1 00:00:04,755 --> 00:00:08,995 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:21,275 --> 00:00:26,395 Speaker 1: Did the arrested x FBI executive Charles McGonagall start working 3 00:00:26,475 --> 00:00:30,035 Speaker 1: for the Russian oligarch connected to Trump's campaign manager only 4 00:00:30,555 --> 00:00:34,675 Speaker 1: after McGonagall left the bureau? Or was he doing so 5 00:00:34,755 --> 00:00:39,755 Speaker 1: while he McGonagall was still ordering events within the bureau. 6 00:00:40,635 --> 00:00:48,275 Speaker 1: Was Charlie McGonagall a Russian asset inside the FBI? Because 7 00:00:48,315 --> 00:00:51,395 Speaker 1: since Friday, I have had that sinking feeling that we 8 00:00:51,475 --> 00:00:56,275 Speaker 1: are watching the proverbial drip, drip, drip, the slow reveal 9 00:00:56,355 --> 00:01:00,795 Speaker 1: of something so shocking that the details must be parceled out. 10 00:01:01,715 --> 00:01:04,155 Speaker 1: Because it is one thing for me to line up 11 00:01:04,195 --> 00:01:06,915 Speaker 1: these and ask what does it mean if they are 12 00:01:06,995 --> 00:01:09,475 Speaker 1: all connected? And it is one thing for Professor Tim 13 00:01:09,475 --> 00:01:12,275 Speaker 1: Snyder of Yale to ask that, And it is one 14 00:01:12,355 --> 00:01:16,155 Speaker 1: thing for the author, Greg Olier to ask that it 15 00:01:16,355 --> 00:01:19,955 Speaker 1: is something else altogether, for the New York Times to 16 00:01:20,075 --> 00:01:24,195 Speaker 1: ask that. Yet there were all the dots scattered under 17 00:01:24,235 --> 00:01:26,435 Speaker 1: the by lines of Ken Vogel and Michael Rothfeld and 18 00:01:26,475 --> 00:01:30,155 Speaker 1: William Roschbaum, without the lines drawn to connect them, and 19 00:01:30,195 --> 00:01:33,035 Speaker 1: without the adjectives and emphasies that caused the jaw to 20 00:01:33,155 --> 00:01:35,715 Speaker 1: drop and largely sitting in the back row of the 21 00:01:35,835 --> 00:01:38,715 Speaker 1: narrative of the story behind the fact that McGonagall has 22 00:01:38,795 --> 00:01:41,635 Speaker 1: been indicted for taking money to act on behalf of 23 00:01:41,635 --> 00:01:45,075 Speaker 1: an Albanian thug while he was still a top official 24 00:01:45,195 --> 00:01:48,195 Speaker 1: at the FBI Field Office in New York. But there 25 00:01:48,235 --> 00:01:51,595 Speaker 1: it is in the back, not jumping up and down, 26 00:01:51,635 --> 00:01:55,355 Speaker 1: not waving its arms at us, but still clear with 27 00:01:55,515 --> 00:02:00,395 Speaker 1: discernible features. But sources and writers and editors at the 28 00:02:00,395 --> 00:02:02,395 Speaker 1: New York Times all looked at and said, you know, 29 00:02:02,515 --> 00:02:07,955 Speaker 1: you can print this, the stinct and distinctly new possibility 30 00:02:07,995 --> 00:02:11,475 Speaker 1: that when the FBI New York office went rogue in 31 00:02:11,515 --> 00:02:15,755 Speaker 1: two thousand sixteen and went pro Trump and manipulated the 32 00:02:15,795 --> 00:02:20,115 Speaker 1: Anthony Weiner laptop story and basically blackmailed James Comey into 33 00:02:20,315 --> 00:02:24,675 Speaker 1: reopening both Pandora's box and but her emails. While that 34 00:02:24,995 --> 00:02:28,635 Speaker 1: was happening, the key man at the FBI in New 35 00:02:28,715 --> 00:02:34,075 Speaker 1: York investigating Old Egg derri Posca was maybe already getting 36 00:02:34,115 --> 00:02:38,195 Speaker 1: money from Old Egg derri Posca, and Paul Manafort owed 37 00:02:38,435 --> 00:02:41,715 Speaker 1: Old Egg derri Posca money, and Paul Manafort was Donald 38 00:02:41,755 --> 00:02:47,675 Speaker 1: Trump's campaign manager for free. It's a lot of dots. 39 00:02:49,355 --> 00:02:52,235 Speaker 1: This is the legitimacy the New York Times can, when 40 00:02:52,275 --> 00:02:55,755 Speaker 1: it is not stepping on its own private parts, still bestow. 41 00:02:56,515 --> 00:03:00,155 Speaker 1: It can state the raw facts of mcgonagall's indictment in Albania, 42 00:03:00,235 --> 00:03:03,755 Speaker 1: and two paragraphs later it can quote the former FBI 43 00:03:03,875 --> 00:03:09,475 Speaker 1: counterintelligence official Holden triplet as saying, quote, it puts a 44 00:03:09,595 --> 00:03:13,595 Speaker 1: question mark next to everything he McGonagall was involved in. 45 00:03:13,875 --> 00:03:17,995 Speaker 1: You'd be trying to figure out, Okay, when did this 46 00:03:18,195 --> 00:03:24,075 Speaker 1: start and what did he touch after it started? Going 47 00:03:24,155 --> 00:03:27,915 Speaker 1: back and thinking about what the damage could be is painful. 48 00:03:30,075 --> 00:03:32,675 Speaker 1: After forty six years of dealing as a professional with 49 00:03:32,755 --> 00:03:35,755 Speaker 1: virtually every news organization in this country, and working for 50 00:03:35,875 --> 00:03:38,595 Speaker 1: nearly every news organization in this country, I do not 51 00:03:38,795 --> 00:03:41,715 Speaker 1: believe any of them say, well, we have the whole 52 00:03:41,755 --> 00:03:43,995 Speaker 1: picture here in the office, so let's make sure whatever 53 00:03:44,035 --> 00:03:46,075 Speaker 1: we do we do not show the whole picture all 54 00:03:46,115 --> 00:03:49,635 Speaker 1: at once. Let's parcel it out. They do not do that. 55 00:03:50,315 --> 00:03:54,315 Speaker 1: That kind of thinking is q and on. But the 56 00:03:54,515 --> 00:03:59,195 Speaker 1: sources for stories like the New York Times extraordinary piece 57 00:03:59,195 --> 00:04:03,955 Speaker 1: on McGonagall do exactly that, and always have. You only 58 00:04:03,995 --> 00:04:06,635 Speaker 1: have to read all the President's men to recognize at 59 00:04:06,715 --> 00:04:10,435 Speaker 1: once that nearly all the evidence and information that the 60 00:04:10,475 --> 00:04:14,555 Speaker 1: source deep Throat, the FBI's then associate director, their number two, 61 00:04:14,555 --> 00:04:19,435 Speaker 1: Guy Mark, felt had in his hands on June two 62 00:04:20,315 --> 00:04:22,315 Speaker 1: was all the evidence he would ever have in his hands. 63 00:04:22,475 --> 00:04:24,395 Speaker 1: That was the first day he talked to Bob Woodward. 64 00:04:24,475 --> 00:04:27,475 Speaker 1: He did not share the last of all that evidence 65 00:04:28,315 --> 00:04:33,595 Speaker 1: until March nineteen seventy three, nearly a year later. The 66 00:04:33,635 --> 00:04:38,475 Speaker 1: earliest crimes of which Mr McGonagall is accused right Raschbauman, Rothfeld, 67 00:04:38,475 --> 00:04:42,715 Speaker 1: and Vogel in the Times date to August two thousand seventeen, 68 00:04:43,115 --> 00:04:48,435 Speaker 1: but the FBI's damage assessment likely is looking back much further. 69 00:04:48,795 --> 00:04:52,715 Speaker 1: Former officials said that he may have lied while with 70 00:04:52,995 --> 00:04:56,755 Speaker 1: the bureau about his acceptance of cash from a business associate, 71 00:04:56,795 --> 00:05:00,995 Speaker 1: and contact with foreign individuals has also raised concerns about 72 00:05:02,155 --> 00:05:09,995 Speaker 1: the breadth and duration and of his possible deceptions. I 73 00:05:10,075 --> 00:05:13,715 Speaker 1: have written sentences like that. Let me translate this one. 74 00:05:14,475 --> 00:05:18,675 Speaker 1: He's under indictment for taking cash from a representative of 75 00:05:18,835 --> 00:05:22,155 Speaker 1: one foreign government while he was still working with the FBI. 76 00:05:23,275 --> 00:05:25,995 Speaker 1: We now have to assume he could have taken cash 77 00:05:26,315 --> 00:05:30,355 Speaker 1: from a representative of a different foreign government. That's what 78 00:05:30,675 --> 00:05:34,355 Speaker 1: the word breadth means in this context. And we just 79 00:05:34,555 --> 00:05:38,235 Speaker 1: haven't found evidence of it yet. And where should we 80 00:05:38,235 --> 00:05:41,675 Speaker 1: start looking for that evidence? How about involving the foreigner. 81 00:05:41,755 --> 00:05:46,435 Speaker 1: He's also under indictment for taking money from later. That's 82 00:05:46,475 --> 00:05:49,995 Speaker 1: what duration refers to in this context. Concerns about the 83 00:05:50,035 --> 00:05:54,155 Speaker 1: breadth and duration of his possible deceptions means the FBI 84 00:05:54,235 --> 00:05:57,195 Speaker 1: and the Department of Justice are investigating right now this 85 00:05:57,275 --> 00:05:59,835 Speaker 1: morning whether or not Charles McGonagall got any money from 86 00:05:59,835 --> 00:06:03,075 Speaker 1: Oleg Deri Posca or any other Russian while McGonagall still 87 00:06:03,075 --> 00:06:07,675 Speaker 1: worked at the FBI. And the bending over backwards to 88 00:06:07,755 --> 00:06:10,595 Speaker 1: make sure it is not phrased that way in the 89 00:06:10,595 --> 00:06:14,675 Speaker 1: New York Flipping Times is what happens when a source says, 90 00:06:14,875 --> 00:06:17,715 Speaker 1: look this, this is what we are doing. If you 91 00:06:17,955 --> 00:06:20,715 Speaker 1: say we are doing this, they will know it was 92 00:06:20,795 --> 00:06:23,515 Speaker 1: me what told you. So you gotta hide it and 93 00:06:23,555 --> 00:06:25,915 Speaker 1: blur it and fuzz it up. So let's work on 94 00:06:25,995 --> 00:06:30,915 Speaker 1: how you can say it. There are a lot of 95 00:06:30,955 --> 00:06:33,795 Speaker 1: other hands dropped into this New York Times piece, almost 96 00:06:33,875 --> 00:06:37,595 Speaker 1: buried within it that should set alarm bells ringing everywhere, 97 00:06:37,755 --> 00:06:42,835 Speaker 1: especially in Trump Landia. Quote. Mr mcgonagall's high ranking role 98 00:06:42,915 --> 00:06:46,635 Speaker 1: would have given him a wide view of what was 99 00:06:46,675 --> 00:06:51,755 Speaker 1: happening across the agency and intelligence community. The article continues, 100 00:06:52,595 --> 00:06:55,355 Speaker 1: that's not tough to translate. This is confirmation of the 101 00:06:55,395 --> 00:06:59,195 Speaker 1: known chronology. Mcdonagall was in the Bureau in Washington as 102 00:06:59,235 --> 00:07:02,355 Speaker 1: the Trump events culminating in the Komi letter and the 103 00:07:02,435 --> 00:07:05,555 Speaker 1: Times owned tragic and false clearing of Trump in Russia 104 00:07:05,715 --> 00:07:09,395 Speaker 1: at the end of October two thousand sixteen happened, and 105 00:07:09,475 --> 00:07:15,195 Speaker 1: he was detailed to New York on October two. And 106 00:07:15,275 --> 00:07:18,595 Speaker 1: one of the Times sources is reminding you that McGonagall 107 00:07:18,675 --> 00:07:24,275 Speaker 1: knew damn well, quote what was happening across the agency 108 00:07:24,635 --> 00:07:28,515 Speaker 1: in October two thousand sixteen, like in any other month 109 00:07:28,595 --> 00:07:32,075 Speaker 1: where he was so prominent in the bureau. And if 110 00:07:32,115 --> 00:07:34,875 Speaker 1: you still somehow have not read between the lines, the 111 00:07:34,955 --> 00:07:39,955 Speaker 1: Time sources are kind enough to now show you their math. Literally. 112 00:07:40,715 --> 00:07:44,075 Speaker 1: McGonagall retired from the FBI in two thousand eighteen. The 113 00:07:44,155 --> 00:07:48,355 Speaker 1: Times writes quote that the suspected crimes occurred shortly before 114 00:07:48,395 --> 00:07:53,075 Speaker 1: his retirement, suggests Mr mcdonagall might have started or increased 115 00:07:53,155 --> 00:08:00,515 Speaker 1: illicit activities after taking the last of his required polygraph tests, 116 00:08:00,715 --> 00:08:07,275 Speaker 1: which are supposed to be administered every five years. Mm hmm. 117 00:08:08,995 --> 00:08:11,875 Speaker 1: This is advanced math. But I was once mistaken for 118 00:08:11,915 --> 00:08:14,275 Speaker 1: a math prodigy. Let me see if I can do this. 119 00:08:14,955 --> 00:08:24,475 Speaker 1: Two thousand eighteen minus five is carrying on ginist slept 120 00:08:24,515 --> 00:08:29,355 Speaker 1: through the entirety of tenth grade. Two thousand thirteen, the 121 00:08:29,475 --> 00:08:33,035 Speaker 1: FBI New York Office became trump Landia in the phrase 122 00:08:33,075 --> 00:08:36,595 Speaker 1: Greg Olier wrote about in two thousand sixteen. Even if 123 00:08:36,675 --> 00:08:39,515 Speaker 1: McGonagall took his last lie detective test in two thousand 124 00:08:39,595 --> 00:08:42,635 Speaker 1: fourteen or two thousand fifteen, that leaves plenty of space 125 00:08:42,715 --> 00:08:46,475 Speaker 1: on the timeline for him to be suspected of working 126 00:08:46,515 --> 00:08:52,035 Speaker 1: for Manaforts Russian in two thousand sixteen. Just in case 127 00:08:52,075 --> 00:08:55,155 Speaker 1: you're reading that, we're listening to this and beginning to 128 00:08:55,155 --> 00:08:58,675 Speaker 1: think Russia, Russia, Russia, Trump Trump Trump McGonagall McGonagall o 129 00:08:58,715 --> 00:09:01,155 Speaker 1: mc gonagal. But you're saying no, no, no, no no, 130 00:09:01,795 --> 00:09:05,595 Speaker 1: I've been led down this path before. No way. The 131 00:09:05,675 --> 00:09:10,155 Speaker 1: next paragraph contains one sentence, floating out there adrift in 132 00:09:10,195 --> 00:09:13,515 Speaker 1: a labyrinthine and on the record analysis of the money 133 00:09:13,595 --> 00:09:16,755 Speaker 1: McGonagall took from the Albanian while he was still at 134 00:09:16,755 --> 00:09:21,715 Speaker 1: the FBI, And that one sentence is quote Robert P. Hansen, 135 00:09:22,395 --> 00:09:27,035 Speaker 1: the FBI agent turned spy who fed classified information to 136 00:09:28,315 --> 00:09:31,995 Speaker 1: Russia for two decades and is serving a life sentence. 137 00:09:32,275 --> 00:09:37,115 Speaker 1: Began cooperating with the Russians in the late nineteen seventies 138 00:09:37,155 --> 00:09:41,995 Speaker 1: while in a counter intelligence unit in New York. Unquote, 139 00:09:41,995 --> 00:09:44,195 Speaker 1: oh wait, where did mcdonagall work New York? And what 140 00:09:44,395 --> 00:09:47,515 Speaker 1: unit counter intelligence? What was his job? Encounter intelligence? He 141 00:09:47,595 --> 00:09:50,475 Speaker 1: was Special Agents in charge of the counter Intelligence division 142 00:09:50,475 --> 00:09:52,515 Speaker 1: for the New York Field Office. That's what it says 143 00:09:52,515 --> 00:09:57,355 Speaker 1: in the press release issued on October four, two thousand sixteen. Hintintintintintint, 144 00:09:59,715 --> 00:10:03,035 Speaker 1: just happened to pull out of all the American spies 145 00:10:03,155 --> 00:10:06,395 Speaker 1: ever in the FBI just happened to pull out Robert Hansen, 146 00:10:06,795 --> 00:10:10,915 Speaker 1: the FBI agent in the counter intelligence office who sold 147 00:10:10,915 --> 00:10:16,115 Speaker 1: out to the Russians. If you are still with the Times, 148 00:10:16,875 --> 00:10:21,595 Speaker 1: here in paragraph number thirty six, the Times buries what 149 00:10:21,795 --> 00:10:25,395 Speaker 1: is not now the lead but could very shortly become it. 150 00:10:25,875 --> 00:10:30,035 Speaker 1: I'll just read this. It's kind of short quote. After 151 00:10:30,115 --> 00:10:32,835 Speaker 1: leaving the FBI, Mr mcdonagall went to work where Mr 152 00:10:32,915 --> 00:10:37,235 Speaker 1: Derri Pasca, the sanctioned oligarch, according to the New York indictment, 153 00:10:37,795 --> 00:10:40,755 Speaker 1: but it was not his first encounter with Mr Derri 154 00:10:40,835 --> 00:10:46,115 Speaker 1: Pasca's circle. Prosecutors suggested that Mr mcdonagall began wooing Mr 155 00:10:46,155 --> 00:10:51,435 Speaker 1: Derrick Pasca shortly before his retirement. In two thousand eighteen, 156 00:10:51,915 --> 00:10:55,675 Speaker 1: he helped the daughter of an employee of Mr Derrick 157 00:10:55,715 --> 00:11:00,275 Speaker 1: Pasca get an internship with the New York Police Department. 158 00:11:00,395 --> 00:11:03,835 Speaker 1: According to the New York indictment, Mr McGonagall explained to 159 00:11:03,835 --> 00:11:08,035 Speaker 1: another FBI official that the girl's father was a Russian 160 00:11:08,155 --> 00:11:14,355 Speaker 1: intelligence officer he wanted to recruit, Prosecutors said in two 161 00:11:14,395 --> 00:11:18,195 Speaker 1: thousand nineteen, continuing with their times, wrote after his retirement, 162 00:11:18,275 --> 00:11:22,475 Speaker 1: Mr mcdonagall introduced Mr Derrick Posca to a law firm 163 00:11:22,515 --> 00:11:24,995 Speaker 1: that would seek to get his sanctions lifted, and Mr 164 00:11:25,035 --> 00:11:28,515 Speaker 1: mcdonagall was paid twenty five thousand dollars a month through 165 00:11:28,555 --> 00:11:32,195 Speaker 1: March by Mr Derrick Posca through the law firm as 166 00:11:32,235 --> 00:11:35,915 Speaker 1: a consultant. According to the indictment, the work stopped at 167 00:11:35,955 --> 00:11:40,595 Speaker 1: the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. In one Mr mcdonagall 168 00:11:40,715 --> 00:11:45,195 Speaker 1: and his associate, Mr. Shastakov negotiated a deal with the 169 00:11:45,275 --> 00:11:48,835 Speaker 1: Derrick Pasca employee whose daughter got the police internship to 170 00:11:48,955 --> 00:11:53,755 Speaker 1: work for Mr Derrick Posca to investigate a rival Oligarc unquote. 171 00:11:55,555 --> 00:12:00,835 Speaker 1: So here in the late thirties of paragraphs, nearly at 172 00:12:00,875 --> 00:12:05,475 Speaker 1: the end of this odyssey, this remark couples story from 173 00:12:05,475 --> 00:12:08,755 Speaker 1: The New York Times, which began by hinting that there 174 00:12:08,755 --> 00:12:12,835 Speaker 1: were FBNI and Justice Department officials and ex officials who 175 00:12:12,915 --> 00:12:15,875 Speaker 1: knew the lay of the land, who were now looking 176 00:12:15,875 --> 00:12:19,315 Speaker 1: for evidence that maybe Charlie McGonagall was working for others 177 00:12:19,355 --> 00:12:22,715 Speaker 1: before he retired from the bureau. That's the way the 178 00:12:22,835 --> 00:12:26,435 Speaker 1: article began. But here at the end, where you're now told, well, yeah, 179 00:12:26,595 --> 00:12:30,835 Speaker 1: there is evidence that he did that. In two thousand eighteen, 180 00:12:31,395 --> 00:12:34,395 Speaker 1: he just happens to be getting this daughter of one 181 00:12:34,395 --> 00:12:37,835 Speaker 1: of Derrick Pasca's employees an internship in the New York 182 00:12:37,835 --> 00:12:41,635 Speaker 1: City Police Department. And though mcgonagall's got this excuse he 183 00:12:41,675 --> 00:12:46,035 Speaker 1: wanted to flip her dad Derrick Posca's employee, Derrick Posca's employee, 184 00:12:46,035 --> 00:12:50,395 Speaker 1: who he says was a Russian intelligence officer. And then 185 00:12:50,475 --> 00:12:52,595 Speaker 1: three years later, when Derrick Posca is looking for somebody 186 00:12:52,595 --> 00:12:56,595 Speaker 1: to investigate a rival Oligarch, here's the guy whose daughter 187 00:12:56,675 --> 00:12:59,795 Speaker 1: got the police internship. Only mcdonagall is not turning this 188 00:12:59,875 --> 00:13:04,835 Speaker 1: Russian guy into an American asset. The Russian intelligence officer 189 00:13:05,475 --> 00:13:08,875 Speaker 1: is hiring McGonagall and making him into a Russian asset. 190 00:13:11,155 --> 00:13:13,755 Speaker 1: Let me just strip that down one more time. By 191 00:13:13,795 --> 00:13:16,955 Speaker 1: two thousand eighteen, while he's still at the FBI, McGonagall, 192 00:13:17,075 --> 00:13:20,875 Speaker 1: who had been investigating Olelegg derri Posca, is now tight 193 00:13:21,035 --> 00:13:23,955 Speaker 1: enough with the people around Oleg derri Posca that he 194 00:13:23,995 --> 00:13:27,835 Speaker 1: knows Oleg Derrick Posca's employee is a Russian intelligence officer, 195 00:13:27,955 --> 00:13:31,995 Speaker 1: a spy. And McGonagall thinks that Derrick posca employee is 196 00:13:32,035 --> 00:13:35,915 Speaker 1: so ready to start working for American intelligence that he 197 00:13:35,955 --> 00:13:40,235 Speaker 1: could be swede if McGonagall can only get his daughter 198 00:13:41,675 --> 00:13:47,235 Speaker 1: an internship. So at the FBI, McGonagall already knows at 199 00:13:47,315 --> 00:13:51,515 Speaker 1: least one Derri Posca employee. He already knows this employee 200 00:13:51,715 --> 00:13:55,275 Speaker 1: is in Russian intelligence. He already knows this employee's daughter 201 00:13:55,635 --> 00:13:58,075 Speaker 1: wants an internship and wants it at the New York 202 00:13:58,115 --> 00:14:02,035 Speaker 1: Police Department. And then within three years, the Russian intelligence 203 00:14:02,075 --> 00:14:08,635 Speaker 1: officer is hiring McGonagall. Because McGonagall getting an internship for 204 00:14:08,635 --> 00:14:10,715 Speaker 1: the Russians daughter is not enough to get the Russians 205 00:14:10,835 --> 00:14:14,115 Speaker 1: spy to defect to the United States, but it was 206 00:14:14,275 --> 00:14:17,275 Speaker 1: enough three years later to get the Russian spy to 207 00:14:17,475 --> 00:14:22,675 Speaker 1: hire McGonagall to work for Derra Posca again. Now me, 208 00:14:23,995 --> 00:14:27,235 Speaker 1: that's my lead in this story, but I'm not at 209 00:14:27,275 --> 00:14:29,715 Speaker 1: the times. No, I don't know if they were scared. 210 00:14:30,875 --> 00:14:34,155 Speaker 1: I tend to doubt that, which means I think the 211 00:14:34,195 --> 00:14:36,515 Speaker 1: only other excuse for it would be they did it 212 00:14:36,595 --> 00:14:39,715 Speaker 1: this way intentionally. And if they did it this way intentionally, 213 00:14:39,715 --> 00:14:42,395 Speaker 1: it is to protect and thank their sources. And if 214 00:14:42,435 --> 00:14:45,555 Speaker 1: they are protecting and thanking their sources, it's because their 215 00:14:45,555 --> 00:14:49,795 Speaker 1: sources have more information later. And it means that when 216 00:14:49,835 --> 00:14:52,515 Speaker 1: I have that sinking feeling that we are watching the 217 00:14:52,555 --> 00:14:56,275 Speaker 1: proverbial drip, drip drip, the slow reveal of something as 218 00:14:56,275 --> 00:15:00,515 Speaker 1: shocking as just to pick something at random. McGonagall was 219 00:15:00,555 --> 00:15:03,555 Speaker 1: already working for dry Posca before the two thousand sixteen 220 00:15:03,595 --> 00:15:08,555 Speaker 1: presidential election, while he was still inside the FBI. Yeah, 221 00:15:08,555 --> 00:15:12,395 Speaker 1: it's it's my feeling those details must kind of be 222 00:15:12,635 --> 00:15:17,155 Speaker 1: parceled out, and and when I have that feeling, it's 223 00:15:17,235 --> 00:15:36,235 Speaker 1: only my opinion, but I'm right still ahead. So a 224 00:15:36,315 --> 00:15:41,995 Speaker 1: Republican congressman now confirms the Defense Department breathed Congress that 225 00:15:42,075 --> 00:15:45,715 Speaker 1: there were at least five sightings of Chinese fine balloons 226 00:15:47,235 --> 00:15:51,995 Speaker 1: from United States States during the Trump administration. But when 227 00:15:52,035 --> 00:15:55,115 Speaker 1: a different Republican congressman tells Chuck it's odd that that 228 00:15:55,235 --> 00:15:59,515 Speaker 1: is a lie, Chuck says, Okay, let me tell you 229 00:15:59,515 --> 00:16:01,755 Speaker 1: about what it was like to work with Chuck and 230 00:16:01,795 --> 00:16:04,995 Speaker 1: to be in a fantasy football league with Chuck in ings. 231 00:16:05,075 --> 00:16:09,915 Speaker 1: I promised not to tell Schmuck Todd. The National Hockey 232 00:16:09,995 --> 00:16:12,395 Speaker 1: League is just gonna pretend it has not endorsed making 233 00:16:12,475 --> 00:16:15,795 Speaker 1: room for players who subscribe to a religion that says 234 00:16:15,835 --> 00:16:20,235 Speaker 1: it's okay to kill Ukrainians because their country has pride parades. 235 00:16:20,635 --> 00:16:23,715 Speaker 1: It is a huge scandal in hockey, and I suspect 236 00:16:23,715 --> 00:16:27,035 Speaker 1: it's going to consume the entire season. And that missing 237 00:16:27,195 --> 00:16:31,115 Speaker 1: eagle owl in Central Park in New York City, well 238 00:16:31,515 --> 00:16:35,115 Speaker 1: he's not missing. I saw him yesterday. In fact, he's 239 00:16:35,155 --> 00:16:38,635 Speaker 1: my new neighbor. Also, he showed up at my bank, 240 00:16:39,315 --> 00:16:44,355 Speaker 1: No seriously, at my branch, not a tree branch, a 241 00:16:44,435 --> 00:16:48,755 Speaker 1: bank branch. He showed up at my bank branch. That's next. 242 00:16:49,515 --> 00:16:57,795 Speaker 1: This is countdown. This is countdown with Keith old Woman. 243 00:17:01,795 --> 00:17:05,155 Speaker 1: Postscripts to the news some headlines, some updates, some snarks, 244 00:17:05,235 --> 00:17:08,635 Speaker 1: some predictions Los Angeles. They held the Grammy Awards last night. 245 00:17:08,635 --> 00:17:12,275 Speaker 1: I'll be damned if I know why. Washington, the Trump 246 00:17:12,315 --> 00:17:15,275 Speaker 1: docu drama roars back to life. The do o J 247 00:17:15,435 --> 00:17:18,195 Speaker 1: and the Director of National Intelligence have unofficially offered the 248 00:17:18,235 --> 00:17:21,515 Speaker 1: so called Gang of eight House and Senate leaders and 249 00:17:21,675 --> 00:17:26,235 Speaker 1: Intel Committee chairman a closed door briefing about what exactly 250 00:17:26,355 --> 00:17:30,955 Speaker 1: Trump stole, an overview of the three classified documents found 251 00:17:30,955 --> 00:17:34,715 Speaker 1: at Mari Lago and elsewhere. Nothing is set yet on this, 252 00:17:34,795 --> 00:17:39,475 Speaker 1: and a reminder first go to Bedminster dig up Ivana 253 00:17:39,555 --> 00:17:43,155 Speaker 1: because in this scandal, we literally all know where the 254 00:17:43,235 --> 00:17:49,115 Speaker 1: bodies are buried. Dateline, Washington. Jim Jordan has gotten the letter. 255 00:17:49,435 --> 00:17:53,755 Speaker 1: Assistant Attorney General Carlos Rarte has spelled out the circumstances 256 00:17:53,795 --> 00:17:56,995 Speaker 1: under which Jordan's witch hunt can see or hear stuff 257 00:17:57,035 --> 00:18:01,835 Speaker 1: from Justice. Short version. Those circumstances are when hell has 258 00:18:01,955 --> 00:18:06,875 Speaker 1: frozen over the actual terms or any engagement. You get 259 00:18:06,955 --> 00:18:11,635 Speaker 1: nothing on active investigations. You may only hear from senior supervisors. 260 00:18:11,875 --> 00:18:15,715 Speaker 1: You must prioritize your requests, not all will be granted, 261 00:18:15,915 --> 00:18:18,555 Speaker 1: and if you have a hearing, you want somebody there 262 00:18:19,075 --> 00:18:23,275 Speaker 1: two weeks notice or you'll get nothing and You'll like it. Dateline, 263 00:18:23,315 --> 00:18:26,395 Speaker 1: Los Angeles. The actor Charles Kimbro has died. He played 264 00:18:26,395 --> 00:18:31,155 Speaker 1: anchorman Jim Dial in the CBS Candice Bergen series Murphy Brown, 265 00:18:31,195 --> 00:18:33,915 Speaker 1: and I can tell you I once had the accidental 266 00:18:33,955 --> 00:18:37,395 Speaker 1: privilege of meeting him and telling him on board of 267 00:18:37,435 --> 00:18:40,435 Speaker 1: New York City subway train, of all places, that, as 268 00:18:40,515 --> 00:18:43,675 Speaker 1: somebody who had himself anchored the news for twenty years, 269 00:18:43,715 --> 00:18:46,715 Speaker 1: I thought his portrayal off air and on air was 270 00:18:46,755 --> 00:18:51,795 Speaker 1: almost precise and as good as any I have ever seen. 271 00:18:52,275 --> 00:18:56,155 Speaker 1: The man blushed, his wife blushed. He shook my hand, 272 00:18:56,435 --> 00:18:58,835 Speaker 1: He shook my hand again. He shook my hand. As 273 00:18:58,875 --> 00:19:01,595 Speaker 1: I got off the train. I mentioned all this to 274 00:19:01,675 --> 00:19:05,115 Speaker 1: somebody who knew him that was him. Never really got 275 00:19:05,115 --> 00:19:07,635 Speaker 1: over his surprise that people were watching or that they 276 00:19:07,715 --> 00:19:12,035 Speaker 1: loved his work. Charles Kimbro was eighty six a Dateline 277 00:19:12,115 --> 00:19:16,355 Speaker 1: Central Park. That last word Flocco, the missing Central Park 278 00:19:16,475 --> 00:19:20,555 Speaker 1: Zoo Eurasian eagle owl is still out there in a 279 00:19:20,635 --> 00:19:24,115 Speaker 1: comparatively low branch of a tree in Central Park in 280 00:19:24,195 --> 00:19:27,715 Speaker 1: New York, roughly between the pond in the park southeast 281 00:19:27,795 --> 00:19:30,835 Speaker 1: quarter and the Woolman Ice Rink. He has been on 282 00:19:30,875 --> 00:19:33,875 Speaker 1: the loose since Thursday night, when vandals cut a hole 283 00:19:34,115 --> 00:19:37,955 Speaker 1: in his enclosure in the zoo and he flew away. 284 00:19:37,995 --> 00:19:41,155 Speaker 1: I saw him Saturday. I went down there and saw 285 00:19:41,235 --> 00:19:46,995 Speaker 1: him yesterday. He has startling orange eyes. He's got orange eyes. 286 00:19:48,155 --> 00:19:50,155 Speaker 1: And I say, he's still out there. I could go 287 00:19:50,195 --> 00:19:52,915 Speaker 1: and check. He's my neighbor. And as you say, there 288 00:19:52,955 --> 00:19:55,675 Speaker 1: goes Keith again making it about him. I'd like to 289 00:19:55,715 --> 00:20:00,075 Speaker 1: point out and when Flacco first escaped, he flew out 290 00:20:00,235 --> 00:20:03,675 Speaker 1: onto the city streets adjoining the park, and he landed 291 00:20:04,115 --> 00:20:08,075 Speaker 1: at the door or of a city bank branch, my 292 00:20:08,955 --> 00:20:14,915 Speaker 1: city bank branch. Now he's in my neighborhood. Now he's 293 00:20:14,955 --> 00:20:17,955 Speaker 1: on the path where I walk my dogs. I'm thinking 294 00:20:18,675 --> 00:20:24,355 Speaker 1: maybe he's an identity thief eagle owl. One way or another. 295 00:20:24,435 --> 00:20:29,155 Speaker 1: He's changed trees each day, and he's flown around a little. 296 00:20:40,755 --> 00:20:44,115 Speaker 1: Thank you, Nancy Faust. The good news is Flacco survived 297 00:20:44,115 --> 00:20:47,555 Speaker 1: wind chills of minus seven on Friday night. Here. The 298 00:20:47,635 --> 00:20:51,395 Speaker 1: bad news is he's been in captivity since two thousand ten. 299 00:20:51,915 --> 00:20:54,155 Speaker 1: I'm guessing that's why he went first to the bank. 300 00:20:54,635 --> 00:20:57,395 Speaker 1: This means he does not know how to hunt for food. 301 00:20:57,995 --> 00:21:00,795 Speaker 1: The good news is owls can go about two weeks 302 00:21:00,835 --> 00:21:04,515 Speaker 1: between meals. Some breeds much much longer, and the zoo 303 00:21:04,875 --> 00:21:07,995 Speaker 1: is keeping an eye on him at all times, as 304 00:21:08,155 --> 00:21:11,715 Speaker 1: am I out my window. The bad news, of course, 305 00:21:11,915 --> 00:21:16,115 Speaker 1: is the Republicans want Biden to shoot him down as well. 306 00:21:30,115 --> 00:21:36,395 Speaker 1: This is Sports Center. Wait, check that, not anymore. This 307 00:21:37,395 --> 00:21:43,555 Speaker 1: is Countdown with Keith Alberan in sports. Our condolences to 308 00:21:43,595 --> 00:21:46,875 Speaker 1: the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. They have 309 00:21:46,955 --> 00:21:51,035 Speaker 1: traded for anti Semitic, flat earther, conspiracy theorist, and anti 310 00:21:51,115 --> 00:21:57,155 Speaker 1: maxer Kyrie Irving, sending Dorian Finney Smith Spencer Dinwitty first 311 00:21:58,475 --> 00:22:02,515 Speaker 1: and seconds to the Brooklyn Nets for him and another player. 312 00:22:02,955 --> 00:22:06,115 Speaker 1: This is especially big news for Kyrie Irving because, on 313 00:22:06,155 --> 00:22:08,635 Speaker 1: top of the rest of that crap, he has stated 314 00:22:08,955 --> 00:22:11,795 Speaker 1: he believes that John F. Kennedy was killed because he 315 00:22:11,875 --> 00:22:16,915 Speaker 1: wanted to end the banking cartel. Now Kyrie can drive 316 00:22:16,955 --> 00:22:19,715 Speaker 1: over to Deely Plaza and see the place of Kennedy's 317 00:22:19,715 --> 00:22:23,515 Speaker 1: assassination for himself, and then believe whatever the hell he 318 00:22:23,595 --> 00:22:26,715 Speaker 1: wants to believe anyway, because that's what stupid people like 319 00:22:26,915 --> 00:22:30,235 Speaker 1: him do. Hockey's All Star break is over, and the 320 00:22:30,275 --> 00:22:33,515 Speaker 1: sport roars back into business with Commissioner Gary Bettman under 321 00:22:33,555 --> 00:22:37,315 Speaker 1: the mistaken impression that the biggest cultural scandal in hockey 322 00:22:37,355 --> 00:22:42,755 Speaker 1: in a decade just went away. The NHL completely screwed 323 00:22:42,875 --> 00:22:46,315 Speaker 1: up Pride Night in Philadelphia and then somehow made it 324 00:22:46,395 --> 00:22:49,475 Speaker 1: worse in New York. A Philly player was able to 325 00:22:49,555 --> 00:22:53,355 Speaker 1: hide behind his religion, which says the Russians are justified 326 00:22:53,395 --> 00:22:58,115 Speaker 1: in trying to destroy Ukraine because Ukraine has Pride parades 327 00:22:58,195 --> 00:23:02,235 Speaker 1: there and he was not forced or even asked to 328 00:23:02,355 --> 00:23:05,555 Speaker 1: explain why he did not take the minimum step of 329 00:23:05,675 --> 00:23:08,275 Speaker 1: just wearing a warm up jersey with his number in 330 00:23:08,435 --> 00:23:13,515 Speaker 1: rainbow colors. Then the New York Rangers bailed out completely 331 00:23:13,635 --> 00:23:16,475 Speaker 1: minutes before their team was to wear the same kind 332 00:23:16,515 --> 00:23:20,635 Speaker 1: of uniforms on their seventh Pride Night. Yet Commissioner Gary 333 00:23:20,675 --> 00:23:24,355 Speaker 1: Bettman now says the two Pride nights were great and quote, 334 00:23:24,635 --> 00:23:28,195 Speaker 1: we also have to respect some individual choice and some 335 00:23:28,395 --> 00:23:32,235 Speaker 1: people are more comfortable embracing themselves in causes than others. 336 00:23:32,515 --> 00:23:37,795 Speaker 1: And part of being diverse and welcoming is understanding those differences. Unquote. 337 00:23:38,875 --> 00:23:43,675 Speaker 1: The hell it is, Commissioner, You're completely wrong, completely wrong. 338 00:23:44,195 --> 00:23:47,795 Speaker 1: The diversity you are welcoming in this case is this 339 00:23:48,155 --> 00:23:51,955 Speaker 1: big group of people's hatred of gay people, and this 340 00:23:52,115 --> 00:23:57,035 Speaker 1: so called religion, Russian Orthodox wants gay people and those 341 00:23:57,075 --> 00:24:00,955 Speaker 1: who defend them to be killed and their countries destroyed. 342 00:24:01,235 --> 00:24:05,915 Speaker 1: That is not diversity, it's ethnic cleansing. You are proclaiming 343 00:24:05,955 --> 00:24:11,155 Speaker 1: that the National Hockey League, Gary Bettman has room for murderers. 344 00:24:11,595 --> 00:24:13,675 Speaker 1: You may want to go through this again with some 345 00:24:13,795 --> 00:24:17,635 Speaker 1: of your idiot advisers. Let's try this one as an example. 346 00:24:17,955 --> 00:24:20,435 Speaker 1: I just joined a new religion last night, and this 347 00:24:20,515 --> 00:24:24,515 Speaker 1: religion says Russia is evil and America and Canada should 348 00:24:24,555 --> 00:24:28,075 Speaker 1: never let any Russian citizens stay or work here. So 349 00:24:28,395 --> 00:24:32,315 Speaker 1: if this is about diversity and accepting all opinions, you, 350 00:24:32,515 --> 00:24:36,075 Speaker 1: Commissioner Bettman, have to let me participate in events at 351 00:24:36,115 --> 00:24:39,195 Speaker 1: your games, at which I will demand that you expel 352 00:24:39,675 --> 00:24:44,635 Speaker 1: alex Ovechkin, Ivan provarov, Igor Shasterkin, the goalie, and all 353 00:24:44,715 --> 00:24:48,915 Speaker 1: the other Russians from the league, because you know it's 354 00:24:48,955 --> 00:25:06,595 Speaker 1: a religion. Now, the daily roundup of the misgrants, morons 355 00:25:06,635 --> 00:25:11,035 Speaker 1: and Donning Kruger effects specimens who constitute today's worst persons 356 00:25:11,075 --> 00:25:16,435 Speaker 1: in the world. The Bronze your Supreme Court of Religion 357 00:25:16,515 --> 00:25:23,395 Speaker 1: of the United States, Scrotus, CNN reporting that long before 358 00:25:23,475 --> 00:25:29,235 Speaker 1: somebody leaked the Roe v. Wade opinion draft, security at 359 00:25:29,275 --> 00:25:34,435 Speaker 1: Scrotus had basically evaporated. Justices were transferring ultra secret things 360 00:25:34,475 --> 00:25:40,475 Speaker 1: like you know, opinion drafts via personal email instead of 361 00:25:40,515 --> 00:25:43,315 Speaker 1: by secure servers that had been set up for them. 362 00:25:43,355 --> 00:25:46,395 Speaker 1: The court also used printers that produced no logs or 363 00:25:46,435 --> 00:25:49,795 Speaker 1: other tracking methods and could print in other places, and 364 00:25:49,875 --> 00:25:53,635 Speaker 1: while there were burn bags for sensitive materials, they were 365 00:25:53,715 --> 00:26:01,355 Speaker 1: usually just left open, unsecured in hallways. Runner up Jenna 366 00:26:01,395 --> 00:26:04,675 Speaker 1: Ellis is sometimes Trump lawyer. She tweeted then quickly delete 367 00:26:04,835 --> 00:26:07,115 Speaker 1: an image of a woman in a bathroom at Los 368 00:26:07,115 --> 00:26:11,235 Speaker 1: Angeles International Airport quote breaking l a X is installing 369 00:26:11,395 --> 00:26:15,315 Speaker 1: urinals in the women's bathrooms, she wrote. Turns out no, 370 00:26:16,355 --> 00:26:18,835 Speaker 1: l a X is not doing that. It is reconstructing 371 00:26:18,875 --> 00:26:21,755 Speaker 1: part of a terminal, and it is converting one women's 372 00:26:21,795 --> 00:26:25,715 Speaker 1: bathroom into a men's bathroom, which would explain the urinals 373 00:26:26,395 --> 00:26:29,915 Speaker 1: when as somebody who identifies herself as quote America's lawyer, 374 00:26:30,555 --> 00:26:33,555 Speaker 1: Jenna Ellis probably should have known the tweeting an image 375 00:26:33,555 --> 00:26:35,835 Speaker 1: of a woman in a bathroom is an open and 376 00:26:35,955 --> 00:26:39,075 Speaker 1: shut violation of the woman's privacy, and it might be 377 00:26:39,155 --> 00:26:43,475 Speaker 1: worse than that. Please somebody sue Jenna Ellis for every 378 00:26:43,515 --> 00:26:51,755 Speaker 1: dollar she isn't worth. America's lawyer, try America's moron, but 379 00:26:51,835 --> 00:26:56,035 Speaker 1: our winner, and it's a tie first. James t Already, 380 00:26:56,195 --> 00:26:59,275 Speaker 1: Doug Cameron and a runa of Viswanatha of the Wall 381 00:26:59,315 --> 00:27:03,555 Speaker 1: Street Journal quote the appearance of a possible Chinese reconnaissance 382 00:27:03,595 --> 00:27:07,155 Speaker 1: craft and US airs base raises the specter of a 383 00:27:07,195 --> 00:27:11,115 Speaker 1: balloon gap being potentially added to a list of concerns 384 00:27:11,155 --> 00:27:13,795 Speaker 1: about China, and the headline for their piece was Chinese 385 00:27:13,835 --> 00:27:18,635 Speaker 1: craft raises fears of a balloon gap in intelligence gathering. 386 00:27:19,315 --> 00:27:26,915 Speaker 1: It is balloon and besides f troop. If suddenly you 387 00:27:26,955 --> 00:27:30,475 Speaker 1: are hearing George C. Scott as General Buck Turgidson from 388 00:27:30,595 --> 00:27:34,755 Speaker 1: Dr Strangelove warning about a post apocalyptic mind shaft gap, 389 00:27:35,435 --> 00:27:37,595 Speaker 1: a mind shaft gap. We have to prevent a mind 390 00:27:37,595 --> 00:27:41,275 Speaker 1: shaft gap. You're not alone sharing the honors at the 391 00:27:41,315 --> 00:27:45,275 Speaker 1: Wall Street Gap Journal. Mississippi State Senator Joel R. Carter, 392 00:27:45,715 --> 00:27:49,555 Speaker 1: who apparently thinks he is a balloon expert because coincidentally 393 00:27:49,595 --> 00:27:52,155 Speaker 1: he looks like one with a face drawn on it, 394 00:27:52,835 --> 00:27:57,435 Speaker 1: tweeting Biden administration currently and then below that a photo 395 00:27:57,515 --> 00:28:00,515 Speaker 1: of a balloon with this written on the balloon, quoting 396 00:28:00,635 --> 00:28:07,195 Speaker 1: him whether Barroon Totary not for spying, that would be 397 00:28:07,355 --> 00:28:10,675 Speaker 1: Barrun with two rs, and Totari spelled t O T 398 00:28:11,275 --> 00:28:15,595 Speaker 1: A R y. On top of this, pig Carter's cross 399 00:28:15,755 --> 00:28:20,515 Speaker 1: racism and the Wall Street Journals abject fascist imbecility. Both 400 00:28:20,595 --> 00:28:24,955 Speaker 1: of them did these things literally hours before the Chinese 401 00:28:25,035 --> 00:28:30,355 Speaker 1: balloon was shot down by the President on his orders. 402 00:28:30,635 --> 00:28:35,795 Speaker 1: Mississippi State Senator Joel R. Bars for Cracker, Carter and 403 00:28:35,915 --> 00:28:38,155 Speaker 1: the Wall Street Journal, which should really be worried about 404 00:28:38,155 --> 00:28:40,795 Speaker 1: its own We can't find any smart people to work 405 00:28:40,875 --> 00:28:50,035 Speaker 1: here gap two days, worst persons in the world, it is, 406 00:28:51,195 --> 00:29:06,835 Speaker 1: by still ahead on countdown. Chuck Todd rides again. He 407 00:29:06,955 --> 00:29:09,875 Speaker 1: asks Congressman Mike sure Biden shot it, but Trump would 408 00:29:09,875 --> 00:29:13,075 Speaker 1: have shot it sooner. Turner of Ohio about the three 409 00:29:13,195 --> 00:29:16,355 Speaker 1: Chinese balloons in US airspace while Trump was president. Turner 410 00:29:16,435 --> 00:29:19,635 Speaker 1: dismisses that as a lie. Chuck's follow up was about 411 00:29:19,635 --> 00:29:22,795 Speaker 1: the U S blocking Chinese access to the info gathered 412 00:29:22,835 --> 00:29:25,235 Speaker 1: by the balloon. He asked Turner, you buy that, and 413 00:29:25,315 --> 00:29:29,435 Speaker 1: Turner said no, and clearly you don't either. Schmuck Todd 414 00:29:29,635 --> 00:29:33,235 Speaker 1: rides again the inside story of working with this idiot. Next. 415 00:29:34,035 --> 00:29:36,155 Speaker 1: First in each edition of Countdown, we feature a dog 416 00:29:36,235 --> 00:29:38,355 Speaker 1: in need you can help. Every dog has its day 417 00:29:39,035 --> 00:29:41,435 Speaker 1: here in New York. Andre only got to the pound 418 00:29:41,475 --> 00:29:44,635 Speaker 1: a week ago yesterday. He's already on death row. He's sociable, 419 00:29:44,795 --> 00:29:48,275 Speaker 1: easy going with people, doesn't act like a pity, but 420 00:29:48,355 --> 00:29:50,155 Speaker 1: he's terrified in the pound. He needs to be an 421 00:29:50,195 --> 00:29:53,235 Speaker 1: only dog somewhere. He's not getting pledges. He may die 422 00:29:53,315 --> 00:29:55,675 Speaker 1: at the age of two. Despite the magic words in 423 00:29:55,795 --> 00:30:00,915 Speaker 1: his right up, takes treats gently. He needs pledges to 424 00:30:00,995 --> 00:30:03,475 Speaker 1: defray rescues, cost to pull him and save him, and 425 00:30:03,555 --> 00:30:05,395 Speaker 1: train him and find him a home him. You can 426 00:30:05,435 --> 00:30:08,595 Speaker 1: find Andre on my Twitter feeds. Please retweet him and 427 00:30:08,715 --> 00:30:12,435 Speaker 1: pledge if you can. I thank you, and Andre, thanks you. 428 00:30:26,075 --> 00:30:28,355 Speaker 1: Now our number one story in the Countdown, And back 429 00:30:28,395 --> 00:30:32,635 Speaker 1: to my favorite topic, me things about my career, Things 430 00:30:32,795 --> 00:30:35,995 Speaker 1: I promised not to tell. You may be one of 431 00:30:36,035 --> 00:30:39,235 Speaker 1: the many, many listeners who have complaints about Chuck Todd 432 00:30:39,515 --> 00:30:43,115 Speaker 1: of NBC's Meet the Press. I know this because I 433 00:30:43,195 --> 00:30:46,235 Speaker 1: can read. But it is unlikely that you have ever 434 00:30:46,315 --> 00:30:49,275 Speaker 1: been able to do anything about Chuck Todd, So I 435 00:30:49,355 --> 00:30:51,715 Speaker 1: wanted to tell you of the day that I did 436 00:30:51,835 --> 00:30:54,435 Speaker 1: do something about him. That day was August eleven, two 437 00:30:54,475 --> 00:30:59,115 Speaker 1: thousand nineteen. I knew Chuck for about fifteen years early 438 00:30:59,195 --> 00:31:00,835 Speaker 1: in his career, when he was with the d C 439 00:31:01,075 --> 00:31:04,435 Speaker 1: Insider publication the Hotline. He was a frequent guest on 440 00:31:04,675 --> 00:31:07,475 Speaker 1: Out Down, and in two thousand seven, when Tim Russer 441 00:31:07,635 --> 00:31:10,315 Speaker 1: was thinking of hiring him at NBC News, mine was 442 00:31:10,395 --> 00:31:13,795 Speaker 1: one of dozens of temperatures Tim took. As Chuck later 443 00:31:13,835 --> 00:31:16,675 Speaker 1: wrote to me, quote, you certainly were a tremendous advocate 444 00:31:16,755 --> 00:31:18,995 Speaker 1: and cheerleader for me over the years, and I don't 445 00:31:19,035 --> 00:31:22,355 Speaker 1: forget that. Yeah, well that wasn't true. He forgot it 446 00:31:22,395 --> 00:31:24,915 Speaker 1: all right, But I'm veering away from the main story. 447 00:31:25,675 --> 00:31:27,875 Speaker 1: In two thousand and eight, a couple of Washington political 448 00:31:27,955 --> 00:31:31,875 Speaker 1: types started a fantasy football league. If you don't think 449 00:31:31,955 --> 00:31:35,835 Speaker 1: fantasy football leagues are important, you should know that last spring, 450 00:31:36,515 --> 00:31:40,675 Speaker 1: a major League baseball player in uniform walked up to 451 00:31:40,795 --> 00:31:44,595 Speaker 1: another major League baseball player in uniform on a Major 452 00:31:44,675 --> 00:31:48,355 Speaker 1: League baseball field with thousands of people already in the stands, 453 00:31:48,835 --> 00:31:53,395 Speaker 1: and he slapped him in the face over a roster 454 00:31:53,635 --> 00:31:56,395 Speaker 1: move that the second player had made in their fantasy 455 00:31:56,395 --> 00:31:59,755 Speaker 1: football league. The second guy had managed to retain the 456 00:31:59,915 --> 00:32:02,635 Speaker 1: rights to an injured player, and the first guy was 457 00:32:02,715 --> 00:32:05,715 Speaker 1: upset about this. So six months after their fantasy season ended, 458 00:32:06,155 --> 00:32:08,995 Speaker 1: this major league baseball player walked up and slapped the 459 00:32:09,115 --> 00:32:14,555 Speaker 1: other Major League baseball player. If slaps or duels or 460 00:32:14,715 --> 00:32:18,675 Speaker 1: kidnappings are not everyday occurrences in fantasy football, they do 461 00:32:18,875 --> 00:32:22,035 Speaker 1: represent the kind of baseline intensity of the thing. So 462 00:32:22,195 --> 00:32:25,355 Speaker 1: when I and others were approached about this Washington centric 463 00:32:25,475 --> 00:32:27,835 Speaker 1: league in two thousand eight, it was already a big deal, 464 00:32:28,315 --> 00:32:32,075 Speaker 1: even before we were all sworn to secrecy, because a 465 00:32:32,195 --> 00:32:34,675 Speaker 1: spot in the league was being held open for some 466 00:32:34,995 --> 00:32:39,035 Speaker 1: DC guy named Barack Obama. It turned out he did 467 00:32:39,115 --> 00:32:42,755 Speaker 1: not join our league, some excuse about too much work, 468 00:32:43,115 --> 00:32:46,675 Speaker 1: when obviously he was just afraid of my fantasy football skills. 469 00:32:47,475 --> 00:32:49,835 Speaker 1: But some people in his white House did join the league, 470 00:32:50,075 --> 00:32:52,515 Speaker 1: and I still will not identify them, because the premise 471 00:32:52,555 --> 00:32:55,075 Speaker 1: of this league was the first rule of Fantasy football 472 00:32:55,115 --> 00:32:57,675 Speaker 1: club is you do not talk about fantasy football club. 473 00:32:58,235 --> 00:33:00,275 Speaker 1: I will say that Chuck Todd, like me, was an 474 00:33:00,355 --> 00:33:04,315 Speaker 1: original player. We call ourselves owners because we are nuts, 475 00:33:04,715 --> 00:33:07,115 Speaker 1: and it's a fantasy It's in the title Fantasy Football 476 00:33:07,395 --> 00:33:11,155 Speaker 1: Fantasy Football Owners. And one year, I think it was 477 00:33:11,955 --> 00:33:14,395 Speaker 1: I had assembled in this league, mostly by accident, a 478 00:33:14,515 --> 00:33:18,395 Speaker 1: team that was almost perfect. It literally lost one game 479 00:33:18,475 --> 00:33:20,715 Speaker 1: all season, and that was in the middle of the 480 00:33:20,795 --> 00:33:24,115 Speaker 1: year to Chuck Todd's team. And the night after I 481 00:33:24,195 --> 00:33:26,955 Speaker 1: lost to Chuck Todd's team, he was giving a speech 482 00:33:27,115 --> 00:33:30,395 Speaker 1: I think at the University of Virginia, and witnesses called 483 00:33:30,475 --> 00:33:33,515 Speaker 1: to tell me that he began his speech by saying, 484 00:33:34,115 --> 00:33:35,795 Speaker 1: I have much to tell you, but first I have 485 00:33:35,915 --> 00:33:37,715 Speaker 1: to tell you that I am in a fantasy football 486 00:33:37,755 --> 00:33:39,875 Speaker 1: league with Keith Alderman, and he has a great team 487 00:33:39,915 --> 00:33:41,755 Speaker 1: this year, and this week I upset him by a 488 00:33:41,835 --> 00:33:45,035 Speaker 1: final score of hutter hundred forty one or whatever the 489 00:33:45,035 --> 00:33:49,275 Speaker 1: score was. I thought it was pretty dumb. But by 490 00:33:50,115 --> 00:33:52,675 Speaker 1: Chuck was the NBC News White House correspondent, and we 491 00:33:52,795 --> 00:33:55,795 Speaker 1: all cringed whenever we saw he was going to be 492 00:33:55,915 --> 00:33:59,275 Speaker 1: on with one of us on MSNBC. See, some people 493 00:33:59,395 --> 00:34:02,995 Speaker 1: respond well to pressure and success and some people do not, 494 00:34:03,715 --> 00:34:07,475 Speaker 1: and some people be entirely different people. So when Chuck 495 00:34:07,635 --> 00:34:10,715 Speaker 1: violated the prime directive of this fantasy football league, and 496 00:34:10,795 --> 00:34:14,275 Speaker 1: talked about it. I shrugged. The other guys in the 497 00:34:14,355 --> 00:34:18,075 Speaker 1: league did not. Chuck was actually punished. The commissioner of 498 00:34:18,155 --> 00:34:20,315 Speaker 1: the league ordered that he had to skip his fourth 499 00:34:20,475 --> 00:34:24,715 Speaker 1: choice in the following years player draft. Chuck was bereft. 500 00:34:25,475 --> 00:34:29,155 Speaker 1: He believed this would destroy his chances. He apologized to 501 00:34:29,235 --> 00:34:32,115 Speaker 1: me like every week, and finally I said, you know, guys, 502 00:34:32,195 --> 00:34:35,155 Speaker 1: maybe this is too much. And as the supposed victim 503 00:34:35,235 --> 00:34:37,995 Speaker 1: in the equation, I got final say and Chuck got 504 00:34:38,075 --> 00:34:43,555 Speaker 1: to keep his fourth draft choice. Chuck was because Tim 505 00:34:43,635 --> 00:34:47,075 Speaker 1: Russer died, Tom Broke all retired, and David Gregory flamed out. 506 00:34:47,635 --> 00:34:49,835 Speaker 1: Chuck was the host to Meet the Press. He was 507 00:34:49,875 --> 00:34:52,875 Speaker 1: also political director of NBC News, another part of russer 508 00:34:52,915 --> 00:34:56,475 Speaker 1: It's old portfolio. But whereas Tim was a master who 509 00:34:56,515 --> 00:34:59,355 Speaker 1: could convince the Republicans, he was ordering that I be 510 00:34:59,515 --> 00:35:02,155 Speaker 1: punished for what I said, when in fact he would 511 00:35:02,195 --> 00:35:04,795 Speaker 1: be calling me and asking me what stupid, meaningless thing 512 00:35:04,835 --> 00:35:07,235 Speaker 1: I could think of to tell the Republicans. He was 513 00:35:07,315 --> 00:35:12,955 Speaker 1: punishing me with or four. He was sublime, subtlety. Not Chuck. 514 00:35:13,475 --> 00:35:17,035 Speaker 1: No subtlety. There. In two thousand sixteen, Chuck was preparing 515 00:35:17,115 --> 00:35:20,155 Speaker 1: to not name my ex lib In girlfriend Katie Turre 516 00:35:20,715 --> 00:35:23,595 Speaker 1: as the new NBC White House correspondent, even though she 517 00:35:23,715 --> 00:35:27,675 Speaker 1: had suffered as the primary NBC correspondent covering the Trump campaign. 518 00:35:28,195 --> 00:35:30,475 Speaker 1: And out of nowhere, Chuck emails me that he's going 519 00:35:30,555 --> 00:35:32,235 Speaker 1: to be in New York and he wants to take 520 00:35:32,275 --> 00:35:35,155 Speaker 1: me to dinner. I had known him more than a 521 00:35:35,275 --> 00:35:37,555 Speaker 1: decade by then, we had never as much as shared 522 00:35:37,635 --> 00:35:39,915 Speaker 1: pieces of the same pizza. I had not seen him 523 00:35:39,915 --> 00:35:42,035 Speaker 1: in the flesh in more than five years. And I 524 00:35:42,155 --> 00:35:44,835 Speaker 1: knew as we sat down that Chuck's idea was to 525 00:35:44,955 --> 00:35:48,155 Speaker 1: get me to tell Katie that she was not gonna 526 00:35:48,155 --> 00:35:49,955 Speaker 1: be White House correspondent, so he did not have to. 527 00:35:50,515 --> 00:35:52,995 Speaker 1: He kept bringing it up, what do you think Katie 528 00:35:53,035 --> 00:35:55,915 Speaker 1: would think? And then I'd switched the topic to, uh, 529 00:35:56,235 --> 00:35:58,875 Speaker 1: fantasy football, and then he'd say, but let me ask 530 00:35:58,875 --> 00:36:00,795 Speaker 1: you about Katie in the White House job. We did 531 00:36:00,835 --> 00:36:04,315 Speaker 1: this for ninety minutes, and finally I said, Okay, Chuck, 532 00:36:05,115 --> 00:36:08,115 Speaker 1: I've avoided it long enough. Maybe I could call her 533 00:36:08,235 --> 00:36:11,235 Speaker 1: and soften the blow for her. And that's when he said, well, 534 00:36:11,755 --> 00:36:13,395 Speaker 1: I'm going back to d C tonight, so if I 535 00:36:13,435 --> 00:36:15,755 Speaker 1: want to catch that last train, I better leave five 536 00:36:18,115 --> 00:36:21,435 Speaker 1: Chuck is not subtle. I'll spare you the other crap 537 00:36:21,515 --> 00:36:23,995 Speaker 1: from the Fantasy League. Suffice to say, I was reminded 538 00:36:23,995 --> 00:36:26,675 Speaker 1: of how annoyingly and obviously he used to conduct himself 539 00:36:26,755 --> 00:36:29,635 Speaker 1: when I read that last May, one of Chuck's guest 540 00:36:29,675 --> 00:36:32,915 Speaker 1: bookers for the now no longer on TV Meet the 541 00:36:32,955 --> 00:36:36,835 Speaker 1: Press Daily show had emailed the office of Alaska Congressman 542 00:36:36,915 --> 00:36:39,195 Speaker 1: Don Young hoping to get Young to appear the next day, 543 00:36:39,235 --> 00:36:42,395 Speaker 1: which would have been the ultimate great guest get because 544 00:36:42,475 --> 00:36:47,195 Speaker 1: Don Young had died two months earlier. Anyway, this fantasy 545 00:36:47,235 --> 00:36:49,795 Speaker 1: football league was fun and unique in that there had 546 00:36:49,835 --> 00:36:52,875 Speaker 1: only been one change in its composition in all that time. 547 00:36:53,675 --> 00:36:56,635 Speaker 1: Chuck's team defeated mine and the Fantasy Football super Bowl 548 00:36:56,755 --> 00:37:01,355 Speaker 1: one year, and mostly he was just annoying, like he 549 00:37:01,515 --> 00:37:03,715 Speaker 1: was on the air. Nothing worse than that. And then 550 00:37:04,435 --> 00:37:10,475 Speaker 1: on June nineteen, Representative Alexandria Occasio Cortes AOC ripped the 551 00:37:10,515 --> 00:37:14,395 Speaker 1: Trump administration's migrant policies. She said, quote, the United States 552 00:37:14,515 --> 00:37:16,795 Speaker 1: is running concentration camps on our southern border, and that 553 00:37:16,915 --> 00:37:20,035 Speaker 1: is exactly what they are. They are concentration camps. End quote. 554 00:37:20,635 --> 00:37:24,035 Speaker 1: Chuck went on MSNBC and said the following in response, quote, 555 00:37:24,395 --> 00:37:26,995 Speaker 1: you can call our government's detention of migrants many things, 556 00:37:27,075 --> 00:37:29,115 Speaker 1: depending on how you see it. It's a stain on 557 00:37:29,235 --> 00:37:32,995 Speaker 1: our nation, maybe, a necessary evil to others to deal 558 00:37:33,035 --> 00:37:36,035 Speaker 1: with an untenable situation, perhaps, But do you know what 559 00:37:36,155 --> 00:37:38,675 Speaker 1: you can't call it? Chuck then played the clip of 560 00:37:38,795 --> 00:37:42,155 Speaker 1: aoc calling it concentration camps, and Chuck resumed, if you 561 00:37:42,235 --> 00:37:44,675 Speaker 1: want to criticize the shameful treatment of people at our 562 00:37:44,715 --> 00:37:47,155 Speaker 1: southern border, fine, you'll have plenty of company, but be 563 00:37:47,315 --> 00:37:52,995 Speaker 1: careful comparing them to Nazi concentration camps, because they're not 564 00:37:53,075 --> 00:37:56,035 Speaker 1: at all comparable. In the slightest A lot of people 565 00:37:56,555 --> 00:38:01,715 Speaker 1: me included, were stunned. Ocasio Cortes never mentioned the Nazis, 566 00:38:02,235 --> 00:38:05,755 Speaker 1: and concentration camps did not begin with Nazis or Hitler. 567 00:38:06,115 --> 00:38:08,715 Speaker 1: They began with the British in the Boer War in 568 00:38:08,795 --> 00:38:11,435 Speaker 1: South Africa at the turn of the nineteenth and twenty centuries. 569 00:38:11,595 --> 00:38:13,715 Speaker 1: Yet here was Chuck putting a word in her mouth, 570 00:38:14,155 --> 00:38:16,955 Speaker 1: and that word was Nazi, and then he attacked her 571 00:38:17,035 --> 00:38:20,075 Speaker 1: for something she never said. He lied about her. He lied, 572 00:38:20,475 --> 00:38:24,395 Speaker 1: Chuck Todd made it up on the news. I was 573 00:38:24,475 --> 00:38:27,435 Speaker 1: furious enough to email him that night. I thought by 574 00:38:27,515 --> 00:38:30,555 Speaker 1: now somebody at NBC would have pointed out that concentration 575 00:38:30,675 --> 00:38:33,995 Speaker 1: camps and Nazi death camps are not the same thing. 576 00:38:34,675 --> 00:38:37,715 Speaker 1: But no, NBC had simply tweeted out the clip of 577 00:38:37,835 --> 00:38:41,195 Speaker 1: Chuck lying about the congresswoman and putting the word Nazi 578 00:38:41,315 --> 00:38:44,515 Speaker 1: in her mouth, as if it were something NBC News 579 00:38:44,915 --> 00:38:50,115 Speaker 1: should be proud of. Chuck was furious at me. He 580 00:38:50,275 --> 00:38:52,995 Speaker 1: emailed back, quote, come on, own up, that she invoked 581 00:38:53,035 --> 00:38:55,435 Speaker 1: the wrong image and should have simply walked the imagery back. 582 00:38:55,635 --> 00:38:57,075 Speaker 1: And I wrote him back that the person who had 583 00:38:57,155 --> 00:39:00,155 Speaker 1: to walk back imagery here was him, since he had 584 00:39:00,195 --> 00:39:03,955 Speaker 1: said Nazi and she had not said Nazi. On my 585 00:39:04,155 --> 00:39:06,635 Speaker 1: angriest day, he now replied, I'd like to think I 586 00:39:06,715 --> 00:39:09,635 Speaker 1: treated you with more respect than this, sad. I feel 587 00:39:09,675 --> 00:39:12,115 Speaker 1: like we won't recover from this, and we had recovered 588 00:39:12,155 --> 00:39:14,915 Speaker 1: from a lot. I wrote back to Chuck that we 589 00:39:14,995 --> 00:39:17,275 Speaker 1: were going to recover from anything if he insisted that 590 00:39:17,395 --> 00:39:21,155 Speaker 1: all concentration camps were Nazi death camps and that somebody 591 00:39:21,155 --> 00:39:24,475 Speaker 1: who never said Nazis owed somebody else an apology for 592 00:39:25,355 --> 00:39:29,315 Speaker 1: what not saying Nazis. There was no getting past the 593 00:39:29,355 --> 00:39:31,755 Speaker 1: reality that Chuck had no idea that he was one 594 00:39:32,275 --> 00:39:37,915 Speaker 1: dent in the wrong here, historically wrong, factually wrong, ethically wrong, 595 00:39:38,155 --> 00:39:42,315 Speaker 1: not a leg to stand on. So I of course 596 00:39:42,395 --> 00:39:46,635 Speaker 1: began to contemplate the year ahead in fantasy football. I 597 00:39:46,715 --> 00:39:50,035 Speaker 1: couldn't face it. I'm sorry, I let real life and 598 00:39:50,195 --> 00:39:53,755 Speaker 1: fantasy sports mix, and I just I just couldn't spend 599 00:39:53,835 --> 00:39:58,115 Speaker 1: another autumn having to deal with Chuck Todd. Chuck had 600 00:39:58,195 --> 00:40:00,675 Speaker 1: often said that he was now just too busy to 601 00:40:00,755 --> 00:40:03,115 Speaker 1: play in the league anymore, and he would have to 602 00:40:03,235 --> 00:40:07,715 Speaker 1: leave it this year. So on August eleven, two thousand nineteen, 603 00:40:07,795 --> 00:40:10,475 Speaker 1: more in sadness than an anger, I asked the commissioner 604 00:40:10,515 --> 00:40:12,875 Speaker 1: of the league if Chuck was coming back for the 605 00:40:12,955 --> 00:40:16,835 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen season. I don't know, Maybe not, was 606 00:40:16,915 --> 00:40:19,755 Speaker 1: the answer. I said, Look, this is not him or me. 607 00:40:20,235 --> 00:40:22,755 Speaker 1: I'm not asking you to not let him come back. 608 00:40:22,915 --> 00:40:25,235 Speaker 1: It's not like that. But if he tells you one 609 00:40:25,235 --> 00:40:26,835 Speaker 1: way or the other, let me know, because I just 610 00:40:26,995 --> 00:40:29,835 Speaker 1: can't stand another year of him. He takes all the 611 00:40:29,955 --> 00:40:32,835 Speaker 1: fun of it out of it for me, I understand, 612 00:40:32,875 --> 00:40:34,835 Speaker 1: said the commissioner. It's a shame, but why do it 613 00:40:34,915 --> 00:40:38,395 Speaker 1: if it's not fun? At eight am. On the morning 614 00:40:38,435 --> 00:40:42,115 Speaker 1: of August two thousand nineteen, the official email notifying everybody 615 00:40:42,155 --> 00:40:44,955 Speaker 1: of the new fantasy football season went out. I was 616 00:40:45,035 --> 00:40:49,075 Speaker 1: not listed among the players. Nineteen minutes later, I got 617 00:40:49,115 --> 00:40:51,875 Speaker 1: an email from Chuck Todd, subject line, it's just a 618 00:40:51,995 --> 00:40:55,595 Speaker 1: game content quote just play. I won't speak to you, 619 00:40:55,955 --> 00:40:58,595 Speaker 1: and please do me the same courtesy grow the f up, 620 00:40:58,675 --> 00:41:01,315 Speaker 1: and no, I am not editing this. He really wrote 621 00:41:01,995 --> 00:41:05,635 Speaker 1: grow the f up. I wrote back that I thought 622 00:41:05,675 --> 00:41:08,195 Speaker 1: he'd become part of the problem that imperils our nation 623 00:41:08,515 --> 00:41:10,035 Speaker 1: and I didn't want to have anything more to do 624 00:41:10,155 --> 00:41:13,195 Speaker 1: with him. I ended it with quote, do not contact 625 00:41:13,275 --> 00:41:17,595 Speaker 1: me again. At ten thirteen am, he contacted me again, 626 00:41:18,315 --> 00:41:20,595 Speaker 1: amazing how you believe what you believe about me. I'm 627 00:41:20,675 --> 00:41:25,035 Speaker 1: sorry for ever helping you get credibility, and I did 628 00:41:25,115 --> 00:41:28,395 Speaker 1: not reply. At ten eighteen he wrote me again again, 629 00:41:28,955 --> 00:41:30,875 Speaker 1: I'm happy to never speak with you again. I'd prefer 630 00:41:30,955 --> 00:41:35,795 Speaker 1: to pretend you don't exist. Don't make me care about you. No, boy, 631 00:41:36,435 --> 00:41:38,835 Speaker 1: when Chuck Todd asks you to not make him care 632 00:41:38,875 --> 00:41:43,115 Speaker 1: about you, you're in deep and dangerous waters. Boy. Another 633 00:41:43,235 --> 00:41:46,475 Speaker 1: Chuck email at nine you are truly a tiny little man. 634 00:41:46,795 --> 00:41:48,915 Speaker 1: I don't even feel sorry for you anymore. You have 635 00:41:48,995 --> 00:41:52,635 Speaker 1: done this to yourself. And here I made a mistake. 636 00:41:52,715 --> 00:41:54,955 Speaker 1: I did not ask him what he felt sorry for 637 00:41:55,075 --> 00:41:58,115 Speaker 1: me about and what I had done to myself. I 638 00:41:58,235 --> 00:42:02,195 Speaker 1: assume he was about losing the Fantasy Football super Bowl 639 00:42:02,235 --> 00:42:05,515 Speaker 1: to him. At eleven o nine, another email quote, you 640 00:42:05,675 --> 00:42:09,435 Speaker 1: deliberately misinterpreted what I said shot first, and then rationalize 641 00:42:09,435 --> 00:42:13,675 Speaker 1: the mistaken shot with some convoluted, full of bleef explanation. 642 00:42:14,875 --> 00:42:18,155 Speaker 1: This presumably was the silly little detail about him lying 643 00:42:18,915 --> 00:42:23,395 Speaker 1: and saying Representative Accio Cortez had referred to Nazi concentration camps. 644 00:42:23,435 --> 00:42:27,635 Speaker 1: Then he wrote that what she said quote evokes Gash Chambers, 645 00:42:28,315 --> 00:42:31,475 Speaker 1: and I think that's where we should leave it. A 646 00:42:31,555 --> 00:42:34,915 Speaker 1: fantasy sports league is just a fantasy sports league, and 647 00:42:34,995 --> 00:42:38,195 Speaker 1: having been in various kinds of them since nineteen good God, 648 00:42:39,715 --> 00:42:42,755 Speaker 1: I often wonder if they aren't a kind of therapeutic 649 00:42:42,875 --> 00:42:47,395 Speaker 1: cathartic pressure valve for our inner demons. I do know this. 650 00:42:48,155 --> 00:42:50,995 Speaker 1: You find out a lot about the other people in 651 00:42:51,075 --> 00:42:55,515 Speaker 1: a fantasy sports league. So when that baseball players slapped 652 00:42:55,595 --> 00:42:58,235 Speaker 1: the other baseball player over the reserve running back that 653 00:42:58,275 --> 00:43:01,195 Speaker 1: he kept on his roster, and most people said, I 654 00:43:01,355 --> 00:43:04,515 Speaker 1: just don't understand why he slapped him. I said, oh, 655 00:43:05,435 --> 00:43:22,075 Speaker 1: I understand why he slapped him. Two good weeks of 656 00:43:22,195 --> 00:43:25,475 Speaker 1: follow up questions from schmuck Todd, and clearly one of 657 00:43:25,515 --> 00:43:27,435 Speaker 1: his bosses told him never to do that again in 658 00:43:27,795 --> 00:43:31,355 Speaker 1: his life. Countdown has come to you from the world 659 00:43:31,515 --> 00:43:35,875 Speaker 1: headquarters of Alderman Broadcasting Empire. Here in the Sports Capsule 660 00:43:35,915 --> 00:43:39,675 Speaker 1: building in New York. Just look for the owl. Thank 661 00:43:39,715 --> 00:43:42,435 Speaker 1: you for listening Here the credits. Most of the music, 662 00:43:42,515 --> 00:43:45,235 Speaker 1: including our theme from Beethoven's Ninth, was arranged, produced and 663 00:43:45,355 --> 00:43:48,275 Speaker 1: performed by Brian Ray and John Philip Chanelle, who are 664 00:43:48,315 --> 00:43:51,915 Speaker 1: the Countdown musical directors. Guitars bassed and drums by Brian Ray, 665 00:43:52,355 --> 00:43:56,035 Speaker 1: All orchestration and keyboards by John Philip, Channel produced by 666 00:43:56,155 --> 00:43:59,515 Speaker 1: t Ko Brothers. Other Beethoven selections have been arranged and 667 00:43:59,595 --> 00:44:02,795 Speaker 1: performed by No Horns allowed. The sports music is the 668 00:44:02,835 --> 00:44:05,715 Speaker 1: Aulderman theme from ESPN two, and it was written by 669 00:44:05,795 --> 00:44:09,315 Speaker 1: Mitch Warren Davis courtesy of ESPN, Inc. Musical comments by 670 00:44:09,435 --> 00:44:12,875 Speaker 1: Nancy Faust. The best baseball stadium organist ever. Our announcer 671 00:44:12,915 --> 00:44:17,915 Speaker 1: today was Jonathan Banks. Owls wrangled by the Central Park Zoo. 672 00:44:18,915 --> 00:44:21,675 Speaker 1: Everything else is pretty much my fault. So let's countdown 673 00:44:21,715 --> 00:44:24,835 Speaker 1: for this, the seven and sixty second day since Donald 674 00:44:24,835 --> 00:44:28,315 Speaker 1: Trump's first attempted coup against the democratically elected government of 675 00:44:28,435 --> 00:44:31,995 Speaker 1: the United States. Arrest him now while we still can. 676 00:44:32,675 --> 00:44:35,075 Speaker 1: The next scheduled countdown is tomorrow. Until then, I'm Keith 677 00:44:35,115 --> 00:44:38,315 Speaker 1: all Reman. Good morning, good afternoon, goodnight, and good luck. 678 00:44:45,395 --> 00:44:48,115 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith all Reman is a production of I 679 00:44:48,315 --> 00:44:51,955 Speaker 1: heart Radio. For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit 680 00:44:51,995 --> 00:44:55,395 Speaker 1: the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 681 00:44:55,515 --> 00:44:56,635 Speaker 1: get your podcasts.