Holmberg's Morning Sickness: 10-14-25 Episode Summary

Main Theme / Episode Purpose

In this lively October 14, 2025 episode, the HMS crew—John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo—dig into recent viral news and pop culture absurdities. They skewer misinformation around a rumored “Turning Point USA” Super Bowl Halftime counter-show, lightly mock culturally loaded music choices, and riff about Alec Baldwin and his brother crashing a car (and Baldwin’s seemingly endless public apologies). Irreverence, sarcasm, and biting wit set the tone as the team lampoons the weekly headlines.

Key Discussion Points

Gorilla at the Zoo Incident

• Holmberg revisited his earlier story about a gorilla breaking glass at the zoo, correcting listener misconceptions about gorillas' diets—and human fears.
• He jokes about not wanting to test the theory that gorillas don’t bite people, more worried about being “mashed” by them.
  • "Worried less about them eating me and more about them just squashing me." (00:36, Holmberg)
• Observes the spectacle and ethics of putting kids in front of captive wild animals.

Viral MAGA Halftime Show Hoax

“Turning Point USA” Counter Halftime Show

• The team riffs on a viral fake news item: a supposed anti-Bad Bunny, MAGA-friendly Super Bowl halftime show lineup in Atlanta (Kid Rock, Big & Rich, Ted Nugent, Jason Aldean, Lee Greenwood, etc.).
• John mocks the over-the-top reaction to Bad Bunny as a halftime act, emphasizing the culture-war nature of the controversy.
  • "As excited as you may be, MAGA people, not real… Not actually a show, not a real thing. It's okay." (02:48, Holmberg)
  • Parodies the tiredness of the counter-show’s rumored acts: "If Ted Nugent's headlining and Lee Greenwood's closing it out, you've got a bad show on your hands." (05:12, Holmberg)
• Points out how people don’t read past clickbait headlines, missing satirical elements like "special guest: Measles."
• Suggests the right would need more “pop” to equal Bad Bunny’s reach, muses about better acts (50 Cent, Kanye), and makes a satirical suggestion:
  • "Just do a country show. Just get Morgan Wallen. The great Turning Point USA Morgan Wallen won't say the N word Halftime Show." (04:48, Holmberg)

Music, Politics and Generational Divide

• The crew highlights the generational/cultural split, suggesting both political camps are equally ridiculous for overreacting to musical performers.
  • "I'm proud to say that I think both sides are reprehensibly stupid. If you got excited over a Kid Rock counter attack to Bad Bunny, you are grossly losing the popularity contest in music." (03:41, Holmberg)
• Jokes about the degree of fragility on both sides when it comes to televised pop spectacles.

Alec Baldwin/Brother Crash and Celebrity Apologies

Baldwin Family Car Crash

• The team jokes about Alec Baldwin and his brother Steven crashing a car into a tree, poking fun at the brothers’ inability to take responsibility.
  • "Can they do something that's finally their fault? Can the Baldwins finally do something?…You ran into a tree…they're blaming a trash truck." (06:13, Holmberg)
• Does impression of Baldwin making excuses:
  • "'Wasn't my fault. Lemon! Somebody else got in the way. I would never hit that tree.'” (06:31, Guest/Caller riffing Baldwin)
• Threads in references to Baldwin’s past controversies and penchant for public social media apologies:
  • "Alec Baldwin starts a reality show and then go smooshes his car into a tree." (08:01, Holmberg)
• Jokes about Baldwin’s family size and public image, and the stress it’s taken on him.
  • "Get a ring light, for God's sakes. The bags under your eyes from all this stress from killing people the last couple years is just brutal for the guy." (07:47, Holmberg)
• Mocks social media culture’s need for public exculpation:
  • "A guilty person grabs their phone and flips it around and starts to explain themselves before anybody even thinks…" (09:01, Holmberg)

Baldwin/Tracy Morgan Car Accident Gags

• Parallels are drawn with Tracy Morgan's famous Walmart truck crash; team riffs about naming the tree “Tracy Morgan.”
• Adds surreal humor: “Why did you shoot at it?” when talking about Baldwin.

Station Business and Listener Engagement

• Encourages listeners to use the 98KUPD app for ratings.
• Playfully shames those who listen privately instead of boosting numbers by using speakers:
  • "You listening to your earbuds, you're just—frankly you're just being selfish. You're not helping us…" (11:29, Holmberg)
• Announces a contest promo code: “Bucks.” (11:37)
• Explains the mechanics of station app usage for better ratings.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you got excited over a Kid Rock counter attack to Bad Bunny, you are grossly losing the popularity contest in music." (03:41, Holmberg)
• "The next thing you know, next halftime show's a bunch of dudes blowing each other. I'd watch that, too, just for the reaction of the people who hate it." (02:32, Holmberg)
• "If Ted Nugent's headlining and Lee Greenwood's closing it out, you've got a bad show on your hands." (05:12, Holmberg)
• "Get a ring light, for God's sakes. The bags under your eyes from all this stress from killing people…" (07:47, Holmberg)
• "A guilty person grabs their phone and flips it around and starts to explain themselves before anybody even thinks…" (09:01, Holmberg)
• "You listening to your earbuds, you're just—frankly you're just being selfish. You're not helping us…" (11:29, Holmberg)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Zoo Gorilla Incident Recap: 00:15 – 01:38
• MAGA Fake Halftime Show / Culture Wars: 01:38 – 05:56
• Alec Baldwin/Steven Baldwin Car Crash & Apologies: 06:09 – 10:13
• Tracy Morgan Crash References & Humorous Tangents: 10:13 – 10:49
• Station Business, App Usage, Promo Code Announcement: 10:49 – 11:48

Closing Note

This episode is classic HMS: rapid-fire with biting social commentary, satirical political barbs, cultural lampooning, and absurdist humor. Listeners get a microcosm of culture war confusion, celebrity schadenfreude, and the conspiratorial fun of radio fandom in one energetic package.