[00:06] Good morning. It's Wednesday, February 25th. You're watching The Program with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou. Good morning, John. >> Morning, Ted. Good to see you. >> Good to see you, too. Okay, so let's get to it. Obviously, um I don't know if you stayed up and I did. I endured the State of the Union last night. I'm It's It's as exhausting as the administration and the state of America itself. >> And he proudly said beforehand this was going to be the longest State in American history and it was. >> And it was. >> In fact, New York Times sent out a push
[00:36] notification toward the end saying he's just passed the record. It's the longest State of the Union. Like that's supposed to mean something. >> I know. It's like that's not necessarily a good thing. That's not Hank Aaron hitting number 714. So, you see how So, we'll talk about the State of the Union. Victor Orban is is our main story today or at least should we were thinking it would be. He put the kibosh on the EU's latest cash infusion to to the Ukrainians as
[01:07] well as more Russians more anti-Russian sanctions. We'll talk about the veto power that he has there in Hungary. And and finally, also yesterday and I think we have to talk about this with the developments in Iran, Trump made a claim not quite up to the WMDs in Iraq claim, but he claimed that ICBMs intercontinental ballistic missiles could soon reach the United States from Iran and that's not what the intelligence community says. So >> simply not true. >> So, we So, anyway, and of course, as
[01:39] always, please like, follow, and share the show. Robbie West, producer, is out today taking care of his wife who is in post-op and is recovering. Things I things went about as well as could be expected, I think. But, we're all praying for her and so, you know, we Also, if you feel like uh throwing some a cash infusion their way, that would not be a bad thing. I'll go ahead and put the URL up there for Robbie's GoFundMe. Um he'll be mad that I did that. Sorry, Robbie. I don't care. Okay. Now, um
[02:10] let's uh let's see, what other housekeeping do we have to do? Okay, so we have some questions and we can get into those um or we can skip right into the State of the Union. What do you want to do? >> Yeah, let's jump into the State of the Union. >> Okay. >> Um let me ask you, Ted, were you as frustrated with Democrats as I was? I mean, we we knew we knew what to expect from Donald Trump. We knew that he was going to be angry and ugly and mean-spirited. We knew he because it's his nature and he did it on purpose. He gets a kick out of it. But
[02:41] the Democrats walked right into his trap. Right into it. >> Yeah. Well, he There were several traps. So, the traps kept getting laid. Um you know, the most notable one where he obviously had coordinated this with the Republican leadership where he said, "Please, you know, but you know it's trouble where it's like, you know, I'm going to ask a question and if you uh agree with it, stand up and if you don't, stay sitting down." And it's like, "Do you Do you think that the priorities of uh you know, elected officials should be to
[03:12] prioritize the US citizens over illegal immigrants?" And uh and and so that's a trap and he just let it lie there. >> And and of course, John Fetterman jumps right up. >> Right. >> The only Democrat. >> That's right. Now, the thing is, I happen to agree with the answer to that question. It's a It's a trap, of course. It is a trap, but of course, obviously, the priority of American elected officials should be US citizens. Goes without saying. But Democrats don't know what to do in a situation like
[03:43] that. They should be prepared to act as one. Um you know, maybe all get up and walk out at that moment. Um but they There should have been instead of just sitting there like basically screwed. John, I thought the Democrats you know one of my Republican friends text me this morning and said oh you know Donald Trump kicked ass. I don't think Donald Trump kicked ass at all. But he said but he said oh the Democrats looked terrible. That's true too. The Democrats did look terrible.
[04:15] They just didn't know what to do John. I mean they didn't even in in years past they had their their lame little like micro signs that they used to have a sign up. >> were wearing the tags release the Epstein files. >> Right like my news. >> But how come you didn't wear those when Biden was president? >> Right good question. And also why are they like two inches across? You know you're on national television. You know the only spiciness came from Al Green. You know. >> Just Al Green. >> And and like you know and I thought you know the Democrats just didn't seem to
[04:46] know what to do. They weren't willing to be there was no civil disobedience here. I mean you desperately needed at some points when he was insulting them questioning their patriotism and their sanity calling them crazy. At some point you need a you. And it's like where is it? What are they so worried about that they're the sergeant at arms is going to kick them out? Whoop watch it on TV later. >> What a joke. >> I mean you know first of all Al Green
[05:19] Al Green did not impress me last night with with his big sign. The the Democratic leadership said no signs. You're going to get thrown out. He pulls out this giant sign black people are not apes. Okay. Great. And then you get thrown out. And so what what have you accomplished? >> But also if you get thrown out get thrown out spicily. Struggle. Fight back. >> And he didn't. He just walked out. >> up and went out. I mean it's all so performative. And the American people know that. >> sides. Both sides. I I I hated it. And
[05:50] I'll tell you what, when I was in college, Reagan was president, the country was divided, Democrats on one side, Republicans on on the other. I enjoyed those speeches. I enjoyed them. They were substantive. >> Mhm. >> On both sides. You could agree to disagree, you could stand up for what you believed in, but there was still decorum. And there's no decorum on either side. >> It's a clown show. >> It is. >> And I mean, like it literally was a you know, the I thought it was like the the announce I mean, I never thought I would
[06:22] say that I would see a Congressional Medal of Honor, which is the highest award that member of the military can receive from the civilian branch of government. Um you know, it's basically like the the the quad to gay or the national to nail in France. Like it was degraded by this spectacle. >> It wasn't the Congressional Medal of Honor, was it? >> Yeah, it was. >> it was a Presidential Medal of Freedom. >> No. No, no, no. It's the Congressional Medal of Honor. I looked it up. It's the with the blue ribbon. And like Melania
[06:53] blue ribbon. >> Melania gave gave the Congressional Medal of Honor to that World War Korea veteran. >> brain didn't allow me to realize that that was the Congressional Medal of Honor. >> It was and it was like I I expected Montel Williams to step out any moment or Jerry Springer. There's like but wait, there's more. We not the hockey team I'm like, okay, whatever. Um I thought that the You're right. >> Oh my god, the Congressional Medal of Honor. Oh my god. >> debased. That is a an august like every
[07:25] soldier dreams maybe of being considered for that. Um it's like then the I mean and you know, 99.999% will never see one much less have one. I mean, it's it was debased. It was depraved. Um the the the the the reuniting of the Venezuelan political dissident who had been recently freed, the father, with his daughter. It's like, but wait, GUESS WHAT'S BEHIND DOOR NUMBER TWO. I mean, it wasn't Donald Trump is a consummate entertainer, but it really felt like the
[07:57] WWE more than ever before. It was but I thought John, to me this moment was particularly repugnant and and made me ashamed to be American was when he you saw the look on John Roberts' face when he first came in and you knew this was like he he's a smart man, he knows what's coming, he knows he's going to be insulted and humiliated on national television and yet he's there, right?
[08:27] It's it's horrible. It's like the kind of Saddam Hussein used to do and then he he he it happens. He insults the Supreme Court, questions their decisions, which he's already ignored, says he's going to continue to ignore the Supreme Court. Four of their four or five members are right there. Barrett, Justice Barrett, like looked looked you the look on her face, he appointed her. The look on her face was priceless. She had this look of like, oh
[09:00] my god. >> You know, interestingly, I'm sorry to interrupt you. Interestingly, the Trump appointees to the Supreme Court have been pretty good. >> That's true. >> They've been surprisingly good. It's these dinosaurs like Alito and Thomas appointed by the moderate presidents that are just disasters. >> No, that's that's been that is interesting, John. Thank you for that
[09:30] observation. Uh But I thought I mean, do you make do you think this is important as I do? I mean, because I've never I don't I've never seen >> In my opinion, they should have gotten up and left. >> have. We've never had a president that has vocalized the words I'm going to ignore the Supreme Court. >> No. >> Never. >> And and and not especially not in such a high-profile setting. >> Yeah. It's a It's a direct constitutional challenge. >> It is a direct constitutional challenge,
[10:01] and I thought it was appalling. And I thought that the um you know, there was just no resistance at all worth noting. >> You know what? Matina Matina makes a good point here. It could have been worse. Boring and lies is better than we're going to war. And and there was talk >> are going to war. >> There was talk about that beforehand. Like, was he actually You said it, Ted, as well. Was he going to use the uh the speech to announce that we were in the midst of an attack on Iran?
[10:31] >> I'm sure the Iranians were expecting that. And we'll talk about Iran, and obviously >> My glasses off, huh? >> John, I I got to say I I also think politically domestically um Donald Trump really squandered an opportunity yesterday. I mean, the Republicans are up against the are really on the ropes um in going into the midterms. >> And he didn't lay out any plan for them. >> No plan. He didn't help them at all. If you're If you're a you know, if you're an incumbent Republican, you're you're very worried this morning. Um and uh you know, his polls are in the
[11:04] toilet. I mean, at 37% a president might credibly be thinking about resigning, not delivering a State of the Union address. Um and that number seems to have not found its floor yet. We may It may continue to drop. Who knows? It might stay steady or even go up, but right now but he committed the Joe Biden mistake. Don't don't don't believe your lying bank account. The economy is roaring. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Roaring. >> Yes, he did. [clears throat] >> People don't like that.
[11:34] >> Yeah. They don't. I agree with you. >> and I I think it's like it's not specifically really about this particular speech that's going to change minds, but if that but that is the messaging of the of the administration and the Republican Party and people are going to hear that day after day and what that introduces is hopelessness. Right? I mean, literally everything that he announced was stuff that, you know, basically look at what we did. Now, we all know about health care. We know that the health care Trump RX thing is lame.
[12:05] We know that the Trump savings accounts are lame. Um, you know, the American people don't think that help is on the way. >> [clears throat] >> If you're suffering, you need to either know that help is on the way or help might be on the way. They don't feel like that now. >> I think you're right. Yeah, I think you're right. But I want to reiterate something that we just said. There was no plan. And this was essentially the only nationally televised opportunity between now and November
[12:36] to lay out a plan that the Republicans can run on as a party. >> Mhm. >> You know, and watching Mike Johnson sit behind uh Trump and just smile and nod his head and clap, it's like, buddy, this is on you. You should be leading your caucus and you're not. You're just sitting there praying that that Jesus, you know, delivers the best ideas to you. How's that working out? >> [laughter] >> I mean, if I were Mike Johnson, I'd have
[13:09] Newt Gingrich living on my couch and I'd be asking him every morning, noon, and night how he pulled off 1994 by nationalizing the midterms. Um, you know, that's that's what the Republicans should be doing and they should have a a real plan for the workplace, a real plan for AI, a real plan for healthcare. Lord knows they've had 10 years to come up with one on healthcare. Um and they just I don't know if they can. I don't know
[13:40] if their donors won't allow them to. I don't really, you know, I don't know if they're too disorganized. I don't know if this president's too scattered. All of the above, probably. Some other stuff I'm not thinking of. But it was I mean, you know, we we knew it was going to be like that. That's why I didn't bother to make the State of the Union, you know, when I who came up with the with the headline for today, the main story, cuz I knew it wouldn't be the main story. >> Yeah. >> But it's still I mean, it's still even though you know it's coming, it's still depressing. >> Still, I want to crack on the Democrats
[14:12] because they are utterly devoid of any ideas. >> That's true. >> terrible. And if if anything came out of last night, it is the absolute necessity, the immediate necessity for viable third parties. >> Right, but that's not going to happen. At least not on the national stage. >> Nope. It's not. >> It's got to be, you know, really truly I think the the model is like the the Farmer-Labor Party or all these early 20th century parties, right? Like
[14:42] >> the uh like the Socialist Party and so on. You got to develop regional strength. You've got to get some I mean, look at Bernie Sanders, right? He's the closest thing to a resistance that we have. >> Yes. >> was an independent for uh for for for mayor of Burlington, Vermont. That's where he started. >> Yes. >> And it took a long time for him he it took, you know, decades before he percolated up to the national stage, but he did. That's what you have to do. It That's the hard work. The left in this country doesn't want to do the hard
[15:12] work. They want to have a rally, you know, on a beautiful Sunday every 4 months. That's it. They don't want to stand out in the rain every day. Uh you know, and and they don't want to build a third party from the grassroots. They don't want to organize the working class. They should they don't they want to have a national strike just like that, you know, you buy through Facebook groups. And again, vote for me cuz I'm not the other guy is not a strategy. >> No.
[15:42] >> Although it can be it it works sometimes, but then like but then you but this is the problem. You know, you look at the likes of Chuck Schumer looked like he was not just already dead but dead and halfway rotten. >> [laughter] >> He was he looked like a like a scarecrow. Like he was he was kind of like he was hanging like this. Like >> Yeah, exactly. So so sure, let's say Trump is unpopular. The Republican at least the Republican house is unpopular and so the Democrats win 15, 20, 25,
[16:14] whatever seats. And then what? They've got no no ideas. How in the world do they intend to govern? >> Well, they'll have >> And and I'll tell you another thing. If the Democrats do win a majority in the house and then they immediately move to impeach Trump again, >> Mhm. >> they should never win another race. >> That's what they will do. >> As punishment, they should never win another race. >> No, they're they're utterly worthless. Um, you know, they're just they they're not they're completely incapable of rising to the occasion and like even the
[16:45] fact that like the boycott like Hakeem Jeffries and and Chuck Schumer told their their you know, their caucuses, um, don't you know, hey, you can boycott or or not. Look, you got to all be on the same page as a party. Either you all show up >> Yes. >> and you all do the same thing or you all don't show up. Which would have been very powerful, too. >> That's right. It would have >> they would have filled the seats anyway, but >> Yes. They would have. You know, it's funny. CNN was talking beforehand about
[17:17] uh about the seats. And I didn't realize what Of course, there are way fewer seats than what they need. And so, um I didn't realize that people go there 6 hours in advance to stake out a seat. And they'll bring like lunch and dinner with them. And just hold their food on their lap. And the Democrats like 112 Democrats didn't show up yesterday. Between House members and senators.
[17:49] And that's why they were able to to fill all those seats with the Supreme Court, the cabinet, visitors, even the sub cabinet, all kinds of stuff. It's just not the way it used to be. at all. >> Elliot Covered has a question for you, John pertinent to all this. Did you notice that that disgusting slob John Fetterman actually wore a suit last night like a normal human being? >> First thought in my mind, like I can't believe that idiot finally put on a suit. Finally. Cuz if he feels so strongly about his
[18:20] about his cheap ass hoodie and stuff, wear the hoodie. Hypocrite. >> Yeah, exactly. But he didn't This was the big one, right? So, John, I heard you say that Necco Wafers weren't around in Lincoln's time, but on the Necco Wafer package it says 1847. >> 1847. I read that it was 1878 and uh yeah, somebody else corrected me on that. Yeah. >> Um let's see. >> it had to do with the recipe of the Necco Wafers. There was something about
[18:51] it being a Necco Wafer. >> No A Guy Speaking, John, did not forward my your essay about immigration. John, please do that. Okay. >> I'll say it again. >> Did you're supposed to forward me um A Guy Speaking's essay about immigration? Or if you did, I didn't see it. >> Oh oh oh oh yes. Yes, I have it. I'll send it to you. Yes. >> Okay. All right. Uh Ted Pink He's uh Pink Lady wants to know, "Please ask my question from the past 2 days. John, thank you for asking it again. John, do you still consider
[19:21] yourself to have sociopathic traits? You seem so empathetic and kind today. By the way, I hope I get my stud muffin photo in the mail." >> [laughter] >> Um you know, what that what that sociopathic tendency was was a willingness to break the law or to work in moral, legal, and ethical gray areas. So, I'd have to say yes. If if
[19:52] I were still in the CIA and I had I was instructed to break into a house and plant a listening device, yeah, sure. Of course, I would. No, a normal person wouldn't do that. >> Yeah, by the way, being a sociopath doesn't mean that you're not kind. >> Well, and a non-sociopath. >> Right, but I'm just saying >> about sociopathic tendencies. >> Right, and I'm also saying but also it's like I think it's a misnomer people think sociopaths are necessarily mean. They're they're uh rude or whatever. That's That's That's not the profile at all. Uh
[20:22] Fraz Mattaz, um Laith Marouf said on Nemesis Show uh that re that unified command for CENTCOM was moved to the big base on Crete as Mossad HQ allegedly got hit in Tel Aviv last time. Is that a target? >> Interesting. We have a gigantic naval presence in Crete, gigantic. So, that would actually make sense. I didn't see that, and that did not appear in the Greek press, by the way. You know what? I'm going to call it call it up right now. Maybe I missed it.
[20:54] Uh no. >> Um Keenan Keenan Bailey, do we Do we have the chance to think about the implications on NATO if Israel and Turkey were to engage in a kinetic conflict? I think this was a question from last week you were asking. Well, we actually did come back to it, but and we said that yeah, it could be the end of NATO. >> Yeah, that's that's worth writing about. >> It is. Yeah. >> I think that is just such a great question and >> That's a Kuriakou. That's a classic Kuriakou essay. >> It it it is.
[21:25] >> You should do it. >> to jump on that. >> Yeah, you do that. Um I'm my already have my topic for this week, which is uh if you know, what are the chances of the Republicans canceling the midterms? Um Elliot, I went to bed before Spanberger gave the response. She's so generic and boring, a real DNCIA Democrat. Um so, one of my problems with the Democratic response, which I did not watch, John, is they the way they they they write it in advance, right? It's it's a speech before she's seen the
[21:55] president's speech, she's already written it and and she just reads it. >> That's not a response. >> No, it's not a response. >> That's just a I don't know. >> It's a campaign speech. >> Yeah, it's a yeah, it's stupid. I mean, really truly, um the response should be someone taking notes throughout the throughout the speech and then saying, "Okay, when Trump said this, actually that." Right? They don't do that. That's why I didn't watch. >> No, she's she's terrible. You know, she she's a moderate Democrat.
[22:25] Uh which in my mind and all my friends from my hometown that I'm on Facebook with, they're all going to just flip out that I'm saying this. But to me, she's a conservative Democrat. >> Oh, for sure. >> very much a DNC, like a down the line DNC, center of the road, you know, don't want to offend the right kind of person. And um I I think she's Look, in Virginia, our governors are only allowed to serve one term. And so,
[22:56] the minute they take the oath of office, they're lame ducks. That's it. It's the end of it. So, she'll she'll govern as much as a governor can govern Virginia. The state essentially runs itself. And uh she's already running for vice president. That's what this is all about. That's why they made her the uh the Democratic responder last night. >> with that. >> She's begun her campaign for vice president. >> Yeah. Yeah, I mean, in a way though, I'm glad that they didn't make a progressive go and do the deliver the response
[23:27] because they're not in charge of the Democratic policy anyway. So, why do you why should they have to go and articulate >> right. >> Uh Nick Riviera, PhD, best part was when he spoke about Somali pirates and the camera pans to Ilhan Omar. Maybe the best I don't know. >> Hi, Dr. Dick. >> Yeah. >> First of all, >> It was very funny. >> But yeah, that I See, this was another thing that bothered me. Like, did he really need to attack the squad? That was just gratuitous and unnecessary. But then,
[23:58] when the Republicans started chanting USA, USA, >> God, which they always do. >> Ilhan Omar and uh what's what's her name? The um the uh Palestinian one. Um Anyway, >> Uh Rashida Tlaib. >> Yeah, yeah, thank you. Should not have started to chant KKK, KKK. The country is not like the KKK. No, it's not. And that was offensive. See, this is what I mean. Like, decorum
[24:29] is just collapsed on Capitol Hill. We thought things were bad in the '80s or in the '90s even with with Bill Clinton on the one side and uh and Newt Gingrich on the other, it's worse now. Like, everybody's just classless. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, by the way, it's true what ugly stupid loser says, there were two Medals of Honor. >> Yeah, the old man got one. >> Mhm. >> And the kid got one from Venezuela. Two Congressional Medals of Honor. Just
[25:00] absolutely astounding to me. I mean, there were guys who, you know, gave up their lives in Afghanistan while mowing down a dozen Taliban and saving everybody in their platoon, and they got the Silver Star. So, I I don't understand how these things >> I Well, look, and I don't understand I mean, I guess it's like I understand how the words um Alex Pretty and Renee could didn't get uttered, but it was also I think a squandered opportunity. Um you know, I mean, look, the thing is
[25:31] um even moderate analysts this morning are saying that Trump basically set out to to solidify his base, and that's what was important, and he and he got that done. I'm not sure I agree with that. >> I I don't agree. Um and Jake Tapper talked about this last night. He said that that 8 months ago Trump was pulling 90% among Republicans and 46% among independents. Now, he's 82% among Republicans and 26% among independents.
[26:03] So, if you're trying to win back that 8% of Republicans and shore up your base, all you're going to do is alienate more independents. >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, look, I think that I'm a big proponent generally of a base strategy, but I think at this point Trump is underwater even with his base on the issues that they liked him about, immigration and the economy. Um and that's not, you know, I mean, he doesn't have those anymore. He lost credibility because of the way that the deportations have been implemented. No question, he
[26:35] sealed the border. Although, frankly, to be fair, Joe Biden, outgoing Joe Biden, sealed the border uh a couple of weeks before he dropped out of the race, right? Trying to save himself. And then, it stayed sealed, and Trump just kept it sealed. Um you know, I mean, Trump definitely gets his gets that credit, but still >> I have a good friend who is a an investigative journalist, and she went down to Eagle Pass, Texas. She called me from Eagle Pass. She was standing on a hill overlooking the
[27:05] border, and she said, "Never in my life have I actually seen a border that's open." She said, "People were just streaming across it." And the the ICE guys or Border Patrol or Border Protection, whatever they call themselves today, they were just standing there overwhelmed. The border was just open, and people were coming across. >> Yeah, uh streaming in. I mean, I I will say I have seen that in, you know, Central Asia and places like >> Oh, I I I saw that in Somalia.
[27:36] >> I saw that between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. >> in Texas. >> Uh no, it's Well, look, it was left open. I mean, and that's insane. Uh Desert Fox 41, question for both of us, what do we make of the track to war with Iran? By all reports, it was supposed to start this past weekend. I'm not so sure about that. I think they're still trying to Trump thinks he's still negotiating, um sort of. And uh you know, it's I mean, I think the the thing is from the US military perspective, the
[28:06] longer they wait, the better, cuz they'll have more assets in place and it's easier. >> I I apologize to about changing the subject, but >> Ah, be my guest. >> But is it rational says, "Can we talk about Texas representative of Tony Gonzales?" >> Oh, yeah. >> He talked a staff member, a married staff member, into having an affair, into sending nudes. She became so distraught, so depressed that she set herself on fire. >> Right. Right? >> And died.
[28:37] >> Mhm. >> And he refuses to resign. >> [snorts] >> Now, finally, there are Republicans calling for him to resign. The the the uh primary is I think Saturday and he's got very strong opposition from the right within the primary. But this son of a refuses to resign. And and he denied and denied and denied and then the staffer's husband released the text messages and he's like, "Okay, well, all right. Yeah, I guess I did it."
[29:09] What do you think of this clown? He should be prosecuted for manslaughter or depraved indifference. And I get that depraved indifference is a misdemeanor. I get it. But you can still get a year in in prison. >> Well, is that a law in Texas is the question. >> Well, that's a good question. I don't know. >> Um >> I don't know. >> It seems like depraved indifference is part of Texas's state culture. Um I yeah, I mean I got to say cynically, if I were advising him, I would say stay put
[29:42] in this news environment, everyone's going to forget all about you, the headlines are going to move on, don't feed the fire, you can you can hang on and no one's going to everyone's going to forget all about it. Just don't say [clears throat] anything about it. I mean, I'm being cynical, but I think honestly, he can ride this out. >> God, I can't I can't even believe it. >> I mean, I'm not saying he should, I'm just saying, you know, he can. >> You know, to tell you the truth, if I were the husband, I would stomp him
[30:12] until his brain was pudding. I really would. >> Well, you might also be pissed at your wife, [laughter] though. I mean, you know. >> Oh my god. >> she had she had she had free will, right? >> Yeah, she had free will. See, but this is >> adult. >> This is my This is my nature and I've taken over this over the years, but for whatever reason, I always blame the guy, the other guy. >> Yeah, I don't I'm not like that. >> my experience that yeah. >> No, I mean, that's like >> came in and ruined my family and it's
[30:43] like, "No, no, no. No, no. That's not exactly right." >> Yeah, well, obviously, I'm I'm on the team who would disagree with give you for that, John. I disagree with that. I mean, you you know it's wrong. But But there's the emotional response and then there's the logical response. >> That's right. >> Um you know, I always feel like it's the opposite. Like um you know, if you like the person who made like you know, she made the oath to her husband, not that guy not the congressman, right?
[31:14] >> Right. Right. >> So, you know, they he didn't know her anything he didn't owe him anything. Anyway, um only one ham question for both of us. Do we Do we happen to enjoy any sports? What's your favorite to watch live? John, you better answer this cuz my question is short. The end. My answer is no. >> I do. I love I love baseball and football. I watch both regularly. And then football is like such a big deal to me that even if the game's on here at home, I'll walk to a Steelers bar in Clarendon, Arlington,
[31:46] Virginia here, and um just so I can be surrounded by 500 screaming Pittsburgh Steelers fans. >> I I'm jealous of people who have that kind of passion. Uh I was a baseball fan as a kid. If buskashi were available to watch here, I would go every day. Um that that's my favorite sport. But unfortunately, you have to go to Afghanistan or Central Asia to see that. >> You do, and it's weird. >> It's amazing, though. Um it's so cool. Uh I love this question. John Margery,
[32:17] uh good morning, guys. Question, if you could replace Trump with another world leader, who would you choose? >> Oh, that's an easy one for me. Konstantine Mitsotakis. This guy has proven to be such a terrific leader for Greece. I will admit that I did not vote for him the first time. Uh but I have been very pleasantly surprised. And when he came to the United States during Trump's first term to meet with Trump, the Washington Post commented that his English was better than Trump's. >> Mhm. >> Yeah, he's got a bachelor's degree and a
[32:48] master's degree from Harvard and a PhD from Oxford. And he's been a terrific prime minister. >> I don't have one because I would have to pull from the past. To be honest, I would have gone for Hugo Chavez or >> What? >> Yeah, someone like that. I mean, I love the fact that like Hugo Chavez nationalized all the golf courses and turned them into into public parks. Um he the way he trolled the rich and uh nationalized uh you know, uh you know, public assets for the
[33:18] benefit of the public. Someone like that. I mean, I think we need like a radical lefty who's going to like mix up cuz we've never had one. We've had radical right-wingers. We've got one right now. But um you know, I it's like I don't know as a permanent choice, but sort of someone like that. I know that's a crazy choice. >> [laughter] >> But um >> Yeah. >> Um John Kavanaugh is a menace. This is from Malarkey. And overrode treaties with indigenous people and is allowing fourth amendment >> not saying I'm not saying that I would
[33:50] want to the guy to be my, you know, housemate or anything. I'm just saying he's not Clarence Thomas or Sam Alito. >> Ha. Kevin Cronin says, "John, I'm straight, but I got to say you look marvelous without glasses." >> Thank you. I wish I could see, but I'm blind. Just blind without glasses. >> Um let's see. Uh NPR says the hockey OH, YEAH, THE HOCKEY
[34:20] PLAYER. That's right. The hockey player got the Presidential Medal of Freedom. They gave it the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the hockey player. >> The goalie. >> Who by the way, was chewing his cud the entire time. I don't know if he was chewing tobacco or gum or his his cud or whatever the it was, but he's there like like an old man with chom- sucking on his dentures. Did you notice that? >> I did. >> He was on national television. It's like
[34:52] >> You know, I remember when >> pig rotten pig are you? >> When I was a little kid when I was a little kid, right after the Beatles broke up, John Lennon was on the Tonight Show and I was up for some reason. I was sitting on my mom's lap and John John Lennon was chewing gum while he was giving his interview to Johnny Carson. And my mom says, "Who does he think he is chewing gum like a cow chews its cud? Shame on him. He goes on national TV and chews gum." >> [laughter] >> I remember that.
[35:22] >> Yeah. New American says, "Raul's you recommendation is painfully ridiculous, childish and unhelpful." Yeah, probably, but I don't know if it's unhelpful. I mean, look, I I wanted the Democrats to show some sign of life. Um and you know, when you you're being degraded and humiliated and, you know, treated disrespectfully, not just disagreed with vehemently, you know, it calls for some sort of violent response, you know?
[35:53] >> [snorts] >> God forbid. >> You know, I mean, if someone were talking to me like that in a bar, I'd punch them in the face. >> Yeah, seriously. Yeah. >> Um What's left about the Democratic Party? Trouble wants to know. >> Agreed. >> Miriam Adelson got a Medal of Freedom. That's true. That's true. She actually purchased one with her hundreds of millions of dollars to the Trump campaign and the RNC.
[36:24] >> LoggerJogger, any thoughts on Anthropic snubbing the Department of Defense, not allowing them to use their AI tech to make super intelligent bombs? If the war machine wants it, won't they just take it? >> And that's exactly what uh what Pete Hegseth said yesterday. >> [snorts] >> If you don't give it to us, we're just going to take it. >> How can they do that? >> I don't think that they can. >> Nah, I mean what >> I suppose, you know, maybe you could make an argument in wartime >> Right. >> take a a company's IP and just say, "Oh,
[36:54] we want it." >> Nah. Totally. Totally. >> Yeah. >> Um Desert Fox, what do you make of the Knights of Columbus being in Ukraine? I got an email, had no idea they had a role there. First I've heard of it. Do you know? >> Yeah, I I That's the first I've heard of it, but I I think it doesn't really surprise me. Ukraine is pretty much, you know, half Orthodox and half Catholic and the Knights of Columbus, I guess, think that they have a role. I wouldn't be surprised. >> [snorts] >> Um John um redacted wants to know, "What
[37:26] are the details on your University of Pittsburgh speech in March? I live nearby and would like to attend." >> Oh, thank you. You know, it is tentatively on March 11th. I'm going to I'm going to ping the professor today. Uh actually, maybe I have it here in front of me. No, I don't have it. It's tentatively the 11th of March, but I'll say something in advance. Thanks for asking. >> Uh Bettina, did you hear the sailors are putting their clothes in the toilets to back them up so they can leave as they
[37:57] wait for war with Iran? >> There was a piece on Fox, I think it was, day before yesterday about the USS Gerald Ford having such a significant plumbing problem where there's human like up to your ankles, literally. That the only thing they can do to take care of it is to turn around and go back to Norfolk. And I wondered when when this came out 2
[38:27] days ago if it was sabotage. >> Sabotage. It sounds like it. >> Sure seems like it. >> Yeah, it sure sounds like it. Um Who know who Nemarin, John Ted, do you support Kurdish independence? If you were advising, what would Kurds do to achieve it? I 100% support Kurdish independence. >> 100%. >> They were they are a distinct nationality. They've earned it. They're a distinct culture. Um they were promised it in 1919 and the great powers ignored them at the during the uh signing of the Treaty of
[38:59] Versailles. So, um and what what should they do to get it? Well, I hate to say it, you have to declare independence and uh you know, you have to be willing to fight for it, but the Kurds are good at that. So, you know, I mean, you're going to lose lives is the problem. >> Yeah, that's right. >> What do you think, John? Would you would you advise them to do that? >> Uh you know, I think that at least in Iraq, the situation that they have now is acceptable to them in that they have autonomy and uh they have some control
[39:31] over the northern oil fields, but I I still I still support I've always supported Kurdish independence and it should be a a an inclusive Kurdish independence and when I say inclusive, I mean including the Syrian Kurds, the Turkish Kurds, the Iranian Kurds. >> Uh Tammy wants to know, my fellow Daytonian, uh what does Fetterman stand for? Israel. >> Israel. That's it. That's all. I mean, he was supposed to stand for organized labor. I'm still
[40:01] waiting for for that to show itself. >> [snorts] >> By the way, I do think that the uh Democrats should have had signs with uh Rene Goods and uh Al- Alex uh Brady's faces on them. >> Yeah. Yeah, that would have been more powerful. >> Let's see. Uh Is it practical to have a war when the are full? >> I know, right? >> No. >> Um logistics are important.
[40:33] Uh >> You know, and some of those some of those ships, I've been on a bunch of them over the years, they're so overcrowded. You have to hot bunk. Like in in um submarines, for example, you have hot bunks. So, you have three times as many people as there are beds. And everybody gets 8 hours in the bed. And you you share the bed with two other guys, you share the pillow with two other guys. It's gross. >> Yeah. >> But there's just no space. You know, and you have you have thousands of cans of of canned food
[41:07] that you walk [clears throat] on. And you just eat the canned food as you need it. So, you're you're, you know, several inches higher than you normally would because you're walking on canned food everywhere you go. And the the only reason, especially with nuclear subs, the only reason they come up out of the water is to keep people from going insane. They can stay underwater for 6 months. But people lose their minds. >> Yeah. Yeah, it takes a certain psychology. Brass Mat Hat says um he wouldn't really blame
[41:37] the wife at the at the text. It seems like she was coerced. Um he also used a position of power as an elected official. Um you know, that's fair. You know, that reminds me of this this whole episode reminded me of a story my mother told me. So, my mother worked at NATO headquarters in Paris in the late '50s, early '60s. And um she heard she used to um take night night shift subbing in for her friend who was like switchboard Susan. You know, night shift like uh you know, connecting calls and on one of
[42:08] those old-fashioned boards. >> My mom did that. >> And she was bored. And like she'd listen to the calls. It was the middle of the night and she had nothing to do. You weren't allowed to read or anything. So she'd listen to the calls. And Vice President uh Lyndon B. Johnson was staying at NATO headquarters in one of the uh one of the the guest suites and she heard him call a secretary and basically coerce her to come him. Um like and she she was like he was like basically like threatening her and you know from what my mom gathered he she
[42:41] ultimately you know caved in and had to go do it. So it does happen. >> Scandalous. >> Yeah. >> What a shame. >> I mean it's not surprising though, [laughter] right? I mean it's like not LBJ. >> will say though you know at at the back end of all that it's it's good to know the true character of the person you're married to. And so >> That's true. >> You know. Better off now than then.
[43:11] >> Well, that's true. Um hey this is from Herman. Do we think Ukraine will lose their entire country or just parts? I think many of us have been unimpressed with what Russia has managed. >> I don't think they'll lose their entire country. >> No, there's no. I think they're going to lose roughly 20%. >> I I totally agree with with that number. Yeah. It's going to be what we said it was going to be 5 years ago. >> Mhm. Um Pras Maters how about Fidel, Ted? That would be interesting. Yes, I like I
[43:43] like Fidel. Um although he would God talk about long-winded. >> He had 6 hour speeches. >> God, he never stopped talking that guy. Um John, did you know that your image is being used as clickbait on YouTube? I saw something this morning. >> Yes, indeed. >> Really? >> Um I'm going to have a a major announcement coming in the next few days. Uh and I'm not going to be alone in confronting some of these um And you know what? I'm not going to say
[44:13] anything. I'm going to have a big, very positive announcement coming in the next few days. >> Positive is good. Um Oh, and by the way, thanks for the two bucks, uh DJ. Much uh >> [sighs] >> Uh pa pa pa pa pa pa >> Hey, uh we're not hawking any coffee today, huh? >> Oh, you know what? That is [laughter] That's a That is like not true. That can't be true. And in fact, here we go. Let's Let's Let's do that.
[44:44] Thank you for the reminder. I'm just not as good without Robbie. So, [clears throat] 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
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[45:46] something, just like Rumble does. And you'll be drinking the coffee that gets Robbie West up two full hours earlier than we do for to do this show. Okay. >> Very good. >> Thank you. >> [laughter] >> I will say >> Inside joke there. >> I'm not uh I'm not a fan of this mushroom coffee, but my my partner drinks it and she loves it. >> I love mushrooms, but I don't like mushrooms. But I don't like mushroom
[46:17] coffee. >> I just love coffee. I love the the taste that I love just you know, one of the things about about Starbucks and I I got this from the book Starbucked which is a it's it was a a number one best seller from 20 years ago. It's a historical document. Love the book. But Starbucks roasts its coffee to within 5 seconds of it turning to ash. And I freaking love the taste. I just love it. I mean every morning I I make a
[46:47] quadruple. You know, a quadruple mocha. >> 22 Mike Mike. John, as you have a speaking engagement in Vietnam coming up, would you like to shed some light on it? Um also, any thoughts about former CIA officer Frank Snepp who wrote the decent interval >> Yeah, Frank Snepp Afghanistan. >> Frank Snepp was a giant. He was one of the one of the great analysts of his generation. He was practically the first one to call Vietnam the way it really
[47:17] was and uh and that we were losing there and that we were committing atrocities. He paid for it with his career. Brilliant author. He had to fight the CIA's publications review board practically to the end of his life. Deep respect for Frank Snepp. Um the speech in Vietnam is going to be on the morning of the 10th of August. I'm I'm represented right now by a speakers bureau in New York called Gotham Artists and they booked this speech for me to give to 300
[47:48] Australian investment bankers at their annual convention. And my brother-in-law is so excited that he's going to go with me. We're going to We're going to meet in Washington. We're going to fly to uh South to to Vietnam through South Korea. And um and take a couple of extra days for ourselves. I've never been to Vietnam. I've always wanted to go. And uh I think this is going to be a blast. >> Are you going to Do you have anything on
[48:19] your on your list? Like are you going to Hanoi Hilton or the tunnels? >> Yes and yes. Yes to both. I only regret that I don't have more than you know 5 days because otherwise I'd have a bunch of suits custom made too. You can get them custom made for 100 bucks a piece. And uh >> Oh, like in Hong Kong. >> Yeah, just like in Hong Kong. Yeah. >> Yeah. Although I I don't find my You You're in more need of suits these days than I am. >> Yeah, I think so. I think I am. >> Yeah. Or you could be Or you could just
[48:50] you know, put on your hoodie. Um Daddy of Triplets, thoughts from both as as are we as a country so far to the left and right that a John Kasich type of candidate, remember him, has no chance? I'm stuck in the middle with what seems like no representation. >> Yeah. Yeah, exactly. >> I think Yeah. I mean, I'm not going to get into you know, my personal feelings about you know, where things ought to be. But yeah, no, I don't think there's any place in the current political
[49:21] environment for that kind of you know, one from column A one from column B type candidate anymore. >> Yes. Agreed. >> Uh you know, the the It's But the thing is I kind of would take issue with left versus right. It's Democrat versus Republican is what we have going on and it's about teams. You know, what's our favorite sport? It's politics. And people follow They love their team. It's not about It's really not about anything else. >> Yeah. Somebody just called John Fetterman
[49:51] fetid fetidman. [laughter] Frasmentaz did. I love that. I wish I had thought of that. >> [snorts] >> Uh train 9517. Ted, I'd be interested in hearing about a time in your career when you faced significant challenges or found yourself in a difficult situation. How did that experience shape your worldview? Well, we don't have a lot of time here. Um you know, at some point um I would recommend that you go listen to I think we have it on YouTube um also the uh Ted Rall A Life. You could you know, one of the whole hours is about my
[50:23] lawsuit with the LA Times. That was such a moment and there have been others professionally. Um I was sued by Blockbuster Video um in the in the in the '90s for doing a cartoon that accused their CEO of being a right-wing Christian nutcase, which was fair because he was a right right-wing Christian nutcase. Um but it was very stressful. I had I was very poor. I was just starting out as a syndicated cartoonist. I was making like 400 bucks a month um for San Francisco Chronicle
[50:54] features. And you know, the next thing you know, I've been slapped with a $10 million lawsuit in New York court in and I had to it was horrible. And I have like you know, TV vans parked in front of my shitty little walk-up apartment in Hell's Kitchen. Um and >> this is terrible. >> It was it was rough. But I mean it you know, and so basically it was kind of like I have I was working at the time I had a day job working you know, as a file clerk at Columbia University. And I like was running to the subway with reporters
[51:25] chasing me. Um and it was just like the the disjoint between the fact that I was a cartoonist who appeared in the New York Times and the fact that I was still working full-time and not making any money. And so basically all of the stress of being a big-time cartoonist without any of the protection or any of the money. That I really rough and basically you just have to center yourself and just you know, I mean you know how it is. You just you you can't go on, you must go on. You know, I mean >> Tell me about it.
[51:55] >> There's no choice. >> I had every I had every network in America in their giant vans with their spotlights parked in front of my house. >> Yeah, that's >> It was rough. >> salacious >> Yeah, it's salacious. Um Yeah, they were buzzing at all hours of the night, too. Um I never uh let's see. I never heard about Blockbuster censoring until Ted. I missed that. I was too young to know. Yeah, um well, it's I wish I'd forgotten. Uh but yeah, I guess that'll happen someday. Um
[52:27] Pittsburgh says I I shouldn't even say that Kasich is socially moderate. I should say that he's totally moderate compared to someone as rabid as Trump. I think that's well said. Um Kasich was considered a right-wing nut when he was in Congress. >> Which is funny. He actually was considered a right-wing nut when he was in Congress. >> Yeah, it was a tonal thing. It's like how John John McCain was a rabid right-winger, but he he had a calm voice. >> Yeah. John McCain, I I disagree with John
[52:58] McCain on 95% of the issues, but man, nobody nobody on Capitol Hill was a bigger supporter of mine than John McCain. >> That's amazing. Um RAC wants to know if we have any updates on Jamal Thomas. I'm afraid not. Last I heard was um you know, he was recovering. You know, it's a process. >> Let me see if I have his cell phone. I must. I'm >> I have it. >> Okay, good. >> Yeah, if you don't have it, I'll send it to you. Um all right, John, we have a
[53:30] few minutes left. >> it. >> So Uh Victor Orban, PM of Hungary, um vetoed any European country's leader can veto uh any EU decision to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The [snorts] um the the EU was going to lend a bunch of money more to Ukraine. I mean, you know, it's like not really that generous, but lend it to them and also impose new
[54:00] sanctions against Russia. I don't know what new sanctions they found hiding up between the sofa cushions, but they uh and but Viktor Orbán is pissed because the Ukrainians are accused in his mind of disrupting this uh this oil pipeline from Russia that goes via Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia. And he's like, "You're cutting off our oil. >> Yet another >> the Ukies any more money." >> Yeah, yet another winter. >> Right? >> Yeah, yet another winter. Um I'm
[54:31] inclined to believe the Ukrainians are guilty of what they're accused of here. >> Agreed. >> think? >> Yeah, I'm I'm no fan of Orbán's, but I think he's right. >> And you know, and and so he's being accused of I mean, the other thing is do you really at this point want to throw good money after bad? I mean >> See, that's a good question. I don't. Like as an American taxpayer, I don't. >> I mean, but whatever you think of the cause, I mean, the Ukrainians are not going to win this. And it's also it was very funny to me. Zelensky recently said, you know,
[55:03] pointed out, "Well, Russia hasn't achieved all their goals." And then Russia's like, "We have not achieved all our goals. That's why it's still going on." It was pretty funny. That's a really characteristically Russian response. >> Yeah. It is. And you know, this is the thing, too. It comes back to the the question of like why why won't the Russians settle this? Because they're winning. There's no reason to settle this. They're winning. >> Um hey, this is a good This is a good
[55:34] suggestion, Flanderina. Have you guys considered setting up a way we can submit questions before the show? >> Oh, that's a good question. >> Well, there is a way. >> Oh, is there? >> Yeah, I mean, we have an email address. We could just say uh >> didn't even know we had an email address. >> We do. Um so, uh let me see if I can if I can So, we could uh I'm but but let me talk to Robbie and find out what the best way to do this is. Maybe cuz we need a way for them to be handleable and sort of arrangeable in a way for Robbie to be able to put them
[56:04] up. >> Cuz currently, Robbie filters them through and posts them and then we watch them in real time, but he sorts through so we don't have to read all the non-question comments. >> Right. >> And um and so, but if when Robbie's not available like to as today, there's no way to do that. But, that's a great idea. Um we could I mean, we could just set up an a question inbox and um I mean, I The thing is, I don't want to open zillions of emails. So, I'm wondering what the best logistical way to do that
[56:35] is. Um I don't know. I guess maybe you could just put the question in the subject line, right? Then you could just see it you see it all as a list. That's probably the way. >> Yeah. >> Or we could set up a we could set up a a uh well, yeah, a WhatsApp or something like that. >> Teddy, >> It's a good idea. >> We only have about a minute or a minute and a half left. I've got to ask you as a New Yorker, >> Mhm. >> what do we make of this giant snowball fight yesterday? >> Oh, good. I'm glad you brought that up.
[57:07] So, so Washington Square Park uh in Greenwich Village is uh you know, basically has always been kind of like the center of counterculture fun in New York. It's where the Halloween parade ends up for in a big party. Um it's uh it's in the summer, it's kind of raucous. You're always able to buy drugs there. Um so, and there's always like street performances and stuff. So, anyway, uh a spontaneous snowball fight broke up broke out between young people, mostly boys,
[57:38] in in the park. Someone dropped a dime on the snowball fight and called 911. >> Because that's what you do when somebody is going to throw snow. >> Right. These are obviously Well, this reminds me of the time in the early '80s when I had first moved to New York and uh there were police helicopters over my apartment. Learn literally there was a raccoon in the street and the NYPD had been dispatched to do something about it. I'm like, there's nothing to do. It is a raccoon.
[58:09] >> [laughter] >> There's just ignore it. But anyway, um yeah, so they called they called the cops. The cops came and then the kids started were started throwing snowballs at the cops. The cops are acting like it was a 9/11 terrorist act um and the police unions are winging and they're pressuring the mayor. The mayor had a pretty good response. Um this is a this is right-wing Um you know, the cops shouldn't have responded at all. Um to the extent that I have any sympathy
[58:39] here for the police, it was very wet icy snow and it was like probably not a lot of fun to catch a big wet icy snowball at the back of the head and I think a couple of cops claimed to have been mildly injured. So, that kind of sucks. The cops shouldn't have been there in the first place though is my take. What's yours? >> Yeah, the cops shouldn't have been there in the first place, but the New York Post should be ashamed of itself for making it this Mumdani versus the cops, you know, riot. >> Ridiculous. >> what it was. It was a snowball fight.
[59:11] >> And I like what Mumdani said. He said, you know, leave the cops alone. If you want to throw a snowball at someone, throw it at me. >> There you go. >> All right. Anyway, all right, thanks John. We will see you back. We're here Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. and then which means we'll be back tomorrow Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time. Thanks for watching. Please stay tuned for a TMI show with me and Mele Chan coming up right now. Bye. Bye, everybody. >> [music] [music]