1 00:00:04,795 --> 00:00:22,035 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. When 2 00:00:22,115 --> 00:00:24,755 Speaker 1: Trump says there is now a one hundred percent chance 3 00:00:24,795 --> 00:00:27,275 Speaker 1: that there will be major terror attacks in the USA, 4 00:00:27,475 --> 00:00:30,595 Speaker 1: he is right. And after the weekend and yesterday, now 5 00:00:30,595 --> 00:00:33,595 Speaker 1: we know why he is right and what he means. 6 00:00:34,235 --> 00:00:40,515 Speaker 1: He means terror attacks by the Republican Party. For once, 7 00:00:40,635 --> 00:00:46,555 Speaker 1: Trump is right, terrorism is here and the terrorists are 8 00:00:46,595 --> 00:00:50,475 Speaker 1: the Republicans. The GOP under Trump is now the party 9 00:00:50,515 --> 00:00:54,355 Speaker 1: of blackmail and extortion and destruction and terrorism. Vote for us, 10 00:00:54,835 --> 00:00:57,715 Speaker 1: or we will destroy whatever we can get our hands 11 00:00:57,755 --> 00:01:01,595 Speaker 1: on in this country. Joe Biden agrees to a draconian 12 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:04,195 Speaker 1: overreaction to the migration issue that is more than the 13 00:01:04,235 --> 00:01:08,675 Speaker 1: most xenophobic, most dogmatic Republican fascists could ever dream of 14 00:01:08,755 --> 00:01:11,915 Speaker 1: living long enough to see actually enacted, and instead of 15 00:01:12,035 --> 00:01:15,955 Speaker 1: passing it before lunch just in case Biden changes his mind, 16 00:01:16,395 --> 00:01:18,915 Speaker 1: they have lied about it, they have attacked it, they 17 00:01:18,915 --> 00:01:22,595 Speaker 1: have killed it, and they have exacerbated the exact problem 18 00:01:22,635 --> 00:01:25,915 Speaker 1: they had claimed to be fighting. And if they are 19 00:01:25,995 --> 00:01:29,315 Speaker 1: correct in the slightest about the gravity of the border 20 00:01:29,355 --> 00:01:34,555 Speaker 1: and immigration situations, they the Republican Party, they will kill 21 00:01:34,875 --> 00:01:42,035 Speaker 1: Americans as terrorists. They the Republicans will be ushering the 22 00:01:42,075 --> 00:01:47,155 Speaker 1: criminals they claim are seeking a home here. They the Republicans, 23 00:01:47,315 --> 00:01:50,995 Speaker 1: will be carrying in and distributing the fentanyl they claim 24 00:01:51,035 --> 00:01:55,555 Speaker 1: the immigrants are all carrying. They the Republicans, will be 25 00:01:55,755 --> 00:02:03,235 Speaker 1: ushering door to door the quote terrorists unquote. And then 26 00:02:03,235 --> 00:02:07,475 Speaker 1: they will run on the crisis they have caused. Trump 27 00:02:07,475 --> 00:02:11,235 Speaker 1: for once is right. Terrorism is here, and the terrorists 28 00:02:11,435 --> 00:02:19,515 Speaker 1: are Republicans, all of them. If a foreign country, or 29 00:02:19,555 --> 00:02:22,755 Speaker 1: a jihadist group, or a reborn Al Qaeda, or a 30 00:02:22,755 --> 00:02:27,035 Speaker 1: pack of wild communists managed to interrupt America's control of 31 00:02:27,035 --> 00:02:31,435 Speaker 1: her own border, successfully interfered with America's financial and military 32 00:02:31,515 --> 00:02:35,155 Speaker 1: aid to its own allies around the world, and blocked 33 00:02:35,235 --> 00:02:39,715 Speaker 1: our humanitarian aid to civilian war victims, and infiltrated and 34 00:02:39,835 --> 00:02:45,475 Speaker 1: radicalized and made into their agents some of our political leaders, 35 00:02:45,675 --> 00:02:49,475 Speaker 1: who then made public promises to derail and disrupt and 36 00:02:49,715 --> 00:02:54,955 Speaker 1: sabotage our Senate and our House and our government, this nation, 37 00:02:55,195 --> 00:02:58,755 Speaker 1: under the leadership of either political party or a combination 38 00:02:58,875 --> 00:03:02,875 Speaker 1: of them, would immediately declare a grave crisis and use 39 00:03:02,955 --> 00:03:06,595 Speaker 1: the means provided by our law of national self defense 40 00:03:06,875 --> 00:03:14,435 Speaker 1: to stop them. To stop the terrorists. The Republicans are 41 00:03:14,515 --> 00:03:20,595 Speaker 1: now those terrorists. The Republicans have now torn off the 42 00:03:20,635 --> 00:03:23,155 Speaker 1: masks and declared themselves to be what so many of 43 00:03:23,195 --> 00:03:28,875 Speaker 1: them have so long been, terrorists infiltrators, sworn on decreasing 44 00:03:28,915 --> 00:03:32,515 Speaker 1: the security of the nation, decreasing the safety of its people, 45 00:03:32,875 --> 00:03:40,875 Speaker 1: decreasing the viability of its allies. Terrorosts from Mike Johnson 46 00:03:41,555 --> 00:03:48,235 Speaker 1: to Mike Lee, terrorists from Byron Donald's to Donald Trump. 47 00:03:49,155 --> 00:03:51,715 Speaker 1: Round them up, charge them with the crimes they are 48 00:03:51,715 --> 00:03:54,475 Speaker 1: committing as we speak, and the Americans whose lives they 49 00:03:54,515 --> 00:04:01,155 Speaker 1: are endangering, and send the terrorists to Gittmo. Mike Johnson, 50 00:04:01,275 --> 00:04:08,155 Speaker 1: Mike Lee, Byron Donald's, Donald Trump, vivec. I'mswami, all of them, 51 00:04:08,955 --> 00:04:11,275 Speaker 1: and if that coffee is a little strong for you. 52 00:04:12,555 --> 00:04:17,235 Speaker 1: The minimum the minimum in this situation where the Republicans 53 00:04:17,275 --> 00:04:20,835 Speaker 1: make blood curdling demands and use the language of fear 54 00:04:20,915 --> 00:04:24,275 Speaker 1: and threat and murder and racism and terrorism, and then 55 00:04:24,395 --> 00:04:27,555 Speaker 1: get what they want, but turn it down so they 56 00:04:27,595 --> 00:04:31,915 Speaker 1: can save and worsen the disaster they have described so 57 00:04:31,955 --> 00:04:36,475 Speaker 1: they can run on it, the minimum is for President 58 00:04:36,595 --> 00:04:40,115 Speaker 1: Biden to now demand TV time from all the broadcast 59 00:04:40,115 --> 00:04:42,955 Speaker 1: networks and every other Networking can put himself on and 60 00:04:43,035 --> 00:04:46,555 Speaker 1: for him to make a fire and brimstone speech no 61 00:04:46,715 --> 00:04:49,995 Speaker 1: later than tomorrow night about how the Republicans have betrayed 62 00:04:49,995 --> 00:04:53,395 Speaker 1: their own negotiators, how they have betrayed their own constituents, 63 00:04:53,515 --> 00:04:56,715 Speaker 1: how they have even portrayed their own prejudices and hatreds, 64 00:04:56,875 --> 00:04:59,475 Speaker 1: how they have betrayed this country, and how they have 65 00:04:59,795 --> 00:05:07,635 Speaker 1: endangered this nation, how they are terrorists. Biden should take 66 00:05:07,675 --> 00:05:09,715 Speaker 1: all the components of the border bill that he can 67 00:05:09,955 --> 00:05:13,115 Speaker 1: enact or come close to enacting by executive action, and 68 00:05:13,155 --> 00:05:16,715 Speaker 1: give the Republicans forty eight hours to pass the border 69 00:05:16,755 --> 00:05:20,115 Speaker 1: bill they threatened the nation into supporting, and then renneck 70 00:05:20,195 --> 00:05:23,515 Speaker 1: don and the President should say that until the Republicans 71 00:05:23,515 --> 00:05:26,515 Speaker 1: regained some control of their party from their mafia chief 72 00:05:26,555 --> 00:05:30,915 Speaker 1: Dementia J Trump, he will veto the Trump Mike Johnson 73 00:05:30,955 --> 00:05:34,355 Speaker 1: House bill that would not improve conditions at the border, 74 00:05:34,355 --> 00:05:37,315 Speaker 1: would not authorize more aid to Ukraine, but would still 75 00:05:37,315 --> 00:05:41,515 Speaker 1: give the Israeli version of Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu all the 76 00:05:41,555 --> 00:05:44,715 Speaker 1: money he needs to carry on a war for months 77 00:05:45,035 --> 00:05:48,195 Speaker 1: for years, which even the majority of his own people 78 00:05:48,275 --> 00:05:51,315 Speaker 1: want to stop. Because what Trump and the House Republicans 79 00:05:51,355 --> 00:05:54,915 Speaker 1: want is not aid to Israel, but aid to Nettagnyahoo 80 00:05:55,675 --> 00:05:58,955 Speaker 1: and Biden must take the opportunity to declare the obvious 81 00:05:59,195 --> 00:06:03,515 Speaker 1: that these two things are different things, and this nation 82 00:06:03,635 --> 00:06:07,115 Speaker 1: will always be on Team Israel, but it is no 83 00:06:07,235 --> 00:06:14,435 Speaker 1: longer on team Nettan Yahoo and Team Netanyahoo fascism, Trump 84 00:06:15,475 --> 00:06:20,395 Speaker 1: and our team fascism, our team terrorism. The Republican Party 85 00:06:21,235 --> 00:06:24,715 Speaker 1: have long since devolved into the metaphorical hostage takers. Do 86 00:06:24,795 --> 00:06:27,755 Speaker 1: what we say, or we'll tank the economy. Do what 87 00:06:27,835 --> 00:06:30,515 Speaker 1: we say, or Trump's cult will shoot you. Do what 88 00:06:30,555 --> 00:06:32,875 Speaker 1: we say, or we will destroy you with the elections 89 00:06:33,195 --> 00:06:36,915 Speaker 1: over the problems we have caused, but which we blame 90 00:06:36,995 --> 00:06:41,995 Speaker 1: on you. But now when the democratic answer actually has 91 00:06:41,995 --> 00:06:44,435 Speaker 1: been we will do what you say. The Republicans have 92 00:06:44,475 --> 00:06:48,435 Speaker 1: demanded more, and now Joe Biden must make sure they 93 00:06:48,835 --> 00:06:55,355 Speaker 1: get nothing. It is terrorism. The Republicans are using terrorism. 94 00:06:55,875 --> 00:06:59,715 Speaker 1: Trump is and always has been a terrorist, and terrorists 95 00:06:59,795 --> 00:07:04,075 Speaker 1: understand only one thing, a result in which they are 96 00:07:04,115 --> 00:07:07,795 Speaker 1: not Their targets are destroyed. And it is time for 97 00:07:07,875 --> 00:07:12,635 Speaker 1: President Biden to tell the Republican terrorist Party you had 98 00:07:12,675 --> 00:07:17,635 Speaker 1: your chance, and we mistakenly took you seriously. Now you 99 00:07:17,795 --> 00:07:23,275 Speaker 1: have a choice. You do what America wants, or America 100 00:07:23,715 --> 00:07:31,915 Speaker 1: will destroy you. By the way, there is a procrustian 101 00:07:31,995 --> 00:07:34,795 Speaker 1: bed here for Democrats if you are unaware of it. 102 00:07:35,435 --> 00:07:39,515 Speaker 1: Whatever the correct assessment of the border is, the perception 103 00:07:40,355 --> 00:07:43,955 Speaker 1: in much of this country, including places Democrats have to win, 104 00:07:44,475 --> 00:07:46,515 Speaker 1: or the United States of America as we know it 105 00:07:46,555 --> 00:07:52,595 Speaker 1: is over, the perception is that this is a crisis, 106 00:07:54,435 --> 00:07:57,635 Speaker 1: whatever it is, And Biden might have actually gotten a 107 00:07:57,675 --> 00:07:59,915 Speaker 1: minor gift here. He might only have to give a 108 00:07:59,995 --> 00:08:04,035 Speaker 1: fiery speech about how Republicans are endangering this and stopping 109 00:08:04,115 --> 00:08:06,595 Speaker 1: him from curing it. He may not actually have to 110 00:08:06,635 --> 00:08:11,115 Speaker 1: do anything. Whatever it is it is showing up in 111 00:08:11,155 --> 00:08:14,475 Speaker 1: the special election a week from today to fill the 112 00:08:14,555 --> 00:08:20,595 Speaker 1: seat of George Santos. You should excuse the expression veteran 113 00:08:20,955 --> 00:08:26,475 Speaker 1: moderate Tom Swazi versus an ex Democrat x Israeli Defense 114 00:08:26,555 --> 00:08:30,995 Speaker 1: Forces member, mother of seven born in Ethiopia who has 115 00:08:31,075 --> 00:08:34,635 Speaker 1: otherwise pretty much hid her personal history, accept her multiple 116 00:08:34,715 --> 00:08:38,075 Speaker 1: qualifications as an immigrant, and is running on a no 117 00:08:38,195 --> 00:08:40,875 Speaker 1: immigrants platform. And right now it would be a toss up, 118 00:08:41,995 --> 00:08:46,115 Speaker 1: and the ads from both sides are only about immigration. 119 00:08:47,075 --> 00:08:50,715 Speaker 1: And if you think well, Democrats can't lose a special 120 00:08:50,755 --> 00:08:54,915 Speaker 1: election in New York. It ain't New York, It's Long Island. 121 00:08:56,235 --> 00:08:59,875 Speaker 1: And last time the genius voters of that district voted, 122 00:09:00,115 --> 00:09:06,875 Speaker 1: they elected George freaking Santos. On the other hand, if 123 00:09:06,915 --> 00:09:08,955 Speaker 1: you think there is no one in the Republican Party 124 00:09:08,995 --> 00:09:12,355 Speaker 1: not fully assimilated into the mindlessness of their Trumpian borg, 125 00:09:13,555 --> 00:09:17,035 Speaker 1: a snippet from punch Bowl News might cheer you. It 126 00:09:17,115 --> 00:09:20,595 Speaker 1: is about yesterday morning's post apocalyptic meeting of the Republican 127 00:09:20,635 --> 00:09:26,075 Speaker 1: Senator's Communications Directors, those representing Senator James Langford, the lead 128 00:09:26,115 --> 00:09:28,835 Speaker 1: negotiator on the border bill, and thus the guy thrown 129 00:09:29,035 --> 00:09:31,315 Speaker 1: highest into the air when the rug was pulled out 130 00:09:31,355 --> 00:09:35,075 Speaker 1: from under them, explain the bill as it currently stands 131 00:09:35,275 --> 00:09:38,195 Speaker 1: and opened it up for questions, whereupon, reports punch Bowl, 132 00:09:38,315 --> 00:09:41,915 Speaker 1: the Comm's director for Senator Mike Lee, the mindless moron 133 00:09:41,995 --> 00:09:46,875 Speaker 1: from Utah with the weakest combover ever seen, started yelling 134 00:09:46,955 --> 00:09:50,795 Speaker 1: at everybody, not Mike Lee, but as Comm's director, eventually 135 00:09:50,875 --> 00:09:55,435 Speaker 1: storming out of the room shouting betrayal. Then, before you 136 00:09:55,435 --> 00:09:59,115 Speaker 1: think the Republicans cannot be peeled away from Thelma and 137 00:09:59,195 --> 00:10:02,315 Speaker 1: louising their way across the cliff at Trump's insistence over 138 00:10:02,355 --> 00:10:06,155 Speaker 1: this after Mike Lee's aid stormed down quote, those in 139 00:10:06,195 --> 00:10:13,155 Speaker 1: the room erupted in laughter. One hopes there might have 140 00:10:13,195 --> 00:10:15,915 Speaker 1: been similar reactions to the Sunday morning appearance with George 141 00:10:15,955 --> 00:10:19,915 Speaker 1: Stephanoppolis of the simpering, sniveling sycophant from Ohio Senator JD. 142 00:10:20,115 --> 00:10:25,475 Speaker 1: Too much eyeliner Vance. If you wondered if anybody could 143 00:10:25,475 --> 00:10:29,915 Speaker 1: possibly suck harder on Trump's backside in a bid to 144 00:10:29,955 --> 00:10:33,555 Speaker 1: get onto his ticket as vice president than Elise Stefanik 145 00:10:33,955 --> 00:10:39,355 Speaker 1: or Tim Scott or eight years ago, Joe Scarborough, Vance 146 00:10:39,435 --> 00:10:43,595 Speaker 1: has ended your uncertainty. He said the e Gene Carrol 147 00:10:43,675 --> 00:10:48,395 Speaker 1: verdict was invalid because it happened in a liberal state. 148 00:10:50,355 --> 00:10:54,075 Speaker 1: He encouraged ignoring Supreme Court rulings that Trump doesn't like, 149 00:10:55,075 --> 00:10:56,915 Speaker 1: and he, in essence, said that if he had been 150 00:10:56,995 --> 00:10:59,755 Speaker 1: vice president on January sixth, he would have not only 151 00:10:59,795 --> 00:11:03,035 Speaker 1: committed the insurrectionist act Trump wanted Pence to do, but 152 00:11:03,075 --> 00:11:05,515 Speaker 1: he would have done even more of them, done even 153 00:11:05,595 --> 00:11:10,115 Speaker 1: worse versions of them, including demanding that all swing states 154 00:11:10,155 --> 00:11:13,715 Speaker 1: Trump lost send second sets of electors and let the 155 00:11:13,795 --> 00:11:22,395 Speaker 1: Senate choose. Vance is an authoritarian weasel wearing eyeliner and 156 00:11:22,635 --> 00:11:25,155 Speaker 1: just because he's bad at it is no reason to 157 00:11:25,195 --> 00:11:28,635 Speaker 1: let him get away with it. I have long advocated 158 00:11:28,635 --> 00:11:31,275 Speaker 1: that all political TV hosts be given a button controlling 159 00:11:31,275 --> 00:11:34,635 Speaker 1: the mics of their guests that they could turn off 160 00:11:34,715 --> 00:11:39,235 Speaker 1: at their will. George Stephanoppolis finally had had enough. Advance 161 00:11:39,315 --> 00:11:41,675 Speaker 1: cut him off, and as ABC went to break, they 162 00:11:41,715 --> 00:11:44,395 Speaker 1: adroitly cut to a shot of jd Vance still talking 163 00:11:44,675 --> 00:11:49,155 Speaker 1: with his mike muted lip flap, as we call it 164 00:11:49,155 --> 00:11:53,355 Speaker 1: in the trade. It was beautiful. I'm sure all of 165 00:11:53,395 --> 00:11:57,915 Speaker 1: the executives at CNN and Meet the Press feinted. Oh mah, 166 00:11:57,995 --> 00:12:03,115 Speaker 1: I have the papers. Some quick headlines. Impeachment one, impeachment. 167 00:12:03,675 --> 00:12:06,475 Speaker 1: Politico reports the White House is actually planning to fight 168 00:12:06,715 --> 00:12:11,395 Speaker 1: back against any bid to impeach Homeland Secretary of may 169 00:12:11,475 --> 00:12:14,955 Speaker 1: orcus a motion to dismiss in the Senate or refer 170 00:12:15,075 --> 00:12:17,235 Speaker 1: to a committee in the Senate, or to submit it 171 00:12:17,275 --> 00:12:20,915 Speaker 1: to a point of order motion. I know, I know 172 00:12:21,035 --> 00:12:24,875 Speaker 1: it'll be the worst day in Washington since January sixth. 173 00:12:24,915 --> 00:12:29,195 Speaker 1: A point of order motion. Oh no, Kristen Cinema will 174 00:12:29,195 --> 00:12:37,195 Speaker 1: storm out. Not that I haven't seen that happen before. Meanwhile, 175 00:12:37,275 --> 00:12:40,155 Speaker 1: if you haven't heard anything lately, about the impeachment of 176 00:12:40,395 --> 00:12:43,915 Speaker 1: President Biden. That's because the Republicans have a two vote 177 00:12:43,995 --> 00:12:47,315 Speaker 1: cushion in the House, and CNN reported that as of Friday, 178 00:12:47,715 --> 00:12:51,355 Speaker 1: at least twenty Republicans are not convinced there is evidence 179 00:12:51,555 --> 00:12:56,035 Speaker 1: justifying impeachment. Most of them would weasel out of voting 180 00:12:56,115 --> 00:12:59,555 Speaker 1: against it, but seventeen of them can weasel out, and 181 00:12:59,595 --> 00:13:03,595 Speaker 1: that would still leave three who would kill impeachment outright 182 00:13:03,875 --> 00:13:07,715 Speaker 1: and with it kill the careers of Jim Jordan, Jamie Comer, 183 00:13:08,235 --> 00:13:13,995 Speaker 1: and Mike Johnson. A reminder that Thursday will be oral 184 00:13:14,115 --> 00:13:17,515 Speaker 1: arguments in the fourteenth Amendment disqualification case before the Supreme Court. 185 00:13:17,555 --> 00:13:19,675 Speaker 1: That is the Colorado ruling that he's off the ballot 186 00:13:19,715 --> 00:13:24,515 Speaker 1: there and for God's sake, somebody tell the attorneys what 187 00:13:24,595 --> 00:13:28,835 Speaker 1: Antonin Scalias said about how the president is to an 188 00:13:28,875 --> 00:13:34,115 Speaker 1: officer of the United States. Sometimes judges do say the 189 00:13:34,195 --> 00:13:37,955 Speaker 1: darnedest things. Tanya Chutkin, in essence, leaked the postponement of 190 00:13:37,995 --> 00:13:40,475 Speaker 1: the start of the Trump DC trial a day before 191 00:13:40,475 --> 00:13:43,315 Speaker 1: she had to make it official yesterday. At a conference 192 00:13:43,355 --> 00:13:47,435 Speaker 1: about a different January sixth insurrectionist. According to Politico, she 193 00:13:47,595 --> 00:13:50,235 Speaker 1: said she has plans to be in a different land 194 00:13:51,155 --> 00:13:53,395 Speaker 1: in Midsummer of this year quote, I hope not to 195 00:13:53,435 --> 00:13:56,875 Speaker 1: be in the country on August five, She said she 196 00:13:56,955 --> 00:13:59,435 Speaker 1: might have to cancel her travel though, because, again quoting, 197 00:13:59,715 --> 00:14:02,315 Speaker 1: I'm in trial in another matter that has not yet 198 00:14:02,395 --> 00:14:06,755 Speaker 1: returned to my calendar. Golly, what matter could that be? 199 00:14:08,635 --> 00:14:11,555 Speaker 1: Mark it down? Trump trial still in progress August five 200 00:14:11,635 --> 00:14:17,315 Speaker 1: or later. And I must mention two weird meals served 201 00:14:17,355 --> 00:14:23,555 Speaker 1: at Trump's good old actuarial table last July. Last July, 202 00:14:23,795 --> 00:14:26,475 Speaker 1: somebody tweeted and culter has been right about Trump in 203 00:14:26,515 --> 00:14:28,795 Speaker 1: the past, I'd love to hear what he needs to 204 00:14:28,835 --> 00:14:31,115 Speaker 1: do in her opinion to help us take America back. 205 00:14:32,115 --> 00:14:36,715 Speaker 1: Cooltergeist chose last Saturday night around midnight to answer, by 206 00:14:36,755 --> 00:14:43,195 Speaker 1: means of retweet quote, maybe he could die. And culture 207 00:14:43,195 --> 00:14:44,795 Speaker 1: has been right about Trump in the past. I'd love 208 00:14:44,835 --> 00:14:46,355 Speaker 1: to hear what he needs to do in her opinion 209 00:14:46,515 --> 00:14:49,835 Speaker 1: to help us take America back. Maybe he could die. 210 00:14:51,595 --> 00:14:55,235 Speaker 1: Just goes to show that for even the most lunkheaded 211 00:14:55,275 --> 00:14:58,675 Speaker 1: of us in the Cornell Alumni Association, the value of 212 00:14:58,675 --> 00:15:05,035 Speaker 1: that education eventually rises to the top. In Ann's case, 213 00:15:05,955 --> 00:15:13,315 Speaker 1: just shy of forty years after graduation. And then there 214 00:15:13,435 --> 00:15:17,595 Speaker 1: was the surest sign yet that he really is dementia 215 00:15:17,715 --> 00:15:21,955 Speaker 1: j Trump. No, not the dragging of the right leg 216 00:15:22,035 --> 00:15:24,995 Speaker 1: in all those new videos, like he just had a 217 00:15:25,035 --> 00:15:28,595 Speaker 1: stroke or other events. Could just be the fact that 218 00:15:29,955 --> 00:15:33,915 Speaker 1: his right leg is very heavy. No, not that. Rather 219 00:15:34,035 --> 00:15:38,035 Speaker 1: the posting of a split screen image of him aged 220 00:15:38,275 --> 00:15:47,435 Speaker 1: seventy seven and Elvis Presley aged about twenty five, and 221 00:15:47,595 --> 00:15:54,035 Speaker 1: his apparently now certainly non self satirizing comment quote. For 222 00:15:54,115 --> 00:15:56,595 Speaker 1: so many years people have been saying that Elvis and 223 00:15:56,675 --> 00:16:01,435 Speaker 1: I look alike. Now this pick has been going all 224 00:16:01,475 --> 00:16:07,115 Speaker 1: over the place. What do you think trying to convince 225 00:16:07,155 --> 00:16:12,555 Speaker 1: your cult that you are somehow like Elvis Presley? You 226 00:16:12,635 --> 00:16:22,315 Speaker 1: mean that you've both been brain dead since nineteen seventy seven? Okay, 227 00:16:22,355 --> 00:16:30,955 Speaker 1: that I'll buy nothing but an insurrectionist. Also of interest 228 00:16:30,995 --> 00:16:34,315 Speaker 1: on this all new edition of Countdown, Oh nothing, just 229 00:16:34,755 --> 00:16:38,835 Speaker 1: the three worst fears about cable TV news coming true. 230 00:16:39,355 --> 00:16:42,995 Speaker 1: The guy who replaced Chris Lickt at CNN maybe worse 231 00:16:43,035 --> 00:16:47,155 Speaker 1: than Chris Lickt was Tucker Carlson is in the Kremlin 232 00:16:47,755 --> 00:16:51,995 Speaker 1: and he's not staying there. Oh and you've heard the 233 00:16:52,035 --> 00:16:57,795 Speaker 1: phrase white house brain drain, Well here it is living 234 00:16:57,835 --> 00:17:03,595 Speaker 1: and breathing before your eyes, Axios reports. President Biden's unofficial 235 00:17:03,875 --> 00:17:12,795 Speaker 1: advisory is I'm Joe Scarborough. This is Scarborough Country. That's next. 236 00:17:13,955 --> 00:17:28,395 Speaker 1: This is countdown. This is countdown with Keith Olboman. Postscripts 237 00:17:28,435 --> 00:17:32,595 Speaker 1: to the news, some headlines, some updates, some snarks, some predictions, 238 00:17:32,595 --> 00:17:36,715 Speaker 1: and this time postscripts to the news is all TV 239 00:17:37,035 --> 00:17:45,835 Speaker 1: News News Dateline Moscow. Tucker Carlson is in Russia. Quick 240 00:17:46,315 --> 00:17:50,315 Speaker 1: seal the borders. It's too much to hope he's simply 241 00:17:50,355 --> 00:17:53,835 Speaker 1: been recalled by the Cheka. The assumption is Tucker Carlson 242 00:17:53,955 --> 00:17:57,555 Speaker 1: is there for an interview with Putin or possible interview 243 00:17:57,555 --> 00:18:00,595 Speaker 1: with Putin that will fall through or fall out a window. 244 00:18:00,955 --> 00:18:03,515 Speaker 1: Another theory is he may be acting as a conduit 245 00:18:03,595 --> 00:18:06,915 Speaker 1: for Trump to some in the Kremlin. And obviously, given 246 00:18:06,915 --> 00:18:10,315 Speaker 1: how many Russians, Carlson and Trump have carried water for that, 247 00:18:10,515 --> 00:18:14,475 Speaker 1: somebody could be any of a couple hundred commissars, or 248 00:18:14,515 --> 00:18:17,475 Speaker 1: if you'd like a unified theory of the man Russian 249 00:18:17,515 --> 00:18:21,435 Speaker 1: State TV once called Tucson Carlson. This has something to 250 00:18:21,515 --> 00:18:26,515 Speaker 1: do with Trump and Elon Musk and Putin and shrooms. 251 00:18:26,995 --> 00:18:30,555 Speaker 1: Regardless whoever, he is there to see Carlson will return 252 00:18:30,595 --> 00:18:35,475 Speaker 1: here imbued with fresh real world propaganda to use in 253 00:18:35,515 --> 00:18:39,595 Speaker 1: his decades long fight against reality and his own mental health. 254 00:18:40,315 --> 00:18:44,035 Speaker 1: You can't fix Russian, but you can fool Tucker Carlson 255 00:18:44,315 --> 00:19:19,275 Speaker 1: all of the time. Thank you, Nancy. Post dateline Atlanta, 256 00:19:19,515 --> 00:19:24,195 Speaker 1: CNN is retooling its morning show again emphasis on the 257 00:19:24,235 --> 00:19:28,995 Speaker 1: word tool again. This time it is offloading anchors PHILM. 258 00:19:29,035 --> 00:19:31,555 Speaker 1: Mattingly oh I thought was pretty good at it, and 259 00:19:31,635 --> 00:19:35,635 Speaker 1: the insufferable Poppy Harlow, and shortening the show and moving 260 00:19:35,675 --> 00:19:39,195 Speaker 1: its production from New York to Atlanta. But the network 261 00:19:39,235 --> 00:19:42,395 Speaker 1: actually insisted to several reporters this is not a cancelation. 262 00:19:42,795 --> 00:19:47,115 Speaker 1: It's just new anchors, a new city, and shorter hours 263 00:19:47,155 --> 00:19:51,275 Speaker 1: on the air. The fifty staffers affected have been encouraged 264 00:19:51,315 --> 00:19:56,355 Speaker 1: to reapply for their jobs as the new new CNN boss, 265 00:19:56,395 --> 00:19:59,195 Speaker 1: Mark Thompson guts the place even faster than the late 266 00:19:59,275 --> 00:20:03,115 Speaker 1: lamented paced eater Chris Lickt did. I'll point out that 267 00:20:03,155 --> 00:20:05,075 Speaker 1: the results of this show are just It's like the 268 00:20:05,115 --> 00:20:08,835 Speaker 1: ten PM Abby Phillip disaster, which CNN spends millions of 269 00:20:08,875 --> 00:20:12,315 Speaker 1: dollars on. In the Morning Show's case, it spends millions 270 00:20:12,355 --> 00:20:15,115 Speaker 1: of dollars on it and uses expensive lights and makeup 271 00:20:15,155 --> 00:20:18,675 Speaker 1: and fifty staffers to produce a show that was averaging 272 00:20:18,755 --> 00:20:21,475 Speaker 1: this year a daily audience of three hundred and twenty 273 00:20:21,475 --> 00:20:24,795 Speaker 1: two thousand, which is not even three times the size 274 00:20:24,835 --> 00:20:28,075 Speaker 1: of this podcast, which I do in my spare time 275 00:20:28,675 --> 00:20:32,235 Speaker 1: in my suit closet with the help of my dogs. 276 00:20:33,475 --> 00:20:41,755 Speaker 1: Keep up the good work, CNN and Dateline the White House. Hello, well, 277 00:20:41,835 --> 00:20:44,635 Speaker 1: this is nothing less than the worst national security crisis 278 00:20:44,635 --> 00:20:47,635 Speaker 1: since the Russians stop Jim Brown and Rock Hudson from 279 00:20:47,675 --> 00:20:51,475 Speaker 1: getting to ice Station Zebra in nineteen sixty nine. I'll 280 00:20:51,555 --> 00:20:56,195 Speaker 1: just read this verbatim from Axios because I just couldn't 281 00:20:56,235 --> 00:20:59,995 Speaker 1: bring myself to try to rewrite it. Quote. When White 282 00:20:59,995 --> 00:21:04,955 Speaker 1: House aids appear on MSNBC's Morning Joe, there are often 283 00:21:05,115 --> 00:21:08,835 Speaker 1: booked between seven and seven forty am ET. That's so 284 00:21:08,955 --> 00:21:13,515 Speaker 1: they'll reach one crucial and loyal viewer, President Biden. Why 285 00:21:13,595 --> 00:21:17,955 Speaker 1: it matters. Biden's year's long love of MSNBC's staple morning 286 00:21:17,995 --> 00:21:21,115 Speaker 1: show affects how the White House runs and who Biden 287 00:21:21,195 --> 00:21:25,955 Speaker 1: listens to. The President often calls co host Joe Scarborough, 288 00:21:25,995 --> 00:21:29,235 Speaker 1: a former Republican congressman who's now a harsh critic of 289 00:21:29,315 --> 00:21:33,595 Speaker 1: Donald Trump. Check the notes to see if he's still 290 00:21:33,595 --> 00:21:35,555 Speaker 1: a harsh critic of Trump or if he's swung back 291 00:21:35,635 --> 00:21:39,035 Speaker 1: yet to get Scarborough's take on issues, and sometimes vent 292 00:21:39,115 --> 00:21:42,955 Speaker 1: about media coverage, According to people familiar with the relationship, 293 00:21:43,635 --> 00:21:47,075 Speaker 1: Hi mister Piagin in It's Jakes Garb During the day, 294 00:21:47,155 --> 00:21:50,475 Speaker 1: Biden has long asked his staff whether they saw a story, 295 00:21:50,715 --> 00:21:53,235 Speaker 1: a poll, or a segment that had been on the show. 296 00:21:53,515 --> 00:21:56,515 Speaker 1: He's included show regulars in off the record conversations with 297 00:21:56,595 --> 00:22:01,355 Speaker 1: policy experts Biden pays particular attention to and has consulted 298 00:22:01,395 --> 00:22:08,035 Speaker 1: with Mourning Joe regulars, including longtime report Mike Barnacle, Oh Good, 299 00:22:08,235 --> 00:22:12,315 Speaker 1: foreign policy expert Richard Haas, and historian John Meacham, who 300 00:22:12,355 --> 00:22:15,675 Speaker 1: has assisted on several Biden's speeches, each of whom made 301 00:22:15,675 --> 00:22:20,635 Speaker 1: their MSNBC debuts on My Shows. Vice President Harris watches 302 00:22:20,675 --> 00:22:23,515 Speaker 1: Morning Joe two. She and second Gentleman Doug m Off 303 00:22:23,715 --> 00:22:26,795 Speaker 1: hosted a dinner last month at the Vice Presidential residence 304 00:22:26,835 --> 00:22:29,835 Speaker 1: for Scarborough and Mika Prasinski, his co host and wife. 305 00:22:30,595 --> 00:22:33,515 Speaker 1: I hope they counted the forks, knives and spoons afterwards, 306 00:22:33,835 --> 00:22:36,915 Speaker 1: Aids note that Harris also tunes into Fox News and 307 00:22:36,915 --> 00:22:41,555 Speaker 1: occasionally watches The Five behind the scenes. Because Biden watches 308 00:22:41,595 --> 00:22:44,475 Speaker 1: Morning Joe so often, most of his top aides watch 309 00:22:44,555 --> 00:22:47,675 Speaker 1: or track the show to anticipate potential questions from him. 310 00:22:48,035 --> 00:22:50,915 Speaker 1: Biden aids have remarked how long time Biden aids Steve 311 00:22:51,195 --> 00:22:55,035 Speaker 1: Richetti Richetti Rischetti seems to watch much of the four 312 00:22:55,035 --> 00:22:59,275 Speaker 1: hour show every morning. God Help Him. He and other 313 00:22:59,355 --> 00:23:03,235 Speaker 1: aids often reference the show God Help Them. A White 314 00:23:03,275 --> 00:23:06,275 Speaker 1: House official told Axio that many of Biden's top staff 315 00:23:06,315 --> 00:23:10,115 Speaker 1: members think the show gives Biden a fairer shake than 316 00:23:10,195 --> 00:23:16,235 Speaker 1: other outlets. Well Newsmax and that guy who thinks Biden 317 00:23:16,315 --> 00:23:22,235 Speaker 1: is from a different planet, and you know Biden included 318 00:23:22,275 --> 00:23:27,795 Speaker 1: retired Admiral James Starmbritez mourning Joe Staple on national security issue. 319 00:23:27,915 --> 00:23:30,635 Speaker 1: That's two staples in the middle of Morning Joe, which 320 00:23:30,675 --> 00:23:32,955 Speaker 1: makes sense. In an off the record briefing at the 321 00:23:32,955 --> 00:23:37,195 Speaker 1: White House with other experts, Biden takes notes and initially 322 00:23:37,195 --> 00:23:40,235 Speaker 1: refrains from giving his perspective during such sessions because he 323 00:23:40,275 --> 00:23:42,315 Speaker 1: doesn't want people to tell him what he wants to hear. 324 00:23:42,635 --> 00:23:46,195 Speaker 1: According to a person familiar with the meetings. Olderman added, 325 00:23:46,515 --> 00:23:49,075 Speaker 1: then why the hell is he talking to Joe Scarborough 326 00:23:49,155 --> 00:23:51,155 Speaker 1: if he doesn't want to talk to somebody who'll tell 327 00:23:51,235 --> 00:23:55,195 Speaker 1: him what he wants to hear. Far be it from 328 00:23:55,235 --> 00:24:00,115 Speaker 1: me to tell Joe Biden he cannot consult newspeople for advice, 329 00:24:00,955 --> 00:24:04,555 Speaker 1: Considering Senator Joe Biden took me to lunch to ask 330 00:24:04,875 --> 00:24:08,315 Speaker 1: for advice in two thousand and seven, but that was 331 00:24:08,355 --> 00:24:15,115 Speaker 1: about public speaking style, not issues or policy or important 332 00:24:15,155 --> 00:24:18,075 Speaker 1: stuff that affected anybody other than the two people sitting 333 00:24:18,075 --> 00:24:22,355 Speaker 1: at the table. Also, unlike Joe Scarborough, I'm not an amoral, 334 00:24:22,435 --> 00:24:25,155 Speaker 1: lying son of a bitch who would take any position 335 00:24:25,235 --> 00:24:27,315 Speaker 1: on any issue at any time if I thought it 336 00:24:27,315 --> 00:24:30,835 Speaker 1: would advance me personally, Like when Scarborough angled to be 337 00:24:30,955 --> 00:24:34,275 Speaker 1: Trump's by his presidential running mate in twenty sixteen, day 338 00:24:34,315 --> 00:24:38,755 Speaker 1: after day, week after week, mainstreaming and normalizing Trump and 339 00:24:38,795 --> 00:24:41,755 Speaker 1: his malignant hate in hopes of buttering up the would 340 00:24:41,835 --> 00:24:46,635 Speaker 1: be fewer. Do you think any of Joe Scarborough's criticisms 341 00:24:46,635 --> 00:24:51,155 Speaker 1: of Trump would have even shot fleetingly through that narcissistic 342 00:24:51,195 --> 00:24:54,315 Speaker 1: head of his had Trump offered him the VP slot 343 00:24:54,435 --> 00:24:59,475 Speaker 1: or even a cabinet post or some cash Joey Scars 344 00:25:00,195 --> 00:25:03,915 Speaker 1: is the worst kind of political prostitute, the one who 345 00:25:03,955 --> 00:25:07,915 Speaker 1: thinks he will be president someday and who really doesn't 346 00:25:07,955 --> 00:25:11,395 Speaker 1: care which party or form of government he'd have to 347 00:25:11,515 --> 00:25:15,115 Speaker 1: belong to to get there. The day I returned to 348 00:25:15,235 --> 00:25:18,195 Speaker 1: MSNBC in two thousand and three, Brian Williams sat me 349 00:25:18,275 --> 00:25:21,115 Speaker 1: down to update me on events of the four years 350 00:25:21,115 --> 00:25:25,395 Speaker 1: between my two stints there. Your little friend, Joe, Brian said, 351 00:25:25,675 --> 00:25:28,315 Speaker 1: thinks he can become a TV star and from there 352 00:25:28,995 --> 00:25:37,595 Speaker 1: president of the United States. Joe overflows with ambitions, Brian 353 00:25:37,635 --> 00:25:42,595 Speaker 1: Williams said, somebody else overflowed with ambition. By chance, I 354 00:25:42,675 --> 00:25:46,595 Speaker 1: saw Joe Scarborough on Broadway last week near PJ. Clark's 355 00:25:46,595 --> 00:25:49,195 Speaker 1: on the West Side near Lincoln Center, presumably on his 356 00:25:49,235 --> 00:25:52,755 Speaker 1: way to meeting somebody else's wife somewhere. Just guess. On 357 00:25:52,795 --> 00:25:55,435 Speaker 1: my part, I would have rolled down the car window 358 00:25:55,435 --> 00:25:58,795 Speaker 1: and mfed him as loudly and as frequently as I could. 359 00:25:59,035 --> 00:26:01,275 Speaker 1: But I had one of my dogs with me, and 360 00:26:01,395 --> 00:26:05,435 Speaker 1: Joey Scars is not worth upsetting one of my dogs. 361 00:26:06,755 --> 00:26:09,075 Speaker 1: You turn on the TV and see Joe Scarborough and 362 00:26:09,155 --> 00:26:13,315 Speaker 1: see exactly what I do. A blank, dazed, darting from 363 00:26:13,395 --> 00:26:18,395 Speaker 1: side to side, paranoid, no soul, stupid check engine light. Look, 364 00:26:19,155 --> 00:26:23,235 Speaker 1: but if you don't trust me, trust my Scars. My 365 00:26:23,715 --> 00:26:28,395 Speaker 1: Joey Scars behind the vapid face is a master saboteur, 366 00:26:28,795 --> 00:26:31,435 Speaker 1: and I'm a little worried he may be using the 367 00:26:31,475 --> 00:26:36,355 Speaker 1: saboteur bit on the President of the United States. Early 368 00:26:36,435 --> 00:26:38,835 Speaker 1: in two thousand and eight, the late Tim Russert called 369 00:26:38,835 --> 00:26:41,315 Speaker 1: me and warned me that the GOP had upped its 370 00:26:41,395 --> 00:26:45,475 Speaker 1: pressure on everybody at NBC about me. He said he 371 00:26:45,515 --> 00:26:47,955 Speaker 1: had heard somebody in New York was going into the 372 00:26:47,995 --> 00:26:51,155 Speaker 1: office of the president of NBC News saying that Joe 373 00:26:51,195 --> 00:26:55,315 Speaker 1: Scarborough couldn't get his friend John McCain to come on 374 00:26:55,395 --> 00:26:59,195 Speaker 1: to his new morning show on MSNBC because I was 375 00:26:59,235 --> 00:27:03,635 Speaker 1: so critical of John McCain. Early in January twenty ten, 376 00:27:03,635 --> 00:27:06,075 Speaker 1: the Republican candidate to fill the Senate seat of the 377 00:27:06,115 --> 00:27:09,675 Speaker 1: late Ted Kennedy, Scott Brown, a former nude model, was 378 00:27:09,715 --> 00:27:12,955 Speaker 1: at a rally when one of his supporters talked about quote, 379 00:27:13,115 --> 00:27:16,595 Speaker 1: shoving a curling iron up the backside of the Democratic 380 00:27:16,635 --> 00:27:20,435 Speaker 1: candidate Martha Coakley. Scott Brown clearly heard the remark and 381 00:27:20,595 --> 00:27:24,475 Speaker 1: clearly responded to it. Quote, we could do that. On 382 00:27:24,555 --> 00:27:27,555 Speaker 1: January eighteenth, on Countdown, I did a brief commentary about 383 00:27:27,555 --> 00:27:31,475 Speaker 1: how unsuitable Scott Brown was for public office. I said 384 00:27:31,475 --> 00:27:37,355 Speaker 1: he was quote and irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex nude model, 385 00:27:37,635 --> 00:27:41,235 Speaker 1: t bagging, supporter of violence against women and against politicians 386 00:27:41,435 --> 00:27:45,435 Speaker 1: with whom he disagrees unquote. I had quotes from Brown 387 00:27:45,515 --> 00:27:49,395 Speaker 1: supporting that conclusion, and videotape of him disparaging his minority 388 00:27:49,435 --> 00:27:52,795 Speaker 1: opponent in a local election to her face added debate 389 00:27:52,995 --> 00:27:55,835 Speaker 1: to back that part of it up. An hour later, 390 00:27:55,995 --> 00:28:01,315 Speaker 1: Joe Scarborough did a tweet storm against me. Quote Olderman 391 00:28:01,395 --> 00:28:04,915 Speaker 1: calls Brown a homophobic, racist reactionary who support or it's 392 00:28:04,995 --> 00:28:08,195 Speaker 1: violence against women. How reckless and how sad. It is 393 00:28:08,235 --> 00:28:11,075 Speaker 1: no longer enough to simply disagree with someone, just as 394 00:28:11,115 --> 00:28:14,315 Speaker 1: when Beck called the President racist. This sort of rhetorical 395 00:28:14,355 --> 00:28:20,435 Speaker 1: extremism must be discouraged. It cheapens the debate. End quote 396 00:28:21,275 --> 00:28:25,915 Speaker 1: Joe Scarborough accusing somebody else of cheapening things. This man 397 00:28:26,555 --> 00:28:31,955 Speaker 1: was once loyal to Newt Gingrich. Now there was also, 398 00:28:32,275 --> 00:28:35,715 Speaker 1: more relevantly a standing rule at MSNBC. You want to 399 00:28:35,755 --> 00:28:39,995 Speaker 1: criticize somebody else who's on MSNBC. Go ahead, have fun, 400 00:28:40,435 --> 00:28:42,475 Speaker 1: the more of the merrier, but it has to be 401 00:28:42,955 --> 00:28:46,795 Speaker 1: on the air at MSNBC. It can't be hit and run. 402 00:28:47,235 --> 00:28:50,355 Speaker 1: They must have an opportunity to reply in real time, 403 00:28:50,675 --> 00:28:54,155 Speaker 1: same show or in some face to face way. No 404 00:28:54,315 --> 00:28:58,195 Speaker 1: hit and run, no blindsiding, and no tweet storms. If 405 00:28:58,195 --> 00:29:01,395 Speaker 1: you criticize them by name or by inference in any 406 00:29:01,475 --> 00:29:06,075 Speaker 1: other medium newspaper, interview, radio, social media, you were to 407 00:29:06,395 --> 00:29:12,835 Speaker 1: receive an automatic suspension. The next day, January nineteenth, I 408 00:29:12,955 --> 00:29:15,515 Speaker 1: called the president of MSNBC, Phil Griffin, and I asked 409 00:29:15,595 --> 00:29:19,115 Speaker 1: him how long Scarborough's suspension would be. I did not say, 410 00:29:19,275 --> 00:29:21,155 Speaker 1: will it be longer than the amount of time you 411 00:29:21,235 --> 00:29:25,115 Speaker 1: and Scarborough spend drinking together. Griffin asked me to come 412 00:29:25,115 --> 00:29:27,315 Speaker 1: to his office. He said he'd already had a meeting 413 00:29:27,355 --> 00:29:33,475 Speaker 1: about the tweets that morning with Scarborough's executive producer, Chris Licked. 414 00:29:34,755 --> 00:29:39,555 Speaker 1: Remember Chris Licked. Griffin explained that Scarborough considered Scott Brown 415 00:29:39,595 --> 00:29:44,235 Speaker 1: a friend. More importantly, lickt had warned Griffin, and Scarborough 416 00:29:44,315 --> 00:29:47,155 Speaker 1: told him this again by phone, that if Griffin followed 417 00:29:47,155 --> 00:29:51,995 Speaker 1: through and enforced the mandatory suspension rule, Joe Scarborough would 418 00:29:52,035 --> 00:29:54,195 Speaker 1: have no other option than to go to the press 419 00:29:54,555 --> 00:29:58,075 Speaker 1: and tell reporters, especially reporters at right wing sites like 420 00:29:58,275 --> 00:30:01,675 Speaker 1: Tucker Carlson's The Daily Caller, that he had been suspended 421 00:30:01,715 --> 00:30:05,915 Speaker 1: from MSNBC because he was a conservative and I was 422 00:30:05,955 --> 00:30:09,115 Speaker 1: a liberal, and that I and not Phil Griffin, was 423 00:30:09,235 --> 00:30:13,675 Speaker 1: running the network. What can I do? Buddy? Phil Griffin 424 00:30:13,755 --> 00:30:16,595 Speaker 1: was scared. I told him he could fire Scarborough and 425 00:30:16,635 --> 00:30:19,675 Speaker 1: Licked because they had just blackmailed him and they were 426 00:30:19,675 --> 00:30:22,235 Speaker 1: getting terrible ratings and eventually he was going to have 427 00:30:22,275 --> 00:30:24,835 Speaker 1: to fire them anyway. But then I knew he wasn't 428 00:30:24,875 --> 00:30:26,395 Speaker 1: going to do that, and that I knew he wasn't 429 00:30:26,395 --> 00:30:30,035 Speaker 1: going to suspend Scarborough either, and Griffin did not suspend him. 430 00:30:30,275 --> 00:30:34,915 Speaker 1: Partial score Scarborough's friends too, MSNBC rules of conduct nothing, 431 00:30:35,795 --> 00:30:39,155 Speaker 1: but Phil Griffin did send out a memo to the 432 00:30:39,355 --> 00:30:44,635 Speaker 1: entire company insisting that anybody who criticized another MSNBC show 433 00:30:44,955 --> 00:30:49,395 Speaker 1: or host in another medium would be suspended from now on, 434 00:30:50,635 --> 00:30:54,955 Speaker 1: except Scarborough, who had just done that exactly to a 435 00:30:55,115 --> 00:31:00,515 Speaker 1: t and then threatened his own employers and successfully blackmailed them. 436 00:31:01,515 --> 00:31:05,115 Speaker 1: On January twenty fifth, Brian Stelter's old blog TV News 437 00:31:05,315 --> 00:31:07,315 Speaker 1: got a copy of that memo, and it didn't come 438 00:31:07,355 --> 00:31:09,475 Speaker 1: from me, and I don't think it came from anybody 439 00:31:09,475 --> 00:31:14,155 Speaker 1: on my staff. Stelter's people wondered why Scarborough had not 440 00:31:14,275 --> 00:31:17,195 Speaker 1: been suspended, so they called the MSNBC president. Then they 441 00:31:17,275 --> 00:31:21,275 Speaker 1: printed quote Griffin responds to TV newser quote an important 442 00:31:21,315 --> 00:31:23,515 Speaker 1: rule was broken. I spoke to Keith and he said 443 00:31:23,515 --> 00:31:26,675 Speaker 1: that in the spirit of teamwork and the free flow 444 00:31:26,675 --> 00:31:29,955 Speaker 1: of ideas, he didn't think it warranted punishment or suspension. 445 00:31:30,355 --> 00:31:33,635 Speaker 1: I also talked to Joe and he apologized to me. 446 00:31:34,515 --> 00:31:37,315 Speaker 1: That's why I made the decision that this didn't rise 447 00:31:37,355 --> 00:31:39,395 Speaker 1: to the level of punishment, but I felt it was 448 00:31:39,475 --> 00:31:44,955 Speaker 1: necessary to reiterate my long standing policy one hundred percent 449 00:31:44,995 --> 00:31:49,675 Speaker 1: bull crap, totally fabricated. Of course, one hundred percent bull 450 00:31:49,675 --> 00:31:52,155 Speaker 1: crap is what they're going to put on Phil Griffin's tombstone. 451 00:31:52,835 --> 00:31:55,875 Speaker 1: Licked and Scarborough had blackmailed their own boss with a 452 00:31:55,915 --> 00:31:59,395 Speaker 1: threat to smear them inside the right wing echo chamber, 453 00:32:00,035 --> 00:32:04,475 Speaker 1: which nobody at MSNBC needed to care about. They should 454 00:32:04,515 --> 00:32:07,435 Speaker 1: have been fired on the spot for cause, with not 455 00:32:07,515 --> 00:32:12,155 Speaker 1: another dollar going to them. In May twenty ten, couple 456 00:32:12,195 --> 00:32:14,555 Speaker 1: of months later, now Scarborough said something on the air 457 00:32:14,595 --> 00:32:17,315 Speaker 1: about a Democrat getting away with not being investigated for 458 00:32:17,395 --> 00:32:20,515 Speaker 1: something or another. Marcos Malitzus, the editor of the Daily 459 00:32:20,595 --> 00:32:24,035 Speaker 1: Coast website and not just a regular contributor accountdown, but 460 00:32:24,115 --> 00:32:27,515 Speaker 1: somebody who had been promoting the MSNBC brand on his 461 00:32:27,675 --> 00:32:31,755 Speaker 1: website for five years, sent a snarky but legitimate tweet 462 00:32:31,835 --> 00:32:37,515 Speaker 1: questioning Scarborough's credentials to criticize others who were not investigated 463 00:32:37,555 --> 00:32:40,995 Speaker 1: for things. Marcos invoked the staffer who died in an 464 00:32:40,995 --> 00:32:44,595 Speaker 1: accident in Joe's office. Didn't say that Joe had anything 465 00:32:44,635 --> 00:32:47,635 Speaker 1: to do with it. Everybody actually believes it was an accident. 466 00:32:48,235 --> 00:32:52,595 Speaker 1: Scarborough then attacked Mlitsus on Twitter inaccurately claiming Malitzus had 467 00:32:52,635 --> 00:32:58,035 Speaker 1: accused him, Joe Scarborough, of murder. A few days later, 468 00:32:58,075 --> 00:33:00,755 Speaker 1: I got a phone call from MSNBC President Griffin and 469 00:33:00,795 --> 00:33:02,475 Speaker 1: he told me Chris litz been in to see me. 470 00:33:02,555 --> 00:33:05,155 Speaker 1: Joe won't put up with having Marcos Mlitzus on his 471 00:33:05,235 --> 00:33:08,995 Speaker 1: network anymore. Not only that, but Lick says many of 472 00:33:09,075 --> 00:33:12,235 Speaker 1: Joe's friends who also appear on Day Side and Primetime 473 00:33:12,435 --> 00:33:15,555 Speaker 1: won't come on anymore if Marcos Malitzus is permitted to 474 00:33:15,595 --> 00:33:19,115 Speaker 1: continue here as a guest. Chris is insisting that Marcos 475 00:33:19,195 --> 00:33:22,835 Speaker 1: be banned from MSNBC immediately. Chris says he's afraid that 476 00:33:22,875 --> 00:33:27,435 Speaker 1: if we don't, Joe won't come into work tomorrow. I 477 00:33:27,555 --> 00:33:32,835 Speaker 1: congratulated Phil Griffin on the clear win win. Phil Griffin 478 00:33:32,915 --> 00:33:36,115 Speaker 1: was very bad at enforcing MSNBC's rules, but very good 479 00:33:36,195 --> 00:33:39,675 Speaker 1: at creating new ones. On the spot to protect Joe Scarborough, 480 00:33:40,315 --> 00:33:44,875 Speaker 1: I'm banning Malitzus from any further appearances on MSNBC, I said, Phil, 481 00:33:44,875 --> 00:33:47,715 Speaker 1: he's a contributor to my show. You're suspending my guest 482 00:33:48,035 --> 00:33:50,915 Speaker 1: who has driven hundreds of thousands of viewers to count 483 00:33:50,915 --> 00:33:53,555 Speaker 1: Down at MSNBC, and I don't have any say in it. 484 00:33:54,555 --> 00:33:57,715 Speaker 1: Joe Scarborough owns you, Chris Lick owns you. What you 485 00:33:57,795 --> 00:33:59,475 Speaker 1: now have to worry about is whether I tell this 486 00:33:59,555 --> 00:34:01,795 Speaker 1: story on the air tonight or I wait and I 487 00:34:01,875 --> 00:34:06,235 Speaker 1: tell it later. Phil now got concentstory because he was 488 00:34:06,275 --> 00:34:09,195 Speaker 1: scared again, and he said it could be just a 489 00:34:09,235 --> 00:34:13,275 Speaker 1: suspension if I cooperated. I told Marcos about this, and 490 00:34:13,315 --> 00:34:15,995 Speaker 1: he said he enjoyed his contributions to Countdown. He also 491 00:34:15,995 --> 00:34:18,835 Speaker 1: did occasional appearances on the Old Ed Schultz Show, and 492 00:34:18,955 --> 00:34:21,315 Speaker 1: if there was still a chance at resuming the appearances. 493 00:34:21,315 --> 00:34:24,075 Speaker 1: He'd preferred to at least try that. So Griffin suspended 494 00:34:24,075 --> 00:34:28,595 Speaker 1: Marcos Malitsus, and to my knowledge, he's still suspended fourteen 495 00:34:28,675 --> 00:34:32,795 Speaker 1: years later and has not been on MSNBC since. I 496 00:34:32,835 --> 00:34:35,795 Speaker 1: wish I had kept better notes on some of my 497 00:34:35,915 --> 00:34:39,475 Speaker 1: conversations from the two thousand and eight nine, ten eleven era, 498 00:34:39,595 --> 00:34:42,075 Speaker 1: about my conversations with the hosts and the producers of 499 00:34:42,115 --> 00:34:45,235 Speaker 1: the other shows, like Schultz, Rachel Mattow, even Chris Matthews. 500 00:34:45,435 --> 00:34:47,635 Speaker 1: I must have heard a variation of this statement a 501 00:34:47,715 --> 00:34:51,315 Speaker 1: dozen times. Guess who was in Griffin's office explaining that 502 00:34:51,355 --> 00:34:56,155 Speaker 1: such and such is Joe's friend or alternatively, my friend, 503 00:34:56,555 --> 00:34:59,595 Speaker 1: and Phil really needs to make sure we lay off him. 504 00:35:00,035 --> 00:35:02,995 Speaker 1: It was either Chris Lick or Joe Scarborough, sometimes both. 505 00:35:03,875 --> 00:35:06,555 Speaker 1: I remember one of my producers at the MSNBC version 506 00:35:06,555 --> 00:35:09,035 Speaker 1: of Countdown telling me that one of the other producers 507 00:35:09,035 --> 00:35:12,195 Speaker 1: had told him that Licked had gone to NBC News 508 00:35:12,275 --> 00:35:16,035 Speaker 1: President Steve Kappus with a list of Republicans that Mattow 509 00:35:16,035 --> 00:35:19,235 Speaker 1: and Alderman needed to stop criticizing because they were Joe's 510 00:35:19,315 --> 00:35:24,515 Speaker 1: friends and we were hurting morning Joe. One can now 511 00:35:24,555 --> 00:35:28,155 Speaker 1: imagine Joey scarr is going into whoever runs MSNBC these 512 00:35:28,275 --> 00:35:32,315 Speaker 1: days and saying that Matto or Hayes or O'Donnell or 513 00:35:32,355 --> 00:35:35,395 Speaker 1: whoever is being too critical of Biden and they had 514 00:35:35,435 --> 00:35:38,555 Speaker 1: better stop because that wouldn't be good for mourning Joe. 515 00:35:39,595 --> 00:35:42,275 Speaker 1: Or maybe it would be Mehdi Hassan who should stop 516 00:35:42,315 --> 00:35:47,715 Speaker 1: saying stuff like that, or Tiffany Cross or hey wait, 517 00:35:48,115 --> 00:35:51,675 Speaker 1: Mehdi Hassan and Tiffany Cross have been fired by MSNBC 518 00:35:51,875 --> 00:35:58,915 Speaker 1: recently under mysterious circumstances with bullshit explanations, haven't they coincidence? 519 00:35:58,955 --> 00:36:03,235 Speaker 1: No doubt? Because I might think Joe Scarborough is the 520 00:36:03,235 --> 00:36:05,795 Speaker 1: worst person I've met in forty five five years in media, 521 00:36:06,395 --> 00:36:08,435 Speaker 1: and I might think Joe Biden couldn't turn to a 522 00:36:08,435 --> 00:36:16,035 Speaker 1: worse advisor, but more importantly, a more insincere one. But 523 00:36:16,155 --> 00:36:17,995 Speaker 1: none of that is the biggest problem here. The biggest 524 00:36:18,035 --> 00:36:21,235 Speaker 1: problem here is that Joe Scarborough is now Sean Hannity. 525 00:36:22,035 --> 00:36:25,675 Speaker 1: We all rightly mock Sean Hannity as Trump's unofficial idiot 526 00:36:25,675 --> 00:36:30,995 Speaker 1: White House advisor. Well, what is Scarborough? Every time Joe 527 00:36:31,075 --> 00:36:36,475 Speaker 1: Scarborough talks about Joe Biden on Merinnge MSNBC needs to 528 00:36:36,515 --> 00:36:42,315 Speaker 1: put up a disclaimer disclosing their unofficial and utterly inappropriate relationship. 529 00:36:42,795 --> 00:36:46,955 Speaker 1: It's not journalism, it's not ethical, it's not appropriate, and 530 00:36:47,115 --> 00:36:51,235 Speaker 1: MSNBC should not abide it because it compromises everything said 531 00:36:51,275 --> 00:36:56,075 Speaker 1: by everybody on MSNBC pro Biden or anti Biden, including 532 00:36:56,115 --> 00:36:59,355 Speaker 1: whoever you think the good guys are. They are all 533 00:36:59,915 --> 00:37:04,875 Speaker 1: whrrors by extension, because Joe Scarborough has turned MSNBC See 534 00:37:04,875 --> 00:37:07,755 Speaker 1: into what those of us who created it fought desperately 535 00:37:07,835 --> 00:37:13,555 Speaker 1: to make sure it would never become the liberal duplicate 536 00:37:14,115 --> 00:37:18,555 Speaker 1: of Fox News, which, at least in the mornings it 537 00:37:18,595 --> 00:37:24,395 Speaker 1: now is. There is one silver lining to all this. 538 00:37:26,275 --> 00:37:29,355 Speaker 1: Whenever Joe Biden does something that makes no sense or 539 00:37:29,395 --> 00:37:33,635 Speaker 1: has only expediency or sophistry going for it, or he 540 00:37:33,755 --> 00:37:37,275 Speaker 1: is timid and seeks compromise when he should stand fast, 541 00:37:37,755 --> 00:37:41,075 Speaker 1: or he lets Trump off the hook, at least you 542 00:37:41,115 --> 00:37:46,635 Speaker 1: and I know which member of his brain trust gave 543 00:37:46,715 --> 00:37:53,635 Speaker 1: him such bad advice, The one who doesn't have brains, 544 00:37:53,755 --> 00:38:47,035 Speaker 1: just ambitions, Joe Scarmrail. Thank you, Nacy Faust. I've done 545 00:38:47,035 --> 00:38:49,675 Speaker 1: all the damage I can do here. Countdown musical directors 546 00:38:49,675 --> 00:38:52,555 Speaker 1: Brian Ray and John Phillip Chanelle Arrange produced and performed 547 00:38:52,595 --> 00:38:55,595 Speaker 1: most of our music. Mister Ray was on guitars, bass 548 00:38:55,595 --> 00:38:59,395 Speaker 1: and drums. Mister Chanelle handled orchestration and keyboards. Produced by 549 00:38:59,435 --> 00:39:04,475 Speaker 1: Tko Brothers. Here's a tease. Mister Ray and mister Chaneale 550 00:39:04,515 --> 00:39:08,395 Speaker 1: have created a new composition for us for the Trump Trials, 551 00:39:08,835 --> 00:39:13,755 Speaker 1: premiering later this week on Countdown. You'll enjoy it. Other music, 552 00:39:13,795 --> 00:39:17,075 Speaker 1: including some of the Beethoven compositions, were arranged and performed 553 00:39:17,115 --> 00:39:19,275 Speaker 1: by the group No Horns Allowed. I know, I know, 554 00:39:19,755 --> 00:39:22,795 Speaker 1: you'll decide whether or not you'll enjoy it. No Brian's work. 555 00:39:23,635 --> 00:39:26,355 Speaker 1: The sports music is the Olderman theme from ESPN two. 556 00:39:26,715 --> 00:39:29,595 Speaker 1: It's written by Mitch Warren Davis Curtesy of ESPN inc. 557 00:39:29,995 --> 00:39:33,515 Speaker 1: Our satirical and pithy musical comments are by Nancy Fauss, 558 00:39:33,555 --> 00:39:36,715 Speaker 1: the best baseball stadium organist ever. Our announcer today was 559 00:39:36,755 --> 00:39:38,955 Speaker 1: my friend Larry David. I understand he has a new 560 00:39:38,995 --> 00:39:45,595 Speaker 1: show on HBO twelve years You say, is it good? 561 00:39:47,955 --> 00:39:50,155 Speaker 1: Everything else is pretty much my fault. So that's count 562 00:39:50,155 --> 00:39:52,155 Speaker 1: down for this two hundred and seventy fourth day until 563 00:39:52,195 --> 00:39:56,555 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty four US presidential election and the twenty 564 00:39:56,595 --> 00:40:00,115 Speaker 1: seventh day since dementia, j Trump's first attempted coup against 565 00:40:00,115 --> 00:40:03,275 Speaker 1: the democratically elected government of the United States. Use the 566 00:40:03,275 --> 00:40:06,235 Speaker 1: Fourteenth Amendment the insurrect at the justice system the mental 567 00:40:06,275 --> 00:40:09,555 Speaker 1: health system to stop him from doing it again while 568 00:40:09,595 --> 00:40:12,875 Speaker 1: we still can. The next scheduled countdown is tomorrow, Bolton 569 00:40:12,915 --> 00:40:16,395 Speaker 1: says the news warrants till then. I'm Keith Olrimman. Good morning, 570 00:40:16,475 --> 00:40:43,835 Speaker 1: good afternoon, good night, and good luck. Countdown with Keith 571 00:40:43,875 --> 00:40:48,955 Speaker 1: Olreman is a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, 572 00:40:49,115 --> 00:40:53,115 Speaker 1: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 573 00:40:53,155 --> 00:40:54,075 Speaker 1: your podcasts.