1 00:00:04,795 --> 00:00:21,715 Speaker 1: Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production of iHeartRadio. Last 2 00:00:21,755 --> 00:00:25,155 Speaker 1: week he held a quote news conference but made sure 3 00:00:25,315 --> 00:00:30,955 Speaker 1: reporters couldn't have microphones, and then yesterday he improved on that. 4 00:00:31,315 --> 00:00:34,555 Speaker 1: He held another quote news conference, but made sure reporters 5 00:00:35,315 --> 00:00:37,275 Speaker 1: couldn't have any questions asked. 6 00:00:37,835 --> 00:00:40,355 Speaker 2: God has something to do with it. It's a miracle, 7 00:00:40,995 --> 00:00:43,235 Speaker 2: and God had something to do with it, And maybe 8 00:00:43,275 --> 00:00:46,995 Speaker 2: it's we want to save the world. This world is 9 00:00:47,035 --> 00:00:50,915 Speaker 2: going down. This world is going down. So as you know, 10 00:00:50,955 --> 00:00:54,195 Speaker 2: the Supreme Court world recently on immunity and I'm immune 11 00:00:54,235 --> 00:00:56,995 Speaker 2: from all of this stuff that they charged me with. 12 00:00:57,235 --> 00:00:59,315 Speaker 1: You added more people to your campaign today. Is that 13 00:00:59,395 --> 00:01:01,235 Speaker 1: a sign of a shifting strategy. No. 14 00:01:01,515 --> 00:01:03,355 Speaker 2: I think it's a sign of we want to close 15 00:01:03,395 --> 00:01:06,635 Speaker 2: it out. We had great people. Susie as fantastic as 16 00:01:06,635 --> 00:01:09,995 Speaker 2: you know, and Chris is fantastic. They're leading it. Corey 17 00:01:10,075 --> 00:01:15,595 Speaker 2: Lewandowski's coming in. He'll be, you know, a personal envoy 18 00:01:15,835 --> 00:01:18,115 Speaker 2: or he'll be at some level. 19 00:01:18,355 --> 00:01:22,955 Speaker 1: Corey Lewandowski personal envoy, personal envoy to Christy nome am 20 00:01:22,955 --> 00:01:23,355 Speaker 1: I right. 21 00:01:23,515 --> 00:01:26,995 Speaker 2: She certainly attacks me personally. She actually called me weird. 22 00:01:27,275 --> 00:01:30,595 Speaker 2: He's weird. It was just a SoundBite and she called 23 00:01:30,675 --> 00:01:33,155 Speaker 2: jayd and I weird. He's not weird. He was a 24 00:01:33,235 --> 00:01:35,795 Speaker 2: great student to Yale. He went to Ohio State. 25 00:01:36,195 --> 00:01:41,355 Speaker 1: Hey, this just in Trump is nuts. Trump is also 26 00:01:41,475 --> 00:01:45,635 Speaker 1: weird as too weird. I'm also beginning to think CNN 27 00:01:45,835 --> 00:01:48,395 Speaker 1: is weird, or at least the owners are weird, and 28 00:01:48,435 --> 00:01:50,835 Speaker 1: they're trying to destroy the value of the network. For 29 00:01:50,875 --> 00:01:55,515 Speaker 1: some reason, they carried that entire shit live as somebody 30 00:01:55,595 --> 00:01:59,235 Speaker 1: hired by CNN as its first year ended in nineteen 31 00:01:59,275 --> 00:02:01,755 Speaker 1: eighty one. I have a secret for them that is 32 00:02:01,795 --> 00:02:06,035 Speaker 1: apparently no longer known by anybody at the network. That 33 00:02:06,435 --> 00:02:15,275 Speaker 1: acronym CNN stands for cable News Network. Boys, you are 34 00:02:15,315 --> 00:02:19,035 Speaker 1: no longer news. Cut to a test pattern fire everybody 35 00:02:19,435 --> 00:02:23,675 Speaker 1: start from scratch, which I guess also applies to Trump's 36 00:02:23,715 --> 00:02:26,915 Speaker 1: running mate. I am beginning to suspect that JD. Vance 37 00:02:27,035 --> 00:02:33,035 Speaker 1: is actually a Democratic plant. New Kensington, Pennsylvania at VFW 38 00:02:33,155 --> 00:02:37,875 Speaker 1: Post ninety two. That would be another acronym. Veterans of 39 00:02:38,155 --> 00:02:43,635 Speaker 1: Foreign Wars VFW Post number is ninety two, and there 40 00:02:43,755 --> 00:02:46,635 Speaker 1: is still the Sarah Palin rule as it's great to 41 00:02:46,675 --> 00:02:49,195 Speaker 1: be here, it's great to be part of VF post. 42 00:02:50,715 --> 00:02:53,675 Speaker 1: VFW post ninety two. I've actually got the card right 43 00:02:53,675 --> 00:02:57,275 Speaker 1: here in my pocket. So JV there forgot the number 44 00:02:57,355 --> 00:03:00,715 Speaker 1: of the post. He forgot the Sarah Palin rule, and 45 00:03:00,795 --> 00:03:05,155 Speaker 1: he called it the VFA like it was the Toria 46 00:03:05,235 --> 00:03:11,635 Speaker 1: Football Association or the Verband forschender arzenimittel Hairsteller, which is 47 00:03:11,635 --> 00:03:15,035 Speaker 1: the trade association of the German pharmaceutical industry, Like you 48 00:03:15,075 --> 00:03:18,275 Speaker 1: didn't know that. Oh, and he was reading all of 49 00:03:18,315 --> 00:03:23,315 Speaker 1: that off the business card of VFW post ninety two, 50 00:03:23,635 --> 00:03:26,315 Speaker 1: and he still couldn't pull it off because he forgot 51 00:03:26,395 --> 00:03:28,755 Speaker 1: where he had put the card and he had to 52 00:03:28,795 --> 00:03:31,795 Speaker 1: go searching his own pockets for it, and he forgot 53 00:03:31,835 --> 00:03:35,675 Speaker 1: the Sarah Palin rule. And the Sarah Palin rule is, 54 00:03:36,355 --> 00:03:39,075 Speaker 1: if you are running for vice president and you are 55 00:03:39,155 --> 00:03:42,515 Speaker 1: an idiot and there's something you really really need to remember, 56 00:03:42,955 --> 00:03:46,955 Speaker 1: just write it on your goddamn hand. Just write it 57 00:03:47,035 --> 00:03:50,595 Speaker 1: on your hand. Sure, it's a little embarrassing, but it's 58 00:03:50,635 --> 00:03:53,275 Speaker 1: not as embarrassing as that. It's not as embarrassing as 59 00:03:53,275 --> 00:03:57,515 Speaker 1: forgetting the VFW is called the VFW and not the VFA, 60 00:03:57,555 --> 00:03:59,235 Speaker 1: and that the number of the one you're in is 61 00:03:59,315 --> 00:04:04,035 Speaker 1: number ninety two. I mean, it's like this guy has 62 00:04:04,115 --> 00:04:09,635 Speaker 1: never been outside before. Oh. In a photo turned up 63 00:04:09,675 --> 00:04:13,395 Speaker 1: of JV. Vance in the British rag the Daily Mail, 64 00:04:14,235 --> 00:04:17,755 Speaker 1: JV in high school standing next to three girls who 65 00:04:17,795 --> 00:04:21,835 Speaker 1: are pretending to use urinals in a boys bathroom, which 66 00:04:21,875 --> 00:04:26,275 Speaker 1: I believe is the whole anti trans libs of TikTok 67 00:04:26,355 --> 00:04:28,955 Speaker 1: wants the death penalty for this. Oh how dare Tim 68 00:04:29,035 --> 00:04:33,915 Speaker 1: Walls put tampons in school toilets? Thing, isn't it? And 69 00:04:33,955 --> 00:04:36,675 Speaker 1: then we got all the liberal blowback about, oh, we 70 00:04:36,675 --> 00:04:38,515 Speaker 1: should make a big deal about this. Kids are kids, 71 00:04:38,515 --> 00:04:40,275 Speaker 1: and everybody has a dumb high school photo and what 72 00:04:40,315 --> 00:04:42,315 Speaker 1: would life be like for us if there been social 73 00:04:42,395 --> 00:04:44,555 Speaker 1: media when we were in high school doing done things 74 00:04:44,595 --> 00:04:46,275 Speaker 1: like that? And the answer is, I don't know. This 75 00:04:46,355 --> 00:04:48,995 Speaker 1: happened in two thousand and three. It wasn't on social media, 76 00:04:49,155 --> 00:04:52,035 Speaker 1: and it wasn't shot with an iPhone. It was in JD. 77 00:04:52,235 --> 00:04:57,475 Speaker 1: Vance's high school yearbook, senior year and the three girls 78 00:04:57,835 --> 00:05:01,235 Speaker 1: were the student body president, the secretary, and the treasurer, 79 00:05:01,395 --> 00:05:05,675 Speaker 1: plus JD who was vice president. And last time he'll 80 00:05:05,715 --> 00:05:08,675 Speaker 1: ever be able to say that that was all intentional, 81 00:05:08,955 --> 00:05:10,155 Speaker 1: So don't tell me about. 82 00:05:09,955 --> 00:05:11,395 Speaker 2: Oh, don't make a big deal about it. 83 00:05:11,435 --> 00:05:16,115 Speaker 1: Everybody looks like a crazy man. And the force at 84 00:05:16,115 --> 00:05:20,595 Speaker 1: the Pennsylvania VFW number ninety two, if you've forgotten, is coincidental, 85 00:05:20,635 --> 00:05:24,435 Speaker 1: but perhaps it is explanatory of this new Franklin and 86 00:05:24,475 --> 00:05:29,475 Speaker 1: Marshall University poll in Pennsylvania Harris forty six, Trump forty three. 87 00:05:30,275 --> 00:05:33,355 Speaker 1: Their previous poll was June when Trump was head by six, 88 00:05:33,835 --> 00:05:40,315 Speaker 1: so she has created a nine point swing in Pennsylvania. Nationally, 89 00:05:40,395 --> 00:05:44,795 Speaker 1: new Emerson poll it's Harris fifty Trump forty six, and 90 00:05:44,955 --> 00:05:47,795 Speaker 1: their last poll was Trump by six, so she's created 91 00:05:47,795 --> 00:05:51,635 Speaker 1: a ten point swing nationally. And after all those cook 92 00:05:51,715 --> 00:05:55,555 Speaker 1: electoral polls swung to Harris Wednesday, they have a new 93 00:05:55,675 --> 00:06:00,795 Speaker 1: Electoral College score and it is Harris two hundred and 94 00:06:00,875 --> 00:06:04,355 Speaker 1: ninety seven, Trump two hundred and twenty five. And the 95 00:06:04,435 --> 00:06:06,715 Speaker 1: Lee the item at Politico yesterday in the wake of 96 00:06:06,755 --> 00:06:15,075 Speaker 1: all this a story about Trump pivoting, Trump pivoting, Trump resetting. 97 00:06:15,875 --> 00:06:19,715 Speaker 1: But this this one is different than every other political 98 00:06:19,835 --> 00:06:23,555 Speaker 1: story about Trump pivoting or Trump resetting because in it 99 00:06:23,635 --> 00:06:29,355 Speaker 1: the reset was suggested by vivike Ramaswami. That's a scoop, huh. 100 00:06:29,475 --> 00:06:33,835 Speaker 1: I mean, never mind the polls almost every last God 101 00:06:33,955 --> 00:06:37,395 Speaker 1: damned one of them turning around on a dime and 102 00:06:37,435 --> 00:06:40,275 Speaker 1: going off on a rocket ship in the opposite direction 103 00:06:40,635 --> 00:06:43,675 Speaker 1: in just the first three and a half weeks since 104 00:06:43,715 --> 00:06:47,235 Speaker 1: Kamala Harris succeeded Joe Biden as the nominee. This over 105 00:06:47,275 --> 00:06:53,395 Speaker 1: here with vivid Ramaswami, this is groundbreaking journal mondalism. Vivike 106 00:06:53,515 --> 00:06:57,715 Speaker 1: Ramaswami insisting Trump should stick to policy and then he'll win, 107 00:06:58,155 --> 00:07:02,075 Speaker 1: as if this were possible, as if this were possible, 108 00:07:02,315 --> 00:07:05,595 Speaker 1: even if Trump was just back from Lord and every 109 00:07:05,715 --> 00:07:10,075 Speaker 1: laying on of hands mystic in the world, as if 110 00:07:10,075 --> 00:07:13,435 Speaker 1: this were possible. After that news conference that had no 111 00:07:13,595 --> 00:07:18,195 Speaker 1: news in it, and was it a conference? The next 112 00:07:18,195 --> 00:07:21,315 Speaker 1: one he holds, I'm thinking the only thing left he 113 00:07:21,355 --> 00:07:24,075 Speaker 1: can remove from the equation is himself. It'll be a 114 00:07:24,075 --> 00:07:27,635 Speaker 1: Trump news conference, without news, without a conference, and without Trump. 115 00:07:29,755 --> 00:07:33,515 Speaker 1: Back to the Politico thing. All this was was today's 116 00:07:33,635 --> 00:07:37,755 Speaker 1: entry to win the Van Jones memorial. Trump's Head is 117 00:07:37,795 --> 00:07:44,115 Speaker 1: Half full, not Trump's head is half empty competition. Politico 118 00:07:44,195 --> 00:07:50,515 Speaker 1: wrote twenty eight paragraphs about Viviq Ramaswami saying how they 119 00:07:50,555 --> 00:07:54,875 Speaker 1: can win if Trump sticks to the issues. Quoted Ramaswami 120 00:07:54,995 --> 00:08:00,155 Speaker 1: thirteen different times, including him insisting Trump is quote receptive 121 00:08:00,635 --> 00:08:02,995 Speaker 1: to his advice on this and that the Republicans can 122 00:08:03,035 --> 00:08:05,595 Speaker 1: in fact still win a landslide. And you wonder if 123 00:08:05,635 --> 00:08:08,475 Speaker 1: whoever edits this crap has just moved here from the 124 00:08:08,515 --> 00:08:14,235 Speaker 1: planet's skyron and the galaxy of Andromeda. At least Politico 125 00:08:14,355 --> 00:08:17,035 Speaker 1: did not include in this story and update on which 126 00:08:17,155 --> 00:08:21,515 Speaker 1: overpriced Washington restaurant Tammy had Ad was just spotted at 127 00:08:22,595 --> 00:08:26,715 Speaker 1: Ramaswami insists Trump is starting to heed the advice Politico Rights. 128 00:08:26,755 --> 00:08:31,155 Speaker 1: Turns out it's Rachel Bade who did the interview, So 129 00:08:31,195 --> 00:08:34,715 Speaker 1: it's Rachel Baide who then writes, We're not so sure 130 00:08:35,315 --> 00:08:39,755 Speaker 1: figured that one out for yourself. Huh Rachel Baide after 131 00:08:39,755 --> 00:08:45,035 Speaker 1: the press conference yesterday without questions or press or conference, 132 00:08:46,875 --> 00:08:51,715 Speaker 1: ms Baide self identifies, in addition to working for Politico, 133 00:08:53,155 --> 00:08:57,595 Speaker 1: as an ABC contributing political correspondent, and all I can 134 00:08:57,635 --> 00:09:00,515 Speaker 1: think of is I wonder if ABC knows about that. 135 00:09:04,835 --> 00:09:07,795 Speaker 1: Forgive me, but I am now quoting Frank Luntz two 136 00:09:07,875 --> 00:09:11,715 Speaker 1: days in a row, seriously like he was not this 137 00:09:11,915 --> 00:09:18,235 Speaker 1: bizarre mixture of extensive experience and total lack of credibility. Wednesday, 138 00:09:18,875 --> 00:09:22,435 Speaker 1: Frank Lunz told CNBC, we are nearing the moment at 139 00:09:22,475 --> 00:09:25,515 Speaker 1: which we will have to start asking how big Kamala 140 00:09:25,515 --> 00:09:31,195 Speaker 1: Harris's coattails would be. Yesterday, he told MSNBC quote, I'm 141 00:09:31,235 --> 00:09:36,275 Speaker 1: starting to wonder does Trump want to lose? Because no 142 00:09:36,555 --> 00:09:39,915 Speaker 1: sane person would campaign the way Donald Trump is campaigning. 143 00:09:41,155 --> 00:09:45,955 Speaker 1: Geez Frank, there's your answer right there. Incidentally, in the 144 00:09:46,035 --> 00:09:50,915 Speaker 1: right wing alternative universe, which is shrinking rapidly, Trump's social 145 00:09:50,955 --> 00:09:55,075 Speaker 1: media site is filled with demands that he fire Susie 146 00:09:55,075 --> 00:09:59,555 Speaker 1: Wiles and Chris las Savida as his campaign runners, and 147 00:09:59,595 --> 00:10:03,715 Speaker 1: it is filled with calling them traitors. And he is 148 00:10:03,755 --> 00:10:07,475 Speaker 1: now bringing in new new leadership, and sure enough, yesterday 149 00:10:07,475 --> 00:10:10,515 Speaker 1: he brought in Corey Lewandowski and Tim Murtau and Alex 150 00:10:10,715 --> 00:10:14,835 Speaker 1: Brucewitz and Taylor Butterwitch, all of whom he previously got 151 00:10:14,955 --> 00:10:18,395 Speaker 1: rid of, but all of whom have the singular advantage 152 00:10:19,275 --> 00:10:24,955 Speaker 1: of not doing time at the moment. What is missed 153 00:10:24,995 --> 00:10:27,435 Speaker 1: here by the fascists, and I'm sure it will be 154 00:10:27,555 --> 00:10:31,675 Speaker 1: missed by Politico today or Monday at the latest, is 155 00:10:31,715 --> 00:10:35,275 Speaker 1: that Trump is no longer in charge of this election. 156 00:10:36,315 --> 00:10:38,755 Speaker 1: I don't mean he's no longer in charge of his campaign. 157 00:10:39,035 --> 00:10:42,115 Speaker 1: No matter how crazy he gets, no matter how incoherent, 158 00:10:42,395 --> 00:10:45,835 Speaker 1: no matter how committable, He's still in charge of his campaign. 159 00:10:46,115 --> 00:10:49,115 Speaker 1: It's just that his campaign, his team is part of 160 00:10:49,155 --> 00:10:55,675 Speaker 1: the whole, is now utterly the submissive part of the campaign. 161 00:10:56,355 --> 00:10:59,115 Speaker 1: For this, too, Trump remains in charge. He has long 162 00:10:59,155 --> 00:11:01,315 Speaker 1: held that he is one of the great judges of 163 00:11:01,395 --> 00:11:05,395 Speaker 1: people and talent of anybody who's ever lived on Earth, 164 00:11:05,835 --> 00:11:11,035 Speaker 1: when the exact opposite is true. He has an almost 165 00:11:11,195 --> 00:11:16,075 Speaker 1: unbelievable ability to sort through dozens of candidates and select 166 00:11:16,195 --> 00:11:20,555 Speaker 1: exactly the worst one, or, in the cases of many 167 00:11:20,555 --> 00:11:23,915 Speaker 1: of them, like Mike Pence or General Kelly, exactly the 168 00:11:23,915 --> 00:11:29,075 Speaker 1: one most poorly fitted for the job. JV Vance is 169 00:11:29,075 --> 00:11:33,115 Speaker 1: an example of this. Wait, I've got that business card 170 00:11:33,155 --> 00:11:36,435 Speaker 1: with me somewhere, the one that tells me where I am. 171 00:11:36,915 --> 00:11:39,515 Speaker 1: Maybe I put it in my other suit. Hold on, 172 00:11:39,635 --> 00:11:42,235 Speaker 1: let me just give me another four or five hours. 173 00:11:42,275 --> 00:11:45,635 Speaker 1: I'm sure I'll know where I am then. But never 174 00:11:45,675 --> 00:11:49,355 Speaker 1: mind JV for the moment. There's also this new campaign spokesperson, 175 00:11:49,795 --> 00:11:53,755 Speaker 1: Caroline Levitt. This is I'm saying this to you like 176 00:11:53,795 --> 00:11:56,395 Speaker 1: you don't already know. The former center fielder of the 177 00:11:56,435 --> 00:12:01,475 Speaker 1: Saint Anselm College softball team and former Stephanick Comms director 178 00:12:01,995 --> 00:12:05,595 Speaker 1: who got smoked as the trumpested eight for the first 179 00:12:05,635 --> 00:12:09,395 Speaker 1: congressional district in New Hampshire. There's no polite way of 180 00:12:09,475 --> 00:12:15,355 Speaker 1: saying this. Caroline Levitt is a moron. On Monday, Caroline 181 00:12:15,395 --> 00:12:18,275 Speaker 1: Levitt went on the podcast hosted by the fascist Stephen 182 00:12:18,395 --> 00:12:22,435 Speaker 1: Crowder and insisted, and not for the first time, like 183 00:12:22,475 --> 00:12:25,515 Speaker 1: Trump and everybody else with his campaign has insisted, and 184 00:12:25,555 --> 00:12:28,675 Speaker 1: not for the first time, that Trump has nothing to 185 00:12:28,755 --> 00:12:33,955 Speaker 1: do with this amazingly dystopian roadmap that has resonated through 186 00:12:33,995 --> 00:12:41,195 Speaker 1: this campaign, Project twenty twenty five. Quoting Caroline Levitt again Monday. 187 00:12:41,795 --> 00:12:45,795 Speaker 1: Monday of this week, he has unveiled hundreds of policy 188 00:12:45,835 --> 00:12:50,835 Speaker 1: proposals on his website Agenda forty seven. Caroline Levitt added, 189 00:12:51,275 --> 00:12:53,875 Speaker 1: the media likes to talk about Project twenty twenty five, 190 00:12:54,115 --> 00:12:56,835 Speaker 1: which has nothing to do with our campaign. It is 191 00:12:56,915 --> 00:13:04,115 Speaker 1: Agenda forty seven. Caroline Levitt worked on Project twenty twenty five. 192 00:13:05,555 --> 00:13:09,235 Speaker 1: She worked for the creators of Project twenty twenty five. 193 00:13:09,675 --> 00:13:14,515 Speaker 1: As Media Matters notes, Caroline Levitt is in a Project 194 00:13:14,555 --> 00:13:20,315 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five training video, a training video called the 195 00:13:20,515 --> 00:13:24,995 Speaker 1: Art of professionalism and as an aside art is clearly 196 00:13:24,995 --> 00:13:29,275 Speaker 1: one fella. Trump is never met. This whole video, more 197 00:13:29,315 --> 00:13:33,875 Speaker 1: than half an hour, is just Caroline Levitt and some dude. 198 00:13:34,275 --> 00:13:37,035 Speaker 1: In the Project twenty twenty five training video, that's just 199 00:13:37,115 --> 00:13:41,595 Speaker 1: Caroline Levitt and some dude. Trump's campaign spokesperson talks about 200 00:13:41,675 --> 00:13:44,795 Speaker 1: having worked in the Trump White House, offers tips on 201 00:13:44,995 --> 00:13:48,195 Speaker 1: how to work in the federal government. The Project twenty 202 00:13:48,235 --> 00:13:51,755 Speaker 1: twenty five logo is visible, still visible at the one 203 00:13:51,875 --> 00:13:55,315 Speaker 1: minute thirty eight second mark of this video. Visible at 204 00:13:55,315 --> 00:13:57,635 Speaker 1: the two minute five second mark of this video is 205 00:13:57,715 --> 00:14:02,475 Speaker 1: Caroline Levitt. She starts talking about ninety seconds later. Half 206 00:14:02,515 --> 00:14:06,675 Speaker 1: an hour later the video end and it ends with 207 00:14:07,075 --> 00:14:11,155 Speaker 1: Caroline Levitt, so best of luck and if you need 208 00:14:11,235 --> 00:14:18,915 Speaker 1: us as a resource, we are here to help. And 209 00:14:19,835 --> 00:14:23,995 Speaker 1: scene and over the music you just heard there the 210 00:14:24,155 --> 00:14:28,515 Speaker 1: Project twenty twenty five logo. Well, I think Trump and 211 00:14:28,595 --> 00:14:31,395 Speaker 1: his spokesperson have done a clear and convincing job of 212 00:14:31,435 --> 00:14:37,875 Speaker 1: delineating this impenetrable wall separating the campaign from Project twenty 213 00:14:37,915 --> 00:14:42,595 Speaker 1: twenty five. And this will never ever come up again again. 214 00:14:43,515 --> 00:14:48,835 Speaker 1: What wait this just in? Wait this just in. It 215 00:14:48,915 --> 00:14:52,755 Speaker 1: is soon to be released new book Heritage Foundation President 216 00:14:52,835 --> 00:14:57,195 Speaker 1: Kevin Roberts. The tour of Project twenty twenty five has 217 00:14:57,235 --> 00:15:03,715 Speaker 1: attacked a Washington, DC dog park, the Swamppoodle Park, says 218 00:15:03,795 --> 00:15:06,315 Speaker 1: Roberts of Project twenty twenty five, which has nothing to 219 00:15:06,355 --> 00:15:09,115 Speaker 1: do with the Trump campaign except Roberts keeps saying Trump 220 00:15:09,155 --> 00:15:12,355 Speaker 1: is lying when he says that he says the park 221 00:15:12,435 --> 00:15:14,755 Speaker 1: has too much room for dogs to play in, not 222 00:15:14,955 --> 00:15:17,115 Speaker 1: enough room for kids to play in. And this is 223 00:15:17,155 --> 00:15:22,035 Speaker 1: because of quote, the anti family culture shaping legislation, regulation 224 00:15:22,195 --> 00:15:29,115 Speaker 1: and enforcement throughout our sprawling government. We hell the Swamppoodle 225 00:15:29,275 --> 00:15:33,515 Speaker 1: dog Park and an organization affiliated with it called Fond 226 00:15:33,995 --> 00:15:38,955 Speaker 1: Friend of Noma Dogs Noma North of Massachusetts Avenue. They 227 00:15:39,075 --> 00:15:45,195 Speaker 1: are fighting back. The press release should have asked Trump 228 00:15:45,275 --> 00:15:50,875 Speaker 1: about this at his not News not conference yesterday, begins. 229 00:15:52,155 --> 00:15:57,355 Speaker 1: Fond rejects mister roberts mischaracterization of swamp Poodle Dog Park 230 00:15:57,835 --> 00:16:00,835 Speaker 1: and the Noma neighborhood. Swamp Poodle was first conceived by 231 00:16:00,835 --> 00:16:02,475 Speaker 1: a group of local friends who wanted a place for 232 00:16:02,555 --> 00:16:05,075 Speaker 1: their dogs to play from that has bled awesome to 233 00:16:05,115 --> 00:16:09,035 Speaker 1: family friendly environment that enriches the lives of the neighborhood 234 00:16:09,035 --> 00:16:12,115 Speaker 1: and the district. So it's its opening in twenty eighteen, 235 00:16:12,155 --> 00:16:15,595 Speaker 1: Swampoodle has become a staple for DC dog owners and 236 00:16:15,715 --> 00:16:21,755 Speaker 1: families of all shapes and sizes. As residents know, Noma 237 00:16:21,875 --> 00:16:25,115 Speaker 1: and the surrounding neighborhoods are home to many parks and 238 00:16:25,195 --> 00:16:28,315 Speaker 1: areas for children and families. In addition to the dog park, 239 00:16:28,515 --> 00:16:32,115 Speaker 1: Swampoodle also has a conveniently located play area for children 240 00:16:32,315 --> 00:16:34,635 Speaker 1: where you can find kids playing on its unique play 241 00:16:34,635 --> 00:16:38,875 Speaker 1: structure throughout the day and throughout the year. Just across 242 00:16:38,915 --> 00:16:43,035 Speaker 1: the street is the recently built Swampoodle Terrace, which provides 243 00:16:43,075 --> 00:16:48,835 Speaker 1: a safe, enclosed, pet free space for families with infants 244 00:16:48,835 --> 00:16:52,275 Speaker 1: and toddlers. A few blocks away are playgrounds at the 245 00:16:52,315 --> 00:16:56,035 Speaker 1: Hayes Wellness Center and Jo Wilson Elementary School, large open 246 00:16:56,075 --> 00:17:00,155 Speaker 1: play areas for sports at Ludlow Taylor Elementary and It's 247 00:17:00,235 --> 00:17:03,715 Speaker 1: Okay is another list of thirty seven other areas in 248 00:17:03,755 --> 00:17:06,315 Speaker 1: the neighborhood that you can play with your kids. These 249 00:17:06,355 --> 00:17:09,475 Speaker 1: are just a few of the examples of outdoor, family 250 00:17:09,515 --> 00:17:13,395 Speaker 1: friendly areas that residents and visitors to the Noma area 251 00:17:13,515 --> 00:17:19,435 Speaker 1: can enjoy. Fond's Board of directors can testify to this fact. 252 00:17:19,475 --> 00:17:24,035 Speaker 1: Our president has two young children and the co located 253 00:17:24,115 --> 00:17:27,435 Speaker 1: children's play area has become a convenient go to community 254 00:17:27,475 --> 00:17:33,235 Speaker 1: resource where his entire family, including his dog Luna, can 255 00:17:33,315 --> 00:17:38,155 Speaker 1: play and be with friends. As a transplant to DC, 256 00:17:38,595 --> 00:17:41,395 Speaker 1: he and his wife have met friends and other families 257 00:17:41,395 --> 00:17:49,715 Speaker 1: with children at Swamppoodle that truly demonstrates it takes a village. 258 00:17:50,195 --> 00:17:54,835 Speaker 1: FOND rejects efforts by Roberts and others to sow division 259 00:17:54,875 --> 00:17:59,115 Speaker 1: in our community, the district, and our nation. As members 260 00:17:59,155 --> 00:18:02,155 Speaker 1: of the NOMA and DC community, FOND prides itself in 261 00:18:02,235 --> 00:18:06,515 Speaker 1: supporting a family friendly environment where pets and kids can 262 00:18:06,595 --> 00:18:10,075 Speaker 1: safely play and build lasting friendships with our neighbors. We 263 00:18:10,155 --> 00:18:14,075 Speaker 1: will continue to support our community and the district in 264 00:18:14,155 --> 00:18:23,475 Speaker 1: building a safe, inclusive, vibrant, family friendly city. Best Board 265 00:18:23,515 --> 00:18:30,275 Speaker 1: of Directors, Friends of NOMA, Dogs, Parentheses, FOND Your Turn, 266 00:18:30,435 --> 00:18:35,955 Speaker 1: Project twenty twenty five. Kevin Roberts, the Trump campaign, Maybe 267 00:18:35,955 --> 00:18:40,155 Speaker 1: it's time for you to respond to defend your agenda 268 00:18:40,675 --> 00:18:47,075 Speaker 1: to institute your anti dog, anti child, anti family, anti 269 00:18:47,195 --> 00:18:52,675 Speaker 1: families with dogs and children authoritarian regime. Perhaps you could 270 00:18:52,675 --> 00:18:57,155 Speaker 1: have a suitable spokesperson take up your banner and insist 271 00:18:57,275 --> 00:19:02,435 Speaker 1: that you Project twenty twenty five trumpists are not weirdos 272 00:19:02,875 --> 00:19:08,155 Speaker 1: who hate dogs. May I suggest to you for this 273 00:19:08,395 --> 00:19:15,955 Speaker 1: role the most qualified person in America, Governor Christy Nome. 274 00:19:21,795 --> 00:19:25,515 Speaker 1: They're all stoned, aren't they? Isn't that the only possible explanation? 275 00:19:27,435 --> 00:19:30,555 Speaker 1: Also of interest here, that's right, a Republican candidate for 276 00:19:30,595 --> 00:19:33,275 Speaker 1: the House is an ex cop who had to settle 277 00:19:33,275 --> 00:19:37,955 Speaker 1: a case in which she was accused of handcuffing an infant. 278 00:19:39,915 --> 00:19:43,995 Speaker 1: And if you think that's the worst, here's where we 279 00:19:44,035 --> 00:19:47,875 Speaker 1: are as a species today. Throwing out the ceremonial first 280 00:19:47,875 --> 00:19:50,515 Speaker 1: pitch yesterday before a Major League baseball. 281 00:19:50,155 --> 00:19:51,235 Speaker 2: Game, was. 282 00:19:52,715 --> 00:19:59,555 Speaker 1: The haktua woman, Clean your palate if you so desire, 283 00:19:59,835 --> 00:20:03,755 Speaker 1: because that's next. This is countdown. 284 00:20:06,715 --> 00:20:09,955 Speaker 2: This is countdown with Keith Olberman. 285 00:20:30,395 --> 00:20:33,675 Speaker 1: Stella ahead of us on this edition to countdown. I 286 00:20:33,715 --> 00:20:36,675 Speaker 1: have not lately given you the Theurber story. That is 287 00:20:36,715 --> 00:20:42,035 Speaker 1: basically all of my interests run into one. There's baseball 288 00:20:42,075 --> 00:20:45,395 Speaker 1: in it. There's baseball broadcasting in it. There's the etymology 289 00:20:45,435 --> 00:20:49,155 Speaker 1: of Americans slang in it. There's the broadcasting immortal Red 290 00:20:49,235 --> 00:20:53,995 Speaker 1: Barber in it. There's Thurber's usually unremarked upon fascination with 291 00:20:54,115 --> 00:20:57,195 Speaker 1: crime in it. There's the saga of the story itself, 292 00:20:57,475 --> 00:21:02,035 Speaker 1: which somehow wound up as a movie starring Peter Sellers 293 00:21:02,835 --> 00:21:06,595 Speaker 1: in it. Fridays, Thurber coming up first, there are still 294 00:21:06,635 --> 00:21:09,995 Speaker 1: more new idiots to talk about. The daily roundup of 295 00:21:10,035 --> 00:21:13,515 Speaker 1: the miss Grants, morons and Dunning Kruger effects specimens who 296 00:21:13,595 --> 00:21:19,875 Speaker 1: constitute two days worst persons in the World. Sellers does 297 00:21:19,915 --> 00:21:24,555 Speaker 1: it in a Scottish accent. So today's worst persons in 298 00:21:24,595 --> 00:21:31,275 Speaker 1: the World, bad Scottish accent Lebrons worse. Alison Esposito you 299 00:21:31,315 --> 00:21:35,235 Speaker 1: can already guess. Alison is a Republican and she's running 300 00:21:35,275 --> 00:21:43,475 Speaker 1: for Congress in New York in the eighteenth and her 301 00:21:43,555 --> 00:21:48,755 Speaker 1: job used to be cop in Witchborough, Brooklyn in the 302 00:21:48,835 --> 00:21:53,195 Speaker 1: seventieth precinct twice, it turns out, reportedly she was the 303 00:21:53,235 --> 00:21:55,995 Speaker 1: subject of lawsuits that the City of New York had 304 00:21:55,995 --> 00:22:00,195 Speaker 1: to settle once for unlawful arrest cost the city ninety 305 00:22:00,195 --> 00:22:04,435 Speaker 1: five thousand dollars. And then there was this. In twenty sixteen, 306 00:22:04,715 --> 00:22:07,315 Speaker 1: Posito and another officer entered an apartment building on East 307 00:22:07,355 --> 00:22:14,595 Speaker 1: one hundred and first Street and quote did unlawfully stop, assault, frisk, handcuff, detain, arrest, 308 00:22:14,715 --> 00:22:20,395 Speaker 1: and imprison unquote an infant named Rebecca Quavas, According to 309 00:22:20,435 --> 00:22:24,955 Speaker 1: a complaint later filed by Quabas's mother, Chantalbasquez, I'll just 310 00:22:24,995 --> 00:22:30,355 Speaker 1: read that operative part again quote did unlawfully stop, assault, frisk, handcuff, detain, arrest, 311 00:22:30,395 --> 00:22:35,875 Speaker 1: and imprison an infant to continue the story. An attorney 312 00:22:35,955 --> 00:22:39,075 Speaker 1: for Esposito responded to the complaint by denying the allegations, 313 00:22:39,315 --> 00:22:43,075 Speaker 1: arguing that plaintiff's culpable conduct caused or contributed in hooleor 314 00:22:43,115 --> 00:22:46,755 Speaker 1: in part to their injuries or damages. The City of 315 00:22:46,795 --> 00:22:49,675 Speaker 1: New York still settled the case for twenty five thousand dollars. 316 00:22:50,955 --> 00:22:58,475 Speaker 1: An infant allegedly frisked and handcuffed an infant. We don't 317 00:22:58,515 --> 00:23:01,715 Speaker 1: have an exact age for this Rebecca Quaves, other than 318 00:23:01,875 --> 00:23:05,035 Speaker 1: she was an infant. The house seat the fascist running 319 00:23:05,115 --> 00:23:08,355 Speaker 1: Esposito four is currently held by Pat Ryan, who is 320 00:23:08,395 --> 00:23:11,115 Speaker 1: a human being. But if you want to go and 321 00:23:11,115 --> 00:23:14,515 Speaker 1: make a joke about how the Republicans are interested in 322 00:23:14,595 --> 00:23:17,235 Speaker 1: babies until they're born and then afterwards they're going to 323 00:23:17,275 --> 00:23:21,195 Speaker 1: stop and frisk them, go right ahead. The runner up 324 00:23:21,235 --> 00:23:25,915 Speaker 1: worser RFK Junior. Sure he tried to get Trump to 325 00:23:25,915 --> 00:23:28,995 Speaker 1: give him a cabinet spot in exchange for dropping out 326 00:23:28,995 --> 00:23:32,475 Speaker 1: and endorsing Trump, and when that didn't work, sure he 327 00:23:32,555 --> 00:23:35,275 Speaker 1: tried to get in to see Kamala with the same offer. 328 00:23:35,875 --> 00:23:40,835 Speaker 1: So basically, the RFK campaign is an extortion racket. No. No, 329 00:23:40,915 --> 00:23:44,235 Speaker 1: but this is not about RFK Junior, per se. This 330 00:23:44,435 --> 00:23:48,475 Speaker 1: is about Kristin Davis, not the great actress from Sex 331 00:23:48,515 --> 00:23:51,315 Speaker 1: in the City, but a different Kristin Davis, who was 332 00:23:51,355 --> 00:23:56,315 Speaker 1: the former Manhattan Madam. Radar reported last week not O'Reilly 333 00:23:56,355 --> 00:23:59,755 Speaker 1: the magazine that she was working as an advisor to 334 00:23:59,875 --> 00:24:04,075 Speaker 1: a Kennedy pack. She went to jail for her Manhattan 335 00:24:04,115 --> 00:24:09,315 Speaker 1: Madam era stuff. Now David Corn at Mother Jones reports 336 00:24:09,675 --> 00:24:13,075 Speaker 1: what she has been advising RFK on. No, it's not 337 00:24:13,155 --> 00:24:16,235 Speaker 1: about keeping your fly unzipped while you pose for a 338 00:24:16,275 --> 00:24:19,035 Speaker 1: photograph with a dead bear you may or may not 339 00:24:19,075 --> 00:24:25,275 Speaker 1: have stabbed. No, it's using artificial intelligence to exploit the 340 00:24:25,395 --> 00:24:28,115 Speaker 1: data on your phone and my phone and use it 341 00:24:28,155 --> 00:24:32,315 Speaker 1: to determine if and how RFK should send you political advertising. 342 00:24:33,275 --> 00:24:37,755 Speaker 1: Just quote Korn's piece to utilize AI technology to create 343 00:24:37,795 --> 00:24:42,595 Speaker 1: custom messaging and personalized marketing campaigns working off mobile advertiser 344 00:24:42,715 --> 00:24:47,475 Speaker 1: ID numbers. A mobile advertising ID or made is a 345 00:24:47,595 --> 00:24:51,035 Speaker 1: unique identifier that is assigned to each mobile device. As 346 00:24:51,115 --> 00:24:53,995 Speaker 1: Davis explains it, everything you do on your cell phone 347 00:24:54,035 --> 00:24:56,755 Speaker 1: is monitored by the provider, what you read, what you 348 00:24:56,835 --> 00:24:59,715 Speaker 1: listen to, what you purchase. There are companies that take 349 00:24:59,755 --> 00:25:03,835 Speaker 1: that data and use AI to create profiles of the users. 350 00:25:04,075 --> 00:25:07,235 Speaker 1: They know You're attitudes, values, and beliefs based on data 351 00:25:07,475 --> 00:25:11,435 Speaker 1: from your cell phone provider. For instance, what Facebook groups 352 00:25:11,475 --> 00:25:12,115 Speaker 1: you are part of? 353 00:25:14,195 --> 00:25:14,275 Speaker 2: So? 354 00:25:14,355 --> 00:25:18,995 Speaker 1: Am I missing something here? The RFK hired this woman 355 00:25:19,035 --> 00:25:22,955 Speaker 1: to scrape your private phone data. Ms Davis insists it 356 00:25:22,995 --> 00:25:26,035 Speaker 1: was not hard to switch fields. I've been working in 357 00:25:26,035 --> 00:25:29,675 Speaker 1: politics for fifteen years, she tells David Corn. My former 358 00:25:29,715 --> 00:25:32,635 Speaker 1: business was far more honest. You knew what was involved 359 00:25:32,635 --> 00:25:36,715 Speaker 1: in the transaction. In politics, everyone is for sale and 360 00:25:36,755 --> 00:25:40,675 Speaker 1: you don't know what the price is. Is this where 361 00:25:40,715 --> 00:25:43,675 Speaker 1: the JV Vans quote about having skin in the game 362 00:25:43,795 --> 00:25:48,315 Speaker 1: comes into play? But our winner is the worst Your 363 00:25:48,515 --> 00:25:52,755 Speaker 1: New York Mets who finished their series against the Oakland 364 00:25:53,475 --> 00:25:58,275 Speaker 1: and or Sacramento and or Las Vegas climate change victim 365 00:25:58,355 --> 00:26:03,195 Speaker 1: athletics with a day game yesterday. Every ball games now 366 00:26:03,235 --> 00:26:07,475 Speaker 1: seemingly every ball game has a ceremonial first pitch. Somebody 367 00:26:07,555 --> 00:26:10,275 Speaker 1: trots out to the mound or near it, wearing a 368 00:26:10,475 --> 00:26:13,635 Speaker 1: shirt with the team's name on it, and throws a pitch. 369 00:26:13,795 --> 00:26:16,275 Speaker 1: And sometimes it's funny because they throw it wrong and 370 00:26:16,275 --> 00:26:18,595 Speaker 1: it winds out on the dugout, and other times it's 371 00:26:18,635 --> 00:26:20,835 Speaker 1: funny because they throw it wrong and it hits the 372 00:26:20,835 --> 00:26:27,075 Speaker 1: photographer in the private parts. Yesterday, the Mets had a 373 00:26:27,075 --> 00:26:31,115 Speaker 1: ceremonial first pitch that was done by a woman they 374 00:26:31,155 --> 00:26:38,995 Speaker 1: described as a viral sensation named Hailey Welch. Who's Hailey Welch. 375 00:26:40,195 --> 00:26:45,115 Speaker 1: Hailey Welch is best known by her sort of self assigned, inadvertent, 376 00:26:45,275 --> 00:26:51,155 Speaker 1: unplanned nickname of Hawk Tua. If you don't know Hailey 377 00:26:51,275 --> 00:26:56,915 Speaker 1: Welch or Hawk Tua, I'm not gonna tell you, but 378 00:26:57,275 --> 00:27:00,795 Speaker 1: you can look it up. While this audio of hawk 379 00:27:00,915 --> 00:27:14,515 Speaker 1: Tua's first pitch plays in the background, it is customed 380 00:27:14,595 --> 00:27:19,035 Speaker 1: to have a player or coach catch the ceremonial first pitch, 381 00:27:19,075 --> 00:27:22,915 Speaker 1: but oddly enough for the Mets yesterday, Hawk to a 382 00:27:23,035 --> 00:27:25,995 Speaker 1: lady did not throw her first pitch to a player 383 00:27:26,435 --> 00:27:29,675 Speaker 1: because all the players are too smart for that. You 384 00:27:29,675 --> 00:27:33,435 Speaker 1: don't want to catch anything from hawk to A. So 385 00:27:33,515 --> 00:27:36,675 Speaker 1: her friend, I think her friend from the Hawk to 386 00:27:36,755 --> 00:27:40,555 Speaker 1: a video caught the pitch, and then they ran up 387 00:27:40,555 --> 00:27:44,395 Speaker 1: towards each other and chest bumped. And all I can 388 00:27:44,435 --> 00:27:48,795 Speaker 1: say is just remember Baseball's rules are explicit about this. 389 00:27:49,155 --> 00:27:52,035 Speaker 1: The pitcher is not allowed to touch their fingers to 390 00:27:52,115 --> 00:27:56,515 Speaker 1: their mouth while on the mound. But the Mets now 391 00:27:56,635 --> 00:27:59,355 Speaker 1: know who to turn to if ever they are in 392 00:28:00,035 --> 00:28:09,435 Speaker 1: a blowout. And I assume she threw a spitball, New York, 393 00:28:09,755 --> 00:28:13,155 Speaker 1: get your last les in with the Hawk to a woman, 394 00:28:13,355 --> 00:28:22,715 Speaker 1: Mets two days, worst persons in the world. Could you 395 00:28:22,715 --> 00:28:26,675 Speaker 1: get anybody out? We need relief fetching whoa I'll will beat? 396 00:28:27,515 --> 00:28:44,555 Speaker 1: She must come cheap, she must come cheap to the 397 00:28:44,595 --> 00:28:46,795 Speaker 1: number one story on the Countdown. And since it is 398 00:28:46,835 --> 00:28:50,275 Speaker 1: the weekend edition, it's time for some James Thurber. The 399 00:28:50,395 --> 00:28:53,995 Speaker 1: Catbird Seat combines two of my all time favorite things, 400 00:28:54,035 --> 00:28:58,675 Speaker 1: Thurber and baseball broadcasting. As Thurber will reveal in the story, 401 00:28:58,715 --> 00:29:01,595 Speaker 1: the title comes from a catchphrase used by the Brooklyn 402 00:29:01,595 --> 00:29:05,395 Speaker 1: Dodgers legendary announcer Red Barber, the man who trained Vin 403 00:29:05,395 --> 00:29:09,275 Speaker 1: Scully and is my late friend Vin's only true competition 404 00:29:09,355 --> 00:29:12,155 Speaker 1: for greatest baseball play by playing man of all time. 405 00:29:12,955 --> 00:29:15,635 Speaker 1: I met Red Barber. Once I interviewed him for CNN. 406 00:29:16,235 --> 00:29:20,035 Speaker 1: He called me Keith throughout the interview. I was so starstruck. 407 00:29:20,235 --> 00:29:24,235 Speaker 1: It's pretty much all I remember from the interview. Anyway, 408 00:29:24,835 --> 00:29:28,555 Speaker 1: Bert Lancaster bought the movie rights to this story and 409 00:29:28,635 --> 00:29:32,675 Speaker 1: he got Billy Wilder to commit to direct it. Well, 410 00:29:32,715 --> 00:29:35,555 Speaker 1: how come you've never heard of this perfect sounding film, 411 00:29:35,595 --> 00:29:40,235 Speaker 1: The Catbird Seat, directed by Billy Wilder. They sold the 412 00:29:40,315 --> 00:29:43,835 Speaker 1: rights and in nineteen sixty the film was made, but 413 00:29:43,915 --> 00:29:49,275 Speaker 1: they relocated it from Manhattan to Scotland, starring Peter Sellers 414 00:29:49,355 --> 00:29:53,675 Speaker 1: dressed up as an old man as mister Martin. It's 415 00:29:53,715 --> 00:29:58,195 Speaker 1: okay unless you've read the story or had it read 416 00:29:58,235 --> 00:30:03,035 Speaker 1: to you from the Thurber Carnival nineteen forty five, The 417 00:30:03,075 --> 00:30:09,355 Speaker 1: Catbird Seat by James Thurber. Mister Martin bought the pack 418 00:30:09,395 --> 00:30:11,955 Speaker 1: of camels on Monday night in the most crowded cigar 419 00:30:12,035 --> 00:30:15,075 Speaker 1: store on Broadway. It was theater time, and seven or 420 00:30:15,115 --> 00:30:18,435 Speaker 1: eight men were buying cigarettes. The clerk didn't even glance 421 00:30:18,475 --> 00:30:20,795 Speaker 1: at mister Martin, who put the pack in his overcoat 422 00:30:20,835 --> 00:30:24,315 Speaker 1: pocket and went out. If any of the staff at 423 00:30:24,435 --> 00:30:27,515 Speaker 1: F and S had seen him buy the cigarettes, they 424 00:30:27,515 --> 00:30:31,795 Speaker 1: would have been astonished. For it was generally known that 425 00:30:31,835 --> 00:30:36,035 Speaker 1: mister Martin did not smoke, and never had. No one 426 00:30:36,115 --> 00:30:39,115 Speaker 1: saw him. It was just a week to the day 427 00:30:39,195 --> 00:30:43,075 Speaker 1: since mister Martin had decided to rub out missus old 428 00:30:43,155 --> 00:30:49,315 Speaker 1: Jean Barrows. The term rub out pleased him because it 429 00:30:49,395 --> 00:30:52,995 Speaker 1: suggested nothing more than the correction of an error, in 430 00:30:53,075 --> 00:30:58,355 Speaker 1: this case, an error of mister Fitweiler. Mister Martin had 431 00:30:58,355 --> 00:31:00,395 Speaker 1: spent each night of the past week working out his 432 00:31:00,435 --> 00:31:03,315 Speaker 1: plan and examining it as he walked home. Now he 433 00:31:03,355 --> 00:31:07,435 Speaker 1: went over it again for the hundredth time. He resented 434 00:31:07,475 --> 00:31:11,875 Speaker 1: the element of imprecision, the margin of guesswork that entered 435 00:31:11,915 --> 00:31:15,555 Speaker 1: into the business. The project, as he had worked it out, 436 00:31:16,115 --> 00:31:21,275 Speaker 1: was casual and bold. The risks were considerable. Something might 437 00:31:21,355 --> 00:31:26,275 Speaker 1: go wrong anywhere along the line, and therein lay the 438 00:31:26,475 --> 00:31:29,835 Speaker 1: cunning of his scheme. No one would ever see in 439 00:31:29,915 --> 00:31:33,835 Speaker 1: the cautious, painstaking hand of Irwin Martin, head of the 440 00:31:33,875 --> 00:31:37,475 Speaker 1: filing department at F and S, of whom mister Fitweiler 441 00:31:37,515 --> 00:31:42,875 Speaker 1: had once said, man is fallible, but Martin isn't. No 442 00:31:42,915 --> 00:31:47,955 Speaker 1: one would see his hand, that is, unless he were 443 00:31:48,115 --> 00:31:53,195 Speaker 1: caught in the act, sitting in his apartment drinking a 444 00:31:53,235 --> 00:31:57,075 Speaker 1: glass of milk. Mister Martin reviewed his case against missus 445 00:31:57,075 --> 00:32:01,835 Speaker 1: Old Jean Barrows, as he had every night for seven nights. 446 00:32:02,595 --> 00:32:06,755 Speaker 1: He began at the beginning, backing voice and braying laugh. 447 00:32:06,875 --> 00:32:10,875 Speaker 1: Had first profaned the halls of fns on March seventh, 448 00:32:10,995 --> 00:32:15,075 Speaker 1: nineteen forty one. Mister Martin had a head for dates. 449 00:32:15,995 --> 00:32:19,675 Speaker 1: Old Roberts, the personnel chief, had introduced her as the 450 00:32:19,715 --> 00:32:23,515 Speaker 1: newly appointed special advisor to the president of the firm, 451 00:32:23,595 --> 00:32:29,195 Speaker 1: mister Fitweiler. The woman had appalled mister Martin instantly, but 452 00:32:29,235 --> 00:32:31,835 Speaker 1: he had not shown it. He had given her his 453 00:32:31,995 --> 00:32:36,675 Speaker 1: dry hand, a look of studious concentration in a faint smile. Well, 454 00:32:37,675 --> 00:32:40,315 Speaker 1: she said, looking at the papers on his desk, are 455 00:32:40,355 --> 00:32:44,435 Speaker 1: you lifting the ox cart out of the ditch. As 456 00:32:44,435 --> 00:32:49,075 Speaker 1: mister Martin recalled that moment over his milk, he squirmed slightly. 457 00:32:49,915 --> 00:32:51,995 Speaker 1: He must keep his mind on her crimes as a 458 00:32:51,995 --> 00:32:56,435 Speaker 1: special advisor, not on her peccadillos as a personality. This 459 00:32:56,555 --> 00:32:59,515 Speaker 1: he found difficult to do. In spite of entering an 460 00:32:59,515 --> 00:33:02,875 Speaker 1: objection and sustaining it. The faults of the woman as 461 00:33:02,875 --> 00:33:05,715 Speaker 1: a woman kept chattering on in his mind like an 462 00:33:05,795 --> 00:33:10,915 Speaker 1: unruly witness. She had for almost two years now, baited 463 00:33:10,995 --> 00:33:14,595 Speaker 1: him in the halls, in the elevator, even in his 464 00:33:14,675 --> 00:33:17,675 Speaker 1: own office, into which she romped now and then like 465 00:33:17,755 --> 00:33:23,755 Speaker 1: a circus horse. She was constantly shouting these silly questions 466 00:33:23,795 --> 00:33:26,075 Speaker 1: at him. Are you lefting the ox cart out of 467 00:33:26,075 --> 00:33:29,555 Speaker 1: the ditch? Are you tearing up the pea patch? Are 468 00:33:29,595 --> 00:33:32,995 Speaker 1: you hollering down the rain barrel? Are you scraping around 469 00:33:33,035 --> 00:33:36,435 Speaker 1: the bottom of the pickle barrel? Are you sitting in 470 00:33:36,435 --> 00:33:43,195 Speaker 1: the cat married seat. It was Joey Hart, one of 471 00:33:43,275 --> 00:33:48,195 Speaker 1: mister Martin's two assistants, who had explained what the gibberish meant. 472 00:33:49,515 --> 00:33:52,635 Speaker 1: She must be a Dodger fan, he had said, Red 473 00:33:52,675 --> 00:33:55,355 Speaker 1: Bob announces the Dodger games over the radio, and he 474 00:33:55,475 --> 00:34:00,555 Speaker 1: uses these expressions, picked them up down south. Joey had 475 00:34:00,555 --> 00:34:03,595 Speaker 1: gone on to explain one or two, tearing up the 476 00:34:03,635 --> 00:34:07,675 Speaker 1: pea patch meant going on a rampage, Sitting in the 477 00:34:07,715 --> 00:34:11,595 Speaker 1: catbirds seat meant sitting pretty like a batter with three 478 00:34:11,635 --> 00:34:15,515 Speaker 1: balls and no strikes on him. Mister Martin dismissed all 479 00:34:15,555 --> 00:34:18,475 Speaker 1: this with an effort. It had been annoying, it had 480 00:34:18,555 --> 00:34:21,595 Speaker 1: driven him near to distraction, but he was too solid 481 00:34:21,595 --> 00:34:27,995 Speaker 1: a man to be moved to murder by anything so childish. 482 00:34:28,115 --> 00:34:31,075 Speaker 1: It was unfortunate, he reflected, as he passed on to 483 00:34:31,115 --> 00:34:34,195 Speaker 1: the important charges against Missus Barrows, that he had stood 484 00:34:34,235 --> 00:34:39,195 Speaker 1: up under it so well. He had maintained always an 485 00:34:39,275 --> 00:34:44,795 Speaker 1: outward appearance of polite tolerance. Why I even believe you 486 00:34:45,075 --> 00:34:48,395 Speaker 1: like the woman Mispaired, his other assistant, had once said 487 00:34:48,435 --> 00:34:53,075 Speaker 1: to him. He had simply smiled a gavel wrapped in 488 00:34:53,115 --> 00:34:55,555 Speaker 1: mister Martin's mind, and the case proper was resumed. Missus 489 00:34:55,595 --> 00:34:59,595 Speaker 1: Aul Jean Barrows stood charged with wilful, platant and persistent 490 00:34:59,595 --> 00:35:03,515 Speaker 1: attempts to destroy the efficiency and system of fn S. 491 00:35:04,915 --> 00:35:07,875 Speaker 1: It was confident material and relevant to review her advent 492 00:35:07,955 --> 00:35:11,555 Speaker 1: and rise to power. Mister Martin had got the story 493 00:35:11,555 --> 00:35:15,315 Speaker 1: from Miss Paired, who seemed always able to find things out. 494 00:35:16,195 --> 00:35:20,675 Speaker 1: According to her, Missus Barrows had met mister Fitweller at 495 00:35:20,715 --> 00:35:24,195 Speaker 1: a party where she had rescued him from the embraces 496 00:35:24,235 --> 00:35:27,595 Speaker 1: of a powerfully built, drunken man who had mistaken the 497 00:35:27,635 --> 00:35:31,115 Speaker 1: president of F and S for a famous retired middle 498 00:35:31,155 --> 00:35:35,915 Speaker 1: Western football coach. She had led him to a sofa 499 00:35:35,955 --> 00:35:41,275 Speaker 1: and somehow worked upon him a monstrous magic. The aging 500 00:35:41,355 --> 00:35:44,155 Speaker 1: gentleman had jumped to the conclusion there and then that 501 00:35:44,235 --> 00:35:47,595 Speaker 1: this was a woman of singular attainments, equipped to bring 502 00:35:47,635 --> 00:35:51,115 Speaker 1: out the best in him and in the firm. A 503 00:35:51,155 --> 00:35:54,075 Speaker 1: week later he had introduced her into F and S 504 00:35:54,675 --> 00:36:01,995 Speaker 1: as his special adviser. On that day, confusion got its 505 00:36:02,035 --> 00:36:07,075 Speaker 1: foot in the door. After miss Tyson, mister Brundage and 506 00:36:07,115 --> 00:36:09,635 Speaker 1: mister Bartlett had been fired and mister Munson had taken 507 00:36:09,635 --> 00:36:12,995 Speaker 1: his hat and stalked out mailing. In his resignation letter, 508 00:36:13,435 --> 00:36:17,075 Speaker 1: Old Roberts had been emboldened to speak to mister Fitweiler. 509 00:36:17,555 --> 00:36:21,675 Speaker 1: He mentioned that mister Munson's department had become a little disrupted, 510 00:36:22,035 --> 00:36:25,155 Speaker 1: and hadn't they perhaps better resumed the old system there. 511 00:36:26,275 --> 00:36:29,635 Speaker 1: Mister Fitwiler had said, certainly not. He had the greatest 512 00:36:29,675 --> 00:36:33,915 Speaker 1: faith in missus Barrow's ideas. They require a little seasoning. 513 00:36:34,315 --> 00:36:38,755 Speaker 1: Little seasoning is all, he had added. Mister Roberts had 514 00:36:38,755 --> 00:36:42,435 Speaker 1: given it up. Mister Martin reviewed in detail all the 515 00:36:42,555 --> 00:36:45,595 Speaker 1: changes wrought by missus Barrows. She'd begun chipping at the 516 00:36:45,675 --> 00:36:48,995 Speaker 1: cornices of the firm's edifice, and now she was swinging 517 00:36:49,075 --> 00:36:54,515 Speaker 1: at the foundation stones with a pickaxe. Mister Martin came 518 00:36:54,555 --> 00:36:56,755 Speaker 1: now in his summing up to the afternoon of Monday, 519 00:36:56,835 --> 00:37:01,635 Speaker 1: November two, nineteen forty two, just one week ago. On 520 00:37:01,715 --> 00:37:05,515 Speaker 1: that day, at three pm, missus Barrow's had bounced into 521 00:37:05,555 --> 00:37:09,275 Speaker 1: his office. Boo, she had yelled, Are you scraping around 522 00:37:09,275 --> 00:37:13,675 Speaker 1: the bottom of the pickle barrel? Mister Martin had looked 523 00:37:13,675 --> 00:37:16,755 Speaker 1: at her from under his green eye shade, saying nothing. 524 00:37:17,835 --> 00:37:20,635 Speaker 1: She had begun to wander about the office, taking it 525 00:37:20,675 --> 00:37:24,155 Speaker 1: in with her great popping eyes. Do you really need 526 00:37:24,355 --> 00:37:30,635 Speaker 1: all these filing cabinets, she had demanded. Suddenly, mister Martin's 527 00:37:30,795 --> 00:37:35,755 Speaker 1: heart had jumped each of these files, he had said, 528 00:37:35,835 --> 00:37:38,875 Speaker 1: keeping his voice even plays an indispensable part in the 529 00:37:38,955 --> 00:37:42,995 Speaker 1: system of f and s. She had brayed at him, 530 00:37:43,195 --> 00:37:46,555 Speaker 1: well don't tear up the pea patch, and gone to 531 00:37:46,635 --> 00:37:50,475 Speaker 1: the door. From there she had bawled, but you sure 532 00:37:50,595 --> 00:37:55,635 Speaker 1: have got a lot of fine scrap in here. Mister 533 00:37:55,675 --> 00:37:59,275 Speaker 1: Martin could no longer doubt that the finger was on 534 00:37:59,555 --> 00:38:04,635 Speaker 1: his beloved department. Her pickaxe was on the upswing poison 535 00:38:04,875 --> 00:38:08,755 Speaker 1: for the first blow. It had not come yet. He 536 00:38:08,795 --> 00:38:11,995 Speaker 1: had received no blue memo from the enchanted mister Fitweler, 537 00:38:12,195 --> 00:38:17,075 Speaker 1: bearing nonsensical instructions deriving from this obscene woman. But there 538 00:38:17,115 --> 00:38:19,395 Speaker 1: was no doubt in mister Martin's mind that one would 539 00:38:19,395 --> 00:38:24,515 Speaker 1: be forthcoming. He must act quickly. Already a precious week 540 00:38:24,595 --> 00:38:29,715 Speaker 1: had gone by. Mister Martin stood up in his living room, 541 00:38:29,755 --> 00:38:33,595 Speaker 1: still holding his milk glass. Gentleman of the jury, he 542 00:38:33,635 --> 00:38:39,355 Speaker 1: said to himself, I demand the death penalty for this 543 00:38:39,515 --> 00:38:45,955 Speaker 1: horrible person. The next day, mister Martin followed his routine 544 00:38:45,995 --> 00:38:48,755 Speaker 1: as usual. He polished his glasses more often and once 545 00:38:48,875 --> 00:38:52,315 Speaker 1: sharpened and already sharp pencil. But not even mispaired noticed. 546 00:38:52,955 --> 00:38:56,035 Speaker 1: Only once did he catch sight of his victim. She 547 00:38:56,115 --> 00:38:58,875 Speaker 1: swept past him in the hall with the patronizing Hai. 548 00:38:59,995 --> 00:39:02,155 Speaker 1: At five point thirty. He walked home as usual and 549 00:39:02,195 --> 00:39:05,475 Speaker 1: had a glass of milk as usual. He had never 550 00:39:05,595 --> 00:39:09,275 Speaker 1: drunk anything stronger in his life, unless you could count 551 00:39:09,315 --> 00:39:13,795 Speaker 1: ginger Ale. The late Sam Schlosser, the s of F 552 00:39:13,875 --> 00:39:16,075 Speaker 1: and S had praised mister Martin at a staff meeting 553 00:39:16,115 --> 00:39:20,035 Speaker 1: several years before for his temperate habits. One of our 554 00:39:20,075 --> 00:39:23,915 Speaker 1: most efficient workers. Neither drinks nor smokes, he had said, 555 00:39:24,075 --> 00:39:28,675 Speaker 1: the results speak for themselves. Mister Fitweller had sat by, 556 00:39:28,995 --> 00:39:33,475 Speaker 1: nodding approval. Mister Martin was still thinking about that red 557 00:39:33,515 --> 00:39:36,035 Speaker 1: letter day, as he walked over to the Shafts restaurant 558 00:39:36,075 --> 00:39:39,035 Speaker 1: on Fifth Avenue near forty sixth Street. He got there 559 00:39:39,075 --> 00:39:41,715 Speaker 1: as he always did, at eight o'clock. He finished his 560 00:39:41,755 --> 00:39:43,995 Speaker 1: dinner and the financial page of the New York Sun 561 00:39:44,195 --> 00:39:47,075 Speaker 1: quartered at to nine. As he always did, It was 562 00:39:47,115 --> 00:39:49,715 Speaker 1: his custom after dinner to take a walk. This time 563 00:39:49,715 --> 00:39:53,115 Speaker 1: he walked down Fifth Avenue at a casual place. His 564 00:39:53,275 --> 00:39:58,395 Speaker 1: gloved hands felt moist and warm, his forehead cold. He 565 00:39:58,555 --> 00:40:01,835 Speaker 1: transferred the camels from his overcoat to a jacket pocket. 566 00:40:01,995 --> 00:40:03,875 Speaker 1: He wondered as he did so, if they did not 567 00:40:03,995 --> 00:40:10,715 Speaker 1: represent an unnecessary note of strain. Missus Barrows smoked only luckies. 568 00:40:11,595 --> 00:40:13,835 Speaker 1: It was his idea to puff a few puffs on 569 00:40:14,115 --> 00:40:18,355 Speaker 1: a camel after the rubbing out, stub it out in 570 00:40:18,395 --> 00:40:22,275 Speaker 1: the ashtray, holding her lipstick, saying luckies, and thus drag 571 00:40:22,355 --> 00:40:26,395 Speaker 1: a small red herring across the trail. Perhaps it was 572 00:40:26,435 --> 00:40:30,115 Speaker 1: not a good idea. It would take time. He might 573 00:40:30,155 --> 00:40:35,955 Speaker 1: even choke too loudly. Mister Martin had never seen the 574 00:40:35,995 --> 00:40:38,595 Speaker 1: house on West twelfth Street where Missus Barrows lived, but 575 00:40:38,635 --> 00:40:41,035 Speaker 1: he had a clear enough picture of it. Fortunately, she 576 00:40:41,115 --> 00:40:46,035 Speaker 1: had bragged to everybody about her decky first floor apartment 577 00:40:46,075 --> 00:40:50,715 Speaker 1: in the perfectly darling three story red brick. There would 578 00:40:50,715 --> 00:40:53,675 Speaker 1: be no doorman or other attendants, just the tenants of 579 00:40:53,715 --> 00:40:56,475 Speaker 1: the second and third floors. As he walked along, mister 580 00:40:56,515 --> 00:41:00,075 Speaker 1: Martin realized that he would get there before nine to thirty. 581 00:41:01,075 --> 00:41:04,395 Speaker 1: He had considered walking north on Fifth Avenue from Shrafts 582 00:41:04,435 --> 00:41:06,515 Speaker 1: to a point from which it would take him until 583 00:41:06,555 --> 00:41:09,275 Speaker 1: ten o'clock to reach the house. At that hour people 584 00:41:09,355 --> 00:41:11,515 Speaker 1: were less likely to be coming in or going out, 585 00:41:11,915 --> 00:41:14,515 Speaker 1: But the procedure would have made an awkward loop in 586 00:41:14,555 --> 00:41:19,355 Speaker 1: the straight thread of his casualness, and he had abandoned it. 587 00:41:19,355 --> 00:41:21,835 Speaker 1: It was impossible to figure when people would be entering 588 00:41:21,915 --> 00:41:24,315 Speaker 1: or leaving the house anyway, there was a great risk 589 00:41:24,355 --> 00:41:27,635 Speaker 1: at any hour if he ran into anybody, he would 590 00:41:27,675 --> 00:41:29,715 Speaker 1: simply have to place the rubbing out of old Jean 591 00:41:29,795 --> 00:41:35,595 Speaker 1: Barrows in the inactive file forever. The same thing would 592 00:41:35,595 --> 00:41:38,155 Speaker 1: hold true if there was someone in her apartment. In 593 00:41:38,155 --> 00:41:39,715 Speaker 1: that case, he would just say that he had been 594 00:41:39,715 --> 00:41:45,275 Speaker 1: passing by, recognized her charming house, and thought to drop in. 595 00:41:47,195 --> 00:41:49,555 Speaker 1: It was eighteen minutes after nine when mister Martin turned 596 00:41:49,555 --> 00:41:52,435 Speaker 1: into twelfth Straight. A man passed him and a man 597 00:41:52,475 --> 00:41:56,155 Speaker 1: and a woman talking. There was no one within fifty paces. 598 00:41:56,155 --> 00:41:58,595 Speaker 1: When he came to the house halfway down the block. 599 00:41:59,435 --> 00:42:01,555 Speaker 1: He was up the steps and in the small vestibule, 600 00:42:01,555 --> 00:42:03,555 Speaker 1: and no time pressing the bell under the card that 601 00:42:03,595 --> 00:42:06,155 Speaker 1: said Missus ol Jean Arrows. When the clicking in the 602 00:42:06,155 --> 00:42:08,435 Speaker 1: lock started, he jumped forward against the door. He got 603 00:42:08,435 --> 00:42:11,235 Speaker 1: inside fast, closing the door behind him. A bulb in 604 00:42:11,275 --> 00:42:13,435 Speaker 1: a lantern hung from the hall ceiling on a chain 605 00:42:13,595 --> 00:42:16,755 Speaker 1: seemed to give a monstrously bright light. There was nobody 606 00:42:16,755 --> 00:42:18,515 Speaker 1: on the stair which went up ahead of him along 607 00:42:18,515 --> 00:42:21,395 Speaker 1: the left wall. A door opened down the hall on 608 00:42:21,395 --> 00:42:25,115 Speaker 1: the wall on the right. He went toward it swiftly 609 00:42:25,275 --> 00:42:30,795 Speaker 1: on tiptoe. Now, for God's sakes, look who's here? Bawled 610 00:42:30,835 --> 00:42:34,115 Speaker 1: Missus Barrows, and her braining laugh rang out like the 611 00:42:34,155 --> 00:42:37,395 Speaker 1: report of a shotgun. He rushed past her like a 612 00:42:37,395 --> 00:42:42,275 Speaker 1: football attacker, bumping her. Hey, quit shoving, she said, closing 613 00:42:42,275 --> 00:42:45,235 Speaker 1: the door behind them. They were in her living room, 614 00:42:45,355 --> 00:42:47,875 Speaker 1: which seemed to mister Martin to be lighted by a 615 00:42:48,075 --> 00:42:53,195 Speaker 1: hundred lamps. What's after you, she said, Here's jumpy as 616 00:42:53,235 --> 00:42:57,555 Speaker 1: a goat. He found he was unable to speak. His 617 00:42:57,755 --> 00:43:03,115 Speaker 1: heart was wheezing in his throat. I yes, he finally 618 00:43:03,115 --> 00:43:06,675 Speaker 1: brought out. He was jabbering and laughing as she started 619 00:43:06,675 --> 00:43:09,635 Speaker 1: to help him off with his coat. No, no, he said, 620 00:43:10,315 --> 00:43:13,635 Speaker 1: I'll put it here. He took it off and put 621 00:43:13,635 --> 00:43:16,115 Speaker 1: it on a chair near the door. Your hat and 622 00:43:16,155 --> 00:43:20,275 Speaker 1: gloves too, She said, you're in a lady's house. He 623 00:43:20,355 --> 00:43:23,155 Speaker 1: put his hat on top of the coat. Missus Barrows 624 00:43:23,155 --> 00:43:27,355 Speaker 1: seemed larger than he had thought. He kept his gloves on. 625 00:43:28,835 --> 00:43:34,675 Speaker 1: I was passing by, he said, I recognized. Is there 626 00:43:34,675 --> 00:43:40,235 Speaker 1: anyone here? She laughed louder than ever. No, she said, 627 00:43:40,755 --> 00:43:43,675 Speaker 1: we're all alone. You're white as a sheet, you funny man, 628 00:43:43,795 --> 00:43:46,515 Speaker 1: whatever has come over you. I'll mix you a toddy. 629 00:43:47,355 --> 00:43:50,235 Speaker 1: She started toward a door across the room. Scotch and 630 00:43:50,315 --> 00:43:52,635 Speaker 1: so to be all right, But say you don't drink, 631 00:43:52,715 --> 00:43:57,235 Speaker 1: do you? She turned and gave him her amused look. 632 00:43:57,955 --> 00:44:01,635 Speaker 1: Mister Martin pulled himself together. Scotch and soda will be 633 00:44:01,675 --> 00:44:04,635 Speaker 1: all right, he heard himself say. He could hear her 634 00:44:04,795 --> 00:44:08,635 Speaker 1: laughing in the kitchen. Mister Martin looked quickly around the 635 00:44:08,675 --> 00:44:11,835 Speaker 1: living room for the weapon he had counted on finding one. 636 00:44:11,875 --> 00:44:15,355 Speaker 1: There there were and irons and a poker and something 637 00:44:15,395 --> 00:44:17,955 Speaker 1: in a corner that looked like an Indian club. None 638 00:44:17,995 --> 00:44:21,395 Speaker 1: of them would do it, couldn't be that way. He 639 00:44:21,435 --> 00:44:23,915 Speaker 1: began to pace around. He came to a desk. On 640 00:44:24,035 --> 00:44:26,675 Speaker 1: it lay a metal paper knife with an ornate handle. 641 00:44:26,915 --> 00:44:29,555 Speaker 1: Would it be sharp enough? He reached for it and 642 00:44:29,635 --> 00:44:33,315 Speaker 1: knocked over a small brass jar. Stamps spilled out of 643 00:44:33,315 --> 00:44:35,435 Speaker 1: it and fell onto the floor with a clatter. Hey, 644 00:44:36,395 --> 00:44:39,355 Speaker 1: missus Barrows, yelled from the kitchen. Are you tearing up 645 00:44:39,355 --> 00:44:45,275 Speaker 1: the pea patch? Mister Martin gave a strange laugh. Picking 646 00:44:45,315 --> 00:44:47,835 Speaker 1: up the knife, he tried its point against his left wrist. 647 00:44:47,875 --> 00:44:54,835 Speaker 1: It was blunt. It wouldn't do. When Missus Barrows reappeared 648 00:44:54,875 --> 00:44:58,475 Speaker 1: carrying two high balls, mister Martin, standing there with his 649 00:44:58,555 --> 00:45:02,195 Speaker 1: gloves on, became acutely conscious of the fantasy. He had 650 00:45:02,235 --> 00:45:07,075 Speaker 1: wrought cigarettes in his pocket, a drink prepared for him. 651 00:45:07,235 --> 00:45:11,955 Speaker 1: It was all too grossly improbable. It was more than that, 652 00:45:12,035 --> 00:45:18,115 Speaker 1: it was impossible. Somewhere in the back of his mind 653 00:45:19,035 --> 00:45:25,835 Speaker 1: a vague idea stirred sprouted. For Heaven's sake, take off 654 00:45:25,875 --> 00:45:30,475 Speaker 1: those gloves, said Missus Barrows. I always wear them in 655 00:45:30,475 --> 00:45:36,395 Speaker 1: the house, said mister Martin. The idea began to bloom 656 00:45:36,995 --> 00:45:41,235 Speaker 1: strange and wonderful. She put the glasses on a coffee 657 00:45:41,235 --> 00:45:43,475 Speaker 1: table in front of a sofa and sat on the sofa. 658 00:45:43,595 --> 00:45:47,635 Speaker 1: Come over here, you odd little man, she said. Mister 659 00:45:47,675 --> 00:45:50,475 Speaker 1: Martin went over and sat beside her. It was difficult 660 00:45:50,515 --> 00:45:52,435 Speaker 1: getting a cigarette out of the pack of camels, but 661 00:45:52,475 --> 00:45:55,475 Speaker 1: he managed it. She held a match for him. Laughing well, 662 00:45:56,155 --> 00:45:59,795 Speaker 1: she said, handing him his drink. This is perfectly marvelous, 663 00:46:00,275 --> 00:46:06,395 Speaker 1: you with a drink and a cigarette. Mister Martin puffed, 664 00:46:07,075 --> 00:46:10,955 Speaker 1: not too awkwardly, and took a gulp of the highball. 665 00:46:11,795 --> 00:46:14,915 Speaker 1: I drink and smoke all the time, he said. He 666 00:46:14,955 --> 00:46:18,955 Speaker 1: clinked his glass against hers. Here's nuts to that old 667 00:46:19,035 --> 00:46:22,755 Speaker 1: wind bag fit whiler, he said, and gulped again. The 668 00:46:22,795 --> 00:46:27,315 Speaker 1: stuff tasted awful, but he made no grimace. Really, mister Martin, 669 00:46:27,555 --> 00:46:30,755 Speaker 1: she said, her voice and posture changing. You are insulting 670 00:46:30,835 --> 00:46:37,115 Speaker 1: our employer. Missus Barrows was now all special advisor to 671 00:46:37,155 --> 00:46:41,475 Speaker 1: the President. I am preparing a bomb, said mister Martin, 672 00:46:42,195 --> 00:46:46,675 Speaker 1: which will blow the old goat higher than hell. He 673 00:46:46,715 --> 00:46:48,555 Speaker 1: had only had a little of the drink, which was 674 00:46:48,595 --> 00:46:52,275 Speaker 1: not strong. It couldn't be that. Do you take dope 675 00:46:52,395 --> 00:46:58,435 Speaker 1: or something, missus Barrows asked coldly. Heroine said, mister Martin, 676 00:46:58,955 --> 00:47:01,635 Speaker 1: I'll be coked to the gills when I bumped that 677 00:47:01,715 --> 00:47:06,355 Speaker 1: old buzzard off. Mister Martin, she shouted, getting to her feet, 678 00:47:06,475 --> 00:47:08,635 Speaker 1: that will be all of that. You must go at once. 679 00:47:10,035 --> 00:47:13,035 Speaker 1: Mister Martin took another swallow of the drink. He tapped 680 00:47:13,035 --> 00:47:15,315 Speaker 1: his cigarette out in the ash tray and put the 681 00:47:15,315 --> 00:47:17,595 Speaker 1: pack of camels on the coffee table. Then he got up. 682 00:47:18,595 --> 00:47:21,435 Speaker 1: She stood glaring at him. He walked over and put 683 00:47:21,475 --> 00:47:25,195 Speaker 1: on his hat and coat. Not a word about this, 684 00:47:25,755 --> 00:47:28,675 Speaker 1: he said, and laid an index finger against his lips. 685 00:47:29,235 --> 00:47:33,635 Speaker 1: All missus Barrows could bring out was a really Mister 686 00:47:33,675 --> 00:47:37,595 Speaker 1: Martin put his hand on the doorknob. I'm sitting in 687 00:47:37,595 --> 00:47:42,795 Speaker 1: the catbird's seat, he said. He stuck his tongue out 688 00:47:42,835 --> 00:47:50,435 Speaker 1: at her, and left. Nobody saw him go Mister Martin 689 00:47:50,475 --> 00:47:53,835 Speaker 1: got to his apartment walking well before eleven. No one 690 00:47:53,875 --> 00:47:56,435 Speaker 1: saw him go in. He had two glasses of milk 691 00:47:56,435 --> 00:48:00,555 Speaker 1: after brushing his teeth, and he felt elated. It wasn't tipsy, 692 00:48:00,555 --> 00:48:03,515 Speaker 1: in is because he hadn't been tipsy anyway. The walk 693 00:48:03,555 --> 00:48:06,595 Speaker 1: had worn off all off of the whiskey. He got 694 00:48:06,635 --> 00:48:08,875 Speaker 1: in bed and read a magazine for a while. He 695 00:48:08,995 --> 00:48:13,755 Speaker 1: was asleep before midnight. Mister Martin got to the office 696 00:48:13,795 --> 00:48:16,235 Speaker 1: at eight point thirty the next morning as usual. At 697 00:48:16,235 --> 00:48:18,675 Speaker 1: a quarter to nine, Old Jean Barrows, who had never 698 00:48:18,755 --> 00:48:21,955 Speaker 1: before arrived at work before ten, swept into his office. 699 00:48:22,075 --> 00:48:25,715 Speaker 1: I'm reparting to mister Fitwailer now, she shouted. If he 700 00:48:25,795 --> 00:48:28,075 Speaker 1: turns you over to the police, it's no more than 701 00:48:28,115 --> 00:48:32,435 Speaker 1: you deserve. Mister Martin gave her a look of shocked surprise. 702 00:48:33,475 --> 00:48:37,795 Speaker 1: I beg your pardon, he said. Missus Barrow snorted and 703 00:48:37,875 --> 00:48:40,035 Speaker 1: bounced out of the room, leaving Miss Paird and Joey 704 00:48:40,035 --> 00:48:43,915 Speaker 1: Hart staring after her. What's the matter with that old 705 00:48:43,955 --> 00:48:48,315 Speaker 1: devil now, asked Miss Paired. I have no idea, said 706 00:48:48,355 --> 00:48:51,675 Speaker 1: mister Martin, resuming his work. The other two looked at him, 707 00:48:51,715 --> 00:48:54,155 Speaker 1: and then at each other. Miss Paired got up and 708 00:48:54,155 --> 00:48:57,235 Speaker 1: went out. She walked slowly past the closed door of 709 00:48:57,235 --> 00:49:01,915 Speaker 1: mister Fitwiler's office. Missus Barrows was yelling inside, but she 710 00:49:01,995 --> 00:49:04,475 Speaker 1: was not brain. Miss Paired could not hear what the 711 00:49:04,475 --> 00:49:09,635 Speaker 1: woman was saying. She went back to her desk. Forty 712 00:49:09,675 --> 00:49:12,555 Speaker 1: five minutes later, Missus Barrows left the President's office and 713 00:49:12,635 --> 00:49:15,555 Speaker 1: went into her own, shutting the door. It wasn't until 714 00:49:15,595 --> 00:49:18,715 Speaker 1: half an hour later that mister Fitweiler sent for mister Martin, 715 00:49:18,915 --> 00:49:22,315 Speaker 1: the head of the filing department. Neat quiet, attentive, stood 716 00:49:22,315 --> 00:49:25,395 Speaker 1: in front of the old man's desk. Mister Fitweiler was 717 00:49:25,555 --> 00:49:30,235 Speaker 1: pale and nervous. He took his glasses off and twiddled them. 718 00:49:30,355 --> 00:49:34,995 Speaker 1: He made a small ruffing sound in his throat. Martin, 719 00:49:35,515 --> 00:49:38,795 Speaker 1: he said, you have been with us more than twenty years. 720 00:49:40,275 --> 00:49:44,875 Speaker 1: Twenty two, sir, said mister Martin. In that time pursued 721 00:49:44,915 --> 00:49:50,195 Speaker 1: the President. Your work and your manner have been exemplary. 722 00:49:51,195 --> 00:49:55,075 Speaker 1: I trust so, sir, said mister Martin. I have understood, Martin, 723 00:49:55,515 --> 00:49:58,275 Speaker 1: said mister Fitwaller, that you have never taken a drink 724 00:49:58,355 --> 00:50:04,795 Speaker 1: or smoked. That is correct, sir, said mister Martin. H Yeah, yes, 725 00:50:05,315 --> 00:50:10,155 Speaker 1: mister Fitwiler polished his glasses. You may describe what you 726 00:50:10,195 --> 00:50:14,995 Speaker 1: did after leaving the office yesterday, Martin, he said, certainly, sir, 727 00:50:15,355 --> 00:50:18,355 Speaker 1: he said. I walked home. Then I went to Shrafts 728 00:50:18,355 --> 00:50:21,315 Speaker 1: for dinner. Afterward, I walked home again. I went to 729 00:50:21,315 --> 00:50:23,435 Speaker 1: bed early, sir, and read a magazine for a while 730 00:50:23,475 --> 00:50:29,835 Speaker 1: I was asleep before eleven. Ah. Yes, said mister Fitwiler. Again. 731 00:50:31,315 --> 00:50:33,715 Speaker 1: He was silent for a moment, searching for the proper 732 00:50:33,755 --> 00:50:35,795 Speaker 1: words to say to the head of the filing department, 733 00:50:37,395 --> 00:50:43,155 Speaker 1: Missus Barrows. He said finally, Missus Barrows has worked hard, Martin, 734 00:50:44,195 --> 00:50:47,235 Speaker 1: very hard. It brings me to report, but she has 735 00:50:47,275 --> 00:50:50,235 Speaker 1: suffered a severe breakdown. It has taken the form of 736 00:50:50,275 --> 00:50:58,275 Speaker 1: a persecution complex accompanied by distressing hallucinations. I'm very sorry, sir, 737 00:50:58,795 --> 00:51:03,875 Speaker 1: said mister Martin. Missus Barrows is under the delusion, continued 738 00:51:03,915 --> 00:51:08,875 Speaker 1: mister Fitwiler, that you visited her last evening and behaved 739 00:51:08,875 --> 00:51:13,915 Speaker 1: yourself in an unseemly manner. He raised his hand to 740 00:51:13,995 --> 00:51:17,555 Speaker 1: silence mister Martin's little, pained outcry. It is the nature 741 00:51:17,595 --> 00:51:22,155 Speaker 1: of these psychological diseases, mister Fitwiler said, to fix upon 742 00:51:22,235 --> 00:51:26,755 Speaker 1: the least likely and most innocent party as the source 743 00:51:26,835 --> 00:51:30,635 Speaker 1: of persecution. These matters are not for the lay mind 744 00:51:30,795 --> 00:51:34,595 Speaker 1: to grasp. Martin. I've just had my psychiatrist, doctor Fitch, 745 00:51:34,675 --> 00:51:37,715 Speaker 1: on the phone. He would not, of course commit himself, 746 00:51:37,755 --> 00:51:43,035 Speaker 1: but he made enough generalizations to substantiate my suspicions. I 747 00:51:43,275 --> 00:51:49,275 Speaker 1: suggested to missus Barrows when she had completed her story 748 00:51:49,595 --> 00:51:53,955 Speaker 1: to me this morning, that she visited doctor Fitch for 749 00:51:54,115 --> 00:51:57,315 Speaker 1: I suspected a condition. Whats that she flew, I regret 750 00:51:57,355 --> 00:52:02,355 Speaker 1: to say, into a rage and demanded requested that I 751 00:52:02,555 --> 00:52:06,195 Speaker 1: call you on the carpet. You may not know, Martin, 752 00:52:06,275 --> 00:52:10,275 Speaker 1: but Missus Barrows had planned a reorganization of your department, 753 00:52:10,595 --> 00:52:13,435 Speaker 1: subject to my approval. Of course, subject to my approval. 754 00:52:13,955 --> 00:52:16,915 Speaker 1: This brought you, rather than anyone else to her mind. 755 00:52:16,915 --> 00:52:20,275 Speaker 1: But again that is a phenomenon for doctor Fitch and 756 00:52:20,635 --> 00:52:26,275 Speaker 1: not for us. So Martin, I'm afraid Missus Barrow's usefulness 757 00:52:26,315 --> 00:52:31,995 Speaker 1: here is at an end. I'm dreadfully sorry, sir, said 758 00:52:31,995 --> 00:52:36,195 Speaker 1: mister Martin. It was at this point that the door 759 00:52:36,235 --> 00:52:38,795 Speaker 1: to the office blew open with the suddenness of a 760 00:52:38,875 --> 00:52:43,475 Speaker 1: gas main explosion, and Missus Barrow's catapulted through. It is 761 00:52:43,475 --> 00:52:46,675 Speaker 1: the little rad denying it, she screamed. He can't get 762 00:52:46,715 --> 00:52:50,635 Speaker 1: away with that. Mister Martin got up and moved discreetly 763 00:52:50,675 --> 00:52:54,355 Speaker 1: to a point beside mister Fitwiler's chair. You drank and 764 00:52:54,555 --> 00:52:57,635 Speaker 1: smoked at my apartment, she bawled at mister Martin, and 765 00:52:57,675 --> 00:53:00,235 Speaker 1: you know it. You called mister Fitwailer an old wind 766 00:53:00,275 --> 00:53:02,555 Speaker 1: bag and said you were gonna blow him up when 767 00:53:02,555 --> 00:53:05,075 Speaker 1: you got coked to your gills on your head Heroin. 768 00:53:07,115 --> 00:53:09,275 Speaker 1: She stopped yelling to catch her breath, and a new 769 00:53:09,395 --> 00:53:12,755 Speaker 1: glint came into her popping eyes. If you weren't set 770 00:53:12,795 --> 00:53:17,235 Speaker 1: to drab, ordinary, little man, she said, I'd think you'd 771 00:53:17,395 --> 00:53:21,275 Speaker 1: planned it all, sticking your tongue out, saying you were 772 00:53:21,315 --> 00:53:24,435 Speaker 1: sitting in the cat buried seat because you thought no 773 00:53:24,475 --> 00:53:27,915 Speaker 1: one would believe me when I told it. My god, 774 00:53:27,995 --> 00:53:33,675 Speaker 1: it's really too perfect. She brayed loudly and hysterically, and 775 00:53:33,715 --> 00:53:36,595 Speaker 1: the fury was on her again. She glared at mister Fitwiler. 776 00:53:37,075 --> 00:53:40,395 Speaker 1: Can't you see how he has checked us, you old fool. 777 00:53:41,195 --> 00:53:45,475 Speaker 1: Can't you see his little game? But mister Fitwiler had 778 00:53:45,475 --> 00:53:48,635 Speaker 1: been surreptitiously pressing all the buttons under the top of 779 00:53:48,675 --> 00:53:51,995 Speaker 1: his desk, and employees of fn S began pouring into 780 00:53:51,995 --> 00:53:56,435 Speaker 1: the room. Stockton said, Missus Fitchwiler, you and Fishbine will 781 00:53:56,475 --> 00:53:59,435 Speaker 1: take missus Barrows to her home. Missus Powell, you will 782 00:53:59,475 --> 00:54:02,395 Speaker 1: go with them. Stockton, who had played a little football 783 00:54:02,435 --> 00:54:05,315 Speaker 1: in high school, blocked Missus Barrows as she made for 784 00:54:05,435 --> 00:54:08,715 Speaker 1: mister Martin. It took him and fish Mine together to 785 00:54:08,875 --> 00:54:11,675 Speaker 1: force her out of the door into the hall crowded 786 00:54:11,675 --> 00:54:16,035 Speaker 1: with stenographers and office boys. She was still screaming imprecations 787 00:54:16,035 --> 00:54:21,395 Speaker 1: at mister Martin, tangled and contradictory imprecations. The hubbub finally 788 00:54:21,435 --> 00:54:26,515 Speaker 1: died out down the corridor. I regret that this has happened, 789 00:54:27,035 --> 00:54:31,235 Speaker 1: said mister Fitweiler. I shall ask you to dismiss it 790 00:54:31,235 --> 00:54:35,875 Speaker 1: from your mind. Martin, Yes, sir, said mister Martin, anticipating 791 00:54:35,915 --> 00:54:40,195 Speaker 1: his chiefs, that will be all. By moving to the door, 792 00:54:41,595 --> 00:54:46,195 Speaker 1: I will dismiss it. He went out and shut the door, 793 00:54:46,595 --> 00:54:49,915 Speaker 1: and his step was light and quick in the hall. 794 00:54:50,915 --> 00:54:53,035 Speaker 1: When he entered his department, he had slowed down to 795 00:54:53,035 --> 00:54:57,835 Speaker 1: his customary gate, and he walked quietly across the room 796 00:54:58,355 --> 00:55:05,115 Speaker 1: to the double twenty file, wearing a look of studious centration. 797 00:55:18,955 --> 00:55:23,955 Speaker 1: The Catbird Seat by James Thurber. I've done all the 798 00:55:24,035 --> 00:55:26,795 Speaker 1: damn and Jack can do here. Thank you for listening. 799 00:55:27,155 --> 00:55:29,755 Speaker 1: Please share this podcast with somebody who does not listen 800 00:55:29,795 --> 00:55:32,955 Speaker 1: to it. The ratings are on the rise, and as 801 00:55:32,955 --> 00:55:35,515 Speaker 1: an exhibitionist, I need the largest audience I can get. 802 00:55:36,235 --> 00:55:39,315 Speaker 1: By the way I have a correction to Thursday's podcast 803 00:55:39,795 --> 00:55:42,075 Speaker 1: when Fox fired me in two thousand and one and 804 00:55:42,115 --> 00:55:44,955 Speaker 1: the guy from Sports Illustrated wrote the article about how 805 00:55:44,955 --> 00:55:49,115 Speaker 1: my career was over twenty three and a half years 806 00:55:49,155 --> 00:55:52,315 Speaker 1: ago and he's retired since, and I'm still doing this. 807 00:55:53,315 --> 00:55:56,235 Speaker 1: Fox tried to get me to blow myself up publicly 808 00:55:56,235 --> 00:55:58,555 Speaker 1: by attacking them so they didn't have to pay off 809 00:55:58,595 --> 00:56:00,955 Speaker 1: the rest of my contract. And for some reason, in 810 00:56:01,075 --> 00:56:03,595 Speaker 1: retelling this yesterday, I said they had to pay me 811 00:56:03,595 --> 00:56:06,315 Speaker 1: one hundred thousand dollars year went In fact, they had 812 00:56:06,315 --> 00:56:09,835 Speaker 1: to pay me one hundred thousand dollars a month, most 813 00:56:09,835 --> 00:56:12,915 Speaker 1: of which I still have. Thank you, So I'm sorry 814 00:56:13,715 --> 00:56:18,035 Speaker 1: God for the money for the error anyway. Brian Ray 815 00:56:18,075 --> 00:56:21,675 Speaker 1: and John Phillip Shanelle, the musical directors have Countdown, have arranged, 816 00:56:21,715 --> 00:56:25,035 Speaker 1: produced and performed most of our music today. Mister Chanale 817 00:56:25,075 --> 00:56:27,995 Speaker 1: handled orchestration and keyboards. Mister Ray was on the guitars, 818 00:56:28,035 --> 00:56:31,515 Speaker 1: bass and drums. It was produced by Tko Brothers. Our 819 00:56:31,595 --> 00:56:34,795 Speaker 1: satirical and pithy musical comments are by the best baseball 820 00:56:34,835 --> 00:56:38,675 Speaker 1: stadium organist ever, Nancy Faust. Sports music is the Olberman 821 00:56:38,755 --> 00:56:42,115 Speaker 1: theme from ESPN two, written by Mitch Warren, Davis Curtesy 822 00:56:42,155 --> 00:56:45,515 Speaker 1: of ESPN, Inc. Other music arranged and performed by the 823 00:56:45,555 --> 00:56:48,315 Speaker 1: group No Horns Allowed. My announcer today is my friend 824 00:56:48,395 --> 00:56:52,675 Speaker 1: John Dean, and everything else was pretty much my fault. 825 00:56:53,315 --> 00:56:56,315 Speaker 1: So that's countdown for this the eighty second day until 826 00:56:56,315 --> 00:56:59,835 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty four presidential election, the one three hundred 827 00:56:59,835 --> 00:57:04,115 Speaker 1: and seventeenth day since convicted felon dementia J Trump's first 828 00:57:04,115 --> 00:57:07,315 Speaker 1: attempted who against the democratically elected government of the United States. 829 00:57:08,115 --> 00:57:12,075 Speaker 1: Use the September eighteenth sentencing hearing. Use the mental health system. 830 00:57:12,275 --> 00:57:15,715 Speaker 1: You have this available to you now, President Biden, use 831 00:57:15,915 --> 00:57:21,275 Speaker 1: presidential immunity to stop him from doing it again. While 832 00:57:21,675 --> 00:57:28,315 Speaker 1: we still hawk to a can and anti Semitic, anti immigration, 833 00:57:28,435 --> 00:57:32,275 Speaker 1: gun nut Republicans, please stop shooting at Trump. The next 834 00:57:32,275 --> 00:57:36,075 Speaker 1: scheduled countdown is Tuesday. Bulletins as the news requires until 835 00:57:36,115 --> 00:57:39,595 Speaker 1: the next one. I'm Keith Olrumman. Good morning, good afternoon, goodnight, 836 00:57:40,235 --> 00:57:58,995 Speaker 1: and good luck. Countdown with Keith Olderman is a production 837 00:57:59,195 --> 00:58:04,515 Speaker 1: of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, 838 00:58:04,675 --> 00:58:07,955 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.