1 00:00:04,795 --> 00:00:22,075 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. Joe 2 00:00:22,075 --> 00:00:29,995 Speaker 1: Biden really really really really really really really really should 3 00:00:30,715 --> 00:00:37,515 Speaker 1: take Trump up on this acuity test challenge. Really really 4 00:00:38,075 --> 00:00:42,675 Speaker 1: really Joe Biden Trump posted at six to eleven PM 5 00:00:42,715 --> 00:00:46,235 Speaker 1: Eastern daylight last night nine to eleven if he ever noticed, 6 00:00:46,715 --> 00:00:52,475 Speaker 1: is not too old, he is too incompetent unquote. Trump 7 00:00:52,555 --> 00:00:56,755 Speaker 1: will not let this go. Four more posts yesterday on 8 00:00:57,035 --> 00:01:03,915 Speaker 1: to use his own phrase, Biden's acuity good handled correctly. 9 00:01:04,355 --> 00:01:09,035 Speaker 1: Trump belief that he can prove he is the mentally 10 00:01:09,115 --> 00:01:15,355 Speaker 1: competent one and Biden is the other. Handled correctly, this 11 00:01:15,475 --> 00:01:23,475 Speaker 1: will lead to Trump's own destruction. Seriously, eight years of this, 12 00:01:23,795 --> 00:01:28,995 Speaker 1: eight years of corruption and greed and madness and disaster 13 00:01:29,195 --> 00:01:32,995 Speaker 1: in the offing and a disease in the national consciousness. 14 00:01:33,275 --> 00:01:39,995 Speaker 1: And what we'll do Trump in is one boast to many. 15 00:01:41,835 --> 00:01:45,075 Speaker 1: I know it sounds nuts, and I know it sounds undignified, 16 00:01:45,315 --> 00:01:48,195 Speaker 1: and I know it sounds unpresidential. And on the other hand, 17 00:01:48,195 --> 00:01:50,915 Speaker 1: this is America twenty twenty three right now. We are 18 00:01:50,955 --> 00:01:55,995 Speaker 1: the world's all time leading distributor of nuts and of 19 00:01:56,475 --> 00:02:01,195 Speaker 1: undignified and of unpresidential. And more importantly, we are the 20 00:02:01,235 --> 00:02:08,315 Speaker 1: world's leading distributor of false political nets, narratives, and Trump's mindless, insane, 21 00:02:08,755 --> 00:02:14,475 Speaker 1: hubristic blind rage because just one person somewhere thinks he's 22 00:02:14,555 --> 00:02:21,355 Speaker 1: stupid and brain damaged. That is not just his typical daily, mindless, insane, 23 00:02:21,475 --> 00:02:25,715 Speaker 1: hubristic rage. It is a potentially fatal mistake on his part, 24 00:02:26,515 --> 00:02:29,715 Speaker 1: because whether a sane people like it or not, there 25 00:02:29,835 --> 00:02:33,635 Speaker 1: is somehow a debate in this country over whether Joe Biden, 26 00:02:34,155 --> 00:02:37,515 Speaker 1: who will celebrate his eighty first birthday in exactly seventy 27 00:02:37,595 --> 00:02:40,435 Speaker 1: days and would probably like to commemorate it by going 28 00:02:40,475 --> 00:02:44,435 Speaker 1: on a five mile bike ride, is more coherent or 29 00:02:44,475 --> 00:02:48,915 Speaker 1: intelligent or functional emotionally and physically than Donald Trump, who 30 00:02:48,955 --> 00:02:52,155 Speaker 1: is himself seventy seven years old and stood in front 31 00:02:52,155 --> 00:02:54,675 Speaker 1: of this nation and suggested that you could eat light 32 00:02:55,355 --> 00:02:59,035 Speaker 1: and inject bleach into your body to fight COVID, and 33 00:02:59,075 --> 00:03:03,875 Speaker 1: who is so fat and ungainly and deteriorated and mind 34 00:03:04,115 --> 00:03:07,355 Speaker 1: disease that if he tried to ride a bicycle, the 35 00:03:07,395 --> 00:03:12,915 Speaker 1: bicycle would be immediately subsumed into his enormous backside, never 36 00:03:12,995 --> 00:03:17,115 Speaker 1: to be seen again, except perhaps by a gastro entrologist 37 00:03:17,355 --> 00:03:22,315 Speaker 1: or a scrapyard dealer. This subject is not only debated, 38 00:03:22,995 --> 00:03:27,275 Speaker 1: but it is clear that at this point some majority 39 00:03:27,315 --> 00:03:30,715 Speaker 1: of the American public has been convinced by constant repetition 40 00:03:30,995 --> 00:03:36,515 Speaker 1: that Joe Biden is feeble and dementia, Jay Trump is strong. 41 00:03:38,315 --> 00:03:40,795 Speaker 1: And we have four hundred and twenty one days to 42 00:03:40,955 --> 00:03:45,835 Speaker 1: correct this, or we may really see Trump grab power again, 43 00:03:46,235 --> 00:03:49,435 Speaker 1: and this time we may see him really refuse to 44 00:03:49,555 --> 00:03:51,595 Speaker 1: let it go. And oh, by the way, even if 45 00:03:51,635 --> 00:03:54,155 Speaker 1: he does let it go, he will still get to 46 00:03:54,195 --> 00:03:57,155 Speaker 1: make all the climate decisions for this country and thus 47 00:03:57,195 --> 00:03:59,835 Speaker 1: this planet for the years twenty twenty five through twenty 48 00:03:59,835 --> 00:04:01,915 Speaker 1: twenty nine. And he already has that all planned out, 49 00:04:01,955 --> 00:04:04,435 Speaker 1: and it's called Project twenty twenty five. And it rolls 50 00:04:04,435 --> 00:04:07,715 Speaker 1: back every climate protection we have and then some, and 51 00:04:07,835 --> 00:04:14,435 Speaker 1: it means we will all be dead. Ian Milheuser of 52 00:04:14,595 --> 00:04:20,475 Speaker 1: Vox summed this up last night. Coverage of Biden's age 53 00:04:21,435 --> 00:04:26,675 Speaker 1: of Biden's acuity is quote starting to take on the 54 00:04:26,715 --> 00:04:31,715 Speaker 1: same character as the twenty sixteen but her email's coverage 55 00:04:31,915 --> 00:04:37,835 Speaker 1: find something that is genuinely suboptimal about the Democratic candidate 56 00:04:38,155 --> 00:04:43,555 Speaker 1: and dwell on it endlessly to quote balance unquote coverage 57 00:04:43,915 --> 00:04:48,795 Speaker 1: of the criminal in charge of the GOP, and he's 58 00:04:48,835 --> 00:04:54,435 Speaker 1: exactly right. The American political media industrial complex will both 59 00:04:54,555 --> 00:04:59,715 Speaker 1: sides this country into its grave, into your grave, into 60 00:04:59,835 --> 00:05:04,955 Speaker 1: my grave. It all but succeeded in twenty sixteen and 61 00:05:04,995 --> 00:05:10,235 Speaker 1: again in twenty twenty. It believes it is supposed to 62 00:05:10,275 --> 00:05:15,555 Speaker 1: do this. It believes this is it doing its job correctly. 63 00:05:16,675 --> 00:05:22,875 Speaker 1: After years of promoting idiots into key editorial positions, after 64 00:05:23,035 --> 00:05:28,515 Speaker 1: years of reaching the point where balanced news coverage consists 65 00:05:28,595 --> 00:05:31,995 Speaker 1: of the following, here's a pound of truth, and for 66 00:05:32,115 --> 00:05:35,435 Speaker 1: balance over here, here's a pound of bullshit. We report 67 00:05:35,475 --> 00:05:38,595 Speaker 1: you decide we're neutral, We're not liberal. We will not 68 00:05:38,715 --> 00:05:41,155 Speaker 1: alienate you, no matter your party. For God's sakes, please 69 00:05:41,155 --> 00:05:44,755 Speaker 1: pay us to stay in business. I have a mortgage. 70 00:05:44,795 --> 00:05:49,515 Speaker 1: After years of that, after decades of that, America is 71 00:05:49,875 --> 00:05:54,395 Speaker 1: the world's leading distributor of false political narratives because we 72 00:05:54,515 --> 00:06:02,475 Speaker 1: have built it into the core of our news coverage, 73 00:06:02,515 --> 00:06:10,475 Speaker 1: and then suddenly below the radar on a nondescript Sunday afternoon, 74 00:06:11,755 --> 00:06:15,195 Speaker 1: in the usual pile of crap at first glance, no 75 00:06:15,395 --> 00:06:18,555 Speaker 1: different than any other grain of sand on the beach. 76 00:06:18,635 --> 00:06:25,035 Speaker 1: There it is the speck of gold, the thing that 77 00:06:25,955 --> 00:06:33,595 Speaker 1: will change it it is a stupid thing. We live 78 00:06:33,875 --> 00:06:40,675 Speaker 1: in a stupid world. What better to fix the stupidity with? 79 00:06:43,595 --> 00:06:47,835 Speaker 1: If Biden, responding to Trump's psychotic post, I hereby challenge 80 00:06:47,875 --> 00:06:52,835 Speaker 1: Rupert Murdoch and sons Biden wsj heads to acuity tests. 81 00:06:53,035 --> 00:06:56,315 Speaker 1: We can also throw some physical activity into it, if 82 00:06:56,355 --> 00:06:58,955 Speaker 1: that lessens the chances of all of us, you know, 83 00:06:59,755 --> 00:07:03,115 Speaker 1: winding up dead a decade from now, because our teeming 84 00:07:03,235 --> 00:07:06,555 Speaker 1: millions of fellow Americans, whose stupidity is too vast to 85 00:07:06,635 --> 00:07:10,875 Speaker 1: be described by mere human language, cannot tell the difference 86 00:07:10,875 --> 00:07:16,155 Speaker 1: between an undulating mass of blubber and stupidity. And on 87 00:07:16,195 --> 00:07:18,515 Speaker 1: the other side, a nearly fifty one year veteran of 88 00:07:18,555 --> 00:07:21,755 Speaker 1: service to this nation in its Senate, its vice Presidency, 89 00:07:21,795 --> 00:07:25,835 Speaker 1: and its presidency, whose worst critics and most virulent haters 90 00:07:25,995 --> 00:07:30,035 Speaker 1: still insist at this moment, is actually simultaneously an enfeebled 91 00:07:30,075 --> 00:07:35,315 Speaker 1: skeleton and the indefatigable mastermind of an international criminal conspiracy 92 00:07:35,395 --> 00:07:39,515 Speaker 1: and actually runs this country and Ukraine and will personally 93 00:07:39,515 --> 00:07:42,555 Speaker 1: remove every gas stove and dishwasher from every home in 94 00:07:42,595 --> 00:07:46,955 Speaker 1: America with his bare hands. If Biden, saying to Trump 95 00:07:47,155 --> 00:07:52,155 Speaker 1: acuity test feats of strength, Let's go fat boy. If 96 00:07:52,195 --> 00:07:57,515 Speaker 1: that can actually change that narrative, Joe Biden really really, 97 00:07:57,795 --> 00:08:06,315 Speaker 1: really really has to do it. We forget sometimes we 98 00:08:06,395 --> 00:08:14,155 Speaker 1: have normalized Donald Trump. Donald Trump is bluff. His life 99 00:08:15,155 --> 00:08:20,475 Speaker 1: is bluff, his alleged net worth is bluff. His patriotism 100 00:08:21,075 --> 00:08:27,555 Speaker 1: is bluff. His intelligence is bluff, his marriage is bluff. 101 00:08:28,275 --> 00:08:31,795 Speaker 1: His ability to remember his own kid's names is bluff. 102 00:08:31,955 --> 00:08:36,155 Speaker 1: His business success is bluff. His hair is bluff. But once, 103 00:08:37,755 --> 00:08:42,915 Speaker 1: just once, just wants someone needs to step down off 104 00:08:42,955 --> 00:08:48,675 Speaker 1: the stage of dignified reluctance and call Trump's bluff and 105 00:08:48,955 --> 00:08:52,475 Speaker 1: slap him across the face with it, and keep slapping 106 00:08:52,515 --> 00:08:56,195 Speaker 1: him until the crowd of support that forms around all 107 00:08:56,315 --> 00:08:59,755 Speaker 1: the bullies in all of our history backs away from 108 00:08:59,835 --> 00:09:04,635 Speaker 1: him and looks for a new bully, because only one 109 00:09:04,675 --> 00:09:10,395 Speaker 1: one thing about Trump is not bluff. He has perfected 110 00:09:11,355 --> 00:09:18,715 Speaker 1: political jiu jitsu. I'm impeached. I'll get you impeached, then 111 00:09:18,835 --> 00:09:22,875 Speaker 1: everybody's impeached, and impeachment means nothing. I've been indicted for 112 00:09:22,955 --> 00:09:27,115 Speaker 1: countless criminal enterprises. I'll get you indicted, and then indictments 113 00:09:27,155 --> 00:09:30,435 Speaker 1: mean nothing. I've called for twenty seven of my political 114 00:09:30,475 --> 00:09:34,115 Speaker 1: opponents to be jailed. When you actually indict me for 115 00:09:34,275 --> 00:09:38,315 Speaker 1: crimes I committed. I'll pretend I never called for anyone 116 00:09:38,355 --> 00:09:41,315 Speaker 1: to be jailed. I'll act like a martyr, and I'll 117 00:09:41,355 --> 00:09:43,715 Speaker 1: sell T shirts with my mug shot on it, even 118 00:09:43,755 --> 00:09:45,955 Speaker 1: though I don't own the rights to sell T shirts 119 00:09:45,955 --> 00:09:49,795 Speaker 1: with my mugshot on it. It is jiu jitsu. It 120 00:09:49,915 --> 00:09:53,115 Speaker 1: is using the power of the punch to defeat the 121 00:09:53,115 --> 00:09:58,675 Speaker 1: one who has thrown the punch. But now Trump has 122 00:09:58,715 --> 00:10:02,595 Speaker 1: thrown the punch. And Trump has thrown one punch too many, 123 00:10:02,675 --> 00:10:07,555 Speaker 1: because in that fetid cessp between his ears, even he 124 00:10:08,275 --> 00:10:11,995 Speaker 1: has remembered to try to give himself an out. I'll 125 00:10:12,075 --> 00:10:16,275 Speaker 1: quote it again. I will name the place and the test, 126 00:10:16,395 --> 00:10:19,275 Speaker 1: and it will be a tough one. Nobody will come 127 00:10:19,435 --> 00:10:24,355 Speaker 1: even close to me. He has caveated his one punch, 128 00:10:26,435 --> 00:10:29,755 Speaker 1: but he has still thrown it and he cannot take 129 00:10:29,795 --> 00:10:35,835 Speaker 1: it back. Now and now, for once, and only for once, 130 00:10:36,755 --> 00:10:45,395 Speaker 1: Joe Biden should imitate Trump. Employ jiu jitsu, Do not 131 00:10:45,955 --> 00:10:48,835 Speaker 1: ignore that one punch, Do not evade that one punch. 132 00:10:49,195 --> 00:10:53,675 Speaker 1: Grab the fist and pull it towards you. And even 133 00:10:53,755 --> 00:10:56,875 Speaker 1: if what follows does not finish Trump on the American stage, 134 00:10:56,875 --> 00:11:00,355 Speaker 1: And I honestly believe it could finish him completely. It 135 00:11:00,555 --> 00:11:05,675 Speaker 1: will reset this essential narrative of competence and acuity and 136 00:11:05,795 --> 00:11:13,515 Speaker 1: age and insanity. Remember Ian Millheiser's comparison. And imagine it 137 00:11:13,595 --> 00:11:18,235 Speaker 1: is September twenty fifteen and you are Hillary Clinton and 138 00:11:18,315 --> 00:11:23,395 Speaker 1: somebody says, you know, these emails, these are going to 139 00:11:23,395 --> 00:11:28,475 Speaker 1: be the undercurrent that costs you the presidency. And then 140 00:11:28,475 --> 00:11:31,915 Speaker 1: they say, the good news is there's a fix. What 141 00:11:31,915 --> 00:11:35,675 Speaker 1: we're thinking of doing is printing out, oh, four hundred 142 00:11:35,675 --> 00:11:38,675 Speaker 1: and fifty thousand pages of your emails, and we'll put 143 00:11:38,715 --> 00:11:41,755 Speaker 1: them in wheelbarrows. Then we'll call a news conference in 144 00:11:41,915 --> 00:11:43,555 Speaker 1: and you go up to the podium and you say 145 00:11:44,395 --> 00:11:49,075 Speaker 1: just three words, but my emails, And then forty young, 146 00:11:49,435 --> 00:11:52,795 Speaker 1: energetic staffers of yours will push those wheelbarrows full of 147 00:11:52,795 --> 00:11:55,315 Speaker 1: those printed emails of yours onto the stage, and then 148 00:11:55,355 --> 00:12:01,435 Speaker 1: you say, here they are, and then you walk away. 149 00:12:01,555 --> 00:12:07,555 Speaker 1: Do you do it? Because not in aging in emails 150 00:12:08,115 --> 00:12:11,355 Speaker 1: or acuity tests. That is the tried and true American 151 00:12:11,395 --> 00:12:13,835 Speaker 1: political way, and the tried and true Democratic Party way. 152 00:12:13,835 --> 00:12:17,355 Speaker 1: And guess what it may work again someday, if ever, 153 00:12:17,395 --> 00:12:20,595 Speaker 1: we can rebuild our educational system or Coca cola develops 154 00:12:20,595 --> 00:12:25,275 Speaker 1: a flavor called common sense. But we live right now 155 00:12:25,355 --> 00:12:30,395 Speaker 1: in an era in which politics is almost entirely no 156 00:12:30,515 --> 00:12:34,955 Speaker 1: more sophisticated, no more meaningful, no more dignified, no more 157 00:12:34,995 --> 00:12:42,755 Speaker 1: reality based than professional wrestling. Joe Biden does not have 158 00:12:42,795 --> 00:12:48,315 Speaker 1: to dress up in a Mexican lucha libre mask and 159 00:12:48,395 --> 00:12:52,515 Speaker 1: pick up Jim Jordan and throw him onto a collapsing 160 00:12:52,595 --> 00:12:57,715 Speaker 1: card table in the fourteenth row. Satisfying as that would be, 161 00:12:59,315 --> 00:13:05,915 Speaker 1: But once, just once, the president has to play this game, 162 00:13:07,155 --> 00:13:13,235 Speaker 1: and this is the time Gameplay it in your own mind. 163 00:13:13,275 --> 00:13:16,755 Speaker 1: Trump says, I challenge Biden to an acuity test. Biden says, 164 00:13:16,915 --> 00:13:19,235 Speaker 1: you believe this guy. Pick the time and the place, 165 00:13:19,275 --> 00:13:25,075 Speaker 1: bat boy, let's go what happens? Then Trump can only 166 00:13:25,115 --> 00:13:27,835 Speaker 1: do two things. He can go through with it, and 167 00:13:27,955 --> 00:13:30,275 Speaker 1: that would, by the way, reveal that yes, remembering the 168 00:13:30,275 --> 00:13:34,355 Speaker 1: words person, woman, man, camera TV. Indeed, that was the 169 00:13:34,475 --> 00:13:38,195 Speaker 1: highlight of his intellectual life. It was the apex of 170 00:13:38,275 --> 00:13:41,475 Speaker 1: his brain's functionality. It was the only time he ever 171 00:13:41,595 --> 00:13:44,915 Speaker 1: won anything without rigging it. First, that if there had 172 00:13:44,955 --> 00:13:47,675 Speaker 1: been a sixth word or a seventh his head would 173 00:13:47,715 --> 00:13:50,795 Speaker 1: have so overheated it would have fallen off his shoulders. 174 00:13:52,755 --> 00:13:55,755 Speaker 1: He can do that, or he can do what we 175 00:13:55,915 --> 00:13:59,195 Speaker 1: know he will do because he has always done this. 176 00:13:59,875 --> 00:14:06,555 Speaker 1: He can pretend it never happened. He can avoid it, 177 00:14:07,435 --> 00:14:15,195 Speaker 1: he can ignore it or try to. And this is 178 00:14:15,275 --> 00:14:18,915 Speaker 1: where the narrative can not only be broken, but reversed 179 00:14:19,035 --> 00:14:22,755 Speaker 1: and rebuilt, and the jiu jitsu move can be completed. 180 00:14:23,555 --> 00:14:26,875 Speaker 1: At his earliest opportunity, Joe Biden should now say bring 181 00:14:26,915 --> 00:14:29,355 Speaker 1: it on, and the next day he should then ask 182 00:14:29,395 --> 00:14:32,875 Speaker 1: reporters anybody heard from Trump on when the acuity test is? 183 00:14:34,275 --> 00:14:38,155 Speaker 1: And the day after that, preferably on a bicycle, he 184 00:14:38,155 --> 00:14:40,715 Speaker 1: should say, within range of a microphone, you think Trump's 185 00:14:40,715 --> 00:14:43,755 Speaker 1: already forgotten the acuity test. And the day after that 186 00:14:43,835 --> 00:14:46,995 Speaker 1: Vice President Harris should ask about the Trump Biden acuity challenge. 187 00:14:47,035 --> 00:14:48,995 Speaker 1: And the day after that some malleable member of the 188 00:14:49,035 --> 00:14:51,875 Speaker 1: media should write up the Trump Biden acuity challenge, and 189 00:14:51,915 --> 00:14:54,355 Speaker 1: the day after that some Democratic congressman should take to 190 00:14:54,395 --> 00:14:57,675 Speaker 1: the House floor and ask about the Trump Biden acuity challenge. 191 00:14:57,715 --> 00:14:59,835 Speaker 1: And the day after that that token liberal on Fox 192 00:14:59,835 --> 00:15:02,675 Speaker 1: should ask Janine Piro if she could pass the Trump 193 00:15:02,755 --> 00:15:05,715 Speaker 1: Biden acuity challenge, and by then it will become the 194 00:15:05,835 --> 00:15:10,195 Speaker 1: dominant subplot of the twenty twenty four presidential campaign, and 195 00:15:10,275 --> 00:15:13,395 Speaker 1: there will be only two options on the table. Trump 196 00:15:13,435 --> 00:15:18,275 Speaker 1: can proceed and fail and finally expose himself to his 197 00:15:18,435 --> 00:15:23,915 Speaker 1: own people for the defective, mentally imbalanced fraud he is, 198 00:15:24,835 --> 00:15:29,955 Speaker 1: or he can keep letting Biden and every Democrat and 199 00:15:30,115 --> 00:15:36,875 Speaker 1: every commentator and every liberal and every undecided voter and 200 00:15:37,115 --> 00:15:43,235 Speaker 1: every both sides ist day after day after day of 201 00:15:45,115 --> 00:15:58,555 Speaker 1: free shots to Trump's endlessly receptive belly person woman man 202 00:15:59,475 --> 00:16:09,715 Speaker 1: camera TV acuity test the other headlines. We got nothing, 203 00:16:10,515 --> 00:16:13,035 Speaker 1: as expected out of the Trump response to the Jack 204 00:16:13,075 --> 00:16:16,995 Speaker 1: Smith filing on the Trump extra judicial statements that threatened 205 00:16:17,035 --> 00:16:21,715 Speaker 1: to prejudice the jury pool. Whatever that was, whatever Trump's 206 00:16:21,755 --> 00:16:24,955 Speaker 1: ambulance chasers filed yesterday. Smith is supposed to respond to 207 00:16:24,995 --> 00:16:29,795 Speaker 1: it tomorrow. We did get another Trump install asking Judge 208 00:16:29,875 --> 00:16:32,995 Speaker 1: Chutken to recuse herself from the trial because she had 209 00:16:33,035 --> 00:16:36,675 Speaker 1: obliquely referenced Trump into previous cases. The judge who has 210 00:16:36,755 --> 00:16:40,875 Speaker 1: to decide that is, of course herself. And if we're 211 00:16:40,875 --> 00:16:43,755 Speaker 1: getting into a recusing contest, we have the whole Aileen 212 00:16:43,835 --> 00:16:47,235 Speaker 1: Cannon was hired by Trump thing. But the point is 213 00:16:47,235 --> 00:16:50,115 Speaker 1: not a recusing contest. It is the delay. This will 214 00:16:50,115 --> 00:16:53,235 Speaker 1: add a few days. Here. Smith has until Thursday to 215 00:16:53,275 --> 00:16:56,435 Speaker 1: explain to Chutkin why Chutkin should not force Chutkin to 216 00:16:56,515 --> 00:17:00,795 Speaker 1: recuse Chutkin and then after Trump is convicted in Washington, 217 00:17:00,835 --> 00:17:03,475 Speaker 1: this will increase the chances that an appeal will be 218 00:17:03,555 --> 00:17:08,155 Speaker 1: heard because Trutkin did not recuse, which she won't. Trump 219 00:17:08,235 --> 00:17:11,235 Speaker 1: has also filed to move the crew suit in Colorado, 220 00:17:11,395 --> 00:17:13,155 Speaker 1: the one that would force him off the ballot there 221 00:17:13,235 --> 00:17:18,195 Speaker 1: via the fourteenth Amendment to federal court. Because again, delay, delay, delay, 222 00:17:18,915 --> 00:17:21,715 Speaker 1: And to my earlier point about the American brain drain, 223 00:17:22,435 --> 00:17:26,755 Speaker 1: do you remember Senator doctor Roger Marshall of Kansas, the 224 00:17:26,795 --> 00:17:31,755 Speaker 1: guynecologist who filled the George Carlin joke out into reality, 225 00:17:32,955 --> 00:17:35,435 Speaker 1: the joke that's somewhere in the world there has to 226 00:17:35,475 --> 00:17:41,635 Speaker 1: be mathematically, statistically the world's worst doctor. Do you remember 227 00:17:41,675 --> 00:17:45,755 Speaker 1: this from Senator doctor Marshall from last year. I want 228 00:17:45,795 --> 00:17:47,715 Speaker 1: to take your listeners back to nine to one one, 229 00:17:47,995 --> 00:17:52,315 Speaker 1: when three thousand Americans died and we declared war on 230 00:17:52,435 --> 00:17:56,235 Speaker 1: those terrorists. Ugh, what a dope. A year later and 231 00:17:56,315 --> 00:18:01,395 Speaker 1: Senator doctor Marshall still can't pronounce Emirkins or a tists 232 00:18:01,835 --> 00:18:05,035 Speaker 1: or nine to eleven. Can't pronounce nine to eleven nine 233 00:18:05,075 --> 00:18:08,835 Speaker 1: to eleven. In fact, he's getting dumber. He ripped Biden 234 00:18:08,915 --> 00:18:11,995 Speaker 1: for being in Alaska yesterday. Quote that is not the 235 00:18:12,035 --> 00:18:17,995 Speaker 1: way to celebrate nine one one. Celebrate nine one one. 236 00:18:18,315 --> 00:18:22,595 Speaker 1: I'm gonna need to see this asshole's license and proof 237 00:18:22,675 --> 00:18:26,275 Speaker 1: that there has ever been any electrical activity in his brain. 238 00:18:31,355 --> 00:18:34,195 Speaker 1: Also of interest here, a month or so ago, my 239 00:18:34,315 --> 00:18:38,955 Speaker 1: friend of now nearly thirty years Rich Eisen, was waxing 240 00:18:39,035 --> 00:18:41,995 Speaker 1: poetic about the future of his beloved New York Jets 241 00:18:42,155 --> 00:18:46,995 Speaker 1: now that they have Aaron Rodgers. You and I know 242 00:18:47,355 --> 00:18:52,515 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers is an aging nutjob who lied about getting vaccinated, 243 00:18:52,795 --> 00:18:57,315 Speaker 1: who has taken hallucinogenic drugs, who believes in every conspiracy 244 00:18:57,355 --> 00:18:59,795 Speaker 1: that can grab the attention of his tiny little mind 245 00:18:59,875 --> 00:19:03,795 Speaker 1: for fifteen seconds or longer. He once quizzed a backup 246 00:19:03,835 --> 00:19:07,915 Speaker 1: quarterback of his over nine to eleven conspiracies, and Aaron Rodgers, 247 00:19:07,955 --> 00:19:10,635 Speaker 1: nearly forty years old, a liar, afraid of needles, and 248 00:19:10,755 --> 00:19:14,235 Speaker 1: recently not a very good football player, would be making 249 00:19:14,235 --> 00:19:18,875 Speaker 1: his debut for the New York Jets on nine to eleven. 250 00:19:20,195 --> 00:19:24,555 Speaker 1: So when Rich posted all this optimism, about this New 251 00:19:24,635 --> 00:19:27,075 Speaker 1: York Jets season, and there has not been reason to 252 00:19:27,075 --> 00:19:28,875 Speaker 1: be optimistic about the New York Jets since the year 253 00:19:28,955 --> 00:19:31,995 Speaker 1: nineteen sixty nine, when I was ten years old. I 254 00:19:32,115 --> 00:19:38,555 Speaker 1: answered rich, and I answered simply four and thirteen, indicating 255 00:19:38,555 --> 00:19:42,035 Speaker 1: my prediction for the Jets record this season, which may 256 00:19:42,075 --> 00:19:44,315 Speaker 1: turn out to be optimistic. Last night, on the fourth 257 00:19:44,315 --> 00:19:47,115 Speaker 1: play of his Jets career, Aaron Rodgers was tackled by 258 00:19:47,155 --> 00:19:50,555 Speaker 1: Buffalo defender Leonard Floyd. He crumpled to the turf and 259 00:19:50,675 --> 00:19:52,875 Speaker 1: was carted off the field with a left ankle injury, 260 00:19:52,875 --> 00:19:55,555 Speaker 1: and though X rays were negative, he was seen leaving 261 00:19:55,595 --> 00:19:58,875 Speaker 1: the stadium in a car in a big walking boot. 262 00:19:59,555 --> 00:20:03,635 Speaker 1: Mark Addis, former National Football League lineman then Harvard trained 263 00:20:03,715 --> 00:20:07,115 Speaker 1: orthopedic surgeon, speculated that it looked to him like an 264 00:20:07,155 --> 00:20:11,155 Speaker 1: ankle dislocation or a Liz frank An injury to the 265 00:20:11,195 --> 00:20:15,675 Speaker 1: Liz Frank joint that stabilizes your arch. Doctor Addix says 266 00:20:16,155 --> 00:20:19,195 Speaker 1: it's actually good news that it's not broken and that 267 00:20:19,275 --> 00:20:23,235 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers could be back in less than two months. 268 00:20:23,835 --> 00:20:31,995 Speaker 1: Maybe hashtag sudden list Frank after failure to vaccinate idiots 269 00:20:32,235 --> 00:20:35,995 Speaker 1: also how my old boss Walter Isaacson's story about Elon 270 00:20:36,115 --> 00:20:40,595 Speaker 1: Musk meddling in Ukraine's defenses against the invasion from Russia 271 00:20:40,955 --> 00:20:46,115 Speaker 1: suddenly got changed in the Washington Post to make Musk look, 272 00:20:46,435 --> 00:20:50,715 Speaker 1: you know, less guilty of violating the Logan Act. That's next. 273 00:20:50,755 --> 00:20:56,115 Speaker 1: This is countdown, Oh my, aching less, Frank. This is 274 00:20:56,235 --> 00:21:08,435 Speaker 1: countdown with Keith Oberman postscripts to the news. Some headlines, 275 00:21:08,475 --> 00:21:11,955 Speaker 1: some updates, some snarks, some predictions. Dateline Washington Another day. 276 00:21:11,995 --> 00:21:14,795 Speaker 1: Another one of my ex bosses in trouble. It was 277 00:21:14,875 --> 00:21:18,515 Speaker 1: Walter Isaacson, briefly and unhappily the president of CNN at 278 00:21:18,515 --> 00:21:21,035 Speaker 1: the turn of the century who wrote the book about 279 00:21:21,035 --> 00:21:24,035 Speaker 1: Elon Musk that revealed Musk had been meddling an American 280 00:21:24,075 --> 00:21:26,875 Speaker 1: foreign policy on behalf of the Russians against the Ukrainians. 281 00:21:27,635 --> 00:21:31,675 Speaker 1: As Media Matters for America reports, what Walter originally wrote 282 00:21:31,675 --> 00:21:36,315 Speaker 1: about Musk scuttling a Ukrainian underwater drone attack directed via 283 00:21:36,355 --> 00:21:39,595 Speaker 1: the satellite communications Musk so loudly boasted he had given 284 00:21:39,635 --> 00:21:44,195 Speaker 1: to Ukraine against the Russian naval fleet was excerpted thusly 285 00:21:44,395 --> 00:21:48,075 Speaker 1: in the Washington Post, at least originally quote. Throughout the 286 00:21:48,115 --> 00:21:50,675 Speaker 1: evening and into the night, he personally took charge of 287 00:21:50,715 --> 00:21:54,195 Speaker 1: the situation, allowing the use of starlink for the attack. 288 00:21:54,395 --> 00:21:57,155 Speaker 1: He concluded could be a disaster for the world, so 289 00:21:57,235 --> 00:22:00,035 Speaker 1: he secretly told his engineers to turn off coverage within 290 00:22:00,235 --> 00:22:03,835 Speaker 1: one hundred kilometers of the Crimean coast. As a result, 291 00:22:04,035 --> 00:22:06,995 Speaker 1: when the Ranian drone subs got near the Russian fleet 292 00:22:07,035 --> 00:22:11,875 Speaker 1: in Sebastopol, they lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly. When 293 00:22:11,915 --> 00:22:14,875 Speaker 1: the Ukrainian military noticed that starlink was disabled in and 294 00:22:14,915 --> 00:22:18,835 Speaker 1: around Crimea, Musk got frantic calls and texts asking him 295 00:22:18,875 --> 00:22:21,715 Speaker 1: to turn the coverage back on. Feder Off, the Deputy 296 00:22:21,715 --> 00:22:25,075 Speaker 1: Prime Minister who had originally enlisted his help, secretly shared 297 00:22:25,115 --> 00:22:27,435 Speaker 1: with him the details of how the drone subs were 298 00:22:27,475 --> 00:22:30,035 Speaker 1: crucial to their fight for freedom. We made the sea 299 00:22:30,115 --> 00:22:34,155 Speaker 1: drones ourselves. They can destroy any cruiser or submarine, he texted, 300 00:22:34,435 --> 00:22:37,475 Speaker 1: using an encrypted app. I did not share this information 301 00:22:37,515 --> 00:22:39,875 Speaker 1: with anyone. I just want you, the person who is 302 00:22:39,995 --> 00:22:45,595 Speaker 1: changing the world through technology, to know this. And then 303 00:22:45,635 --> 00:22:48,235 Speaker 1: came the revelation that Musk had mused on Twitter that 304 00:22:48,275 --> 00:22:50,235 Speaker 1: he was spending a Sunday morning about a year ago 305 00:22:50,395 --> 00:22:52,435 Speaker 1: trying to figure out how to de escalate the war 306 00:22:52,475 --> 00:22:55,675 Speaker 1: in Ukraine. When up pop the ever helpful pro Russian 307 00:22:55,715 --> 00:23:01,115 Speaker 1: propagandist Malaysian loser Ian Miles Chong, who suggested that Musk 308 00:23:01,435 --> 00:23:06,595 Speaker 1: shut off starlink near Crimea. Ukrainians wouldn't try to take 309 00:23:06,635 --> 00:23:10,195 Speaker 1: Crimea back from the Russians who invaded it when the 310 00:23:10,395 --> 00:23:16,355 Speaker 1: warren Ukraine really started a decade ago. Oops, that's about 311 00:23:16,395 --> 00:23:18,835 Speaker 1: when I suggested, and others did too. This country had 312 00:23:18,835 --> 00:23:21,835 Speaker 1: better cancel all its defense contracts and business deals with 313 00:23:21,875 --> 00:23:23,955 Speaker 1: Elon Musk and kick him out of the country if 314 00:23:23,955 --> 00:23:26,835 Speaker 1: we could, since if he's not a Russian asset himself, 315 00:23:27,155 --> 00:23:29,955 Speaker 1: he is under the influence of them. Well, guess what 316 00:23:30,875 --> 00:23:33,755 Speaker 1: now There is a new version of the Washington Post 317 00:23:33,835 --> 00:23:37,275 Speaker 1: synopsis of the Walter Isaacson story of Elon Musk, Nobel 318 00:23:37,435 --> 00:23:42,435 Speaker 1: Peace Prize, desirer and gone are the references to turning 319 00:23:42,515 --> 00:23:48,195 Speaker 1: anything off, turn starlink off. It was never on. Here's 320 00:23:48,235 --> 00:23:51,515 Speaker 1: the new version from the Post quote. What the Ukrainians 321 00:23:51,515 --> 00:23:54,795 Speaker 1: did not know is that Musk decided not to enable 322 00:23:55,555 --> 00:23:59,435 Speaker 1: starlink coverage of the Crimean coast. When the Ukrainian military 323 00:23:59,475 --> 00:24:02,795 Speaker 1: learned that starlink would not allow a successful attack, Musk 324 00:24:02,835 --> 00:24:05,395 Speaker 1: got frantic calls and texts asked him to turn the 325 00:24:05,435 --> 00:24:08,875 Speaker 1: coverage on feder Off. The Deputy Prime Minister who had 326 00:24:08,915 --> 00:24:12,075 Speaker 1: originally enlisted his help, secretly shared within the details of 327 00:24:12,115 --> 00:24:14,635 Speaker 1: how the drone subs were crucial to their fight for freedom. 328 00:24:14,755 --> 00:24:20,035 Speaker 1: We made the c drones said. As Media Matters notes, 329 00:24:20,555 --> 00:24:24,835 Speaker 1: the only Walter Isaacson source for this that there could 330 00:24:24,875 --> 00:24:30,115 Speaker 1: possibly be is Elon Musk. So the only reason Isaacson 331 00:24:30,195 --> 00:24:33,635 Speaker 1: and the Washington Post changed the story went in and 332 00:24:33,875 --> 00:24:38,635 Speaker 1: edited it on the website would be Elon Musk bitched 333 00:24:38,675 --> 00:24:44,075 Speaker 1: about it. Walter Isaacson was editor of Time magazine back 334 00:24:44,075 --> 00:24:48,515 Speaker 1: when that was like a full time paying job. Then 335 00:24:49,275 --> 00:24:53,915 Speaker 1: Time and CNN merged and they thought, well, hey, this 336 00:24:53,955 --> 00:24:57,115 Speaker 1: guy does news. Make him president of CNN or something. 337 00:24:57,435 --> 00:25:00,275 Speaker 1: And in his first three months, Walter decided CNN needed 338 00:25:00,355 --> 00:25:04,075 Speaker 1: a comedy news show, but as I will tell you, 339 00:25:04,115 --> 00:25:05,795 Speaker 1: he never thought I would be right for that. Then 340 00:25:05,795 --> 00:25:09,035 Speaker 1: he decided CNN needed a new eight pm newscast from 341 00:25:09,155 --> 00:25:11,795 Speaker 1: somebody outside of the company actually signed me to a 342 00:25:11,835 --> 00:25:14,675 Speaker 1: contract to maybe do it. Then decided now I wasn't 343 00:25:14,715 --> 00:25:17,115 Speaker 1: right for it. Then he had to oversee CNN's nine 344 00:25:17,155 --> 00:25:19,315 Speaker 1: to eleven coverage, and then he had to make a 345 00:25:19,355 --> 00:25:23,995 Speaker 1: crucial decision that the future of CNN was Anderson Cooper, 346 00:25:25,075 --> 00:25:27,115 Speaker 1: who has done as much as anybody to make sure 347 00:25:27,115 --> 00:25:30,235 Speaker 1: that CNN has in that time sunk from first place 348 00:25:30,275 --> 00:25:35,835 Speaker 1: in the field to last. The part about the humorous 349 00:25:35,875 --> 00:25:39,715 Speaker 1: news show put Walter Isaacson back in the news early 350 00:25:39,835 --> 00:25:43,195 Speaker 1: this year because Chris licked, and honestly, CNN ought to 351 00:25:43,195 --> 00:25:45,555 Speaker 1: build a statue to him, and I have a festival 352 00:25:45,635 --> 00:25:49,035 Speaker 1: every year like La Tamatina in Italy, where everybody stands 353 00:25:49,035 --> 00:25:52,315 Speaker 1: around and throws tomatoes at the statue Chris licked was 354 00:25:52,515 --> 00:25:57,195 Speaker 1: per Semaphore News is reporting quote considering hiring a comedian 355 00:25:57,555 --> 00:26:01,035 Speaker 1: to host one of CNN's primetime shows to fill the 356 00:26:01,075 --> 00:26:04,115 Speaker 1: primetime nine to eleven PM hours with a non traditional 357 00:26:04,195 --> 00:26:07,195 Speaker 1: version of the news. Five people with the planning said 358 00:26:07,795 --> 00:26:12,315 Speaker 1: CNN executives have floated names including Bill Maher, Trevor Noah 359 00:26:12,435 --> 00:26:15,635 Speaker 1: Arcanio Hall, and John Stewart and have looked at other 360 00:26:15,675 --> 00:26:20,035 Speaker 1: comedic focused talk shows for inspiration. And as I read 361 00:26:20,035 --> 00:26:23,155 Speaker 1: this story, I found myself transported back in time to 362 00:26:23,195 --> 00:26:28,795 Speaker 1: the office of Walter Isaacson, President of CNN. Friday, August third, 363 00:26:29,355 --> 00:26:33,635 Speaker 1: two thousand and one, his big office was filled with 364 00:26:33,715 --> 00:26:36,795 Speaker 1: the brilliant late summer sun. He called me in. He 365 00:26:36,835 --> 00:26:39,035 Speaker 1: said how much he had enjoyed how I had used 366 00:26:39,115 --> 00:26:42,555 Speaker 1: humor in my work at ESPN and MSNBC, and that 367 00:26:42,635 --> 00:26:44,355 Speaker 1: he had what he thought was a great idea, and 368 00:26:44,395 --> 00:26:47,315 Speaker 1: he wanted my thoughts. What if we took an hour 369 00:26:47,395 --> 00:26:50,635 Speaker 1: in primetime and instead of being deadly serious CNN or 370 00:26:50,755 --> 00:26:54,395 Speaker 1: conversational CNN, or even point counterpoint CNN, what if we 371 00:26:54,395 --> 00:27:01,555 Speaker 1: were funny CNN satirical CNN. Sounded familiar to me because 372 00:27:01,555 --> 00:27:04,995 Speaker 1: I had pitched this exact idea to Walter and his 373 00:27:05,115 --> 00:27:08,355 Speaker 1: bosses not a month before. I still have the email 374 00:27:08,355 --> 00:27:11,195 Speaker 1: in my computer. I had done a version of it 375 00:27:11,595 --> 00:27:15,555 Speaker 1: for CNN in my sports reporting when I started in 376 00:27:15,635 --> 00:27:19,195 Speaker 1: TV two decades before, and then I had raised it 377 00:27:19,195 --> 00:27:22,035 Speaker 1: to something higher and more of a proven success at ESPN, 378 00:27:22,115 --> 00:27:24,875 Speaker 1: and I did it at MSNBC in nineteen ninety seven 379 00:27:24,915 --> 00:27:29,115 Speaker 1: and nineteen ninety eight, more sardonic than satirical, more bitter 380 00:27:29,235 --> 00:27:33,315 Speaker 1: than humorous, but it got some laughs. In two thousand 381 00:27:33,315 --> 00:27:35,395 Speaker 1: and one, I happened to be back with CNN as 382 00:27:35,435 --> 00:27:38,995 Speaker 1: a scheduled freelancer, filling in on the show. Jeff Greenfield 383 00:27:39,035 --> 00:27:41,475 Speaker 1: was supposed to host at eleven o'clock every night, then 384 00:27:41,475 --> 00:27:44,675 Speaker 1: he broke his ankle or something. My agent was negotiating 385 00:27:44,675 --> 00:27:46,875 Speaker 1: to get me the eight pm hour that they were 386 00:27:46,955 --> 00:27:49,195 Speaker 1: going to give to somebody who was not currently on 387 00:27:49,235 --> 00:27:53,315 Speaker 1: the network. And I had said, obviously, you couldn't have 388 00:27:53,355 --> 00:27:55,395 Speaker 1: a comedian do the news, but you could have a 389 00:27:55,435 --> 00:27:58,995 Speaker 1: newscaster with a decent sense of comedy bring a humorous 390 00:27:59,035 --> 00:28:02,995 Speaker 1: starting point to it. And not only was I qualified, 391 00:28:03,035 --> 00:28:04,955 Speaker 1: but as I said to Walter, right then I can 392 00:28:04,995 --> 00:28:07,475 Speaker 1: do the key thing. That is the only way you 393 00:28:07,515 --> 00:28:09,915 Speaker 1: can get away with this idea. I can be the 394 00:28:09,955 --> 00:28:13,715 Speaker 1: guy on the air doing the slightly funny news when 395 00:28:13,715 --> 00:28:18,515 Speaker 1: a bridge suddenly collapses, or Ronald Reagan dies or there 396 00:28:18,555 --> 00:28:22,155 Speaker 1: is a terrorist attack, and I can swerve back into 397 00:28:22,275 --> 00:28:26,595 Speaker 1: serious coverage before the network crashes, because you know, it 398 00:28:26,675 --> 00:28:30,675 Speaker 1: had a comedy show on when the world ended. Walter 399 00:28:31,035 --> 00:28:35,195 Speaker 1: nodded politely. What would you think of John Stewart? He asked, 400 00:28:35,315 --> 00:28:37,555 Speaker 1: do you think the audience would buy John Stewart doing that? 401 00:28:37,835 --> 00:28:42,515 Speaker 1: I think he's great, don't you, I said, frankly, Walter, No, 402 00:28:43,635 --> 00:28:45,915 Speaker 1: mostly for the reason I just outlined I mean, if 403 00:28:45,995 --> 00:28:48,195 Speaker 1: John Stewart is doing your funny news one night, and 404 00:28:48,235 --> 00:28:51,435 Speaker 1: then there's unfunny news you are, and then I said 405 00:28:51,435 --> 00:28:55,475 Speaker 1: a word that rhymed with duct. I also said that 406 00:28:55,555 --> 00:28:57,835 Speaker 1: I didn't know him well, but everybody I knew who 407 00:28:57,915 --> 00:29:02,435 Speaker 1: did said John Stuart was insufferable, impossible to work with, 408 00:29:02,715 --> 00:29:07,035 Speaker 1: a dreadful and dreary person, notorious for stealing other people's 409 00:29:07,075 --> 00:29:10,795 Speaker 1: ideas and pretending they were his. I said his point 410 00:29:10,835 --> 00:29:13,995 Speaker 1: of view was closer to my own, but that, frankly, 411 00:29:14,035 --> 00:29:17,675 Speaker 1: the closest personality comp in cable News to John Stewart 412 00:29:17,795 --> 00:29:23,355 Speaker 1: was actually Bill O'Reilly. I saw my words bounce off 413 00:29:23,395 --> 00:29:26,755 Speaker 1: Walter's head and float out the window of his CNN 414 00:29:26,995 --> 00:29:31,395 Speaker 1: top floor office. Do you think John would do it? 415 00:29:31,435 --> 00:29:33,555 Speaker 1: To be fair? I don't think they asked him. In 416 00:29:33,555 --> 00:29:37,835 Speaker 1: two thousand and one, the previous time, a CNN president 417 00:29:37,875 --> 00:29:40,115 Speaker 1: thought of this idea and mistakenly believed he was saying, 418 00:29:40,275 --> 00:29:42,595 Speaker 1: let's have John Stewart do the news, when in fact, 419 00:29:42,675 --> 00:29:45,115 Speaker 1: what he was saying was let's have John Stewart's ratings 420 00:29:45,115 --> 00:29:48,555 Speaker 1: between nine and ten every night, because that's what Chris 421 00:29:48,595 --> 00:29:52,915 Speaker 1: Lick was thinking, as it was what Walter Isaacson was 422 00:29:52,915 --> 00:29:57,395 Speaker 1: thinking and why Chris licked immediately moved the idea from 423 00:29:57,475 --> 00:30:02,315 Speaker 1: impossible crash and burn to feasible. No on Stuart, Let's 424 00:30:02,315 --> 00:30:07,835 Speaker 1: call Arsenio Hall. He's alive right. The longest that a 425 00:30:07,955 --> 00:30:12,355 Speaker 1: comedy news Hybridge show can be is about thirty minutes, 426 00:30:12,395 --> 00:30:14,915 Speaker 1: and one can argue, based on audience retention for The 427 00:30:14,995 --> 00:30:18,715 Speaker 1: John Stewart Daily Show and The Colbert Report, it's actually 428 00:30:18,795 --> 00:30:23,275 Speaker 1: closer to about fifteen minutes, as Clicked must have remembered 429 00:30:23,275 --> 00:30:27,555 Speaker 1: from his days running Colbert's amazingly unfunny CBS program. No 430 00:30:27,835 --> 00:30:30,355 Speaker 1: late night comedy show that dabbled in news in a 431 00:30:30,395 --> 00:30:33,635 Speaker 1: monologue or even multiple desk segments has ever done more 432 00:30:33,675 --> 00:30:36,435 Speaker 1: than about ten twelve minutes of it a night. And 433 00:30:36,475 --> 00:30:40,235 Speaker 1: I mean the superstars limited themselves to ten minutes of 434 00:30:40,235 --> 00:30:42,835 Speaker 1: it to night. David Letterman, Johnny Carson, even Jay Leno 435 00:30:43,755 --> 00:30:46,795 Speaker 1: others have tried ten minutes of news humor and were 436 00:30:46,795 --> 00:30:50,715 Speaker 1: never heard from again. And if you doubt me, ask 437 00:30:50,795 --> 00:30:54,715 Speaker 1: yourself if you remember the Pat Sayjack Show on CBS 438 00:30:54,755 --> 00:30:58,275 Speaker 1: at eleven thirty every night, or Comedy Central's The Nightly 439 00:30:58,435 --> 00:31:02,995 Speaker 1: Show with Larry Willmore or Frankly, what do you remember 440 00:31:03,035 --> 00:31:06,475 Speaker 1: of the third incarnation of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, 441 00:31:06,595 --> 00:31:09,515 Speaker 1: who kept the franchise alive after Stewart retired, But my god, 442 00:31:09,555 --> 00:31:14,035 Speaker 1: it was just barely and Chris Lickt of the we 443 00:31:14,155 --> 00:31:18,355 Speaker 1: thought they were paced eaters. Lichts supposedly brought up Trevor 444 00:31:18,395 --> 00:31:21,915 Speaker 1: Noah and did bring up John Stewart in an interview 445 00:31:21,955 --> 00:31:24,355 Speaker 1: with The New York Times in twenty twenty two. And 446 00:31:24,475 --> 00:31:29,635 Speaker 1: so then somebody thought of Charles Barkley and my old 447 00:31:29,755 --> 00:31:34,075 Speaker 1: college colleague Bill Maher. Semaphore noted, Marr is a potentially 448 00:31:34,075 --> 00:31:37,395 Speaker 1: more realistic prospect. The host of HBO's long running weekly 449 00:31:37,435 --> 00:31:39,395 Speaker 1: show that bears his name, is already in house at 450 00:31:39,475 --> 00:31:44,075 Speaker 1: Warner Bros. Discovery. CNN's parent company. Puck reported this night 451 00:31:44,395 --> 00:31:46,395 Speaker 1: that CNN is in talks to begin airing some of 452 00:31:46,595 --> 00:31:51,995 Speaker 1: Mar's weekly extra HBO segments. There were several problems with 453 00:31:52,075 --> 00:31:55,155 Speaker 1: Bill Maher. Of course, for twenty five years, he has 454 00:31:55,275 --> 00:31:59,515 Speaker 1: been abhorred by conservatives. They got him canceled from his 455 00:31:59,595 --> 00:32:03,435 Speaker 1: original nightly show on ABC Politically Incorrect after nine to eleven. 456 00:32:03,955 --> 00:32:07,475 Speaker 1: That's fine. Conservatives are not going to watch CNN no 457 00:32:07,555 --> 00:32:11,435 Speaker 1: matter what its fascist owner. John Malone might do. But 458 00:32:11,555 --> 00:32:14,515 Speaker 1: the issue here is Mar has also gradually spent nearly 459 00:32:14,555 --> 00:32:18,395 Speaker 1: all of his goodwill and reputation with liberals. They may 460 00:32:18,435 --> 00:32:22,635 Speaker 1: not all abhor him yet, but he stopped being appointment 461 00:32:22,675 --> 00:32:26,435 Speaker 1: viewing for liberals, perhaps as long as a decade ago. Also, 462 00:32:26,595 --> 00:32:29,115 Speaker 1: if the quality of the humor in his once a 463 00:32:29,155 --> 00:32:32,755 Speaker 1: week HBO show is an indicator, putting him on nightly 464 00:32:32,835 --> 00:32:38,555 Speaker 1: on CNN starting say, next Monday, would mean he would 465 00:32:38,555 --> 00:32:42,995 Speaker 1: be out of material by next Thursday, maybe next Wednesday. 466 00:32:44,275 --> 00:32:48,555 Speaker 1: I also know Bill since literally nineteen seventy eight, and 467 00:32:48,675 --> 00:32:50,915 Speaker 1: I used to be on the HBO show often, and 468 00:32:50,995 --> 00:32:53,115 Speaker 1: he invariably told me that the best thing that ever 469 00:32:53,155 --> 00:32:55,195 Speaker 1: happened to him was getting away from having to do 470 00:32:55,235 --> 00:32:57,955 Speaker 1: a TV show every night. That six days of prep 471 00:32:57,995 --> 00:33:03,795 Speaker 1: for one show was a tough enough ratio. Finally, CNN 472 00:33:03,875 --> 00:33:07,075 Speaker 1: had the brilliant eye idea it would solve that problem 473 00:33:07,115 --> 00:33:10,195 Speaker 1: by putting Mar just once a week on in his 474 00:33:10,355 --> 00:33:14,315 Speaker 1: time slot, his regular favorite time slot, late nights on Fridays. 475 00:33:15,395 --> 00:33:17,275 Speaker 1: It took the segment he used to do after his 476 00:33:17,435 --> 00:33:21,315 Speaker 1: HBO show was over that they would put online, and 477 00:33:21,315 --> 00:33:23,875 Speaker 1: instead they put it in the eleven pm Friday night 478 00:33:23,995 --> 00:33:26,755 Speaker 1: CNN newscast, and it got an audience literally half the 479 00:33:26,795 --> 00:33:31,515 Speaker 1: size of this podcast. I think they've canceled it for good, 480 00:33:32,395 --> 00:33:39,475 Speaker 1: but who knows, because honestly, who'd notice. And lastly, while 481 00:33:39,515 --> 00:33:42,555 Speaker 1: it is assumed people actually watch Bill Maher's show, there 482 00:33:42,675 --> 00:33:46,435 Speaker 1: is no proof of that. HBO does not produce ratings 483 00:33:46,435 --> 00:33:49,395 Speaker 1: for the programs it puts on cable. It's not in 484 00:33:49,435 --> 00:33:52,915 Speaker 1: the ratings game. It's in the subscription game. As I 485 00:33:52,955 --> 00:33:55,635 Speaker 1: suggested just now, we don't know how many people watch 486 00:33:55,755 --> 00:33:59,795 Speaker 1: mar We know there aren't maybe any conservatives. We don't 487 00:33:59,835 --> 00:34:04,275 Speaker 1: know if there are still any liberals, And that, of course, 488 00:34:04,355 --> 00:34:07,075 Speaker 1: is the other fundamental flaw here. The cover story for 489 00:34:07,195 --> 00:34:10,195 Speaker 1: Chris Lickt's actual job was he was to bring back 490 00:34:10,555 --> 00:34:15,275 Speaker 1: balanced a political news Well, quick, name me the last 491 00:34:15,435 --> 00:34:22,435 Speaker 1: a political news comedian or satirist. I'll wait. Even if 492 00:34:22,515 --> 00:34:27,115 Speaker 1: you think the foppish guy they have on Fox, Blowfeld 493 00:34:28,075 --> 00:34:30,755 Speaker 1: or Gutworm or whatever his name is is actually funny, 494 00:34:31,115 --> 00:34:35,515 Speaker 1: is he a political letterman? Was actually kind of a 495 00:34:35,635 --> 00:34:38,355 Speaker 1: political Yet most of his political stuff wound up mocking 496 00:34:38,395 --> 00:34:42,555 Speaker 1: Republicans because they do things that are easier to laugh at, 497 00:34:42,955 --> 00:34:45,435 Speaker 1: like John McCain lying to him and not showing up 498 00:34:45,435 --> 00:34:48,075 Speaker 1: for that two thousand and eight hour long interview we 499 00:34:48,075 --> 00:34:51,475 Speaker 1: were supposed to get just before the election, and they 500 00:34:51,515 --> 00:34:55,515 Speaker 1: had to bring in me. Sorry, when Colbert, who is 501 00:34:55,875 --> 00:34:58,515 Speaker 1: far more conservative than he wants you to know, could 502 00:34:58,515 --> 00:35:01,195 Speaker 1: cover up his intent by pretending he was just pretending 503 00:35:01,395 --> 00:35:03,835 Speaker 1: he was far more successful than he is now. And 504 00:35:03,875 --> 00:35:07,355 Speaker 1: it needs to be remember that until Trump's ascension, CBS, 505 00:35:07,675 --> 00:35:10,115 Speaker 1: with that guy licked in charge of it, was about 506 00:35:10,115 --> 00:35:14,275 Speaker 1: to swap him and the a political and a funny 507 00:35:14,515 --> 00:35:17,515 Speaker 1: James Cordon and Relegate Colbert at twelve thirty at night. 508 00:35:19,155 --> 00:35:21,635 Speaker 1: And even if you disagree with my comedy analysis, the 509 00:35:21,635 --> 00:35:24,355 Speaker 1: bottom line is you cannot do comedy about news without 510 00:35:24,435 --> 00:35:27,355 Speaker 1: being political. And you can't put a comedian in the 511 00:35:27,435 --> 00:35:29,995 Speaker 1: driver's seat of a real newscast because one day he 512 00:35:30,035 --> 00:35:32,795 Speaker 1: will have to segue into live coverage of the massive 513 00:35:32,875 --> 00:35:37,795 Speaker 1: explosion down at the Goiter clinic. If you really wanted 514 00:35:37,795 --> 00:35:40,075 Speaker 1: to do an hour or just half an hour of 515 00:35:40,115 --> 00:35:42,435 Speaker 1: comedy news, it would have to be political, and it 516 00:35:42,435 --> 00:35:45,075 Speaker 1: would have to be hosted by somebody able to turn 517 00:35:45,155 --> 00:35:48,795 Speaker 1: on a dime. From the Chuckle Hut to Good Evening. 518 00:35:48,875 --> 00:35:53,995 Speaker 1: There are dead ex presidents you're talking Al Franken or 519 00:35:54,035 --> 00:35:57,635 Speaker 1: maybe maybe me, and CNN is not going to hire 520 00:35:57,675 --> 00:36:00,675 Speaker 1: Al Franken. And guess what, CNN is definitely definitely not 521 00:36:00,715 --> 00:36:04,875 Speaker 1: going to hire me. So let us go back back 522 00:36:04,875 --> 00:36:08,875 Speaker 1: in time again to Walter Isaacson's office, long before anybody 523 00:36:08,915 --> 00:36:14,035 Speaker 1: heard of God damned Elon MUCKs. Back to Walter's office 524 00:36:14,075 --> 00:36:17,195 Speaker 1: at CNN and the dear innocent pre deluge days of 525 00:36:17,235 --> 00:36:22,195 Speaker 1: August two thousand and one, and when Walter Isaacson was 526 00:36:22,235 --> 00:36:24,835 Speaker 1: the president of CNN, after Rees Schoenfeld had been it, 527 00:36:24,955 --> 00:36:27,435 Speaker 1: and Bert Reinhardt, whom I worked for, and Tom Johnson, 528 00:36:27,475 --> 00:36:29,355 Speaker 1: who I did not but I knew, and Rick Kaplan 529 00:36:29,395 --> 00:36:31,835 Speaker 1: who I did work for later, and Walter was before 530 00:36:31,955 --> 00:36:34,275 Speaker 1: John Klein who tried to bring me back to CNN 531 00:36:34,315 --> 00:36:37,155 Speaker 1: in two thousand and six but got overruled by Jim Walton, 532 00:36:37,675 --> 00:36:40,075 Speaker 1: who had been the backup Chiron guy on my CNN 533 00:36:40,155 --> 00:36:43,195 Speaker 1: sports cast in nineteen eighty three, and Jim was also president, 534 00:36:43,275 --> 00:36:45,675 Speaker 1: and then Jim fired John, and then somebody fired Jim, 535 00:36:45,675 --> 00:36:47,675 Speaker 1: and then they brought in Jeff Zooker and he tried 536 00:36:47,675 --> 00:36:49,635 Speaker 1: to bring me back in twenty sixteen, and then they 537 00:36:49,715 --> 00:36:51,635 Speaker 1: fired him, and then it was Chris licked and then 538 00:36:51,635 --> 00:36:53,475 Speaker 1: they fired him. And now I got that British guy 539 00:36:53,555 --> 00:36:57,675 Speaker 1: who wants bit a producer because he thought it was funny. 540 00:36:58,475 --> 00:37:01,475 Speaker 1: I can't actually recall how long I was in Walter 541 00:37:01,595 --> 00:37:05,275 Speaker 1: Isaacson's office that summer day, so long ago. He had 542 00:37:05,315 --> 00:37:07,195 Speaker 1: a lot of questions he wanted to ask me, and 543 00:37:07,235 --> 00:37:10,595 Speaker 1: he continually referred to my experience mixing humor and serious 544 00:37:10,595 --> 00:37:13,035 Speaker 1: coverage in sports, and even right then when I was 545 00:37:13,075 --> 00:37:16,595 Speaker 1: filling in for Jeff Greenfield, and the longer I was 546 00:37:16,675 --> 00:37:19,315 Speaker 1: in there, the more it seemed like he was leading 547 00:37:19,395 --> 00:37:21,875 Speaker 1: up to asking me if I wanted to try it, 548 00:37:22,915 --> 00:37:27,155 Speaker 1: and he never asked. And what made that even crazier 549 00:37:27,315 --> 00:37:30,315 Speaker 1: was not long after CNN offered me the job of 550 00:37:30,435 --> 00:37:35,035 Speaker 1: lead anchor and managing editor at its CNNSI Sports network, 551 00:37:35,875 --> 00:37:39,675 Speaker 1: and a different contract as a full time salaried host 552 00:37:39,715 --> 00:37:44,075 Speaker 1: and essayist on news and sports for the regular CNN network, 553 00:37:44,235 --> 00:37:47,875 Speaker 1: and a third contract, a holding contract, which would really 554 00:37:47,955 --> 00:37:50,915 Speaker 1: just be a pre negotiation in case they chose me 555 00:37:51,075 --> 00:37:55,795 Speaker 1: from the finalists for their main eight o'clock anchor flagship show. 556 00:37:56,675 --> 00:38:01,075 Speaker 1: And it turned out a month later they shuddered CNNSI, 557 00:38:01,595 --> 00:38:05,555 Speaker 1: but we did proceed on the anchor essayist contract and 558 00:38:05,675 --> 00:38:08,275 Speaker 1: we signed that holding contract. So I had two contracts 559 00:38:08,315 --> 00:38:10,995 Speaker 1: with CNN, and then at eight o'clock they never executed 560 00:38:11,035 --> 00:38:16,035 Speaker 1: my other contract because they gave the show two Connie 561 00:38:16,075 --> 00:38:20,715 Speaker 1: Chung Connie Chung, and then they canceled her show. One 562 00:38:20,795 --> 00:38:25,275 Speaker 1: year later. Walter left CNN in January two thousand and three, 563 00:38:25,275 --> 00:38:27,915 Speaker 1: and a month later I returned to MSNBC and we 564 00:38:27,995 --> 00:38:32,635 Speaker 1: started Countdown. Politics and commentary gradually squeezed out the time 565 00:38:32,915 --> 00:38:35,795 Speaker 1: I had devoted to the humor and satire, but originally 566 00:38:35,995 --> 00:38:39,475 Speaker 1: Countdown was as much satire as it was controversy. And 567 00:38:39,555 --> 00:38:42,395 Speaker 1: one day in two thousand and five, a call was 568 00:38:42,435 --> 00:38:45,115 Speaker 1: transferred into my office from one of our guest bookers 569 00:38:45,395 --> 00:38:48,035 Speaker 1: who said somebody that they'd tried to get to be 570 00:38:48,155 --> 00:38:49,875 Speaker 1: on the show was not going to do it, but 571 00:38:49,955 --> 00:38:51,595 Speaker 1: he wanted to talk to me. While he was on 572 00:38:51,635 --> 00:38:55,835 Speaker 1: the line, Keith, it's Walter Isaacson. I've been meaning to 573 00:38:55,875 --> 00:38:57,595 Speaker 1: call you for a couple of months. I don't know 574 00:38:57,635 --> 00:38:59,555 Speaker 1: if you remember this. In fact, I kind of hope 575 00:38:59,595 --> 00:39:02,075 Speaker 1: you don't. But in two thousand and one, do you 576 00:39:02,115 --> 00:39:04,315 Speaker 1: remember I asked you about doing a newscast with a 577 00:39:04,315 --> 00:39:06,235 Speaker 1: comedy element to you, and I must have asked you 578 00:39:06,235 --> 00:39:08,715 Speaker 1: about John Stewart, and everybody liked John Stewart, and I 579 00:39:08,755 --> 00:39:11,395 Speaker 1: just wanted to say. I watch Countdown every night, and 580 00:39:11,435 --> 00:39:13,915 Speaker 1: every night I say to myself, this is exactly the 581 00:39:13,955 --> 00:39:16,035 Speaker 1: show I wanted. And the guy was sitting on the 582 00:39:16,075 --> 00:39:18,715 Speaker 1: other side of my goddamn desk and I didn't even 583 00:39:18,715 --> 00:39:20,595 Speaker 1: see him because I was looking at it backwards, and 584 00:39:20,635 --> 00:39:24,675 Speaker 1: I just kicked myself. This is the man who just 585 00:39:24,755 --> 00:39:29,555 Speaker 1: fixed the Elon Musk quotes what Walter Isaacson said next 586 00:39:29,795 --> 00:39:31,995 Speaker 1: in two thousand and five should be a lesson to 587 00:39:31,995 --> 00:39:35,835 Speaker 1: anybody else who wants to try Walter Isaacson's idea from 588 00:39:35,835 --> 00:39:39,875 Speaker 1: two thousand and one and claim it is their idea. 589 00:39:40,475 --> 00:39:44,635 Speaker 1: You don't get a comedian to do funny news, Walter said, 590 00:39:44,675 --> 00:39:47,555 Speaker 1: as if I had not told him this. You get 591 00:39:47,595 --> 00:39:54,435 Speaker 1: a newsman who's kind of funny to do news that's 592 00:39:54,515 --> 00:40:25,595 Speaker 1: kind of funny. Given the continuing miseries with my throat, 593 00:40:26,555 --> 00:40:28,515 Speaker 1: I think I've done pretty well, but I've also done 594 00:40:28,515 --> 00:40:31,315 Speaker 1: all the damage I can do here possibly to my throat. 595 00:40:31,995 --> 00:40:34,355 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening. Countdown has come to you from 596 00:40:34,355 --> 00:40:37,115 Speaker 1: our Studios hiattop the Sports Capsule Building in New York. 597 00:40:37,715 --> 00:40:40,075 Speaker 1: Here are the credits. Most of the music arranged, produced 598 00:40:40,115 --> 00:40:42,435 Speaker 1: and performed by Brian Ray and John Phillip Schanel. The 599 00:40:42,435 --> 00:40:47,555 Speaker 1: countdown musical directors. All orchestration and keyboards by John Phillip Shanel, Guitars, 600 00:40:47,555 --> 00:40:50,595 Speaker 1: bass and drums by Brian Ray, produced by Tko Brothers. 601 00:40:51,035 --> 00:40:53,555 Speaker 1: Other Beethoven selections have been arranged and performed by the 602 00:40:53,555 --> 00:40:56,435 Speaker 1: group No Horns Allowed. Sports music when we have it 603 00:40:56,515 --> 00:40:59,355 Speaker 1: is the Alderman theme from ESPN two, written by Mitch 604 00:40:59,395 --> 00:41:03,835 Speaker 1: Warren Davis courtesy of ESPN, Inc. Musical comments by Nancy Faust. 605 00:41:03,915 --> 00:41:07,115 Speaker 1: The best baseball stadium organist ever. Our announcer today is 606 00:41:07,115 --> 00:41:10,555 Speaker 1: my friend, Howard Feineman. Everything else was pretty much my fault. 607 00:41:10,755 --> 00:41:12,915 Speaker 1: So that's countdown for this, the nine hundred and eightieth 608 00:41:12,995 --> 00:41:16,395 Speaker 1: day since Donald Trump's first attempted coup against the democratically 609 00:41:16,435 --> 00:41:20,275 Speaker 1: elected government of the United States. Convict him now while 610 00:41:20,315 --> 00:41:25,275 Speaker 1: we still can. Joe, if you're listening, take him up 611 00:41:25,355 --> 00:41:30,275 Speaker 1: on the acuity test. It will win you reelection. The 612 00:41:30,355 --> 00:41:33,315 Speaker 1: next scheduled countdown is tomorrow. Bulletins as the news warrants 613 00:41:33,555 --> 00:41:37,635 Speaker 1: and as my throat permits till then. I'm Keith Olderman. 614 00:41:38,435 --> 00:41:42,555 Speaker 1: Good morning, good afternoon, good night, and good luck to 615 00:41:42,675 --> 00:42:01,595 Speaker 1: my throat. Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. 616 00:42:01,915 --> 00:42:07,075 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 617 00:42:07,315 --> 00:42:09,275 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.