1 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Yes, Bringer Being and Iron Reportsterial podcast is here. He 2 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,279 Speaker 1: have no fear on today's Iron Reports Stereo podcast. Kendrick 3 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: Perkins JJ Reddick. White men can't jump, but can white men? 4 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: When the MVP there was a big blow up on ESPN, 5 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: I break that down and why race in sports is 6 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: and always will be an issue you cannot talk about 7 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: comfortably and honestly on television. Plus, I have a great guest, 8 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:45,480 Speaker 1: Aaron Rupart is a reporter. He's a journalist who has 9 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: over a million followers on Twitter. He is where I 10 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: go to most of the time to get all my information, 11 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: specifically on ticks, Dain, Donald Trump, and all things in between. 12 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: I get to ask him how he got started, where 13 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: things are going, where things have come from, he got 14 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: kicked off Twitter, how he got back on Twitter, and 15 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: what he expects and predicts from the twenty twenty four election. 16 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: All that and more in a beautiful museum quality I 17 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: am wrapped portstereo podcats coming up right now. Miles Jordan 18 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: aka the Bleach Brothers ak the Dust Brothers. Duds. Puppy's up, real, 19 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 1: nice hand start this puppy of something real loud guests, 20 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: but most apportantly start this puppy off with something real funky. 21 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 1: I am wrapped before its stereo podcast gets fucking yes, 22 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: Brendan Being and I am Rapports Stereo podcast is here. 23 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: He have no fear. Have absolutely positively no fear. I 24 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: am rapp Ports Stereo podcast is Insukasa. Hope everybody's feeling good. 25 00:01:54,920 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 1: Hope everybody's feeling safe. Hope everybody is feeling sane. Everybody's 26 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: feeling really, really really sane. I'm Rapports Stereo podcast is 27 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 1: in Sukasa. Welcome to the Iron Dome of Disruption. Welcome 28 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: to the Ziggity Zone of Disruption. As I said, I 29 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 1: have a really exciting, fun, interesting guest, Aaron Rupar who's 30 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: a reporter who is my go to guy for keeping 31 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: me up to date on all things Dick Stayin, Donald 32 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 1: Trump and beyond. He has over a million followers on Twitter. 33 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: Aaron A A R O N Rupar r you pr. 34 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: I've never met him, I've never spoken to him, but 35 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: I'm excited to have him on the Iron rapp Reports 36 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: Stereo podcast. He's a reporter who I've never heard speak. 37 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: He's a journalist, so I've never heard speak, but he 38 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: has been in the throws in the cut for the 39 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: last I don't know, five six years, heavy heavy, heavy 40 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: duty on social media, and he really just puts out 41 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,640 Speaker 1: a lot of videos, a lot of content, and he 42 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: doesn't respond on social media. He doesn't give his opinion. 43 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 1: He just puts out the stuff. He's gotten kicked off Twitter, 44 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: he's gotten put back on Twitter. I'm excited to hear. 45 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: The funny thing is is I follow him so closely, 46 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,960 Speaker 1: but I've never I've literally never heard him talk. I'm 47 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: not even exactly sure what he looks like. But we 48 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: are streaming this interview, so we'll put out clips and 49 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: the audio for the interview obviously you're listening to in 50 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 1: this episode. And before we get to that, I wanted 51 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: to just remind everybody that I'm gonna be in Cleveland 52 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: this weekend. Cleveland this weekend, which pumped up for the 53 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: tenth and the eleventh, and then I will be in 54 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:16,280 Speaker 1: Indianapolis March twenty third, twenty fourth, and twenty fifth, and 55 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: I'll be in Dallas April sixth, seventh, and eighth. I'm 56 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: gonna be in illadelph Philadelphia the twenty seven, eight, twenty 57 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: ninth of April, and then there's some dates in May, 58 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: some dates in June. But that's the upcoming stuff. You 59 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:39,280 Speaker 1: could come see me live and direct. Come see me 60 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: live and direct, all tickets, all information is a villa 61 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: Michael Rappaport Comedy dot com. And before we get into 62 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: Aaron rupar and talking about pig dick Donald Trump, I 63 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: wanted to talk about this controversy that took place. It 64 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 1: always takes place. Race sports, sports, race, race in the media, 65 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: race in the media. Twenty twenty three, Twitter, Mob, Black Twitter, 66 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:27,799 Speaker 1: Russian Twitter, all things sports related to Twitter. So Kendrick Perkins, 67 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 1: who I've never met, who played, of course for the 68 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: Boston Celtics, played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, played for 69 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: the Cleveland Cavaliers, played for a few teams. He got 70 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: into a deep dish of hot water this week a 71 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: couple of days ago because the ridiculous discussion that goes 72 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 1: on almost three hundred and sixty five days a year, 73 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 1: even in the off season of the NBA, but it 74 00:06:01,839 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: certainly starts at the beginning of the NBA season. The ridiculous, overrated, overanalyzed, 75 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:20,799 Speaker 1: over emphasized regular season m VP discussion got him into trouble, 76 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,640 Speaker 1: but not as much trouble as he would have gotten 77 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: into if he was white. And I'm gonna keep it 78 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:29,799 Speaker 1: all the way funky when I break this JJ Reddick 79 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: Kendrick Perkins ESPN First Take Situation Down. The discussion was 80 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 1: about Nicola Jokic Jovic joking about the Joker, the Denver 81 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: Nuggets two time MVP, who for all intensive purposes, looks 82 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: like he's going to win the MVP again because he's 83 00:06:55,920 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: averaging a triple double on the Denver Nuggets, who have 84 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: the number one seed, and barring injury and a total collapse, 85 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: the Denver Nuggets are the best team in the Western 86 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: Conference again and he's been playing incredible basketball again. So 87 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 1: has Joel Embiid, who is on the Philadelphia seventy six Ers, 88 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: who do not have as good of a record. It's 89 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 1: not a big stretch. At the end of as of 90 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 1: the recording of this Iron Rap coor Stereo podcast, the 91 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: Sixers are forty three and twenty two and the Nuggets 92 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 1: are forty six and twenty. However, the Joker's averaging a 93 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: triple double and he's gonna win the MVP. And it's 94 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: sad because you can only give one regular season MVP 95 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,679 Speaker 1: and I've said this once, I've said it a kazillion times. 96 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 1: In my humble opinion, the regular season MVP is the 97 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 1: most overrated, overdiscussed award in all of sports. D NBA 98 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: regular season m VP is so overrated and so overdiscussed. 99 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: But then sometimes you strike gold, like what happened with 100 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,400 Speaker 1: Perk and JJ Reddick on First Take this week. So 101 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: Kendrick Perkins said this, I'm gonna play the clip of 102 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:28,559 Speaker 1: what Kendrick Perkins said, and then what JJ Reddick said 103 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: in response, and then I will comment on the entire 104 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: situation as only I meet the Greeno man Dingo can do. 105 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,959 Speaker 1: When it comes down to guys win an MVP, says 106 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety, it's only three guys that won the MVP 107 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:46,960 Speaker 1: that wasn't top ten in the scorn. Do you know 108 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 1: who those three guys were? Who are they? Steve Nash 109 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:58,320 Speaker 1: and Oh Dirt and the whiskey? No? What do what do? 110 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 1: Those guys haven't come? I let you sit I let 111 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: you sit there. Man that you think about it, Stephen, 112 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: I mean no offense to you, and I need mean 113 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:09,559 Speaker 1: no offense to First Take, because I think this show 114 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: is extremely valuable. It is an honor to be on 115 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: this desk every day. It really is. But what we've 116 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: just witnessed is the problem with this show where we 117 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 1: create narratives that do not exist in reality. The implication 118 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: what you are implying that the white voters that vote 119 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: on NBA are racist, that are they favor white people. 120 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: You just said that you yes you did, Yes you did, 121 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:39,679 Speaker 1: Yes you did. That is exactly what you implied. That 122 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: is exactly what you implied. Secondly, hold on, hold on, 123 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: I did not call. I stated the facts. I stated 124 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 1: the facts, and you we all know what you implied 125 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: the other day. We all know what you implied. So 126 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: you heard what Perk said, you heard what JJ Reddick said. 127 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,679 Speaker 1: I haven't meant either one of these dudes. I like 128 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 1: him both. I like JJ Reddick's podcast a lot, and 129 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: I like Perk. How could you not like Perk? Although 130 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: I don't think his takes are that great, but he's genuine, 131 00:10:14,840 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: he's honest, and he's one of these guys you just 132 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: he's like a regular guy who played in the NBA, 133 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: who speaks very regular And that's what I like about 134 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 1: what he said. Although I totally don't agree with what 135 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: he said, but I like when people speak regular on 136 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 1: a public platform, and when I say regular, I mean flawed. 137 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: I like mistakes. I like honesty. I don't even like mistakes. 138 00:10:47,559 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: I like the honesty. I like that he said what 139 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: he said, he believes what he said. And I like 140 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: what JJ Reddick said, which he believes what he said. 141 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:04,040 Speaker 1: But I like that Ken Perkins spoke on the elephant 142 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: in the room, which is really race in basketball, race 143 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:11,719 Speaker 1: in sports. But let's just stick to basketball. People are 144 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: always gonna have feelings about white players. White players are 145 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: gonna have feelings about white players. Black players are gonna 146 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: have feelings about white players, and every single thing in between. 147 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: You know, Centric Maxwell, Cornbread Maxwell talks. There's a famous 148 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: clip of him talking about when he played Larry Bird 149 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: the first time in Boston Celtics training camp. He was like, 150 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,520 Speaker 1: and I heard so much about this white boy. I 151 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: never thought this white way could play. I never thought 152 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:46,719 Speaker 1: any white boys could play. I'm about to bust this 153 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:49,680 Speaker 1: white boys ass. And then after an hour of playing 154 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 1: against that white boy Larry Bird, he changed his tune. 155 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: And obviously these days you can't really even use the 156 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: language that Cedric Maxwell said Cornbread Maxwell used in that 157 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: interview talking about Larry Bird. But black players are always 158 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: gonna sort of try white players. They're always gonna try 159 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: to see if they're soft, see if they could punk them. 160 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 1: You know, Steven Jackson and Matt Barnes, they've been very open. 161 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 1: When they played the Dallas Mavericks, we punked drk Nvinsky. 162 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,000 Speaker 1: That's why we won. We were able to punk them, 163 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 1: We were able to throw them off their game. You're 164 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 1: always gonna try that shit. You're gonna try white players. 165 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: You're gonna try to see if they're soft, try to 166 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 1: see if they're overrated, to try to see if they're this, 167 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:41,520 Speaker 1: that and the third, you know, and that's truth, that's honesty. 168 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: I like it. I got no problem with it. And 169 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 1: I like what JJ Reddick said in regards to Yokick, 170 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 1: Davinsky and Steve Nash standing up for them and standing 171 00:12:56,040 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 1: up for the voting of the MVP in the NBA. 172 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: I think that the Joker doesn't stat pad. I thought 173 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 1: in the past that at times Russell Westbrook did stat 174 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: pad pad his stats. That's been another discussion that Perkins 175 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:19,440 Speaker 1: has been saying that joker, you know, he's been padding 176 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 1: his stats to get that triple double, and you know, 177 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: nobody says that he's padding stats, but everybody was saying 178 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 1: and everybody wasn't saying it, but it was discussed when 179 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: Russell Westbrook played, and overall I'm a Westbrook fan. But 180 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: the point of race, you know, the sort of elephant 181 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: in the room, and not being able to speak openly, 182 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 1: honestly and fairly about race and sports is an infection 183 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 1: in sports media today because if JJ Reddick or some 184 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:59,679 Speaker 1: other sports broadcaster said anything similar, bye bye, either suspended, 185 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: fired or completely. Louis C. Kade, if he had said 186 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: the exact same thing where the tables were turned, he 187 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:14,960 Speaker 1: would have gotten in trouble. ESPN had to apologize because 188 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 1: of the discussion. And why apologize? You want real talk, 189 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: you want barbershop talk. Essentially, that's what all these shows 190 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:28,240 Speaker 1: are trying to create. Barbershop talk, real talk, street ball talk. 191 00:14:28,680 --> 00:14:32,680 Speaker 1: You know, people being honest, and that's the way people feel. 192 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 1: Motherfuckers are always gonna question I question them. I questioned 193 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:40,560 Speaker 1: white athletes, Christian McCaffrey, this little white motherfucker, how is 194 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: he gonna be able to sustain this shit? Prove me wrong? 195 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: You can't say that that's not a question around you know, 196 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: white athletes, it is, and then when it gets spoken about, 197 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: it's not a big deal. But if white reporters speak 198 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: out of context, say something fucked up, say something that 199 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 1: might have been misconstrued, like the Skip Bayless DeMar Hamlin thing. 200 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: They were calling for Skip Bayless's fucking head. Now, obviously 201 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: that was a more serious thing because of the severity 202 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:14,640 Speaker 1: of the DeMar Hamlin injury at the time. But people 203 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: were like, this motherfucker needs to go. He's racist. It's 204 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: just not a fair, fair situation. And me, personally, I 205 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: don't give a fuck because I'm comfortable being uncomfortable. I'm 206 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: comfortable talking about race. I'm comfortable with the innuendos. I'm 207 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: comfortable with the stereotypes. I'm comfortable with the prejudices whether 208 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: people that are black could be racist or not. I 209 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: don't know. That's a whole other discussion that people have. 210 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: Me personally, I love it. I've had some of my 211 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: biggest controversies talking about race. People don't like if it's 212 00:15:48,840 --> 00:15:53,120 Speaker 1: a two sided, fully honest conversation. They want and expect 213 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: the white point of view to be passive, to be submissive, 214 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: and to be totally listening, learning and not have a 215 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: disagreeing point of view. That's just not me. And just 216 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: like JJ Reddick had a disagreeing point of view and 217 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: he's totally fucking right. If the shoe was on the 218 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:15,160 Speaker 1: other foot, JJ Reddick or whoever that white person saying 219 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: that stuff was would be in a lot of trouble. 220 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: It's similar in comedy, such a stereotypical low hanging fruit 221 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: of a lot of black comedians was the setup is 222 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: white people be like this, and black people be like this, 223 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: and white people be like this, and black people be 224 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:37,040 Speaker 1: like this, And if a white comedian did it, and 225 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: it's not at the highest highest end, the most strategic 226 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: level canceled, you're a racist. Fuck this guy, he's a racist. 227 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: And I'm gonna tell you something again, me personally, me, 228 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: Mike rap I don't have a problem with it. But 229 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: what I think it makes people do when you have 230 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: to stifle your opinions, stifle for your thoughts because you're 231 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 1: afraid of being called racist, I truly think that's the 232 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: sort of general sort of mentality, the general sort of 233 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: one plus one, the general ingredient why somebody like Trump 234 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 1: was able to get nominated because there has to be 235 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,400 Speaker 1: equal rights, but it has to be on both sides, 236 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: especially as something as mundane as opinions on sports. And 237 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 1: like I said, there's always going to be racial issues 238 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:38,919 Speaker 1: in sports, whether it's black on black Muhammad a Lea 239 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 1: versus Joe Fraser, whether it's Colin Kaepernick, whether it's John 240 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: Carlos at the Olympics, whether it's this conversation that just 241 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,959 Speaker 1: came up with Kendra Perkins and JJ Reddick. I mean, 242 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,159 Speaker 1: there was a movie called White Men Can't Jump and 243 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: it's being remade. Nobody has a problem with that. But 244 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: if the movie was Black people Can't shoot jump shots, 245 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:05,439 Speaker 1: it would be a whole thing, you know, because the 246 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:09,719 Speaker 1: stereotype off is white basketball players could shoot. Black players 247 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 1: didn't couldn't shoot as well, generally because they were more athletic. 248 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: Of the age old thing with Larry Bird and Isaiah Thomas. 249 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: Isaiah Thomas, you know, got in trouble because of what 250 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: he said about Larry Bird. And you know, they talk 251 00:18:22,560 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: about Larry Bird being a thinking player and he has 252 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,400 Speaker 1: to think, you know, the other players are getting over 253 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 1: on their athleticism. Anyway, these are age old conversations about sports. 254 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,679 Speaker 1: They should continue to happen. You should be able to 255 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 1: say things that offend people. You should be able to 256 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 1: say things that people don't agree with and not get canceled. 257 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: I don't think Kendrick Perkins should be canceled. I don't 258 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:50,119 Speaker 1: think if a white reporter said something similar but talking 259 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:53,520 Speaker 1: about black MVPs, they should get canceled. I feel like 260 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: we should be able to be honest. I feel like 261 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:59,640 Speaker 1: this cancel shit, this suspension shit, is just gonna make 262 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:22,920 Speaker 1: people cultures retreat into their collective corners. And now let 263 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:29,840 Speaker 1: me bring in Aaron rupar to talk all things social media, 264 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: all things distain Donald Trump, all things January sixth, and 265 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: to hear the voice behind the face of one of 266 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 1: the loudest, biggest platforms on Twitter. Aaron Rupar is here. 267 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: Have no fear. It's so funny to be looking at 268 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:57,239 Speaker 1: you because I follow you so closely, and you know, 269 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: you sort of keep yourself and your personal opinions out 270 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: of things for the most part as far as I 271 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: can see, particularly specifically on Twitter. And you're a journalist 272 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 1: and I respect that. So it's good to see you. 273 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,239 Speaker 1: It's good to hear your voice. Like I said, I 274 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: wasn't quite sure you know, what I see is your 275 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,399 Speaker 1: your picture on there, which I don't think does you 276 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 1: any favors, man, I don't think your picture really I 277 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 1: think you might have to change your picture now because 278 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: I feel like it's dark, it's kind of hitting. Is 279 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 1: that on purpose that you keep like sort of yourself 280 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:39,879 Speaker 1: out of it? I think I don't really think I 281 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:41,600 Speaker 1: keep myself out of it that much. I mean, I 282 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 1: expressed a lot of opinions on Twitter, and actually, the 283 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: funny thing with my avatar photo is that it's probably 284 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:50,399 Speaker 1: about a dozen years old at this point, and I 285 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: really should change it. But I tried to change it 286 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 1: maybe about two years ago now, and you know, I 287 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:58,080 Speaker 1: don't know if it's kind of the purple hue that 288 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 1: it has or what. But I got flooded with people 289 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 1: who are like, why did you change your photo? I 290 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:05,680 Speaker 1: don't even recognize you, like what's going on? And so 291 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: after a couple of days of pretty much universal negative feedback, 292 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: I just caved and went back to the original one. 293 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,640 Speaker 1: So I've been meaning at some point to like hire 294 00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: an illustrator to kind of update my image a little 295 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: bit on there, but for now it's fine. It only 296 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: shows my face, so I don't feel like one of 297 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,120 Speaker 1: those people, you know, where you're trying to conceal your 298 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:27,879 Speaker 1: age or something like that. But no, I mean, I 299 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: really never intended for that to be kind of like 300 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,119 Speaker 1: my you know, signature image on Twitter, but it just 301 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: kind of went that way. And I've had it for 302 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 1: so long now that changing its kind of a it's 303 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: a problem at this point. I understand. I understand. So 304 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: you're a journalist, and you know I've been you know, 305 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: before I was gonna have you on the show. I've 306 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 1: been sniffing around and looking up some more information about you. 307 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:51,520 Speaker 1: But can you just tell you know, the listeners who 308 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: don't know who you are, what you do, and what 309 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 1: your background is as a journalist. Sure? Yeah, So these 310 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: days I'm independent. I published a newsletter called Public Notice, 311 00:22:02,119 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 1: and I cover mainly Republican politics and media, especially right 312 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 1: wing media. I cover you know, politics more broadly, though. 313 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: My most recent newsletter was actually largely about Maryann Williamson 314 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,399 Speaker 1: and kind of unpacking her primary challenge to Biden. How 315 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: it actually is a sign of Biden's strength that the 316 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: only challenger he has is kind of a fringe figure 317 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,760 Speaker 1: at this point. But I've been doing that the newsletter 318 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: for about a year and a half now, and prior 319 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,679 Speaker 1: to that, I was at Vox for three years, and 320 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 1: I think most people probably know me from there because 321 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: I was covering Trump and the Trump White House, and 322 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 1: so that was when I really kind of built a 323 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:39,000 Speaker 1: name for myself, posting a lot of video clips and 324 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:43,560 Speaker 1: doing a lot of coverage of his rallies, of press briefings, 325 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:46,639 Speaker 1: congressional hearings, all that sort of stuff. And I do 326 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: a lot of video work, which is you know, probably 327 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: how most people know me is through video clips that 328 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: they see on Twitter. You know, I do post them 329 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: on other platforms as well, but Twitter is buying far 330 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 1: and away my largest following. At this point, before Vox, 331 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:02,399 Speaker 1: I was at Think Progress out in DC, which no 332 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: longer exists, and previous to that, I was a journalist 333 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: in the Twin Cities, so I kind of worked my 334 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 1: way up the ladder. I'm back in Minnesota these days, 335 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,639 Speaker 1: you know, doing my own thing and covering a lot 336 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 1: of stuff that you know, it's based out of DC, 337 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 1: so I find myself back there every now and then. 338 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: But you know, it's one of the beauties of this 339 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:21,320 Speaker 1: day and age that we're in is that since we 340 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:23,920 Speaker 1: watch everything kind of on our screens anyway, I can 341 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: cover most anything you know that I see in my 342 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:28,240 Speaker 1: screen and then with help from you know, calling people 343 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: on the phone, dming, all that sort of good stuff. 344 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: You know, I said before I got you here, you know, 345 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: I go to your page, no bullshit, to catch up, 346 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:46,360 Speaker 1: to consolidate all things Trump. You know, I missed I 347 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: was doing something this weekend, particularly, I believe it was 348 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:53,399 Speaker 1: Saturday night this past weekend during the cepack, and I 349 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: wanted to get a sense on what happened. I know 350 00:23:56,119 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 1: Trump had spoken, and I go right to your page. 351 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:01,280 Speaker 1: I mean I could screen shot you and show you, 352 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: you know, as far as search as you're a lot 353 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: of times my first you know search to keep me 354 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,320 Speaker 1: up to speed on things and to get those clips. 355 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:14,439 Speaker 1: Did you have a lightbulb moment an idea to share 356 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:17,239 Speaker 1: these real time clips? And when did you realize they 357 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:20,120 Speaker 1: were becoming so popular? Yeah? Well, thank you, Michael. That's 358 00:24:20,119 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: really flattering to hear. And I'm always whenever people tell 359 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 1: me that they kind of use my account as their 360 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,680 Speaker 1: go to for you know, the right wing. I appreciate 361 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 1: that very much. And yeah, it was actually kind of 362 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,919 Speaker 1: a light bulb thing. Because back in the fall of 363 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,800 Speaker 1: twenty seventeen, when I was at Think Progress, we had 364 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:39,679 Speaker 1: a newsroom training on this product called snapstream, which is 365 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:42,080 Speaker 1: still the service I use that records TV and then 366 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: I use that to post videos. It also records like 367 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,000 Speaker 1: streams online. You know, today I did a live thread 368 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:52,160 Speaker 1: covering this hearing that had Matt Taiebe and Michael Schallenberger 369 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,159 Speaker 1: over the Twitter files and I recorded that using Snapstream. 370 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: But the long and short of it was, we had 371 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: this training. I was watching Fox News one night. John Kelly, 372 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: who at that time was the White House Chief of Staff, 373 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:06,760 Speaker 1: was on there. And this was rate after the Charlottesville 374 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 1: stuff had gone down in twenty seventeen and all of 375 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: the controversy over the Confederate monuments and you know, Trump 376 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: defending them, and you know the horrible scene in Charlottesville 377 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:20,679 Speaker 1: where Heather Higher was killed, and John Kelly was on 378 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: Laura Ingram's show defending basically the honor of the Confederacy 379 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 1: and making this argument that the Confederacy wasn't actually fighting 380 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,440 Speaker 1: for slavery, they were fighting over heritage or something along 381 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: those lines. And you know, I happened to see this. 382 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: I just kind of had Fox News on in the 383 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 1: background while I was doing other stuff at home, and 384 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 1: I just had this training, so you know, I kind 385 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 1: of had the thought of, man, I should really post 386 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 1: like a thirty second clip, you know, and just kind 387 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: of see how this does on Twitter. Well, it immediately 388 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:45,919 Speaker 1: was the most viral thing I had ever posted. I 389 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:47,520 Speaker 1: think by the time the next morning rolled around, I 390 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: had like a million views and you know, a few 391 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,199 Speaker 1: thousand retweets, and so right away, I mean, you know, 392 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:54,399 Speaker 1: that was literally the first clip that I ever posted 393 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 1: using snapstream and rate. After that, you know, it was like, man, 394 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: there's a huge appetite for posting news clips, and at 395 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: that time, there weren't that many accounts of doing that, 396 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 1: so I kind of had it to myself. And you know, 397 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:07,560 Speaker 1: that led to me watching a lot of Fox News, 398 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: watching all of the White House press briefings, Trump rallies 399 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,160 Speaker 1: and speeches and all that stuff, and it just kind 400 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: of became part of my workflow as a journalist because 401 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: I was covering a lot of that stuff. Anyway, my 402 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 1: beat was a Trump White House, and so I was 403 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:21,960 Speaker 1: watching all this stuff and then adding the video just 404 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,639 Speaker 1: kind of added another dimension that people really seem to like. 405 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: And over the years that followed it, you know, it 406 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:30,000 Speaker 1: became kind of the central part of my workflow, and 407 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: my Twitter account grew exponentially, and that led to me 408 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:35,440 Speaker 1: getting poached by Vox, which ultimately led to me having 409 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:37,439 Speaker 1: enough of a following to go independent and kind of 410 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:39,600 Speaker 1: do my own thing. So yeah, I mean, it really 411 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: was kind of a Eureka moment. And I guess, you know, 412 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: that's one of those weird things in life where you 413 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: just kind of sometimes stumble into things that really work 414 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 1: out well for you. You know, being a journalist means 415 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 1: so many things these days, and I don't think it 416 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:57,639 Speaker 1: means what it used to mean. I don't know if 417 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:00,600 Speaker 1: that's good or bad. I am not a journalist. I 418 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 1: don't consider myself a journalist. But what is your philosophy 419 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: on being a journalist today? Because it's there's so much information, 420 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:15,439 Speaker 1: there's so much news, there's so much misinformation, there's so 421 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 1: much disinformation. There's so much information that we think is gold, concrete, ironclad, 422 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:25,919 Speaker 1: etchton's own truth, and then it turns out to not 423 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: be on both sides. In my opinion, I feel like 424 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:35,000 Speaker 1: we're being thrown given absorbing so much bullshit? What is 425 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:38,639 Speaker 1: your philosophy today in twenty twenty three on being a 426 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:41,679 Speaker 1: journalist and trying to stick to your guns, trying to 427 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 1: have a point of view, but trying to stay out 428 00:27:44,280 --> 00:27:46,360 Speaker 1: of it, Like where's your head at with your your 429 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:49,200 Speaker 1: day to day goal being a journalist? Well, that was 430 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:51,439 Speaker 1: one of the really nice things with going independent is 431 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 1: that you know, I can really kind of be accountable 432 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:56,840 Speaker 1: to myself and my readers and not have to worry about, 433 00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: you know, saying something that might offend my editor or bosses. 434 00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 1: And I've always been progressive, so you know, part of 435 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:06,159 Speaker 1: what I do is decoding right wing media for a 436 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:10,280 Speaker 1: mostly liberal audience, you know, almost entirely liberal, and so yeah, 437 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 1: I mean that's part of the service I think that 438 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:13,520 Speaker 1: I try to provide is kind of cutting through what 439 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:16,399 Speaker 1: you were talking about, some of the misinformation and you know, 440 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:20,400 Speaker 1: intentional confusion that's out there, and you know, explaining what's 441 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 1: going on to people who may not have time to 442 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:25,120 Speaker 1: watch all of the political events I do, or watch 443 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 1: all of the right wing media I do. So yeah, 444 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:29,119 Speaker 1: I mean I don't really have to worry about pulling 445 00:28:29,119 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 1: punches because I don't work for anyone at this point. 446 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:32,879 Speaker 1: You know, that's a very common pressure if you're in 447 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,080 Speaker 1: a large newsroom. You know, we're seeing that right now 448 00:28:35,119 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 1: with CNN, where you know, CNN had new leadership that 449 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: came in about a year ago now, and you know, 450 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 1: they've laid off a bunch of people, including some of 451 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,720 Speaker 1: their most liberal voices that they had on the network. 452 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:47,640 Speaker 1: And so that can lead people to pull punches or 453 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:50,760 Speaker 1: kind of make compromises in order to preserve their job 454 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: and their status where they're working. And thankfully don't have 455 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 1: to worry about that. I mean, you know, being independent 456 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:58,200 Speaker 1: kind of has his own challenges, you know, just trying 457 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:00,240 Speaker 1: to run a business and how totalizing it and be 458 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 1: and you know, I have two young kids, so trying 459 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:04,040 Speaker 1: to maintain any sort of work life balance can really 460 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 1: be tough, you know, when you're trying to work you know, 461 00:29:07,560 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 1: ten twelve hours a day depending on what's going on 462 00:29:09,680 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: in the news. But I don't have to worry about 463 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: making those compromises. And I guess my overwriting philosophy is 464 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:16,880 Speaker 1: just to be true to what's going on, to be 465 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 1: true to the facts, and have integrity, And I think 466 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 1: that's part of the reason that people enjoy my coverage 467 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: is because I've always kind of been guided by sort 468 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: of basic liberal values of tolerance and egalitarianism and treating 469 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: people with respect and dignity, and so, you know, there's 470 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 1: nothing overly complicated about any of that stuff, but you know, 471 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:35,640 Speaker 1: it does get into the weeds of policy. I mean, 472 00:29:35,680 --> 00:29:37,160 Speaker 1: part of what I try to do as well as 473 00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 1: to explain things for lay people, try to make complicated 474 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:44,200 Speaker 1: topics more simple rather than the other way around. You know, 475 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:46,280 Speaker 1: I view my kind of core function as a journalist 476 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:48,880 Speaker 1: to bring clarity to issues and to inform people and 477 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:52,400 Speaker 1: so pretty basic values. You know, it's more of an 478 00:29:52,440 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 1: art than a science. But you know, I just try to. 479 00:29:55,040 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: I try to stay true to kind of very basic 480 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: values on a day and dale basis. I think it's 481 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:06,240 Speaker 1: important to make things simple and speak in layman terms 482 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:12,560 Speaker 1: in politics, in news in general. I think that all 483 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:16,920 Speaker 1: sides of the news, they prey on us not being 484 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:20,000 Speaker 1: up to speed, not being us up to date, and 485 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,960 Speaker 1: whether they that's correct or not. You know, let's say 486 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 1: you're a person who doesn't follow the NBA, but one 487 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 1: day you get curious about what's going on in the NBA. 488 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:33,960 Speaker 1: If you're not up to speed on the NUE, the minutia, 489 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:37,960 Speaker 1: the names, the trades, and you just turn on like ESPN, 490 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:40,560 Speaker 1: You're not gonna know what the fuck is going on now. 491 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:45,680 Speaker 1: Obviously sports is simpler than than news. You know, like 492 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:49,600 Speaker 1: if I said to you, Aaron, where should I go 493 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:56,560 Speaker 1: today to get an overall, you know, understanding of Ukraine 494 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:59,360 Speaker 1: in Russia and how we got here? Where would I go? 495 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 1: Like does the layman go to sort of catch up 496 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 1: and get basic information without spending you know, seven days 497 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:08,959 Speaker 1: in a library and catching up on piles and piles 498 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,720 Speaker 1: of stacks and stacks and things. Is there a place 499 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:16,720 Speaker 1: to sort of you know, politics news for dummies. Oh boy, 500 00:31:16,720 --> 00:31:19,040 Speaker 1: that's a really good question. You know, that was really 501 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:21,640 Speaker 1: part of the mission at Vox, and I still think 502 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:24,160 Speaker 1: it is, you know, trying to explain the news to people. 503 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 1: Maybe that's a little bit more wonky than what you're 504 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 1: looking for. I mean myself as a news consumer, I 505 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 1: mean I still kind of have the nightly rotation of 506 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, and then 507 00:31:35,480 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 1: the Star Chub you in, which is a local paper 508 00:31:37,200 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: here in Minnesota. So I kind of use those basic 509 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 1: sources that you know, everybody is kind of aware of. 510 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 1: And then I supplement that obviously with Twitter, and you know, 511 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 1: you kind of get the hot takes from Twitter or 512 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 1: the video clips things like that, but I kind of 513 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 1: use those big sources to give me, you know, the 514 00:31:52,280 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: big picture news. If there's you know, if Russia has 515 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 1: a new offensive in Ukraine, like the Wall Street Journal 516 00:31:57,800 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 1: is going to have that, you know, and they're gonna 517 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:01,880 Speaker 1: have the factual coverage. You're not necessarily going to have, 518 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 1: you know a lot of big explainers on what it 519 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:08,520 Speaker 1: means or takes about you know, how Russia is handling 520 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 1: things or things like that. But you might be able 521 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 1: to get that from Twitter. So you know, in terms 522 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 1: of if there's one source that kind of provides all 523 00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 1: of that, I don't really feel like there is unfortunately, 524 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 1: But as you were talking about earlier, I mean, it's 525 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:20,720 Speaker 1: such a complicated world that we're in that I think 526 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:23,040 Speaker 1: that that would be kind of impossible anyway. So I 527 00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:26,160 Speaker 1: would just recommend to people to you know, be use 528 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 1: your basic media literacy, no good information from bad information, 529 00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:32,520 Speaker 1: and when you use those kind of institutional sources that 530 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:34,760 Speaker 1: have a lot of vetting and have a lot of credibility, 531 00:32:34,760 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 1: and a long standing reputation. More likely than not, they're 532 00:32:38,560 --> 00:32:40,000 Speaker 1: not going to lead you astray. Of course, we can 533 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 1: all think back. I mean, you're old enough too to 534 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:44,000 Speaker 1: remember the Iraq War and some of the misinformation that 535 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:45,760 Speaker 1: the New York Times had that you know, kind of 536 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 1: created the conditions by which it made sense to invade, 537 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 1: and that end up being a really bad decision obviously 538 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,000 Speaker 1: that our country made. So I don't want to give 539 00:32:53,040 --> 00:32:54,880 Speaker 1: them too much credit, but you know, that's just you 540 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:56,480 Speaker 1: have to kind of work with what you have because 541 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 1: I don't really think we have that one source, So 542 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:01,120 Speaker 1: you know, I use the big ones kind of across 543 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:03,280 Speaker 1: the board, and then if you want the spicier stuff, 544 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:05,120 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, Twitter is still pretty good for that. 545 00:33:05,600 --> 00:33:11,479 Speaker 1: Let's talk about my favorite former president, Dick Stain, Donald Trump. 546 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,480 Speaker 1: I was all over him. Charlottesville was where I really 547 00:33:15,520 --> 00:33:21,200 Speaker 1: really started publicly speaking about him outside of just the 548 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,680 Speaker 1: Iron Rappaport Stereo podcast. You know, you you were all 549 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:28,720 Speaker 1: over him during the pandemic and during his presidency, posting 550 00:33:28,760 --> 00:33:31,440 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff, um, posting everything. I mean, you 551 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:33,600 Speaker 1: were really really, like I said, you know, you were 552 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:38,120 Speaker 1: a go to guy from it. What response did you 553 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:42,080 Speaker 1: get from the Trump lovers. Obviously, I know the people 554 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 1: that didn't like him, I know that they appreciate you 555 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 1: and repost that stuff. But the what has been the 556 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:52,920 Speaker 1: response death threats, insults that you've gotten in regards to Trump, 557 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:56,120 Speaker 1: you know lovers, oh, a lot of that stuff. Um, 558 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,800 Speaker 1: you know, I kind of view that as being unfortunately 559 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:00,560 Speaker 1: kind of a cost of doing business. And you know, 560 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:03,080 Speaker 1: there's only been a couple that have been really scary 561 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 1: where they kind of have like personal information of yours 562 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:06,560 Speaker 1: and it's like, oh man, this person's kind of gone 563 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:09,400 Speaker 1: the extra mile to um harass me or you know, 564 00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:12,440 Speaker 1: scare me or whatever. But it would you know, honestly, 565 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:14,040 Speaker 1: it's kind of what you would expect. I mean, just 566 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: a lot of kind of nasty replies on Twitter and 567 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:19,239 Speaker 1: things like that. I would say, if anything, I get 568 00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 1: a little bit less of that now, just because I 569 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:23,879 Speaker 1: think people kind of know, like they know who I am, 570 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 1: so it's not really a surprise. Or people who don't 571 00:34:26,480 --> 00:34:28,360 Speaker 1: want to pay attention to me, don't you know. I 572 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:29,960 Speaker 1: mean I still do have like the Charlie Kirks of 573 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:32,759 Speaker 1: the world who follow me and occasionally will you know, 574 00:34:33,120 --> 00:34:35,759 Speaker 1: have some sort of critique of my work or something 575 00:34:35,800 --> 00:34:38,319 Speaker 1: like that. But um, you know, it's it's basically what 576 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:40,800 Speaker 1: you would expect. You know, there are a few times 577 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 1: where Trump, you know, I think kind of accidentally retweeted 578 00:34:43,560 --> 00:34:45,480 Speaker 1: me where I think he was like searching for a 579 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:47,560 Speaker 1: particular topic in my tweet was like at the top 580 00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:51,400 Speaker 1: of the search page, and so he'd retweet MEM's the 581 00:34:51,400 --> 00:34:54,240 Speaker 1: one that comes back right away that you probably remember 582 00:34:54,320 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 1: is when the Washington Nationals went to the White House 583 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:59,160 Speaker 1: after they won the World Series in twenty nineteen, and 584 00:34:59,239 --> 00:35:02,200 Speaker 1: there was that kind of infamous scene where Kirk Suzuki, 585 00:35:02,280 --> 00:35:04,920 Speaker 1: who was the catcher on the Nationals, it seemed like 586 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:06,719 Speaker 1: he was possibly drunk, you know, he was kind of 587 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:08,319 Speaker 1: making a scene, but he and Trump kind of had 588 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:12,640 Speaker 1: this awkward hug and Suzuki put a Maga hat on 589 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:15,000 Speaker 1: and it kind of became you know, he took a 590 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:16,680 Speaker 1: lot of criticism for that. He had to explain later 591 00:35:16,719 --> 00:35:19,239 Speaker 1: that he's a political and didn't really understand, you know, 592 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:21,160 Speaker 1: that he was endorsing any sort of a political view 593 00:35:21,160 --> 00:35:22,600 Speaker 1: by doing that. He just kind of view Trump as 594 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 1: the President of the United States. But I posted a 595 00:35:26,040 --> 00:35:28,359 Speaker 1: short clip of that, you know, without really having any 596 00:35:28,440 --> 00:35:31,560 Speaker 1: sort of biting commentary, just like Kirk Suzuki hugs Donald 597 00:35:31,560 --> 00:35:33,760 Speaker 1: Trump and then you know, a couple hours later, Trump 598 00:35:33,840 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 1: himself retweeted that. And so you know, my mentions at 599 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,319 Speaker 1: that point in time and still today were so kind 600 00:35:40,360 --> 00:35:43,240 Speaker 1: of flooded that it didn't really lead to any appreciable 601 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:46,319 Speaker 1: change or uptick and replies or anything like that. But 602 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:48,839 Speaker 1: you know, buy and large. I mean again, like Donald 603 00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:51,120 Speaker 1: Trump Junior has gone after me a couple of times, 604 00:35:51,840 --> 00:35:54,520 Speaker 1: the Charlie Kirks the world, those types of people. But 605 00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:56,799 Speaker 1: that's just kind of part of what it is to 606 00:35:56,840 --> 00:35:59,080 Speaker 1: be a journalist. When you have a large profile covering Trump, 607 00:35:59,280 --> 00:36:01,920 Speaker 1: you know you're gonna get incoming, and um, that's just 608 00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:04,680 Speaker 1: part of the you know, if that really bothers people, 609 00:36:04,719 --> 00:36:06,160 Speaker 1: then you're probably in the in the wrong line of 610 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:08,160 Speaker 1: work because you kind of have to have thick skin 611 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:10,600 Speaker 1: to do this sort of thing day in and day out. 612 00:36:12,960 --> 00:36:18,400 Speaker 1: Where are you at with Trump today? March twenty twenty three. 613 00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:23,160 Speaker 1: If you were a betting man, would you bet not 614 00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 1: whether you want him to win, not, whether you want 615 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:29,160 Speaker 1: him to run. Would you bet on him running? Would 616 00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:31,479 Speaker 1: you bet on him winning? If if just for pure 617 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:36,960 Speaker 1: financial gain. Where's your head at on that he's already running? Yes, yeah, yeah, No, 618 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:40,640 Speaker 1: I mean he hasn't really had an official campaign rally yet. 619 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:42,719 Speaker 1: I mean the closest thing was a Cepack speech that 620 00:36:42,760 --> 00:36:45,200 Speaker 1: you mentioned, you know, last weekend. But yeah, I mean, 621 00:36:45,239 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 1: if I had to bet, I think he's winning. I 622 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:49,440 Speaker 1: think he's winning the nominee um, or excuse me, the nomination. 623 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,319 Speaker 1: He's going to be the nominee because I think that, um, 624 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,280 Speaker 1: you know, you look at the Republican base and Trump 625 00:36:55,400 --> 00:36:57,560 Speaker 1: probably has you know, let's be conservative and say it's 626 00:36:57,960 --> 00:37:00,799 Speaker 1: twenty to twenty five percent of Republicans are basically kind 627 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:04,239 Speaker 1: of cult members of the Trump cult, and they're going 628 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:06,799 Speaker 1: to support him no matter what. And so then you 629 00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:09,319 Speaker 1: already basically have a twenty percent head start because I mean, 630 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:12,719 Speaker 1: you know, Rhonda Santis, who's the number two contender, I mean, 631 00:37:12,800 --> 00:37:14,359 Speaker 1: you know, what percentage of the base do you think 632 00:37:14,400 --> 00:37:16,160 Speaker 1: is loyal to him? Maybe like two to three percent, 633 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:18,239 Speaker 1: So it's you know, a fraction of what Trump has. 634 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:20,759 Speaker 1: So he already has that huge head start. And you know, 635 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:22,920 Speaker 1: we're seeing the polling that's been done in recent months. 636 00:37:23,480 --> 00:37:25,359 Speaker 1: If anything, the little bump that de Santis had late 637 00:37:25,440 --> 00:37:28,520 Speaker 1: last year when Trump, you know, Trump's legal troubles seemed 638 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:30,040 Speaker 1: to be catching up to him when the mid terms 639 00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:32,040 Speaker 1: didn't go that well for Republicans. That kind of took 640 00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:34,120 Speaker 1: a toll on him. But it seems like he's kind 641 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:36,880 Speaker 1: of bounced back, and I just don't really see anything 642 00:37:36,960 --> 00:37:39,920 Speaker 1: changing that because we're already kind of seeing the dynamics 643 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:42,400 Speaker 1: of this primary are reminding me a lot of twenty sixteen, 644 00:37:42,480 --> 00:37:44,640 Speaker 1: where you know, Trump is out there basically accusing De 645 00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:47,319 Speaker 1: Santis of being a groomer and trying to tear him 646 00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:49,680 Speaker 1: down on true social and De Santis is just kind of, 647 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:51,840 Speaker 1: you know, biding his time, not really saying anything. I 648 00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:54,200 Speaker 1: don't know if he's hoping that, you know, Trump's legal 649 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:56,080 Speaker 1: troubles will take him down, or if he's just thinking 650 00:37:56,120 --> 00:37:57,399 Speaker 1: that he's going to have to wait a little while 651 00:37:57,440 --> 00:37:59,239 Speaker 1: to go negative because it's too early, there's still a 652 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:01,920 Speaker 1: year out from vote it's actually being cast. But whatever 653 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:03,680 Speaker 1: the case, you know, I think Trump is working hard 654 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:06,279 Speaker 1: to define him and kind of just qualify him. And 655 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:08,200 Speaker 1: that's exactly what he did one after one to the 656 00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:10,759 Speaker 1: Republicans last time around. You know, in twenty sixteen, when 657 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:13,279 Speaker 1: there was a competitive primary. So I don't really see 658 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:14,960 Speaker 1: anything at this point that makes me think that De 659 00:38:15,080 --> 00:38:17,160 Speaker 1: Santis is going to have more success against Trump than 660 00:38:17,160 --> 00:38:21,000 Speaker 1: like Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio did last time around. Granted, 661 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:22,839 Speaker 1: his polling is a little bit higher right now than 662 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:24,879 Speaker 1: any of those guys enjoyed. You know, he's up over 663 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:27,239 Speaker 1: twenty percent. Trump is around like fifty percent or so. 664 00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:30,359 Speaker 1: But you know, unless things get really bad for Trump 665 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:33,399 Speaker 1: on the legal front, or you know, De Santis really 666 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:35,279 Speaker 1: goes hard because you know, I think De Santis's best 667 00:38:35,360 --> 00:38:37,520 Speaker 1: argument against Trump is basically that I'm a winner, You're 668 00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:39,800 Speaker 1: a loser. Argument where you can say, look, you know 669 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:42,480 Speaker 1: in Florida last year, I won by twenty percent. Trump, 670 00:38:42,600 --> 00:38:44,959 Speaker 1: you know, you had to try to overturn democracy because 671 00:38:44,960 --> 00:38:48,040 Speaker 1: you lost last time. Let's not do that again sort 672 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:49,440 Speaker 1: of thing, you know, and really kind of paying Trump 673 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:51,719 Speaker 1: as a loser. But to do that, that's going to 674 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:53,600 Speaker 1: take some courage because Trump is going to pull out, 675 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:55,359 Speaker 1: you know, all of the heavy artillery and really try 676 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:58,000 Speaker 1: to make him, you know, like kind of a member 677 00:38:58,000 --> 00:38:59,960 Speaker 1: of some sort of you know, like a goat worship 678 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:02,160 Speaker 1: or something like that, like he likes to do with 679 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:04,839 Speaker 1: all of his political opponents. So I you know, if 680 00:39:04,840 --> 00:39:06,680 Speaker 1: I had to bet, I would definitely bet on Trump. Um, 681 00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:08,759 Speaker 1: we're a long way out from the first votes being cast. 682 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:10,520 Speaker 1: I mean it's like eleven months or ten months, so 683 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:12,759 Speaker 1: a lot can change between now and then. But I 684 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:15,200 Speaker 1: just don't see anything at this point that leads me 685 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,560 Speaker 1: to believe that DeSantis has you know, something that these 686 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:22,000 Speaker 1: guys in twenty sixteen didn't have to beat Trump. So yeah, 687 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:24,200 Speaker 1: I mean, unfortunately, I think he's gonna be the nominee, 688 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:26,040 Speaker 1: but I think that sets him up if it's a 689 00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:28,760 Speaker 1: rematch of Biden and Trump. I don't really like Trump's 690 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:31,040 Speaker 1: chances at this point. You know, Biden has not been 691 00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:33,240 Speaker 1: perfect by any means, but I don't think that anything 692 00:39:33,239 --> 00:39:35,919 Speaker 1: Trump has done since leaving office is going to endear 693 00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:39,000 Speaker 1: him to the voters that decide elections, you know, anymore 694 00:39:39,080 --> 00:39:42,400 Speaker 1: than it did back in twenty twenty. So, you know, 695 00:39:42,400 --> 00:39:44,520 Speaker 1: if I had to force, you know, predict at this 696 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:47,040 Speaker 1: point how things play out, I think Trump wins Republican nomination, 697 00:39:47,360 --> 00:39:50,720 Speaker 1: he ultimately loses to Biden in a rematch, but again, 698 00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:52,560 Speaker 1: you know, that's that's a long ways out at this point, 699 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:56,080 Speaker 1: doesn't it frighten you the idea of him losing and 700 00:39:56,440 --> 00:40:03,320 Speaker 1: what he will do, and the frustration of the Trump's supporters. 701 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:06,239 Speaker 1: It frightens me, to be honest, if he ran and 702 00:40:06,360 --> 00:40:10,759 Speaker 1: he lost, because last time we had January sixth, which 703 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:13,680 Speaker 1: I want to pivot into, and I don't know what 704 00:40:13,719 --> 00:40:16,000 Speaker 1: we would have this time, and nor do I expect 705 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:18,680 Speaker 1: you to know. But well, on that topic, I'll say 706 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:20,680 Speaker 1: I'll say this that I think it's scarier when Trump 707 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:22,759 Speaker 1: was in power, you know, because he has all of 708 00:40:22,760 --> 00:40:25,520 Speaker 1: the levers of power at his disposal. He controls the military, 709 00:40:25,560 --> 00:40:28,560 Speaker 1: he controls the federal police to something I mean controls 710 00:40:28,600 --> 00:40:29,759 Speaker 1: is too strong of a word. But he you know, 711 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:32,719 Speaker 1: he oversees all of these different agencies of power and 712 00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:34,920 Speaker 1: can use them toward his ends. And when he's not 713 00:40:35,040 --> 00:40:37,560 Speaker 1: in office, I mean, certainly they could see him trying 714 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:41,480 Speaker 1: to inspire violence in one form or another. But I'm 715 00:40:41,480 --> 00:40:44,680 Speaker 1: not as worried about like a January sixth style coup attempt, 716 00:40:44,719 --> 00:40:46,960 Speaker 1: because I think that's a lot harder to engineer when 717 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:49,280 Speaker 1: you're not in power and you don't have a lever's 718 00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:52,880 Speaker 1: power at your command. So you're very right to be concerned, 719 00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:55,799 Speaker 1: as I am about what Trump is capable of. But 720 00:40:56,120 --> 00:40:59,000 Speaker 1: you know, I do think that in terms of being 721 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:01,799 Speaker 1: worried about like another coup attempts, I don't think he's 722 00:41:01,800 --> 00:41:03,560 Speaker 1: gonna have a better opportunity than they did in January 723 00:41:03,560 --> 00:41:05,439 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one when he was the president. It didn't 724 00:41:05,480 --> 00:41:07,359 Speaker 1: work up from then, so I'm not that worried about 725 00:41:07,360 --> 00:41:27,879 Speaker 1: that next time around past. What the fuck happened January sixth? Aaron, Well, 726 00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:31,520 Speaker 1: what happened? Because you know, I did a video I 727 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:36,000 Speaker 1: believe it was the twenty ninth, December twenty ninth, it 728 00:41:36,120 --> 00:41:40,600 Speaker 1: might have been December thirtieth, because Trump said January sixth, 729 00:41:40,640 --> 00:41:44,560 Speaker 1: it's gonna be hell. And I did a video this 730 00:41:44,600 --> 00:41:47,759 Speaker 1: is a week before and the videos on Twitter and 731 00:41:47,760 --> 00:41:49,719 Speaker 1: the videos on my Instagram, and I posted it and 732 00:41:49,719 --> 00:41:52,640 Speaker 1: I've reposted it because and I said, you know, in 733 00:41:52,719 --> 00:41:55,799 Speaker 1: the eloquent way that I say things, but I was like, 734 00:41:55,840 --> 00:41:57,640 Speaker 1: what the fuck are you? I basically said, what the 735 00:41:57,640 --> 00:42:00,360 Speaker 1: fuck are you talking about? Like, I said, what the 736 00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:02,600 Speaker 1: fuck are you talking about? Because I was like it 737 00:42:02,640 --> 00:42:05,600 Speaker 1: was a threat. And my wife and I had a 738 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:07,520 Speaker 1: conversation that day and she said, what do you mean? 739 00:42:07,560 --> 00:42:10,080 Speaker 1: I go, what the fuck does he mean, you know, 740 00:42:10,600 --> 00:42:15,439 Speaker 1: and sure enough, you know it blew up. But what 741 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:18,240 Speaker 1: is I know, there's no right answer, there's no wrong answer. 742 00:42:18,920 --> 00:42:23,320 Speaker 1: What do you think happened? Why was it harder for 743 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:29,040 Speaker 1: protesters to get into the Apple store in Soho than 744 00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:33,399 Speaker 1: it was to get into the Capitol building that day? Yeah? 745 00:42:33,480 --> 00:42:37,160 Speaker 1: I think really the kind of the most simple explanation 746 00:42:37,239 --> 00:42:38,840 Speaker 1: is the one that I tend to be sympathetic to 747 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:40,399 Speaker 1: in this case, which is that, I mean, there were 748 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:43,640 Speaker 1: just so many more protesters and police officers. I mean, 749 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:46,040 Speaker 1: we've all seen the footage of how they were just overwhelmed, 750 00:42:46,040 --> 00:42:47,800 Speaker 1: like right away, you know, there was like one police 751 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:51,719 Speaker 1: officer for every fifty insurrectionists. And so, you know, this 752 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:54,040 Speaker 1: has been obviously in the news this week again with 753 00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:59,000 Speaker 1: Tucker Carlson presenting his very skewed version of January sixth 754 00:42:59,000 --> 00:43:02,480 Speaker 1: and basically use footage of when these insurrections were in 755 00:43:02,480 --> 00:43:05,640 Speaker 1: the capital not committing crimes to kind of suggest that 756 00:43:05,680 --> 00:43:08,200 Speaker 1: it was peaceful, as though like the arsonist, you know, 757 00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:10,279 Speaker 1: the moments when they're not burning down buildings that means 758 00:43:10,280 --> 00:43:11,880 Speaker 1: that they're good guys or something like that. You know, 759 00:43:11,920 --> 00:43:13,960 Speaker 1: it's very weird when you kind of think through the 760 00:43:14,000 --> 00:43:16,400 Speaker 1: logic that he's using. But you know, I tend to 761 00:43:16,480 --> 00:43:18,080 Speaker 1: in terms of like what happened in the sense of 762 00:43:18,120 --> 00:43:20,759 Speaker 1: how did they get in the capitol? You know, just 763 00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:22,640 Speaker 1: how was that even possible? I mean, I just think 764 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:24,719 Speaker 1: it was basically a numbers game. And I do think 765 00:43:24,760 --> 00:43:28,360 Speaker 1: part of it too, was that there were legitimate concerns 766 00:43:28,440 --> 00:43:30,840 Speaker 1: that you know, if the military was deployed kind of 767 00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:33,600 Speaker 1: in advance of January sixth, that would be viewed as 768 00:43:33,640 --> 00:43:36,160 Speaker 1: a coup attempt, and that we didn't want to kind 769 00:43:36,160 --> 00:43:39,400 Speaker 1: of militarize DC under those conditions where obviously Trump was 770 00:43:39,480 --> 00:43:42,440 Speaker 1: very resistant to leave office, that it could look, you know, 771 00:43:42,560 --> 00:43:45,080 Speaker 1: as opposed to looking like they were trying to maintain order, 772 00:43:45,120 --> 00:43:46,640 Speaker 1: it could actually look kind of like the opposite, and 773 00:43:46,680 --> 00:43:48,560 Speaker 1: could be the opposite where Trump was actually trying to 774 00:43:48,640 --> 00:43:52,239 Speaker 1: use the military to stay in power. And so, you know, 775 00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:53,520 Speaker 1: I think we have to kind of think back in 776 00:43:53,600 --> 00:43:55,319 Speaker 1: what those conditions were at the time that, you know, 777 00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:56,880 Speaker 1: everybody was kind of worried that there was going to 778 00:43:56,920 --> 00:43:58,759 Speaker 1: be some sort of coo attempt. Trump had been talking 779 00:43:58,760 --> 00:44:01,040 Speaker 1: about how the election was stolen from him, you know, 780 00:44:01,080 --> 00:44:04,080 Speaker 1: his media echo chamber was talking about how the election 781 00:44:04,120 --> 00:44:06,600 Speaker 1: was stolen from him, and so m I you know, 782 00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:08,920 Speaker 1: I don't really think there was any sort of um, 783 00:44:09,320 --> 00:44:11,439 Speaker 1: you know, there wasn't any great mystery about like why 784 00:44:11,440 --> 00:44:13,960 Speaker 1: the capitals overrun. I just think that you know, police 785 00:44:13,960 --> 00:44:16,839 Speaker 1: were a little underprepared for that. Um they were outnumbered, 786 00:44:16,960 --> 00:44:20,040 Speaker 1: and you know, in the end, instead of opening fire, 787 00:44:20,239 --> 00:44:22,080 Speaker 1: you know, or shooting people, which obviously would have been 788 00:44:22,080 --> 00:44:24,440 Speaker 1: just horrific, um, you know, they did, but they couldn't 789 00:44:24,520 --> 00:44:27,440 Speaker 1: de escalate, and you know, it could have been much much, 790 00:44:27,560 --> 00:44:29,120 Speaker 1: much worse. I mean, I think, you know, we ended 791 00:44:29,200 --> 00:44:32,080 Speaker 1: up with what like three or four deaths, maybe five, 792 00:44:32,120 --> 00:44:34,239 Speaker 1: I think the final number was including some of the 793 00:44:34,239 --> 00:44:36,719 Speaker 1: insurrectionists and you know the police officer who died. And 794 00:44:36,719 --> 00:44:38,560 Speaker 1: then of course there were a number officers suicides in 795 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:41,080 Speaker 1: the days after that, which don't usually get counted. But 796 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:43,120 Speaker 1: you know, when you when you kind of and we've 797 00:44:43,120 --> 00:44:44,759 Speaker 1: had opportunity this week to do that again with the 798 00:44:44,840 --> 00:44:48,239 Speaker 1: Tucker Carlson stuff. When you revisit some of that footage, man, 799 00:44:48,280 --> 00:44:50,120 Speaker 1: you know, if even one of those cops who was 800 00:44:50,160 --> 00:44:53,200 Speaker 1: being beaten opens fire, you know, who knows how could 801 00:44:53,440 --> 00:44:55,120 Speaker 1: how bad that could have been? And so in some 802 00:44:55,160 --> 00:44:57,360 Speaker 1: ways I mean, as terrible of a day as that was, 803 00:44:57,400 --> 00:44:59,040 Speaker 1: and in one of the worst days in the history 804 00:44:59,080 --> 00:45:02,160 Speaker 1: of our country, it could have been much much worse, 805 00:45:02,200 --> 00:45:04,800 Speaker 1: and so we did kind of get lucky in that respect, 806 00:45:04,920 --> 00:45:07,480 Speaker 1: And it is kind of a miracle that, given how 807 00:45:07,480 --> 00:45:11,160 Speaker 1: outnumbered police were, that they didn't resort to violence, because 808 00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:12,520 Speaker 1: I mean, we can obviously think of a lot of 809 00:45:12,520 --> 00:45:16,080 Speaker 1: other instances in recent American history where police officers are 810 00:45:16,080 --> 00:45:18,160 Speaker 1: too quick to pull the trigger, you know, quite literally 811 00:45:18,160 --> 00:45:20,400 Speaker 1: in some cases. But yeah, you know, in terms of 812 00:45:20,400 --> 00:45:21,719 Speaker 1: when you ask what happened, I mean, I just think 813 00:45:21,719 --> 00:45:23,680 Speaker 1: there were there were more, way more interactions than were 814 00:45:23,680 --> 00:45:26,400 Speaker 1: police officers. Police officers were reluctant, for obvious reasons to 815 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:28,680 Speaker 1: start shooting, and so they were able to get into 816 00:45:28,719 --> 00:45:30,880 Speaker 1: the Capitol and do what they did. You mentioned Biden 817 00:45:31,239 --> 00:45:35,080 Speaker 1: a couple of minutes ago. What is your take on 818 00:45:35,719 --> 00:45:39,640 Speaker 1: how he's handling this administration day to day? What do 819 00:45:39,680 --> 00:45:42,719 Speaker 1: you like, what don't you like? What could be improved upon? 820 00:45:43,440 --> 00:45:47,600 Speaker 1: Is inflation his fault helped me out here. I think 821 00:45:47,600 --> 00:45:50,600 Speaker 1: overall he's done a very good job. I mean, when 822 00:45:50,600 --> 00:45:53,879 Speaker 1: we consider what he inherited in January twenty twenty one, 823 00:45:53,920 --> 00:45:56,200 Speaker 1: I think eighty thousand or so Americans died that month 824 00:45:56,239 --> 00:45:59,160 Speaker 1: of COVID, and you know, I do think actually COVID 825 00:45:59,239 --> 00:46:01,200 Speaker 1: is one area where I think you can there are 826 00:46:01,200 --> 00:46:04,120 Speaker 1: some areas to criticize Biden, you know, I think if anything, 827 00:46:04,160 --> 00:46:06,080 Speaker 1: you know, we're in a state now where it's usually 828 00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:08,759 Speaker 1: between like two and five hundred people a day dying 829 00:46:08,800 --> 00:46:11,120 Speaker 1: from COVID, which is still like a very significant amount 830 00:46:11,120 --> 00:46:13,920 Speaker 1: of Americans every day dying, and the fact that we 831 00:46:13,960 --> 00:46:16,080 Speaker 1: hardly hear him talking about it anymore. You know, when 832 00:46:16,080 --> 00:46:17,680 Speaker 1: he came into office, it was pretty much all that 833 00:46:17,719 --> 00:46:20,160 Speaker 1: he talked about. You know, I think you could argue 834 00:46:20,200 --> 00:46:21,600 Speaker 1: that he should do a little bit more there to 835 00:46:21,640 --> 00:46:24,160 Speaker 1: continue to encourage people to get boosters and to mask 836 00:46:24,200 --> 00:46:26,680 Speaker 1: when appropriate and things like that. I understand why he 837 00:46:26,680 --> 00:46:29,160 Speaker 1: doesn't do that, because I think people have COVID fatigue 838 00:46:29,160 --> 00:46:30,359 Speaker 1: at this point and it's you know, there's a little 839 00:46:30,360 --> 00:46:32,759 Speaker 1: bit of a political calculation there too, that you know, 840 00:46:32,760 --> 00:46:34,520 Speaker 1: he'd be seen as kind of nagging people and being 841 00:46:34,600 --> 00:46:36,320 Speaker 1: alarmists or something like that. But we still have a 842 00:46:36,360 --> 00:46:38,719 Speaker 1: lot of people dying. But no, so he I mean, 843 00:46:38,760 --> 00:46:40,600 Speaker 1: he did a really great job with the pandemic. I 844 00:46:40,600 --> 00:46:42,120 Speaker 1: think the relief bill that we got, you know, a 845 00:46:42,160 --> 00:46:45,200 Speaker 1: few months into his administration really helped turn the economy around. 846 00:46:45,200 --> 00:46:46,759 Speaker 1: And you know, the jobs market right now is as 847 00:46:46,760 --> 00:46:51,000 Speaker 1: strong as it's been in about fifty years. Inflation, you know, probably, 848 00:46:51,120 --> 00:46:53,600 Speaker 1: you know, there's probably some link between you know, increasing 849 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:55,560 Speaker 1: government spending and inflation. So I don't want to totally 850 00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:57,359 Speaker 1: absolve him for that, but when you look around the world, 851 00:46:57,719 --> 00:47:00,280 Speaker 1: a lot of countries struggle with inflation due to supply 852 00:47:00,360 --> 00:47:02,800 Speaker 1: chain issues that were caused by COVID, you know, pulling 853 00:47:02,800 --> 00:47:05,880 Speaker 1: out of the economic malaise that COVID inflicted for twenty 854 00:47:05,920 --> 00:47:07,680 Speaker 1: twenty and twenty twenty one, So it wasn't just an 855 00:47:07,680 --> 00:47:11,440 Speaker 1: American problem. But I think, you know, both with COVID 856 00:47:11,520 --> 00:47:14,960 Speaker 1: with the economy, he's done a really good job. So yeah, 857 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:16,640 Speaker 1: I mean, when you kind of look at the big picture, 858 00:47:16,640 --> 00:47:18,400 Speaker 1: where we're at now relative to where we were at, 859 00:47:18,440 --> 00:47:21,279 Speaker 1: you know, basically twenty six months ago, I don't really 860 00:47:21,280 --> 00:47:23,680 Speaker 1: think that you can you know, you can't say anything 861 00:47:23,719 --> 00:47:25,680 Speaker 1: other than Biden is going to leave the country in 862 00:47:25,719 --> 00:47:27,880 Speaker 1: much better shape after his first term than it was 863 00:47:27,880 --> 00:47:29,960 Speaker 1: when he took office. And that's kind of the main 864 00:47:29,960 --> 00:47:32,759 Speaker 1: measure of any precedent I think, you know, you can 865 00:47:32,840 --> 00:47:36,359 Speaker 1: quibble with twenty twenty one. Biden obviously spent a lot 866 00:47:36,360 --> 00:47:39,760 Speaker 1: of time trying to woo the Joe Manchins and Kristen 867 00:47:39,840 --> 00:47:42,440 Speaker 1: Cinemas into getting on board with some sort of big 868 00:47:42,480 --> 00:47:45,160 Speaker 1: reconciliation bill, which ended up being a fruitless endeavor. And 869 00:47:45,200 --> 00:47:47,680 Speaker 1: so that was around the time when we think back, 870 00:47:47,719 --> 00:47:50,200 Speaker 1: you know, late twenty one into twenty two, when inflation 871 00:47:50,280 --> 00:47:53,120 Speaker 1: really started spiking, in Congress was seen as not really 872 00:47:53,160 --> 00:47:56,840 Speaker 1: doing anything. That Biden's approval rating really tanked and his 873 00:47:56,880 --> 00:47:59,560 Speaker 1: approval was like remarkably low there for a while, you know, 874 00:47:59,600 --> 00:48:02,560 Speaker 1: in the thirties, which is like just terrible. But then 875 00:48:02,640 --> 00:48:05,839 Speaker 1: you know, as the economy improved, his numbers started rising again, 876 00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:07,960 Speaker 1: and then there was a flurry of legislative activity last 877 00:48:08,000 --> 00:48:11,560 Speaker 1: year on the infrastructure bill, on the climate bill. The 878 00:48:11,600 --> 00:48:13,719 Speaker 1: midterms ended up being way better for Democrats than they 879 00:48:13,760 --> 00:48:15,960 Speaker 1: had any right to be, you know, relative to previous 880 00:48:16,040 --> 00:48:18,360 Speaker 1: mid term cycles. The fact that they were able to 881 00:48:18,400 --> 00:48:20,759 Speaker 1: hold on to the Senate was a huge win. And 882 00:48:20,800 --> 00:48:22,799 Speaker 1: now his approval is back in the mid forties and 883 00:48:22,840 --> 00:48:24,320 Speaker 1: he's in a good position, I think, to win a 884 00:48:24,360 --> 00:48:27,120 Speaker 1: second term. So you know, I think when you especially 885 00:48:27,120 --> 00:48:29,520 Speaker 1: when you look at where unemployment was when he took office, 886 00:48:29,520 --> 00:48:31,160 Speaker 1: it was like at six point five percent or something 887 00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:33,680 Speaker 1: like that. Now he's basically halved that. You know, it's 888 00:48:33,680 --> 00:48:36,160 Speaker 1: in the threes. And if you would have told someone 889 00:48:36,200 --> 00:48:38,719 Speaker 1: in January twenty twenty one that, you know, basically two 890 00:48:38,800 --> 00:48:40,799 Speaker 1: years and some change later, we'd have unemployment back in 891 00:48:40,840 --> 00:48:44,480 Speaker 1: the threes, with inflation in check in the economy, you know, 892 00:48:44,520 --> 00:48:46,839 Speaker 1: showing signs of strength. I think anybody would have signed 893 00:48:46,920 --> 00:48:49,120 Speaker 1: up for that. So, you know, it's easy to nitpick, 894 00:48:49,640 --> 00:48:51,759 Speaker 1: but I think big picture, he's done a really good job. 895 00:48:53,000 --> 00:48:57,680 Speaker 1: I like that answer and very thoughtful and thorough pivoting. Again, 896 00:48:58,120 --> 00:49:03,319 Speaker 1: have you ever gotten contacted my politicians or celebrities, but 897 00:49:03,440 --> 00:49:07,160 Speaker 1: specifically politicians and or maybe celebrities to push their agendas? 898 00:49:07,200 --> 00:49:10,160 Speaker 1: Like can you say, who is it weird? Is it 899 00:49:10,200 --> 00:49:14,000 Speaker 1: not something you can say? But talk to me about that? Yeah, 900 00:49:14,040 --> 00:49:16,160 Speaker 1: I mean I'm in touch with politicians every day. I 901 00:49:16,160 --> 00:49:18,600 Speaker 1: mean just that's kind of basic reporting, you know, is 902 00:49:19,719 --> 00:49:21,560 Speaker 1: you know, there's a give and take where you reach 903 00:49:21,600 --> 00:49:23,240 Speaker 1: out to someone to see if they want to comment 904 00:49:23,320 --> 00:49:26,440 Speaker 1: on something, or if a member of Congress wants to 905 00:49:26,440 --> 00:49:28,319 Speaker 1: share something with you in terms of like a bill 906 00:49:28,360 --> 00:49:31,080 Speaker 1: that they're pushing, or like a video clip from hearing 907 00:49:31,080 --> 00:49:34,359 Speaker 1: that they want you to see, And those relationships by 908 00:49:34,400 --> 00:49:37,160 Speaker 1: and large are always really cordial. You don't get to 909 00:49:37,160 --> 00:49:39,400 Speaker 1: be an elected official, especially if you're a member of Congress, 910 00:49:39,400 --> 00:49:42,319 Speaker 1: without having some level of people skills and kind of 911 00:49:42,320 --> 00:49:44,759 Speaker 1: an understanding of the give and take of you know, 912 00:49:44,760 --> 00:49:46,799 Speaker 1: what reporters can do for you and what you can 913 00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:48,640 Speaker 1: do for them, just in terms of being available and 914 00:49:48,680 --> 00:49:51,279 Speaker 1: commenting things like that. So yeah, I mean when you're 915 00:49:51,320 --> 00:49:53,200 Speaker 1: a political reporter, I mean even today, I had a 916 00:49:53,239 --> 00:49:56,840 Speaker 1: couple members of Congress in my DMS today flaking video clips. 917 00:49:56,840 --> 00:49:59,239 Speaker 1: There's so many hearings going on today. They were like, 918 00:49:59,280 --> 00:50:01,040 Speaker 1: you know, four or five pretty major House hearings and 919 00:50:01,080 --> 00:50:02,839 Speaker 1: a couple on the Senate side as well. And so 920 00:50:03,680 --> 00:50:06,319 Speaker 1: I can't think of anytime that it's been weird. But 921 00:50:06,440 --> 00:50:10,480 Speaker 1: you know, as you would expect, it's largely Democrats. Back 922 00:50:10,520 --> 00:50:12,360 Speaker 1: in my former life as a local reporter here in 923 00:50:12,360 --> 00:50:16,080 Speaker 1: the Twin Cities, I had a couple of Republican legislators 924 00:50:16,120 --> 00:50:18,160 Speaker 1: here who were good sources of mine, who were you know, 925 00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:21,560 Speaker 1: more kind of like libertarian, not socially conservative people who 926 00:50:21,600 --> 00:50:23,400 Speaker 1: I you know, we had a lot of overlap in 927 00:50:23,400 --> 00:50:25,160 Speaker 1: our political views, and so it made sense for them 928 00:50:25,160 --> 00:50:26,719 Speaker 1: to use me as a source or to you know, 929 00:50:26,840 --> 00:50:28,560 Speaker 1: for me to use them as a source, I should say, 930 00:50:29,560 --> 00:50:31,080 Speaker 1: But yeah, I mean that's just part of you know, 931 00:50:31,160 --> 00:50:33,759 Speaker 1: reporting on Congress. I talked to people in the Biden 932 00:50:33,760 --> 00:50:36,800 Speaker 1: administration a lot, but even in the Trump days, I 933 00:50:36,840 --> 00:50:38,359 Speaker 1: had a couple of Trump you know, kind of lower 934 00:50:38,440 --> 00:50:40,279 Speaker 1: level people who they wouldn't go on the record, but 935 00:50:40,320 --> 00:50:42,799 Speaker 1: they would send me tips or you know, if there 936 00:50:42,880 --> 00:50:45,000 Speaker 1: was like an interesting anecdote on background they could share 937 00:50:45,000 --> 00:50:47,560 Speaker 1: with me, they would do that. So that was actually 938 00:50:47,640 --> 00:50:49,080 Speaker 1: kind of more interesting than I think the fact that 939 00:50:49,120 --> 00:50:51,400 Speaker 1: I was in touch with the Biden administration was. I 940 00:50:51,400 --> 00:50:53,320 Speaker 1: did have a couple of lower level people with the 941 00:50:53,360 --> 00:50:55,440 Speaker 1: Trump administration who wouldn't go on the record or you know, 942 00:50:55,480 --> 00:50:58,520 Speaker 1: in whose names I can't really share, but at least 943 00:50:58,560 --> 00:51:01,520 Speaker 1: had enough respect for what I do and interest to 944 00:51:01,560 --> 00:51:03,480 Speaker 1: kind of get the word out to my audience about 945 00:51:03,880 --> 00:51:05,799 Speaker 1: some things that were taking place at the White House 946 00:51:05,800 --> 00:51:08,640 Speaker 1: where they would share little tidbits with me here and there. So, 947 00:51:09,640 --> 00:51:12,239 Speaker 1: you know, it's different these days because the way that 948 00:51:12,320 --> 00:51:14,520 Speaker 1: I do my job. I'm not actually in DC most 949 00:51:14,520 --> 00:51:17,040 Speaker 1: of the time, so you know, I watch a lot 950 00:51:17,080 --> 00:51:20,280 Speaker 1: of these press briefings or scrums and at the Capitol. 951 00:51:20,920 --> 00:51:22,160 Speaker 1: You know, you see, I have a lot of respect 952 00:51:22,200 --> 00:51:24,000 Speaker 1: for reporters who do that, who are there all day, 953 00:51:24,560 --> 00:51:26,560 Speaker 1: you know, kind of staking out these politicians and asking 954 00:51:26,560 --> 00:51:29,239 Speaker 1: them them questions. My job is a lot easier than that. 955 00:51:29,600 --> 00:51:31,359 Speaker 1: You know, It's still challenging in its own way, but 956 00:51:31,840 --> 00:51:35,200 Speaker 1: I'm able to report on things from a distance, but 957 00:51:35,280 --> 00:51:37,759 Speaker 1: yet still have sources because just the way that our 958 00:51:37,800 --> 00:51:40,920 Speaker 1: technology is set up these days, we can have relationships 959 00:51:40,960 --> 00:51:43,200 Speaker 1: with people who we never actually meet. You know, it's 960 00:51:43,200 --> 00:51:45,799 Speaker 1: always great when you have an opportunity to meet them 961 00:51:45,920 --> 00:51:48,040 Speaker 1: and to kind of build a rapport on a personal level. 962 00:51:48,120 --> 00:51:50,319 Speaker 1: But you know, that is kind of a blessing for 963 00:51:50,360 --> 00:51:53,280 Speaker 1: me because the type of work that I do wouldn't 964 00:51:53,280 --> 00:51:55,600 Speaker 1: be possible in my current set up twenty years ago. 965 00:51:55,719 --> 00:51:57,640 Speaker 1: You know, it's only because we have such great technology 966 00:51:57,680 --> 00:52:00,799 Speaker 1: that I can do this. What is your take? What 967 00:52:00,960 --> 00:52:05,959 Speaker 1: is your correspondence on my love Mia Moore Marjorie Taylor Green? 968 00:52:06,800 --> 00:52:10,239 Speaker 1: Have you had any has she spoken about you specifically, 969 00:52:10,280 --> 00:52:13,600 Speaker 1: and like, what the fuck is her deal? Man, what 970 00:52:13,640 --> 00:52:17,399 Speaker 1: the fuck is her situation? Bro Well, I mean she's 971 00:52:17,440 --> 00:52:20,160 Speaker 1: in like a deep deep red seats, So I mean 972 00:52:20,160 --> 00:52:21,560 Speaker 1: that's kind of the first thing that you have to 973 00:52:21,600 --> 00:52:24,680 Speaker 1: remember with her and with like them, like Clay Hagens 974 00:52:24,680 --> 00:52:26,680 Speaker 1: from Louisiana as another example. I mean, some of the 975 00:52:26,719 --> 00:52:29,920 Speaker 1: most extreme Republicans, their seats are so safe that they 976 00:52:29,960 --> 00:52:31,680 Speaker 1: never really have to worry about losing an election, and 977 00:52:31,680 --> 00:52:34,080 Speaker 1: so that kind of emboldens them. You know. Bobert is 978 00:52:34,160 --> 00:52:36,000 Speaker 1: kind of the exception because she barely won. She went 979 00:52:36,080 --> 00:52:37,920 Speaker 1: by like a few hundred votes last time around, and 980 00:52:37,960 --> 00:52:41,200 Speaker 1: so she's kind of the rare extremist where you know, 981 00:52:41,400 --> 00:52:43,840 Speaker 1: even this upcoming cycle, she's gonna have a real challenger 982 00:52:43,880 --> 00:52:45,879 Speaker 1: and it's going to be tough for her to hold 983 00:52:45,920 --> 00:52:47,600 Speaker 1: onto that seat. But um, you know, I think I 984 00:52:47,600 --> 00:52:51,439 Speaker 1: think Marjorie Taylor green Man, you know, what is her deal? 985 00:52:51,480 --> 00:52:53,720 Speaker 1: I guess I don't really. It's it's hard to explain 986 00:52:53,760 --> 00:52:56,000 Speaker 1: because you know, when I first started writing about her 987 00:52:56,040 --> 00:52:58,799 Speaker 1: and when people first started being aware of her was 988 00:52:58,840 --> 00:53:01,799 Speaker 1: back you know, right after the twenty eighteen cycle when 989 00:53:01,840 --> 00:53:04,360 Speaker 1: she won her seat, and if you remember one of 990 00:53:04,400 --> 00:53:05,719 Speaker 1: the first video, I guess you know it was it 991 00:53:05,760 --> 00:53:07,120 Speaker 1: was a twenty twenty cycle. I take that back. It 992 00:53:07,120 --> 00:53:09,120 Speaker 1: was twenty twenty when she won her seat. But if 993 00:53:09,160 --> 00:53:11,320 Speaker 1: you remember, like one of the first big national stories 994 00:53:11,320 --> 00:53:14,279 Speaker 1: about her was there was a video of her she 995 00:53:14,360 --> 00:53:16,680 Speaker 1: was in DC in twenty eighteen and she was harassing 996 00:53:16,760 --> 00:53:20,040 Speaker 1: the Parkland school shooting survivors who were up in DC 997 00:53:20,239 --> 00:53:22,279 Speaker 1: for some sort of gun control event, and she was 998 00:53:22,320 --> 00:53:24,200 Speaker 1: on a street in DC kind of like heckling them. 999 00:53:24,680 --> 00:53:26,080 Speaker 1: And then there was a video of her going to 1000 00:53:26,120 --> 00:53:28,640 Speaker 1: AOC's office and kind of making a scene there and like, 1001 00:53:29,360 --> 00:53:32,560 Speaker 1: you know, just kind of these like reprehensible actions. And now, 1002 00:53:32,560 --> 00:53:33,920 Speaker 1: of course, you know, I don't know if you saw 1003 00:53:33,920 --> 00:53:35,920 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago, she was heckled at a restaurant. 1004 00:53:36,000 --> 00:53:37,960 Speaker 1: Some guy got up and was swearing at her, and 1005 00:53:38,040 --> 00:53:39,560 Speaker 1: she made a big deal out of this, the death 1006 00:53:39,600 --> 00:53:41,960 Speaker 1: of civility and how it's you know, terrible let ches 1007 00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:43,480 Speaker 1: and feel safe going out to eat, and it's like 1008 00:53:43,800 --> 00:53:46,239 Speaker 1: this was you, you know, four or five years ago, 1009 00:53:46,239 --> 00:53:48,359 Speaker 1: this is what your your brand was, harassing people out 1010 00:53:48,400 --> 00:53:51,560 Speaker 1: in public. So that takes a certain level of shamelessness, 1011 00:53:51,560 --> 00:53:53,319 Speaker 1: you know, to decry the thing that just a few 1012 00:53:53,360 --> 00:53:55,000 Speaker 1: years ago you were doing in a very public way 1013 00:53:55,000 --> 00:53:57,279 Speaker 1: that was kind of your whole brand. But then, you know, 1014 00:53:57,360 --> 00:54:00,319 Speaker 1: she went from obviously being a QAnon person to you know, 1015 00:54:00,400 --> 00:54:03,160 Speaker 1: now she's kind of trying to it seems like a 1016 00:54:03,320 --> 00:54:05,320 Speaker 1: little bit tone things down these days. I mean, actually, 1017 00:54:05,360 --> 00:54:06,719 Speaker 1: just before you and I got in this call, I 1018 00:54:06,800 --> 00:54:09,760 Speaker 1: was watching there was a house hearing on COVID fraud, 1019 00:54:10,160 --> 00:54:13,359 Speaker 1: COVID relief money fraud that was taking place, and I, 1020 00:54:13,600 --> 00:54:15,239 Speaker 1: you know, I was thankful that our call started when 1021 00:54:15,239 --> 00:54:16,840 Speaker 1: it did because I was able to watch her questioning 1022 00:54:16,920 --> 00:54:18,200 Speaker 1: just before I got in the call with you, and 1023 00:54:18,520 --> 00:54:22,600 Speaker 1: it was remarkable how kind of normal she was. I 1024 00:54:22,600 --> 00:54:24,000 Speaker 1: want to say. I mean, you know, it's but this 1025 00:54:24,120 --> 00:54:26,800 Speaker 1: is relative to her standards. But there was no yelling, 1026 00:54:26,840 --> 00:54:29,160 Speaker 1: there was no accosting the witnesses, there was no kind 1027 00:54:29,160 --> 00:54:32,080 Speaker 1: of loaded questions. She was actually kind of behaving like 1028 00:54:32,120 --> 00:54:34,880 Speaker 1: a normal member of Congress. I don't expect that to last. 1029 00:54:35,520 --> 00:54:37,480 Speaker 1: You know, these witnesses weren't ones that she was trying 1030 00:54:37,520 --> 00:54:40,279 Speaker 1: to beat up on, like Joel Roth from Twitter when 1031 00:54:40,320 --> 00:54:41,960 Speaker 1: he testified a few weeks ago, and she kind of 1032 00:54:41,960 --> 00:54:45,000 Speaker 1: made a big scene about, you know, denouncing him, and 1033 00:54:45,520 --> 00:54:47,440 Speaker 1: you know, really trying to kind of discredit him. So 1034 00:54:48,120 --> 00:54:50,000 Speaker 1: but yeah, I mean she's a very complex figure because again, 1035 00:54:50,040 --> 00:54:51,480 Speaker 1: I mean, she was a kind of this conspiracy not 1036 00:54:51,520 --> 00:54:54,040 Speaker 1: five years ago. She still is, but you know, she's 1037 00:54:54,080 --> 00:54:56,960 Speaker 1: become one of the most influential House Republicans. Kevin McCarthy 1038 00:54:57,040 --> 00:54:58,520 Speaker 1: loves her, and you know, and I think a big 1039 00:54:58,520 --> 00:55:01,160 Speaker 1: thing just to mention in this connection is that she 1040 00:55:01,320 --> 00:55:03,759 Speaker 1: has a lot of power because she is, you know, 1041 00:55:03,760 --> 00:55:06,400 Speaker 1: among the Trump based, one of the most popular Republicans 1042 00:55:06,440 --> 00:55:08,880 Speaker 1: these days. I mean, she's easily more popular with the 1043 00:55:08,880 --> 00:55:11,879 Speaker 1: Trump based and Kevin McCarthy is, And Kevin McCarthy realizes that, 1044 00:55:12,239 --> 00:55:14,440 Speaker 1: and so he's kind of drafting on her to maintain 1045 00:55:14,520 --> 00:55:17,400 Speaker 1: cred with the with the Mega Bass And if she 1046 00:55:17,520 --> 00:55:19,839 Speaker 1: ever had something negative to say about him, it would 1047 00:55:19,880 --> 00:55:21,960 Speaker 1: cause him a lot more trouble and it would cause her. 1048 00:55:22,080 --> 00:55:24,440 Speaker 1: So it's kind of a weird thing, you know. Just 1049 00:55:24,480 --> 00:55:28,000 Speaker 1: one other comment on this note is that the fact 1050 00:55:28,080 --> 00:55:31,840 Speaker 1: that the midterms this past November were so close, actually, 1051 00:55:32,080 --> 00:55:34,720 Speaker 1: in a weird way, kind of emboldened the fringe because 1052 00:55:35,160 --> 00:55:37,360 Speaker 1: if Republicans had a twenty seat majority instead of a 1053 00:55:37,400 --> 00:55:39,759 Speaker 1: four seat majority, they wouldn't need the votes of the 1054 00:55:39,760 --> 00:55:42,480 Speaker 1: Boberts and the Marjorie Taylor Greens and the Clay Higgins 1055 00:55:42,960 --> 00:55:45,879 Speaker 1: and that more moderate element you know could interesting. Yeah, 1056 00:55:45,920 --> 00:55:48,120 Speaker 1: but because it's such a narrow majority and they need 1057 00:55:48,160 --> 00:55:50,919 Speaker 1: every single vote, that gave people like her a whole 1058 00:55:50,920 --> 00:55:53,799 Speaker 1: lot more influence and power than they would have. You know, again, 1059 00:55:53,800 --> 00:55:58,080 Speaker 1: if it was like a twenty seat situation. Interesting. You're 1060 00:55:58,120 --> 00:56:01,040 Speaker 1: a reporter, you know news better than I do. So 1061 00:56:01,080 --> 00:56:04,680 Speaker 1: I'm asking you this. There was a photograph of Marjorie 1062 00:56:04,680 --> 00:56:08,440 Speaker 1: Taylor Green's foot the other day, and it appeared that 1063 00:56:08,480 --> 00:56:12,399 Speaker 1: she had three toes, that she has a hoof. Would 1064 00:56:12,440 --> 00:56:15,720 Speaker 1: you be able to confirm or deny if, in fact, 1065 00:56:15,800 --> 00:56:18,520 Speaker 1: Marjorie Taylor Green does or does not have a hoof. 1066 00:56:18,560 --> 00:56:24,400 Speaker 1: I'm asking you totally sincerely, because right now, me, Michael Ramport, me, 1067 00:56:24,480 --> 00:56:26,960 Speaker 1: I'm not speaking on behalf of you. Me. I believe 1068 00:56:27,080 --> 00:56:31,239 Speaker 1: based on that photo that she may have hoofs and 1069 00:56:31,320 --> 00:56:34,719 Speaker 1: not actual feet like she has like cowfeet. I have seen. 1070 00:56:34,760 --> 00:56:37,920 Speaker 1: I have also seen that photo. It's kind of a 1071 00:56:37,920 --> 00:56:40,720 Speaker 1: weird photo because it's not like super high resolution or anything. 1072 00:56:41,600 --> 00:56:44,600 Speaker 1: I have not done an investigation on this. I'm guessing 1073 00:56:44,640 --> 00:56:46,960 Speaker 1: that if you really kind of went down the rabbit hole, 1074 00:56:47,000 --> 00:56:48,719 Speaker 1: of like looking at her Facebook page or something, I'm 1075 00:56:48,760 --> 00:56:51,160 Speaker 1: guessing that there, I'm guessing she has five toes and 1076 00:56:51,160 --> 00:56:53,520 Speaker 1: their other photos because she's also I mean, she's posted 1077 00:56:53,520 --> 00:56:55,400 Speaker 1: a lot of videos of her exercising. That's like a 1078 00:56:55,400 --> 00:56:58,920 Speaker 1: big part of her thing. Is you probably the cross 1079 00:56:58,920 --> 00:57:01,520 Speaker 1: fit where she's doing the the very odd looking pull 1080 00:57:01,560 --> 00:57:04,279 Speaker 1: ups that she does. But is she barefoot in the 1081 00:57:04,360 --> 00:57:06,359 Speaker 1: in the cross No, No she's not. But the points 1082 00:57:06,360 --> 00:57:08,480 Speaker 1: of me being that she seems to have some athleticism 1083 00:57:08,480 --> 00:57:10,279 Speaker 1: where she's getting around pretty good. And if you only 1084 00:57:10,320 --> 00:57:11,640 Speaker 1: if you only have three toes, I would think your 1085 00:57:11,640 --> 00:57:14,040 Speaker 1: balance would be a little bit off. Granted not if 1086 00:57:14,040 --> 00:57:18,480 Speaker 1: you're an actual not if you if you're genetically mixing, 1087 00:57:19,120 --> 00:57:22,440 Speaker 1: she might be part farm animal. I'm just saying that 1088 00:57:22,440 --> 00:57:25,080 Speaker 1: that could be the truth, and I'll just leave it there. 1089 00:57:25,640 --> 00:57:28,800 Speaker 1: My final question for you is where are you at 1090 00:57:28,840 --> 00:57:31,840 Speaker 1: on Twitter? You got kicked off Twitter, and you're not 1091 00:57:31,920 --> 00:57:36,040 Speaker 1: a rambunctious person like myself, I, Aaron, have never been 1092 00:57:36,120 --> 00:57:39,480 Speaker 1: kicked off Twitter. I was suspended once for thirty days, 1093 00:57:40,560 --> 00:57:42,800 Speaker 1: but I've never been kicked off. How did you get 1094 00:57:42,880 --> 00:57:45,480 Speaker 1: kicked off? How did you get back on? And where 1095 00:57:45,480 --> 00:57:48,360 Speaker 1: are you at with Twitter right now, the story of 1096 00:57:48,400 --> 00:57:52,680 Speaker 1: me getting kicked off is actually kind of a it's 1097 00:57:52,680 --> 00:57:54,880 Speaker 1: not that exciting of a story because basically what happened was, 1098 00:57:54,920 --> 00:57:58,160 Speaker 1: if you remember, back in December, Elon threw a fit 1099 00:57:58,280 --> 00:58:01,160 Speaker 1: over that account that was tracking his private jet around, 1100 00:58:01,800 --> 00:58:04,480 Speaker 1: and they were doing this using completely public information, like 1101 00:58:04,520 --> 00:58:06,280 Speaker 1: anyone would use to track a flight, you know, if 1102 00:58:06,280 --> 00:58:08,960 Speaker 1: you're meeting your loved one, to figure out what time 1103 00:58:08,960 --> 00:58:10,520 Speaker 1: it's going to land, where where it is, that those 1104 00:58:10,560 --> 00:58:13,800 Speaker 1: sorts of things. But you know, so he ended up 1105 00:58:13,800 --> 00:58:16,080 Speaker 1: banishing the account that was tracking his jet around, and 1106 00:58:16,120 --> 00:58:18,520 Speaker 1: I posted a tweet noting that a Facebook page that 1107 00:58:18,600 --> 00:58:21,840 Speaker 1: did the same thing was still live. And so then 1108 00:58:21,880 --> 00:58:25,080 Speaker 1: he proclaimed after I posted that tweet that sharing any 1109 00:58:25,080 --> 00:58:29,240 Speaker 1: sort of his location information was grounds for being suspended. 1110 00:58:29,280 --> 00:58:32,400 Speaker 1: And so I don't really think that was the real reason, 1111 00:58:32,440 --> 00:58:35,360 Speaker 1: because the group of people that got suspended, including myself, 1112 00:58:35,400 --> 00:58:38,440 Speaker 1: were all critics of his. So I think that I suspect, 1113 00:58:38,520 --> 00:58:40,120 Speaker 1: you know, for kind of obvious reasons that had more 1114 00:58:40,160 --> 00:58:43,080 Speaker 1: to do with it than the actual tracking his jet 1115 00:58:43,080 --> 00:58:46,000 Speaker 1: around thing. But yeah, so I got suspended along with 1116 00:58:46,040 --> 00:58:48,680 Speaker 1: I think it was like a dozen or so mostly 1117 00:58:48,800 --> 00:58:53,320 Speaker 1: lefty reporters. I was told initially it was a permanent suspension, 1118 00:58:53,360 --> 00:58:55,160 Speaker 1: which obviously was kind of a bummer for me because 1119 00:58:55,160 --> 00:58:57,960 Speaker 1: I basically run a business on Twitter, so you know, 1120 00:58:57,960 --> 00:59:00,000 Speaker 1: being cut off from my audience there would obviously really 1121 00:59:01,160 --> 00:59:03,240 Speaker 1: hurt me in a lot of ways. But there was 1122 00:59:03,280 --> 00:59:05,640 Speaker 1: such backlash that, you know, within just a few hours, 1123 00:59:05,880 --> 00:59:07,200 Speaker 1: you know, he was kind of walking it back. He 1124 00:59:07,280 --> 00:59:09,440 Speaker 1: posted a poll asking when we should all be reinstated, 1125 00:59:09,920 --> 00:59:11,920 Speaker 1: and the banishment ended up only being for like a 1126 00:59:11,920 --> 00:59:14,000 Speaker 1: little over a day, so it wasn't any sort of 1127 00:59:14,000 --> 00:59:16,520 Speaker 1: a huge deal, and ultimately, I think it really helped 1128 00:59:16,560 --> 00:59:20,400 Speaker 1: my career because I gained like fifty thoyd Twitter followers, 1129 00:59:20,400 --> 00:59:22,160 Speaker 1: like I got a whole bunch of new newsletters subscribers 1130 00:59:22,200 --> 00:59:24,720 Speaker 1: through that, So it ended up actually being a net 1131 00:59:24,720 --> 00:59:26,480 Speaker 1: positive despite the fact that I think it, you know, 1132 00:59:26,480 --> 00:59:28,600 Speaker 1: obviously is a bummer in terms of what's going on 1133 00:59:28,640 --> 00:59:31,080 Speaker 1: with Twitter in the direction that has headed these days. 1134 00:59:31,120 --> 00:59:33,760 Speaker 1: So in terms of where I'm at with Twitter, you know, 1135 00:59:33,760 --> 00:59:36,880 Speaker 1: I'm trying to kind of diversify him on massedon and 1136 00:59:36,960 --> 00:59:40,840 Speaker 1: post news and you know, various other social media platforms. 1137 00:59:40,880 --> 00:59:43,120 Speaker 1: Is trying to build up followings elsewhere because I mean, 1138 00:59:43,160 --> 00:59:45,400 Speaker 1: you know, you've you've seen it as well, where you know, 1139 00:59:45,560 --> 00:59:47,240 Speaker 1: you pull it up one day and you can't tweet, 1140 00:59:47,360 --> 00:59:50,560 Speaker 1: or you know images aren't loading. Um, he's fired everyone, 1141 00:59:50,680 --> 00:59:53,200 Speaker 1: so there's no staff there to fix things when they break, 1142 00:59:53,280 --> 00:59:56,000 Speaker 1: or it takes longer at least, and so it's really 1143 00:59:56,000 --> 00:59:57,600 Speaker 1: not headed anywhere good at this point. I mean, it 1144 00:59:57,600 --> 00:59:59,240 Speaker 1: feels like we're kind of in the decline stage of 1145 00:59:59,240 --> 01:00:01,880 Speaker 1: Twitter at this point. But I still find it, you know, 1146 01:00:01,960 --> 01:00:05,760 Speaker 1: despite all of my gripes and kind of like complaining 1147 01:00:05,800 --> 01:00:08,520 Speaker 1: about it, it's still the best platform in a lot 1148 01:00:08,560 --> 01:00:09,880 Speaker 1: of ways. I mean, I think you know, all of 1149 01:00:09,920 --> 01:00:12,680 Speaker 1: the brands, all of the public figure sports teams, you know, 1150 01:00:12,680 --> 01:00:16,280 Speaker 1: if you're looking for NBA clips, Twitter is still the 1151 01:00:16,320 --> 01:00:18,080 Speaker 1: place to go for all of that stuff. And so, 1152 01:00:19,440 --> 01:00:21,320 Speaker 1: you know, I still find myself using it way more 1153 01:00:21,360 --> 01:00:24,560 Speaker 1: than the other platforms. But I am trying to make 1154 01:00:24,640 --> 01:00:26,680 Speaker 1: arrangements so that if it really is the end for Twitter, 1155 01:00:26,720 --> 01:00:29,720 Speaker 1: if I do get permanently suspended for real, just because 1156 01:00:29,760 --> 01:00:31,520 Speaker 1: like today, even you know this hearing that I was 1157 01:00:31,520 --> 01:00:33,600 Speaker 1: talking about earlier that was all about the Twitter files, 1158 01:00:34,200 --> 01:00:36,480 Speaker 1: a lot of the Democrats were being highly highly critical 1159 01:00:36,520 --> 01:00:39,240 Speaker 1: of Elon Musk and drawing into question where he got 1160 01:00:39,240 --> 01:00:41,560 Speaker 1: the money to buy Twitter, in his connections with Saudi 1161 01:00:41,600 --> 01:00:43,760 Speaker 1: Arabia and Russia and all the you know, all these 1162 01:00:43,800 --> 01:00:45,960 Speaker 1: things that he doesn't really want people talking about. And 1163 01:00:46,000 --> 01:00:48,200 Speaker 1: so even in the course of posting clips of that, 1164 01:00:48,320 --> 01:00:50,400 Speaker 1: you know, I'm kind of thinking to myself, like, you know, 1165 01:00:50,520 --> 01:00:52,000 Speaker 1: is he going to declare tomorrow that he has a 1166 01:00:52,000 --> 01:00:54,760 Speaker 1: new policy against anybody talking about his personal finances or 1167 01:00:54,800 --> 01:00:56,560 Speaker 1: something like that and then suspend me. I mean, that 1168 01:00:56,560 --> 01:00:58,280 Speaker 1: would make just as much sense as what happened to 1169 01:00:58,320 --> 01:01:00,760 Speaker 1: me in December. So you know, I do kind of 1170 01:01:00,760 --> 01:01:02,960 Speaker 1: have that realization or that understanding that I'm kind of 1171 01:01:03,000 --> 01:01:05,320 Speaker 1: unborrowed time that I could be banned at any point, 1172 01:01:05,360 --> 01:01:07,320 Speaker 1: But that is just kind of what it is. And 1173 01:01:07,360 --> 01:01:10,200 Speaker 1: you know, if anything last time around getting suspended, because 1174 01:01:10,240 --> 01:01:12,560 Speaker 1: like I said, I had an influx of newsletter subscribers 1175 01:01:12,560 --> 01:01:14,640 Speaker 1: and you know a lot of people reaching out and 1176 01:01:14,680 --> 01:01:16,960 Speaker 1: saying that they supported me, and you know, we're going 1177 01:01:17,040 --> 01:01:19,160 Speaker 1: to follow me wherever my work went after that, whatever 1178 01:01:19,200 --> 01:01:22,160 Speaker 1: platform I was on, there will be life after Twitter. 1179 01:01:22,640 --> 01:01:26,120 Speaker 1: So that's kind of where I'm at all right, Aaron, Listen, 1180 01:01:26,200 --> 01:01:29,400 Speaker 1: I really appreciate you taking the time to join me 1181 01:01:29,400 --> 01:01:32,400 Speaker 1: on the iromrap Ports Stereo Podcast. I appreciate your page, 1182 01:01:32,440 --> 01:01:36,440 Speaker 1: I appreciate your work. I appreciate all your effort in 1183 01:01:36,880 --> 01:01:41,400 Speaker 1: sharing information with dumb dumbs like me and you know, 1184 01:01:41,480 --> 01:01:45,320 Speaker 1: people that are far more educated and smarter, and you know, 1185 01:01:45,360 --> 01:01:47,920 Speaker 1: I appreciate you of being on the iromwrap Ports Stereo podcast. 1186 01:01:47,960 --> 01:01:50,240 Speaker 1: I wish you nothing but the best everything going forward, 1187 01:01:50,600 --> 01:01:53,160 Speaker 1: and I really thank you for taking the time. Yeah, 1188 01:01:53,200 --> 01:01:54,760 Speaker 1: thanks Michael, thanks for having me. It was really fun. 1189 01:01:55,360 --> 01:01:59,280 Speaker 1: That's it. Boom, I'm out. Great interview. I want to 1190 01:01:59,280 --> 01:02:01,920 Speaker 1: think Aaron will part. You should all follow him on 1191 01:02:02,200 --> 01:02:05,840 Speaker 1: his Instagram page at Aaron rupart a A R O 1192 01:02:06,080 --> 01:02:11,720 Speaker 1: N R U p A R Came Saw Disrupted, Came 1193 01:02:12,240 --> 01:02:17,000 Speaker 1: Saw Disrupted. Iron Rapports Stereo Podcast. Uh is done. Miles 1194 01:02:17,080 --> 01:02:19,760 Speaker 1: Jordan aka the Bleacher Brothers aka the Diggity Dust Brothers. 1195 01:02:19,800 --> 01:02:22,040 Speaker 1: Take me at he with something real nice, Take me 1196 01:02:22,080 --> 01:02:24,520 Speaker 1: at he with the the real loud guests, but most importantly, 1197 01:02:24,920 --> 01:02:27,960 Speaker 1: end this puppy with something real funky. I am rapp 1198 01:02:27,960 --> 01:02:30,120 Speaker 1: Reports Stereo Podcast. I'm out.