1 00:00:04,795 --> 00:00:21,595 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. The 2 00:00:21,715 --> 00:00:24,755 Speaker 1: gag order is great, but the real story out of 3 00:00:24,835 --> 00:00:29,315 Speaker 1: Judge Tanya Chutkins Trump courtroom is she will not postpone 4 00:00:29,355 --> 00:00:32,395 Speaker 1: the trial date. It will not slide until after the election. 5 00:00:32,595 --> 00:00:36,555 Speaker 1: It will begin on March fourth, and not the cracked 6 00:00:36,595 --> 00:00:39,355 Speaker 1: Trump legal teams demand that it be delayed until the 7 00:00:39,395 --> 00:00:42,555 Speaker 1: twelfth of never. And apart from the obvious meeting, there 8 00:00:42,595 --> 00:00:45,875 Speaker 1: is also a subtle one and it pertains two the 9 00:00:45,955 --> 00:00:49,395 Speaker 1: gag order quote, this trial will not yield to the 10 00:00:49,435 --> 00:00:54,235 Speaker 1: election cycle, and we will not revisit the trial date. Remember, 11 00:00:54,795 --> 00:00:57,675 Speaker 1: Judge Chutkin had previously said that her preferred way to 12 00:00:57,715 --> 00:01:00,235 Speaker 1: punish Trump for his violations of the terms of his 13 00:01:00,355 --> 00:01:04,995 Speaker 1: release and other you know laws would beat a art 14 00:01:04,995 --> 00:01:08,235 Speaker 1: the trial sooner. And while she did not explicitly say 15 00:01:08,275 --> 00:01:10,435 Speaker 1: there is no chance he might yet force her to 16 00:01:10,515 --> 00:01:14,035 Speaker 1: do that, the statement yesterday we will not revisit the 17 00:01:14,075 --> 00:01:18,875 Speaker 1: trial date seems surprisingly explicit because it implies that if 18 00:01:18,915 --> 00:01:21,795 Speaker 1: he breaks the gag order, well my kidding, he may 19 00:01:21,795 --> 00:01:24,955 Speaker 1: have broken the gag order yesterday. When he breaks the 20 00:01:24,995 --> 00:01:28,315 Speaker 1: gag order, she will punish him in some other way. 21 00:01:29,075 --> 00:01:32,435 Speaker 1: She referred in court yesterday to sanctions, and there's not 22 00:01:32,515 --> 00:01:35,355 Speaker 1: a lot of sanctions on the table, but advancing the 23 00:01:35,395 --> 00:01:38,795 Speaker 1: trial start was the simplest of them. And if it 24 00:01:38,915 --> 00:01:41,635 Speaker 1: is off the table, we are looking at financial penalties 25 00:01:41,835 --> 00:01:45,475 Speaker 1: or well, you can't send one of his attorneys to 26 00:01:45,515 --> 00:01:48,795 Speaker 1: the penalty box and make them defend shorthanded. What's left 27 00:01:48,995 --> 00:01:52,595 Speaker 1: is declaring he has violated the terms of his release 28 00:01:52,755 --> 00:01:57,115 Speaker 1: and revoking his bail and incarcerating him until the trial 29 00:01:57,675 --> 00:02:01,595 Speaker 1: or at least over a weekend. That is not a 30 00:02:01,635 --> 00:02:04,475 Speaker 1: step to be taken lightly. But when Trump violates the 31 00:02:04,475 --> 00:02:08,635 Speaker 1: game order for the fifth time, or the tenth time 32 00:02:08,795 --> 00:02:11,555 Speaker 1: or the fiftieth time, what other option will she have? 33 00:02:12,195 --> 00:02:14,875 Speaker 1: Send the Secret Service home, send in the marshals, frog 34 00:02:14,915 --> 00:02:18,115 Speaker 1: march the bastard. What odds can I get that he 35 00:02:18,235 --> 00:02:23,035 Speaker 1: resists arrest? Come on, come on, you know you want 36 00:02:23,035 --> 00:02:28,195 Speaker 1: to resist, doney, Come on. Exactly what Judge Chutkin plans 37 00:02:28,235 --> 00:02:30,755 Speaker 1: to do, or in the near term, exactly what she 38 00:02:30,875 --> 00:02:33,755 Speaker 1: plans to threaten him with, is as important as the 39 00:02:33,835 --> 00:02:38,355 Speaker 1: fact of the gag order itself. Given the judges expressiveness 40 00:02:38,435 --> 00:02:43,235 Speaker 1: during the gag hearing yesterday, and when the judge laughs 41 00:02:43,275 --> 00:02:47,555 Speaker 1: at your attorneys twice it is not going well for you. 42 00:02:48,635 --> 00:02:52,395 Speaker 1: There is something portentous in her unwillingness to state the 43 00:02:52,395 --> 00:02:56,475 Speaker 1: penalties she has in mind. Politico phrased it quote. She 44 00:02:56,595 --> 00:02:59,195 Speaker 1: did not elaborate on those sanctions, although she said she 45 00:02:59,275 --> 00:03:03,395 Speaker 1: planned to issue a written order with further details. Unquote. 46 00:03:04,275 --> 00:03:07,595 Speaker 1: I'm confident she had said before issuing the gag order 47 00:03:07,835 --> 00:03:11,595 Speaker 1: that without some sort of restriction, we'll be in here 48 00:03:11,715 --> 00:03:16,675 Speaker 1: all the time. After all, as soon as she gagged him, 49 00:03:17,155 --> 00:03:19,195 Speaker 1: he did say this, I. 50 00:03:19,235 --> 00:03:21,995 Speaker 2: Am willing to go to jail if that's what it 51 00:03:22,035 --> 00:03:26,195 Speaker 2: takes for our country to win and become a democracy again. 52 00:03:26,555 --> 00:03:32,955 Speaker 1: You, sir, have a deal. As an aside, each time 53 00:03:33,355 --> 00:03:36,275 Speaker 1: this happens, that he says one thing that he thinks 54 00:03:36,315 --> 00:03:38,875 Speaker 1: wins his argument for him, when it is in fact 55 00:03:38,915 --> 00:03:42,275 Speaker 1: a confession to his crimes, or, as in this case, 56 00:03:42,915 --> 00:03:46,075 Speaker 1: a confession to the seriousness of his endless traitorous conduct 57 00:03:46,115 --> 00:03:50,075 Speaker 1: towards this country. I wonder how many arguments were made 58 00:03:50,715 --> 00:03:56,435 Speaker 1: not by Nazi propagandists but by ordinary non genocidal conservatives 59 00:03:57,035 --> 00:04:00,315 Speaker 1: or political moderates in Germany in nineteen thirty and nineteen 60 00:04:00,355 --> 00:04:02,075 Speaker 1: thirty one and nineteen thirty two in the first month 61 00:04:02,115 --> 00:04:05,955 Speaker 1: of nineteen thirty three, arguments that they're Trump was not 62 00:04:06,075 --> 00:04:09,035 Speaker 1: threatening freedom, he was saving it. That he wasn't risking 63 00:04:09,115 --> 00:04:12,755 Speaker 1: their lives, he was risking his. Every time I hear 64 00:04:12,795 --> 00:04:16,035 Speaker 1: Trump say something like that, his belief that he's talking 65 00:04:16,115 --> 00:04:19,275 Speaker 1: about the trial of the century as opposed to having 66 00:04:19,315 --> 00:04:22,595 Speaker 1: his bail revoked after his two hundred and twenty seventh 67 00:04:22,635 --> 00:04:26,955 Speaker 1: reference to a certain unnamed deranged prosecutor. Every time I 68 00:04:26,995 --> 00:04:29,715 Speaker 1: hear him talk like that, I think of them, and 69 00:04:29,795 --> 00:04:36,435 Speaker 1: I wonder which special place in hell they went to. Anyway, 70 00:04:36,435 --> 00:04:38,795 Speaker 1: you're willing to go to jail, good, let's see that 71 00:04:38,915 --> 00:04:43,195 Speaker 1: rubber hit that road. Whenever Chutkin issues her written order 72 00:04:43,235 --> 00:04:47,315 Speaker 1: with further details, because not three hours after she cost 73 00:04:47,395 --> 00:04:49,675 Speaker 1: him in the head with the gag order, he began 74 00:04:49,875 --> 00:04:54,995 Speaker 1: feeling around to see exactly where the line is. A 75 00:04:55,115 --> 00:04:57,835 Speaker 1: judge gave a gag order today? Did you hear that? 76 00:04:57,955 --> 00:05:02,915 Speaker 2: On speech? Which I believe is totally unconstitutional? What she did? 77 00:05:02,955 --> 00:05:05,155 Speaker 1: A judge gave a gag order to judge doesn't like 78 00:05:05,195 --> 00:05:08,075 Speaker 1: me too much. Her whole life is not like in me. 79 00:05:08,355 --> 00:05:11,995 Speaker 1: In the preliminary version of the gag order, as released yesterday, 80 00:05:12,035 --> 00:05:14,875 Speaker 1: the judge told Trump he had free reign about Biden 81 00:05:15,315 --> 00:05:19,515 Speaker 1: and about insulting Washington, but to keep his mouth shut 82 00:05:19,555 --> 00:05:23,195 Speaker 1: about witnesses and the prosecutors in the case, and echoing 83 00:05:23,235 --> 00:05:25,915 Speaker 1: his attempt to dos an irrelevant court clerk in the 84 00:05:25,955 --> 00:05:28,515 Speaker 1: New York fraud case because she had once taken a 85 00:05:28,555 --> 00:05:34,475 Speaker 1: selfie with Chuck Schumer court staff members, she did not 86 00:05:34,675 --> 00:05:38,875 Speaker 1: include herself on the initial list of the inviolables. Once again, 87 00:05:38,955 --> 00:05:41,755 Speaker 1: the promised written order will tell us, and more importantly 88 00:05:41,795 --> 00:05:44,435 Speaker 1: will tell Trump. The written order will also tell us 89 00:05:44,435 --> 00:05:46,275 Speaker 1: about how far Trump can get away with the standard 90 00:05:46,315 --> 00:05:49,795 Speaker 1: Trump trick. I didn't say it, I just repeated it. 91 00:05:50,035 --> 00:05:55,235 Speaker 1: Retweets do not equal endorsements. Within literally minutes of the 92 00:05:55,275 --> 00:05:59,635 Speaker 1: imposition of the order, one of Trump's many renfields, the 93 00:05:59,675 --> 00:06:03,755 Speaker 1: former Chuck Grassley staffer Mike Davis, referred to the order 94 00:06:03,875 --> 00:06:08,675 Speaker 1: as something that quote happens in third world Marxist hellholes. 95 00:06:09,595 --> 00:06:15,675 Speaker 1: But even this scum Davis stopped at unconstitutional and erroneous, 96 00:06:16,635 --> 00:06:20,115 Speaker 1: and later Marjorie Taylor Green paraded her own stupidity by 97 00:06:20,155 --> 00:06:23,555 Speaker 1: complaining that the judge let the media attend, and then 98 00:06:23,675 --> 00:06:27,155 Speaker 1: Junior issued a video using all the buzzwords but in 99 00:06:27,195 --> 00:06:30,635 Speaker 1: another reminder of the blessing of his impaired stupidity, he 100 00:06:30,755 --> 00:06:35,835 Speaker 1: referred to the means justifying the ends. And we can 101 00:06:35,915 --> 00:06:39,635 Speaker 1: rest I think assured that whatever quality it is that 102 00:06:39,715 --> 00:06:43,755 Speaker 1: attracts the stupid and the hateful to Trump, it ain't hereditary. 103 00:06:45,315 --> 00:06:51,195 Speaker 1: So some reposts will be okay, and we'll see what 104 00:06:51,275 --> 00:06:56,395 Speaker 1: the judge says about attacking the judge. But Chutkin has 105 00:06:56,395 --> 00:06:58,755 Speaker 1: already told him about the witnesses and Jack Smith and 106 00:06:58,835 --> 00:07:03,075 Speaker 1: Jack Smith's aids and court staff, and in court, the 107 00:07:03,155 --> 00:07:06,475 Speaker 1: judge took Trump's comments about Mark Milly and juxtaposed them 108 00:07:06,475 --> 00:07:09,875 Speaker 1: with the prospect of Bill Barr as a witness. What 109 00:07:10,395 --> 00:07:13,715 Speaker 1: she asked, Trump's most self demeaning lawyer yet, John Laurow, 110 00:07:14,075 --> 00:07:18,075 Speaker 1: what if Trump said Barr should be executed for treason, 111 00:07:18,755 --> 00:07:21,955 Speaker 1: or said he should keep his mouth shut, or just 112 00:07:22,195 --> 00:07:25,235 Speaker 1: threatened his future in a future Trump presidency. And by 113 00:07:25,275 --> 00:07:29,715 Speaker 1: the way, I'm thinking that ship has sailed. Laura incredibly 114 00:07:30,395 --> 00:07:32,675 Speaker 1: said all that would be protected by the First Amendment. 115 00:07:32,755 --> 00:07:35,155 Speaker 1: And I'd like to see him say that if I 116 00:07:35,275 --> 00:07:42,835 Speaker 1: said all that about Trump, Chuckkin went appropriately nuts. Quote, 117 00:07:43,075 --> 00:07:45,875 Speaker 1: because he's running for president, he gets to make threats. 118 00:07:46,635 --> 00:07:49,515 Speaker 1: Mister Trump is a criminal defendant. He is facing four 119 00:07:49,515 --> 00:07:52,395 Speaker 1: felony charges. He is under the supervision of the criminal 120 00:07:52,555 --> 00:07:54,675 Speaker 1: justice system. He does not have the right to say 121 00:07:54,675 --> 00:07:58,395 Speaker 1: and do exactly as he pleases. No other criminal defendant 122 00:07:58,435 --> 00:08:00,515 Speaker 1: would be allowed to do so, and I am not 123 00:08:00,635 --> 00:08:06,115 Speaker 1: going to permit it in this case. Exactly. It was 124 00:08:06,155 --> 00:08:09,355 Speaker 1: like that all day. The judge does not like that attorney, 125 00:08:09,395 --> 00:08:12,395 Speaker 1: and that attorney does not like the judge. Happily, only 126 00:08:12,475 --> 00:08:16,435 Speaker 1: the first thing in that sentence counts. Trump's ambulance chaser 127 00:08:16,515 --> 00:08:18,875 Speaker 1: actually said his client would be more limited in his 128 00:08:18,955 --> 00:08:22,275 Speaker 1: speech than Hunter Biden is, and that therefore George Orwell 129 00:08:22,315 --> 00:08:24,675 Speaker 1: would have a field day. And Chutkin responded that Hunter 130 00:08:24,675 --> 00:08:27,235 Speaker 1: Biden is not a party to the case, and she says, yeah, 131 00:08:27,555 --> 00:08:31,475 Speaker 1: George Orwell would have a field day. And any rational 132 00:08:31,515 --> 00:08:35,675 Speaker 1: attorney with a rational client who heard that would camp 133 00:08:35,715 --> 00:08:42,075 Speaker 1: out outside the prosecutor's office asking about a plea deal. Sadly, 134 00:08:42,115 --> 00:08:45,395 Speaker 1: we are not at that point, are we. Trump says, 135 00:08:45,395 --> 00:08:47,875 Speaker 1: they're going to appeal, and it's unconstitutional. And given that 136 00:08:47,875 --> 00:08:50,475 Speaker 1: there have already been threats of violence against Smith and 137 00:08:50,515 --> 00:08:52,955 Speaker 1: members of his staff, and threats against the judge, in 138 00:08:52,995 --> 00:08:55,195 Speaker 1: New York and threats against his staff, and there is 139 00:08:55,195 --> 00:08:57,955 Speaker 1: already one gag order against him in the fraud case, 140 00:08:57,995 --> 00:09:01,275 Speaker 1: plus a partial gag order relating to classified material in 141 00:09:01,315 --> 00:09:04,475 Speaker 1: the Florida case. There is no expectation that his appeal 142 00:09:04,475 --> 00:09:08,755 Speaker 1: will anywhere, and so the clock is ticking to the 143 00:09:08,835 --> 00:09:14,675 Speaker 1: revocation of Trump's bail. Popcorn futures have shot through the 144 00:09:14,755 --> 00:09:19,595 Speaker 1: roof in early trading on the hangs, saying, for his part, 145 00:09:20,395 --> 00:09:23,315 Speaker 1: after the first test of that rhetorical question, when you 146 00:09:23,355 --> 00:09:27,795 Speaker 1: say lethal weapon, does this count? Trump then swerved off 147 00:09:28,115 --> 00:09:30,955 Speaker 1: and instead went on an orgy of thirty or more 148 00:09:31,115 --> 00:09:35,035 Speaker 1: masturbatory posts about his great polls and all his endorsements, 149 00:09:35,035 --> 00:09:37,195 Speaker 1: and I swear to God. It was interrupted only by 150 00:09:37,275 --> 00:09:41,075 Speaker 1: ads for a ninety six million volt self defense stun 151 00:09:41,155 --> 00:09:46,075 Speaker 1: gun and the Black Widows switchblade knife and Tom Fitten's 152 00:09:46,075 --> 00:09:50,075 Speaker 1: go fund me for shirts that would actually fit him, 153 00:09:51,595 --> 00:09:54,955 Speaker 1: and all of this overshadowed a bombshell in the New 154 00:09:55,035 --> 00:09:58,795 Speaker 1: York courtroom where the civil fraud trial continues, even without 155 00:09:58,795 --> 00:10:03,075 Speaker 1: Trump or Michael Cohen being there. Patrick Bernie is Trump's 156 00:10:03,075 --> 00:10:09,715 Speaker 1: assistant vice president in chargearge of I don't know greed anyway, 157 00:10:09,715 --> 00:10:12,835 Speaker 1: he's a vice president. Prosecutor brought up the convicted ex 158 00:10:12,835 --> 00:10:17,035 Speaker 1: Trump financial boss Alan Weiselberg. Did he, mister Burney quote, 159 00:10:17,035 --> 00:10:20,075 Speaker 1: ever tell you that Donald Trump wanted his net worth 160 00:10:20,115 --> 00:10:23,995 Speaker 1: on his statement of financial condition to go up? Mister 161 00:10:24,035 --> 00:10:27,875 Speaker 1: Bernie answered yes, and that would be your motive and 162 00:10:27,955 --> 00:10:30,555 Speaker 1: your foreign knowledge of fraud, although you're probably gonna want 163 00:10:30,635 --> 00:10:35,955 Speaker 1: something more tangible than a one word answer. And speaking 164 00:10:36,035 --> 00:10:39,915 Speaker 1: of corrupt businesses before we move on to why NBC 165 00:10:39,995 --> 00:10:45,235 Speaker 1: News and MSNBC should be dissolved today a little further afield, 166 00:10:45,595 --> 00:10:48,155 Speaker 1: we have Trump with one of the great Freudian slips 167 00:10:48,195 --> 00:10:54,155 Speaker 1: of all time, even for him. What was that Pete 168 00:10:54,235 --> 00:11:00,875 Speaker 1: Sagate thing about liberals eating babies? 169 00:11:01,555 --> 00:11:04,475 Speaker 2: But remember Republicans eat their young, if they really do, 170 00:11:04,475 --> 00:11:05,475 Speaker 2: they eat the young. 171 00:11:05,595 --> 00:11:11,075 Speaker 1: Terrible statement, but it's true. I'll have extra agenochrome on that, please. Okay, 172 00:11:11,075 --> 00:11:15,955 Speaker 1: that settles that. The amazing thing about that video from 173 00:11:15,955 --> 00:11:19,275 Speaker 1: which that clip was taken, well, the other amazing thing 174 00:11:19,635 --> 00:11:23,075 Speaker 1: is the realization that Trump's video people actually posted that, 175 00:11:23,955 --> 00:11:29,355 Speaker 1: and therefore there is no other possible conclusion but that 176 00:11:29,355 --> 00:11:37,835 Speaker 1: that was the best take. I've got nothing on Israel 177 00:11:37,915 --> 00:11:40,755 Speaker 1: or the Jim Jordan's speaker's vote that is insightful or 178 00:11:40,795 --> 00:11:44,235 Speaker 1: either relevant or true, except that Biden is going to Israel. 179 00:11:44,875 --> 00:11:47,635 Speaker 1: And Jordan was, of course Trump's wingman inside the House 180 00:11:47,675 --> 00:11:50,115 Speaker 1: in the attempt to overthrow the duly elected incoming government 181 00:11:50,155 --> 00:11:52,835 Speaker 1: of the United States, and he covered up the rape 182 00:11:52,835 --> 00:11:55,795 Speaker 1: of scholastic wrestlers. And thus he is not only a 183 00:11:55,795 --> 00:12:00,475 Speaker 1: fitting successor to the Dennis Hastart memorial sexual molestation Speaker's chair, 184 00:12:00,795 --> 00:12:05,875 Speaker 1: but he is in fact your average Republican congressman. And 185 00:12:06,035 --> 00:12:10,435 Speaker 1: all the intrigue about a Sean Hannity producer sending out 186 00:12:10,515 --> 00:12:14,755 Speaker 1: threatening emails to those holding out their votes from Jordan 187 00:12:15,475 --> 00:12:18,955 Speaker 1: was erased last night when Hennedy went on his little 188 00:12:18,955 --> 00:12:21,595 Speaker 1: fascist fest on TV. And first he tried to pretend 189 00:12:21,635 --> 00:12:23,875 Speaker 1: he wasn't acting as a king maker by saying he 190 00:12:23,915 --> 00:12:26,675 Speaker 1: was just doing the job of an investigative reporter. And 191 00:12:26,715 --> 00:12:29,675 Speaker 1: then he went on and gave the House members instructions 192 00:12:30,155 --> 00:12:33,115 Speaker 1: on TV about what they could do and what they 193 00:12:33,115 --> 00:12:35,995 Speaker 1: couldn't do, and he called those who revealed his pressure 194 00:12:36,035 --> 00:12:42,635 Speaker 1: campaign quote snowflakes. The funniest thing about that was the 195 00:12:42,675 --> 00:12:45,715 Speaker 1: observation by somebody that Hannity has been acting as Jim 196 00:12:45,795 --> 00:12:50,955 Speaker 1: Jordan's whip. In point of fact, it will or it 197 00:12:51,075 --> 00:12:57,715 Speaker 1: would be Jim Jordan acting as Hannity's speaker. The most 198 00:12:57,755 --> 00:13:00,715 Speaker 1: insightful thing about this was from Council on Foreign Relations 199 00:13:00,715 --> 00:13:03,835 Speaker 1: Senior Fellow Laurie Garrett, who said that Hannity's actions were 200 00:13:03,835 --> 00:13:07,755 Speaker 1: open and shut proof that Fox's news credentials must be 201 00:13:07,795 --> 00:13:12,115 Speaker 1: pulled by the Congressional and White House Correspondence Associations because 202 00:13:12,635 --> 00:13:20,355 Speaker 1: neither group gives credentials to lobbyists, which leaves us at NBC. 203 00:13:21,195 --> 00:13:24,155 Speaker 1: Remember I told you after Kristen Welker's debut on Meet 204 00:13:24,195 --> 00:13:27,195 Speaker 1: the Press that there was an internal investigation there as 205 00:13:27,195 --> 00:13:30,595 Speaker 1: to whether the decision to not offer any real time 206 00:13:30,675 --> 00:13:33,355 Speaker 1: fact checking of Trump's lies but limit that to a 207 00:13:33,355 --> 00:13:37,195 Speaker 1: couple of ten second asides and a mediocre online effort, 208 00:13:37,395 --> 00:13:39,355 Speaker 1: that that was part of some sort of quid pro 209 00:13:39,555 --> 00:13:43,035 Speaker 1: quo to get Trump to do the interview, or maybe 210 00:13:43,115 --> 00:13:46,195 Speaker 1: even part of a deal to get NBC the rights 211 00:13:46,235 --> 00:13:52,235 Speaker 1: to host a Republican presidential debate. NBC News has now 212 00:13:52,275 --> 00:13:57,235 Speaker 1: gotten the third Republican presidential debate in Miami next month, 213 00:13:58,355 --> 00:14:04,875 Speaker 1: and it's actually worse than even I thought calculated that 214 00:14:04,875 --> 00:14:06,915 Speaker 1: they should make nice with the Republican Party so that 215 00:14:06,955 --> 00:14:09,795 Speaker 1: if we go fully fascist, the Republicans will let NBC 216 00:14:09,835 --> 00:14:13,275 Speaker 1: stay in business and not I don't know, arrest everybody 217 00:14:13,275 --> 00:14:19,555 Speaker 1: who owns Comcast is a choice, but the price of 218 00:14:19,595 --> 00:14:24,155 Speaker 1: that choice was way higher than even I expected. The 219 00:14:24,275 --> 00:14:32,355 Speaker 1: NBC press release about this sellout carrying the third Republican 220 00:14:32,435 --> 00:14:37,675 Speaker 1: presidential debate on NBC, mind you, not on cable. The 221 00:14:37,715 --> 00:14:40,955 Speaker 1: press release, over the signature of the vice president of 222 00:14:40,955 --> 00:14:45,315 Speaker 1: Communications for NBC News reads that while NBC will produce 223 00:14:45,555 --> 00:14:49,235 Speaker 1: the debate, it will not be alone. There will be 224 00:14:49,355 --> 00:14:56,355 Speaker 1: quote debate partners Salem Radio Network and the Republican Jewish Coalition, 225 00:14:56,955 --> 00:15:03,475 Speaker 1: as well as URNC streaming partner Rumble to live stream 226 00:15:03,635 --> 00:15:09,755 Speaker 1: the debate. NBC News is in bed with Rumble and 227 00:15:09,835 --> 00:15:16,475 Speaker 1: Salem Radio, and the bed is in a whorehouse. Rumble 228 00:15:17,035 --> 00:15:19,995 Speaker 1: is the place Nick Fuente's live streamed reaction to the 229 00:15:19,995 --> 00:15:23,955 Speaker 1: first GOP debate. It's the place Andrew Tate claims to 230 00:15:23,955 --> 00:15:30,355 Speaker 1: have a nine million dollar deal NBC News on Rumble. 231 00:15:31,715 --> 00:15:34,595 Speaker 1: But Salem Radio is much cleaner than that, much better. 232 00:15:34,635 --> 00:15:38,195 Speaker 1: It's only the home of Jenna Ellis and Denesh Desuza 233 00:15:38,275 --> 00:15:42,235 Speaker 1: and Charlie Kirk. Charlie Kirk, who in July called for 234 00:15:42,275 --> 00:15:45,475 Speaker 1: President Biden to be quote put in prison and or 235 00:15:45,515 --> 00:15:51,195 Speaker 1: given the death penalty for crimes against America. NBC's new 236 00:15:51,315 --> 00:16:04,235 Speaker 1: partners Charlie Kirk and Rumble and Salem Radio. So now 237 00:16:04,275 --> 00:16:05,995 Speaker 1: from my I mean, here are your moderators for this 238 00:16:06,075 --> 00:16:10,155 Speaker 1: Republican presidential debate, Les your Holt, Kristin Welker, Andrew Tate, 239 00:16:10,395 --> 00:16:16,515 Speaker 1: Nick Foantes, and Charlie Kirk. Yeah, but don't worry. In reality, 240 00:16:16,555 --> 00:16:20,115 Speaker 1: it will not be that bad. CNN's impeccable media reporter 241 00:16:20,235 --> 00:16:23,395 Speaker 1: Oliver Darcy reports that Charlie Kirk will not be on 242 00:16:23,635 --> 00:16:28,915 Speaker 1: stage with his new NBC partners. It'll only be Salem 243 00:16:29,035 --> 00:16:35,315 Speaker 1: Radio's Hugh Hewitt. We were so poor growing up, we 244 00:16:35,355 --> 00:16:41,715 Speaker 1: could only afford two syllables. Look. I first went to 245 00:16:41,795 --> 00:16:44,715 Speaker 1: work for NBC News twenty six years ago this month, 246 00:16:44,875 --> 00:16:47,595 Speaker 1: and one of the first things I noticed that never 247 00:16:47,755 --> 00:16:53,675 Speaker 1: changed was the stunning lack of ethics or even awareness 248 00:16:53,915 --> 00:17:00,115 Speaker 1: that there were journalistic standards or personal integrity in management there. 249 00:17:00,515 --> 00:17:04,555 Speaker 1: I mean, I worked for Andy Lack, I almost worked 250 00:17:04,555 --> 00:17:12,435 Speaker 1: for twice. I worked with Joe Scarborough, I worked for 251 00:17:12,475 --> 00:17:15,835 Speaker 1: a guy who suspended me for violating NBC News employee 252 00:17:15,875 --> 00:17:20,835 Speaker 1: rules and made a big announcement smearing me, even though 253 00:17:20,835 --> 00:17:23,195 Speaker 1: they wrote my contract to specifically say I was not 254 00:17:23,315 --> 00:17:27,635 Speaker 1: an NBC News employee. I have no illusions of what 255 00:17:27,835 --> 00:17:31,115 Speaker 1: NBC News will do when faced with the greatest ethical 256 00:17:31,155 --> 00:17:35,435 Speaker 1: crisis of our times? What about our NBC money? Won't 257 00:17:35,435 --> 00:17:39,635 Speaker 1: somebody think about our NBC money? But I must confess 258 00:17:40,875 --> 00:17:43,595 Speaker 1: I am still stupid enough to have believed that when 259 00:17:43,635 --> 00:17:50,115 Speaker 1: this broke that somebody, somebody at NBC like Leicester, who 260 00:17:50,195 --> 00:17:53,435 Speaker 1: I always thought wanted to be an ethical person, or 261 00:17:53,435 --> 00:17:57,035 Speaker 1: somebody at what's the name of the other place, MSNBC, 262 00:17:57,915 --> 00:18:00,835 Speaker 1: somebody there like Chris Hayes or Lawrence o'donald or even 263 00:18:00,875 --> 00:18:05,475 Speaker 1: Matdow would stand up and say, now I'm out rumble. 264 00:18:06,035 --> 00:18:11,315 Speaker 1: That's it. I mean, when they suspended me, they asked 265 00:18:11,355 --> 00:18:13,275 Speaker 1: Chris Hayes to fill in for me, and he wasn't 266 00:18:13,315 --> 00:18:16,395 Speaker 1: even getting a salary from NBC and he wouldn't do it. 267 00:18:16,395 --> 00:18:20,835 Speaker 1: It's called ethics available for purchase. I mean, Rachel Matdow, 268 00:18:20,875 --> 00:18:22,795 Speaker 1: for f's sake, I got you the damn job in 269 00:18:22,835 --> 00:18:24,755 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight, and every dollar you have made 270 00:18:24,755 --> 00:18:28,675 Speaker 1: since then, you have earned. I knocked down the door 271 00:18:28,715 --> 00:18:31,235 Speaker 1: and I'll tell everybody to that till the day I die, 272 00:18:32,395 --> 00:18:38,435 Speaker 1: and everything thereafter was entirely your doing. But how much 273 00:18:38,595 --> 00:18:41,995 Speaker 1: is it now? When I got to like forty to 274 00:18:42,035 --> 00:18:45,275 Speaker 1: fifty million from them, I said enough, you want to 275 00:18:45,315 --> 00:18:48,235 Speaker 1: abuse me and slander me and force me to have 276 00:18:48,275 --> 00:18:53,715 Speaker 1: Republicans on for balance, I'm gone. Where are you now? Rachel? 277 00:18:53,875 --> 00:18:55,955 Speaker 1: What is it? A million or so the first few years, 278 00:18:55,995 --> 00:18:59,195 Speaker 1: then about nine million a year. Now it's thirty one 279 00:18:59,235 --> 00:19:04,075 Speaker 1: million a year. That's what one hundred and fifty million? 280 00:19:04,875 --> 00:19:06,995 Speaker 1: Two high? One hundred and twenty five million too low, 281 00:19:07,235 --> 00:19:11,195 Speaker 1: closer to two hundred. At what point do you realize 282 00:19:11,755 --> 00:19:16,075 Speaker 1: that by sitting there shilling for the same company that 283 00:19:16,315 --> 00:19:19,475 Speaker 1: just did a deal with the platformers of Charlie Kirk 284 00:19:19,635 --> 00:19:27,315 Speaker 1: and Nick Fouentes and Andrew freaking Tate, you become Charlie 285 00:19:27,395 --> 00:19:33,675 Speaker 1: Kirk and Nick Fouentes and Andrew freaking Tate. It's now 286 00:19:34,155 --> 00:19:39,195 Speaker 1: rumble Charlie Kirk, Nick Fouentes, Andrew freaking Tate, Rachel Maddow, 287 00:19:40,115 --> 00:19:49,475 Speaker 1: Joe Scarborough. When it is mixed in there with that scum, 288 00:19:50,475 --> 00:19:55,435 Speaker 1: how much money does it cost you to buy your 289 00:19:55,515 --> 00:20:04,355 Speaker 1: soul back. For God's sake, Rachel, say something. Your voice 290 00:20:04,875 --> 00:20:11,555 Speaker 1: still matters. Then again, I'm assuming here, aren't I I'm 291 00:20:11,595 --> 00:20:21,635 Speaker 1: assuming it's still your voice. Also of interest, here, I 292 00:20:21,675 --> 00:20:24,755 Speaker 1: am the last person to complain about a national anthem 293 00:20:24,795 --> 00:20:26,955 Speaker 1: at a sporting event. I don't think they should have 294 00:20:26,995 --> 00:20:30,075 Speaker 1: the national anthem at sporting events. That's why they almost 295 00:20:30,195 --> 00:20:33,195 Speaker 1: never televise the national anthem at sporting events. But if 296 00:20:33,195 --> 00:20:35,635 Speaker 1: you're going to do it, if you're going to televise 297 00:20:35,675 --> 00:20:38,155 Speaker 1: it in the United States and Canada, can you at 298 00:20:38,235 --> 00:20:42,355 Speaker 1: least get somebody who knows the words, or at least 299 00:20:42,395 --> 00:20:45,275 Speaker 1: when she does not know the words, she replaces them 300 00:20:45,275 --> 00:20:51,675 Speaker 1: with actual other words and not just gibberish and and 301 00:20:51,755 --> 00:20:55,795 Speaker 1: oh yeah, before the break, one last gag order joke. 302 00:20:56,235 --> 00:20:59,235 Speaker 1: Feel permit me. Do you know what the sound of 303 00:20:59,275 --> 00:21:06,955 Speaker 1: a gag order is? You're ready? That's next. This is countdown. 304 00:21:08,475 --> 00:21:10,675 Speaker 1: This is Countdown with Keith Alberman. 305 00:21:22,555 --> 00:21:28,995 Speaker 2: This is Sports Center. Wait check that, not anymore. This 306 00:21:29,835 --> 00:21:33,955 Speaker 2: is countdown with Keith Alberman. 307 00:21:33,715 --> 00:21:37,555 Speaker 1: In sports The San Francisco Giants may have actually scheduled 308 00:21:37,555 --> 00:21:41,795 Speaker 1: an interview with coaching assistant Alyssa Nakin for their vacant 309 00:21:41,835 --> 00:21:45,235 Speaker 1: managerial position that obviously would be a first in sports 310 00:21:45,395 --> 00:21:50,795 Speaker 1: history major men's sports history, anyway, But the Miami Marlins 311 00:21:50,795 --> 00:21:53,395 Speaker 1: have stepped into the breach to make sure sports took 312 00:21:53,595 --> 00:21:57,795 Speaker 1: two or maybe three steps back. The Marlins are dead 313 00:21:57,795 --> 00:22:01,395 Speaker 1: in the water, waste of public funds and National League franchise, 314 00:22:01,755 --> 00:22:04,955 Speaker 1: which has since its first season, exceeded in attendance of 315 00:22:04,995 --> 00:22:09,315 Speaker 1: two million fans in only two seasons. But new general 316 00:22:09,355 --> 00:22:12,675 Speaker 1: manager Kim Eng put together a team that somehow made 317 00:22:12,715 --> 00:22:14,515 Speaker 1: the playoffs this year, and when it came time for 318 00:22:14,555 --> 00:22:17,635 Speaker 1: the Marlins to pick up her mutual option for the 319 00:22:17,635 --> 00:22:20,435 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four baseball season, they said, we can't wait. 320 00:22:20,555 --> 00:22:22,635 Speaker 1: You've been terrific and oh, by the way, we're going 321 00:22:22,715 --> 00:22:25,915 Speaker 1: to hire a new president of Baseball operations to be 322 00:22:26,155 --> 00:22:31,955 Speaker 1: your boss. Seriously, to her credit, she declined her part 323 00:22:32,035 --> 00:22:34,555 Speaker 1: of the mutual option, and Kim Ang is now a 324 00:22:34,595 --> 00:22:37,675 Speaker 1: free agent, and once again it's time to reclaim this 325 00:22:37,875 --> 00:22:42,115 Speaker 1: pointless Marlins franchise from its latest pointless owner, a man 326 00:22:42,235 --> 00:22:46,875 Speaker 1: named Bruce Sherman, now from hockey. And there's no way 327 00:22:46,875 --> 00:22:50,355 Speaker 1: else to put this. It is the worst edition of 328 00:22:50,475 --> 00:22:54,435 Speaker 1: the national anthem of the United States of America. Of 329 00:22:54,475 --> 00:22:58,115 Speaker 1: all time. Not the funniest worst, Not like the guy 330 00:22:58,155 --> 00:23:01,395 Speaker 1: in Vancouver who used to sing the Canadian anthem while 331 00:23:01,475 --> 00:23:03,795 Speaker 1: skating around the rink, and then he skated on to 332 00:23:03,875 --> 00:23:07,195 Speaker 1: the red carpet and he went flying while still trying 333 00:23:07,235 --> 00:23:11,875 Speaker 1: to sing. Not the stupidest worst, like Carl Lewis forgetting 334 00:23:11,955 --> 00:23:14,475 Speaker 1: the key and then forgetting the words to the American 335 00:23:14,515 --> 00:23:17,515 Speaker 1: anthem but promising that he'd win the audience back and 336 00:23:17,595 --> 00:23:22,075 Speaker 1: starting all over again. This is Jeanique Fournier before the 337 00:23:22,115 --> 00:23:28,035 Speaker 1: Montreal Canadians Chicago Blackhawks game at Montreal. Now, look, this 338 00:23:28,115 --> 00:23:31,195 Speaker 1: is a tough song. I would never try to sing 339 00:23:31,235 --> 00:23:35,635 Speaker 1: this song out loud by myself in public. Never. If 340 00:23:35,715 --> 00:23:37,955 Speaker 1: you want to tell me it's a bad song and 341 00:23:37,995 --> 00:23:41,835 Speaker 1: its composer had a bad history and the lyrics are clunky, 342 00:23:42,595 --> 00:23:45,115 Speaker 1: go ahead. If you also want to mention in miss 343 00:23:45,195 --> 00:23:49,235 Speaker 1: Fournier's defense that she won Canada's got talent, and she's 344 00:23:49,275 --> 00:23:52,315 Speaker 1: a palliative care nurse and evidently a great person, all 345 00:23:52,355 --> 00:23:55,875 Speaker 1: of which is true. But it's still clear she does 346 00:23:55,915 --> 00:23:59,435 Speaker 1: not know the words to the United States of America's 347 00:23:59,515 --> 00:24:03,235 Speaker 1: national anthem, which is fine, she's from Canada, but she's 348 00:24:03,235 --> 00:24:05,995 Speaker 1: singing it in public and on television in the United 349 00:24:06,035 --> 00:24:11,475 Speaker 1: States nationally, and it's clear she's only learned it phonetically, 350 00:24:12,475 --> 00:24:17,115 Speaker 1: and she didn't even learn it well. Fanatically caps for 351 00:24:17,235 --> 00:24:17,835 Speaker 1: the singing. 352 00:24:17,675 --> 00:24:26,595 Speaker 3: Of the National Afs by saying for you, oh see 353 00:24:27,035 --> 00:24:33,035 Speaker 3: can you see by the tiberally. 354 00:24:32,555 --> 00:24:34,915 Speaker 1: Light was suffered. 355 00:24:38,715 --> 00:24:47,355 Speaker 4: The Twine's last streaming, Who's brought Strife in Bridestos to 356 00:24:47,395 --> 00:24:57,515 Speaker 4: the fair Raasphite on the rest Street was worse againly 357 00:24:57,995 --> 00:25:02,915 Speaker 4: stream and again. 358 00:25:05,715 --> 00:25:10,355 Speaker 2: Dinossy ye. 359 00:25:11,755 --> 00:25:14,355 Speaker 4: Through the line you. 360 00:25:14,675 --> 00:25:17,555 Speaker 3: A lad, we see. 361 00:25:18,915 --> 00:25:23,955 Speaker 4: Oh say starstars. 362 00:25:22,795 --> 00:25:33,475 Speaker 2: Man call the lid, And. 363 00:25:48,635 --> 00:25:52,555 Speaker 1: It's like she heard every bad rendition of the anthem 364 00:25:52,715 --> 00:25:57,435 Speaker 1: ever sung at an American sporting event and said to this, 365 00:25:58,155 --> 00:26:02,995 Speaker 1: I aspire. I think I heard her sing oh say 366 00:26:03,075 --> 00:26:06,995 Speaker 1: can you see by the damn early not what's a 367 00:26:07,115 --> 00:26:12,275 Speaker 1: dab Twilight's last creaming, And of course the big finish 368 00:26:12,835 --> 00:26:18,515 Speaker 1: dav our glaff was still there. Excuse me, I have 369 00:26:18,595 --> 00:26:21,235 Speaker 1: to go watch the video of that Vancouver singer tripping 370 00:26:21,275 --> 00:26:25,755 Speaker 1: over the red carpet again, just to restore my faith 371 00:26:25,795 --> 00:26:53,395 Speaker 1: in mankind. Still ahead on countdown thinking of restoring one's 372 00:26:53,395 --> 00:26:58,395 Speaker 1: faith in mankind? Anybody heard lately from Brian Williams. The 373 00:26:58,515 --> 00:27:02,515 Speaker 1: day one of the most remarkable self destructions in journalistic 374 00:27:02,595 --> 00:27:06,675 Speaker 1: history began at incidentally, a hockey game at New York's 375 00:27:06,675 --> 00:27:10,395 Speaker 1: Madison Square Garden. I was in the crowd, and boy 376 00:27:10,555 --> 00:27:12,755 Speaker 1: was I surprised. I thought I needed to go see 377 00:27:12,755 --> 00:27:16,875 Speaker 1: a neurologist. That level of surprise things I promised not 378 00:27:16,995 --> 00:27:18,715 Speaker 1: to tell. Coming up first time for the daily round 379 00:27:18,795 --> 00:27:20,835 Speaker 1: up with the miss Grants, morons and Dunning Kruger effects 380 00:27:20,835 --> 00:27:25,875 Speaker 1: specimens who constitute two days worse persons in the world 381 00:27:26,755 --> 00:27:32,595 Speaker 1: The Bronze Lisa Desjardin PBS News Hour correspondent based in 382 00:27:32,635 --> 00:27:38,995 Speaker 1: a Bubble Somewhere formerly Associated Press, formerly CNN Radio, formerly 383 00:27:39,035 --> 00:27:42,555 Speaker 1: Medill's School of Journalism at Northwestern, claims to have covered 384 00:27:42,595 --> 00:27:46,835 Speaker 1: like seven US presidential elections and one of the political 385 00:27:46,915 --> 00:27:50,395 Speaker 1: media industrial complex reporters I have warned you about time 386 00:27:50,435 --> 00:27:54,275 Speaker 1: and time again, add nauseum. Who cannot process something that 387 00:27:54,355 --> 00:27:56,555 Speaker 1: does not fit into one of the dozen or so 388 00:27:56,675 --> 00:28:01,115 Speaker 1: templates of things that always happen in Washington. If it's 389 00:28:01,195 --> 00:28:05,675 Speaker 1: not fitting the cliche, they don't know what to do it. Wow, 390 00:28:05,995 --> 00:28:11,595 Speaker 1: She tweeted. First off, Wow, House dem Number two just 391 00:28:11,715 --> 00:28:17,115 Speaker 1: called Jim Jordan an insurrectionist twice, saying he fought a 392 00:28:17,275 --> 00:28:20,955 Speaker 1: j six subpoena and pointedly fueled twenty twenty doubts is 393 00:28:20,995 --> 00:28:24,795 Speaker 1: one thing, but man saying he wanted to overthrow the government, 394 00:28:25,275 --> 00:28:28,315 Speaker 1: asking what specific evidence and logic they have for this? 395 00:28:30,275 --> 00:28:33,355 Speaker 1: After they pulled Miss Desjardin's career out from the ten 396 00:28:33,435 --> 00:28:36,715 Speaker 1: ton pile of criticism that fell upon it, she tried 397 00:28:36,715 --> 00:28:39,635 Speaker 1: to backtrack and say she was only questioning what parts 398 00:28:39,675 --> 00:28:45,435 Speaker 1: of the January sixth evidence democrats say implicate Jordan. But no, 399 00:28:45,555 --> 00:28:49,435 Speaker 1: she's not. Quote. Being involved in a conspiracy is a 400 00:28:49,475 --> 00:28:51,875 Speaker 1: serious charge and one we should talk about, but it 401 00:28:51,955 --> 00:28:56,595 Speaker 1: is not the same as being an insurrectionist. These are 402 00:28:56,635 --> 00:29:00,035 Speaker 1: the people who are covering the threats against representative government 403 00:29:00,075 --> 00:29:04,435 Speaker 1: in this country. No wonder it's under threat and appears 404 00:29:04,475 --> 00:29:08,675 Speaker 1: to be losing. PBS needs to remove her from their 405 00:29:08,715 --> 00:29:13,195 Speaker 1: newscast like immediately. Oh and wait till somebody tells her 406 00:29:13,195 --> 00:29:17,355 Speaker 1: about Jim Jordan and the wrestlers the runners up turning 407 00:29:17,395 --> 00:29:20,275 Speaker 1: Point USA. That is the crowd led by balloon Head, 408 00:29:20,355 --> 00:29:24,595 Speaker 1: the evil version of Charlie Brown. Charlie Kirk, the president 409 00:29:24,595 --> 00:29:27,555 Speaker 1: of Arizona State University, has sent a searing letter to 410 00:29:27,635 --> 00:29:31,835 Speaker 1: faculty warning them that Charlie Kirk's thugs have been seen 411 00:29:31,955 --> 00:29:37,115 Speaker 1: operating on campus and quote followed harassed, pushed, and injured 412 00:29:37,475 --> 00:29:40,155 Speaker 1: a university English professor as he went from his class 413 00:29:40,155 --> 00:29:43,755 Speaker 1: to his car. As university President Michael Crowe put it, 414 00:29:44,035 --> 00:29:48,035 Speaker 1: a list of professors promulgated by Kirk's gang quote has 415 00:29:48,155 --> 00:29:53,555 Speaker 1: resulted in anti Semitic, anti LGBTQ plus and misogynistic attacks 416 00:29:53,875 --> 00:29:57,475 Speaker 1: on ASU faculty, with whom Turning Point USA and its 417 00:29:57,555 --> 00:30:02,755 Speaker 1: followers disagree. Why did Kirk's brown shirts push the instructor 418 00:30:02,795 --> 00:30:05,715 Speaker 1: to the ground because he co founded a group called 419 00:30:05,835 --> 00:30:10,875 Speaker 1: Drag Story Hour. Fascism is alive and well on America's campuses, 420 00:30:10,915 --> 00:30:14,475 Speaker 1: and we had better pull it out by its roots immediately. 421 00:30:15,395 --> 00:30:19,315 Speaker 1: But our winner, Lauren Bobert, the Colorado representative, who is 422 00:30:19,435 --> 00:30:23,355 Speaker 1: representative of another prong of fascism in this country. I 423 00:30:23,395 --> 00:30:25,875 Speaker 1: won't talk about her roots for the moment. We are 424 00:30:25,915 --> 00:30:29,075 Speaker 1: at a point where the staid corporate media like Politico 425 00:30:29,675 --> 00:30:31,675 Speaker 1: can write of her and her date. At the live 426 00:30:31,795 --> 00:30:35,955 Speaker 1: musical version of Beatlejuice Quote, Bobert and Quinn Gallagher were 427 00:30:35,955 --> 00:30:40,275 Speaker 1: caught on camera fondling one another amid a crowd that 428 00:30:40,315 --> 00:30:47,035 Speaker 1: included families with children. That's in Politico fondling congresswoman fondling. 429 00:30:48,195 --> 00:30:51,195 Speaker 1: And by the way, that's the highlight of her accomplishments 430 00:30:51,195 --> 00:30:56,675 Speaker 1: while in office, fondling the guy. You may recall that 431 00:30:56,755 --> 00:30:59,675 Speaker 1: after she denied anything untoward, it happened, and then the 432 00:30:59,795 --> 00:31:05,275 Speaker 1: video from security became public of her uh checking his 433 00:31:05,315 --> 00:31:09,075 Speaker 1: reaction to the musical. Bobert said it was their first date. 434 00:31:09,235 --> 00:31:11,475 Speaker 1: She would not be seeing him again because she just 435 00:31:11,515 --> 00:31:16,075 Speaker 1: found out he was a Democrat. Maybe not. Her campaign 436 00:31:16,195 --> 00:31:20,475 Speaker 1: finance reports indicate that late in July, Bobert spent three 437 00:31:20,555 --> 00:31:23,515 Speaker 1: hundred and seventeen dollars and forty eight cents on quote 438 00:31:23,875 --> 00:31:30,595 Speaker 1: catering at the Hoochcraft cocktail Bar in Aspen, Colorado, which 439 00:31:30,675 --> 00:31:35,835 Speaker 1: is co owned by Quinn Gallagher. Meeting with donors, said 440 00:31:35,835 --> 00:31:43,395 Speaker 1: her campaign manager is a standard campaign procedure. What exactly 441 00:31:43,555 --> 00:31:51,795 Speaker 1: was mister Gallagher donating Lauren? Other than that, missus Bobert, 442 00:31:51,795 --> 00:31:57,635 Speaker 1: How did you enjoy the play Today's Worst Person in 443 00:31:57,795 --> 00:32:14,075 Speaker 1: the World. I saw my ticket now to the number 444 00:32:14,075 --> 00:32:16,635 Speaker 1: one story on the countdown and my favorite topic me 445 00:32:16,995 --> 00:32:20,355 Speaker 1: and the day I tried to save Brian Williams and 446 00:32:20,395 --> 00:32:22,835 Speaker 1: the anniversary of the day I found out why NBC 447 00:32:22,995 --> 00:32:26,995 Speaker 1: did not fire Brian Williams. The seventh anniversary was over 448 00:32:26,995 --> 00:32:31,795 Speaker 1: the weekend, but first we start. On Thursday, January twenty ninth, 449 00:32:31,835 --> 00:32:35,915 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen, after I finished my late afternoon sportscast on 450 00:32:36,195 --> 00:32:39,075 Speaker 1: ESPN two, I walked the ten blocks to New York's 451 00:32:39,115 --> 00:32:41,595 Speaker 1: Madison Square Garden to see the New York Rangers Montreal 452 00:32:41,635 --> 00:32:45,355 Speaker 1: Canadians hockey game. And within two hours, not only was 453 00:32:45,475 --> 00:32:48,835 Speaker 1: I convinced I had a profound brain injury or illness, 454 00:32:49,355 --> 00:32:53,435 Speaker 1: but a catastrophe would occur so all encompassing in its 455 00:32:53,475 --> 00:32:57,115 Speaker 1: sweep that it would end the then very active negotiations 456 00:32:57,155 --> 00:33:02,595 Speaker 1: to what else put countdown back on MSNBC. Also, the 457 00:33:02,675 --> 00:33:06,395 Speaker 1: Rangers got shut out one nothing. I went to the 458 00:33:06,395 --> 00:33:09,715 Speaker 1: game with Bill Wolfe, a former ESPN colleague from twenty 459 00:33:09,795 --> 00:33:12,875 Speaker 1: years earlier, whom I had met again at MSNBC and 460 00:33:12,875 --> 00:33:14,915 Speaker 1: who was in fact the first executive producer of the 461 00:33:14,995 --> 00:33:17,675 Speaker 1: Racil Meadow Show. We had not seen each other in 462 00:33:17,715 --> 00:33:20,075 Speaker 1: a while, and he had just left that job. And 463 00:33:20,115 --> 00:33:24,075 Speaker 1: so as the skilled youth of many nations cavorted below us, 464 00:33:24,275 --> 00:33:27,475 Speaker 1: threatening each other with sticks and razor sharp skates, we 465 00:33:27,555 --> 00:33:32,115 Speaker 1: caught up on things, and that's when it happened. At 466 00:33:32,195 --> 00:33:34,955 Speaker 1: least once per period in a National Hockey League game, 467 00:33:34,995 --> 00:33:37,675 Speaker 1: an ordinary stoppage of play has turned into a lengthy 468 00:33:37,715 --> 00:33:41,275 Speaker 1: delay during which the television broadcasters catch up on any 469 00:33:41,355 --> 00:33:45,995 Speaker 1: unplayed commercials the TV timeout. And during one of these 470 00:33:46,155 --> 00:33:50,955 Speaker 1: TV timeouts, the public address announcer at the garden, Joe Tollison, said, 471 00:33:51,315 --> 00:33:54,395 Speaker 1: ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention to the video screen, etc. 472 00:33:54,635 --> 00:33:58,395 Speaker 1: Ice where the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, 473 00:33:58,475 --> 00:34:03,315 Speaker 1: Brian Williams will I didn't actually hear the next part. 474 00:34:03,835 --> 00:34:07,195 Speaker 1: At hearing Brian's name, my friend Bill Wolf shouted f 475 00:34:07,435 --> 00:34:12,475 Speaker 1: me and I let out a low groan. Since nineteen 476 00:34:12,555 --> 00:34:16,715 Speaker 1: ninety seven, I have done my absolute best to like 477 00:34:17,075 --> 00:34:20,915 Speaker 1: Brian Williams. I have stuck my neck out for Brian Williams. 478 00:34:21,235 --> 00:34:25,115 Speaker 1: I have advocated for Brian Williams. I have forgiven Brian Williams. 479 00:34:25,475 --> 00:34:29,755 Speaker 1: And none of it has been enough. No person in 480 00:34:29,835 --> 00:34:32,835 Speaker 1: my forty three years as a full time professional broadcaster 481 00:34:32,955 --> 00:34:36,755 Speaker 1: has been as insecure nor as mocked behind his back 482 00:34:37,275 --> 00:34:41,315 Speaker 1: as as Brian. It is too bad. He is brilliantly 483 00:34:41,475 --> 00:34:47,475 Speaker 1: talented and this will never be enough for him. He 484 00:34:47,635 --> 00:34:49,995 Speaker 1: is one of those who can only be successful if 485 00:34:49,995 --> 00:34:53,315 Speaker 1: he has convinced himself he has taken away some of 486 00:34:53,315 --> 00:34:57,115 Speaker 1: the success from those around him. I've been accused of many, 487 00:34:57,155 --> 00:35:00,995 Speaker 1: many things, but never that. In the nineties, Brian Williams 488 00:35:01,075 --> 00:35:03,435 Speaker 1: used to appear in the middle of My MSNBC show 489 00:35:03,715 --> 00:35:07,275 Speaker 1: with a promo for fur his MSNBC show which followed mine. 490 00:35:07,875 --> 00:35:09,915 Speaker 1: One night, I said that in five minutes we'd be 491 00:35:10,195 --> 00:35:16,795 Speaker 1: previewing President Clinton's itinerary in Africa, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Dharsalam, Johannesburg, 492 00:35:16,835 --> 00:35:18,715 Speaker 1: but first with the preview of the news with Brian Williams. 493 00:35:18,755 --> 00:35:22,995 Speaker 1: Here's Brian Williams. Brian Williams and he said, thanks Keith, 494 00:35:23,435 --> 00:35:28,515 Speaker 1: as someone who's actually been to those places all the time. 495 00:35:28,555 --> 00:35:32,355 Speaker 1: With this anyway, when Wolf and I came out of 496 00:35:32,395 --> 00:35:37,195 Speaker 1: our respective rages, we heard this over the garden PA system. 497 00:35:37,795 --> 00:35:41,075 Speaker 1: During the Iraq invasion, US Army Command Sergeant Major Tim 498 00:35:41,195 --> 00:35:44,275 Speaker 1: Turpak was responsible for the safety of Brian Williams and 499 00:35:44,315 --> 00:35:47,955 Speaker 1: his NBC news team after their Chinook helicopter was hit 500 00:35:48,155 --> 00:35:53,395 Speaker 1: and crippled by enemy fire. I began to sweat Command. 501 00:35:53,435 --> 00:35:57,035 Speaker 1: Sergeant Major Turpak was awarded three Bronze Stars for combat 502 00:35:57,115 --> 00:35:59,995 Speaker 1: valor in Iraq and recently retired after twenty three years 503 00:35:59,995 --> 00:36:03,435 Speaker 1: in the US Army. Both men, both Rangers fans, have 504 00:36:03,515 --> 00:36:05,915 Speaker 1: been reunited for the first time in twelve years for 505 00:36:06,035 --> 00:36:10,395 Speaker 1: tonight's game. Please welcome, come in Sergeant Major Tim Turpak 506 00:36:10,635 --> 00:36:17,835 Speaker 1: and Brian Williams. Bill Wolf swore again. My reaction was different. 507 00:36:18,355 --> 00:36:21,755 Speaker 1: I started to get lightheaded, and then immediately very very 508 00:36:21,795 --> 00:36:25,835 Speaker 1: worried Bill. I said, in a voice so low that 509 00:36:25,875 --> 00:36:28,555 Speaker 1: Bill had to lean in to hear me. Do you 510 00:36:28,715 --> 00:36:33,795 Speaker 1: know a good neurologist? Bill laughed. For Brian, it wasn't 511 00:36:33,795 --> 00:36:36,755 Speaker 1: a pleasant laugh. He won't go to a neurologist, good 512 00:36:36,835 --> 00:36:39,235 Speaker 1: or otherwise unless he can get videotape of it and 513 00:36:39,235 --> 00:36:42,155 Speaker 1: put it on the effing screen here at Madison Square Garden. 514 00:36:44,275 --> 00:36:46,715 Speaker 1: And I said, no, no, that's that's not what I mean. 515 00:36:46,755 --> 00:36:50,995 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean one for me. I was anchoring 516 00:36:50,995 --> 00:36:54,315 Speaker 1: on MSNBC the night that Brian Williams story about the 517 00:36:54,675 --> 00:36:59,035 Speaker 1: helicopters and the RPG in Iraq. I went on to 518 00:36:59,155 --> 00:37:00,915 Speaker 1: tell Bill that that's all I did my first month 519 00:37:00,955 --> 00:37:03,355 Speaker 1: back at MSNBC. In two thousand and three, they rehired 520 00:37:03,355 --> 00:37:06,275 Speaker 1: me only because they did not have enough anchors to 521 00:37:06,315 --> 00:37:09,835 Speaker 1: cover a war. And I was on that night, and 522 00:37:09,875 --> 00:37:12,515 Speaker 1: that story about Brian's chopper getting hit, that's not the 523 00:37:12,515 --> 00:37:16,155 Speaker 1: way I remember it, Bill. My brain is going I 524 00:37:16,195 --> 00:37:18,515 Speaker 1: remember a different story, And I mean, I don't even 525 00:37:18,515 --> 00:37:20,595 Speaker 1: remember leading the show with that. My God, if the 526 00:37:20,635 --> 00:37:23,355 Speaker 1: heir apparent as the anchor of NBC Nightly News was 527 00:37:23,395 --> 00:37:25,115 Speaker 1: shot down over the desert in the middle of the 528 00:37:25,155 --> 00:37:28,035 Speaker 1: Iraq War, we would have left led with it. I 529 00:37:28,075 --> 00:37:30,875 Speaker 1: don't remember leading with it. I'm only fifty six. I'm 530 00:37:30,875 --> 00:37:33,035 Speaker 1: way too young for dementia. It must be a tumor 531 00:37:33,155 --> 00:37:37,555 Speaker 1: or something. Do you know a good neurologist, Bill Bill 532 00:37:37,555 --> 00:37:40,675 Speaker 1: Wolf was, as usual, pretty cool under the circumstances, and 533 00:37:40,715 --> 00:37:43,115 Speaker 1: he said, I think maybe you should relax, because I 534 00:37:43,155 --> 00:37:46,355 Speaker 1: don't think it's you. I think it's him because I 535 00:37:46,435 --> 00:37:49,355 Speaker 1: remember that story too, Bill said, And that's not the 536 00:37:49,395 --> 00:37:51,835 Speaker 1: way he told it in two thousand and three. I 537 00:37:51,915 --> 00:37:57,275 Speaker 1: think Brian has changed the story. When I got home 538 00:37:57,275 --> 00:38:00,275 Speaker 1: after the Rangers lost that night, I looked up everything 539 00:38:00,315 --> 00:38:02,635 Speaker 1: I could about March twenty six, two thousand and three, 540 00:38:02,675 --> 00:38:06,755 Speaker 1: and the fact that Brian William was an NBC news 541 00:38:06,755 --> 00:38:10,275 Speaker 1: field reporter embedded with troops in Iraq and in the 542 00:38:10,315 --> 00:38:12,995 Speaker 1: helicopters with them, and that this was not some sort 543 00:38:13,035 --> 00:38:17,235 Speaker 1: of PR stunt. We had another prominent anchor named David Bloom, 544 00:38:17,235 --> 00:38:19,635 Speaker 1: who hosted the Today Show on the weekends and had 545 00:38:19,675 --> 00:38:23,395 Speaker 1: succeeded Brian as our NBC White House correspondent. And David 546 00:38:23,395 --> 00:38:26,515 Speaker 1: Bloom had died in Iraq because after weeks of twisting 547 00:38:26,555 --> 00:38:29,315 Speaker 1: himself into the shape of a pretzel to fit inside 548 00:38:29,315 --> 00:38:32,515 Speaker 1: a tank, he suffered deep vein thrombosis and he was 549 00:38:32,555 --> 00:38:35,915 Speaker 1: dead because they couldn't treat him in time. I even 550 00:38:35,915 --> 00:38:39,635 Speaker 1: found a video cassette with the hours I anchored on 551 00:38:39,795 --> 00:38:42,555 Speaker 1: MSNBC on March twenty six, two thousand and three, and 552 00:38:42,635 --> 00:38:46,395 Speaker 1: I saw Brian's report and I heard him say that 553 00:38:46,475 --> 00:38:50,275 Speaker 1: he and an NBC analyst, retired General Wayne Downing, had 554 00:38:50,355 --> 00:38:53,475 Speaker 1: been on the ground preparing to take off as part 555 00:38:53,475 --> 00:38:56,275 Speaker 1: of the last helicopters in a convoy flying over an 556 00:38:56,315 --> 00:38:59,515 Speaker 1: Iraqi desert when they got word that a chopper an 557 00:38:59,555 --> 00:39:02,235 Speaker 1: hour ahead of them had been threatened by gunfire and 558 00:39:02,395 --> 00:39:04,995 Speaker 1: was then forced to make an emergency landing because of 559 00:39:04,995 --> 00:39:10,875 Speaker 1: a sandstorm. I remember thinking, then in two thousand and three, 560 00:39:10,915 --> 00:39:14,595 Speaker 1: then in twenty fifteen, and now in twenty twenty two, 561 00:39:14,835 --> 00:39:18,275 Speaker 1: that being in the helicopter when they are shooting at 562 00:39:18,275 --> 00:39:21,515 Speaker 1: the helicopters is an act of sufficient bravery that you 563 00:39:21,555 --> 00:39:25,955 Speaker 1: could brag on yourself forever. I would have been bragging thusly, Hey, 564 00:39:26,035 --> 00:39:28,675 Speaker 1: I'm a civilian. I went up in the chopper anyway, 565 00:39:28,715 --> 00:39:32,635 Speaker 1: and I did not crap my pants. The end, I 566 00:39:32,675 --> 00:39:35,275 Speaker 1: would have been stopping passers by to tell them that. 567 00:39:38,115 --> 00:39:40,675 Speaker 1: As I continued to research this, I realized that in 568 00:39:40,715 --> 00:39:44,915 Speaker 1: the ensuing dozen years, Brian Williams had slowly changed the story, 569 00:39:45,675 --> 00:39:50,955 Speaker 1: almost imperceptibly, almost every time he had retold it. Soon 570 00:39:51,995 --> 00:39:55,155 Speaker 1: the chopper was hit by the RPG that actually missed it. 571 00:39:56,075 --> 00:39:58,875 Speaker 1: Then the chopper that was hit was not an hour 572 00:39:58,955 --> 00:40:00,635 Speaker 1: ahead of them, it was the one right in front 573 00:40:00,635 --> 00:40:03,955 Speaker 1: of them. Soon they were all part of the group 574 00:40:04,035 --> 00:40:07,155 Speaker 1: that could claim quote, we were the northern most Americans 575 00:40:07,195 --> 00:40:11,035 Speaker 1: in Iraq, And by twenty thirteen Brian was claiming it 576 00:40:11,075 --> 00:40:15,875 Speaker 1: was his chopper that got hit. In real time. The 577 00:40:15,875 --> 00:40:18,915 Speaker 1: next day, Friday, January thirtieth, twenty fifteen, we found out 578 00:40:18,955 --> 00:40:20,875 Speaker 1: why Brian had done the thing. At the hockey game 579 00:40:20,875 --> 00:40:24,635 Speaker 1: with Command Sergeant Major Turpak. He played a clip of 580 00:40:24,715 --> 00:40:28,995 Speaker 1: it on NBC Nightly News, and that is when a 581 00:40:28,995 --> 00:40:31,315 Speaker 1: lot of Iraq vets began to speak up with memories 582 00:40:31,315 --> 00:40:34,995 Speaker 1: that agreed with Brian on one detail only, Yeah, it 583 00:40:35,035 --> 00:40:39,075 Speaker 1: happened in Iraq. I saw the clip from the Rangers game, 584 00:40:39,515 --> 00:40:41,595 Speaker 1: and I saw the train wreck coming up behind it 585 00:40:41,635 --> 00:40:44,515 Speaker 1: for Brian and for NBC News, and I started emailing 586 00:40:44,515 --> 00:40:48,235 Speaker 1: my remaining friends at NBC. Get him drunk, I wrote 587 00:40:48,235 --> 00:40:51,835 Speaker 1: to one executive. Then take him into his office and 588 00:40:51,915 --> 00:40:55,315 Speaker 1: scatter empty liquor bottles all around, and call in photographers 589 00:40:55,315 --> 00:40:56,995 Speaker 1: from the New York Post, the New York Daily News, 590 00:40:57,035 --> 00:40:59,435 Speaker 1: and then explain he's going to rehab. You don't have 591 00:40:59,475 --> 00:41:01,635 Speaker 1: to say anything else. Rehab as they get out of 592 00:41:01,675 --> 00:41:03,955 Speaker 1: jail free card. He comes back in a month and 593 00:41:03,955 --> 00:41:08,755 Speaker 1: they'll throw a freak parade for him. To a former 594 00:41:08,835 --> 00:41:12,115 Speaker 1: boss still at NBC, I sent this email. Put him 595 00:41:12,155 --> 00:41:14,355 Speaker 1: on tonight and at the start of Nightly have him 596 00:41:14,395 --> 00:41:17,715 Speaker 1: say this, I'm taking a voluntary leave of absence for 597 00:41:18,555 --> 00:41:21,595 Speaker 1: fill in the blank days and during that time, the 598 00:41:21,715 --> 00:41:24,435 Speaker 1: entirety of my salary will be donated to fill in 599 00:41:24,475 --> 00:41:27,755 Speaker 1: the blank with any military charity, because while I did 600 00:41:27,795 --> 00:41:30,875 Speaker 1: not intend to exaggerate my experience in Iraq in two 601 00:41:30,915 --> 00:41:33,995 Speaker 1: thousand and three, being hit by small arms fire is 602 00:41:34,035 --> 00:41:36,795 Speaker 1: bad enough, being behind the helicopter that got hit with 603 00:41:36,795 --> 00:41:41,355 Speaker 1: an RPG is worse. Nevertheless, I did exaggerate it, and 604 00:41:41,435 --> 00:41:45,235 Speaker 1: a newsman cannot make a mistake like that without consequences. 605 00:41:45,595 --> 00:41:48,035 Speaker 1: Thank you for your forbearance. Now for the rest of 606 00:41:48,075 --> 00:41:50,795 Speaker 1: tonight's news cast, here is fill in the name of 607 00:41:50,915 --> 00:41:55,875 Speaker 1: NBC employee number whatever. I added a PostScript to my 608 00:41:55,915 --> 00:41:59,235 Speaker 1: old boss do this and he could still swerve out 609 00:41:59,275 --> 00:42:04,915 Speaker 1: of this. But everybody in management and NBC News was 610 00:42:04,915 --> 00:42:08,315 Speaker 1: asleep at the switch during this crisis. They're in action 611 00:42:08,875 --> 00:42:13,075 Speaker 1: by News president Deborah Turnus, who now runs a BBC 612 00:42:13,235 --> 00:42:16,555 Speaker 1: apparently did not bring the Williams catastrophe to the attention 613 00:42:16,635 --> 00:42:19,955 Speaker 1: of Comcast News chief Pat Philly, and that would eventually 614 00:42:20,035 --> 00:42:23,315 Speaker 1: cost both of them their jobs. Since I was at 615 00:42:23,315 --> 00:42:27,795 Speaker 1: that exact moment negotiating directly with Pat Philly to put 616 00:42:27,835 --> 00:42:35,035 Speaker 1: countdown back on MSNBC that also went down over the desert. 617 00:42:35,395 --> 00:42:40,315 Speaker 1: Philly's successor was Andy Lack. He resumed the countdown negotiations 618 00:42:40,355 --> 00:42:43,915 Speaker 1: with me at the Essex House the following fall. That 619 00:42:44,075 --> 00:42:47,515 Speaker 1: was in New York on October twenty ninth, twenty fifteen, 620 00:42:48,195 --> 00:42:51,875 Speaker 1: just past the anniversary of that, Lack was moaning to 621 00:42:51,915 --> 00:42:53,675 Speaker 1: me about Brian, whom he said he was ready to 622 00:42:53,715 --> 00:42:55,915 Speaker 1: resign outright and was willing to go without much of 623 00:42:55,955 --> 00:42:58,315 Speaker 1: a stink and without demanding much of a settlement. But 624 00:42:58,395 --> 00:43:01,715 Speaker 1: it was Brian's wife, Lack says, who pointed out that 625 00:43:01,755 --> 00:43:04,955 Speaker 1: there was a termination clause which was written by the 626 00:43:04,995 --> 00:43:08,235 Speaker 1: self same Andy Lack the previous time Andy Lack ran 627 00:43:08,355 --> 00:43:11,915 Speaker 1: NBC News that meant if Brian were fired for cause, 628 00:43:12,355 --> 00:43:15,515 Speaker 1: he would be owed twice whatever salary was left on 629 00:43:15,555 --> 00:43:19,355 Speaker 1: his contract. His wife, Lack said, here's a goddamn Pat 630 00:43:19,435 --> 00:43:23,555 Speaker 1: Nixon in this. So instead of firing him and owing 631 00:43:23,635 --> 00:43:28,315 Speaker 1: him twice as much money for some reason, nice contract, Lack, 632 00:43:29,355 --> 00:43:32,675 Speaker 1: Lack reassigned Brian to cover any breaking news during the 633 00:43:32,715 --> 00:43:36,395 Speaker 1: Little Watch daytime hours of MSNBC, and then eventually gave 634 00:43:36,475 --> 00:43:41,115 Speaker 1: him his own show there at eleven PM. The punchline, 635 00:43:41,155 --> 00:43:43,875 Speaker 1: of course, is that back in February of twenty fifteen, 636 00:43:43,915 --> 00:43:47,435 Speaker 1: when it turned out Brian had lied about Iraq and 637 00:43:47,555 --> 00:43:50,555 Speaker 1: also maybe lied about seeing a dead body, float past 638 00:43:50,635 --> 00:43:54,635 Speaker 1: him during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and about being 639 00:43:54,715 --> 00:43:57,355 Speaker 1: mugged while selling Christmas trees when he was in high school, 640 00:43:57,795 --> 00:44:00,955 Speaker 1: and about saving a puppy when he's a volunteer firefighter. 641 00:44:02,115 --> 00:44:06,315 Speaker 1: I felt dreadful for him. I thought this might be fixable. 642 00:44:07,275 --> 00:44:09,395 Speaker 1: And you know who else felt it might be fixable 643 00:44:09,435 --> 00:44:12,195 Speaker 1: and felt dreadful for him. Our mutual friend David Letterman, 644 00:44:12,355 --> 00:44:14,635 Speaker 1: and I was going on Dave's show, and I said 645 00:44:14,635 --> 00:44:17,835 Speaker 1: to Dave, listen, I think Brian's career should not end 646 00:44:17,955 --> 00:44:22,275 Speaker 1: because of this. He just needs help. He's a compulsive exaggerator. 647 00:44:23,155 --> 00:44:25,075 Speaker 1: If you want to give me the opening to say 648 00:44:25,115 --> 00:44:27,035 Speaker 1: that while I'm on with you, just do it. If 649 00:44:27,075 --> 00:44:30,795 Speaker 1: you don't, don't, I won't bring it up myself. Dave 650 00:44:30,915 --> 00:44:34,755 Speaker 1: is a very loyal man, and Dave gave me the opening, 651 00:44:34,835 --> 00:44:38,355 Speaker 1: and then after I defended Brian, he joined me. And 652 00:44:38,475 --> 00:44:40,915 Speaker 1: at that point we were literally the only two people 653 00:44:40,955 --> 00:44:44,995 Speaker 1: working in television to speak out for Brian. Not only 654 00:44:45,835 --> 00:44:48,155 Speaker 1: was it six weeks before Brian as much as sent 655 00:44:48,195 --> 00:44:51,915 Speaker 1: me an email of thanks, but David told me he 656 00:44:51,995 --> 00:44:54,955 Speaker 1: never heard from Brian, and I haven't heard from Brian 657 00:44:55,075 --> 00:45:01,035 Speaker 1: since twenty fifteen, and there is another punchline. As I 658 00:45:01,155 --> 00:45:03,755 Speaker 1: came off the Letterman stage that night that he and 659 00:45:03,835 --> 00:45:07,155 Speaker 1: I both defended Brian Williams, a producer took me aside 660 00:45:07,195 --> 00:45:08,875 Speaker 1: and said it was a nice thing to do, but 661 00:45:09,035 --> 00:45:11,035 Speaker 1: was I sure I wanted to get involved in this? 662 00:45:11,595 --> 00:45:14,075 Speaker 1: And I shrugged my shoulders and I said, who knows? 663 00:45:14,275 --> 00:45:16,715 Speaker 1: Why do you ask? And he said, because one night 664 00:45:16,755 --> 00:45:19,595 Speaker 1: when Brian was coming on the Letterman Show, it was 665 00:45:19,635 --> 00:45:23,195 Speaker 1: the anniversary of the Iraq helicopter story, and in the 666 00:45:23,235 --> 00:45:26,955 Speaker 1: pre interview, Brian explained to this producer that when they 667 00:45:26,995 --> 00:45:30,635 Speaker 1: got hit by the RPG, which didn't happen, this command 668 00:45:30,755 --> 00:45:34,675 Speaker 1: Sergeant Major Turpak had been injured, which didn't happen. And 669 00:45:34,715 --> 00:45:38,035 Speaker 1: when they landed on the desert floor, which didn't happen, 670 00:45:38,395 --> 00:45:46,395 Speaker 1: Brian treated Turpack's injury and dressed Turpack's wound himself. But 671 00:45:46,515 --> 00:45:50,755 Speaker 1: then Brian said, maybe I should keep that between us. 672 00:45:51,875 --> 00:45:54,355 Speaker 1: I guess we were lucky. Brian Williams never claimed that 673 00:45:54,395 --> 00:45:56,635 Speaker 1: he saved the helicopter crew by catching the missile with 674 00:45:56,675 --> 00:46:12,395 Speaker 1: his teeth. I've done all the damage I can do here. 675 00:46:12,435 --> 00:46:14,395 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening. Countdown has come to you from 676 00:46:14,435 --> 00:46:18,515 Speaker 1: the Vin Scully studio at the Elderman Broadcasting Empire HI 677 00:46:18,755 --> 00:46:22,595 Speaker 1: atop the Sports Capsule Building in New York. The music 678 00:46:22,635 --> 00:46:24,635 Speaker 1: you heard was for the most part, arranged, produced, and 679 00:46:24,675 --> 00:46:28,595 Speaker 1: performed by Countdown musical directors Brian Ray and John Phillip Chanel. 680 00:46:28,995 --> 00:46:31,955 Speaker 1: Brian Ray handled the guitars, bass and drums. John Phillip 681 00:46:31,995 --> 00:46:35,995 Speaker 1: Shaneil did the orchestration and keyboards produced by Tko Brothers. 682 00:46:36,475 --> 00:46:41,195 Speaker 1: Other music, including other Beethoven tunes, were arranged and performed 683 00:46:41,235 --> 00:46:44,395 Speaker 1: by the group No Horns Allowed. Sports music is courtesy 684 00:46:44,395 --> 00:46:46,915 Speaker 1: of ESPN, Inc. And it was written by Mitch Warren Davis. 685 00:46:46,915 --> 00:46:51,315 Speaker 1: We called the Olderman theme from ESPN two. Our satirical 686 00:46:51,315 --> 00:46:54,555 Speaker 1: and pithy musical comments are from Nancy Faust, the best 687 00:46:54,595 --> 00:46:59,675 Speaker 1: baseball stadium organist ever. Our announcer today was my friend 688 00:46:59,755 --> 00:47:03,115 Speaker 1: Richard Lewis. Everything else is pretty much my fault except 689 00:47:03,195 --> 00:47:06,875 Speaker 1: the national anthem. Let's countdown for this the one thy 690 00:47:07,195 --> 00:47:10,435 Speaker 1: fifteenth day since Donald Trump's first attempted coup against the 691 00:47:10,435 --> 00:47:14,035 Speaker 1: democratically elected government of the United States. Convict him now 692 00:47:14,195 --> 00:47:17,675 Speaker 1: while we still can. The next scheduled countdown is tomorrow. 693 00:47:17,875 --> 00:47:20,875 Speaker 1: Bulletins as the news warrants till then I'm Keith Olremman. 694 00:47:20,915 --> 00:47:23,995 Speaker 1: Good morning, good afternoon, good night, and good luck. 695 00:47:27,875 --> 00:47:34,035 Speaker 3: Oh see m see by Johverly. 696 00:47:36,075 --> 00:47:40,035 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olreman is a production of iHeartRadio. For 697 00:47:40,195 --> 00:47:45,115 Speaker 1: more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 698 00:47:45,395 --> 00:47:47,355 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.