Real Coffee with Scott Adams

Episode 3020 CWSA — November 16, 2025

Applying the Persuasion Filter to Current Events

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Adams brings his trademark “persuasion filter” to recent headlines, discussing politics, media, culture shifts, and more. He riffs on everything from the evolution of public trust in science, to "evergreen scandals" like Epstein, to changes in dating rituals among young men, to high sales taxes in California, and the evolution of AI and warfare. Adams weaves personal updates, listener Q&A, and sardonic humor throughout, sharpening his points with punchy reframes and memorable quotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal & “Dilbert” Updates

• Hands/Health: Adams is no longer drawing the Dilbert comic personally due to “blown out” hands: right hand affected by focal dystonia, left by a semi-paralysis related to cancer. The strip remains 100% written by him, with art by his art director (see: 00:48).
  • “Yes, I did give her a raise. I know you’re wondering.” (01:04)
• Fun Fact: Cites a medical study that coffee consumption lowers rotator cuff injury risk.

2. Climate Change, Science, and Persuasion

• Trump & Climate: Adams highlights how Trump’s repeated claims that climate change is a hoax have become normalized in public discourse.
  • “He’s beaten down the public...until he can simply say it’s a hoax. Maybe they push back a little...but now that’s our reality.” (04:18)
• Erosion of Faith in Science:
  • “Is anybody old enough to remember when we used science to figure out what’s true?” (05:10)
  • Adams argues that science is now mostly a tool for manipulation rather than truth-finding, due to misuse by political and corporate interests.

3. Capitol Hearings & Political Ironies

• Kash Patel & Eric Swalwell:
  • Describes a hearing where Swalwell asked Patel to recuse himself from investigating “government gangsters,” and Patel bluntly refused. (06:40)
• Mortgage Fraud Allegations:
  • Satirizes the prevalence of alleged mortgage fraud among certain Democrats: Letitia James, Adam Schiff, and Eric Swalwell.
  • “Is there some class you take when you become a Democrat…on how to cheat on your taxes, your insurance, but definitely your mortgages?” (07:15)

4. Epstein, Designated Liars, and Accountability

• Endless 'Bombshells':
  • Skepticism about any real fallout from Epstein revelations: “Has an Epstein bombshell ever been a bombshell? ...I expect nothing. We’ve been trained to expect nothing.” (08:28)
• Designated Liars:
  • Uses “designated liars” as a running label for Schiff, Swalwell, Letitia James, and Jamie Raskin.

5. Right-Wing Figures & Movement Dynamics

• Matt Gaetz’s Post on Factional Fights:
  • Highlights Gaetz’s stance not to be “baited into attacking friends” within the movement, and Adams endorses this approach to coalition unity. (11:34)
  • “You can’t tell me who to like. You don’t get to tell me who to talk to.” (12:16)

6. Labeling Trump as 'Fascist'—Rhetoric Fatigue

• Mocking Overused Attacks:
  • Adams mocks how terms like “fascist” have lost all seriousness due to overuse.
  • “Now when I hear some new politician call Trump a fascist, my first impression is: 'Oh, you’re an idiot.' ...There’s nothing else to say.” (13:12)

7. Adam Schiff’s “Projection”

• Notable Quote:
  • “We have to get past the ‘ruinous idea’ of making presidents unsuccessful because of politics.”
  • Adams: “That is Adam Schiff, the guy’s trying to ruin a presidency. The only way he can say this is because he knows nobody will look up what he said yesterday.” (14:56)

8. Societal Trends: Men & Dating in 2025

• Scott Galloway’s Stats:
  • 45% of men (18-24) never asked a woman out in person
  • 63% of men under 30 are not pursuing relationships (18:22)
• Adams’s Take:
  • Questions whether “pursuing relationships” is now an outdated concept; suggests that new tools (online) may substitute old skills, but laments the general social skills gap.
  • “Do young people pursue or do they just exist? ...I don’t know the answer.” (20:06)

Book Promotion (Subtle):

• His books purport to “fill any gap”—in persuasion, confidence, and adaptation. (21:30)

9. Bill Ackman’s Dating Advice—A Takedown

• Billionaire’s Pick-up Line:
  • Ackman suggests “May I meet you?” is effective; Adams ridicules this as only possible for “handsome, 6’3” billionaires with perfect hair.”
  • “Has that ever happened in the history of male and female interaction?” (22:13)
  • Points out that asking for permission to meet comes off as “ick” and weak for average men; confidence/intent are stronger signals.

10. Epstein Files, Media, and Reputation Risk

• Alan Dershowitz’s Perspective:
  • Advises caution on releasing Epstein files due to risk of misinterpretation and reputational destruction, even for those innocent of the worst allegations.
  • “There’s a strong argument for not releasing them, even if there’s nothing critical of Trump.” (27:56)
• “Dog that hasn’t barked is Trump”—Interpretation:
  • Possible theory: Epstein identified Trump as the whistleblower against him.

11. COVID Data Transparency

• Ongoing Distrust:
  • Reports current allegations that the UK government withholds data linking vaccines to excess deaths but notes, “There’s no data you can trust on the pandemic.”
  • “There’s lots of data, but there’s no data you can trust on the pandemic.” (32:02)

12. Media Litigation—Trump’s Suing Spree

• Trump v. BBC & Others:
  • Trump has successfully sued YouTube, Meta, X, CBS, Disney for millions over doctored or edited interviews.
  • Adams is conflicted about media lawsuits but sees value in pushback against fabricated attacks:
    • “If they’re gonna lie, I’d rather live in a world where there’s a consequence.” (33:45)

13. Mexico’s Political Turmoil & Cartel Power

• Gen Z Occupations and Narco-politicians:
  • Cites protests and the belief that the president and entire government are “owned by the cartels.” Wonders if this could ever be remedied—“Is it a salvageable situation?” (36:10)
  • “The way you conquer a major country…you sort of wander around in one of the buildings. No, you don't need two buildings. One building, wandering around, boom, the whole country falls.” (35:33) (Mocking the U.S. “insurrection” narrative)

14. California Taxes & Governance

• Santa Clara Special Election:
  • Local sales tax now at 9.75%, on top of state (~11-12%) and federal (37-57%) taxes.
  • “Two thirds of what I earn goes directly to Gavin Newsom for his hair gel.” (39:10)

15. Tariffs & Economic Surprises

• Long-term Study:
  • Cites a historical analysis where tariffs actually reduced inflation over 150 years—a result even most economists got wrong. (41:53)
  • Adams and many listeners remain skeptical.

16. Ukraine War—A Preview of Robotic Warfare

• Empty Battlefield:
  • Describes frontlines as almost deserted due to precision weapons and drones. As soon as assets or troops appear, they’re destroyed.
  • “If you were to look at the war zone, it would be kind of empty.” (44:09)

17. Persuasion Tip/Reframe: You’re Not Boring—You’re Not Interested Enough

• Key Advice:
  • “Instead of thinking maybe nobody wants to talk to you because you’re boring, understand: what makes anybody want to talk to anybody is that they show interest.” (46:11)
  • Summary: If lonely or socially awkward, ask more questions about the other person, show interest—the real goal is making others feel good.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Science & Trust:
  • “Science is usually used to mislead, to market, to sell, to get elected, to scare somebody. But how often is it used to find out reality now?” (05:42)
• On Trump-Labeling Fatigue:
  • “Now...my first impression is, ‘Oh, you’re an idiot.’ … There’s nothing else to say. It’s just stupid.” (13:27)
• On Epstein Scandal:
  • “We’ve been trained to expect nothing. So I expect nothing. I’d like to be surprised.” (08:49)
• On Dating in a Billionaire’s World:
  • “May I meet you? ...might be one of the worst pick-up lines I’ve ever heard… It will work for every 6’3” billionaire with good hair. Why? Because a woman doesn’t care what you say if you have all that other stuff working for you.” (22:34)
• On Tariff Studies:
  • “If you raise the cost of something…how could it be anything except inflationary? ...I’m not buying the expert opinion here.” (43:05)
• On Turning Work Into a Passion:
  • “What you see as my work ethic is because you’re filtering my experience through your brain. If you filtered it through mine, it wouldn’t look as impressive. … The working is something I enjoy.” (59:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Dilbert & Health Update: 00:48
• Climate Change & Science Trust: 04:10 – 06:00
• Swalwell/Patel Exchange: 06:40 - 07:00
• Mortgage Fraud Satire: 07:15
• Epstein Bombshells & “Designated Liars”: 08:28 – 10:30
• Matt Gaetz Post/Right-Wing Unity: 11:34 – 12:16
• “Fascist” Label Mockery: 13:12 – 13:50
• Adam Schiff “Projection”: 14:56 – 15:50
• Young Men & Social Skills: 18:20 – 21:44
• Bill Ackman Dating Advice: 22:13 – 27:10
• Dershowitz & Epstein Files: 27:56 – 30:15
• COVID Data Distrust: 32:02 – 33:10
• Trump’s Media Lawsuits: 33:45 – 36:00
• Mexico, Cartels, and Color Revolutions: 36:10 – 39:05
• California Taxes Rant: 39:10
• Tariffs & Inflation Study: 41:53 – 43:21
• Ukraine: Robotics and Warfare: 44:09 – 45:55
• Reframe—How to Be Interesting: 46:11 – 47:10
• Work Ethic & Enjoyment Q&A: 59:22+

Listener Q&A & Audience Engagement

• Adams addresses questions on everything from U.S. factory suppression, dealing with “woke libs,” to the definition of an NPC, health apps, work ethic, and the hemp bill.
  • “If you start at a really good job, then turn it into a passion—well, now you got something.” (1:03:30)
• Encourages listeners to read his books and participate in reframing exercises.

Summary

Scott Adams’s Sunday show is part news analysis, part persuasion seminar, and part personal check-in. With a consistently sardonic and irreverent tone, Adams turns a critical eye toward the mainstream narratives dominating politics, news, and culture, and applies “persuasion filters” to spotlight media manipulation, rhetorical fatigue, and the power of reframing. The result: a blend of skeptical commentary, practical life advice, and wry humor designed to help his audience keep their bearings—and their sense of humor—in a world full of competing (and often misleading) narratives.