Real Coffee with Scott Adams
Episode 3012 CWSA – November 8, 2025
Host: Scott Adams
Theme: Current events and news through a persuasion filter
Episode Overview
In this episode, Scott Adams examines the latest news headlines, media narratives, political developments, and viral controversies—all through the lens of persuasion and critical thinking. Adams shares personal stories, offers psychological reframes, scrutinizes major claims, and highlights the tactics used by public figures to influence perception. True to form, he infuses the discussion with humor, skepticism, and direct audience engagement.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Interface, The Dilbert Calendar, and "Getting Rid of Ego"
- Trouble With Tech: Scott opens by humorously lamenting how Rumble’s dark user interface, combined with a black cursor, makes it almost impossible for “people with old eyes” to use. (00:01)
- Dilbert Calendar Plug: Promotes his Dilbert Calendar, noting its America-only availability and dual-sided comic design.
- Ego as Enemy – Reframe: Drawing from his book "Reframe Your Brain", Scott discusses the importance of reducing ego, citing both personal experience and Elon Musk:
“Your ego is something you should look to destroy, and you should look to embarrass yourself as often as possible, because that’s how you build that superpower.” (06:20)
- Recommends embarrassment as practice, referencing Dale Carnegie’s teachings.
2. Science Roundup: Intelligence & Face Perception
- Fluid Intelligence Study:
- Reports on a study linking higher fluid intelligence with more structured cognitive ‘maps’ in the brain, then boils it down:
“Smart people are smart in general.” (12:10)
- Reports on a study linking higher fluid intelligence with more structured cognitive ‘maps’ in the brain, then boils it down:
- Facial Cues & Female Perception:
- Women can strongly infer age, body fat, and testosterone from men’s faces.
- Playful self-reference: “I have the classic high testosterone chin… I have every sign… At the moment I have no testosterone at all because I’m on the testosterone blockers.” (15:40)
3. Denmark’s Under-15 Social Media Ban
- Denmark's proposal to ban social media for under-15s sparks questions about efficacy and practicality.
- Scott’s take: It's a worthwhile test, not a perfect solution, and kids might circumvent it with VPNs.
“Directionally, I like it… I won’t criticize the details because this is definitely the sort of thing that we should be looking at testing.” (18:30)
4. Starbucks Cup Frenzy – The Power of Design
- Starbucks’ limited-edition bear cup caused scuffles among customers, due to over-popularity.
- Scott admits skepticism until he saw the cup:
“As soon as I saw the little bear, I said, oh, oh, now I totally get it. I would fight over that little bear.” (20:45)
- Shoutout to the designer: “A plus!”
5. Government Shutdown, Obamacare, and Compromises
- Reports on Democratic attempts to avoid a government shutdown if Obamacare tax credits are extended for a year—a move Scott calls a reasonable compromise.
“The best thing to give them in a negotiation is nothing. And this is just nothing—because it was going to happen anyway.” (24:00)
- Analysis of negotiation framing and political optics around compromise offers.
6. “Russiagate” Subpoenas: Accountability Skepticism
- 30 subpoenas have reportedly been issued to figures like Adam Schiff and John Brennan.
- Skeptical any jail time results:
“It just doesn’t feel like they’re going to be punished… It’s just pattern recognition. I’ve seen too many times we’ve been disappointed.” (32:30)
7. Pelosi’s Stock Trades & Congressional Insider Trading
- Discusses Pelosi’s outsized investment returns and her “My husband does the trading” defense.
“That’s no alibi at all… Why would you go with such a weak alibi?” (37:00)
- Highlights the legal (if dubious) status of congressional insider trading.
8. Trump’s Trade Deal with Uzbekistan
- Announces what’s billed as a $100B Trump trade deal (spread over 10 years).
- Notes the value of repeated, visible announcements in swaying public perception.
“Every day that Trump can make one of these trade deals… it makes it look like progress, doesn’t it?” (41:50)
9. January 6th Pipe Bomb Suspect and the Gait Analysis Claim
- Reviews Blaze Media’s exclusive: Gait analysis allegedly identified the pipe bomb planter as a Capitol police officer—now at the CIA.
“If you can’t cross the bar to show me the only thing I care about—which is the two videos next to each other—then I’m not buying this one… This is not credible as presented.” (46:45)
- Cites “video evidence” as persuasion’s gold standard—draws parallel to 2020 election claims.
10. Suspicious New Jersey Polling & Election Skepticism
- A suspicious jump of 500,000 new Democrat voters in New Jersey is questioned.
“This feels a lot like those other Kraken kind of stories… It’s such a big claim that it feels like if it were true, you’d get to the bottom of it quickly… But I bet we don’t.” (56:10)
11. Trump vs. Meatpackers and Filibuster Strategy
- Trump’s investigation into foreign-owned meatpacking companies for alleged price manipulation.
- Explains Trump's filibuster strategy and Carville’s (and his) view that Democrats will abolish it soon.
“The only way it makes sense to get rid of the filibuster is if you have some confidence that your team will be in there next, next time… If he fixes the election integrity before 2028, can a Democrat ever get elected?” (01:01:45)
12. U.S.–Hungary “Golden Age” and Persuasion Dynamics
- Orban calls it the “golden age” of US–Hungary relations.
- Scott’s insight: Foreign leaders adopting Trump’s language makes them participants in his framing, thus “falling under his persuasive control.”
“If he can make other foreign leaders essentially wear the clothes he wants, say the things he wants… you sort of become his subordinate… in a persuasion way.” (01:08:30)
13. Shapiro vs. Kelly, Candace Owens Drama
- Explores media spat over alleged accusations regarding Charlie Kirk’s widow, with uncertainty about what actually happened.
- Scott’s take:
“I didn’t know it, so I'm in the same business as Megyn Kelly… I just don't do it as well.” (01:15:30)
- Attributes intra-conservative fighting to lack of pressing outside targets.
14. Bill Maher’s Common Sense Reactions
- Bill Maher says concerns over Trump’s White House ballroom are overblown and supports Trump’s missile defense proposal:
“Save your ire for things that matter.” (01:18:18)
- Scott: Maher increasingly aligns with “common sense,” not Republican/Democrat divides.
15. Court Cases: SNAP, National Guard Deployments
- Notes confusing legal updates about SNAP payments and a federal judge’s “permanent” ban on Trump deploying National Guard troops to Portland.
“Permanent seems like the wrong word… Can’t the next judge un-permanent it?” (01:25:02)
- Predicts endless legal back-and-forths.
16. California Governor Race Oddities
- Katie Porter’s abusive behavior damages her gubernatorial polling.
- Surprising headline: a Republican, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, leads—though Scott admits this likely won’t last.
Memorable Quotes
-
On persuasion and evidence:
“If you can’t show me the video—it’s the one thing we don’t have. Sketchy. So it could be true. It could be true. So let me say that as clearly as possible. It could be true. It’s just not hitting the credibility level...” (47:20)
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On the perils of ego:
“The more you embarrass yourself, the more you get used to it until you realize, whoa, I didn’t die any of those times.” (07:02)
Notable Moments by Timestamp
- 00:01 – Tech woes: Rumble’s black-on-black cursor and interface
- 06:20 – Ego reframe: “Your ego is your enemy.”
- 12:10 – Fluid intelligence study: “Smart people are smart in general.”
- 20:45 – Starbucks bear cup craze
- 24:00 – Obamacare compromise: “The best thing in negotiation is nothing.”
- 32:30 – Skepticism on Russia Gate subpoenas leading to anything
- 37:00 – Pelosi’s “my husband trades” alibi slammed
- 41:50 – Trump’s “trade deal a day” as PR strategy
- 46:45 – Gait analysis on January 6 pipe bomber called “not credible”
- 56:10 – New Jersey election claim: “feels like Kraken stories”
- 01:01:45 – Filibuster: “If he fixes election integrity… can a Democrat win?”
- 01:08:30 – Hungary’s leader “falls into Trump’s frame”
- 01:15:30 – Shapiro/Owens/Kelly drama confusion
- 01:18:18 – Bill Maher “save your ire for things that matter”
- 01:25:02 – Court rulings and the meaning of ‘permanent’
Tone and Style
Scott Adams maintains his signature blend of sardonic humor, critical thinking, and forthrightness—constantly challenging official narratives and the audience’s assumptions while rooting out the persuasion tactics underpinning public discourse.
Final Note
Scott wraps encouraging listeners to join Owen Gregorian’s post-show Spaces discussion on X, plugs the 2026 Dilbert Calendar, and makes light of his physical pain (and cursor struggles). Behind the news, his core message is a call for skepticism, clarity, and—above all—perspective.