Title: Is Trump Bidening Out? | DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou
Show: DeProgram Show with Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas
Date: 2026-01-30
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDPkwpAs6Io
Duration: 3428

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[00:03] [music] Good morning and happy Friday. You're watching the program with Ted R and John Kiryaku. Good morning, John. >> Good morning, Ted. Good to see you. >> Uh, good to see you, too. Uh, >> everybody. >> Little housekeeping. First of all, I just like to note that it is still insanely cold here in New York. Uh, in the ne I woke up to negative digits and I guess it's going to be like that all weekend, too. Even worse tomorrow. Um we are please like, follow and share the show. Um just a reminder that starting

[00:33] Monday we will be resuming Robbie Aid. Uh you know the deal. I'll explain that on Monday. Um lots to talk about today. Um we started a couple minutes late so I just want to get to it quickly. Um so uh we're going to be talking about among other things obviously your questions and comments. Please post them live in the YouTube and the Rumble chat. Uh they've already started and we have quite a pile of them, but we always aim quickly to get through all of them and there's some really good ones this morning. I mean, there always are, but I'm always impressed by you guys. Uh thank you so much. And just a reminder,

[01:04] thank you so much for uh helping us get to 15,000 subscribers on um this show is not even a year old and uh so that's really great. And uh we'll bring in Robbie to try try to migrate some of you guys to Rumble. Um, we are uh Democrats are criticizing President Trump for taking a nap through a meeting that he said characterized as boring. Shocking that a meeting in Washington DC could be dull. And he >> You know what I found to be to be particularly funny about that account? >> Yeah.

[01:34] >> Whether whether he fell asleep in a meet Listen, I've fallen asleep in >> I've fallen asleep in meetings too. A third or a quarter of his age. Yeah. But but what was the funniest thing about that article was that Howard Lesnik, the secretary of commerce, >> uh when when the president said, "Yeah, the meeting was boring," he laughed loudly. And it said that Lesnik has been known to laugh more loudly than any other cabinet member when the president makes a joke. >> Oh, really? You know, my my father was

[02:04] criticized for laughing very very loudly uh whenever anyone important made a joke. uh and uh [laughter] and having been in the room with presidents uh more than one president. My father definitely I'm sure like laughed loudly when the president told a joke. Um but oh my god. So yeah, so that's a funny story. We'll we'll get into that. Uh I got to say if I think of all the classes I slept through at Columbia University as a 19year-old. Oh my god. Um listen, one time in class I actually jerked awake because I was dreaming that a bird landed on my

[02:35] shoulder. [laughter] I used to have the class at teachers college which somehow had like the warmest coziest classrooms and it was just like basically I I I almost started skipping the class because it was impossible to stay awake even though I enjoyed the subject anyway. >> In all seriousness that could be a sign of sleep apnea. Just saying. >> Okay. Well, you know, and I've I have been told by uh you know, girls that I've slept with that I might have sleep apnnea. Um but who knows? Um it's I've I've never been tested. Um, we're going to ask whether the world's richest man,

[03:07] or at least a guy who is one of the three world's richest men, is going to let the Washington Post die. >> It looks like it's possible. Yeah. >> Um, which is insane. Um, Democrats in the White House have apparently, uh, at least tentatively, at least in the House, have agreed to fund ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for a couple of weeks, uh, while they try to figure out, um, some some restrictions, limitations on ISIS's activities. Um the one holdup is Lindsey Graham uh in the Senate. Um so Lindsay apparently is is

[03:40] trying to shake down the government for some money. Um and that's what this is about. Very >> Lindsey Graham. Shameless. Utterly shameless. >> And apparently if you're a good lefty, you're supposed to be uh not buying or shopping or doing any banking today. I only heard about this yesterday. I guess I'm not a good lefty because here we are talking. Um John, couple of uh breaking news developments uh before we get into uh all of that and your questions. Um first Don Lemon um had got arrested yesterday by federal authorities. Um

[04:12] this was over his attendance at that Minnesota church protestdisruption depending on your point of view. Um Don Lemon's the former CNN anchor. Now he's an independent journalist. And um I guess the thing is it's certainly not unprecedented for reporters to be arrested at protests. No, that's happened many times. It should never happen, especially if they have credentials. But um in this particular case, it is it does seem unusual >> um to come after the guy, you know, a

[04:43] week later and very unusual, especially and handcuff him and stuff. >> Yeah. A week later after the Justice Department had gone to a magistrate judge in the federal district court for the Southern District of California and asked for an arrest warrant and the judge said no that he was protected by the First Amendment. >> Right? >> This isn't going to stand up. This was this was to humiliate him, to give him a slap. He spent a night in jail. I don't think anything else is going to come of

[05:13] it. >> That's the best thing that ever happened to his late his late career. I mean, I'm jealous of him. that podcast. I was on that podcast and you usually my friends will say, "Hey, I saw you on such and such a podcast." Nobody ever said they saw me on the Don Lemon podcast. >> I've been on Don Lemon. I was on Don Lemon uh on CNN and um I couldn't when he was on CNN. And I got to just say uh you know I first of all I want to be very clear he should not have been arrested. Um that was wrong. No >> he was guilty [clears throat] of journalism. And if you're like if there's any doubt then you know if

[05:43] there's any doubt that's in the favor of the journalist or alleged journalist always. That said I just want to say he was one of the dumbest interviewers I've ever encountered. >> He's extraordinarily arrogant. >> And you know I I'll tell you the what finally made me turn on Don I would I would tolerate Don Lemon just because I wanted to watch the news in the evening. He was he was on in the evening so I would just turn it on sometimes. But I'll tell you what turned it for me. What when uh CNN was

[06:14] >> was advertising this >> this uh Marvin Gay documentary. >> I was like, "Oh, I love Marvin Gay." Yeah, >> it's a it's a tra tragic story. The guy was an incredible uh musician, incredible talent, so I'm going to watch it. It was Don Lemon >> talking to some professor I never heard of about Marvin Gay. And then every couple of minutes Don Lemon would break into song and >> what? >> Yeah. And sing some I It was

[06:45] unwatchable. And that did it. I was done with Don Lemon. >> Oh my god. >> Yeah. Yeah. I was I was on soant. >> I was on talking about my Wall Street Journal article talking about how like it wasn't illegal, but how I basically got one more shot than uh of COVID than I, you know, kind of technically ought to have because I was super nervous about my respiratory health at the time. by the way, I regret that decision now. Um but anyway, the point is um and and he said, "Well, it's illegal." >> And then and I and [laughter] I said, "No, it's not." And uh it's not illegal

[07:17] at all. You can get as many you can you get 55 COVID shots if you want them if you're stupid enough. And uh he and and he but I couldn't believe he said that on the air. Like he just didn't even know. He just like farted that out. Like why would a I mean a journalist might say like might ask like wait is that illegal? But instead just say but that's illegal. You broke the law. I was just like whoa this is not CNN you know you expect better. John um >> this weekend is coming. We we've been following the story now for weeks. Um it

[07:50] seems very clear from the president's warnings um to the Iranian government that uh something's gonna probably happen and it happened quick um and soon and maybe this weekend or within the next week or whatever, but quick and soon uh a violent attack as the president characterized it. Um uh how's how's that looking to you? Um do you think we're looking at this weekend? What do if so what? >> You know what, Ted? I I don't and and I'll tell you, I've just in the last

[08:21] three or four weeks, I've developed some friendships in in three Middle Eastern royal families thanks to podcasts. But anyway, I've I've been in like close touch with these with these princes and and they're wellplaced princes. They're not just, you know, playboy princes living in Beverly Hills and driving Lamborghinis. These are serious people. Mhm. >> And I learned yesterday that the Saudis, the Jordanians, the

[08:54] Egyptians, and the Amiradis all went to the president by phone and said, "Please don't attack Iran." The Egyptians went so far as to say that it would lead almost immediately to a regionwide war, which is the last thing that anybody wants. Yeah, I I agree with that with that analysis. >> I think so, too. More importantly, >> and and the proxies will be triggered. >> Oh, yeah. The Israelis went to the president yesterday and said, "Don't attack Iran." Not out of the goodness of

[09:26] their hearts that they've had some kind of change of uh change of position, but because they have not been able to replace all of the Iron Dome missiles that they used in the last goround with Iran. Yeah, I remember that that story like I mean it's it seems it's weird it's been over a year. You would think that I guess these things take time. >> I guess so. Um you know the president said that he's sending an armada off the coast of Iran. I I I

[09:56] follow Iran news though, right? >> It's not it's one carrier battle group. It's definitely not an armada. It was it was tough talk, but that's very much that's very much the way Donald Trump does these things >> for sure. Now, with that said, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Donald Trump shocked all of us in the first term when he talked tough talk tough talk tough and then met with Kim Jong-un and totally defused that whole >> carry a big stick. >> And it now might be the time for

[10:28] something like that to happen. If the if the Middle Eastern countries are unanimous in their opposition to American intervention and we're on the brink of something, which we are, maybe now's the time to use the Omanis, for example, >> to go to the Iranians and to say, "Let's have serious talks." Now, that's been done in the past. President Trump wants a real Nobel Prize, not one that's >> That was going to be my final point.

[10:59] >> That's the one. That's the one. I mean, the US has been effectively at at a cold or hot war with Iran >> for decades, for most of President Trump's life. Um, it would be great. I mean, look, everybody, including those of us on the left and MAGA World, we would we would have to support it. I mean, we would I mean, >> we have to. >> And it would be a big win. It really would. I mean, a president can't really change the economy overnight. Economy, a president can't. There's a lot of things he's working on that he can't really fix

[11:31] very quickly, but this one he can do within a couple of weeks. >> He could. Elliot Covert has a good question here. John, what is the reputation of Iran's foreign intelligence and spy agencies? Absolutely terrible. One of the one of the >> That's the is that or >> that's on the on the Iraqi side. Okay. It's the the MOIS, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, and the IRGC, the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps. Absolutely terrible intelligence

[12:03] services. Everybody should be fired, knowing the Iranians, they'll probably execute them, but they should all be fired. [laughter] Well, >> thank you, Elliot. >> So, yeah. I mean, look, obviously, um I you know, reading between the lines, um with the president's statement, I got the impression Trump doesn't like doesn't want to attack. I don't think he does. [clears throat] >> I think he would like He would prefer to get a deal. >> I think so, too. I think I might write about about this today. >> All right. >> And I Let me say something completely unconnected to this. My camera is

[12:34] particularly blurry today for some reason. I bought a new computer yesterday. >> Oh god. >> I'm going to hook it up this weekend >> and you look good on this end. Uh >> oh, good. Thanks. On mine, it looks just awful. So, I don't know if that I don't know how maybe if people in the chat can say uh does John look blurry. [snorts] Um all right, here we go. All right, let's do ready for some questions. >> Ready. >> All right, good morning from San Diego. Can you talk about John Lennon being arrested? Um >> I want to be really clear. Uh those tri those charges should be dropped

[13:05] immediately. Uh it's I think they will it's not a good look for the United States. >> No. >> Um uh Kevin Cronin uh uh just made coffee before he programmed. say had a guy over to clear nearly two feet of snow. Okay. From the from the roof Boston strong. Uh John, can I be on the le Jackson McGrath wants to be on the next episode of Deep Focus and talk about what Asia should fix if I become the Australian Prime Minister? I'm skipping that one. [laughter] Um do we think Good morning, gents. Uh do we think peace is reached if Ukraine joins

[13:37] NATO in exchange for the US withdrawal from NATO? Well, I don't think that deal is on the table. Um, but uh I don't know. I think I don't know. I think this this I think the Russians have the upper hand here and everyone knows it. >> I think so, too. >> Um, all right. >> I think so, too. Yeah. >> Uh, Tennessee deadad, John and Ted, thoughts on Iran, Russia, and China announcement on live fire exercises and the closing of the Straits of Hormuz next next week. >> Yeah, they won't close the Straits of

[14:09] Hormuz next week. This is a very clear message to the Americans that the Iranians can close the Straits of Hormuz in a few hours if they want to and they will disrupt the entire global oil supply system >> and they've done it before. They did it during the Reagan administration and it was successful. >> So this is a message to the Americans that look Armada or not, >> you don't want to do this. >> It's going to be way bigger than just the US, Iran, and Israel. Um, Elliot Covert just got gifted a a a membership

[14:41] by Ray. Uh, thank you very very much. Um, Triple J Ted, you have any thoughts on the people who froze to death in New York City. Did Mdani mess up here or is this a sad normal reality with the cold weather? >> Awful. >> Say, um, I'm going to surprise people. I voted for Mayor Mani. I I support him. I wish him all the best. And I think he's like, you know, I think it's very exciting to have a Democratic socialist mayor in New York. And I'm looking forward to seeing what he did. That said, this was a major [ __ ] up. Um, you know, 10 people are dead for no reason whatsoever. This is where being uh, you

[15:13] know, sensitive and giving people the freedom to do what they want is is insane. Um, it is right now as we speak in New York City, I think it's 11 degrees. Um, it is too human beings can't people human beings die of of uh of the cold when it's 40° outside. That's right. >> Um, you know, 10 people died over this latest cold snap. I'm actually surprised it wasn't more. Um the truth is uh you know I saw mayor I saw former mayor Giuliani's tweet this morning and uh you

[15:44] know I thought you know this is guy I never agree with but he's totally right. He said like Mandani changed the rule. His rule was under a certain temperature. I think it was 20 that the NYPD had the ability to just scoop people off the street and take them whether they like it or not. And um I'm I'm in favor of that. I think under a certain um you know you're not going to let people you should not let people have the freedom to sleep outside and die when it's bitter cold. It's common sense. It's not a civil rights issue.

[16:15] Couldn't agree more. >> Okay. Couldn't agree more. I'm still I'm still feeling sorry for this poor kid at the University of Michigan. Yeah. This is when there's weather like this, we got to look out for one another. This kid went to And I I don't know why people, you know, this young generation, >> they don't wear coats in the winter time and they wear shorts. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. I was guilty of that, too. >> I never did that. My kids do it. I don't understand it at all. >> New York City. I would run I would run barefoot in my shorts in a t-shirt,

[16:47] barefoot in the snow to get my newspaper at the corner of Broadway Street. >> People were like, "Ted [ __ ] RAW is insane." But, you know, we we run hot. You run hot when you're cold. When you're >> Yeah, I guess so. But this poor kid went to a a fraternity party and had a little bit too much to drink. He wasn't drunk, but he had he had been drinking, didn't wear a coat, left the party, and they found him Tuesday frozen solid, >> like Jack Nicholson in the last scene of The Shining. >> Like Jack Nicholson in the last scene of

[17:19] The Shining. That's hard. Exactly. >> Yeah. Um, uh, let's see. Oh, John, have you ever uh this is C Morris, have you ever seen a the documentary series called Hunting ISIS? They follow American mercenaries with the Kurds participating in the fight against ISIS in Syria. A very interesting watch. >> I had a very good friend, >> James Morris. James got out of prison after doing 17 years of a 20-year sentence for a stupid crime that that he committed at the age of 16. got 20 years

[17:52] at the age of 16, did the 17 years, got out. You can't get a job if you have a violent felony conviction. So, he made his way to Turkey and then crossed the border into Syria completely on his own and um and spent two years with the Kurds fighting ISIS. Yeah, I I was fascinated by that uh by that documentary. I thought it was well done and it shows you there are a lot of desperate people out there. There are a

[18:22] lot of bored people who are proficient with, you know, heavier weaponry and they're looking for a cause, something to to give their lives meaning >> for sure. Or to give their lives. >> Um, James ended up committing suicide, unfortunately. >> Oh [ __ ] >> Yeah. Yeah, >> Tom Hamid do wants to ask uh any thoughts on Afghanistan au evacuees still stranded at a base in Qatar and denied immigration this long after the fall of the uh US regime there in 2021.

[18:54] [snorts] Um I mean it's it's really the thing is there are so many people trapped in diplomatic limbo like this all over the world. Say that again. You just mentioned ISIS, the ISIS uh there's so many of these encampments in Syria that are still, you know, who hold all these like ISIS brides and uh these people who've been there for years. That's longer even. Um I'm really of two minds about the Afghans. On the one hand, I think if you're stupid enough to work for an occupation government and then that government loses that you're going

[19:24] to probably end up in not in a good place. On the other hand, I think the United States government should look out for the people who work look who work for them and with them and we owe them, you know, we owe them a debt. It's like the Roman Empire. We we we we owe them something. We shouldn't leave them hanging. >> Yes, I agree. And you know, this is going to sound I don't want this to sound callous because I don't mean for it to sound callous, but if you're a refugee or if you're an intending refugee,

[19:54] you've served the American government, you've been promised resettlement or you believe you've been promised resettlement, then and you're stuck in gutter at Aludade Air Base, you're still okay. Don't worry about it. You may have to Yeah, you may have to sit there for three more years, but don't lose hope. >> Yeah, you're just you're just sort of stuck. Uh, McKenna 308, thanks for the 499. Uh, yesterday you all said that

[20:26] we'll never really know what happened to JFK. What are your theories as to what actually happened? Robbie too. >> You know, I spoke with someone who spoke who spoke I have to be careful how I say this because I don't want to out him. Anyway, not all the Kennedy documents were released. There are 10 or 15,000 >> left. Um, they will never be released. >> And I am told that they point the finger directly at the Israeli government.

[20:58] >> Wow. Wow. Uh, why would the Israelis have wanted to kill Kennedy? >> Because Kennedy would not give them nuclear technology. >> They thought Johnson would. >> And also also Trump was openly not Trump, uh, Kennedy was openly hostile to Israel's nuclear program there in the NGV. >> Yeah. >> So, there's that, too. >> Yep. He he absolutely did not want the Israelis to develop a nuclear bomb. Uh, well, Robbie, since since this one's for you, I'll let you just stay on. Just

[21:30] filming really, and after this I'll do an ad. Um, since Robbie has no sympathy for illegal immigrants, if they need real help or not, I have to support them. So, I can't donate to Robbie. >> Shame, shame, Robbie. Well, sure. >> Tisk tisk. >> Well, I mean, have y'all just about those people who froze to death in in New York. This is how I try to qualify this. I always try to look at things as what is best for the American people first. That's what being America first means.

[22:02] How many homeless people are sleeping are sleeping outside? Meanwhile, illegal migrants are giving hotel rooms. Why can't we give hotel rooms to to homeless Americans? Especially homeless Americans. >> I agree with that. >> And [snorts] especially homeless Americans who are out of their minds because they're mentally ill. They're on drugs. They're drunk. And our solution to them is you just stay outside and freeze to death. We don't care about you. Meanwhile, you can betray your country, assist the occupation force, and then you expect to get resettled

[22:32] here at the taxpayers's expense. Uh, sorry. No, that's not how that works. You take care of your own people first. And if you're a traitor to your country, sorry. I don't have any sympathy for you. Suck an egg. I hope I'm clear. [laughter] >> Okay. Well, thank you, Robbie. Uh, and please let's have that ad when you're ready. Uh, okay. Um, uh, did we see Dr. Oz, John, did you see Dr. John Oz doing a segment on Armenian hospices in Los Angeles committing fraud? >> Yeah, I want to punch him in the face

[23:02] for that, too. Of course, Dr. Oz, who is a veteran of the Turkish special forces. Of course, he's going to zero in on Armenians in California. I freaking hate that guy. >> And Tulsi in Fulton County. Each appointee must have their own racial scandal. H >> I mean, you know, I have had any any further thoughts, by the way, before we talk about uh the our main story, some of our main stories today about the um

[23:34] this the voting records controversy. I I heard interview with Filton County official in Georgia this morning where he was saying uh you know he doesn't know what the federal government why the federal government scooped up these voting records what they're going to you know what this means. They say they'll still do an election. >> Yeah. >> He he he's posited that um the administration might be interested in trying to literally uh make the case that actually Trump won Georgia and the 2020 election. [snorts] Okay. So, you

[24:05] know, as as I love like what if it's in history, right? Like what if the Germans won? Uh, you know, what if this, what if that? Um, what if what let's just say for the sake of argument, right? What if Trump was right? What if it turns out that like they seize all these records, there's no skull duggery on the administration's part. They find out that Fonnie Willis and her gang of thieves stole the 2020 election away from Donald Trump. That causes all sorts of problems, doesn't it? Right.

[24:37] >> Doesn't it mean that this that this term is shouldn't have happened under the Constitution? And doesn't it mean that retro or or or is it just like we just do a makeover? I mean, there's no constitutional remedy for such a thing. >> There's no constitutional remedy. Um, you could you could begin a a criminal investigation of, you know, the entire Biden campaign, but um but >> well, which could be fun anyway. >> What do you do?

[25:08] I mean, you can't he doesn't even remember being president in [laughter] the first place to say. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. Well, speaking of which, we should That's a good segue, right? So, what do you make of this story? like uh you know the president took a nap through a cabinet meeting. Look uh my father was in some cabinet meetings quite a few and he said that Reagan loved to sleep through cabinet meetings like all the time. Um >> yeah Reagan was famous for that >> and meetings are boring. It is true.

[25:38] Like I thought I did laugh when Trump said well you know with all due respect it was boring. It was like two and a half hours but I'm also like thinking you're the president you could make the meeting shorter. >> Yeah. Um but anyway um you know do the I mean you know look the the I think the the deal here first of all Democrats have no no standing whatsoever to ever assert anything about like the acuity mental or physical of any president going forward after what they just did for 4 years.

[26:09] >> No way. And and they pulled a they pulled a fast one on the American people. Shame on them for even raising this issue. >> Yeah. It's it's I mean it's like it's ridiculous. They should probably do their own accounting first. Um yeah. Okay. So, I mean that's kind of like where I am on that. Um let's talk about the Washington Post, John. Um so, the Washington Post, uh you know, was purchased by Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon, world's first, second, or third richest man, depending on how you count. >> Wait, wait, wait. We've got an ad. Robbie keeps pinging us the ad.

[26:41] >> Okay. All right. Let me let me do it. All right. Sorry, Robbie. I I do this. Um still haven't tried 1775 coffee. Now's your shot. The 1775 starter kit just dropped only 1,000 units. You're getting the bold dark roast that hits hard. The smooth medium roast and the vitality mushroom coffee for clean energy and laser focus. No crash. All single origin small batch toxin-free and mold-free. Plus, you're also getting a gold spoon clip because freedom isn't scooped with plastic. A frother strong enough to stir up your coffee and your mother-in-law's opinions. And a black 1775 tumbler. $170 worth of coffee and

[27:12] gear ears for $99. This is for the ones who've been watching 1775 blow up on Rumble, wondering if it's actually worth it. Spoiler, it is. Go to 1775 coffee.com/studio and grab your starter kit before they're gone. Bold beans, clean fuel, and a morning routine that stands for something just like Rumble does. All right. Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post. He said, uh, you know, uh, don't worry, I'm I'm here with my billions, uh, to protect American journalism now and forever. I'll be here. This is not uh he's not unique in this. Um

[27:43] previously Warren Buffett bought a couple of newspapers including the Buffalo News um and then cut it loose when he said that basically there's no future for print journalism. Dr. Patsun Xiang bought the LA Times. Full disclosure, I hate him and wishes he was dead. um you know uh but he also kind of so the model seems to be oh and oh we should probably talk about Pierre Omdar who started first look media which is now the intercept um >> all these all these the the common thread here is that all these

[28:14] billionaires throw money and they say >> I'm here because I'm rich as [ __ ] and I'm going to make journalism thrive and then what they mean by journalism thriving is they really want to handle it like an incubator. They want to throw some money, but they want the bird to fly out of the nest on its own. >> But what if the bird has broken wings and kind of is always going to need help, which seems to be, at least for the foreseeable future, um, you know, that the situation for print journalism.

[28:44] >> That's print journalism today. That's just a fact of life. >> It is. >> You're not going to turn the paper around and all of a sudden it's going to be the 80s again and everybody's making money. So, vultures be circling overhead the Washington Post. Uh, a week ago, they announced that they were not going to cover the Winter Olympics. Then, they got eaten alive in social media. They said, "Okay, we'll send a skeleton crew to the Winter Olympics." Um, then I mean, you know better than me uh what their reputation is for sports coverage. Here in New York, the New York Post is the is the uh sports paper.

[29:15] >> In fact, that's one of the reasons why the Washington Times became a thing. It's it's owned by the the Unification Church, the Reverend Sunyong Moon, the Mooneyies. They bought the paper back in the in the 80s, the early 80s or late 70s, whatever it was, but it was the DC sports paper because the Washington Post sports coverage was a joke. >> By the way, the Washington Times is totally subsidized by the Mooneys. They've never looked for it to make them to make money. >> No, they just like owning it. >> It's their mouthpiece. Yeah. >> And then um now uh it looks like they're sending a skeleton crew to the Super

[29:47] Bowl, but hey, who watches that? and um the and now uh foreign bureaus uh war correspondents, conflict reporters are being told to cancel their trips. Um there's going to be big layoffs to the newsroom and the business side of the paper. Uh sports local and international are going to get beaten up. So basically they're it looks like their strategy is to focus on politics and national security. >> Um and which I'm like okay, I can see that. Uh although I think it's a mistake to abandon local because local is where

[30:19] you you know no one else can do local but you in the local place >> right >> um and DC local politics are super interesting and they they are federal politics but John we've seen this at the New York Times too I mean you know we're both subscribers to the New York Times and the and the Washington Post and when you scroll through sometimes you see these articles especially on your phone and you click on it it's like oh it's not an article it's a video only content right >> I hate that I do too. And I was wondering if that's just I I don't know.

[30:49] This is like what the Post and the Times seem to be banking on. They want to do what we're doing. >> Yeah. >> They just they just want to do basically they're doing podcast formatted things. two or three guys talking about uh you know current events or whatever and they're and they're doing the analysis but it's like I don't need to pay uh a subscription every every month for that if that's their future. Um I think frankly people like us and Joe Rogan do a better job than they

[31:20] >> I agree. So, why would people not justard it? >> If I could wave a magic wand, I would want a Washington Post that covered foreign policy, intelligence, politics, had an investigative division, and had like two young hungry journalists, one in Northern Virginia, one in Maryland, and maybe a third covering DC just to do local stuff. I don't care about the sports. I can get better sports coverage

[31:51] a hundred different other places, right? Just give me that that I mean that that's not just the hometown paper, but but also the national look at at issues that are important to the whole country and they're not willing. But I'll tell you what makes me want to cancel my subscription to the Post the most is what in the world has become of the editorial board. They may they they're going to get calluses on their knees [laughter] from the position that they've taken in front

[32:22] of the great and mighty Jeff Bezos. And I just can't I can't stand it. It it just makes me sick. >> It's bad. I mean, the thing the thing is it's also like clumsy propaganda. Like if you're going to do propaganda, don't let everyone know you're doing propaganda, you know? And and they you read it. You can't take anything that they say seriously because it's so lickpittle. Yes. Yeah. I I I tried to comment I think I mentioned this the other day. I tried to comment on um on

[32:53] an editorial this this like obsequious disgusting pro-billionaire editorial >> and all I said is like shame on the Washington Post. You really are the paper of the 1%. And it rejected my comment as uh violating community standards. >> Yeah, that's not >> that was it. I don't know what community standards is supposed to No. >> Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. Just because I criticized the almighty Jeff Bezos. >> It's a bot. Yeah. They have those keywords in there. >> Yeah. >> Um >> question for John. Uh from Linda Bruce.

[33:25] If you're successful in getting a pardon, what would what would you get as a result? >> My pension. >> That's not a small thing. >> That's the whole thing. I had 20 years of proud government service. I I needed to live in my old age. Could you >> I have to have it. >> I I already can vote. Uh Governor uh Terry McAuliffe was so kind and generous to me. Followed my case. >> Oh yeah. Because elections are state things. Yeah. >> Yeah. And he pardoned me without my even applying for a pardon. So the funny

[33:57] thing is I have my state gun rights back, >> but I don't have my federal gun rights back. >> So does that mean you could carry in Virginia? >> Yes and no. Yes, I can carry legally in Virginia in that I'm not violating a state law, but I'm still violating federal law. >> So, this would be that nebulous stance that like, for example, the cannabis dealers have. Exactly. >> They're legal locally or statewide, but not >> exactly the same thing. And you know, the funny thing is, Bruce, take a chance.

[34:28] >> Bruce Fine and I have talked about this ad nauseium. Congress [snorts] passed a law in the 1990s when Bill Clinton was president, saying that felons can apply to the ATF to um have their gun rights reinstated if they were not convicted of a violent felony, violent or drugreated felony. >> Mhm. >> But then in the same law, they said that no money, no federal money shall be expended by ATF to investigate any of

[34:58] the people who applied. So that's awesome. >> So So no one has ever had their gun rights. >> That reminds me of like Yeah, that's like the That's like I love catch 22s. It's like the u Guantanamo detainees who um were cleared for release, but no country would take them or um there was no the Congress defunded the ability to uh pay for their airfare uh somewhere. [laughter] >> It's ridiculous. >> It's like I always thought they should do a GoFundMe for the airfare. And then at the same time, Congress passed a law

[35:28] in 2009 when Obama was president that none of them are permitted on US soil. >> So even if they're found guilty of a crime, which they won't be because everything they said was was because of torture and nothing can be used against them. But even if they were to be convicted of a crime, they couldn't be sent to a US prison >> because they're not allowed on US >> Yeah. territory, >> which is ridiculous. Also, [snorts] >> so ridiculous. >> We kidnapped them and then it's like,

[35:59] well, we can't let them here. Like, we stole them from their own country. John Hart, huge reach, but if Trump actually follows through, could this actually unite the Middle East and everyone put their differences aside to take us on? I think he's uh this question is about a possible attack uh against Iran. Um I maybe a fullfled let's let's just say a fullfledged Iraq style infla in invasion. Yeah. >> Would that do it? Maybe. >> Yeah, that that would do it. But nobody nobody likes Iran among the Arab states

[36:31] except maybe Iraq or part of Iraq does. >> What about Bahrain? >> No, they're they're actively fearful of of the Iranians. >> Okay. >> Um Kat uh Katarak John, I had no idea Greece had a violent communist insurrection. Did they ever have a real shot at rule or have popular support? >> Where was that? >> Um, Greece. >> Oh, Greece. No, I mean I The Civil War was The Civil War was bad. It still scars families. Um, from 1946 to 1949,

[37:02] it was absolutely just bloody. But um but a series of Greek governments supported by both the US and the UK really cracked down on communism and the Communist Party of Greece was actually legally banned until 1980 when Andreas Papandrea was elected and he legalized it. The the truth is there are not very many communists left in Greece. The Communist Party of Greece gets between three and 5% in each election. it's just

[37:33] enough to be represented in parliament. Um, but they're not they're not a factor. Now, there there are left-wing parties. There's a there are two socialist parties. One's a little bit more purely socialist than the other. Uh, but they're much more democratic socialist parties than anything else. Cidiza and Basok. And um if you're going to call them communist, I guess you can call them Eurocommunist,

[38:04] but uh but as for pure communism, like Soviet style communism, that time has come and gone. >> Um >> Oh, I should add I got a nasty Did Did you see the nasty note that I sent you that I I got from one of our listeners in Greece? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Did you see my response to it? >> I did. >> Yeah. Don't [ __ ] send me nasty hate mail because you're going to get it right back. Um, okay. One of my approaches, by the way, and I post this on my website, is if you send me anything hateful or threatening, >> um, I will post it. I reserve the right

[38:36] to post it online. >> There you go. >> So, you know, you >> I should have done that. >> You will be doxed. Um, Vietus f and my fans are mean. [laughter] So, uh, thanks for the fiverr. John, I heard in your podcast that you'd like to retire in the Middle East because you love it very much, but I didn't hear why cutter and liked it a lot. I I'd actually like to retire in Greece. I'm I'm hoping I haven't said anything publicly. Things are going really well right now and I've got these speaking engagements coming up. I'm really hoping

[39:08] I can buy a place in Athens before the end of the year. >> Not to retire there right away. It's a it's a place that I'd like to have and rent out in the in the near term, but I'd like to go for a month or two months at a time, bang out a book. Greece is seven hours ahead. So, I can do this in the middle of the afternoon and uh and still sleep in and [laughter] still have time to watch my books. >> That's what I'd like to do. >> Although, I have to admit there's something to be said for this is done, you know, by morning and then it's like

[39:39] I have a whole day clear. >> That's true. That's true. Hey, listen, [clears throat] real quickly, we've got to thank a couple of people. >> Sure. >> Sodon and Mike especially. Thank you. Thank you guys. It's It's incredible. Thank you for your support. Mike from Nottingham, God bless him. He sent us $100. Wow. And Sodon, $50. Thank you very much. And and Sodon says, "John and Ted, the world has officially gone to [ __ ] Shaking my head. Cash Patel is directing his agency to monitor signal chats of the Minnesota protesters. What

[40:11] happens when the pendulum swings the other way? It's going to happen. You know, I just >> we've been saying that >> we were just talking about that yesterday." And well, first of all, do you believe that the pendulum is going to swing >> or do you believe >> that's an interesting question >> that the Democrats are going to hold them their their tempers? >> Well, I mean, look, um let's talk about this government shutdown as an example, right? So, um Democrats have uh agreed to fund ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for two more weeks, right? Yeah. In exchange for they're

[40:42] like, "We want ICE to be reigned in." And their demands are say like say things like, "Oh, we want them to wear body cameras." I thought they were required to wear body cameras. >> So did I. >> I guess I was mistaken about that. Um, no more masks. Uh, they have to have ID like a normal cop. Um, and and by the way, you know, it's not completely unprecedented what ICE has done. Like in New York, um the cops sometimes when they like get wanted to beat up protesters or whatever would like during

[41:13] Occupy would cover their shields with a black piece of elastic so that you couldn't see their number. Um but anyway, um an [snorts] end to random immigration sweeps. In other words, only targeted like we know we're coming for uh you know, whatever you know, Bob Jones. Um we're um we are and then basically the same use of force standards as real police. Um I think the Democrats are going to cave on this. The reason I I'm segueing from this question is the Democrats are

[41:45] going to roll, right? They're going to be rolled. Um they're going to settle for much less than their supporters would want. And that's part part of the reason why I think Democrats still have problems. I mean, the president is going to probably suffer the usual midterm losses which, you know, all but two in the modern era have suffered. Um, you know, people, but [snorts] that's doesn't mean that, you know, people love Democrats and um and so that's going to be uh that's what we're going to see. I

[42:16] think >> the pendulum, we know historically, yes, Democrats are probably going to win again in the future. And when they do, they're going to do the same [ __ ] or worse to the Republicans that the Republicans are doing to the left, right? And it just goes back and forth and every it's the retribution never ends. Um, you know, I don't know what to say. I just think that's true. But it doesn't mean that. But Democrats might not get back into power in 2028. I think it's far from certain. >> Oh, I think the Democrats are the

[42:47] underdogs in in 2028 because they have no new ideas. Yeah, this this is another thing too. My my Republican and conservative friends, too. We're really only a year out because the primary That's right. That's okay. Pete Buddha Judge is going to save the country, right? >> Well, he has a beard. >> I saw that. Don't get me started on Pete Buddha Judge. So, um, my Republican and conservative friends always surprise me in that they express this this grudging

[43:18] respect for the Democrats because the Democrats are always so unified. >> That's not at all how I see the Democratic Party. I see the Democratic Party as a party of weaklings >> with no new ideas who almost instantly cave >> to the uh to the political right. No leadership whatsoever. Hakeem Jeffrey should be ashamed of himself. Chuck Schumer >> and Chuck Schumer's worse. >> Yeah. >> No, there I agree with that. I mean, look, anybody look, it's quantifiable what you just said, John. I mean, look,

[43:48] they weren't able to hold the line for a government shutdown over the ACA subsidies, right? They couldn't keep their own caucus in, you know, lined up. So, therefore, what you said is is, you know, just without a doubt true. Um, Swizzy, I'm sorry you're joining us late. Any thoughts on Don Lemon being arrested? We did talk about it earlier. Um, so I would encourage you to hit that rewind button to the beginning of the show. Um, MT16 Mike and Nodingham. Um, what's your favorite Simpsons joke and

[44:20] episode? John, thank you and God bless you. I mean, that's a very >> Where do we even I I can tell you what the funniest episode was that I ever saw was when Homer goes to clown college. I The Simpsons isn't The Simpsons hasn't been funny for 15 years. I watch it. I've I've watched every episode ever made >> and it's just not really been funny.

[44:52] Like, laugh out loud funny. But when he went to clown college and was on the little tiny bike in the mafia social club and his pants got caught in the uh in the um the chain, the bicycle chain, and it pulled his pants down and his naked butt is riding on the bike and he has to go through the loop toloop. Oh my god, I still laugh when I think about >> For me, for me it's no doubt uh and and Robbie might hate this. It's the date that uh it's the day that um that Homer

[45:24] decides to blow off church. And um yes, he stays home and >> lays on the couch. >> He sits on the sofa and everything goes amazingly. And uh and and then he then and then uh you know he tells he he tells Marge what happened and then she's like, "Homer, have you lost your faith?" AND HE'S LIKE, "NO, NO, NO." WELL, YES. >> YES. [laughter]

[45:54] I'm proud to say that Harry Sheerer, who does what, a dozen voices, uh, follows me on Twitter. >> Oh, that's awesome. [laughter] >> Isn't that great? >> I think I'm, if I'm, if I'm not mistaken, I think Nancy Cartwrite went to my high school. >> Oh, that's so cool. >> Couple of years earlier than me. Uh, I think that's right. She gets in trouble every once in a while because >> she does a lot of stuff for the Church of Scientology, including rooc calls, but in Bart's voice, and they were like, "Oh, no, you don't. You don't own the

[46:26] rights to that voice. We do. Cut it out." >> Yeah, that's so true. Uh, the Archangel, um, five bucks. Thanks very much. Is there a possibility question for both of us that all of the Minnesota news could be a ploy to distract us from the looming turbo inflation great pod? I don't think so. I mean, look, I think I look here's the thing. Immigration is a a big issue for this president. It was it's it's like still I mean, most Americans still favor deportations. this

[46:56] has been a um you know I don't think I look he wants to deliver on this and that's what ICE is about and uh you know obviously we have problems with the execution but the uh but certainly I don't think this is like sort of some ploy to distract from something else like Epstein or whatever. I think yeah >> I mean I think he's I think they're serious about this. >> Yeah, I I agree. Hey, there was a new Fed uh chairman announced today. He's a former Fed governor. I never heard of him,

[47:26] >> but uh apparently it's going to be a lot less uh controversial than everybody seemed to think it would be. >> Yeah. But there but but Jerome Powell hasn't really agreed to leave, has he? >> Well, his term is up in like five months. >> Oh, okay. So, it would be that Okay. Right. >> Yeah. [snorts] >> So, charging him with a crime. I I mean that when he only had six months left in his term and then you you make a criminal referral to the to the US attorney for the District of Columbia. It's like for >> for what I mean for mismanaging the

[47:56] renovation of the building. It's like come on man, just let him just go quietly. >> Yeah, he's an old dude. Uh Nicholas Franos, did you hear about the uh president of Turkey saying that in case of uh Iran attack, the Turkish army will establish a safe zone inside Iran? >> They would love that. They would love nothing more than to grab Iranian territory like they grabbed >> uh Iraqi territory and they grabbed Criate territory and they grabbed Syrian territory. >> Panurkism gone wild. >> The neotomantoman government in Turkey

[48:28] is what it is. >> Yeah, panurkism is a topic we should get into at some point because people most many people aren't aware of it although a lot of people who watch this show certainly are. U Frasmat since we brought up Omidr. I had a question about Barrett Brown. His info seems good. He's off. He's off heroin. Why so black balled? >> Secrets is good. >> I just talked to Barrett day before yesterday. >> Um Barrett Brown is one of the most intelligent and best writers and analysts I've ever

[49:02] encountered in my life. He has long-standing mental health problems and he has a two decade long heroin addiction. He's been off heroin for at least a year. Um, he's relocated. He was expelled from the UK. He's relocated to Mexico. Took a good hearty beating from the Mexican police a few weeks ago, but he told me day before yesterday he loves it. He intends to stay. And I said, "Man, I hope you're writing again because you're the most brilliant writer I I know. The guy is so smart and so

[49:32] analytic and he's very serious about his sourcing. I would encourage everybody to look him up." Uh, John Kot wants to ask is asking, "Who is the highest profile person you saw fall asleep at a meeting?" >> Um, who's the highest profile person I ever saw fall asleep at a meeting? Uh, George HW Bush. [laughter] >> He's high profile. >> Yeah, I saw him fall asleep. Presidents fall asleep at meetings all the time. the demands on your time are are so

[50:05] incredible that there just aren't enough hours in the day. Except I mean, you know, Donald Trump has made it kind of a 9 toive job. Ronald Reagan had it they called it the nineto-five presidency and it was that was like scandalous at the time that the president was only going to be president from 9 to5 and then that was going to be the end of the day. But it it worked just fine. If you surround yourself with people who are going to, you know, do what you hire them to do, whether or not we agree, um, then you can have a 9 to5 presidency.

[50:36] >> Uh, Christian Sidello, thoughts on Anne Coulter? I think she's >> Oh, I've got an Anne Coulter story. So, Anne Coulter used to date a really great friend of mine from college and I went out to LA one time, like 2016. They no longer date, but anyway. Um I I was I was there seeing another friend of mine from college and he said, "Hey, we should call Mel." I said, "Yeah, I haven't seen Merryill in ages. Let's call him." So I we called Marilyn and we said, "Hey, we're going to have dinner.

[51:07] Meet us in Korea Town." He says, "Great." He shows up with Anne Coulter. And I said to my other friend, I said, "Is that Anne Coulter?" And he said, "Didn't you know that Merryill was seeing Anne Coulter?" >> Well, I'm glad that she was eating because there's not much evidence she does that very >> No, she's very thin. Listen, she could not have been any lovelier that night. She was interesting. She was wellinformed. All that, you know, hatred that she spews against

[51:38] everybody, it's all an act. >> Yeah. She's a phony >> and she has seriously cashed in on that act. >> Yeah. >> But that's not her at all. >> Yeah. No, it's I mean, like I think the politics are fake, too, to be honest. >> The politics are fake. And I I said to my first friend, I said when they when they finally left at the end of the dinner, I said, "That is not at all what I expected when I saw her walk in." He said, "Oh yeah, that that's all an act. That's how she makes her living." >> Yeah, that that's right. Um Yeah. I mean, I find it disgusting. Uh, I don't care where your politics are. Like to

[52:09] put on to come on so strong and to have your politics just like like Rush Limbaugh be all [ __ ] and then like meanwhile you're using you're moving the political needle in a way that actually changes people's real lives. I hate that. It's like believe what you really believe uh you know and then fight for it you know tooth and nail. Disgusting. Um, you know, my aunt Coulter's story is that I wanted to >> uh she and I were both distributed by the same syndicate and she and I were both all over TV constantly back in like

[52:40] the uh in the early in you know 20 years ago, 15 years ago and uh we were both at the same party actually, a Bill Maher party and I approached her and asked her to uh you know I wanted to just say pitch this hey do should we do far left versus far right like y story uh thing. She I never got the chance to talk to her. She saw me coming. She knew who I was. >> She left the party. I think she thought I was going to assault her. Now granted, she's a small little thing. I probably weigh I weigh like surprisingly tiny.

[53:12] >> I weigh like three of her, but still um she I mean I'm a nice man. I wasn't going to hit her. I wanted to make money with her. So uh you know it's just like but I was just like god what a little scaredy-cat. Um, and she comes off as like this, you know, crazy right-wing warrior. It It's just [ __ ] It's just fake as [ __ ] Um, >> she pumps out these books, too, that there's not there's not much to them intellectually. They're just they they just sort of they [snorts] they take

[53:42] their strength from popular hatred and um >> yeah, >> and she makes millions. Somebody just asked who the who's the most famous person I've ever been disappointed in when I met them. >> You've heard my story. >> Alec Baldwin and I [ __ ] hate each other. >> We'll always hate each other. And then when he got arrested, when he shot that woman, a mutual friend said, "Hey, listen. It looks like Alec's gonna go to college to a college. Go gonna go to prison. >> College would be college. He probably

[54:14] should be sentenced to go to college." >> Yeah. Uh, he said, "Um, you should call him." I said, "Fuck him. I hope he rots in prison." I'm not going to call him and make him feel better. Forget it. >> The only thing that could make him feel better is it's so funny. It's like a friend of mine who knew him said like, "Oh, he's, you know, his wife Hilaria like uh made him go vegan." And then she was like, "Well, you know, Jyn is a Jyn is vegetarian."

[54:45] Hey, um, Delta Fish, thank you for the $20. Why don't you guys come to the Libertarian National Convention? Done. >> Invite us. >> Invite us. I'm there. >> Yeah, me too. >> Love it. >> Uh, maybe we'll do a show from there if uh if they >> How much fun would that be? >> Oh my god. >> Slanderina, John, and Ted, do you think the new social media sites like Rumble and Upscroll are likely to gain enough popularity to make the current staples obsolete? And are they truly less tracked? I have no idea if they're less tracked, but >> that's a good question, >> but I think there's a chance. Yeah, I think there's a chance. I think a lot of

[55:16] people are tired of YouTube controlling, you know, what we get to see and what we get to say. I think people are looking for alternatives. That's why we're doing so well on Rumble. >> Yeah. Yeah. For sure. And um and we are very grateful for that. I've gotten some trolling online for being on Rumble like, "Oh, you know, it's uh it's owned by conservatives." No [ __ ] Uh, by the way, having, you know, worked for, uh, conservative, um, I've had I got I got censored a lot less on Forbes and for and at Fortune magazine than I ever did

[55:46] by The Nation and Mother Jones, who were brutal to me. >> Crazy. >> Um, >> crazy. >> Yeah. The sensor censorship is well, your, you know, your own side tends to censor you more. Yeah. >> Like if a like if a like if the Wall Street Journal has me come on, they know I'm a lefty. They're not they're not going to like try to squish me and turn me into a conservative. But if I'm in the nation, they're like, "Okay, you're a lefty, but you're not the right kind of lefty, and we have to massage you and make you >> You've got to be a DNC lefty." >> Exactly. Exactly. So, that's that's how

[56:18] that is. Guys, thank you so much for joining us. Please have a great weekend. Have a great weekend, John. Talk to >> you, Ted Ton. And uh anyway, please stay tuned for the TMI show with Manila Chan and I. Uh we're going to try to reschedule that DMZ America podcast that didn't happen yesterday. We'll keep you I'll keep you posted in the social media feed. Please like, follow, and share the show. Thank you, producer Robbie West. Thank you everyone for watching. See you later coming up. Bye. [music]

[56:49] [music]
