01-27-26 - Entertainment Drill - TUE - The Doomsday Clock Has Been Moved 4 Seconds - Kanye West Issues Apology To Jewish People

Summary

Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode: 01-27-26 – Entertainment Drill (Tue): The Doomsday Clock, Kanye’s Apology & More

Date: January 27, 2026
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo

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Episode Overview

This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness brings a comedic, skeptical lens to current news and pop culture events. The main topics include skepticism about the Doomsday Clock’s significance, a discussion of Kanye West's recent public apology to Jewish people, and a run through quirky entertainment news stories, all delivered in the trademark irreverent tone.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Doomsday Clock Moves Four Seconds Closer to Midnight

[01:10 – 06:26]

• Headline: The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the symbolic Doomsday Clock four seconds closer to midnight, signaling a perceived increased danger to humanity.
• Skepticism and Satire:
  • Holmberg and the crew deeply question the clock's actual meaning and impact, dismissing it as more of a scare tactic than scientific alert.
  • Quote: “It doesn't mean anything. It's designed to scare you.” – Larry [02:18]
• Critique of News Media:
  • The hosts point out that the Doomsday Clock only makes headlines during negative news cycles, suggesting it’s a tool for “clicks” and commercialized fear.
  • Quote: “It's all about clicks. It's all about advertising dollars and it's all about the news jumping on it.” – Brett Vesely & Larry [04:25]
• Mockery of the Process:
  • They joke about the arbitrary movement of the clock, comparing it to physically moving watch hands and even referencing Sesame Street.
  • Quote: “They come up with this Sesame Street clock and they move it with a hand and go see, like you did that.” – Larry [03:20]
  • Comic relief: “If we all start wishing Merry...Stupid Mary.” [04:03]

2. Arizona Teacher Attrition

[04:45 – 05:25]

• News: 14% of Arizona educators supposedly left their jobs recently.
• Self-Deprecating Humor:
  • Holmberg jokingly takes credit for “inspiring” many quitters.
  • Quote: “I'd like to take credit for all but 100 of them.” – Larry [05:16]

3. Perspective on Modern Life and Media-Induced Anxiety

[05:25 – 06:26]

• Key Message:
  • Life is more convenient and free than ever, yet minor inconveniences and media cycles throw people into a panic.
• Quote: “Don’t let the news fool you. It's easier to be alive today than it has ever been, ever.” – Larry [05:51]
• Advice:
  • Be informed but don’t become obsessed with things like the doomsday clock; mockingly, “I moved it back. You feel better?” [06:20]

4. The Entertainment Drill

[07:53 – 14:55]

Ken Doll’s 65th Birthday

• [07:53 – 08:45]
  • The Ken doll turns 65; real name: Kenneth Sean Carson.
  • Discussion turns absurd as the hosts joke about the “creepy” notion that Ken and Barbie were named after the founders’ children.
  • Quote: “How many times have we smashed them together not knowing...?” – Larry [08:46]
  • Humor around Ken “exploring” for his 65th.

Empire State Building NFL Controversy

• [09:08 – 10:04]
  • New Yorkers upset Empire State Building lit up for teams outside NYC.
  • Hosts poke fun at why any team gets special treatment and the NFL’s NYC presence.

Kanye West’s Apology to Jewish People

• [10:09 – 11:56]
  • Kanye West took out a full-page Wall Street Journal ad apologizing, crediting his wife Bianca (notably underdressed) for his “recovery.”
  • Quote: “Do you accept his apology?” – Brett Vesely [10:44]
  • Holmberg finds the apology hollow, seeing Kanye as unreliable:
    “Everything he said were the rants of a crazy man...I just don’t listen to crazy people.” – Larry [10:54]
  • Jokes about the cycle of celebrities doing damage and apologizing.

The Eagles Play Without Joe Walsh

• [12:13 – 12:45]
  • The Eagles performed (Sphere residency, Vegas) recently without Joe Walsh (flu), ending a nearly unbroken streak since 1975.
  • “He’s the Lou Gehrig of rock music.” – Larry [12:25]
  • Vince Gill and Deacon Fry filled in.

The Blind Side’s “Michael Oher” Hospitalized

• [13:08 – 13:42]
  • Actor who played Michael Oher in “The Blind Side” was on life support but gave a “thumbs up,” inspiring dry humor about the film and out-of-touch Hollywood feel-good stories.

Kanye (Again), Jewish Reactions, and Reconciliation Skepticism

• [13:40 – 14:19]
  • Larry by way of a Jewish perspective:
    “People who hate the Jews can say, ‘Sorry about that,’ and the Jews are like, ‘No big deal.’” – Larry [14:19]
  • More jokes about forgiving Kanye, who remains untrustworthy in the hosts’ view.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (With Timestamps)

• “It doesn't mean anything. It's designed to scare you.” – Larry [02:18]
• “It's all about clicks. It's all about advertising dollars.” – Larry [04:26]
• “I'd like to take credit for all but 100 of them.” – Larry on teacher attrition [05:16]
• “Don’t let the news fool you. It’s easier to be alive today than it has ever been.” – Larry [05:51]
• “How many times have we smashed them together not knowing...?” – Larry on Ken & Barbie [08:46]
• “Everything he said were the rants of a crazy man... I just don’t listen to crazy people.” – Larry on Kanye [10:54]
• “He’s the Lou Gehrig of rock music.” – Larry on Joe Walsh/Eagles [12:25]
• “People who hate the Jews can say, ‘Sorry about that,’ and the Jews are like, ‘No big deal.’” – Larry [14:19]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:10 – 06:26: Doomsday Clock skepticism and media critique
• 04:45 – 05:25: Arizona teacher resignations
• 07:53 – 08:45: Ken Doll's 65th birthday and origins
• 09:08 – 10:04: Empire State Building NFL lighting reactions
• 10:09 – 11:56: Kanye West’s apology discussion
• 12:13 – 12:45: The Eagles perform without Joe Walsh
• 13:08 – 13:42: “The Blind Side” actor's health scare
• 13:40 – 14:19: More on Kanye, Jewish reactions, and forgiveness

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Tone & Style Notes

The hosts’ tone is sardonic, playful, and irreverently skeptical. They use humor to undercut fear-based news, celebrity apologies, and pop-culture weirdness. Listeners looking for deep seriousness should look elsewhere, but for those seeking a light-hearted, “call it like we see it” morning radio vibe, this episode hits the mark.

Transcript

[Brett Vesely]

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[Byron]

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[Brett Vesely]

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[Byron]

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[Geico Announcer]

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[Larry]

Best cheesesteaks in town.

[Geico Announcer]

Janice traded up to Geico Commercial Auto Insurance for her food truck business. We're here where she needs us most.

[Larry]

They sure are.

[Geico Announcer]

We make it so easy for her to save with customized coverage that grows with her business. Sorry, I just get so emotional talking about saving folks money.

[Larry]

Not this onion I'm chopping.

[Geico Announcer]

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[Larry]

The onion. Get a commercial auto insurance quote [e-mail] and see how much you could save. It feels good. To Geico Homberg's morning sickness. The old method of treatment for a person in this condition was to throw him in jail. All right. It is. Let's get out of here, shall we? We don't have much time. Evidently, the big headline just popped up all over the place. The people in charge of the Doomsday Clock moved at four seconds.

[Brett Vesely]

I'm out of here. Peace out, guys.

[Larry]

In the last year. It's an 80 year old clock. We are now 85 minutes to midnight. So let's do some quick math, because four minutes is a big jump, right?

[Entertainer]

Four seconds or four?

[Larry]

Four seconds. I'm sorry. Four seconds is a big jump. So we're 85 minutes away. It says it's now. Wait a minute. What did that say? It said it was four minutes closer. Four seconds closer to midnight than it was in 2025. So if they're moving four seconds a year, a year, we're all gonna be just fine. Don't worry about it.

[Brett Vesely]

Can Bruce Dickinson sing that fast with that?

[Larry]

I mean, that's 85 seconds. 61 time 25, that's 15. So that's 15 years. It moves every minute. If it's moving four seconds a year and that's a. Evidently a pretty healthy jump. So if it's moving that 15 year. Yeah, it takes 15 years to move a minute. We're not. No. Nobody on the planet's going to be here by the time it hits zero. Unless they jump it up like two minutes at a time. And then isn't that just pushing it? Like then you're just. That's. Then. Then it. It doesn't mean anything is what I'm saying. It's designed to scare you.

[Entertainer]

150 years every 10 minutes. Forever every 10 minutes.

[Larry]

Don't worry about it. If they're moving for. Here's the other thing. They only announce this thing when things are awful. The only time I ever hear about the Doomsday clock is when the news cycle is in chaos. It's more ways to scare you to death and signal you to be panicked. That way you will what, tune back into news. You'll click on stuff. Once news became commercialized, it became entertainment and it became a necessity to make. You have to watch.

[Entertainer]

I don't believe that clocks made by Rolex.

[Larry]

No, no, no. It's built by. It's better. It's by the atomic scientists who, you know, they're the ones who argue science all the time and then they come up with this Sesame street clock and they move it with a hand and go see, like you did that. Move it back. No. Well, if you just moved it the other way, you could give us good news. Why don't you ever do that? There isn't any. There's no good news. You're telling me Amazon prime didn't move that clock back a little bit because it's easier to be alive today than it's ever been. It's all.

[Entertainer]

This positive energy. Santa shows up, you know, I've seen the movies.

[Larry]

Yeah, exactly. If we all start wishing Mary.

[Entertainer]

Mary.

[Larry]

Stupid Mary. For Mary. Mary Tyler Moore.

[Entertainer]

Merry Christmas. The merrier.

[Larry]

Look, bottom line, they never move it back. They only bring it up when our news cycles are bad. I already got emails on us. Let's play this. Things are not right. Like they prey on our.

[Entertainer]

Have there been.

[Larry]

They never go backwards.

[Brett Vesely]

It's all about clicks.

[Larry]

It is all about clicks. It's all about advertising dollars and it's all about the news jumping on it. It's crazy. So the people that have already emailed me this. Have you seen this? What does that mean? I have a doomsday clock and we're 25 years away.

[Entertainer]

What does.

[Larry]

It doesn't mean anything.

[Brett Vesely]

Let's call Jay Cutler and find out.

[Larry]

Yeah, exactly. Like I said earlier, my character for kids, be aware, but don't care. Don't be ignorant, don't ignore the world, but stop caring so much. Caring's getting us all in trouble. By the way, I'd also like to take a little credit that there was a news story that came out that 14% of Arizona's educators left the profession in 24 and 25. That's 8,600 jobs says, I wonder how many of those 8,600 you had an influence on quitting, John? Maybe 8,500. I'd like to take credit for all but 100 of them. I think I've been saying that for years. And finally the teachers have done it. Quit your job.

[Entertainer]

100 retired.

[Larry]

Well, yeah, maybe. Yeah. The 100 that, you know, went through the whole system and said, that's enough. Good night. They took their hard candies and their bitterness and they left. Brilliant. That I have been on the forefront of telling teachers to quit, and here they go. Stop caring so much. It is. Don't let the news fool you. It's easier to be alive today than it has ever been, ever. We are more convenienced and have more rights than we have ever had. But when inconvenience makes its presence known, we get crazy. We don't like being inconvenienced and we take it as some sort of a fascist crazy move. It's not. There's a lot of wrong stuff going on too, but let's focus on it. That clock moves. Some dude reached up and moved it. Look, isn't this terrible? It's almost midnight. You're doing that. Stop it. Well, no. If I watch. I moved it myself. Yeah, that's just a clock that you can make it whatever time you want. I moved it back. You feel better?

[Entertainer]

He bumped into it.

[Larry]

Doomsday clock needs to go. We've assessed a lot of things. That Amazon deal is pretty awesome. Like 10 more minutes. We added 10 minutes. That's not fun news. Oh, drives me nuts. Having a debate now with a guy on online scientists. Say, I normally like science. That's not science. That's psychic Bull crap. It's 1001. It's time now for the entertainment drill. And it's brought to you by our friends at the Schwartz Laser Eye Center. I had a guy email me already. Said he took my test while he was driving trying to read that license plate in the car in front of him. And he couldn't do it. He didn't realize how bad it was. I've never even thought about it. So he's got his appointment right now, and you should do the exact same thing. Do my test. If you're on the road right now, look at the car in front of you and try to read that license plate without squinting or straining. Or take your glasses off and see how bad it's gotten. Can you read the plate in front of you? If you can't, there ain't no problem with that. Dr. J. Schwartz will get you all fixed up. He'll have a plan for you, whether it's Lasik, you know, a new prescription, if you're interested in keeping the glasses, or you can get out of those completely. Lens replacement is the route I'd look into. That is awesome. See if you're a candidate and what you're a candidate for and get that 2020 vision back on your face. It's awesome stuff. And they are the best. They got me seeing. They can do the exact same for you. TeamIDoc.com get your complimentary consultation right away. They are the official eye doctors for the Suns and Diamondbacks, so you can trust these guys. It's Dr. Jay Schwartz in the Schwartz Laser Eye Center.

[Entertainer]

Brady Entertain the Kendall will be celebrating 65th birthday in March. You know Ken has a full name.

[Larry]

No?

[Entertainer]

Ken Sean Carson.

[Larry]

Oh.

[Entertainer]

It'S named after the. The founder. Mattel's co founders, Ruth and Elliot Handler.

[Larry]

It's not Kenneth, they said.

[Entertainer]

Yeah, Kenneth Sean Carson.

[Larry]

Yeah.

[Entertainer]

Yeah. And Barbie was after their daughter.

[Larry]

Barbie, I'm guessing there's her name.

[Entertainer]

Barbara.

[Larry]

Barbara Sean Carson.

[Entertainer]

Ancestral thing.

[Larry]

So it's Barbara Carson or. Yeah, they're brother and sister.

[Brett Vesely]

Yeah, that's kind of creepy.

[Larry]

Oh, wait. Father and daughter.

[Entertainer]

The son of Mattel co founders Ruth and Elliot Handler.

[Larry]

Oh, okay.

[Entertainer]

Barbie was named after their daughter.

[Larry]

Got it.

[Entertainer]

Okay.

[Larry]

So their brother and sister.

[Entertainer]

Yeah.

[Brett Vesely]

Still creepy.

[Larry]

How many times have we smashed them together not knowing that he's going to.

[Entertainer]

Celebrate his 65th year by doing 65 new things?

[Larry]

Ken.

[Entertainer]

Yeah, Ken.

[Larry]

He's exploring. We always knew. Turn into. We've always known, Ken. We've always known.

[Entertainer]

Some New Yorkers got upset because of the Empire State Building. Shined bright red, white and blue lights the top of it. They lit it up because the Patriots won the AFC championship.

[Larry]

Oh, yeah, you can't do that in New York. What are they doing?

[Entertainer]

Yeah, well, evidently they lit it up last year when Seattle Won the NFC championship.

[Larry]

Why don't they do the Seahawks?

[Entertainer]

They also went bathe it in green for the Eagles when they won the nfc.

[Larry]

Oh, you said last last year, meaning last week they did it for Seattle.

[Entertainer]

Yeah, they did for Seattle. They did for the Eagles in the past year.

[Larry]

So you did it for both this year.

[Entertainer]

Yeah. Well, evidently they said they're okay with those two teams. But you don't bring the Patriots.

[Larry]

They shouldn't do it for any of them.

[Entertainer]

They shouldn't.

[Brett Vesely]

You're right.

[Larry]

But that's where the NFL headquarters are. They're in the Empire State.

[Brett Vesely]

Oh, are they?

[Larry]

Yeah, well, they have several, but there's an office inside there.

[Entertainer]

Did you see the Wall Street Journal or, you know, had the full page ad from Kanye apologizing to the Jews? Yep. He says, I'm not a Nazi or an anti anti Semite anymore. I love Jewish people. I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change.

[Larry]

Well, that's nice. He put some clothes on that wife of his.

[Entertainer]

Yet he credits his wife Bianca for.

[Larry]

His recovery from Jew Hayton.

[Brett Vesely]

Do you accept his apology? Yeah.

[Larry]

Again. Do you be aware. Don't care. Like, Kanye was just obviously crazy. I didn't.

[Entertainer]

He bought a full page ad.

[Larry]

Yeah. I didn't take what he said for. For like any worth at all. Everything he said were the rants of a crazy man. So when he started screaming about Jews, it's like, oh, he's off the rails. Did he mean it? I had no idea. But I just don't listen to crazy people. So it never was an effect on. I didn't think Jews were that upset either. And I'm pretty much like, oh, Kanye's gone nuts. Lost his go again.

[Entertainer]

Yeah, it was expensive too.

[Larry]

Yeah. Cost him a ton of the Adidas money and 500 mil there. I have to think that crazy people going crazy are going to do it again. And when a naked lady is the reason why you got better from hating the Jews, I have a feeling there's just going to be an upswing eventually. Again, he's more of a doomsday clock than the actual doomsday clock. We should have a. We're 85 seconds from Kanye losing it against the Jews again. We just ticked four seconds back. Okay, thanks, Bianca. She just gave him like the BJ of a lifetime in a yarmulke. And he's like, oh, this is great.

[Entertainer]

Sign this letter I wrote.

[Larry]

Yeah, we need to get the money back. But that naked lady that he's got Wandering around as some sort of strange slave. She's not the voice of reason either. So I take everything from the Kanye camp with a grain of salt. When the naked lady says he doesn't hate Jews anymore, I look at the bigger picture.

[Entertainer]

How many times do you think the Eagles have performed without Joe Walsh since 1975? That's why he joined.

[Byron]

I don't know.

[Entertainer]

One time.

[Larry]

Once.

[Entertainer]

And it happened this week. This past week.

[Larry]

It just now happened. The streak is over. He's the Lou Gehrig of rock music.

[Entertainer]

On Saturday, their performance, they're doing a residency in the Sphere. Yeah, in Vegas. He had a flu.

[Larry]

Couldn't make it.

[Entertainer]

Vince Gill and Deacon Fry handled most of Walsh's parts. Next show is Friday.

[Larry]

Is he gonna be back? We'll see.

[Brett Vesely]

They might as well move in there.

[Larry]

Yeah, they're there.

[Brett Vesely]

They played there now.

[Larry]

They're there a lot.

[Entertainer]

Well, I mean, the other I said last week is Metallica.

[Larry]

Metallica's looking for 2027.

[Brett Vesely]

Oh, I know, but it seems like they've been playing there for, like, two or three years now.

[Larry]

The Eagles.

[Entertainer]

And did you see Back in.

[Larry]

Well, no, I know they come back, but yeah, they're. They've been there a lot.

[Brett Vesely]

Staple.

[Larry]

Yeah, they're Them and Fish, the Dead. Or back and forth with that. And then the actor who played the guy, the Savage, Michael Orr. Remember the movie Blindside? See what happened?

[Entertainer]

Oh, yeah.

[Larry]

He just passed out in his house and went on life support. Nobody really said what happened. I'm guessing heart attack.

[Entertainer]

Evidently. Put his thumbs up.

[Larry]

That's not good.

[Entertainer]

According to his wife, he wasn't doing anything for a while.

[Larry]

Throw a thumbs up and you're on life support. I'm not so sure that's thumbs up material. Not dead yet is all. That means rooting for the best.

[Entertainer]

Bullet gave him cpr. Yes.

[Larry]

She's gonna take him in. We're gonna take this Savage in. We're gonna make him better with human medicine. Worst movie I've ever seen. Just the most offensive thing you could ever watch. There you go. Larry's not offended. He wasn't offended by Kanye either. He's Jewish. Everybody looked at that and went. And anybody who moved the needle in their own lives based on Kanye probably wasn't altogether sound anyway. But I'm glad he doesn't hate the Jews anymore. I'm sure they're going to be real quick to welcome him back with open arms.

[Entertainer]

Red still kept his Yeezys most of the time.

[Larry]

People who hate the Jews can say, sorry about that. And the Jews are like, no big deal. They're very. Come on.

[Entertainer]

Juju.

[Larry]

They've been dealing with Hamas for years, going, we won't do it. We're sorry. We won't. And then they do it again. So I'm pretty sure Connie is off the menu. Not kosher Larry's coming up next. He's completely kosher blessed this morning, and he will take you through your glorious afternoon and get you all ready. If you're nice to Larry, he's nice to you. He might give you stuff. If you listen carefully, he'll hand it right over. So be nice to him. We'll see you guys tomorrow right here in the morning. Sickness solo.

[Entertainer]

It's not weird. It's pretty cool, actually. No membership fees.

[Larry]

I have heard enough of this.