Dial M-M-R for Murder

Summary

Lovett or Leave It
Episode: Dial M-M-R for Murder
Date: August 12, 2026
Host: Jon Lovett

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Lovett or Leave It," titled "Dial M-M-R for Murder," features Jon Lovett dissecting the chaotic week in politics — with a particular focus on alarming new actions by Trump and RFK Jr. related to childhood vaccinations, absurd misinformation about the MMR vaccine, presidential plane security fiascos, and broader commentary on media and celebrity absurdities. Lovett is joined by comedian Lisa Traeger (who shares her passion for backgammon and true crime), and Emmy-nominated actress Lauren Weedman from "Hacks." Expect sharp satire, playful rants, and earnest reflections on topics ranging from anti-vax movements and gay hockey novels to the politics of aging and public etiquette.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Trump and RFK Jr. Anti-Vax Executive Order

Timestamps: 00:13 – 06:06

• Trump and RFK Jr. sign an executive order to reduce and delay recommended childhood vaccinations.

  • Lovett satirizes Trump’s misinformation, highlighting outlandish statements about vaccines being "lethal" and ridiculous imagery, such as vaccines being “the size of a bottle of soda” (01:11).
  • Lovett lampoons the idea that separating out the M, M, and R of the MMR vaccine provides any health benefits (02:34). Lovett points out this has been debunked with real-world examples, e.g., Japan’s failed experiment in splitting the vaccine, leading to outbreaks.

• RFK Jr.’s duplicity on vaccine policy:

  • Claims to support scientific panels and funding, but fires experts and guts vaccine research programs — including promising mRNA research. (03:40)
  • "Krang’s going to Krang. Sounds like RFK Jr too, a little bit." (04:15)

• Satirical Hypocrisy Highlight:

  • "Trump puts a half a milliliter of liquid into a teenager on Epstein’s island and you all lose your fucking minds. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. It was a tough one, but you did okay. All right." (01:24)

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2. Presidential Security Antics: The Catering Truck Caper

Timestamps: 04:40 – 07:00

• Revealing the Secret Service’s recent ruse:

  • Due to a reported Iranian missile threat, the Secret Service publicly loads Trump onto Air Force One, then sneaks him into a catering truck to a secret smaller plane.
  • Lovett mocks the government’s use of journalists as unknowing decoys: "The government does not have the right to use journalists as decoys like this without their knowledge because this is a democracy and private citizens aren’t expected to sacrifice their lives for the Dear Leader while eating a little bag of pretzels and drinking a ginger ale." (07:06)

• Comparison and Satirical Coverage:

  • Comparing it to stealthy Taylor Swift escapes in popcorn carts and remarking: "One problem. Taylor didn’t have a decoy tour bus filled with unsuspecting backup dancers that she thought might get hit by a rocket-propelled grenade." (07:06)

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3. News Oddities: Mark Zuckerberg’s Yacht Snub

Timestamps: 07:30 – 08:30

• Allegation that Zuckerberg’s $300 million yacht ignored a distress call from a nearby ship.
  • Passengers reportedly booed when they learned of the snub, then "had a good laugh and died of hantavirus." (08:30)

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4. Spotlight: Lisa Traeger on Backgammon, True Crime, and Self-Improvement

Timestamps: 11:52 – 22:09

Backgammon Obsession

• Traeger recounts her entry into international competitive backgammon, including training with a grandmaster, competing in Monte Carlo, and discovering backgammon’s passionate subculture.
• Notable moment: "I had a chicken Caesar salad, a Peroni, and I got an iced coffee to go, and it was €89." (15:07)
• Lovett jokes about the intersection of MMR vaccines and backgammon: "A lot of people who got all the doses of the mmr, a lot of the, like extra MMR I got, I have a backgavin journey, but I gotta hit me with that rubella vaccine. I gotta be on my best game." (16:42)

Heated Rivalry and Life Changes

• Traeger passionately describes how the “Heated Rivalry” romance series sparked her reading habit, learning Russian, seeking love, and quitting daily weed use.
• "I hadn't read in like 12 years. I’ve now read like 30 books this year. Just like roaring. Because it heated up, right?" (18:59)
• Lovett: "You’re reading James Baldwin, learning Russian, mastering back... Like, you think you’re better. You think you’re better than me." (19:15)

True Crime Expertise

• Traeger on her podcast “That’s Messed Up” and lifelong fascination with true crime, from visiting serial killer wax museums as a kid to developing theories as an adult.

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5. True Crime Trivia Game: "Good Riddance: Hope You Had the Crime of Your Life”

Timestamps: 23:06 – 26:07

• Rapid-fire true crime questions:
  • The scientific name for fingerprint analysis (“dactyloscopy”) and quirky facts (koalas have nearly identical fingerprints to humans).
  • The McDonald Triad: childhood signs predictive of later criminal violence (bed-wetting, animal cruelty, arson).
  • Notable moments: "Well, that's actually, I'm really curious because, like, that's a sign that someone's being abused." (24:56. Lisa Traeger on bed-wetting as a red flag.)
• Ted Bundy’s poor driving skills led to early arrests: "He was a terrible driver." (25:55)

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6. Celebrating Lauren Weedman: On ‘Hacks’ and Hollywood

Timestamps: 28:28 – 41:08

• Discussing her Emmy nomination for guest-starring as the Mayor of Las Vegas on "Hacks."
• Lively back-and-forth about awards eligibility, deserving winners, and Hollywood’s wealth gap.
• Weedman’s journey: candid about hustling for roles, car struggles ("I'm sure I'm the only nominee who's driving, like, a 2009 shitty car. The AC just, like, went out on the way here…” (29:48)), and the oddities of awards season.
• On actor vulnerability in interviews: "I don’t like to reveal my more vulnerable emotions, like joy." (32:14)
• Comparing the rising confidence and veneer-brightening among a hit show’s cast across seasons.
• Lovett’s direct praise: "You are so fucking funny on Hacks... Every choice you make is so surprising and funny and interesting and not what I think anyone else would do if you’re given that same role." (38:04–38:47)
• Reflections on aging, persistence, and feeling less of an 'asshole': "So it felt so nice to suddenly just not feel like an asshole that it all had sort of accumulated…" (40:54)

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7. Rant Wheel: Group Therapy for Society’s Pet Peeves

Timestamps: 47:17 – 55:43

• Aging and Judgment: Lauren Weedman bemoans both ageism and internalized self-critique. "I’m sick of my own judgment... Sometimes I put on a little bit too much makeup, I’ll be like, wipe it off, old lady. What are you trying to prove?" (47:30)
• Audience Etiquette: Lisa Traeger rants on the agony of talkative theatergoers: "If it’s dark and there’s a light on one person over there, that’s the only person who should be speaking." (50:20)
• Lovett rails against “too many pasta shapes” but comically admits: "Midway through my own rant about pasta shapes, I had to say, well, obviously, then there’s different shapes that serve a different function..." (54:55)
• Meta-humor about the futility of the Rant Wheel itself: "We are year 10 of this show, and we never cracked how to use the fucking wheel." (47:17)

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8. Segment: Second Thoughts

Timestamps: 55:43 – 58:21

• Panelists reflect on things said that might be regrettable, both in content and in style, maintaining a tongue-in-cheek vulnerability.
• Lovett: "I did at some point ask, does everyone here need help?" (57:39)
• Weedman: "I wished I had not... keep telling everybody, like, guess I got in trouble. And then I retell what I did... this is a wildly popular show." (57:01)
• Lisa Traeger, with candor: "I’ve been burping my lunch and I hate it. And so that’s been really upsetting up here." (58:04)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On vaccine misinformation:
  "Famously, the hardest part of being a parent is when you have to pour 2 liters of vaccine into your baby. You’re filling an ice cube tray." (01:24, Jon Lovett)

• On political hypocrisy and RFK Jr.:
  "It would be like accepting Krang’s assurances he doesn’t want to conquer the earth and kill the Ninja Turtles. Bitch. That’s his whole fucking thing." (04:15, Jon Lovett)

• On the catering truck escape:
  "The government does not have the right to use journalists as decoys like this without their knowledge because this is a democracy..." (07:06, Jon Lovett)

• On true crime & backgammon:
  "Once you start learning the game, which I’m new to, that’s when you’re like, oh, my dad had no idea what’s going on... we would play too safe. Like, you have to take risks..." (15:44, Lisa Traeger)

• On transformative gay hockey romance books:
  "I can’t believe what happened to my life. It’s like, so cool." (19:00, Lisa Traeger)

• On audience etiquette:
  "It’s dark and there’s a light on one person over there, that’s the only person that should be speaking." (50:20, Lisa Traeger)

• On aging and self-acceptance:
  "Why wasn’t it instilled earlier to show a little bit of respect for the elder, wise ladies of the world?" (47:30, Lauren Weedman)

• On career perseverance:
  "I am sort of like, wow, I feel less. The first thought I had was like, oh, my God. I feel a little bit less of an asshole because I felt like as a guest star, most of my friends who had to give it up, they’re just like, we can’t survive. You know, there’s not enough money in this." (40:54, Lauren Weedman)

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Additional Segments

• Playful Ads and CrookedCon Promotions:
  Standard ad breaks were present but omitted per guidelines.
• Upcoming Guests and Live Shows:
  Lovett previews upcoming appearances by Ted Lieu, Jim Rash, and David Pakman.

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Structure & Flow

The episode alternates between Lovett’s satirical news monologue, conversational interviews, raucous rants, and comedy games. Lovett maintains a witty, self-aware tone throughout, inviting his guests to be candid about personal transformations, professional challenges, and life’s pettiness and profundity.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode offers a delicious blend of pointed political satire, emotional honesty, comedic banter, and pop culture exploration. Beyond the laughs are sharp observations on the anti-vaccination movement, the mechanisms of fame, and the constant struggle to be authentic, aging, or simply heard in public spaces.

Not to miss:
Jon Lovett and Lisa Traeger’s playful exploration of vaccine idiocy and backgammon, Lauren Weedman’s honest reflections on Hollywood and self-doubt, and the group’s cathartic Rant Wheel.

Transcript

[Lauren Weedman]

Love it or leave it. It's love it or leave it.

[Jon Lovett]

Welcome to Love it or Leave it. Live from Hollywood, I'm Jon Lovett. We've got a great show for you tonight, but first, let's get into it. What a week. On Monday, Trump, alongside vaccine denier rfk jr signed an executive order aimed at reducing the number of vaccinations recommended for children, delaying the shots they do receive over a longer period of time. Why? Well, let's have Dr. Trump explain it.

[Lisa Traeger]

I think I heard you say that

[Jon Lovett]

the MMR vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella is quite lethal. Is there any evidence of that? Because anyone in the.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

What I've heard is that there are some people that say it is that way. And I say, well, let's say there's a 5% chance of it. Let's split it up.

[Jon Lovett]

Now, he's not saying who he heard it from, but as a hint, imagine it's Tom Waits if he swallowed a bike chain and loved cholera. Trump also made this odd claim.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

I saw this early on and I've seen proof of it, where they have a vaccination that looks like the size of a bottle of soda poured into a little child's body. And bad things happen.

[Jon Lovett]

Famously, the hardest part of being a parent is when you have to pour 2 liters of vaccine into your bab. You're filling an ice cube tray. For the record, children's vaccines tend to have about half a milliliter or a tenth of a teaspoon worth of liquid. Oh, but that doesn't bother you, Libs. But Trump puts a half a milliliter of liquid into a teenager on Epstein's island and you all lose your fucking minds. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. It was a tough one, but you did okay. All right.

[Lisa Traeger]

Thank you for.

[Jon Lovett]

Thank you for bearing with me. There was an important joke, a good. A moral joke. Trump repeated his claims Tuesday on Real America's Voice.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

It's too much. At one time, they give these massive. Did you ever take a look? It looks like a Coca Cola bottle. You know, like they're pumping this massive amount of fluid into a child's body.

[Jon Lovett]

And then sometimes you get to the doctor and you ask for a Coca Cola vaccine and the doctor says, is a Pepsi vaccine okay? And you're like, never mind. I'll die of meas. Trump also repeated his bizarre claims about the MMR vaccine.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Mmr. If you give them separately the M, the M, and the R, it's fine. When you put them together, they're sort of like a nuclear weapon according to some.

[Jon Lovett]

Right then and there. Trump. What's the M? What's the M? What's the R? Tell us what you think they are right now. I'll vote for you. I'll support you. President for life. What's the M? What's the M? What's the R? Now this is all just made up. There is no benefit to separating out the doses. It's actually been tried and all that happens. A lot of kids don't get all three because you have to go to the doctor three times. It's not hypothetical. They actually tried this in Japan. The vaccines were split and as a result a lot of kids ended up with the fucking mumps. But don't worry, I'm sure Americans are more disciplined and better at following the rules than the fucking Japanese. See, that joke would have been unacceptable in Woke 1. And now here we are having a good time laughing about stereotypes and I. And I apologize. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy posted quote, I'm a doctor. This executive order is wrong. The president does not have the expertise to make these changes. Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe. Vaccines are effective. Vaccines do not cause autism. Cassidy voted to confirm RFK Jr. After accepting his reassurances that he wasn't anti vax even though he was proudly and consistently anti vaxx. It would be like accepting Krang's assurances he doesn't want to conquer the earth and kill the Ninja Turtles. Bitch. That's his whole fucking thing. Krang's going to Krang. Sounds like RFK Jr too, a little bit. Kennedy also lied. He said he'd maintain the vaccine advisory panel's recommendations. He then fired all 17 members of the panel. He said he supported the childhood vaccination schedule, which has now been gutted. He explicitly said he would not divert or cut vaccine funding, then pulled billions from local vaccination programs and shut down half a billion dollars in exciting, revolutionary MRNA research which holds the promise of vaccines for diseases from HIV to cancer. From the way RFK is acting, you'd think these are the shots that took out his dad and uncle. You did okay on that one, too. Speaking of dangerous shots, in July, the New York Times reported that Trump flew on the old Air Force One while leaving Turkey because his new Qatari plane lacked the defensive capabilities necessary to protect the President. This was in response to what was reported reportedly a credible threat that Iran would fire a missile at the President's plane. A welcome change of pace after a few days of eating Turkish food. You'd expect it to be Trump who's dropping the bombs on Air Force One. Now we learn, according to the Washington Post, that Trump was not on either plane. And after very publicly boarding the old Air Force One, the Secret Service secretly snuck Trump out of the other side of the plane and onto a catering truck, which you can see there. Oh my God, is this where food comes from? Is this a farm? Said Trump, marveling at all the snacks. The catering vehicle then covertly drove Trump to yet a third smaller plane, which we can see there. That plane, which Secretary Hegseth had already publicly boarded, then flew to the United Kingdom. Interestingly, Secretary Hegseth was somehow stuck inside of a drink cart, but that seems to be unrelated to any kind of a security threat. Here's the thing. The unwitting journalists and White House staff aboard Air Force One weren't told about the threat or that Trump wasn't on the plane. What is he doing in there? Asked White House Press Secretary Steven cheung around minute 90 of waiting outside Air Force One's good bathroom. When the press pool later asked the President why they had been told to close their window shades on the flight, Trump responded, quote, because you're probably on a dangerous flight because of the sleaze bags that we have to deal with, which are also the words I use anytime I fly Frontier. Trump then added, quote, but if I go, you go. Right before suggesting that, quote, perhaps someday you want to change professions. This is what he said to journalists who had no idea they were basically used like rodeo clowns. Here's how they covered it on Fox News. It reminds me a little bit of

[Lauren Weedman]

Taylor Swift in the middle of the ERAS tour when she was going to the Chiefs game. Do you remember when they were sneaking

[Lisa Traeger]

her out in the popcorn cart?

[Jon Lovett]

Twice they did it again. And then that was real. And that was it.

[Lauren Weedman]

Very real. Okay, do whatever it takes to keep Taylor Swift happy. Those Aristotle concerts.

[Lisa Traeger]

But nonetheless, the media outrage is crazy on this.

[Lauren Weedman]

Do what you got to do to

[Lisa Traeger]

keep the President safe.

[Jon Lovett]

One problem. Taylor didn't have a decoy tour bus filled with unsuspecting backup dancers that she thought might get hit by a rocket propelled grenade. Also, the government does not have the right to use journalists as decoys like this without their knowledge because this is a democracy and private citizens aren't expected to sacrifice their lives for the Dear Leader while eating a little bag of pretzels and drinking a ginger ale. When Bill Clinton flew into Pakistan in 2000, the White House also used a decoy plane, but that decoy was smaller. So as to put fewer people at risk. Reporters and the President flew separately. And according to new reporting, the White House actually briefed Susan Page, then the president of the Correspondence association, about the ruse in advance. Ironically, this was a rare time when a woman was warned about not being next to Bill Clinton on a plane. And speaking of travelers who put their needs above everyone else, according to passengers on a small cruise ship, Mark Zuckerberg's $300 million yacht did not respond to a recent distress call from a nearby vessel which had run out of fuel near the coast of Alaska. They reportedly ignored the distress signal because they mistook it for a suicidal teenage girl. A Meta spokesperson later said that Zuckerberg's yacht, called the Launchpad, did not hear the signal until after the vessel had been rescued by the passing cruise ship. According to a passenger on that cruise, after the captain announced that Mark Zuckerberg's yacht had not responded, quote, there was near unanimous booing everybody on board, then had a good laugh and died of hantavirus. All right, we have got a great show for you tonight and we'll be right back. Hey, don't go anywhere. There's more of Love it or Leave it coming up. This episode is sponsored by the International Rescue Committee. Right now, there are millions of children struggling to survive in conflict zones around the world like Sudan and Gaza. They're not only facing hunger, but also unsafe water and little or sometimes no access to basic healthcare. That's why the work of the International Rescue Committee is more important than ever. They're on the ground in some of the most vulnerable places in the world, helping families access food, medical care, clean water, and support for new moms and babies. They even train local healthcare workers so care reaches those who might otherwise be completely cut off. You can help the IRC support even more children in need for a limited time. All donations are matched to Rush 2X, the emergency aid. Help save a child's life. Give [e-mail] rebuild that's rescue.org rebuild. Love it or Leave it is brought to you by SimpliSafe here's the thing about traditional home security systems. They're designed for after. After the window breaks, after someone's inside, after the police come. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that after is too late. Simplisafe is the first system designed for before stopping a break in before it even begins. Smart AI powered outdoor cameras detect suspicious activity at the perimeter and alert live US based agents to step in. Simplisafe's agents assess the threat, intervene through the outdoor camera to scare off trespassers. Then call 911 for dispatch. Our CEO recently had a SimpliSafe system installed in her home. She has outdoor and indoor cameras, motion sensors, window and door sensors. Her home is fully protected. Installation in the entire system was quick and easy. Everything has worked seamlessly since day one. It gives her peace of mind knowing that her home is now protected by SimpliSafe. SimpliSafe has been protecting your world for 20 years. Celebrate their anniversary and save 60% on your new SimpliSafe system at SimpliSafe.com Love it. That's 60% [e-mail] Love it. Plus, when you order, write love it or leave it in the how did you hear about us? Survey to let them know we sent you. Don't forget there's no safe like SimpliSafe. And we're back. We'll be joined by the great Lisa Traeger in a moment. But first, Friends of the podcast. We're very excited to see so many of you at CrookedCon. But a reminder, for those who have not yet bought one of the limited number of Friends of the pod tickets for CrookedCon, they are selling out. There are just a few left. If you want to take advantage of the discount and get the perks that come along with being a friend of the pod, you have to grab your tickets now. If you're not yet a paid subscriber, you get this ticket for CrookedCon. But you also get subscriber only content like Pod Save America Only friends. You get exclusive access to a bunch of our substack newsletters. You get Pod Save America only tabs. Get a Polar Coaster with Dan Pfeiffer. There's a lot of great stuff that you only get as a subscriber, plus ad free episodes. Plus you're supporting independent pro democracy media that you can trust. So Please go to crookedcon.com to get your ticket and to join Friends of the Pod. And if you're in LA, get tickets to see us [e-mail] events. We are always adding new guests. Check out our lineup, including Congressman Ted Lieu and the hilarious actor Jim Rash from Community and political commentator David Pakman from the David Pakman Show. They'll all be here on Thursday. All right, now please welcome to the stage one of my favorite standups and the first person I would call if I was accused of murder is Lisa Traeger.

[Lauren Weedman]

Hi.

[Jon Lovett]

Good to see you. Come on through.

[Lisa Traeger]

Hell yeah.

[Lauren Weedman]

Hi.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Hello.

[Lisa Traeger]

Hi.

[Jon Lovett]

Now, obviously look, you're a triple Threat.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yes.

[Jon Lovett]

All right. Because you're a comedian.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

You're a true crime aficionado.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

And you're an international backgammon competitor.

[Lisa Traeger]

And an actress.

[Jon Lovett]

And an actress and a dancer. And you were saying a trans swimmer.

[Lisa Traeger]

I was on the swim team in high school. Were you really? Yeah, yeah. You could probably tell I just did butterfly. It's the most difficult one.

[Jon Lovett]

I was on one episode of Survivor, but my swimming was bad enough that it is often brought up to me in public.

[Lauren Weedman]

All right now.

[Lisa Traeger]

But my dream is to do Survivor. I know you did it. And I still wouldn't learn how to build a fire, and I don't give a fuck.

[Jon Lovett]

Well, I'll tell you this much. Was it my problem? Surviving amongst the wild was not the issue so much as talking to people, which I feel like I should have known going in, but.

[Lisa Traeger]

Well, my goal would be to be so annoying that people would drag me to be the goat. You know what I mean?

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah, it wasn't annoying enough. I suppose I was in that uncanny valley of being.

[Lisa Traeger]

Usually they kick off a woman real

[Jon Lovett]

quick, but yeah, I have a feminine energy now. Back to you, backgavin, competitive, international. What?

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah, I did just play in the world championships of backgammon, but I had an in. Cause we were filming stuff, working on a doc podcast thing, so I didn't have to pay the thousands of dollars that you have to pay. So the stakes were lower for me. But I was training with Mark Olson, a grandmaster, and he runs the world championships and this app. And so he trained me for a few months. Not prepared. I was losing. I won one game against an engineer and that felt really incredible. And I played with people with decades of experience. I played with some of the world' best players, grandmasters. I learned a lot. And then I had two devastating losses. Like, humiliating, humiliating. So I'm training for the New York tournament in January.

[Jon Lovett]

So let's. We have a clip of you playing against.

[Lisa Traeger]

Oh, my God. Yeah, that's Mochi.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

Okay.

[Jon Lovett]

That's a world champion.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah, it's really funny because, like, I didn't know he existed. And then when I was there, every time I saw him, I was like, it's Mochi. But I never knew about that man before. Oh, my God, this is so fun.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

And you did lose.

[Lisa Traeger]

I did lose, but he has the lowest error rate of any player in the world, which is like two point something. Like they all are obsessed with him. He is really funny. He was so funny and silly. But yeah, he's a professional and he Was awesome. And I learned some really good moves from him.

[Jon Lovett]

And it was in Monte Carlo.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

Which is kind of where James Bond plays baccarat.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah. It's a tax haven for oligarchs. And it's pretty disgusting. I saw a yacht with a helicopter on top of it. I saw a lot of, like, rich children with iPads. I saw a lot of Mini Burke and Kelly's. Lot of sex workers who are not allowed to really speak.

[Jon Lovett]

So it sounds cool.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah, there. There was a lot of people, but there were. Everyone was hot. Like, a lot of hot people. I love. Like, the valet guys were, like, the hottest guys I'd ever seen.

[Jon Lovett]

So just to back up, but I'll

[Lisa Traeger]

tell you, it's so expensive there. I had a chicken Caesar salad, a Peroni, and I got an iced coffee to go, and it was €89.

[Jon Lovett]

Wow, that's cool.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah, that's exclusive place.

[Jon Lovett]

So that's.

[Lisa Traeger]

And of course, the Russians are the most tacky on the whole goddamn strip of land.

[Jon Lovett]

She almost goes without saying, but yeah. So now. But why do you backgammon? You have an obsessive quality. You get very interesting because, like, you know, it can be a. It can be a public murder or it can be a game of sorts. So, like, you're able to play competitive backgammon. Were you always playing backgammon?

[Lisa Traeger]

So I always played with my father. Like, I've been playing backgammon my whole life with my family, and then my nephews play. So, like, I've always played casually or, like, here and there.

[Jon Lovett]

And what are my dad.

[Lisa Traeger]

That's like, how you move. It's like each step and you're trying to get your babies all the way home, and you want to. And you're trying not to get hit by the other people or you have to start over. But, like, I was playing with my dad casually, and I met a lot of people that, like, learned with their grandparents and parents. And then once you start learning the game, which I'm new to, that's when you're like, oh, my dad had no idea what's going on. You know, you realize your parents are flawed. But, like, yeah, we would play too safe. Like, you have to take risks. So I've learned, like, gameplay and how to count stuff. Like, I've just learned way more in the last three months than I have in my whole life. So I always thought, like, oh, yeah, I love backgammon. But now it's like, oh, fuck, I'm competing against, like, gambling degenerates. And then People so deep in the spectrum, they're like counting like you won't believe. Like you won't believe it.

[Jon Lovett]

A lot of people who got all the doses of the mmr, a lot of the, like extra MMR I got, I have a back Gavin Journey, but I gotta hit me with that rubella vaccine. I gotta be on my best game. I want the rotavirus one. I want, I want, I want hep B. I want hep C. And it's

[Lisa Traeger]

like a lot of people like, yeah, they move so smooth. It's sexy because I was losing, but the people were building their primes. And it does look beautiful. And then you learn about the subcultures. I bought a necklace, I bought like a back gamma necklace.

[Jon Lovett]

There's always merch. Yeah, you get deep into something.

[Lisa Traeger]

Well, and I had to buy new dice because in the middle of a game, this girl comes up to me that I know from New York and she goes, you can't play with those dice. Cause my dice had holes in them which isn't aerodynamic enough. And so you have to use precision dice where they're painted on. So I did have to buy two sets of dice because you want to do separate color. Yeah, like it. I was an asshole, like thinking I was going to come into these tournaments and like do well to these things.

[Jon Lovett]

Like they've been dedicated for years. Some part of you, some part of you thought that you were going to be like Bobby Fischer.

[Lisa Traeger]

No, never.

[Jon Lovett]

Like you're going to walk in searching Bobby Fischer. Like you're like, you know, checkmate, checkmate, checkmate. Or wherever the fuck.

[Lisa Traeger]

No, because I started working with Mark Olsen, the grandma, one of the grandmasters. So once I started working with him and reading his book, I realized I have a lot to learn. And so I went in open minded. But then. And even some of my losses, I learned a lot. I didn't make errors like I was doing well. The ones I was upset about are where I was sloppy, sloppy, bad, forgot my lessons. I don't want to let my teacher down. Deep down, I just want to do a good job.

[Jon Lovett]

You know, honestly, that feels like the way you said that is a natural segue into another thing you got obsessed with is heated rivalry.

[Lisa Traeger]

Changed my life. Changed my life. You're laughing at me. They're laughing. It truly changed my life.

[Jon Lovett]

So. Because it's such a good show. Yeah, because of, because of the sexual chemistry between the two leads. Hockey.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

But you've like, like it's like affected. Like you've taken on hobbies. Because of this now?

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah. I start, well. Cause I'm Russian. But I realized, like, oh, I didn't know all the words he used. And then I was like, I should be doing more Russian television. So I've been working with a Russian professor weekly to like, strengthen my Russian. And it's actually helped my relationship with my parents. Cause now my mom texts me in Russian and I'm learning how to read and write. And it's all coming back to me. So that's been really great. I hadn't read in like 12 years. I've now read like 30 books this year. Just like roaring.

[Jon Lovett]

Because it heated up, right?

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah. Because she has six books in the series. And then she has two other gay hockey books. And then that led me to gay historical books by Kat Sebastian. And like, they're set in the 50s in New York. And then of course, now I'm reading James Baldwin. I mean, I can't believe what happened to my life. It's like, so cool.

[Jon Lovett]

So just on like a given week, you're reading James Baldwin, learning Russian, mastering back. Like, you think you're better. You think you're better than me.

[Lisa Traeger]

But also, like, I started hypnotherapy because then I realized I want love. And then I was like, stopping myself from it because I was so inspired by heated rivalry. So now I'm like, I don't know if I'm looking for love. I'm mostly on field, but. But I have like, fucked some freaks and. But I'm on the journey. So I hadn't dated in like, years. So I'm like, dating. I'm more fun. I quit smoking weed all day, every day. So I'm not a daily weed smoker anymore. And it was all because of Jacob Tierney and these boys and Rachel Reed, God bless her.

[Jon Lovett]

Because you were vaguely insulted by the fact that the. And also seems. Sounds like quite depressed.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

Seems like you were in actually a crisis. You were in a state of crisis.

[Lisa Traeger]

And this show got me out.

[Jon Lovett]

And Connor's story reaches down and just pulls you up and says, my Russian accent is embarrassingly good compared to what yours should be. And now you're reading James Baldwin and going to Monte Carlo.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah, yeah. Making eye contact with baristas. Like, I'm just out now. But I was also inspired by just like such a beautiful love story. And they did such a good job and in terms of like, making television such a small budget, such like, only in 36 days. And like, they just did something so incredible. I love that.

[Jon Lovett]

Do you think that if you hadn't, do you think heated rivalry had to be the thing, or were you about to start getting better and something was gonna be like. If you had happened to click over into a different show, if you'd watch Widow's Bay, would you be in the Cape right now learning how to fucking?

[Lisa Traeger]

I actually was just in P town for the first time, living. I was crying in P Town, imagining Shane and Ilya there for the first time. Cause I was like, they're gonna, like, they don'. Know the gay life ahead of them. Like, I was just like, imagining them in the back of a pedicab. Like, loving life in P Town.

[Jon Lovett]

Have you seen there's been this story of a woman, a Disney adult who travels, following Peter Pan around Disney in too obsessive a way. Do you worry that that's something in your future that you'll. That all of a sudden Connor's story will, like, kind of open a window shade and there you'll be being like, I'm back. A game of backgammon, perhaps?

[Lisa Traeger]

No, because I have so. I have too much respect for his craft. I'd leave him alone, but I plan on, like, how. No, I think about this all the time. What my life would be like and the sliding doors if I never watched Cheated Rivalry. I really think about it because my life is so different than it was before I watched it. And yeah, I am curious if I would still be smoking weed all day, every day and just depressed and not fucking people off the Internet, you know, texting my mom in English, you know, like, I wonder.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah, you'll never know. Sliding door. Now you've hosted your podcast that's Messed up for nearly six years.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah. We're about to hit 300 apps.

[Jon Lovett]

This is a. You go through every episode of Law and Order svu.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah. Not in order, but the ones based on true crimes. Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

And you're become a bit of an expert in true kind. I feel like you only have really two settings. Yeah. You're not an anal. You're a digital switch. Either you're not in or you're 100% focused. And it feels like true crime is something that, like, has you.

[Lisa Traeger]

It's just had me for a while. Like, I always. Like in fifth grade, we went to Niagara Falls, me and my family, and I forced them to take me to the serial killer wax museum. And all the photos, like, they're so upset and I'm quite happy. But I thought I was gonna be a forensic psychologist, so it started a long time ago, but I'm like too fun of a person to do that. And so I found this new way in where I study a lot and I've come up with my own theories on things. And like, yeah, I learned a lot. But it has changed my brain. And I've ruined the vibes of social gatherings.

[Jon Lovett]

Often not my gatherings. And you know what that sound means. It's time for a game. We're calling good riddance. Hope you had the crime of your life. Where we're gonna go through a series of questions about true crime. First up, true or false? The official scientific term for police analysis of fingerprints is dactyloscopy.

[Lisa Traeger]

I don't know. It sounds like a dinosaur. I don't know. I'm gonna say false.

[Jon Lovett]

No, it's true.

[Lisa Traeger]

Okay.

[Jon Lovett]

And the broader study of fingerprints is called dermatoglyphics.

[Lisa Traeger]

Cool.

[Lauren Weedman]

Cool.

[Jon Lovett]

I learned that just now as a follow up. What Australian animal has fingerprints that are nearly identical to humans even under an electron microscope?

[Lisa Traeger]

I mean, I wanna say. I'll say koala.

[Jon Lovett]

Correct.

[Lisa Traeger]

Okay.

[Jon Lovett]

Can you believe that?

[Lisa Traeger]

No, I was about to say platypus to like, be cooler. Okay. I'm glad I said koala.

[Jon Lovett]

The duck billed platypus. L so large in the mind of a child and you don't come across them at all once you're in a.

[Lisa Traeger]

Once in Australia.

[Jon Lovett]

Oh, that's where they keep them.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah. And the beanie baby is one of the more powerful Beanie babies.

[Jon Lovett]

Oh, yeah, the purple one. A lot of energy in that beanie baby. Next UP, proposed in 1963, the McDonald triad are three behaviors said to be predictive of serial violence. What are those three behaviors?

[Lisa Traeger]

So it's like what people. Okay, like killing animals.

[Jon Lovett]

Correct. That's one.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

One

[Lisa Traeger]

being a peeping tom. No, killing animals being a dumb bitch. What else? I don't know. Setting fires. Arson.

[Jon Lovett]

That's two of three.

[Lisa Traeger]

Arson animals, not peeping Tom. Huh. Like isolated, like a loner.

[Jon Lovett]

The third is wetting the bed, which is like.

[Lisa Traeger]

Well, that's actually, I'm really curious because, like, that's a sign that someone's being abused. So I wonder if that's kind of connected because there's a criminologist that I love where he's like, you can be born a socio and that's like having a gun. But then abuse is the trigger that pulls it. So I wonder if that's the wedding. The bed.

[Jon Lovett]

I wonder how many people do you have to kill over what amount of time to be considered a serial killer?

[Lisa Traeger]

This is so funny. Because I learned this from episode three of Heated Rivalry.

[Lauren Weedman]

So

[Lisa Traeger]

it has to be like over three days apart. Like, has to be more than three days separation of the killings.

[Jon Lovett]

It's three or more killings, but over the course of one month.

[Lisa Traeger]

Oh, one month.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah.

[Lisa Traeger]

Okay.

[Jon Lovett]

Ted Bundy was arrested multiple times for what? Before he was finally pegged as a serial killer.

[Lisa Traeger]

Oh, I thought it was gonna be. He was like such a peeping Tom. I'm gonna be terrible driver.

[Jon Lovett]

Correct. Yeah, he was a terrible driver.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

That was what he got arrested for. Liza traeger. Go to lizatrager.com for live dates. Check out her special Night Owl on Netflix.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah, please. Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

And we'll be right back. Hey, don't go anywhere. There's more of Love it or Leave it coming up. Love it or Leave it is brought to you by hims. Losing weight is one thing, but feeling your best this summer, that's the real goal. That's why weight loss by HIMS now offers access to FDA approved WeGovy pill and Wegovy pen. Wegovy is designed to help you lose weight sustainably so you can show up this summer feeling like yourself. With hims, everything happens online. You'll connect with a licensed provider who will determine if treatment is right for you. If prescribed, your medication will be delivered right to your door. No insurance necessary. And it doesn't stop there. Hims makes hitting your goals seamless by offering access to 247 messaging with your care team team and in app lifestyle and nutrition support like recipes, meal plans, fitness videos, sleep content and more. With a range of affordable GLP1 options, HIMS makes it simple to find a weight loss approach that fits into your world and your wallet. If eligible, you'll get a treatment plan personalized to you and unlimited dosage changes as needed. Ready to reach your goals? Visit hims.com love it to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. That's H I M S.com loveit hims.com love love it weight loss by HIMS is not available in all 50 states. WeGovi is the registered trademark of Novo Nordisk as to get started and learn more, including important safety information, WeGovy clinical study information and restrictions, visit hims.com love it or leave it is brought to you by selectquote Life insurance. You know you need it, but you keep putting it off because you think it's complicated or expensive or that you'll live forever. Stop telling yourself you'll handle it later and take care of it today with selectquote In 15 minutes you could have coverage that fits your life and budget. Here's what makes selectquote different. Their licensed insurance agents work for you, not for the insurance company. They compare options across multiple, multiple carriers to find you the right coverage at the lowest price. They've been doing this for nearly 40 years and have helped over 2 million people find coverage. Even if you have health issues, they can help high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease. Their agents know which carriers will give you the best rate for your specific situation. If you're healthy, they can get you same day coverage with no medical exam. Other brokers push policies that pay them the most. Select quote agents actually shop for you. Select quote. They shop, you save. Get the right life insurance for you for [e-mail] less go to SelectQuote.com Loveitt today to get started. And we're back. Please welcome to the stage Emmy nominated from hacks is Lauren Wiedman.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Hi.

[Jon Lovett]

Welcome. Thanks for being here. I'm so glad to see you.

[Lisa Traeger]

Oh my God.

[Lauren Weedman]

Like a talk show.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah, yeah.

[Lisa Traeger]

I've never done one, so this is my dream.

[Jon Lovett]

It's exactly like a talk show somehow. It's nice to meet you. It's nice to have you on the show. Okay, so now you are nominated for an Emmy for best guest actress in a comedy for your role as the mayor of Las Vegas in hacks. Which of your other four guest star pals, Leslie Bibb, Caitlin Olsen, Cherry Jones and Laurie Metcalf would you most like to see lose?

[Lauren Weedman]

Mighty laugh. I got it. Well, I hope they all lose, obviously. Right, but which ones is all the ones from hacks, right?

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah, those are all the ones from hacks. There's also Jamie Lee Curtis and Betty Gilpin.

[Lauren Weedman]

I really wanted Jamie Lee Curtis to win because she seems so good, you know, like such a good person. Like maybe learn about the other side of life.

[Jon Lovett]

Okay. I hate that for you.

[Lauren Weedman]

You do.

[Jon Lovett]

Of all the people on this list, I want Jamie Lee Curtis to lose the most. And I'll tell you why.

[Lauren Weedman]

That's what I was saying.

[Jon Lovett]

Oh, you do?

[Lauren Weedman]

You go. Yes. I was saying her too. I was saying I wish it could be her because she's had such a, you know, because she's so.

[Jon Lovett]

I think that maybe we cut. Cut down to size. I just feel like Jamie Lee Curtis wins an Emmy. It just goes on the fucking shelf. You know what I'm saying?

[Lauren Weedman]

I think for all of them, they're all pretty accomplished. I mean, except for. Well, they're all pretty accomplished. They're all I mean, they're all. These are not people. You know, I wasn't like, you know, I'm sure this is one thing. When I found out, I was like, I'm sure I'm the only nominee who's driving, like, a 2009 shitty car. That the AC just, like, went out on the way here, you know, that is. I'm fairly certain of that. And I'm like, how much does everybody have in their bank account? How much? Like, I'm sure. You know what I mean? Like, these are all women that are probably loved by others, you know, not that I'm just within their own home. Like, probably somebody who's like, how are you doing today, honey? You know, like, I. I don't have those perks.

[Jon Lovett]

We should put up a big picture of you on a billboard and just says, she needs this.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah. I feel like people sense that. People are, like, saying that to me already. They're just like, oh, Lauren, oh, God, finally. You deserve it. And I'm like, yeah, I'm like, this much less an asshole now. Like, now I don't look like an idiot. Oh, these are all your note cards.

[Lisa Traeger]

You have your dress picked out.

[Lauren Weedman]

Thanks for asking. No, no, I didn't really. I have, like, a stylist and stuff now. I know. Which is so. It's embarrassing. I mean, sorry. I should really. I need to breathe it in. Like, I have a stylist and I like it and I deserve it. Yeah, but that's not.

[Jon Lovett]

But I do think that, like, I. Like, it must be like, you know, you've been. You've had a ton of guest star roles. You have been, like, fucking hustling. And this is a moment where, like, you're getting, like, a ton of acclaim as, like, well, yeah.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yes.

[Jon Lovett]

You moved your hand. You rejected a claim.

[Lauren Weedman]

I don't know why. I'm just being moody. You're right. It's true. It's true. I'm glad for it. I'd already got in trouble with, like, hbo. I had to do, like, a special media training thing. Cause they were like, you're not really mentioning, like, you know, how happy the show and HBO and stuff like that. And I was like, well, I think it's a given. I wouldn't be being interviewed.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Right.

[Lauren Weedman]

If it wasn't for age. We're like, well, it'd be nice if you put something in there, you know, instead of just like, you know, I'm adopted and I've had a lot of divorces. You know, they're like, could you really show the rest of. Or I'll say like, nobody talked to me a lot of times on the set, but it's because I'm so old, you know, it's. They're not. They don't. You're not. You're not supposed to do. You know, you have to.

[Jon Lovett]

No, you're supposed to do the. There's a sort of a. There's sort of a set of rules you're supposed to follow.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yes, but I don't like to reveal my more vulnerable emotions, like joy. You know what I mean? Like, I'm not gonna be an asshole again and reveal that. And next thing you know, you're up there, like, I'm so happy. And everyone's like, I bet you aren't now. And I'm like, you're right. Like, I want to keep my arms down and get ready for punches. Or arms up, ready for punches. That was the total opposite. Yes. Right.

[Jon Lovett]

If your arms are down, you're vulnerable to your arms.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yes, yes, yes. I got it, I got it, I got it.

[Jon Lovett]

I think this is going well. Hey, did any real life mayors inspire your character?

[Lauren Weedman]

No. People ask me about that because I guess at the time of the. When the show first started, it was based on a little bit of the actual mayor, but I was the celebrity grand marshal of the gay pride parade in Vegas, which I asked them if I could do that. It worked out well. I didn't put celebrity in there. They did anyway. But I got to meet the actual Vegas mayor right now and choose. No, I didn't get. I liked her but wasn't inspired. You know what I mean? Yeah, that sounds harsh. I don't wish ill on her, obviously.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

No.

[Jon Lovett]

And no one thought you did, but

[Lauren Weedman]

you're just covering it. Just covering it just in case. Cover my bases.

[Jon Lovett]

No, I think people love to hear. I don't wish any ill. But you're fine. I think it's a great way to fix what you said, so you're in good shape. And I think, honestly, I feel like the media training is working.

[Lauren Weedman]

It's working really well.

[Jon Lovett]

I know. I feel like you're coming across like a polished communications pro photo.

[Lauren Weedman]

I know, I know. I told him, don't worry about it. I'm gonna talk.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah, yeah. Like, are you inspired by any real life mayors? No, no, No.

[Lauren Weedman]

I mean, no, I looked at. I look. Cause politicians are so much like actors too, you know, just the ego of just like, I don't give a shit. I'm sitting here, you know, like, there's a little Bit of. I just picked up on that.

[Jon Lovett]

Well, it's interesting, though, that's funny to think about politicians versus actors. Cause they do have that. They have that thing in common, which is there's a neediness and an ego, but also a fear of being seen as being demanding sometimes. And so you get a lot of like. I just like, is it cold in here? You know, as opposed to it's cold in here.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, you don't want to come off as, like, stating something that you believe or that you actually feel. Yeah, there's also, there's. I remember I was working. I was a guest star on a show and Cory Booker was dating Rosario Dawson. Right. Is that right?

[Jon Lovett]

That's right. At the time, yeah.

[Lauren Weedman]

And so he came on set to visit and stuff, and, man, did he blend well. Like, he was just so, like, just jokey and funny and cute and wanted to be, you know, amongst the, you know, wanted to be a part of the whole scene. I guess I thought he'd be in a. I don't know, sitting in the back of a car reading books about history or how, you know, or about the water systems.

[Jon Lovett]

Well, maybe he's seen heated Rivalry and so now he's finally doing not.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah. Oh, I haven't seen heated Rivalry. That sounds so beautiful. I'm sure. I feel like there's something. I'm, I'm. Right now I'm cramming all the Emmy stuff, so in case I run into people.

[Jon Lovett]

Oh, what are you watching?

[Lauren Weedman]

Well, I'm. Are you going to test me? I started. Well, I started watching Beef.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Beef?

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, Beef.

[Jon Lovett]

Beef.

[Lauren Weedman]

Beef.

[Jon Lovett]

Beef.

[Lauren Weedman]

Beef.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah, yeah, Beef.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Beef.

[Lisa Traeger]

I watched it, actually, when I was in Monte Carlo. I watched all of season two of Beef.

[Jon Lovett]

That's a good way to use your time when you're in your Europe.

[Lisa Traeger]

Well, between 2 and 5 in the morning, I was. That's what I was doing.

[Lauren Weedman]

I think that's okay. I think that's all right.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Hey.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

Hey.

[Lauren Weedman]

What?

[Jon Lovett]

Does everyone here need help? What do you mean? You're just up watching beef from 2 to 3, 2 in the. 5 in the morning in Monte Carlo? Yeah. Then when are you sleeping?

[Lisa Traeger]

I would sleep until 11. Then we would go to the conference room hotel around noon and then we would work until 1130 in the morning and then I'd be back.

[Jon Lovett]

Wow. Yeah.

[Lisa Traeger]

But I need to unwind.

[Jon Lovett]

You got to unwind.

[Lauren Weedman]

Is that okay?

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah,

[Lauren Weedman]

no, yeah. I, I Beef. Well, we won't have to get into it. It's good. I like it.

[Lisa Traeger]

It's good.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah.

[Lauren Weedman]

Shut up.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

What?

[Jon Lovett]

What don't you like?

[Lauren Weedman]

I like what? No, I like it. I liked all. I like it.

[Jon Lovett]

What shows you hate?

[Lauren Weedman]

What shows do I hate? There's none. There's none. I'm so in awe of what actors are able to do.

[Lisa Traeger]

I don't.

[Lauren Weedman]

They always blow me away. The dedication.

[Jon Lovett]

Hell, yeah. Somewhere in a PR executive, HBO is like, I did my job today.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, exactly.

[Jon Lovett]

Get a little treat for me at

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

the end of the day.

[Jon Lovett]

A double stuff for you. For me. Cause I did a good job today.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yep.

[Jon Lovett]

Does it feel different to be part of a show that is like, you know, you like, where so successful?

[Lauren Weedman]

The show is like. Yes.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah, it's different, right?

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, it is different. Cause every. I didn't. I worked on the show, like, you know, every season, maybe one or two times, sometimes up to three, but every time I'd go there, people were just getting better and better looking. First of all, season to season, everyone's teeth got brighter and everybody. You know what I mean? Like, just.

[Jon Lovett]

That happens on Drag Race too, right?

[Lauren Weedman]

Everyone starts making more money. Is that it?

[Jon Lovett]

And they come back with, like, veneers.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yes, yes. And everyone's just a bit more this and more sure themselves. And a little more competition of just like, I have my own social. I have two specials. I just shot them, and I don't have a kidney. Like, they're all like, I did this. I mean, they're not. They're all really good people. I hope I'm being clear about that.

[Jon Lovett]

No, that's good.

[Lauren Weedman]

Okay. But, yeah, and they're always. I remember the fourth season when I went to go work, they'd all just won a Golden Globe, like, you know what I mean? They were just constantly like, oh, last night was crazy. Hi, Lauren. And again, that's not what they were really like. That's just a comedic portrayal, for sure. Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

And that's coming across. Yeah.

[Lauren Weedman]

Okay, good, good. Yeah. Because usually I try to bounce if it's a joke, but people can't see it.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah. Give it a little something shoulders.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, yeah. A little like. Yeah, yeah. So it doesn't come across too serious, you know, but no, I think it's great. I mean, obviously, I don't think I'd be nominated if it wasn't such a hit, if people noticed it so much because it was such a big hit. Right.

[Jon Lovett]

I think it. I do think it's like, a testament, though, to how good you are on Hacks. And you are so fucking funny on Hacks.

[Lauren Weedman]

Oh, thank you.

[Jon Lovett]

I just want to pay you a direct compliment.

[Lauren Weedman]

Thank you.

[Jon Lovett]

Thank you. So funny.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

Thank you.

[Jon Lovett]

And you make. You make, like. You make such a. Like, I think sometimes there's, like, especially, like, people that have, like, kind of when they show up as, like, a big, famous guest star and they make a meal of it, it's a little bit, like, all right, out of the way. I'm trying to watch my show.

[Lauren Weedman]

Right. Yes, yes. But.

[Jon Lovett]

But you are. You make every. You bring such a, like, unexpected comedic energy to every scene you're in. And it's so. Every choice you make is so surprising and funny and interesting and not what I think anyone else would do if you're given that same role, which is in. And I think it speaks to the.

[Lisa Traeger]

That.

[Jon Lovett]

That you're in the running with this group of like. Like. Like big time celebs.

[Lauren Weedman]

Amazing, amazing.

[Jon Lovett]

Big celebs.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yes, I know. It is sort of. I do feel like I snuck in where I'm just like, how did. I was super shocked, too, and.

[Jon Lovett]

Were you shocked?

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, I wasn't. Yeah, definitely. And I got worried about how will I. I immediately. Because I'm neurotic like that. Where I was like, how am I gonna take this all in? Like, take in so many compliments. Like, I'm like, thank you. Thank you. How did I. I can't. Like, it's.

[Jon Lovett]

How did I. How was this for.

[Lauren Weedman]

It was good because I didn't know how you felt about me anyway. I couldn't quite read you. And so then when you're really like, I want to tell you something right now. Then I was like, oh, I think he means it. It felt like you meant it.

[Jon Lovett]

I did. Well, honestly, I felt like I had to do that to get over whatever's happening between us. No, but I really. I really. And there's. This is cool. I really. First of all, there's got to be a part of you that's like. Like, hey, hey. Like, I've fucking been here. I've been funny the whole goddamn. Why?

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Why?

[Jon Lovett]

Like, you know what I mean? Like, why? Oh, you're noticing that I'm hilarious now. I've been funny the whole fucking time.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, well, I had some, you know, dips. But I guess what I feel like is that now I'm ready. Like, even just dealing with the. With the Emmy doing publicity and that kind of stuff and the stuff that I normally would be like. I don't know how to like, it's. I feel ready for it. I feel super grateful. Like, I do feel very. Cause I'M you know, I'm 57. I am sort of like, wow, I feel less. The first thought I had was like, oh, my God. I feel a little bit less of an asshole because I felt like as a guest star, most of my friends who had to give it up, they're just like, we can't survive. You know, there's not enough money in this. And I was like, well, I'll just keep going because someday double sixes. Like, I just kept, you know, even though I'm not making enough money. It wasn't. But so it felt so nice to suddenly just not feel like an asshole that it all had sort of accumulated and that I got to do a part where they let me do. They just let me do what I want to do. They give me, there's some lines, but they really give me a lot of leeway and I have a lot. I had a lot of pent up energy where I was like, oh, I could like, cut me off when you want me. Like, I can go and go and go. So I was ready for it. That part, it was a good fit.

[Jon Lovett]

Now, how is like, you were on the Daily show in 2000.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah. EW with not you, but ew.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Right.

[Lauren Weedman]

So long ago.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah, yeah. Time.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, that's what I mean. Yeah. It's alarming every time.

[Jon Lovett]

It is a long.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

I referred, made a reference to Mayor Rudy, Rudy Giuliani, and someone in the audience did say, I don't remember that. I'm 28.

[Lauren Weedman]

Oh.

[Jon Lovett]

And I was like, oh, yeah, 28 isn't old enough to remember the stories. I remember from the early part of my own.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yes.

[Jon Lovett]

Adulthood now.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yes, yes, I've been through that.

[Jon Lovett]

What was it? What did you learn from that experience? Like, that was very early in the Daily Show. Jon Stewart had just taken over, I believe.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yes, that's right.

[Jon Lovett]

What was it like? Like what?

[Lauren Weedman]

Just a blessing. It was. Well, when I first got there, people were like, I was, oh, God. I'm like, Lauren, what'd you. When I, when I first got there, people were saying, like, there's not a lot of women on the show. They don't tend to do super well. Like, it's just not a great environment for that. But just be cool, don't ask a lot of questions and don't, don't, you know, touch him or that sort of thing or like, sure, like, because I not, I wasn't like, here he comes. I'm touch him. No, Laura, I'm going to touch him. I'm going to touch him. I wasn't, like, insane.

[Jon Lovett]

It is a bad sign when someone at work tells you not to touch people.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah. Yeah, that's what I want. To be clear, I wasn't actually told that until after I touched him after I'd worked there a while. Yeah. But no, it was. It was a. I never had a tv. My first tv. And so I suddenly went from, like, being a theater person to being in this, like, super cool show. And I was. Just had anxiety the entire time about. Not about playing it too cool. I got brought into the producer's office because they were like, john, feels like you're treating this like it's a walk in the park. Like you could take it or leave it. And I was like, he does. And I was, well, I gotta go tell him. And I. So I see him like John. So I guess. And everyone's like, don't do that. Don't do that. Like, stop going. And so I. I was. I don't do that.

[Lisa Traeger]

Okay.

[Lauren Weedman]

I sit here and like, don't. Don't sit here. Don't come in unless, you know, you, like. You have to come in every day, but don't come in every day. That kind of stuff where I was like, I don't. I don't. I found it really hard to figure out where to be in that show, though. I always loved it, and I always loved John. I was also hungry for a note, always assuming I must be doing something wrong. So I'm sort of. I couldn't. I didn't handle it that well because they were. When she would say that to me, I'd be like, right, right. Be more grateful. Be more grateful. Okay. I gotta tell them more things about myself, I think.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

Okay.

[Lauren Weedman]

Like, I did every sort of wrong choice. It was great to be a part of that show, though. I was always a big dummy. I didn't know who Kofi Annan was.

[Jon Lovett]

Did Kofi Annan know who Kofi Annan was?

[Lauren Weedman]

Oh, my God. That's what I always think when I say that. And.

[Jon Lovett]

All right, we got it now. All right. We'll be right back. Okay, Tate, don't go anywhere. There's more of Love it or Leave it coming.

[Lauren Weedman]

Coming up.

[Jon Lovett]

Love it or Leave it is brought to you by Mint Mobile. When we were kids, summer meant freedom. No homework, no teachers, no school. And as adults, summer still means freedom, thanks to Mint Mobile's summer sale. And also, we assume you still don't have homework, teachers, or school either, which is pretty great right now. All of mint's plans are 15 bucks per month, even unlimited. So free yourself from big wireless and their gimmicks and gotchas and switch to Mint for high speed data and coverage on the T Mobile 5G network. With Mint Mobile you can bring your current phone and your number. You can choose from 3, 6 or 12 month plans and say goodbye to a monthly boost. You can ditch overpriced wireless with Mint Mobile. It's so easy. You can sign up online and get three months of premium wireless service for 15 bucks a month. To get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to mintmobile.com love it. That's mintmobile.com love it. Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com loveit that's it. There is no catch. Upfront payment of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $180 for 12 months. Plan requirements $15 per month equivalent taxes and fees. Extra initial plan term Only greater than 50 gigabytes may slow when network is busy, including up to 20 gigabyte hotspot capable device required. Availability, speed and coverage varies.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

See mintmobile.com hey, so listen, whether you're in the States, across the pond or somewhere on the other side of the world, we love that you tune into Crooked for US News. But did you know we also have a UK news show? Yes, that's right. It's called Pod Save the uk.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

Pod Save the UK is a no bullshit, unabash, progressive conversation about politics focused on the issues that matter most to the people of Britain. With all the changes in our government, including the fun revolving door of prime ministers we have here, there's always lots

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

to talk about and there's lots of fabulous guests to talk to, journalists, politicians, experts, comedians and activists.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

Yeah, we've had great comedians on as well, like Rosie Jones, Stuart Lee Aisling B. We've also had Tommy Vitor on who may be our boss.

[Jon Lovett]

We still we own.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

We're not quite clear on who our boss is. I thought it might be Tommy Vitor. I thought it might be Jon Favreau. I don't know if it's Jon Lovick. It's hard to say. It's not clear to us who our bosses are.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

Some of our listeners call us irreverent but not stupid.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

I object to that I'm deeply stupid sound.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

Too bad. So look, come check us out. Come join us. Pod Save the UK every Thursday, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jon Lovett]

And we're back. I want to mention first, you can catch up on the final season of hacks on HBO Max before the Emmys. And you go to aurenweedman on Instagram for tickets to your show on August 28th.

[Lauren Weedman]

Oh, yes, that's right. On the 29th. Oh, shit. I probably told you it was the 28th even.

[Jon Lovett]

And on either the 28th or the 29th in Hudson, come early on the 28th for the show on the 29th.

[Lauren Weedman]

Oh, that's an awesome way to spin it. Thank you. Yes.

[Jon Lovett]

And catch Liza on Survival of the thickest on net. Netflix. Ooh, is exciting.

[Lisa Traeger]

All right,

[Jon Lovett]

now, time for the rant wheel. Here's how it works. We spin a wheel wherever it lands. We talk about the. Nope, that's how it used to work. Wherever it lands, that person rants for a bit, which will be all of us. The wheel serves no function when you actually think about it. We are year 10 of this show, and we never cracked how to use the fucking wheel. It used to be the wheel had topics on it, which kind of makes sense. And it would land on there, but then that would just be the topic someone said they were gonna rant. So the wheel served no purpose. It was fake. Right Then we abandoned that altogether. Now it just has our faces on

[Lauren Weedman]

it, but you don't wanna let it go.

[Jon Lovett]

No, that's good. Let's spin the wheel. Go land on Lauren. What is your topic? You have 60 seconds.

[Lauren Weedman]

I have 60 seconds. My topic is about how women are aging women. I know. It's already like Nora Rooney. At least when I was younger, I would make fun of women who were trying to, you know, still got it. I would make fun of that. Or if they were complaining all the time, like, you know, I need a special mat because my knees are. I'm allergic to broccoli or whatever. I just thought every weakness was like, oh, my God. And now I realize how unfair that was. And I'm like, why wasn't it instilled earlier to show a little bit of respect for the elder, wise ladies of the world? Like, why is it always, like, why I'm part of the problem. Problem. I'm part of the rant, too, is that I'm sick of my own judgment about, like, if. Even if I put on. Sometimes I put on, like, a little bit too much makeup, I'll be like, wipe it off, old lady. What are you trying to prove? You know? And I. And I think, well, I don't want to feel that way about myself, but there's, you know, you know how it is. And even in the dating world, too, I have Friends who are the same age on the same dating app, but will never run across each other because they've set their age things so much lower, you know? Yeah. Thank you for listening. Listening.

[Jon Lovett]

I remember when I was single and I asked the crowd at a love it or leave it show. I was like, you remember? Beth remembers this. I said to the crowd, I was like, I am 40. What should my age range be? And they all said something like 27 to 50. And then I was like, wait, but how many of you actually think my age range should be set to 53? Or are you just telling me what you think you're supposed to say about the range? You want the range above to be equal to the range below because you want to feel better about yourself. You know what I'm saying?

[Lauren Weedman]

Right. Well, that's nice. They even thought to do that. My friends are just like, ugh, don't go over 52. So that's nice. That's a good. You've got quality people around you.

[Jon Lovett]

That's.

[Lauren Weedman]

I'm sorry that upset you.

[Jon Lovett]

No, no, it's a good point about them.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

Good group of people.

[Lisa Traeger]

I know, it's just tough. You don't want to have to, like, be taking people to, like, medical appointments, you know?

[Lauren Weedman]

But then who's gonna love the people who need medical appointments?

[Lisa Traeger]

Their own age. Their own age.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, I guess that's true.

[Lisa Traeger]

These men in their 50s trying to snatch a young gal and then she's gotta take care of them. And I don't like that for them.

[Lauren Weedman]

No, I know. I'm always like, enjoy pubic hairs. My. To some of my exes. To some of my exes where I'm like, have fun with that.

[Jon Lovett]

But here's the thing.

[Lisa Traeger]

But I do believe in everyone dressing and partying how they want.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Lisa Traeger]

Into the old age.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

I mean, gray pubic hairs are the goal. That or death. Let's spin it again.

[Lauren Weedman]

It's a blessing.

[Jon Lovett]

Easier. Up.

[Lisa Traeger]

Okay, listen, this might seem obvious, but it's not. But, like, if you're at the. The. Shut your fucking mouth. Why are you talking? Why are you talking? What are you doing? You talk after the show. There's not even an intermission. Like, it's a 90 minute show. It's just like, I've been fighting with people for so long and I'm sick of yelling and I'm sick of people talking, and then I have to. You're ruining my time. If it's dark and there's a light on one person over there, that's the only person that should be speaking. And also, you can just. You don't actually have to look at the person next to you. And, like, should we be laughing? Just like, laugh. Shut your mouth and keep it moving. It's just like, sickens me. I think I gotta keep talk. Well, I was humiliated recently. I did go to an off Broadway show and I was yelling at the people in front of me to shut up. And then I realized it was the aunt and the cousins of the performer. And then we were the only ones left in the house seats to meet the performer after. And she's like, come say hi. It's my family. I go, it got volatile, but so of course I feel bad I yelled at this person's family. But it's like, shut the fuck up. Like, I don't understand. Really.

[Lauren Weedman]

I don't get it either. I don't get that either.

[Lisa Traeger]

People spend so much money time getting babysitters, paying for parking, like, getting these tickets, getting to this show, and then you're by a babbling motherfucker.

[Lauren Weedman]

Like, how does. How is. How do people not know that? I'm also surprised.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

No.

[Lisa Traeger]

Then they act like I'm crazy. Crazy when I react.

[Jon Lovett]

There's this.

[Lisa Traeger]

I had to yell at someone at the Casey Musgraves concert. I had to yell at someone at a screening of the movie Fire island that was then going to be on Hulu in three hours. It's like, you could have watched shit at home. You could have watched shit at home.

[Jon Lovett]

There's something about I. I see it like that there's. People have no attention span. We've all ruined our brains. And so people are in the theater and they know, like, even, like, there are people that are just rude. There are rude people. There's always been rude people, people. But certain kind of new. I always could have, like a soft rudeness where it's like, I know I should be quiet, but I just want to say one thing. And it's like, no, bitch, that's the one thing you can't do. Not just one thing. It's. You failed. It's two hours quiet the whole time. If you were talk one time, you didn't kind of do it. You fucked up. Shut the fuck up. Nobody wants your comments. Save it.

[Lisa Traeger]

And when it's positive, like, I saw a play and they kept going, she's incredible. Oh, my God, this is good. And it's like just. You can say it after. Like, she's still gonna be good. It's really fucking crazy.

[Lauren Weedman]

I went to go see A show. It doesn't matter where, but I'll just give the address. No, I'm just kidding. But they. I was with a friend who, in the middle of it, full voice, she goes, I feel like I'm watching, like, a bad acting class. And I was like, oh, my God. That was for. I also sort of admire the fact that when people don't not have no awareness of others around them, that's always mesmerizing to me.

[Lisa Traeger]

Oh, yeah, I have another rant. Just don't wear cologne on a fucking flight. How about that?

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, that's dumb, too.

[Lisa Traeger]

So crazy.

[Jon Lovett]

Let's spin it again. So crazy.

[Lauren Weedman]

Isn't it all kind of preset or. Yeah, okay,

[Jon Lovett]

look, I'm gonna get. There's too many pasta shapes. And I know it's just like. And here's the thing about it is. I mean, what bothers me about it is not that there are so many pasta shapes. In fact, I enjoy many different pasta shapes. It's that we're all meant to pretend that this is fine and for adults, like, there's no other food. Like, I get the value of different, you know, linguine versus spaghetti versus angel hair. They serve a different function and different shapes of food. I totally understand that part of it. But now we're getting into botanical ties, spirals, fusilli. I like all of it. I'm interested in all of it. But we're being. This is. This is play doh. We're playing with our food. This is absurd. Like, these are dinosaurs. These might as well be kid shapes. Like, stop acting like, oh, Italy is the most sophisticated place with the best food in the world. This is children's food.

[Lauren Weedman]

Wow, that's bold.

[Lisa Traeger]

But the mini shells, you know, the pot, the sauce goes in them. It's nice, for sure.

[Jon Lovett]

I don't think it's my best friend. I've done several hundred of these shows.

[Lisa Traeger]

Tortellini.

[Jon Lovett]

Putting that one in a. That was like a sub.

[Lauren Weedman]

But I am impressed that I'm on is when you do your shitty rant.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

Oh, man.

[Lisa Traeger]

But I am impressed that you know that, like, that you did see the integrity of the difference between spaghetti, angel hair, and linguine. I thought that would be a rage point.

[Jon Lovett]

This is the problem with being a liberal, which is I can't help myself. But. But see nuance everywhere.

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

And even.

[Jon Lovett]

And midway through my own rant about pasta shapes, I had to say, well, obviously, then there's different shapes that serve a different. Different sauces cling to different amount. You have to have, you know, different. You know, Bolognese is going to sort of be better for, like, a tagliatelle. Obviously, I understand that. And so then by the time you get to the end of hearing a liberal talk about an issue, you're like, well, what the fuck do you even believe?

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah, because you were talking about.

[Jon Lovett]

My real problem is with the fucking liberals.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yes.

[Lisa Traeger]

This is.

[Jon Lovett]

I hate myself because that's what my problem is.

[Lauren Weedman]

I get it.

[Jon Lovett]

I hate myself.

[Lauren Weedman]

That's what I always say. I hated me first. I win. Yeah. I'm a competitor.

[Lisa Traeger]

I love a cold pasta salad, but imagining certain noodle shapes cold, it's like, you know.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

Yeah.

[Lisa Traeger]

It's crazy.

[Jon Lovett]

Such an important point.

[Lisa Traeger]

But I never thought about that. Yeah. Now I want a pesto pasta salad.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

What?

[Jon Lovett]

Be right back. And we're back. And now another wonderful night draws to a close. But could any small tweaks possibly have made tonight's show any more perfect? Probably not, but we'll find out in a segment we're calling Second Thoughts. Here's how it works. The producers of this program have handed me a list of things I should not have seen, said, or done this evening. Lisa and Lauren, if you have any regrets about me or anything you might have said on this show, now is the time to share them. I'll start with the monologue. I laid out a scenario where I'd vote for Trump. I explained that the Epstein joke was better than the JFK joke. Rather than letting the material speak for itself. I did call Lisa a trans swimmer, which was an odd thing to just say.

[Lauren Weedman]

Did it bother you?

[Lisa Traeger]

No, I thought it was fun, and I was a swimmer, so I was, like, more excited that he. He caught that from me.

[Lauren Weedman]

Oh, you felt seen. Yeah.

[Jon Lovett]

I did suggest that there's a connection between the MMR vaccine and being good at backgammon.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, I heard that. I heard that. I liked it. Oh, I have so many regrets.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

What?

[Lauren Weedman]

This is my favorite part of the show, by the way, because I was like, oh, my God. You get to do on stage what I do every 10 minutes. I wished I had not. I told myself, don't mention the hbos. Don't mention the training. Just take it in. Take the note lady, and just move on. But instead, I just keep telling everybody, like, guess I got in trouble. And then I sort of. Then I retell what I did, and I was thinking. And then as you were after I got doing that as you were talking, I was like, this is a wildly popular show in my. Like, I was like, I just did it on a wildly popular show like the other one. I think people could have missed it, but this one, people are going to really hear it. So I guess I regret. I guess not. I guess being here. I'm just kidding.

[Jon Lovett]

I'm just kidding. Another thing that I could potentially regret is I did at some point ask, does everyone here need help?

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah.

[Lisa Traeger]

And we do.

[Lauren Weedman]

Yeah, I've seen that.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah, we all do. We all do.

[Lisa Traeger]

We all need help.

[Jon Lovett]

Yeah.

[Lauren Weedman]

I know some people in the audience, I know they do.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

Yeah.

[Lisa Traeger]

We can't all be good at everything. No, we need help.

[Jon Lovett]

Do you have any regrets, Lisa?

[Lisa Traeger]

Yeah, I, like. I don't know. I've been burping my lunch and I hate it. And so that's been really upsetting up here. And that's pretty much it. I've had a good time. I mean, obviously, I wish I talked more about heated rivalry, but.

[Jon Lovett]

And that's our show. Thank you so much to Lauren Wieman and Lisa traeger. There are 83 days until the midterms. We'll be back Friday with David Pakman, Jim Rash and Congressman Ted Lieu. Have a great night, everybody. Love it or Leave it is a Crooked Media production. Our show is produced by Kendra James, Bill McGrath, Kelsey Gante and me, John Lovett. Our production team includes Hallie Kiefer, Sarah Lazarus, Rahman Borsalino, Peter Miller, David Towles, Claudia Shang, Jay Banks, Gavin Purcell and Matt de Groot. And our staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America East.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

Hey, so listen, whether you're in the States, across the pond or somewhere on the other side of the world, we love that you tune into Crooked for US news. But did you know we also have a UK news show? Yes, that's right. It's called Pod Save the uk.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

Pod Save the UK is a. No unabashedly progressive conversation about politics focused on the issues that matter most to the people of Britain. With all the changes in our government, including the fun revolving door of prime ministers we have have here, there's always

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

lots to talk about and there's lots of fabulous guests to talk to, journalists, politicians, experts, comedians and activists.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

Yeah, we've had great comedians on as well, like Rosie Jones, Stuart Lee, Aisling Bee. We've also had Tommy Vitor on who may be our boss. We still.

[Lauren Weedman (alternate)]

We own.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

We're not quite clear on who our boss is. I thought it might be Tommy Vitor. I thought it might be Jon Favreau. I don't know if it's John Lovett. It's hard to say it's not clear to us who our boss is, are

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

some of our listeners. Call us irreverent, but not stupid.

[Pod Save the UK Host 2]

I object to that. I'm deeply stupid.

[Pod Save the UK Host 1]

Doesn't sound too bad. So, look, come check us out. Come join us. Pod Save the uk every Thursday, wherever you get your podcasts.