they 368 00:25:32,795 --> 00:25:37,315 Speaker 1: can break the law like Trump, like this Lindsey Graham, 369 00:25:37,355 --> 00:25:40,875 Speaker 1: and where Republicans, authoritarians, and fascists can declare with a 370 00:25:40,915 --> 00:25:44,755 Speaker 1: straight face that the law must be enforced as long 371 00:25:44,955 --> 00:25:49,275 Speaker 1: as it is enforced against minorities or women or liberals 372 00:25:50,475 --> 00:25:55,435 Speaker 1: Star New Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, Tom Delay. These vermin of 373 00:25:55,475 --> 00:25:59,235 Speaker 1: the nineteen nineties trained generations of conservatives in this country 374 00:25:59,235 --> 00:26:03,835 Speaker 1: to truly believe that they were right everybody else was wrong, 375 00:26:03,875 --> 00:26:09,115 Speaker 1: and moreover, the they were being silenced and canceled and suppressed, 376 00:26:09,715 --> 00:26:12,315 Speaker 1: even though they had their own television network, and then 377 00:26:12,355 --> 00:26:15,675 Speaker 1: another television network, and then a hundred radio networks and 378 00:26:15,715 --> 00:26:20,995 Speaker 1: then ten thousand podcasts. Starr and the others made a 379 00:26:21,075 --> 00:26:24,675 Speaker 1: life and ultimately made a political party out of a 380 00:26:24,795 --> 00:26:27,915 Speaker 1: joke from the British TV comedy series The Young Ones, 381 00:26:28,515 --> 00:26:31,955 Speaker 1: which I often repeat here with the actor Nigel Plainer 382 00:26:32,035 --> 00:26:35,875 Speaker 1: as Neil quoting crucifixion. It's a really negative way to 383 00:26:35,955 --> 00:26:38,435 Speaker 1: kill yourself. I've tried it hundreds of times. There's no 384 00:26:38,475 --> 00:26:42,315 Speaker 1: way you can hammer in that last nail. Well, that's 385 00:26:42,355 --> 00:26:45,555 Speaker 1: the essence of the Republican Party hammering in their own 386 00:26:45,635 --> 00:26:50,595 Speaker 1: last nail. They are being crucified twenty four hours a day, 387 00:26:50,795 --> 00:26:53,715 Speaker 1: three sixty five days a year for the last quarter 388 00:26:53,795 --> 00:26:56,235 Speaker 1: of a century. And when it came to the Clinton 389 00:26:56,315 --> 00:26:59,635 Speaker 1: Lewinsky investigation, Starr and the others very cleverly also made 390 00:26:59,635 --> 00:27:05,635 Speaker 1: an industry out of leaking information, often illegally leaking privileged 391 00:27:05,675 --> 00:27:09,995 Speaker 1: information to the media, which would then run it unquestioned, 392 00:27:09,995 --> 00:27:16,915 Speaker 1: often unreviewed before air because the information guaranteed ratings, and 393 00:27:17,035 --> 00:27:23,155 Speaker 1: ratings guaranteed advertisers, and advertisers guaranteed raises for the executives. 394 00:27:23,595 --> 00:27:27,875 Speaker 1: And I was part of that. At MSNBC, we went 395 00:27:27,915 --> 00:27:31,115 Speaker 1: from literally a high water mark of an audience of 396 00:27:31,235 --> 00:27:35,915 Speaker 1: seventy or eighty thousand viewers a night, high water mark 397 00:27:35,995 --> 00:27:39,115 Speaker 1: for a television network, eighty thousand viewers. We went from 398 00:27:39,115 --> 00:27:42,475 Speaker 1: that overnight to a million, then a million and a half, 399 00:27:42,515 --> 00:27:45,275 Speaker 1: then two million a night, just so long as we 400 00:27:45,435 --> 00:27:50,595 Speaker 1: kept mentioning Bill Clinton, and or Monica Lewinsky. So after 401 00:27:50,635 --> 00:27:52,915 Speaker 1: a couple of months of that, I decided to quit. 402 00:27:53,995 --> 00:27:56,635 Speaker 1: I had just left the office of my new therapist, 403 00:27:56,675 --> 00:27:59,355 Speaker 1: having spent most of the hour talking about the craziest 404 00:27:59,395 --> 00:28:02,995 Speaker 1: person I had yet met in broadcasting, Andy Lack, the 405 00:28:03,035 --> 00:28:06,395 Speaker 1: president of NBC News, the man who made his programming 406 00:28:06,435 --> 00:28:09,875 Speaker 1: decisions based on what Ken Starr had done that day 407 00:28:09,995 --> 00:28:12,515 Speaker 1: when my phone rang out on twenty three straight in 408 00:28:12,555 --> 00:28:17,475 Speaker 1: New York, and it was Andy Lack. Our problem, in 409 00:28:17,555 --> 00:28:20,635 Speaker 1: brief was that we had turned my not too successful 410 00:28:20,755 --> 00:28:25,755 Speaker 1: MSNBC nightly news magazine show of nineteen seven seventy thousand 411 00:28:25,835 --> 00:28:29,395 Speaker 1: viewers a night into the all Bill Clinton Monica Lewinsky 412 00:28:29,435 --> 00:28:33,355 Speaker 1: show of nine two million viewers a night. That there 413 00:28:33,435 --> 00:28:36,035 Speaker 1: was not enough new news about them every night did 414 00:28:36,075 --> 00:28:38,875 Speaker 1: not matter. We did at least one show a night, 415 00:28:38,955 --> 00:28:43,315 Speaker 1: often too often for two hours each just about them. 416 00:28:43,355 --> 00:28:47,555 Speaker 1: If Monica Lewinsky's lawyer said anything more detailed than no comment, 417 00:28:47,995 --> 00:28:52,475 Speaker 1: we stayed on the air until we ran out of guests. 418 00:28:53,315 --> 00:28:57,715 Speaker 1: The whole thing, including television's crazed wall to wall reaction, 419 00:28:58,155 --> 00:29:01,395 Speaker 1: was part of a carefully planned New Gingridge plot in 420 00:29:01,395 --> 00:29:04,595 Speaker 1: which he really thought he could impeach Clinton, and then 421 00:29:04,915 --> 00:29:08,835 Speaker 1: somehow impeach the new president, Al Gore, before Gore could 422 00:29:08,835 --> 00:29:11,475 Speaker 1: get himself a new vice president, which would mean that 423 00:29:11,555 --> 00:29:15,155 Speaker 1: the new new president would be Speaker of the House 424 00:29:15,275 --> 00:29:19,355 Speaker 1: new Gang Rich. He really thought this was going to happen. 425 00:29:20,835 --> 00:29:25,795 Speaker 1: Every aspect of this story was unethical. Clinton's behavior did 426 00:29:25,795 --> 00:29:28,555 Speaker 1: not break the top ten list of unethical, maybe not 427 00:29:28,635 --> 00:29:32,715 Speaker 1: the top one. Whatever Clinton did, ken Starr did something 428 00:29:32,755 --> 00:29:35,475 Speaker 1: worse and the shame in which he would later cover 429 00:29:35,595 --> 00:29:39,195 Speaker 1: himself as the president and chancellor during the sports sexual 430 00:29:39,195 --> 00:29:43,315 Speaker 1: assault scandals at Baylor University, real sexual scandals. None of 431 00:29:43,315 --> 00:29:46,395 Speaker 1: this Clinton crap. That was still fifteen years in the future. 432 00:29:47,755 --> 00:29:50,635 Speaker 1: So I wanted out, let me leave, let me go 433 00:29:50,755 --> 00:29:55,195 Speaker 1: do something else, or change the topic. I was done. 434 00:29:56,075 --> 00:29:58,155 Speaker 1: The problem was every time I said I was done, 435 00:29:58,235 --> 00:30:00,635 Speaker 1: or I let my cynicism about the story escape on 436 00:30:00,675 --> 00:30:05,115 Speaker 1: the air. I once compared ken Starr to Himmler. Every 437 00:30:05,115 --> 00:30:07,195 Speaker 1: time I did something like that, the ratings went up. 438 00:30:07,835 --> 00:30:10,515 Speaker 1: The year before, MSNBC was lucky to get a hundred 439 00:30:10,555 --> 00:30:15,435 Speaker 1: thousand viewers once a month. Now we were upset if 440 00:30:15,435 --> 00:30:17,195 Speaker 1: we did not get a million and a half viewers 441 00:30:17,195 --> 00:30:22,155 Speaker 1: a minute. MSNBC was actually making money, and that was 442 00:30:22,235 --> 00:30:25,955 Speaker 1: almost entirely because of my shows. So when I wanted 443 00:30:25,995 --> 00:30:28,915 Speaker 1: to quit, people like Andy Lack, president of NBC News, 444 00:30:28,955 --> 00:30:32,235 Speaker 1: wanted not to kill me, but to force me to 445 00:30:32,355 --> 00:30:35,955 Speaker 1: stay there and keep talking like that woman newsreader you 446 00:30:35,995 --> 00:30:40,395 Speaker 1: see from North Korean television. To make that possible, Lack 447 00:30:40,475 --> 00:30:44,235 Speaker 1: tried everything he could, promises that I and not Brian Williams, 448 00:30:44,475 --> 00:30:48,475 Speaker 1: would be the next anchor of NBC Nightly News, more money, 449 00:30:48,635 --> 00:30:53,235 Speaker 1: more time off. When that didn't work, more threats, threats 450 00:30:53,235 --> 00:30:58,115 Speaker 1: against my family, literally anything except the first step towards 451 00:30:58,195 --> 00:31:01,115 Speaker 1: letting me change the show, or leave the show, or 452 00:31:01,195 --> 00:31:03,995 Speaker 1: leave the network. And the first step would have been 453 00:31:04,235 --> 00:31:06,715 Speaker 1: to talk to me about it face to face. He 454 00:31:06,795 --> 00:31:10,715 Speaker 1: would not talk to me about it. That was what 455 00:31:10,795 --> 00:31:14,355 Speaker 1: he was calling to tell me on that warm afternoon 456 00:31:14,395 --> 00:31:17,835 Speaker 1: of the seven. He was calling to tell me that 457 00:31:17,915 --> 00:31:21,035 Speaker 1: he couldn't talk to me. It was exactly as crazy 458 00:31:21,075 --> 00:31:24,835 Speaker 1: as it sounds. First I asked Andy Lack if I 459 00:31:24,875 --> 00:31:26,715 Speaker 1: could come up to his office right away to talk 460 00:31:26,755 --> 00:31:28,715 Speaker 1: to him about it. He said no. I asked him 461 00:31:28,715 --> 00:31:30,155 Speaker 1: if we could talk about it on the phone at 462 00:31:30,195 --> 00:31:33,075 Speaker 1: some point, he said no. Then he proceeded to talk 463 00:31:33,115 --> 00:31:35,035 Speaker 1: about it well, he began, if you're calling about this 464 00:31:35,115 --> 00:31:36,755 Speaker 1: meeting of life business, if you just want to stir 465 00:31:36,835 --> 00:31:38,915 Speaker 1: the pot about how you're not satisfied with the show 466 00:31:38,955 --> 00:31:40,435 Speaker 1: at the moment, and I might add only at the 467 00:31:40,475 --> 00:31:42,875 Speaker 1: moment the nuance and subtleties of your career. Well, I 468 00:31:43,075 --> 00:31:45,275 Speaker 1: have to say no, we can't meet. Of course, I'm 469 00:31:45,315 --> 00:31:47,675 Speaker 1: saying that I'm always available to meet with you. I 470 00:31:47,715 --> 00:31:51,755 Speaker 1: love you, but to me uh here, he paused, having 471 00:31:51,795 --> 00:31:55,475 Speaker 1: run out of words, apparently or possibly just to remember 472 00:31:55,475 --> 00:31:59,075 Speaker 1: what he had just said. The news channel ticker in 473 00:31:59,155 --> 00:32:01,435 Speaker 1: my mind now appeared at the bottom of my vision 474 00:32:01,435 --> 00:32:03,755 Speaker 1: and flashed a message about not worrying about what I 475 00:32:03,795 --> 00:32:06,115 Speaker 1: would hear next, that this was a test of the 476 00:32:06,115 --> 00:32:10,315 Speaker 1: Andy Lack Emergency Random Thoughts warning system. It's just not 477 00:32:10,435 --> 00:32:12,675 Speaker 1: the right time. It's premature, it's too early in the process, 478 00:32:12,675 --> 00:32:14,275 Speaker 1: and it's saying it's too early in the process. I'm 479 00:32:14,275 --> 00:32:16,155 Speaker 1: not saying there is a process, it's just that there 480 00:32:16,235 --> 00:32:18,675 Speaker 1: there shouldn't be a process yet, because it's uh, just 481 00:32:18,715 --> 00:32:20,395 Speaker 1: not the right time for this, and I don't think 482 00:32:20,395 --> 00:32:22,795 Speaker 1: we've explored the options fully for improving how you see 483 00:32:22,795 --> 00:32:24,635 Speaker 1: what's happening. When I say we, of course, I mean 484 00:32:24,675 --> 00:32:27,515 Speaker 1: you and Phil Griffin. You and Phil Griffin, because Phil 485 00:32:27,555 --> 00:32:29,515 Speaker 1: is part of this process, not to imply there is 486 00:32:29,555 --> 00:32:31,715 Speaker 1: a process, but rather he's just at the beginning of 487 00:32:31,715 --> 00:32:33,915 Speaker 1: this situation, of the resolution of this situation, not that 488 00:32:33,915 --> 00:32:37,075 Speaker 1: there is a situation that requires resolution necessarily, because I 489 00:32:37,075 --> 00:32:39,515 Speaker 1: think you know, in life, you have many times, many durations, 490 00:32:39,635 --> 00:32:42,355 Speaker 1: many seasons, many years where you might say you're unhappy 491 00:32:42,435 --> 00:32:44,595 Speaker 1: or discontented or in some way not pleased with what 492 00:32:44,635 --> 00:32:46,835 Speaker 1: you're doing. But you'll have plenty of opportunities to make 493 00:32:46,915 --> 00:32:49,275 Speaker 1: changes in the direction of your life. Obviously, not now. 494 00:32:49,755 --> 00:32:51,915 Speaker 1: You made these changes last year, and you committed to it, 495 00:32:51,995 --> 00:32:54,355 Speaker 1: and I committed to it. You've done such an outstanding job, 496 00:32:54,515 --> 00:32:56,635 Speaker 1: a thoroughly outstanding job, that I can't tell you how 497 00:32:56,715 --> 00:32:58,915 Speaker 1: much we value you. I was on Larry King last 498 00:32:58,915 --> 00:33:01,035 Speaker 1: week and Larry said to me, I love Aldermann, and 499 00:33:01,035 --> 00:33:02,755 Speaker 1: I said, I love Alderman, and he said, I wish 500 00:33:02,835 --> 00:33:04,715 Speaker 1: I could be doing for you what he's doing for you. 501 00:33:04,915 --> 00:33:06,915 Speaker 1: This is not that you should think I'm totally blowing 502 00:33:06,955 --> 00:33:09,795 Speaker 1: smoke up your backside, but the critical acclaim, especially the 503 00:33:09,795 --> 00:33:13,235 Speaker 1: insider's critical acclaim. The people whose opinions matter consistently, rating 504 00:33:13,275 --> 00:33:15,075 Speaker 1: you is the best at this on the cutting edge, 505 00:33:15,075 --> 00:33:16,795 Speaker 1: and for that matter, the ratings have been outstanding. And 506 00:33:16,835 --> 00:33:19,235 Speaker 1: I'm fully committed to you in all senses of that word. 507 00:33:19,235 --> 00:33:20,475 Speaker 1: But if you want to talk to me about in 508 00:33:20,515 --> 00:33:23,595 Speaker 1: some way changing what you're doing, it just doesn't enter 509 00:33:23,635 --> 00:33:26,035 Speaker 1: into the equation because things are going so well and 510 00:33:26,035 --> 00:33:27,835 Speaker 1: we're just delighted with the program, and you need to 511 00:33:27,875 --> 00:33:30,555 Speaker 1: understand that on my radar screen, this isn't even on 512 00:33:30,595 --> 00:33:32,715 Speaker 1: the fast track, because why should I say to you. Look, 513 00:33:32,835 --> 00:33:35,475 Speaker 1: I want to change this completely successful show when it's 514 00:33:35,515 --> 00:33:38,115 Speaker 1: been a complete success and a complete success and a 515 00:33:38,195 --> 00:33:40,395 Speaker 1: runaway hit, and everyone says to me how smoothly you've 516 00:33:40,395 --> 00:33:42,395 Speaker 1: made the transition, And I can't talk to you about 517 00:33:42,435 --> 00:33:45,155 Speaker 1: it because I love you. I mean, I'm fully behind you. 518 00:33:45,155 --> 00:33:47,515 Speaker 1: You have my support, in my commitment, my resources, and 519 00:33:47,515 --> 00:33:49,555 Speaker 1: they're all at your back and call anytime you need 520 00:33:49,595 --> 00:33:51,595 Speaker 1: them or you need me. But there aren't any problems, 521 00:33:51,635 --> 00:33:53,195 Speaker 1: and I love the show and the thought of tinkering 522 00:33:53,195 --> 00:33:55,555 Speaker 1: with it or jesting it is just the farthest thing 523 00:33:55,555 --> 00:33:57,715 Speaker 1: from my mind right now. But you have to understand 524 00:33:57,715 --> 00:34:00,755 Speaker 1: I'm completely committed to you and Phil and what you're doing, 525 00:34:00,755 --> 00:34:02,355 Speaker 1: and I just can't talk to you about it now, 526 00:34:02,395 --> 00:34:04,835 Speaker 1: although the door is always open, and you know you 527 00:34:04,875 --> 00:34:06,515 Speaker 1: can call me and talk to me at any time 528 00:34:06,555 --> 00:34:08,995 Speaker 1: about anything. And when I say anything, I mean not this. 529 00:34:09,435 --> 00:34:12,115 Speaker 1: And I can envision changing things because I don't have to. 530 00:34:14,635 --> 00:34:18,355 Speaker 1: That was Andy Lack, the president of NBC News, talking 531 00:34:18,395 --> 00:34:20,955 Speaker 1: to me about not talking to me about changing the 532 00:34:20,995 --> 00:34:25,835 Speaker 1: Clinton Lewinsky TV marathon. It is possible that I have 533 00:34:25,995 --> 00:34:30,395 Speaker 1: not quoted his three minutes spasm of words correctly. But 534 00:34:30,475 --> 00:34:32,755 Speaker 1: if I have not quoted his three minute spasm of 535 00:34:32,755 --> 00:34:38,195 Speaker 1: words correctly, I got God damn close. The night of 536 00:34:38,235 --> 00:34:40,795 Speaker 1: that conversation, it would be the first time I would 537 00:34:40,835 --> 00:34:45,035 Speaker 1: go on MSNBC with Carvassier Kognak mixed into my coffee. 538 00:34:46,435 --> 00:34:50,595 Speaker 1: Ken Starr was at the root of all that. He 539 00:34:50,675 --> 00:34:54,315 Speaker 1: has now died. You're expecting me to say, rest in peace. 540 00:35:04,395 --> 00:35:06,875 Speaker 1: I've on all the damage I can do here. I 541 00:35:06,915 --> 00:35:09,755 Speaker 1: swear to God, that's what he said to me. Help 542 00:35:09,795 --> 00:35:11,755 Speaker 1: me out here. Give this thing a good review or rating, 543 00:35:11,835 --> 00:35:14,515 Speaker 1: or subscribe, or forward it or email it to somebody, 544 00:35:14,595 --> 00:35:18,715 Speaker 1: or send them a text paying them. The countdown theme 545 00:35:18,755 --> 00:35:21,555 Speaker 1: from Beethoven's ninth. The arrange produced and performed by Countdown 546 00:35:21,635 --> 00:35:25,075 Speaker 1: musical directors Brian Ray and John Philip Chanelle. All orchestration 547 00:35:25,155 --> 00:35:28,755 Speaker 1: and keyboards by John Philip Chanelle, guitars, bass and drums 548 00:35:28,755 --> 00:35:31,835 Speaker 1: by Brian Ray. It was produced by t k O Brothers. 549 00:35:32,235 --> 00:35:34,875 Speaker 1: The other Beethoven selections have been arranged and performed by 550 00:35:34,915 --> 00:35:38,955 Speaker 1: No horns allowed. Our sports music the Olberman theme from 551 00:35:39,195 --> 00:35:43,235 Speaker 1: ESPN Too, written by Mitch Warren Davis courtesy of ESPN, Inc. 552 00:35:44,035 --> 00:35:48,075 Speaker 1: Musical comments from Nancy paus the best baseball stadium organist ever, 553 00:35:48,355 --> 00:35:51,875 Speaker 1: and our annuncer today was my friend Richard Lewis. Let's 554 00:35:51,875 --> 00:35:55,875 Speaker 1: countdown for this the si day since Donald Trump's first 555 00:35:55,875 --> 00:35:59,195 Speaker 1: attempted coup against the democratically elected government of the United States. 556 00:35:59,635 --> 00:36:04,155 Speaker 1: Arrest him now, I always still can a new episode tomorrow. 557 00:36:04,235 --> 00:36:06,435 Speaker 1: Till then, I'm Keith All Women. Good morning, good afternoon, 558 00:36:06,475 --> 00:36:17,195 Speaker 1: good night, and good luck. Countdown with Keith all Woman 559 00:36:17,315 --> 00:36:20,795 Speaker 1: is a production of I heart Radio. For more podcasts 560 00:36:20,795 --> 00:36:23,475 Speaker 1: from I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, 561 00:36:23,555 --> 00:36:26,915 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.