Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode: 09-12-25 – First Amendment Emailers and Reactions, The Kirk Suspect & The "Luigi Mangione" Situation, Could John Be With Dua Lipa If...
Date: September 12, 2025
Host(s): John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo, with guest Doug Hopkins

Episode Overview

This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness is a lively—and chaotic—blend of listener emails reacting to current events and the show’s trademark irreverent banter. The crew dives into social media controversies, society’s fascination with “hot” criminals (prompted by a new suspect in the Kirk case), and the perennial question: just how far would John go for his celebrity crush, Dua Lipa… even if she crossed the ultimate fan boundary (like donning a Ravens jersey or—even worse—committing a crime)? The hosts swing between thoughtful (sometimes even serious) listener engagement to absurd hypothetical scenarios, all while keeping their typical, edgy tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Reactions to Current Events—The Kirk Suspect & Social Media

• Tyler Robinson as a New Suspect:
  The show reacts to the emergence of Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old now suspected in the Kirk case. Right away, John notes that social media will likely be flooded with his “digital footprint.”

  "Evidently, the suspect they have…he’s decent looking. Women are gonna start getting crazy about how cute he is and support him just because he’s a hottie. Now he’s a baddie and a hottie." — John Holmberg (03:48)

• Luigi Mangione Comparison—Society and ‘Hot’ Criminals:
  Multiple listeners email in, predicting a “Luigi Mangione” scenario, where the public is swooning or making excuses for a suspect because of his looks, echoing famous cases like the Menendez brothers and Scott Peterson.

  "We celebrated that guy because he was hot. Would you have cared half as much if it was an ugly guy who shot that CEO?" — John Holmberg (05:20)

• First Amendment, Social Media, and Responsibility:
  Listeners thank the crew for facilitating open debate and weighing in on hot-button issues. John commends the show's ability to balance serious issues with humor.

  "No one deserves to die at my hand for speaking their mind…with all the serious stuff…you guys balance the show perfectly." — Listener Doug, as read by John (06:06; paraphrased with attributions)

  They debate what happens when coworkers post divisive things online (e.g., pro-Palestinian/Israel stances), and John is clear-eyed about the risks:

  "Screw you Jews on Instagram is never good…That’s dangerous water to tread in." — John Holmberg (07:55)

2. Social Media’s Permanence and Fallout

• Consequences of Online Outrage:
  The group discusses how impulsive social media activity is immortalized and can have lasting fallout, especially professionally.

  "Nobody ever writes that story: ‘he changed his mind.’ Whatever salacious crap you said back in the day haunts you when you print it." — John Holmberg (09:19)

3. Women Supporting ‘Hot’ Killers – Double Standards & Dark Humor

• Unpacking the Phenomenon:
  The group riffs on how women sometimes swoon over infamous male criminals—even after their convictions—while ribbing one another about how men are only “boob-blind”:

  "You guys will support a murderer and then suddenly take his side. That’s because chicks don’t have foundational feelings a lot of the time." — John Holmberg (11:05)

  The discussion veers into notable cases like Scott Peterson, Richard Ramirez, and the Menendez brothers, drawing distinctions between “being attracted” and actual support/marriage offers:

  "He [Richard Ramirez] wasn’t even good looking. He was dark and mysterious. ‘I can change him’—that’s insane." — John Holmberg (13:03)

  John also points out hypocrisy in gendered critiques:

  "You guys wanted to bone Jodi Arias, but bone we didn’t marry her. I’m not going out there with a wedding ring…Sure, you’d like to have sex with her because she’s pretty, but then you don’t want to get to know her." — John Holmberg (13:13)

4. Sports Loyalties as Relationship Deal-Breakers

• The Ultimate Test—Dua Lipa in Rival Gear:
  In a recurring bit, the crew debates whether John could remain loyal to his dream girl Dua Lipa if she committed a cardinal fan sin (e.g., wearing a Baltimore Ravens jersey—the Steelers’ archrival).

  Key exchange:

  • “What if she showed up in a Lamar [Jackson] jersey?” — Brett (14:20)
  • “Oh…That cut deep…I might break down in tears. Man, if Dua Lipa put on a Baltimore Ravens jersey, you’d end it, right?” — John (14:28)
  • “You’d end it.” — Doug (14:45)
  • “My life. No…Yes. Would I? I’d end my life. There’s nothing left for me on this planet.” — John (14:46)
  • John jokes that Dua Lipa joining Al Qaeda would be easier to swallow than seeing her in Ravens gear (15:05).
  • Brett’s over-the-top scenarios (“Dua Lipa gang-bangs 311 with a Baltimore jersey on”) escalate the absurdity (22:27).

• Sports Fandom’s Weird Power:

  • The guys explore other hypothetical ‘dealbreakers’ for celebrity crushes — e.g., Margot Robbie dating Green Day’s Billy Joe Armstrong (20:09), or a crush that likes country music or Fish (30:05, 30:44).
  • John (and Brett) confirm: country music and Fish fandom are absolute no-gos.

5. The Workplace and Free Speech—Drawing Lines

• Social Media at Work—When Does it Go Too Far?
  Returning to the “Free Speech” workplace issue, John analyzes the risks for on-air staff if their personal posts cross a line, especially with clients or station management.

  "Is it the value worth it? All you have to do in this state is say it’s budgetary reasons. You don’t really even need to find it." — Doug Hopkins (36:54)

  • John is candid about his own refusal to post political content outside the show:

    "I’m on Israel’s side, but I’m not going to go out of my way to get on social media and start screaming at anybody else who disagrees…” — John (37:02)

• Practical Wisdom—Disconnecting:
  Referencing Charlie Kirk, John gives a rare slice of clean, universal advice:

  "When it starts getting overwhelming, put your phone down, take a break, spend some time with people around you...no matter who you are. Phones are off. That’s pretty good." — John (37:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On ‘Hot’ Shooters:
  "Women are gonna start getting crazy about how cute he is and support him just because he’s a hottie. Now he’s a baddie and a hottie." — John Holmberg (03:48)

• On Social Media Outrage:
  "Whatever salacious crap you said back in the day haunts you when you print it…Nobody ever writes that story: he changed his mind." — John Holmberg (09:19)

• On Sports, Fandom, and Love:
  "Man, if Dua Lipa put on a Baltimore Ravens jersey, you’d end it, right?...My life. No...You were right. Go back to the first thought. Yes, would I? I’d end my life. There's nothing left for me on this planet." — John Holmberg (14:29–14:46)

• On Male vs. Female ‘Killer’ Crushes:
  "You guys wanted to bone Jodi Arias, but bone we didn’t marry her...Sure, you’d like to have sex with her because she’s pretty, but then you don’t want to get to know her." — John Holmberg (13:13)

• On Fish and Country Music as Relationship Killers:
  "Fish is the deal breaker. Country music is absolutely out. Absolutely out." — John Holmberg (30:54)

• Advice from the Crew:
  "When it starts getting overwhelming, put your phone down, take a break, spend some time with people around you. I think that…that’s a pretty good [advice]." — John Holmberg (37:13)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 03:28-08:12: Listener emails; reactions to new suspect; the “hot killer” phenomenon.
• 10:56-13:45: Social media, “boob blind” vs. “murderer blind,” infamous killers’ admirers.
• 14:20-17:39: Dua Lipa fan loyalty hypotheticals; Ravens jersey meltdown.
• 19:06-24:00: More dealbreaker scenarios; Margot Robbie and team affiliations.
• 27:40-28:58: Packers’ franchise QB success and Bears’ woes.
• 30:05-31:54: Fish and country music as absolute no-go's in relationships.
• 35:37-38:26: Free speech and workplace social media etiquette.
• 37:02-37:13: John’s personal policy on political social content.
• 38:26–38:50: Charlie Kirk’s “log off” advice.

Segment Flow & Tone

The episode oscillates between earnest listener dialogue about free speech and social media, and the hosts’ trademark raunchy, irreverent banter—mostly over football allegiances, criminal “hottie” culture, and imaginary celebrity breakups. The tone is snarky with mock outrage and self-deprecation, but underneath, the hosts show genuine engagement with listeners’ concerns and commentary.

Summary

This episode is quintessential "Holmberg’s Morning Sickness": rapid-fire, audience interactive, and jumping from the absurd (fantasizing about Dua Lipa in rival gear) to the sincerely contemplative (the hazards of social media and speaking out at work). The crew’s blend of gallows humor and real-world reflection keeps things moving, all peppered with memorable one-liners and surprisingly sharp analysis of public discourse and fandom.