1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: Thirty five days remain until the noon hour on January twentieth, 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: when Donald Trump will raise his hand and swear the 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: thirty five word oath that will restore him to power. 4 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: In an instant, military aids will slide away from President 5 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: Joe Biden and towards Donald Trump's side, with the launch 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: codes inside the suitcases that carry them, known as the 7 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: nuclear football. He will again be the commander in chief 8 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 1: of the most powerful military in the world. He will 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: be the American head of State, the head of government, 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: and unlike all of his predecessors, he is coming back 11 00:00:40,479 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: to power with a grant of immunity that makes him 12 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: above the law. This is the warning. Donald Trump, in 13 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: that first instant of power, holds more of it than 14 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: all of his predecessors. He is well and truly an 15 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: American Caesar. And for that reason, a chill is descending 16 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: over America's newsrooms. A deep freeze is starting to set in. 17 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: Let's survey the landscape. On the print side, there is 18 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: Jeff Bezos, the capitulant owner of the Washington Post, doing 19 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: everything he can to not fall further and further behind 20 00:01:21,319 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 1: his rival Elon Musk in the race to explore space 21 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: as a billionaire. The price he's willing to pay is 22 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: the information you get. It will be sanitized and made nice. 23 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,560 Speaker 1: Trump likes the news nice. There's Patrick Seng, the billionaire 24 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: owner of the Los Angeles Times, who is now interfering 25 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: in the editorial process and the news gathering process on 26 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: a daily basis. The La Times isn't what it used 27 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: to be. What it's become is the vanity project of 28 00:01:55,600 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 1: its billionaire owner, who decides, through omission and cooma what 29 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: is you get to see? Paramount CBS News is soon 30 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: to be owned by one of the richest men in 31 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: the world who has donated tens of millions of dollars 32 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: to Donald Trump, Larry Allison. Of course, the pretense of 33 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 1: this will be that it's his son who runs the company. 34 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: Sure he does. And of course there's NBC News. The 35 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: parent company, Comcast, has decided to protect its one hundred 36 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:33,040 Speaker 1: and sixty four billion dollar market capitalization from Donald Trump's 37 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: retributions by packaging all of its cable assets and spinning 38 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: them off into a form of outer darkness for seven 39 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: billion dollars. Amongst those assets, which include the Golf Channel, 40 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: which has an audience demographically that's completely oppositional to the 41 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 1: MSNBC audience is, of course, the liberal cable news stalwart. 42 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: Now MSNBC, the largest of those cable companies, has seen 43 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: its ratings completely tank since Donald Trump was reelected, and 44 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: the reason for that is the betrayal of trust through 45 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 1: the capitulan acts of Joe and Mika, who, more than 46 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: any other of the capitulators, have done so with a 47 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: certain a plom a desperate one, one that reeks of fear. 48 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,839 Speaker 1: This is a huge moment when Joe Scarborough does this, 49 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: and it's a huge moment when ABC News did this. 50 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: The ABC News and their top anchor reaching a settlement 51 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: now with President Elect Trump in his defamation suit. The 52 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 2: news network will have to pay fifteen million dollars to 53 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: Trump and an additional one million for Trump's legal fees. 54 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 2: Both ABC and George Stephanopoulos also ordered to issue statements 55 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 2: of regret as part of the deal. 56 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: Let's watch George Stephanopholis on his Sunday show with Congresswoman 57 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: Nancy Mays talking about what a jury found about Donald 58 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: Trump regarding his misconduct and sexual abuse of EJ and Carroll. 59 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 3: I'm asking you a question about why you endorse someone 60 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 3: who's been found liable for rape. Now I'm questioning your 61 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 3: political choices because you're supporting someone who's been found liable 62 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 3: for rape. Actually, I'm not trying to do you are. 63 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 3: That's exactly not answering the question. I think it's disgusting. Well, 64 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 3: you're welcome to say that, but you're also you have 65 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 3: to answer the question, why are you supporting someone who's 66 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 3: been found liable for rape? 67 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: I just answered your question. 68 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 3: What is the answer? He was not He was not 69 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,239 Speaker 3: found guilty in a civil and a criminal court of law. 70 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 3: They are afraid to come forward, as you said, because 71 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 3: they are defamed by those who commit the rape. That's 72 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 3: what Donald Trump has jilty of doing. 73 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: Donald Trump, to say the least, was not happy with 74 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: this description, though the judge in his comments made clear 75 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: that it was accurate, that it was a distinction without difference. 76 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: It was semantics. George Stefanopholis understood this, and he went 77 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,359 Speaker 1: on Stephen Colbert and he was defiant. 78 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 3: Trump sumed me because I used the word rate, even 79 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 3: though a judge said, that's in fact what did happen, 80 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 3: And in fact, we filed the motion to dismiss last 81 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 3: week Unfortunately it now comes with the territory. But I'm 82 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 3: not going to be cowed out of doing my job 83 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:24,600 Speaker 3: because of the threat about it. 84 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: Here is the statement issued by ABC and George Stefanopholis 85 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: expressing regret. Now let's be clear, George Stefanopholis has not apologized. 86 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 1: There is no doubt that this statement was forced upon 87 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 1: George Stefanophilis by the powers that be at the Walt 88 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: Disney Company, maybe directed by Bob Eiger himself, who knows. 89 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: The bottom line is George Stephanopholis does not go out 90 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: and say I'm sorry I made a mistake. What he 91 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 1: says in his statement, just through the use of his 92 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: name along with the corporate brand, is one of regret. 93 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: And then the company wrote a check to Donald Trump 94 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: for fifteen million dollars. And here's why this matters. This 95 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: will be the operating premise of America's newsrooms. Fear is 96 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,679 Speaker 1: in the air, and now a precedent has been set. 97 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: It is not Donald Trump who is bended. It is 98 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: the media, protected by the First Amendment brought to keel 99 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: on an issue of semantics that they would have prevailed 100 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 1: on in court. But for whatever reason, the news leadership 101 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: at ABC News lacked the fortitude, the stoicism, the grit, 102 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 1: and the toughness to assert their rights and an American 103 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: court of law and to raise up the First Amendment 104 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: as their sword and their shields, and to say no, 105 00:06:57,400 --> 00:07:00,960 Speaker 1: we will not submit to the bullying, to the thuggery 106 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: of the most powerful man in the world, who has 107 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: been accurately described, if not precisely described. The American media 108 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: is being whipped and beaten into shape to cover the 109 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: next four years in the way the administration wants to 110 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 1: be covered. Donald Trump has steamrolled the journalistic ethic, just 111 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:30,360 Speaker 1: like he has steamrolled the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. 112 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: The media has tamed down a little bit. 113 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 3: They liken us much better now, I think, if they 114 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 3: don't have to just stack them on again, and we 115 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 3: don't want to do that. 116 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: What's coming down the road is something that is beyond 117 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: the imagination of most Americans, even most of the media 118 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: assigned to cover it, because there is no frame of 119 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: reference for the corruption, for the abuse, for the assertions 120 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 1: of power and the execution of actions that will be 121 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: mind boggling. Donald Trump has been very lucky with regard 122 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: to his opponents he requires, and the country demands in 123 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: this moment, a tough, serious, focused opposition that is unintimidatable. 124 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: Four years from now, the country will be in crisis, 125 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: the world will be much worse off than it is today. 126 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: The most important quality in this moment is truth telling 127 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: and the toughness to tell it, because without it, it's 128 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 1: not possible to know what's real. And in a world 129 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:33,400 Speaker 1: where it's impossible to know what is real and what 130 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 1: is not, a man like Donald Trump can take power, 131 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 1: and if that world continues in that direction. Having taken power, 132 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 1: Donald Trump can exercise it in ways that no American 133 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,599 Speaker 1: has ever witnessed and will have a hard time comprehending 134 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: when it occurs. But thirty five days from now, the 135 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: American people are going to find out exactly what they 136 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,760 Speaker 1: voted for. It just is unlikely to be from a 137 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: lot of the places that used to get their information 138 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: and find out their news, because those places run by 139 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: some of the richest people in the world and some 140 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 1: of the most powerful corporations on earth, are afraid, afraid 141 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: of losing a nickel, and they're indifferent to the truth, 142 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: and they lack the stamina to guard it and defend 143 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: it mostly. Their words of defiance are empty and hollow. 144 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:27,199 Speaker 1: But not here. Here at the warning, we will tell 145 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: you the truth. And we will tell you the truth 146 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: because in America, our republic requires the truth as nourishment. 147 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: The political resistance that is to come must be steeped 148 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: in toughness and resolve and a love of the truth, 149 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: and more important, a conviction that it must be shared, 150 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:50,160 Speaker 1: it must be spread, and it must be told, particularly 151 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: when it comes to the abuse of power by a 152 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: man who promised to be a dictator on day one. 153 00:09:57,320 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: This is the warning. I'm Steve Schmidt. This is the warning, 154 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,559 Speaker 1: and I invite you to join. Subscribe on our substack, 155 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: on our YouTube channel, follow us. Welcome to the community.