1 00:00:01,560 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: Two things are connected and will be connected to Russia's 2 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: diagnosis forever. He got the diagnosis, he told his staff 3 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,279 Speaker 1: in the morning, as I said, and he broke the 4 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: news to his audience that afternoon, while all the audience 5 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: and the rest of us on the staff were still 6 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: in shock. There was a pleasant shock to come. I 7 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: first got wind of that pleasant shock that afternoon when 8 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: I got a call from my good friend Sean Hannity. 9 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: Sean told me that tonight was going to be a 10 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: special night. No matter what I did, I shouldn't miss 11 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: the President's State of the Union address. Of course, my 12 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,040 Speaker 1: curiosity was piqued. What on earth would be happy and 13 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: on the State of the Union address that I wouldn't 14 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: want to miss. And after Sean's call, I started getting 15 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 1: other calls from some of my friends in d C. 16 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: One of them from Connie Hair, who was the chief 17 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: of staff for Congressman Louise Gombert, who was a very 18 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: very close friend of mine. And Connie said that something 19 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: special was going to happen tonight, and word was that 20 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 1: it would involve Rush, and that rumor was circulating all 21 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 1: over Washington, d C. Well, it didn't take long before 22 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: we all knew what was happening. The president State of 23 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: the Union was one that will never be forgotten. Rush 24 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: later said that there was more to this story then 25 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: he told his audience, and one day he would tell 26 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: us what that more was. Sadly, I don't think we'll 27 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 1: ever know. I don't think we'll ever know. Whether you 28 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: listened every day you are at the E I B 29 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: Network and the Russia Limbaugh Program, heard on over six 30 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: hundred great radio stations for every now and then nation's 31 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: leading radio talk show, the most eagerly intersepedient program. Are 32 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: the stories you've never heard from the people behind the 33 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: scenes who knew him best and loved him most. Rushman 34 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: Ball having more funt to the human being it could 35 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: be allowed to have Rush Limbaugh, the man behind the 36 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: Golden EP microphone, hosted by James Golden unforgettable. That's the 37 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: impression that you, the Russia Limbaugh audience made with your 38 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: support for Russia's last charitable effort while Rush was still 39 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: with us, through the stand Up for Betsy Ross campaign. 40 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 1: You're generosity resulted in a five million dollar donation to 41 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Rush said it best. We 42 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: chose Tunnel to Towers to be the beneficiary of the 43 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: campaign because we love the work they do and the 44 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: story about how they started. When a family experiences significant 45 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: loss the mother or father passes while serving our country, 46 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:28,920 Speaker 1: Tunnel to Towers steps in freeze that family of a 47 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: major worry during their time of crisis. Tunnel to Towers 48 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: pays off mortgages in full for these families and provides 49 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 1: them with the comfort of a home when their world 50 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: has literally been turned upside down. The foundation does the 51 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: same for first responders and also build smart homes for 52 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: our most catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. More heroes 53 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: need your help. Do good by donating eleven dollars a 54 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:05,360 Speaker 1: month to Tunnel to Towers at T two T dot org. 55 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: That's the letter T, the number two, the letter T 56 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: dot org. He is the greatest fighter and winner. The 57 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: President's State of the Union, President Trump announced Rush that 58 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: Russia Limball was his guest for your decades of towers 59 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: devotion to our practice. They're sat Russia Lamball next to 60 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: his wife Katherine and on the other side the President's 61 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 1: wife Melanie. At Trump and President Trump went on to 62 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 1: praise Rush and say and the Medal of Freedom will 63 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: be awarded to Rush. You could see the sort of 64 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: surprise looker on Rush's face, because that announcement usually means 65 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: somewhere in the future, there's going to be a White 66 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: House ceremony. Rush would be invited to the White House 67 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: and the President would place the medal on Rush at 68 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: that point. But no, the President had something else in mine. 69 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 1: This Medal of Freedom was going to be awarded instantly. 70 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: Right there on the spot, he asked me, Lonny to 71 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: stand up, and presently was Now you see Rush really surprised, 72 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:21,919 Speaker 1: and he turns and he puts his back toward the 73 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 1: first lady, and she puts the Medal of Freedom on Rush. 74 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: And I think that was the big surprise. I have 75 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: since learned that that Rush knew that he was going 76 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 1: to be invited. Of course, he knew he had he 77 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 1: had to get to Washington, d C. Let's go back. 78 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 1: Rush told the story. He's getting ready to start his treatment. 79 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 1: He's in the hospital where the testing is supposed to 80 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: begin imminently, and he gets a call from the President 81 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 1: of the United States, Donald Trump, asking if he can 82 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 1: come to Washington, d C. Well, no, Mr President, I can. 83 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: I'm about to start treatment. But Donald Trump was in existant. 84 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 1: You have to come, you have to be here. As 85 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: Rush related the story, he wasn't prepared. He had no 86 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: clothes with him for the occasion, and his wife Catherine 87 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: found him the right ensemble to wear that night, as 88 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: well as for herself. And there they are in the 89 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: capital on the State of the Union night, which is 90 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:31,159 Speaker 1: the biggest night in Washington, d c. And not only 91 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,799 Speaker 1: are they there, they're seated next to the First Lady 92 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: of the United States, which is the highest honor that 93 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:43,799 Speaker 1: the president can bestow on anyone attending. That's the coveted 94 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: guest spot. But then Rush gets the Medal of Freedom. 95 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: Later on, as the accolades and the hysteria poured, and 96 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: the hysteria was for from the left. And I have 97 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: to tell you I enjoyed watching and reading all of it. 98 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: The left world, they were beside themselves. How dare this president? 99 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: How dare he give Russian Lumba the Medal of Freedom 100 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: but not just give him the Medal of freedom? How 101 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: dare he do it on this special night? Russia's fans, 102 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: millions and millions and millions of Americans applauded the president 103 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: for this. We have been wanting something like this for 104 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 1: Russia's entire career, for him to be recognized for the 105 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: work that he did in helping to shape American politics 106 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: and American culture. We and and his defensive freedom, his 107 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: defensive liberty, his defense of individualism, and American exceptionalism. We 108 00:07:55,480 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: were beside ourselves with joy on the very night that 109 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: we were feeling immense pain from this diagnosis. I later 110 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: thought to myself, only President Trump could do this. Only 111 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:14,640 Speaker 1: President Trump could give Rush Limbaugh the highest civilian award 112 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: possible in America and make sure almost every elected Democrat 113 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 1: was forced to attend the ceremony. It was a beautiful moment. 114 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: I was at home watching TV when it happened, and 115 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: tears of joy, and that my phone was was going off. 116 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: Every other moment there was another alarm on my phone 117 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:46,120 Speaker 1: from someone else texting. People were genuinely surprised, genuinely happy. 118 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:50,959 Speaker 1: It was a celebratory night. The celebration was almost as 119 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: if we had won the election. That night. It was 120 00:08:55,040 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: just joyous among Rush fans all for the world, and 121 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: we all thanked President Trump for doing what I don't 122 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 1: think any other president would do, which was to recognize 123 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: publicly how important Rush was not just to Republican politics, 124 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 1: but to the politics of the American people. It was 125 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,439 Speaker 1: a joyous celebration for Rush fans, one that we will 126 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: never forget. It was a once in a lifetime thing. 127 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: I it's uh, it's so special. And the President was 128 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: not gonna let me miss it. He was not going 129 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:41,439 Speaker 1: to let me talk him or myself out of appearing 130 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: in the House Chamber that night. And it is. I 131 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 1: couldn't stop looking down at it the whole time that 132 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: I am, that I'm wearing it. It's just it's just beautiful. 133 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,560 Speaker 1: Throughout this series, as you know, we've been taking you 134 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: on a biographical journey of Russia's life, narrated by some 135 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: of his colleagues and closest friends over the years. Today, 136 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:13,800 Speaker 1: we're pleased to have with us another media giant, fearless, outspoken, 137 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: and a friend of Rush. Welcome Megan Kelly. The Life 138 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 1: of Rush Limbaugh, Chapter five, narrated by Megan Kelly In 139 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: A retired radio executive named Edward F. McLaughlin decided to 140 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 1: use his golden parachute from ABC Radio Networks to form 141 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:36,559 Speaker 1: his own brand new talk radio network APT Lee titled 142 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: e FM Media. After meticulous planning for a successful launch, 143 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,559 Speaker 1: McLaughlin knew he needed more than just a talented host, 144 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,480 Speaker 1: but a force behind the mic, and cast a wide 145 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: net in his search. A hot tip led him out west, 146 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: where a thirty eight year old talk radio host was 147 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: burning up the airwaves of Sacramento, California. There are any 148 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 1: number of people Ed McLaughlin could have chosen, but I 149 00:11:01,640 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: fortunately met some people along the way after moving the 150 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 1: Sacramento that Ed McLaughlan knew and trusted implicitly, and when 151 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 1: he was looking unbeknownst to me, I don't know any 152 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: of this is going on. My name is in the 153 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: list of people he should look into. He could have 154 00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: picked anybody. This was his guy, and McLaughlin made him 155 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:24,480 Speaker 1: an offer leader described as impossible to turn down. Rush 156 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,839 Speaker 1: Limbaugh created the capital of California for the bright lights 157 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,319 Speaker 1: of the Big Apple. He relocated to New York City 158 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: and established first a local ten am to noon show 159 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 1: on w ABC Radio. Rush Limball in New York. Twenty 160 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: minutes after ten, back to the Falls would go, Vinny, Hello, 161 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:42,640 Speaker 1: glad you're with us? Right that one of the California 162 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: seats names no no, I'm originally beach names in New York. 163 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:51,080 Speaker 1: Limbaugh's early days were an unqualified success, even with the 164 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,760 Speaker 1: challenge of a meddling program director who unsuccessfully tried to 165 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,680 Speaker 1: get Rushed to change what would become his signature on 166 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: air style, Rush being Rush dug in and ultimately prevailed. 167 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: After his first shows on w ABC Radio went off 168 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: without a hitch. Rush's mentor and new boss, Ed McLaughlin 169 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: proudly recalled after hearing his first show, the quote I 170 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: knew he could handle it. Ed McLaughlin never wavered a 171 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: single time. He never asked me to tone it down, 172 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: to change things, to do whatever to accommodate this complaint 173 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: or that safe to say, Rush Limbaugh more than just 174 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:30,240 Speaker 1: handled it. He crushed it. People credit me with this, 175 00:12:30,360 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: but I couldn't have done any of this if it 176 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:36,319 Speaker 1: hadn't been for Ed McLaughlin. Ed McLaughlan saved M radio 177 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: by investing in it. Fast lane to nationwide syndication for 178 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: the Rush Limbaugh Show was just around the corner. It 179 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: really hit me how damn lucky I am and have been. 180 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 1: I try to never ever forget it. Hey, James Golden, 181 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: here you might remember I told you a few weeks 182 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 1: ago that My Pillow had sent me their entire collection. Well, 183 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: you know what, it's amazing. They are so luxurious, and 184 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: it's time that you experience some of that luxury. To 185 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: my Pillow makes more than pillows. I love the pillow. 186 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 1: I sleep on it every night. But you know what 187 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: else they have. They have sheets that are simply incredible. 188 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 1: They're smooth, they're soft, they're comfortable. I look forward to 189 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 1: getting to bed every night under these sheets. Get yourself 190 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,560 Speaker 1: a set of these. They're called Geeza sheets. They come 191 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: with a sixty day comfort guarantee. You get pillows, you 192 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:37,840 Speaker 1: get sheets. Oh did I mention the slippers. They're incredible slippers. 193 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: There is a level of comfort from my Pillow products 194 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:45,120 Speaker 1: that you simply have to experience. Longing to my pillow 195 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: dot com. Click on the new radio listener specials. Use 196 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:53,559 Speaker 1: the promo code icon. That's I C O N. You'll 197 00:13:53,559 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: find lots of incredible office there right now. That's my 198 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: Pillow dot Com promo code icon. I have probably watched 199 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: almost every State of the Union address since I was 200 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: a child. Since I was as a child, I was 201 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: interested in politics, and politics was always a big deal 202 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: in our house, so I watched every State of the Union. 203 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: As I think about it, probably since Lyndon Johnson was 204 00:14:29,480 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 1: in office, I have never had the kind of reaction 205 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: that I had that night watching my guy, I'm my hero, 206 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: my boss, my friend, Rush Limbaugh receiving what I thought 207 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: was his just due, which was worldwide recognition for the good, 208 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: for the value that he had constructed with his increas 209 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: credible career. This was also bitter sweet because usually when 210 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: something big happens the next day, I couldn't wait to 211 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: run into the studio As soon as I got there. 212 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: Rush would usually be in the middle of the show prep. 213 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: But if it was something big, I didn't care. I 214 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: just go right in and start running my mouth up, 215 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: blurting or asking questions or whatever. This was different because 216 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: Rush wasn't there. We had a guest host. The next day. 217 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 1: Rush was back to treatment, and it would be a 218 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 1: few days before we saw Rush. So yeah, there was 219 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: some bitter sweet to it as well. But still the 220 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 1: fact remains. It will go down in history that Rush 221 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: Hudson Limbaugh the Third received the Medal of Freedom. I 222 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 1: was speaking with a friend earlier who is not a 223 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 1: political guy. He's he's very much not a political He's 224 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: a fellow broadcaster. And what he was telling me was, 225 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: you know, I I don't follow politics day to day, 226 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: but I do know this. My friend said, there are 227 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:15,640 Speaker 1: two names that defined conservatism. One is Ronald Reagan and 228 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 1: the second one is Russia Limbaugh. Now think about that. 229 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: And Russ used to acknowledge this. He just and he 230 00:16:25,240 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: used to acknowledge it in such a almost self effacing way. 231 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: He used to say, I'm just a guy on the radio. 232 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:38,880 Speaker 1: I'm just a guy on the radeo. But he was 233 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,400 Speaker 1: so much more than that. He was a guy that 234 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: shaped American politics. He was the guy that defined what 235 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: being a conservative was from behind a microphone. He was 236 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: a guy that could talk policy, make that complex policy 237 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: understandable to millions of Americans who would then say, you 238 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: know what, that's what I believe. I'm with you, that's 239 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: what I think too. Those are my values you are describing. 240 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:17,560 Speaker 1: And that is why that metal of freedom ultimately wound 241 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:24,439 Speaker 1: up being placed right near Russia's heart, because he was 242 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:31,920 Speaker 1: the heart of American conservatism. When we look out over 243 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,400 Speaker 1: the United States of American, when we are anywhere, when 244 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: we see a group of people such as this or 245 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: anywhere we see Americans, we see human beings. We don't 246 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 1: see groups. We don't see victims. We don't see people 247 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:52,480 Speaker 1: we want to exploit what we see. What we see 248 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 1: is potential. We do not look out across the country 249 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 1: and see the average America, the person that makes this 250 00:18:01,119 --> 00:18:04,639 Speaker 1: country work. We do not see that person with contempt. 251 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 1: We don't think that person doesn't have what it takes. 252 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: We believe that person can be the best heat or 253 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: she wants to be if certain things are just removed 254 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:17,600 Speaker 1: from their path, like onerous taxes, regulations, and too much government. 255 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 1: This is my pleasure to introduce Well, I don't have 256 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: to introduce him. Everybody in America knows who he is. 257 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 1: And I'm proud to say that he's a friend not 258 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,040 Speaker 1: just of me, he's a friend of the russianan busshow 259 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,960 Speaker 1: and everyone that works with russ Sean Hannity Shan. Before 260 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: I get into the what what I wanted to talk 261 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: with you about, which is the events leading up to 262 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,880 Speaker 1: Rush being awarded the Medal of Freedom and your reaction 263 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: to all that. But before that, I want to tell 264 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: you a story. I ran into a gentleman about a 265 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:08,160 Speaker 1: year ago black guy in his forties, and I ended 266 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:13,160 Speaker 1: up hiring him to UH to do some work with 267 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: a group that I had founded. He was a broadcaster 268 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,919 Speaker 1: at one point when he was very when he was 269 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:24,720 Speaker 1: in his thirties, he started a broadcast career. He was 270 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,760 Speaker 1: at a convention somewhere and there were or some gathering 271 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:32,080 Speaker 1: where there were a bunch of well known broadcasters, and 272 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 1: he went seeking advice from these well known broadcasters. Every 273 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: single one except one gave him the cold shoulder. The 274 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:45,760 Speaker 1: one person, he said, there was one guy who took 275 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: the time to kind of explain some of the points 276 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: of the business, give him advice on what he should 277 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: be doing and how he could grow in terms of 278 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:00,399 Speaker 1: being a good broadcaster and also grow a show. And 279 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,760 Speaker 1: he said he would never forget it. And I'm talking 280 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,679 Speaker 1: to that guy right now, Sean Hannity, and this is 281 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: tobably consistent with the human being that you are. You know, 282 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 1: you have climbed to the heights of broadcasting both in 283 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: television and radio. You were a househole name did you 284 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: expect to become Sean Hannity. No, no, not, I'm laughing. 285 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: And I can actually I can refer back to a 286 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: conversation we had outside of a restaurant. Uh, it was 287 00:20:33,359 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 1: very early on after we first met. You know, did 288 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 1: I ever think I'd be success? No? Absolutely not. All 289 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: I knew James Golden is that the first time I 290 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,239 Speaker 1: was for whatever reason, I was a kid and I 291 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: listened to radio and my parents they weren't coming in 292 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:54,880 Speaker 1: my room that my and telling me to turn off 293 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 1: the TV. My parents would come in the room turn 294 00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:03,479 Speaker 1: that radio off. And in the early days of talk radio. Uh, 295 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:06,199 Speaker 1: sometimes I'd be listening to baseball games because I was 296 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: a sports nut as a kid. And but then I 297 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: heard the great pioneers of the world and all different people, 298 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: all different perspectives, all different points of view, all different styles, 299 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: and and Rush was the one though that took it 300 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 1: to this whole other level. And the path was so 301 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 1: wide that he forged it created opportunities for all of 302 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: us that that came after him. You know, when I 303 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:35,679 Speaker 1: really think back on it, thirty three years in radio 304 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: now and and twenty five years on Fox, I can 305 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:43,000 Speaker 1: I can pinch myself, but I still have that same 306 00:21:43,119 --> 00:21:47,159 Speaker 1: feeling when that light went on that first day. I 307 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:51,199 Speaker 1: don't know what happened, but stuff came flying out of 308 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 1: me because I had been so passionate listening to all 309 00:21:55,119 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: of these guys late into the night, and I love politics. 310 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:01,919 Speaker 1: I just loved it. You know, it took me. It 311 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:06,280 Speaker 1: takes everybody time to develop their own style and and 312 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: who they are in the type of show that they 313 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,800 Speaker 1: want to do. Um. There's actually a scene in Howard 314 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:15,879 Speaker 1: Stern's Private Parts where you know he's he's making the 315 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: rounds and traveling from market to market. And you start 316 00:22:19,359 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: out and you're like, and here's the check of the 317 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:26,159 Speaker 1: weather here on wwww, hazy hot and human high now 318 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 1: seventy two degrees on wwww. I mean, we all sound 319 00:22:30,720 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: like idiots when we start, but because you in your head, 320 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 1: you're just trying to act like you're a broadcaster or 321 00:22:37,080 --> 00:22:40,479 Speaker 1: how a broadcaster should sound. The one thing that I 322 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: can tell you that is natural about broadcasting, and then 323 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,680 Speaker 1: I don't want to talk about me that much anymore. UM, 324 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:51,120 Speaker 1: is that for whatever reason, the minute the mic went on, 325 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:56,760 Speaker 1: I instinctively knew it took energy. Like my kids would 326 00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:58,680 Speaker 1: say to me, Dad, why are you yelling? What? What? 327 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 1: What are you doing? And I never really thought about 328 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:03,439 Speaker 1: it until they were pointing it out to me, but 329 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 1: we're all blessed to do it. And for those of 330 00:23:05,960 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 1: us that love it the way you do and I 331 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,960 Speaker 1: do and Rush did, it's just it's innate in a 332 00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:14,680 Speaker 1: lot of ways. Yeah, And I just want to say 333 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: something else. Two, because what the energy that you talk about. 334 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: Not only is this common to radio, and everyone that 335 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:24,360 Speaker 1: sat behind the Mic and Donna show knows that at 336 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: the end of a show where you have given it everything, 337 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:30,640 Speaker 1: you're exhausted. But then, Sean, you go on to do 338 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: this five days a week and do television as well. 339 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,719 Speaker 1: And television is not an easy gig. You don't just 340 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: sit there, open your mouth, run your mouth. And that's that. Know. 341 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 1: My my day starts very early, and I'm I'm flashing 342 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 1: ideas to both radio and TV all day long. And 343 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:53,360 Speaker 1: and actually radio is a heart medium. You only get 344 00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: to touch people's hearts. And people are going to determine 345 00:23:56,320 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: if you they can spot a phony a mile away. 346 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: But if you're being real and you're being yourself and 347 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:07,560 Speaker 1: you're being sincere, they know that you're genuine. Rush was genuine. 348 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: I I just think eventually everybody's style begins to develop, 349 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 1: and then the more you can be your real authentic self, 350 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:21,240 Speaker 1: the better you're gonna be. And that's Rush. I don't 351 00:24:21,240 --> 00:24:25,120 Speaker 1: think Rush ever was anything other than Rush. When did 352 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,960 Speaker 1: you meet Rush? I met him. I don't know which 353 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,399 Speaker 1: one was first. And I met him once when Rush 354 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:35,280 Speaker 1: came to We had an event for our Atlanta affiliate 355 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:39,400 Speaker 1: at Spring Training down in Florida for the Atlanta Braves, 356 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,159 Speaker 1: and and he did a big event for this local 357 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 1: station back then that I was on. And then I 358 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 1: met him when I went up for the first time 359 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 1: to the seventeen floor Twopen Plaza, or the E. I 360 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: B Building as Rush would call it. And I just 361 00:24:57,000 --> 00:25:01,960 Speaker 1: happened to meet with him randomly at that point, and 362 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,399 Speaker 1: he couldn't have been nicer. He knew who I was. 363 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 1: He had done promos for me, as you know, don't 364 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 1: forget Sean Hannity's on nine to Noon leading into me 365 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 1: at noon on the Russia Lambus Show, and it was, 366 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:18,280 Speaker 1: you know, just cordial, nice professional. I saw how he worked. 367 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:21,440 Speaker 1: He used to have this this sort of pen where 368 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:25,199 Speaker 1: he would uh be able to cut out very quickly 369 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: articles and newspapers, kind of old style way of prepping 370 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 1: and one that I used even still today and just 371 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:36,800 Speaker 1: couldn't have been nicer. And then then when I finally 372 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:40,439 Speaker 1: got up to New York after Roger Als hired me 373 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,280 Speaker 1: at Fox, then I got a job. I was on 374 00:25:43,440 --> 00:25:47,639 Speaker 1: late night on w ABC in New York and eleven 375 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:51,560 Speaker 1: and two after TV, and then eventually a year later, 376 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:54,479 Speaker 1: I got afternoon drive after Rush on his number one 377 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:57,439 Speaker 1: affiliate and his flagship in New York. So I'd be 378 00:25:57,560 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: there doing my prep and I kind of like to 379 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,359 Speaker 1: talk to everybody. It got me ready for the show. 380 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: And a lot of times I'd go in to say 381 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:07,679 Speaker 1: hi to you guys, because we all became friendly pretty quickly. 382 00:26:07,760 --> 00:26:12,000 Speaker 1: And and I think you intimidated the daylights out of 383 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: me when I first met you, because I'd watch you 384 00:26:14,080 --> 00:26:19,560 Speaker 1: screen calls and while Rush was in in his studio 385 00:26:19,680 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 1: with his real golden he I be Mike, you were 386 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 1: in the control room, and I've never seen a show 387 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 1: behind a show like what you used to do, and 388 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: that is you would go to war with certain people 389 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: that would call in and and it was I was shocked. 390 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: I like, this is a whole other show. We should 391 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,920 Speaker 1: be running this show with the Russia Lumbus show. It 392 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,359 Speaker 1: was hilarious, and you and Joel Santista band used to 393 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: do a show together that was a big success on 394 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,359 Speaker 1: w ABC, and it was just fun. I mean hanging 395 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:53,719 Speaker 1: out with you guys. We'd all smoked cigars and you know, 396 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 1: just hang out, have fun. It was just a fun, 397 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:02,960 Speaker 1: fun environment to be sound. And and I you know, 398 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,119 Speaker 1: I feel blessed. I've been able to watch it unfold 399 00:27:06,160 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 1: and watch Russia's success, and you know, my studio was 400 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:12,919 Speaker 1: next to his, and and then eventually you guys were 401 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 1: crazy enough to let me fill in, and you know 402 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: I got that opportunity, which was for radio, the opportunity 403 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:21,919 Speaker 1: of a lifetime for me. Well, Sean, I was, I'm 404 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 1: gonna tell you what I told you then. Anyone that 405 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 1: really new radio could tell that you were going to 406 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:32,360 Speaker 1: be huge in this business. You told me that at 407 00:27:32,359 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: the time, and I looked at you and I said, 408 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 1: you're crazy. Yeah, that's what I said to you. I 409 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:40,400 Speaker 1: did not believe you. And I remember where we were. 410 00:27:40,440 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: We're on Second Avenue, Mimi's as the restaurant, and we 411 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:46,639 Speaker 1: finished and you said, you know, your career is about 412 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:48,880 Speaker 1: to take off like a rocket ship. Those were your 413 00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:51,480 Speaker 1: exact words. And I looked at you and I said 414 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 1: okay whatever. I was kind of rolling my eyes. I 415 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:56,879 Speaker 1: never believed it. You want to know the truth, I 416 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: don't think I've done a show with my whole life, James, 417 00:27:59,240 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: where I didn't in the back of my mind think 418 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:06,880 Speaker 1: it's possible it's my last show. That's amazing. I mean, 419 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 1: maybe that sounds crazy, but I I still at some 420 00:28:10,520 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: point I just kind of expected somebody would wake up 421 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 1: and say, Okay, we can do better than this guy. 422 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: Let me say something to you, because see, this is 423 00:28:18,680 --> 00:28:23,359 Speaker 1: what you have, this is what Rush had. It's you 424 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,919 Speaker 1: just expressed something that I saw with Rush for the 425 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 1: entire time I was with him. He was always always 426 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 1: conscious of how in this industry you had to perform. 427 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 1: It wasn't about the show that you did yesterday. It's 428 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:47,280 Speaker 1: about the show that you're going to do today, and 429 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 1: that show has to be badass, no matter and and 430 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:54,560 Speaker 1: it's the same kind of hunger you know, like you, 431 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: I mean showing that the hours you put in are incredible, 432 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 1: The hours Rushed put in to doing his show incredible. 433 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: Anyone that achieves this level of success that Rush had, 434 00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 1: that you have has to do the work. It doesn't 435 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 1: happen by us. Moses and it doesn't happen by accident. 436 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:20,960 Speaker 1: You know, I I can't help it. You know, I've 437 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: actually said this on the air, and maybe Russia was 438 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 1: the same way. If if all of this were gone tomorrow, 439 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:35,360 Speaker 1: and I probably would be the lunatic riding around in 440 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:39,000 Speaker 1: my car for three hours doing my own talk show, 441 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: acting like the host and the callers and and talk 442 00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:47,040 Speaker 1: to myself. I mean, it is so ingrained in my 443 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:50,960 Speaker 1: DNA to do this. I don't know what life without 444 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: it would be like. The you know, people that are 445 00:29:57,080 --> 00:29:59,000 Speaker 1: close to me asked me, well, why don't you take 446 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 1: off more one you go on vacation? Have you ever 447 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 1: been you know, we're we'reware have you traveled that. I'm like, oh, 448 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 1: I've traveled to Israel. I've traveled to Baghdad, Vietnam, Singapore, Helsinki, Uh, 449 00:30:12,840 --> 00:30:16,240 Speaker 1: England when President Trump was there. And they're like, no, 450 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:19,520 Speaker 1: no, no no, where'd you go on vacation? And I'm like, um, 451 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:24,680 Speaker 1: uh Florida, you know, and they, you know, and they 452 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:28,200 Speaker 1: look at me like I'm insane, and I yeah, what 453 00:30:28,320 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: I like to one day go to New Zealand and Australia. Yeah, 454 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:33,239 Speaker 1: but I kind of don't have the time to do it. 455 00:30:33,360 --> 00:30:36,000 Speaker 1: And it's not that I'm insecure to take off. It's 456 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: just that I this is what I do. I love 457 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:42,680 Speaker 1: doing it. I don't I never know how much longer 458 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,800 Speaker 1: you have to do it. You know. Russia's death, when 459 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,880 Speaker 1: you and I have talked about this personally, it hit 460 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:55,080 Speaker 1: us both hard because and I said it at the time, 461 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:59,560 Speaker 1: is that I just can't it just I'm not I 462 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:04,400 Speaker 1: haven't been able to fully absorb or comprehend that he's 463 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:09,120 Speaker 1: not there every day because it's been such a powerful, 464 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 1: impactful voice for things that I am passionate about and 465 00:31:16,080 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 1: you're passionate about, and he was passionate about, but also 466 00:31:20,560 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 1: a leader of You know, everybody has different talents, and 467 00:31:24,280 --> 00:31:30,160 Speaker 1: I think Russia's unique talent was whatever the issue happened 468 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:34,000 Speaker 1: to be, he was gonna he would find a take 469 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:39,840 Speaker 1: on it that nobody else could ever think of. That's 470 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 1: exactly right, it was. It's a gift and day after day, 471 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 1: day after day, show after show, the same thing every day, 472 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:51,800 Speaker 1: and it's just amazing. And I remember there be times 473 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 1: I'd be listen to him like why didn't I think 474 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 1: of that? You know, And but it was just also 475 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 1: pure or entertainment. You know, our industry has changed quite 476 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 1: a bit. There is there is certainly a chilling environment 477 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 1: that we all work in because there's an entire industry 478 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: now cancel culture. Russia has been living in cancel lived 479 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:17,719 Speaker 1: in cancel cultures whole career. I've lived with cancel culture 480 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:21,360 Speaker 1: my whole career. You know, we we we've known from 481 00:32:21,480 --> 00:32:24,800 Speaker 1: day one that there are groups of people that are 482 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:29,160 Speaker 1: mobilized and finance that record every word we say and 483 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:33,240 Speaker 1: attack us and and try and and boycott us or 484 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:36,560 Speaker 1: try and get us fired if we say one thing 485 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:39,959 Speaker 1: that they don't like or deem over the line or 486 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 1: whatever it happens to be. But it but it's very real. 487 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 1: And it's almost like all of a sudden, now societies 488 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: catching up to what conservatives the bubble we've been living 489 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:54,400 Speaker 1: in forever. I think this is going to go to 490 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:56,160 Speaker 1: the point that the pendulum is going to start to 491 00:32:56,200 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 1: swing the other way. Though I agree, I agree completely, Sean. 492 00:33:00,640 --> 00:33:03,080 Speaker 1: I was in my garage and I get a phone 493 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:08,000 Speaker 1: call and and and my phone Sean Hannity. Okay, and 494 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 1: Sean Hannity says to me, listen, I don't know what 495 00:33:10,960 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: your plans are tonight. I don't know what you're doing, 496 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:16,120 Speaker 1: but whatever you're doing, you have to watch President Trump's 497 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:18,640 Speaker 1: Addressed to the Nation tonight. And I can't tell you why, 498 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:23,200 Speaker 1: but you have to watch it. True story. Yeah, And 499 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:28,840 Speaker 1: I'm like, wow, I called you, I called Cookie, Uh, 500 00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:32,040 Speaker 1: everybody that needed to know. I said, do not miss it. 501 00:33:32,400 --> 00:33:34,640 Speaker 1: In other words, I didn't want you to miss it live. 502 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:39,400 Speaker 1: And this is the Medal of Freedom. Rush Limball. Thank 503 00:33:39,480 --> 00:34:05,560 Speaker 1: you for your decades devotion to m m M M 504 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:16,040 Speaker 1: m m M and Rush. In recognition of all that 505 00:34:16,120 --> 00:34:19,640 Speaker 1: you have done for our nation, the millions of people 506 00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:23,279 Speaker 1: a day that you speak to and that you inspire, 507 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 1: and all of the incredible work that you have done 508 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:30,799 Speaker 1: for charity, I am proud to announce tonight that you 509 00:34:30,840 --> 00:34:36,280 Speaker 1: will be receiving our country's highest civilian honor, the Presidential 510 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:44,880 Speaker 1: Medal of Freedom. I will now ask the First Lady 511 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:48,640 Speaker 1: of the United States to present you with the honor. Please. 512 00:35:08,200 --> 00:35:10,919 Speaker 1: That was one of the most incredible nights for all 513 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:15,560 Speaker 1: of us that love Rush and that wished and it 514 00:35:15,680 --> 00:35:18,319 Speaker 1: hoped for years that he would get the sort of 515 00:35:18,360 --> 00:35:23,520 Speaker 1: acknowledgement in that venue that he deserved, and it was incredible. 516 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:26,560 Speaker 1: Now I have, and I want to put you on 517 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:30,120 Speaker 1: the spot here, but don't feel compelled to answer this question. 518 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:34,920 Speaker 1: A source close to the president that I spoke with 519 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:40,720 Speaker 1: recently told me that the very first person that suggested 520 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:46,520 Speaker 1: to the President Russi Lambas should receive some sort of honor, 521 00:35:46,800 --> 00:35:57,120 Speaker 1: like this was you. Russia's diagnosis um that day. Now, 522 00:35:57,520 --> 00:36:01,200 Speaker 1: Russia's Brother's been my my age an attorney everybody knows 523 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:03,439 Speaker 1: for thirty years. I mean, because I didn't know anyone 524 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:05,480 Speaker 1: else that knew anything about radio, and somebody said, well, 525 00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:08,400 Speaker 1: Russia's brother is a lawyer, asked him, and it just 526 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:12,279 Speaker 1: turned out for the first few contracts he ever did, 527 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,279 Speaker 1: he never charged me a penny because I wasn't making 528 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:17,440 Speaker 1: any money anyway, and it just turned out to be 529 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:20,879 Speaker 1: a lifelong friendship with his brother David, who I love, 530 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:26,480 Speaker 1: and his whole family, and so he gave me a 531 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:30,400 Speaker 1: little bit of a head's up. He had promised everybody, 532 00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:32,560 Speaker 1: especially his brother, that he wasn't gonna tell anybody, and 533 00:36:32,600 --> 00:36:35,920 Speaker 1: he kept his word. But he knew that rush the 534 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:40,080 Speaker 1: day that he announced that he had advanced stage four 535 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:45,080 Speaker 1: lung cancer, that I was coming on right after, and 536 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:48,840 Speaker 1: he didn't want me to be totally blindsided. So maybe 537 00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:53,400 Speaker 1: five minutes before Rush announced it, he calls me, and 538 00:36:53,960 --> 00:37:01,239 Speaker 1: so I stopped what I was doing, and yeah, I 539 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:03,960 Speaker 1: usually try to prepare and quiet because I just I 540 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:06,200 Speaker 1: just need to think what before I'm doing my show, 541 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:11,719 Speaker 1: especially fifteen minutes before and you know, I heard Rush 542 00:37:11,800 --> 00:37:15,520 Speaker 1: make the announcement. I'm upset. Levin's on the phone with me. 543 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:21,600 Speaker 1: He's upset, and we you know, we're devastated. We're not stupid. 544 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:24,040 Speaker 1: We all know what's stage four advanced stage four lung 545 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:30,799 Speaker 1: cancer is. And so but I listened very closely. And 546 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:32,680 Speaker 1: the next thing, I picked my head up, and it's 547 00:37:32,719 --> 00:37:35,640 Speaker 1: three oh five, and I'm cracking this mic open in 548 00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:38,040 Speaker 1: a minute, and I'm like, oh my gosh, how do 549 00:37:38,080 --> 00:37:40,760 Speaker 1: I handle this? And then I'll tell you what I thought. 550 00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:50,360 Speaker 1: I said, I just heard somebody stoically, amazingly, courageously, you know, 551 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:56,040 Speaker 1: talk about the most difficult aspect of this life, which 552 00:37:56,160 --> 00:38:01,560 Speaker 1: is illness. And you know, one day we're all gonna 553 00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:06,279 Speaker 1: meet that moment. And and I said, okay, I gotta 554 00:38:06,400 --> 00:38:10,040 Speaker 1: keep that. Keep that he was. He was stoic, he 555 00:38:10,120 --> 00:38:14,839 Speaker 1: was courageous, and he was honest. It wasn't long after that, 556 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:19,799 Speaker 1: I got a call from Matt Drudge and he goes, 557 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:22,080 Speaker 1: I need, I need you to do something. I said, sure, 558 00:38:22,160 --> 00:38:25,320 Speaker 1: what do you want? And he loves he loved Rush, 559 00:38:25,760 --> 00:38:27,480 Speaker 1: as we all know they were, they were good friends, 560 00:38:28,719 --> 00:38:34,160 Speaker 1: and he he said, the President really needs to honor him, 561 00:38:34,160 --> 00:38:37,319 Speaker 1: but he needs to do it soon before Rush has 562 00:38:37,360 --> 00:38:41,799 Speaker 1: to go through his treatment. So it was, you know, 563 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:45,880 Speaker 1: I called him and I said, I said, would you consider? 564 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:48,560 Speaker 1: I just talked to Matt and Matt said he talked 565 00:38:48,560 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 1: to others around the president and I just would you 566 00:38:52,520 --> 00:38:57,800 Speaker 1: consider doing this? And immediately said that's a great idea, 567 00:38:58,280 --> 00:39:00,080 Speaker 1: And there were people around him I won't mention and 568 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:02,560 Speaker 1: who what do you think of this? Wouldn't that be cool? 569 00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:06,160 Speaker 1: That's what he said. And it was that quick. And 570 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:09,400 Speaker 1: then the day before I called you, I got a 571 00:39:09,520 --> 00:39:13,640 Speaker 1: call back from the White House saying that it was 572 00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:15,840 Speaker 1: going to happen that night and that Milanni was going 573 00:39:15,880 --> 00:39:18,080 Speaker 1: to put it on. She was going to give him 574 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:20,319 Speaker 1: the Medal of Freedom. I know that it meant the 575 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:23,200 Speaker 1: world to him, and really, the only guy that would 576 00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:24,960 Speaker 1: ever have the guts to do that is a guy 577 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:27,920 Speaker 1: like Donald Trump, and I admire him for it, but 578 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:30,719 Speaker 1: it was his decision completely and he didn't spend more 579 00:39:30,719 --> 00:39:33,879 Speaker 1: than a minute thinking about it. That's the whole story. 580 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:39,320 Speaker 1: That's an incredible story. And thank you and and thank 581 00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:42,880 Speaker 1: Matt Drudge, and thank all of the people around the 582 00:39:42,880 --> 00:39:47,680 Speaker 1: president who also advocated for that, because it was truly 583 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:51,200 Speaker 1: one of the most special days that Rush listeners, Rush 584 00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:56,160 Speaker 1: fans ever had. And so I'm glad that you were 585 00:39:56,160 --> 00:39:58,960 Speaker 1: able to share that with us and that you did that. 586 00:39:59,680 --> 00:40:02,799 Speaker 1: It's the only thing I've ever I ever, I made 587 00:40:02,840 --> 00:40:08,120 Speaker 1: a rule that because everybody that writes about my relationship 588 00:40:08,120 --> 00:40:10,760 Speaker 1: with Donald Trump is always wrong, they have no idea. 589 00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:13,399 Speaker 1: More than anything else, we had developed a friendship over 590 00:40:13,440 --> 00:40:16,680 Speaker 1: twenty five years. But I made a promise to him 591 00:40:16,719 --> 00:40:19,960 Speaker 1: and to myself, I'm not I don't want anything from him. 592 00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:23,040 Speaker 1: That he's going to serve the country, And if he's 593 00:40:23,080 --> 00:40:26,319 Speaker 1: advocating for these policies that I believe with all my heart, 594 00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:30,120 Speaker 1: mind and soul work, then I'm gonna I only want 595 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:34,160 Speaker 1: to help that cause. And and I think he did 596 00:40:34,160 --> 00:40:38,200 Speaker 1: a phenomenal job. I believe that as well. Me too, 597 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:40,359 Speaker 1: not sure. And you said you wanted to mention something 598 00:40:40,360 --> 00:40:44,960 Speaker 1: about Russia's final year, So look, I don't know if 599 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:47,680 Speaker 1: you did what I did. I assume you probably did, 600 00:40:48,320 --> 00:40:51,480 Speaker 1: and you know what did I do? Immediately? I'm just 601 00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:57,839 Speaker 1: researching like a maniac, you know, advanced stage four long. 602 00:40:58,800 --> 00:41:01,120 Speaker 1: I didn't have all the facts, nor that I ever 603 00:41:01,640 --> 00:41:05,000 Speaker 1: dare ask the question of what specific type of cancer 604 00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:08,360 Speaker 1: that he had, But it didn't take long for me 605 00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:12,360 Speaker 1: to realize that this he was in for a really 606 00:41:12,440 --> 00:41:16,160 Speaker 1: uphill fight. He knew it too. You knew it as well, 607 00:41:17,239 --> 00:41:21,040 Speaker 1: and I'd known it long before he even began his 608 00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:23,719 Speaker 1: treatment because I'd seen it in my life. I knew 609 00:41:23,920 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 1: we all know people that have had cancer treatments, as 610 00:41:27,680 --> 00:41:34,760 Speaker 1: you know. And the the one thing I realize, uh, 611 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:36,600 Speaker 1: this is this is going to be a rough year. 612 00:41:36,719 --> 00:41:40,040 Speaker 1: This is gonna be a rough time. And I knew 613 00:41:41,560 --> 00:41:44,880 Speaker 1: the treatment that he would be receiving, even the most 614 00:41:44,920 --> 00:41:51,960 Speaker 1: advanced medicines and experimental medicines, they have killed you to 615 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:55,160 Speaker 1: try and save you, or at least to buy you 616 00:41:55,239 --> 00:41:59,439 Speaker 1: more time. And what blew me away about Russia's last 617 00:41:59,480 --> 00:42:04,960 Speaker 1: year is he fought like how because you're in You're 618 00:42:05,000 --> 00:42:10,960 Speaker 1: in nothing but utter agony and exhausted beyond explanation. Because 619 00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:13,400 Speaker 1: I have friends that have been through all of this. 620 00:42:14,200 --> 00:42:16,439 Speaker 1: You go over, you visit them, they could barely lift 621 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:18,640 Speaker 1: their hand up there, so tired and wiped out from 622 00:42:18,680 --> 00:42:22,840 Speaker 1: the treatment. And he went through that for that year. 623 00:42:24,239 --> 00:42:26,760 Speaker 1: So that and I think he knew the whole time 624 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:31,560 Speaker 1: that he was buying time. My my guesses based on 625 00:42:31,640 --> 00:42:35,520 Speaker 1: the things that I gleaned from what he said, is 626 00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:38,600 Speaker 1: he really didn't think he'd be around for the election. 627 00:42:39,360 --> 00:42:42,440 Speaker 1: I almost feel like he willed himself to beyond the 628 00:42:42,440 --> 00:42:44,719 Speaker 1: election because he cared so much about the country. But 629 00:42:45,600 --> 00:42:51,759 Speaker 1: all of those treatments that he took were if if 630 00:42:51,800 --> 00:42:55,360 Speaker 1: we have bucket lists, we now know what Russia's bucket 631 00:42:55,400 --> 00:42:59,120 Speaker 1: list was. That he would go through hell, try and 632 00:42:59,160 --> 00:43:02,120 Speaker 1: get strong enough just to do the things he wants 633 00:43:02,160 --> 00:43:04,440 Speaker 1: to do. What was the thing he wanted to do. 634 00:43:04,480 --> 00:43:08,200 Speaker 1: He wanted to get back on the air. He would 635 00:43:08,239 --> 00:43:11,719 Speaker 1: take all the all of the all of these harsh treatments, 636 00:43:12,360 --> 00:43:16,200 Speaker 1: get just barely strong enough to get through a show. 637 00:43:17,360 --> 00:43:21,120 Speaker 1: And that was his bucket list, right, That's what he loved. 638 00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:24,840 Speaker 1: He loved his audience, he loved his craft, he loved 639 00:43:24,920 --> 00:43:28,440 Speaker 1: his profession. Absolutely, It's what made him the greatest of 640 00:43:28,520 --> 00:43:31,600 Speaker 1: all time. And Sean, I want to say something about 641 00:43:31,880 --> 00:43:39,319 Speaker 1: extraordinary beyond words as well, and everything that you said ditto, ditto. Right. 642 00:43:39,920 --> 00:43:42,200 Speaker 1: I wanna, I wanna, And you've been very generous with 643 00:43:42,239 --> 00:43:43,839 Speaker 1: you time, and I want to leave you with this. 644 00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:49,320 Speaker 1: During that entire period, I would get calls from Sean 645 00:43:49,400 --> 00:43:52,560 Speaker 1: Hannity wanting to know how we were. I wanted to 646 00:43:52,560 --> 00:43:57,040 Speaker 1: know how everyone was, and Sean. I revealed to Sean 647 00:43:57,239 --> 00:44:00,520 Speaker 1: that my mom was also fading at the same time 648 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:04,719 Speaker 1: Rush was, and I got calls almost what what a 649 00:44:04,800 --> 00:44:08,240 Speaker 1: what a week? What a week you had? Almost every 650 00:44:08,280 --> 00:44:10,680 Speaker 1: single night the phone You're ringing it with showing I'm 651 00:44:10,719 --> 00:44:12,520 Speaker 1: just checking in. I want to know how you're doing. 652 00:44:12,640 --> 00:44:14,680 Speaker 1: I don't know how everything is. How are you feeling? 653 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:17,879 Speaker 1: What's going on? Can I do anything for you? Yes? 654 00:44:18,200 --> 00:44:22,440 Speaker 1: Showing your friend you You're an amazing friend. You're an 655 00:44:22,480 --> 00:44:24,960 Speaker 1: amazing friend to all of us. Every time you would 656 00:44:25,040 --> 00:44:29,400 Speaker 1: come down to the Southern Command, um, it was with 657 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:32,880 Speaker 1: with your crew, with your people. It was almost like 658 00:44:32,920 --> 00:44:36,080 Speaker 1: it was a big family reunion between us. We are 659 00:44:36,200 --> 00:44:39,919 Speaker 1: like one big family, weren't there. Weren't those days fun? 660 00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:42,080 Speaker 1: They were just so much fun, all right. When I'd 661 00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:44,120 Speaker 1: go down and I'd give Rush the hour on TV. 662 00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:46,799 Speaker 1: By the way, it's such a hard interview. Rush, what 663 00:44:46,800 --> 00:44:50,359 Speaker 1: do you think about this? And that's it. Okay, we'll 664 00:44:50,360 --> 00:44:55,319 Speaker 1: take a break, we'll come right back. It's like there's 665 00:44:55,360 --> 00:45:00,480 Speaker 1: only three people that I interviewed that way, Rush and Levin. Now, 666 00:45:00,640 --> 00:45:03,520 Speaker 1: don't interrupt me. I'm about to say something. I mean finish, 667 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:10,359 Speaker 1: um uh and and President Trump and man, but I mean, 668 00:45:10,719 --> 00:45:13,440 Speaker 1: you guys would like lay out a spread of food 669 00:45:13,560 --> 00:45:15,400 Speaker 1: and I'm like, guys, I'm not eating all of this 670 00:45:15,600 --> 00:45:19,520 Speaker 1: crap danishes and breakfast and whatever. You're all I have. 671 00:45:19,640 --> 00:45:21,759 Speaker 1: And and Rush would come out, oh do you have 672 00:45:21,800 --> 00:45:27,719 Speaker 1: the new iPhone? Twelve years? Five of them? Um? But 673 00:45:27,920 --> 00:45:32,080 Speaker 1: he uh, those were special days. I especially if we 674 00:45:32,080 --> 00:45:35,279 Speaker 1: can do it again, don't don't you know. It's sort 675 00:45:35,280 --> 00:45:40,440 Speaker 1: of like Garth Brooks has a song if Tomorrow Never Comes. 676 00:45:41,239 --> 00:45:45,319 Speaker 1: You know, It's it's about a dad and staring over 677 00:45:45,360 --> 00:45:50,279 Speaker 1: his young daughter. But you know, now thinking back, all 678 00:45:50,320 --> 00:45:53,520 Speaker 1: of it was special. Everything that he did. We had 679 00:45:53,600 --> 00:45:56,799 Speaker 1: really special times and I feel so blessed though. That's 680 00:45:56,840 --> 00:46:00,080 Speaker 1: the thing along with the sadness is the gratitude and 681 00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:02,000 Speaker 1: I have. And that's where I was going with this. Sean. 682 00:46:02,280 --> 00:46:05,839 Speaker 1: You know, you, you learn who your true friends are 683 00:46:05,880 --> 00:46:08,960 Speaker 1: in your life. God always has a way of revealing 684 00:46:09,719 --> 00:46:13,040 Speaker 1: who your real friends are. And so I want to 685 00:46:13,239 --> 00:46:16,320 Speaker 1: end this by not only thanking you for your time, 686 00:46:16,360 --> 00:46:19,880 Speaker 1: but thank you for being such a beautiful human being 687 00:46:20,040 --> 00:46:22,759 Speaker 1: and a beautiful friend to me and to everybody on 688 00:46:22,840 --> 00:46:26,440 Speaker 1: the e I B. Staff. It is. It is mutual, 689 00:46:27,200 --> 00:46:31,200 Speaker 1: it really is. And uh, you're right, I have I 690 00:46:31,239 --> 00:46:36,799 Speaker 1: have a very very deep gratitude two all of you, 691 00:46:37,160 --> 00:46:39,800 Speaker 1: including especially you. You and I had a very special 692 00:46:39,840 --> 00:46:43,080 Speaker 1: bond and we still do. And I will tell you 693 00:46:43,120 --> 00:46:47,319 Speaker 1: some of the calls you know after Rush past. Uh, 694 00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:52,440 Speaker 1: it killed me because I knew you were crushed and 695 00:46:52,520 --> 00:46:55,480 Speaker 1: then then you lost your mom what three days later? 696 00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:58,640 Speaker 1: Three days later? And that's what I mean. You want 697 00:46:58,640 --> 00:47:00,799 Speaker 1: to talk about a punch in a gut and a 698 00:47:00,880 --> 00:47:05,319 Speaker 1: bat to the head. That's it. And you know, and 699 00:47:05,400 --> 00:47:10,600 Speaker 1: you're very stoic, like Rush, tough as nails, But you know, 700 00:47:11,719 --> 00:47:14,920 Speaker 1: like The Road Less Traveled is a great book and 701 00:47:14,960 --> 00:47:19,600 Speaker 1: it says life is difficult, nobody has it easy, and 702 00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:22,640 Speaker 1: this was a very hard time. But on the other hand, 703 00:47:23,560 --> 00:47:29,120 Speaker 1: like you, I'm so grateful for your friendship, Russia's friendship, 704 00:47:30,040 --> 00:47:33,680 Speaker 1: and for everybody that you know I've I've gotten to 705 00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:38,040 Speaker 1: know on my our journey together, all of us, and 706 00:47:38,200 --> 00:47:42,800 Speaker 1: I just want his audience to know this. He loved them. 707 00:47:42,840 --> 00:47:48,240 Speaker 1: You were his bucket list, and you know, uh, that's 708 00:47:48,280 --> 00:47:55,080 Speaker 1: that's pretty special. I want to I don't get a 709 00:47:55,080 --> 00:47:57,400 Speaker 1: little personal here. You know, this is the time of 710 00:47:57,520 --> 00:48:04,080 Speaker 1: year where I often become the most reflective and thankful 711 00:48:04,800 --> 00:48:11,279 Speaker 1: for all of the blessings that I have had my 712 00:48:11,520 --> 00:48:16,200 Speaker 1: entire life, and the blessings that I have had obviously 713 00:48:16,280 --> 00:48:21,960 Speaker 1: extend to my family, the people who work and have 714 00:48:22,160 --> 00:48:26,520 Speaker 1: worked here at the E. I B Network. Every year 715 00:48:27,400 --> 00:48:30,440 Speaker 1: about this time we got the Top fifty list, the 716 00:48:30,520 --> 00:48:34,280 Speaker 1: Top ten lists, that this or that, the best cars, 717 00:48:34,320 --> 00:48:37,120 Speaker 1: the best movies, whatever, the most influential in the media, 718 00:48:37,160 --> 00:48:39,520 Speaker 1: the most influential here and the most of them. But 719 00:48:40,160 --> 00:48:45,279 Speaker 1: there's always a group left out, and it's you. You know, 720 00:48:45,440 --> 00:48:52,359 Speaker 1: the most influential audience in all of media is right 721 00:48:52,360 --> 00:48:58,200 Speaker 1: here on this program, hands down, no contest, because without you, 722 00:48:58,719 --> 00:49:03,200 Speaker 1: none of any thing that happens here would have happened. 723 00:49:03,239 --> 00:49:06,640 Speaker 1: It would be all academic if it weren't for you. 724 00:49:07,719 --> 00:49:11,279 Speaker 1: I cannot thank you enough. I'm so humbled by it 725 00:49:11,360 --> 00:49:14,400 Speaker 1: and blown away by it that I so, as far 726 00:49:14,440 --> 00:49:19,080 Speaker 1: as I'm concerned, you're at your tops. And I would 727 00:49:19,120 --> 00:49:21,360 Speaker 1: have to include in this all of the great radio 728 00:49:21,400 --> 00:49:23,080 Speaker 1: stations to make it possible for all of you to 729 00:49:23,120 --> 00:49:27,200 Speaker 1: listen to be part of this audience. And cannot express 730 00:49:27,239 --> 00:49:29,920 Speaker 1: my gratitude and for all of me and my family 731 00:49:29,960 --> 00:49:33,920 Speaker 1: as well. So thank you again. You are the most 732 00:49:34,600 --> 00:49:47,400 Speaker 1: influential audience in all of media. Special thanks to my 733 00:49:47,640 --> 00:49:50,680 Speaker 1: very dear friend, truly one of the good guys, Sean 734 00:49:50,800 --> 00:49:55,360 Speaker 1: Hannity for sharing some great stories about his perspective on 735 00:49:55,440 --> 00:49:58,239 Speaker 1: the life of Russian and ball. On our next episode, 736 00:49:58,640 --> 00:50:00,719 Speaker 1: we'll take a closer look at the RSSIA Limba that 737 00:50:00,880 --> 00:50:03,799 Speaker 1: very few people actually knew about. As much as he 738 00:50:03,840 --> 00:50:06,760 Speaker 1: did for charity on the air, you may not believe 739 00:50:06,800 --> 00:50:09,840 Speaker 1: how many things he quietly did for others behind the scenes, 740 00:50:09,880 --> 00:50:13,960 Speaker 1: away from the microphone, out of the spotlight. Russia's kindness 741 00:50:14,440 --> 00:50:18,560 Speaker 1: is the topic of our next episode. Rush Limbaugh, The 742 00:50:18,600 --> 00:50:21,800 Speaker 1: Man behind the Golden e I B Microphone is produced 743 00:50:21,800 --> 00:50:26,760 Speaker 1: by Chris Kelly and Phil Tower, the best producers in America. 744 00:50:27,000 --> 00:50:32,120 Speaker 1: Production assistance Mike Mamone and the executive producers Craig Kitchen 745 00:50:32,120 --> 00:50:36,360 Speaker 1: and Julie Talbot our program distributed worldwide by Premier Networks. 746 00:50:36,360 --> 00:50:39,279 Speaker 1: Found on the I Heart Radio app or wherever you 747 00:50:39,400 --> 00:50:44,000 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite podcast. This is James Golden. This 748 00:50:44,080 --> 00:50:47,440 Speaker 1: is both Snerdley, This is James Golden. I'm honored to 749 00:50:47,480 --> 00:50:51,200 Speaker 1: be your host for this in every single episode of Russia. Limbaugh, 750 00:50:51,200 --> 00:50:54,480 Speaker 1: the man behind the Golden E I B microphone, thank 751 00:50:54,560 --> 00:50:55,960 Speaker 1: you for being with us.