1 00:00:04,755 --> 00:00:08,995 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:21,235 --> 00:00:25,435 Speaker 1: On November two, two thousand one, Rachel Meadow read a 3 00:00:25,555 --> 00:00:27,955 Speaker 1: letter that implored her to not go through with her 4 00:00:27,955 --> 00:00:31,875 Speaker 1: plans to reduce her television schedule from daily to weekly. 5 00:00:32,475 --> 00:00:35,075 Speaker 1: It argued that the peril which had struck the democracy 6 00:00:35,155 --> 00:00:38,115 Speaker 1: just ten months earlier was only the beginning, that the 7 00:00:38,155 --> 00:00:43,155 Speaker 1: mid terms of and the presidential election of might ultimately 8 00:00:43,195 --> 00:00:45,355 Speaker 1: be as important to the history of this nation as 9 00:00:45,395 --> 00:00:48,995 Speaker 1: the Civil War, and that her program was one of 10 00:00:49,035 --> 00:00:52,875 Speaker 1: the few public squares in which those defending the country 11 00:00:52,915 --> 00:00:56,715 Speaker 1: from fascism could take heart and believe they were not alone. 12 00:00:57,755 --> 00:01:03,035 Speaker 1: The handwritten letter expressed sympathy, indeed empathy, to Maddow on 13 00:01:03,115 --> 00:01:05,635 Speaker 1: her decision, and the writers I said that if indeed 14 00:01:05,635 --> 00:01:08,515 Speaker 1: the inevitable had finally come and the workload had gone 15 00:01:08,555 --> 00:01:12,515 Speaker 1: from sissaphe into crushing, perhaps she could take a leave 16 00:01:12,555 --> 00:01:16,555 Speaker 1: of absence, keep her name on her nightly MSNBC show, 17 00:01:16,835 --> 00:01:20,715 Speaker 1: have others fill in, and not returned to it until 18 00:01:20,795 --> 00:01:23,635 Speaker 1: even as latest September or October of the following year. 19 00:01:25,395 --> 00:01:28,715 Speaker 1: The writer acknowledged that what he was saying sounded absurd 20 00:01:29,035 --> 00:01:32,795 Speaker 1: and hyperbolic, but he insisted it was true. The liberal 21 00:01:32,835 --> 00:01:36,315 Speaker 1: point of view on cable news had never been more important. 22 00:01:36,675 --> 00:01:39,715 Speaker 1: It had never been under greater threat from both market 23 00:01:39,755 --> 00:01:43,955 Speaker 1: forces and less hidden forms of fascism, and the entire 24 00:01:44,155 --> 00:01:48,795 Speaker 1: cable news industry was teetering on implosion. No matter how 25 00:01:48,915 --> 00:01:53,835 Speaker 1: flawed MSNBC and to a lesser degree, CNN were, they 26 00:01:53,835 --> 00:01:57,075 Speaker 1: were vitally important to the future of freedom in the 27 00:01:57,195 --> 00:02:02,075 Speaker 1: United States. And because her viewers believed that her nightly 28 00:02:02,155 --> 00:02:06,435 Speaker 1: program was essential to that future of freedom, it was 29 00:02:07,075 --> 00:02:12,075 Speaker 1: essential to that future of freedom. Matadow did not reply. 30 00:02:13,395 --> 00:02:16,075 Speaker 1: She did not alter her plans. She cut back to 31 00:02:16,155 --> 00:02:21,475 Speaker 1: once a week. MSNBC's ratings collapsed, her own included and 32 00:02:21,515 --> 00:02:24,155 Speaker 1: that of her lead in and that of her lead out. 33 00:02:24,995 --> 00:02:29,715 Speaker 1: CNN was sold to conservatives who viewed Brett Bear as 34 00:02:29,715 --> 00:02:32,795 Speaker 1: the personification of moderation and put in the hands of 35 00:02:32,795 --> 00:02:36,315 Speaker 1: a scheming idiot whose head contained little but ambition and 36 00:02:36,395 --> 00:02:41,075 Speaker 1: over confidence. And today, even though they too are down, 37 00:02:41,115 --> 00:02:43,675 Speaker 1: the ratings for Fox News are larger than those of 38 00:02:43,795 --> 00:02:48,875 Speaker 1: MSNBC and CNN combined, which is exactly where we were 39 00:02:48,875 --> 00:02:51,795 Speaker 1: in two thousand three, when the barbaric right wing agenda 40 00:02:51,835 --> 00:02:54,635 Speaker 1: of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney controlled not just 41 00:02:54,715 --> 00:02:59,115 Speaker 1: the country, but just as importantly the news business, and 42 00:02:59,195 --> 00:03:02,755 Speaker 1: at NBC, they decided the only smart business model then 43 00:03:02,915 --> 00:03:08,435 Speaker 1: was to go farther right and Fox and now today, 44 00:03:08,555 --> 00:03:11,835 Speaker 1: as a former colleague of mine, equipped grimly yesterday, cable 45 00:03:11,915 --> 00:03:16,115 Speaker 1: news is not in intensive care, it's in hospice. And 46 00:03:16,195 --> 00:03:19,995 Speaker 1: I answered, no, it had another five years to live. 47 00:03:20,035 --> 00:03:23,755 Speaker 1: But if it's in hospice, it's in hospice now because 48 00:03:23,795 --> 00:03:26,475 Speaker 1: it was already sick. And then it's new bosses poisoned 49 00:03:26,475 --> 00:03:32,075 Speaker 1: it because at a time when the nation actually needs 50 00:03:32,915 --> 00:03:36,835 Speaker 1: cable TV news, and when it's only means of survival 51 00:03:36,955 --> 00:03:40,195 Speaker 1: is to offer compelling, intelligent, well produced political shows and no, 52 00:03:40,355 --> 00:03:43,875 Speaker 1: I am not campaigning, they would sooner self immolate than 53 00:03:43,955 --> 00:03:49,555 Speaker 1: hire me. Instead, the new boss poisoners have concluded that 54 00:03:49,595 --> 00:03:55,115 Speaker 1: the magic bullet is putting Gail King and Bill Maher 55 00:03:55,435 --> 00:04:00,155 Speaker 1: on CNN once a week each and putting Matt Gates 56 00:04:00,475 --> 00:04:05,715 Speaker 1: and Lauren Bobert on MSNBC whenever they will agree to 57 00:04:05,835 --> 00:04:10,075 Speaker 1: go on. Because at a time when all the forces 58 00:04:10,115 --> 00:04:13,675 Speaker 1: that can be brought to bear against democracy, against diversity, 59 00:04:13,715 --> 00:04:17,675 Speaker 1: against more voters voting more often in more convenient ways, 60 00:04:18,315 --> 00:04:20,715 Speaker 1: in a time when all those forces are being brought 61 00:04:21,035 --> 00:04:24,315 Speaker 1: and brought together. What American needs out of CNN and 62 00:04:24,555 --> 00:04:30,355 Speaker 1: MSNBC is celebrity interviews by Gail King and Stale naive 63 00:04:30,795 --> 00:04:34,955 Speaker 1: fold libertarian both sides is nonsense from what is left 64 00:04:35,715 --> 00:04:39,475 Speaker 1: over a decade after Bill Maher stopped trying very hard. 65 00:04:41,115 --> 00:04:48,995 Speaker 1: Gail King, to paraphrase Frederick Douglas, the national edifice is 66 00:04:49,075 --> 00:04:51,915 Speaker 1: on fire. Every man who can carry a bucket of 67 00:04:51,915 --> 00:04:55,235 Speaker 1: water or remove a brick is wanted. But those who 68 00:04:55,275 --> 00:04:58,555 Speaker 1: have the care of the building, having a profound respect 69 00:04:58,635 --> 00:05:02,315 Speaker 1: for the feeling of the national burglars who set the 70 00:05:02,355 --> 00:05:06,395 Speaker 1: building on fire are determined that of flames shall only 71 00:05:06,435 --> 00:05:12,315 Speaker 1: be extinguished by restoring conservative trust in CNN and MSNBC. 72 00:05:14,195 --> 00:05:17,235 Speaker 1: I have nothing against Gail King. She is a very 73 00:05:17,355 --> 00:05:21,195 Speaker 1: nice person. I know her so long. We met when 74 00:05:21,235 --> 00:05:23,675 Speaker 1: I was just starting at Sports Center and she was 75 00:05:23,715 --> 00:05:28,355 Speaker 1: a local newscaster in Hartford, Connecticut. I know that the 76 00:05:28,395 --> 00:05:31,315 Speaker 1: CBS morning show she is on is the best Last 77 00:05:31,395 --> 00:05:34,755 Speaker 1: Place show out of all the dozens of different Last 78 00:05:34,755 --> 00:05:37,995 Speaker 1: Place shows CBS has produced in the mornings over the decades, 79 00:05:38,435 --> 00:05:41,875 Speaker 1: and most relevantly, that show was the last news program 80 00:05:41,915 --> 00:05:44,755 Speaker 1: that CNN's new idiot boss had anything to do with 81 00:05:44,835 --> 00:05:47,675 Speaker 1: and Gail King is thus one of the only four 82 00:05:47,795 --> 00:05:50,155 Speaker 1: or five people in the news business he knows the 83 00:05:50,195 --> 00:05:55,715 Speaker 1: first thing about. But the national edifice is on fire. 84 00:05:56,275 --> 00:06:00,675 Speaker 1: And this is what one of the two possible firehouses 85 00:06:01,075 --> 00:06:06,075 Speaker 1: is considering as a great new idea, even if it's 86 00:06:06,155 --> 00:06:12,355 Speaker 1: just keep CNN and MSNBC alive until November. And before 87 00:06:12,395 --> 00:06:15,195 Speaker 1: you say, the ratings proved that CNN and MSNBC are 88 00:06:15,235 --> 00:06:17,875 Speaker 1: now irrelevant. While I agree with you, but I ask 89 00:06:17,955 --> 00:06:21,955 Speaker 1: you this, what has replaced them? The far right has 90 00:06:21,995 --> 00:06:26,955 Speaker 1: Fox and Fox Business and news Max and the First 91 00:06:27,435 --> 00:06:31,115 Speaker 1: and one American News and Daily Wire and The Blaze 92 00:06:31,155 --> 00:06:33,915 Speaker 1: and Joe Rogan and literally a hundred streaming shows and 93 00:06:33,995 --> 00:06:44,515 Speaker 1: other seven feeds. And the left has I'll Wait. The 94 00:06:44,635 --> 00:06:50,795 Speaker 1: left has MSNBC boasting promoting that it's got Bobert and 95 00:06:50,915 --> 00:06:56,995 Speaker 1: Gates on as guests. Left has MSNBC firing It's Only 96 00:06:57,075 --> 00:06:59,995 Speaker 1: Growing show, which had been hosted on the weekends by 97 00:06:59,995 --> 00:07:04,555 Speaker 1: an African American woman because Tucker Carlson complained about nasty 98 00:07:04,755 --> 00:07:09,315 Speaker 1: things she said about him. The left has CNN killing 99 00:07:09,315 --> 00:07:12,355 Speaker 1: off its moderate lean left prime time lineup so it 100 00:07:12,395 --> 00:07:16,475 Speaker 1: could move Don Lemon to a morning show with Peppy 101 00:07:16,675 --> 00:07:20,195 Speaker 1: hair Low and somebody from The Daily Caller, and that 102 00:07:20,275 --> 00:07:24,435 Speaker 1: show now gets three and thirty one thousand viewers, meaning 103 00:07:24,795 --> 00:07:27,195 Speaker 1: it is only about one third ahead of the weekly 104 00:07:27,235 --> 00:07:32,075 Speaker 1: audience for this podcast. But the solution is Gail King 105 00:07:33,475 --> 00:07:38,755 Speaker 1: maybe once a week in primetime and Bill Maher Friday's 106 00:07:39,635 --> 00:07:43,875 Speaker 1: for twenty minutes. Even though no once a week show 107 00:07:43,915 --> 00:07:45,755 Speaker 1: in the history of cable news has ever succeeded, not 108 00:07:45,795 --> 00:07:51,115 Speaker 1: even Meadows. She's shrinking. Tucker Carlson's ratings are fifty higher 109 00:07:51,155 --> 00:07:56,355 Speaker 1: than hers. The point of cable news is, no, your 110 00:07:56,355 --> 00:07:58,555 Speaker 1: most fervent fans are not going to watch you all 111 00:07:58,635 --> 00:08:01,155 Speaker 1: five nights each week, but they've got to know you 112 00:08:01,195 --> 00:08:06,235 Speaker 1: are there all five nights each week. And there's still 113 00:08:06,275 --> 00:08:09,995 Speaker 1: something else besides this terrifying political dynamic in which the 114 00:08:10,075 --> 00:08:14,715 Speaker 1: almost laughably negligible supply of liberal or even moderate seven 115 00:08:14,715 --> 00:08:19,595 Speaker 1: news outlets gets extinguished because the fascists bought fifty of them. 116 00:08:19,635 --> 00:08:22,515 Speaker 1: That would be CNN and the geniuses at the other 117 00:08:23,235 --> 00:08:25,995 Speaker 1: MSNBC are making the same mistake about both sides. Is 118 00:08:26,075 --> 00:08:29,195 Speaker 1: um not being its own form of bias that was 119 00:08:29,275 --> 00:08:35,155 Speaker 1: made by their predecessors from the year. These people are 120 00:08:35,155 --> 00:08:40,315 Speaker 1: not just political malefactors, deliberately or unknowingly helping the causes 121 00:08:40,315 --> 00:08:43,635 Speaker 1: of those who would and will dismantle of freedoms of 122 00:08:43,675 --> 00:08:46,795 Speaker 1: this country and persecute the minorities of this country, and 123 00:08:46,955 --> 00:08:49,555 Speaker 1: enrich the mega rich of this country, and turn off 124 00:08:49,555 --> 00:08:51,875 Speaker 1: the liberal networks of this country and some of the 125 00:08:51,915 --> 00:08:56,075 Speaker 1: conservative ones too. They're not just that. The Chris Licks 126 00:08:56,115 --> 00:08:58,555 Speaker 1: and the Saysar Conde's, and the John Malone's and the 127 00:08:58,595 --> 00:09:02,915 Speaker 1: Jeff Shells are not just political terrorists by proxy. They're 128 00:09:02,955 --> 00:09:09,635 Speaker 1: also idiots. Dale King is a morning show host. If 129 00:09:09,715 --> 00:09:12,355 Speaker 1: Chris Lift of CNN could convince her to quit CBS 130 00:09:12,435 --> 00:09:14,275 Speaker 1: Mornings and work for him full time, he would give 131 00:09:14,275 --> 00:09:16,155 Speaker 1: her her choice of which hours she wanted an anchor 132 00:09:16,315 --> 00:09:20,195 Speaker 1: eight pm, nine pm, ten pm, all the pms, and 133 00:09:20,315 --> 00:09:25,395 Speaker 1: she would fail miserably because eight pm, nine pm, and 134 00:09:25,475 --> 00:09:29,435 Speaker 1: ten pm are at night, and CBS Mornings is on 135 00:09:30,475 --> 00:09:36,755 Speaker 1: in the morning. You don't think that matters. It's seven thirty. 136 00:09:37,115 --> 00:09:41,115 Speaker 1: On the morning of February two thousand five, the president 137 00:09:41,195 --> 00:09:45,435 Speaker 1: of CBS Television Less Moon Vest and the president of 138 00:09:45,515 --> 00:09:49,835 Speaker 1: CBS News, Andrew Hayward, sneaked into my apartment building in 139 00:09:49,875 --> 00:09:52,755 Speaker 1: New York via the back door so nobody would see 140 00:09:52,795 --> 00:09:57,075 Speaker 1: them come in and came up to my apartment. There 141 00:09:57,115 --> 00:09:59,275 Speaker 1: was a minor hitch in their big plan to hire 142 00:09:59,315 --> 00:10:03,395 Speaker 1: the person who would save the CBS Evening News. That 143 00:10:03,595 --> 00:10:07,075 Speaker 1: person was the co host to the NBC Morning Show Today, 144 00:10:07,195 --> 00:10:12,035 Speaker 1: and her name was Katie Kurrik. I'll spell it for 145 00:10:12,155 --> 00:10:15,715 Speaker 1: you C O U R I C And she was 146 00:10:15,755 --> 00:10:18,555 Speaker 1: one of the five best known, best respected people in 147 00:10:18,715 --> 00:10:22,475 Speaker 1: television news. And they were still sure they were gonna 148 00:10:22,515 --> 00:10:26,315 Speaker 1: get her, but they had no backup plan, so they 149 00:10:26,355 --> 00:10:30,915 Speaker 1: wanted me to be the backup plan. This was my 150 00:10:31,075 --> 00:10:34,435 Speaker 1: job interview, and I said, hell, three years ago I 151 00:10:34,475 --> 00:10:37,835 Speaker 1: was unemployed. I'm happy to be your backup plan. But 152 00:10:37,915 --> 00:10:40,715 Speaker 1: I also said, look, before you signed Katie Curic, have 153 00:10:40,795 --> 00:10:45,235 Speaker 1: you considered the possibility that being a successful co host 154 00:10:45,955 --> 00:10:50,075 Speaker 1: of a morning show might not translate into being a 155 00:10:50,115 --> 00:10:53,915 Speaker 1: successful soul anchor of the CBS evening News. Have you 156 00:10:53,955 --> 00:10:57,835 Speaker 1: considered what we called in radio day parts. It's not 157 00:10:57,915 --> 00:11:01,235 Speaker 1: the same job, it's not what people know her for. 158 00:11:02,195 --> 00:11:07,355 Speaker 1: Morning shows are interviews. Evening news is is are reading 159 00:11:07,395 --> 00:11:10,515 Speaker 1: teleprompter scripts and then getting on a plane for Afghanistan 160 00:11:10,675 --> 00:11:14,995 Speaker 1: and reading teleprompter scripts there. That's not what people watch 161 00:11:15,075 --> 00:11:17,395 Speaker 1: her for. And I said, it was like when I 162 00:11:17,435 --> 00:11:20,835 Speaker 1: did Sports Center with Dan Patrick. Ten seconds before you 163 00:11:20,875 --> 00:11:23,635 Speaker 1: were going to say, I've had enough of this snarky 164 00:11:23,675 --> 00:11:27,795 Speaker 1: idiot Alderman, I'm changing the channel, I would say, Dan, 165 00:11:28,395 --> 00:11:29,915 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden there would be a different 166 00:11:29,955 --> 00:11:33,355 Speaker 1: face on your television with better hair, and you would 167 00:11:33,395 --> 00:11:36,635 Speaker 1: relax and you would not change the channel. And then 168 00:11:36,755 --> 00:11:38,595 Speaker 1: a few minutes later, when you were about to say 169 00:11:39,155 --> 00:11:41,955 Speaker 1: I had enough of this idiot Patrick, I'm changing the channel, 170 00:11:41,995 --> 00:11:44,915 Speaker 1: he would say, Oko, and you would say, oh good, 171 00:11:44,915 --> 00:11:47,675 Speaker 1: it's the other guy again. It's not gonna be like 172 00:11:47,755 --> 00:11:50,675 Speaker 1: this on the CBS Evening News with just Katie Kirk. 173 00:11:50,835 --> 00:11:54,755 Speaker 1: It's just gonna be Katie Kirk. And Les Moonves said, 174 00:11:55,515 --> 00:11:59,875 Speaker 1: are right, but she's a star, and I said, look, 175 00:12:00,035 --> 00:12:01,435 Speaker 1: I know you're gonna make the deal with her and 176 00:12:01,515 --> 00:12:04,355 Speaker 1: not me, and I know she's going to take the 177 00:12:04,395 --> 00:12:05,995 Speaker 1: deal if you offer it to her. I have nothing 178 00:12:06,035 --> 00:12:08,475 Speaker 1: to lose here, but don't do this. Don't hire her. 179 00:12:08,795 --> 00:12:11,675 Speaker 1: Don't hire me, but don't hire her, because let me 180 00:12:11,715 --> 00:12:15,835 Speaker 1: tell you how precisely much it matters what time somebody 181 00:12:15,955 --> 00:12:19,435 Speaker 1: is on. When I was a local sportscaster in Los 182 00:12:19,475 --> 00:12:22,275 Speaker 1: Angeles at Channel five, I told them we did the 183 00:12:22,355 --> 00:12:25,155 Speaker 1: ten o'clock news. I came on about ten fifty every night. 184 00:12:25,435 --> 00:12:30,675 Speaker 1: I was beloved. Viewers treated me like I was some 185 00:12:30,755 --> 00:12:35,675 Speaker 1: sort of combination of Howard Cosell, Johnny Carson and Voltaire. 186 00:12:36,995 --> 00:12:40,835 Speaker 1: The ratings went up at ten fifty every night, the 187 00:12:40,875 --> 00:12:44,355 Speaker 1: only newscast in America where the ratings went up when 188 00:12:44,355 --> 00:12:47,875 Speaker 1: the sports guy came on. Then I got hired away 189 00:12:47,915 --> 00:12:52,315 Speaker 1: by another station, your station, Mr Moonvess, Channel two. I 190 00:12:52,355 --> 00:12:55,035 Speaker 1: got paid seven times. When I was making it was great, 191 00:12:55,515 --> 00:12:58,435 Speaker 1: and we did the eleven o'clock news. And I came 192 00:12:58,475 --> 00:13:03,835 Speaker 1: on at about eleven thirty every night, and I was hated, hated, hated. 193 00:13:04,395 --> 00:13:08,395 Speaker 1: Hey did none of the viewers got the jokes. Nobody 194 00:13:08,435 --> 00:13:12,435 Speaker 1: liked me anymore. Nobody seemed to know who I was. 195 00:13:14,035 --> 00:13:16,275 Speaker 1: I was on Channel five on Friday night. I took 196 00:13:16,275 --> 00:13:18,795 Speaker 1: Saturday off, and then I was on Channel two on 197 00:13:18,835 --> 00:13:22,835 Speaker 1: Sunday night, and it was gone, all gone. I only 198 00:13:22,875 --> 00:13:26,715 Speaker 1: took one day off. They hated me, and I was shocked. 199 00:13:26,955 --> 00:13:29,075 Speaker 1: And my bosses, who had spent all that money, they 200 00:13:29,075 --> 00:13:31,715 Speaker 1: were shocked and their bosses in New York were shocked. 201 00:13:32,195 --> 00:13:34,795 Speaker 1: Then they all decided to spend a fortune on research 202 00:13:34,875 --> 00:13:38,555 Speaker 1: to figure out what went wrong. Maybe it was my mustache. 203 00:13:40,475 --> 00:13:43,315 Speaker 1: And they came back and they said, the evidence is overwhelming. 204 00:13:44,035 --> 00:13:48,155 Speaker 1: All the people who loved this guy's sportscasts had jobs 205 00:13:48,435 --> 00:13:50,115 Speaker 1: where they had to be in the office at like 206 00:13:50,195 --> 00:13:53,515 Speaker 1: seven or eight because of the whole East Coast West 207 00:13:53,555 --> 00:13:55,635 Speaker 1: Coast thing where people in l A have to be 208 00:13:55,675 --> 00:13:59,555 Speaker 1: in offices earlier. And all the people who loved him, 209 00:13:59,595 --> 00:14:02,035 Speaker 1: they had literally been staying up as late as they 210 00:14:02,075 --> 00:14:05,195 Speaker 1: could to watch him at ten fifty, and you put 211 00:14:05,275 --> 00:14:07,915 Speaker 1: him on at eleven thirty, All the people who liked 212 00:14:07,995 --> 00:14:15,155 Speaker 1: him are asleep less andy ten fifty pm and just 213 00:14:15,235 --> 00:14:19,155 Speaker 1: forty minutes later eleven thirty pm. They are different day parts. 214 00:14:20,355 --> 00:14:23,355 Speaker 1: What works in one will not necessarily work in the other. 215 00:14:23,755 --> 00:14:26,195 Speaker 1: And if ten fifty and eleven thirty are different day parts, 216 00:14:26,195 --> 00:14:29,155 Speaker 1: than seven am and six thirty pm are completely different 217 00:14:29,195 --> 00:14:35,395 Speaker 1: day parts. They hired her, nobody liked her, then nobody 218 00:14:35,395 --> 00:14:38,795 Speaker 1: watched her. Then they fired the news president Heyward, then 219 00:14:38,835 --> 00:14:45,835 Speaker 1: they fired her. But Dale King will save CNN at 220 00:14:45,955 --> 00:14:50,075 Speaker 1: night Owen Bill maher once a week Bill Maher, who 221 00:14:50,155 --> 00:14:55,235 Speaker 1: is older than I am. The national edifice is on fire, 222 00:14:55,435 --> 00:14:59,275 Speaker 1: and the two last hopes for a highly watched, consistent 223 00:14:59,675 --> 00:15:03,075 Speaker 1: seven liberal or moderate point of view on national television 224 00:15:03,475 --> 00:15:09,915 Speaker 1: or national stream ing or national whatever is turning to 225 00:15:10,115 --> 00:15:13,915 Speaker 1: run its operations and anchor its programs to a series 226 00:15:14,075 --> 00:15:19,435 Speaker 1: of the management and on air talent equivalence of James Buchanan, 227 00:15:20,155 --> 00:15:22,795 Speaker 1: the fift president of the United States, the one right 228 00:15:22,835 --> 00:15:25,795 Speaker 1: before the Civil War, the president when the first seven 229 00:15:25,875 --> 00:15:34,235 Speaker 1: Southern States seceded, Gail King, if you would like to 230 00:15:34,395 --> 00:15:41,515 Speaker 1: start seven liberal leaning news outlet streaming broadcast door to door, 231 00:15:41,915 --> 00:15:50,395 Speaker 1: give me a call, Gail Kang. This is CNN. By 232 00:15:50,435 --> 00:15:54,715 Speaker 1: the way, the letter I mentioned that Rachel Maddow read 233 00:15:54,755 --> 00:15:59,795 Speaker 1: on November imploring her not to cut back or to 234 00:15:59,955 --> 00:16:04,355 Speaker 1: just take some time and then come back five nights 235 00:16:04,355 --> 00:16:08,235 Speaker 1: a week, because she was necessary. She was perhaps the 236 00:16:08,315 --> 00:16:12,755 Speaker 1: last line of defense. I know about this letter because 237 00:16:13,435 --> 00:16:17,955 Speaker 1: I wrote this letter. By that time, Rachel and I 238 00:16:18,035 --> 00:16:22,715 Speaker 1: had not spoken in ten years and ten months. Nothing 239 00:16:22,955 --> 00:16:27,555 Speaker 1: was left of our friendship nor my mentorship. She refused 240 00:16:27,635 --> 00:16:32,515 Speaker 1: to do interviews about herself if she was going to 241 00:16:32,555 --> 00:16:36,235 Speaker 1: be asked about my role in starting her show, she 242 00:16:36,395 --> 00:16:39,995 Speaker 1: yelled at staffers who mentioned me. She blocked an NBC 243 00:16:40,115 --> 00:16:43,635 Speaker 1: proposal to have me rejoined MSNBC, either with Countdown or 244 00:16:43,715 --> 00:16:48,835 Speaker 1: as her Tuesday to Friday guest host. And after that, 245 00:16:49,395 --> 00:16:51,515 Speaker 1: when it was decided that I would not be going 246 00:16:51,595 --> 00:16:55,955 Speaker 1: back there, I wrote to her anyway humbly, and for me, 247 00:16:56,115 --> 00:16:59,075 Speaker 1: humbly takes a lot of work. I wrote to her 248 00:16:59,115 --> 00:17:03,035 Speaker 1: trying to underscore that the situation for the liberal point 249 00:17:03,075 --> 00:17:06,355 Speaker 1: of view in news was die and getting worse, and 250 00:17:06,555 --> 00:17:09,435 Speaker 1: by cutting back to one day a week she might 251 00:17:09,595 --> 00:17:13,995 Speaker 1: pretty much kill it off, which is what has happened. 252 00:17:15,955 --> 00:17:19,395 Speaker 1: But don't worry the absence of a viable liberal source 253 00:17:19,435 --> 00:17:23,315 Speaker 1: of seven televised or video news in this country, while 254 00:17:23,315 --> 00:17:27,115 Speaker 1: the number of such conservative sources has exploded past a hundred, 255 00:17:27,715 --> 00:17:33,435 Speaker 1: How could that be a problem this year or next year. Besides, 256 00:17:34,395 --> 00:17:39,395 Speaker 1: it will never happen. MSNBC has the answer more Bobard 257 00:17:39,475 --> 00:17:45,635 Speaker 1: and Gates and CNN has the answer. Gail King in 258 00:17:45,755 --> 00:18:06,715 Speaker 1: prime Time once a week, maybe still ahead. George Santos 259 00:18:06,755 --> 00:18:09,635 Speaker 1: steps away from his committee assignments, and Kevin McCarthy says 260 00:18:09,715 --> 00:18:11,995 Speaker 1: this is good. It will give Santos time to quote 261 00:18:12,795 --> 00:18:17,195 Speaker 1: clear everything up just when you thought you knew how 262 00:18:17,235 --> 00:18:21,075 Speaker 1: stupid Kevin McCarthy is in sports. When you're the most 263 00:18:21,075 --> 00:18:22,915 Speaker 1: hated team owner in New York, what do you do 264 00:18:22,995 --> 00:18:26,915 Speaker 1: to improve your image? Why? Higher pr genius Hope Picks. 265 00:18:27,595 --> 00:18:31,355 Speaker 1: I mean, look what Hope Picks did for Trump? Why 266 00:18:31,395 --> 00:18:33,915 Speaker 1: do he is doggon thing the CBS reporter to whom 267 00:18:33,995 --> 00:18:37,395 Speaker 1: somebody at the Justice Department leaked that documents had been 268 00:18:37,395 --> 00:18:39,795 Speaker 1: found at the Biden Center. Well, now she is a 269 00:18:39,835 --> 00:18:43,275 Speaker 1: news story that right after that, the President invited the 270 00:18:43,315 --> 00:18:46,635 Speaker 1: FBI to come search the Biden Center. Funny they didn't 271 00:18:46,675 --> 00:18:50,195 Speaker 1: mention that the first time, isn't it. Somebody screwed up 272 00:18:50,315 --> 00:18:53,995 Speaker 1: bad at this story? And since the President has gotten 273 00:18:54,035 --> 00:18:56,595 Speaker 1: hosed in the news media again, let me finally tell 274 00:18:56,795 --> 00:18:59,675 Speaker 1: his story the day Joe Biden took me out to 275 00:18:59,755 --> 00:19:03,795 Speaker 1: lunch and asked for my advice. Relax, it was a 276 00:19:03,875 --> 00:19:07,955 Speaker 1: two thousand been No actual national policies were injured in 277 00:19:07,995 --> 00:19:12,115 Speaker 1: the making of that lunch or this podcast. That's next. 278 00:19:12,195 --> 00:19:25,875 Speaker 1: This is countdown. This is countdown with Keith Olberman still 279 00:19:25,875 --> 00:19:28,795 Speaker 1: ahead on countdown that point guarded there. It looks a 280 00:19:28,795 --> 00:19:31,195 Speaker 1: little old to be on the JV team. I don't 281 00:19:31,235 --> 00:19:35,955 Speaker 1: believe she's just thirteen, she looks fourteen or how old 282 00:19:36,035 --> 00:19:39,915 Speaker 1: is she? Special announcement about this yere podcast and my 283 00:19:40,035 --> 00:19:42,995 Speaker 1: lunch with Senator Joe Biden and why he thought it 284 00:19:43,035 --> 00:19:46,115 Speaker 1: was a good idea. First, in each edition of Countdown, 285 00:19:46,195 --> 00:19:48,515 Speaker 1: we feature a dog in need you can help. Every 286 00:19:48,555 --> 00:19:51,555 Speaker 1: dog has its day to Staten Island, New York, and 287 00:19:51,635 --> 00:19:55,595 Speaker 1: a Kira. Akira is a big, beautiful, light brown husky 288 00:19:55,675 --> 00:19:58,675 Speaker 1: attacked by another dog with such force that both of 289 00:19:58,675 --> 00:20:01,435 Speaker 1: her front legs were fractured. There will have to be 290 00:20:01,475 --> 00:20:04,635 Speaker 1: surgery and rehab, and your donations will be gratefully accept 291 00:20:05,035 --> 00:20:07,395 Speaker 1: The CIA is also the companion of a young guy 292 00:20:07,475 --> 00:20:10,715 Speaker 1: with special needs, so you can imagine how distraught he is. 293 00:20:11,115 --> 00:20:13,915 Speaker 1: You can find a Kira on Cudley's website or on 294 00:20:13,995 --> 00:20:17,715 Speaker 1: my Twitter feeds. Your retweets of Akira will also be 295 00:20:18,155 --> 00:20:22,075 Speaker 1: a huge help. I thank you, and Akira thanks you. 296 00:20:45,955 --> 00:20:49,155 Speaker 1: Po scripts to the news, some headlines, some updates, some snarks, 297 00:20:49,155 --> 00:20:53,635 Speaker 1: some prediction. State Line Chicago, the same CBS reporter who 298 00:20:53,675 --> 00:20:56,235 Speaker 1: got the original leak from the Department of Justice. The 299 00:20:56,275 --> 00:21:00,275 Speaker 1: President Biden's lawyers had found classified documents in a safe 300 00:21:00,315 --> 00:21:05,275 Speaker 1: location inside his think tank broke another story yes today 301 00:21:05,275 --> 00:21:08,435 Speaker 1: that Biden promptly invited the FBI to do its own 302 00:21:08,515 --> 00:21:11,995 Speaker 1: search of the Penn Biden Center no search warrant necessary 303 00:21:12,155 --> 00:21:15,315 Speaker 1: right after the discovery, and the FBI did so within 304 00:21:15,435 --> 00:21:18,675 Speaker 1: days of the original fine and this somehow got left 305 00:21:18,795 --> 00:21:23,195 Speaker 1: out of the original reporting by Adriana Diaz and CBS 306 00:21:23,315 --> 00:21:30,115 Speaker 1: News Dateline, Washington Congressman elect your name here has stepped 307 00:21:30,155 --> 00:21:33,235 Speaker 1: away from his committee assignments temporarily, he says Congress and 308 00:21:33,235 --> 00:21:36,675 Speaker 1: George Santos that is his real name, met with the 309 00:21:36,675 --> 00:21:39,915 Speaker 1: head of the new McCarthy ism Monday, and per Kevin McCarthy, 310 00:21:40,075 --> 00:21:44,955 Speaker 1: Santos volunteered to recuse himself. One of the all time 311 00:21:45,155 --> 00:21:49,595 Speaker 1: great quotes has now ensued from McCarthy. It's quote the 312 00:21:49,635 --> 00:21:54,195 Speaker 1: appropriate decision for Santos to quote do until he could 313 00:21:54,235 --> 00:21:58,795 Speaker 1: clear everything up. So he's staying away from the committees 314 00:21:58,835 --> 00:22:01,995 Speaker 1: until he can clear everything up. That's gonna take him 315 00:22:02,035 --> 00:22:07,915 Speaker 1: through the year six dateline the Kremlin. Former Putin speechwriter 316 00:22:07,955 --> 00:22:12,355 Speaker 1: Abbas Kalyamov says that as Russian losses mount in Ukraine 317 00:22:12,355 --> 00:22:14,795 Speaker 1: and Western sanctions begin to hit home in the next 318 00:22:14,795 --> 00:22:19,315 Speaker 1: twelve months, he thinks Russia may experience a military coup. 319 00:22:32,155 --> 00:22:36,035 Speaker 1: Thank you, Nancy Faust. Military coup in Russia? Is that 320 00:22:36,155 --> 00:22:40,395 Speaker 1: necessarily a good idea? And dateline wherever you podcast? We 321 00:22:40,475 --> 00:22:44,115 Speaker 1: are six months old today. The premiere was August one, 322 00:22:44,715 --> 00:22:49,075 Speaker 1: and there's actual news. It became official last night. We 323 00:22:49,155 --> 00:22:52,595 Speaker 1: have crossed one of the podcasting fields benchmarks for the 324 00:22:52,635 --> 00:22:58,355 Speaker 1: first time, one million downloads in one month. To celebrate, 325 00:22:58,515 --> 00:23:01,715 Speaker 1: I'm happy to tell you this podcast will be for 326 00:23:01,755 --> 00:23:07,715 Speaker 1: the rest of the week free now charge right what 327 00:23:09,595 --> 00:23:13,115 Speaker 1: it is? Free? Well, that's the hell of a bargain. 328 00:23:14,515 --> 00:23:33,475 Speaker 1: Tell your friends this is SportsCenter. Wait, check that not anymore. 329 00:23:34,115 --> 00:23:40,475 Speaker 1: This is Countdown with Keith Alberman. Honestly, my thanks to 330 00:23:40,555 --> 00:23:44,595 Speaker 1: the mystery announcer there, and Nancy Faust and Brian Ray 331 00:23:44,635 --> 00:23:48,875 Speaker 1: and John Phillips Chanelle and all of the guest announcers 332 00:23:48,915 --> 00:23:52,115 Speaker 1: like Larry David and John Banks and everybody else who 333 00:23:52,155 --> 00:23:54,635 Speaker 1: has contributed something to the show, and Kenny Maine who 334 00:23:54,675 --> 00:23:58,195 Speaker 1: you just heard there. Everybody who's contributed to this podcast 335 00:23:58,235 --> 00:24:00,315 Speaker 1: and has made it such a great experience so far 336 00:24:00,995 --> 00:24:03,755 Speaker 1: six months. It's also like my third long, longest lasting job. 337 00:24:04,715 --> 00:24:06,915 Speaker 1: That's not true in sports. The rumor had been out 338 00:24:06,915 --> 00:24:09,675 Speaker 1: there for weeks in battled New York Rangers and Nicks 339 00:24:09,715 --> 00:24:12,995 Speaker 1: and Radio City music hall owner Jim Dolan, now in 340 00:24:13,035 --> 00:24:16,835 Speaker 1: the middle of a facial recognition technology scandal that might 341 00:24:16,915 --> 00:24:20,275 Speaker 1: cost him his liquor license and his forty three million 342 00:24:20,275 --> 00:24:23,715 Speaker 1: dollar year tax abatement. Rumor had been he had hired 343 00:24:24,075 --> 00:24:28,835 Speaker 1: to consult him in public relations. Of all people, Hope Hicks, 344 00:24:29,555 --> 00:24:33,435 Speaker 1: the former Trump spokesmodel, turns out to have been working 345 00:24:33,475 --> 00:24:36,875 Speaker 1: for him consulting for several weeks. According to The New 346 00:24:36,955 --> 00:24:40,955 Speaker 1: York Daily News and other sources, Hicks is saying nothing, 347 00:24:40,995 --> 00:24:43,835 Speaker 1: but her text after the coup attempt seems to fit 348 00:24:44,155 --> 00:24:46,475 Speaker 1: the one in which she claimed Trump had shot everybody's 349 00:24:46,555 --> 00:24:49,515 Speaker 1: job prospects to hell. Quote we all look like domestic 350 00:24:49,635 --> 00:24:53,995 Speaker 1: terrorists Now, she wrote, Well, Hope you got the right 351 00:24:54,035 --> 00:24:58,435 Speaker 1: new boss. And from Portsmouth, Virginia comes one of the 352 00:24:58,595 --> 00:25:04,675 Speaker 1: all times great sports stories. The girls junior varsity basketball 353 00:25:04,755 --> 00:25:08,075 Speaker 1: team at Churchland High School in Portsmouth was going to 354 00:25:08,115 --> 00:25:11,915 Speaker 1: have to play Nan Simon in a critical game on January. One, 355 00:25:12,595 --> 00:25:15,515 Speaker 1: one of its thirteen year old star players was going 356 00:25:15,555 --> 00:25:18,275 Speaker 1: to have to miss the game because she was going 357 00:25:18,315 --> 00:25:21,115 Speaker 1: to a tournament for the club team. She also played 358 00:25:21,155 --> 00:25:26,835 Speaker 1: on so assistant coach are Alicia Boykin's twenty two years 359 00:25:26,835 --> 00:25:31,875 Speaker 1: old had a stroke of genius. She wore the missing 360 00:25:31,995 --> 00:25:35,795 Speaker 1: players uniform number and pretended to be her and played 361 00:25:35,875 --> 00:25:38,835 Speaker 1: in the game twenty two year old woman posing as 362 00:25:38,875 --> 00:25:41,795 Speaker 1: a thirteen year old j V player, and she got 363 00:25:41,795 --> 00:25:44,995 Speaker 1: away with it until after the game anyway, she was 364 00:25:45,075 --> 00:25:48,355 Speaker 1: found out and fired, and the head coach was fired, 365 00:25:48,835 --> 00:25:51,635 Speaker 1: and so was the varsity head coach, and the players 366 00:25:51,715 --> 00:25:54,275 Speaker 1: on both teams the real players decided they could not 367 00:25:54,435 --> 00:25:57,235 Speaker 1: take the court again in good conscience, and they just 368 00:25:57,355 --> 00:26:00,715 Speaker 1: called off the rest of Churchilland's season. But there is 369 00:26:00,795 --> 00:26:03,235 Speaker 1: one more twist to this story, which I think is 370 00:26:03,275 --> 00:26:06,195 Speaker 1: just as fascinating as the idea that a two year 371 00:26:06,235 --> 00:26:08,875 Speaker 1: old woman got away with playing as a thirteen year 372 00:26:08,875 --> 00:26:12,795 Speaker 1: old j V basketball player. The executive director of the 373 00:26:12,915 --> 00:26:17,395 Speaker 1: Virginia High School League, Dr. Billy Hahn, oversaw the decisions 374 00:26:17,395 --> 00:26:20,795 Speaker 1: at Churchland after the impersonation, and it turns out Dr 375 00:26:20,875 --> 00:26:24,835 Speaker 1: Han knew exactly what to do here, because he says, 376 00:26:25,755 --> 00:26:28,435 Speaker 1: this is the second time in his seven years on 377 00:26:28,555 --> 00:26:32,955 Speaker 1: his job that a coach has impersonated a player. What 378 00:26:32,995 --> 00:26:35,715 Speaker 1: do you mean this is the second time? What the hell? 379 00:26:35,795 --> 00:26:38,635 Speaker 1: Kind of league you guys running. There is there heavy 380 00:26:38,675 --> 00:26:42,395 Speaker 1: wagering on the games? Do you have a TV contract 381 00:26:42,435 --> 00:26:46,435 Speaker 1: that's at stake for JV women's basketball twice in the 382 00:26:46,475 --> 00:26:49,195 Speaker 1: same high school league and just seven years. Just tell 383 00:26:49,235 --> 00:26:52,195 Speaker 1: me one thing, Dr Billy Han, Just tell me please 384 00:26:53,195 --> 00:27:10,635 Speaker 1: that it was not the same coach both times. Thank 385 00:27:10,675 --> 00:27:26,315 Speaker 1: you again, Nancy Faust. Now to the daily roundup of 386 00:27:26,315 --> 00:27:29,915 Speaker 1: the miscrants, morons, and dunning Krueger effect specimens who constitute 387 00:27:29,955 --> 00:27:34,635 Speaker 1: today's worst persons in the world. Lebronze Little Jesse Waters, 388 00:27:34,715 --> 00:27:37,595 Speaker 1: well known as the dumbest of all the Fox Nudes hosts. 389 00:27:38,355 --> 00:27:40,435 Speaker 1: You may recall he used to be the guy Bill 390 00:27:40,475 --> 00:27:44,675 Speaker 1: O'Reilly would send out to Harris Women reporters. Anyway, he 391 00:27:44,715 --> 00:27:46,955 Speaker 1: hosts a show now on Fox in which he appears 392 00:27:46,995 --> 00:27:50,195 Speaker 1: to understand roughly every third or fourth word he hears. 393 00:27:50,995 --> 00:27:54,595 Speaker 1: Last night, he outdumbed himself, though Biden said he'd probably 394 00:27:54,675 --> 00:27:57,835 Speaker 1: run for re election God willing. But God doesn't choose 395 00:27:57,835 --> 00:28:02,235 Speaker 1: our president. The FBI does. Apparently they have not told 396 00:28:02,275 --> 00:28:06,515 Speaker 1: Little Jesse about the developing Charles mcgonnical Trump Russia FBI 397 00:28:06,915 --> 00:28:10,275 Speaker 1: two thousand sixteen scandal. How right you are, Little Jesse 398 00:28:11,955 --> 00:28:17,675 Speaker 1: runner up Republican fundraiser Caroline Wren. When Matt Lap was 399 00:28:17,715 --> 00:28:20,555 Speaker 1: caught with his hands in another guy's pants, the other 400 00:28:20,595 --> 00:28:24,875 Speaker 1: guy being a herschel Walker campaign staffer, Caroline Wren raced 401 00:28:24,955 --> 00:28:29,155 Speaker 1: two slaps aid, denigrating the victim as a quote forty 402 00:28:29,195 --> 00:28:31,675 Speaker 1: four year old volunteer driver who has been fired from 403 00:28:31,755 --> 00:28:36,235 Speaker 1: multiple jobs for being a habitual liar. In a separate tweet, 404 00:28:36,315 --> 00:28:38,955 Speaker 1: she claimed the man was thirty nine, not forty four, 405 00:28:39,195 --> 00:28:44,035 Speaker 1: and had been fired from multiple campaigns. Neither version is true. 406 00:28:44,635 --> 00:28:49,315 Speaker 1: The victim is now already sued Schlap. Now the victim 407 00:28:49,355 --> 00:28:54,275 Speaker 1: is suing Wren for defamation, seeking half a million. But 408 00:28:54,315 --> 00:28:57,475 Speaker 1: our winner looks like Andrea Riseboro got away with it. 409 00:28:57,795 --> 00:29:02,915 Speaker 1: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scientists sciences or scientists, 410 00:29:03,315 --> 00:29:06,595 Speaker 1: although if you've seen movies recently, scientist is probably closer 411 00:29:06,635 --> 00:29:11,595 Speaker 1: to the right word. Anyway, The Academy will not resend 412 00:29:11,595 --> 00:29:15,715 Speaker 1: her nomination for Best Actress. After her film to Leslie 413 00:29:15,715 --> 00:29:18,955 Speaker 1: made twenty seven thousand dollars in its initial release in 414 00:29:18,995 --> 00:29:22,995 Speaker 1: October and made the top film lists of almost no critics, 415 00:29:23,355 --> 00:29:28,555 Speaker 1: the Academy began to examine the exhaustive social media campaign 416 00:29:28,635 --> 00:29:32,515 Speaker 1: that included praise of the movie and Andrew Risborrow's performance 417 00:29:32,555 --> 00:29:38,195 Speaker 1: from stars whose quotes all sounded suspiciously the same. The 418 00:29:38,195 --> 00:29:41,515 Speaker 1: Academy met yesterday and determined, quote, the activity in question 419 00:29:41,555 --> 00:29:43,915 Speaker 1: does not rise to the level that the film's nomination 420 00:29:43,955 --> 00:29:47,475 Speaker 1: should be rescinded. However, we did discover social media and 421 00:29:47,595 --> 00:29:51,835 Speaker 1: outreach campaigning tactics that caused concern. These tactics are being 422 00:29:51,835 --> 00:29:57,035 Speaker 1: addressed with the responsible parties directly unquote, well what does 423 00:29:57,075 --> 00:29:59,555 Speaker 1: that mean? What are you guys gonna do? Go to 424 00:29:59,595 --> 00:30:04,955 Speaker 1: the actual Oscar ceremony and slapper Oh right, I never 425 00:30:05,035 --> 00:30:11,155 Speaker 1: made Andrea. It's a major award. Rise Borro, two days 426 00:30:11,155 --> 00:30:17,195 Speaker 1: worst Parson, and I'm ready for my close up, Mr 427 00:30:17,315 --> 00:30:34,995 Speaker 1: Devil to the number one story on the countdown on 428 00:30:35,075 --> 00:30:38,195 Speaker 1: my favorite topic, me and things I promised not to tell. 429 00:30:38,875 --> 00:30:42,635 Speaker 1: Early in two thousand seven, my phone rang at MSNBC 430 00:30:42,755 --> 00:30:46,075 Speaker 1: headquarters in New Jersey. The Senator would like to take 431 00:30:46,115 --> 00:30:47,995 Speaker 1: you to lunch the next time he's in New York. 432 00:30:47,995 --> 00:30:50,755 Speaker 1: He needs your advice. Would you be interested? It was 433 00:30:50,835 --> 00:30:54,915 Speaker 1: Joe Biden's press guy. My first reaction was to ask 434 00:30:54,955 --> 00:30:58,075 Speaker 1: if they had called the wrong number. My next reaction 435 00:30:58,115 --> 00:30:59,515 Speaker 1: was to make sure this was not some sort of 436 00:30:59,555 --> 00:31:03,475 Speaker 1: policy question, because as a news anchor and commentator for MSNBC, 437 00:31:03,675 --> 00:31:06,395 Speaker 1: it did not seem appropriate to offer advice to a 438 00:31:06,435 --> 00:31:11,115 Speaker 1: candidate for his party's presidential nomination. And doesn't that seem 439 00:31:11,195 --> 00:31:15,395 Speaker 1: quite right now, Sean Hannity. No. I was told it 440 00:31:15,435 --> 00:31:20,355 Speaker 1: was more technical, more about communications, no policy, my antique 441 00:31:20,395 --> 00:31:23,595 Speaker 1: standards satisfied, I said sure. They gave me a couple 442 00:31:23,595 --> 00:31:26,435 Speaker 1: of dates. They suggested, given his schedule, the best place 443 00:31:26,435 --> 00:31:28,835 Speaker 1: to eat would be a restaurant in Manhattan, and it 444 00:31:28,875 --> 00:31:30,835 Speaker 1: turned out it happened to be about forty five seconds 445 00:31:30,875 --> 00:31:34,915 Speaker 1: from my home. So the day and hour arrived March 446 00:31:35,755 --> 00:31:38,515 Speaker 1: two thousand seven, and I made it to the restaurant 447 00:31:38,915 --> 00:31:41,355 Speaker 1: all the way down there, forty five seconds from my home. 448 00:31:41,795 --> 00:31:44,355 Speaker 1: I sat down, and moments later in came the Senator 449 00:31:44,395 --> 00:31:47,635 Speaker 1: from Delaware and his press guy. He had the big 450 00:31:47,675 --> 00:31:51,435 Speaker 1: welcoming smile and equally big welcoming handshake that you may 451 00:31:51,475 --> 00:31:54,035 Speaker 1: have seen from back when candidates could still go greet 452 00:31:54,035 --> 00:31:56,355 Speaker 1: the people in the crowd. He reminded me that we 453 00:31:56,355 --> 00:31:58,435 Speaker 1: had met briefly when he was in Los Angeles for 454 00:31:58,475 --> 00:32:01,435 Speaker 1: the two thousand Democratic convention and happened to be staying 455 00:32:01,435 --> 00:32:04,595 Speaker 1: in the hotel there in which I lived. Senator by 456 00:32:04,795 --> 00:32:07,155 Speaker 1: and then said some nice things about my days in sports, 457 00:32:07,155 --> 00:32:09,955 Speaker 1: and particularly about the commentaries I had begun to do 458 00:32:10,035 --> 00:32:15,275 Speaker 1: the previous summer on MSNBC. Those special comments, he said, 459 00:32:15,275 --> 00:32:19,155 Speaker 1: with first a smile and then a whistle. There was, 460 00:32:19,235 --> 00:32:21,875 Speaker 1: then and there remains now, almost no space between the 461 00:32:21,915 --> 00:32:25,555 Speaker 1: public Joe Biden of the campaign or the presidency, and 462 00:32:25,635 --> 00:32:28,675 Speaker 1: the guy who talks informally to some knucklehead off the streets, 463 00:32:28,675 --> 00:32:32,515 Speaker 1: which in this story is me. The word malarkey was 464 00:32:32,635 --> 00:32:35,195 Speaker 1: used during our lunch, and I remember that particularly because, 465 00:32:35,235 --> 00:32:36,955 Speaker 1: as I told him, I went to grammar school with 466 00:32:36,995 --> 00:32:40,435 Speaker 1: a kid named Malarkey. And he was delighted by that. 467 00:32:40,515 --> 00:32:42,075 Speaker 1: And he said, he assumed we gave the fellow a 468 00:32:42,075 --> 00:32:43,795 Speaker 1: hard time. And I said, yeah, but not because of 469 00:32:43,835 --> 00:32:47,155 Speaker 1: his name. None of us third graders knew what malarkey meant. 470 00:32:48,075 --> 00:32:49,955 Speaker 1: Why did you give him a hard time? Then Biden 471 00:32:49,995 --> 00:32:53,275 Speaker 1: asked it was the third grade. I said, everybody gave 472 00:32:53,315 --> 00:32:56,875 Speaker 1: everybody a hard time. He liked that answer. But back 473 00:32:56,915 --> 00:32:59,475 Speaker 1: to the point of the lunch. Your language in these 474 00:32:59,475 --> 00:33:03,835 Speaker 1: special comments, he said, in those days, people often brought 475 00:33:03,915 --> 00:33:07,315 Speaker 1: up my language. See I used to tell President Bush 476 00:33:07,355 --> 00:33:10,235 Speaker 1: to shut the hell up, only because they wouldn't let 477 00:33:10,275 --> 00:33:12,675 Speaker 1: me use the other word. And some of the events 478 00:33:12,675 --> 00:33:15,235 Speaker 1: of that presidency so infuriated me that I would actually 479 00:33:15,235 --> 00:33:19,435 Speaker 1: Redden on camera, and I don't Redden in a sauna. 480 00:33:20,155 --> 00:33:24,075 Speaker 1: Once my high school history teacher, a distinguished, an elegant 481 00:33:24,115 --> 00:33:27,355 Speaker 1: man whose nine older siblings had been born in Vienna 482 00:33:27,595 --> 00:33:31,755 Speaker 1: and who had the courtliness which that implies, mentioned the 483 00:33:31,875 --> 00:33:34,955 Speaker 1: language of the special comments, and I thought I was 484 00:33:35,075 --> 00:33:38,675 Speaker 1: in for it. He Walter Schneller, told me on the 485 00:33:38,715 --> 00:33:40,595 Speaker 1: day I had graduated, that my plans to be a 486 00:33:40,595 --> 00:33:42,955 Speaker 1: sportscaster were very nice, and he was sure I would 487 00:33:42,955 --> 00:33:44,515 Speaker 1: go and do that, but that he was also sure 488 00:33:44,515 --> 00:33:47,635 Speaker 1: that I would wind up in politics someday, either as 489 00:33:47,715 --> 00:33:50,995 Speaker 1: reporter or combatant. And I told him I was flattered, 490 00:33:51,075 --> 00:33:54,795 Speaker 1: but he was crazy. Mr Schneller was the one who, 491 00:33:54,875 --> 00:33:57,475 Speaker 1: years later was put in charge of the school's surprisingly 492 00:33:57,515 --> 00:34:02,155 Speaker 1: generous fund for bringing in speakers to address the student body, 493 00:34:02,315 --> 00:34:04,155 Speaker 1: and he was very annoyed by the fact that, for 494 00:34:04,315 --> 00:34:07,475 Speaker 1: decade Aids all of the speakers that either looked like 495 00:34:07,955 --> 00:34:11,595 Speaker 1: Hugh Sidy, the columnist for Time magazine, or they had 496 00:34:11,675 --> 00:34:15,515 Speaker 1: been Hugh Siety, the columnist for Time Magazine. He began 497 00:34:15,635 --> 00:34:19,195 Speaker 1: scouring the Northeast for anybody's smart who might have a 498 00:34:19,315 --> 00:34:23,315 Speaker 1: diverse background, and that's how he happened to be driving 499 00:34:23,355 --> 00:34:25,915 Speaker 1: to the railroad station at Terrytown, New York, one morning 500 00:34:25,955 --> 00:34:30,195 Speaker 1: in to meet the train that carried that day's guest speaker, 501 00:34:30,755 --> 00:34:33,835 Speaker 1: an editor of the Harvard Law Review named Barack Obama. 502 00:34:34,955 --> 00:34:38,155 Speaker 1: His last words to Obama were, I'm sure you're going 503 00:34:38,195 --> 00:34:42,075 Speaker 1: to go very far. So Mr Schneller and I were 504 00:34:42,075 --> 00:34:45,635 Speaker 1: talking about the commentaries again about two thousand six or seven, 505 00:34:45,675 --> 00:34:49,435 Speaker 1: and he said about the language, and I braced myself 506 00:34:49,475 --> 00:34:53,955 Speaker 1: and preemptly apologized, No, no, He said urgently, you missed 507 00:34:53,955 --> 00:34:57,035 Speaker 1: my point entirely. I am amazed that your language is 508 00:34:57,075 --> 00:35:00,795 Speaker 1: so restrained. If I were speaking, I'd have called Mr 509 00:35:00,795 --> 00:35:04,675 Speaker 1: Bush a And thereupon Mr Schneller made reference to somebody's mother. 510 00:35:06,035 --> 00:35:10,595 Speaker 1: So when Joe Biden asked about the language I used, 511 00:35:10,635 --> 00:35:13,035 Speaker 1: I was wary, but he followed it by saying that 512 00:35:13,075 --> 00:35:15,315 Speaker 1: it was kind of why he had asked me to lunch. 513 00:35:16,155 --> 00:35:18,995 Speaker 1: I watched those commentaries you do, and people send me 514 00:35:19,035 --> 00:35:21,795 Speaker 1: the video and my staffers tell me about them, and 515 00:35:21,875 --> 00:35:24,235 Speaker 1: every time I think the same thing. Here you are 516 00:35:24,275 --> 00:35:27,755 Speaker 1: expressing anger, but as close as it comes to the line, 517 00:35:27,875 --> 00:35:29,835 Speaker 1: you never cross it. I say to my staff, folks, 518 00:35:29,955 --> 00:35:32,195 Speaker 1: is he too angry for you? And they say no, 519 00:35:32,755 --> 00:35:35,915 Speaker 1: just right. So here's my question, and then we can 520 00:35:36,075 --> 00:35:39,475 Speaker 1: enjoy this great lunch. Here. When I'm passionate about something 521 00:35:39,475 --> 00:35:41,595 Speaker 1: and I speak on the Senate floor or anywhere else, 522 00:35:41,675 --> 00:35:44,075 Speaker 1: I get told by my friends and my enemies, you're 523 00:35:44,075 --> 00:35:47,115 Speaker 1: too angry. And when I really am angry, they all say, 524 00:35:47,275 --> 00:35:50,955 Speaker 1: you're really too angry. And here, Joe Biden laughed. Now 525 00:35:50,995 --> 00:35:55,035 Speaker 1: you you go on TV, far larger audience, far longer speeches, 526 00:35:55,075 --> 00:35:59,235 Speaker 1: and people say that Alderman guy, he's righteously indignant. And now, 527 00:35:59,235 --> 00:36:02,595 Speaker 1: with a mixture of laughter, astonishment and curiosity, said me, 528 00:36:03,595 --> 00:36:09,875 Speaker 1: I'm angry. You you're righteously indignant. How do you do that? 529 00:36:10,675 --> 00:36:12,395 Speaker 1: How do you do it? Man? Can you tell me? 530 00:36:14,035 --> 00:36:20,035 Speaker 1: Without thinking? I replied, you have been in the Senate 531 00:36:20,115 --> 00:36:23,995 Speaker 1: for how long? Now, Senator thirty four years? He nodded. 532 00:36:25,595 --> 00:36:31,035 Speaker 1: And you're only just asking this question now. The words 533 00:36:31,035 --> 00:36:33,875 Speaker 1: were barely out of my mouth when I froze. This 534 00:36:33,955 --> 00:36:36,075 Speaker 1: was not a friend or a colleague who would take 535 00:36:36,075 --> 00:36:38,875 Speaker 1: the little joking jab I had just thrown in the 536 00:36:38,915 --> 00:36:43,555 Speaker 1: way in which I intended this was a politician. Politicians 537 00:36:43,595 --> 00:36:45,755 Speaker 1: may have senses of humor, very few have a sense 538 00:36:45,755 --> 00:36:49,955 Speaker 1: of humor about themselves. In that split second, I assumed 539 00:36:50,035 --> 00:36:53,635 Speaker 1: Joe Biden might get up and leave. And he was 540 00:36:53,795 --> 00:36:56,355 Speaker 1: silent for a moment, and then the corners of his 541 00:36:56,395 --> 00:36:59,555 Speaker 1: mouth turned up into my great relief, he burst into laughter. 542 00:36:59,955 --> 00:37:02,955 Speaker 1: He rocked back into his chair. He slapped the table 543 00:37:02,995 --> 00:37:06,035 Speaker 1: with a palmp. My god, that's fine. Me more laughter, 544 00:37:06,195 --> 00:37:10,715 Speaker 1: My god, it's true, louder laughter. I don't mind telling 545 00:37:10,755 --> 00:37:14,075 Speaker 1: you I have loved him ever since. I didn't think 546 00:37:14,115 --> 00:37:17,395 Speaker 1: I had much advice for Senator Biden, but as we 547 00:37:17,435 --> 00:37:19,915 Speaker 1: talked about this topic, he asked me follow up questions 548 00:37:19,915 --> 00:37:22,235 Speaker 1: that made me analyze for the first time some of 549 00:37:22,235 --> 00:37:26,435 Speaker 1: the processes I used when writing and reading on television. 550 00:37:26,475 --> 00:37:28,635 Speaker 1: I've never thought of them before because I've never had 551 00:37:28,715 --> 00:37:31,675 Speaker 1: lunch with Joe Biden before. I will not bore you 552 00:37:31,755 --> 00:37:34,155 Speaker 1: with the full results of the dissection of the process 553 00:37:34,195 --> 00:37:38,075 Speaker 1: of turning anger into righteous indignation. The most valuable conclusion 554 00:37:38,115 --> 00:37:40,555 Speaker 1: was the oldest one in the book. I always wrote 555 00:37:40,595 --> 00:37:42,835 Speaker 1: late at night while fully angry, and then in the 556 00:37:42,835 --> 00:37:46,035 Speaker 1: morning I would take things out of the script, usually 557 00:37:46,475 --> 00:37:51,075 Speaker 1: the juicier adjectives. Whatever anger was left, it was only 558 00:37:51,115 --> 00:37:53,875 Speaker 1: the most intense and the most justifiable. And if you 559 00:37:54,035 --> 00:37:57,035 Speaker 1: presented twenty four hours after you have written it, you'll 560 00:37:57,035 --> 00:38:00,235 Speaker 1: be in control of the anger. Your anger will not 561 00:38:00,275 --> 00:38:04,515 Speaker 1: be in control of you. Shorter version, sleep on it. 562 00:38:06,755 --> 00:38:09,515 Speaker 1: I saw the senator next. In August of two thousand 563 00:38:09,595 --> 00:38:12,995 Speaker 1: seven Democratic primary debate the A F L C I 564 00:38:13,075 --> 00:38:17,595 Speaker 1: O candidates for him officially Soldier Field, Chicago was outdoors 565 00:38:18,795 --> 00:38:27,035 Speaker 1: degrees humidity, threat of killer thunderstorms, Obama, Clinton, Biden, Dodd Richardson, 566 00:38:27,155 --> 00:38:31,875 Speaker 1: Cucinach Edwards, and the moderator me. There are photos of 567 00:38:31,875 --> 00:38:34,475 Speaker 1: this Joe Biden and I walking towards each other, hands 568 00:38:34,515 --> 00:38:37,635 Speaker 1: extended for a greeting, and I remember it clearly. He 569 00:38:37,715 --> 00:38:39,915 Speaker 1: is literally asking me if I've noticed that he's been 570 00:38:39,955 --> 00:38:42,675 Speaker 1: trying to turn his anger into righteous indignation, and he's 571 00:38:42,715 --> 00:38:46,395 Speaker 1: asking me if I thought he'd succeeded. Well, he did 572 00:38:46,435 --> 00:38:49,955 Speaker 1: not succeed in that debate. He actually came over to 573 00:38:50,075 --> 00:38:52,475 Speaker 1: me during the commercial break and told me what he 574 00:38:52,555 --> 00:38:55,035 Speaker 1: was going to do when we came back and I 575 00:38:55,075 --> 00:38:58,635 Speaker 1: told him, don't do that, and he did it anyway 576 00:38:58,955 --> 00:39:00,755 Speaker 1: and it looked bad. And later he let me know 577 00:39:00,875 --> 00:39:03,875 Speaker 1: I was right and he was wrong. And since then 578 00:39:03,955 --> 00:39:09,755 Speaker 1: I can't call him being angry, certainly not inappropriately angry. 579 00:39:10,435 --> 00:39:14,435 Speaker 1: Not even in those debates with that goddamn madman. His 580 00:39:14,595 --> 00:39:19,155 Speaker 1: words were harsh, the tone was less so perfect eight plus. 581 00:39:20,395 --> 00:39:23,275 Speaker 1: But it occurs to me in all the analysis of 582 00:39:23,395 --> 00:39:26,875 Speaker 1: all the changes in Joe Biden since day one, in 583 00:39:27,915 --> 00:39:30,955 Speaker 1: three or even the vice presidency, nobody touches on this 584 00:39:31,035 --> 00:39:34,475 Speaker 1: one thing. As late as fifteen years ago, he seemed 585 00:39:34,515 --> 00:39:38,115 Speaker 1: to be a hothead. When was the last time he 586 00:39:38,155 --> 00:39:41,115 Speaker 1: was accused of that. I'm not saying I had anything 587 00:39:41,155 --> 00:39:45,755 Speaker 1: to do with that, But two years in and he's 588 00:39:45,795 --> 00:39:50,275 Speaker 1: not even accused of being a hothead. It's an awfully 589 00:39:50,395 --> 00:40:07,875 Speaker 1: nice change, isn't it. Countdown has come too from the 590 00:40:07,915 --> 00:40:11,395 Speaker 1: studios of Olderman Broadcasting Empire World headquarters in the Sports 591 00:40:11,475 --> 00:40:15,595 Speaker 1: Capsule Deuilding in New York. Thanks for listening. Here are 592 00:40:15,635 --> 00:40:17,715 Speaker 1: the credits. Most of the music, including our theme from 593 00:40:17,715 --> 00:40:21,595 Speaker 1: Beethoven's Ninth, was arranged, produced, and performed by John Philip 594 00:40:21,595 --> 00:40:24,435 Speaker 1: s Chanelle and Brian Ray. They are the Countdown musical directors. 595 00:40:24,955 --> 00:40:28,795 Speaker 1: All orchestration and keyboards by John Philip Chanelle, guitars, bass 596 00:40:28,795 --> 00:40:31,915 Speaker 1: and drums by Brian Ray, produced by t k O Brothers. 597 00:40:32,635 --> 00:40:35,195 Speaker 1: Other Beethoven selections have been arranged and performed by the 598 00:40:35,235 --> 00:40:39,035 Speaker 1: group No Horns Allowed. The sports music is the Alderman 599 00:40:39,115 --> 00:40:41,115 Speaker 1: theme from the ESPN two. It was written by Mitch 600 00:40:41,155 --> 00:40:45,955 Speaker 1: Warren Davis Fierce Courtisy ESPN Inc. Musical comments throughout by 601 00:40:46,035 --> 00:40:49,515 Speaker 1: Nancy Faust. The best baseball stadium organist ever. Our announcer 602 00:40:49,555 --> 00:40:52,835 Speaker 1: today was Keny Maine. Everything else pretty much my fault. 603 00:40:53,515 --> 00:40:56,115 Speaker 1: So let's countdown for this the seven and fifty seventh 604 00:40:56,155 --> 00:40:59,475 Speaker 1: day since Donald Trump's first attempted coup against the democratically 605 00:40:59,475 --> 00:41:03,235 Speaker 1: elected government of the United States. Arrest him now while 606 00:41:03,275 --> 00:41:06,915 Speaker 1: we still can. The next scheduled countdown is tomorrow. Until that, 607 00:41:06,995 --> 00:41:10,675 Speaker 1: I'm Keith Alderman. Good morning, good afternoon, goodnight, and good luck. 608 00:41:20,315 --> 00:41:23,915 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Alderman is a production of I heart Radio. 609 00:41:24,195 --> 00:41:27,115 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the i 610 00:41:27,235 --> 00:41:31,595 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.