Real Coffee with Scott Adams

Episode 3023 CWSA 11/19/25
Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Scott Adams
Guest: Chris McKinney (Freedom Press, Dilbert Calendar producer)

Overview

In this episode of "Real Coffee with Scott Adams," Scott examines current headlines and political developments through his signature "persuasion filter." The discussion covers the passage of the Epstein files bill, Trump's evolving messaging about the scandal, a Democratic "psyop" video aimed at the military, the logistics of producing a Made-in-America Dilbert calendar, major fraud in the SNAP program, and the role of humor and talent in media influence. Scott applies his analytical, irreverent style to news stories, persuasion techniques, and broader questions around political power and messaging.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening: Simultaneous Sip & Minor News Oddities

• [00:00] Scott opens with playful banter, the "simultaneous sip," and a unique story about the first alleged crime in space—a female astronaut accused by her spouse (whose last name is coincidentally "Warden").
  • Tone: Irreverent, cheeky, sets a relaxed mood.

2. Epstein Files Bill: Congressional Action and Skepticism

• [04:25] The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill to release the Epstein files.

• Scott expresses deep skepticism that the documents will meaningfully see the light of day due to ongoing legal tactics and process delays, comparing each pretext for secrecy as an endlessly moving target.

  • Quote:

    “If there’s one thing I can tell you about the Epstein files, it’s the only thing I know for sure: There's always a reason to not show you.” — Scott Adams [06:20]

• He points out the paradox that Congress can be incredibly efficient... when it wants to be.

3. Trump’s Persuasion Strategy: Shifting the Narrative

• [09:00] Scott analyzes Trump's latest rhetorical moves regarding the Epstein scandal:

  • Trump is now painting the issue as a "Democrat problem," focusing on a few wealthy, recognizable Democrats: Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, and Reid Hoffman.

  • By doing so, Trump simplifies the narrative for "low information voters," repeating the association until it's ingrained.

  • Persuasion Techniques:

    • Repetition: “Persuasion is mostly repetition. If you repeat enough, anybody will believe anything.” [14:55]
    • Visual Anchoring: Naming specific, recognizable individuals helps create mental images—priming memes and media to reinforce the point.

  • Predicts the proliferation of memes placing these three Democrats on Epstein's island.

  • Quote:

    “He’s just repeating over and over: It’s a Democrat thing, it’s a Democrat hoax. It’s just going to get stronger and stronger as he does it. Good luck with that, Democrats.” — Scott Adams [15:28]

4. Democratic Lawmaker 'Psyop' Video: Framing Trump as a Threat

• [17:00] Six Democratic lawmakers release a video urging the military and intelligence community to ignore any "illegal orders" from Trump if re-elected.

  • Scott and Lindsey Graham question the necessity, as no such illegal orders have been documented.

  • Scott suggests this is a psychological operation (“psyop”) to preemptively brand Republicans as insurrectionists.

  • Cites Stephen Miller's claim that the video itself borders on inciting insurrection.

  • Quote:

    “They’re trying to get the intelligence community and the military to join them in an insurrection against the current government. What else is this?” — Scott Adams [22:35]

5. Trump ‘Piggy’ Incident

• [24:00] Reports that Trump may have called a reporter “Piggy” on Air Force One; unclear if this is a mishearing or an intentional insult. Scott jokes about the ambiguity and absurdity.
  • Tone: Humorously non-judgmental, noting how odd the situation is.

6. Dilbert Calendar Segment with Chris McKinney

• [25:42] Chris McKinney joins to discuss the challenges and patriotism of making a Dilbert daily desk calendar entirely in the U.S.

  • Inside scoop: Most calendars are made in Asia; this one requires 8 specialty machines, and considerable local collaboration.
  • Product Placement: Only available on Amazon, watch out for fakes by ensuring “Dilbert” is spelled correctly.
  • Sustainability: Shifted from plastic to chipboard for the easel—proudly Made in America.
  • Quote:

    “No printer can make this on their own…We have a couple partners locally as well to help us, that are just as excited now to get the Dilbert calendar.” — Chris McKinney [30:15]

• Scott praises Chris as the “ultimate fixer,” highlighting the endless problem-solving required.

7. Return to News: SNAP Fraud, Epstein Media Narratives, "Implicated" vs. "Indicted"

• [33:14]
  • SNAP (food stamp) program found to have widespread fraud—requiring a total reapplication process.
  • Tucker Carlson's theory: Public anger about Epstein centers on elite impunity. Scott counters it’s the sex crimes, not just class resentment.
    • Norm Macdonald callback: Contrasts the “hypocrisy” with the gravity of “all the raping.”
• “Implicated” is becoming a loaded word—media/investigators will imply wrongdoing via loose associations in documents. Scott cautions listeners to distinguish “implicated” from “indicted.”

8. Media Influence & the Power of Humor

• [46:00]
  • Reflects on how on-screen and production talent can drive public opinion—talent as an "invisible variable."
  • Notes that Fox News outperforms rivals in part due to hosts’ engaging sense of humor (Greg Gutfeld, Jesse Watters, etc.), an asset competitors lack.
  • Quote:

    “There’s something that Fox News hosts have as a talent that I don’t believe anybody on MSNBC has…The answer is humor.” — Scott Adams [52:10]

9. Quirky Headline Roundup

• [54:00+]
  • Dominion voting machines: Skeptical of the claim that they contain “phone chips.”
  • North Koreans reportedly making drones for Russia.
  • Trump proposes unified federal AI standards—a sign that domain experts are finally in the room.
  • Alleged acceptance of “sex offender paperwork” as ID for migrants (unverified, but “feels” real).
  • Department of Education: Perennial headline about abolishing it—usually means functions are simply shuffled elsewhere.

10. Notable Observations and Quotes

• Trump’s Pragmatism with Numbers:

  “Once you learn how to navigate the Trump world—where a claim is sometimes a statement of fact and sometimes just part of running the country…it’s basically branding the country.” [44:25]

• On Power:

  “Are they just the ones talking about it, or are they the ones who decide, by their quality of their actions, how many people are going to watch? And then, if a lot of people watch, don’t they have power?” [50:15]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Introduction, humor, simultaneous sip | | 04:25 | Congress & Epstein files bill, skepticism | | 09:00 | Trump’s persuasion strategy, repetition, visualization | | 17:00 | Dem ‘psyop’ video, military warnings, framing Republicans | | 24:00 | Trump “Piggy” story | | 25:42 | Guest: Chris McKinney on Dilbert calendar | | 33:14 | SNAP fraud, Tucker Carlson/Norm Macdonald, “implicated” term | | 46:00 | Media talent as power, Fox News & humor | | 54:00+ | Various headlines: Dominion, North Korean drones, Biden admin |

Memorable Moments

• Scott’s dry humor over news oddities (first crime in space, Trump’s possible “Piggy” gaffe).

• Scott’s explicit persuasion analysis of Trump’s rhetorical maneuvers:

  “Persuasion is repetition...he’s going to have the biggest repetition opportunity anybody ever had.”

• Interaction with Chris McKinney reveals the practical realities and pride of American manufacturing.

• Distillation of what truly influences public opinion—talent and humor as critical media success drivers, not just raw politics.

Concluding Thoughts

The episode is classic Scott Adams: mixing irreverent humor, media critique, and practical persuasion breakdowns with serious commentary on political strategy and underlying cultural narratives. While the episode is peppered with industry and political gossip, its most valuable layer is Scott's demonstration of how messaging—both in politics and media—can be framed, repackaged, and reinforced for maximal effect over time.

If you haven't listened:
You'll gain insights into how public figures shape headlines, how humor can be a political weapon, and how everyday news stories may conceal deeper games of persuasion and perception at play.

Note:
Ads, opening rituals, and exchanges unrelated to content (e.g., show intro/outro, “simultaneous sip”) have been omitted per instruction.