10-14-25 - MAGA Falls For Fake Lineup Of Turning Point Halftime Show - Alec Baldwin And Brother Crash Car Into Tree

Summary

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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

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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.

Transcript

[Host]

You're listening to the HMS podcast brought to you by MMP guns.com your most trusted online marketplace for firearms, ammunition and accessories.

[Main Commentator]

There you go, Megadeth right there. And must stay back at it. Got his new album out and everything else. Have to quick correction. Not from John Eaton this time either. But a couple people have emailed. Earlier in the morning I mentioned that the San Diego Zoo had that gorilla attack that glass and break it with both its hands. And I was making the point that, you know, it's just you're parading food around in front of it. They were saying people don't eat or gorillas don't eat meat like that. They don't people me. Yeah, but you're still parading things in front of it that shouldn't be there. I mean, the reason we don't go wandering past gorillas without fear of them eating us is because they'll just mash us into the planet. So, yeah, you're right. I still don't want to find out I'm wrong that gorillas might take a bite. See their mouths worried less about them eating me and more about them just squashing me. So, yes, you're right. In pure interest of saying, you know, caging up a gorilla and then marching Indian kids in front of it is just fine, I'm saying you can expect that glass to take a few punches, that's all. Also another fact. Brady just saw it. I think you got falsely excited for a second on the headline. Then MAGA people have got to calm down. There's a celebration in the street that that horrifying Bad Bunny.

[Co-Host 1]

It's Bad Bunny, Brett. Bad Bunny.

[Main Commentator]

Yeah.

[Co-Host 1]

I mean, why not? If there's a bad Brady, there's a good. Why not Good Bunny? Where's Good Bunny? We're going to do Good Bunny.

[Main Commentator]

They're going to do the Turning Point. USA has decided that they're going to do a counter halftime show to that horrifying, potentially child ruining halftime show by Bad Bunny. So they're going to do a halftime show on the other side for people. And I get emails for you. Go ahead and watch twinks dance around for halftime. I'm turning it. Okay. I didn't realize how fragile you were that you can't watch tv and not.

[Co-Host 2]

A few friends that strongly feel that.

[Main Commentator]

Way that think they never heard of Bad Bunny.

[Host]

They're like, you're.

[Co-Host 2]

You're on this, aren't you?

[Main Commentator]

Yeah.

[Co-Host 2]

I mean, you agree with what's going on here. I'm like, I don't. I Mean, it doesn't bother me. I don't think.

[Main Commentator]

Did they know who Bad Bunny was.

[Co-Host 2]

Going to convert and start.

[Main Commentator]

What are you scared of behavior?

[Co-Host 2]

I don't know.

[Main Commentator]

It's just. You start letting that go, the dominoes start falling. The next thing you know, next halftime shows a bunch of dudes blowing each other. I'd watch that, too, just for the reaction of the people who hate it. But the Turning Point USA super bowl halftime show that sold out Atlanta Brave Stadium. And three hours after announcing it, as excited as you may be, MAGA people, not real. Kid Rock, big and Rich, Ted Nugent, Jason Aldean, of course, the legendary Lee Greenwood. Not actually a show, not a real thing. It's okay. He's at the end. Yeah, Lee Greenwood shutting it down with the, you know, feature being America the Measles.

[Co-Host 2]

That's what I'm.

[Main Commentator]

That's right.

[Host]

I'm not sure about Turning Point is or is not doing it.

[Main Commentator]

This show they are not doing. They may do it at the end of it because nobody actually reads anything or does any work on any. They saw the headline. Don't you see that? Kid Rock, Ted Nugent, Travis Big, Big and Rich, Travis Tritt, Jason Al Dean. People come and Elvis. A lot of folks come back from the dead for this. They're going to do the. They're going to do the show. And then at the end, it says, with special guest, we're now featuring Measles is the joke. But nobody read the whole article because they got so excited about the counterattack to Bad Bunny. And I got to tell you this, I live on E on side of this. 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. In lasso, I'd take Uncle Ted way over Bad Bunny. Yeah, but you were in a small group of people. Now, keep in mind, Ted Nugent struggles to sell out the marquee theater, and the Bunny is doing arenas on a regular basis. I'm not saying he's better. I'm just saying currently, if that's what you're going to counter, your ticket sales are going to suffer. You're not going to do as well as you want. You need to get some, you know, you need. And there's plenty of them. Now you need to get one of these pop singers that like 50 Cent, I think would be even better to go out. He's. He's leaning right pretty hard There's a few of them. You want to really do some damage. Kanye get his ass up there and go crazy. Either way, the turning point USA super bowl halftime show, which is the We're Scared of Bad Bunny show. Not exactly the best lineup I think you could put out there. Just do a country show. Just get Morgan Wallen. The great turning point USA Morgan Wallen won't say the N word. Halftime show.

[Host]

Sure about that?

[Main Commentator]

No, we're not. That's the excitement breath. That's really where the. That's really where the. The. You know, the butter starts to melt, right? There isn't anything. Well, he might. They're saying he won't, but, I mean, it's in the back of his head, so just don't worry about that. They'll get your show up, but you got to get better acts than that. If Ted Nugent's headlining and Lee Greenwood's closing it out, you've got a bad show on your hands. I'm telling you right now. Even the guys over at Marquee Theater would be like, maybe we'll take that bill. Proud to be.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Co-Host 2]

But if Greenwood joins Nuge Langdang.

[Main Commentator]

Oh, if Greenwood went out and sang Wang Dang Sweet Poontang, and that was the promise, and he didn't even have Ted Nugent. He was just gonna go nuts once and do it. I might flip over to see that ice skating. Like, you'd have to have something crazy. But it's not a very good show. Not a very good show. Also, I like this because it's becoming an annual event where Alec Baldwin has to grab a camera and turn it on himself and start to apologize for stuff.

[Guest/Caller]

We were driving down the road, and we smashed into a car, and it.

[Main Commentator]

Steven, look out.

[Co-Host 1]

Oh, my God.

[Main Commentator]

His gun went off. Can they do something that's finally their fault? Can the Baldwins finally do something? They go on and go, that was completely on us. You ran into a tree, and you know what? They're blaming a trash truck. It wasn't their fault.

[Co-Host 2]

So he swerved to get out of the way.

[Guest/Caller]

Wasn't my fault. Lemon. Somebody else got in the way. I would never hit that tree. Normally, I don't know what happened. Sorry about that. That was a blank.

[Main Commentator]

Yeah.

[Co-Host 2]

And then raved about the meal that he had.

[Main Commentator]

Well, yeah. Just get on your video and go, we're in an accident. Yeah. Oh, well, there's no need. There's no need to tell us about everything you do, especially when on the heels of the whole thing, you did everybody Nobody wants to see you.

[Guest/Caller]

Something terrible's happening again, Lemon.

[Main Commentator]

Oh, no. Alex done it.

[Guest/Caller]

I was driving, see, and someone else got in my way. Those were my roads.

[Main Commentator]

And then.

[Co-Host 2]

Did quite the number on that Range Rover.

[Co-Host 1]

Ran it into a big tree.

[Main Commentator]

That's what happens to cars when you hit trees. But it's not someone else's fault. It could have been, but I think the truck missed him. So they overreacted at the.

[Guest/Caller]

Stephen didn't see the thing. And I tried to warn the driver.

[Main Commentator]

Of the trash truck.

[Guest/Caller]

The only way I know how to.

[Host]

He's hanging out with Stephen again.

[Main Commentator]

Yeah, he's got Steve. Hey. And Steven are driving around festival. Yeah, they went to a film festival.

[Guest/Caller]

We'll drive over to that. Let's do. When I go over there.

[Main Commentator]

Put the gun down, Alec.

[Guest/Caller]

It's the only way I can communicate.

[Main Commentator]

It's just stupid. So Alec Baldwin's gonna start. He's. And again. Immediately grabs his phone, hits flip, puts it down and 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. I mean, politically, he hasn't won for months. And now he's got, you know, attempted murder charges. He's living a life. He needs to just take a break. Instead. Alec Baldwin starts a reality show and then go smooshes his car into a tree.

[Co-Host 2]

I love my eight children.

[Guest/Caller]

I have eight kids. My wife just got kicked off Dancing.

[Main Commentator]

With the Stars and people will pay.

[Host]

Standing a public eye.

[Main Commentator]

Yeah, I guess nobody's talked about him for a while. Alec, how come nobody talks about you?

[Guest/Caller]

That's bothering me too. I think I'm gonna kill this tree.

[Host]

He hates these trees.

[Main Commentator]

He ran into a tree somewhere. Another. It's somebody else's fault, though. Can't you say Steven overreacted or the tr. We didn't expect a trash truck. I mean, I've seen trash trucks on streets before. Never have I had to use evasive measures. Trash truck usually going like five miles an hour picking up trash. It's what they do. It's stupid.

[Guest/Caller]

That's right.

[Co-Host 2]

Lemon, what's the game that he got kicked off of on the phone that he's playing and they told words.

[Main Commentator]

Words with Friends.

[Co-Host 2]

Yeah, he might have been doing that. Not paying attention.

[Main Commentator]

Could be.

[Guest/Caller]

I don't know.

[Main Commentator]

Either way, he's apologizing for something else again.

[Guest/Caller]

And who knows? I don't know.

[Main Commentator]

It's a weird thing to see. Alec Baldwin and the camera's turned around. Just know something bad's happened and he's trying to exonerate himself. That's basically all. He never goes on there and turns the camera goes, well, I really stepped in at this time.

[Guest/Caller]

This one was 100% my fault.

[Main Commentator]

Certainly selling Liam's. You killed a tree. The car was a blank.

[Guest/Caller]

Anyway.

[Main Commentator]

The tree's fine. The car's busted up. Steven still doesn't have a career, and we can move on. All right, our. Our word for eight o'. Clock. Yeah. Gotta lick my fingers to get these apart.

[Co-Host 2]

Steven's fine.

[Main Commentator]

Is he?

[Co-Host 2]

Daughter's a billionaire.

[Main Commentator]

Oh, that's right. I forgot about that. Well, Stephen didn't die, you know, Steven's in the car. He didn't come out and do some video apologizing to everybody and saying, I didn't do anything wrong. A guilty person grabs their phone and flips it around and starts to explain themselves before anybody even thinks. You know, everybody saw the wreck and they're like, oh, good, the Baldwins are okay. But then Alec has to go on and on and on about how he did this and that.

[Co-Host 2]

Yeah, that's what it was. My brother, Mr. Truck.

[Co-Host 1]

I got hit by a truck once too, and I was on 30 Rock. Nobody ever did an apology to me. Well, wait a minute.

[Main Commentator]

They gave me like $40 million.

[Co-Host 1]

Never mind. Good luck, tree. But should name that tree Tracy Morgan.

[Guest/Caller]

I hit The Tracy Morgan 3. I don't know what to do.

[Co-Host 2]

He swerved from a Walmart truck.

[Co-Host 1]

Look out, Alec Baldwin. There's a Walmart truck.

[Main Commentator]

You're right.

[Guest/Caller]

Tracy, look out.

[Co-Host 1]

Why did you shoot at it?

[Main Commentator]

Those were.

[Guest/Caller]

Thanks.

[Main Commentator]

Anyway, so he's apologizing. We just get over it. All right, in just a few minutes, we're gonna do another word, and it's bucks. I'm just gonna give it to you early. B U C K s. Bucks at 9am That'll be your promo code on the app. Try to win a thousand dollars from us. How about that, Bucks? We're giving you money. We're boosting our app numbers. Everybody's winning. Somebody emailed me and said, I don't understand how it works. You said that the speakers don't work for ratings if we listen on the app. If we have it on our headphones, I'm like, right, the app number counts, but the ratings don't let you have it on a speaker. So Bluetooth away, man, and start putting it on a speaker loud in your office. That would be better for us if you did it that way, but we understand that a lot of you can't. Our ownership doesn't, but we do. So, you know, if you could help us out, just turn it up every once in a while and give us a little.

[Guest/Caller]

Little bump.

[Main Commentator]

And the ratings, it helps every time. Because you listening to your earbuds, you're just. Frankly, you're just being selfish. You're not helping us. You know, you think you're being nice to your coworkers, but you're screwing us. And isn't that who you really care about? Come on, Bucks. That's what we're after. 9am Word. It's coming up in a couple minutes. Bucks. Bucks. That will be the one you put in your promo code for nine o'. Clock. Then we're done. And it starts again with Fitz at 2:00'. Clock. You can even have your app warn you constantly. Starting again at 153. It'll start telling you, hey, Fitz, about to give you the word, and boom, it knocks it out. We'll do it again. You got 40 minutes after 9, so. 9 to 9:40. We'll get that together. We got the hot releases right around the corner. It's nine. Eight. It's out of control now.