1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,040 Speaker 1: Hello, guys, welcome back to normally. The show with normal 2 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: is takes too when the news gets weird. I am 3 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: Mary Katherine Ham. 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 2: And I am Carol Marcowitz him Mary Catherine, how are 5 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 2: you you know? 6 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 1: I'm all right. I'm trying to recover before Christmas. I've 7 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: got time. I got a little bit still. 8 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 2: It sounds very sexy, So the audience is getting an 9 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 2: additional treat on this lovely Thursday. 10 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: That's what I'm going for. If only it were painless, 11 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: I'd be for it permanently. But here we are. 12 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 2: Well, we hope you feel better soon, even if you 13 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:36,479 Speaker 2: know that means we lose the Kathleen Turner thing. 14 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: So let's get to the news, shall we, Carol it. 15 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: I was sort of surprised by this one every year PolitiFact, 16 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: which is an alleged fact checking organization which is very 17 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: left leaning and very obviously so in the targets it 18 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: chooses to fact check and the way that it fact 19 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 1: checks things. It announced a lie of the year, as 20 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: it always does, and wouldn't you know it, it's not 21 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: like the president is incapacitated and we lied to you 22 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: about it and he remains incapacitated and can't do his job. 23 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: It's not that one. The one that it is is 24 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: the one where Donald Trump said that people were eating 25 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:31,400 Speaker 1: dogs and cats eating the Dartenfield, Ohio. That's the lie 26 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:36,559 Speaker 1: of the year. Everyone. He amplified, they say before sixty 27 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: seven million television viewers. And his debate against Democratic presidential 28 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, who was i'll put in 29 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: parentheses covering up the fact that the current president was incapacitated. 30 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: Trump took his anti migrant, the US borders out of 31 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: control campaign agenda to a new level. 32 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, that level is to the presidency. He took that 33 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 2: level to the presidency. Friends, what's so interesting about that? 34 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 2: And we've mentioned this on the show before, but this 35 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 2: kind of stuff only hurts Democrats. They think that they're helping, 36 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 2: but they're actually hurting. So this ongoing lie that Joe 37 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: Biden was just fine and that they thought they were 38 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: doing a good thing for Joe Biden and for Democrats. 39 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: They thought covering up this very obvious thing that was 40 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 2: happening was going to be a positive, and it ended 41 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: up being a giant negative. And I think some people 42 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 2: are facing that reality now and other people clearly are not, 43 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: but it's just it's backfiring on them, and yet they 44 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 2: can't stop doing it. 45 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: Well. And the other side of the coin too, is 46 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: that Trump, although he should be more careful about the 47 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: specific anecdotes he tells, he was speaking to real problems 48 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 1: that real people have in communities that have been overrun 49 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: by undocumented immigrants, and Democrats couldn't allow themselves to speak 50 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: to those issues for fear of being politifacted Lie of 51 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: the Year yet fodder, Right, it's because you can't tell 52 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: people anything along these lines, including what Jade Vance brought up, 53 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: the actual overtaking of apartment complexes in a rwer Colorado, 54 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: which continues, by the way, there was a kidnapping this 55 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: week there by a Venezuelan gang. You're sort of like 56 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: just not allowed to make reference to those things, right, 57 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: and that we. 58 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 2: Tend to help Democrats either, Yeah, well, that's that's really it. 59 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: You have to keep pretending that it's not happening because 60 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 2: you don't have kind of the right messaging on it. 61 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 2: What are you going to do say it is happening, 62 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 2: but we have no interest in stopping the flow at 63 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 2: the border. Kind of can't go both ways, and so 64 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,560 Speaker 2: they keep running into this problem, right, They keep running 65 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 2: into this issue where their ideas are deeply unpopular. So 66 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 2: what they do is they point to Republicans and say, yeah, 67 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 2: our ideas are unpopular, but their. 68 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: Ideas are racist. 69 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 2: And it's like nobody's falling for that anymore. Nobody cares, 70 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 2: and it's just it's not a thing anymore. 71 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: Having watched Democrats are argue amongst themselves and cancel all 72 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: the rest of us for so many years other it's 73 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 1: as you know, as a right leaning person, it's so 74 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 1: fun to like, I come pre canceled, so I don't 75 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 1: worry as much about what I say. But watching them 76 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: do that, I do think they have lost the plot 77 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: when it comes to how to discuss things, because the 78 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 1: very successful tactic was just bully people until they shut up. 79 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: But they found that in twenty sixteen that forcing people 80 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 1: to shut up is not the same as convincing them 81 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: about your bulliefs, right, And so they've found out yet 82 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 1: again in the same jarring way when the American people 83 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: like Donald Trump, that they hadn't convinced people. But I'm 84 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: not sure they know how to do that. 85 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think they're going through a series now where 86 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 2: They're angry about what happened with Joe Biden and the 87 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 2: whole lie that he was fine, but they kind of 88 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: don't have anybody to blame. 89 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: Let's roll the clip from Pod Saves America. 90 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 3: There was a couple of White officials that went on 91 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 3: background to political for the story, and some Biden aids 92 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 3: acknowledged the president's absent from the broader discussions about how 93 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 3: to address Trump's coming presidency in the future of the party. 94 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 3: They say that they say it's rooted in two factors. 95 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 3: One Biden's own recognition that few are eager to hear 96 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 3: from him, and his own lingering personal belief that he 97 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 3: doesn't owe much more to a party that unceremoniously pushed 98 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,920 Speaker 3: him aside. And then another White House official former White 99 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 3: House official said he's been so cavalier and selfish about 100 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 3: how he approaches the final weeks of the job, which 101 00:05:30,080 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 3: was aliging for a former White House official. I mean, like, 102 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 3: I get the recognition that maybe people aren't willing to 103 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 3: hear from him. Is understandable that he might think that 104 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 3: right the party thing I hope is not true, because 105 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 3: I don't know what do you guys think he could. 106 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: Be doing quiet quitting. 107 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that's what we're getting, or. 108 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's what that seems to me what he is doing. 109 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, oh instead, yes, got it. 110 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 3: You know, but instead of just complaining that he's not 111 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:56,479 Speaker 3: out there, I'm wondering what we think, right. 112 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 4: I'm trying to like separate my like frustration with base 113 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,919 Speaker 4: lead Joe Biden in his final year and culminating that 114 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:06,119 Speaker 4: debate and hanging on that like how much we paid 115 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 4: for having somebody who just wasn't an articulate and comprehensible messenger, 116 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 4: not just on behalf of his own presidency, but on 117 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 4: behalf of like progressivism democracy, right. And I am very 118 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 4: angry about that, And I'm a little bit mad at 119 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,599 Speaker 4: myself for not being more honest about how I felt 120 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 4: or not seeing it as plainly because I think we're 121 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 4: obviously paying dearly for it. 122 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:25,919 Speaker 1: I guess what I'm more concerned about. 123 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,159 Speaker 4: Is less like, am I seeing Joe Biden enough? Maybe 124 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 4: he's right that people don't want to hear from him. 125 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 4: It's more like, do I feel confident right now that 126 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 4: Joe Biden behind the scenes is thinking of every single 127 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 4: way he can try to future proof the White House? 128 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 4: That he's thinking through all the different levers of powers 129 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 4: that kind of creative ways in which he can do 130 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:46,839 Speaker 4: everything to protect everyone from like undocumented DOCTA recipients to 131 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 4: trans people to the benefits of the inflation reduction. I 132 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 4: think there are very smart people thinking about that, and 133 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 4: I hope they succeed. And it sounds like from that 134 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 4: memo the White House but out that they are thinking 135 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:58,359 Speaker 4: about the best ways to do that. But do I 136 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:02,559 Speaker 4: think Joe Biden himself is like a command being thinking 137 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 4: about this, like right now, don't I just honestly don't. 138 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:05,719 Speaker 3: Maybe he is. 139 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 1: You can't tell, we can't tell. 140 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, So we'll talk about the future proof in the 141 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 2: next segment, because that's also kind of a big deal 142 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 2: that all these people are saying, like, hey, Joe Biden 143 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: has to be doing stuff to stop Donald Trump, who 144 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 2: just got elected by the American people, from implementing the 145 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 2: agenda that the American people elected him to implement. We'll 146 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: get into that in a second. But the admission, the 147 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:33,000 Speaker 2: admission that perhaps maybe we didn't see Biden for who 148 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 2: he was. Eric Erickson points out today on his show 149 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 2: or yesterday on his show that the fundraiser in California 150 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 2: where Joe Biden had to be led away off stage 151 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 2: with a you know, Obama holding onto his back, The 152 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 2: one where George Clooney eventually had to say that Biden 153 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 2: had to go because of what he saw that night. 154 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 2: Erickson points out that these guys, these Pod Saves America 155 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 2: guys defended Joe Biden at the time they covered him, 156 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 2: and now they're mad about it. 157 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: Well, the thing is, it wasn't a secret, right, We 158 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: could all see it. This is what made it. I 159 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: think it compounded their problem because people continued to not 160 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: believe the Democratic Party because Democratic Party was telling them 161 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: something that was very obviously untrue on its face. In 162 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:22,000 Speaker 1: February of twenty twenty four, there was a poll with 163 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: like eighty six percent of Americans think that Biden is 164 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: too old to be serving another four years as president. 165 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: So in February twenty twenty four, eighty six percent of 166 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: the American people could see this. And you're telling me 167 00:08:35,600 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: that Pods of America guys who have interaction with people 168 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 1: close to the president couldn't see it. Number one, Yeah, 169 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: we shouldn't be listening to you for advice, right. Number two, 170 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: By the way, this isn't even uh, the oldest poll 171 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 1: that shows this, There was plenty before that too. 172 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,679 Speaker 2: I think that that's absolutely right. What it is is 173 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 2: either they were blind to it or they're lying. And 174 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 2: either way you have to kind of look at that 175 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,719 Speaker 2: and be like, well, why are we. 176 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: Listening to you now? 177 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 2: And again, you know, they're Obama kind of staffers who 178 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 2: now have a podcast. They're clearly on the left there, 179 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 2: but they're very popular on the left and they're very 180 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 2: listened to, and they're very respected, and I think that 181 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 2: that's kind of funny that they lie to their audience 182 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 2: and they lied to their own side, and that they 183 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 2: continue to either lie or you know, not admit that 184 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 2: they didn't see something I other than the small admission 185 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 2: that they made here. 186 00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: Well, and the crazy thing is, I think they're like 187 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 1: better than a lot of the party leadership and talking 188 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: about these things. They've been more willing to say it 189 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: than others, which tells you how far behind the others are. Again, 190 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:49,079 Speaker 1: at least six months or was it four months between 191 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,720 Speaker 1: that poll and the debate that we all saw, And 192 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:54,719 Speaker 1: there are polls from Fallow twenty twenty three as well, 193 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: when Dean Phillips they represented from Minnesota, was like, hey, guys, 194 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: we should probably run someone against him because he is 195 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: very old, and everyone was like nah. Right. Meanwhile, the 196 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: New York Times, way back when when conservatives were pointing 197 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: out that the president was wandering all over and people 198 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: were having to guide him by the hand, such and such, 199 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: the New York Times said, no, there these are cheap fikes. 200 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: There's a manipulated video, cheap fix. 201 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:21,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. 202 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: But now it's like, yeah, I guess that was real. Oops. 203 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 2: Right, The headline at the New York Times is a 204 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:32,320 Speaker 2: weary Biden heads for the exit. It's just amazing, you know. 205 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:36,080 Speaker 2: Actually the subhead is even better. Still stinging from the election, 206 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 2: President Biden is pushing for his final priorities, but has 207 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,080 Speaker 2: absent in himself from the national conversation about Donald Trump, 208 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 2: after warning repeatedly that he was a threat to American democracy. 209 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 2: I think what the New York Times doesn't get was 210 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 2: I didn't lied about that. He doesn't really think Donald 211 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 2: Trump would brought to democracy. Obviously. 212 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:54,400 Speaker 1: That's it. 213 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: It's not that he is too tired to take on 214 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 2: Donald Trump. It's that he really doesn't think it's going 215 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 2: to be the problem democracy is going to survive the 216 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:04,559 Speaker 2: Trump presidency. 217 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: And is also looking out for number one right now, 218 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: which is what here's always done. And this is yet 219 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: another thing they fooled themselves into thinking, is that Biden 220 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 1: is some sort of selfless country first leader when he 221 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 1: never exhibited those traits, and then they're surprised when they 222 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: do unceremoniously push him aside because he's not a selfless 223 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,559 Speaker 1: country first guy who was gonna step down. Yeah, there's 224 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 1: surprise that he's like, well, I guess I'll do do 225 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,480 Speaker 1: us best for me now, right, What a surprise. 226 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:39,840 Speaker 2: We are shocked over here. We'll be right back on normally. 227 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,760 Speaker 2: So to get into that second topic of them openly 228 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:51,559 Speaker 2: saying that Biden should be trying to stop the Trump agenda. 229 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,240 Speaker 2: That doesn't seem like people who love democracy, Mary Catherine. 230 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,679 Speaker 2: That does not seem democratic to me at all. Donald 231 00:11:57,679 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 2: Trump was elected. He was elected you know, pretty overwhelmingly. 232 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,000 Speaker 2: He won every single swing state. I don't even like 233 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 2: to talk about the popular vote because we don't count 234 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,959 Speaker 2: you know, pop a vote is irrelevant and irrelevant metric 235 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 2: that we insist on counting for some reason. But he 236 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 2: won decisively. And the idea that these pods save America. 237 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 2: Guys and others are trying to say Biden should implement 238 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 2: policies that will make it more difficult for Donald Trump. 239 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 1: To act his policies. That's a problem, Carol. What you 240 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: don't understand is that democracy, by definition is what democratic 241 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: leadership likes. And if you democratically do things that democratic 242 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: leadership does not like, that is not democracy and it 243 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: must be undermined. So, whether it's so much, whether it's 244 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: the intelligence community or media or a combination of the two, 245 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:53,719 Speaker 1: they're going to come for you because the democracy did 246 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 1: a bad thing. Yeah, So when the democracy does the 247 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,319 Speaker 1: bad things, you got to do worse things to fix 248 00:12:59,360 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 1: the democracy. 249 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,839 Speaker 2: You got to punish that democracy. They've been that so yeah, 250 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 2: they actually they call it our democracy, right, they literally 251 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,520 Speaker 2: mean only their type of democracy. 252 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: Yes, we're in the punished democracy segment of this program 253 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: right now. 254 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 2: Yeah. So here's Julie Rojinski Raginsky on CNN talking about 255 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 2: just this very thing. 256 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 5: The people around him should be thinking about these things. 257 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:29,079 Speaker 5: You need to proof democracy, proof, for lack of a 258 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 5: better world word, this coming administration. I mean, Donald Trump 259 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 5: stands for everything that Joe Biden does not stand for. 260 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 5: And if Democrats are true to their values. They will 261 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 5: do everything they can with the power they have right now, 262 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,680 Speaker 5: which is limited to prevent Donald Trump from doing the 263 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 5: things that he's already nowtive. 264 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 1: For administrative sabotage. I mean, is that I'm not at 265 00:13:51,880 --> 00:13:52,440 Speaker 1: all what I'm arguing. 266 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 5: You're saying they should proof that you should somehow prove 267 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 5: the government is able to be I. 268 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 2: Have no, Yeah, that's exactly what she was saying. 269 00:13:59,600 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: Scott. 270 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,600 Speaker 2: You know our national heroes, Scott Jennings so great, takes 271 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:07,200 Speaker 2: on five people every night on Sandend. But yeah, here 272 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:11,960 Speaker 2: he's talking about how she's openly saying that they need 273 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 2: to kind of create safeguards around things that matter to 274 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 2: them so that Donald Trump can't affect the change. But 275 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 2: again he was elected to effect. 276 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:24,440 Speaker 1: And the pod Save bros. Also say like, hey, let's 277 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: send out as much money as possible, as fast as 278 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: possible under who knows what rules, with no safeguards for fraud. 279 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,560 Speaker 1: I mean, that's never They never worry about that, Probably 280 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: to go to as many nonprofit buddy groups of theirs 281 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: as possible. It seems to me there's some kind of 282 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: memo that's gone out about messaging on this because both 283 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 1: of these guys refer to this as proving, but a 284 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: couple of days ago people were referring to it as 285 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: Trump proofing, and somebody told them that that wasn't smart. 286 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: I think got that right. So is that proving? They're 287 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: like our democracy, So now they're like, oh, let's make 288 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: it sound much more elevated than just sabotaging the guy 289 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 1: who was just elected who we don't like. So they're 290 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: going with a different kind of proofing. I long for 291 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: the days like two thousand, when all the sabotage you 292 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: got for George W. Bush was people removing the w's 293 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: from the keyboards. I remember, it's like trashy, But I 294 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 1: would take trashy and low level pranking sure over this 295 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 1: kind of thing anyway. 296 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 2: It's also just crazy that they're talking about it so openly. 297 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 2: I think that that's like a sign that they still 298 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 2: don't understand what happened to them. The American people did 299 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 2: not want what you were selling. They did not want 300 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 2: your program at all. So you're literally saying to the 301 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 2: American people, we know better than you, me a talking 302 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 2: head on CNN or me. You know a guy who 303 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 2: sits on a microphone knows better than what the majority 304 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,920 Speaker 2: of the country wanted for itself, and it's just it's 305 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:57,239 Speaker 2: just very offensive. 306 00:15:57,680 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: Well, and part of the reason they rejected it is 307 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: the lying to their faces plus the condescension. So it's 308 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 1: like this is a perfect combination, yep, of all of 309 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 1: those things that people rejected, because it's like, well, you 310 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: can't lecture me about norms when you're the one who 311 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: wants to tear them down to Trump proof this incoming administration. 312 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: And I just think they're exemplifying what handed them the 313 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: l to begin with. 314 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 2: Right and grasping that l real tightly and refusing to 315 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 2: let it go. 316 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: It's going to be a rough road, I think. By 317 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 1: the way, I was interested to see that Jerry Connolly, 318 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:40,239 Speaker 1: who is an aged and somewhat infirm leader of the Democrats, 319 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: is beat AOC, an up and coming useful leader in 320 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: a leadership fight for the Oversight Committee in Congress, which 321 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: is like a bunch of boring words, but the point 322 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:53,840 Speaker 1: being that once again, like seniority one, instead of handing 323 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: over the reins to someone who might have a little 324 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 1: bit better handle on how to message in a new 325 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: and actually does have a little bit more populist vibe 326 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: than a lot of the Democratic establishment. So I'm not 327 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 1: sure if the road is going to be smooth. That 328 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: being said, I'm not sure IOFC is widely popular either. 329 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: I'm just saying right right, no. 330 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 2: But the Democrats, I mean, they are also still holding 331 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 2: on to the whole smoke filled rooms. That's how people 332 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 2: make decisions time period, Like Nancy. As long as Nancy 333 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:29,120 Speaker 2: Pelosi is anywhere near Congress, this is going to continue 334 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 2: to operate this way. She doesn't need to be in charge, 335 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 2: she just needs to be there in order for what 336 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,640 Speaker 2: she wants to happen to happen. And I think that 337 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 2: AOC really didn't stand a chance in a place where 338 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 2: Nancy Pelosi exists. 339 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: By the way, I should say for the record, I 340 00:17:44,840 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: do think that conservatives underestimate AOC at their peril because 341 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,640 Speaker 1: I think she's smarter and more interesting then she gets 342 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,160 Speaker 1: credit for. So we will see what happens to her 343 00:17:55,240 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: as this party moves forward. 344 00:17:57,520 --> 00:17:59,360 Speaker 2: We're going to take a short break and come right 345 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:00,320 Speaker 2: back with normally. 346 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,640 Speaker 1: I'm glad you mentioned smoke filled rooms because a lot 347 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:09,480 Speaker 1: of people are mad once again, Carol at things happening 348 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:12,840 Speaker 1: on the Hill. Okay, so there has to be a 349 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: continuing resolution, which is the giant stupid bill that Congress 350 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: must pass to hold spending levels where they are so 351 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 1: that things don't not get paid for. And this happens 352 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,520 Speaker 1: because Congress doesn't do its job and pass regular budget 353 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: and funding bills, and so they have to do this 354 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: big old one at the end of the year. This 355 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 1: one would keep the government running until March of next year, 356 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 1: and the deadline was coming up. But of course, as usual, 357 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: Congress doesn't care that the deadline's coming up, and so 358 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: now they're working on it furiously. Right before they had 359 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: favor relatable. Now this means, yeah, I understand, I get it. 360 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:55,199 Speaker 1: That's actually a very normally vibe. But what happens is, 361 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: especially in a tight house where you don't have very 362 00:18:57,640 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: many votes, is that Democrats are going to have to 363 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: get a bunch of stuff, and you're gonna have to 364 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: hand out a bunch of treats to get this paid 365 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: for and get this to pass. One of the things 366 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: that apparently is in this one is a or proposed 367 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,040 Speaker 1: to be in this one. We'll see if it actually 368 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:15,919 Speaker 1: ends up in there is a pay raise for Congress. 369 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like they're you know, not reading the room. 370 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,639 Speaker 2: People are not interested in giving Congress a pay raise 371 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 2: just now. 372 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: No, and it seems to be a rather large one. Again, 373 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:31,919 Speaker 1: this is all in motion, so don't quote me on 374 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: any individual stat because these negotiations change quickly. But they 375 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: currently receive one hundred and seventy four thousand, as well 376 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 1: as reimbursements for meals of lodging. If in what they 377 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: currently have in this CR, their salary would go to 378 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 1: two hundred and forty three thousand, which jump my goodness. Yeah, now, 379 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,120 Speaker 1: I think there are arguments for like, hey, it's been 380 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: ten years since there's been a cost of living adjustment. However, 381 00:19:57,359 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: as you note about the room, the room is not 382 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:04,439 Speaker 1: friendly to this idea. The room is quite populist right 383 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:07,040 Speaker 1: now in this country, and the idea that a bunch 384 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,719 Speaker 1: of mostly millionaires who are in Congress should get a 385 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:14,560 Speaker 1: large percentage increase in their salary while people are suffering 386 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:18,679 Speaker 1: is not looked upon in a friendly way. No, it's not. 387 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:20,040 Speaker 1: And you know it's interesting. 388 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 2: When AOC first got to Congress, she actually was like, 389 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 2: this is all we're getting paid. 390 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:26,360 Speaker 1: I remember that. 391 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:31,200 Speaker 2: She was not told about congressional salaries and look, there 392 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 2: is an argument to be made because I think a 393 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 2: lot of people don't get into public service because some 394 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 2: of the you know, salaries that they make are just 395 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 2: not that high. You have to want to be there 396 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:46,360 Speaker 2: and all of that. Plus once you're done there, you 397 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,120 Speaker 2: get to go work in lots of different devices thing 398 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 2: where you make a bunch of money. Not to mention, 399 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 2: allegedly a lot of these people are making a ton 400 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 2: of money in the stock market, where they're just amazing here, 401 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 2: just not alusition, so good at it. They can really 402 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:07,440 Speaker 2: go to any financial firm as long as they remain congresspeople. Yeah. 403 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 1: Well. The discussion of this pay raise led to an 404 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: interesting conversation between CNN's Mono Raju and Senator Dick Durbin 405 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: of Illinois. 406 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 6: Oh that's news to me, that's good news. You know 407 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:23,840 Speaker 6: what has it been ten years or fourteen years and 408 00:21:23,920 --> 00:21:27,239 Speaker 6: no cola, no change at all? And I think it's 409 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 6: about time something sound here's a piece of part kidding 410 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:32,160 Speaker 6: give yourselfing there is. How would I not know about 411 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 6: a lot of as But. 412 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean, people look at the performance of Congress, 413 00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:37,760 Speaker 1: say why should we give them more money? 414 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 6: What about the media think about that. 415 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 1: Fir At second, I were not paid by public money. 416 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,520 Speaker 6: I know you're not, but I mean half of your 417 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 6: listeners are not there anymore. You're still getting the same 418 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:46,959 Speaker 6: baycheck what's going on? 419 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 2: It was so good. Who knew Dick Urban had that 420 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 2: in him. 421 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:55,919 Speaker 1: Dick Turbin goes full Trump, irritating people. BANDU right, it's great. 422 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 2: It's so good because you know he meant it. 423 00:21:58,359 --> 00:21:59,200 Speaker 1: He meant it. 424 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 2: He have to think about that. It came off his 425 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 2: tongue like he had it ready to go, and I 426 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 2: was impressed. 427 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 1: Durbin's like, you think I'm trash. We're both trash. We're 428 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 1: in the trash together, and we should all get paid 429 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 1: a bunch of money being crashed. That is that's the 430 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:18,159 Speaker 1: message that unites the American people. I think, I agree, 431 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 1: I agree, And you know he's read how. 432 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:24,840 Speaker 2: Are these media outlets surviving with half of their audience 433 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:29,199 Speaker 2: gone and they're lecturing other people on like their you know, 434 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 2: support level. It's crazy. 435 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 1: By the way, you can tell Durbin's been in Congress 436 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:35,639 Speaker 1: for so long and not in any danger because he's like, uh, 437 00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: that sounds awesome, gave me more money. Why would anyone 438 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 1: object to that that's great. 439 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, it's hard to lose Illinois, you know. 440 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 1: Oh my goodness. We're led by the very best, we. 441 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 2: Really are, and maybe we should pay them more so 442 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 2: we get some slightly better people. 443 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 1: And well that's the question, right, I feel like we're 444 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: being hit hostage. But also could we get better people? 445 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 2: I don't know, Yeah, yeah, maybe we could. That would 446 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 2: be really really good. So we've mentioned this on X 447 00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 2: but we are going to be having and ask us 448 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 2: anything episode, possibly more than one. We've got like thirty 449 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:14,680 Speaker 2: questions so far. People can email us at normallythepod at 450 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 2: gmail dot com, or tweet at us, or we posted 451 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 2: a form where you could submit your questions anonymously if 452 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:23,119 Speaker 2: you're into that sort of thing, So get your questions in. 453 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 2: We are going to answer them. It's going to be. 454 00:23:25,720 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: Amazing and maybe my voice will be better, we'll see. 455 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:29,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're going to root for that. 456 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: We're root from Mary. 457 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,239 Speaker 2: Catherine to feel better by then. Thanks for joining us 458 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 2: on normally normally airs Tuesdays and Thursdays, and you can 459 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:40,199 Speaker 2: subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening, and 460 00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 2: when things get weird, act normally