1 00:00:04,795 --> 00:00:23,235 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. Quote 2 00:00:24,035 --> 00:00:30,515 Speaker 1: It's not how White Men fight, text by Tucker Carlson 3 00:00:30,555 --> 00:00:33,515 Speaker 1: to one of his producers, January sixth, twenty twenty one. 4 00:00:34,235 --> 00:00:37,995 Speaker 1: That text is why Fox settled the Dominion defamation case. 5 00:00:38,435 --> 00:00:42,035 Speaker 1: That text is why, in part, Fox fired Tucker Carlson 6 00:00:42,115 --> 00:00:46,275 Speaker 1: nine days ago. It is racist and worse than racist. 7 00:00:46,395 --> 00:00:48,915 Speaker 1: It is the language of white supremacists. And yet to me, 8 00:00:49,115 --> 00:00:55,955 Speaker 1: one thing it is not is shocking. I believe that 9 00:00:56,035 --> 00:00:59,595 Speaker 1: the morning the Fox Dominion voting trial was delayed, somebody 10 00:00:59,635 --> 00:01:03,595 Speaker 1: around here suggested that either Dominion or more likely Fox 11 00:01:04,035 --> 00:01:07,955 Speaker 1: had discovered something new in those Fox emails and texts, 12 00:01:08,275 --> 00:01:13,715 Speaker 1: something that was worse even than what had been previously disclosed. Correct, 13 00:01:14,715 --> 00:01:16,795 Speaker 1: and last night we found out what it was. The 14 00:01:16,795 --> 00:01:19,635 Speaker 1: New York Times was given access to the redacted portion 15 00:01:19,795 --> 00:01:22,955 Speaker 1: of Exhibit two seven six. Yes they even have the 16 00:01:22,995 --> 00:01:26,435 Speaker 1: exhibit number. Carlson was writing to one of his producers 17 00:01:26,555 --> 00:01:30,395 Speaker 1: right after January sixth closed. He had recently seen video 18 00:01:30,475 --> 00:01:33,435 Speaker 1: of a street fight in Washington. Quote a group of 19 00:01:33,515 --> 00:01:37,155 Speaker 1: Trump guys surrounded an Antifa kid and started pounding the 20 00:01:37,235 --> 00:01:40,315 Speaker 1: living s out of him. It was three against one, 21 00:01:40,395 --> 00:01:44,435 Speaker 1: at least, jumping a guy like that is dishonorable. Obviously, 22 00:01:45,115 --> 00:01:51,635 Speaker 1: it's not how white men fight. Unquote quote, it's not 23 00:01:51,675 --> 00:01:56,675 Speaker 1: how white men fight. It is racist. It summarizes Tucker 24 00:01:56,675 --> 00:02:01,115 Speaker 1: Carlson's white supremacist nature. I understand why Rupert Murdoch settled 25 00:02:01,675 --> 00:02:04,315 Speaker 1: rather than have that come out at trial out of 26 00:02:04,315 --> 00:02:07,755 Speaker 1: the mouth of his employee. And I understand why Murdock 27 00:02:07,835 --> 00:02:11,235 Speaker 1: then fired Carlson. And further, I understand why Murdoch would 28 00:02:11,235 --> 00:02:14,315 Speaker 1: have had somebody at Fox give that to The New 29 00:02:14,395 --> 00:02:18,755 Speaker 1: York Times yesterday in order to dirty up there now 30 00:02:18,875 --> 00:02:22,715 Speaker 1: ex employee Tucker Carlson. But as I said, one thing 31 00:02:22,755 --> 00:02:27,675 Speaker 1: I am not is shocked because I worked with Tucker 32 00:02:27,755 --> 00:02:34,515 Speaker 1: Carlson for nearly three years, and that that quote it's 33 00:02:34,595 --> 00:02:41,675 Speaker 1: not how white men fight, that's who he is, and sadly, 34 00:02:41,755 --> 00:02:44,275 Speaker 1: who he is and who he has employed in the 35 00:02:44,355 --> 00:02:47,995 Speaker 1: past dovetails with the reality that rather than racing to 36 00:02:48,075 --> 00:02:52,915 Speaker 1: the only unblocked fire escape, CNN has doubled down on 37 00:02:53,035 --> 00:02:56,995 Speaker 1: surrendering an hour or more of its prime time, uncontrolled, 38 00:02:57,115 --> 00:03:00,355 Speaker 1: unvetted live to Donald Trump next Wednesday, and it is 39 00:03:00,435 --> 00:03:04,035 Speaker 1: hiding behind the idea that its moderator can push back 40 00:03:04,035 --> 00:03:08,995 Speaker 1: against Trump flies, and unfortunately, six years ago today, CNN's 41 00:03:09,035 --> 00:03:13,355 Speaker 1: Trump moderator was working for Tucker Carlson and had on 42 00:03:13,395 --> 00:03:17,755 Speaker 1: her resume horrific articles published on Carlson's website, The Daily Caller, 43 00:03:17,835 --> 00:03:21,115 Speaker 1: one of which mocked American torture of detainees at GITMO 44 00:03:21,275 --> 00:03:23,995 Speaker 1: and another of which mocked the nightmare of the refugees 45 00:03:24,035 --> 00:03:29,515 Speaker 1: of Syria. And five years ago today, CNN's moderator had 46 00:03:29,555 --> 00:03:32,515 Speaker 1: yet to apologize for a series of homophobic slurs she 47 00:03:32,595 --> 00:03:36,355 Speaker 1: tweeted while a college student. And I think the rediscovery 48 00:03:36,355 --> 00:03:39,155 Speaker 1: of those articles and those tweets is going to ignite 49 00:03:39,155 --> 00:03:42,275 Speaker 1: a second scandal about this CNN Trump town hall next 50 00:03:42,275 --> 00:03:47,435 Speaker 1: week that is going to cost CNN any remaining journalistic credibility. 51 00:03:47,595 --> 00:03:56,275 Speaker 1: It has biographies of Caitlin Collins, the moderator, that appear 52 00:03:56,355 --> 00:04:00,675 Speaker 1: on CNN venues and elsewhere, emphasized her reputation for tough questions. 53 00:04:01,515 --> 00:04:04,915 Speaker 1: Even Vanity Fair's skeptical story about the town hall, which 54 00:04:04,955 --> 00:04:07,555 Speaker 1: I'm about to so freely quote, says this, But it 55 00:04:07,555 --> 00:04:09,995 Speaker 1: should be noted that nearly all of those tough questions 56 00:04:10,075 --> 00:04:13,715 Speaker 1: have taken place during the Biden presidency. And that she 57 00:04:13,875 --> 00:04:17,155 Speaker 1: was banned by the Trump Press Office for asking questions 58 00:04:17,235 --> 00:04:19,915 Speaker 1: during a photo op in twenty eighteen and got a 59 00:04:20,035 --> 00:04:23,355 Speaker 1: lot of anti Trump mileage out of that, but has 60 00:04:23,435 --> 00:04:28,195 Speaker 1: done little else to earn it. But given less emphasis 61 00:04:28,795 --> 00:04:32,835 Speaker 1: is her origin story. Caitlin Collins was the White House 62 00:04:32,875 --> 00:04:35,755 Speaker 1: correspondent for CNN. Prior to that, she was the White 63 00:04:35,755 --> 00:04:39,355 Speaker 1: House correspondent for The Daily Caller, a right wing propaganda 64 00:04:39,395 --> 00:04:44,275 Speaker 1: site founded by Tucker Carlson. Erased from most of her 65 00:04:44,275 --> 00:04:47,155 Speaker 1: biographies were tweets she wrote while a college student in 66 00:04:47,155 --> 00:04:51,555 Speaker 1: twenty eleven using homophobic slurs. Erased from most of her 67 00:04:51,555 --> 00:04:55,515 Speaker 1: biographies is an article she wrote while a Daily Caller contributor, 68 00:04:56,195 --> 00:04:59,835 Speaker 1: comparing a fundraiser done in twenty fourteen to find a 69 00:04:59,915 --> 00:05:04,555 Speaker 1: cure for als to the waterboarding of detainees at the 70 00:05:04,755 --> 00:05:08,675 Speaker 1: the US extra legal prison in Guantanamo Bay. The headline 71 00:05:08,675 --> 00:05:12,955 Speaker 1: of that article reads, It's still online. The headline reads 72 00:05:13,035 --> 00:05:19,035 Speaker 1: quote ice bucket challenge hipsters, these Guantanamo detainees did it first. 73 00:05:20,115 --> 00:05:23,555 Speaker 1: Then the article shows photos and brief Collins written biographies 74 00:05:23,915 --> 00:05:27,075 Speaker 1: of the likes of Ramsay Bin, alsheb Abu Zubaida, and 75 00:05:27,155 --> 00:05:33,155 Speaker 1: college sheik Muhammad KSM. Of the latter, Caitlyn Collins wrote, quote. 76 00:05:33,195 --> 00:05:36,155 Speaker 1: In two thousand and eight, CIA Director General Michael V. 77 00:05:36,235 --> 00:05:40,435 Speaker 1: Hayden publicly boasted that waterboarding had been used on KSM, 78 00:05:41,075 --> 00:05:44,875 Speaker 1: making him one of the first hipsters to partake in 79 00:05:44,915 --> 00:05:49,155 Speaker 1: the ice Bucket Challenge. He tops the list because KSM 80 00:05:49,275 --> 00:05:55,675 Speaker 1: took the challenge a record one hundred and eighty three times. Unquote. 81 00:05:55,795 --> 00:06:00,195 Speaker 1: Caitlyn Collins wrote that on August eighteenth, twenty fourteen, not 82 00:06:00,275 --> 00:06:04,555 Speaker 1: even nine years ago. This is the quote moderator CNN 83 00:06:04,555 --> 00:06:08,075 Speaker 1: wants us to believe. Is there to question what Donald 84 00:06:08,115 --> 00:06:14,715 Speaker 1: Trump says? That was twenty fourteen. On November eighteen, twenty fifteen, 85 00:06:15,155 --> 00:06:17,995 Speaker 1: not even seven and a half years ago, Katelin Collins 86 00:06:17,995 --> 00:06:21,835 Speaker 1: wrote another article for The Daily Caller headlined thirteen Syrian 87 00:06:21,915 --> 00:06:27,555 Speaker 1: refugees we'd take immediately are opening paragraph read quote and 88 00:06:27,675 --> 00:06:30,475 Speaker 1: this is also still online. While a growing list of 89 00:06:30,555 --> 00:06:34,115 Speaker 1: governors are claiming they won't allow Syrian refugees to enter 90 00:06:34,195 --> 00:06:38,115 Speaker 1: their states, we think these women might make them change 91 00:06:38,115 --> 00:06:46,555 Speaker 1: their minds. They are Syria slye hot unquote Caitlyn Collins, 92 00:06:47,755 --> 00:06:50,435 Speaker 1: whom a CNN executive wants us to believe, we'll control 93 00:06:50,555 --> 00:06:54,195 Speaker 1: Trump's lies and quote prad ask questions, follow up, and 94 00:06:54,235 --> 00:07:00,835 Speaker 1: try to get as revealing answers as possible. Homophobic, islamophobic, mocking, 95 00:07:00,915 --> 00:07:04,635 Speaker 1: internationally condemned torture by Americans, reducing the plight of Syria 96 00:07:04,915 --> 00:07:08,155 Speaker 1: refugees to a tasteless online slide show of attractive women 97 00:07:08,795 --> 00:07:13,915 Speaker 1: six years only removed from taking paychecks from Tucker Carlson. Obviously, 98 00:07:13,955 --> 00:07:18,155 Speaker 1: America can trust Caitlin Collins to push back against Trump's 99 00:07:18,195 --> 00:07:22,315 Speaker 1: lies or at least make another joke about Syrian refugees 100 00:07:22,795 --> 00:07:26,475 Speaker 1: or waterboarding. Maybe she can ask Trump about her old 101 00:07:26,515 --> 00:07:29,315 Speaker 1: boss talking about how white men should and should not fight. 102 00:07:32,115 --> 00:07:35,435 Speaker 1: CNN's only way out of this now is to fire 103 00:07:35,515 --> 00:07:39,635 Speaker 1: its CEO, Chris Licht, and fire its political director David Shalian, 104 00:07:40,395 --> 00:07:43,795 Speaker 1: and fire or demote its compromise moderator, and cancel the 105 00:07:43,835 --> 00:07:47,955 Speaker 1: Trump town hall and apologize to the nation. Instead, CNN 106 00:07:48,035 --> 00:07:53,035 Speaker 1: is ratcheting up the rationalizations. Though CNN is surrendering editorial 107 00:07:53,075 --> 00:07:56,515 Speaker 1: control of its network next Wednesday to Trump, its political 108 00:07:56,515 --> 00:08:00,835 Speaker 1: director mister Shallian had the gall to tell Vanity Fair Magazine, quote, 109 00:08:00,875 --> 00:08:05,035 Speaker 1: we obviously can't control what Donald Trump says. That's up 110 00:08:05,075 --> 00:08:09,955 Speaker 1: to him. Unquote he says the network is going to 111 00:08:09,955 --> 00:08:12,395 Speaker 1: treat him like any other candidate, and his sedition and 112 00:08:12,475 --> 00:08:17,875 Speaker 1: criminality quote does not make our approach any different than 113 00:08:17,955 --> 00:08:22,435 Speaker 1: to any other candidate. Contained in those comments and the 114 00:08:22,475 --> 00:08:27,395 Speaker 1: resurfaced Collins history is why CNN's remaining credibility as a 115 00:08:27,435 --> 00:08:30,995 Speaker 1: news organization will be destroyed if it does not bail 116 00:08:31,075 --> 00:08:33,755 Speaker 1: out of the New Hampshire town Hall and do so immediately. 117 00:08:34,195 --> 00:08:36,595 Speaker 1: And it is why CNN's diminished value, even as a 118 00:08:36,635 --> 00:08:41,275 Speaker 1: subsequent script down resale asset, a television version of post 119 00:08:41,395 --> 00:08:45,555 Speaker 1: Musk Twitter would be reduced to almost nothing, which might 120 00:08:45,595 --> 00:08:47,635 Speaker 1: be the only thing Chris Licked and his masters might 121 00:08:47,755 --> 00:08:51,555 Speaker 1: vaguely understand now, although the Collins problem may be so 122 00:08:51,715 --> 00:08:54,555 Speaker 1: big that even a fool like Licked will sit up 123 00:08:54,595 --> 00:08:59,115 Speaker 1: and take notice. Trump, of course, is not like any 124 00:08:59,155 --> 00:09:02,195 Speaker 1: other candidate in the history of this country, nor of 125 00:09:02,235 --> 00:09:05,715 Speaker 1: any Western democracy. He is first of all, a deranged 126 00:09:05,755 --> 00:09:10,955 Speaker 1: authoritarian bent on destroying democracy. And the twenty sixteen and 127 00:09:10,955 --> 00:09:13,675 Speaker 1: twenty twenty elections should have proved to even the most 128 00:09:13,795 --> 00:09:18,195 Speaker 1: unqualified person in a job like David Shallian's, and that 129 00:09:18,275 --> 00:09:21,595 Speaker 1: most unqualified person would seem to be David Shalian, that 130 00:09:21,715 --> 00:09:27,115 Speaker 1: CNN's approach to Trump must be entirely different, because while 131 00:09:27,155 --> 00:09:30,035 Speaker 1: CNN cannot be expected to control what Trump or anybody 132 00:09:30,035 --> 00:09:34,955 Speaker 1: else says, it is completely ceding its responsibility to the 133 00:09:34,995 --> 00:09:41,795 Speaker 1: American people and to freedom. When Ashalian says they're leaving 134 00:09:41,795 --> 00:09:46,675 Speaker 1: those quote up to him. Trump has proven to be 135 00:09:46,755 --> 00:09:50,035 Speaker 1: unrestrained by fact, by reality, by whether or not his 136 00:09:50,075 --> 00:09:53,115 Speaker 1: words destroy the nation or kill Americans by the hundreds 137 00:09:53,155 --> 00:09:57,675 Speaker 1: of thousands. Leaving anything up to him is to invite chaos, deceit, 138 00:09:57,835 --> 00:10:02,475 Speaker 1: and death. To say that does not make our approach 139 00:10:02,555 --> 00:10:05,915 Speaker 1: any different is to sync to the role of accessory 140 00:10:05,915 --> 00:10:08,715 Speaker 1: before the fact. It is to reduce CNN to being 141 00:10:08,715 --> 00:10:11,675 Speaker 1: a conduit not merely to propaganda and lies, and division 142 00:10:11,675 --> 00:10:15,755 Speaker 1: and conspiracy theory and religious fanaticism, but to another Trump 143 00:10:15,795 --> 00:10:19,275 Speaker 1: attempt to destroy the United States of America. To say 144 00:10:19,955 --> 00:10:24,635 Speaker 1: that's up to him is to literally render CNN complicit 145 00:10:24,835 --> 00:10:28,235 Speaker 1: in another attempted coup against not just the government of 146 00:10:28,235 --> 00:10:31,035 Speaker 1: this country, but the very nature of the government of 147 00:10:31,075 --> 00:10:37,155 Speaker 1: this country. These are the stakes by letting Trump back 148 00:10:37,195 --> 00:10:40,315 Speaker 1: on its air, live with questions exclusively from his cult 149 00:10:40,995 --> 00:10:45,075 Speaker 1: and his new enabler, Caitlin Collins, David Shalian and Chris 150 00:10:45,115 --> 00:10:47,755 Speaker 1: Lickt and all the others at CNN involved in this 151 00:10:47,875 --> 00:10:52,835 Speaker 1: nightmare are co conspirators in domestic terrorism. And they add 152 00:10:52,835 --> 00:10:57,875 Speaker 1: to this a remarkable air of glibness and callousness and stupidity. 153 00:10:58,675 --> 00:11:02,315 Speaker 1: Yesterday's CNN began to run promos for the Trump town 154 00:11:02,435 --> 00:11:06,755 Speaker 1: hall pre recorded thing, run as blithely as if they 155 00:11:06,755 --> 00:11:09,875 Speaker 1: were telling you which oatmeal politician was to be the 156 00:11:09,875 --> 00:11:15,675 Speaker 1: guest on the Oatmeal Michael Smerconish show. Titlin Collins herself 157 00:11:15,715 --> 00:11:18,395 Speaker 1: read one of the promos live yesterday morning. One of 158 00:11:18,395 --> 00:11:23,435 Speaker 1: the other two surviving members of CNN's impossibly pedestrian Morning program, 159 00:11:23,475 --> 00:11:28,355 Speaker 1: Poppy Harlowe, actually then said, quote, so looking forward to 160 00:11:28,395 --> 00:11:31,515 Speaker 1: seeing that really important for him to take voter questions. 161 00:11:31,635 --> 00:11:38,075 Speaker 1: He is the front runner right now in the GOP meantime. 162 00:11:38,275 --> 00:11:41,995 Speaker 1: The political director Shalian also confirmed as fact a previously 163 00:11:42,075 --> 00:11:45,995 Speaker 1: reported sourced allegation that as if this somehow needed to 164 00:11:46,035 --> 00:11:48,835 Speaker 1: be worse for CNN, makes it worse for CNN, that 165 00:11:48,915 --> 00:11:53,395 Speaker 1: this was all CNN's idea. On Monday, Vanity Fair had 166 00:11:53,435 --> 00:11:57,435 Speaker 1: quoted a Trump plotter as saying, quote, CNN executives made 167 00:11:57,475 --> 00:12:02,955 Speaker 1: a compelling pitch Shalian confirmed that quote the heart of 168 00:12:02,995 --> 00:12:05,155 Speaker 1: the pitch is that the town hall has been a 169 00:12:05,195 --> 00:12:07,875 Speaker 1: central part of our campaign coverage. Quote he said there 170 00:12:07,915 --> 00:12:11,075 Speaker 1: would be follow up questions from the moderator. Quote, but 171 00:12:11,235 --> 00:12:14,235 Speaker 1: the primary focus of a presidential town hall is to 172 00:12:14,235 --> 00:12:18,035 Speaker 1: have the candidate interact with the voters, and that's why 173 00:12:18,075 --> 00:12:21,475 Speaker 1: we convene these things, because we think it's so important 174 00:12:21,475 --> 00:12:26,515 Speaker 1: to the process of voters making their choices. Political director 175 00:12:26,555 --> 00:12:30,955 Speaker 1: Shalian added, quote, what we can do is prod ask questions, 176 00:12:30,995 --> 00:12:34,675 Speaker 1: follow up, and try to get as revealing answers as possible. 177 00:12:37,075 --> 00:12:40,035 Speaker 1: This master of both sides ism would not say whether 178 00:12:40,075 --> 00:12:42,315 Speaker 1: there would be live fact checking of Trump nor any 179 00:12:42,395 --> 00:12:45,755 Speaker 1: other pushback against Trump's array of lies. But it's quote 180 00:12:46,235 --> 00:12:50,795 Speaker 1: not new for CNN journalists to question Donald Trump unquote 181 00:12:51,115 --> 00:12:54,115 Speaker 1: that is literally correct. It is also not new for 182 00:12:54,155 --> 00:12:58,395 Speaker 1: Trump to humiliate, demean, threaten, and lie to CNN journalists 183 00:12:59,035 --> 00:13:01,995 Speaker 1: and get away with it, as his invitation to be 184 00:13:02,075 --> 00:13:06,235 Speaker 1: on CNN air again next week proves, especially since the 185 00:13:06,275 --> 00:13:09,595 Speaker 1: interaction will be live on CNN, Especially since his complete 186 00:13:09,675 --> 00:13:13,315 Speaker 1: lack of conscience and morality makes Trump the ideal liar 187 00:13:13,435 --> 00:13:16,395 Speaker 1: and cult leader, and CNN has not once put anybody 188 00:13:16,395 --> 00:13:18,795 Speaker 1: on the air able to knock down Trump's lies as 189 00:13:18,835 --> 00:13:24,435 Speaker 1: quickly as he can spew them. But don't worry, Caitlin 190 00:13:24,635 --> 00:13:33,475 Speaker 1: Collins will defend democracy for us. The ice bucket challenge 191 00:13:34,195 --> 00:13:38,275 Speaker 1: she wrote has gone viral lately on Facebook and Instagram, 192 00:13:38,675 --> 00:13:42,435 Speaker 1: raising awareness for lou Garrig's disease, as people either dump 193 00:13:42,475 --> 00:13:45,155 Speaker 1: a bucket of ice water on their head or donate 194 00:13:45,195 --> 00:13:49,195 Speaker 1: one hundred dollars to the ALS Association. However, as with 195 00:13:49,355 --> 00:13:52,675 Speaker 1: every trend, there are the hipsters who did it before 196 00:13:52,755 --> 00:13:58,515 Speaker 1: everyone else. These Guantanamo Bay detainees were certainly first to 197 00:13:58,595 --> 00:14:02,795 Speaker 1: do the ice bucket challenge, and its high time they 198 00:14:02,955 --> 00:14:20,115 Speaker 1: got their due. Still ahead on this ediative countdown, Kevin 199 00:14:20,195 --> 00:14:22,955 Speaker 1: McCarthy will meet with the President next Tuesday to discuss 200 00:14:22,995 --> 00:14:26,715 Speaker 1: the debt limit. McCarthy may think he has all the cards, 201 00:14:26,795 --> 00:14:29,235 Speaker 1: Joe Biden may have a surprise for him. It appears 202 00:14:29,755 --> 00:14:35,515 Speaker 1: defaulting on American debt is literally unconstitutional and a president 203 00:14:35,715 --> 00:14:39,875 Speaker 1: may cover the bills no matter what the Republicans do. Surprise. 204 00:14:40,995 --> 00:14:43,995 Speaker 1: Speaking of surprise, Disney has sued Ron DeSantis because he 205 00:14:44,075 --> 00:14:47,115 Speaker 1: punished them for using their First Amendment rights to protest 206 00:14:47,155 --> 00:14:51,075 Speaker 1: his don't say gay laws in Florida. Disney may have 207 00:14:51,075 --> 00:14:55,435 Speaker 1: a surprise witness to use against him him. DeSantis's new 208 00:14:55,435 --> 00:14:58,995 Speaker 1: book is basically one long confession of how he punished 209 00:14:59,035 --> 00:15:02,675 Speaker 1: Disney and Disney alone for using the First Amendment and 210 00:15:02,755 --> 00:15:05,515 Speaker 1: that old phrase. He's a modest man with much to 211 00:15:05,555 --> 00:15:08,995 Speaker 1: be modest about. Even if you don't have that much 212 00:15:09,035 --> 00:15:11,155 Speaker 1: to be modest about, it pays to try to be 213 00:15:11,235 --> 00:15:13,755 Speaker 1: that way. Let me tell you the story of Chet 214 00:15:13,835 --> 00:15:17,475 Speaker 1: Curtis and dinner at Anthony's and the reminder to always 215 00:15:17,515 --> 00:15:21,035 Speaker 1: be surprised that anybody knows who the hell you are. 216 00:15:22,275 --> 00:15:34,275 Speaker 1: That's next. This is countdown. This is countdown with Keith Olberman. 217 00:15:37,915 --> 00:15:41,115 Speaker 1: Postscripts to the news, some headlines, some updates, some snarks, 218 00:15:41,155 --> 00:15:45,275 Speaker 1: some predictions. Dateline Washington Speaker of the House Kevin Tucker. 219 00:15:45,755 --> 00:15:49,275 Speaker 1: Tucker who McCarthy has agreed to meet with the President 220 00:15:49,315 --> 00:15:52,875 Speaker 1: next Tuesday to discuss the Republican's latest threat to destroy 221 00:15:52,955 --> 00:15:56,155 Speaker 1: the world economy if they can't cut the safety net 222 00:15:56,595 --> 00:16:00,675 Speaker 1: the debt ceiling. But McCarthy may get yet another surprise 223 00:16:00,955 --> 00:16:04,675 Speaker 1: in his surprise written painful speakership. The New York Times 224 00:16:04,955 --> 00:16:08,795 Speaker 1: reporting that Biden economic and legal officials believe that if 225 00:16:08,795 --> 00:16:12,075 Speaker 1: the House really did go ahead and kill its hostage 226 00:16:12,115 --> 00:16:16,435 Speaker 1: the debt sealing, the government would be constitutionally obligated to 227 00:16:16,555 --> 00:16:20,755 Speaker 1: keep paying its debt anyway, and would do so, leaving 228 00:16:20,755 --> 00:16:25,435 Speaker 1: the Republicans with their debts in their hands. There is 229 00:16:25,475 --> 00:16:28,475 Speaker 1: a cause in the Fourteenth Amendment stating quote, the validity 230 00:16:28,555 --> 00:16:32,195 Speaker 1: of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, 231 00:16:32,635 --> 00:16:36,275 Speaker 1: including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for 232 00:16:36,395 --> 00:16:42,115 Speaker 1: services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. 233 00:16:42,715 --> 00:16:45,155 Speaker 1: The administration officials have been debating for months if that 234 00:16:45,195 --> 00:16:47,515 Speaker 1: means what it sounds like it means. The Times quotes 235 00:16:47,555 --> 00:16:51,235 Speaker 1: the University of Oregon constitutional scholar Garrett Epps, who writes 236 00:16:51,555 --> 00:16:55,715 Speaker 1: the Constitution's text bars the federal government from defaulting on 237 00:16:55,795 --> 00:16:58,595 Speaker 1: the debt even a little, even for a short while. 238 00:16:58,995 --> 00:17:01,355 Speaker 1: There's a case to be made that if Congress decides 239 00:17:01,395 --> 00:17:04,235 Speaker 1: to default on the debt, the President has the power 240 00:17:04,315 --> 00:17:08,395 Speaker 1: and the obligation to pay it without Congressional permission, even 241 00:17:08,435 --> 00:17:12,635 Speaker 1: if that requires borrowing more money to do so. As 242 00:17:12,635 --> 00:17:23,915 Speaker 1: we used to say on the playground, Congressman McCarthy snag, 243 00:17:30,075 --> 00:17:33,675 Speaker 1: thank you, Nancy Faust dateline California. Boy, oh boy, If 244 00:17:33,715 --> 00:17:36,475 Speaker 1: the senior senator from that state really is alive and 245 00:17:36,555 --> 00:17:39,235 Speaker 1: well and ready to return to Washington, she has a 246 00:17:39,315 --> 00:17:43,475 Speaker 1: damn funny and damn desperate way of saying so. Politico 247 00:17:43,515 --> 00:17:46,115 Speaker 1: has put out a story saying that Senate Majority Leader 248 00:17:46,195 --> 00:17:49,835 Speaker 1: Chuck Schumer claims to have spoken to Senator Dianne Feinstein 249 00:17:50,235 --> 00:17:53,435 Speaker 1: on Monday of this week, and he quotes her as 250 00:17:53,435 --> 00:17:56,435 Speaker 1: saying she is hopeful she will return to the job 251 00:17:56,555 --> 00:18:00,275 Speaker 1: next week, not that Schumer actually said any of that, 252 00:18:00,875 --> 00:18:04,235 Speaker 1: but Politico zoomed in on a photo taken of the 253 00:18:04,315 --> 00:18:07,875 Speaker 1: notes Chuck Schumer was carrying at his press briefing yesterday, 254 00:18:08,155 --> 00:18:12,035 Speaker 1: and item six of his talking points was an anticipated 255 00:18:12,115 --> 00:18:14,875 Speaker 1: question about the debt limit and whether or not it 256 00:18:14,955 --> 00:18:17,595 Speaker 1: was now time to tell Feinstein to quit or get 257 00:18:17,635 --> 00:18:21,515 Speaker 1: off the pot. But nobody asked Schumer that question, so 258 00:18:21,595 --> 00:18:24,635 Speaker 1: he didn't give that answer. But there it is in 259 00:18:24,675 --> 00:18:28,315 Speaker 1: his talking points in the photo that he and Feinstein 260 00:18:28,435 --> 00:18:31,515 Speaker 1: spoke Monday and both are hopeful she can return, even 261 00:18:31,555 --> 00:18:35,395 Speaker 1: though he never said it. CNN then asked to feinstein 262 00:18:35,475 --> 00:18:40,155 Speaker 1: spokesperson about this. That person replied, quote, Senator Feinstein continues 263 00:18:40,195 --> 00:18:42,595 Speaker 1: to make progress in her recovery. We don't have a 264 00:18:42,635 --> 00:18:45,875 Speaker 1: timeline yet for her return to Washington, which is dependent 265 00:18:45,955 --> 00:18:50,235 Speaker 1: on her medical team saying it is safe to travel. Unquote, 266 00:18:50,875 --> 00:18:55,075 Speaker 1: the Senator is supposedly recovering from shingles. I've had shingles. 267 00:18:55,475 --> 00:18:58,355 Speaker 1: It is the worst illness you can have that cannot 268 00:18:58,475 --> 00:19:01,755 Speaker 1: kill you or cause them to cut something off. I 269 00:19:01,875 --> 00:19:04,875 Speaker 1: had it in twenty fourteen. I'll let you know when 270 00:19:04,915 --> 00:19:09,115 Speaker 1: I'm fully recovered. But at its worst, you could travel 271 00:19:09,195 --> 00:19:12,595 Speaker 1: a little bit each day and still be in Washington 272 00:19:12,635 --> 00:19:15,635 Speaker 1: by week after next at the latest, even if you 273 00:19:15,675 --> 00:19:32,995 Speaker 1: were traveling by Pony Express ahead the day. I learned 274 00:19:33,035 --> 00:19:36,235 Speaker 1: never to assume anybody knew who the hell I was. 275 00:19:37,115 --> 00:19:39,035 Speaker 1: First time for the daily round up with the miss Grants, 276 00:19:39,115 --> 00:19:42,395 Speaker 1: morons and Dunning Kruger effects specimens who constitute today's worst 277 00:19:42,395 --> 00:19:48,675 Speaker 1: persons in the world. The Bronze the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Yes, 278 00:19:49,595 --> 00:19:55,995 Speaker 1: that one. You can't please everyone, especially not me. On 279 00:19:56,035 --> 00:20:00,355 Speaker 1: December eleventh, twenty twenty, a woman named Kathleen Cassillo was 280 00:20:00,475 --> 00:20:03,835 Speaker 1: driving her BMW at thirty ninth Street and Third Avenue 281 00:20:03,875 --> 00:20:07,075 Speaker 1: in Manhattan when she plowed into a group of Black 282 00:20:07,195 --> 00:20:10,995 Speaker 1: Lives Matter protesters, sending several of them flying into the 283 00:20:11,035 --> 00:20:14,835 Speaker 1: air six injuries. Fortunately none of them were life threatening. 284 00:20:15,395 --> 00:20:18,275 Speaker 1: The DA here has just cut a deal with miss Cassillo, 285 00:20:18,635 --> 00:20:22,075 Speaker 1: who claimed she feared for her safety and her daughters. 286 00:20:22,675 --> 00:20:25,755 Speaker 1: Her daughter's twenty nine, by the way, and she panicked 287 00:20:25,755 --> 00:20:28,715 Speaker 1: and stepped on the gas. The deal they made with her, 288 00:20:29,115 --> 00:20:32,835 Speaker 1: she was facing seven years in jail if convicted. She 289 00:20:32,915 --> 00:20:36,395 Speaker 1: has instead pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and has been 290 00:20:36,435 --> 00:20:42,355 Speaker 1: forced to do community service five hours of community service. 291 00:20:43,515 --> 00:20:45,835 Speaker 1: If I got up from this studio right now and 292 00:20:45,875 --> 00:20:48,795 Speaker 1: went out on the street and waited for a cop 293 00:20:48,875 --> 00:20:51,035 Speaker 1: to come by, and stood in front of him and 294 00:20:51,155 --> 00:20:54,195 Speaker 1: emptied out a city garbage can as he watched, the 295 00:20:54,235 --> 00:20:57,115 Speaker 1: best deal I could get would be like twenty hours 296 00:20:57,115 --> 00:21:00,355 Speaker 1: of community service. And by the way, if she stays 297 00:21:00,395 --> 00:21:03,755 Speaker 1: out of trouble for six months, Miss Cassillo's conviction would 298 00:21:03,755 --> 00:21:08,675 Speaker 1: be reduced to disorderly conduct. Christ I'm surprised they didn't 299 00:21:08,675 --> 00:21:12,795 Speaker 1: give her a gift coupon to Bloomingdale's the runner up 300 00:21:12,835 --> 00:21:14,995 Speaker 1: third time on the list this week, Greg Abbott, no'm 301 00:21:14,995 --> 00:21:17,075 Speaker 1: on only listed as the governor of Texas when actually 302 00:21:17,075 --> 00:21:20,475 Speaker 1: he wants to be the dictator of Texas. This authoritarian 303 00:21:20,515 --> 00:21:23,595 Speaker 1: weasel has just gotten the state Senate there to pass 304 00:21:23,635 --> 00:21:27,395 Speaker 1: a bill that orders the Secretary of State to overturn 305 00:21:27,475 --> 00:21:30,915 Speaker 1: any election in Houston or in all of Harris County. 306 00:21:31,235 --> 00:21:34,115 Speaker 1: If the Secretary of State merely says they believe the 307 00:21:34,155 --> 00:21:39,475 Speaker 1: election has issues, that's it. And who appoints the secretary 308 00:21:39,475 --> 00:21:41,915 Speaker 1: of State in Texas? Why the governor does Greg Gabbott 309 00:21:41,955 --> 00:21:45,355 Speaker 1: a Republican, a Texas Republican, therefore a fascist, and who's 310 00:21:45,475 --> 00:21:49,355 Speaker 1: usually the winner in Harris County a Democrat? So it 311 00:21:49,355 --> 00:21:53,195 Speaker 1: could become law in Texas that a Republican governor can 312 00:21:53,315 --> 00:21:58,955 Speaker 1: nullify a Democratic win just because it is time for 313 00:21:59,035 --> 00:22:02,675 Speaker 1: US as a country to stop spending federal funds on Texas. 314 00:22:02,955 --> 00:22:05,555 Speaker 1: If Texas does not want to be part of a democracy, 315 00:22:06,395 --> 00:22:08,275 Speaker 1: go on out there without the money from the self 316 00:22:08,275 --> 00:22:10,915 Speaker 1: sufficient states, the Blue States, and see how many days 317 00:22:10,915 --> 00:22:15,315 Speaker 1: you'll last as the Kingdom of Texas. But the winner, 318 00:22:15,435 --> 00:22:18,715 Speaker 1: that small man in the high heeled shoes, Ron de Santis. 319 00:22:19,435 --> 00:22:22,115 Speaker 1: Disney is suing him on the state of Florida over 320 00:22:22,155 --> 00:22:25,715 Speaker 1: DeSantis's attempts to punish the company by changing the laws 321 00:22:25,755 --> 00:22:30,395 Speaker 1: governing Disney World. Because Disney exercised its First Amendment rights, 322 00:22:30,435 --> 00:22:33,475 Speaker 1: the ones that Republicans like Ronda fought so hard for 323 00:22:33,595 --> 00:22:37,915 Speaker 1: in Citizens United, exercising its First Amendment rights by opposing 324 00:22:37,995 --> 00:22:42,515 Speaker 1: Ron de Santis's homophobic don't say gay laws. As Greg's 325 00:22:42,515 --> 00:22:45,755 Speaker 1: sergeant in The Washington Post noted, Disney has an unusual 326 00:22:45,795 --> 00:22:49,995 Speaker 1: ally in its fight against Ron de Santis Ron DeSantis. 327 00:22:50,635 --> 00:22:54,675 Speaker 1: Much of Disney's legal filings are simply direct quotations from 328 00:22:54,715 --> 00:22:58,795 Speaker 1: DeSantis's new book, which is ironically titled The Courage to 329 00:22:58,875 --> 00:23:03,155 Speaker 1: Be fee DeSantis repeatedly not only admits in the book 330 00:23:03,195 --> 00:23:06,995 Speaker 1: that he targeted Disney and Disney alone for retribution for 331 00:23:07,115 --> 00:23:11,755 Speaker 1: disagreeing with him politically, but he boasts about it. Ron 332 00:23:11,955 --> 00:23:14,635 Speaker 1: Two months ago, people thought DeSantis might challenge for the 333 00:23:14,635 --> 00:23:17,435 Speaker 1: Republican presidential nomination. Now they're wondering if he will be 334 00:23:17,435 --> 00:23:20,795 Speaker 1: permitted to finish out his term as governor. DeSantis two 335 00:23:20,955 --> 00:23:37,835 Speaker 1: days worst person in the world still ahead on countdown. 336 00:23:38,475 --> 00:23:40,475 Speaker 1: One of my pups and I were stopped on a 337 00:23:40,515 --> 00:23:43,035 Speaker 1: walk the other day by another guy with another dog, 338 00:23:43,075 --> 00:23:46,075 Speaker 1: and a couple of minutes into the all dog conversation 339 00:23:46,835 --> 00:23:48,715 Speaker 1: that is, the guy and I were talking about dogs. 340 00:23:48,715 --> 00:23:50,515 Speaker 1: The dogs were not talking to each other, at least 341 00:23:50,515 --> 00:23:53,195 Speaker 1: not that we heard. In the middle of this, the 342 00:23:53,195 --> 00:23:56,515 Speaker 1: guy abruptly stops and recognizes me. Why didn't you say something, 343 00:23:56,555 --> 00:23:58,675 Speaker 1: he asked, and I said, you wanted me to tell 344 00:23:58,715 --> 00:24:02,075 Speaker 1: you my name. I then told him the additional story 345 00:24:02,075 --> 00:24:05,715 Speaker 1: of why I never assume anybody had has any idea 346 00:24:06,195 --> 00:24:09,355 Speaker 1: who the F I am. I will tell you that 347 00:24:09,475 --> 00:24:12,915 Speaker 1: story next. First, in each tradition of Countdown, we feature 348 00:24:12,955 --> 00:24:15,115 Speaker 1: a dog. Indeed, you can help. Every dog has its 349 00:24:15,195 --> 00:24:18,155 Speaker 1: day to New York and this is a special and 350 00:24:18,315 --> 00:24:21,635 Speaker 1: sad case. This is about Joe and the good folks 351 00:24:21,635 --> 00:24:25,875 Speaker 1: at AMA Animal Rescue who saved him. First. Joe, who 352 00:24:25,875 --> 00:24:30,515 Speaker 1: looks like a Maltese mix, maybe a Havines mix, kind 353 00:24:30,515 --> 00:24:33,235 Speaker 1: of big for Maltese. He was hit by a car. 354 00:24:33,675 --> 00:24:35,555 Speaker 1: They took him to the New York Pound and of 355 00:24:35,595 --> 00:24:37,395 Speaker 1: course the New York Pound put him on death row. 356 00:24:37,875 --> 00:24:40,755 Speaker 1: We highlighted him on my dog Rescue Twitter account at 357 00:24:40,795 --> 00:24:44,355 Speaker 1: Tom Jumbo Grumbo and AMA Rescue pulled him out and 358 00:24:44,395 --> 00:24:47,475 Speaker 1: saved Joe. And that's when it turned out Joe wasn't 359 00:24:47,555 --> 00:24:50,875 Speaker 1: just hurt. He had a severe fracture of his pelvis 360 00:24:51,315 --> 00:24:54,435 Speaker 1: that had all kinds of complications he would need surgery. 361 00:24:54,955 --> 00:24:57,635 Speaker 1: And then AMA Rescue found out Joe will need in 362 00:24:57,675 --> 00:25:01,555 Speaker 1: fact two surgeries and he has a blood infection and 363 00:25:01,595 --> 00:25:05,755 Speaker 1: this will cost thousands of dollars, and the rescue is 364 00:25:05,755 --> 00:25:07,355 Speaker 1: not going to give up on him and say now 365 00:25:07,555 --> 00:25:10,635 Speaker 1: just kill him. So if you can help Joe, and 366 00:25:10,715 --> 00:25:13,515 Speaker 1: you can help AMA Rescue with any kind of donation, 367 00:25:14,035 --> 00:25:16,995 Speaker 1: you can find Joe on Cudley or on both of 368 00:25:17,035 --> 00:25:20,675 Speaker 1: my Twitter feeds. I thank you and Joe thanks you. 369 00:25:31,355 --> 00:25:33,475 Speaker 1: Now our number one story in the countdown on my 370 00:25:33,515 --> 00:25:36,875 Speaker 1: favorite topic, me and the lesson of humility and anonymity 371 00:25:36,955 --> 00:25:40,835 Speaker 1: I learned one fine summer day from one fine Boston 372 00:25:40,915 --> 00:25:46,875 Speaker 1: TV newscaster in the long ago year of nineteen eighty four. 373 00:25:48,315 --> 00:25:51,435 Speaker 1: I did not last long there. The station got mad 374 00:25:51,435 --> 00:25:54,235 Speaker 1: at me for making jokes during the sportscast, which raised 375 00:25:54,235 --> 00:25:55,995 Speaker 1: the question why did they hire a guy known for 376 00:25:56,035 --> 00:26:00,275 Speaker 1: making jokes during the sportscast? So I left ten days 377 00:26:00,315 --> 00:26:03,595 Speaker 1: shy of six months. Last day, right after I got 378 00:26:03,595 --> 00:26:05,635 Speaker 1: back from covering the nineteen eight twenty four World Series, 379 00:26:05,635 --> 00:26:08,835 Speaker 1: sitting next to another young Boston TV sports reporter named 380 00:26:08,835 --> 00:26:13,955 Speaker 1: Carl Yustremsky, and the last day was Friday, October nineteenth, 381 00:26:14,035 --> 00:26:18,235 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty four. It was short, but it was not sweet. 382 00:26:18,835 --> 00:26:21,235 Speaker 1: But I did meet some extraordinary people, and I learned 383 00:26:21,235 --> 00:26:23,715 Speaker 1: one extraordinary lesson that applies to a lot more of 384 00:26:23,755 --> 00:26:26,915 Speaker 1: life than might be suggested at first blush. On the 385 00:26:27,035 --> 00:26:30,835 Speaker 1: night of Friday, July sixth, nineteen eighty four, Chet Curtis, 386 00:26:30,875 --> 00:26:33,435 Speaker 1: who with his wife Natalie Jacobson, were the mandarins of 387 00:26:33,435 --> 00:26:36,235 Speaker 1: Boston Television News, asked me if I wanted to go 388 00:26:36,355 --> 00:26:40,515 Speaker 1: with him to dinner after our six PM newscast. The 389 00:26:40,555 --> 00:26:43,315 Speaker 1: following Monday, I would move from sports reporter and fill 390 00:26:43,315 --> 00:26:46,075 Speaker 1: in at the sports desk to anchoring the sports report 391 00:26:46,115 --> 00:26:49,355 Speaker 1: every night on our eleven PM newscast. The year before, 392 00:26:49,435 --> 00:26:52,395 Speaker 1: our station, Channel five, had interviewed me for the job 393 00:26:52,435 --> 00:26:54,755 Speaker 1: of sports director, but I made a terrible mistake. In 394 00:26:54,795 --> 00:26:58,035 Speaker 1: the interview with the general manager, Jim Coppersmith. I mentioned 395 00:26:58,075 --> 00:27:00,955 Speaker 1: to him that we had met before when he was 396 00:27:01,035 --> 00:27:03,795 Speaker 1: general manager of Channel five in New York and I 397 00:27:03,955 --> 00:27:08,875 Speaker 1: was an intern in their newsroom. This peaked Coppersmith's curiosity 398 00:27:09,155 --> 00:27:12,715 Speaker 1: since it had happened only five years later. That's when 399 00:27:12,715 --> 00:27:15,235 Speaker 1: he found out I was not twenty eight years old. 400 00:27:15,275 --> 00:27:17,155 Speaker 1: As his news director had told him, but I was 401 00:27:17,155 --> 00:27:20,395 Speaker 1: only twenty four. So instead he hired this guy from 402 00:27:20,435 --> 00:27:22,515 Speaker 1: Florida named Lee Webb. And all you really need to 403 00:27:22,515 --> 00:27:24,395 Speaker 1: know about Lee was that after he left the station, 404 00:27:24,755 --> 00:27:28,475 Speaker 1: he became the quote newscaster unquote on the Pat Robertson 405 00:27:28,555 --> 00:27:31,515 Speaker 1: TV network, and he started talking about what the Bible 406 00:27:31,555 --> 00:27:34,115 Speaker 1: said about Ronald Reagan. And he often used the phrases 407 00:27:34,795 --> 00:27:40,355 Speaker 1: Republicans and Democrats and fire and brimstone in the same sentence. 408 00:27:41,075 --> 00:27:44,155 Speaker 1: So a year later they had decided Webb was too 409 00:27:44,235 --> 00:27:46,435 Speaker 1: dull and I was the coming thing, and they were 410 00:27:46,475 --> 00:27:49,875 Speaker 1: splitting the sportscasting job in half. Lee would stay on 411 00:27:49,915 --> 00:27:53,515 Speaker 1: the six and I would do the eleven. And Chad Curtis, 412 00:27:53,555 --> 00:27:56,235 Speaker 1: who had been on Boston TV since nineteen sixty eight, 413 00:27:56,475 --> 00:27:58,355 Speaker 1: wanted to give me an idea of what was coming 414 00:27:58,395 --> 00:28:01,515 Speaker 1: for me. So he said, Let's go to Anthony's Peer four. 415 00:28:01,995 --> 00:28:05,435 Speaker 1: Kind of touristy fish place, but beautiful, great food, but 416 00:28:05,475 --> 00:28:06,715 Speaker 1: I have to stop on my way to get a 417 00:28:06,795 --> 00:28:10,155 Speaker 1: quick SoundBite for the eleven. Sure enough, Chet drove to 418 00:28:10,195 --> 00:28:13,755 Speaker 1: a downtown office building spied the Channel five cameraman waiting 419 00:28:13,755 --> 00:28:17,435 Speaker 1: for us on the sidewalk. Parked and hopped out. Now, 420 00:28:17,475 --> 00:28:21,275 Speaker 1: on any summer's Friday night then and now, Boston's downtown 421 00:28:21,515 --> 00:28:25,475 Speaker 1: is deserted. But this was a Friday night, two days 422 00:28:25,515 --> 00:28:28,635 Speaker 1: after July fourth. It was so empty you could hear 423 00:28:28,675 --> 00:28:32,195 Speaker 1: the stoplights change from red to green. Yet within a 424 00:28:32,195 --> 00:28:35,275 Speaker 1: minute of check Curtis's appearance there formed a crowd of 425 00:28:35,315 --> 00:28:39,875 Speaker 1: somewhere between fifty and one hundred people. Where they came from. 426 00:28:40,355 --> 00:28:43,555 Speaker 1: I have no idea to this day. If you told 427 00:28:43,555 --> 00:28:47,155 Speaker 1: me they had emerged from the sewers, I would have 428 00:28:47,275 --> 00:28:50,795 Speaker 1: and would believe you. Without being asked. They formed a 429 00:28:50,835 --> 00:28:53,315 Speaker 1: neat semi circle out of the range of the camera. 430 00:28:53,595 --> 00:28:55,835 Speaker 1: Whoever the guy was that Chet was supposed to interview, 431 00:28:55,995 --> 00:28:59,475 Speaker 1: answered his questions quickly. The cameraman repositioned himself to get 432 00:28:59,515 --> 00:29:04,115 Speaker 1: the obligatory. Chet listens intently and intelligently cutaway shots. Then 433 00:29:04,115 --> 00:29:06,875 Speaker 1: he said okay, were done, and the semi circle of 434 00:29:06,915 --> 00:29:12,315 Speaker 1: civilians burst into applause. A few came over for autographs 435 00:29:12,355 --> 00:29:14,875 Speaker 1: and pictures. One said to me you are the new 436 00:29:14,915 --> 00:29:17,835 Speaker 1: Spots guy. I like you. Then they all left as 437 00:29:17,835 --> 00:29:22,235 Speaker 1: stealthily as they appeared. We got back into Chet's truck. 438 00:29:23,355 --> 00:29:28,515 Speaker 1: I was laughing nervously. How do you get used to that? 439 00:29:28,875 --> 00:29:31,035 Speaker 1: I mean, when I've gone to the ballpark, I get 440 00:29:31,035 --> 00:29:34,435 Speaker 1: a few hellos and one or two autograph requests. But 441 00:29:35,155 --> 00:29:37,795 Speaker 1: does this happen all the time? And how do you 442 00:29:37,835 --> 00:29:41,555 Speaker 1: get used to it? Chat had a wonderful laugh. It 443 00:29:41,595 --> 00:29:43,875 Speaker 1: does not happen all the time. It'll happen a lot 444 00:29:43,915 --> 00:29:45,675 Speaker 1: more to you once you start on the eleven. But 445 00:29:45,835 --> 00:29:48,995 Speaker 1: don't get used to it. That's one of the reasons 446 00:29:49,035 --> 00:29:50,795 Speaker 1: I want to have dinner with you. And the place 447 00:29:50,795 --> 00:29:53,235 Speaker 1: we're going is where I learned the lesson I wanted 448 00:29:53,235 --> 00:29:56,875 Speaker 1: to offer to you. So we go to Anthony's. The 449 00:29:56,955 --> 00:29:59,315 Speaker 1: valet was saying good to see you, mister Curtis before 450 00:29:59,395 --> 00:30:02,395 Speaker 1: Chet was fully out of the truck. His boss appeared 451 00:30:02,715 --> 00:30:06,395 Speaker 1: good evening, Chet. People dining outside on the pier stared, 452 00:30:06,595 --> 00:30:09,355 Speaker 1: several waved the major d beat us to the front 453 00:30:09,355 --> 00:30:11,755 Speaker 1: door and held it open for us. And this is 454 00:30:11,755 --> 00:30:16,355 Speaker 1: your new sportscaster, Welcome to Anthony's. Chet was more than gracious. 455 00:30:16,395 --> 00:30:20,675 Speaker 1: He managed to simultaneously convey deep appreciation. Low Key surprised 456 00:30:20,675 --> 00:30:22,835 Speaker 1: at all the attention and the sense that nobody was 457 00:30:22,875 --> 00:30:26,275 Speaker 1: bothering him in the slightest as we entered the dining room, 458 00:30:26,315 --> 00:30:33,115 Speaker 1: there was polite applause. Chet waved almost but not quite sheepishly. 459 00:30:33,955 --> 00:30:36,275 Speaker 1: We were seated at the best table at the best 460 00:30:36,315 --> 00:30:39,395 Speaker 1: angle to see the harbor. The reserved sign the manager 461 00:30:39,435 --> 00:30:44,635 Speaker 1: of Anthony's removed was comically large. After the drinks arrived, 462 00:30:44,755 --> 00:30:49,955 Speaker 1: Chent began to preach. Unless you're an athlete, nobody, he said, 463 00:30:49,995 --> 00:30:52,075 Speaker 1: gets loved on as much in this city as people 464 00:30:52,075 --> 00:30:54,515 Speaker 1: on TV, especially people on Channel five. Now it's a 465 00:30:54,555 --> 00:30:57,355 Speaker 1: little quieter than usual because of the holiday. But when 466 00:30:57,355 --> 00:30:59,355 Speaker 1: they first put me on the eleven o'clock news eight 467 00:30:59,395 --> 00:31:02,675 Speaker 1: years ago next to my beautiful bride, if I came 468 00:31:02,715 --> 00:31:07,075 Speaker 1: in here, there would be people stamp and applauding. Natalie 469 00:31:07,115 --> 00:31:09,275 Speaker 1: doesn't really like that stuff, so she sends not to 470 00:31:09,275 --> 00:31:11,755 Speaker 1: go with me to the big restaurants. But me, I'm 471 00:31:11,835 --> 00:31:14,795 Speaker 1: just Chester from Amsterdam, New York, and I worked damn 472 00:31:14,835 --> 00:31:17,235 Speaker 1: hard to get here, and I loved it. I loved 473 00:31:17,235 --> 00:31:19,675 Speaker 1: every second of it. If there was an opportunity to 474 00:31:19,675 --> 00:31:22,315 Speaker 1: come here before the late newscast or after it, or 475 00:31:22,355 --> 00:31:25,035 Speaker 1: on the weekends, I was here. I said, I loved 476 00:31:25,075 --> 00:31:30,195 Speaker 1: the fish. I really loved the applause. He laughed again. 477 00:31:30,795 --> 00:31:33,035 Speaker 1: I mean, we're still number one, but maybe five years 478 00:31:33,035 --> 00:31:36,675 Speaker 1: ago we had higher ratings than the other two stations combined. 479 00:31:37,235 --> 00:31:39,595 Speaker 1: There were months at a time when I didn't pay 480 00:31:39,635 --> 00:31:43,875 Speaker 1: for a drink here, not one, and I came to 481 00:31:43,955 --> 00:31:47,075 Speaker 1: depend upon that. And that's what I wanted to tell you. 482 00:31:47,235 --> 00:31:50,955 Speaker 1: Don't don't get used to it, don't expect it. Don't 483 00:31:51,035 --> 00:31:54,155 Speaker 1: fail to be surprised by it, or at least, don't 484 00:31:54,155 --> 00:31:56,795 Speaker 1: fail to fake being surprised by it. Because one day 485 00:31:56,875 --> 00:31:59,395 Speaker 1: it happened. It happened right here, and I thought my 486 00:31:59,515 --> 00:32:04,235 Speaker 1: career was over at the age of twenty five. I 487 00:32:04,315 --> 00:32:06,715 Speaker 1: know this will surprise you. I did not listen to 488 00:32:06,755 --> 00:32:09,595 Speaker 1: a lot of advice, but check Curtis was bearing his 489 00:32:09,795 --> 00:32:12,515 Speaker 1: soul here, and I felt a mixture of terror and 490 00:32:12,635 --> 00:32:16,835 Speaker 1: rapt anticipation about what had happened to him. I think 491 00:32:16,875 --> 00:32:20,635 Speaker 1: this was fairly early on, he said, mid seventies. And 492 00:32:20,715 --> 00:32:22,955 Speaker 1: I drove up, just like we did just now, and 493 00:32:22,995 --> 00:32:25,075 Speaker 1: I straightened my tie and it brushed my hair and 494 00:32:25,275 --> 00:32:28,915 Speaker 1: made myself ready for my adoring public. I'm ready for 495 00:32:28,955 --> 00:32:31,955 Speaker 1: my close up, mister de mill. And I opened that door, 496 00:32:31,995 --> 00:32:33,795 Speaker 1: and I went to that major d stand and I 497 00:32:33,875 --> 00:32:35,475 Speaker 1: smiled and there was a guy there I had never 498 00:32:35,515 --> 00:32:38,315 Speaker 1: seen before, and he said, can I help you? And 499 00:32:38,355 --> 00:32:41,555 Speaker 1: I smiled and looked to that bar where Danny always is, 500 00:32:42,075 --> 00:32:46,275 Speaker 1: see him right now? No, Danny, the bartender that day 501 00:32:46,275 --> 00:32:48,915 Speaker 1: didn't even look back at me. So, just as the 502 00:32:48,955 --> 00:32:51,315 Speaker 1: sense of anxiety began to creep up on me, I said, 503 00:32:51,395 --> 00:32:55,715 Speaker 1: rather defensively, I'm check Curtis. And the Major D looked 504 00:32:55,715 --> 00:32:58,355 Speaker 1: at me with annoyance and said, you have a reservation, 505 00:32:59,155 --> 00:33:03,155 Speaker 1: And I thought a reservation. I have an adoring public. 506 00:33:03,755 --> 00:33:06,155 Speaker 1: I said, well, no, Usually Tony holds a table for 507 00:33:06,275 --> 00:33:08,275 Speaker 1: me and says, I don't have to call in advance, 508 00:33:08,315 --> 00:33:10,155 Speaker 1: and the Mayor D says, well, I'm sorry, we're full. 509 00:33:10,395 --> 00:33:13,675 Speaker 1: Without a reservation, the wait will be ninety minutes. And 510 00:33:13,715 --> 00:33:17,355 Speaker 1: now I am sweating, and then there's a tap on 511 00:33:17,395 --> 00:33:20,195 Speaker 1: my shoulder, Chat says, and I think, thank god, it's 512 00:33:20,235 --> 00:33:23,395 Speaker 1: a fan of News Center five, And instead it's somebody 513 00:33:23,435 --> 00:33:25,875 Speaker 1: who just says, excuse me, fella, can we get through 514 00:33:26,395 --> 00:33:29,995 Speaker 1: Jones party of two seven point thirty? And now I'm 515 00:33:29,995 --> 00:33:31,715 Speaker 1: standing there and I look around the bar, and I 516 00:33:31,755 --> 00:33:34,715 Speaker 1: look around the dining room and nobody recognizes me. Not 517 00:33:34,795 --> 00:33:39,155 Speaker 1: a waitress, not a customer, nobody, and it starts in 518 00:33:39,275 --> 00:33:42,115 Speaker 1: my head. Chat. I say to myself, what have you done? 519 00:33:42,635 --> 00:33:45,915 Speaker 1: What did you say on the air? Nobody knows you. 520 00:33:46,155 --> 00:33:50,275 Speaker 1: At Anthony's, nobody wants to know you. Your career is over? 521 00:33:50,555 --> 00:33:53,955 Speaker 1: What did you do? And now, Keith, I am beginning 522 00:33:54,035 --> 00:33:56,475 Speaker 1: to feel faint and panicky, and I run out the 523 00:33:56,475 --> 00:33:58,595 Speaker 1: door to get back in my car, and I drive 524 00:33:58,635 --> 00:34:01,155 Speaker 1: away as fast as possible, all the while thinking what 525 00:34:01,315 --> 00:34:04,075 Speaker 1: did you do to end your career? And just as 526 00:34:04,115 --> 00:34:06,835 Speaker 1: I get to my car, another car drives out, and 527 00:34:06,995 --> 00:34:12,795 Speaker 1: outsteps in shorts and a T shirt, Anthony himself, Anthony 528 00:34:13,075 --> 00:34:16,395 Speaker 1: of Anthony's Restaurant, the founder, the owner, and he says, Chat, 529 00:34:16,435 --> 00:34:18,355 Speaker 1: what the hell's wrong with you? You're pale as a ghost. 530 00:34:19,195 --> 00:34:21,955 Speaker 1: And I stammer about my career ending and nobody inside 531 00:34:21,995 --> 00:34:26,475 Speaker 1: recognizing me anymore. And here Chet Curtis burst into laughter. 532 00:34:26,635 --> 00:34:28,915 Speaker 1: I'm almost in tears, telling him that the may or 533 00:34:28,995 --> 00:34:30,995 Speaker 1: d said I'd have to wait ninety minutes because I 534 00:34:31,035 --> 00:34:33,835 Speaker 1: didn't have a reservation. And now Anthony laughs and he says, 535 00:34:33,835 --> 00:34:37,515 Speaker 1: of course nobody recognizes you. The whole staff is at 536 00:34:37,515 --> 00:34:40,675 Speaker 1: our summer picnic. I only came in now to give 537 00:34:40,675 --> 00:34:42,755 Speaker 1: them a chance to talk about me behind my back. 538 00:34:43,475 --> 00:34:47,755 Speaker 1: Those guys in there are all per diems, freelancers. Everybody 539 00:34:47,795 --> 00:34:54,475 Speaker 1: you know is at Nantasket Beach getting drunk. Chent finally 540 00:34:54,555 --> 00:34:57,355 Speaker 1: stopped his own laughter, sipped from his beer, and very 541 00:34:57,435 --> 00:35:01,995 Speaker 1: dramatically said, so, how do you get used to being recognized? 542 00:35:02,635 --> 00:35:05,075 Speaker 1: Do not get used to being recognized, because because one 543 00:35:05,155 --> 00:35:08,755 Speaker 1: day everybody you expect is going to recognize you will 544 00:35:08,795 --> 00:35:11,955 Speaker 1: be out at a picnic at Nantasket Beach getting drunk 545 00:35:11,995 --> 00:35:14,835 Speaker 1: that you don't know about, and all you will be 546 00:35:14,875 --> 00:35:17,355 Speaker 1: able to figure out is that your career is over 547 00:35:17,435 --> 00:35:19,395 Speaker 1: and you should go home and jump off your roof. 548 00:35:19,875 --> 00:35:21,955 Speaker 1: So this is my advice to you as you start 549 00:35:21,955 --> 00:35:26,715 Speaker 1: the eleven o'clock news in Boston. Never get used to it. 550 00:35:40,715 --> 00:35:42,755 Speaker 1: I've done all the damage I can do. Here here 551 00:35:42,795 --> 00:35:45,955 Speaker 1: are our credits. Most of the music was arranged, produced 552 00:35:45,995 --> 00:35:48,555 Speaker 1: and performed by Brian Ray and John Phillip Shanelle, who 553 00:35:48,595 --> 00:35:52,195 Speaker 1: are the Countdown musical directors. All orchestration and keyboards by 554 00:35:52,275 --> 00:35:55,795 Speaker 1: John Phillip Shanel. Guitars, bass and drums by Brian Ray, 555 00:35:56,155 --> 00:36:00,155 Speaker 1: produced by Tko Brothers. Other Beethoven selections have been arranged 556 00:36:00,155 --> 00:36:03,395 Speaker 1: and performed by the group No Horns Allowed. The sports 557 00:36:03,475 --> 00:36:06,155 Speaker 1: music is the Olderman theme from ESPN two, and it 558 00:36:06,195 --> 00:36:09,995 Speaker 1: was written by Mitch Warren Davis at appears courtesy of ESPN, Inc. 559 00:36:10,555 --> 00:36:14,035 Speaker 1: Musical comments by Nancy Fauss. The best baseball stadium organist ever. 560 00:36:14,275 --> 00:36:17,595 Speaker 1: At our announcer today was my friend Kenny Mayne. Everything 561 00:36:17,595 --> 00:36:20,115 Speaker 1: else is pretty much my fault. So that's countdown for this, 562 00:36:20,155 --> 00:36:22,875 Speaker 1: the eight hundred and forty eighth day since Donald Trump's 563 00:36:22,915 --> 00:36:25,675 Speaker 1: first attempted coup against the democratically elected government of the 564 00:36:25,755 --> 00:36:29,915 Speaker 1: United States. Don't forget to keep arresting him while we 565 00:36:30,035 --> 00:36:34,515 Speaker 1: still can. A quick promo Friday, I've got something I 566 00:36:34,515 --> 00:36:38,435 Speaker 1: think is special. On Saturday of this week, as on 567 00:36:38,595 --> 00:36:42,955 Speaker 1: every May sixth since nineteen fifty four, the world has 568 00:36:43,075 --> 00:36:48,275 Speaker 1: celebrated runner Roger Banister breaking the four minute mile barrier, 569 00:36:48,435 --> 00:36:51,035 Speaker 1: the first man ever to run a four minute mile. 570 00:36:51,555 --> 00:36:54,715 Speaker 1: Except he was not the first man ever to do that, 571 00:36:55,155 --> 00:36:59,515 Speaker 1: and his is probably the greatest, most undeserved record or 572 00:36:59,555 --> 00:37:04,355 Speaker 1: accomplishment in sports history. It is a long and amazing story, 573 00:37:04,715 --> 00:37:06,955 Speaker 1: and I will tell it to you on Friday. The 574 00:37:06,995 --> 00:37:10,795 Speaker 1: next scheduled countdown is tomorrow. Until then, I'm Keith Oldraman 575 00:37:10,835 --> 00:37:25,795 Speaker 1: good morning, good afternoon, good night, and good luck. Countdown 576 00:37:25,875 --> 00:37:29,595 Speaker 1: with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. For more 577 00:37:29,675 --> 00:37:34,635 Speaker 1: podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 578 00:37:34,675 --> 00:37:36,515 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts.