1 00:00:04,835 --> 00:00:16,435 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. Here 2 00:00:16,475 --> 00:00:19,515 Speaker 1: are the Monday Countdown headlines. Trump is now threatening to 3 00:00:19,595 --> 00:00:23,435 Speaker 1: imprison everybody who is opposing him in this election, from 4 00:00:23,515 --> 00:00:26,995 Speaker 1: voters to donors, to vote counters who produce results he 5 00:00:27,035 --> 00:00:30,035 Speaker 1: does not like. He is now threatening to kill any 6 00:00:30,075 --> 00:00:34,075 Speaker 1: immigrants he cannot expel and promising quote getting them out 7 00:00:34,115 --> 00:00:37,195 Speaker 1: will be a bloody story. And he is now trying 8 00:00:37,235 --> 00:00:39,995 Speaker 1: to get Kamala Harris impeached as vice president. And none 9 00:00:40,035 --> 00:00:42,515 Speaker 1: of that made the front page of the New York Times, 10 00:00:42,795 --> 00:00:47,875 Speaker 1: and all of it was prioritized below Trump's merchandise sales 11 00:00:47,955 --> 00:00:53,795 Speaker 1: numbers by the Washington Post. Our nation is dying of 12 00:00:53,875 --> 00:01:02,035 Speaker 1: an utter consuming, fatal lack of courage. When no one 13 00:01:02,075 --> 00:01:05,995 Speaker 1: will tell the truth, the guy who lies loudest wins. 14 00:01:07,475 --> 00:01:09,755 Speaker 1: For eight years, I have been talking and writing about 15 00:01:09,755 --> 00:01:14,435 Speaker 1: Trump's desire not just to purge America of immigrants, documented 16 00:01:14,515 --> 00:01:18,195 Speaker 1: or otherwise. Also he gets to decide who is an immigrant, 17 00:01:18,355 --> 00:01:20,355 Speaker 1: and if you try to defend one of his targets, 18 00:01:20,475 --> 00:01:23,875 Speaker 1: you become his new target. Not only to do that, 19 00:01:23,955 --> 00:01:28,875 Speaker 1: but also to purge them with violence, concentration camps, swat 20 00:01:28,915 --> 00:01:36,075 Speaker 1: team raids, informants, military weaponry, bloodshed. And now even he 21 00:01:36,475 --> 00:01:40,995 Speaker 1: is saying it that bluntly, he is promising it out 22 00:01:41,035 --> 00:01:46,835 Speaker 1: loud at his rallies, that it will be a bloody story. 23 00:01:47,475 --> 00:01:52,475 Speaker 1: He is blaming them and will kill them in Colorado. 24 00:01:52,555 --> 00:01:55,795 Speaker 2: They're so brazen, They're taking over sections of the state, 25 00:01:56,955 --> 00:02:01,155 Speaker 2: and you know getting them out will be a bloody story. 26 00:02:01,795 --> 00:02:03,995 Speaker 2: Should have never been allowed to come into our country 27 00:02:04,795 --> 00:02:06,155 Speaker 2: to be easy, but we'll do it. 28 00:02:06,515 --> 00:02:09,195 Speaker 1: And here on CNN to discuss the pros and cons 29 00:02:09,195 --> 00:02:11,915 Speaker 1: of the mass murder of immigrants by the United States government. 30 00:02:12,955 --> 00:02:18,115 Speaker 1: This is madness. To accept the debate is to validate 31 00:02:18,155 --> 00:02:22,955 Speaker 1: the debate. To ignore Trump's words is to sanitize him 32 00:02:23,595 --> 00:02:29,755 Speaker 1: ordering people murdered. The response, the only response, is to 33 00:02:29,835 --> 00:02:33,875 Speaker 1: debate whether Trump has lost the ability to conceal his 34 00:02:33,995 --> 00:02:37,875 Speaker 1: insanity and his desire to kill people, or whether he 35 00:02:37,915 --> 00:02:41,755 Speaker 1: has decided that this is a strategy he needs to 36 00:02:41,875 --> 00:02:46,435 Speaker 1: employ right now. Those are the only two options. If 37 00:02:46,475 --> 00:02:49,675 Speaker 1: you are an American and you are asking any question 38 00:02:49,755 --> 00:02:54,955 Speaker 1: about this besides is he an insane mass murderer or 39 00:02:55,315 --> 00:03:00,275 Speaker 1: a strategic mass murderer, you are now a Trump enabler. 40 00:03:00,515 --> 00:03:07,195 Speaker 1: He has just promised not threatened but promised mass bloodshed. 41 00:03:09,355 --> 00:03:13,475 Speaker 1: Congressman Roe Kanna actually said yesterday that he has upset 42 00:03:13,795 --> 00:03:17,315 Speaker 1: that his fellow Democrats have been calling the Republicans weird. 43 00:03:18,235 --> 00:03:21,355 Speaker 1: We should lead with respect and make our case through 44 00:03:21,435 --> 00:03:26,555 Speaker 1: persuasion of having a better vision for the nation. Fine, 45 00:03:26,595 --> 00:03:30,195 Speaker 1: congressoon because that's worked real well since twenty fifteen. And 46 00:03:30,235 --> 00:03:33,515 Speaker 1: when we do it again and Trump regains power as 47 00:03:33,555 --> 00:03:36,915 Speaker 1: a result and he decides that all immigrants are illegal 48 00:03:36,955 --> 00:03:40,875 Speaker 1: immigrants and anybody whose parents were not born in this 49 00:03:41,035 --> 00:03:44,515 Speaker 1: country are immigrants, I'll do what I can for you 50 00:03:45,235 --> 00:03:48,395 Speaker 1: when Trump sends the National Guard to imprison you because 51 00:03:48,435 --> 00:03:51,235 Speaker 1: your parents were not born here. But by then I'll 52 00:03:51,275 --> 00:03:54,195 Speaker 1: already be in prison because of the other thing Trump 53 00:03:54,235 --> 00:03:57,275 Speaker 1: did over the weekend that nobody is taking seriously. Even 54 00:03:57,275 --> 00:04:00,635 Speaker 1: though after Judge Merschaan gutted the rule of law Friday 55 00:04:00,635 --> 00:04:03,075 Speaker 1: here in New York, Trump has decided he can also 56 00:04:03,115 --> 00:04:09,115 Speaker 1: get away with this quote cease and desist. I, together 57 00:04:09,195 --> 00:04:13,555 Speaker 1: with many attorneys and legal scholars, am watching the sanctity 58 00:04:14,035 --> 00:04:17,275 Speaker 1: of the twenty twenty four presidential election very closely, because 59 00:04:17,315 --> 00:04:22,435 Speaker 1: I know better than most the rampant cheating and skullduggery 60 00:04:22,995 --> 00:04:25,275 Speaker 1: that has taken place by the Democrats in the twenty 61 00:04:25,275 --> 00:04:29,595 Speaker 1: twenty presidential election. It was a disgrace to our nation. Therefore, 62 00:04:30,355 --> 00:04:33,195 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty four election, where votes have just started 63 00:04:33,235 --> 00:04:38,155 Speaker 1: being cast, will be under the closest professional scrutiny, And 64 00:04:38,795 --> 00:04:43,475 Speaker 1: when I win, those people that cheated will be prosecuted 65 00:04:43,755 --> 00:04:46,555 Speaker 1: to the fullest extent of the law, which will include 66 00:04:46,635 --> 00:04:50,755 Speaker 1: long term prison sentences, so that this depravity of justice 67 00:04:50,795 --> 00:04:53,795 Speaker 1: does not happen again. We cannot let our country further 68 00:04:53,835 --> 00:04:57,075 Speaker 1: devolve into a third world nation, and we won't. Please 69 00:04:57,315 --> 00:05:03,195 Speaker 1: beware that this legal exposure extends to lawyers, political operatives, donors, 70 00:05:03,195 --> 00:05:08,075 Speaker 1: illegal voters, and corrupt election officials. Those involved in unscrupulous 71 00:05:08,115 --> 00:05:13,875 Speaker 1: behavior will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels 72 00:05:13,995 --> 00:05:20,235 Speaker 1: unfortunately never seen before in our country. Trump put that 73 00:05:20,275 --> 00:05:22,555 Speaker 1: out at seven oh one pm Saturday night, just in 74 00:05:22,555 --> 00:05:25,355 Speaker 1: case you missed it, and the New York Times missed it. 75 00:05:25,755 --> 00:05:30,395 Speaker 1: He put it out again Sunday afternoon. So this one 76 00:05:30,435 --> 00:05:34,755 Speaker 1: does not overtly promise there will be blood. Is Trump pivoting? 77 00:05:35,915 --> 00:05:38,395 Speaker 1: It just warns America not to get in his way. 78 00:05:39,195 --> 00:05:42,635 Speaker 1: Don't vote against him, don't donate to campaigns, against him, 79 00:05:42,835 --> 00:05:46,675 Speaker 1: don't act politically against him, don't take legal action against him, 80 00:05:47,195 --> 00:05:49,515 Speaker 1: And not to mistake this as some kind of bluster, 81 00:05:49,635 --> 00:05:52,555 Speaker 1: because he started it with the words cease and desist, 82 00:05:52,915 --> 00:05:56,675 Speaker 1: and those in the throes of narcissistic delusion love to 83 00:05:56,755 --> 00:05:59,475 Speaker 1: wrap their threats in legal terms. And that one is 84 00:05:59,515 --> 00:06:05,835 Speaker 1: the favorite of the fascists and businessmen, and he's both. Oh, 85 00:06:05,875 --> 00:06:07,755 Speaker 1: and as I said, he has also targeted the vice 86 00:06:07,795 --> 00:06:12,155 Speaker 1: president for immediate impeachment. This one won't happen. It does, however, 87 00:06:12,435 --> 00:06:15,475 Speaker 1: give away part of his debate strategy for tomorrow night. 88 00:06:15,715 --> 00:06:19,915 Speaker 1: He will tomorrow night try to build a conspiracy theory 89 00:06:19,995 --> 00:06:23,355 Speaker 1: in real time that Kamala Harris is only there at 90 00:06:23,395 --> 00:06:29,555 Speaker 1: the debate because of this vast plot against him, quoting 91 00:06:30,035 --> 00:06:32,995 Speaker 1: I will support modifying the twenty fifth Amendment to make 92 00:06:33,075 --> 00:06:36,035 Speaker 1: clear that if a vice president lies or engages in 93 00:06:36,075 --> 00:06:39,635 Speaker 1: a conspiracy to cover up the incapacity of the President 94 00:06:39,675 --> 00:06:41,915 Speaker 1: of the United States, if you do that with a 95 00:06:41,995 --> 00:06:44,235 Speaker 1: cover up of the President of the United States, its 96 00:06:44,275 --> 00:06:48,595 Speaker 1: grounds for impeachment immediately and removal from office. Because that's 97 00:06:48,635 --> 00:06:53,315 Speaker 1: what they did. I hope to God the vice president 98 00:06:53,435 --> 00:06:56,355 Speaker 1: is ready for all this, and that she's ready to 99 00:06:56,395 --> 00:06:59,715 Speaker 1: call Trump insane and to say that he is a 100 00:06:59,755 --> 00:07:03,915 Speaker 1: man lusting for the blood of thousands, if not hundreds 101 00:07:03,955 --> 00:07:08,995 Speaker 1: of thousands, if not millions, of American immigrants, and that 102 00:07:09,075 --> 00:07:11,075 Speaker 1: he's ready to say that this is a man promising 103 00:07:11,115 --> 00:07:14,115 Speaker 1: to put anybody who stands in his way in prison, 104 00:07:14,835 --> 00:07:19,435 Speaker 1: because everybody else in a position to call Trump that 105 00:07:19,995 --> 00:07:25,355 Speaker 1: is too terrified, or too inert, or just too morally 106 00:07:25,595 --> 00:07:32,275 Speaker 1: bankrupt to take the chance of doing it. I mean, yesterday, 107 00:07:32,555 --> 00:07:38,715 Speaker 1: after promising to kill you or imprison you, he put 108 00:07:38,795 --> 00:07:42,355 Speaker 1: this out and nobody even blinked. An interview by Tucker 109 00:07:42,475 --> 00:07:46,195 Speaker 1: Carlson of an election expert indicates that twenty percent of 110 00:07:46,235 --> 00:07:49,995 Speaker 1: the mail in ballots in Pennsylvania are fraudulent. Here we 111 00:07:50,075 --> 00:07:53,155 Speaker 1: go again. Where is the US Attorney General and FBI 112 00:07:53,235 --> 00:07:57,075 Speaker 1: to investigate? Where is the Pennsylvania Republican Party. We will 113 00:07:57,115 --> 00:07:59,875 Speaker 1: win Pennsylvania by a lot unless the Dems are allowed 114 00:07:59,875 --> 00:08:07,995 Speaker 1: to cheat. The RNC must activate now activate news team assemble. 115 00:08:11,475 --> 00:08:14,595 Speaker 1: Kamala Harris comes into the race, gets an explosion of support, 116 00:08:14,675 --> 00:08:17,075 Speaker 1: and the major media coverage of her since has been 117 00:08:17,235 --> 00:08:22,755 Speaker 1: unanimously degrading and insulting clickbait. She hasn't done enough press conferences, 118 00:08:22,795 --> 00:08:25,275 Speaker 1: not like Trump. He did a press conference last week. 119 00:08:25,315 --> 00:08:27,435 Speaker 1: He did a press conference and a town hall in 120 00:08:27,475 --> 00:08:30,715 Speaker 1: the same week, and he didn't take a single question 121 00:08:30,835 --> 00:08:33,475 Speaker 1: in either one of them. So what he held them? 122 00:08:33,995 --> 00:08:37,475 Speaker 1: And where are her policies? He's out there with policy 123 00:08:38,275 --> 00:08:42,235 Speaker 1: promising to kill immigrants and jail reporters and donors. Where 124 00:08:42,275 --> 00:08:45,595 Speaker 1: are her policy proposals? Does she want to counter Trump? 125 00:08:45,595 --> 00:08:50,675 Speaker 1: And perhaps oh, jail immigrants but kill reporters. Where is 126 00:08:50,715 --> 00:08:58,875 Speaker 1: her policy press conference? She hasn't mentioned accounnibal once Kamala 127 00:08:58,915 --> 00:09:02,875 Speaker 1: Harris is hit for one month by condescending angry reporting 128 00:09:02,915 --> 00:09:06,075 Speaker 1: by reporters who are actually thinking only one thing in 129 00:09:06,075 --> 00:09:08,995 Speaker 1: this marketplace. My job may not exist next year. My 130 00:09:09,155 --> 00:09:12,395 Speaker 1: news outlet may not exist next year. I have to 131 00:09:12,435 --> 00:09:15,955 Speaker 1: surprise people. Trump isn't a surprise anymore. Let's attack this 132 00:09:16,195 --> 00:09:20,675 Speaker 1: new Harris instead. That's a surprise. Then after they succeed 133 00:09:20,715 --> 00:09:23,155 Speaker 1: in driving down her poll numbers, they have a new 134 00:09:23,195 --> 00:09:26,355 Speaker 1: story or poll numbers are down. The honeymoon is over. 135 00:09:26,555 --> 00:09:30,515 Speaker 1: Midwestern voters seem to like this tariffs and mass murder combo. 136 00:09:30,635 --> 00:09:34,195 Speaker 1: Trump is pitching to that vital demographic, white males with 137 00:09:34,275 --> 00:09:38,995 Speaker 1: kids who are likely to become school shooters. By the way, 138 00:09:39,035 --> 00:09:42,315 Speaker 1: twenty eight percent of respondents to the Times Shock poll 139 00:09:42,435 --> 00:09:45,995 Speaker 1: yesterday that has Trump in front by a point. By 140 00:09:46,035 --> 00:09:48,155 Speaker 1: the way, the margin of error there is three points. 141 00:09:48,875 --> 00:09:50,915 Speaker 1: They say they feel like they still don't know enough 142 00:09:50,955 --> 00:09:54,635 Speaker 1: about Vice President Harris to decide about her. This includes 143 00:09:54,675 --> 00:09:58,115 Speaker 1: more than half of all voters under the age of thirty, 144 00:09:58,555 --> 00:10:02,595 Speaker 1: and the Times national poll contradicts all of its own 145 00:10:02,675 --> 00:10:07,035 Speaker 1: swing state polls. But yeah, Trump ahead, so that's the 146 00:10:07,075 --> 00:10:12,035 Speaker 1: only story, not his. You know, promise to kill you 147 00:10:12,275 --> 00:10:16,555 Speaker 1: or arrest you, depending on which demographic group you belonged to. 148 00:10:18,915 --> 00:10:21,675 Speaker 1: By the way, Emerson polling for the Hill out yesterday 149 00:10:21,875 --> 00:10:25,515 Speaker 1: has her within three of him, counting leaners in Florida 150 00:10:25,635 --> 00:10:28,755 Speaker 1: and in Texas, and the Hill average of one hundred 151 00:10:28,755 --> 00:10:31,475 Speaker 1: and sixty six different polls has her ahead nationally by 152 00:10:31,595 --> 00:10:34,035 Speaker 1: three and a half, and the five point thirty eight 153 00:10:34,075 --> 00:10:36,395 Speaker 1: average has her ahead by three. But go on about 154 00:10:36,435 --> 00:10:40,395 Speaker 1: the New York Times, which long ago revealed that its 155 00:10:40,555 --> 00:10:44,795 Speaker 1: understanding of the election is you may vote, but we 156 00:10:45,275 --> 00:10:53,235 Speaker 1: decide Ohen Trump called Elon Musk Leon forty eight hours ago, 157 00:10:53,835 --> 00:10:55,835 Speaker 1: and at the age of seventy eight, he is complaining 158 00:10:55,875 --> 00:10:58,395 Speaker 1: that voting in Georgia, or maybe it was the prosecution 159 00:10:58,555 --> 00:11:01,595 Speaker 1: in Georgia. It wasn't clear, but it was corrupt in 160 00:11:01,635 --> 00:11:05,355 Speaker 1: Georgia because of who signed relevant documents. He said, quote, 161 00:11:05,475 --> 00:11:07,555 Speaker 1: you have people that are in their eighties, would you 162 00:11:07,715 --> 00:11:14,475 Speaker 1: sign here? He's seventy eight. And he continues to talk 163 00:11:14,795 --> 00:11:18,235 Speaker 1: every day for hours on end, like a drug addict 164 00:11:18,475 --> 00:11:22,435 Speaker 1: minutes away from an overdose. And he's quoting Tucker Carlson 165 00:11:22,475 --> 00:11:26,315 Speaker 1: now and now promising bloodshed. But let's just see how 166 00:11:26,355 --> 00:11:29,075 Speaker 1: all this plays out in the next time siena poll. 167 00:11:31,915 --> 00:11:33,915 Speaker 1: And as this vital week begins, if you had to 168 00:11:33,955 --> 00:11:36,275 Speaker 1: say it is or it is not, you would have 169 00:11:36,315 --> 00:11:40,435 Speaker 1: to say this nation is dying from a lack of courage. 170 00:11:41,115 --> 00:11:47,155 Speaker 1: Individual personal I'm looking at you, courage. Let's go in 171 00:11:47,355 --> 00:11:51,155 Speaker 1: ascending order, from the least surprising of the various timidities, 172 00:11:52,315 --> 00:11:55,635 Speaker 1: so I will get to the astonishing, criminally negligent cowardice 173 00:11:55,635 --> 00:12:01,675 Speaker 1: of Judge Wan Mershan, last, the least surprising, the most predictable. 174 00:12:01,955 --> 00:12:06,595 Speaker 1: Even Dick Cheney has now endorsed Kamala Harris. Yes, George Bush, 175 00:12:06,915 --> 00:12:10,555 Speaker 1: his office tells NBC News President Bush retired from presidential 176 00:12:10,595 --> 00:12:16,115 Speaker 1: politics years ago. Shocking, asshole. This isn't presidential politics, it's 177 00:12:16,315 --> 00:12:20,915 Speaker 1: American citizenship. Have you retired from American citizenship? If so, 178 00:12:21,395 --> 00:12:25,035 Speaker 1: say so and get the f out of here. George W. 179 00:12:25,115 --> 00:12:31,155 Speaker 1: Bush has always been shit. He's shit right now. And 180 00:12:31,275 --> 00:12:33,195 Speaker 1: our media knows what to do when it needs to 181 00:12:33,235 --> 00:12:35,875 Speaker 1: take a stand, even if it's just a stand of 182 00:12:35,995 --> 00:12:40,675 Speaker 1: you know, self defense against those who would literally kill 183 00:12:40,715 --> 00:12:43,715 Speaker 1: everybody in it. This is what to do in a 184 00:12:43,755 --> 00:12:48,515 Speaker 1: time of crisis. Nothing. The hacked Trump emails are still 185 00:12:48,515 --> 00:12:51,235 Speaker 1: being hidden by the Times, by the Post, by Politico, 186 00:12:51,515 --> 00:12:54,035 Speaker 1: even as they still quote the Hillary Clinton emails from 187 00:12:54,035 --> 00:12:57,435 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen. And I will again read you the great 188 00:12:57,955 --> 00:13:02,755 Speaker 1: flaming Ball of cowardice from the publisher of the New 189 00:13:02,835 --> 00:13:08,235 Speaker 1: York Times, Ag Sulzburg, printed by The Washington Post last Thursday. 190 00:13:09,995 --> 00:13:16,075 Speaker 1: Sealzburger quite clearly sees our crisis of courage and bravely says, well, yeah, 191 00:13:16,115 --> 00:13:20,235 Speaker 1: but that's not my job. Quote. As someone who strongly 192 00:13:20,275 --> 00:13:24,955 Speaker 1: believes in the foundational importance of journalistic independence, I have 193 00:13:25,075 --> 00:13:28,955 Speaker 1: no interest in waiting into politics. I disagree with those 194 00:13:28,955 --> 00:13:31,795 Speaker 1: who have suggested that the risk Trump poses to the 195 00:13:31,795 --> 00:13:34,995 Speaker 1: free press is so high that news organizations such as 196 00:13:35,035 --> 00:13:39,755 Speaker 1: mine should cast aside neutrality and directly oppose his reelection. 197 00:13:40,635 --> 00:13:44,195 Speaker 1: It is beyond shortsighted to give up journalistic independence out 198 00:13:44,235 --> 00:13:47,715 Speaker 1: of fear that it might later be taken away. At 199 00:13:47,715 --> 00:13:51,035 Speaker 1: the Times, we are committed to following the facts and 200 00:13:51,115 --> 00:13:54,635 Speaker 1: presenting a full, fair and accurate picture of November's election 201 00:13:54,995 --> 00:13:59,155 Speaker 1: and the candidates and issues shaping it. Our democratic model 202 00:13:59,475 --> 00:14:08,435 Speaker 1: asks different institutions to play different roles. This is, we 203 00:14:08,475 --> 00:14:11,195 Speaker 1: can have him put out the Concentration Camp newspaper when 204 00:14:11,235 --> 00:14:16,715 Speaker 1: we all wind up there. The way this reads, mister 205 00:14:16,755 --> 00:14:19,795 Speaker 1: Selzberger might be trying to sell The New York Times to, 206 00:14:20,235 --> 00:14:25,755 Speaker 1: unfortunately the youngest women voters, who are also showing an 207 00:14:25,875 --> 00:14:29,875 Speaker 1: utter lack of courage. This is from Rachel Janfaza writing 208 00:14:29,915 --> 00:14:34,395 Speaker 1: in the latest issue of Glamor magazine. Don't laugh, Glamor Magazine, 209 00:14:34,475 --> 00:14:37,355 Speaker 1: it may be the most important political data you hear 210 00:14:37,875 --> 00:14:41,995 Speaker 1: this election. Which group do you think would be most 211 00:14:42,075 --> 00:14:46,475 Speaker 1: brutalized by another Trump presidency or a Trump dictatorship, or 212 00:14:46,515 --> 00:14:50,795 Speaker 1: a realization of the Handmaid's Tale? It would be women 213 00:14:50,875 --> 00:14:55,515 Speaker 1: aged eighteen to twenty nine. However, miss Janfaza writes, quote 214 00:14:55,635 --> 00:14:59,435 Speaker 1: the results a political untethering that could reverberate for generations. 215 00:14:59,595 --> 00:15:03,675 Speaker 1: According to the Glamour you gov poll, just fifty six 216 00:15:03,755 --> 00:15:07,195 Speaker 1: percent of eighteen twenty nine year olds are registered and 217 00:15:07,315 --> 00:15:10,915 Speaker 1: intend to vote. This is the lowest percentage of any 218 00:15:11,075 --> 00:15:15,275 Speaker 1: age group by a wide margin, and at the time 219 00:15:15,315 --> 00:15:17,875 Speaker 1: of the poll, twenty five percent of that group said 220 00:15:17,875 --> 00:15:19,755 Speaker 1: they still didn't know who they would vote for if 221 00:15:19,755 --> 00:15:27,475 Speaker 1: the election was held that day, which brings us all 222 00:15:27,595 --> 00:15:31,195 Speaker 1: to the biggest coward of them all. Let us not 223 00:15:31,355 --> 00:15:35,955 Speaker 1: mince words with Judgwan Mershan. He has been bullied, he 224 00:15:35,995 --> 00:15:40,035 Speaker 1: has succumbed. He has failed the law. He has, to 225 00:15:40,115 --> 00:15:42,875 Speaker 1: paraphrase Thurber, bent so far backwards that he might as 226 00:15:42,875 --> 00:15:46,075 Speaker 1: well have fallen flat on his face. Mere Shawn has 227 00:15:46,195 --> 00:15:51,035 Speaker 1: interfered with the election. He has interfered with the jury verdict. 228 00:15:51,475 --> 00:16:00,715 Speaker 1: He has prostituted himself and his court. The law requires 229 00:16:00,755 --> 00:16:04,195 Speaker 1: the imposition of sentence following a guilty verdict without on 230 00:16:04,315 --> 00:16:08,235 Speaker 1: reasons delay. He writes, the public's confidence in the integrity 231 00:16:08,235 --> 00:16:12,315 Speaker 1: of our judicial system demands a sentencing hearing that is 232 00:16:12,475 --> 00:16:15,075 Speaker 1: entirely focused on the verdict of the jury and the 233 00:16:15,115 --> 00:16:20,035 Speaker 1: weighing of aggravating and mitigating factors free from distraction or distortion. 234 00:16:20,595 --> 00:16:23,715 Speaker 1: The members of this jury serve diligently on this case, 235 00:16:23,915 --> 00:16:26,835 Speaker 1: and their verdict must be respected and addressed in a 236 00:16:26,875 --> 00:16:30,035 Speaker 1: manner that is not diluted by the enormity of the 237 00:16:30,155 --> 00:16:35,875 Speaker 1: upcoming presidential election. Likewise, if one is necessary, the defendant 238 00:16:35,875 --> 00:16:38,715 Speaker 1: has the right to a sentencing hearing that respects and 239 00:16:38,835 --> 00:16:45,235 Speaker 1: protects his constitutional rights. So Judge Merschaan insists that the 240 00:16:45,315 --> 00:16:49,155 Speaker 1: law must be enforced, the court and the jury respected, 241 00:16:49,195 --> 00:16:52,795 Speaker 1: despite all other factors, and then he promptly says he 242 00:16:52,875 --> 00:16:58,355 Speaker 1: won't do a damn thing about that. Either imposition of 243 00:16:58,395 --> 00:17:03,195 Speaker 1: sentence will be adjourned to avoid any appearance, however unwarranted, 244 00:17:03,435 --> 00:17:06,035 Speaker 1: that the proceeding has been a affected by, or seeks 245 00:17:06,035 --> 00:17:09,715 Speaker 1: to effect, the approaching presidential election in which the defendant 246 00:17:09,755 --> 00:17:13,315 Speaker 1: is a candidate. The Court is a fair, impartial, and 247 00:17:13,475 --> 00:17:19,675 Speaker 1: a political institution. It was till you wrote this idiot. 248 00:17:21,035 --> 00:17:24,475 Speaker 1: Adjourning decision on the motion and sentencing, if such is required, 249 00:17:24,675 --> 00:17:27,795 Speaker 1: should dispel any suggestion that the Court will have issued 250 00:17:27,835 --> 00:17:31,315 Speaker 1: any decision or imposed sentence either to give an advantage 251 00:17:31,315 --> 00:17:34,635 Speaker 1: to or to create a disadvantage for, any political party 252 00:17:34,715 --> 00:17:38,555 Speaker 1: and or any candidate for any office. Adjournments for sentencing 253 00:17:38,595 --> 00:17:43,075 Speaker 1: are routinely granted, often several times, in any number of 254 00:17:43,115 --> 00:17:47,755 Speaker 1: other criminal matters pending in this courthouse, particularly when unopposed, 255 00:17:48,035 --> 00:17:51,715 Speaker 1: for reasons ranging from personal circumstances to the scheduling needs 256 00:17:51,715 --> 00:17:55,595 Speaker 1: of the parties involved. Given the unique facts and circumstances 257 00:17:55,635 --> 00:17:58,315 Speaker 1: of this case, there is no reason why this defendant 258 00:17:58,435 --> 00:18:01,835 Speaker 1: should be treated any differently than any other. This is 259 00:18:01,955 --> 00:18:05,595 Speaker 1: not a decision that the Court makes lightly, but it 260 00:18:05,755 --> 00:18:09,195 Speaker 1: is the decision which, in this Court's view, best advances 261 00:18:09,395 --> 00:18:15,515 Speaker 1: the interests of justice. Yeah, the interests of justice, Juan Mershan, 262 00:18:16,955 --> 00:18:20,395 Speaker 1: It does the exact opposite. Trump will not be sentenced 263 00:18:20,475 --> 00:18:26,755 Speaker 1: because he is running for president. You want to kill somebody, 264 00:18:27,195 --> 00:18:32,595 Speaker 1: get away with it, run for president. The law somehow 265 00:18:32,675 --> 00:18:35,755 Speaker 1: does not apply to him, and it will not be 266 00:18:35,795 --> 00:18:39,795 Speaker 1: applied to him. In fact, we are bending over backwards 267 00:18:39,795 --> 00:18:42,315 Speaker 1: to make sure that what would happen to you or 268 00:18:42,355 --> 00:18:46,875 Speaker 1: me does not happen to him. And this was the 269 00:18:46,955 --> 00:18:51,755 Speaker 1: goal of what Trump did in the first place to 270 00:18:51,795 --> 00:18:54,875 Speaker 1: wind up indicted and convicted. He tried to pay his 271 00:18:54,915 --> 00:18:58,435 Speaker 1: way out of the political consequences of his an affair 272 00:18:58,515 --> 00:19:03,875 Speaker 1: with a pornographic actress. During an election. This was the 273 00:19:03,915 --> 00:19:08,515 Speaker 1: goal also of Trump's threats against this man, Mrshawan and 274 00:19:08,635 --> 00:19:11,835 Speaker 1: his family and the others. This is the goal of 275 00:19:11,875 --> 00:19:15,075 Speaker 1: the entire trumpst movement to put him at his thugs 276 00:19:15,075 --> 00:19:18,995 Speaker 1: and gangs and militia above the law. Juan Mereshan has 277 00:19:19,035 --> 00:19:24,035 Speaker 1: just enabled them to do exactly this. Terrorizing a judge works. 278 00:19:27,395 --> 00:19:33,035 Speaker 1: Jose Pollieri is the political investigations reporter for the Independent 279 00:19:33,115 --> 00:19:38,195 Speaker 1: News website. Notice he sees through all this to quote 280 00:19:38,235 --> 00:19:42,115 Speaker 1: him as a reporter who has spent months in court 281 00:19:42,195 --> 00:19:44,435 Speaker 1: with this judge. I can tell you he is stoic. 282 00:19:44,755 --> 00:19:48,115 Speaker 1: He's a traditional guy. He's reserved, he's really composed, and 283 00:19:48,195 --> 00:19:52,555 Speaker 1: yet he'd shudder when he'd address Trump directly. He'd go pale, 284 00:19:52,915 --> 00:19:56,595 Speaker 1: his voice would shake. It's hard to convey the power 285 00:19:56,715 --> 00:19:59,955 Speaker 1: dynamics at play when things got hot in his courtroom. 286 00:20:00,715 --> 00:20:04,395 Speaker 1: Here is a state judge addressing a former president who's 287 00:20:04,795 --> 00:20:07,835 Speaker 1: must to seek revenge if he returns to the White House. 288 00:20:08,075 --> 00:20:14,195 Speaker 1: The stakes are supremely high. Mershan understands that. Mershan understandably 289 00:20:14,235 --> 00:20:17,275 Speaker 1: says that sentencing Trump before the election would inevitably force 290 00:20:17,355 --> 00:20:20,035 Speaker 1: him to consider or make it look like he's considering 291 00:20:20,235 --> 00:20:22,995 Speaker 1: the fact that Trump is campaigning and could be behind 292 00:20:23,035 --> 00:20:26,075 Speaker 1: bars in the closing days of the election. But how 293 00:20:26,115 --> 00:20:31,075 Speaker 1: did we get here, mister Pollieri asks. Trump's incessant delay 294 00:20:31,235 --> 00:20:34,795 Speaker 1: tactics pushed back the trial by nearly a month. His 295 00:20:34,875 --> 00:20:37,475 Speaker 1: defense in court went a lot longer than it reasonably 296 00:20:37,515 --> 00:20:41,475 Speaker 1: could have. He leaned on holidays and breaks to stretch 297 00:20:41,475 --> 00:20:44,995 Speaker 1: out the trial, and his federal immunity appeals and Scotis' 298 00:20:44,995 --> 00:20:51,835 Speaker 1: allies created the decision delay end quote. So now Merchan 299 00:20:52,395 --> 00:20:58,395 Speaker 1: puts himself in the position of sentencing Trump after the election, 300 00:21:00,515 --> 00:21:04,955 Speaker 1: having already impacted the election through his own personal cowardice. 301 00:21:05,155 --> 00:21:10,155 Speaker 1: The judge may now have to sentence the president elect 302 00:21:10,355 --> 00:21:14,955 Speaker 1: or not sentence him through more personal cowardice. Back to 303 00:21:15,075 --> 00:21:19,355 Speaker 1: Jose Pollieri, the reporter. In making his historic decision, Merchan 304 00:21:19,435 --> 00:21:22,795 Speaker 1: has decided that punishing Trump ahead of the election is 305 00:21:22,835 --> 00:21:26,915 Speaker 1: worse than punishing him after. In doing so, he deprives 306 00:21:26,995 --> 00:21:30,915 Speaker 1: American voters of knowing Trump's fate before they decide whether 307 00:21:30,955 --> 00:21:35,155 Speaker 1: he is fit to be US president. This result, an 308 00:21:35,195 --> 00:21:39,435 Speaker 1: exercise in damage mitigation, reminds me of a James Baldwin 309 00:21:39,635 --> 00:21:43,195 Speaker 1: essay I read recently. Quote. It is true that two 310 00:21:43,235 --> 00:21:45,555 Speaker 1: wrongs don't make a right, as we love to point 311 00:21:45,555 --> 00:21:49,875 Speaker 1: out to the people we have wronged. But one wrong 312 00:21:50,875 --> 00:21:56,795 Speaker 1: doesn't make a right either. And in turn I will 313 00:21:56,835 --> 00:22:00,515 Speaker 1: again quote Jean renoirre the French filmmaker. He created an 314 00:22:00,515 --> 00:22:05,755 Speaker 1: extraordinary film, La Regel Trujeu The Rules of the Game. 315 00:22:05,955 --> 00:22:08,995 Speaker 1: It premiered on July seventh, nineteen thirty nine, three hundred 316 00:22:08,995 --> 00:22:11,835 Speaker 1: and fifty four, days before France fell to the Nazis. 317 00:22:12,115 --> 00:22:14,995 Speaker 1: It was written and directed by Renoir himself, and in 318 00:22:15,035 --> 00:22:18,995 Speaker 1: it he plays the hero's buddy Octav, and at one point, 319 00:22:19,035 --> 00:22:22,515 Speaker 1: Octav says something about the corruption and the lack of morals, 320 00:22:22,555 --> 00:22:24,715 Speaker 1: and the lack of courage and just playing lack of 321 00:22:24,795 --> 00:22:29,115 Speaker 1: effort to stand up for what is right. He says 322 00:22:29,115 --> 00:22:32,315 Speaker 1: that everybody has a self interest that's far more important 323 00:22:32,555 --> 00:22:37,755 Speaker 1: to them than his courage or self sacrifice or bravery. 324 00:22:39,195 --> 00:22:41,395 Speaker 1: And it's a quote that has come to symbolize the 325 00:22:41,435 --> 00:22:44,835 Speaker 1: France that folded like a card table to the hitler 326 00:22:44,915 --> 00:22:49,235 Speaker 1: onslaught and the vchy France full of more collaborators than 327 00:22:49,315 --> 00:22:55,915 Speaker 1: the Germans believed possible. The quote is translated, you see, 328 00:22:56,075 --> 00:23:00,635 Speaker 1: in this world, there is one awful thing octav says, 329 00:23:00,955 --> 00:23:04,955 Speaker 1: seemingly fighting back, and then he gives up, and he 330 00:23:05,035 --> 00:23:13,395 Speaker 1: himself shrugs, and that is that everyone has his reasons. 331 00:23:16,395 --> 00:23:19,035 Speaker 1: We may yet steer out of this, electing Kamala Harris 332 00:23:19,115 --> 00:23:21,835 Speaker 1: as the best outcome, but even that does not suddenly 333 00:23:21,875 --> 00:23:26,355 Speaker 1: fix the New York Times, or get gen Z women registered, 334 00:23:26,995 --> 00:23:30,275 Speaker 1: or make Wan Merschan realize that everything he thinks he 335 00:23:30,355 --> 00:23:35,155 Speaker 1: is preventing, he is in fact creating. Even if we 336 00:23:35,315 --> 00:23:40,475 Speaker 1: destroy Trump again, we may still be the twenty first 337 00:23:40,515 --> 00:23:47,395 Speaker 1: century version of pre Hitler France, because as this vital 338 00:23:47,435 --> 00:23:53,315 Speaker 1: Week starts, we all have our reasons to just shrug 339 00:23:58,835 --> 00:24:01,515 Speaker 1: some business to mention. I'll be live on YouTube after 340 00:24:01,555 --> 00:24:04,955 Speaker 1: the debate tomorrow night, and I'll be doing and these 341 00:24:04,995 --> 00:24:08,035 Speaker 1: compact editions of this podcast every Monday through the election, 342 00:24:08,155 --> 00:24:10,555 Speaker 1: so there will be something five days a week. They 343 00:24:10,595 --> 00:24:13,435 Speaker 1: post by twelve to fifteen am Eastern each night. The 344 00:24:13,475 --> 00:24:18,995 Speaker 1: YouTube version posts by about six am Eastern. You're welcome. 345 00:24:19,835 --> 00:24:21,955 Speaker 1: So that's countdown for this, the fifty eighth day until 346 00:24:21,995 --> 00:24:25,555 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty four presidential election and the one three 347 00:24:25,635 --> 00:24:28,915 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty six day since convicted felon dementia. J 348 00:24:29,035 --> 00:24:33,195 Speaker 1: Trump's first attempted coup against the democratically elected government of 349 00:24:33,235 --> 00:24:36,515 Speaker 1: the United States till the next edition on Keith Olderman. 350 00:24:36,595 --> 00:24:58,195 Speaker 1: Good Morning, good afternoon, good night, and good Luck. Countdown 351 00:24:58,275 --> 00:25:01,995 Speaker 1: with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. For more 352 00:25:02,075 --> 00:25:06,835 Speaker 1: podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 353 00:25:06,955 --> 00:25:08,915 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.