Countdown with Keith Olbermann

Episode: WHY ARE THEY ACTING LIKE TRUMP DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT AS PRESIDENT?
Date: October 13, 2025
Host: Keith Olbermann

Episode Overview

In this episode, Keith Olbermann delves into the increasingly frantic and strange behavior of Donald Trump, his inner circle, and the broader MAGA ecosystem. The central question: “Why are they acting like Trump doesn’t have much time left as president?” Olbermann explores the panicked atmosphere, desperation for power, and underlying paranoia, suggesting that Trump’s continued grip on his movement — and the fear of his potential exit — drives the erratic conduct seen among his cabinet, allies, and enablers. The show also features Olbermann’s trademark segments: a “Worst Persons in the World” roundup, a personal tribute to Bart Barnes, and cutting commentary on recent media headlines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Central Hypothesis: Trump’s Looming Exit and MAGA Panic

• Keith speculates on behavioral changes in Trump’s team and MAGA figures, asking:
  • “If Trump didn't have much time left as president, how would his cabinet behave? ... his henchmen ... his Stephen Millers ... how would he behave?” ([02:04])
• Notes bizarre, panicked, and increasingly delusional rhetoric, suggesting looming fear about the future without Trump.
• “They’d panic. They’d panic because if Trump didn’t have much time left as president, none of them ... would have much time left in power.” ([02:53])

The “Dirty Little Secret” of MAGA

• The movement and its current/future depend on Trump and the implicit/explcit threat of violence he wields.
• If Trump goes, “who would become the embodiment of their evil?” Olbermann mocks the lack of a true MAGA successor, calling out Vance, Junior, Eric, Stephen Miller.
• Ridicules Stephen Miller's attempts to claim credit, sarcastically:
  • “Stephen Miller, who made the fatal mistake of using the first person pronoun to claim credit for something Trump did. 'If I put federal law enforcement and the National Guard...' If who did that? Mini Me.” ([05:19])

Out-of-Control Behavior and Desperation

• Trump’s allies escalate sycophancy and flattery as if time is running out, e.g., the “ultra fawning cabinet meeting” and the campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize.
• Critiques RFK Jr. and Mehmet Oz for enabling Trump’s delusional speeches, as if associating with his absurdity benefits them by comparison.

Trump’s Reality-Distorting Claims (January 6, Biden FBI, Watergate)

• Trump asserts “the Biden FBI placed 274 agents into the crowd on January 6,” which Olbermann eviscerates as impossible and indicative of delusion.
  • “He’s forgotten who was president on January 6, 2021. ... Maybe the Biden FBI sabotaged his umbrella yesterday. That’s the cause of this. And the last explanation is his cheese has slid fully off his Ritz cracker.” ([12:38])
• Returns repeatedly to the panic underlying these claims:
  • “Even Trump is panicking. The others surely are panicking.” ([14:23])

The Pam Bondi “Direct Message”: A Glimpse of Private Trump

• Dissects one of Trump’s messages, noting its uncharacteristically personal tone to Pam Bondi — “Pam,” comma, direct address, closed with President DJT.
• Argues this kind of communication shows Trump’s true paranoia and desperation off-camera:
  • “This is him controlling himself. ... The craziest is the private stuff he inadvertently leaks after writing it to Pam Bondi.” ([19:27])
• Quotes Trump’s note:
  • “Pam, I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts say. Oh, God, he's reading posts again. Let's say essentially same old story as last time. All talk, no action, nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam, Shifty, Shift, Leticia? They're all guilty as hell, but nothing's going to be done.” ([21:22])
  • Highlights the underlying panic: “It’s killing our reputation. Killing. And now with three exclamation points. The paranoia is evergreen. It’s not the paranoia, it’s the panic.” ([22:36])

The Epstein Files, the House Shutdown, and Mike Johnson’s Endgame

• Olbermann connects Speaker Mike Johnson’s stonewalling of House proceedings to attempts to shield Trump from potential bombshells in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
  • “Because whatever there is about Trump in the Epstein files, it is in the Epstein files. Just no more Congress. Ever. Whatever. No, ever, Mike.” ([24:36])
• Mocks the shifting, evasive explanations for Trump’s absences and health visits, suggesting a coverup:
  • “Annual physical? Annual physical. ... Oh, wait a minute, and we already used that one six months ago...” ([27:00])

Charlie Kirk, the Void of MAGA Succession, and Right-Wing Paranoia

• Reflects on the assassination of Charlie Kirk as a blow to MAGA’s succession plans, noting that Kirk would have just turned 35, presidential eligibility age.
  • “Had he not been killed on October 14, 2028, Charlie Kirk would have turned 35 years old. They didn't think he was a future president. They thought he was the next president.” ([30:37])
• Conclusion: “There is nobody, nobody to take over for Trump ... And that's why they are all panicking, because they all think that date when a new Fuhrer must rise is suddenly a lot sooner than they were led.” ([30:13])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s delusion and panic:
  • “He believes his cult will believe that 1,448 days into his presidency, it was somehow Biden's FBI, even though Biden hadn't... The last explanation is his cheese has slid fully off his Ritz cracker.” ([12:43])
• On Trump’s allies' future:
  • “For all of the bluster and the rage and the mental illness that Stephen Miller sprinkles, we're missing the biggest thing here. He's out of control. Why? ... What if he knew his meal ticket was not going to be his meal ticket much longer?” ([17:55])
• On Mike Johnson and the House:
  • “He's never gonna bring the House back into session. ... Whatever there is about Trump in the Epstein files, it is in the Epstein files. Just no more Congress. Ever.” ([24:36])

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Opening & Introduction to Main Theme
  Why are they acting like Trump doesn't have much time left as president?
  [02:04–03:30]
• MAGA Paranoia and Sycophancy
  The need for flattery in the cabinet and desperate attempts to claim succession or proximity to Trump. [05:19–10:30]
• Trump's January 6 Delusions
  Trump’s claims about the FBI and rewriting of recent history, showing mental acrobatics and panic. [12:20–14:50]
• Pam Bondi Direct Message Analysis
  Breakdown of Trump's private, desperate communications. [16:59–23:30]
• Epstein Files, Johnson, and the Shutdown
  Theories about stalling Congress to contain fallout for Trump. [24:36–27:40]
• The Right Wing's Succession Problem after Charlie Kirk's Death [28:45–31:25]
• Media Critique: Politico and the Press Pool Breakdown of Trump’s dynamic with media, Politico, and the handling of press access. [31:25–34:00]
• Elizabeth Lopato’s Epic Takedown of Bari Weiss at CBS Extended reading and agreement with a piece arguing Weiss is doomed in her new position. [34:00–36:30]

“Worst Persons in the World” Segment ([35:33–45:49])

A fresh round of targets, including:

• Milwaukee Brewers — For unsportsmanlike social media taunting of the Chicago Cubs after a playoff elimination, defying the maxim “act like you’ve been there before.”
  • “Bob Uecker would slap you all silly. Come on, Brewers. Act like you’ve been there before, even though you haven’t.” ([36:45])
• Texas Governor Greg Abbott — Mocked for his “do some push-ups” jab at J.B. Pritzker, which Olbermann tears into:
  • “At the current rate, if things don’t change in this country, something like this will be responded to by a string of 500,000 jokes about Greg Abbott ... I'll just say the F him part. F Greg Abbott. He's an asshole. He's a fascist asshole.” ([39:19])
• Trump Paralegal Lindsey Halligan — For procedural blunders and intrigue amid factional cabinet chaos.
• Kristi Noem — Earns “Worst Person” status for a twofer: (1) blames Democrats for a government shutdown in airport videos, (2) is ridiculed for her “Benny Hill”–esque encounter with protesters.
  • “There is video of those violent antifa protesters ... playing over loudspeakers the theme from the Benny Hill Show ... And the protesters are in front of the building playing ... and she and the other members of American ISIS have no idea what to do. ... Kristi no brains, just botox. Yakety sacks. Gnome.” ([43:00])

Remembering Bart Barnes: Watergate Journalist & Olbermann Anecdotes ([47:55–62:37])

Olbermann reflects on the death and legacy of legendary Washington Post reporter Bart Barnes:

• Credited with writing the first Washington Post story on Watergate (bylining Alfred Lewis, but largely written by Barnes).
  • “He, in fact, was the man who wrote the first story, the first Washington Post story and the first story anywhere about the Watergate break in.” ([47:59])
• Shared personal stories of working with Barnes, especially during the 1982 NFL players' strike.
• Details about a legendary practical joke played on a New York Times reporter, showing camaraderie among journalists.

Tone and Language

Typical Olbermann: sharp, sardonic, with rapid-fire monologues blending humor, invective, and insider political/media gossip. The episode oscillates between biting satire (“his cheese has slid fully off his Ritz cracker”) and acid-laced analysis (“It’s not the paranoia, it’s the panic.”).

Summary

This episode is an incisive, sometimes scathing, look at the fraying edges of the MAGA universe as Trump’s presidency appears increasingly unsteady. Olbermann sets out a tapestry of desperation — from manic cabinet meetings to sycophantic loyalty tests, from media manipulation to personal paranoia — all revolving around the reality that no Trump, no MAGA movement. Through mocking impersonations, extravagant metaphors, and direct quotes, Olbermann exposes the “panic” that undergirds current right-wing politics, juxtaposing the present against recent history and media battles. For anyone who hasn’t listened, this summary distills a cutting, insider take on why the noise around Trump’s possible exit has reached such a frenzied pitch.

Notable Quotes (By Timestamp)

• “They’d panic. They’d panic because if Trump didn’t have much time left as president, none of them ... would have much time left in power.” ([02:53])
• “Stephen Miller, who made the fatal mistake of using the first person pronoun to claim credit for something Trump did. … So who do you see as the next fewer Tim Scott?” ([05:19])
• "He’s forgotten who was president on January 6, 2021. ... Maybe the Biden FBI sabotaged his umbrella yesterday. ... The last explanation is his cheese has slid fully off his Ritz cracker.” ([12:43])
• “It’s not the paranoia, it’s the panic. As if he thinks he’s not gonna be president much longer.” ([22:36])
• “They all act like they believe he's not going to be president much longer cuz it's coming off the rails.” ([23:19])
• “Had he not been killed on October 14, 2028, Charlie Kirk would have turned 35 years old. They didn't think he was a future president. They thought he was the next president.” ([30:37])
• “Bob Uecker would slap you all silly. Come on, Brewers. Act like you’ve been there before, even though you haven’t.” ([36:45])
• "F Greg Abbott. He's an asshole. He's a fascist asshole. Stop complaining and do some democracy." ([39:55])

For those new to the show, this episode demonstrates why Olbermann remains a singular voice in political media: incisive, mercilessly funny, and always armed with context and receipts.