1 00:00:04,795 --> 00:00:21,795 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. I'm 2 00:00:21,795 --> 00:00:25,715 Speaker 1: only going to say this once, as Democrats, as liberals, 3 00:00:25,915 --> 00:00:30,275 Speaker 1: as whatever you identify yourself. If we do not harden 4 00:00:30,395 --> 00:00:34,035 Speaker 1: our stances and fight now and convince our less adamantine 5 00:00:34,115 --> 00:00:37,275 Speaker 1: cohorts to do the same, we are going to lose 6 00:00:37,515 --> 00:00:41,955 Speaker 1: this democracy. Quote. Should the Democrats hold fast on the 7 00:00:41,995 --> 00:00:44,795 Speaker 1: debt ceiling and not negotiate or should they negotiate spending 8 00:00:44,835 --> 00:00:47,595 Speaker 1: constraints with the Republicans? Reads the question in the new 9 00:00:47,835 --> 00:00:51,635 Speaker 1: Harvard Harris poll. Eighty two percent of Republicans say the 10 00:00:51,675 --> 00:00:56,955 Speaker 1: Democrats should negotiate with Republicans, and christ a mighty forty 11 00:00:57,075 --> 00:01:02,235 Speaker 1: one percent of Democrats say Democrats should negotiate with the Republicans. 12 00:01:02,275 --> 00:01:08,755 Speaker 1: Are you kidding? Are you insane? Are you suicidal? Negotiate? 13 00:01:09,395 --> 00:01:15,595 Speaker 1: You do not negotiate with terrorists. You metaphorically shoot terrorists 14 00:01:15,715 --> 00:01:21,515 Speaker 1: in the head. The Democrats already negotiated on the debt ceiling. 15 00:01:21,555 --> 00:01:24,395 Speaker 1: In fact, the Democrats already caved on the debt ceiling. 16 00:01:24,595 --> 00:01:29,675 Speaker 1: And everybody seems to know this except Democrats in the Senate, 17 00:01:30,035 --> 00:01:33,675 Speaker 1: in the House, in the White House. I'm looking at 18 00:01:33,715 --> 00:01:36,235 Speaker 1: the fourteenth Amendment. I think we have the authority. The 19 00:01:36,355 --> 00:01:40,155 Speaker 1: question is could it be done in time? Said the 20 00:01:40,195 --> 00:01:44,235 Speaker 1: president from Hiroshima. We have not come up with unilateral 21 00:01:44,315 --> 00:01:47,075 Speaker 1: action that could succeed in a matter of two weeks 22 00:01:47,195 --> 00:01:51,195 Speaker 1: or three weeks. That's the issue. So it's up to lawmakers. 23 00:01:51,355 --> 00:01:54,595 Speaker 1: With respect, mister President, know the hell it is not 24 00:01:55,635 --> 00:02:02,275 Speaker 1: stop caving in to these bastard fascists. They are not negotiating, 25 00:02:02,475 --> 00:02:05,675 Speaker 1: They are not operating from any position of good faith 26 00:02:05,955 --> 00:02:09,355 Speaker 1: nor of coherent philosophy, except to try to destroy the 27 00:02:09,395 --> 00:02:12,555 Speaker 1: economy and to blame you for it and to run 28 00:02:12,595 --> 00:02:15,115 Speaker 1: against you on it. And you have stated you know 29 00:02:15,235 --> 00:02:18,235 Speaker 1: as much, and you are still standing there with another 30 00:02:18,355 --> 00:02:21,835 Speaker 1: metaphorical gun pointed against your head, hoping that you will 31 00:02:21,835 --> 00:02:25,075 Speaker 1: find some middle road with the people who've spent the 32 00:02:25,115 --> 00:02:29,035 Speaker 1: last thirty years dynamiting and jackhammering all the middle roads. 33 00:02:31,355 --> 00:02:34,115 Speaker 1: And you know exactly what the Republicans would do if 34 00:02:34,155 --> 00:02:38,435 Speaker 1: the details of this scenario were reversed. They would invoke 35 00:02:38,635 --> 00:02:43,475 Speaker 1: the fourteenth Amendment now and dare the opposition to take 36 00:02:43,515 --> 00:02:46,435 Speaker 1: them to court. And while the courts were ruling, they 37 00:02:46,475 --> 00:02:49,475 Speaker 1: would have ignored the court rulings and paid the debt anyway, 38 00:02:49,515 --> 00:02:53,235 Speaker 1: because that's the way it's done now, and some fanciful 39 00:02:53,315 --> 00:02:56,115 Speaker 1: good old days memory of Tip O'Neil and Ronald Reagan 40 00:02:56,155 --> 00:02:59,515 Speaker 1: having drinks about it and negotiating it was an imaginary 41 00:02:59,595 --> 00:03:04,835 Speaker 1: sugarcoating of Republican treachery then. And even the most recent example, well, 42 00:03:04,835 --> 00:03:08,155 Speaker 1: if anything just that evil happened no more recently than 43 00:03:08,275 --> 00:03:11,795 Speaker 1: thirty four years and three months ago. The time is dead, 44 00:03:11,955 --> 00:03:18,675 Speaker 1: mister President. This is metaphorical war against Republican fascists. Stop negotiating, 45 00:03:19,315 --> 00:03:22,595 Speaker 1: start remembering who the bullies are and who has the 46 00:03:22,675 --> 00:03:28,035 Speaker 1: goddamned hammer at the moment, and use it. I mean, 47 00:03:28,075 --> 00:03:33,475 Speaker 1: this is so obvious that even Politico noticed it. Politico 48 00:03:33,835 --> 00:03:41,355 Speaker 1: official stenographers of the seventeenth century. Its lead story summarized, 49 00:03:41,755 --> 00:03:47,755 Speaker 1: where the quote negotiations unquote are even Politico noticed. And 50 00:03:47,795 --> 00:03:51,715 Speaker 1: these are their numbered bullet points that Democrats have one 51 00:03:52,035 --> 00:03:55,075 Speaker 1: all but publicly acknowledged there will be no clean debt 52 00:03:55,115 --> 00:03:57,915 Speaker 1: sealing increase, and they'll have to give the Republicans something. 53 00:03:58,515 --> 00:04:03,435 Speaker 1: Two signaled a willingness to claw back unspent COVID funding 54 00:04:03,475 --> 00:04:09,555 Speaker 1: and overhauling permitting reform three already conceded ninety billion dollars 55 00:04:09,595 --> 00:04:11,995 Speaker 1: in spending cuts next year and a trillion over the 56 00:04:11,995 --> 00:04:15,795 Speaker 1: next decade, and four indicated the President is willing to 57 00:04:15,795 --> 00:04:21,995 Speaker 1: consider work requirements for some safety net programs. On the 58 00:04:22,035 --> 00:04:26,515 Speaker 1: other hand, the Republican's idea of meeting somewhere in the middle. 59 00:04:26,755 --> 00:04:32,715 Speaker 1: Even Poltico notices this is one tripling the length of 60 00:04:32,795 --> 00:04:37,675 Speaker 1: the spending caps. Two hinting that they're extremists, still want 61 00:04:37,715 --> 00:04:42,675 Speaker 1: the Inflation Reduction Act and student debt relief eliminated. Three 62 00:04:42,915 --> 00:04:46,035 Speaker 1: want all these spending cuts, but still want more money 63 00:04:46,075 --> 00:04:48,675 Speaker 1: to go to the Pentagon and for the border. Four 64 00:04:49,155 --> 00:04:52,955 Speaker 1: have refused the Democrats timid ask for just enforcing some 65 00:04:53,235 --> 00:04:58,155 Speaker 1: tax laws on the rich. Five doubled down on work requirements, 66 00:04:58,155 --> 00:05:02,555 Speaker 1: so another seven hundred thousand Americans would lose food assistance. 67 00:05:02,995 --> 00:05:06,995 Speaker 1: Six want restricted in immigration put into this deal. Seven 68 00:05:07,235 --> 00:05:12,435 Speaker 1: will not accept a reduction in spending through prescription drug reforms, 69 00:05:12,555 --> 00:05:23,755 Speaker 1: which they will not accept. Even Politico noticed this. I 70 00:05:23,835 --> 00:05:26,835 Speaker 1: mean the Progressives letter to the President said the damage 71 00:05:26,875 --> 00:05:30,155 Speaker 1: to caving to the Republicans here would be seven hundred 72 00:05:30,235 --> 00:05:35,595 Speaker 1: and eighty thousand more unemployed, a million two more without 73 00:05:35,635 --> 00:05:41,235 Speaker 1: food assistance, and up to twenty one million Americans stripped 74 00:05:41,475 --> 00:05:45,555 Speaker 1: of medicaid. You're going to run against that mister Biden 75 00:05:47,955 --> 00:05:51,075 Speaker 1: who says it's up to the lawmakers. The hell it is. 76 00:05:51,995 --> 00:05:56,035 Speaker 1: You know what's easy? Tell McCarthy today, here is your 77 00:05:56,075 --> 00:06:00,555 Speaker 1: climb down. You have until morning to agree to these 78 00:06:00,595 --> 00:06:04,275 Speaker 1: token cuts over here, so your party of terrorists does 79 00:06:04,315 --> 00:06:08,195 Speaker 1: not make you out as speaker tonight. But as of 80 00:06:08,275 --> 00:06:10,995 Speaker 1: nine am Tuesday, if you have not agreed to this, 81 00:06:11,075 --> 00:06:14,635 Speaker 1: these token cuts go away. And I invoke the fourteenth Amendment, 82 00:06:14,675 --> 00:06:17,195 Speaker 1: and I announced you have refused to negotiate, and I 83 00:06:17,315 --> 00:06:19,995 Speaker 1: refuse to negotiate with terrorists. And I make sure I 84 00:06:20,035 --> 00:06:23,315 Speaker 1: have the US Marine Corps band behind me as I 85 00:06:23,355 --> 00:06:26,155 Speaker 1: say this, playing God Bless America in the background. And 86 00:06:26,155 --> 00:06:29,315 Speaker 1: then when I'm done, I will repeat, mister McCarthy that 87 00:06:29,355 --> 00:06:32,635 Speaker 1: the United States does not submit to blackmail from terrorists, 88 00:06:32,675 --> 00:06:35,355 Speaker 1: foreign or domestic. And then we'll play the anthem and 89 00:06:35,395 --> 00:06:42,235 Speaker 1: we'll all sing. Forty one percent of Democrats think Democrats 90 00:06:42,235 --> 00:06:47,235 Speaker 1: should cave here. Holy crap, now it is possible. I 91 00:06:47,435 --> 00:06:50,755 Speaker 1: pray that this poll number is ridiculously high. I mean, 92 00:06:50,795 --> 00:06:53,915 Speaker 1: the guy in charge of the Harris Pole is the 93 00:06:53,955 --> 00:07:00,435 Speaker 1: man of this moment of capitulation. Mark Penn, Mark Penn 94 00:07:00,515 --> 00:07:05,235 Speaker 1: may be the least trustworthy, least honest, worst titian of 95 00:07:05,355 --> 00:07:09,955 Speaker 1: last half century. He's in charge of the Harris Paul. Now, guys, 96 00:07:09,995 --> 00:07:13,635 Speaker 1: guess Frank Lunz was busy. But even if it is 97 00:07:13,755 --> 00:07:16,355 Speaker 1: a wrong number and it's only twenty percent in favor 98 00:07:16,395 --> 00:07:21,675 Speaker 1: of Democrats caving to Republicans, what are you thinking? Has 99 00:07:21,715 --> 00:07:25,275 Speaker 1: life taught you nothing? You give in to bullies over 100 00:07:25,315 --> 00:07:29,435 Speaker 1: some far fetched pipe dream of comedy and unity, and 101 00:07:29,475 --> 00:07:33,315 Speaker 1: you expect that they'll stop, And like you more, you 102 00:07:33,355 --> 00:07:38,635 Speaker 1: expect that they will ever stop. Give the Republicans anything here, 103 00:07:40,355 --> 00:07:43,835 Speaker 1: give them everything here, and they still will find something 104 00:07:44,355 --> 00:07:49,875 Speaker 1: to blame Democrats for. That is what they are good at, 105 00:07:51,635 --> 00:07:55,915 Speaker 1: and of all times, of all times to do it. Now, 106 00:07:56,555 --> 00:08:01,915 Speaker 1: even Politico noticed, I read it and said, I'm not alone. 107 00:08:02,355 --> 00:08:08,395 Speaker 1: Someone else sees this. And what's more, he even Axios noticed. 108 00:08:08,875 --> 00:08:12,555 Speaker 1: You know the odds against Axios and Politico getting something 109 00:08:12,715 --> 00:08:17,755 Speaker 1: right on the same day. You know what Axios's leads 110 00:08:17,795 --> 00:08:21,675 Speaker 1: story was that Trump is basing his presidential campaign on 111 00:08:21,755 --> 00:08:24,955 Speaker 1: a promise that if he's elected, he'll turn the presidency 112 00:08:25,275 --> 00:08:29,555 Speaker 1: into a dictatorship. That if you ignore all the psychosis 113 00:08:29,555 --> 00:08:32,835 Speaker 1: and the bluster, and you striate all the policy promises. 114 00:08:33,355 --> 00:08:38,915 Speaker 1: Trump's twenty twenty five vision revealed. Even Axios noticed this. 115 00:08:39,315 --> 00:08:45,675 Speaker 1: Trump's twenty twenty five vision revealed is virtual totalitarianism. As 116 00:08:45,875 --> 00:08:50,635 Speaker 1: Axios my god. Even Axios sees this peril Axios as 117 00:08:50,635 --> 00:08:55,075 Speaker 1: Axios listed them. He'll pardon all the insurrectionists and militias. 118 00:08:55,435 --> 00:08:57,595 Speaker 1: He'll pull the rug out from under Ukraine and hand 119 00:08:57,635 --> 00:09:00,075 Speaker 1: it to Putin. He will demand the right to hire 120 00:09:00,115 --> 00:09:02,875 Speaker 1: and fire federal workers at will based on who is 121 00:09:02,955 --> 00:09:06,315 Speaker 1: personally loyal to him. He will demand the right to 122 00:09:06,395 --> 00:09:10,475 Speaker 1: hire and fire the officials who accredit our universities. He 123 00:09:10,515 --> 00:09:16,035 Speaker 1: will order diversity eliminated there, equity and inclusion programs eliminated 124 00:09:16,035 --> 00:09:18,955 Speaker 1: in universities and high schools where he can, and tenure 125 00:09:18,995 --> 00:09:23,395 Speaker 1: for teachers. He wants to defund, or maybe, if he's 126 00:09:23,435 --> 00:09:26,195 Speaker 1: in a better mood, just reshape the Department of Justice 127 00:09:26,395 --> 00:09:29,595 Speaker 1: and the intelligence agencies. He wants political monitors to decide 128 00:09:29,595 --> 00:09:32,235 Speaker 1: if the intelligence agencies are behaving in some sort of 129 00:09:32,555 --> 00:09:36,355 Speaker 1: Marxist fashion. He wants to deny Medicaid and Medicare to 130 00:09:36,475 --> 00:09:40,715 Speaker 1: hospitals and providers who offer gender affirming care, and go 131 00:09:40,795 --> 00:09:43,995 Speaker 1: after those who have already provided that care. He wants 132 00:09:44,035 --> 00:09:48,515 Speaker 1: to use the army against drug cartels and street crime 133 00:09:49,035 --> 00:09:52,875 Speaker 1: in America. He wants to build his own new cities 134 00:09:52,915 --> 00:09:56,315 Speaker 1: somewhere and pay white people to have children in them. 135 00:09:56,955 --> 00:10:00,875 Speaker 1: He wants to strip out residential segregation laws and stop 136 00:10:00,915 --> 00:10:06,235 Speaker 1: addressing poverty issues. He wants national concealed care reciprocity, so 137 00:10:06,315 --> 00:10:10,795 Speaker 1: somebody from Texas can carry a gun into your state 138 00:10:11,115 --> 00:10:19,195 Speaker 1: no matter what your laws are. This is all in Axios. 139 00:10:20,835 --> 00:10:24,035 Speaker 1: Trump is not only openly promising the end of virtually 140 00:10:24,115 --> 00:10:28,355 Speaker 1: every aspect of democracy and promising to use the military 141 00:10:28,595 --> 00:10:33,835 Speaker 1: and vigilante gangs and militias to enforce minority, white male 142 00:10:34,035 --> 00:10:37,595 Speaker 1: rule over everybody else, but he's doing it so boldly 143 00:10:37,755 --> 00:10:41,235 Speaker 1: that even Axios noticed it. And his party is bullying 144 00:10:41,235 --> 00:10:44,075 Speaker 1: the current president of the United States so openly that 145 00:10:44,115 --> 00:10:46,875 Speaker 1: even Politico noticed it. And what are Democrats doing to 146 00:10:47,035 --> 00:10:49,155 Speaker 1: out of five of us want to negotiate with these 147 00:10:49,195 --> 00:10:52,795 Speaker 1: Republican scumbags? And lord knows how many of our leaders 148 00:10:52,835 --> 00:10:55,875 Speaker 1: are trying to organize a nice two year long farewell 149 00:10:55,915 --> 00:11:00,115 Speaker 1: tour for Diane Feinstein because they see no good reason 150 00:11:00,195 --> 00:11:04,995 Speaker 1: we can't multi party like it's nineteen fifty nine. Are 151 00:11:04,995 --> 00:11:08,475 Speaker 1: you going to negotiate with Trump? What are you going 152 00:11:08,515 --> 00:11:11,795 Speaker 1: to negotiate with the man who owns his speakership to Trump? 153 00:11:11,915 --> 00:11:16,395 Speaker 1: Miss McCarthy, Mister President, When you see Kevin McCarthy, like 154 00:11:16,435 --> 00:11:19,315 Speaker 1: I said, you give him a climb down offer, and 155 00:11:19,355 --> 00:11:22,595 Speaker 1: you tell him he has until sunrise, and he leaves, 156 00:11:22,835 --> 00:11:25,155 Speaker 1: And just before he leaves, you call him back and 157 00:11:25,195 --> 00:11:27,515 Speaker 1: you put your hands on his shoulders in that way 158 00:11:27,555 --> 00:11:31,955 Speaker 1: of yours, and you whisper in his ear. Kevin, my 159 00:11:32,075 --> 00:11:36,315 Speaker 1: fellow irishman, take this with you from another son of 160 00:11:36,355 --> 00:11:39,035 Speaker 1: the old Sod, and you knee him in the groin 161 00:11:41,435 --> 00:11:44,875 Speaker 1: or and I am the last person on earth ever 162 00:11:44,915 --> 00:11:49,115 Speaker 1: to be considered a Star Wars fan, or be prepared 163 00:11:49,155 --> 00:11:51,995 Speaker 1: to hear this as soon as nineteen months from now. 164 00:11:52,275 --> 00:11:56,475 Speaker 1: I hope, after you've lost, and the Empire reigns over 165 00:11:56,515 --> 00:12:00,235 Speaker 1: the galaxy unopposed, you will find some comfort in the 166 00:12:00,275 --> 00:12:09,115 Speaker 1: knowledge that you fought according to the rules I can 167 00:12:09,275 --> 00:12:13,955 Speaker 1: offer you, and obviously myself, since I need it, only 168 00:12:13,995 --> 00:12:21,635 Speaker 1: this comic relief. Today. Yesterday, Chris Licht's boss gave the 169 00:12:21,675 --> 00:12:28,475 Speaker 1: commencement address at Boston University and was repeatedly booed and 170 00:12:28,795 --> 00:12:36,195 Speaker 1: interrupted by the graduating students. David Zaslav, the CEO of 171 00:12:36,275 --> 00:12:40,955 Speaker 1: Warner Bros. Discovery, who last week told that media conference 172 00:12:40,955 --> 00:12:43,315 Speaker 1: that Republicans now saw CNN as a place to get 173 00:12:43,355 --> 00:12:47,675 Speaker 1: more votes because it's not an advocacy network for Democrats anymore, 174 00:12:47,715 --> 00:12:49,955 Speaker 1: without ever once realizing he was in the same breath 175 00:12:49,955 --> 00:12:52,955 Speaker 1: declaring that CNN now is an advocacy network for Republicans. 176 00:12:53,955 --> 00:12:57,155 Speaker 1: David Zaslab is in the public eye not just because 177 00:12:57,275 --> 00:13:01,555 Speaker 1: of the CNN fiasco, but because of the Hollywood writer's strike, 178 00:13:03,195 --> 00:13:06,075 Speaker 1: and he gave the commencement to dress in the middle 179 00:13:06,155 --> 00:13:09,835 Speaker 1: of a writer's strike at Boston University, with one of 180 00:13:09,835 --> 00:13:14,515 Speaker 1: the largest schools of public communications in the nation. Also, 181 00:13:14,995 --> 00:13:17,115 Speaker 1: from what I heard of it, his speech was so 182 00:13:17,195 --> 00:13:19,395 Speaker 1: full of cliches that if there had not been a strike, 183 00:13:20,315 --> 00:13:21,715 Speaker 1: it still should have been interrupted. 184 00:13:21,835 --> 00:13:34,435 Speaker 2: It'll make a huge difference. The fourth, the fourth thing 185 00:13:34,555 --> 00:13:38,875 Speaker 2: I learned along my journey is that it's really painful 186 00:13:38,955 --> 00:13:39,875 Speaker 2: to get out worked. 187 00:13:40,315 --> 00:13:45,195 Speaker 1: Wait, Biff Tannan's day, I'm sorry, David Zaslov's day got 188 00:13:45,235 --> 00:13:45,915 Speaker 1: even worse. 189 00:13:46,155 --> 00:13:49,355 Speaker 2: You want to be successful, you're going to have to 190 00:13:49,395 --> 00:13:53,515 Speaker 2: figure out how to get along with everyone, and that 191 00:13:53,595 --> 00:13:55,995 Speaker 2: includes difficult people. 192 00:13:59,435 --> 00:14:00,115 Speaker 1: Some people. 193 00:14:09,355 --> 00:14:11,395 Speaker 2: Some people will be looking for a fight. 194 00:14:16,275 --> 00:14:19,795 Speaker 1: I know from experience that one of the proudest moments 195 00:14:19,795 --> 00:14:23,075 Speaker 1: you can have in life is to give the commencement 196 00:14:23,355 --> 00:14:28,435 Speaker 1: or convocation or the equivalent address at your old school. 197 00:14:29,515 --> 00:14:33,755 Speaker 1: I did it at Cornell in nineteen ninety eight, and 198 00:14:33,795 --> 00:14:36,875 Speaker 1: I got laughs. I did it at my high school 199 00:14:36,875 --> 00:14:39,115 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety four. I got to pay tribute to 200 00:14:39,235 --> 00:14:42,395 Speaker 1: nineteen of my teachers who were still there nineteen years 201 00:14:42,435 --> 00:14:48,075 Speaker 1: after I graduated. Great lasting experiences. I can still smell 202 00:14:48,115 --> 00:14:51,475 Speaker 1: the smells of the day. Unfortunately, that was not what 203 00:14:51,555 --> 00:14:54,515 Speaker 1: David Zaslav, Boston you Law class of nineteen eighty five 204 00:14:54,595 --> 00:14:56,795 Speaker 1: experience yesterday, as you heard, But hey, for me, it 205 00:14:56,875 --> 00:15:01,755 Speaker 1: was just great. Mister Zaslav later issued a statement to 206 00:15:01,755 --> 00:15:05,035 Speaker 1: The Hollywood Reporter, quote, I'm immensely supportive of the writers 207 00:15:05,035 --> 00:15:07,235 Speaker 1: and hope the strike is resolved soon and in a 208 00:15:07,275 --> 00:15:10,035 Speaker 1: way that they feel recognized as their value on quote, 209 00:15:10,435 --> 00:15:13,075 Speaker 1: he apparently left out the additional observation, if only I, 210 00:15:13,195 --> 00:15:18,235 Speaker 1: as the chairman of the company that owns HBO, CNNTNT, TBSDC, Comics, 211 00:15:18,275 --> 00:15:21,675 Speaker 1: Warner Bros. Much of the CW Network, and the Food Network, 212 00:15:21,755 --> 00:15:26,035 Speaker 1: had some influence of some kind over just how Hollywood 213 00:15:26,075 --> 00:15:30,355 Speaker 1: producers pay their writers, but clearly I don't. As the CEO. 214 00:15:33,835 --> 00:15:36,035 Speaker 1: In passing, I will note here that if you scoffed 215 00:15:36,075 --> 00:15:38,755 Speaker 1: at my reporting last week that CNN and Chris Licht 216 00:15:38,875 --> 00:15:43,315 Speaker 1: are still discussing, may even be already negotiating the terms 217 00:15:43,355 --> 00:15:47,995 Speaker 1: of a second town hall with Trump. On Saturday, amidst 218 00:15:48,075 --> 00:15:51,235 Speaker 1: his weekend of fear and insanity, Trump made a social 219 00:15:51,275 --> 00:15:55,635 Speaker 1: media post about CNN and the quote, absolutely lovely town hall. 220 00:15:55,675 --> 00:15:58,435 Speaker 1: They just put on one of their biggest rating nights 221 00:15:58,435 --> 00:16:03,875 Speaker 1: in years, CNN, Let's do another one. And as a 222 00:16:03,915 --> 00:16:06,635 Speaker 1: final note on this topic, Friday's ratings will hit a 223 00:16:06,675 --> 00:16:10,755 Speaker 1: waiting world around four or five pm Eastern Monday. But 224 00:16:10,875 --> 00:16:14,195 Speaker 1: we have Thursdays already, and Anderson Cooper has now settled 225 00:16:14,195 --> 00:16:17,995 Speaker 1: into fourth place in the ratings for three straight nights, 226 00:16:18,355 --> 00:16:27,395 Speaker 1: behind Newsmax. Anderson Cooper's viewers have left the silo, and 227 00:16:27,475 --> 00:16:32,755 Speaker 1: the only possible conclusion is Cooper and CNN are tanking 228 00:16:33,035 --> 00:16:40,075 Speaker 1: and playing for the number one draft pick. Also of 229 00:16:40,155 --> 00:16:43,715 Speaker 1: note here, it's the greatest political SoundBite of all time. 230 00:16:44,435 --> 00:16:47,195 Speaker 1: And I know my political soundbites, and this one is 231 00:16:47,235 --> 00:16:52,035 Speaker 1: from Friday afternoon, and it is glittering in just how 232 00:16:52,555 --> 00:16:56,875 Speaker 1: panoramically stupid it is in so many different wonderful ways. 233 00:16:58,475 --> 00:17:01,155 Speaker 1: Another note, Remember when a million downloads for us here 234 00:17:01,195 --> 00:17:03,995 Speaker 1: on Countdown was a huge milestone for a month. We 235 00:17:04,035 --> 00:17:07,435 Speaker 1: are crossing for the month of May. Today, on the 236 00:17:07,475 --> 00:17:10,835 Speaker 1: sixteenth weekday of the month of May. Thank you. That's 237 00:17:10,875 --> 00:17:14,635 Speaker 1: my way of saying thanks. Do you remember George W. Bush? 238 00:17:15,195 --> 00:17:19,035 Speaker 1: Do you? He's made the finals of Today's Worst Persons 239 00:17:19,035 --> 00:17:23,795 Speaker 1: in the World. That's next. This is countdown. This is 240 00:17:23,875 --> 00:17:32,235 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olbooman. Postscripts to news, some headlines, some updates, 241 00:17:32,275 --> 00:17:35,795 Speaker 1: some snarks, some predictions. Dateline, Washington. This is the greatest 242 00:17:35,835 --> 00:17:41,155 Speaker 1: political SoundBite of all time, the greatest, and I have 243 00:17:41,315 --> 00:17:45,515 Speaker 1: heard them all from UN Ambassador and former presidential candidate 244 00:17:45,595 --> 00:17:50,995 Speaker 1: Adlai Stevenson intending to say circumscribed and instead saying circumcised 245 00:17:51,635 --> 00:17:56,915 Speaker 1: to everything Sarah Palin ever did on camera to herschel 246 00:17:56,955 --> 00:18:02,275 Speaker 1: Walker talking about his erection, but for pure laugh out 247 00:18:02,315 --> 00:18:05,595 Speaker 1: loud stupidity and forgetting a score of one hundred on 248 00:18:05,635 --> 00:18:08,835 Speaker 1: the Freudian slip scale, and for the third key component, 249 00:18:09,155 --> 00:18:13,635 Speaker 1: a truth leak. What Congressman George, if that is your 250 00:18:13,675 --> 00:18:17,235 Speaker 1: real name, Santos said Friday about how no matter how 251 00:18:17,275 --> 00:18:19,915 Speaker 1: he got there, he's been doing his job as congressman. 252 00:18:21,315 --> 00:18:26,075 Speaker 1: Someday this might be matched, but it will never be exceeded. 253 00:18:26,315 --> 00:18:28,675 Speaker 3: I have not not done my job since I've gotten here. 254 00:18:29,235 --> 00:18:31,195 Speaker 3: I can chew and walk gum at the same time. 255 00:18:31,315 --> 00:18:32,635 Speaker 3: I can chew gum and walk at. 256 00:18:32,595 --> 00:18:37,115 Speaker 1: The same The thing is, not only can't George Santos 257 00:18:37,195 --> 00:18:40,595 Speaker 1: walk and chew gum at the same time, and in fact, 258 00:18:40,675 --> 00:18:43,355 Speaker 1: that very SoundBite is evidence that he can't walk and 259 00:18:43,435 --> 00:18:46,555 Speaker 1: chew gum at the same time. But given his record, 260 00:18:46,835 --> 00:18:49,915 Speaker 1: we also have to assume that Representative Santos is lying 261 00:18:50,435 --> 00:18:54,995 Speaker 1: when he says he can walk gum. Dayline, Hartford, Connecticut, 262 00:18:55,075 --> 00:18:58,075 Speaker 1: Sandra Sack Glover has withdrawn as the nominee of the 263 00:18:58,075 --> 00:19:01,155 Speaker 1: Democratic Governor ned Lamont to the state Supreme Court. There. 264 00:19:01,475 --> 00:19:03,955 Speaker 1: Members of the General Assembly say they just could not 265 00:19:04,035 --> 00:19:08,195 Speaker 1: be sure she really supports the state's strong reproductive freedom 266 00:19:08,275 --> 00:19:12,435 Speaker 1: rights because of something she did in twenty seventeen. Glover 267 00:19:12,555 --> 00:19:16,115 Speaker 1: participated in the marches against Trump the day after his inauguration, 268 00:19:16,555 --> 00:19:19,515 Speaker 1: and she made all kinds of protestations about her supporting 269 00:19:19,795 --> 00:19:22,875 Speaker 1: the abortion laws of the state. But she had signed 270 00:19:22,875 --> 00:19:26,235 Speaker 1: a letter supporting the twenty seventeen nomination by Trump of 271 00:19:26,275 --> 00:19:29,475 Speaker 1: a judge to the Seventh Circuit Appeals Court, and that 272 00:19:29,555 --> 00:19:34,435 Speaker 1: judge's name was Amy Cony Barrett. Quote. Professor Barrett is 273 00:19:34,475 --> 00:19:38,115 Speaker 1: a woman of remarkable intellect and character, wrote all of 274 00:19:38,155 --> 00:19:40,915 Speaker 1: the Supreme Court clerks from the nineteen ninety eight ninety 275 00:19:40,995 --> 00:19:46,555 Speaker 1: nine court term, including Miss Glover. Spoiler alert, Justice Barrett 276 00:19:46,595 --> 00:19:49,555 Speaker 1: is neither a woman of remarkable intellect nor of character. 277 00:19:50,475 --> 00:19:53,795 Speaker 1: The term for what Miss Glover did is log rolling, 278 00:19:54,315 --> 00:19:56,635 Speaker 1: and Miss Glover just lost a spot on the Connecticut 279 00:19:56,715 --> 00:19:59,115 Speaker 1: Supreme Court because of it, and we need more of 280 00:19:59,155 --> 00:20:03,915 Speaker 1: that dateline Harrison County, Mississippi. Why does the Cony Barrett 281 00:20:03,955 --> 00:20:07,835 Speaker 1: endorsement case 's become a career ender for her entire 282 00:20:07,915 --> 00:20:11,115 Speaker 1: high school life? A trans girl at Central High School 283 00:20:11,155 --> 00:20:16,355 Speaker 1: there in Harrison LB has warned dresses and skirts and 284 00:20:16,435 --> 00:20:19,835 Speaker 1: high heels to class, and nobody gave a damn, and 285 00:20:20,275 --> 00:20:23,155 Speaker 1: she ordered the formal white dress required of girls who 286 00:20:23,155 --> 00:20:26,115 Speaker 1: were going to the graduation ceremony. And two weeks before graduation, 287 00:20:26,475 --> 00:20:29,195 Speaker 1: the principal called LB in and said she could not 288 00:20:29,275 --> 00:20:33,595 Speaker 1: attend her own high school graduation ceremony unless she dressed 289 00:20:33,595 --> 00:20:38,835 Speaker 1: as a boy, shirt, tye and jacket. The ACLU took 290 00:20:38,835 --> 00:20:41,595 Speaker 1: the school to court, and the night before the ceremony, Saturday, 291 00:20:42,155 --> 00:20:47,155 Speaker 1: a Trump appointee US District Court Judge Taylor McNeil ruled 292 00:20:47,195 --> 00:20:52,755 Speaker 1: in favor of the school. Judge McNeil bio notes, since 293 00:20:52,835 --> 00:20:56,355 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, member of the Federalist Society. And here's the point. 294 00:20:56,715 --> 00:20:59,155 Speaker 1: If you can make a trans kid dressed, not as 295 00:20:59,195 --> 00:21:02,115 Speaker 1: she has spent the last four years dressed, not as 296 00:21:02,115 --> 00:21:04,395 Speaker 1: her friends are used to her dressing, not as the 297 00:21:04,435 --> 00:21:07,035 Speaker 1: school is used to her dressing, not as she is 298 00:21:07,195 --> 00:21:10,515 Speaker 1: entitled to dress, and you can literally order her into boys' 299 00:21:10,595 --> 00:21:13,715 Speaker 1: clothes for her high school graduation, then soon you will 300 00:21:13,755 --> 00:21:17,395 Speaker 1: be able to say what names people can call themselves, 301 00:21:17,755 --> 00:21:20,475 Speaker 1: so that there aren't any androgynist names or ones that 302 00:21:20,515 --> 00:21:23,155 Speaker 1: you could keep wild transitioning. And you could say that 303 00:21:23,235 --> 00:21:25,835 Speaker 1: some names can only go to boys and some names 304 00:21:25,915 --> 00:21:28,755 Speaker 1: can only go to girls, in which case, Judge Taylor 305 00:21:28,835 --> 00:21:33,395 Speaker 1: McNeil will be a victim of the same federalist terrorist 306 00:21:33,475 --> 00:21:38,275 Speaker 1: society Trump fascism that Judge McNeil is currently dishing out. 307 00:21:38,355 --> 00:21:42,875 Speaker 1: Because Judge Taylor McNeil, could be a woman, could be 308 00:21:42,955 --> 00:21:48,795 Speaker 1: a man. I don't really care, but clearly the federalists 309 00:21:48,915 --> 00:21:56,395 Speaker 1: will and soon judge McNeil soon and Dayline. Texas Senator 310 00:21:56,395 --> 00:21:59,315 Speaker 1: Ted Cruz went on Fox yesterday and announced he's launching 311 00:21:59,355 --> 00:22:04,355 Speaker 1: an investigation into bud Light and its association with social 312 00:22:04,355 --> 00:22:10,795 Speaker 1: media influencer Dylan mulvaney now seriously using American tax dollars 313 00:22:11,275 --> 00:22:16,835 Speaker 1: and helped buy Marcia Blackburn. I mean, it is utter 314 00:22:16,915 --> 00:22:19,555 Speaker 1: nonsense and it is our money wasted. But on the 315 00:22:19,555 --> 00:22:22,195 Speaker 1: other hand, we might be able to relax about this 316 00:22:22,235 --> 00:22:25,195 Speaker 1: because neither Budweiser nor mulvaney has a damn thing to 317 00:22:25,195 --> 00:22:29,075 Speaker 1: worry about. I wouldn't trust Ted Cruz and Marsha Blackburn 318 00:22:29,155 --> 00:22:47,635 Speaker 1: to investigate a toilet overflowing. Coming up, the TV managerial 319 00:22:47,675 --> 00:22:51,115 Speaker 1: appointment so amazingly bad that within a week the network 320 00:22:51,195 --> 00:22:53,835 Speaker 1: said to the guy, Yeah, you still have the job, 321 00:22:53,835 --> 00:22:55,755 Speaker 1: but you're not in charge of anything anymore. First, the 322 00:22:55,835 --> 00:22:58,995 Speaker 1: daily roundup of the miscrants, morons and Dunning KRUEGERFEC specimens 323 00:22:59,355 --> 00:23:05,995 Speaker 1: who constitute today's worst persons in the world. Remember last 324 00:23:06,035 --> 00:23:10,395 Speaker 1: week when Marjorie Taylor, Barney rubble White supremacist. Karen Green 325 00:23:11,195 --> 00:23:14,835 Speaker 1: claimed that being called white supremacist by Congressman Jamal Bowman 326 00:23:14,955 --> 00:23:17,475 Speaker 1: was threatening to her, and it was like calling somebody 327 00:23:17,475 --> 00:23:19,835 Speaker 1: the N word, And she dog whistled that maybe one 328 00:23:19,875 --> 00:23:22,835 Speaker 1: of her fellow Trump Clan members should, you know, attack 329 00:23:22,915 --> 00:23:26,475 Speaker 1: the congressman. She put out a video of herself lifting 330 00:23:26,515 --> 00:23:30,355 Speaker 1: weights in her garage and explaining her impeachment plan, which 331 00:23:30,395 --> 00:23:32,675 Speaker 1: she has not actually introduced so there can't be a 332 00:23:32,755 --> 00:23:35,075 Speaker 1: vote on it, so she can't lose by four hundred votes. 333 00:23:35,635 --> 00:23:38,675 Speaker 1: And the folks at Patriot takes notice something unusual in 334 00:23:38,715 --> 00:23:41,835 Speaker 1: the video, something sitting on the floor next to where 335 00:23:42,355 --> 00:23:45,515 Speaker 1: she works. Off her roid rage. It was a cooler, 336 00:23:46,115 --> 00:23:50,035 Speaker 1: a cooler with a flag on it, a Confederate flag. 337 00:23:51,275 --> 00:23:54,755 Speaker 1: So March for Marjorie Taylor Green's denials of white supremacism. 338 00:23:55,595 --> 00:23:58,115 Speaker 1: The runner up the State of Texas. I mean, it 339 00:23:58,115 --> 00:23:59,755 Speaker 1: could be on here every day. We could just have 340 00:23:59,795 --> 00:24:01,995 Speaker 1: a worse person in the State of Texas feature too, 341 00:24:02,315 --> 00:24:06,035 Speaker 1: but this is special. A few weeks ago, the incumbent 342 00:24:06,115 --> 00:24:09,835 Speaker 1: State Poet Laureate of Texas gave his farewell reading. He's 343 00:24:09,915 --> 00:24:13,115 Speaker 1: LuFe Mendez, an educator from Houston who often switches back 344 00:24:13,115 --> 00:24:15,875 Speaker 1: and forth in his poetry from English to Spanish, and 345 00:24:15,915 --> 00:24:18,355 Speaker 1: one of his most popular books of poetry is called 346 00:24:18,395 --> 00:24:21,555 Speaker 1: Why I Am Like Tequila? And he was named to 347 00:24:21,595 --> 00:24:23,715 Speaker 1: the Post in twenty twenty one and will continue in 348 00:24:23,755 --> 00:24:25,955 Speaker 1: it until next month. And last week of school in 349 00:24:26,075 --> 00:24:31,035 Speaker 1: North Texas banned the book Why I Am Like Tequila. 350 00:24:32,035 --> 00:24:34,195 Speaker 1: The name of the school has not been disclosed because 351 00:24:34,235 --> 00:24:37,555 Speaker 1: the teacher at the school who told the Washington Post 352 00:24:38,115 --> 00:24:42,515 Speaker 1: was too scared to reveal even that a school in 353 00:24:42,555 --> 00:24:46,235 Speaker 1: Texas has banned a book from the state Poet Laureate 354 00:24:46,395 --> 00:24:50,755 Speaker 1: of Texas. Let's stop giving Texas any federal money while 355 00:24:50,795 --> 00:24:54,675 Speaker 1: it is using it to introduce fascism. But our winner, well, 356 00:24:55,115 --> 00:24:58,955 Speaker 1: speaking of the same region, and from the dust bin 357 00:24:59,075 --> 00:25:04,355 Speaker 1: of history, he's back the winner. President George W. Bush, 358 00:25:04,755 --> 00:25:08,155 Speaker 1: remember him right, the worst president p T. Pre Trump. 359 00:25:08,875 --> 00:25:12,355 Speaker 1: Alumni of his administration had an event at Southern Methodist 360 00:25:12,475 --> 00:25:16,155 Speaker 1: University in Dallas over the weekend. Obviously, it was attended 361 00:25:16,195 --> 00:25:18,555 Speaker 1: only by the ones who are not in hell already 362 00:25:19,315 --> 00:25:22,155 Speaker 1: always ready with the bon mow, or as he might 363 00:25:22,155 --> 00:25:25,435 Speaker 1: have called it, the bone moot. Bush joked to the crowd, 364 00:25:25,595 --> 00:25:29,235 Speaker 1: quote nine hundred people more than my margin of victory 365 00:25:29,275 --> 00:25:37,395 Speaker 1: in Florida. Oh, very droll, President Bush, very very matter 366 00:25:37,435 --> 00:25:39,515 Speaker 1: of fact. If there been one person there, that too 367 00:25:39,875 --> 00:25:42,395 Speaker 1: would have been more than your margin of quote victory 368 00:25:42,515 --> 00:25:47,995 Speaker 1: unquote in Florida, George W. Was Pooty Tune invited? Is 369 00:25:48,035 --> 00:25:54,675 Speaker 1: pooty Tune here? Bush? Two days worst person in the 370 00:25:54,755 --> 00:26:07,995 Speaker 1: world still ahead on Countdown. One of my favorite pieces 371 00:26:07,995 --> 00:26:13,355 Speaker 1: of advice, especially to younger people, is there are no adults. 372 00:26:13,795 --> 00:26:17,715 Speaker 1: You have to be your own adult. Nowhere is this 373 00:26:17,795 --> 00:26:21,515 Speaker 1: more true than in television the story of the worst 374 00:26:21,915 --> 00:26:25,955 Speaker 1: manager I have ever personally experienced. I mean, the CNN 375 00:26:26,035 --> 00:26:28,235 Speaker 1: crowd is catching up here, but this would be the 376 00:26:28,235 --> 00:26:32,715 Speaker 1: worst one I've ever worked for. Next. First, in each 377 00:26:32,875 --> 00:26:34,755 Speaker 1: edition of Countdown, we feature a dog in need you 378 00:26:34,755 --> 00:26:38,035 Speaker 1: can help. Every dog has its day. This time it's 379 00:26:38,075 --> 00:26:40,555 Speaker 1: the people who help all the dogs and the cats 380 00:26:40,675 --> 00:26:44,595 Speaker 1: in need one by one. Animal Advocates of Huntington, West 381 00:26:44,675 --> 00:26:47,635 Speaker 1: Virginia has helped and found homes for more than thirty 382 00:26:47,675 --> 00:26:50,115 Speaker 1: thousand animals in the last decade. It can happen to 383 00:26:50,155 --> 00:26:52,355 Speaker 1: any group trying to save the injured or the ailing. 384 00:26:52,755 --> 00:26:57,755 Speaker 1: OBAA is itself in need of rescue fifteen thousand dollars 385 00:26:57,755 --> 00:27:01,275 Speaker 1: in debt and new heartrending cases coming in still every day. 386 00:27:01,715 --> 00:27:04,275 Speaker 1: A fundraiser on Cudley has gotten them about half what 387 00:27:04,315 --> 00:27:07,395 Speaker 1: they need. If you can help grow that percentage, donate 388 00:27:07,435 --> 00:27:11,475 Speaker 1: at cudley dot com for one by one Animal Advocates 389 00:27:11,675 --> 00:27:14,075 Speaker 1: or look for the reminder on my Twitter feeds. I 390 00:27:14,235 --> 00:27:17,635 Speaker 1: thank you and one by one Animal Advocates Thanks you. 391 00:27:27,715 --> 00:27:31,995 Speaker 1: I was a witness to the greatest management fiasco in 392 00:27:32,075 --> 00:27:36,435 Speaker 1: television history, and it began on Monday, June twelfth, two 393 00:27:36,475 --> 00:27:40,635 Speaker 1: thousand and six. My girlfriend at the time, Katie Tururr, 394 00:27:40,755 --> 00:27:42,955 Speaker 1: was coming in from la for a week, and my 395 00:27:43,075 --> 00:27:45,835 Speaker 1: vacation had started the previous Friday at exactly nine oh 396 00:27:45,915 --> 00:27:49,515 Speaker 1: one pm. At nine oh two pm on that Friday night, 397 00:27:49,595 --> 00:27:53,115 Speaker 1: the acting chief of MSNBC, Phil Griffin, called me, insisting 398 00:27:53,475 --> 00:27:56,035 Speaker 1: that even though I was on vacation, we had to 399 00:27:56,075 --> 00:28:00,675 Speaker 1: meet for breakfast at nine thirty am Monday. I said 400 00:28:00,715 --> 00:28:03,435 Speaker 1: that made it a not vacation and he said, we 401 00:28:03,475 --> 00:28:05,955 Speaker 1: will give you two additional days off later. Something is 402 00:28:05,995 --> 00:28:11,355 Speaker 1: happening you need to know about first, I sighed. The 403 00:28:11,435 --> 00:28:14,515 Speaker 1: previous Wednesday, they had fired the president of MSNBC, the 404 00:28:14,555 --> 00:28:17,475 Speaker 1: one who had once chased me around our offices in Secaucus, 405 00:28:17,475 --> 00:28:20,195 Speaker 1: New Jersey, threatening to kill me because he was squeamish 406 00:28:20,235 --> 00:28:23,555 Speaker 1: about blood. See if that makes any logical sense to you. 407 00:28:24,075 --> 00:28:27,395 Speaker 1: He threatened to kill me because he was squeamish about blood. 408 00:28:28,435 --> 00:28:32,555 Speaker 1: Jeff Zucker, then the president of NBC, had called my 409 00:28:32,635 --> 00:28:35,955 Speaker 1: agent and asked how my relationship with the aforementioned acting 410 00:28:36,075 --> 00:28:38,595 Speaker 1: chief Phil Griffin was. It was obvious they were going 411 00:28:38,635 --> 00:28:41,395 Speaker 1: to put Griffin in charge, and as the marquee anchor 412 00:28:41,435 --> 00:28:43,355 Speaker 1: on the network, they needed me to find it out 413 00:28:43,355 --> 00:28:45,755 Speaker 1: from them rather than from a gossip site or something. 414 00:28:46,435 --> 00:28:50,355 Speaker 1: I could not begrudge them the courtesy. So on the 415 00:28:50,395 --> 00:28:53,315 Speaker 1: first weekday of my vacation, Griffin and I met for breakfast, 416 00:28:53,315 --> 00:28:56,315 Speaker 1: and as soon as coffee arrived, he said, so listen, buddy, 417 00:28:57,275 --> 00:28:59,435 Speaker 1: I'm going to be an executive in charge of MSNBC, 418 00:28:59,555 --> 00:29:01,155 Speaker 1: but I'm going to be staying here in the city 419 00:29:02,075 --> 00:29:05,235 Speaker 1: to oversee the Today Show. So MSNBC he will also 420 00:29:05,275 --> 00:29:08,155 Speaker 1: have a general manager, and the general manager will be 421 00:29:08,195 --> 00:29:11,115 Speaker 1: in charge in secaucas and the new general manager will 422 00:29:11,155 --> 00:29:14,955 Speaker 1: be Dan Abrams. Well, I paused for a second and 423 00:29:14,995 --> 00:29:19,315 Speaker 1: then burst into laughter. I mean thirty seconds of a 424 00:29:19,435 --> 00:29:23,355 Speaker 1: riotous belly laugh loud enough that other people at the 425 00:29:23,395 --> 00:29:29,235 Speaker 1: restaurant at Norma's in the Parker Meridian in New York 426 00:29:29,275 --> 00:29:31,475 Speaker 1: City turned around to look at me to find out 427 00:29:31,475 --> 00:29:35,755 Speaker 1: what was so funny. Then I composed myself. Then I 428 00:29:35,835 --> 00:29:39,475 Speaker 1: laughed again, then a third laughed, then a fourth laugh. 429 00:29:39,955 --> 00:29:42,875 Speaker 1: Oh my god, Phil, that is the best. You get 430 00:29:42,915 --> 00:29:44,635 Speaker 1: me to get up early on the first day of 431 00:29:44,675 --> 00:29:48,875 Speaker 1: my vacation and you hit me with that, Dan Abrams 432 00:29:49,155 --> 00:29:52,955 Speaker 1: running something we've known each other, what Phil twenty five 433 00:29:53,035 --> 00:29:56,155 Speaker 1: years next month? That is the best joke you have 434 00:29:56,315 --> 00:29:59,355 Speaker 1: ever told me, Dan Abrams and I laughed again for 435 00:29:59,355 --> 00:30:01,635 Speaker 1: another thirty seconds, and one of my friends, who was 436 00:30:01,635 --> 00:30:06,035 Speaker 1: a waiter there, came over and said, everything okay. Because 437 00:30:06,035 --> 00:30:08,955 Speaker 1: Phil could never interrupt anybody who was praising him, he 438 00:30:09,075 --> 00:30:11,875 Speaker 1: smiled back at me, and when I finally stopped laughing, 439 00:30:11,915 --> 00:30:15,355 Speaker 1: he said, well, thanks, I guess, but I'm serious. We've 440 00:30:15,355 --> 00:30:17,435 Speaker 1: been talking to Dan for several months about this, and 441 00:30:17,475 --> 00:30:22,035 Speaker 1: he just has the kind of analytical mind that it 442 00:30:22,115 --> 00:30:24,755 Speaker 1: had taken me more than a minute to realize Griffin 443 00:30:24,835 --> 00:30:27,435 Speaker 1: was serious. That he and the president of NBC News 444 00:30:27,435 --> 00:30:30,875 Speaker 1: Steve Cappus, and that president of NBC Jeff Zucker had 445 00:30:30,915 --> 00:30:34,515 Speaker 1: actually decided to take the host of our nine PM show, 446 00:30:34,995 --> 00:30:39,915 Speaker 1: which had been devoted for years to excruciating, lowest common 447 00:30:39,955 --> 00:30:45,155 Speaker 1: denominator tabloid crap coverage of the missing white woman of 448 00:30:45,235 --> 00:30:47,795 Speaker 1: the week, to take a man who had the respect 449 00:30:48,115 --> 00:30:53,195 Speaker 1: of absolutely no one on air or off at MSNBC, 450 00:30:53,995 --> 00:30:56,275 Speaker 1: A man who made me, in that regard, look like 451 00:30:56,315 --> 00:30:59,275 Speaker 1: Saint Francis of a Cci, A man who had only 452 00:30:59,315 --> 00:31:01,915 Speaker 1: been in television for twelve years, a man who had 453 00:31:01,915 --> 00:31:05,755 Speaker 1: never run anything in his life, A man within describably 454 00:31:05,995 --> 00:31:09,715 Speaker 1: bad hair that none of us could identify. Was it 455 00:31:09,715 --> 00:31:12,475 Speaker 1: a two pay? Was it a weave? Was he hit 456 00:31:12,515 --> 00:31:16,035 Speaker 1: by lightning? And that was the most sincere thing about him? 457 00:31:16,075 --> 00:31:19,555 Speaker 1: His hair? They had actually decided to appoint this gossip 458 00:31:19,715 --> 00:31:23,795 Speaker 1: monger with no experience, to run a network that was 459 00:31:24,115 --> 00:31:28,715 Speaker 1: just now finally establishing itself as a factor in American 460 00:31:28,835 --> 00:31:33,915 Speaker 1: political media. Christ Phil, what are you thinking? I said 461 00:31:33,955 --> 00:31:37,635 Speaker 1: to him, He's a buffoon. I'd rather work for Joe Scarborough. 462 00:31:38,195 --> 00:31:42,635 Speaker 1: He's condescending, he insults his producers, he insults our producers. 463 00:31:42,835 --> 00:31:46,595 Speaker 1: He leaks constantly to the reporters and the gossip blogs. 464 00:31:46,915 --> 00:31:49,795 Speaker 1: Half of his exclusive sources turned out to be wrong, 465 00:31:51,035 --> 00:31:53,075 Speaker 1: and I might be the best friend he has there. 466 00:31:54,435 --> 00:31:58,355 Speaker 1: Phil Griffin chugged his coffee. Well, I'm sorry about that. 467 00:31:58,435 --> 00:32:01,355 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean it's not gonna make any practical 468 00:32:01,355 --> 00:32:04,035 Speaker 1: difference for you. You would countdown, will report directly to me. 469 00:32:04,155 --> 00:32:06,875 Speaker 1: Dan is a good have any responsibilities unning the primetime shows. 470 00:32:07,235 --> 00:32:09,275 Speaker 1: He's only going to be hands on with the daytime shows. 471 00:32:09,275 --> 00:32:11,275 Speaker 1: But he'll be the general manager of the network. And 472 00:32:11,275 --> 00:32:14,635 Speaker 1: we think he has a lot of exciting ideas. And 473 00:32:14,675 --> 00:32:18,555 Speaker 1: I said exciting ideas about what exciting ideas about Sean 474 00:32:18,635 --> 00:32:23,955 Speaker 1: Beney Ramsey. Phil, we have just stopped being the running joke, 475 00:32:24,515 --> 00:32:28,035 Speaker 1: the bottomless punchline of cable news. And once this gets out, 476 00:32:28,795 --> 00:32:32,875 Speaker 1: we will be less respected than we were a year ago. 477 00:32:33,115 --> 00:32:36,515 Speaker 1: I paused, and the news bounced off the walls of 478 00:32:36,555 --> 00:32:42,035 Speaker 1: the restaurant and hit me afresh again. Dan Abrams, general 479 00:32:42,595 --> 00:32:49,475 Speaker 1: manager of MSNBC. He will get you fired, Phil, I 480 00:32:49,515 --> 00:32:51,195 Speaker 1: don't know if he will get you fired because he's 481 00:32:51,235 --> 00:32:53,435 Speaker 1: trying to get you fired, or he'll get you fired 482 00:32:53,475 --> 00:32:55,995 Speaker 1: because he'll be so bad at this that everybody will quit. 483 00:32:56,275 --> 00:33:00,035 Speaker 1: But you've just committed professional suicide. You and Cappus and Zooker, 484 00:33:00,315 --> 00:33:05,635 Speaker 1: dead Men Walking. Phil Griffin was now read. I had 485 00:33:05,635 --> 00:33:08,395 Speaker 1: only previously seen him read when he was very, very 486 00:33:08,475 --> 00:33:11,435 Speaker 1: drunk and we were in our twenties. I was hoping 487 00:33:11,475 --> 00:33:13,315 Speaker 1: you'd give him a chance, and I said some very 488 00:33:13,315 --> 00:33:16,515 Speaker 1: pleasant things about giving him a chance to destroy what 489 00:33:16,555 --> 00:33:18,595 Speaker 1: we had been building up for the last year. And 490 00:33:18,635 --> 00:33:20,795 Speaker 1: did Phil remember that my contract was up in six 491 00:33:20,835 --> 00:33:23,955 Speaker 1: months and CNN was already publicly courting me to go there. 492 00:33:24,555 --> 00:33:27,315 Speaker 1: I said, I'm gone. You might as well release me 493 00:33:27,355 --> 00:33:32,035 Speaker 1: from the contract right now. I'm out. And then something 494 00:33:32,035 --> 00:33:33,955 Speaker 1: else popped into my mind. Oh, and listen, did you 495 00:33:33,995 --> 00:33:36,235 Speaker 1: think there might be a problem because he and I 496 00:33:36,355 --> 00:33:38,555 Speaker 1: dated the same woman nine years ago, and he told 497 00:33:38,595 --> 00:33:40,635 Speaker 1: her she'd be making a mistake to get involved with me. 498 00:33:42,035 --> 00:33:49,115 Speaker 1: Phil's eyes widened. He had forgotten, Like I said, he'll 499 00:33:49,115 --> 00:33:52,275 Speaker 1: have nothing to do with Countdown. An hour later, my 500 00:33:52,395 --> 00:33:54,955 Speaker 1: home phone rang and it was Dan Abrams. I just 501 00:33:54,995 --> 00:33:57,035 Speaker 1: wanted to say how much I'm looking forward to working 502 00:33:57,075 --> 00:34:00,555 Speaker 1: with you on Countdown. As time goes by, Phil will 503 00:34:00,555 --> 00:34:02,595 Speaker 1: be more and more overwhelmed at the Today Show, and 504 00:34:02,835 --> 00:34:04,995 Speaker 1: I'll be making the day to day decisions. I'll be 505 00:34:05,075 --> 00:34:09,595 Speaker 1: your guy. After a few minutes, of this, which I 506 00:34:09,835 --> 00:34:12,395 Speaker 1: swear I could hear his phone scratching against his two 507 00:34:12,435 --> 00:34:15,075 Speaker 1: pay and during which I said nothing but uh uh. 508 00:34:16,235 --> 00:34:19,235 Speaker 1: My home phone rang again and it was the NBC president, 509 00:34:19,275 --> 00:34:23,035 Speaker 1: Jeff Zucker. So you guys report to Dan, and if 510 00:34:23,035 --> 00:34:24,515 Speaker 1: you need to go further, you can go to Phil. 511 00:34:24,595 --> 00:34:26,475 Speaker 1: And I said, Phil had just told me Abrams would 512 00:34:26,515 --> 00:34:28,755 Speaker 1: have nothing to do with countdown, and I intended to 513 00:34:28,795 --> 00:34:32,115 Speaker 1: make sure that was true. Zucker, showing the loyalty and 514 00:34:32,155 --> 00:34:35,315 Speaker 1: consistency that was so publicly displayed in the original Chris 515 00:34:35,355 --> 00:34:40,075 Speaker 1: Cuomo CNN fiasco, immediately said, well, if this doesn't work, 516 00:34:40,555 --> 00:34:43,715 Speaker 1: f Dan Abrams, hell, F Phil Griffin, you come to me. 517 00:34:45,475 --> 00:34:47,355 Speaker 1: The first thing I had done when I had gotten 518 00:34:47,395 --> 00:34:50,755 Speaker 1: home was to call my executive producer, Izzy Povich. She 519 00:34:50,875 --> 00:34:53,235 Speaker 1: had been as fascinated as I had been as to 520 00:34:53,275 --> 00:34:56,355 Speaker 1: why I had to have a business breakfast on day 521 00:34:56,395 --> 00:35:00,635 Speaker 1: one of a vacation. Well, I sighed, you'll never believe 522 00:35:00,835 --> 00:35:05,675 Speaker 1: who the new general manager of MSNBC is. She guessed 523 00:35:05,675 --> 00:35:08,755 Speaker 1: Phil Griffin than me, and then the manager of the 524 00:35:08,795 --> 00:35:12,275 Speaker 1: New York Yankees, Joe Torrey. I said, all would have 525 00:35:12,315 --> 00:35:17,715 Speaker 1: been better choices. I said, it's Dan Abrams. She laughed 526 00:35:17,875 --> 00:35:20,795 Speaker 1: so hard I had to pull the phone away from 527 00:35:20,795 --> 00:35:25,555 Speaker 1: my ear. After she finally calmed down, Isy said, you 528 00:35:25,635 --> 00:35:28,275 Speaker 1: had me going, Oh my god, what a disaster that 529 00:35:28,315 --> 00:35:32,075 Speaker 1: would be. I'm sorry I fell into the bit. Yeah, 530 00:35:32,235 --> 00:35:35,675 Speaker 1: just kidding, she laughed again. No, actually, I'm not kidding. 531 00:35:35,795 --> 00:35:39,075 Speaker 1: She laughed again and said come on, and so I said, yeah, yeah, 532 00:35:39,115 --> 00:35:42,075 Speaker 1: I'm kidding. She laughed again. No actually I'm not kidding. 533 00:35:42,115 --> 00:35:44,635 Speaker 1: Dan Abrams is the new general manager, she laughed again. 534 00:35:45,635 --> 00:35:47,715 Speaker 1: We must have done this for two or three minutes. 535 00:35:48,635 --> 00:35:51,115 Speaker 1: It was an old Eddie Izzard bit. I stole it 536 00:35:51,115 --> 00:35:56,115 Speaker 1: from him about the death of Engelbert Humperdink. I finally 537 00:35:56,155 --> 00:36:00,075 Speaker 1: stopped when she said, wait, I saw Dan Abrams getting 538 00:36:00,075 --> 00:36:03,155 Speaker 1: out of his car in the President's parking space this morning. 539 00:36:03,195 --> 00:36:07,515 Speaker 1: You're you're You're not quit kidding. Oh my god. I 540 00:36:07,555 --> 00:36:12,195 Speaker 1: have to call my husband and tell him I'm quitting. Well, 541 00:36:12,235 --> 00:36:14,475 Speaker 1: it all worked out about as well as I had predicted. 542 00:36:14,715 --> 00:36:17,315 Speaker 1: At his first meeting with the producers, dan Abrams revealed 543 00:36:17,355 --> 00:36:20,155 Speaker 1: his first exciting idea. He had apparently been given enough 544 00:36:20,275 --> 00:36:22,675 Speaker 1: lead time about his appointment to have made up giant 545 00:36:22,715 --> 00:36:26,675 Speaker 1: banners containing the new MSNBC network slogan, which he had 546 00:36:26,715 --> 00:36:30,475 Speaker 1: dreamed up. The banners he told the producers were going 547 00:36:30,515 --> 00:36:33,075 Speaker 1: to be hung around the studios, and in fact, we're 548 00:36:33,115 --> 00:36:36,155 Speaker 1: being hung around the studios. As they spoke, and behind 549 00:36:36,235 --> 00:36:38,555 Speaker 1: him there was one covered in a drape cloth and 550 00:36:38,595 --> 00:36:41,315 Speaker 1: he pulled the string. The cloth fell off, revealing his 551 00:36:41,355 --> 00:36:48,315 Speaker 1: first exciting idea, the new network slogan MSNBC keeping it real, 552 00:36:49,795 --> 00:36:57,875 Speaker 1: keeping k EEIPI n apostrophe, no g keeping. That was 553 00:36:57,955 --> 00:37:01,675 Speaker 1: the highlight of his tenure as the general manager. The 554 00:37:01,795 --> 00:37:05,595 Speaker 1: blowback against his appointment was so universal, well nobody trying 555 00:37:05,715 --> 00:37:09,515 Speaker 1: to hide it. Abram's first move was to cancel a 556 00:37:09,555 --> 00:37:13,155 Speaker 1: show hosted by an Xbox News walking maliprop artist named 557 00:37:13,235 --> 00:37:18,155 Speaker 1: Rita Cosby. She almost took hostages. Abrams delayed the meeting 558 00:37:18,275 --> 00:37:22,835 Speaker 1: to tell her staff from noon until six pm. Abrams 559 00:37:22,875 --> 00:37:25,995 Speaker 1: then gave an interview about his vision for MSNBC and 560 00:37:26,115 --> 00:37:30,555 Speaker 1: told the reporter quote, documentaries are our most important programs, 561 00:37:31,355 --> 00:37:35,835 Speaker 1: and the staffs of the uncanceled primetime shows mine included 562 00:37:35,875 --> 00:37:38,555 Speaker 1: nearly walked out because in fact we were our most 563 00:37:38,595 --> 00:37:43,555 Speaker 1: important programs. While Griffin prevented that mass resignation by swearing 564 00:37:43,595 --> 00:37:47,515 Speaker 1: Abrams had been misquoted. Abrams then launched a series of 565 00:37:47,635 --> 00:37:53,115 Speaker 1: radio commercials for MSNBC documentaries. Abrams tried to get a 566 00:37:53,115 --> 00:37:55,835 Speaker 1: producer named Bill Wolf, who had been told he was 567 00:37:55,875 --> 00:37:58,195 Speaker 1: going to be the new general manager, to instead host 568 00:37:58,275 --> 00:38:01,435 Speaker 1: his own show. He told me he had figured out 569 00:38:01,475 --> 00:38:03,915 Speaker 1: the perfect guest host for Countdown and was already in 570 00:38:03,995 --> 00:38:08,675 Speaker 1: negotiations with him. Dan Rather, my girlfriend Katie's father, then 571 00:38:08,755 --> 00:38:11,235 Speaker 1: chimed in with a new nickname for Abrams that spread 572 00:38:11,275 --> 00:38:16,195 Speaker 1: across the television industry, Miles Miles, as in Miles the 573 00:38:16,235 --> 00:38:21,355 Speaker 1: boy producer from the sitcom Murphy Brown. I even felt 574 00:38:21,395 --> 00:38:24,675 Speaker 1: sorry for him, it was that bad, and of course 575 00:38:24,715 --> 00:38:27,275 Speaker 1: I was promptly repaid for this mistake. A week after 576 00:38:27,315 --> 00:38:30,875 Speaker 1: Abrams was hired, the cable news blogger named Brian Stelter, 577 00:38:31,475 --> 00:38:33,635 Speaker 1: who inexplicably wound up first at The New York Times 578 00:38:33,675 --> 00:38:35,435 Speaker 1: and then at CNN, and you heard about him getting 579 00:38:35,435 --> 00:38:38,395 Speaker 1: fired over the summer. Brian Stelter called to say he 580 00:38:38,395 --> 00:38:41,235 Speaker 1: had been told by a source at NBC that I 581 00:38:41,275 --> 00:38:44,595 Speaker 1: had just been fired at a meeting an hour before 582 00:38:44,715 --> 00:38:49,395 Speaker 1: by Abrams and an NBC executive named Randy Falco. In fact, 583 00:38:49,435 --> 00:38:52,875 Speaker 1: Abrams was at a meeting with Zucker and the NBC 584 00:38:52,995 --> 00:38:56,155 Speaker 1: News president Cappus, as they desperately tried to steer out 585 00:38:56,155 --> 00:38:59,555 Speaker 1: of the fatal skid they had all swerved into. Phil 586 00:38:59,595 --> 00:39:03,675 Speaker 1: Griffin was furious. Griffin told me he suspected Abrams had 587 00:39:03,675 --> 00:39:06,195 Speaker 1: been somehow connected to this leak about this fake story 588 00:39:06,195 --> 00:39:09,475 Speaker 1: about me getting fired, and he began an investigation of 589 00:39:09,555 --> 00:39:14,955 Speaker 1: him and never trusted him again one week appointed Monday, 590 00:39:15,395 --> 00:39:23,515 Speaker 1: and a lame duck the following Monday, keeping it real keeping. 591 00:39:25,715 --> 00:39:29,235 Speaker 1: On August ninth, three days shy of the two months mark, 592 00:39:29,235 --> 00:39:31,075 Speaker 1: Phil Griffin called my office an hour and a half 593 00:39:31,155 --> 00:39:33,395 Speaker 1: before my show. Okay, you want to say I told 594 00:39:33,395 --> 00:39:35,555 Speaker 1: you so. We've made it clear to Dan that he 595 00:39:35,555 --> 00:39:38,315 Speaker 1: won't be involved in any major decisions going forward. He 596 00:39:38,395 --> 00:39:41,715 Speaker 1: will remain general manager, but I'm running everything. In a 597 00:39:41,835 --> 00:39:44,155 Speaker 1: year or so, buddy, we'll say he found out he 598 00:39:44,675 --> 00:39:47,155 Speaker 1: just had to go back on the air, and he'll 599 00:39:47,155 --> 00:39:49,635 Speaker 1: resign and will give him the nine PM show. Probably, 600 00:39:50,235 --> 00:39:55,115 Speaker 1: you have to keep this confidential. I did. I'm surprisingly 601 00:39:55,115 --> 00:39:57,875 Speaker 1: good at that, at least till I started this podcast. 602 00:39:58,075 --> 00:40:01,915 Speaker 1: Fourteen months later, they offed him, by which time I 603 00:40:01,955 --> 00:40:03,915 Speaker 1: had already started to lobby them to make the nine 604 00:40:03,915 --> 00:40:07,395 Speaker 1: PM host, not Abrams, but Rachel Maddow. They finally gave 605 00:40:07,395 --> 00:40:10,195 Speaker 1: into that in September two thousand and eight, and Dan 606 00:40:10,275 --> 00:40:12,355 Speaker 1: did not have a show or a title, and he 607 00:40:12,395 --> 00:40:15,835 Speaker 1: finally got the message and he left NBC in twenty eleven. 608 00:40:16,835 --> 00:40:19,515 Speaker 1: The last I had heard of Dan Abrams before the 609 00:40:19,555 --> 00:40:23,435 Speaker 1: News Nation retirement home. He had launched a new website. 610 00:40:23,835 --> 00:40:31,315 Speaker 1: It's called Whiskey Raiders because it rates various brands of whiskey. 611 00:40:32,715 --> 00:40:39,035 Speaker 1: You get it, Raiders, ray Ters, you get it. It's 612 00:40:39,035 --> 00:40:44,195 Speaker 1: a pun. Presumably he chose that pun because somebody else 613 00:40:44,595 --> 00:41:00,835 Speaker 1: had already taken keeping it real, I've done all the 614 00:41:00,915 --> 00:41:03,155 Speaker 1: damage I can do. Here. Here are the credits. Most 615 00:41:03,155 --> 00:41:05,915 Speaker 1: of the music arrange produced and performed by Brian Ray 616 00:41:05,915 --> 00:41:08,635 Speaker 1: and John Phillip Shaneil, who are on the Countdown Musical Directors. 617 00:41:09,075 --> 00:41:12,675 Speaker 1: All orchestration and keyboards by John Phillip Shanelle, Guitars, bass 618 00:41:12,675 --> 00:41:16,875 Speaker 1: and drums by Brian Ray, produced by Tko Brothers. Other 619 00:41:16,915 --> 00:41:20,355 Speaker 1: Beethoven selections have been arranged and performed by No Horns Allowed. 620 00:41:20,875 --> 00:41:23,555 Speaker 1: The sports music is the Olberman theme from ESPN two, 621 00:41:23,595 --> 00:41:25,995 Speaker 1: and it was written by Mitch Warren Davis. Courtesy of 622 00:41:26,235 --> 00:41:29,835 Speaker 1: ESPN inc musical comments from Nancy Fauss. The best baseball 623 00:41:29,875 --> 00:41:32,995 Speaker 1: stadium organist ever. Our announcer was John Banks from Breaking 624 00:41:33,035 --> 00:41:35,755 Speaker 1: Bad and everything else is pretty much my fault. So 625 00:41:35,835 --> 00:41:38,155 Speaker 1: that's countdown for this the eight hundred and sixty seventh 626 00:41:38,195 --> 00:41:41,715 Speaker 1: day since Donald Trump's first attempted coup against the democratically 627 00:41:41,755 --> 00:41:45,115 Speaker 1: elected government of the United States. Do not forget. Keep 628 00:41:45,355 --> 00:41:49,635 Speaker 1: arresting him while we still can. The next scheduled countdown 629 00:41:49,675 --> 00:41:52,835 Speaker 1: is tomorrow. Until then, I'm Keith Olderman. Good morning, good afternoon, goodnight, 630 00:41:53,115 --> 00:41:53,795 Speaker 1: and good luck. 631 00:41:55,995 --> 00:41:58,355 Speaker 3: I have not not done my job since I've gotten here. 632 00:41:58,915 --> 00:42:00,915 Speaker 3: I can chew and walk on at the same time. 633 00:42:01,195 --> 00:42:05,155 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. For 634 00:42:05,355 --> 00:42:10,395 Speaker 1: more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 635 00:42:10,515 --> 00:42:12,475 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.