Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito

Episode: Chris Matthews
Date: November 22, 2025
Host: Jeff Zito
Guest: Chris Matthews

Episode Overview

This episode features legendary political commentator and former host of MSNBC's Hardball, Chris Matthews. Jeff Zito explores Matthews' "jobber" past—his first jobs, influences, and career trajectory, as well as his thoughts on politics and the legacy of figures like JFK and RFK. With personal anecdotes and reflections, Matthews discusses what he might have become without his big break and dives into key lessons from his own journey and from American political history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Hometown Roots & Early Impressions

• Chris’s Connection to Philadelphia:
  • Grew up outside Philadelphia, distinguishes it as a “real city” compared to Washington D.C.
    • "They have a big, a big show there. I always have a feeling when I'm in Philly, it's someplace. It's a real city like Detroit. Washington isn't quite a city like that." (02:13)
  • Reflects on Washington D.C. lacking the “ethnic diversity” of cities like Philly or Detroit. (02:38)

First Jobs and Working-Class Values

• Capitol Police Experience:

  • Chris worked as a Capitol policeman—a pivotal learning experience with “good, working guys.”
    • “They existed at a level a little bit below the congressmen and senators who sometimes looked down on them. But they were good guys.” (02:52)
  • Anecdote about a co-worker teaching Chris why the “little man loves his country”:
    • "He said, 'Why do you think the little man loves his country?' ... He said, 'It's because it's all he's got.'" (03:20)
    • Matthews reflects: "I thought that that was the story of the working guy and working woman in this country. And you better not mess with that." (03:37)

• Educational Journey:

  • Studied economics in college but realized he was more interested in economic philosophy than the mathematics.
    • “I loved economic philosophy... but when I got to grad school... it was all math. It was driving me crazy.” (03:55)
  • Memorable professor: “He would just go in everyday... put econometric models on the wall... I can't understand a thing... but he gave me an A.” (04:44)

Family Background & Influence

• Background of Matthews’ Parents:
  • Father was a senior court reporter in Philadelphia, a demanding job with exposure to strong emotions and stories.
    • “He’s the guy that writes the record of the trial. That was a very tough job... screaming at each other... and he would write it down in English, you know, it’s pretty strong stuff." (05:18)
  • Father's work ethic deeply influenced Chris:
    • “Hard work, Jeff, hard work. I mean he worked. He'd come home from court and then he'd dictate all night...and then he would type. Her mom would type... It was real brutal work, but... the pay was great.” (05:57)

Irish Catholic Identity & JFK’s Significance

• JFK and Ethnic Politics:
  • Matthews explains why JFK’s election mattered for Irish Catholics and other ethnic Catholics.
    • “It hadn’t happened before... West Virginia... Not necessarily a clean thing... But he did win... my mom, very Irish Catholic, would be burning in the basement and just loving this experience.” (06:59)
  • Observes that other Catholic groups (Polish, Italian) were even more avid Kennedy supporters as they hadn't moved into the middle class as rapidly as Irish-Americans. (07:40)

The Changing Political Landscape

• Democratic Party Then and Now:
  • Changes in working-class political affiliations and the town/gown (blue-collar/elite) divide:
    • “I think the old...divide between town and gown... This is...Jack Kennedy once said... It wasn't particularly popular to say you went to Harvard... you were not one of the people.” (08:56)
  • Laments current political polarization, referencing Trump supporters as "the town people" versus Democrats as "the elite." (09:40)
  • Powerful historical vignette: RFK's funeral train displaying broad, multiracial support.
    • “People along the tracks were black people in Philadelphia, white working class people along the train route. It was really quite a multiracial display of devotion.” (10:25)

Lessons from RFK

• Matthews’ Book: Lessons from Bobby
  • Shares several lessons from Robert F. Kennedy:
    • “He called it hanging a lantern on your problem. People make mistakes in public life... he admitted it... Politicians, that's what they do.” (10:48)
    • “He accepted... that he lost primaries... and admitted it. Pat Buchanan was there in the crowd and said... to acknowledge your defeat was extraordinary. I think Donald Trump should have acknowledged his defeat in 2020 instead of storming the Capitol building.” (11:17)
  • Honesty, humility, and learning from failure as core lessons from RFK.

Chris Matthews’ “Jobber” Resume

• First-Ever Paid Job: Paperboy
  • Delivered the “Philadelphia Bulletin” on a challenging route for $5 a week.
    • “That was my first route...tortuous effort on my bike.” (12:11)
• Drugstore Stock Boy:
  • Worked stocking shelves after the paper route.
• College Side Hustles:
  • Ran the birthday cake concession:
    • “Three weeks before your birthday, your parents would get a letter from me saying do you want a birthday cake for your son?” (12:44)
    • Parents sometimes took it too seriously (“I'm not a caterer. I'm just getting your birthday cake.”)
  • Worked as a Resident Assistant (RA), ensuring dorm order.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Working-Class Patriotism:
  • Chris’s colleague: "Why do you think the little man loves his country?... It's because it's all he's got." (03:20)
• On Math in Economics:
  • “It’s all mathematics. And I—I was never that good at it, even though I got great grades... I was very good at reading charts. Somehow it doesn't sound fun, though.” (04:42)
• On “Hanging a Lantern” and Politicians' Mistakes:
  • “He accepted the fact that he lost primaries and admitted it. ... I think it's a very important thing to admit your mistakes and to admit when you lose. And that’s one of the real messages.” (11:17)
• On Changing Political Alliances:
  • “Town people are Trumpies and the elite college kids coming into an elite world of university life are Democrats. That's not the way it should be.” (09:40)
• On JFK’s Cross-Ethnic Appeal:
  • “The other ethnic groups, Polish Americans, Italian Americans... were stronger for Kennedy than the Irish were because the Irish had moved up to the middle class.” (07:40)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction/Chris Matthews Background: 00:00–02:04
• Hometown and Early DC Experience: 02:04–03:43
• Education and Realizations about Economics: 03:55–05:08
• Family Background: 05:13–06:26
• JFK's Influence and Irish Catholic Identity: 06:26–08:25
• Changing Face of the Democratic Party: 08:31–10:25
• Lessons from RFK & Admitting Defeat: 10:35–11:59
• Chris’s First Jobs (“Jobber” Resume): 12:04–13:34

Tone and Style

The conversation between Jeff Zito and Chris Matthews is candid, reflective, and often humorous, filled with personal stories and historical asides. Matthews brings a blend of working-class respect, intellectual curiosity, and frank political insight, while Zito keeps the discussion grounded and engaging.

Summary Conclusion

This episode provides a thoughtful look at Chris Matthews’ “jobber” past, reflecting on the interplay of hard work, heritage, education, and political change. Matthews’s anecdotal wisdom about his early jobs, family, and heroes like JFK and RFK reveal how these experiences shaped his worldview. It’s a compelling listen for fans of political history and anyone interested in the early jobs and lessons that formed one of America’s most recognizable political commentators.