Adam Carolla Show — Rainn Wilson Exposes Hollywood, Angelina Jolie Criticizes America & Crockett: “Crime Doesn’t Equal Criminal”
Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Adam Carolla
Guest: Alicia Krause (Washington Examiner)
Notable Clips from: Rainn Wilson, Mark Ruffalo, Angelina Jolie, Jasmine Crockett
Episode Overview
This episode of The Adam Carolla Show dives into recent headlines and celebrity culture through Adam’s notably unfiltered, humorous lens, alongside Washington Examiner’s Alicia Krause. The pair analyze reactions in Hollywood to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, discuss celebrity takes on America’s state of affairs, debate the proliferation of celebrity podcasts, and break down viral political soundbites with trademark sarcasm and skepticism.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Charlie's Kirk Assassination & Hollywood’s Reaction
- Adam Carolla on Consistency in Morality (02:17–05:41)
- Rainn Wilson claimed some liberal Hollywood friends were "celebrating" Kirk’s assassination. Adam considers what it means to be consistent — if you believe someone is evil, why wouldn’t you celebrate their death, but most people simply don’t apply their moral labels consistently.
- Adam highlights the difference between religious and secular views on “evil”: religious folks tend to reserve “evil” for truly heinous acts, while secular or political zealots blur the definition (04:25).
- “If Nancy Pelosi’s evil and mass murderers are evil, then one of them’s not evil or both of them aren’t evil.” – Adam Carolla [06:22]
- Weaponization of Language & Media (07:11–09:10)
- Adam notes that political rhetoric increasingly borrows religious fervor—labeling adversaries as “evil” without real belief, mainly to win arguments (“calling Trump Hitlerian”).
- “They say it, but they don’t believe it. Now here’s what I’m getting to…” – Adam [08:25]
- Adam notes that political rhetoric increasingly borrows religious fervor—labeling adversaries as “evil” without real belief, mainly to win arguments (“calling Trump Hitlerian”).
2. The Generational Divide & Crate Training Metaphor
- Impact of Media on Youth vs. Older Generations (09:19–11:38)
- Adam likens the shaping of young minds to crate training puppies, asserting that older adults (like himself) are less susceptible to propaganda due to their formative years spent away from screens.
- “You can crate train them. But... you can’t do it to old Adam Carolla. His brain... the cement on the sidewalk of Adam Carolla’s brain dried a long time ago.” – Adam [10:03]
- Adam likens the shaping of young minds to crate training puppies, asserting that older adults (like himself) are less susceptible to propaganda due to their formative years spent away from screens.
3. Rainn Wilson & Mark Ruffalo: Podcast Clip on Political Violence (12:15–14:14)
- Rainn Wilson’s Moral Stand
- Wilson calls out his Hollywood peers for their cavalier attitude:
- “Shooting someone that we disagree with… is so colossally wrongheaded.” – Rainn Wilson [12:24]
- Mark Ruffalo agrees, sharing personal loss to gun violence and urging against cheering an opponent’s death:
- “There’s no winning... there’s no idea that if we cheer on our opponents being hurt... we win as a society.” – Mark Ruffalo [13:11]
- Wilson calls out his Hollywood peers for their cavalier attitude:
- Adam’s Take on Celeb Podcasts
- Adam jokes that not everyone needs a podcast, comparing Ruffalo’s rambling to talk-radio filler:
- “If you took an hour long podcast of his and got rid of the air and the filler... it could be nine minutes.” – Adam [15:07]
- Adam jokes that not everyone needs a podcast, comparing Ruffalo’s rambling to talk-radio filler:
4. Angelina Jolie’s Critique of America & Celebrity Podcasts
- Jolie at San Sebastian Film Festival (17:35–19:17)
- Jolie says she doesn’t “recognize my country” anymore; Adam lampoons how out-of-touch celebs generalize about decline without acknowledging real problems:
- “If she would walk through [LA neighborhoods]... look at all the signs in Spanish... I would go, you’re right... But she would never say that. She would just talk about systemic oppression or totalitarian... but never impacts them.” – Adam [17:59]
- Jolie says she doesn’t “recognize my country” anymore; Adam lampoons how out-of-touch celebs generalize about decline without acknowledging real problems:
- Who Deserves a Podcast? (19:18–21:32)
- Adam jokes about being the “Grand Poobah of Podcasts,” deciding who gets one—Gwyneth Paltrow gets a six-month “trial badge,” but not Angelina Jolie, who is too cautious in her statements.
- “She already said she had to be careful what she says. That’s not going to make for an interesting podcast.” – Adam [21:32]
- Adam jokes about being the “Grand Poobah of Podcasts,” deciding who gets one—Gwyneth Paltrow gets a six-month “trial badge,” but not Angelina Jolie, who is too cautious in her statements.
5. Celebrity Ingratitude and America-Bashing
- Adam’s Rant on Gratefulness (21:59–25:12)
- Adam expresses particular disdain for immigrants or refugees who succeed in America but still criticize it harshly (Charlize Theron, Trevor Noah, Ilhan Omar):
- “If your heart’s in the Sudan or whatever... just go fucking back.” – Adam [22:34]
- He ranks “levels of ingratitude,” placing Ilhan Omar at the top:
- “Those are the worst for me.” – Adam [25:03]
- Adam expresses particular disdain for immigrants or refugees who succeed in America but still criticize it harshly (Charlize Theron, Trevor Noah, Ilhan Omar):
6. The Gender Card, Misogyny, and Political Cliches
- Debate Clip: Alex Wagner, Joe Manchin & Misogyny in Politics (25:14–29:07)
- Wagner argues misogyny prevents women from winning elections; Manchin counters that strong female candidates can thrive.
- “Any woman? I just think misogyny runs deeper and stronger than you’d like to imagine.” – Alex Wagner [25:34]
- “Put up a good female candidate... and I bet you white women... would vote for that woman.” – Alicia Krause [26:21]
- Adam and Alicia argue voters care more about policy and competence than identity and mock the “vote for them because of their hoo-ha” approach (26:48).
- Wagner argues misogyny prevents women from winning elections; Manchin counters that strong female candidates can thrive.
7. Jasmine Crockett’s Viral ‘Crime Doesn’t Equal Criminal’ Clip
- Crockett’s Logic Examined (32:45–35:37)
- Crockett: “Just because someone has committed a crime, it doesn’t make them a criminal.” [33:34]
- Adam and Alicia ridicule the logic, riffing on similarly nonsensical statements:
- “Just because I’m a clown and I work at a circus doesn’t make me a circus clown.” – Adam [34:42]
- Dawson: “What she said was just so profound.” [33:55] (With obvious sarcasm)
- Wider Problem: Head-Nodders and Willful Media Ignorance
- Adam rails against those who accept headline-grabbing banalities without question, arguing that the real problem isn’t the kooky guest but the sycophantic hosts:
- “It’s not the nut job... in your studio who’s at fault. It’s the head nodders.” – Adam [33:38]
- Adam rails against those who accept headline-grabbing banalities without question, arguing that the real problem isn’t the kooky guest but the sycophantic hosts:
8. Media Manipulation & Truth in the Age of Video & AI
- Video Evidence No Longer Conclusive (36:22–38:18)
- Adam and Alicia discuss how even “video proof” is losing credibility in an era of AI, selective editing, and intentional misinterpretation — referencing Trump jokes being spun as serious by NPR and CNN:
- “Most... fake news... is all on video. You can watch the video on your phone but still [people are] moving forward with it.” – Adam [36:59]
- Adam: “Now I don’t know what you call it when you willfully misinterpret things other people say, but that’s a bad place to be.” [38:13]
- Adam and Alicia discuss how even “video proof” is losing credibility in an era of AI, selective editing, and intentional misinterpretation — referencing Trump jokes being spun as serious by NPR and CNN:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Celebrity “Wokism” and Hypocrisy
- “They don’t all need [podcasts]. There are people who can talk and people who can think.” – Adam [14:48]
- “Do they believe it? No, they do not. And they don’t believe Hitler either. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get dumb 15 year olds. That doesn’t mean you can’t get Greta Thunberg to believe it.” – Adam [11:05]
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On Gratitude and American Opportunity
- “If we literally saved your life because you fled here and that’s just bash, bash, bash. Those are the worst for me.” – Adam [25:03]
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On Podcasting as a Skill
- “It’s a skill and it’s an invisible skill and people don’t get it... You gotta practice.” – Adam [15:28]
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Best Sarcastic Riffs & Jokes
- “Just because I’m the dean of students at Colfax elementary doesn’t mean I’m the dean of students at Colfax Elementary.” – Adam [35:11]
- “When it comes to death, I dream of a world where everyone has a seat at the table of dignity.” – Adam [35:34]
Important Timestamps
- 02:17–05:41: Adam on “evil,” religion, and Hollywood’s reactions
- 07:11–09:10: Rhetorical labeling and moral consistency in politics
- 12:24–14:14: Rainn Wilson and Mark Ruffalo on not celebrating political violence
- 17:35–19:17: Angelina Jolie’s concerns & Adam’s local LA reality check
- 21:59–25:12: Celebrity gratitude/ungratefulness and America-bashing
- 25:14–29:07: Gender, misogyny claims, and failed female Democratic candidates
- 32:45–35:37: Jasmine Crockett “crime vs. criminal” logic breakdown
- 36:22–38:18: The unreliability of media/video in an AI era
Final Takeaway
This episode embodies Adam Carolla’s signature mix of high-tempo banter, cultural skepticism, and comedic rants. The discussion flips between current events, the absurdities of virtue-signaling Hollywood, the vacuousness of some celebrity podcasts, and serious themes of moral consistency, media manipulation, and genuine gratitude for American opportunity. The back-and-forth with Alicia Krause grounds the show with thoughtful—if irreverent—debate, and each segment is loaded with punchlines and pointed critiques that regular listeners and newcomers alike can appreciate.