1 00:00:04,795 --> 00:00:21,355 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. Trump 2 00:00:21,435 --> 00:00:26,835 Speaker 1: has just floated reinstating the military draft. He put the 3 00:00:26,835 --> 00:00:29,555 Speaker 1: words into the mouth of the last of his secretaries 4 00:00:29,595 --> 00:00:32,795 Speaker 1: of Defense, and that guy, Christopher Miller, who sat back 5 00:00:32,835 --> 00:00:36,475 Speaker 1: and watched January sixth unfold nearly as much as Trump did. 6 00:00:36,955 --> 00:00:40,315 Speaker 1: Miller it was who dressed the draft up as a 7 00:00:40,515 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: national service requirement. But make no mistake about it, Trump 8 00:00:44,275 --> 00:00:48,835 Speaker 1: has now floated the one thing that would unquestionably lose 9 00:00:48,915 --> 00:00:52,595 Speaker 1: him the election in a landslide, and it is a 10 00:00:52,755 --> 00:00:57,555 Speaker 1: military draft. It seems to be targeted at eighteen, nineteen, 11 00:00:57,635 --> 00:01:02,115 Speaker 1: and twenty year old American boys and girls, and maybe 12 00:01:02,315 --> 00:01:05,435 Speaker 1: seventeen year olds as well. And it start with a 13 00:01:05,515 --> 00:01:11,555 Speaker 1: mandatory military aptitude test administered by the Pentagon in your 14 00:01:11,595 --> 00:01:14,635 Speaker 1: local high school. And any kid who refused to take 15 00:01:14,675 --> 00:01:18,755 Speaker 1: that test might be prevented from graduating. And any school 16 00:01:18,795 --> 00:01:22,355 Speaker 1: that hesitated to go along with this would lose all 17 00:01:22,635 --> 00:01:28,035 Speaker 1: federal funding. So Trump, breaking precedent and using the American 18 00:01:28,155 --> 00:01:33,755 Speaker 1: Army domestically to suppress protests and conceivably kill civilians he 19 00:01:33,795 --> 00:01:37,395 Speaker 1: does not like, is not the bottom of the plan 20 00:01:37,795 --> 00:01:42,595 Speaker 1: for the military dictatorship Part of the Trump dictatorship, those 21 00:01:43,075 --> 00:01:48,955 Speaker 1: army soldiers and marines and whoever else firing on other Americans, 22 00:01:49,075 --> 00:01:51,555 Speaker 1: many of them or most of them, or maybe all 23 00:01:51,595 --> 00:01:56,715 Speaker 1: of them would be draftees. And when the Washington Post 24 00:01:57,035 --> 00:02:01,675 Speaker 1: reported this and the story got no traction and no 25 00:02:01,835 --> 00:02:04,915 Speaker 1: pickup at all. And even though the paper reported Trump 26 00:02:04,955 --> 00:02:09,235 Speaker 1: had not expressly endorsed the draft himself, within six hours 27 00:02:09,515 --> 00:02:15,315 Speaker 1: Trump posted an enraged, chaotic denial, reading quote, in fact, 28 00:02:15,715 --> 00:02:19,675 Speaker 1: I never even thought of that idea, which even for 29 00:02:19,755 --> 00:02:25,555 Speaker 1: Trump is a disastrously transparent non denial denial. Of course, 30 00:02:26,115 --> 00:02:30,235 Speaker 1: he never thought of that idea. When has Donald Trump 31 00:02:30,275 --> 00:02:35,595 Speaker 1: ever thought anything about a military draft except about how 32 00:02:35,835 --> 00:02:41,835 Speaker 1: to dodge it? Somebody else thought of that idea. And 33 00:02:41,915 --> 00:02:46,755 Speaker 1: that's somebody else is the former Secretary of Defense, Christopher Miller. 34 00:02:47,595 --> 00:02:52,675 Speaker 1: The burden of this trial balloon turned led balloon, now 35 00:02:52,875 --> 00:02:55,515 Speaker 1: lead balloon that may have made somebody else the early 36 00:02:55,595 --> 00:02:58,435 Speaker 1: front runner for the first Secretary of Defense in a 37 00:02:58,475 --> 00:03:02,795 Speaker 1: Trump dictatorship. That burden has fallen on this idiot Miller, 38 00:03:03,075 --> 00:03:08,395 Speaker 1: the ex soldier, defense contractor and weapons fetishist who took 39 00:03:08,435 --> 00:03:12,715 Speaker 1: over at the Pentagon after an enraged Trump fired Mark 40 00:03:12,915 --> 00:03:16,035 Speaker 1: Esper November twenty twenty, because Esper clearly would not let 41 00:03:16,115 --> 00:03:20,395 Speaker 1: Trump use the military to overthrow the civilian government and 42 00:03:20,635 --> 00:03:27,235 Speaker 1: void the election, the Post interviewed Christopher Miller, and Miller 43 00:03:27,315 --> 00:03:32,395 Speaker 1: said a national service requirement should be quote strongly considered. 44 00:03:32,955 --> 00:03:36,875 Speaker 1: He described the concept as a common rite of passage, 45 00:03:37,595 --> 00:03:42,635 Speaker 1: one that would create a sense of shared sacrifice among 46 00:03:42,675 --> 00:03:52,915 Speaker 1: America's youth unquote shared sacrifice, right, just like in Vietnam 47 00:03:53,275 --> 00:04:00,515 Speaker 1: the military draft, a national service requirement, a shared sacrifice 48 00:04:00,555 --> 00:04:07,635 Speaker 1: of fifty thousand Americans was the animating force behind all 49 00:04:07,675 --> 00:04:10,835 Speaker 1: the protests of the nineteen sixties. It was such a 50 00:04:10,915 --> 00:04:15,155 Speaker 1: third rail that the president who ended it was Richard Nixon. 51 00:04:16,355 --> 00:04:19,035 Speaker 1: And you can dress the draft up any way you want, 52 00:04:19,355 --> 00:04:24,475 Speaker 1: but under a draft requirement, American citizens, almost always teenagers, 53 00:04:24,835 --> 00:04:30,195 Speaker 1: almost always minorities, or economically or educationally deprived teenagers were 54 00:04:30,315 --> 00:04:34,715 Speaker 1: forced against their will to go to Vietnam or somewhere 55 00:04:34,795 --> 00:04:41,915 Speaker 1: else and kill or be killed. It reinforces the bonds 56 00:04:41,955 --> 00:04:46,395 Speaker 1: of civility. Miller also told The Washington Post, why wouldn't 57 00:04:46,395 --> 00:04:49,595 Speaker 1: we give that a try. If we're going to prepare 58 00:04:49,635 --> 00:04:53,035 Speaker 1: for a great power competition, it's helpful to have a 59 00:04:53,075 --> 00:04:58,115 Speaker 1: baseline understanding of the pool of potential military service members 60 00:04:58,395 --> 00:05:03,075 Speaker 1: and their specific aptitudes prior. We don't have a mechanism 61 00:05:03,155 --> 00:05:07,635 Speaker 1: now in our society that levins everyone and provides a 62 00:05:07,715 --> 00:05:14,275 Speaker 1: common focus and a common vision. Let me translate this 63 00:05:14,395 --> 00:05:18,515 Speaker 1: mad man Miller's euphemisms here, and how many goddamned mad 64 00:05:18,635 --> 00:05:22,955 Speaker 1: men Miller does Trump have working for him anyway? A 65 00:05:23,075 --> 00:05:27,475 Speaker 1: great power competition, as Christopher Miller said, is in fact 66 00:05:27,475 --> 00:05:32,955 Speaker 1: some kind of war or near war conflict with China. 67 00:05:33,435 --> 00:05:38,595 Speaker 1: Potential military service members, as Miller put it, are your 68 00:05:38,755 --> 00:05:42,595 Speaker 1: kids who would be forced to take that aptitude test. 69 00:05:43,075 --> 00:05:46,555 Speaker 1: The mechanism to provide a common focus and a common 70 00:05:46,675 --> 00:05:52,035 Speaker 1: vision that would be the Draft. Trump tried to run 71 00:05:52,075 --> 00:05:55,395 Speaker 1: away from this picture of a future America as military state, 72 00:05:55,715 --> 00:05:58,835 Speaker 1: but the Draft plan is far enough along inside the 73 00:05:58,875 --> 00:06:03,515 Speaker 1: fascist Republican Party that it is now chasing Trump. This 74 00:06:03,675 --> 00:06:07,515 Speaker 1: is not some half baked dream of an American SS 75 00:06:07,795 --> 00:06:13,075 Speaker 1: about which Miller just offhandedly mused to The Washington Post. 76 00:06:13,355 --> 00:06:20,395 Speaker 1: This entire National service structure is inside Project twenty twenty five, 77 00:06:20,955 --> 00:06:25,355 Speaker 1: the Trump and Federalist Society blueprint Project twenty twenty five 78 00:06:25,835 --> 00:06:30,915 Speaker 1: for converting this country into something more resembling Iran, and 79 00:06:30,995 --> 00:06:33,515 Speaker 1: that part of Project twenty twenty five that includes the 80 00:06:33,555 --> 00:06:37,835 Speaker 1: mandatory military exam and an interim and immediate step of 81 00:06:38,155 --> 00:06:45,235 Speaker 1: greater access to secondary schools for military recruiters. That thing 82 00:06:45,555 --> 00:06:49,395 Speaker 1: in Project twenty twenty five. That essay just happens to 83 00:06:49,435 --> 00:06:54,115 Speaker 1: have been written by former Trump Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller. 84 00:06:56,355 --> 00:06:59,755 Speaker 1: Now and before Trump got some understanding that any sign 85 00:06:59,875 --> 00:07:05,715 Speaker 1: of him supporting a draft will instantly kill his campaign 86 00:07:06,635 --> 00:07:10,755 Speaker 1: if handled correctly by the opposition, some of his sick 87 00:07:10,795 --> 00:07:14,835 Speaker 1: offense had already endorsed it. To the Post. Quote I 88 00:07:15,035 --> 00:07:19,035 Speaker 1: like the idea of national service, and I'm not talking 89 00:07:19,075 --> 00:07:26,635 Speaker 1: about in wartime. That was said by Ohio idiot Senator JD. Vance, 90 00:07:26,675 --> 00:07:33,195 Speaker 1: who is furiously peddling to become the vice presidential nominee. 91 00:07:33,315 --> 00:07:35,435 Speaker 1: If he had not sufficiently come out in favor of 92 00:07:35,475 --> 00:07:39,235 Speaker 1: conscription and forcing American teenagers to kill or be killed 93 00:07:39,235 --> 00:07:43,675 Speaker 1: against their will, Vance then said something stupid and even macabre. 94 00:07:44,315 --> 00:07:46,715 Speaker 1: He told the Post he wants more Americans to put 95 00:07:46,795 --> 00:07:55,595 Speaker 1: quote some skin in the game unquote. Who knows if Vance, 96 00:07:55,635 --> 00:08:00,555 Speaker 1: who appears ever more so to be an utterly moronic, 97 00:08:01,035 --> 00:08:06,475 Speaker 1: deranged lunatic who knows if Vance realizes that his use 98 00:08:06,675 --> 00:08:10,835 Speaker 1: of the words skin there may not be some kind 99 00:08:10,875 --> 00:08:17,275 Speaker 1: of metaphor. Trump's non denial denial just does not hold up. 100 00:08:19,595 --> 00:08:22,915 Speaker 1: This is his clientt ex Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, 101 00:08:23,075 --> 00:08:28,875 Speaker 1: whose chief of staff was Cash Patel Miller, who wrote 102 00:08:28,955 --> 00:08:31,235 Speaker 1: up the plan for Project twenty twenty five, which Trump 103 00:08:31,235 --> 00:08:37,155 Speaker 1: has sworn to implement, which includes a military draft that 104 00:08:37,315 --> 00:08:40,315 Speaker 1: Senator Vance just endorsed. And if you're still not seeing 105 00:08:40,315 --> 00:08:44,875 Speaker 1: this for what it is, the Post found disturbing enthusiasm 106 00:08:45,155 --> 00:08:48,075 Speaker 1: from another man who was not only Trump's former Assistant 107 00:08:48,115 --> 00:08:52,515 Speaker 1: Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs, but who was also 108 00:08:52,595 --> 00:08:55,915 Speaker 1: in George W. Bush's administration. So he's one deal with 109 00:08:55,995 --> 00:09:00,595 Speaker 1: the devil's shy of the elusive evil hat trick. His 110 00:09:00,755 --> 00:09:07,955 Speaker 1: name impossibly is Rob Hood. And if the nightmare that 111 00:09:08,075 --> 00:09:12,915 Speaker 1: opens up before US mandatory military proficiency tests for high 112 00:09:12,955 --> 00:09:19,155 Speaker 1: school girls, roundups of defiant school administrators and students, a draft, 113 00:09:19,555 --> 00:09:23,475 Speaker 1: if those parts of the nightmare were not horrifying enough, 114 00:09:23,795 --> 00:09:28,275 Speaker 1: Hood was willing to say the even quieter part out loud, 115 00:09:28,715 --> 00:09:33,755 Speaker 1: even louder, that our young people are losers and takers, 116 00:09:34,035 --> 00:09:37,755 Speaker 1: and if they won't shape up. They need to be 117 00:09:37,835 --> 00:09:43,035 Speaker 1: shaped up by a draft. Eighteen to twenty year olds 118 00:09:43,035 --> 00:09:46,395 Speaker 1: would benefit from gaining who had told the paper quote 119 00:09:46,595 --> 00:09:50,395 Speaker 1: a better appreciation for how great this country is. Who 120 00:09:50,595 --> 00:09:55,195 Speaker 1: gave them their Social Security numbers? The United States government. 121 00:09:55,915 --> 00:09:59,355 Speaker 1: There can be the takers, and there can be the givers. 122 00:09:59,675 --> 00:10:02,515 Speaker 1: And once we're all a bunch of takers and there 123 00:10:02,555 --> 00:10:08,675 Speaker 1: are no givers, this country will collapse. Un Quote Rob Hood, 124 00:10:09,715 --> 00:10:11,995 Speaker 1: He's not a taker. The only thing he would take 125 00:10:12,075 --> 00:10:17,355 Speaker 1: is your child's life. One more part of the Post's 126 00:10:17,475 --> 00:10:22,355 Speaker 1: story merits quotation. The paper is paraphrasing the man whom 127 00:10:22,435 --> 00:10:27,635 Speaker 1: Trump might now disappear after this public relations disaster. Quote. 128 00:10:27,955 --> 00:10:32,515 Speaker 1: A national service requirement, Christopher Miller contends, would afford young 129 00:10:32,555 --> 00:10:36,355 Speaker 1: people from across the country the opportunity to learn about 130 00:10:36,915 --> 00:10:40,635 Speaker 1: and rely on one another. He and other advocates on 131 00:10:40,675 --> 00:10:42,915 Speaker 1: the political rights say they believe the United States is 132 00:10:43,035 --> 00:10:48,035 Speaker 1: losing its civil cohesion and view this as a solution. 133 00:10:49,755 --> 00:10:53,835 Speaker 1: In other words, force all of the teenagers into camps 134 00:10:53,875 --> 00:10:57,675 Speaker 1: and give them guns and teach them about our enemies. 135 00:10:59,515 --> 00:11:02,155 Speaker 1: And as Trump said on television just this month, just 136 00:11:02,275 --> 00:11:07,595 Speaker 1: this time, quote the enemy from within. They are doing 137 00:11:07,715 --> 00:11:13,835 Speaker 1: damage to this country. Under Trump, the military would not 138 00:11:14,235 --> 00:11:19,235 Speaker 1: be there to defend our allies. It would not be 139 00:11:19,275 --> 00:11:22,035 Speaker 1: there just in the event of conflict. It would be mandatory. 140 00:11:22,155 --> 00:11:25,235 Speaker 1: It would be fascistic, It would be used domestically, and 141 00:11:25,315 --> 00:11:30,075 Speaker 1: it would be aimed at Trump's political opponents, his enemies. 142 00:11:31,355 --> 00:11:34,075 Speaker 1: I never even thought of that idea. He belches. He 143 00:11:34,075 --> 00:11:37,835 Speaker 1: didn't have to. Every dictator in history has already thought 144 00:11:37,875 --> 00:11:43,315 Speaker 1: of that idea for him. And by the way, I 145 00:11:43,355 --> 00:11:46,995 Speaker 1: am not exaggerating. I don't think about the impact this 146 00:11:47,195 --> 00:11:50,555 Speaker 1: Washington Post story and just that Gateway drug in at 147 00:11:50,595 --> 00:11:54,835 Speaker 1: the initial plan to make a military assessment of each 148 00:11:54,995 --> 00:11:59,835 Speaker 1: high school kid in the United States mandatory, just that, 149 00:12:00,315 --> 00:12:03,355 Speaker 1: the impact just that would have on Trump's campaign, if 150 00:12:03,435 --> 00:12:07,395 Speaker 1: only it were to be handled correctly by Biden's campaign. 151 00:12:08,515 --> 00:12:17,475 Speaker 1: Trump wants to reinstate the draft. The draft. There were 152 00:12:17,515 --> 00:12:22,155 Speaker 1: revolutionaries blowing up buildings in this country because of the draft. 153 00:12:23,315 --> 00:12:25,995 Speaker 1: The nineteen sixty eight Democratic Convention and most of its 154 00:12:26,075 --> 00:12:30,875 Speaker 1: campaign was sabotaged because of the draft. The Lyndon Johnson 155 00:12:30,995 --> 00:12:34,995 Speaker 1: presidency and the Great Society and the strides towards integration 156 00:12:35,235 --> 00:12:41,795 Speaker 1: died because of the draft. One hundred thousand young men 157 00:12:42,195 --> 00:12:48,435 Speaker 1: fled this country because of the draft. No protest movement 158 00:12:48,875 --> 00:12:51,955 Speaker 1: in the half a century since has carried the weight 159 00:12:52,075 --> 00:12:55,955 Speaker 1: of nor had the impact of those of the sixties 160 00:12:55,995 --> 00:13:00,835 Speaker 1: and early seventies, because simply the draft was not a 161 00:13:00,995 --> 00:13:10,595 Speaker 1: vague concept. Theft was literally life and death. Your life 162 00:13:10,675 --> 00:13:17,995 Speaker 1: and death, My life and death. Is there a more 163 00:13:18,395 --> 00:13:25,355 Speaker 1: powerful campaign message conceivable than Trump wants to draft your 164 00:13:25,755 --> 00:13:31,915 Speaker 1: kids or Trump wants to force your kids to kill 165 00:13:32,315 --> 00:13:39,275 Speaker 1: or be killed? Actually there is, because the voting age 166 00:13:39,355 --> 00:13:41,955 Speaker 1: is not what it was in the nineteen sixties. The 167 00:13:42,075 --> 00:13:45,635 Speaker 1: eighteen year olds vote now, So there is a more 168 00:13:45,795 --> 00:13:49,555 Speaker 1: powerful campaign message, and it is this, Trump wants to 169 00:13:49,675 --> 00:13:56,035 Speaker 1: draft you. Trump wants to force you to kill or 170 00:13:56,195 --> 00:14:26,435 Speaker 1: be killed. Trump's legal status news remains in stasis. I 171 00:14:26,435 --> 00:14:28,955 Speaker 1: will note that his former campaign staff for Jessica Denson, 172 00:14:28,955 --> 00:14:32,115 Speaker 1: who broke the grip of Trump's non disclosure agreements and 173 00:14:32,155 --> 00:14:36,355 Speaker 1: now hosts The lights On podcast, noted two side effects 174 00:14:36,795 --> 00:14:39,915 Speaker 1: to his probation interview Monday, which have not only been 175 00:14:39,915 --> 00:14:43,435 Speaker 1: criminally undercovered, but which could theoretically put Trump at further 176 00:14:43,635 --> 00:14:47,715 Speaker 1: criminal risk. It is widely reported and Trump did not 177 00:14:47,955 --> 00:14:51,395 Speaker 1: winally deny this. That at the end of the Zoom 178 00:14:51,435 --> 00:14:54,835 Speaker 1: session he told the probation people in New York, quote, 179 00:14:55,355 --> 00:15:00,635 Speaker 1: be safe. As a former Trump worker and courtroom opponent, 180 00:15:01,115 --> 00:15:03,875 Speaker 1: she knows what the rest of us can only suspect here. 181 00:15:03,995 --> 00:15:08,835 Speaker 1: Trump telling New York State Corrections employees to be safe. 182 00:15:09,035 --> 00:15:13,235 Speaker 1: That's a threat. And even if the word threat is 183 00:15:13,475 --> 00:15:18,355 Speaker 1: a little too strong at minimum, that's yet another stochastic warning. 184 00:15:18,955 --> 00:15:24,675 Speaker 1: Be safe, not be well, be good, be happy, be healthy, 185 00:15:25,315 --> 00:15:32,235 Speaker 1: but be safe. Be safe from what? Safe? Safe from 186 00:15:32,275 --> 00:15:39,275 Speaker 1: Trump's mobs? What else? More tangibly miss Denson notes that 187 00:15:39,395 --> 00:15:42,915 Speaker 1: in his probation interview, Trump confirmed he is in possession 188 00:15:42,955 --> 00:15:46,155 Speaker 1: of his firearm at his home in Florida. Felons are 189 00:15:46,155 --> 00:15:49,515 Speaker 1: not permitted to possess firearms in Florida, but he has 190 00:15:50,395 --> 00:15:56,555 Speaker 1: now for thirteen days, longer than Hunter Biden possessed one separately. 191 00:15:56,595 --> 00:16:00,715 Speaker 1: It now proves at least two state organizations forbid nominating 192 00:16:00,835 --> 00:16:06,555 Speaker 1: felons for political office. Articles SEKX of the Nevada Republican 193 00:16:06,595 --> 00:16:11,595 Speaker 1: State Party by Laws insists that that organization quote shall 194 00:16:11,635 --> 00:16:14,555 Speaker 1: neither recognize nor support any candidate for public office who 195 00:16:14,555 --> 00:16:18,795 Speaker 1: has been convicted of a felony or while serving in 196 00:16:18,795 --> 00:16:21,715 Speaker 1: a public office, was impeached and convicted or removed from 197 00:16:21,715 --> 00:16:24,275 Speaker 1: office for any reason, how close on the last one 198 00:16:24,315 --> 00:16:27,315 Speaker 1: there got them on the first. Of course, there are 199 00:16:27,755 --> 00:16:31,275 Speaker 1: Republicans there in the Republican Party of Nevada, so there 200 00:16:31,355 --> 00:16:35,315 Speaker 1: is another article permitting them to behave immorally and override 201 00:16:35,435 --> 00:16:39,395 Speaker 1: Article sixteen by a two thirds vote. Unresolved, however, is 202 00:16:39,435 --> 00:16:43,635 Speaker 1: the matter of Trump and Washington State. Denny Westnead of 203 00:16:43,675 --> 00:16:47,275 Speaker 1: the Seattle Times notes that since eighteen sixty five, Washington, 204 00:16:47,475 --> 00:16:50,275 Speaker 1: before it was a state, has had a law barring 205 00:16:50,435 --> 00:16:54,715 Speaker 1: felons from holding elected office. It was updated in twenty 206 00:16:54,755 --> 00:16:58,075 Speaker 1: sixteen to read that any registered voter can challenge the 207 00:16:58,155 --> 00:17:01,715 Speaker 1: right of any candidate to be on the general election 208 00:17:01,875 --> 00:17:04,675 Speaker 1: ballot in Washington State for any one of five reasons, 209 00:17:05,075 --> 00:17:09,315 Speaker 1: including those candidates who were quoting convicted of a felony 210 00:17:09,355 --> 00:17:12,435 Speaker 1: by a court of competent jurisdiction, the conviction not having 211 00:17:12,515 --> 00:17:16,115 Speaker 1: been reversed nor the person's civil rights restored after the 212 00:17:16,155 --> 00:17:20,875 Speaker 1: conviction columnis. Westneat quotes an attorney named David Vogel in 213 00:17:21,035 --> 00:17:24,675 Speaker 1: Washington State who says, I have clients lined up. We're 214 00:17:24,715 --> 00:17:28,075 Speaker 1: going to be all over pursuing a ballot challenge in 215 00:17:28,155 --> 00:17:32,875 Speaker 1: Trump's case, mister Westnate notes plenty of presidential candidates have 216 00:17:32,995 --> 00:17:36,675 Speaker 1: been thrown off Washington state ballots in the past, always 217 00:17:36,715 --> 00:17:40,915 Speaker 1: from minor parties and also on the legal front, for 218 00:17:40,995 --> 00:17:43,075 Speaker 1: reasons I can only shake my head at. And I'm 219 00:17:43,115 --> 00:17:46,915 Speaker 1: beginning to think there may be a masochism requirement if 220 00:17:46,915 --> 00:17:49,515 Speaker 1: you want to be both a prosecutor and a Democrat. 221 00:17:50,235 --> 00:17:54,835 Speaker 1: The Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo 222 00:17:55,395 --> 00:18:02,715 Speaker 1: have agreed to voluntarily testify to Jim Jordan's latest dog 223 00:18:02,795 --> 00:18:07,795 Speaker 1: and pony show, which Jordan, for some reason, calls the 224 00:18:07,795 --> 00:18:12,395 Speaker 1: House Judiciary Committee. Brag and Colangelo will appear on Friday 225 00:18:12,515 --> 00:18:17,275 Speaker 1: July twelfth. And if you're saying, wait, July twelfth, July twelfth, 226 00:18:17,315 --> 00:18:21,315 Speaker 1: why does that date ring a bell? It's because Thursday, 227 00:18:21,715 --> 00:18:29,315 Speaker 1: July eleventh is still the date scheduled for Trump's sentencing. Happily, 228 00:18:29,715 --> 00:18:32,715 Speaker 1: it's not like they'll actually be sending Trump to jail 229 00:18:33,075 --> 00:18:36,395 Speaker 1: just one day before Bragg and Colangelo go and testify 230 00:18:36,435 --> 00:18:40,795 Speaker 1: to the Jordan Star Chamber, you know, sending him to 231 00:18:40,875 --> 00:18:44,275 Speaker 1: jail for illegal possession of a gun while felon or 232 00:18:44,355 --> 00:18:47,675 Speaker 1: threatening the jury, or violating the gag order a dozen times, 233 00:18:47,795 --> 00:18:50,475 Speaker 1: or committing the thirty four crimes he was convicted of. 234 00:18:51,235 --> 00:18:55,355 Speaker 1: I know he's not going to jail. Jonathan Turley told 235 00:18:55,395 --> 00:18:58,995 Speaker 1: me so. It also would be absurd to sends him 236 00:18:59,035 --> 00:19:03,155 Speaker 1: to jail. He is an elderly first defender, nonviolent crime. 237 00:19:03,355 --> 00:19:06,395 Speaker 1: He is an elder lee first offender. 238 00:19:06,835 --> 00:19:14,355 Speaker 2: He is an elderly first Oh wait a minute, old Nancy, 239 00:19:22,395 --> 00:19:24,595 Speaker 2: I'm an elderly first defender. 240 00:19:24,955 --> 00:19:31,235 Speaker 1: I've been found guilty. The stormy jury had no doubt. 241 00:19:35,155 --> 00:19:42,235 Speaker 1: I'm far too old to go to prison, Butterly says, 242 00:19:42,435 --> 00:19:49,235 Speaker 1: I'm fine for the wide high. Thank you, Nancy foul 243 00:19:55,835 --> 00:20:00,115 Speaker 1: and thank you soggy bottom boys. Elderly first offender all 244 00:20:00,155 --> 00:20:05,195 Speaker 1: through his days. Also of interest here, Jonathan mar Is 245 00:20:05,235 --> 00:20:09,515 Speaker 1: back the Politico quote reporter unquote was spent the last 246 00:20:09,595 --> 00:20:14,075 Speaker 1: year talking about almost nothing except President Biden's age. Returns 247 00:20:14,115 --> 00:20:19,275 Speaker 1: to complain that nobody is talking about President Biden's age, 248 00:20:19,315 --> 00:20:24,235 Speaker 1: and he's doing this because Hunter Biden's conviction means that 249 00:20:24,395 --> 00:20:29,795 Speaker 1: president is even older than and should drop out. Honestly, 250 00:20:29,875 --> 00:20:34,715 Speaker 1: I don't know what Jonathan Martin is talking about, except 251 00:20:34,835 --> 00:20:37,875 Speaker 1: that while he was talking about it, he also managed 252 00:20:37,875 --> 00:20:42,675 Speaker 1: to invoke Aaron Sorkin. So for all I know, he 253 00:20:42,835 --> 00:20:45,355 Speaker 1: may be reporting that Sorkin may have just borrowed something 254 00:20:45,355 --> 00:20:48,315 Speaker 1: else from my life to make into a third TV series. 255 00:20:48,675 --> 00:20:54,795 Speaker 1: That's next. This is Countdown. This is Countdown with Keith 256 00:20:54,835 --> 00:21:18,755 Speaker 1: Olboman still ahead of us on this edition of Countdown. 257 00:21:18,795 --> 00:21:22,595 Speaker 1: So there's a story in the TV sports world that 258 00:21:22,675 --> 00:21:26,075 Speaker 1: Stephen A. Smith is about to sign another deal with 259 00:21:26,435 --> 00:21:30,395 Speaker 1: ESPN and that the key bargaining point, reportedly is that 260 00:21:30,835 --> 00:21:33,835 Speaker 1: he believes he must be paid more than ESPN pays 261 00:21:33,875 --> 00:21:37,715 Speaker 1: that challenged guy it has on its air, Pat McAfee. 262 00:21:38,035 --> 00:21:41,035 Speaker 1: And this made me laugh and flashback to nineteen ninety seven, 263 00:21:41,075 --> 00:21:43,555 Speaker 1: this time of year when there were more people watching 264 00:21:43,795 --> 00:21:46,835 Speaker 1: ESPN studio shows than there are now, and I was 265 00:21:46,875 --> 00:21:49,715 Speaker 1: the lead anchor of Supports Center, and they were paying 266 00:21:49,755 --> 00:21:52,555 Speaker 1: me a little less than three hundred thousand a year, 267 00:21:53,275 --> 00:21:56,075 Speaker 1: and I figured out the show was profiting like sixty 268 00:21:56,155 --> 00:21:59,275 Speaker 1: million a year, and the rule of thumb in TV 269 00:21:59,515 --> 00:22:01,915 Speaker 1: was ten percent goes to the talent, ten percent of 270 00:22:01,915 --> 00:22:04,195 Speaker 1: the profit. That meant they should be paying me and 271 00:22:04,315 --> 00:22:09,035 Speaker 1: Dan three million each. And I told this to one 272 00:22:09,075 --> 00:22:10,675 Speaker 1: executive and then he looked like he was going to 273 00:22:10,715 --> 00:22:13,715 Speaker 1: have a stroke, and now Smith wants twenty million for 274 00:22:13,755 --> 00:22:16,315 Speaker 1: an audience that's only half as profitable as it was 275 00:22:16,355 --> 00:22:19,035 Speaker 1: in nineteen ninety seven, which means I need to tell 276 00:22:19,035 --> 00:22:22,515 Speaker 1: you the saga of how I quit Sports Center twenty 277 00:22:22,515 --> 00:22:26,515 Speaker 1: seven years ago and left for NBC, and then ESPN 278 00:22:26,555 --> 00:22:30,195 Speaker 1: tried to rehire me. Coming up, but first, As ever, 279 00:22:30,235 --> 00:22:33,515 Speaker 1: there are still more new idiots to talk about. The 280 00:22:33,595 --> 00:22:37,555 Speaker 1: daily roundup of the miscreants, morons and Dunning Kruger effects specimens, 281 00:22:38,195 --> 00:22:45,395 Speaker 1: who we celebrate as two days worst persons in the world. However, 282 00:22:46,595 --> 00:22:51,115 Speaker 1: the bronze worse. And I mean this affectionately. A Twitter 283 00:22:51,315 --> 00:22:54,875 Speaker 1: exer self identifying only as a follower of mine named 284 00:22:55,035 --> 00:22:59,795 Speaker 1: Art Martin. Art responded to a Nate Silver tweet, and 285 00:22:59,835 --> 00:23:03,195 Speaker 1: he has struck me right in my guilt. Nate Silver's 286 00:23:03,195 --> 00:23:06,395 Speaker 1: tweet began if I told you ten years ago, and 287 00:23:06,475 --> 00:23:10,235 Speaker 1: it ended with would you be surprised? Mister Martin replied 288 00:23:10,235 --> 00:23:12,755 Speaker 1: to Nate Silver with quote if I had told you 289 00:23:12,835 --> 00:23:15,395 Speaker 1: ten years ago that Nate Silver would turn into someone 290 00:23:15,475 --> 00:23:20,995 Speaker 1: as quote credible unquote as Chris Solicit, would you be surprised? 291 00:23:23,115 --> 00:23:23,355 Speaker 2: Oh? 292 00:23:23,515 --> 00:23:26,755 Speaker 1: As the kids say, Man, do I feel seen and 293 00:23:26,795 --> 00:23:30,075 Speaker 1: not in a good Way, Nate Silver and Chris Solicit 294 00:23:30,115 --> 00:23:33,275 Speaker 1: in the same tweet, two of my biggest guilts in 295 00:23:33,275 --> 00:23:38,915 Speaker 1: my life. I'm sorry. I thought they added something. I 296 00:23:38,955 --> 00:23:42,355 Speaker 1: didn't realize that what they added would always have to 297 00:23:42,395 --> 00:23:48,355 Speaker 1: be limited to single digit numbers. I'm sorry, couldn't have worked. 298 00:23:48,395 --> 00:23:54,715 Speaker 1: Inter or Jonathan Turley in there like Aaron Sorkin, throwner 299 00:23:54,795 --> 00:23:59,875 Speaker 1: up worser. Jonathan Martin of Politico. We've met him here before. 300 00:24:00,355 --> 00:24:03,475 Speaker 1: You may remember Jonathan Martin from such worst person entries 301 00:24:03,515 --> 00:24:06,475 Speaker 1: as I had him important Trump news, but I sat 302 00:24:06,555 --> 00:24:09,315 Speaker 1: on it until I got a book deal, and I 303 00:24:09,395 --> 00:24:12,075 Speaker 1: spent eighteen months calling Trump the front runner. Then the 304 00:24:12,115 --> 00:24:15,035 Speaker 1: polls change, so I wrote an article saying Trump's the 305 00:24:15,075 --> 00:24:19,755 Speaker 1: front runner. Not so fast, and most relevantly, Biden should 306 00:24:19,755 --> 00:24:23,755 Speaker 1: stop calling David Axelrod a prick and admit he's too old. 307 00:24:24,755 --> 00:24:27,635 Speaker 1: Now Jonathan Martin is back to the only topic he 308 00:24:27,675 --> 00:24:31,795 Speaker 1: can handle, Biden's age, and he's back with the kind 309 00:24:31,835 --> 00:24:35,915 Speaker 1: of brilliant take that will make America ring. If this 310 00:24:36,115 --> 00:24:41,235 Speaker 1: is nineteen ninety nine and it invokes Aaron Sorkin quote 311 00:24:41,635 --> 00:24:45,115 Speaker 1: in the Sorkin version of twenty twenty four, Hunter's conviction 312 00:24:45,235 --> 00:24:48,195 Speaker 1: would be the escape hatch Biden takes to focus on 313 00:24:48,355 --> 00:24:51,075 Speaker 1: family and drop out of the race, deferring to a 314 00:24:51,115 --> 00:24:54,515 Speaker 1: Democrat who is not approaching eighty two here in reality, 315 00:24:54,715 --> 00:24:57,315 Speaker 1: it will take the jaws of life to get Biden out, 316 00:24:57,635 --> 00:25:00,315 Speaker 1: and Dems will continue what they've done for two years, 317 00:25:00,595 --> 00:25:05,835 Speaker 1: grumbling but saying nothing in public. Okayst staff In the 318 00:25:05,875 --> 00:25:10,115 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four Sorkin version of twenty twenty four, Aaron 319 00:25:10,195 --> 00:25:15,035 Speaker 1: Sorkin would not write this scene unless somebody else wrote 320 00:25:15,075 --> 00:25:18,955 Speaker 1: it for him first, then it would mysteriously appear in 321 00:25:18,995 --> 00:25:23,435 Speaker 1: his script. Also, mister Martin writes, Dems will continue what 322 00:25:23,475 --> 00:25:27,435 Speaker 1: they've done for two years, grumbling but saying nothing in public. Why, Yes, 323 00:25:28,035 --> 00:25:33,715 Speaker 1: Danny Konkannon's summer vacation relief guy. Not one Democrat has 324 00:25:33,795 --> 00:25:38,035 Speaker 1: said anything in public about Joe Biden's age these last 325 00:25:38,395 --> 00:25:45,355 Speaker 1: two years. Not one. Why are American news organizations imploding 326 00:25:46,355 --> 00:25:51,595 Speaker 1: the unrecognizable, ever changing marketplace? Yes, the collapse of the 327 00:25:51,675 --> 00:25:56,635 Speaker 1: media industry as a business. Absolutely that The Washington Post 328 00:25:56,635 --> 00:25:59,555 Speaker 1: had ten people cover the Hunter Biden trial, and all 329 00:25:59,635 --> 00:26:02,755 Speaker 1: of its tweets about the guilty verdict combined in the 330 00:26:02,795 --> 00:26:06,955 Speaker 1: first five hours had gotten only sixty retweets because the 331 00:26:06,955 --> 00:26:09,355 Speaker 1: Post doesn't understand that its audience doesn't give a crap, 332 00:26:09,755 --> 00:26:11,795 Speaker 1: and the audience that did give a crap would never 333 00:26:11,835 --> 00:26:14,275 Speaker 1: read the Post's coverage of that story. You bet you. 334 00:26:14,675 --> 00:26:17,355 Speaker 1: But there's a fourth factor about which we will continue 335 00:26:17,395 --> 00:26:19,875 Speaker 1: to do what we've done for two years, grumbling but 336 00:26:19,955 --> 00:26:23,915 Speaker 1: saying nothing in public. I guess the quality of today's 337 00:26:23,915 --> 00:26:28,315 Speaker 1: political journalists is so mediocre that there was actually a 338 00:26:28,475 --> 00:26:34,835 Speaker 1: bidding war for this one note idiot Jonathan Martin, but 339 00:26:35,955 --> 00:26:40,475 Speaker 1: our winner, Royce White. I love this guy, the ex 340 00:26:40,595 --> 00:26:44,675 Speaker 1: NBA player whose principal campaign issues are his own rage 341 00:26:45,355 --> 00:26:50,595 Speaker 1: and his own NBA career. His NBA career, which lasted 342 00:26:50,635 --> 00:26:56,915 Speaker 1: exactly eight minutes and fifty five seconds. White was the 343 00:26:56,955 --> 00:27:01,235 Speaker 1: Republican who lost to ilan Omar seventy five to twenty five. 344 00:27:01,595 --> 00:27:04,115 Speaker 1: He is now poised to be the Republican nominee for 345 00:27:04,155 --> 00:27:07,475 Speaker 1: the Senate in Minnesota to try to unseat Amy Klobashar. 346 00:27:08,155 --> 00:27:11,755 Speaker 1: As The Daily Beast has extensively reported, mister eight minutes 347 00:27:11,795 --> 00:27:15,275 Speaker 1: and fifty five seconds has had a campaign ethics complaint 348 00:27:15,555 --> 00:27:18,115 Speaker 1: filed on him after it turned out some of his 349 00:27:18,235 --> 00:27:24,515 Speaker 1: campaign money was spent at a strip club, and here 350 00:27:24,675 --> 00:27:31,035 Speaker 1: come the g Strings, an all nude strip club in Florida, 351 00:27:31,995 --> 00:27:37,195 Speaker 1: not Minnesota, A strip club called the gold Rush Cabaret 352 00:27:38,595 --> 00:27:42,195 Speaker 1: would be Republican Senator White went on David Pacman's show, 353 00:27:42,475 --> 00:27:45,595 Speaker 1: where the following exchange took place. Pac Man, your claim 354 00:27:45,715 --> 00:27:48,995 Speaker 1: is there were filings which said you spent campaign funds 355 00:27:48,995 --> 00:27:53,515 Speaker 1: at a strip club, but they were incorrect filings. White, No, 356 00:27:53,635 --> 00:27:55,955 Speaker 1: they didn't say I spent the funds at a strip club. 357 00:27:56,235 --> 00:27:58,955 Speaker 1: Or let's say they didn't say I spent the funds 358 00:27:58,995 --> 00:28:06,955 Speaker 1: on strippers, Pacman. But it was spent at a strip club. Why, well, 359 00:28:07,075 --> 00:28:14,955 Speaker 1: they sell food at the strip club, don't they A yes, yes, yes, food. 360 00:28:15,755 --> 00:28:19,915 Speaker 1: You spent the money at the strip club on food 361 00:28:21,635 --> 00:28:27,395 Speaker 1: the gold Rush Cabaret, Well, maybe the campaign was prospecting. Later, 362 00:28:27,555 --> 00:28:30,715 Speaker 1: in the same interview, White, who had already said they 363 00:28:30,755 --> 00:28:34,315 Speaker 1: didn't say I spent the funds on strippers, implied that 364 00:28:34,395 --> 00:28:37,115 Speaker 1: it may have been somebody else in his campaign who 365 00:28:37,555 --> 00:28:40,715 Speaker 1: who spent the money at the gold Rush Cabaret, not him, 366 00:28:40,915 --> 00:28:43,235 Speaker 1: even though he just said it was him and it 367 00:28:43,355 --> 00:28:48,715 Speaker 1: was it was spent on fine dining. Royce, I spent 368 00:28:48,795 --> 00:28:53,115 Speaker 1: it on food at the strip club. White. I never 369 00:28:53,155 --> 00:28:57,195 Speaker 1: heard that described as food before. I love this guy. 370 00:28:57,635 --> 00:29:04,355 Speaker 1: He's his own series and he's today's worst person. And 371 00:29:04,675 --> 00:29:30,675 Speaker 1: that's the word Latakos. There is a huge oral history 372 00:29:30,675 --> 00:29:34,515 Speaker 1: of ESPN from twenty eleven by Jim Miller, and most 373 00:29:34,515 --> 00:29:36,395 Speaker 1: of it is pretty good, but there's one line in 374 00:29:36,475 --> 00:29:40,395 Speaker 1: it that triggered this recollection. The executive vice president of 375 00:29:40,435 --> 00:29:42,915 Speaker 1: the company in nineteen ninety seven was named Howard Katz, 376 00:29:42,955 --> 00:29:45,315 Speaker 1: and in this ESPN book he was quoted as saying, 377 00:29:45,715 --> 00:29:48,875 Speaker 1: I didn't fire Keith. I just chose not to renew 378 00:29:48,915 --> 00:29:51,995 Speaker 1: his contract. And then there's a couple of quotes from 379 00:29:52,035 --> 00:29:54,155 Speaker 1: guys I never heard of who said, no, we fired him. 380 00:29:54,555 --> 00:29:57,875 Speaker 1: None of it's true. Howard and I got along surprisingly 381 00:29:57,915 --> 00:30:00,355 Speaker 1: well at ESPN and even better since, so I'm just 382 00:30:00,395 --> 00:30:03,355 Speaker 1: going to assume he misremembered all this, and he's right. 383 00:30:03,675 --> 00:30:07,235 Speaker 1: I mean, legally, he chose not to renew my contract 384 00:30:07,275 --> 00:30:09,715 Speaker 1: early in nineteen ninety seven, and a couple of weeks later, 385 00:30:09,795 --> 00:30:13,275 Speaker 1: instead he offered me a new four year contract which 386 00:30:13,275 --> 00:30:16,195 Speaker 1: would have basically doubled my salary. And even after I 387 00:30:16,235 --> 00:30:18,955 Speaker 1: had said no, thanks and I signed with NBC. The 388 00:30:18,955 --> 00:30:22,595 Speaker 1: then president of ABC, Bob Eiger whatever happened to him, 389 00:30:22,915 --> 00:30:25,635 Speaker 1: tried to get me to back out of the NBC deal, 390 00:30:25,755 --> 00:30:28,395 Speaker 1: to renege on it, and then sign a new deal 391 00:30:28,795 --> 00:30:32,035 Speaker 1: at ESPN. So they offered me two new deals after 392 00:30:33,035 --> 00:30:36,755 Speaker 1: they didn't renew my old contract. See how this works. 393 00:30:37,235 --> 00:30:39,275 Speaker 1: In ninety six and ninety seven, it was no secret 394 00:30:39,355 --> 00:30:42,355 Speaker 1: that my first choice was to leave ESPN. I had 395 00:30:42,355 --> 00:30:44,875 Speaker 1: come within hours of asking to be let out of 396 00:30:44,875 --> 00:30:47,155 Speaker 1: my deal. In the summer of nineteen ninety six, a 397 00:30:47,315 --> 00:30:51,075 Speaker 1: radio station in Chicago WMVP had wanted me to go 398 00:30:51,155 --> 00:30:54,275 Speaker 1: do the afternoon drive show there, a mix of news 399 00:30:54,395 --> 00:30:57,355 Speaker 1: and sports, and they were offering me twice the money 400 00:30:57,555 --> 00:31:00,835 Speaker 1: I was getting to host SportsCenter, and I was ready 401 00:31:00,835 --> 00:31:03,635 Speaker 1: to go. Loved it, had a great week there. They 402 00:31:03,715 --> 00:31:06,235 Speaker 1: wined me, they died me, and everybody offered me a 403 00:31:06,275 --> 00:31:09,315 Speaker 1: free beer, Welcome to Chicago, you're from out of town. 404 00:31:10,235 --> 00:31:13,675 Speaker 1: And then ownership of the radio station simply pulled the 405 00:31:13,715 --> 00:31:16,235 Speaker 1: plug on the station it was in thirty first place 406 00:31:16,755 --> 00:31:18,875 Speaker 1: and said they could save a lot more money by 407 00:31:18,875 --> 00:31:23,115 Speaker 1: simply rebroadcasting what was on FM radio. And eventually, and 408 00:31:23,155 --> 00:31:25,275 Speaker 1: this would have been interesting had I gone to Chicago. 409 00:31:25,515 --> 00:31:32,515 Speaker 1: Eventually the owners sold WMVP to ESPN. Anyway, My ESPN 410 00:31:32,595 --> 00:31:35,515 Speaker 1: deal was set to expire on December thirty first, nineteen 411 00:31:35,595 --> 00:31:38,835 Speaker 1: ninety seven, but they had the option to extend it 412 00:31:38,955 --> 00:31:42,355 Speaker 1: for I can't remember either either for a year after 413 00:31:42,395 --> 00:31:45,235 Speaker 1: that or two years, but they had to notify me 414 00:31:45,435 --> 00:31:50,315 Speaker 1: really early in ninety seven, and instead, on February eighteenth, 415 00:31:50,395 --> 00:31:53,155 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety seven, Howard Katz proposed to my then agent 416 00:31:53,555 --> 00:31:55,875 Speaker 1: that we tear up the contract and do a new 417 00:31:55,955 --> 00:31:59,355 Speaker 1: four year deal that started at seven hundred thousand dollars 418 00:31:59,395 --> 00:32:02,715 Speaker 1: a year and covered a radio show with Dan Patrick, 419 00:32:02,995 --> 00:32:07,155 Speaker 1: and the Sunday edition of Sports and the sp Awards ceremonies, 420 00:32:07,195 --> 00:32:10,795 Speaker 1: and the Internet and everything else. This was a lot 421 00:32:10,835 --> 00:32:14,435 Speaker 1: of money for ESPN in nineteen ninety seven, seven hundred 422 00:32:14,555 --> 00:32:17,955 Speaker 1: thousand dollars a year, so we played around with that 423 00:32:18,075 --> 00:32:20,635 Speaker 1: for a while. But I didn't really want to go 424 00:32:20,675 --> 00:32:24,435 Speaker 1: into radio full time, not then when I still had 425 00:32:24,475 --> 00:32:27,755 Speaker 1: dark hair. So on April fourth, nineteen ninety seven, Howard 426 00:32:27,795 --> 00:32:30,555 Speaker 1: Catz came back with another offer, three sports centers a 427 00:32:30,595 --> 00:32:34,115 Speaker 1: week plus some radio, starting at five hundred and fifty 428 00:32:34,155 --> 00:32:37,315 Speaker 1: thousand dollars a year. I noticed that this was less 429 00:32:37,355 --> 00:32:40,035 Speaker 1: than the first offer, so two weeks later, at the 430 00:32:40,075 --> 00:32:43,755 Speaker 1: first ever Jackie Robinson Night at Chase Stadium in New York, 431 00:32:44,115 --> 00:32:46,235 Speaker 1: Howard came up to me and asked me, in front 432 00:32:46,235 --> 00:32:49,755 Speaker 1: of everybody in our booth, ranging from Chris Berman to 433 00:32:49,835 --> 00:32:53,075 Speaker 1: Robin Roberts, to all the producers, and briefly to President 434 00:32:53,115 --> 00:32:56,115 Speaker 1: Bill Clinton, he asked me if we were close on 435 00:32:56,155 --> 00:32:59,195 Speaker 1: this new deal that he'd offered me. I got angry 436 00:32:59,235 --> 00:33:01,355 Speaker 1: at him. He got angry at me for getting angry 437 00:33:01,355 --> 00:33:02,875 Speaker 1: at him, and I said, you know, forget it. And 438 00:33:02,915 --> 00:33:04,435 Speaker 1: what's more, it makes no sense for me to hang 439 00:33:04,395 --> 00:33:08,595 Speaker 1: around here as a lame duck. Howard wait, Howard the duck, 440 00:33:09,315 --> 00:33:11,155 Speaker 1: and he calmed down. He said I could look at 441 00:33:11,155 --> 00:33:13,955 Speaker 1: other jobs and we'd let things cool off and talk 442 00:33:13,995 --> 00:33:16,035 Speaker 1: again about a new deal in a few weeks after 443 00:33:16,115 --> 00:33:17,675 Speaker 1: I looked around to see if it was something I'd 444 00:33:17,755 --> 00:33:20,035 Speaker 1: rather do than be at ESPN, and if it still 445 00:33:20,075 --> 00:33:22,475 Speaker 1: wasn't going anywhere, we would agree on a date early 446 00:33:22,515 --> 00:33:24,795 Speaker 1: in the summer and I could leave six months before 447 00:33:24,835 --> 00:33:29,075 Speaker 1: the contract officially ended. And then three huge things happened 448 00:33:29,075 --> 00:33:31,675 Speaker 1: about this that most people still don't know to this day. 449 00:33:32,275 --> 00:33:35,795 Speaker 1: Even after all that, When I called Phil Mushnick of 450 00:33:35,795 --> 00:33:38,075 Speaker 1: the new York Post and Richard Sandomir of The New 451 00:33:38,155 --> 00:33:40,995 Speaker 1: York Times, and I told them I would be leaving ESPN, 452 00:33:41,435 --> 00:33:43,155 Speaker 1: and it appeared I would be going to go to 453 00:33:43,235 --> 00:33:46,395 Speaker 1: Court TV to be the host and executive producer of 454 00:33:46,435 --> 00:33:49,755 Speaker 1: my own sports show, four nights a week. I almost 455 00:33:50,035 --> 00:33:53,915 Speaker 1: stayed at ESPN once it got out that I was leaving. 456 00:33:54,355 --> 00:33:56,835 Speaker 1: I got a letter from a viewer who told me 457 00:33:56,915 --> 00:33:59,675 Speaker 1: that his son, who had autism, had been at his 458 00:33:59,795 --> 00:34:03,475 Speaker 1: other son's little league game, and when his brother banged 459 00:34:03,475 --> 00:34:07,635 Speaker 1: out a base hit, this kid, who had rarely ever 460 00:34:07,835 --> 00:34:13,155 Speaker 1: spoken in his life, suddenly shouted out one of my catchphrases. 461 00:34:13,955 --> 00:34:18,315 Speaker 1: This guy said, he hit the ball real hard. Then 462 00:34:18,355 --> 00:34:20,995 Speaker 1: there was a flyball, and the boy said it's deep, 463 00:34:20,995 --> 00:34:24,075 Speaker 1: and I don't think it's playable. Then they went home, 464 00:34:24,115 --> 00:34:30,395 Speaker 1: and this virtually noncommunicative child began to draw illustrations of 465 00:34:30,435 --> 00:34:35,195 Speaker 1: my catchphrases. For whatever reason, I had triggered some kind 466 00:34:35,235 --> 00:34:39,115 Speaker 1: of blossoming by this child and his brother and his 467 00:34:39,155 --> 00:34:44,195 Speaker 1: father sent me a book of the child's illustrations of 468 00:34:44,235 --> 00:34:48,475 Speaker 1: my catchphrases. I am not trying to suggest I really 469 00:34:48,555 --> 00:34:51,515 Speaker 1: had anything to do with this. It was good fortune 470 00:34:51,595 --> 00:34:54,755 Speaker 1: and circumstance and probably something to do with the tone 471 00:34:54,755 --> 00:34:57,955 Speaker 1: of my voice, nothing more. But I was very moved 472 00:34:57,995 --> 00:35:00,955 Speaker 1: by this, and I remained so and by other things. 473 00:35:00,955 --> 00:35:02,795 Speaker 1: People wrote to me or wrote in the press about 474 00:35:02,835 --> 00:35:05,195 Speaker 1: how much the show Dan and I did men to them, 475 00:35:05,435 --> 00:35:07,475 Speaker 1: and I went back to Howard Katz and I said, look, 476 00:35:07,875 --> 00:35:10,475 Speaker 1: I know I've been impossible. You have to understand that 477 00:35:10,515 --> 00:35:13,795 Speaker 1: from my perspective, the company has also been impossible. But 478 00:35:13,915 --> 00:35:15,755 Speaker 1: Dan and I created too good a show to let 479 00:35:15,795 --> 00:35:18,755 Speaker 1: it die. When I go here to Court TV, I'm 480 00:35:18,795 --> 00:35:21,315 Speaker 1: only going to work Monday through Thursday on this new thing. 481 00:35:21,755 --> 00:35:24,515 Speaker 1: If you will send a car to take me to 482 00:35:24,715 --> 00:35:28,675 Speaker 1: and from Bristol every Sunday and give me some tokensal 483 00:35:28,795 --> 00:35:30,995 Speaker 1: give me fifty thousand dollars or something, I'll just do 484 00:35:31,115 --> 00:35:34,275 Speaker 1: the Sunday night show for you every week. You'll never 485 00:35:34,315 --> 00:35:37,515 Speaker 1: see me. I'll never see you. It's the show that 486 00:35:37,555 --> 00:35:41,675 Speaker 1: has the highest factor of management control. It's basically coloring 487 00:35:41,715 --> 00:35:45,955 Speaker 1: in by numbers, and it reruns all morning on Monday. 488 00:35:45,995 --> 00:35:47,875 Speaker 1: So forty percent of the people who see Dan and 489 00:35:47,915 --> 00:35:50,235 Speaker 1: I during the week they see this one show. That's it. 490 00:35:50,875 --> 00:35:52,475 Speaker 1: If you want some other stuff for me to do, 491 00:35:52,595 --> 00:35:55,915 Speaker 1: like radio commentaries. Great, we can negotiate that, but we 492 00:35:55,915 --> 00:35:58,555 Speaker 1: should not let this die. At least let's have it 493 00:35:58,595 --> 00:36:02,875 Speaker 1: on once a week. And Howard Katz said, Okay, let 494 00:36:02,875 --> 00:36:06,075 Speaker 1: me think about this. It sounds really good. And he 495 00:36:06,155 --> 00:36:07,715 Speaker 1: got back to me the next day and he said 496 00:36:07,715 --> 00:36:09,675 Speaker 1: it was the most difficult decision he had ever made 497 00:36:09,675 --> 00:36:13,595 Speaker 1: in this business, but he just couldn't do it. It 498 00:36:13,755 --> 00:36:16,635 Speaker 1: established too much of a precedent, especially the idea that 499 00:36:16,715 --> 00:36:21,035 Speaker 1: somebody could work at ESPN and also at some other 500 00:36:21,195 --> 00:36:25,875 Speaker 1: TV operation. He put it very bluntly. If ESPN was 501 00:36:25,915 --> 00:36:28,995 Speaker 1: not the sole employer of its people, it could not 502 00:36:29,235 --> 00:36:32,515 Speaker 1: control them by threatening to fire them. And he looked 503 00:36:32,515 --> 00:36:36,595 Speaker 1: at me and he said, especially you, And in the 504 00:36:36,635 --> 00:36:39,555 Speaker 1: same sentence he said, look, we'd love to continue the relationship, 505 00:36:39,555 --> 00:36:41,235 Speaker 1: though we see lots of ways you could fit into 506 00:36:41,475 --> 00:36:44,315 Speaker 1: ESPN Classic, like once a week or once a month 507 00:36:44,395 --> 00:36:46,195 Speaker 1: or whatever, and we'd like to get in on the 508 00:36:46,235 --> 00:36:49,155 Speaker 1: bidding for these radio commentaries that you're going to do 509 00:36:49,195 --> 00:36:54,155 Speaker 1: on the side. Well, it all ended surprisingly amicably. I 510 00:36:54,235 --> 00:36:57,515 Speaker 1: decided to go to MSNBC and NBC Sports instead of 511 00:36:57,555 --> 00:37:01,195 Speaker 1: Court TV, and as I signed the contract, I called 512 00:37:01,195 --> 00:37:04,635 Speaker 1: the ESPN president, Steve Bornstein and the head of Sports Center, 513 00:37:04,795 --> 00:37:07,355 Speaker 1: John Walsh. I called them from the office of the 514 00:37:07,395 --> 00:37:10,835 Speaker 1: head of NBC Sports, Dick Eversol, And in my diary, 515 00:37:10,875 --> 00:37:13,315 Speaker 1: I can't tell if that was June nineteenth, nineteen ninety 516 00:37:13,355 --> 00:37:15,755 Speaker 1: seven or June twentieth, nineteen ninety seven, but I made 517 00:37:15,755 --> 00:37:18,995 Speaker 1: the calls, and it was Eversall's idea called them. Now 518 00:37:19,075 --> 00:37:23,715 Speaker 1: call them right now, it'll matter later. The funniest thing 519 00:37:23,915 --> 00:37:27,515 Speaker 1: was the following Monday, June twenty third, I was packing 520 00:37:27,635 --> 00:37:30,715 Speaker 1: up my stuff in my house in Connecticut. I am 521 00:37:30,795 --> 00:37:33,395 Speaker 1: all set, and I am officially beginning my first week 522 00:37:33,475 --> 00:37:36,755 Speaker 1: not working for ESPN and instead working for NBC. And 523 00:37:36,795 --> 00:37:41,555 Speaker 1: the phone rings and it's John Walsh in Los Angeles 524 00:37:41,995 --> 00:37:45,435 Speaker 1: for something, and he has to talk to my agent immediately. 525 00:37:45,795 --> 00:37:48,355 Speaker 1: Do you know where she is right now? Howard Katz? 526 00:37:48,395 --> 00:37:50,835 Speaker 1: And I have just spoken with Bob Iger and he 527 00:37:50,915 --> 00:37:54,595 Speaker 1: wants to present a primetime proposal to you for ABC 528 00:37:55,395 --> 00:37:59,035 Speaker 1: and until you can continue at ESPN. And I laughed, 529 00:37:59,035 --> 00:38:02,075 Speaker 1: and I said, John, I signed with NBC last week 530 00:38:02,555 --> 00:38:05,675 Speaker 1: the World Series and the news show, oh and super 531 00:38:05,675 --> 00:38:09,755 Speaker 1: Bowl stuff. Remember I called you from Dick Ebersoll's office. 532 00:38:09,795 --> 00:38:12,195 Speaker 1: You remember it was Friday or Thursday, whatever it was, 533 00:38:12,835 --> 00:38:18,235 Speaker 1: we're having the news conference today. And he is dead serious, 534 00:38:18,395 --> 00:38:22,875 Speaker 1: and he says to me, oh oh oh, and there's 535 00:38:22,915 --> 00:38:25,195 Speaker 1: a long pause. Well, well, I still need to talk 536 00:38:25,235 --> 00:38:29,275 Speaker 1: to your agent. Well. I had known Bob Iger, who 537 00:38:29,275 --> 00:38:31,875 Speaker 1: had apparently precipitated this phone call, since I was in 538 00:38:31,915 --> 00:38:34,075 Speaker 1: college in nineteen seventy nine. He had given me an 539 00:38:34,075 --> 00:38:37,315 Speaker 1: hour of his time just for career advice because I 540 00:38:37,355 --> 00:38:39,835 Speaker 1: had interned at the TV station for which his first 541 00:38:39,835 --> 00:38:42,275 Speaker 1: wife had been a news producer, Channel five in New York. 542 00:38:42,435 --> 00:38:44,795 Speaker 1: I told that story I think two weeks ago, and 543 00:38:44,875 --> 00:38:48,075 Speaker 1: Bob was wonderful to me. So I called Bob and 544 00:38:48,115 --> 00:38:51,195 Speaker 1: I explained what had happened, and he said, Steve Bornstein 545 00:38:51,275 --> 00:38:53,715 Speaker 1: only told me that you were leaving this morning. I'm 546 00:38:53,795 --> 00:38:56,755 Speaker 1: very very sorry. I knew there were contentious negotiations about 547 00:38:56,755 --> 00:38:58,555 Speaker 1: a new deal for you, but I had no clue 548 00:38:58,555 --> 00:39:00,675 Speaker 1: it was at the point where you might actually leave. 549 00:39:00,915 --> 00:39:02,955 Speaker 1: I should have known. That's my fault. That's why I 550 00:39:02,955 --> 00:39:04,635 Speaker 1: told John to make the call. He did. Trust me. 551 00:39:04,795 --> 00:39:07,195 Speaker 1: If I'd known would have been totally different. I would 552 00:39:07,195 --> 00:39:08,955 Speaker 1: have made it right by you. You would have wanted 553 00:39:08,995 --> 00:39:11,555 Speaker 1: to stay, and if it doesn't work at NBC. You 554 00:39:11,595 --> 00:39:13,915 Speaker 1: call me directly and I'll bring you back here myself. 555 00:39:15,915 --> 00:39:19,635 Speaker 1: I mean, the ending was so unexpectedly and surprisingly pleasant 556 00:39:19,915 --> 00:39:23,395 Speaker 1: that even when my new bosses at MSNBC suddenly announced 557 00:39:23,435 --> 00:39:25,835 Speaker 1: I think it was in newsweek that they were going 558 00:39:25,875 --> 00:39:29,275 Speaker 1: to call my program The Big Show, which was our 559 00:39:29,395 --> 00:39:32,275 Speaker 1: nickname for Sports Center at ESPN, the Big Show. But 560 00:39:32,355 --> 00:39:34,435 Speaker 1: they hadn't told anybody at ESPN that we were going 561 00:39:34,515 --> 00:39:37,635 Speaker 1: to call our MSNBC show the Big Show. It was 562 00:39:37,715 --> 00:39:40,035 Speaker 1: me who got on the phone with Howard Katz and 563 00:39:40,075 --> 00:39:43,235 Speaker 1: a couple of other people at ESPN to apologize and 564 00:39:43,275 --> 00:39:46,395 Speaker 1: to make sure they were okay with it. So, even 565 00:39:46,435 --> 00:39:50,115 Speaker 1: after my ESPN career was officially over and all chance 566 00:39:50,155 --> 00:39:52,995 Speaker 1: of my returning was dead, we tried to revive it, 567 00:39:53,355 --> 00:39:55,835 Speaker 1: both of us, Howard Katz and me, in good faith. 568 00:39:56,595 --> 00:39:58,915 Speaker 1: And I don't think Bob Iger was blowing smoke at me. 569 00:39:58,955 --> 00:40:02,275 Speaker 1: He had no reason to. And even after all that, 570 00:40:02,955 --> 00:40:06,515 Speaker 1: the parting was non nuclear. I think they sent me 571 00:40:06,555 --> 00:40:09,595 Speaker 1: a fruit basket for my first night at MSNBC on 572 00:40:09,715 --> 00:40:14,715 Speaker 1: October first, and then it all blew up. John Walsh 573 00:40:14,755 --> 00:40:19,355 Speaker 1: called the TV sports columnist at USA Today, Rudy Marski 574 00:40:20,235 --> 00:40:23,355 Speaker 1: and gave him my first set of ratings from MSNBC 575 00:40:23,755 --> 00:40:26,835 Speaker 1: just to try to make me look like I couldn't 576 00:40:26,835 --> 00:40:31,875 Speaker 1: succeed without ESPN. Marski told me that direct quote, they 577 00:40:31,915 --> 00:40:34,955 Speaker 1: want to punish you publicly. Walsh has been pressuring me 578 00:40:35,035 --> 00:40:37,715 Speaker 1: to run the very poor ratings, and he said, I'm 579 00:40:37,755 --> 00:40:39,235 Speaker 1: going to finally do it. I just wanted to give 580 00:40:39,235 --> 00:40:42,435 Speaker 1: you a little warning and maybe you have a comment. Well, 581 00:40:42,475 --> 00:40:45,155 Speaker 1: that set the tone for the next five years of warfare, 582 00:40:46,395 --> 00:40:49,835 Speaker 1: and it was nuclear pretty quickly. But this impression that 583 00:40:50,075 --> 00:40:52,915 Speaker 1: ESPN chose to dismiss me or not renew me, or 584 00:40:52,955 --> 00:40:56,555 Speaker 1: not bring me back, it's nonsense. Howard did not not 585 00:40:56,795 --> 00:40:59,115 Speaker 1: renew me. Instead, he offered to double my salary if 586 00:40:59,115 --> 00:41:03,315 Speaker 1: I stayed. If I had signed with NBC, Iiger was 587 00:41:03,355 --> 00:41:05,275 Speaker 1: still trying to get me to back up out after 588 00:41:05,315 --> 00:41:08,075 Speaker 1: I had signed with NBC and stay at ESPN and ABC. 589 00:41:09,915 --> 00:41:12,875 Speaker 1: The irony of this minor detail from about nineteen ninety 590 00:41:12,875 --> 00:41:16,755 Speaker 1: seven printed in twenty eleven, I think is that I 591 00:41:16,795 --> 00:41:20,155 Speaker 1: had already returned to ESPN by the time it was printed. 592 00:41:20,635 --> 00:41:22,835 Speaker 1: I took an hour out of my day at MSNBC 593 00:41:22,955 --> 00:41:25,275 Speaker 1: to go on with Dan Patrick on his ESPN radio 594 00:41:25,315 --> 00:41:27,435 Speaker 1: show from two thousand and five through two thousand and seven. 595 00:41:28,555 --> 00:41:31,035 Speaker 1: A year after that book came out with that quote 596 00:41:31,075 --> 00:41:33,875 Speaker 1: in it, twenty twelve, I was talking to the executives 597 00:41:33,875 --> 00:41:36,955 Speaker 1: at ESPN about going back full time, and a year 598 00:41:37,035 --> 00:41:40,875 Speaker 1: later I did to launch a nightly show on ESPN two. 599 00:41:40,995 --> 00:41:43,475 Speaker 1: And that ended when they laid off like one hundred 600 00:41:43,475 --> 00:41:46,395 Speaker 1: million dollars worth of talent salaries in twenty fifteen. But 601 00:41:46,435 --> 00:41:49,955 Speaker 1: then I went back again in twenty eighteen and I 602 00:41:49,995 --> 00:41:52,675 Speaker 1: did Sports Center, and I did baseball games on radio 603 00:41:52,755 --> 00:41:54,995 Speaker 1: and on TV, and I did reports, and I did 604 00:41:55,035 --> 00:41:57,755 Speaker 1: commentaries and did the not top ten plays of the week, 605 00:41:57,795 --> 00:42:00,715 Speaker 1: and on and on and on, and finally we parted 606 00:42:00,795 --> 00:42:03,355 Speaker 1: happily in the late summer of twenty twenty so I 607 00:42:03,355 --> 00:42:05,755 Speaker 1: could return to political cover Bridge and I knew they 608 00:42:05,755 --> 00:42:07,595 Speaker 1: wouldn't want that, and I didn't want to put it 609 00:42:07,635 --> 00:42:12,515 Speaker 1: on ESPN, and the unlikely result of that my parting 610 00:42:12,595 --> 00:42:16,915 Speaker 1: happiway in twenty twenty. On the books at Disney, I 611 00:42:16,955 --> 00:42:24,875 Speaker 1: am listed as a Disney and ESPN retiree. I get 612 00:42:25,075 --> 00:42:30,675 Speaker 1: benefits I retired from ESPN. I mean, they didn't give 613 00:42:30,715 --> 00:42:33,715 Speaker 1: me a gold watch or anything. But I'm technically a retiree. 614 00:42:34,235 --> 00:42:36,555 Speaker 1: And if you had predicted that in nineteen ninety seven 615 00:42:36,875 --> 00:42:40,755 Speaker 1: or twenty eleven, well you know the cliche. I bring 616 00:42:40,795 --> 00:42:43,195 Speaker 1: all this up again because I don't know how often 617 00:42:43,275 --> 00:42:45,555 Speaker 1: I have thought of that father and his two boys, 618 00:42:46,155 --> 00:42:48,235 Speaker 1: and the one who started speaking, but only in my 619 00:42:48,355 --> 00:42:52,595 Speaker 1: catch phrases. I would guess it's at least once a month. 620 00:42:54,275 --> 00:42:56,195 Speaker 1: Those boys would have to be in their thirties by 621 00:42:56,275 --> 00:43:01,235 Speaker 1: now or nearly, and I wonder often of what has 622 00:43:01,275 --> 00:43:04,675 Speaker 1: become of them, and I sure hope they are well. 623 00:43:17,995 --> 00:43:19,915 Speaker 1: I've done all the damage I can do here. Thank 624 00:43:19,915 --> 00:43:23,035 Speaker 1: you for listening. Countdown Musical directors Brian Ray and John 625 00:43:23,075 --> 00:43:26,435 Speaker 1: Phillip Chanelle arranged, produced, and performed most of our music. 626 00:43:26,955 --> 00:43:29,795 Speaker 1: Mister Ray was on guitars, bass and drums. Mister Chaneale 627 00:43:29,795 --> 00:43:33,595 Speaker 1: handled orchestration and keyboards, and it was produced by Tko Brothers. 628 00:43:33,915 --> 00:43:37,275 Speaker 1: Other music, including some of the Beethoven compositions, were arranged 629 00:43:37,315 --> 00:43:40,755 Speaker 1: and performed by the group No Horns Allowed. The sports 630 00:43:40,835 --> 00:43:44,115 Speaker 1: music is the Olberman theme from ESPN two. It was 631 00:43:44,155 --> 00:43:47,395 Speaker 1: written by Mitch Warren Davis courtesy of ESPN Inc. And 632 00:43:47,475 --> 00:43:51,195 Speaker 1: our satirical and fifty musical comments are by Nancy Fauss, 633 00:43:51,235 --> 00:43:54,515 Speaker 1: the best baseball stadium organist ever, who, of course accompanied 634 00:43:54,555 --> 00:43:59,355 Speaker 1: me on the Trump Elderly Saw. Our announcer was my 635 00:43:59,355 --> 00:44:02,355 Speaker 1: friend Jonathan Banks from Breaking Bad and better call Saul 636 00:44:02,835 --> 00:44:06,155 Speaker 1: and airplane. Everything else was pretty much my fault as usual. 637 00:44:06,795 --> 00:44:09,075 Speaker 1: That's countdown for this the one hundred and forty seventh 638 00:44:09,155 --> 00:44:12,995 Speaker 1: day until the twenty twenty fourth presidential election, and the 639 00:44:13,715 --> 00:44:17,875 Speaker 1: two hundred and fifty fourth day since convicted felon and 640 00:44:18,035 --> 00:44:21,875 Speaker 1: first time elderly offender Donald Trump's first attempt at coop 641 00:44:22,315 --> 00:44:25,795 Speaker 1: against the democratically elected government of the United States. Use 642 00:44:25,875 --> 00:44:29,595 Speaker 1: the July eleventh sentencing hearing, use the mental health system, 643 00:44:30,035 --> 00:44:33,755 Speaker 1: use presidential immunity if it happens, Use the not regularly 644 00:44:33,835 --> 00:44:38,915 Speaker 1: given elector objection option to stop him from doing it 645 00:44:39,155 --> 00:44:46,435 Speaker 1: again while waste can. The next scheduled countdown is tomorrow. 646 00:44:46,955 --> 00:44:49,515 Speaker 1: Bolton says the news warrants till the next one. I'm 647 00:44:49,555 --> 00:44:53,915 Speaker 1: Keith Olderman, good morning, good afternoon, good night, and good luck. 648 00:45:10,235 --> 00:45:14,355 Speaker 1: I'm an elderly first offender. I have been found guilty 649 00:45:15,315 --> 00:45:23,915 Speaker 1: in the stormy jury had no nut and forn't you 650 00:45:24,075 --> 00:45:30,955 Speaker 1: old to go to prison? But Turly says I'm fine 651 00:45:30,995 --> 00:45:38,275 Speaker 1: for the word. The End Countdown with Keith Olreman is 652 00:45:38,315 --> 00:45:43,115 Speaker 1: a production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit 653 00:45:43,155 --> 00:45:47,835 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.