1 00:00:04,755 --> 00:00:08,995 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:22,315 --> 00:00:25,835 Speaker 1: Fifty years ago, I read a line from the baseball 3 00:00:25,915 --> 00:00:29,995 Speaker 1: historian Harold Seymour about the president of a mortally wounded 4 00:00:30,075 --> 00:00:33,555 Speaker 1: nineteenth century baseball league, and it has stuck with me 5 00:00:33,675 --> 00:00:37,555 Speaker 1: ever since. Henry V. Lucas resembled a person with his 6 00:00:37,755 --> 00:00:41,475 Speaker 1: arms full of packages, trying to retrieve them as they fell. 7 00:00:42,075 --> 00:00:45,155 Speaker 1: Each time he reached for one, he dropped one or 8 00:00:45,195 --> 00:00:48,955 Speaker 1: two more, and so never quite succeeded in recovering them all. 9 00:00:50,195 --> 00:00:54,795 Speaker 1: Donald Trump right, Trump's packages keeps spill into that pavement. 10 00:00:55,155 --> 00:00:59,395 Speaker 1: Trumpian Package number one by four Eastern last night, Long 11 00:00:59,515 --> 00:01:02,435 Speaker 1: before even his own cook political report would officially call 12 00:01:02,515 --> 00:01:06,795 Speaker 1: the race the impeccable election, analyst Dave Wasserman issued is 13 00:01:06,835 --> 00:01:10,115 Speaker 1: now cherished call of I've seen enough, and he gave 14 00:01:10,155 --> 00:01:13,875 Speaker 1: the Georgia runoff to Senator Rafael Warnock. Nine minutes later, 15 00:01:13,915 --> 00:01:16,675 Speaker 1: long before his New York Times made an official prediction, 16 00:01:16,995 --> 00:01:21,195 Speaker 1: It's figure, Philbert Nate Cohn added, we think Raphael Warnock 17 00:01:21,355 --> 00:01:25,195 Speaker 1: is on track to win, and however disturbing the volume 18 00:01:25,355 --> 00:01:28,595 Speaker 1: of votes Walker actually got may turn out to be 19 00:01:28,955 --> 00:01:32,595 Speaker 1: one of those parts of Georgia like like one endless 20 00:01:32,715 --> 00:01:36,995 Speaker 1: loop of the movie Deliverance. As disturbing as that thought is, 21 00:01:37,435 --> 00:01:41,835 Speaker 1: this will be three final Senate votes in Georgia in 22 00:01:41,995 --> 00:01:45,875 Speaker 1: just over two calendar years, all won by the Democrats, 23 00:01:46,115 --> 00:01:48,475 Speaker 1: the first one giving the party control of the Senate 24 00:01:48,595 --> 00:01:53,355 Speaker 1: and the second expanding its margin in Georgia, defeating Donald 25 00:01:53,395 --> 00:01:59,475 Speaker 1: Trump's handpicked village idiot. Three consecutive repudiations of Trump, just 26 00:01:59,675 --> 00:02:02,795 Speaker 1: at the Senate level, just in the state of Georgia. 27 00:02:03,635 --> 00:02:07,035 Speaker 1: I wonder how they will explain this to Herschel. I 28 00:02:07,075 --> 00:02:10,835 Speaker 1: don't mean that metaphorically nor analytically. I literally mean how 29 00:02:10,875 --> 00:02:14,075 Speaker 1: are they gonna make Herschel understand what has happened? As 30 00:02:14,155 --> 00:02:17,475 Speaker 1: one Twitter wag phrased it last night, quote feel bad 31 00:02:17,515 --> 00:02:21,355 Speaker 1: for Herschel Walker really thought he was the lying, violent, disturbed, 32 00:02:21,395 --> 00:02:27,355 Speaker 1: brain damaged Texan. Georgia needed Trumpian package number two. I 33 00:02:27,395 --> 00:02:30,075 Speaker 1: am still not fully convinced that the Special Council isn't 34 00:02:30,075 --> 00:02:35,155 Speaker 1: another Merrick Garland slow walk. But Jack Smith is clearly 35 00:02:35,195 --> 00:02:38,115 Speaker 1: not just sitting there. In fact, missed in the news 36 00:02:38,235 --> 00:02:41,995 Speaker 1: yesterday that he has subpoenaed local election officials in Arizona, Michigan, 37 00:02:41,995 --> 00:02:45,115 Speaker 1: and Wisconsin for records of any contact with Trump and 38 00:02:45,155 --> 00:02:48,555 Speaker 1: the Trump campaign and assorted Trump henchman. Is the fact 39 00:02:48,635 --> 00:02:52,075 Speaker 1: that last time we heard anything about Smith's remit, he 40 00:02:52,115 --> 00:02:56,395 Speaker 1: was supposedly prosecuting the one six coup attempt and Marilago. 41 00:02:57,115 --> 00:03:00,755 Speaker 1: Whatever he is doing, Smith has clearly expanded his field 42 00:03:00,795 --> 00:03:04,915 Speaker 1: of investigation to now include electoral interference like the I 43 00:03:05,035 --> 00:03:07,835 Speaker 1: just want to find eleven thousand, seven eight votes crime 44 00:03:07,875 --> 00:03:10,995 Speaker 1: in Georgia and maybe even the fake elector's scheme. To 45 00:03:12,195 --> 00:03:15,915 Speaker 1: drilling down a little into Package number two. What is 46 00:03:15,955 --> 00:03:19,635 Speaker 1: also fascinating about the subpoenas is a the time frame 47 00:03:20,155 --> 00:03:23,675 Speaker 1: any contact between the local Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin officials 48 00:03:23,835 --> 00:03:30,955 Speaker 1: and the Trumpists from June one to January and be 49 00:03:31,315 --> 00:03:35,795 Speaker 1: the list of those correspondents actual low profile Trump campaign 50 00:03:35,795 --> 00:03:39,835 Speaker 1: attorneys like Justin Clark and Matthew Morgan, but also the 51 00:03:39,995 --> 00:03:45,435 Speaker 1: array of nut job conspiracy theorists John Eastman, Rudy Giuliani, 52 00:03:45,795 --> 00:03:51,515 Speaker 1: Clita Mitchell, and Sydney Powell, Trumpian Package number three falling 53 00:03:51,515 --> 00:03:53,915 Speaker 1: to the ground. Okay, for all of the effectiveness of 54 00:03:53,955 --> 00:03:58,035 Speaker 1: its presentation during its hearings, the January six Committee has 55 00:03:58,075 --> 00:04:01,675 Speaker 1: not exactly shown the same kind of slickness in terms 56 00:04:01,875 --> 00:04:06,395 Speaker 1: of this little question of criminal referrals. First Chairman Bennie 57 00:04:06,395 --> 00:04:09,835 Speaker 1: Thompson said they had decided to make them. Everybody printed 58 00:04:09,875 --> 00:04:13,195 Speaker 1: that story yesterday. Then he said they had decided to 59 00:04:13,555 --> 00:04:16,715 Speaker 1: probably make them, but weren't sure how many. Then he 60 00:04:16,795 --> 00:04:20,075 Speaker 1: said they had decided that criminal referrals will happen, but 61 00:04:20,195 --> 00:04:23,435 Speaker 1: they weren't sure for who. Then he said the committee 62 00:04:23,435 --> 00:04:27,035 Speaker 1: was meeting virtually last night to settle this. This is embarrassing, 63 00:04:27,395 --> 00:04:31,675 Speaker 1: this undermines credibility. But none of the self contradicting options 64 00:04:31,715 --> 00:04:34,995 Speaker 1: that Thompson spat out included no, we're not going to 65 00:04:35,075 --> 00:04:38,875 Speaker 1: refer criminally. Somebody ramped it up one more notch by 66 00:04:38,915 --> 00:04:40,515 Speaker 1: asking him if there is a list of who the 67 00:04:40,515 --> 00:04:44,075 Speaker 1: committee might make criminal referrals on if it goes ahead 68 00:04:44,115 --> 00:04:48,515 Speaker 1: and makes them as he said it will or probably will, 69 00:04:49,115 --> 00:04:53,875 Speaker 1: or has decided to but hasn't decided to yet. Thompson said, 70 00:04:53,875 --> 00:04:56,155 Speaker 1: of course, yes, but I can't give them to you 71 00:04:56,315 --> 00:05:01,635 Speaker 1: right now. A Trumpian package number four. It took a 72 00:05:01,675 --> 00:05:04,275 Speaker 1: New York jury just a day to convict the Trump 73 00:05:04,355 --> 00:05:08,275 Speaker 1: Organis Station on all seventeen counts of tax fraud and 74 00:05:08,395 --> 00:05:12,835 Speaker 1: other charges. Trump executives got off the books, perks, apartments, 75 00:05:13,035 --> 00:05:20,995 Speaker 1: luxury cars, even free cable television. Wow, free cable? What 76 00:05:21,155 --> 00:05:27,235 Speaker 1: a perk provided? This is? Anyway, the jury did not 77 00:05:27,355 --> 00:05:31,115 Speaker 1: buy the Trump defense that chief financial officer Alan Weislberg 78 00:05:31,195 --> 00:05:33,955 Speaker 1: did this just for himself. In fact, to convict under 79 00:05:33,955 --> 00:05:36,515 Speaker 1: New York state law, they had to believe he did 80 00:05:36,555 --> 00:05:39,315 Speaker 1: this for the company's benefit as well. Trump of course 81 00:05:39,395 --> 00:05:45,155 Speaker 1: responded by issuing a statement blaming Weislberg Trumpian Package number 82 00:05:45,195 --> 00:05:49,875 Speaker 1: five Rona McDaniel's surprise. Now, Seriously, it's one thing to 83 00:05:49,875 --> 00:05:53,075 Speaker 1: have members of the fascist establishment turned their backs on 84 00:05:53,115 --> 00:05:56,515 Speaker 1: Trump like the Murdocks. It's quite another to have shameless, 85 00:05:56,875 --> 00:06:01,235 Speaker 1: spineless opportunists and former Trump loyalists like Rona do so 86 00:06:01,795 --> 00:06:04,475 Speaker 1: laying the groundwork for the Georgia runoff last night. She 87 00:06:04,675 --> 00:06:07,475 Speaker 1: in on Fox News yesterday and came as close as 88 00:06:07,515 --> 00:06:10,875 Speaker 1: she practically can without dropping out of the race for 89 00:06:10,915 --> 00:06:15,955 Speaker 1: the chairmanship to blaming Trump in advance for herschel Walker's loss. Quote. 90 00:06:16,555 --> 00:06:20,835 Speaker 1: There were many in saying don't vote by mail unquote, 91 00:06:20,875 --> 00:06:24,995 Speaker 1: she means Trump. Quote, don't vote early. She means Trump, 92 00:06:25,315 --> 00:06:28,235 Speaker 1: and we have to stop that. And she means Trump 93 00:06:28,275 --> 00:06:33,035 Speaker 1: there too, Trumpian Package number six, his written threat to 94 00:06:33,235 --> 00:06:36,955 Speaker 1: terminate the Constitution, or his denial that he wrote what 95 00:06:37,475 --> 00:06:41,795 Speaker 1: you know he wrote, or his slightly reworded threat to 96 00:06:41,795 --> 00:06:44,115 Speaker 1: do the same damn thing. None of those are going 97 00:06:44,155 --> 00:06:46,835 Speaker 1: away yet. Now It is the work of one of 98 00:06:46,875 --> 00:06:51,595 Speaker 1: Washington's most dramatic performers, John Bolton. But Bolton did work 99 00:06:51,715 --> 00:06:54,435 Speaker 1: in the Trump administration, and he says he is willing 100 00:06:54,635 --> 00:06:58,115 Speaker 1: to launch his own presidential bid just a get on 101 00:06:58,155 --> 00:07:02,595 Speaker 1: a debate stage to try to thwart Trump directly. That statement, 102 00:07:02,755 --> 00:07:06,035 Speaker 1: Bolton added yesterday, is a time bomb sitting on the 103 00:07:06,075 --> 00:07:08,755 Speaker 1: desk of every Republican member of the House and the Senate, 104 00:07:08,955 --> 00:07:13,595 Speaker 1: every Republican candidate around the country. I think he met 105 00:07:13,595 --> 00:07:18,675 Speaker 1: it metaphorically. Trumpian Package number seven, the Terminator Jazz has 106 00:07:18,675 --> 00:07:21,755 Speaker 1: stripped away any illusion that Mitch McConnell is not at 107 00:07:21,835 --> 00:07:25,435 Speaker 1: war with Trump, and maybe at open war with him. Shortly, 108 00:07:25,795 --> 00:07:29,315 Speaker 1: the Senate Minority Leader emerged from his shell just long 109 00:07:29,435 --> 00:07:33,035 Speaker 1: enough to point out the fallacy of ignoring the Constitution. 110 00:07:33,355 --> 00:07:36,235 Speaker 1: If you happen to be the government official supposedly in 111 00:07:36,355 --> 00:07:41,595 Speaker 1: charge of defending the Constitution, anyone seeking the presidency thanks 112 00:07:41,635 --> 00:07:47,435 Speaker 1: to the Constitution could shall now be suspended or not followed. 113 00:07:48,395 --> 00:07:50,275 Speaker 1: It seems to me would have a very hard time 114 00:07:50,315 --> 00:07:55,635 Speaker 1: being sworn in as president of the United States. Wow, Mitch, 115 00:07:55,835 --> 00:07:58,915 Speaker 1: almost the bare minimum you should say if the leader 116 00:07:58,955 --> 00:08:01,315 Speaker 1: of your party has just threatened to terminate all are 117 00:08:01,395 --> 00:08:07,475 Speaker 1: part of the constitution? Semi all done, But don't worry. 118 00:08:07,715 --> 00:08:11,395 Speaker 1: Mitch successfully managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of 119 00:08:11,515 --> 00:08:17,875 Speaker 1: moral victory the second straight you come out. Can you 120 00:08:19,515 --> 00:08:24,235 Speaker 1: not support him? What I'm saying is if it'd be 121 00:08:24,235 --> 00:08:28,755 Speaker 1: pretty hard to be sworn in to the presidency if 122 00:08:28,755 --> 00:08:33,075 Speaker 1: you're not willing to uphold the Constitution. That's what I said, 123 00:08:33,315 --> 00:08:37,435 Speaker 1: and I just said it again. Of course, that answer 124 00:08:37,475 --> 00:08:40,435 Speaker 1: doesn't even hold together in the smarmy way McConnell meant it. 125 00:08:41,115 --> 00:08:44,475 Speaker 1: Why would Trump's vow to terminate the constitution stop him 126 00:08:44,475 --> 00:08:51,355 Speaker 1: from swearing to uphold the constitution? He just you know why. Happily, 127 00:08:51,475 --> 00:08:55,035 Speaker 1: Mitch still got his thanks to Trumpian Package number eight. 128 00:08:55,475 --> 00:08:58,435 Speaker 1: The stench of Trump's January six coup attempt is not 129 00:08:58,475 --> 00:09:02,515 Speaker 1: going away either, and yesterday it attached to itself to 130 00:09:02,635 --> 00:09:06,555 Speaker 1: his nearest proxies at hand at the ceremony in which 131 00:09:06,595 --> 00:09:09,155 Speaker 1: the Capitol Police were to be honored with the Congressional 132 00:09:09,195 --> 00:09:13,515 Speaker 1: Gold Medal. They would be Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy. 133 00:09:13,555 --> 00:09:16,155 Speaker 1: The mother of the late officer Brian sick Nick, and 134 00:09:16,235 --> 00:09:20,275 Speaker 1: family members of other recipients agreed beforehand to shake the 135 00:09:20,315 --> 00:09:24,195 Speaker 1: hand of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer after receiving their medals, 136 00:09:24,195 --> 00:09:28,675 Speaker 1: but leave McConnell and McCarthy hanging their hands outstretched for 137 00:09:28,755 --> 00:09:33,195 Speaker 1: handshakes they will never get. They later chastise McCarthy for 138 00:09:33,275 --> 00:09:36,715 Speaker 1: his obvious collusion with the Trump mob the impending Kangaroo 139 00:09:36,755 --> 00:09:40,755 Speaker 1: Court investigation of the investigation into the culpability of Trump 140 00:09:40,755 --> 00:09:44,635 Speaker 1: and the Republican Party for January six. There have been 141 00:09:44,715 --> 00:09:48,435 Speaker 1: few more satisfying moments in the nearly two years since 142 00:09:48,475 --> 00:09:52,315 Speaker 1: Trump tried to terminate the Constitution, terminate the peaceful transfer 143 00:09:52,315 --> 00:09:55,475 Speaker 1: of power, terminate the democracy, and terminate the lives of 144 00:09:55,515 --> 00:09:59,275 Speaker 1: any peace officer who stood in their evil way. May 145 00:09:59,395 --> 00:10:03,275 Speaker 1: that eighth package Trump can't handle, containing that one photo 146 00:10:03,355 --> 00:10:08,235 Speaker 1: of Mrs sick Nick humiliating McCarthy and McConnell be remembered 147 00:10:08,315 --> 00:10:28,195 Speaker 1: forever by Senator Warnock Still ahead, the San Francisco Giants 148 00:10:28,195 --> 00:10:32,635 Speaker 1: announced it they have signed the big free agent outfielder. No, no, 149 00:10:32,755 --> 00:10:36,755 Speaker 1: this one is named Mitch Mitch Haniger. The other one 150 00:10:36,995 --> 00:10:40,595 Speaker 1: is Aaron Judge, who at last check looked likely to 151 00:10:40,635 --> 00:10:42,755 Speaker 1: sign with the San Francisco Giants and leave the New 152 00:10:42,835 --> 00:10:46,035 Speaker 1: York Yankees. But after one of the greatest spell correct 153 00:10:46,115 --> 00:10:49,315 Speaker 1: typos of all time, at least some of us will 154 00:10:49,355 --> 00:10:56,275 Speaker 1: forever know him as Arson Judge in Fuego. Exactly when 155 00:10:56,315 --> 00:10:59,835 Speaker 1: does Kanye West hit rock bottom? Who knew that Simpsons 156 00:10:59,875 --> 00:11:03,595 Speaker 1: scene where Homer keeps falling down Chasm after Chasm was 157 00:11:03,635 --> 00:11:07,515 Speaker 1: a documentary Kanye West? But there you are. The latest 158 00:11:07,555 --> 00:11:12,035 Speaker 1: comments are indicative of profound emotional illness and frankly, I 159 00:11:12,075 --> 00:11:15,595 Speaker 1: don't care anymore. And he was the president of MSNBC 160 00:11:15,795 --> 00:11:19,155 Speaker 1: and seventeen years ago. This week we found out the darkest, 161 00:11:19,355 --> 00:11:22,555 Speaker 1: ugliest secret possible about the head of a cable TV 162 00:11:22,715 --> 00:11:26,675 Speaker 1: news network. This guy didn't have cable TV at home. 163 00:11:27,515 --> 00:11:30,115 Speaker 1: Things I promised not to tell. Coming up, that's next. 164 00:11:30,195 --> 00:11:45,195 Speaker 1: This is countdown. This is countdown with Keith coming up 165 00:11:45,235 --> 00:11:49,555 Speaker 1: on countdown. Well, the San Francisco Giants might have signed 166 00:11:49,555 --> 00:11:55,475 Speaker 1: Aaron Judge, but who will sign Arson Judge and the 167 00:11:55,515 --> 00:11:58,275 Speaker 1: six ft five inch Network TV President who used to 168 00:11:58,315 --> 00:12:01,715 Speaker 1: lie and say he was six ft seven inches tall, 169 00:12:02,475 --> 00:12:05,195 Speaker 1: along with other crazy things and things I've promise not 170 00:12:05,235 --> 00:12:08,155 Speaker 1: to tell. First in each edition of Countdown, we feature 171 00:12:08,155 --> 00:12:11,675 Speaker 1: a dog in need you can help. Every dog has 172 00:12:11,715 --> 00:12:13,955 Speaker 1: its day. Once again, we turn to the kindness of 173 00:12:13,995 --> 00:12:17,195 Speaker 1: a Lane Boosler, whose group Tales of Joy will take 174 00:12:17,235 --> 00:12:19,795 Speaker 1: care of the ordinary expenses for a year if you 175 00:12:19,835 --> 00:12:23,075 Speaker 1: adopt Eddie off the kill list at the New York Pound. 176 00:12:23,435 --> 00:12:26,875 Speaker 1: Eddie E d d y, friendly social with a velvet 177 00:12:26,915 --> 00:12:29,355 Speaker 1: black coat. He has shut down in the pound and 178 00:12:29,355 --> 00:12:31,875 Speaker 1: they could kill him at any point. You can adopt 179 00:12:31,995 --> 00:12:34,195 Speaker 1: or foster Eddie if you are anywhere on the East 180 00:12:34,195 --> 00:12:36,955 Speaker 1: Coast from Virginia to Maine and you are willing to 181 00:12:36,995 --> 00:12:38,995 Speaker 1: come get him, or you can pledge to help a 182 00:12:39,075 --> 00:12:41,955 Speaker 1: rescue save him. You can find Eddie on my Twitter 183 00:12:42,075 --> 00:12:45,515 Speaker 1: feeds and your retweet of his story can help him 184 00:12:45,515 --> 00:13:13,835 Speaker 1: as well. I thank you, and Eddie, thanks you. This 185 00:13:14,515 --> 00:13:20,795 Speaker 1: is Sports Center. Wait check that not anymore. This is 186 00:13:21,595 --> 00:13:27,475 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith in sports Cody Bellinger, Who's descent from 187 00:13:27,595 --> 00:13:31,795 Speaker 1: National League Most Valuable Player to one six hitter is 188 00:13:31,835 --> 00:13:35,195 Speaker 1: one of the most dramatic collapses in sports history. Has 189 00:13:35,275 --> 00:13:37,435 Speaker 1: left the Los Angeles Dodgers to sign a one year 190 00:13:37,475 --> 00:13:40,035 Speaker 1: contract with the Chicago Cubs for seventeen and a half 191 00:13:40,075 --> 00:13:43,355 Speaker 1: million dollars. He will try free agency again next winner, 192 00:13:43,395 --> 00:13:47,835 Speaker 1: having presumably improved on his previous seasons this year. As 193 00:13:47,875 --> 00:13:50,675 Speaker 1: to the big fish of the baseball free agent waters, 194 00:13:50,995 --> 00:13:54,395 Speaker 1: the San Francisco Chronicle beat writer for the Giants, Susan 195 00:13:54,595 --> 00:13:58,515 Speaker 1: Slusser says rumbling among Giants players and other personnel that 196 00:13:58,555 --> 00:14:02,035 Speaker 1: Aaron Judge is coming aboard. Yankees, played by play man 197 00:14:02,115 --> 00:14:05,035 Speaker 1: Michael Ka reports a text to him reading, the Bankees 198 00:14:05,075 --> 00:14:09,235 Speaker 1: are still in play. My own meager sources say they're understanding. 199 00:14:09,315 --> 00:14:12,595 Speaker 1: Is Judges set on the Giants. The money is agreed upon. 200 00:14:13,115 --> 00:14:16,835 Speaker 1: They are now just ironing out the perks college football. 201 00:14:16,875 --> 00:14:19,675 Speaker 1: I don't know whether to praise J. C. Daniels dedication 202 00:14:20,035 --> 00:14:22,595 Speaker 1: or damn him as a mercenary. I just keep hearing 203 00:14:22,595 --> 00:14:25,515 Speaker 1: the line from Citizen Kane in my head. When Kane's 204 00:14:25,515 --> 00:14:31,075 Speaker 1: managers asked about Kine going to Harvard, Harvid, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Switzerland, 205 00:14:31,355 --> 00:14:34,435 Speaker 1: he was thrown out of a lot of colleges. J T. 206 00:14:34,675 --> 00:14:37,755 Speaker 1: Daniels started his college career as the quarterback at USC, 207 00:14:38,395 --> 00:14:41,515 Speaker 1: then transferred to Georgia to get more playing time than 208 00:14:41,595 --> 00:14:44,875 Speaker 1: transferred to West Virginia, and now at West Virginia, he 209 00:14:44,915 --> 00:14:48,595 Speaker 1: says he will transfer again, all in hopes of breaking 210 00:14:48,675 --> 00:14:53,875 Speaker 1: through and subsequently getting drafted by an NFL team after 211 00:14:54,115 --> 00:15:17,955 Speaker 1: his four college career, Thank you, Nancy Faust, and after 212 00:15:18,195 --> 00:15:22,115 Speaker 1: fifteen years one of the best reputations in sports, the 213 00:15:22,195 --> 00:15:26,635 Speaker 1: Montreal Canadians Hall of Fame caliber goalie Carry Price may 214 00:15:26,675 --> 00:15:30,035 Speaker 1: have ended his career. First, he came out in favor 215 00:15:30,075 --> 00:15:34,115 Speaker 1: of a right wing organization fighting gun control legislation in Canada, 216 00:15:34,515 --> 00:15:37,035 Speaker 1: and he complained that a gun he favored to hunt 217 00:15:37,075 --> 00:15:39,475 Speaker 1: with was going to be banned. It isn't going to 218 00:15:39,515 --> 00:15:42,155 Speaker 1: be banned. Then it turned out the organization that he 219 00:15:42,195 --> 00:15:45,915 Speaker 1: supported had used the word Polly as a discount code 220 00:15:45,955 --> 00:15:49,155 Speaker 1: for merchandise. As the anniversary of the mass shooting by 221 00:15:49,155 --> 00:15:53,635 Speaker 1: an anti feminist at Montreal's at Cold Polytechnique approached. Then 222 00:15:53,675 --> 00:15:56,955 Speaker 1: the Canadian said Price was unaware of the Polly shooting 223 00:15:56,995 --> 00:16:00,035 Speaker 1: and it was all coincidence. Then yesterday Price said no, 224 00:16:00,195 --> 00:16:02,675 Speaker 1: he was aware of it. There are now hockey people 225 00:16:02,755 --> 00:16:06,515 Speaker 1: calling for the team to set her all ties with 226 00:16:06,635 --> 00:16:24,035 Speaker 1: its future Hall of Fame goalie carry Price ahead. I 227 00:16:24,075 --> 00:16:27,435 Speaker 1: have spoken of him before, Rick Kaplan, the one time 228 00:16:27,595 --> 00:16:32,235 Speaker 1: MSNBC president who tried to kill me because I mentioned 229 00:16:32,315 --> 00:16:35,275 Speaker 1: blood on the air and he was squeamish about blood. 230 00:16:35,955 --> 00:16:37,755 Speaker 1: Now it is the anniversary of one of his most 231 00:16:37,875 --> 00:16:41,635 Speaker 1: jaw dropping moments, even with that as context. Also, he 232 00:16:41,715 --> 00:16:43,675 Speaker 1: used to lie about being six ft seven when he 233 00:16:43,755 --> 00:16:46,675 Speaker 1: was actually six ft five. Who does that? Coming up 234 00:16:48,275 --> 00:16:50,475 Speaker 1: first of the daily roundup of the miscrants, morons and 235 00:16:50,515 --> 00:16:54,795 Speaker 1: Dunning Kruger Effect specimens who constitute today's worst persons in 236 00:16:54,835 --> 00:16:58,715 Speaker 1: the world. Lebronze, Mary Kay Jacob and the New York 237 00:16:58,755 --> 00:17:03,035 Speaker 1: Post Real Estate section quote mets newest pitcher Max Scherzer 238 00:17:03,275 --> 00:17:06,355 Speaker 1: buys elegant five point four million dollar Long Island home, 239 00:17:06,595 --> 00:17:09,555 Speaker 1: reads the headline on her story from five thirty nine 240 00:17:09,555 --> 00:17:13,115 Speaker 1: pm yesterday, and there was a tweet to quoting The 241 00:17:13,195 --> 00:17:15,995 Speaker 1: move comes after Sherzer, thirty eight, agreed to a three year, 242 00:17:16,035 --> 00:17:18,995 Speaker 1: one million dollar contract with the Mets on November twenty nine. 243 00:17:19,275 --> 00:17:21,915 Speaker 1: Records indicate that Scherzer may have an had knowledge of 244 00:17:21,955 --> 00:17:24,635 Speaker 1: the deal a month prior, as the home was shown 245 00:17:24,635 --> 00:17:28,515 Speaker 1: to have gone into contract on October. Oh Big scoop. 246 00:17:29,075 --> 00:17:31,075 Speaker 1: There's a lot of wrong in this and starting with 247 00:17:31,115 --> 00:17:36,395 Speaker 1: this fact. The Mets newest pitcher is Justin Verlander Max Scherzer. 248 00:17:36,715 --> 00:17:40,675 Speaker 1: They signed him last year. The Post pulled the story 249 00:17:40,755 --> 00:17:42,795 Speaker 1: but left in the stuff about Sherz. You're signing his 250 00:17:42,835 --> 00:17:49,035 Speaker 1: new contract on novembery which was also last year. The 251 00:17:49,155 --> 00:17:52,035 Speaker 1: runner up in the New York Posts Sports section, John Hayman, 252 00:17:52,075 --> 00:17:54,195 Speaker 1: who gets a lot of good scoops but sometimes lets 253 00:17:54,275 --> 00:17:58,395 Speaker 1: himself down on the details, tweeted about baseball's biggest remaining 254 00:17:58,435 --> 00:18:03,515 Speaker 1: free agent at two twenty Eastern quote Arson Judge appears 255 00:18:03,555 --> 00:18:06,835 Speaker 1: headed to the Giants. Three hours and seven minutes later, 256 00:18:07,075 --> 00:18:10,235 Speaker 1: Giants say they have not heard on Aaron Judge. My 257 00:18:10,315 --> 00:18:15,195 Speaker 1: apologies for jumping the gun. Okay, but what about Arson Judge? 258 00:18:15,955 --> 00:18:20,795 Speaker 1: Arson Judge? That name is gonna last, but our winner, 259 00:18:20,875 --> 00:18:25,515 Speaker 1: Speaking of things lasting, Kanye West. At some point this 260 00:18:25,555 --> 00:18:29,075 Speaker 1: idiot is going to hit rock bottom, but evidently not yet. 261 00:18:29,875 --> 00:18:33,115 Speaker 1: Does an interview with psycho twerp Nick Fuente's and the 262 00:18:33,155 --> 00:18:36,875 Speaker 1: founder of the ironically named Proud Boys, Gavin mckinnis, and 263 00:18:36,995 --> 00:18:41,875 Speaker 1: West says quote, Jews should work for Christians. I'll hire 264 00:18:41,915 --> 00:18:44,715 Speaker 1: a Jewish person in a second, if I knew they 265 00:18:44,715 --> 00:18:46,995 Speaker 1: were at a spy and I could look through their 266 00:18:46,995 --> 00:18:49,635 Speaker 1: phone and follow through their house and have a camera 267 00:18:49,715 --> 00:18:54,235 Speaker 1: all in their living room. Then Kanye West blamed Holocaust 268 00:18:54,275 --> 00:18:58,475 Speaker 1: remembrance on the victims, quoting again, you can't force your 269 00:18:58,475 --> 00:19:03,875 Speaker 1: pain on everyone else. Jewish people forgive Hitler today unquote. 270 00:19:05,195 --> 00:19:08,355 Speaker 1: I used to be sort of concerned, hoping somebody would 271 00:19:08,355 --> 00:19:12,675 Speaker 1: help this obviously mentally self destructing man out, But now 272 00:19:14,315 --> 00:19:18,075 Speaker 1: I just don't don't care. Kanye, to hell with you, West, 273 00:19:18,795 --> 00:19:32,115 Speaker 1: Today's worst person in the world. Finally to the number 274 00:19:32,115 --> 00:19:34,435 Speaker 1: one story on the Countdown on my favorite topic, me 275 00:19:35,155 --> 00:19:38,235 Speaker 1: and Things I Promised not to tell, And tomorrow is 276 00:19:38,315 --> 00:19:43,475 Speaker 1: seventeen years since this former MSNBC president Rick Kaplan, the 277 00:19:43,555 --> 00:19:46,195 Speaker 1: guy who wants to chased me around the studios threatening 278 00:19:46,235 --> 00:19:49,075 Speaker 1: to kill me because he was squeamish and I had 279 00:19:49,115 --> 00:19:53,595 Speaker 1: mentioned blood on the air, blew any remaining credibility he 280 00:19:53,675 --> 00:19:55,475 Speaker 1: had with us because he didn't know what was live 281 00:19:55,555 --> 00:20:00,515 Speaker 1: and what was on delay. However, this story starts in 282 00:20:00,555 --> 00:20:04,995 Speaker 1: the men's room at MSNBC. It is February seven and teen, 283 00:20:05,115 --> 00:20:08,835 Speaker 1: two thousand four, at one of those moronic corporate speak 284 00:20:09,035 --> 00:20:12,515 Speaker 1: town halls. The bosses have just introduced Rick Caplan as 285 00:20:12,515 --> 00:20:14,955 Speaker 1: the new president of the network. Kaplan speaks for an 286 00:20:14,955 --> 00:20:19,315 Speaker 1: hour without interruption or breath. He does not mention that 287 00:20:19,435 --> 00:20:22,155 Speaker 1: he was the president of CNN when it's nineteen years 288 00:20:22,195 --> 00:20:24,555 Speaker 1: streak at number one in the cable news ratings came 289 00:20:24,595 --> 00:20:27,835 Speaker 1: to a crashing end. He does, however, mention that he 290 00:20:27,915 --> 00:20:31,635 Speaker 1: is six ft seven inches tall, but he does not 291 00:20:31,875 --> 00:20:35,995 Speaker 1: seem to be six ft seven inches tall. As this 292 00:20:36,115 --> 00:20:38,835 Speaker 1: nonsense ends, I rushed into the men's room and find, 293 00:20:38,915 --> 00:20:45,595 Speaker 1: to my amusement, Joe Scarborough, Chris Matthews, Jesse Ventura, Lester Holt, 294 00:20:46,315 --> 00:20:51,355 Speaker 1: and one unoccupied urinal. As I moved to occupy it, 295 00:20:51,355 --> 00:20:55,075 Speaker 1: it dawns on me that Ventura, the former professional wrestler, 296 00:20:55,315 --> 00:20:59,155 Speaker 1: is the shortest man in the bathroom, at six ft two. 297 00:21:00,555 --> 00:21:03,995 Speaker 1: All five of us are silent. Finally, Matthews says it 298 00:21:04,675 --> 00:21:06,515 Speaker 1: on hell, can he say six ft seven? He's barely 299 00:21:06,515 --> 00:21:08,955 Speaker 1: taller than I am and I'm six four? Oh man, 300 00:21:09,035 --> 00:21:11,235 Speaker 1: are you slightly taller than me? Or slightly shorter than me? 301 00:21:12,275 --> 00:21:16,875 Speaker 1: How is he six seven? Everybody keeps looking forward, of course, 302 00:21:16,995 --> 00:21:20,755 Speaker 1: into the wall in front of us. I'm six three 303 00:21:20,755 --> 00:21:23,315 Speaker 1: and a half. Lester, he's your height. I saw you 304 00:21:23,435 --> 00:21:25,675 Speaker 1: standing with him. You toour even What are you six five? 305 00:21:26,515 --> 00:21:31,275 Speaker 1: Lester says, uh huh and flushes. Scarborough chimes in, I'm 306 00:21:31,315 --> 00:21:34,235 Speaker 1: just over six four. We're almost died, ie, he's not 307 00:21:34,435 --> 00:21:39,115 Speaker 1: six seven. Finally, Ventura speaks, I've been thrown around a 308 00:21:39,195 --> 00:21:41,955 Speaker 1: ring by guys who are six seven. Bosky is not 309 00:21:42,115 --> 00:21:46,875 Speaker 1: six seven. From the sink, Lester Holt now says, have 310 00:21:46,995 --> 00:21:49,995 Speaker 1: any of you known anybody our height who lies and 311 00:21:50,115 --> 00:21:54,195 Speaker 1: says they're taller? Matthews again, who lies about their height? 312 00:21:54,955 --> 00:21:59,595 Speaker 1: I flush this guy does. Gentlemen, we are in trouble 313 00:21:59,675 --> 00:22:04,475 Speaker 1: here for the presidency of Rick Camplin at MSNBC. That 314 00:22:04,755 --> 00:22:10,555 Speaker 1: have been sorry. I can't resist it the high water mark. Later, 315 00:22:10,635 --> 00:22:13,395 Speaker 1: on Friday, March five, two thousand four, Kaplan, who had 316 00:22:13,435 --> 00:22:16,515 Speaker 1: been there three weeks, assembled the hosts and producers of 317 00:22:16,515 --> 00:22:18,435 Speaker 1: the primetime shows on the network that would have been 318 00:22:18,435 --> 00:22:23,555 Speaker 1: me Scarborough. Dan abrams our staffs, the new Jersey staff 319 00:22:23,595 --> 00:22:25,995 Speaker 1: of Chris Matthew Show, and he told us that the 320 00:22:26,035 --> 00:22:29,995 Speaker 1: next day was going to be Monday. Somebody from Scarborough 321 00:22:30,035 --> 00:22:34,235 Speaker 1: staff helpfully corrected him, Mr Kaplan, I'm sorry, tomorrow is Saturday. 322 00:22:35,035 --> 00:22:38,115 Speaker 1: Kaplan sternly explained he was now president of this network, 323 00:22:38,155 --> 00:22:40,675 Speaker 1: and we all sucked. And if he said today was 324 00:22:40,715 --> 00:22:44,275 Speaker 1: Friday and tomorrow was Monday, then today was Friday and 325 00:22:44,315 --> 00:22:47,355 Speaker 1: tomorrow was Monday. He wanted to see us react to 326 00:22:47,475 --> 00:22:50,715 Speaker 1: sudden changes in our plans. We were being told we 327 00:22:50,715 --> 00:22:54,835 Speaker 1: were being called into work a sixth day tomorrow for 328 00:22:54,915 --> 00:22:58,635 Speaker 1: no reason. Kaplan then started yelling at us, You guys 329 00:22:58,755 --> 00:23:01,915 Speaker 1: don't get it. You're all working tomorrow. Anybody who doesn't 330 00:23:01,955 --> 00:23:04,195 Speaker 1: come in is fired. We're going to do the whole 331 00:23:04,275 --> 00:23:08,315 Speaker 1: probe prime time lineup. You're breaking news is today's breaking news, 332 00:23:08,315 --> 00:23:11,475 Speaker 1: the guilty verdict in the Martha Steward case. Start booking 333 00:23:11,475 --> 00:23:16,595 Speaker 1: your guests because tomorrow is Monday, not Saturday. Just on 334 00:23:16,715 --> 00:23:21,235 Speaker 1: my staff, Saturday was supposed to be my reporter's engagement party, 335 00:23:22,075 --> 00:23:24,835 Speaker 1: a surprise party thrown by one of my producers for 336 00:23:24,955 --> 00:23:28,435 Speaker 1: his wife's birthday, and the day another producer was closing 337 00:23:28,555 --> 00:23:32,835 Speaker 1: on buying a house. I have a vague memory of 338 00:23:32,835 --> 00:23:34,635 Speaker 1: what we put on the air. I have a stronger 339 00:23:34,675 --> 00:23:38,355 Speaker 1: memory of the new president of MSNBC losing the staffs 340 00:23:38,395 --> 00:23:41,355 Speaker 1: of all four of his primetime shows on his fifth 341 00:23:41,435 --> 00:23:44,395 Speaker 1: day on the job and never ever getting them back. 342 00:23:45,995 --> 00:23:49,115 Speaker 1: Kaplan then went to a corkboard on our office wall 343 00:23:49,235 --> 00:23:52,635 Speaker 1: on which our show rundown was displayed. He ordered producers 344 00:23:52,675 --> 00:23:55,155 Speaker 1: to move segments around, and he berated me for not 345 00:23:55,275 --> 00:23:58,795 Speaker 1: having anticipated his whims and at one point he screamed, stop, 346 00:23:58,955 --> 00:24:01,235 Speaker 1: what the hell are you doing? And he got up 347 00:24:01,275 --> 00:24:04,635 Speaker 1: and he grabbed the pushpin, which held up an index 348 00:24:04,755 --> 00:24:07,315 Speaker 1: card bearing the name of a guest. You don't use 349 00:24:07,435 --> 00:24:12,675 Speaker 1: green pins with yellow index cards. You use yellow pins 350 00:24:12,715 --> 00:24:16,555 Speaker 1: with yellow index cards. What kind of a newsman are you? 351 00:24:18,835 --> 00:24:21,675 Speaker 1: I can't imagine how this guy choked away CNNs monopoly 352 00:24:21,675 --> 00:24:25,275 Speaker 1: on cable news ratings. I was reminded recently that later 353 00:24:25,395 --> 00:24:29,835 Speaker 1: on December eight, two thousand five, seventeen years ago tomorrow, 354 00:24:30,075 --> 00:24:33,235 Speaker 1: he did one of the most unintentionally funniest things I 355 00:24:33,315 --> 00:24:37,595 Speaker 1: have ever witnessed. A plane slid off the runway at 356 00:24:37,635 --> 00:24:41,315 Speaker 1: Midway Airport in Chicago. Nothing funny about that, obviously, but 357 00:24:41,475 --> 00:24:45,355 Speaker 1: Kaplan called into our control room demanding we changed something 358 00:24:45,395 --> 00:24:48,475 Speaker 1: about our live coverage that he didn't like. We promptly 359 00:24:48,515 --> 00:24:51,355 Speaker 1: made the change. He was right. Five minutes later he 360 00:24:51,435 --> 00:24:54,035 Speaker 1: called in and started swearing at one of our producers. 361 00:24:54,275 --> 00:24:56,835 Speaker 1: I told you to change that. F you you're fired, 362 00:24:57,675 --> 00:25:00,555 Speaker 1: and the producer said, we changed it five minutes ago. 363 00:25:00,595 --> 00:25:04,515 Speaker 1: When you called in silence, Rick, are you watching the 364 00:25:04,675 --> 00:25:07,915 Speaker 1: at work on some sort of delay? Are you watching 365 00:25:07,915 --> 00:25:13,395 Speaker 1: on Tebow or something? Silence again. Finally he said, okay, 366 00:25:13,395 --> 00:25:17,835 Speaker 1: good work, see you tomorrow and hung up. He didn't 367 00:25:18,075 --> 00:25:21,355 Speaker 1: know he was watching it on a delay. Kaplan was 368 00:25:21,395 --> 00:25:24,235 Speaker 1: also one of these forget the mean thing I said yesterday. 369 00:25:24,235 --> 00:25:27,315 Speaker 1: God knows I have kind of guys. By Monday, he 370 00:25:27,355 --> 00:25:29,515 Speaker 1: had heard people laughing at some of my on air 371 00:25:29,635 --> 00:25:33,915 Speaker 1: jokes and his front runner instincts took over. He called 372 00:25:33,955 --> 00:25:36,155 Speaker 1: me and the producer in for a meeting. I have 373 00:25:36,235 --> 00:25:38,795 Speaker 1: only one criticism of your show. The which of these 374 00:25:38,795 --> 00:25:42,115 Speaker 1: stories will you be talking about? Things genius? The fifth story, 375 00:25:42,155 --> 00:25:47,075 Speaker 1: the fourth story, then the third story? It's original and fresh. 376 00:25:47,355 --> 00:25:50,435 Speaker 1: I hesitated. I almost said to him, yeah, this whole 377 00:25:50,515 --> 00:25:54,195 Speaker 1: counting thing we just invented that. The music is genius, 378 00:25:54,235 --> 00:25:56,875 Speaker 1: the graphics are genius. You're a genius, but you're missing 379 00:25:56,915 --> 00:26:00,035 Speaker 1: something obvious, something genius. After each one of these stories, 380 00:26:00,395 --> 00:26:02,595 Speaker 1: after you thank your guests, you should do a list 381 00:26:02,595 --> 00:26:04,675 Speaker 1: of the things you didn't tell us about. Those stories. 382 00:26:04,715 --> 00:26:07,235 Speaker 1: So so like, after the fifth story, you should say, 383 00:26:07,275 --> 00:26:09,515 Speaker 1: now here are the other five things we didn't tell 384 00:26:09,515 --> 00:26:11,995 Speaker 1: you about the fifth story, get it a full screen 385 00:26:12,035 --> 00:26:14,595 Speaker 1: graphic and you telling people, And then four things for 386 00:26:14,675 --> 00:26:17,315 Speaker 1: the fourth story, and and and three for the third. 387 00:26:18,715 --> 00:26:20,355 Speaker 1: I thought for a moment, and I said, okay, but 388 00:26:20,435 --> 00:26:22,395 Speaker 1: what happens if we make those graphics up? And then 389 00:26:22,435 --> 00:26:25,315 Speaker 1: a minute beforehand the guest brings up one of those 390 00:26:25,355 --> 00:26:28,675 Speaker 1: things we claim we didn't tell you. When he just 391 00:26:28,755 --> 00:26:32,955 Speaker 1: told you, we had lost Rick Kaplan's attention. By that point, 392 00:26:33,995 --> 00:26:37,195 Speaker 1: he grunted. For a second. I thought his eyes were 393 00:26:37,235 --> 00:26:40,875 Speaker 1: pointing outwards in different directions, but he snapped himself back 394 00:26:40,915 --> 00:26:45,155 Speaker 1: into this reality. Huh, could happen? You'll figure it out anyway. 395 00:26:45,155 --> 00:26:46,595 Speaker 1: Too late to do it today, figure it out and 396 00:26:46,595 --> 00:26:51,475 Speaker 1: do it tomorrow. Thanks the producer. And I had to 397 00:26:51,555 --> 00:26:53,835 Speaker 1: then explain to the staff of Countdown that from now on, 398 00:26:53,915 --> 00:26:57,315 Speaker 1: for every story they had to deliberately leave out one 399 00:26:57,515 --> 00:27:01,555 Speaker 1: or two or three or four or five facts or details, 400 00:27:01,595 --> 00:27:04,275 Speaker 1: something interesting enough to be made into a full screen graphic, 401 00:27:04,315 --> 00:27:07,635 Speaker 1: but not interesting enough to be included in their scripts 402 00:27:07,715 --> 00:27:11,595 Speaker 1: or the interviews with the guests. Suddenly, I thought a 403 00:27:11,675 --> 00:27:14,795 Speaker 1: lot of people's eyes were pointing outwards in different directions. 404 00:27:15,675 --> 00:27:18,035 Speaker 1: The line producer, Greg Cordick, who was in charge not 405 00:27:18,195 --> 00:27:20,875 Speaker 1: of content but of timing things and making sure things 406 00:27:20,915 --> 00:27:24,115 Speaker 1: like graphics got made, said, matter of factly, this will 407 00:27:24,115 --> 00:27:28,115 Speaker 1: add five hours to everybody's work day. And so it did. 408 00:27:29,555 --> 00:27:31,795 Speaker 1: After the next day's show when we listed the top 409 00:27:31,795 --> 00:27:33,835 Speaker 1: five things we didn't tell you about today's fifth story, 410 00:27:33,915 --> 00:27:35,435 Speaker 1: and the top four things we didn't tell you about 411 00:27:35,435 --> 00:27:38,315 Speaker 1: today's fourth story, etcetera, and we had to shorten all 412 00:27:38,315 --> 00:27:41,195 Speaker 1: the scripts and shorten each interview just to make room 413 00:27:41,315 --> 00:27:44,835 Speaker 1: for all of this extraneous crap. Greg, the producer, said, 414 00:27:45,515 --> 00:27:48,435 Speaker 1: people here will be quitting by Thursday and dying by Monday. 415 00:27:48,555 --> 00:27:50,875 Speaker 1: And I said, you're right. Plus it ruins the interviews 416 00:27:50,875 --> 00:27:52,595 Speaker 1: and it weakens the show. Don't do it tomorrow with 417 00:27:52,635 --> 00:27:56,555 Speaker 1: Kaplan yells, I'll take the eat. So now it's Wednesday. 418 00:27:56,915 --> 00:27:59,675 Speaker 1: And not only don't I hear anything from Kaplan about 419 00:27:59,715 --> 00:28:01,995 Speaker 1: the Tuesday show and his the top five things we 420 00:28:02,035 --> 00:28:04,875 Speaker 1: didn't tell you about today's fifth story, Jazz, but after 421 00:28:04,875 --> 00:28:07,835 Speaker 1: the Wednesday show when we don't do it, I'm sitting 422 00:28:07,835 --> 00:28:10,915 Speaker 1: there waiting for an enraged phone call because we didn't. 423 00:28:11,675 --> 00:28:14,195 Speaker 1: Thursday morning at home, I'm waiting for an enraged email. 424 00:28:14,675 --> 00:28:19,675 Speaker 1: Thursday afternoon, I'm waiting for an enraged chaplain in person. Nothing. 425 00:28:20,755 --> 00:28:24,675 Speaker 1: He never said a word. A week passes nothing, a month, 426 00:28:25,195 --> 00:28:29,555 Speaker 1: two months, it's summer. Nothing. The rest of two thousand 427 00:28:29,555 --> 00:28:34,075 Speaker 1: four flies by nothing. We did it once, we never 428 00:28:34,155 --> 00:28:40,915 Speaker 1: did it again, and then he never said anything. It 429 00:28:41,035 --> 00:28:43,995 Speaker 1: is now January two five, and he still hasn't said anything. 430 00:28:44,035 --> 00:28:46,595 Speaker 1: And I'm told by Phil Griffin, my first producer in 431 00:28:46,595 --> 00:28:49,715 Speaker 1: television sports and sixteen years my lader of my first 432 00:28:49,715 --> 00:28:53,035 Speaker 1: producer in television news, who has since become the vice 433 00:28:53,075 --> 00:28:56,235 Speaker 1: president of MSNBC, that Camplin wants to see us in 434 00:28:56,395 --> 00:28:58,595 Speaker 1: his office. It's not a big deal, Phil says, he's 435 00:28:58,595 --> 00:29:00,395 Speaker 1: in a good mood. He just wants to make us 436 00:29:00,435 --> 00:29:02,875 Speaker 1: feel like we have input into his decisions. This is 437 00:29:03,035 --> 00:29:06,715 Speaker 1: what do you think meeting now? I have to ask 438 00:29:06,755 --> 00:29:09,755 Speaker 1: you to carefully picture the layout of Rick Caplan's office 439 00:29:09,795 --> 00:29:13,155 Speaker 1: at MSNBC in the year two thousand five. Envision a long, 440 00:29:13,635 --> 00:29:18,355 Speaker 1: narrow room. Baseball's MLB network now operates there, and they 441 00:29:18,355 --> 00:29:23,115 Speaker 1: have cleverly turned Kaplan's office into a wardrobe room. Perfect 442 00:29:23,435 --> 00:29:27,515 Speaker 1: since it was really just a long closet. Anyways. Rick Caplan, 443 00:29:27,555 --> 00:29:29,275 Speaker 1: who was six ft five but lied and said he 444 00:29:29,315 --> 00:29:31,835 Speaker 1: was six ft seven, sat at the very back of 445 00:29:31,875 --> 00:29:34,355 Speaker 1: this room. So you come in the front door, you 446 00:29:34,475 --> 00:29:39,675 Speaker 1: turn to your right, and maybe thirty five forty feet 447 00:29:39,715 --> 00:29:42,915 Speaker 1: away from you, in the farthest corner, facing his computer 448 00:29:43,075 --> 00:29:45,755 Speaker 1: on his desk, flush against the left hand wall, is 449 00:29:45,795 --> 00:29:49,515 Speaker 1: the president of MSNBC. A few feet into the room 450 00:29:49,555 --> 00:29:53,755 Speaker 1: is where you sit. Halfway between these two points. Against 451 00:29:53,835 --> 00:29:57,115 Speaker 1: the right hand wall is where another executive can sit. 452 00:29:57,635 --> 00:30:01,835 Speaker 1: So Phil Griffin sits there. I am just inside the door. 453 00:30:01,915 --> 00:30:03,995 Speaker 1: He is fifteen feet ahead of me to the right. 454 00:30:04,355 --> 00:30:06,955 Speaker 1: Rick Camplin is thirty ft or forty feet ahead of 455 00:30:06,995 --> 00:30:10,195 Speaker 1: me to the left. Picture this carefully, the way these 456 00:30:10,315 --> 00:30:14,195 Speaker 1: chairs and desks are arranged. If you're me and Phil 457 00:30:14,235 --> 00:30:17,555 Speaker 1: Griffin is looking at you, Rick Kaplan can only see 458 00:30:17,595 --> 00:30:20,075 Speaker 1: the back of Phil Griffin's head and not his face. 459 00:30:20,995 --> 00:30:23,755 Speaker 1: If they are both looking at you, they cannot see 460 00:30:23,795 --> 00:30:30,235 Speaker 1: each other. Weird, seemingly trivial turned out to be essential. 461 00:30:30,915 --> 00:30:35,195 Speaker 1: We begin this meaningless meeting and talk about guests and graphics, fonts, 462 00:30:35,355 --> 00:30:37,435 Speaker 1: and Kaplan talks about how much the ratings have gone 463 00:30:37,515 --> 00:30:40,195 Speaker 1: up in his year as president. And finally, I say, 464 00:30:40,475 --> 00:30:42,635 Speaker 1: I do have one suggestion. I think the show is 465 00:30:42,675 --> 00:30:44,435 Speaker 1: going to be very successful, and I think if we 466 00:30:44,475 --> 00:30:46,595 Speaker 1: want to make any changes, we should make them now 467 00:30:47,235 --> 00:30:51,475 Speaker 1: before it becomes successful. And I say, I have never 468 00:30:51,555 --> 00:30:55,675 Speaker 1: heard anybody say they like the fifth story, fourth story, 469 00:30:55,915 --> 00:30:58,835 Speaker 1: third story stuff. If you want to continue the name 470 00:30:58,955 --> 00:31:02,755 Speaker 1: countdown because people know it by now, that's great, I guess. 471 00:31:02,955 --> 00:31:06,115 Speaker 1: But the five three to one numbering is a conceit 472 00:31:06,595 --> 00:31:08,595 Speaker 1: and it's a lot of extra work for everybody, and 473 00:31:08,635 --> 00:31:13,675 Speaker 1: I think we should kill it now. Kaplan is aghast, 474 00:31:14,435 --> 00:31:20,035 Speaker 1: he is pale, He is not angry, he is just stunned. 475 00:31:21,555 --> 00:31:25,315 Speaker 1: But you can't do that. Five three to one is 476 00:31:25,395 --> 00:31:27,595 Speaker 1: part of the reasons. And the ratings went up. The 477 00:31:27,955 --> 00:31:29,715 Speaker 1: ratings went up. When I came up with the idea 478 00:31:30,155 --> 00:31:31,875 Speaker 1: of the top five things we didn't tell you about 479 00:31:31,875 --> 00:31:34,635 Speaker 1: today's top five stories, and the top four things we 480 00:31:34,675 --> 00:31:38,715 Speaker 1: didn't tell you about today's number four story, etcetera, Well 481 00:31:38,755 --> 00:31:42,555 Speaker 1: we can't stop that. That's why people watch my idea. 482 00:31:44,835 --> 00:31:47,435 Speaker 1: It took me a split second to even remember what 483 00:31:47,475 --> 00:31:49,315 Speaker 1: the hell it was he was talking about. I had 484 00:31:49,355 --> 00:31:53,115 Speaker 1: forgotten the whole five things we didn't tell you Albatross 485 00:31:53,475 --> 00:31:56,235 Speaker 1: weeks after the one show we did it, and then 486 00:31:56,235 --> 00:31:58,395 Speaker 1: the staff rebelled and I said, screw it and I'll 487 00:31:58,435 --> 00:32:00,395 Speaker 1: take the heat. And I was about to say this 488 00:32:00,475 --> 00:32:03,635 Speaker 1: out loud when I suddenly realized that Phil Griffin, fifteen 489 00:32:03,635 --> 00:32:06,195 Speaker 1: feet away on the right, his face turned to me 490 00:32:06,235 --> 00:32:08,715 Speaker 1: and thus invisible to Kaplan thirty ft away on the left, 491 00:32:08,915 --> 00:32:12,075 Speaker 1: was making his eyes as wide as possible, and Phil 492 00:32:12,195 --> 00:32:17,355 Speaker 1: was looking right at me and silently mouthing the word no, no, no, no, no, 493 00:32:17,715 --> 00:32:21,515 Speaker 1: all the while keeping his head completely still, so Kaplan 494 00:32:21,635 --> 00:32:27,275 Speaker 1: didn't know he was talking to me silently. I got 495 00:32:27,315 --> 00:32:30,555 Speaker 1: Phil's message. I dropped the subject. I didn't say it. 496 00:32:31,635 --> 00:32:34,235 Speaker 1: The meeting ended maybe two minutes later with Kaplan saying 497 00:32:34,315 --> 00:32:36,475 Speaker 1: keep up the good work, and ushering us out by saying, 498 00:32:36,675 --> 00:32:38,475 Speaker 1: and keep up with the top five things we didn't 499 00:32:38,475 --> 00:32:41,115 Speaker 1: tell you about today's five fifth story. That's what's making 500 00:32:41,155 --> 00:32:46,555 Speaker 1: it really cook. When we were out of earshot of 501 00:32:46,635 --> 00:32:49,115 Speaker 1: Rick Caplan, Griffin thanked me for being able to read 502 00:32:49,195 --> 00:32:53,515 Speaker 1: his panicked lips. I used an oath to liven up 503 00:32:53,555 --> 00:32:57,155 Speaker 1: my question what the blank was that all about? And 504 00:32:57,195 --> 00:32:59,355 Speaker 1: Griffin said, now you know what every day of my 505 00:32:59,435 --> 00:33:01,795 Speaker 1: life has become. It's not worth it to try to 506 00:33:01,835 --> 00:33:05,195 Speaker 1: correct him. He believes what he believes, and and he 507 00:33:05,235 --> 00:33:09,395 Speaker 1: won't be checked or contradicted. And I said, we only 508 00:33:09,435 --> 00:33:12,875 Speaker 1: did the five things. We didn't tell you a thing once, 509 00:33:13,075 --> 00:33:16,475 Speaker 1: only once. It's like a year later. How in the 510 00:33:16,475 --> 00:33:21,635 Speaker 1: hell could he possibly think we're still doing it? Griffin laughed, 511 00:33:21,675 --> 00:33:24,675 Speaker 1: like a soldier on a World War One battlefield who 512 00:33:24,675 --> 00:33:27,955 Speaker 1: has just run out of bullets. See that's the problem, buddy. 513 00:33:28,435 --> 00:33:31,635 Speaker 1: He only watches MSNBC here in the office, the place 514 00:33:31,675 --> 00:33:38,635 Speaker 1: he's renting it doesn't have cable. President of MSNBC doesn't 515 00:33:38,635 --> 00:33:44,395 Speaker 1: have cable at home. On June six, two thousand six, 516 00:33:44,435 --> 00:33:46,835 Speaker 1: they fired Rick Kaplan as the president of MSNBC. They 517 00:33:46,915 --> 00:33:50,515 Speaker 1: let him resign. They also let him keep his secret, 518 00:33:51,195 --> 00:33:54,515 Speaker 1: the darkest of secrets for him and for MSNBC, that, 519 00:33:54,635 --> 00:33:57,995 Speaker 1: for his two years on the throne, the president of 520 00:33:58,035 --> 00:34:17,595 Speaker 1: an all news cable channel did not have cable. I've 521 00:34:17,635 --> 00:34:20,715 Speaker 1: done all the damage I can do here now for 522 00:34:20,835 --> 00:34:23,395 Speaker 1: five things I didn't tell you about today's number five story. 523 00:34:24,395 --> 00:34:27,595 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening. Please follow, or subscribe or whatever, 524 00:34:27,635 --> 00:34:31,155 Speaker 1: and tell others to do so. Here are the credits 525 00:34:31,195 --> 00:34:33,795 Speaker 1: Most of the music, including our theme here from Beethoven's 526 00:34:33,875 --> 00:34:37,275 Speaker 1: Ninth was arranged, produced, and performed by Brian Ray and 527 00:34:37,355 --> 00:34:40,795 Speaker 1: John Philip Chanelle. They are the Countdown musical directors. Guitars, 528 00:34:40,875 --> 00:34:44,235 Speaker 1: bass and drums by Brian Ray, all orchestration and keyboards 529 00:34:44,235 --> 00:34:46,915 Speaker 1: by John Philip Chanelle, produced by T k O Brothers. 530 00:34:47,435 --> 00:34:50,035 Speaker 1: Other Beethoven selections have been arranged and performed by the 531 00:34:50,075 --> 00:34:53,755 Speaker 1: group No Horns Allowed. The sports music is the Oulderman 532 00:34:53,835 --> 00:34:56,155 Speaker 1: theme from ESPN two. It was written by Mitch Warren 533 00:34:56,235 --> 00:35:01,195 Speaker 1: Davis and it appears courtesy of ESPN Inc. Musical comments 534 00:35:01,235 --> 00:35:04,755 Speaker 1: by Nancy Faust. The best baseball stadium organist ever our 535 00:35:04,755 --> 00:35:07,355 Speaker 1: announced you today was Larry David. Everything else was pretty 536 00:35:07,395 --> 00:35:11,275 Speaker 1: much my fault. So that's countdown for this, the first 537 00:35:11,435 --> 00:35:14,915 Speaker 1: day since Donald Trump's first attempted coop against the democratically 538 00:35:14,915 --> 00:35:18,435 Speaker 1: elected government of the United States. Arrest him now while 539 00:35:18,515 --> 00:35:21,515 Speaker 1: we still can a new addition tomorrow. Until then, I'm 540 00:35:21,555 --> 00:35:25,035 Speaker 1: Keith Alderman. Good Morning, good afternoon, goodnight, and good luck. 541 00:35:32,315 --> 00:35:35,915 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Alderman is a production of I heart Radio. 542 00:35:36,195 --> 00:35:39,115 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the i 543 00:35:39,235 --> 00:35:42,835 Speaker 1: heart Radio app Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your 544 00:35:42,875 --> 00:35:43,595 Speaker 1: podcasts