1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Can'f I am six forty. You're listening to the John 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: Cobelt podcast on the iHeartRadio apps. 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 2: I have Alex Michaelson. But welcome to the John Coblt Show. 4 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 2: I am so honored to be filling in for the 5 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 2: first time for John. You usually see me anchoring on 6 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 2: Fox eleven weeknights at five, six, and ten pm. I 7 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 2: also host the statewide political show The Issue Is And 8 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 2: this is the first time that I have ever hosted 9 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 2: a radio show. 10 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 3: And Deborah Mark. 11 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,639 Speaker 2: I know, usually people start off on like a weekend 12 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 2: in the middle of the country, somewhere at some strange hour, 13 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 2: and to be starting out on one of the biggest 14 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 2: radio shows in the country, filling in for one of 15 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: the most iconic broadcasters of all time opposite you is humbling, 16 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 2: exciting and a little scary. 17 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 4: Well you do have just a little bit of experience 18 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 4: that I'm just kidding. Well, yeah, you're on TV in LA, 19 00:00:57,800 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 4: so there's the exception. 20 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, well this is welcome. What's your advice for me 21 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: for today? 22 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 4: You know what, just be yourself. I think Shannon said that, 23 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 4: just be yourself. That's I mean. People like to hear 24 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 4: real people, and you know, what to do. I mean, 25 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 4: you're on TV. I don't think you really need a 26 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,119 Speaker 4: whole lot of help. I mean radio is obviously people 27 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 4: aren't seeing you, so it's just about your voice and 28 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 4: what you're saying, and I think that just just be yourself. 29 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 2: It's it. It's going to be a lot of fun. 30 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,639 Speaker 2: We've got a lot of big stuff to talk about today. 31 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 2: Part of what I'm excited about is the opportunity to 32 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 2: bring so many of my friends and favorite people into 33 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 2: the discussion. So we've got an absolutely packed show with 34 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 2: some incredible guests today. Among them, we've got Harvey Levin 35 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 2: from TMZ, Raymond Arroyo talk about the Pope. Conan Nolan 36 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 2: is going to be calling in as well to talk 37 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 2: about politics. Catherine Barger, the La County Supervisor, is going 38 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 2: to be with us. Jovon Buja of the Athletic is 39 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 2: going to be talking about the Lakers. My pal Marlteez 40 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 2: is going to be chiving in talking about being a 41 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 2: new mom, my friend Bill Mlusion from Fox News talking 42 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 2: about immigration, Melanie Mason of Politico talking about Mayor Bass 43 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 2: and the state of the city, and later on, my 44 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: man Tim Conway, Junior Ding Dong with you is going 45 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:18,959 Speaker 2: to be with us as well, so we're going to 46 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: have an opportunity to interact with all of them throughout 47 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 2: the day. We've got a couple really big stories that 48 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 2: we're following today. Obviously, the death of Pope Francis, one 49 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 2: of the most iconic popes of our lifetime, who really 50 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: changed the concept of the papacy and made so many 51 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 2: changes to the way that the Catholic Church operates. We're 52 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 2: going to be delving into what that means and also 53 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 2: what happens now. So many people saw the movie Conclave 54 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 2: and have a sense of that, I don't think that's 55 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: exactly what's going to be happening behind the scenes. We're 56 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: going to get into that as well. The other big 57 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 2: breaking news of this hour is Mayor Karen just delivering 58 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 2: the state of the City address in downtown and most 59 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 2: importantly talking about what she's gonna do with her budget. 60 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 2: She's got a billion dollar shortfall and so she has 61 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: to close that and she's announcing specifics on how exactly 62 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 2: that's going to go and what that means for you 63 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 2: and me. So we're going to talk about that in 64 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 2: detail as well. But let's kick things off with one 65 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: of my favorite people, Harvey Levin, who is the man 66 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 2: behind TMZ also the host of TMZ Live, which I've 67 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 2: been so lucky to fill in a lot on lately 68 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 2: and get to go back and forth with him. So 69 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: I wanted to start off with him and bring him 70 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 2: into the conversation. Harvey, thanks so much for joining. 71 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 5: Hey, Alex, I gotta tell you radio is the best medium. 72 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 3: Yes, better than GV Yes. 73 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 5: And you're gonna love it. And you're a you're already 74 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 5: doing great, but radio absolutely my favorite medium. 75 00:03:58,160 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: I mean, the only negative is we don't get to 76 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 2: see your attractive face, but that's okay. 77 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 3: Well, just imagine. 78 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 5: How much more it is, so much more fun because 79 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 5: there's no pretense with all the filters and just the 80 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 5: fact that you're on TV. So what it's like, it's 81 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 5: what you say and how you say it that matters. 82 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:23,040 Speaker 5: And that's why radio to me, captures it better than 83 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 5: any other medium. 84 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,359 Speaker 2: It is, it is the best. I'm so excited. So 85 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 2: let's kick things off though. As part of the breaking 86 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: news of this hour is this state of the city. 87 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 2: And I know you're probably not in the weeds of 88 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 2: all the La City budget stuff, but You've got such 89 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: a smart take on LA politics at a larger level. 90 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: How would you describe the state of the City of 91 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:44,600 Speaker 2: Los Angeles right now? 92 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 5: Well, I define it by how we handle a crisis, 93 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 5: and I just think we felt way shorter than the 94 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 5: billion dollars shortfall that we're dealing with the budget on 95 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 5: right now that you know, I think our response to 96 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 5: this calamity with the fires in Pacific Palistates and Altadena, 97 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 5: it was just anemic, and you know it continues. I mean, 98 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 5: there are so many people and I'm sure you know 99 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 5: them who are really just suffering right now, trying to 100 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 5: deal with insurance companies, trying to figure out where to live, 101 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,239 Speaker 5: you know, the fact that they were just wiped out. 102 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:32,679 Speaker 5: And I am just not feeling that leadership anywhere, even 103 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 5: during the calamity. But you know, the cult just because 104 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 5: the fire is out doesn't mean the crisis is over, 105 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 5: and it's not. And I'm just so disappointed just generally 106 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 5: in the way everything's been handled and just looking at 107 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 5: people who are just frustrated because it takes a mental 108 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 5: toll as much as anything else. And I know so 109 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 5: many people right now who are really suffering, who aren't 110 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 5: getting the help and yeah, I mean, I don't know 111 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 5: how to make up the billion dollars shortfall, but I 112 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 5: do think that leadership just generally hasn't been there. 113 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 2: Do you think that Mayor Bass can turn things around? 114 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 2: I mean, because this speech today is a lot about 115 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 2: rebirth and starting over again and you know the idea 116 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 2: of grit and we're going to get through this together. 117 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 2: Can she turned the corner? Can people get behind her? 118 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:25,359 Speaker 2: And if so, what would your advice to her be? 119 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 5: Yeah? I mean, listen, we are an etcher sketch society 120 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 5: where you know, things can be you know, go horribly wrong, 121 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 5: and then somebody does something that's different and out of 122 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 5: the box, and all of a sudden you erase the 123 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 5: bad because we have very short term memories in this country. 124 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 5: And so sure, but I don't think that people are 125 00:06:49,520 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 5: going to say, oh my god, look at line item 126 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 5: thirty two in the budget, look what she did. I 127 00:06:53,880 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 5: think it's got to be bigger and bolder. And I 128 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 5: think that starts and ends with Pacific Palisades and Alta 129 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 5: Dina right now, because that is the catastrophe that we 130 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 5: haven't dealt with, and until that's dealt with, in a 131 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 5: really bold effective way I don't see it. 132 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 2: And on top of that, you've also got homelessness, which 133 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 2: still hasn't really been dealt with that people are reminded 134 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 2: of each and every day. So let's also talk about 135 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 2: another big thing that you're all over, which is the 136 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 2: Menendez brother's case. 137 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 5: Uh. 138 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:28,679 Speaker 2: First off, you know you're mister celebrity obviously a TMZ. 139 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 2: Why do you think that the Menendez brothers, who aren't 140 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 2: even really celebrities, they're only famous for killing their parents, 141 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 2: have gotten so much more attention than real celebrities. 142 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 5: Well, they are celebrities, yeah, I mean if you look 143 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 5: at what a celebrity is in you know, in our society, 144 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 5: a celebrity can be infamous just the way they can 145 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 5: be you know, a great singer or a great actor, 146 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 5: they are celebrities. I mean OJ Simpson, for better or worse, 147 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 5: was a celebrity more because of the murders, yeah, than 148 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 5: anything else. I mean, you know, if OJ Simpson, you know, 149 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:16,040 Speaker 5: in twenty fifteen, hadn't done what he did, you know 150 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,720 Speaker 5: he'd be this Heisman Trophy winner, you know, who was 151 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 5: also an actor, but never would have gotten the connection 152 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 5: that he got because of what happened. So, yeah, the 153 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 5: Menendez brothers are celebrities. They were young, rich, spoiled kids 154 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 5: who did something absolutely horrific that got played out first 155 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 5: like it was a mafia hit and then it turned 156 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 5: out to be them and has all the elements of 157 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 5: a real life soap opera. And yes, they are celebrities. 158 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:49,480 Speaker 5: So I'm not like, I don't look at them as outliers. 159 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 5: They're right in the sweet spot of celebrity. I know 160 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 5: that sounds crazy, but they are. 161 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 2: Well, you've agreed to stay with us, and when we 162 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,200 Speaker 2: come back, we're going to talk about your take on 163 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 2: what happens to the Menendez brothers as somebody who's been 164 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 2: talking to them behind bars. Plus, I know you've got 165 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 2: something to say about Tulci Gabbard and RFK, which we're 166 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 2: going to make some news on. I have a feeling 167 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 2: you're about to go off, so you don't want to 168 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 2: miss what Harvey does when he's back with us. 169 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 3: In just a few moments. 170 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 6: You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI AM 171 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 6: six forty. 172 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,200 Speaker 2: We continue our conversation now with Harvey Levin, the founder 173 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,680 Speaker 2: of TMZ. Harvey is on TMZ on Fox eleven every 174 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,640 Speaker 2: day at seven o'clock, TMZ Live at four pm. He 175 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 2: also was the host of this great documentary called The 176 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 2: Menendez Brothers The Prison Interview where Harvey and his co 177 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,720 Speaker 2: host on the Two Angry Men podcast, Mark Garrigos, who 178 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 2: happens to be the Menendez brother's attorney, had this prison 179 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:54,520 Speaker 2: interview with the Menendez brothers and Harvey really saw for 180 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:59,199 Speaker 2: his perspective how the brothers had changed dramatically in their 181 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,960 Speaker 2: thirty five years behind bars. But Harvey, can you update 182 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 2: people in terms of where we're at, because we saw 183 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 2: all this back and forth legality wise and hearing wise. 184 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 2: But you say it's all about Governor Newsom right now? 185 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:15,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean I think it is. So. Look, there 186 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:19,719 Speaker 5: is a re sentencing hearing right now Eric Lyleman, and 187 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 5: is a serving life without the possibility of parole. The 188 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 5: resentencing would be to take away without the possibility of parole. 189 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 5: If that were to happen, then the both Eric and 190 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 5: Lyle would be eligible to go before the parole board 191 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 5: and they would decide have they been rehabilitated and do 192 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 5: they pose a risk? Their findings would then go to 193 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 5: the governor, and the governor would make a decision. But 194 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:47,120 Speaker 5: the reality is the governor has already done that. The 195 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,240 Speaker 5: Governor's already asked the Parole Board to do this, so 196 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,120 Speaker 5: to me, and you know, I actually talked to Gerrikus 197 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 5: about this. He agrees that just resentencing them is irrelevant. 198 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:01,359 Speaker 5: The only reason this hearing is relevant and is Garrigos 199 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 5: is also going to ask the judge to change the 200 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:10,760 Speaker 5: conviction from murder to manslaughter. If the judge were to 201 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 5: do that, they would instantly go free without a parole hearing. 202 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 5: But the resentencing itself, to me, is kind of irrelevant. 203 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 5: What is interesting the judge put it off because there 204 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:27,560 Speaker 5: was a skirmish in court late last week where the 205 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 5: DA Nathan Hawkman, said that he was in possession of 206 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:36,439 Speaker 5: the Parole Board's risk assessment findings. Now I am told 207 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 5: Geregos did not even have a copy of that. Hawkman 208 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 5: didn't say what was in the report, but kind of 209 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:51,000 Speaker 5: symbolically waived it, and they ultimately said they want time 210 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 5: for Geigos to get a copy and read it. So 211 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 5: I don't know what it says, but I think that 212 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 5: parole boards got to decide if they get out, would 213 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 5: they pose a danger. I don't really see that, but 214 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:05,360 Speaker 5: that report's going to be really important. 215 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:07,960 Speaker 2: And you've talked with them, I know you feel like 216 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 2: they've changed. But it's an interesting moment for Governor Newsom, 217 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 2: who you know, may or may not be running for 218 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 2: president already. How about may Yeah, maybe running for president already. 219 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 2: And this issue is is really fifty to fifty So 220 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: a lot of politicians don't like to weigh in on 221 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:26,559 Speaker 2: fifty to fifty. 222 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 5: Issues, I know, and Newsome, you know, calculates things. So 223 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:35,080 Speaker 5: this to me is a really bold move that he's 224 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 5: doing this, because I think he's going to piss off 225 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 5: half the people whichever way he goes. And the fact 226 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,880 Speaker 5: that he decided to short circuit everything and not just 227 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 5: wait for the court to decide, but to take the 228 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 5: reins himself really surprised me for the very reason you said. 229 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,000 Speaker 3: And you think he eventually is going to let him out, well, I. 230 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 5: Think it depends on what the proleboard says. Yeah. Look, 231 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,839 Speaker 5: I've talked to Eric in Lyle a couple of times, 232 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 5: and they are different people from the people I covered 233 00:13:06,640 --> 00:13:11,320 Speaker 5: way back during that murder trial. They are just different people. 234 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,960 Speaker 5: And you know what impressed me was they had no 235 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 5: hope of getting out when they did a lot of 236 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 5: things like I don't know, hospice programs, suicide prevention programs, 237 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 5: rehabilitating other inmates, starting a green space program. They did 238 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 5: a lot of things that they where they weren't going 239 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 5: to get any credit because they weren't never going to 240 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 5: get out. This just this new thing is just a 241 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,440 Speaker 5: year and a half old. So I got to say 242 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 5: they impressed me. 243 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 7: They did. 244 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 2: We're talking with Harvey Levin, the founder of TMZ. This 245 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 2: is Alex Michaelson filling in for John Cobalt. And when 246 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 2: I filled in with you on TMZ Live, there's always 247 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 2: one or two topics that you just want to sound 248 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:58,600 Speaker 2: off on, and sometimes I just say, let Harvey go. 249 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 2: So apparently until that topic. Today is the Director of 250 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 2: National Intelligence, Telsea Gabbard, releasing ten thousand pages about Robert F. 251 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 2: Kennedy's assassination, the father's assassination for the first time Trump administration, 252 00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:16,839 Speaker 2: saying promises made, promises kept. 253 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 3: What say you, Harvey Levon? 254 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 5: So Chelsey Gabbert came out yesterday and said there is 255 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 5: information in these ten thousand pages that suggests that there 256 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 5: might have been a conspiracy to kill Robert Kennedy, and 257 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 5: she pointed to a woman who supposedly ran out of 258 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 5: the Ambassador Hotel on June fourth, actually it was early 259 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 5: in the morning for June fifth, nineteen sixty eight, screaming 260 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 5: we got him, we shot him, we shot him. And 261 00:14:56,440 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 5: she pointed to that as something that was really important 262 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 5: and material to all of this. Here's the deal. I 263 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 5: was at the Ambassador that night, and there was somebody 264 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 5: else there. Her name is Valerie Shulti, and Valerie Shulty 265 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 5: was actually a classmate of mine at UCSB, and Valerie 266 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 5: was that girl. It was back in the day. What 267 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 5: they said was a girl in the polka dot dress 268 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 5: ran out of the Ambassador screaming we shot him. It 269 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 5: was Valerie. Valerie worked for Robert Kennedy. She did not 270 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 5: scream we shot him. She screamed they shot him. Somebody 271 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 5: heard it wrong, and it was cleared up very shortly 272 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 5: after the assassination that this is what happened. I knew her, 273 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 5: she was a classmate, and she was she loved Robert Kennedy. 274 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 5: So that was is just a mistake that was easily 275 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,080 Speaker 5: If you google it, you'll see, oh. 276 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:05,720 Speaker 7: It was a mistake. 277 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 5: It is to me kind of endemic of when you 278 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 5: have a little information and a lot of power, that 279 00:16:14,840 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 5: can be a really dangerous thing. But to kind of 280 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 5: float this thing like, oh my gosh, this is evidence 281 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 5: of the conspiracy. It wasn't. 282 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:27,440 Speaker 2: Wow, well proof that Harvey Levin is a bit like 283 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 2: Forrest Gump and in every single historical moment last that's amazing. 284 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 3: It just means I'm old, oh yeah, no more than that, Harvey. 285 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 2: It means so much that you would call in on 286 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 2: my first time doing a radio show and to do 287 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:45,840 Speaker 2: it with you is awesome. 288 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 3: And thank you Harvey for your insight. Really appreciate it. 289 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:51,440 Speaker 5: Congratulations. I hope we don't lose you to radio because 290 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:52,479 Speaker 5: it's intoxicating. 291 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 2: Whoever's going to pay the most, I think that's what 292 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 2: we're going to go there, you go, all right, Thank you, Harvey. 293 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 6: You're listening to John Cobelts on demand from KFI AM 294 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 6: six forty. 295 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 2: I'm Alex Michaelson filling in for John from Fox eleven 296 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:12,920 Speaker 2: Los Angeles. Usually can hear me weeknights at five, six 297 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 2: and ten o'clock on Fox eleven. Speaking of Fox, we 298 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 2: want to bring in a Fox News contributor, right now 299 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 2: Raymond or Royo to talk about the death of Pope Francis. 300 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 2: He's somebody who specializes in covering the Vatican. He's a 301 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 2: proud Catholic who talks eloquently about these issues. He's also 302 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 2: host of a podcast called a Royal Grande for iHeartMedia. Raymond, 303 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,040 Speaker 2: thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate it. 304 00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 7: Oh, Alex, my honor, thank you for. 305 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 2: A Can you describe, I guess, as concisely as you can, 306 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 2: what you'd see as Pope Francis's legacy. 307 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 7: Legacy, you know, it's a complex one, Alex, and I've 308 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 7: covered you know, this is my third conclave. I'm going 309 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,360 Speaker 7: into it. I knew the previous Pope Benedict in John 310 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,880 Speaker 7: Paulstek personally, I mean, had dinners with him and conversed 311 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 7: with them regularly, and you know, it was a close relationship. 312 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 7: Pope Francis. I wasn't as close, but certainly covered all 313 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 7: of his major events almost thirteen years of his vapacy. 314 00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 7: It's complex in this way, Alex. On the surface, he 315 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 7: was a beautiful symbol of humility moving, you know, a 316 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 7: pope moving out to people who perhaps were overlooked or 317 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:30,640 Speaker 7: ignored in the past, and that would include immigrants, LGBT, 318 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:35,919 Speaker 7: two members of that community, people who felt estranged from 319 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 7: the church, who were in broken marriages and hadn't reconciled yet. 320 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 7: He reached out in a very tangible way to those 321 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 7: groups in a lovingly fatherly embrace, and that was beautiful 322 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 7: to witness and watch no matter where. He went, right 323 00:18:50,280 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 7: up into the very end. When you saw him yesterday, 324 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 7: literally hours before he died, gick getting on the popemobile, 325 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:02,439 Speaker 7: waving at people, blessing them, touching babies, spending the time, 326 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 7: you know, connecting with his flock. So that is one 327 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 7: face of his legacy and probably the popular vision of 328 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 7: Pope Francis. On the other hand, the internal vision I 329 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 7: think for a lot of Catholics they saw of Pope 330 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 7: Francis once total group of young people. Alexis is a 331 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 7: kind of key into his papacy. He said, go into 332 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 7: the world and make a mess, and when you look 333 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:29,359 Speaker 7: back on his papacy, that may have been a key 334 00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 7: to understanding it. He would take issues of controversy, of 335 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 7: female ordination or in some cases you know, climate change 336 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 7: and climate activists and bring them into the church, but 337 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 7: sort of open up issues that have been settled and 338 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 7: throw them onto the floor in the middle of the 339 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 7: room and say, okay, let's have a big tussle about this. Everybody, 340 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 7: come on in, let's let's have a conversation about this. 341 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 7: He liked that mess and that tumult, and that was 342 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,280 Speaker 7: sort of his way of governing and feeling his way 343 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,720 Speaker 7: through these issues. But along the way it produced a 344 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 7: lot of confusion in the church, I think, acrimony, and 345 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:07,919 Speaker 7: some of his decisions were not widely embraced because they 346 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 7: were departures from traditional Catholic teaching and certainly from his predecessors. 347 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 7: And that would be things like the liturgy. You know, 348 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 7: he didn't like the old Latin liturgy that Benedict brought back. 349 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:23,000 Speaker 7: He didn't like the formal smells and bells. And the 350 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 7: fact is you go groups of young people now who 351 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,160 Speaker 7: are coming to the church because they want that tradition, 352 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:33,120 Speaker 7: they want that solidity and the history that that's founded upon. 353 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:37,679 Speaker 7: And so there's that tension in Pope Benedict's prop bendic 354 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 7: in Pope Francis's legacy, between someone who reached out to 355 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,679 Speaker 7: the peripheries and somebody who at times knocked over the 356 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 7: blocks and upset a lot of people inside. 357 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 2: The church, I mean, And a big part of it 358 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 2: I think is also going to be defined by what 359 00:20:52,240 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 2: comes next, Like, for example, President Biden's legacy is to 360 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:00,040 Speaker 2: really kind of shot because President Trump came in and 361 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 2: basically evaporated it right away. In terms of what is 362 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,400 Speaker 2: most likely to come next in terms of the conclave, 363 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 2: and obviously we don't know yet and that's all done 364 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 2: behind closed doors and all the rest of it. But 365 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,120 Speaker 2: is the most likely thing to see a pope in 366 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 2: this Francis Mold or is it to go back to 367 00:21:19,800 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 2: more like a Benedict. 368 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 7: Well, you know my inclination. The word on the street 369 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 7: is Pope Francis appointed eighty percent of the cardinals in 370 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 7: this college of cardinals, among those whatever one hundred and 371 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 7: thirty eight men who go going into the Systin Chapel, 372 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:38,719 Speaker 7: eighty percent of the more appointed by Pope Francis. So 373 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 7: I think some kind of you know, drive by commentators 374 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:43,679 Speaker 7: are going to say, oh, well it's already baked and 375 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 7: you're going to get another Francis. I would say, hold 376 00:21:46,000 --> 00:21:49,119 Speaker 7: the phone. For this reason, one these cardinals don't know 377 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 7: each other. Alex Unlike Benedict and John Paul, who brought 378 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 7: the cardinals regularly together, so they had a synods that 379 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,239 Speaker 7: were only cardinals where they could talk, eat together, get 380 00:22:00,280 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 7: to know each other, have conversations about what was happening 381 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,719 Speaker 7: in the church. Francis has not done any of that. 382 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 7: In fact, his synod, when he called groups together, it 383 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 7: was laid people with a hand selected group of cardinals, 384 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 7: so it was only a small group. So this college 385 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 7: has really not regularly met. The second part is, unlike 386 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 7: John Paul and Benedict, who chose men, vetted men and 387 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 7: chose them based on the ideological and doctrinal vision that 388 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 7: they had, so they reflected the pope's vision, Francis really 389 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 7: didn't do that. Many of his pics are just kind 390 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 7: of again, it's a mess, it's off the cuff, it's freelance. 391 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 7: He would meete a guy for Morocco. This is a 392 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 7: true story. Fifty four year old missionary for Morocco. He 393 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 7: likes the guy who impresses him. A few days later 394 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 7: he makes him a cardinal. The guy is a smaller 395 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 7: diocese than one parish in New York City. It's like 396 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 7: a thousand people in the diocese but he's a cardinal, 397 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 7: he'll be voting in this conflict. But it turns out 398 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 7: this guy as wach war on Islam and has been 399 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 7: up against with his backup against the wall in Morocco. 400 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 7: So that man is probably not ideologically where Pope Francis was. 401 00:23:11,359 --> 00:23:13,560 Speaker 7: So I think there are a lot of wild cards here. 402 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 7: The two principal ones are these men were not vetted, 403 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:19,320 Speaker 7: they're not alike in any way, And two, they don't 404 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 7: know each other, meaning and you said it earlier, Alex, 405 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:26,160 Speaker 7: that was the real key to this is the predecessor 406 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 7: really determines who his successor is. I would argue Barack 407 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 7: Obama created Donald Trump. Right. If it weren't for Barack Obama, 408 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:35,960 Speaker 7: you wouldn't have had Donald Trump he was his. 409 00:23:36,840 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 3: And you wouldn't have had Barack Obama without George W. Bush. 410 00:23:40,680 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 7: Right, They all follow each other. 411 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 2: So, but in the in terms of the in terms 412 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 2: of the American presidencies, it's almost always the opposite of 413 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:53,040 Speaker 2: the predecessor is what happens next, And it very interesting 414 00:23:53,040 --> 00:23:54,879 Speaker 2: to see if that's what happens in terms of the 415 00:23:54,920 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 2: papacy as. 416 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,439 Speaker 7: Well, And it might happen, it might not. But my 417 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:00,919 Speaker 7: guess is it will. But you have to take an 418 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 7: honest appraisal of what the last hope really did. And 419 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 7: I think it's hard when look, when someone dies, the 420 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:09,639 Speaker 7: first thing you want to do is to honor their memory. 421 00:24:09,920 --> 00:24:12,160 Speaker 7: And that's what we're doing this week. But next week, 422 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,159 Speaker 7: I think they'll be Once PO Francis is very I 423 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:18,080 Speaker 7: think there'll be an honest conversation about what he did, 424 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,719 Speaker 7: what he didn't do. The sex abuse. His sex abuse 425 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 7: record is very, very checkered, because I guess a nice 426 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:27,680 Speaker 7: way to put it, I won't get into it now, 427 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 7: but it's not pretty. And I've covered this stuff so 428 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 7: intensely and closely. I've talked to the victims, and I've 429 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 7: kind of seen the judicial procedures that were cast aside 430 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 7: Alex that's just not it was really poorly handled. Whether 431 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:46,560 Speaker 7: he knew of some of these or not, but many 432 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 7: of these people with his friends. So that's another conversation. 433 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:52,719 Speaker 7: But the cardinals will have these kinds of conversations and 434 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 7: that will determine whoever the man is to succeed PO friends. 435 00:24:56,240 --> 00:24:59,719 Speaker 2: And we will follow you along that entire journey on 436 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:03,520 Speaker 2: Fire News on your podcast or Royal Grande and your 437 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 2: social media all over the place at Raymond Arroyo. Thank 438 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 2: you so much for calling in on a really busy 439 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 2: day for you really valuable, valuable perspective. 440 00:25:14,280 --> 00:25:16,399 Speaker 7: I love your work. I see it whenever I'm in 441 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:21,439 Speaker 7: Los Angeles and we even carried your Kamala Harrison, So 442 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:23,240 Speaker 7: I'm a huge fan of you. 443 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 2: Thank you very much. It's first time talking with you 444 00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 2: and that means a lot. And up next, somebody I've 445 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 2: talked to a lot who taught me most of what 446 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 2: I know. Conan Nolan of NBC is going to be 447 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:34,160 Speaker 2: a joining us. 448 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:39,399 Speaker 6: You're listening to John Cobelt on demand from KFI Am 449 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 6: six forty. 450 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 2: Alex Michaelson filling in for John Cobalt on the John 451 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 2: Cobelt Show. So when they said to me that I 452 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:49,479 Speaker 2: could invite on whoever I wanted, I wanted to invite 453 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:53,640 Speaker 2: on this next guest because I wouldn't be me without him. 454 00:25:54,119 --> 00:25:58,000 Speaker 2: Conan Nolan, who is the political reporter at KNBC Channel four, 455 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:02,880 Speaker 2: host of news conference at nine am on NBC four, 456 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 2: is one of my main mentors in my career. I 457 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 2: spent two years interning with him. Because we work at 458 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:12,239 Speaker 2: competing stations, we never get to be on together. So 459 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 2: I thought it'd be fun to use this loophole as 460 00:26:14,800 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 2: a way to be on with him. Conan Nolan, Welcome 461 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:18,959 Speaker 2: to the show, Alex. 462 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 8: How are you? And let me set the record straight. 463 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,439 Speaker 8: This is what you're doing now was in your DNA. 464 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 8: I was privileged to have you as the intern. I 465 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:30,320 Speaker 8: didn't teach you anything, if anything, you'd taught me. But anyhow, 466 00:26:30,320 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 8: thanks for having me. 467 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:35,920 Speaker 3: Well what did I teach you? No, go let's get let's. 468 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:36,680 Speaker 7: Work, that's for sure. 469 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 8: I mean, you're not somebody that you don't teat your 470 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,600 Speaker 8: own horn. But the listener should know there's never been 471 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 8: somebody who works harder at this business than you. And 472 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:48,600 Speaker 8: I have forty years of experience, so I know that. 473 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,159 Speaker 8: But anyhow, checks. 474 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 3: And the mail. Thank you. 475 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:56,920 Speaker 2: Let's talk though about you know, Conan is a proud Catholic. 476 00:26:56,960 --> 00:26:59,560 Speaker 2: I know you've covered popes in the past. You've covered 477 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:02,760 Speaker 2: Poe that the Vatican in the past. Your thoughts on 478 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,280 Speaker 2: the on the passing of Pope Francis. 479 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 8: Well, you know, I hate to put it through uh 480 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 8: through the prism of my own family, but I have 481 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 8: a niece who worked at the Vatican. She was an 482 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,480 Speaker 8: English language editor for the Vatican News Service. A family 483 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 8: member used to be. I'm senior at the Vatican. He 484 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:22,040 Speaker 8: was a chief latinust if they love of Francis, they 485 00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:26,200 Speaker 8: they thought he was terrific. He was kind, he was compassionate. Uh, 486 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 8: he understood the complexities of the faith. And I have 487 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 8: a very conservative brother who is has his own sort 488 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:41,960 Speaker 8: of uh faith based uh uh effort within the church, 489 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 8: who thought he was too conservative, and I don't. I 490 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 8: don't think they thought well of him. So the faith 491 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:54,960 Speaker 8: is the Catholic Church is very divided over over Pope Francis, 492 00:27:55,119 --> 00:28:00,639 Speaker 8: particularly for example, over his comments about LGBTQ. Pope didn't 493 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 8: change the church's approach to homosexuality, but at the same 494 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 8: time he condemned any kind of discrimination against them. He 495 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 8: said they're children of God. Famously once said that when 496 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:17,560 Speaker 8: when asked I believe about about same sex marriage, he says, 497 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,800 Speaker 8: who am I to judge? Right? Well, and that really that. 498 00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:25,280 Speaker 2: Always seemed like an odd thing to say, because isn't 499 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:26,880 Speaker 2: that kind of the job. 500 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:28,520 Speaker 7: What it is? 501 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,640 Speaker 2: That's like going to Chief Justice John Robertson saying who 502 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:33,399 Speaker 2: am I to judge? Like, isn't that part of the 503 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:34,640 Speaker 2: whole gig. 504 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 8: Right, you're the vicar of Christ, You're supposed to speak 505 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:41,280 Speaker 8: for Jesus and so yeah, and and here's the other 506 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:43,720 Speaker 8: element to that is that there's a school thought that 507 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,760 Speaker 8: says that the pope can liberalize the uh, the liturgy, 508 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 8: you'll become a move the church to the left, but 509 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 8: you're not going to pick up members that way. You will, 510 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 8: you'll get support, say from the political left of the 511 00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 8: United States, but the people and I think Raya Royal 512 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 8: sort of mentioned this in your previous interview, that the 513 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,840 Speaker 8: people who are lining up to join the church, younger people, 514 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 8: they're interested in the structure. They're more conservative than they 515 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 8: are liberal. In fact, the New York Post has an 516 00:29:12,680 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 8: article today about Maga Catholics and so yeah, that's part 517 00:29:19,800 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 8: of the reason why there are plenty of Catholics in 518 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:29,200 Speaker 8: the United States didn't welcome the pope's device, but are 519 00:29:29,240 --> 00:29:30,680 Speaker 8: looking forward to new leadership. 520 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 2: And it's really interesting when we see gen Z in 521 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 2: this country. Politically, a lot of them are lining up 522 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:39,840 Speaker 2: towards Republicans, which has not always been the case. So 523 00:29:39,880 --> 00:29:44,040 Speaker 2: there is some interesting things happening with younger people who 524 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,840 Speaker 2: come from a different perspective But let's talk about local 525 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 2: politics for a moment, though, because that's really your area 526 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:52,200 Speaker 2: of expertise. Mayor Karen Bass with her State of the 527 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 2: City sort of arguing that the state the city is back, 528 00:29:56,760 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 2: how would you describe the state of the city right now? 529 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:06,280 Speaker 8: Well, it was and it was a it was coincidental, 530 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 8: but not a good good moment for her to get 531 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 8: the state of the city speech when somebody is hacking 532 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:15,680 Speaker 8: down trees on Grand Avenue downtown in a in a 533 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 8: in an element of vandalism the likes of which we 534 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:20,640 Speaker 8: didn't even think of. Who's going to walk around with 535 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 8: a with a chainsaw to cutting down trees? And and 536 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:26,240 Speaker 8: I think that's sort of emblematic of the way most 537 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:30,080 Speaker 8: people uh see the current state of the city. And 538 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 8: I have to tell you, Alex, the the trip to 539 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:37,360 Speaker 8: Africa will be will haunt her forever. And I'm of 540 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,680 Speaker 8: the opinion that whereas the fact that she was out 541 00:30:40,680 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 8: of town wasn't the problem, people understand it's a global city. 542 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 8: She'd been out again, there's a. 543 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 2: Lot of people that didn't like that she was out 544 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 2: of town and the fact that she was in Africa, 545 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 2: but go. 546 00:30:49,760 --> 00:30:54,239 Speaker 8: Ahead, right, But more importantly, it's it's the fact that 547 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:56,520 Speaker 8: she was in Africa and she was there not for 548 00:30:56,600 --> 00:30:59,440 Speaker 8: the city but for Joe Biden. And it also made 549 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 8: the message that she was whether this is this is 550 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:07,280 Speaker 8: fair or not. She sent the message that she was 551 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 8: pining for her old job, which she's had a lot 552 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 8: of time on just because to Africa, and that's the 553 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:17,960 Speaker 8: relationship she had with the president of Ghana, and that 554 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 8: she was less interested in the job she had, which 555 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:25,400 Speaker 8: is perhaps why again it's just the perception. Staff didn't 556 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 8: want to talk her out of the trip because they 557 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:30,640 Speaker 8: knew she wanted to go so bad. So there's somebody 558 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:33,240 Speaker 8: on her staff had to know that the nshal Weather Service, 559 00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 8: which Fox eleven NBC four were predicting high winds, dangerously 560 00:31:39,520 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 8: high winds, and they didn't tell her or they didn't say, 561 00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 8: you know, this is a bad time to go, because 562 00:31:45,360 --> 00:31:47,840 Speaker 8: they thought she really wanted to go. That I think 563 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 8: is the worst part of all this, that her head, 564 00:31:51,040 --> 00:31:54,200 Speaker 8: the perception was her head's not in the game, that 565 00:31:54,240 --> 00:31:56,720 Speaker 8: she really didn't she doesn't want. 566 00:31:56,560 --> 00:31:58,240 Speaker 7: To be the mayor. 567 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:00,680 Speaker 8: She'd rather be dot in Congress. 568 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 2: And it either either didn't tell her or they did 569 00:32:04,440 --> 00:32:06,960 Speaker 2: tell her and she lied about that, and neither one 570 00:32:07,080 --> 00:32:11,600 Speaker 2: is good because the scenario that there's a real communication 571 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:14,400 Speaker 2: problem within the office that she wouldn't be told that 572 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:17,640 Speaker 2: is quite a stunning thing if you think about it, 573 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:19,840 Speaker 2: and it's going to be something that she's going to 574 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:23,640 Speaker 2: have to work towards, you know, as she tries for reelection, 575 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:26,360 Speaker 2: real quick, thirty seconds to wrap things up Conan. 576 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:31,640 Speaker 8: Right, And by the way, she hasn't fired anybody other 577 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:35,280 Speaker 8: than the fire chief, and so if there was somebody 578 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:38,960 Speaker 8: who knew what the whether services would say and didn't 579 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 8: tell her, that person should be dismissed. So I'm just again, 580 00:32:44,120 --> 00:32:45,880 Speaker 8: this is going to foddle her all the way to 581 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:49,240 Speaker 8: the real act. Will she be reelected, Will she run? Yeah, 582 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:54,840 Speaker 8: she's she's a Democrat, very good chance of the Democratic city. 583 00:32:55,040 --> 00:32:57,360 Speaker 8: But I think Rick Caruso is lining up to run 584 00:32:57,360 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 8: for a second time at a try. 585 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 3: You think he's going to run for mayor, not for governor. 586 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 8: Based on its last week new leadership at city Hall. 587 00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 8: I think he is taking a look at his chances 588 00:33:11,320 --> 00:33:13,800 Speaker 8: in and I think he's going to run again for man. 589 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:18,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, it's certainly an easier path for him to 590 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 2: run for mayor. Than it would be potentially to run 591 00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 2: for governor. But we'll talk more about that race a 592 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,480 Speaker 2: little bit later on with Melanie Mason from Politico. But 593 00:33:25,520 --> 00:33:29,160 Speaker 2: in the meantime, Conan Nolan, I love you, Thank you 594 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:32,840 Speaker 2: for everything you are the man. I love you too. 595 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:34,720 Speaker 8: Keep up the great work and talk to you s. 596 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:36,959 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. How cool is that? Conan? 597 00:33:37,040 --> 00:33:40,760 Speaker 2: All right, Debora Mark and the KFI twenty four hour Newsroom. 598 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:42,720 Speaker 2: Up next in our Top of our hour, we're going 599 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:45,040 Speaker 2: to be talking with Katherin Barger, the La County Supervisor. 600 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:46,280 Speaker 2: But now to Debor Mark. 601 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 1: Hey, you've been listening to the John Cobalt Show podcast. 602 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:51,840 Speaker 1: You can always hear the show live on KFI Am 603 00:33:51,880 --> 00:33:54,840 Speaker 1: six forty from one to four pm every Monday through Friday, 604 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:58,160 Speaker 1: and of course anytime on demand on the iHeartRadio app.