1 00:00:04,755 --> 00:00:08,995 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:24,115 --> 00:00:29,435 Speaker 1: Elon Musk talked to Vladimir Putin before posting his moronic 3 00:00:29,475 --> 00:00:32,795 Speaker 1: Twitter poll about a Ukraine settlement that just happened to 4 00:00:32,915 --> 00:00:37,395 Speaker 1: contain everything Putin wants. Then he told the geopolitical author 5 00:00:37,435 --> 00:00:40,275 Speaker 1: Ian Bremer. Then Bremer went public with that, and then 6 00:00:40,315 --> 00:00:43,835 Speaker 1: twenty minutes after that, Musk tweeted, nobody should trust Bremer, 7 00:00:44,155 --> 00:00:47,875 Speaker 1: which notably is not a denial, but it is an 8 00:00:47,955 --> 00:00:51,435 Speaker 1: essential thing for Musk to say, because he's saying that 9 00:00:51,475 --> 00:00:53,595 Speaker 1: he is not talking to those of us already knew 10 00:00:53,675 --> 00:00:56,715 Speaker 1: that he was Prutent's whore. He's talking to those looking 11 00:00:56,755 --> 00:01:00,955 Speaker 1: for an excuse to believe he's not Prutent's whore. The 12 00:01:01,035 --> 00:01:06,235 Speaker 1: Putin Musk Bremer exchange underscores a influence of developments yesterday, 13 00:01:06,275 --> 00:01:08,995 Speaker 1: each important in its own right, but collectively a kind 14 00:01:08,995 --> 00:01:13,075 Speaker 1: of roadmap into the reality of the non reality of 15 00:01:13,115 --> 00:01:16,635 Speaker 1: the fascists and Republicans and mega. It does not have 16 00:01:16,715 --> 00:01:19,235 Speaker 1: to be a denial, It only has to seem like 17 00:01:19,275 --> 00:01:21,795 Speaker 1: a denial, just like you don't have to be telling 18 00:01:21,795 --> 00:01:23,675 Speaker 1: the truth. It only has to seem like you're telling 19 00:01:23,675 --> 00:01:25,835 Speaker 1: the truth, just like you don't have to be sane. 20 00:01:26,235 --> 00:01:28,875 Speaker 1: It only has to seem like you're saying. Just like 21 00:01:28,915 --> 00:01:31,275 Speaker 1: you don't have to be an ex democrat, It only 22 00:01:31,315 --> 00:01:33,955 Speaker 1: has to seem like you're an ex democrat. Just like 23 00:01:33,995 --> 00:01:36,715 Speaker 1: you don't have to be a billionaire. It only has 24 00:01:36,755 --> 00:01:42,195 Speaker 1: to seem like you are, Mr Trump. Sincerity is messy, 25 00:01:42,355 --> 00:01:47,795 Speaker 1: honesty is embarrassing. Mental health is uneven, which brings us 26 00:01:47,835 --> 00:01:51,555 Speaker 1: to herschel Walker. Just as his abortion train wreck was 27 00:01:51,595 --> 00:01:54,515 Speaker 1: beginning to recede from public consciousness, they put him back 28 00:01:54,555 --> 00:01:57,355 Speaker 1: on the campaign trail yesterday, and the mother of one 29 00:01:57,355 --> 00:02:00,395 Speaker 1: of his children, the one who's abortion Walker paid for, 30 00:02:00,875 --> 00:02:04,395 Speaker 1: added another detail last night to The Washington Post. He 31 00:02:05,075 --> 00:02:08,595 Speaker 1: wanted her to get the abortion. He also wanted her 32 00:02:08,595 --> 00:02:12,275 Speaker 1: to pay for the abortion, and during her next pregnancy, 33 00:02:12,475 --> 00:02:16,235 Speaker 1: he wanted her to get another abortion. And his handlers 34 00:02:16,315 --> 00:02:19,795 Speaker 1: yesterday made the one mistake that can prove utterly fatal 35 00:02:19,835 --> 00:02:24,355 Speaker 1: to the herschel Walker campaign. They let him talk. He 36 00:02:24,435 --> 00:02:27,155 Speaker 1: made an appearance with Senators Tom Cotton and Rick Scott, 37 00:02:27,555 --> 00:02:30,555 Speaker 1: and to be fair, compared to them, herschel Walker sounds 38 00:02:30,595 --> 00:02:34,475 Speaker 1: like a fireball of energy and intellect. But you have 39 00:02:34,555 --> 00:02:38,275 Speaker 1: to imagine somebody saying to Walker, Look, whenever you do, 40 00:02:38,595 --> 00:02:43,315 Speaker 1: whatever you tell this crowd, do not do not make 41 00:02:43,355 --> 00:02:49,675 Speaker 1: any reference to fatherhood or having children, or abortions or 42 00:02:49,795 --> 00:02:53,915 Speaker 1: or births. Just don't say anything that any way relates 43 00:02:53,955 --> 00:02:57,675 Speaker 1: to babies. I've been tending this little story about this 44 00:02:57,755 --> 00:03:01,995 Speaker 1: blow alot into field with six cows and three of 45 00:03:02,155 --> 00:03:06,595 Speaker 1: my printed. Okay, so that's a swing and a miss, Herschel, 46 00:03:06,635 --> 00:03:09,475 Speaker 1: don't panic. You can probably get away with the word pregnant. 47 00:03:09,995 --> 00:03:12,315 Speaker 1: But it's important for you not to suggest that the 48 00:03:12,435 --> 00:03:16,195 Speaker 1: same male would be the father of all those different 49 00:03:16,275 --> 00:03:20,635 Speaker 1: offspring and three of a pregnant. So you know you 50 00:03:20,755 --> 00:03:24,595 Speaker 1: got something going on. But all he cared about is 51 00:03:24,675 --> 00:03:27,635 Speaker 1: kept his nose against the fence, looking at three other cows, 52 00:03:27,675 --> 00:03:31,275 Speaker 1: and then blown to him. All right, maybe we can 53 00:03:31,275 --> 00:03:34,155 Speaker 1: still pull out of this kit. Just just whatever you do, 54 00:03:34,195 --> 00:03:37,955 Speaker 1: you cannot imply that the bull you know, enjoys fathering 55 00:03:38,075 --> 00:03:41,155 Speaker 1: children all over the countryside. Especially, this is vital, Herschel, 56 00:03:41,195 --> 00:03:44,875 Speaker 1: Look at me over here, this is vital. Do not 57 00:03:45,115 --> 00:03:50,435 Speaker 1: suggest that the bowl is looking for more new females 58 00:03:50,875 --> 00:03:53,875 Speaker 1: so he can also get them pregnant. Now, all he 59 00:03:53,915 --> 00:03:56,515 Speaker 1: had to do is heat grass. But no, no, no, 60 00:03:56,675 --> 00:03:59,755 Speaker 1: he thought something the better somewhere else. If you are 61 00:03:59,795 --> 00:04:02,835 Speaker 1: asking yourself why the Republican Party is unswerving lee behind 62 00:04:02,875 --> 00:04:05,155 Speaker 1: herschel Walker, It's not just that as long ago as 63 00:04:05,235 --> 00:04:08,515 Speaker 1: nineteen sixty four they figured out that the shortcut to 64 00:04:08,595 --> 00:04:11,595 Speaker 1: winning elections was to nominate people who were on television 65 00:04:11,995 --> 00:04:15,835 Speaker 1: Ronald Reagan, George Murphy, Sonny Bono, Fred Thompson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, 66 00:04:15,875 --> 00:04:19,635 Speaker 1: Fred Grandy Trump, or athletes who were on television like 67 00:04:19,715 --> 00:04:23,315 Speaker 1: Jack Kemp, Jim Bunning, J C. Watts Burgess Owens, and 68 00:04:23,435 --> 00:04:27,435 Speaker 1: herschel Walker. It's also that herschel Walker embraces his own 69 00:04:27,475 --> 00:04:31,795 Speaker 1: stupidity and his unintelligibility. He is everything that a racist 70 00:04:31,875 --> 00:04:35,075 Speaker 1: Republican wants in an African American senator. He will do 71 00:04:35,235 --> 00:04:37,795 Speaker 1: whatever they tell him to do, and they can pretend 72 00:04:38,195 --> 00:04:43,835 Speaker 1: he isn't guilty, and they can pretend they aren't racists. Unfortunately, 73 00:04:43,875 --> 00:04:46,115 Speaker 1: I'm beginning to think that this is also what the 74 00:04:46,115 --> 00:04:51,155 Speaker 1: new fascist love affair is with Kanye West. By now, 75 00:04:51,235 --> 00:04:53,915 Speaker 1: I guess you have heard that the Vice news site 76 00:04:53,995 --> 00:04:58,035 Speaker 1: Motherboard got hold of outtakes from the Tucker Carlson interview 77 00:04:58,075 --> 00:05:01,955 Speaker 1: with West. My first impression was my God, this is 78 00:05:01,995 --> 00:05:06,115 Speaker 1: one of the greatest editing jobs of all time. Quote. 79 00:05:06,155 --> 00:05:10,115 Speaker 1: The enemies of his ideas dismissed West, Tucks and Carlson 80 00:05:10,195 --> 00:05:13,755 Speaker 1: said on Fox as they have for years, as mentally ill, 81 00:05:14,275 --> 00:05:17,555 Speaker 1: too crazy to take seriously, look away, ignore him. He's 82 00:05:17,555 --> 00:05:20,755 Speaker 1: a mental patient. Is West crazy? You can judge for 83 00:05:20,875 --> 00:05:25,555 Speaker 1: yourself as you watch what we're about to show you, well, sir. 84 00:05:26,355 --> 00:05:29,875 Speaker 1: They cut this part out. Planned Parenthood was made by 85 00:05:29,915 --> 00:05:36,835 Speaker 1: Margaret Sanger and known eugenics with the KKK to control 86 00:05:37,955 --> 00:05:41,915 Speaker 1: the Jew population. When I say ju, I mean the 87 00:05:41,995 --> 00:05:46,155 Speaker 1: twelve lost tribes of Judah, the blood of Christ, who 88 00:05:47,115 --> 00:05:50,355 Speaker 1: the race, the people known as the race Black for 89 00:05:50,475 --> 00:05:54,275 Speaker 1: the r It's like seven crazy things just in that 90 00:05:54,315 --> 00:05:58,195 Speaker 1: one sound bite, and Motherboard did not upload another clip 91 00:05:58,235 --> 00:06:01,435 Speaker 1: in which it says West told Carlson that fake children 92 00:06:01,475 --> 00:06:03,995 Speaker 1: were sent to his home. He identified one of them 93 00:06:04,035 --> 00:06:07,995 Speaker 1: by name and quote, I mean like actors, professional actors 94 00:06:08,035 --> 00:06:12,395 Speaker 1: placed into my house to sexualize my kids. He said 95 00:06:12,395 --> 00:06:14,755 Speaker 1: that the son of an associate of his was not 96 00:06:14,915 --> 00:06:18,115 Speaker 1: her real son. Quote we don't. We didn't even believe 97 00:06:18,155 --> 00:06:20,515 Speaker 1: that this person was her son because he was way 98 00:06:20,595 --> 00:06:25,395 Speaker 1: smarter than her. Right, But they did post this Kanye 99 00:06:25,515 --> 00:06:28,275 Speaker 1: West clip about his kids and back we go to 100 00:06:28,395 --> 00:06:32,275 Speaker 1: your favorite anti semitic tropes. And now you look up 101 00:06:32,715 --> 00:06:35,795 Speaker 1: and my kids are going to a school that teaches 102 00:06:35,875 --> 00:06:41,595 Speaker 1: black kids a complicated Kwanza. I prefer my kids New 103 00:06:41,635 --> 00:06:44,715 Speaker 1: Hanaka then Kwanza. At least it will come with some 104 00:06:45,675 --> 00:06:51,475 Speaker 1: financial engineering. Kwanza, doesn't you know? So they don't teach 105 00:06:51,555 --> 00:06:55,755 Speaker 1: even Christmas itself Christ's Mass. Monday Night, Tucker Carlson did 106 00:06:55,795 --> 00:06:58,435 Speaker 1: an entire follow up segment on Kanye West, and not 107 00:06:58,515 --> 00:07:02,555 Speaker 1: once did he mention his anti semitic threats on Twitter. Plus, 108 00:07:02,555 --> 00:07:06,715 Speaker 1: remember that Fred Armison Saturday Night Live character from Weekend Update, 109 00:07:06,755 --> 00:07:09,115 Speaker 1: who could not finish a single sentence? Did he come 110 00:07:09,115 --> 00:07:12,355 Speaker 1: to mind as you heard that last clip? There's more 111 00:07:13,315 --> 00:07:17,435 Speaker 1: the Louis Ruttan conspiracy. He says there is to cause cancer, 112 00:07:18,275 --> 00:07:21,235 Speaker 1: posing the ideas of Jews judging other Jews on their 113 00:07:21,275 --> 00:07:24,155 Speaker 1: ability to dance. A moment where Kanye West says, quote, 114 00:07:24,195 --> 00:07:27,475 Speaker 1: I probably want to edit that out, which raises an 115 00:07:27,475 --> 00:07:30,715 Speaker 1: additional level of concern. Who did edit the interview and 116 00:07:30,795 --> 00:07:33,435 Speaker 1: what to The Fox audience would have seen the absolute 117 00:07:33,515 --> 00:07:37,115 Speaker 1: proof of West's emotional problems. His blunt statement about COVID 118 00:07:37,195 --> 00:07:43,435 Speaker 1: nineteen quote, I was vaccinated. This all is not limited 119 00:07:43,475 --> 00:07:46,875 Speaker 1: to African American politicians nor African American athletes. It's about 120 00:07:46,915 --> 00:07:51,235 Speaker 1: finding people who will give Fox viewers, fascist conservatives, maga's 121 00:07:51,315 --> 00:07:54,955 Speaker 1: Republicans the idea that they are not crazy, that they 122 00:07:54,995 --> 00:07:57,715 Speaker 1: are not racist, that people who they would not consider 123 00:07:57,715 --> 00:08:01,955 Speaker 1: as part of their group are coming around to their ideas. 124 00:08:02,795 --> 00:08:05,555 Speaker 1: They need to see and hear from Pete Po. They 125 00:08:05,635 --> 00:08:10,275 Speaker 1: think they have converted. Elon Musk is everything they need. 126 00:08:10,315 --> 00:08:13,715 Speaker 1: He has money, he owns a white tux. He must 127 00:08:13,755 --> 00:08:17,635 Speaker 1: be a genius, and they are converting him. Herschel Walker 128 00:08:17,715 --> 00:08:21,875 Speaker 1: is a superb asset, an African American athlete, a football 129 00:08:21,875 --> 00:08:24,435 Speaker 1: player in a time when to the fascists, all African 130 00:08:24,435 --> 00:08:28,515 Speaker 1: American football players are Colin Kaepernick. Look, we are so right, 131 00:08:28,715 --> 00:08:33,035 Speaker 1: We have Herschel Walker. Kanye West is a perfect asset, 132 00:08:33,275 --> 00:08:36,715 Speaker 1: professing love for Trump and wearing a White Lives Matter 133 00:08:36,835 --> 00:08:42,555 Speaker 1: shirt and standing next to Canadas freaking owens. Unless it 134 00:08:42,635 --> 00:08:46,195 Speaker 1: were to be clear that something is really wrong with him, 135 00:08:46,355 --> 00:08:50,115 Speaker 1: Hence the platform on Fox. Hence going back to that 136 00:08:50,395 --> 00:08:55,835 Speaker 1: Kanye is not crazy. Well earlier this week, and still 137 00:08:55,875 --> 00:08:58,515 Speaker 1: there is nothing better for the fascist than someone they 138 00:08:58,515 --> 00:09:02,755 Speaker 1: can point to as a Democrat, an ex Democrat who 139 00:09:02,795 --> 00:09:09,315 Speaker 1: has finally seen the light, which brings us to Tulsey Gabbard. 140 00:09:09,875 --> 00:09:13,555 Speaker 1: I can no longer remain in today's Democratic Party that's 141 00:09:13,595 --> 00:09:17,115 Speaker 1: under the complete control of an elitist cabal of war 142 00:09:17,275 --> 00:09:20,875 Speaker 1: mongers who were driven by cowardly woke. It's funny because 143 00:09:20,875 --> 00:09:24,195 Speaker 1: Telsea Gabbert thinks she was a Democrat. It's useful to 144 00:09:24,235 --> 00:09:27,475 Speaker 1: the fascist because she used the words cabal, which is 145 00:09:27,515 --> 00:09:30,835 Speaker 1: the dog whistle to MAGA for pedophilia, and elitist, which 146 00:09:30,875 --> 00:09:33,555 Speaker 1: is the dog whistle to magaf were jewish, and woke, 147 00:09:33,635 --> 00:09:36,675 Speaker 1: which is an easy, one syllable word Maga can remember 148 00:09:36,675 --> 00:09:39,795 Speaker 1: from one week to the next. You and I can 149 00:09:39,875 --> 00:09:42,955 Speaker 1: dismiss Telsea Gabbert because it's evident that for years she 150 00:09:43,075 --> 00:09:45,835 Speaker 1: has been building up towards a very profitable, very public 151 00:09:45,835 --> 00:09:49,835 Speaker 1: epiphany in which she becomes the resident convert, the Democrat 152 00:09:49,955 --> 00:09:54,755 Speaker 1: we convinced through our superior logic and intellect, or more 153 00:09:54,875 --> 00:10:00,555 Speaker 1: plausible third party candidate. Within hours of releasing that video 154 00:10:00,635 --> 00:10:03,715 Speaker 1: and using the magic words cabal, elitist, and woke, she 155 00:10:03,835 --> 00:10:06,715 Speaker 1: was on Fox New. If she does not wind up 156 00:10:06,715 --> 00:10:09,795 Speaker 1: with a show on Fox News. It'll be a surprise, 157 00:10:10,395 --> 00:10:11,715 Speaker 1: and then of course you'll wind up with one on 158 00:10:11,755 --> 00:10:15,275 Speaker 1: News Max or q TV, or maybe she will be 159 00:10:15,275 --> 00:10:18,075 Speaker 1: a more plausible third party stalking horse than was Jill 160 00:10:18,115 --> 00:10:21,755 Speaker 1: Sneine or Kanye West. Tuls Gabbard will have a monopoly 161 00:10:21,835 --> 00:10:25,355 Speaker 1: on this the conversion seat at the table, at least 162 00:10:25,395 --> 00:10:29,955 Speaker 1: until Kirsten Cinema has her epiphany that this is the 163 00:10:30,035 --> 00:10:34,355 Speaker 1: kind of manipulation enacted by Gebbels and fictionalized by George 164 00:10:34,475 --> 00:10:39,795 Speaker 1: Orwell and even Rod's serling Well. Critics who become supporters, 165 00:10:39,795 --> 00:10:43,435 Speaker 1: demons who become angels, opponents who become hohrrors, democrats who 166 00:10:43,435 --> 00:10:47,635 Speaker 1: become maga. None of it has to be true. It 167 00:10:47,835 --> 00:10:52,555 Speaker 1: just has to seem true so they can convince others 168 00:10:52,635 --> 00:10:57,595 Speaker 1: and maybe convince themselves. The real thing well, of course 169 00:10:57,635 --> 00:11:00,275 Speaker 1: that's the flip side to this coin. They must attack 170 00:11:00,395 --> 00:11:03,635 Speaker 1: the real thing, they must mock it. What was the 171 00:11:03,675 --> 00:11:06,835 Speaker 1: focus of Fox News the last two days. A voicemail 172 00:11:07,395 --> 00:11:11,235 Speaker 1: stolen by London's Daily Mail newspaper from an exhausted and 173 00:11:11,315 --> 00:11:16,035 Speaker 1: heartbroken father left for his desperate and addicted son, pledging 174 00:11:16,115 --> 00:11:20,835 Speaker 1: love and help, no matter where, no matter what no 175 00:11:20,835 --> 00:11:28,675 Speaker 1: matter when loving one in the whole world. Hell, I 176 00:11:28,755 --> 00:11:31,835 Speaker 1: got I get some help. I don't know what you do. 177 00:11:31,715 --> 00:11:36,355 Speaker 1: I know you don't either. I'm here no matter what 178 00:11:36,435 --> 00:11:42,835 Speaker 1: you need, no matter what she needs. I love you now. 179 00:11:42,915 --> 00:11:47,035 Speaker 1: That voice mail, Sean Hannity then said, reportedly came at 180 00:11:47,035 --> 00:11:50,515 Speaker 1: the exact same time Hunter lied on a gun application 181 00:11:50,555 --> 00:11:53,155 Speaker 1: to buy a handgun. By the way, he went on, 182 00:11:53,675 --> 00:11:56,515 Speaker 1: replace the name Biden with Trump, and imagine how the 183 00:11:56,595 --> 00:11:59,115 Speaker 1: mob and the media would be covering all of this. Instead, 184 00:11:59,115 --> 00:12:01,875 Speaker 1: they'd rather perpetuate one hoax after another, just like they 185 00:12:01,875 --> 00:12:06,555 Speaker 1: did with the Dirty Steel Dossier. From a broken hearted 186 00:12:06,555 --> 00:12:09,475 Speaker 1: father's love for his son and pledge of help in 187 00:12:09,555 --> 00:12:14,515 Speaker 1: recovery to the Steel dossier, Sean Hannity used to use 188 00:12:14,555 --> 00:12:17,035 Speaker 1: the radio studio that had joined mine at ABC in 189 00:12:17,075 --> 00:12:21,595 Speaker 1: New York, and wherever I saw him there, he would 190 00:12:21,595 --> 00:12:25,715 Speaker 1: greet me warmly and act like my friend. He has 191 00:12:25,755 --> 00:12:29,555 Speaker 1: fooled other people, and he would thank me for getting 192 00:12:29,635 --> 00:12:32,755 Speaker 1: him sympathy from his viewers because I had criticized him 193 00:12:32,795 --> 00:12:35,875 Speaker 1: on my program, and he genuinely wondered why people thought 194 00:12:35,875 --> 00:12:39,115 Speaker 1: he and I would be enemies. And he summed it 195 00:12:39,155 --> 00:12:42,515 Speaker 1: all up with all the cynicism in the world condensed 196 00:12:42,515 --> 00:12:48,075 Speaker 1: to eight words. I mean, it's only TV. It's not real, 197 00:12:49,875 --> 00:12:53,115 Speaker 1: just like it's only a lie, or it's only a 198 00:12:53,155 --> 00:12:57,075 Speaker 1: politician pretending disillusionment, or it's only a covered up abortion, 199 00:12:57,915 --> 00:13:00,795 Speaker 1: or it's only a gun pointed at a head, or 200 00:13:00,795 --> 00:13:04,995 Speaker 1: it's only a billionaire shilling for a dictator. It's not real. 201 00:13:06,275 --> 00:13:12,035 Speaker 1: None of this to them is real. It only has 202 00:13:12,115 --> 00:13:27,435 Speaker 1: to seem that way. Still ahead on countdown, it was perfect. 203 00:13:27,435 --> 00:13:30,035 Speaker 1: The Saudis could hurt Biden and boost Russia at the 204 00:13:30,075 --> 00:13:32,395 Speaker 1: same time. The problem is they did not think we 205 00:13:32,435 --> 00:13:36,115 Speaker 1: would do anything to them in response. Now the President 206 00:13:36,155 --> 00:13:40,115 Speaker 1: promises consequences. It was one of the greatest performances in 207 00:13:40,155 --> 00:13:43,035 Speaker 1: one of the greatest movies ever, and now the actress 208 00:13:43,035 --> 00:13:47,715 Speaker 1: who gave it is gone. Remembering Angela Lansbury, Baseball's playoffs 209 00:13:47,755 --> 00:13:50,995 Speaker 1: and rust never sleeps, at least that's the evidence from 210 00:13:51,035 --> 00:13:53,915 Speaker 1: the teams that got Rusty and in things I promised 211 00:13:53,915 --> 00:13:57,275 Speaker 1: not to tell. Remember the name Matt Lour the day 212 00:13:57,315 --> 00:13:59,755 Speaker 1: he tried to get me fired at NBC News for 213 00:13:59,915 --> 00:14:04,395 Speaker 1: doing an interview for my newscast when he wanted to 214 00:14:04,395 --> 00:14:16,635 Speaker 1: do the interview instead. That's next This is countdown. This 215 00:14:16,835 --> 00:14:24,755 Speaker 1: is Countdown. With Keith Olberman still ahead on Countdown. Kevin 216 00:14:24,835 --> 00:14:27,755 Speaker 1: McCarthy said, when he talked to Trump on January six, 217 00:14:28,435 --> 00:14:30,995 Speaker 1: Trump may not have known his supporters were trying to 218 00:14:31,035 --> 00:14:33,995 Speaker 1: destroy the US capital and kill the policeman and the 219 00:14:34,075 --> 00:14:37,395 Speaker 1: vice president. Oh but that was last week. This week, 220 00:14:37,515 --> 00:14:42,435 Speaker 1: Kevin McCarthy is saying the opposite, the worst persons coming 221 00:14:42,475 --> 00:14:44,395 Speaker 1: up first. In each edition of Countdown, we feature a 222 00:14:44,435 --> 00:14:46,675 Speaker 1: dog in need whom you can help. Every dog has 223 00:14:46,715 --> 00:14:51,275 Speaker 1: its day. This time it is Morgana, a senior Labrador Retriever, 224 00:14:51,355 --> 00:14:54,235 Speaker 1: great with other dogs, great with kids, surrendered to the 225 00:14:54,275 --> 00:14:58,315 Speaker 1: pound in Guardena, California, only because her human had issues. 226 00:14:58,755 --> 00:15:02,555 Speaker 1: She she's perfect, big smile, just waiting for your help 227 00:15:02,995 --> 00:15:06,155 Speaker 1: to adopt her, foster her, or just pledged to contribute 228 00:15:06,355 --> 00:15:08,715 Speaker 1: to help to fray A rescues costs to pull her 229 00:15:08,755 --> 00:15:11,155 Speaker 1: out of there. She is ten years old. Lots of 230 00:15:11,155 --> 00:15:13,875 Speaker 1: people hesitate to take senior dogs. I just did, and 231 00:15:13,915 --> 00:15:17,115 Speaker 1: by that age, these dogs are pros. They know and 232 00:15:17,195 --> 00:15:21,555 Speaker 1: appreciate us. By peds, you can't go wrong. Morgana will 233 00:15:21,595 --> 00:15:23,395 Speaker 1: be in the pin to tweet at my account for 234 00:15:23,475 --> 00:15:26,475 Speaker 1: dogs in need that Tom Jumbo Grumbo on Twitter. If 235 00:15:26,515 --> 00:15:30,115 Speaker 1: you can't pledge, just retweeting the story will help, and 236 00:15:30,155 --> 00:15:44,915 Speaker 1: thank you very much for doing so. Now. Postscripts to 237 00:15:44,955 --> 00:15:48,915 Speaker 1: the news, some headlines, some insights, some snark. Dateline Washington. 238 00:15:48,995 --> 00:15:52,115 Speaker 1: A prediction from writer Franklin four of The Atlantic, former 239 00:15:52,195 --> 00:15:55,315 Speaker 1: editor of The New Republic Merrick Garland. He says will 240 00:15:55,355 --> 00:15:58,595 Speaker 1: indict Trump. This he says he's based on an examination 241 00:15:58,635 --> 00:16:02,675 Speaker 1: of Garland's career and particularly of who his Justice Department 242 00:16:02,715 --> 00:16:06,075 Speaker 1: has prosecuted and who it has not. Quote. An indictment 243 00:16:06,075 --> 00:16:08,355 Speaker 1: would be a signal to Trump as well as who 244 00:16:08,355 --> 00:16:11,195 Speaker 1: would be imitators, that no one is above the law, 245 00:16:11,595 --> 00:16:14,875 Speaker 1: and this is the principle that has animated Garland's career. 246 00:16:15,475 --> 00:16:19,275 Speaker 1: Dateline Washington. Again, not surprisingly, Justice filed its answer to 247 00:16:19,315 --> 00:16:24,195 Speaker 1: the Trump appeal to Clarence Thomas. The message hands off quote, 248 00:16:24,235 --> 00:16:27,715 Speaker 1: as this Court has emphasized, Court should be cautious before 249 00:16:27,795 --> 00:16:32,235 Speaker 1: insisting upon an examination of records whose disclosure would jeopardize 250 00:16:32,315 --> 00:16:37,315 Speaker 1: national security, even by the judge alone in chambers. Dateline, 251 00:16:37,355 --> 00:16:40,755 Speaker 1: Los Angeles. Whoever heard of a politician or an officeholder 252 00:16:40,835 --> 00:16:44,555 Speaker 1: taking a leave of absence? That is what disgraced Los 253 00:16:44,595 --> 00:16:47,835 Speaker 1: Angeles City councilwoman Nuri Martinez is trying to get away 254 00:16:47,875 --> 00:16:50,755 Speaker 1: with She resigned her role as president of the council, 255 00:16:50,995 --> 00:16:53,715 Speaker 1: but is trying to hang on to her seat after 256 00:16:53,755 --> 00:16:56,435 Speaker 1: the tape surface of racist remarks that she and to 257 00:16:56,595 --> 00:17:00,115 Speaker 1: other council members made. President Biden has stated they all 258 00:17:00,155 --> 00:17:04,115 Speaker 1: need to go and also dateline Los Angeles, five days 259 00:17:04,115 --> 00:17:06,555 Speaker 1: short of what would have been her ninety seven birthday, 260 00:17:06,835 --> 00:17:10,715 Speaker 1: Dame Angela Lansbury has died a lot of invocations of murder, 261 00:17:10,835 --> 00:17:13,315 Speaker 1: she wrote, and Beauty and the Beast, and That's fine 262 00:17:13,835 --> 00:17:18,795 Speaker 1: almost forgotten. She received Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actress 263 00:17:18,875 --> 00:17:23,195 Speaker 1: in two of her first three films during the Second 264 00:17:23,195 --> 00:17:26,835 Speaker 1: World War, Gaslight and The Picture of Dorian Gray, and 265 00:17:26,875 --> 00:17:30,395 Speaker 1: those happened before her twenty one birthday. The other picture 266 00:17:30,475 --> 00:17:33,235 Speaker 1: she made in that time span was National Velvet, But 267 00:17:33,275 --> 00:17:35,515 Speaker 1: it was a nineteen sixty two film that saw her 268 00:17:35,555 --> 00:17:39,675 Speaker 1: give truly one of the greatest performances in movie history 269 00:17:39,995 --> 00:17:44,315 Speaker 1: in The Manchurian Candidate. In a mine field of evil characters, 270 00:17:44,435 --> 00:17:47,915 Speaker 1: some of them severe, some of them cartoonish, her portrayal 271 00:17:47,995 --> 00:17:50,955 Speaker 1: of the most evil of them all as evil a 272 00:17:51,075 --> 00:17:55,035 Speaker 1: character as there could be in the world is relentless 273 00:17:55,435 --> 00:17:58,955 Speaker 1: and overpowering, whether you are seeing it for the first 274 00:17:58,995 --> 00:18:01,915 Speaker 1: time or the five hundreds. If you're a total of 275 00:18:01,955 --> 00:18:05,995 Speaker 1: seeing the Manchurian candidate is zero, go see it right now. 276 00:18:06,555 --> 00:18:09,435 Speaker 1: Don't even listen to the rest of the podcast. R 277 00:18:09,555 --> 00:18:27,115 Speaker 1: I P. Angelo Landsburg. This is Sports Center. Wait, check 278 00:18:27,195 --> 00:18:34,835 Speaker 1: that not anymore. This is Countdown with Keith Alban in 279 00:18:35,155 --> 00:18:38,195 Speaker 1: sports looks like rust is a thing in the baseball 280 00:18:38,195 --> 00:18:40,755 Speaker 1: playoffs for the first time, they were opening round buys 281 00:18:41,035 --> 00:18:44,595 Speaker 1: for four divisional champions. They all played for the first 282 00:18:44,635 --> 00:18:48,315 Speaker 1: time yesterday. The Braves trailed the Phillies seven one and 283 00:18:48,355 --> 00:18:51,275 Speaker 1: the fifth and rallied but lost. The Astros trailed the 284 00:18:51,315 --> 00:18:53,475 Speaker 1: Mariners six three in the eighth and then one on 285 00:18:53,515 --> 00:18:55,675 Speaker 1: a three run home run by your Don Albarez in 286 00:18:55,715 --> 00:18:58,555 Speaker 1: the ninth. The Yankees trailed Cleveland one nothing in the 287 00:18:58,595 --> 00:19:00,755 Speaker 1: third day, rallied to win four to one, but the 288 00:19:00,795 --> 00:19:03,355 Speaker 1: Dodgers got a two run homer from Trade Turner in 289 00:19:03,395 --> 00:19:05,035 Speaker 1: the bottom of the first against the pot Dreys, and 290 00:19:05,035 --> 00:19:07,355 Speaker 1: they had made it five zip by the third. And 291 00:19:07,395 --> 00:19:10,115 Speaker 1: The National Hockey League season opened last night with quite 292 00:19:10,195 --> 00:19:12,675 Speaker 1: the twist, as the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay 293 00:19:12,755 --> 00:19:14,995 Speaker 1: Lightning leaned in for the opening face off of a 294 00:19:15,115 --> 00:19:18,035 Speaker 1: three one win for New York at Madison Square Garden. 295 00:19:18,675 --> 00:19:22,115 Speaker 1: Referee on setter Ice about to drop the puck, Chris 296 00:19:22,195 --> 00:19:33,395 Speaker 1: Rooney said, helly, great fans, Welcome to opening night NHL season. 297 00:19:33,915 --> 00:19:41,155 Speaker 1: What's better in this good players, let's had a great season. Hi, 298 00:19:41,395 --> 00:19:43,955 Speaker 1: I'm Chris. I'll be your referee tonight if you'd like 299 00:19:44,035 --> 00:19:47,475 Speaker 1: to hear the specials we have spearing, hooking, high sticking 300 00:20:00,595 --> 00:20:04,315 Speaker 1: coming up. Matt Lower wanted me fired. My crime I 301 00:20:04,355 --> 00:20:06,355 Speaker 1: didn't an interview with the husband of the woman at 302 00:20:06,355 --> 00:20:08,515 Speaker 1: the center of one of the great political controversies of 303 00:20:08,555 --> 00:20:12,675 Speaker 1: fifteen years ago, Terry Shivoh, and he wanted to be 304 00:20:12,715 --> 00:20:17,635 Speaker 1: the one to do the interview instead. First the daily 305 00:20:17,715 --> 00:20:19,955 Speaker 1: round up of the misgrants, morons and Donning Kruger effect 306 00:20:19,955 --> 00:20:25,115 Speaker 1: specimens who constitute today's worst persons in the world, Lebronze 307 00:20:25,155 --> 00:20:28,195 Speaker 1: Prince Mohammed Ben Salman. For a change, it will be 308 00:20:28,195 --> 00:20:31,595 Speaker 1: the Saudis getting the surprise, President Biden saying that the 309 00:20:31,715 --> 00:20:35,395 Speaker 1: Kingdom cut oil production to aid Russia in the war 310 00:20:35,555 --> 00:20:38,995 Speaker 1: over Ukraine, so it's time for the US to rethink 311 00:20:38,995 --> 00:20:41,995 Speaker 1: its relationship with Saudi Arabia. The quote there's going to 312 00:20:42,035 --> 00:20:45,315 Speaker 1: be some consequences for what they've done with Russia, but 313 00:20:45,355 --> 00:20:47,635 Speaker 1: there may be a domestic element to Bruce Rydell, a 314 00:20:47,675 --> 00:20:50,395 Speaker 1: senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told the website the 315 00:20:50,395 --> 00:20:54,195 Speaker 1: intercept quote, the Saudis are working to get Trump reelected 316 00:20:54,475 --> 00:20:56,875 Speaker 1: and for the MAGA Republicans to win the mid terms. 317 00:20:56,995 --> 00:21:01,675 Speaker 1: Higher oil prices will undermine the Democrats. Well, that's better 318 00:21:01,675 --> 00:21:04,875 Speaker 1: than a bone. Saw the runners up to Trump just 319 00:21:05,035 --> 00:21:09,075 Speaker 1: Ken Cucinelli from Homeland Security and Cash Stairs daggers at 320 00:21:09,115 --> 00:21:11,515 Speaker 1: you whether he knows it or not, Patel part of 321 00:21:11,515 --> 00:21:14,115 Speaker 1: a cabal trying to get the United States to formally 322 00:21:14,155 --> 00:21:20,595 Speaker 1: declare war on Mexico's drug cart tells neither Mr Couchinelli 323 00:21:20,635 --> 00:21:23,275 Speaker 1: nor mrr Stairs daggers at you know enough about how 324 00:21:23,275 --> 00:21:27,835 Speaker 1: the US works. You can only declare war on a country, 325 00:21:28,075 --> 00:21:33,675 Speaker 1: not a group of people. Welcome to our land, morons, 326 00:21:34,315 --> 00:21:37,955 Speaker 1: but our Winnerhouse Minority leader Kevin McCarthy. Only last week 327 00:21:37,995 --> 00:21:41,155 Speaker 1: we heard audio of him telling two police officers who 328 00:21:41,275 --> 00:21:44,395 Speaker 1: tried to protect the capital on January six that Trump 329 00:21:44,435 --> 00:21:46,675 Speaker 1: had no idea. It was his supporters who were trying 330 00:21:46,715 --> 00:21:49,315 Speaker 1: to kill them. I'm just telling you from my phone 331 00:21:49,315 --> 00:21:52,075 Speaker 1: call with Trump. McCarthy said, I don't know that he 332 00:21:52,155 --> 00:21:55,635 Speaker 1: did know that. But then yesterday out came another new 333 00:21:55,795 --> 00:21:58,635 Speaker 1: get me a Book deal Trump book, by Robert Draper, 334 00:21:59,235 --> 00:22:03,715 Speaker 1: and this account of the same McCarthy Trump phone call Trump. Well, Kevin, 335 00:22:03,755 --> 00:22:05,995 Speaker 1: I guess these people are more upset about the election 336 00:22:06,035 --> 00:22:09,675 Speaker 1: than you are. McCarthy, more upset. They're trying to eff 337 00:22:09,755 --> 00:22:13,075 Speaker 1: and kill me. Kevin. Give me enough time and I 338 00:22:13,115 --> 00:22:15,475 Speaker 1: can explain how both these stories can be true, since 339 00:22:15,475 --> 00:22:18,235 Speaker 1: I don't have to stick to any known facts. McCarthy 340 00:22:18,275 --> 00:22:33,195 Speaker 1: Today's worst person in the world, to the number one 341 00:22:33,235 --> 00:22:35,715 Speaker 1: story on the Countdown and my favorite topic, me and 342 00:22:35,835 --> 00:22:38,235 Speaker 1: things I promised not to tell. And somebody asked me 343 00:22:38,275 --> 00:22:40,995 Speaker 1: the other day, whatever happened to Matt Lauer, And I said, 344 00:22:41,035 --> 00:22:43,795 Speaker 1: I don't know, but I hope it was unpleasant. If 345 00:22:43,835 --> 00:22:46,395 Speaker 1: the name Matt Lower is remembered at all today, it 346 00:22:46,475 --> 00:22:49,635 Speaker 1: is for two facts. One but he was the face 347 00:22:49,675 --> 00:22:54,435 Speaker 1: of NBC News until November seventeen, when the network suddenly 348 00:22:54,475 --> 00:22:58,475 Speaker 1: announced there were credible allegations against him of sexual misconduct 349 00:22:58,715 --> 00:23:01,715 Speaker 1: and that he had been fired effective immediately, and to 350 00:23:02,475 --> 00:23:05,875 Speaker 1: the lesser known fact that everybody at NBC knew he 351 00:23:05,995 --> 00:23:09,755 Speaker 1: was an evil figure who dominated all of management at 352 00:23:09,755 --> 00:23:12,915 Speaker 1: thirty Rock and in many cases coerced them into looking 353 00:23:12,955 --> 00:23:16,635 Speaker 1: the other way despite decades of abuse of women employees 354 00:23:17,035 --> 00:23:20,435 Speaker 1: and of bullying and retribution against Mail employees, including other 355 00:23:20,475 --> 00:23:24,755 Speaker 1: people on TV. This was so well known inside NBC 356 00:23:24,795 --> 00:23:26,955 Speaker 1: News that even some of us who had left and 357 00:23:26,995 --> 00:23:29,435 Speaker 1: had been gone for years knew in advance he was 358 00:23:29,475 --> 00:23:33,195 Speaker 1: to be fired. I found out like four days before 359 00:23:33,195 --> 00:23:37,515 Speaker 1: it happened, and much of the bad conduct, at least 360 00:23:37,555 --> 00:23:40,755 Speaker 1: the bad conduct in the office involving the mail employees, 361 00:23:40,835 --> 00:23:43,995 Speaker 1: I saw happen in real time. When I returned to 362 00:23:44,075 --> 00:23:47,475 Speaker 1: NBC in February two thousand three, I was one of 363 00:23:47,555 --> 00:23:51,875 Speaker 1: Lower's favorites. For some reason. My show Countdown was the 364 00:23:51,955 --> 00:23:54,955 Speaker 1: last program he watched before he went to sleep, or 365 00:23:54,995 --> 00:23:58,635 Speaker 1: maybe more correctly, before he went to bed. He used 366 00:23:58,635 --> 00:24:00,915 Speaker 1: to do these moronic where in the world is Matt 367 00:24:00,955 --> 00:24:03,755 Speaker 1: Lower segments in which he created video clues as to 368 00:24:03,875 --> 00:24:06,955 Speaker 1: his whereabouts that would run on the Today Show, And 369 00:24:07,035 --> 00:24:09,075 Speaker 1: one day one of his producers called and said Lower 370 00:24:09,195 --> 00:24:10,955 Speaker 1: was such a fan of Countdown he wanted to do 371 00:24:10,995 --> 00:24:15,195 Speaker 1: a special clue just for countdown. Well, we had like 372 00:24:15,235 --> 00:24:18,435 Speaker 1: two hundred thousand viewers and night we took whatever we 373 00:24:18,515 --> 00:24:22,955 Speaker 1: could get some free Matt Lower. Sure. By the way, 374 00:24:22,995 --> 00:24:25,955 Speaker 1: I was reminded recently that one MSNBC wag used to 375 00:24:26,035 --> 00:24:28,995 Speaker 1: answer that rhetorical question where in the world is Matt 376 00:24:29,075 --> 00:24:32,715 Speaker 1: Lower by answering in the bedroom of somebody else's wife 377 00:24:33,515 --> 00:24:37,875 Speaker 1: anyway Lower. If you think the Republican's ability to turn 378 00:24:37,955 --> 00:24:41,675 Speaker 1: any tragedy into a political issue is something new, or 379 00:24:41,715 --> 00:24:44,675 Speaker 1: that television's ability to turn any tragedy into ratings is 380 00:24:44,715 --> 00:24:47,715 Speaker 1: something new, or that Matt Lower's ability to make anything 381 00:24:47,795 --> 00:24:52,475 Speaker 1: worse was something new, consider the case of Terry Shivo. 382 00:24:53,155 --> 00:24:56,155 Speaker 1: Terry Shivo was a woman in Florida, twenty six years old, 383 00:24:56,235 --> 00:25:00,195 Speaker 1: struck by cardiac arrest. You did not kill her, but 384 00:25:00,275 --> 00:25:02,995 Speaker 1: it left her in a living nightmare. She was in 385 00:25:03,075 --> 00:25:07,395 Speaker 1: a quote persistent veget native state, not brain dead, but 386 00:25:07,515 --> 00:25:11,635 Speaker 1: neither was she conscious. And worse, her eyes were open 387 00:25:12,715 --> 00:25:15,955 Speaker 1: and her head moved constantly and involuntarily and in a 388 00:25:16,035 --> 00:25:21,355 Speaker 1: regular pattern. Her parents, I guess, understandably, unwilling to accept 389 00:25:21,435 --> 00:25:25,195 Speaker 1: this terrible fate, quickly discovered that if you moved a 390 00:25:25,315 --> 00:25:29,035 Speaker 1: balloon through her hospital room, Terry Shibo's head and gaze 391 00:25:29,555 --> 00:25:33,515 Speaker 1: would seem to follow the balloon. Unfortunately, if you did 392 00:25:33,555 --> 00:25:36,675 Speaker 1: not move a balloon through her hospital room, Terry Shibo's 393 00:25:36,675 --> 00:25:39,715 Speaker 1: head and gaze would still follow the same exact path 394 00:25:39,795 --> 00:25:43,755 Speaker 1: as it did when there was a balloon. Her husband, Michael, 395 00:25:44,195 --> 00:25:46,275 Speaker 1: spent seven years in the courts trying to get his 396 00:25:46,315 --> 00:25:49,875 Speaker 1: wife's feeding tube removed and thus release her and him 397 00:25:49,995 --> 00:25:53,915 Speaker 1: and everybody in the family from this living hell. And 398 00:25:54,115 --> 00:25:57,395 Speaker 1: her parents fought him, and finally in two thousand three, 399 00:25:57,595 --> 00:26:01,355 Speaker 1: the parents went public. They showed video of their daughter 400 00:26:01,915 --> 00:26:05,155 Speaker 1: her head following that balloon around the hospital room. They 401 00:26:05,195 --> 00:26:09,035 Speaker 1: contacted every politician who would take their call. The Republican 402 00:26:09,195 --> 00:26:12,715 Speaker 1: leader in the Senate, Dr Bill Frist of Tennessee, a 403 00:26:12,835 --> 00:26:15,955 Speaker 1: heart surgeon, said on the Senate floor that, of course 404 00:26:15,995 --> 00:26:19,395 Speaker 1: he could not diagnose a patient just from a videotape. 405 00:26:20,075 --> 00:26:22,955 Speaker 1: And then he proceeded to diagnose a patient just from 406 00:26:22,955 --> 00:26:25,675 Speaker 1: a video tape. He said on the Senate floor. She 407 00:26:25,795 --> 00:26:30,275 Speaker 1: should not be taken off life support. The Shivos eventually 408 00:26:30,275 --> 00:26:33,035 Speaker 1: got Republicans to pass a bill in the House and 409 00:26:33,115 --> 00:26:36,755 Speaker 1: Senate taking her case away from the Florida courts and 410 00:26:36,795 --> 00:26:40,275 Speaker 1: putting it into the federal courts, and President George W. 411 00:26:40,395 --> 00:26:44,035 Speaker 1: Bush actually flew back from vacation in Texas to Washington 412 00:26:44,155 --> 00:26:49,315 Speaker 1: just to sign that law on camera. Of course, this 413 00:26:49,475 --> 00:26:52,235 Speaker 1: was a topic for all of tabloid television, and for 414 00:26:52,275 --> 00:26:55,835 Speaker 1: all of tabloid television that pretends it is not tabloid television, 415 00:26:56,235 --> 00:26:59,115 Speaker 1: like the Today Show, and it went on for months. 416 00:26:59,835 --> 00:27:02,635 Speaker 1: Eventually there was a pack of guests willing to appear 417 00:27:02,675 --> 00:27:05,955 Speaker 1: on your show and imply of early that Michael Shibo 418 00:27:06,075 --> 00:27:09,515 Speaker 1: had caused his wife's vegetative stage and was now trying 419 00:27:09,515 --> 00:27:14,275 Speaker 1: to quote finish the job. From my own network. Joe Scarborough, 420 00:27:14,275 --> 00:27:17,595 Speaker 1: who had been a lawyer, put on Terry Shibo's brother 421 00:27:17,675 --> 00:27:21,515 Speaker 1: and sister, and they both implied there was quote foul play. 422 00:27:21,955 --> 00:27:25,355 Speaker 1: Joey scars put it this way. I am quoting him. 423 00:27:25,395 --> 00:27:28,355 Speaker 1: They can attack every last person who is trying to 424 00:27:28,475 --> 00:27:32,515 Speaker 1: save this young woman from starvation. But in the end, Americans, 425 00:27:32,795 --> 00:27:36,675 Speaker 1: shocked by this mccab chapter in American politics, will see 426 00:27:36,715 --> 00:27:39,675 Speaker 1: the Democrats as the party on the side of death 427 00:27:40,075 --> 00:27:45,155 Speaker 1: and see George Bush as the defender of defenseless Unquote 428 00:27:46,515 --> 00:27:51,315 Speaker 1: Joe Scarborough MSNBC. Joe Scarborough's a jackass and a fraud. 429 00:27:51,875 --> 00:27:54,875 Speaker 1: If you watch his show, you are getting hustled. If 430 00:27:54,875 --> 00:27:59,235 Speaker 1: you go on his show, there's another word for that anyway. 431 00:27:59,275 --> 00:28:02,915 Speaker 1: Finally sanity prevailed. A court ordered the feeding tube removed. 432 00:28:02,955 --> 00:28:06,435 Speaker 1: In March two thousand five. Two weeks later, Terry Shibo died. 433 00:28:07,115 --> 00:28:09,795 Speaker 1: The autopsy showed her brain was half its normal size. 434 00:28:10,235 --> 00:28:14,235 Speaker 1: It had been irreversibly damaged fifteen years earlier. There were 435 00:28:14,275 --> 00:28:17,395 Speaker 1: no signs of physical trauma, not the slightest indication of 436 00:28:17,435 --> 00:28:22,355 Speaker 1: foul play. In January of two thousand six, I got 437 00:28:22,355 --> 00:28:25,955 Speaker 1: a phone call. It was Michael Shivoh. He said rather 438 00:28:25,995 --> 00:28:27,995 Speaker 1: a matter of factly, that he had tried to avoid 439 00:28:27,995 --> 00:28:31,875 Speaker 1: watching as the tragedy he and his wife endured was 440 00:28:31,955 --> 00:28:35,195 Speaker 1: turned into a multi network soap opera. But he found 441 00:28:35,235 --> 00:28:37,395 Speaker 1: that there was one reporter who tried to balance the 442 00:28:37,475 --> 00:28:40,995 Speaker 1: hysteria and to treat him fairly, and that that was me. 443 00:28:41,635 --> 00:28:43,275 Speaker 1: And he wanted to know if I wanted to be 444 00:28:43,315 --> 00:28:47,075 Speaker 1: the first person to interview him. Nothing fancy, he said. 445 00:28:47,395 --> 00:28:49,395 Speaker 1: This guy, Matt Lower, he said, had been calling him 446 00:28:49,395 --> 00:28:50,875 Speaker 1: once a week and wanted to walk with him on 447 00:28:50,915 --> 00:28:53,675 Speaker 1: the beaches of Florida and do a three hour interview 448 00:28:53,715 --> 00:28:57,075 Speaker 1: for Today and Nightly News and Dateline and MSNBC. Michael 449 00:28:57,075 --> 00:28:58,955 Speaker 1: Shibo didn't want to do any of that, and he 450 00:28:58,995 --> 00:29:02,275 Speaker 1: didn't like Matt Lower at all, and he was thinking 451 00:29:02,315 --> 00:29:03,595 Speaker 1: if he had to sit down with one of the 452 00:29:03,635 --> 00:29:06,795 Speaker 1: celebrity interviewers, it would probably be Diane Sawyer, but he 453 00:29:06,795 --> 00:29:10,275 Speaker 1: hadn't made up his mind yet. What Michael Shibo wondered 454 00:29:10,395 --> 00:29:12,195 Speaker 1: was if he could just go to a studio in 455 00:29:12,275 --> 00:29:15,755 Speaker 1: Tampa one morning before work and have me go to 456 00:29:15,795 --> 00:29:18,755 Speaker 1: a studio in New York and I could interview him 457 00:29:18,755 --> 00:29:23,515 Speaker 1: remotely well naturally, I said yes. So in February first, 458 00:29:23,555 --> 00:29:26,035 Speaker 1: two thousand six, I got up way earlier than usual. 459 00:29:26,115 --> 00:29:28,195 Speaker 1: I went into thirty Rock, I got into a studio. 460 00:29:28,595 --> 00:29:32,995 Speaker 1: I taped an interview with Michael Shibo. Bluntly, he was 461 00:29:33,075 --> 00:29:35,475 Speaker 1: as dull an interviewee as I could imagine, and my 462 00:29:35,595 --> 00:29:38,595 Speaker 1: questions were deliberately not hysterical. But it was a good, 463 00:29:38,635 --> 00:29:42,235 Speaker 1: factual interview, and for a network that struggled as much 464 00:29:42,235 --> 00:29:46,435 Speaker 1: as MSNBC, it was a big deal, just for journalistic credibility, 465 00:29:46,635 --> 00:29:48,955 Speaker 1: just to balance what we have been playing on The 466 00:29:48,955 --> 00:29:53,235 Speaker 1: Scarborough Show. Everybody at NBC News knew we were doing it. 467 00:29:53,275 --> 00:29:57,635 Speaker 1: We recorded it at NBC News using NBC News control 468 00:29:57,755 --> 00:30:01,835 Speaker 1: rooms and videotape. Everybody knew, including the President of NBC News, 469 00:30:01,835 --> 00:30:06,515 Speaker 1: Steve Campus, and the executive producers of Today, Nightly News Dateline, 470 00:30:06,915 --> 00:30:09,315 Speaker 1: all of whom were interested in using clips of the interview. 471 00:30:10,035 --> 00:30:12,355 Speaker 1: After I finished, I went and visited the executive in 472 00:30:12,435 --> 00:30:15,755 Speaker 1: charge of MSNBC in his office at thirty Rock. Then 473 00:30:15,795 --> 00:30:17,835 Speaker 1: I went home and I took a nap before I 474 00:30:17,875 --> 00:30:21,115 Speaker 1: went into MSNBC in the late afternoon to prepare my 475 00:30:21,195 --> 00:30:25,355 Speaker 1: eight pm show. When the phone rang there, it was 476 00:30:25,395 --> 00:30:30,515 Speaker 1: Steve cappus president of NBC News. Look, you've interfered with 477 00:30:30,515 --> 00:30:33,155 Speaker 1: the Today Show's long standing plans and commitments. We have 478 00:30:33,275 --> 00:30:36,955 Speaker 1: signed contracts with Michael Shivo. Matt Lower is furious, but 479 00:30:37,035 --> 00:30:39,995 Speaker 1: I understand Shivo offered you this interview, so you couldn't 480 00:30:40,035 --> 00:30:41,795 Speaker 1: have known how you were violating the Today Show, and 481 00:30:41,875 --> 00:30:45,955 Speaker 1: Matt I pointed out that Shibo had said specifically that 482 00:30:46,035 --> 00:30:49,115 Speaker 1: he had not signed anything with anybody. The president of 483 00:30:49,195 --> 00:30:51,715 Speaker 1: NBC News ignored this. Here's the offer, Matt and I 484 00:30:51,715 --> 00:30:54,395 Speaker 1: will make you. You don't run the interview tonight, we 485 00:30:54,435 --> 00:30:56,475 Speaker 1: will run a segment of it tomorrow on today, giving 486 00:30:56,475 --> 00:30:58,955 Speaker 1: a full plug to countdown. Then tomorrow night you can 487 00:30:59,035 --> 00:31:01,755 Speaker 1: run a four minute segment. The rest of your interview 488 00:31:01,835 --> 00:31:04,195 Speaker 1: can run. And I think, despite what you've done to us, 489 00:31:04,675 --> 00:31:09,075 Speaker 1: your interview should run after Matt Lowers does sometime next month. 490 00:31:09,635 --> 00:31:12,155 Speaker 1: I think this is a great idea, since Matt wants 491 00:31:12,195 --> 00:31:15,595 Speaker 1: me to fire you. I said, this was the dumbest 492 00:31:15,635 --> 00:31:18,035 Speaker 1: thing I had ever heard, which was saying a lot 493 00:31:18,115 --> 00:31:20,755 Speaker 1: since I had spent nearly three years working at Fox. 494 00:31:22,075 --> 00:31:24,595 Speaker 1: There was nothing about our interview that risked Matt Lower's 495 00:31:24,635 --> 00:31:27,355 Speaker 1: prospects of getting his own interview. In fact, it probably 496 00:31:27,395 --> 00:31:31,155 Speaker 1: increased them. I could now pitch Michael Shibo on Lower's behalf. 497 00:31:31,675 --> 00:31:35,035 Speaker 1: Michael Shibo did not like Lower. On the other end 498 00:31:35,075 --> 00:31:40,115 Speaker 1: of the phone, Cappus gasped, doesn't like Lower. Don't say that, 499 00:31:41,555 --> 00:31:44,195 Speaker 1: But to bury our interview for a month was crapping 500 00:31:44,275 --> 00:31:48,515 Speaker 1: all over MSNBC and me and Michael Shibo and journalistically 501 00:31:48,555 --> 00:31:51,435 Speaker 1: it was indefensible and it made me feel like walking out. 502 00:31:53,395 --> 00:31:57,955 Speaker 1: Steve Cappus, whose later boss at NBC told me that 503 00:31:58,035 --> 00:32:00,835 Speaker 1: she fired him for telling her that he would never 504 00:32:00,875 --> 00:32:04,355 Speaker 1: take orders from a woman, began to scream as I 505 00:32:04,435 --> 00:32:07,115 Speaker 1: know at the time in my diary like a twelve 506 00:32:07,195 --> 00:32:09,795 Speaker 1: year old, I offer you a way out and not 507 00:32:09,955 --> 00:32:12,515 Speaker 1: getting fired and not get Matt Lauer on your ass, 508 00:32:12,555 --> 00:32:15,195 Speaker 1: and you threatened to quit. I pointed out that I 509 00:32:15,235 --> 00:32:16,875 Speaker 1: had not threatened to quit. I told him that if 510 00:32:16,875 --> 00:32:19,955 Speaker 1: there really had been a contract with Michael Shivo, even 511 00:32:19,955 --> 00:32:22,315 Speaker 1: if he had not mentioned it to me, any of 512 00:32:22,315 --> 00:32:24,875 Speaker 1: the one hundred NBC executives who had known about my 513 00:32:24,915 --> 00:32:27,915 Speaker 1: interview with Michael Shivo for like a week would have 514 00:32:28,675 --> 00:32:30,955 Speaker 1: I had even sent Brian Williams a note asking if 515 00:32:30,955 --> 00:32:33,915 Speaker 1: there were any specific questions. He wanted me to ask 516 00:32:33,995 --> 00:32:39,475 Speaker 1: Shivo so he could use a clip on NBC Nightly News. Somehow, 517 00:32:39,595 --> 00:32:43,355 Speaker 1: Cappus began to scream again in an even higher pitched voice. 518 00:32:43,835 --> 00:32:46,275 Speaker 1: Matt lower advises me to simply kill your interview with 519 00:32:46,315 --> 00:32:48,155 Speaker 1: Michael Shivo, and I'm trying to find a way out 520 00:32:48,195 --> 00:32:50,755 Speaker 1: for you. You start bringing up ancient history from a 521 00:32:50,795 --> 00:32:55,475 Speaker 1: week ago. He really said that ancient history from a 522 00:32:55,475 --> 00:32:58,875 Speaker 1: week ago. I said, why don't we do it this way? 523 00:32:59,315 --> 00:33:02,515 Speaker 1: We run a thirty second clip tonight, the Today Show 524 00:33:02,595 --> 00:33:05,395 Speaker 1: runs whatever it wants to tomorrow, then we run the 525 00:33:05,395 --> 00:33:07,315 Speaker 1: rest of the interview tomorrow night. In the night after, 526 00:33:07,915 --> 00:33:10,635 Speaker 1: Well Cappus resumed screaming, So let me see what I 527 00:33:10,675 --> 00:33:13,635 Speaker 1: got this straight. Matt Lower is incensed over you stepping 528 00:33:13,635 --> 00:33:16,155 Speaker 1: in on his interview. I'm offering you publicity on the 529 00:33:16,195 --> 00:33:18,995 Speaker 1: Today's Show and not getting fired, and your answer is 530 00:33:18,995 --> 00:33:22,115 Speaker 1: we're gonna run seventeen minutes of it. I'm so impressed 531 00:33:22,115 --> 00:33:25,675 Speaker 1: with your professionalism, Keith. I will always remember how cooperative 532 00:33:25,715 --> 00:33:29,195 Speaker 1: you were. Fine. You do whatever you want, Mr Professional, 533 00:33:29,875 --> 00:33:33,155 Speaker 1: run the whole half hour tonight. Don't you understand television? 534 00:33:33,315 --> 00:33:35,595 Speaker 1: Matt needs to be able to say in his first 535 00:33:35,635 --> 00:33:41,995 Speaker 1: interview since his wife's death, for the fifty third time 536 00:33:41,995 --> 00:33:44,755 Speaker 1: in my career at NBC News, I thought somebody was 537 00:33:45,075 --> 00:33:47,595 Speaker 1: secretly filming this and making a segment on it for 538 00:33:48,715 --> 00:33:54,315 Speaker 1: I don't know, punked or did they still run candid camera? Well, 539 00:33:54,355 --> 00:33:56,635 Speaker 1: getting back to the interview here with Kappus, I said 540 00:33:56,635 --> 00:33:59,075 Speaker 1: that in a month, nobody was going to remember my 541 00:33:59,195 --> 00:34:02,715 Speaker 1: interview and Matt could still say in his first network 542 00:34:02,755 --> 00:34:05,835 Speaker 1: interview since his wife's death. Well Happus ignored that too. 543 00:34:05,995 --> 00:34:08,395 Speaker 1: I have been advised to kill the countdown piece outright, 544 00:34:08,595 --> 00:34:11,875 Speaker 1: But you do whatever you want for your little Countdown 545 00:34:11,915 --> 00:34:15,315 Speaker 1: show go ahead, incur the enmity of Matt Lower. You 546 00:34:15,395 --> 00:34:20,195 Speaker 1: think he'll forget this Over the next two years, Matt 547 00:34:20,235 --> 00:34:22,875 Speaker 1: Lauer hired away two of my producers, then made a 548 00:34:22,955 --> 00:34:26,155 Speaker 1: supposed peace offering by running a segment that was to 549 00:34:26,195 --> 00:34:28,475 Speaker 1: be produced by my show every Friday on the Today 550 00:34:28,555 --> 00:34:31,075 Speaker 1: Show that required two of my producers to stay up 551 00:34:31,115 --> 00:34:33,475 Speaker 1: all night editing and thus not work on my show 552 00:34:33,515 --> 00:34:38,635 Speaker 1: on Friday. By some strange coincidence, for four consecutive weeks, 553 00:34:39,195 --> 00:34:43,915 Speaker 1: the Countdown piece never ran. It was just more petty revenge. 554 00:34:44,395 --> 00:34:47,355 Speaker 1: The Data Show also booked me as a guest four times, 555 00:34:47,915 --> 00:34:51,955 Speaker 1: canceled all four times, once the morning of my interview 556 00:34:52,075 --> 00:34:55,235 Speaker 1: as I was shaving to go in and do the interview. 557 00:34:56,875 --> 00:35:00,155 Speaker 1: The punchline, of course, my little interview back then with 558 00:35:00,195 --> 00:35:03,035 Speaker 1: Michael Shibo ran over the next three nights. It did 559 00:35:03,075 --> 00:35:06,995 Speaker 1: not really affect our rating. It did contribute some tiny 560 00:35:07,035 --> 00:35:10,595 Speaker 1: amount to the tiny amount of actual journalism MSNBC had 561 00:35:10,635 --> 00:35:14,995 Speaker 1: done on the Shibo story at counterbalanced that schmuck Scarborough, 562 00:35:16,035 --> 00:35:19,995 Speaker 1: and on March two thousand six, the Matt Lower interview 563 00:35:20,035 --> 00:35:24,795 Speaker 1: aired with Michael Shibo and as NBC publicity phrased, it. 564 00:35:25,355 --> 00:35:27,795 Speaker 1: Michael and his new wife sit down for their first 565 00:35:28,595 --> 00:35:34,795 Speaker 1: network interview with NBC News. Is Matt Lower just like 566 00:35:35,035 --> 00:35:50,395 Speaker 1: I had suggested? Would that he had only been a 567 00:35:50,555 --> 00:35:55,275 Speaker 1: jerk to all of us? That was actually the best 568 00:35:55,315 --> 00:35:57,715 Speaker 1: conduct of Matt Lower in his days at NBC News. 569 00:35:58,515 --> 00:36:00,315 Speaker 1: All right, I've done all the damage I can do here. 570 00:36:00,355 --> 00:36:02,955 Speaker 1: Help me out. Subscribe to this podcast, or accost a 571 00:36:03,075 --> 00:36:06,595 Speaker 1: random passerby, or give five stars or I don't know, 572 00:36:07,075 --> 00:36:09,715 Speaker 1: is there an emoji for clapping like a seal or something. 573 00:36:10,395 --> 00:36:13,555 Speaker 1: Most of the Muic music, including for Mugic. Most of 574 00:36:13,595 --> 00:36:17,395 Speaker 1: the music, including our theme from Beethoven's Ninth, was arranged, 575 00:36:17,435 --> 00:36:20,235 Speaker 1: produced and performed by Brian Ray and John Philip Channel, 576 00:36:20,635 --> 00:36:25,635 Speaker 1: who are the Countdown musical directors. All orchestration and keyboards 577 00:36:25,635 --> 00:36:28,675 Speaker 1: by John Philip Channel, guitars based on drums by Brian Ray, 578 00:36:28,795 --> 00:36:33,835 Speaker 1: produced by t Ko Brothers Your Name for Mugic. Other 579 00:36:33,875 --> 00:36:36,595 Speaker 1: Beethoven selections have been arranged and performed by the group 580 00:36:36,595 --> 00:36:39,995 Speaker 1: No Horns Allowed. The sports mugic is the Alberman theme 581 00:36:40,035 --> 00:36:42,915 Speaker 1: from ESPN two and it was written by Mitch Warren 582 00:36:42,995 --> 00:36:47,035 Speaker 1: Davis and appears courtesy of ESPN Inc. Musical comments by 583 00:36:47,155 --> 00:36:51,675 Speaker 1: Nancy Faust, the best baseball stadium organist ever. Our announcer 584 00:36:51,715 --> 00:36:57,475 Speaker 1: today was Larry David. Everything else was pretty much my fault, obviously. 585 00:36:58,395 --> 00:37:01,555 Speaker 1: Let's countdown for this the si day since Donald Trump's 586 00:37:01,555 --> 00:37:04,115 Speaker 1: first attempted coup against the democratically elected government of the 587 00:37:04,195 --> 00:37:08,315 Speaker 1: United States. Arrest him now while we still can. There'll 588 00:37:08,355 --> 00:37:10,715 Speaker 1: be a new episode tomorrow. Until then, I'm Keith old Reman. 589 00:37:10,755 --> 00:37:27,195 Speaker 1: Good morning, good afternoon, good night, and good Mugic Countdown 590 00:37:27,315 --> 00:37:30,315 Speaker 1: with Keith old Reman is a production of I heart Radio. 591 00:37:30,595 --> 00:37:33,475 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit the i 592 00:37:33,635 --> 00:37:37,995 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.