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The Pundies: Worst Takes of 2024

Pod Save America

Published: Fri Dec 20 2024

The world's richest man trolls Republicans into a potential government shutdown right before the holidays and the curtain closes on 2024...and it can't come soon enough. We didn't win the White House, the Senate, or the House, but we'll always have the Pundies. Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy are joined by producer Elijah Cone for our annual awards show celebrating the worst takes of a year we'd rather forget. Plus, the guys listen back to their old New Year's resolutions and make some new ones for 2025.

Summary

Pod Save America – Episode: The Pundies: Worst Takes of 2024

Release Date: December 20, 2024

Hosts:

  • Jon Favreau
  • Jon Lovett
  • Tommy Vietor
  • Dan Pfeiffer
  • Guest Host: Elijah Cohn

Introduction

In the season finale of 2024, the Pod Save America team dives deep into their annual "Pundies" segment, where they dissect and rank the year's most egregious political takes. Hosted by Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Tommy Vietor, Dan Pfeiffer, and guest host Elijah Cohn, the episode promises a no-holds-barred analysis of the worst punditry that shaped the political landscape over the past year.

Segment 1: Setting the Stage ([02:11] - [05:05])

The episode kicks off with a light-hearted exchange about the hosts' participation in "Survivor," setting a humorous tone. Jon Favreau announces the transition to the Pundies segment, emphasizing the focus on ranking the worst takes of 2024. The conversation quickly shifts to the looming government shutdown, attributing its potential occurrence to Elon Musk's provocative tweets and subsequent involvement from Donald Trump. The hosts express a mix of frustration and disbelief at the unfolding political chaos, highlighting the precarious state of the U.S. government.

Notable Quote:

  • Jon Favreau ([04:36]): "Elon Musk tweeted us to the precipice of a government shutdown... turns out short but sweet. Like the Viagra of Etsy purchases."

Segment 2: Introduction to the Pundies ([06:07] - [14:18])

Elijah Cohn takes the reins as the guest host, explaining the Pundies' format inspired by dog shows. Categories are introduced, including bad punditry across various topics such as presidential primaries, polling, and discourse. The first category delves into the presidential primaries, examining flawed analyses and predictions made by pundits and influencers.

Segment 3: Worst Takes of 2024

  1. Presidential Primaries ([08:02] - [12:35])

    • Highlight: A piece from The Hill titled "Trump's GOP is Already Dying" claims that the Republican Party’s sole focus on appeasing Trump is causing its downfall.
    • Notable Quote:
      • Producer (00:08:31): "Republicans have built themselves a party whose sole purpose is to appease and gratify Trump... quickly losing appeal to anyone else in America."

  2. Polling Takes ([14:54] - [22:06])

    • Highlight: Nate Silver engages in a public Twitter bet predicting a substantial Trump win in Florida, which ultimately proved inaccurate.

    • Notable Quote:

      • Jon Lovett ([15:23]): "Nate, you are a buffoon."

    • Highlight: Alan Lichtman’s "Thirteen Keys" system fails to accurately predict election outcomes, showcasing the dangers of pseudoscientific methods in political forecasting.

    • Notable Quote:

      • Tommy Vietor ([20:31]): "I love making up your own system. It's like a degenerate gambler."

  3. Blue Anon / Blue Maga Discourse ([22:06] - [31:11])

    • Highlight: Influencer Chris Boosie equates Democratic pressure on Biden to Republican actions on January 6th, leading to widespread backlash accusing him of being racist and ableist.

    • Notable Quote:

      • Jon Lovett ([23:24]): "It’s very frustrating and stupid. If you think that trying to pressure Biden to step down was like January 6th, agree to disagree."

    • Highlight: A deleted post suggesting a conspiracy on Epstein Island to remove Biden, further inflaming partisan tensions.

    • Notable Quote:

      • Jon Favreau ([27:04]): "They didn't get Dan in on this."

  4. Discourse Challenges ([31:11] - [45:12])

    • Highlight: Discussions around the neglect of the Debate Commission, with Assemblyman Jamel Holley criticizing the traditional debate process for favoring certain candidates.

    • Notable Quote:

      • Jon Favreau ([32:20]): "The sanctity and integrity of the debate process are now facing mounting challenges."

    • Highlight: The "They're eating the dogs and cats" conspiracy theory gains traction, depicting migrants as threats to local communities, which the hosts vehemently dismiss.

    • Notable Quote:

      • Jon Lovett ([53:16]): "They're taking the geese... the park, in the lake, and even walking off with their pets."

  5. Bizarre Right-Wing Takes ([45:12] - [56:08])

    • Highlight: A series of absurd takes, including claims that celebrating Joe Biden's birthday is a sign of weakness in masculinity and unfounded accusations linking celebrities like Taylor Swift to nefarious agendas.

    • Notable Quote:

      • Jon Lovett ([46:21]): "Is it gay to have a birthday, fellas?"

    • Highlight: RFK Jr.’s problematic statements about vaccines, undermining public health efforts.

    • Notable Quote:

      • Tommy Vietor ([50:43]): "I just think it will kill you. Which I will repeat to everyone I see."

  6. Worst Takes by Pod Save America Hosts ([59:56] - [69:24])

    • Highlight: The hosts self-critique their own takes, humorously acknowledging moments where their opinions may have missed the mark.
    • Notable Quote:
      • Jon Lovett ([60:00]): "Being a speechwriter is about figuring out the best way to convince a bunch of people... I think that's a lot of what Survivor is."

Segment 4: Awarding the "Worst Take of the Year" ([66:42] - [69:24])

After deliberation, the hosts crown Alan Lichtman’s "Thirteen Keys" method as the worst take of the year. They criticize his overconfidence and lack of empirical grounding, emphasizing the pitfalls of deterministic political forecasting.

Notable Quote:

  • Jon Lovett ([68:08]): "There was a lot of people like Alan Lickman, which were people that were looking at, like, a miasma of contradictory data and saying they knew the answer."

Segment 5: New Year's Resolutions ([69:07] - [77:38])

The episode concludes with the hosts sharing their personal New Year's resolutions, humorously admitting their shortcomings in maintaining them. Jon Favreau aims to reduce phone usage during walks, Tommy Vietor plans to enhance his mindfulness practices, Dan Pfeiffer focuses on improving his attention span and taking up yoga, and Jon Lovett resolves to foster a healthier relationship with food and diet.

Notable Quotes:

  • Tommy Vietor ([71:16]): "Next year, I want to skip this recording again so that I cannot be held accountable."
  • Dan Pfeiffer ([72:10]): "I'm going to take up yoga in 2025."

Conclusion

As 2024 wraps up, Pod Save America provides a candid and entertaining critique of the year's most questionable political narratives and statements. Through humor and sharp analysis, the hosts not only highlight the worst takes but also reflect on their own roles in the political discourse. This episode serves as both a retrospective and a hopeful look toward improving political communication and engagement in the coming year.

Notable Quote:

  • Jon Favreau ([79:19]): "We need to make sure that we're disciplined about what we care about, discipline what we pay attention to."

Final Thoughts

"The Pundies: Worst Takes of 2024" encapsulates Pod Save America's commitment to cutting through political noise and fostering meaningful conversations. By addressing the most flawed opinions and fostering self-reflection among the hosts, the episode offers listeners valuable insights into navigating the complex world of politics with clarity and integrity.

No transcript available.