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the wealth of japan save america, I'm jon, love it. I'm tommy, vietor Jon favour was off this week. His friend, JO koy, asked him to help him we offer the golden globes, but he'll, be back. John is on parental leave, but he will be back as soon as next week because he has a sickness, cfc rules, and this is the kia Andre show it's the january sixth anniversary and Biden and trump got a speeches congress, as always, is trying to fund the government as a shutdown looms. Defense secretary, lloyd, austin's, mysterious hospitalization over new years leads to questions. the chain of command and republicans continue to fight the culture were on college campuses, plus new york times congressional correspondent? Any carney joints at all A tumor and johnson zeal, republican impeachment increase and a lease

the war on harvard, but first late last week president bide mark the third, firstly, of the january six attack on the capital, with a speech setting up the threat posed by trump and the choice in the twenty twenty four election today we here to answer the most important questions. Is democracy still America's sacred cars? tromp won't do what an american president must do. He refuses to denounce political violence. Nowadays, these maggie voices who know the truth about trump ungenerous six have abandoned. The truth is abandoned democracy. They make their choice. How the rest of us Democrats, independence, mainstream republicans, needs to make our choice. We all know. Donald trump is a question. We have to answer

who are we? So I did a great job taking out the applause tommy. What did you wouldn't be happy january sixth anniversary by them? Yeah yeah? No, it's the it some three years dearest flies when you're having whatever warehouse dorm in the capital. Yet It's just a bike rack. I thought it was as good as it is powerful. I mean, I think, a speech on threat to democracy can sound a little abstract, but really he walked you through some of the worst moments of the trump presidency. I talked about january six. He talked about trump, refusing to call off the the violent insurrectionist in the cabin. He talked about trump, inciting political violence and laughing about it. What does of Paul Pelosi all the time still, even though we know the full story there? He talked about that The suckers and losers comment. So you know It was. It was a good abolition of all the ways. The trump is a threat to democracy.

So reminded everybody the legal challenge, the trump lost, including in red states and with trump judges, insert that cuts to the heart of trump continuing to say that the selection was Stolen or rig door when everyone caught in so look at me as a one off thing. You they're Biden were a lot of this speech. In south carolina again today- and I think this will all fold into a broader argument about just how extreme trump is on a whole host of different issues. Yet there's a lot of people that have been saying draw, the contrast you can't you have. The campaign has to begin. The campaign has to begin It's a dozen he's trying do that or a few ways he sort of frames. The fight against trump one is a trumpet out forms and not for you want, is a trump is a loser and others. A trump is violent and anti democratic. Was there any one that stood out to you any one that you thought was the strongest version of an attack from button? You don't I liked one line of this, the strongest

im intact, but a line that jumped out at me was trump is trying to steal history. In the same way, he tried to steal the election. I really liked that, and it spoke to the way he's trying to rewrite history and memory hole while we all watched happen live on tv. What three years ago, yeah he's got a very like personally frustrated. I also appreciated. We've talked about this, a lot that, like abdomen, threats to democracy, can sound abstract. I'm glad that there was no reference in the speech to schedule F government employment rules as much as its important. I agree that had to be barton whiggery. He really tried at a few places in not for the first time, but I think clearly like recognising that people dont totally get the connection to their daily lives like democracy as the place where we go to make change democracies the place where we try to make sure people

at opportunities, it's where you can be yourself, oh he's- trying to find a way to make it relate to people. Part of this is you can really feel binds genuine fury like yes, their strategy in it. But I do think this comes from this place where it's just very personal. You mention the pall pelosi piece of it could play the decline. I have when Biden talks, but then at his rally he jokes about an intruder. Whipped up by the big chuffed lie, taking a hammer to paul Pelosi skull. He thinks that's funny. He laughed about what a sick I think this despicable sears, I just repressive, ready persons in you really feel like. I can't believe it. He does a candle

We were talking about us yeah. That was that there was a moment where he seemed genuinely angry and emotional. The other momentary seemed genuinely really angry and emotional was referencing trump calling dead soldiers, suckers and losers busy brought up, his son who passed away Joe Biden said repeatedly because of inhaling toxic fumes from burn pets when he is deployed overseas, so yeah, those a moment or you can tell he really feels yet and, unlike there's on theirs moral indignation of it, but it's also his continued. The disbelief at the country would get behind some online thats. We makes the point talks about all this and he says that the country rejected trumpet twenty twenty, but also that the country has continued reject election deniers as they did in twenty twenty two. How much of this is a message to voters? Surely it's but how much of it is also. This is a speech geared towards engage democrats him in doing a ton of hand, wringing to remind them have a winning message and that Joe Biden as the person who can carry it here. I think that it's alive

That is a lot of reminding everybody. What the stakes of the election are, even if you're frustrated about something happening right now he's trying to pay this bigger picture of the true threat. This guy poses Donald trump poses and I do the affirm people who isn't it a show. It probably seems like a bizarre to suggest You would need to do that, but donald trump spin road we out of the limelight for awhile and off the front pages and off twitter, and so there's a lot of regular voters who who have kind of forgotten yeah, it's sort of like there is a divorce we've. We we we dont like living with mamma. You know it's not as nice as we thought, I was gonna, be were not as happy, but we forget that. There's nothing in dad's fridge that doesn't take care of us. It's fun. You know he's kooky does have hbo, there's no hbo, you just don't feel safe when you're a damn, though you know you just don't feel safe at no point in this speech does, president by

indore acknowledge it republican primary. Basing your experience in iowa is he wrong to dismiss Nicky enron and vague. at this point and there has not been a good poll out of iowa in awhile that will change this week. Appreciate the registers in the field right now and I will state a bunch of outlets, but try does not seem at all worried proclaiming an hour. I would see our trump. You're doin, his warm up act was marine matt whittaker. the toilet salesmen, such temporary attorney general right right right, yes, yeah, so normally in iowa, you kind of like try to play the expectations game. You say we have to do well, but you want to say we have to win right. Matt Whitaker said we set the record for the largest margin of victory in iowa caucus history, so they want to blow it out. Well, I was thinking about that because it, the largest

margin in iowa history like he's on track for that right now, with some room to spare right like it's, not it's not close their word about complacency, their word about people thinking we got this in the bag, so we're just going to stay home cause. It might be the coldest iowa caucus day in history, things supposed to be seven degrees, whereas that climate change- dogma, so you may want to show their votes turn out as our it now, and you were just an hour. I saw I'm doing natural say what your plan, so there you did. You have a two episode special to pursue What will come you're here is a tuesday tomorrow, wednesday attempts and friday the twelve. Now that we're coming up to right, right, yeah, right, yeah that and it's you are in iowa, just in iowa where women were literally like. I was editing. The second episode before I came in I'll continue editing and after, but we're going to record the rest of it tomorrow and the raindrop it nice, except it was very fun-

we saw a bunch of events. We actually got into the degrom swami's campaign, bus and interviewed him. So all that is committed to a vague you get a grainy like him who we swapped numbers? Oh really! No, I don't think he likes me to be totally honest. Well, that's right! Good! but he doesn't seem like someone you wanna be liked by. He said. I think Train of you me said that was less disappointing than I thought it was going to be, and the ethics as well It's a condescending anyway check it out, it'll, be in a pod, save america feed. Tomorrow there were two stories this week, one about president obama and the post, suggesting that president Biden to empower the campaign more and one about Jim kleiber, worried about the campaign not breaking through everybody's are grappling with the fact that we face this radical extreme, politically unpopular movement, and yet pull after poll shows how rough political environment it is The signal one at a time: what did you make it a story about the meeting between president obama present button, so the washing post said, That Obama's message was basically unit

Some senior people on a campaign staff that you trust and that are empowered to make decisions. So you don't have to run every through your white, our staff that to me was like a very nuts and bolts, very tactical observation about how a campaign can be run. Well. Obama then gets this a fifty. Fifty country is going to be a tight race. it was pretty banal in inoffensive like the post hard to make it a bigger thing about their relationship, and is it really a bro manson? Seemingly talk to some people who are still now Add that obama discouraged by from running and twenty sixteen but my reaction. That is guys he's pines president, like we gotta get past the shit, it will not that big deal. It was a strange. It was strange because I was a such a is also like credibly mild critique about like management. Basically, just so people know like it's a slightly unusual structure, the campaign itself

for a long time was very, very small. It stayed small and his closes. Advisers have been in the white house, as opposed to say, like David acts or operative, applaud her in the campaigner. it's like okay, maybe that's a good idea. I don't either I'm gonna Zuma, not short yards six one after the other. I have no idea, but it this is Obama's taken. It doesn't seem offensive word. You know that you, was sounding the alarm so yeah very typical and strange. Then there was this kleiber and story which came out of an interview he did with jake tapper on CNN. Ah, let's, let's roll the the club he promised to relieve student loan debt and he has done that, but one part of his promise. He was not able to keep because six republican attorneys general and the united states supreme court with six to three

vote stopped him from doing so, but he sought another way and he is given a hundred and thirty two billion dollars to three point. Four million people is still long dead, but not by rights above nobody talks about that. It was later we deserve like what that's a as a compliment yet that was a whole. They are classic, sir. You don't have any policy problems. You have communications problems, yes, duration. People were sort of like spitting this up cause it. You know he said that that the I have seen having trouble breaking through the mega wall and fair enough of CBS Poland. and even though there's been an uptick in the share of americans, have a positive view of the economy. Biden isn't receiving any credit, even in the interview jake says to cliburn sounds like you. Should I go with the you're making a really good case. How much of this is just an like? carbon. Basically saying like, let's have a campaign right. I don't yes

we're all over this impulse, everyone's anxious about the same numbers, the young, your times poll of swing states that showed some softness with Biden. Among the social democrats and younger voters of color was concerning, and I think everyone's reacting to that. Still the can in his ramping up a sarcasm biden: staffers who say worries We're travel by the president vice president, soon they're going to speak to these things. Is your hearing among Democrats, they're gonna reconnect with supporters there gonna, send staff the key states, you're gonna, see the BP doing reproductive freedom, tour they're, getting it's going, it's awkward when you don't have an opponent, yet the The state of the union is a little later than usual. This year can be march seventh, so that traditionally, is a big kind of moment. Campaigns in the in the reelect. So I think it's all happening

happening a little slower than folks want on the communication side, nozzle some attacked a call. You no kind of getting up camping infrastructure, young and like some of this is people are genuinely, and I think rightly concerned about binds liabilities, and the question I think everybody has fairly is: will those shift when a campaign begins in earnest now well, that's when this should be happening. It's twenty hits here join four is here that the twenty twenty four campaign was always going to happen in twenty twenty four, but I do think people wanting it happened? Right now is, I think, a response to want it. Basically, they feel this incredible pressure. They feel that the the reality that, like these pulsar fucking terrible their terrible their concerns. They want the numbers be better. I think the the challenge be rolling out. Some big policy speech or announcement.

Now in the midst of a republican primary, is probably just not going to get covered. I think a lot of these problems. Basically Clarence were saying you've done a lot of great stuff. Voters don't know about it. I really think we are just so far past the point where liquor good surrogate operation to solve that problem and he's gonna take billions of dollars in paid media and that's all and in the end there is no answer to it. It's him take everything is good. It is actually takes billion dollars in advertising. It's gonna take surrogates, it's gonna take people out sleep in their own lives, talking to their friends and family and posting about it. You know this dislike fact about how much student debt Biden was able to be able to eliminate, despite the fact the supreme court stepped in to stop the whole plan is a really good fact. It's not a fact. People oh, and sometimes I think it's like okay yeah, the Biden campaigns do everything they can to get that fact out there. But at a certain point it's a it's just a criticism of society like yeah, we got we. We we need them to do everything, but actually it's gonna be on. It's gonna individuals decide

if they are going to be surrogates for the Biden campaign yeah, I'm not I'm not sort of absolving the white house of responsibility or are saying they. They can't have done more done better. I just think that We wait as ever always the last guy didn't sell his accomplishments. Well, I will do that, and the reality. Is that the swing voters? The voters- are paying attention, there's not consuming the media that we need them consume and you're gonna get them through paid advertising and surrogate operations and a field campaign and all the things and yes, we should ramp that up sooner than later, the temperature it also just depends on. Yes, we need a binding. I made you everything they can, but also it will require the country to pay attention and they will- and we have to sort of be there when they're paying attention to that point, and you would be it. I was walking around? I waited two weeks out from the caucasus talking to republican. I will carcass course who Presumably. Some of the most politically engage people you'll ever meet. The number of people who told me haven't made up their minds yet is always astounding. It's like the majority people talk to me like I'm so

decided now that could because I wasn't a troop of its nose like radio events and dissent as events, but like people just you know they don't think about the stuff until they have to in tommy's home state of iowa trump took a very different approach and marking january sixth rollback club. What they done and they already are they oughta do they release the j six the june list. I got a message. People call a brazen psychology passages, hostages, release. A j six hostage Joe really, Joe. You can do it really easy joe. we're its. I didn't do it like that Joe It's been it's medicine as a pejorative or something wrong with the name, Joe. I don't know it's something like it feels vaguely I want to know why, Joe as unsettled like a nightmare of yours like up like it, I don't like it, Tromp is not alone in referring to the january six.

sureness I've been convicted by juries of their peers as hostages, harvard alarm. Ellie stefanik said this have concerns about the treatment of january six hostages. I have concerns. We have a role in congress of oversight over our treatment of prisoners and I believe that we are seeing the weapon association of the federal government against not just president tromp, but we're seeing it against conservatives. Do these use there's a remote artists, goes back to that line, trumpets trying to steal history in the same way trying to steal the election, and these guys are trying to rewrite history and memory hole. What happened in treat there was a video clip. They came out late last week shot one of these insurrectionists through a hole. In the glass door between damn and I think either the house chamber or the Senate chamber where you can see a police officer aiming a gun at them and he's insurrections are saying if we have to hang a couple of congress

will do it. You know I mean there's just no doubt these people were incredibly violent and deserve to have been arrested. Yet I mean that's the part. I again it's like Biden's a m indignation coming through, but he talks about the speech he says after it happened. Republicans acknowledge this was a humiliation that this was dangerous. This was terrible, but over time, they've come to this position, but the american people saw what happened on television and I had to believe that still true I mean republicans- have slowly but surely embraced the lie, but I do think what binds counting on which I think is right is that most americans are not in this right wing bubble and find the idea of referring to these people as hostages to be 'em, despicable, yeah. I figured the exact it was bang the washington post had a poll last week that had like fifty five percent of the country think it was a horrible moment in our history or or something like that. whatever the case then more more republicans have. And sold these conspiracy theories that federal agent,

or the f b I were in the crowd. They were inciting people that they set up these january six protesters that they're being treated unfairly in some way, but I I don't think most of the country buys that didn't any of those I e meaning of those people you're all right, other anyone J six types now but like going to the number. Then you saw the cruelty nature of it. Like there is, if there is family that was big enough, that they, others on the other shut. Shuttles you take to the rental car place at the airport. Yeah family was big enough. They needed one of those they all had matching sweatshirts on with little american flags and trump twenty twenty four and then different accomplishments on the back that were like that's, not fair trade pack, unlike of seven year old, the and the group of people that come out for Eric trump, those are the those are not undecided voters at isolating his views.

Good I'll come speech was good. Now it resonated c'mon on do mean good I'd. I'd brings me good. No pleasure to the euro will remove. He was resonate with the audience. We talked to a woman. You said he got her to switch. Her vote mean wow man who now, if there is is Eric. The one is either. Is he the Earl S? An l convinced us that he was the dumb one in the dawn was a smart one based on their stare sketch, but I don't think that's her trump. Also, he truths that It would be right for indictment by weapon as india, J against political opponent me, Joe, has opened a giant pandora's box, so now is basically openly threatening to indict yo button right while our, asserting that he hasn't unity, tubby outright, that either this device billy's regularly as immunity from russia, He doesn't have immunity which has Joe Biden two fuckin danger either way it makes total logical sense so

the question of immunity is before the supreme court late last week, the supreme court also agreed to decide whether trump is eligible for colorado's republic in primary ballots. You know I had this at we had lawrence drive on again. I'm just reminded that he's it were, but you just too smart lawyers talked about the news. I continue to believe that this is nuts, and this, like we're all just it's all big cycle waiting for the supreme court to say, that, of course, colorado's court can't decide trumps not eligible, but when you think I mean could imagine some small percentage schanz, where a bunch of so called original us read. This. jude in the original way behind the donald trump can't, I guess, but I think what the proudly say he is wasn't convicted of anything yet, but the voters, the side is my guess and then and then what will I e on and then we can try back on and back on, you'll, just you just shut down. It was so used to use he's so

thoroughly defeated me in that conversation. What are you gonna say? I dunno this man's like read. The constitution said it needs study then enter, but I prep for like an hour yeah, I still think is nuts I get. I did all amazon l sat score, a lot of confidence, one of their story that broke just as we're about to record. Ah, the threat of political violence like it's very real. It's in speculative, it's not speculative assets, not even speculative to the people inside of trump's orbit, who view political violence as a as a means to them. gaining and retaining power. Audio came out today, as we were recording that has roger stone, trump adviser, long time, right, right, wing, freak rat, fucker, the trump commuted, an pardon, roger stone, ok, directly explicitly threatening jerry nadler. Eric swallow, as well as a d o j prosecutors in a conversation with sao greco and off to D n Y p d comp, I think we have transcript. We don't have the audio what he said about

While a nod is its time, this house was, it is it's time to do it. Let's go find swallow it's time to do it then we'll see how brave the rest of them are. It's time to do it, it's either adler or swalwell has to die before the election. They need to get the message: let's go, find Swalwell and get this over with I'm just not putting up with this anymore you're talking to guy himself greco great good name. the former and my pd officer served as security for stone. They also talked about Aaron Zelensky, the the deputy to bob mueller stone says he needs to be punished. You have to abduct him and punish him. That has to be done. It will be easy to abduct him because he is a weakling. Rottenstone says there I, but to find out assuming that this is not artificial intelligence as prey. Well, the editor that seems bat. It's a good reminder that it only takes one person to commit political violence, one baby disturb person in something really bad. and so yeah. I dont think anything Joe Biden that speeches hyperbolic. Yet it So, like a lot of,

When we talk about trump and political violence, we talk about people taking trump at his word. And the kind of random disgruntled aggrieved, angry fucked up person, taking trumps rhetoric to its logical conclusion, and then you know trunk and stand back and they all. I was just giving a speech of the capital in these other people went too far. I was just saying that the poor in the blood of our country. It now I'm not responsible. Someone goes in shoots up a fucking store, but this is a case where a trump advisers, one very close to transfer, is less blizzard led directly seeking help from as someone who is in law enforcement to help him go and do violence against his political opponent, yet very scary person- and it just tells you like that's- who these people are, that's their attitude towards. Ah what they should do to people that stand in the rake right cause. These are now swell, while these prosecutors, these are all people that were making roger sounds like how broad zones also cut on tape. Saying the day before generous sixth fuck, the voting, let's get right to the violence, shoot to kill. That's what he's telling much a problem.

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pod save america is brought to you by policy genius start the new year, knowing you found the right life insurance to protect your family with a policy genius. So if something were to happen to you, your family can cover expenses while getting back on their feet. Luckily, palsy genius helps you compare your options from top companies and their team of licensed expertise. On hand to help you through it look there's a lot of things. You say: you're gonna do at the end of the year. You know there's like that lived long list of things. He said you were going to do and then the holidays, commune I do it to end up like the first couple of weeks of january, actually doing the things you said you would do at the end of last year. That's this! That's what this is, for. You know part of your to do. List is shopping for life insurance policy. Geniuses technology makes it easy to compare life insurance quotes from americas, insurers in just a few clicks. Even if you have a life insurance policy through work, it may not offer enough protection for your family's needs and it may not follow you. If you leave your job with policy genius, you can find life insurance policies that start at just two hundred ninety to die where's per year for one million dollars of coverage. Some options offer same day approve. And avoid unnecessary medical exams say

at the time and money and gave your family a financial safety net, with policy genius head to policy genius, dot com or click. The link in the description to get your free life insurance quotes and see how much you could save that's palsy genius dot com. This show is sponsored by better help. What are some things you want to keep same about yourself or your life and twenty twenty four can neither at the tough. When everything is perfect I would want ginger thing where you already crushing it advocates. I think that what do you think tiger? around the new year. We get obsessed with how to change ourselves instead of just expanding on what were already doing right, maybe finally organise. One part of your space and you want to tackle another or maybe you're, taking supplements every morning like tommy. And now you want to actually eat breakfast to sing like love, it vibes helpful therapy. Fellur nice therapy helps you find your strength, so you can ditch the extreme resolutions and make changes that really stick

if you're thinking of starting therapy give better help a try. It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, flexible and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get match with a licensed therapist and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Celebrate the progress. You've already made visit better health dot com, slash p s a today to get ten percent off your first month. That's better help! H e l, p, dot com, slash psc. Is an odd story, surgery, defence, lloyd Austin? He was hospitalized on january first for complications from an electoral procedure. He had on December twenty second, but one problem, nobody knew about it until days later seen it reporting that even deputy secretary Kathleen hicks was kept in the dark about a stay at walter reed, which is a problem because she would have been acting secretary defense during that time. Austin has apologies,

as, but is this a big deal and what happens if you need a secretary defence but he's not returning your texts? Yeah! That's a that's a good question! I mean, I think, if this story was just the department of fence failing to notify the press corps and congress about and being in the hospital. That would still not be ok, but it wouldn't necessarily be surprising. These are organizations I think they have different value. Our privacy. but let me get a quick, quick brazilian butler. If you don't need to fucking, tell the washington post about going to Libya mean you could imagine an embarrassing elective procedure that he just didn't want talking about whatever that's fine hipaa or something right, yeah hip, What makes this story so weird? Is the pentagon Ellie notify the white house, or even the deputy secretary defence who had assumed some of us into responsibility, said the other part of that shit, assume some the responsibilities and still didn't know that he was in the house I don't even understand that by the way like how do you just click five, why

Well, I mean, I think there are times when you're gonna be busier, something where you can delegates some operational responsibilities. Your deputy just cause. I don't know why they view our flight, who knows, but although the secular events would never be at a communication rach because of the plane he flies or not, and is not unalaska jetted, seven, seven hundred and eighty nine second, second armed out that you're the doomsday plan which is famously connected, everything can watch nuclear missiles, but the washing posting politico said that would essence. Chief of staff was also out. Very sick, full disclosure she's, a friend of mine who worked together in the obama days, but not your feet. Antidote it seems unfair and ridiculous suggests that, like only kelly, can notify people like there's there's a lot of people the pentagon. So I like I don't know the if any building would trip Oliver itself and create a problem like this because of overly rigid job descriptions didn't reporting structures, it would be the pentagon. I big picture dwelling,

it's a political brand for Biden, probably not, but we don't know the full story. So, who knows, and also republicans are very good at making non issues into huge deals like look at benghazi, but my guess is no one's going to talk about this and month, but it's just it's weird is weird, though the question I had, which is unclear from I dunno: if is caring, what thought that like was he awake and just sort of like you know what I mean like a resistant anesthesia situation, if it if you're say, if you're going in cause you're having a a complication but you're still cannot cope, has mantis like. Maybe that's why you're justifying this is my business. You know I getting this laser harem over when really south. On me, out of what, I mean there was a military strike taken in, I think, a rock on junior, fourth and there was some reporting that said He was monitoring it, so I dont know if that means he was awake the whole day or who knows yeah, it's all pretty opaque, I think

the aid sucks be getting more broadly oskinson of have a good job, especially the work to cobble together this coalition to his work, crane and we'll Biden really likes him. So don't he's gone anywhere. Yeah, There are people calling for his resignation, but it does seem like a pretty good case of I won't. Do it again right here, lesson learned yeah. It was a real ap siena. You know that nobody gets his brow, lift or whatever else is pec implants he can. He can make sure he text somebody, but I mean if, if the jigsaw then or Jeff's eyes, or someone at the white house, you're, probably come over and sing like he guys gotta clean this up right yeah. Well, he did issue he did issue. A statement was like a full apology, was sort of like damon but an explanation, I think that congress will demanded. The latter lie, story I touch on is a bit with any karni later, but the fall out from those college president's whipping on that anti semitism hearing somehow continue

clotting gay resigned from harvard interfacing plagiarism allegations. Republicans are also planning more hearings to go after you know what what they describe as sort of woke policies on college campuses, do they republicans are overplaying just how much people care about what happens on a few elite campuses. That's a good question: why do we care so much about what happens at harvard versus any the other? Many campuses in this country. I'd look eight. I we talked about hearing on December fifth, where all these college residents whipped on the very easy answer is, is saying genocide against Jews, bad or something they get you in trouble. Obviously, anti semitism is bad. It's a serious problems than worsens the october some of the tax, and they did not address it in a way that was at all sufficient. What happened of clothing gay I mean. Do you care about pleasures and I think I myself worked up eyes. Here's what I like, I just took care. I

I only care in so much as when it happens to kids. Sometimes they get really fucked and when it happens to the professors, everybody can kind of be a little bit more 'em kind about it. I don't like that way in which institutions protect them. as in any cover of context, but the issue I have with all of this is these republicans. I mean obviously they're hypocrites. It goes without saying, but I think it's worth noting like they are doing their version of what they decry the left as witches. Someone said something that they didn't like: that's why they are happening beast the inner institutions. They already were pissed about that. They already found deplorable in various ways. Some one said something dumb or bad that got them and try and so they wanted to cancel them. So they went combing through their stuff and they found problems right it seems as though basically like there there was. You know on attributed stuff. It was very funny when harvard called it like on a trip

Id under source material or something like that, because they didn't want to call it plagiarism of hers, which was adorable where they couldn't get out of it. But it's like okay, so you have a prob, you didn't think claudine gay was a plagiarist. He just didn't like her. He didn't like what she represented for a variety of reasons, including the fact that she was a black woman leading this institution. And so he went and found something unrelated that you could use to get rid of this person. That's what Ok, if it means anything, that's what cancer culture is. That's it. You want to get rid of someone who sets me likely have found a way to do it. So, obviously, that that to me is a problem, but, like stepping back, do I think most people give a fuck about what happens at a few very fancy colleges, I don't I I just I don't under I like. I get the value of the to their base. Like I see that hyper online right, wingers, hyper online anti woke people love this topic. They are winners who want to feel like losers. Nothing makes them feel more,

you ve been saying they can't say what they want to say. Ah, I get all that, but I have to imagine a typical person is not paying close. Attention is like so what is this hearing about yeah unless you're sort of in the right wing ecosystem? This approach is completely patsy by I do did unsettling the kind of So there's this guy named bill, ackman he's a billionaire investor and egomaniac and he's sort of decided to become this twitter vigilante and he's leading this movement. It started with going after students at harvard who are verse of student groups that signed a letter saying that Israel was solely to blame for the moss terrorist attack on october. Seventh. That is obviously an idiotic, so inaccurate statement what right yet so that the letter was terrible by what he decided to do Was it an astute normalization signed the letter? He then went and found students who might belong to that group, whether anything to do with the letter of than not and tried to like make it so that they can get job. He demanded

harvard released a list of all members of each group, so the business leaders he said one could blackball them now, nevermind the fact a lot of these kids. They never saw this young damon before went out the right and they're like what are you talking about? I'm just a part of this group at NC this letter anyway, then, but then bill ackman. Just after claudine gay in then business insider reported that developments, wife also committed plagiarism. economic writing in response Acme, freaked out on twitter, said out of bounds, abounds doctors, family and then said he's gonna conductor, plagiarism review of all current mit faculty members, its president and its governing body in this system on trial and then said that business inside of the species and scientists in his wife is really in now actual springer, the parent company, a business insider said: it's gonna review the coverage of actions, wife, not because there any factual errors, but just because they're gonna. So this whole thing is just weird:

and I I don't know what bill ackman doing. If I had a billion dollars, I think I would not spend my time on twitter writing. A thousand word statements. It's you know. I don't care about this fucking guy. I saw someone sent me this message. The creator would have been. I don't have I I logged out of twitter and I'm very proud of myself, pat myself on the back good for you, but someone sent me This manifesto, it's really long, couldn't believe like going to leave out long. It is, and it only three quarters the way down that you realise that oh days, could someone accused his wife of plagiarism and he's really upset about it, and you know this is something that has been going after people so hard showing no grace just short of being so vindictive, but the second it it affected him. Personally, all of a sudden he's like there's a pardon this manifesto, where it says something like gum busy insider is the height of what's wrong with journalism we were on vacation. He worked up about god. I love that I loved it, but

actual reminded this oddly enough, so that so at the golden globes over the weekend, Ricky your vases dumb stand about how you can't say anything anymore. One for best I dunno many specials, a new award and they show a clip Get your re saying, there's a lot a backlash to my last special for saying things you couldn't say, but guess what I said them anyway round of applause twos, and there is this, like a whole group of like successful, wealthy, powerful connected people with a ton of opportunity, a ton of four they can say whatever they want. They can do whatever they want and for whatever reason, the thing they want most of all is to feel like victims in some way to feel like we can't say anything, we can do in every well is robbing as donald trump is part of it, and like this to me as I just it's a stupid small, but like signal example of that whole mentality, your billionaire you can, you can say whatever you want, you sort of like yours,

you're came man. You won that like anti semitism is a real problem in this world. There's gotta be a better way to tackle it than going after random, harvard students or the president, or now every member of the faculty at mit, and I guess that bigger there was a moment when people who grew up social media era started getting elected and there was the we also do wonder, like oh everyone said stuff ever got bad. photos out there is there going to be like kind of a detente where some of this stuff is occurred at about, I wonder for reaching a somewhere moment with a sigh and everyone in academia, because it am so easy to review everything you've ever written against. Everything else have ever been written and, like I've said this before and I'll say it again. Social science is not real and that's important. You know that's an important part of this debate Social science is fake and we all know that but Fortunately, I is going to make that I think a little bit difficult to hide her. You know and that's heads my official position on social science please any complaints? I John love it well,

philosophy major yummy and use that every idea, what kind of a are you are you cartesian duellist or what I am, what it where where's your head on, that? What is the sole doesn't way? Anything don't be. Such a count were own. Look at that look at that. I get rid of them. you know when I started speaking of philosophy is really bothered me Mozart. Listening to what was it, I can't even remember but, oh my god, I know it was assumed arson. It was bill mar talking to watch his name, who created family guy That's my father. I watch the whole thing I m, as it is really a devastating bay. I watched the part about vaccines, but on social media, but at some during the yes, that's why I got into a plan I kept watching it, but then midway through there were, like you know, obama made a really good point once and the point was that if you could, if you could wake up as a random person,

In a random society at any time in history or any place, you choose america today and there, and both of them are like wow. That's a really good and smart analogy from Barack Obama as like, hey guys, the view ignorance, it's John ROZ! That's what I thought when I was listening in my car wasting my own time. Marysville, it's not really mean guy murmur exists doric as job back. Don't worry, don't worry, keep us in your feeds. Keepers in your beads. Are we come back Annie karni of york times the can't stand pfeiffer and I'm here to talk to you about my brand new subscription exclusive series, the poor countries, porthos where's the real political junkies amongst the need for in depth, analysis of the biggest national post, the way voter transit and titus down ballot races. That's all

thus our anxieties together and hopefully will all come away feeling better knowing whether now not it's time to the panic, but you episodes twice a month for friends of the paths. Subscribers is crooked outcomes, france to learn more and sign up for access. There's a lot happening in congress. Republicans are threatening to impeach the homeland security secondary hunter Biden is about to be held in contempt. It least of fauna continues to serve as volunteer h our core later for the ivy league and as yet another governments shut down looms, we got news of a deal between senator, humor and speaker of the house, my johnson, to fund the government here to walk through it. Its new york times can grow corresponding any carney, any welcome to the pod? Thank you. for having me on the pot are: let's starts with the news over the weekend: I deal between humor and johnson. Can you give us, oh

little bit of the lay of the land about what they have agreed to. Yes, they announced yesterday that they had a deal on government spending like top lines and basically it keeps it's basically this spending levels that were agreed to and the debt limit deal the mccarthy and wide and signed in July last year. That was the beginning of the end for mccarthy, and that is sort of where this was always gunnar, and because that was the law, but that's what Johnson agreed to and of course it should therefore come as no surprise that the Ultra conservative Wang the far right members say that it's totally except the butter then, and that where we are same dynamic, new players yeah, it's so that the freedom caucus treated the deal was even worse than we thought,

I don't know. I wonder, who kept Mccarthy feels watching this unfolds from wherever he's on ensconced. how long can my johnson get away with making the same? else Kevin Mccarthy made just by being less hate it. Yet that is that the question of his speakership am, I think, that there's first, I think the anger is already like that. Any honeymoon that existed is over. I think, chip roy who's, a far right member from texas, is positioning himself to be kind of the the Matt gates to my johnson's Kevin Mccarthy. like the guy leading the opposition. Here I mean democrats with our giving him over the doubt saying. Like luck, he was hemmed in by an agreement that can Mccarthy made, but that's not buying in many goodwill, but the right. The only thing I think that it makes a difference. Is that

I don't really sense that everyone wants to touch the hot stove again and vacate the speakership again. That was such a disaster for them, and you write that there's just he's a relatively clean slate there's, not these years and years of hatred and broken promises and stress during like it was kept mccarthy. Yet it is almost as though, because he because come mccarthy was so had so little trust than when he said this was the best. we could get. People didn't believe him, but now it it seems like there are some republicans and seem to be willing to go along with with johnson, but the freedom caucus is furious. Are there ways they gum up? The works and key just talk a little bit about the position therein. given the way their majority has already slam has has has shrunk even more yeah. So, first of all, we have a tight time. French now his we have only like play us

well, digit number of work days before kong congress has to pass this before a government, shutdown and Johnson has promised then that they can get in their policy their hard right policy things through riders, which is like an amendment, but those amendments will never pass the senate. So we're going to see what happens with how he's going to try and thread this needle of telling them they can still get some of what they wanted to this bill. Yet so just to break that down a little squeezes out for medical treatments, they've, had resignation, so their majority is down to. Is it too? Is it two votes from whatever it was and and obviously I and katara is gone? Ah George, santos, so On the one hand, that means, if they're gonna, passing with just Republicans, they need every republican, but because the republicans are so fractious basely. It sounds like what johnson is saying is yet you can propose any bills. You want billy, there won't get a majority of republican to which what we need democrats, so it's dead or it dies where

the senate? Is that basically the gist of it yeah I mean there's no way forward that democratic votes, which is the reality that can Mccarthy faced also the majority, is so slim that lake I mean- and I think that some democrat wondering if there's a moment, this congress that they actually regain the majority before twenty twenty four I mean some of these members have announced not seeking reelection in two thousand and twenty four but are staying, but that could change really easily? What I mean a good job offer comes along. It's. They think it's a miserable existence to be in this congress like so I can see some members leaving before the term is up, and it's really like way too close for comfort. You've you've talked about why it's so miserable and adjust. Obviously, we know congress is dysfunctional.

but I I think it's people don't necessary, appreciate how historically dysfunctional it is so q jog about just how little republicans were able to do in the last year. Yeah so last year, twenty twenty three of the most unproductive ear in congress and decades, even by the lower standards of divided government. When one party controls the house and the other party controls the Senate compared to twenty twenty two, when democrats controlled everything they passed, the first bipartisan partisan gun safety belts decades, they passed the inflation reduction at they pass them really landmark stuff. Last year they managed to do avoid catastrophic default, and it s pretty good that I mean it was really a year of like congress. You had one job and they didn't do it

but other than that not much to write home about. I mean they passed like two bills to kind of kick the potential government shutdown into twenty twenty four and a bunch of small bore items. No one cared about like the duck stamp. Modernization act, my favorite one- and this is because of what really this congress was about. So far was you know the speakership races deposing the speaker, centering members of congress, the fact that they hate republicans- it's not just divided government, but the republican conference in the house is just divided completely against itself. Also, can I just say one thing about like it's all about personalities and even in this act like marjorie till agreed as opposing this, a funding agreement between Schumer and Johnson, like she supported the identical thing when it was mccarthy cause. She and Mccarthy had some

What a friendship and deal and now she's against it like it, is all it. So much of what of these positions come down to alliances and who you like and how you don't like, and they don't seem to have any concrete policy agenda they're much more interested in you know they want to do they're kind of anti woke performance and they want to go after the Biden administration. Speaking of there was a push to begin, an impeachment inquiry against president Biden. That was something mccarthy had to be two and then he held a press conference. Re opened an inquiry. Johnson has now gone along with it. It seems as though they ve kind of realise that that might not be as politically palatable for a lot of them members in Biden districts, so they shifted to potentially pursuing an impeachment angry of homeland security secretary or hundred may arcas. I value but like that batten, impeachment debt by any means, but well it right. They are fair enough fared off, did

there are the more enthusiastic right now about may work as their work is more conversation about it at this moment. What is lot. You know the law that may york as this is sensibly bright. Breaking like do have we have said what the high crime or MR moorhouse now that you know johnson think over the weekend said it's just for it's just broadly for these policies of the border that he thinks may argue that he's claiming the arc, as is perpetrating purposefully to you, know, ruin the country it's coming at it incredibly awkward now because may arcas is they in the room negotiator. Right now, with bipartisan group has said, It is working on it, immigration deal with the white house and what I am hearing from people. That's I dislike republicans like lank furred, the leave republic in in the room. If bay really like marcus. They ladys in the room so hastily

negotiator they're supposed to lake have some deal on paper. This week the house is supposed to impeach marcus on Wednesday. It's it's just super moment to be impeaching the negotiator on a border deal yeah really like cut of captures, even like you know, even as the whole republican party has shifted to the right, like the kind of what is left of the kind of normal republican party in the senate versus the in completely unhinged way of doing politics in the house may be one thing: there hasn't been an impeachment of of a evidence secretary in about a hundred and fifty years, it would be unprecedented to impeach, basically over policy difference right. This would be in peking, someone just over a bad situation right because it's not as a like they're they're. Trying to pin the whole border crisis

on may august, but apprehensions are up there saying it's. You know, failure on the pa on fentanyl, but the out you know arrests and for fentanyl related crimes way way up at the they say. Oh he's letting terrorists across the border arrest for people on the terrorism watch list is roughly the same as under the trump administration it does seem like this is just genuinely a way of making the most of a new cycle in a way that might get moderate republicans on board, because they know how unpopular bide, administration, immigration policies. Yeah I mean from what I am hearing that it would have

but the mayorkas impeachment would have the votes in the house and in I think everyone agrees. Even I think the Democrats would agree that Biden has a problem on immigration. I think that's why the white house is willing to be negotiating right now with the senate about doing something. They think it's probably politically benefit to them to to make some to crack down a little bit on border policies. Impeach america's, I don't think, has a real political blowback even for vulnerable republicans, and at the same time I don't think that I mean there won't be the votes to convict him in the senate, but I do think we'll see the

If the vote happened, yeah I mean, but even in just the next few days, how does it? What happens when it is quite possible that, on the same day, they announced a bipartisan immigration proposal that involves mayorkas and the republicans in the house, impeach may orcas for failing to have a border policy yeah. It's really awkward its various jimmy was it's really split screen I mean the same thing is happening. Johnson is trying to negotiate directly with. bite and, while also pushing forward on impeaching the president. It's it's what they have to do. Phil refill their red meat tank a lot of it. I think I hate that red meat tank gross the, but but it is like on what there's a part of me. I look. I don't like the house freedom caucus, but I it is funny that, like they really do, keep getting like.

You know the deal of spending levels, that Biden, humor and mccarthy agree to that's what you get and then what you give a press conference at the border calling for impeachment. So it does ms, though, what a lot of being part, because they don't care about pulse they care about the soundbites they care about the red meat. The far right really is exchanging policy, not losses, but certainly not victories policy concessions for political theatre right like that's what they get they get air, they don't get anything actually real may arcas, as you pointed out, is not going to be removed by set Democrats I mean look at that. They started the congress by getting a lot. They got a lot of concessions with mercury from mccarthy to make him speaker in the first place, but those right

and out yet in terms of passing policy I mean part of that is because it's divided government and like that, isn't how people of that ilk want to govern. I mean that that's not what they do. They don't compromise, that's the they throw bombs and and to stake out a very far position and don't compromise on it so but yeah, so they don't have like legislative wins to show for it. So one thing that you've covered recently is what happened with hearings, around anti semitism and college campuses now had to participants the college president's most recently clotting gay resign because of the fall out from those hearings. is now going to be more hearings about what's going on on college campuses, what is the goal? We have easy access to fight There's pr got! You know they like their enjoy the issue there. They revel in the issue. But what is there?

actual goal. In these hearings, in making making all of us talk about what happens on a few elite college campuses well, I think they think that they have political gold here, because they are doing this on behalf of anti semitism on campuses, which you can argue that that's it totally hypocritical when they are people who did not call out from rhetoric about charlottesville or say anything about him, alluding to hitler. It is his rallies, but the actual issue of anti semitism on campuses. You can't just completely ignore it as a real issue like it's a real thing sets like it's complicated. It's time, both, and that reminds me of when there was that whole gamer gate thing and they were like sort of attacking video and they kept saying it's about ethics, video game journalism number that nothing else The sort of reminds me of this is about ethics and video games, or is it right away?

This amount. They thought I really like hetty mix of things here that allows them to go after universities go after dea, which is a long time obsession of the right, so they're not going to let go. I mean they want to expand they've hired new staff to expand this investigation, they're going expand it to other schools like this is going to be a big focus of what the education committee does this year. There was a focus group, but I always think about that happened in michigan, and somebody was asked basically about republicans going after trans people in the bathroom they use in this person in the photos, you've just sort of laughed, and it's like I don't care about that like. Obviously, this is a big issue. In a certain bubble of a twitter feed

all rich super online types, certain parts of of the rights that are obsessed with college campuses, obsessed with woke anti, woke nonsense. Who gives a shit. Who cares? I don't understand why anyone cares about who's in charge of harvard or yale or any of these places like. Why did cares. I mean obviously they care about it, because it's a way to get at some of these other issues. But is there any sense from any of these people that at some point you can make an issue of the fact that their focusing on the most ridiculous and provincial, like well right wing cars or hot button issues is or is there any part of them? The worries about that yet well in I think that a lot of I've talked to democratic and republican pollsters, who say there are definite,

their over they'd. There is not really that much political upside in this stuff, like yeah like who cares, and actually some of these issues, have broad support. Like D, I generally has broad most people think it's a good thing across the country last question the speaker, John.

invited president Biden to give the state of the union on march seventh late stay the union eddie, I'm in a fairy s purpose of the then there not that I've heard of I am. I think it might just be the amount of stuff they need to get done for february, to avoid a government shut down to make sure that were not in the shut down when the city and spoke to happen. There is like some conspiracy theories that he wasn't an invite Biden at all asked week that I think that again this is it congress full of show horses. I think a lot of republicans love the state of the union because, let's be honest, like the speeches, often boring no moment for a lake. What what do you remember stating I remember like bogart and margaret hilary heckling, the president? You know they get kind of viral moments out of added this big night when people are tuned in to watch the joint session. So I think they're happy to do it.

And probably happy criticise whatever is putting up there now, maybe also marches a month older. You know every little bed helps Annie Harney. Thank you. So much for your time. So gotta talk to you and you know: do you stay out of the red meat tank? It's a curse Thank you to any car. For joining us tat we welcome back. Thanks could be welcome teddy to the world. and we'll be back with a regular episode on tuesday, but We are now going to have episodes so starting with tommy's. I was special, which you're going to be able to hear on wednesday and friday. Pod save america is going to three days a week. It finally happened finally happened. Tommy so you'll be able to hear new pod save america's tuesday, more as always and then wednesday afternoon and friday morning, so you know you're rallies. There was a practice.

I love the cover, because the the primaries are going to heat up, at least through super tuesday, so yeah excerpts of if you want to get ad free episodes, exclusive content and more consider joining our friends of the pod subscription community, a cricket, dot com, slash friends and, if you're, already doomed scrolling, don't forget to follow us at pod. Save america on instagram, twitter and youtube for access to full episodes. Bonus content in plus, if you're is opinionated, as we are considered. Dropping us review, give us your and takes it, gives europe give us your takes on undertake. The pod save america is a crooked media production or producers or olivia martinez and David Toledo. Our associate producer is Farah safari writing support from halle kiefer reach. Ireland is our executive producer. The show is mixed and edited by andrew chadwick. Jordan kanter is our sound engineer

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