1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: Welcome back to a Numbers Game Podcast, Ryan Kurdoski, Happy 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: Memorial Day. I hope you are all having a wonderful 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: Memorial Day, whatever you're doing, having a barbecue or going 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: to the racetrack like my family always did, being degenerates. 5 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: I'm just joking. We didn't. We weren't that degenerate anyway. 6 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: I hope you guys have a great Memorial Day. Thank 7 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: you for listening on this holiday. I am exhausted because 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:25,119 Speaker 1: I spent up. I was up two nights in a 9 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 1: row at three o'clock in the morning each night reading 10 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: Original Sin President Biden's Decline, It's cover up and his 11 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: disastrous choice to run again by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. 12 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: It's a good book, really good pick. I mean, it 13 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: kept me up because it was it wasn't bad. It 14 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: was actually a patren or. It was quick and there 15 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: were things that I learned there. And I want to 16 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: talk about the book in this episode special Memorial the 17 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: episode maybe you're looking for summer reading. I actually do 18 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: recommend this spoke to people. I do. I know there's 19 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: a lot of anger by conservatives around, especially Jake Tapper. 20 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: And the scene ends coverage over Joe Biden. I understand, 21 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: and very few people have been as wronged by CNN 22 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: as I have, and I can still get past it. 23 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: So you can get past it read this book. Certain 24 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: things that I think were super interesting in this book 25 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,759 Speaker 1: that I just I'm kind of blown away from one 26 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: one of the people involved in Joe Biden's like to 27 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 1: make Joe Biden look better and was with Joe Biden 28 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: frequently to do all of his videos with Steven Spielberg. 29 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: I never knew that. I did not hear. Maybe it 30 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: was reported, I don't know, but Steven Spielberg et director Jaws, 31 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 1: you know, Stephen Freakin Spielberg was involved in trying to 32 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,320 Speaker 1: make Joe Biden look better because he couldn't record videos. 33 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 1: I found that absolutely fascinating. I also found it fascinating 34 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: which Democratic politicians would go on record to talk about it. 35 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: Governor Massachusetts would go sat there and went on record. 36 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: A senator from Colorado sat there, went on record and said, 37 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: I knew Joe Biden wasn't well. I think, in my 38 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: personal opinion, they're underplaying how concerned they actually were. Also 39 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: super interesting and fascinating part of the book, the Colorado senator. 40 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: I forget which one it was now because I didn't 41 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: make a big note about it. But the Colorado Senator 42 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: sat there and said, who keeps pushing Joe Biden to 43 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: the left? And it seemed like he was well aware 44 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: that where Biden Biden was doing as president wasn't always 45 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: in the Joe Biden lexicona what he did policy wise, 46 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: and a lot of the blame is put on Ron Klein. 47 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: Ron Klain's main purpose was to do as much as 48 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: what the progressive caucus in Congress wanted as possible. It 49 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 1: was always to lean to the far left, which I 50 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: think was fascinating because conservatives what always say, I understand 51 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: Biden said he was a moderate for so many years. 52 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 1: Obvious there was this leaning evolution of Biden to the left, 53 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,959 Speaker 1: but it was hard left on things like immigration, to 54 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 1: the left of Obama on immigration. Who was responsible for that? 55 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: Just my orkis is there something in the White House? 56 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: It turns out it was Ron and Klean. Super fascinating. Also, 57 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,799 Speaker 1: super interesting part of the book was I'm saying the 58 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: word super too much, so I'm going to stop that. 59 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: But really interesting part of the book was when Biden 60 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:21,119 Speaker 1: said in the debate, we defeated medicaire the famous line, right. 61 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: Dana Bash looked over at Jake Tapper, passed him a 62 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: note and said, he just lost this election. Which is 63 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: great because I've never actually heard what the people in 64 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: the debate moderators are saying to each other while it's 65 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: going on, and they are communicating, So that was really fascinating. 66 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: The other thing that I wanted, I thought was highlighted, 67 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: was when they brought all the Democratic centers together. This 68 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: is post debate when Biden is down seven points nationally 69 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: and he's going to lose not only in the swing states, 70 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: but also in Maine, in Minnesota, in New Mexico, and 71 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: the governors of these states are saying, you're going to 72 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: lose New Mexico, You're going to lose Maine, all the 73 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 1: rest of it. John Fetterman gets up and starts screaming 74 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: at his fellow Democratic senators and saying, how dare you, 75 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 1: how dare you betray a great president? How dare you 76 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: do this to him? And it was and John Fetterman 77 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,919 Speaker 1: was one of only five Democrats in the room, along 78 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 1: with Tammy Duckworth and like one or two other ones 79 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: who sat there and John Fedneron was the most vocal 80 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: supporter post debate, which was fascinating because Fetterman, I guess 81 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 1: because he suffered a seizure, but was willing to overlook 82 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 1: everything after we knew everything. Fetterman was completely complicit, and 83 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 1: I don't care that he cannot operate as a person. 84 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: We need to support him. Loved that. Loved that. Only governor, 85 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: by the way, to sit there democratic governor post debate 86 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: to say you need to drop out right now, ned 87 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 1: La Mom from Connecticut, super moderate governor. Stop saying super 88 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,919 Speaker 1: moderate governor of Connecticut. Thought that was really really interesting. 89 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: And the relationship between Kamala and Joe is so deep 90 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: because Joe never wanted Kamala Harris, and Kamala Harris her 91 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 1: loyalty to Biden it had a ceiling. She was loyal 92 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,839 Speaker 1: to a point, but she wouldn't put herself out there 93 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 1: if it meant hurting her. So much so that at 94 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 1: the debate, at a debate watch party, one of the 95 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 1: Democratic donors looked at Doug and Hooff, Kamala's husband, and 96 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: started screaming at him, you destroyed democracy, You destroyed democracy tonight. 97 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 1: I was stunned. The book has a lot. The authors 98 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: are getting scrutinized a lot, as they should. In some cases, 99 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 1: there's a lot of questions the authors should answer. Luckily 100 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 1: for us, one of the two authors, Alex Thompson, a 101 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: very very good reporter who reported on Biden's health and 102 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: well being long before the mainstream media did, is with 103 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 1: me today. So coming up next is author of the 104 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: book Original Sin, Alex Thompson. I am one of only 105 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 1: two conservatives that have gotten to interview one of the 106 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: authors besides Megan Kelly. So stay tuned. You're not going 107 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: to want to miss what I ask him. Alex Thompson 108 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 1: is the national political correspondent for Axios and the co 109 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: author of the book Original Sin, President Biden's decline, It's 110 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 1: cover up, and his disastrous choice to run for president again. 111 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: Right here, Alex, you ruin my sleep. I was up 112 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: for two nights till three o'clock in the morning reading 113 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 1: this book, getting everything down, getting notes and questions. It 114 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: is a page turner. It is genuinely a very very 115 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: well written, compelling, even sympathetic book. At times, it really 116 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 1: was very good. Thank you so, and I know that 117 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,479 Speaker 1: conservative media is definitely having its moment with you guys, 118 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: But I don't want to ask. I don't want to. 119 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: I want since it's not to makeing Kelly interview. She's fine, 120 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: but not an interview. So my first question about like 121 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: the book, because I want to get to the bones 122 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: of the book, is when you, as someone who's written 123 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: a book before, when you write a book, when you 124 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: reach out to the publisher, you the publisher asked, who 125 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,520 Speaker 1: is the audience? Who was the audience in mind when 126 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: you were writing this book, because a lot of times 127 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: it seems like it's for a democratic audience. 128 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 2: M h. Is that you mean that this You mean 129 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 2: this book? You think it's very democratic your book? 130 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 3: Yeah. No, I actually think our intention, and I don't 131 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 3: know if we achieved it, was that it actually would 132 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 3: be both the right and the left. We thought that basically, 133 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 3: we pitched that liberals are going to be sort of 134 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 3: disoriented and want to know how what what happened? And 135 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 3: our hope was that conservatives, even though a lot of 136 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 3: conservatives obviously feel deep frustration because they feel they had 137 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 3: been saying that, hey, he was in decline for a 138 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 3: long time and felt that that was not being covered 139 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 3: aggressively by much of the mainstream media. We thought that 140 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 3: still conservatives would be interested in the behind the scenes. 141 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: The Highncy stories are wild. I touched upon them. When 142 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: the donor's yelling at Doug m Hoff saying you ruined democracy, 143 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: I was like, whoa and John. 144 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:12,520 Speaker 2: That was director Rob Regner. 145 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 3: So, you know, we were hoping that even the Republicans, 146 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: I think, feel a little dis ilusions and also feel like, uh, 147 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 3: you know, I think that the behind the scenes details 148 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 3: of how the Democratic Party covered up for Biden for 149 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 3: so long. We thought that and we said this, I mean, 150 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 3: this was literally our pitch to the publisher that this 151 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,800 Speaker 3: is not a right leaning book or a left leaning book, 152 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 3: Like the audience is not necessarily left lean or right. 153 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:45,040 Speaker 3: We think there's good arguments to both sides to be interested. 154 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 1: I think that maybe because all the sources were mostly 155 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: all Democrats, I think that maybe that's why there's a 156 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: left leaning comp Like what Manners was speaking, I noticed that, 157 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: but I just wanted to know your opinion on that. 158 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: So there is Joe Biden, Donald Trump have something very 159 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: much comment, which is their internal ethos, is that they 160 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: believe that they are outsiders. They believe that the media, 161 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: the leads the establishment hate them, and that everything that 162 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,520 Speaker 1: they have accomplished is in defiance of those forces. Can 163 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,360 Speaker 1: you describe the ethos, because Biden almost is like a 164 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: Kennedy esque mentality where he created his own legend, like 165 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 1: Jackie created the legend of Camelot and then all the 166 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 1: living Kennedy's just assumed it. Biden created a legend of 167 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: himself and then everyone just assumed it. Could you describe that? 168 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: In the book? 169 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, we even call it became a Biden theology, and 170 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 3: I'd say the first commandment of that theology is that 171 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 3: Biden always gets back up. Biden is always counted out, 172 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 3: and he always comes back and proves his critics wrong. 173 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 3: I'd say, there, you know, there's also parts of the theology, 174 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 3: and the same way there are with you know, with 175 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 3: Camelot and with whatever you know, I don't know if 176 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 3: you want to call it mag a court or something, 177 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:57,079 Speaker 3: but with Trump that there are there are parts of 178 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 3: the theology that you know, if you take a set back, 179 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 3: certainly ring faults and you know, and you know, for 180 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 3: for instance, one person very close to the family, they 181 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 3: they basically said, you know, parts of the like parts 182 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 3: of the tenants of the Biden theology are like, you 183 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 3: know that hunters, you know that that Hunter's sobriety is stable, 184 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 3: that Joe cares more about his family than his ambition. 185 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 2: That Jill is like a very warm and nice person, and. 186 00:10:31,240 --> 00:10:35,079 Speaker 3: Uh and and they repeat these things as if they 187 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,360 Speaker 3: are just obvious facts. 188 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:41,360 Speaker 1: And don't call people fat, which Joe did at the 189 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: campaign Hampshire, which was so fascinating. 190 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 3: But but the Biden press team insisted to us that 191 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 3: he didn't. 192 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: So I think it's on camera. 193 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 2: I have to fact check you there. Uh. 194 00:10:57,559 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 3: I think I don't remember what their spin was. I 195 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 3: think they they were like, I can't remember what word 196 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:06,199 Speaker 3: they said he said, but it was obvious, like a. 197 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 3: But yes, the rule, the other Biden rule of don't 198 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 3: call fat people fat, which you know in some ways 199 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 3: is being polite, but the other, the dark side of 200 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 3: that saying is ignore inconvenient truths. 201 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: So the evolution of Jill Biden in your book is 202 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: fascinating because you say in the beginning of the book 203 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 1: that Jill did not like being a politician's wife, or 204 00:11:29,320 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: she wasn't a natural, She wasn't she didn't because she worked. 205 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: I did not know that she was a professor or 206 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,959 Speaker 1: even while she was second Lady, and she all of 207 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: a sudden goes from being kind of in the background 208 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: and begrudgingly in the background to being a quasi chief 209 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: of staff and having her own team run the large 210 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: segments of the White House. That was why did she change? 211 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 2: Great question, I think. 212 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:58,840 Speaker 3: Some people, and I guess there's no one clean answer, 213 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 3: according to people that i've that have talked to her, 214 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 3: or that worked for or our sources within the White House. 215 00:12:04,559 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 2: And to your point, you know, she she taught college 216 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 2: even through the presidency. She's still taught at a community college. 217 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 3: And I think what people around her say is that 218 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,680 Speaker 3: something seemed to change over the course of the vice 219 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 3: presidency and then certainly in the intervening years post the 220 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 3: vice presidency, And some people felt that she fell in 221 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 3: love with the life and you know, the Vogue covers 222 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 3: and sort of you know, the elevated style and elegance. 223 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 3: And I also think that she definitely deeply loves Joe. 224 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 3: And I think I remember I remember someone said to 225 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 3: me that, you know, Joe Biden is nothing if not 226 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:52,079 Speaker 3: for this, and saw him sort of in the wilderness 227 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 3: in those years seventeen eighteen and saw that this gave 228 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,199 Speaker 3: him purpose and that you know, it was. 229 00:12:58,200 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 2: Everything he ever wanted. 230 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 3: I think I think both the combination of falling in 231 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:06,559 Speaker 3: love with life but also this, you know, it's sort 232 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 3: of like the dark side of loyalty and love, right, 233 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 3: is that it can't you know, you can end up 234 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:16,439 Speaker 3: justifying more and more and so And to your point, 235 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,560 Speaker 3: the early signs that she is going to be a 236 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 3: very as someone in the White House put it there, 237 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 3: several people in the whitest put one of the most 238 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:28,400 Speaker 3: powerful first ladies in American history. The signs are there 239 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 3: at the beginning of twenty nineteen, twenty twenty, when her 240 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 3: top aide, a man named Anthony Bernall, is made one. 241 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: Of the Your characterizations of him, by the way, are hysterical. Sorry, 242 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:40,719 Speaker 1: they're so funny. I could picture him, Evefough. I've never 243 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,839 Speaker 1: seen him or heard him before. I was like, oh, 244 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: I know this person. 245 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 3: He's he's certainly there is a certain archetype both as 246 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,239 Speaker 3: a person in a DC sort of DC like advanced 247 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 3: man operative right. 248 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 2: Anyway, he he becomes one. 249 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 3: Of the deputy campaign managers on the campaign, very unusual, 250 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 3: and then once they go into the White House, he 251 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:07,199 Speaker 3: becomes sort of like a shadow like personnel officer, placing 252 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 3: this person and that person, you know, and his main 253 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 3: coda is like loyalty above everything, and there is there 254 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 3: is no greater virtue and no greater sin than being 255 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 3: even perceived as disloyal. And he becomes seen internally as 256 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 3: sort of loyalty to police. And he is constantly in 257 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 3: the First Lady's ear. This person is this, this person 258 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,120 Speaker 3: is this. And so when he and he becomes incredibly 259 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 3: important in the president's scheduling, he's sitting in the president 260 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 3: scheduling meetings, and you know, like basically the conversation ender 261 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 3: is He'll be like, Jill won't like this, you know, yea, 262 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 3: and then and the conversation's over. And because if you object, 263 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 3: then maybe, oh, is that because you're disloyal, you know. 264 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 2: And the way that she eventually. 265 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 3: The combination of them two sort of slowly pushed out 266 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 3: anyone seen as disloyal and sort of placed all people 267 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,440 Speaker 3: that they trusted, you know, I think they you know, 268 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 3: people have said that both if she was like the 269 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:16,280 Speaker 3: most powerful, one of the most powerful slaves, he was 270 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 3: certainly probably the most powerful First Lady chief of staff. 271 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 2: We've maybe ever seen. 272 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, so you brought the Vogue covers. And that's interesting 273 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 1: because I remember hearing from my friends in Capitol Hill 274 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: and in various positions that that was a big contention 275 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: because Kamala Harris got a Vogue cover before Jill Biden, 276 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,120 Speaker 1: which is not traditional that we've never had a female 277 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: vice president before. And Jill, Jill never seemed to like 278 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: Kamala Harris, she never trusted her because of the original thing. 279 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: I was calling basically Biden a racist during the debate, 280 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: and you made an illusion that she, you know, Forgabe 281 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: and not forget YadA, YadA, YadA, and Biden didn't really 282 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,360 Speaker 1: want her. He woned Gretchen Whitmer and was really pushing 283 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: to her. Do you think that he ever did? And 284 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: he was by incredibly destructive to her presidential campaign, and 285 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 1: you characterizes her being more loyal to him than him 286 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: to her. Do you think that he at the end 287 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: of his presidency regretted picking her? 288 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 3: No, because it's like one of those things like a 289 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 3: president can't ever say they regretted it, right, It's such 290 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 3: a consement decision. Do I think there were I can 291 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 3: tell you this, there were a lot of feelings among 292 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 3: Biden's top staff that regretted picking her. I remember while 293 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 3: I was reporting this book, the book's called original Sin. 294 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 3: They were like, no, no, no, the original sin is 295 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,440 Speaker 3: not him running again, it's picking Kamala Harris because they 296 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 3: did not have confidence that she would be a good 297 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 3: candidate or that she could win. 298 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 1: Right well, even when they realized top Democrats realize something's 299 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:50,760 Speaker 1: wrong with Joe Biden, we may need to replace him, 300 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: their initial thing is, let's get Gretchen Whitmer. Her name 301 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: comes up far more frequently in the early conversations, and 302 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 1: it's only the Black caucus that's It's like, you're not 303 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: going to pick You're not going to side stuff the 304 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: first black female president, female vice president for the nomination. 305 00:17:06,640 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: What did top Democrats see in her as a liability 306 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 1: early on? That they knew about his way before? I 307 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,440 Speaker 1: think most other ones did well. 308 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 3: She ran a disastrous twenty twenty presidential campaign despite massive 309 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 3: hype and you know, big crowds early on. She didn't 310 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 3: even she had to drop out early and didn't have 311 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 3: to go to Iowa. 312 00:17:26,680 --> 00:17:27,360 Speaker 2: You can see the. 313 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 3: Revolving door of staff that have gone through her office 314 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 3: back when she was a state attorney general. She'd also 315 00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 3: really with the exception of like twenty ten attorney general race, 316 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:41,400 Speaker 3: she never won a tough race, and that twenty ten 317 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 3: attorney general race she barely won. She I mean, she 318 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:45,919 Speaker 3: underperformed the rest of the ticket. 319 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:48,200 Speaker 1: Two points I think are a point and a half 320 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: in California, which is good for a Democrat. 321 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 3: And a lot of people thought that, you know, she 322 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 3: wasn't especially nice to staff and didn't seem to get 323 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 3: in the weeds of the substance. And I just think 324 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,919 Speaker 3: also I think, you know, I think Democrats, especially this 325 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,639 Speaker 3: generation of Democrats, which remembers sort of like you know, 326 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 3: Northeast liberal, were worried about you know, San Francisco liberal, right, 327 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,879 Speaker 3: and what's a different kind of liberal, Yeah, but a 328 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,879 Speaker 3: similar sort of you know, a similar can can be 329 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,680 Speaker 3: sort of seen. Especially it's a different sort of liberal, 330 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 3: especially on cultural issues, which you saw in sort of 331 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 3: the Trump campaign response to her. 332 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 2: She had she had joined much of the rest of 333 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 2: the party and running to the left in twenty nineteen. 334 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 3: So I think the combination of all of those things, 335 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 3: plus Pelosi and Kamala have never gone along going back 336 00:18:44,320 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 3: to San Francisco days, like Pelosi supported her opponent in 337 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 3: the DA race back in like two. 338 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,480 Speaker 2: Thousand and four, whatever year that was. So this goes 339 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 2: back like a long. 340 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: Way, and Gavin Newsom didn't like her a lot of people. 341 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:59,679 Speaker 1: I mean, Kamala, you don't have to be likable to 342 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 1: be to make friends. Apparently something you didn't touch on 343 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:05,399 Speaker 1: the book that much, And I thought it was a 344 00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 1: glaring thing with conservatives that we talk about and we've 345 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: talked about for a long time, is this the Biden 346 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 1: family business is very much connected to their connection towards 347 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: Joe and Joe's connection to power. Was that a motivating 348 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 1: factor in why Jill and Hunter did not want him 349 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: to drop out was that they're now and the brother 350 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:30,919 Speaker 1: too did not want him to drop out, and they 351 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:33,479 Speaker 1: all make money off of being close to the president 352 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 1: and the former vice president. 353 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think, you know, with Hunter, I think he 354 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 3: was actually more because it wasn't like Hunter was able 355 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:45,879 Speaker 3: to do any more business anymore, right, because there was 356 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 3: so much scrutiny. 357 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:48,640 Speaker 1: He was still signed paintings though. 358 00:19:49,119 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, well he had to stop because of the scrutiny already, 359 00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:55,600 Speaker 3: Like in twenty twenty one, he was still painting, but 360 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 3: he wasn't able to sell them. 361 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: So, you know, had Hitler been as successful as Hunter Biden, 362 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 1: world War two would have never happened. 363 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:05,160 Speaker 2: But it was I think. 364 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,879 Speaker 3: I think it was a combination of Actually, for Hunter 365 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:12,600 Speaker 3: in particular, I think it was a combination of both, 366 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:17,840 Speaker 3: you know, livelihood, because you know, while Biden was president, 367 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 3: you know, I think he felt confident he would stay 368 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:24,679 Speaker 3: out of jail. And I think he you know, he 369 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 3: has like a very nice life that's sort of propped 370 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 3: up by this former Hollywood agent. He lives in like 371 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 3: this great beautiful house in Malibu, you know, so he's 372 00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 3: living like a comfortable existence and doesn't have a job 373 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:39,119 Speaker 3: besides painting. 374 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:40,880 Speaker 2: So I think there's a livelihood part of it. 375 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 3: But also I think, you know, I think, and we 376 00:20:46,080 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 3: get into this a little bit, the Hunter's sobriety is 377 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 3: so caught up in his dad's. 378 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:56,760 Speaker 2: Staying in office. Because you have to remember, when Joe Ran. 379 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 3: Decided to run in April twenty was still in like 380 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:03,560 Speaker 3: the depths of his crack addiction, and they didn't even 381 00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 3: know where he was most of the time. 382 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: That scene where Joe was chasing him trying to get 383 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: him into rehab is really powerful and compelling thank you, and. 384 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:17,240 Speaker 3: He's you know, he's he's following, and it's it's so striking. 385 00:21:17,359 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 3: He gets sober like three weeks after his dad gets 386 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 3: in the presidential race. That's his sobriety date under oath 387 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:28,880 Speaker 3: and core right, and so, you know, I think that 388 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 3: was sort of keeping him stable. You know, Jill, I 389 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 3: think like, as we said, like liked the life. You know, 390 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 3: her top aid would always be like, we'll do this 391 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 3: in the second term. We're going to do this trip 392 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 3: in the second term, this and that. You know, I 393 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 3: think there was like a livelihood the I think, and 394 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:46,879 Speaker 3: I get the question of like why didn't you go 395 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 3: more into the business stuff. I think because of the 396 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 3: tremendous scrutiny and the Republican investigations a lot of like 397 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 3: the sketchy, the sketchy details that they got away with 398 00:21:59,119 --> 00:22:03,160 Speaker 3: and the VP years and in the in the years 399 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 3: between VP and president, they actually weren't doing as much. 400 00:22:07,119 --> 00:22:09,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, but even I mean, after Biden leaves the White 401 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 1: House he gets a talent agent, like, yeah. 402 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 2: But he did that after he was vice president too. 403 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: I guess. So I don't know, I've heard. I mean, 404 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:19,240 Speaker 1: there's reportings that they are looking to try to make 405 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 1: more money right now and the family needs money. And 406 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: it's just it's a fascinating thing that this was so 407 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: often their business model as being close to power, and 408 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 1: was Bo going to be that person to offer them 409 00:22:32,480 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: then access had he not died? I make that's a 410 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: question lurks in my mind. Obviously you can't. No one 411 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: knows what the answer is. But they do, but no 412 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 1: one else knows the answer. Say e's fascinating your book. 413 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: Robert Hurr couldn't find a job after his thing because 414 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:50,320 Speaker 1: he was smeared so badly by Kamala Harrison Democrats. 415 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, and you know this is a point when like 416 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 3: any any potential plausible deniability by like Democrats who had 417 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,480 Speaker 3: spent time with hip Biden goes out the window, because 418 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:03,679 Speaker 3: you know, you could, you could try to make an 419 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 3: argument that they're just like they're doing their job and 420 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,160 Speaker 3: they're spinning, you know, they're spinning for him, and they're 421 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 3: they're trying to you know, prop him up and make 422 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 3: him the best you know Biden possible. But after her report, 423 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:19,440 Speaker 3: they they not only slime Robert Hurr, they slime Merrik Garland, 424 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 3: the slim their own just department in order to try 425 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 3: to save him, even though I just find it, even 426 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 3: though they a lot of people in that White House, 427 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 3: even if they won't admit it publicly, knew that Robert 428 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 3: Hurr was right. They may object to him putting in 429 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:41,160 Speaker 3: the report, but they knew he was right, and they 430 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 3: decided to try to destroy him. 431 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,360 Speaker 1: So George Clooney has mentioned a lot in the book 432 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: because he does all these fundraisers and he's a very 433 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: well known Democrat. Someone I never knew that was involved 434 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 1: in the campaign was Steven Spielberg. I don't know if 435 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: that was reported before, you guys, I never knew that before. 436 00:23:56,280 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: Spielberg was cutting videos for Biden. So he had one 437 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:05,120 Speaker 1: on one time, significant one on one time with Joe Biden. 438 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 1: Did anyone from his camp ever say something like George 439 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 1: Clooney did. 440 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,160 Speaker 3: Not that I'm aware of, and we would have obviously 441 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:15,440 Speaker 3: put in the book if that was the case. But yes, 442 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 3: you know they were trying because and we talked about 443 00:24:18,160 --> 00:24:21,680 Speaker 3: this before, you know, like the Biden struggled with taped 444 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 3: remarks and that's why they had to do all the 445 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:27,760 Speaker 3: jump cuts and everything right, and so you know, it 446 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 3: got to the point of in some ways you could 447 00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:32,080 Speaker 3: look at it like from the outset and you're like 448 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 3: it got to the point when they were so desperate 449 00:24:35,520 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 3: for him to improve that they had to bring in 450 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 3: Steven Spielberg as a coach. 451 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 1: Right, right. And I want to ask something about the 452 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 1: media though, because obviously this is the for conservatives. The 453 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:50,280 Speaker 1: media angle is the angle because it was so obvious 454 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:52,959 Speaker 1: to conservatives, and you were a great reporting at it early. 455 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,639 Speaker 1: So this is not anything on you. But like Joe Scarborough, 456 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:58,280 Speaker 1: I know you were on a show I think yesterday 457 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,320 Speaker 1: the day before he'd I didn't just say Joe Biden 458 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: is smart. He said he's the best he's ever been 459 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 1: at eighty years old. Eighty one years old. That's not 460 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 1: true of anybody. Like, it's just not true of anybody. 461 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 1: You had the guy from the Atlantic who said it's 462 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:17,920 Speaker 1: a smear and a lie. Is there. I know that 463 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 1: the media leans left, and I know that the media 464 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:25,159 Speaker 1: does even when they get the Iraq War wrong, or 465 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: the financial crisis wrong, or these big, big, big stories 466 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,200 Speaker 1: completely incorrect, and a lot of people are kind of 467 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: like hit have egg on their face. I think this 468 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: time is different than those times like the Iraq war 469 00:25:38,520 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: like the financial crisis, because the number one I guess 470 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: victims of getting it wrong on victims, But the people 471 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:48,160 Speaker 1: who felt the hurt from getting it wrong were Democrats. 472 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,680 Speaker 1: When I feel like when Republicans are the ones hurt 473 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,200 Speaker 1: from a Median Ara getting it wrong, or small town 474 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:59,639 Speaker 1: America or wherever, it doesn't matter as much to them. 475 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:01,920 Speaker 1: And that's something that is completely off the mark. 476 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 2: So you think that the media doesn't feel as guilty, they. 477 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:08,160 Speaker 1: Think more guilty now than they would. 478 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 2: Oh oh, because they didn't when. 479 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:12,720 Speaker 1: The Iraq War happened and everyone got it completely wrong. 480 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:14,199 Speaker 1: No one quit their job and said, oh my god, 481 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 1: I can't believe I'm such a bad reporter. This one 482 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:19,199 Speaker 1: there at least in there and saying, wow, we have 483 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,879 Speaker 1: to have a culpability moment, and they haven't, despite losing 484 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 1: support in the public for a very long time. 485 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, So what's the question exactly? 486 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 1: So the question is is that is that is my 487 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 1: assumption anywhere close to the mark, is that the people 488 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,639 Speaker 1: in the media are having a come to Jesus moment 489 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:43,879 Speaker 1: in some capacity because their readership leans left, their friends 490 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:47,119 Speaker 1: lean left, and they all want to know what, why, 491 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 1: why they weren't more honest, is it like or and 492 00:26:50,440 --> 00:26:53,280 Speaker 1: why aren't anyone. I just have a very tough time. 493 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:54,679 Speaker 1: I have a very tough time people like in the 494 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:58,360 Speaker 1: Atlantic saying it's a smear, it's a lie, and everyone 495 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 1: in the media just refused to sit there and say 496 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: what we saw, like they just took the White House's word. 497 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:06,920 Speaker 1: As as as Carbelanche. 498 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:07,200 Speaker 2: That's interesting. 499 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 3: I haven't detected a huge I mean I think, you know, 500 00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:18,840 Speaker 3: I think, uh, you know, I think it's too I 501 00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:22,439 Speaker 3: haven't detected actually a huge sort of like you know, 502 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:26,720 Speaker 3: reckoning or being like I honestly still feel there's like 503 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 3: a defensiveness. And I think it's because they can point 504 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 3: back and like we were talking about age plenty and like. 505 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 3: But the thing is they were often talking about age 506 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:39,919 Speaker 3: in a horse race sense, as like oh, the Poles 507 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 3: say his age is a liability and then talk about whatever. 508 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 3: But like that was so they were like we there 509 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 3: was volume, but there wasn't excavation, if that makes sense. 510 00:27:48,960 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 1: So it still hasn't happened. 511 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,119 Speaker 3: I mean, I mean, I will, you know, for for 512 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:55,959 Speaker 3: what it's worth, and I know probably I know some conservatives, 513 00:27:56,040 --> 00:28:00,080 Speaker 3: a lot of conservatives really don't like Jake Tapper. I 514 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 3: wasn't going to bring that up, no, no, no, But I 515 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:03,879 Speaker 3: mean my co author, Jake Captor. 516 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 2: I think it's to his credit. 517 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:10,200 Speaker 3: That he has been like on this issue, I should 518 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:12,000 Speaker 3: have done better, and I would. 519 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: Love to know from Jake. Does he And I'll ask 520 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 1: you the same question. Do you read any alternative media? 521 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:17,120 Speaker 2: Yeah? 522 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 1: Of course, like who I just wanted curious. 523 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:21,480 Speaker 2: I mean, I mean, I don't know. 524 00:28:21,520 --> 00:28:24,959 Speaker 3: I listened to may Do, listen to Megan Kelly like 525 00:28:25,119 --> 00:28:30,880 Speaker 3: fairly often, okay, obviously, like free Press, a free beacon. 526 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:32,480 Speaker 2: I'm trying to think. 527 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:33,480 Speaker 1: Like twitter Feed. 528 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 2: I'm just joking twitter Feed. 529 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I don't know if you consider like 530 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:41,120 Speaker 3: even like commentary or like some of those guys or 531 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 3: like yeah, Victor Scott Hansen or. 532 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 1: Just I think it's important because people we feel like 533 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:51,240 Speaker 1: we're screaming into a void sometimes. So I think for 534 00:28:51,320 --> 00:28:54,800 Speaker 1: conservitives to even know that you read something is really important. 535 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 1: And I think that you're a really good journalist. I'm 536 00:28:56,720 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: not blaming, I'm not saying you, but I think that 537 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: I do feel that my last. 538 00:29:00,480 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 3: They feel disrespected like and then and then like and 539 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 3: I can understand how then they're like we were saying 540 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 3: that he was having trouble, and then like two mainstream 541 00:29:09,280 --> 00:29:10,360 Speaker 3: reporters come in and're. 542 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 2: Like, well, we wrote a book about it. 543 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 3: See, so I can understand like the skepticism. But yeah, 544 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 3: I mean I think I think it's like really because 545 00:29:20,320 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 3: the thing is that, like I think the mainstream, some 546 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:29,440 Speaker 3: mainstream reporters just do not recognize they're still in sort 547 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:33,080 Speaker 3: of denial about the power of alternative and that includes 548 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 3: even sort of like you know, somewhat adjacent, which is 549 00:29:36,160 --> 00:29:39,480 Speaker 3: like flagrant or like you know, obviously Rogan is the 550 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 3: other famous be event, you know, Cleovonne and all those 551 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 3: ones that. 552 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 1: Well establish the media matters because it is a qualifying thing. 553 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 1: Oftentimes alternative media just echoes or battles establishing media to themselves. 554 00:29:51,880 --> 00:29:53,360 Speaker 1: That's why I think it's important that they know you 555 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:56,680 Speaker 1: even pay attention to them. So I know you've short 556 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:58,520 Speaker 1: on time, so I don't want to charge. There's one 557 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:01,600 Speaker 1: last question. I asked my Twitter followers to ask you, 558 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:03,200 Speaker 1: what's a question ask you? So this is the one 559 00:30:03,200 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: that I got a lot we saw on a press 560 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:07,400 Speaker 1: meeting the President Biden received a question ahead of time 561 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 1: from Courtney Sorban, was that the standard that he would 562 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:14,760 Speaker 1: get questions in the press ahead of time and who 563 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 1: was in charge of giving him questions from the press 564 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:17,800 Speaker 1: ahead of time? 565 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 2: So no, it's not standard. 566 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:23,440 Speaker 3: So what we'll tell you what happens is that, but 567 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:27,160 Speaker 3: they do, they do decide who gets a question, and 568 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 3: then what the White House will do, the Press Office 569 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:31,640 Speaker 3: will do is then they'll go to the person, right, 570 00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 3: and they'll like sort of sidle up and they'll be 571 00:30:33,280 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 3: very friendly and they're like, what are you thinking about asking? 572 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 2: What do you think of? 573 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 3: You know, and you know, most of the time reporters 574 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 3: just like show like a little bit of leg but 575 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:46,720 Speaker 3: like not really And I think in that case it 576 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 3: was probably just a case where and I don't know, 577 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:52,719 Speaker 3: but you know, sometimes I won't take that example out 578 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:56,560 Speaker 3: of it. I think sometimes reporters sort of said too much, right, 579 00:30:57,040 --> 00:30:58,480 Speaker 3: But I think that was the exception to the rule. 580 00:30:58,520 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: I think. 581 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 3: The bigger you, I think, to your reader's point, though, 582 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:05,560 Speaker 3: the bigger problem in my mind was pre selecting which 583 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:08,840 Speaker 3: reporters got the questions. And it wasn't like he did 584 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 3: a ton anyway, but like I never got a question 585 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 3: in four years, really never, And I don't think even 586 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:17,480 Speaker 3: I don't think Axios ever got a question, and when 587 00:31:17,480 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 3: I was at Politico, I don't know if Politico ever 588 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:22,480 Speaker 3: got a question. So it was the pre selecting of 589 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 3: reporters that I mean, they know enough about which reporters 590 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:29,320 Speaker 3: care about which issue, right, so they're like, we know 591 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 3: this guy's interested in this, and we this is what 592 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:33,760 Speaker 3: we want to talk about. Right. So I think that 593 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 3: was actually the way that they controlled you know, what 594 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 3: he was going to be asked, more so than like 595 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:42,760 Speaker 3: the note card thing. 596 00:31:43,320 --> 00:31:46,000 Speaker 1: Right, Well, Alex, this is the book of the year, 597 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:48,520 Speaker 1: right now. Congratulates all the good press you've got to 598 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:51,320 Speaker 1: all my listeners. Original Sin is a great It's a 599 00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:54,320 Speaker 1: great read one to understand the humanity of certain people 600 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:56,680 Speaker 1: that seem so distant because they are the president and 601 00:31:56,760 --> 00:32:01,080 Speaker 1: the president's family, and also to see really what it 602 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:04,120 Speaker 1: is like in political circles. The scene of John Fetterman 603 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 1: screaming at his fellow senators was like jaw dropping. And 604 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:10,200 Speaker 1: I also got the audiobook as well to hear it 605 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 1: when I was doing things and Jake Tapper doing voices 606 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:16,760 Speaker 1: accents is hilarious. So if you can't actually read and 607 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:18,600 Speaker 1: you want to listen to it, his accents of like 608 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:20,840 Speaker 1: Bernie Sanders and when I was very very funny. 609 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 3: It is a great I haven't listened to the audiobook yet. 610 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 3: I had no idea about the accents. 611 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:26,840 Speaker 1: Well he does accents for all the people. Oh it's 612 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:30,080 Speaker 1: really now, there are times there it's actually like I 613 00:32:30,120 --> 00:32:32,760 Speaker 1: was like, this is actually really good, and I'm like, whoa, 614 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:34,800 Speaker 1: this is a rough New York accent right over here. 615 00:32:35,000 --> 00:32:38,160 Speaker 1: But it is. It's really really good. Congratulations on it, 616 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:42,640 Speaker 1: and I highly recommend it to all my listeners. I 617 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:44,680 Speaker 1: think that it's definitely the book of the year so far. 618 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 2: That really means a lot. Thank you very much for 619 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:47,080 Speaker 2: having me. 620 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:53,800 Speaker 1: That was Alex Thompson once again, of the great book 621 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 1: Original Sin. I really did like it. I'm not just 622 00:32:55,880 --> 00:32:58,040 Speaker 1: saying it because he was here, because I don't peddle 623 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:02,000 Speaker 1: other people's nonsense besides my own. But it was, it was. 624 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 1: It was a really good book, and it really really 625 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 1: really went into like the human interactions of senators and 626 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:09,920 Speaker 1: stuff like that, and I think he looked he gave 627 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 1: us some good tidbits right there of interactions with people, 628 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:16,480 Speaker 1: especially on Jill Biden. I think that she's really the 629 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:20,640 Speaker 1: lady Macbeth figure in this entire thing. So I want 630 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:23,720 Speaker 1: to go into my question and answer. You can ask 631 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:26,760 Speaker 1: me a question on basically anything. Email me Ryan at 632 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 1: Numbers Game Podcast dot com. That's Ryan at numbers Plural 633 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:33,200 Speaker 1: Numbers gamepodcast dot com. Send me a tweet, ask me 634 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 1: a question, and I love to answer it. Someone asked 635 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 1: me today, have you watched the Nancy Mace footage on 636 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:40,960 Speaker 1: the House floor this week? So if you guys do 637 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 1: not know, Nancy Mace post a video of herself naked 638 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:50,560 Speaker 1: that I think someone else took without her permission, and 639 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:52,960 Speaker 1: she put into the Congressional record, which means it's there 640 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:57,920 Speaker 1: for like all time. That was wild, and no, I 641 00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:01,320 Speaker 1: did not watch it. I didn't watch it because I've 642 00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:04,600 Speaker 1: only met Nancy Mace one time before. It was in 643 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 1: a private meeting with people. It wasn't on the record 644 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:10,520 Speaker 1: or anything like that. But it was really kind of crazy. 645 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:13,239 Speaker 1: And she was there with her then fiance, who I 646 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 1: think she has accused of something horrible. I don't want 647 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:18,359 Speaker 1: to say that the accusation was. It was some kind 648 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:21,439 Speaker 1: of accusation. They have since broken up. And we get 649 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:24,000 Speaker 1: into the dinner table and Nancy is like talking a 650 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:25,880 Speaker 1: mile a minute and one of her first things that 651 00:34:25,960 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 1: she says is she's like, oh, I'm down to just 652 00:34:28,080 --> 00:34:31,120 Speaker 1: one glass of wine a day, to which her person 653 00:34:31,120 --> 00:34:34,160 Speaker 1: who worked with her like went like this like like, 654 00:34:34,239 --> 00:34:36,279 Speaker 1: not a no, I forget there's no camera. He not 655 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:38,560 Speaker 1: a no. He was like, she's not down to one 656 00:34:38,560 --> 00:34:41,000 Speaker 1: glass a day. And then she's introducing her fiance and 657 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:42,680 Speaker 1: she's like, I thought that he was wealthy the first 658 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:44,279 Speaker 1: time I met him, and turns out that he's broke. 659 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:47,279 Speaker 1: And I was like what. I was like, Hi, my 660 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:49,399 Speaker 1: name is Ryan. We didn't gotten to that part yet. 661 00:34:49,440 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 1: She was talking a mile a minute, and the context 662 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:55,520 Speaker 1: that we had a conversation with was great afterwards, but 663 00:34:55,680 --> 00:34:58,239 Speaker 1: it was like started at an eleven and it worked 664 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 1: its way down from there rather than work its way up. 665 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:05,640 Speaker 1: She was perfectly lovely, but very intense, and she seems 666 00:35:05,680 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 1: to go through husband's fiances and staff very very quickly. 667 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,719 Speaker 1: I don't know what that's all about. I don't know 668 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:15,400 Speaker 1: why she seeks this much attention on many things, but 669 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 1: she does. And I did not watch her include her 670 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:25,200 Speaker 1: naked photos in the congressional record because I have other 671 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:28,319 Speaker 1: things to do with my time. Anyway, that's my little 672 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:32,839 Speaker 1: Nancy May story. These congressional stories, my political run ends 673 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 1: over time are pretty funny. I am like Forrest Gump. 674 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:37,960 Speaker 1: I am like a New York version of Forrest Gump. 675 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:40,200 Speaker 1: It's a different accent. Well, thank you guys again for 676 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 1: listening for this episode. Have a happy Memorial Day. I 677 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:44,359 Speaker 1: hope you have had a great three day weekend, nice 678 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:46,480 Speaker 1: and relaxing. And come back on Thursday and listen to 679 00:35:46,560 --> 00:35:49,680 Speaker 1: our next episode. Like and subscribe on the iHeartRadio app, 680 00:35:49,719 --> 00:35:52,680 Speaker 1: Apple podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. If you're generous, 681 00:35:52,719 --> 00:35:54,319 Speaker 1: and if you're feeling generous, and I hope you are, 682 00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:57,080 Speaker 1: give us a five star review. Thank you so much,