What a Weekday: Mike Johnson's Rumspringa

Summary

Lovett or Leave It: Episode Summary

Podcast: Lovett or Leave It
Host/Author: Crooked Media
Episode Title: What a Weekday: Mike Johnson's Rumspringa
Release Date: November 19, 2024

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Introduction to This Week’s Topics

In this episode of "Lovett or Leave It," host John Lovett and his panelists—Sarah Lazarus, Halley Kiefer, and Kendra James—dive into the tumultuous political landscape following the 2024 elections. From Elon Musk’s unexpected involvement in Donald Trump’s transition team to the internal struggles within the Democratic Party, the discussion is both sharp and humorous, providing listeners with a comprehensive breakdown of the most pressing political stories of the week.

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Elon Musk’s Role in Trump’s Transition

The episode opens with a deep dive into Elon Musk’s significant investment of $120 million into Donald Trump's reelection campaign. Lovett humorously critiques Musk’s active role in the transition, highlighting his frequent presence at Mar-a-Lago and dubious diplomatic engagements.

• John Lovett (02:18): “After pouring $120 million into Donald Trump's successful reelection campaign, Elon Musk is cashing in on that influence he purchased fair and square.”

Musk’s interactions aren’t limited to domestic affairs; he partakes in international diplomacy by joining Trump in calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the UN. However, Lovett and his team express skepticism about Musk’s efficacy, mocking his proposal of a "child-sized submarine" as a solution to international tensions.

• John Lovett (03:53): “Musk's diplomatic efforts didn't end there. Last week, Musk reportedly met with Iran's ambassador to the UN for an hour in a secret location.”

The panelists joke about Musk’s eccentric strategies, questioning the practicality and seriousness of his interventions.

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Controversies Surrounding Trump’s Appointments

The conversation shifts to the controversies enveloping Trump’s picks for key governmental positions. Matt Gaetz, appointed as Attorney General, faces multiple allegations ranging from sexual misconduct to financial improprieties.

• John Lovett (08:37): “Matt Gaetz has been accused of having sex with a minor, paying women for sex, using illegal drugs, misusing campaign funds, sharing homemade pornography on the House floor.”

Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, defends the decision not to release the Ethics Committee report on Gaetz, citing procedural norms that the committee’s jurisdiction doesn’t extend to former members.

• Mike Johnson (10:24): “What I have said with regard to the report is that it should not come out. And why? Because Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress. There’s a very important protocol and tradition and rule that we maintain that the House Ethics Committee's jurisdiction does not extend to non-members of Congress.”

Lovett sarcastically compares Johnson’s defense to a biblical scenario, highlighting perceived hypocrisy.

• John Lovett (10:42): “Moses comes down from Sinai carrying the tablets, finds Mike Johnson dancing around a golden calf.”

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Trump’s Cabinet Picks and Their Implications

The panel scrutinizes other controversial appointments, including RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services and Peter Hegsett as Defense Secretary. Allegations against these figures, such as RFK Jr.’s past accusations of sexual assault, raise concerns about their suitability for their respective roles.

• John Lovett (16:02): “Trump’s team didn’t know about it. It’s just a happy accident.”

The discussion underscores the potential ramifications of these appointments on policy and governance, emphasizing the lack of oversight and the dangers of appointing controversial figures to high-ranking positions.

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Internal Struggles Within the Democratic Party

Shifting focus to the Democratic side, the episode explores the ongoing race for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair. Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and other prominent figures like Ben Wickler and Rahm Emanuel are in the running, each representing different factions within the party.

• John Lovett (19:40): “The DNC chair race just isn't the place to wage our grand ideological battle...we need someone in that role who will get up every day thinking about how to build an organization that can win in all 50 states.”

The panel discusses the tension between centrist Democrats and progressives, highlighting accusations that the party is either too beholden to identity politics or disconnected from the broader electorate.

• John Lovett (21:02): “Democrats are not responsible for every position every activist takes...But sometimes this really is not being willing to see that we are being called something that we're not.”

Sarah Lazarus and Halley Kiefer add to the conversation by questioning the party’s strategies and its responsiveness to voters' needs, suggesting that the focus should be on pragmatic solutions rather than ideological purity.

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Satirical Takes and Humorous Interjections

Throughout the episode, Lovett and his team intersperse serious political analysis with satirical jokes and comedic anecdotes, maintaining an engaging and entertaining atmosphere. From mock advertisements to playful comparisons, the panel ensures that listeners are both informed and amused.

• John Lovett (29:35): “My classmate was on the COVID of New York magazine as a face of Occupy Wall Street. And now he works for Raytheon. No, he's making that up.”

Their humor often serves to underline the absurdity they perceive in political maneuvers, adding a layer of critique through laughter.

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the panelists reflect on the chaotic state of American politics, emphasizing the need for clear communication and effective leadership within both major parties. They advocate for strategies that resonate with the average voter and caution against losing sight of core values amidst partisan battles.

• John Lovett (24:38): “There is no getting out of the fact that Republicans are going to try to make us seem like something we are not. That is just part of politics.”

The episode concludes with a call for unity and strategic thinking, encouraging listeners to stay informed and engaged as the political landscape continues to evolve.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• John Lovett (02:18): “After pouring $120 million into Donald Trump's successful reelection campaign, Elon Musk is cashing in on that influence he purchased fair and square.”

• John Lovett (10:42): “Moses comes down from Sinai carrying the tablets, finds Mike Johnson dancing around a golden calf.”

• John Lovett (19:40): “The DNC chair race just isn't the place to wage our grand ideological battle...we need someone in that role who will get up every day thinking about how to build an organization that can win in all 50 states.”

• John Lovett (24:38): “There is no getting out of the fact that Republicans are going to try to make us seem like something we are not. That is just part of politics.”

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Final Remarks

In "What a Weekday: Mike Johnson's Rumspringa," "Lovett or Leave It" delivers a potent mix of political analysis and humor, dissecting the complexities of post-election developments with wit and insight. Whether you’re a political junkie or a casual listener, this episode offers a thorough and entertaining examination of the current state of American politics.

Transcript

[Jim Gaffigan]

A hilarious new standup special from comedy legend Jim Gaffigan, the Skinny is coming to Hulu November 22nd. This Thanksgiving, see Jim in a whole new light as he gives you the inside scoop on everything from parenting teenagers to weight loss and gaslighting family members. For everyone in need of a happy hour, the new Hoo Larious standup special, Jim The Skinny premieres November 22, streaming on Hulu.

[Kendra James]

I got a bunch of Mickey Rooney's personal effects this weekend. Yeah.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Would you.

[John Lovett]

Oh, yeah. What are you gonna do with those dolls heads, you think?

[Kendra James]

No, I got a bunch of pictures, like candid photos.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Oh, cool.

[John Lovett]

Oh, you went. Wait, wait. So what else was. What else? Did you see it? So, just for those listening at home, if this is the banter we're surely using, but Kendra went to Mickey Rooney's estate sale.

[Kendra James]

I did.

[John Lovett]

Any Breakfast at Tiffany's paraphernalia?

[Kendra James]

There was no Breakfast at Tiffany's stuff. I was mostly traditional velvet. Oh, there was velvet stuff, But I was there specifically for MGM musical stuff.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Oh, yeah.

[Kendra James]

I'm not a big Mickey Rooney fan at all, but if anyone. But I wanted the stuff of him and Judy and, like, him and other studio people.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Yeah, that's fun.

[John Lovett]

Nice.

[Kendra James]

So I went and got, like, I have some now some, like, Fred Astaire candids that I can't find online, so, like, aren't around.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Well played.

[Kendra James]

And I have some stuff of, like, some photos of him and Judy as well.

[Sarah Lazarus]

That's awesome.

[John Lovett]

You know, I bet there is room for a niche business that just says, I go to these estate sales. I get a ton of the best stuff. It's all that I do. And I sell them online. I would back your estate sale taste. Let's talk about this. When we're not on the market. What do we call it?

[Kendra James]

They're the main.

[Sarah Lazarus]

A state of. A state of.

[Halley Kiefer]

A state of the nation.

[Sarah Lazarus]

A state of. I want to say a state of panic, but I.

[Halley Kiefer]

State of the Union.

[Sarah Lazarus]

A state of.

[John Lovett]

From their cold, famous hand.

[Kendra James]

Okay, I like that.

[John Lovett]

From their dead, cold, famous hand.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Perfect.

[John Lovett]

And we're back for another edition of what a Weekday. I'm here with Sarah, Halle, and Kendra. A lot to cover, so let's get into it. What a weekday. After pouring $120 million into Donald Trump's successful reelection campaign, Elon Musk is cashing in on that influence he purchased fair and square. America is a Nora, and there are no Russian parents flying in to clear the deal. You see, Anora, I haven't gotten there yet. Everybody should see the trailer. Everybody should see Anora.

[Kendra James]

It's on the list.

[John Lovett]

Really good fun for the whole family. I would not say that. Not the whole family.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Not the.

[John Lovett]

I would not say that. Musk has been hanging out at Mar a Lago nearly every day since the election, with some members of Trump's transition team reportedly seeing Musk as the guest who wouldn't leave. Wouldn't leave. That doesn't sound like him, said Musk's 11 children. I like that joke. I thought that was a good joke. Just hours after the election, Musk joined Trump's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky chiming in multiple times. But hey, somebody's got to make the Rick and Morty references, said Zelensky. Wait, have I been on speaker the whole time? Actually, I think Trump handed him the phone. Yeah, that's what I saw here. Musk's diplomatic efforts didn't end there. Last week, Musk reportedly met with Iran's ambassador to the UN for an hour in a secret location. We have to presume it was an actual secret location and not just one of those annoying bars where the door looks like a refrigerator. Iranian officials said that the two men discussed how to diffuse tensions between Iran and the US after the meeting, Musk immediately got to work on the solution. A child sized submarine.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Remember that?

[John Lovett]

I do remember that.

[Halley Kiefer]

Remember that was the worst thing about Elon Musk.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Oh, yeah. Everyone turned on him then.

[John Lovett]

It was. But that was an interesting moment, right, because it was a kind of collective. What's going on there?

[Sarah Lazarus]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[John Lovett]

Wait a second. I thought this was some sort of a business genius. What's happening? Why is he doing this? Why is he accusing a random stranger of being a pedophile on the Internet?

[Halley Kiefer]

There were clues.

[John Lovett]

Yeah, the signs. The signs were there.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Also. We never came out with the child sized submarine. We're still waiting on that. Where is it?

[Halley Kiefer]

I'm going.

[John Lovett]

Where is that child sized submarine any day now that he was going to build before they ran out of air.

[Sarah Lazarus]

To go into a circuitous maze like underground tunnel.

[John Lovett]

Couldn't get me to go.

[Kendra James]

No.

[John Lovett]

In underwater caves. Couldn't get me to do it. No. Thank you. I choose life. What am I going to find down there? Boy, that was fun.

[Halley Kiefer]

I don't know if I were ever going to go in an underground cave. Now would be the time.

[John Lovett]

Right, Right.

[Kendra James]

Is it filled with water?

[Sarah Lazarus]

Not East Point.

[Halley Kiefer]

Who cares?

[John Lovett]

Not yet. Maybe an hour or so. Not on the way down. Caroline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump transition said in a statement. The American people reelected President Trump because they trust him to lead our country and restore peace through strength around the world. When he returns to the White House, he will take the necessary action to do just that and continued, leave it. And until then, we're letting Elon get his zoomies out. There was a time when it was looked upon askance and as a federal crime for a private citizen to conduct foreign policy outside of an administration. But those were the old days. Out with the old, in with the new.

[Halley Kiefer]

If we get her on the show, it can be Love it and Leave it.

[John Lovett]

It could be love it and leave it. If we get Caroline and soon to be White House press secretary on the show, then it would be Love it and Leave it. A future podcast, perhaps Something to think about. Trump also tapped Musk to co lead with Vivek Ramaswamy, a new Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge, which for those whose brains aren't completely pickled, is an allusion to the dog meme, which became the cryptocurrency meme coin. That's the hard thing about all of this. In addition to being terrifying, it's also cringe. My heart is racing because of what the second Trump term could mean, but also I'm desperately trying to get out of talking to Trump's second term. At a coworker's birthday party just days later, Doge began soliciting job applications, writing on X We need super high IQ small government revolutionaries willing to work 80 hours per week on unglamorous cost cutting. If that's you, DM this account with your CV, Elon and Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants. That's me. Gasped the saddest man alive, rushing to pull both hands out of his sweatpants to work on a cover letter. High IQ and willing to work over 80 hours a week for Elon Musk, Good luck. You sound like men in 2003 who wanted girlfriends that ate burgers instead of salads but looked like Cameron Diaz. On Saturday, Musk sat next to Trump as the president elect made his triumphant return to Madison Square Garden for a UFC event. Trump made a deal, and that deal said, you can be president again, but Elon Musk will follow you around like a duckling that imprinted on you for the rest of your life. At a meeting with House Republicans, which Musk also attended, Trump joked, elon won't go home. I can't get rid of him, at least until I don't like him. Interesting, Interesting. I give this relationship 30 days. One month until Trump posts on true social cybertrucks are very bad cars and not so beautiful. Though I hear that the gays like them. A car for the wonderful gays. End quote. Already, the cracks are beginning to show. Musk publicly threw his support behind Trump's transition co chair Howard Lutnick for Treasury secretary and urged his followers to weigh in as well. Please killed Peanut. The President awaits your input on this urgent matter. The pressure campaign annoyed some Trump advisors, according to the Washington Post, who suggested Musk was acting like a co president. The man who allegedly offered to buy a flight attendant a horse in exchange for an erotic massage doesn't understand boundaries. Were there any signs we missed? Tensions between Musk and Trump adviser Boris Epshtein spilled out into public last week, with the two getting into a heated argument at a Mar A Lago dinner table in front of other guests. That must have been exciting for Mar A Lago's guest to overhear an argument that wasn't about whether to fire the nanny for dressing too slutty on the Grease vacation. Meanwhile, the rollout of Trump's MeToo cabinet continues. Trump's desired Attorney General, Matt Gaetz, has been accused of having sex with a minor, paying women for sex, using illegal drugs, misusing campaign funds, sharing homemade pornography on the House floor. All of which is so insane that we've all forgotten when Matt Gaetz announced that he had functionally but not formally adopted his ex girlfriend's teenage brother and had been raising him as a son for sex six years. Remember Nestor? Has anyone checked in on Nestor? What happened to Nestor?

[Kendra James]

I. I had forgotten about that, but now I can see. I remember they posted a picture together and I can now see it clearly in my mind.

[Halley Kiefer]

I did see a headline this morning that I forgot to follow up on, but apparently Matt gates used Nestor's PayPal to pay for sex.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Good. Yes, that's good. Good to do with the teenagers. PayPal.

[Kendra James]

Gotta get him on that Covenant app.

[John Lovett]

Allegedly.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Allegedly.

[Halley Kiefer]

Allegedly.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Allegedly.

[Halley Kiefer]

Allegedly.

[John Lovett]

Allegedly. We're just making jokes, Mr. General. If you're seeing this in a couple months and you're the Attorney General, hey, good luck. We see things differently, but we're all part of the same team. The American team. Yeah, just goofs.

[Halley Kiefer]

Just bits.

[John Lovett]

Just goofs. Just bits. We're nothing here. We're just a bunch of nothings. We've got nothing. Don't worry about us. Don't look at us. Don't forget about what Joe Scarborough said. Come on. Remember? Come on. Why is your Venmo Account public never set up a Venmo. Never did it. Never did it. I'm a cash man. I got cash in my pocket. You need money, I got cash.

[Halley Kiefer]

That's good to know.

[Kendra James]

Yeah, yeah.

[John Lovett]

Not doing Venmo.

[Kendra James]

See, walking down the. Walking down the street in LA. We know you've got cash, Mr. Big Pockets over here.

[John Lovett]

I just want to understand the Venn diagram of someone who would mug me and someone that listens to, well, good luck to me out there. Not that much cash. No libel. Not that much cash. Everybody leave us alone. An attorney representing two women who testified in the House Ethics Committee investigation of Gates has called for its report to be released and said that one of his clients told the committee that she witnessed Gates having sex with a minor at a house party in Orlando in 2017. But Trump is willing to look past all of that, given Gates incomparable resume of brief stint at a law firm in northwest Florida after law school. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he opposes releasing the Ethics Committee report on Gates, saying this on CNN's State of the Union.

[Mike Johnson]

What I have said with regard to the report is that it should not come out. And why? Because Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress. He is no longer a member. There's a very important protocol and tradition and rule that we maintain that the House Ethics Committee's jurisdiction does not extend to non members of Congress.

[John Lovett]

Moses comes down from Sinai carrying the tablets, finds Mike Johnson dancing around a golden calf. Oh, sorry, Moses. How? Texas committee's jurisdiction does not extend to non members of Congress.

[Halley Kiefer]

I'm just noticing that Mike Johnson looks like Jake Tapper's evil twin. Yeah, the same glasses, same hair.

[Sarah Lazarus]

I like that joke. Cause it implies that there could be a God.

[John Lovett]

Yeah, I just also just imagine Mike Johnson dancing around the golden cap. Could we add some drums or something in post? You know, like, it's the little. There's some posts going on. He's like, sorry, man, it's Trump town now. I'm worshiping a golden idol. And that golden idol is Trump. Can't release the committee report. I used to have Ethics. Think they're important. I'm a very Christian man. Believe in the rules. Love the rules. Sorry. Sorry, man. Gotta love the rules.

[Halley Kiefer]

Is he wearing a suit still?

[John Lovett]

Yeah, he's wearing a suit, but it's like. But the tie is kind of ripped and there's lots of. You know, it's like he's got, like. He's ripped his pants to make shorts.

[Halley Kiefer]

Yeah, yeah.

[John Lovett]

It's kind of just dancing. Sorry, Moses, I'm with Trump now. Hey, don't go anywhere. There's more of Love it or Leave it coming up. What a Weekday is brought to you by SimpliSafe. If you've ever worried about the safety of your home and family, there's no better time to act. SimpliSafe is rated one of the most trusted home security systems. Get peace of mind knowing your home is protected. Protected 24. 7. Right now you can get their best deal of the year. Love it or Leave it listeners can get 60% off today by visiting simplisafe.com loveit I set up a SimpliSafe system and boy was it easy. And it works out of the box and the customer service is great and the app is great. Gives you peace of mind. Highly recommend it. You customize it for all of your bay windows, your French doors, your transoms, your garage doors, your Dutch doors, your sliding doors, sliding doors, your barn doors, doggy doors, doggy doors, all the doors. Simplisafe has a new way to protect your home that stops intruders before they break into your house. Simplisafe's Active Guard Outdoor Protection changes the game by preventing crime before it happens. Plus there's no long term contracts, no cancellation fees and it's around $1 per day. For all of this protection, Simplisafe is offering our listeners exclusive access to their Black Friday sale this week only you can get 60% off any new system with the Select Professional monitoring plan. This is their best offer of the year. Head to simplisafe.com love it. That's simplisafe.com love it. There's no safe like Simplisafe. Love or Leave it is brought to you by Select Quote it feels like most of the news for subjected to 24. 7 is bad or downright depressing about the future. With so much out of our control, the future can feel overwhelming. Regain control with life insurance from Selectquote whether you need $500,000 or $50 million in coverage must be nice. The licensed insurance agents at Selectquote work for you to tailor a life insurance policy for your individual needs in as little as 15 minutes. I want to be buried in a gigantic pyramid like Tutankhamun and that's going to require a bigger policy. Have you ever worried about getting coverage with a pre existing condition? Select Quote partners with carriers to provide policies for a variety of health conditions. Select Quote they shop, you save. Get the right life insurance for you for [e-mail] lovet go to SelectQuote.com love it today to get started. That's SelectQuote.com lovett what a weekday is brought to you by calm. There's a lot happening. It can feel especially stressful or hopeless when things are outside of our control. Boy, got our number. Calm. But CALM can help you restore your sense of balance and peace amidst outside chaos. Calm is the number one app for sleep and meditation, giving you the power to calm your mind and change your life. CALM knows that everyone faces unique challenges in their daily lives. And mental health isn't about a one size fits all solution. That's why Calm offers a wide range of content to help you navigate life's ups and downs. Look, the thing is we all have these little. This little box of screams in our pockets. Our brains are not meant for it. We're not meant to be living this way. It's made us all bit addled and anxious. A lot of people are lonely. A lot of people are sad. And it's nice that this is a technology trying to make that better as opposed to most of the technologies on our phone which make that worse. Stress less, sleep more. And live better with Calm. For listeners of our show, Calm is offering an exclusive offer of 40% off a Calm premium subscription at calm.comlovett go to C A L M.comlovett for 40% off unlimited access to. Com's entire library. That's com.comlovett one big problem with all of this, as Fox News reported, is that there is actually a tradition of releasing ethics reports despite the subject no longer being in Congress. The committee released their findings into influence peddling by the late John Murtha, a Democrat, after his death in 2010. And the committee published a 699 page report on allegations of bribery by Bill Bonner, a Democratic congressman from Tennessee, after he left office. So now what, Mike Johnson? Now that the hammer of hypocrisy has fallen? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It doesn't matter. In the meantime, Trump has begun calling senators directly to ask for their support in getting Gates confirmed. Stay strong, Bill Cassidy. Don't let that sexy caramel voice seduce you off the path of righteousness. Trump is testing his strength. Like when I tell my team I want to book Ezra Miller just to see if they'll do it. They will not. We gotta get Ezra Miller on the show.

[Kendra James]

Okay. I have some free time later.

[John Lovett]

Additionally, RFK Jr. Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, was accused of sexually assaulting a babysitter he employed in the late 90s and responded to that allegation by saying, I am not a church boy. Yeah, I wouldn't be a church boy either if God did that to my voice. We're making fun of the voice. Meanwhile, Pete Hegsett, the former Fox News host that Trump has selected for defense secretary, was accused of sexual assault in 2017. Hegseth also asked then President Trump to intervene on behalf of three buddies accused of or convicted of war crimes, which Trump did. So I don't know what could come out that would surprise me. He has an involved father. He recycles. He smiled when he saw a little dog. Hegseth has denied that the encounter was non consensual, but acknowledged paying the woman a confidential settlement to keep her from filing a damaging lawsuit. It's going to be a real money saver when these guys realize that there is no longer such a thing as a damaging sexual assault lawsuit. That allegation was not known to Trump's transition team when Hegseth's nomination was announced, but Trump has told advisers he's standing by his pick. Trump's team didn't know about it. It's just a happy accident. These various allegations are serious, but they're also interesting and drawing a lot of the attention around Trump's picks. Which means we aren't talking about what it means to have someone like Gates doing Trump's bidding, targeting Trump's enemies charged with enforcing civil rights laws and laws protecting women's access to healthcare. Or what it means to have someone like Hegseth conducting a purge of military commanders who were seen as disloyal to Trump and executing Trump's pledge to deploy the military into our streets. Or what it means to have an anti science crank like RFK Jr. In charge of medical research, or a Putin and Assad apologist in charge of the nation's intelligence agencies. Or what it means to have a billionaire purchasing access and promising trillion dollar cuts that would require massive cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits on top of the promise Trump has made to half education funding, if not outright eliminate the Department of Education. We may lose these fights, but we have to have these fights as if we can win. Speaking of losing, it's time to talk about our old friends, the Democrats. The race for Democratic National Committee chair is on. On Monday, former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley resigned as head of the Social Security Administration, a job we knew he had, and threw his hat in the ring. Other names in the mix include friend of the show and Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wickler. Minnesota Democratic Chairman Ken Martin, former mayor of New Orleans, Mitch landrieu and current U.S. ambassador to Japan, and guy arguing at the valet stand because he's been standing here for 10 minutes. Rahm Emanuel. Brewing, of course, is the blame game over the 2024 loss and how the election of this new party chair is a signal about the future of the party. According to Politico, who conducted interviews with over two dozen DNC members, centrist Democrats are accusing their more progressive counterparts of being beholden to identity politics captured by interest groups and out of touch with large segments of American voters. The progressives are pointing out that Kamala Harris campaigned with Liz Cheney, talked tough on immigration, avoided distancing herself from Biden on Gaza, and threatened to shoot intruders with her own literal gun, all while Americans expressed increasing distrust that Democrats were fighting on their behalf. And now it's time for Lovett's take. You're both right. You're all annoying. We're all annoying. It's all of our fault. Why is the ACLU sending out a questionnaire asking about an extremely rare Edge case scenario about undocumented trans prisoners? Is it because law abiding trans citizens have it too good? And why is a presidential candidate bothering to answer? Why did we convince ourselves of the bigoted notion that you appeal to American citizens who happen to be Latino, a term that flattens a vast array of cultures and experiences by taking increasingly permissive stances on immigration enforcement as opposed to embracing the politically popular position of enforcing border security alongside generous immigration policies? And at the same time, how are we the party taking on the establishment when we're the party of Liz Cheney and Oprah? How are we the party of working people when millions are fleeing the high cost of living in places where Democrats are in total control? How are we the party of change when one side promises big, sweeping tumult across basically every facet of government and we reply, I know you're frustrated. We are going to increase the small business tax credit. It's as if voters were saying, hey, life feels worse since the pandemic ended like nothing was totally right again. Everything is expensive and everyone seems mad. And we replied, we're going to build an opportunity economy. Trump is Glinda running like an Elphaba. We're meant to be Elphabas, but we sound like Glindas right now. I am skeptical of anyone who claims to know the answer and to know that the answer is what they've always said. The DNC chair race just isn't the place to wage our grand ideological battle we need someone in that role who will get up every day thinking about how to build an organization that can win in all 50 states in which everyone who wants to have this fight about the future of the party is welcome. That's all. I really like Ben Wickler, though, just cause. But I don't wanna. You know, I just think he'd do a great job.

[Sarah Lazarus]

I just think just we should all be thinking, what would they want us to do? And then not do that. For example, hey, would they want us to rush to give away our own rights or cut out certain members of certain communities before they can do it? Then let's not do that. That seems to be like a good orienting principle of let's think about what they want us to do and not do it.

[John Lovett]

I also like this idea that Kamala is on the hook for this answer that she gave to an ACLU questionnaire. In 2020, that becomes a national ad campaign, then that becomes a stand in for the trans issue. First of all, we can't go back in time and say to the dozen or so Democrats running in 2020, like, hey, we're going to look back on this and realize that we were too acquiescent to certain positions of a few different groups, because we've already moved past those positions. Like, Kamala Harris ran far to the center from those positions. Like, we already, like, it's like, well, one thing the Democratic parties can't do is do what it did in 2020, but it didn't do in 2024 what it did in 2020. That's the first point. The second point is like, that ad. Like, you can call that ad a trans ad, but really it was just an ad about, like, Democrats not fighting for you. And using this really, this one strange example, which is not really about whether or not trans people deserve basic rights, or if Americans are somehow uncomfortable with the idea of trans people using the bathroom that comports with their gender. It's about the government spending money on undocumented prisoners in a way that seems strange to people. And it's like, I don't want to have. I don't want that to be the standard for what we should do for trans people. We have to fight for trans people. That's what makes the whole thing so ridiculous. Like, I like, this is. This is about two people. This was a fight about two people. No, we should not suddenly use that to mean we need to moderate on a whole host of other issues based on absolutely no evidence. Everybody is just going off without any Data without any evidence, just sort of confirming the priors they brought to the election in the first place. We're like dancing on the head of the pin. Meanwhile, based on nothing, just because she wants the headlines. Nancy Mace is like putting up a resolution to stop Sarah McBride from being able to go to the bathroom in the Capitol. And it's like Nancy Mase puts out this thing. Sarah McBride puts out a comment, basically trying to avoid the fight with Nancy Mace that Nancy Mase is desperate to have. Nancy Macy's like quoting every. Any person talking about this. She just wants the headlines. She wants headlines so badly about going after Sarah McBride. Sarah McBride is desperately trying to not take the bait. It's like all of these sort of centrists who are saying on background, by the way, like, it's the. It's the progressives, they've made us too woke. It's the left, they've dragged us too far to the left. There is a massive operation to make these the focus of our politics. These, these to make. There was a. Literally $100 million spent on ads to make this ACLU questionnaire from 2020 the centerpiece of voters consideration as they were making their decision. Democrats are not responsible for every position every activist takes. And it is the role of activists to take the positions that are past where current Democrats are currently on any issue. If they didn't do that, they wouldn't be activists. They wouldn't have a purpose. If activists agreed with every position Democrats currently took, they would be. The activism would be complete.

[Halley Kiefer]

It seems strange to me. They're again on background. Someone was like, I don't want to be this party of freak shows the way they branded us. It's like, well then get better at branding. It's not. It shouldn't be a policy response to them being better at storytelling. It should be us getting better at storytelling.

[John Lovett]

Yeah, like, because if you concede on whatever issue, they're not going to stop trying to win.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Exactly.

[John Lovett]

Republicans are going to do everything they can to make Democrats sound extreme. We should figure out what we're for, why we're for it to have the broadest appeal possible. But there is no getting out of the fact that Republicans are going to try to make us seem like something we are not. That is just part of politics and the instinct that some have to blame the left for that every time. Does that mean the left is always right? No. Does that mean there are times when Democrats have been too beholden to some interest on the left? Yes. But sometimes this really is not being willing to see that we are being called something that we're not. Speaking of pretending to be something that you're not. Four people were arrested in California for staging bear attacks to commit insurance fraud after police reviewed security footage of a car allegedly damaged by the animal, said the state's Department of Insurance. Upon further scrutiny of the video, the investigation determined that the bear was actually a person in a bear costume. And yes, there is video.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Investigators determined it was nothing more than a man in a bear suit.

[John Lovett]

For those of you listening at home, we're watching footage of what is clearly a human being in a bear costume crawling around inside a 2010 Rolls Royce Ghost. This just in. The man in the bear costume has been named Trump's Secretary of the Interior. And finally, New York officials announced that Peanut, the Instagram famous squirrel who was seized and euthanized in October, did not have rabies after all. Just as for Peanut, his body will be solemnly smothered in Chipotle's Queso Blanco and delivered to RFK Jr. For consumption. He's like, ugh, Chipotle. Before we go, I just want to do one plug. With so many horrors coming over the transom these days, it can be hard to keep up. But everybody, you should check out Crooked's what a Day newsletter, which comes out every night, and Crooked's what a Day podcast, which comes out every morning. It's a great way to start and end your day to keep up with the news. Jane Costen does an incredible job hosting the podcast. We're really proud of how we revamped both the newsletter and the show. If you haven't checked them out in a while, check them out for the first time Crooked.com Daily gotta give these other shows that run for their money, you know. And that's what, that's what 2025 is all about. That's it from us. Thank you to Kendra, Halley and Lazarus. This will be our last what a Weekday before Thanksgiving. So you will have our show Saturday and then the next show will be the what a Weekday after the break. So see you sluts Saturday and then again after the holiday.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Bye.

[John Lovett]

Love it. Believe it's Love it. Believe it Straight Shoot. Love it or Leave it is a Crooked Media production. It is written and produced by me, John Lovett and Lee Eisenberg. Kendra James is our executive producer. Chris Lord is our producer and Kennedy Hill is our associate producer. Hallie Kiefer is our head writer. Sarah Lazarus and Jocelyn Kaufman, Peter Miller, Alan Pierre, Will Miles and Mohanad El Shige are Our writers, Evan Sutton is our editor. Kyle Seglin and Charlotte Landis provide audio support. Stephen Colon is our audio engineer, and Milo Kim is our videographer. Our theme song is written and performed by sure Shure. Thanks to our designer, Bernardo Cerna, for creating and running all of our visuals, which you can't see because this is a podcast. And to our digital producers, David Towles, Claudia Shang, Mia kelman, and Matt DeGroote for filming and editing video each week. So you can it's love it or leave it. What kind of drunks. I think it's like the bongos that would have been played at. I want to say Biscotti park, but I know that's wrong. Zuccotti park during Occupy. I want Occupy Wall street drums. You know, that's what I'm picturing. Is it Zuccotti? It's not biscotti. It's not Biscotti Park. It's Zuccot. You know, Remember that? Occupy Wall Street.

[Kendra James]

Yeah, I sure do.

[Sarah Lazarus]

Yep.

[John Lovett]

Ah, Just crazy enough to work.

[Kendra James]

My classmate was on the COVID of New York magazine as a. As a. As like the face of Occupy Wall street.

[John Lovett]

And now he works for Raytheon. No, he's making that up.

[Kendra James]

Do you think works for Raytheon?

[John Lovett]

Wow.

[Kendra James]

Nope.

[John Lovett]

You know the person. You both know the person. Oh, yeah.

[Kendra James]

He was a legend on the Oberlin campus.

[John Lovett]

Oh, God. What does it take to be a legend on the Oberlin campus?

[Kendra James]

I hate to think that's exactly what you're imagining.

[John Lovett]

Let's bleep the name. Where is.

[Kendra James]

I would assume still doing chicken bone puppets in the subway.

[John Lovett]

Oh, well, I think that'll change things.