Sunday Papers w/ Greg and Mike – Episode 295 (1/4/26)
Date: January 4, 2026
Hosts: Greg Fitzsimmons & Mike Gibbons
(Produced by Gotham Production Studios; The Gotham Network)
Overview
This “Sunday Papers” New Year’s episode features Greg and Mike’s signature blend of irreverent news commentary, personal anecdotes, and sharp banter. With the first episode of 2026, the pair look back on their holiday experiences, dissect the new Dave Chappelle special, swap podcast war stories, and, as tradition dictates, make a series of offbeat predictions for the year ahead. The show continues with their takes on New York’s new mayor, news oddities, listener ethical quandaries, an entertainment round-up, and finishes with comic strips and letters from fans.
Episode Breakdown
Holiday Catch-up & The Golden Globes
- [01:16]–[07:46]
- Mike’s work on the Golden Globes: As head writer, Mike shares “it’s very much like the 90s threw up in the room. You got Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt…it’s very 90s in there.” (02:03)
- Nikki Glaser as Host: Mike praises Glaser—“she’s amazing. She’s doing her sets in clubs. New Year’s Eve, she did seven sets in LA.” (02:21–03:35)
- Greg’s NY holiday: Stayed in NYC to care for stepfather-in-law; random Tom O’Neill encounter, appearances on podcasts with Sam Morril/Mark Normand/Dave Attell, and stories about podcasting with The Rizzler—“this 11 year old fat kid…he has zero personality [despite] Rizzler being short for charisma.” (05:19)
- Dave Attell: Greg discusses the challenge and thrill of podcasting with Attell: “You cannot ask him about his life. He wants to do jokes. So I hit him with about 20 different things…he just knocked them out of the park.” (07:33)
Family, Comedy Viewing, & Chappelle’s Special Review
- [07:48]–[12:42]
- Mike’s dad as ‘ghost of future me’: “Now I’m living with the ghost of future me…it’s not going to be that long until I’m there.” (08:10)
- Chappelle v. Attell: Mike re-watches Chappelle’s latest and Attell’s standup. Both hosts agree Attell’s special is densely packed with jokes.
- Greg on Chappelle: “He has the…most potential of any comedian. He is the rizzler…an amazing orator…and nobody smokes a cigarette better.” (09:38)
- Mike’s critique: “This special…felt like a TED Talk. Halfway, he literally had to ask, ‘are you guys bored?’” (11:13)
- Chappelle’s Saudi Arabia justification: Both take issue with Chappelle’s rationalization for performing in Saudi Arabia and his “false equivalence” between being canceled in the US vs. government censorship elsewhere.
- On the Israel journalism statistic: “The one point he did make: Israel has killed 240 journalists…that one hit hard.” (12:12)
- Media literacy: Greg notes, “Why was that news to me? I didn’t really know that.” (12:26)
Rose Bowl, Parade Hijinks, & New Year’s Predictions Recap
- [12:42]–[15:17]
- Indiana’s football underdog story: Hosts marvel at Indiana’s unprecedented season.
- LA Rose Parade prank: “A guy unfolds this giant sign that says ‘F*** Trump’…the female anchor [at Channel 5] starts to panic…they had to zoom in to frame him out. What a hero!” (13:39)
2025 Prediction Results & 2026 Forecasts
- [15:17]–[33:38]
- Retro on last year’s predictions:
- Jay Z indicted? “No.”
- Inflation: Both wrong—“inflation is lower.” (16:46)
- Egg prices: Mike’s right, eggs are cheaper.
- Natural disaster bankrupting insurance? No.
- Major tariff bill? No, “in violation of the Constitution.”
- Department of Education? Confusion—Greg claims it’s gone, Mike insists it still exists (19:01)
- Elon and Trump, still friends? “Very much not.” (18:47)
- 2026 Predictions Banter:
- Super Bowl: Mike takes the Bears (“boldly picked a team that’s not even in the conversation”), Greg takes the Rams.
- COVID/Flu: Speculate who will get sick.
- Dow Jones: Mike predicts 40,000; Greg 42,000 (currently at 48,000).
- Recession?: Mike, “yes—Dow’s gonna fucking fall 8,000, you’re gonna have a life-threatening flu.” (24:10)
- Bitcoin: Mike says up, Greg says down.
- LA Earthquake (5.5+): Mike predicts yes (“we’re overdue”); Greg says no.
- Celebrity Death Pool: Greg—Mel Brooks; Mike—Tom Cruise (“I need odds!”). (25:27)
- Oscars: Both pick “One Battle After Another” for best picture, Chalamet for best actor (Michael B. Jordan as wild card).
- Live Podcast: Greg says they’ll do one; Mike bets on zero.
- Ukraine War End? Greg says yes; Mike says no—debates meaning of “end.”
- Ghislaine Maxwell Free? Both say no.
- China–Taiwan Invasion? Both skeptical.
- Epstein’s List: Jokingly suggest DiCaprio, Bill Maher; riff on flight logs as better evidence.
- First Trump Appointee to Quit: Mike—Cash Patel; Greg—Pete Hegseth.
- Retro on last year’s predictions:
Memorable Banter:
“Who hasn’t tuned off this fucking podcast at this point?” (33:22, Greg)
Tour Dates, Jersey Crowd, & Newsom Rant
- [35:57]–[37:58]
- Greg’s stand-up calendar and a correction about George Bailey from It’s a Wonderful Life.
- Hostility towards California in New Jersey: “There’s so much hatred for California right now…one lady just kept saying, ‘Gavin Newsom’.” (36:39)
- On Gavin Newsom running for President: “I don’t think the Democrats…fucking hate this guy.” (37:09)
- Mike on Newsom’s debating skills: “When he has opposing views…he’s very, very good.” (37:44)
Front Page: News Stories & Comic Banter
- [41:54]–[47:23]
- NYC Mayor Mandani sworn in as first Muslim leader, hand on Quran: Hosts debate significance.
- Swearing on Bibles, Qurans, or (jokes) the Ford Mustang owner’s manual (42:46)
- *Rose Bowl parade prank revisited.
Cannabis ER “Scromming” Crisis
- Chronic cannabis users suffering screaming+vomiting = ‘scromming’: “How have we not had scromming before now?” (46:19)
- “Scram it will be entered into the Oxford Dictionary next year.” (46:47)
Ethical Quandaries
- [47:27]–[53:54]
- Dog adoption for elderly mom: Solution—adopt on behalf of mom or assign terminally ill dogs.
- Concierge medical practices: “No, I think the medical industry should feel bad.” (49:12)
- Mike recounts his dad’s up-selling/insurance experience: “He’s like, your concierge service ran out. Is that why you called me in here?” (50:43)
- “My ex-lover lied about his marriage. Should I tell his wife?”
- Greg: “Absolutely…if she doesn’t tell, he’ll just do it again.” (52:09–52:29)
- They debate anonymous letters and cite NYT’s more nuanced advice.
Entertainment: Kennedy Center, Will Smith Lawsuit, & Odd News
- [54:02]–[58:55]
- Kennedy Center Honors viewership tanked under Trump: Guests so old “they’re dead and still there.”
- On the honorees: “Who’s gayer? Liking Kiss or liking Michael Crawford?” (55:02, Mike)
- TrumpKennedyCenter.org parody mention.
- Will Smith sexual harassment suit: Violinist claims retaliation and “hotel intrusion”; found “wipes, a beer bottle, an earring, HIV medication and a note”; hosts make light of Smith’s scandals and rumors.
Florida & Kentucky News Oddities
- [58:55]–[62:23]
- Florida man robs meat market nude except a mask (BJ’s Meat Market): “Employees said he had a weapon covered with a cloth. So the gun was dressed.” (59:27)
- Kentucky: Arrest after raccoon named Chewy found in driver’s seat with a meth pipe: “Things took an unusual turn when the officer returned to the vehicle…Chewy sitting in the driver’s seat with a meth pipe in its mouth.” (61:23)
This Day in History & Comic Roundup
- [62:26]–[65:48]
- Diane Keaton’s birthday: Greg guesses 1942; it’s 1946.
- Springsteen’s debut album year: 1973.
- The Great Frost: 1709.
- Schoolhouse Rock debuted: 1973.
- User-submitted captions & cartoon gags: Multiple audience jokes riffed on, with winners named.
- Letters to the Editor: More Fast Times trivia and show feedback.
Notable Quotes
-
On Chappelle’s special:
“You gotta go back to Humphrey Bogart for a guy that smokes a cigarette better than Dave Chappelle. But the material is not tight. It always feels a little bit lazy.” — Greg (10:03) “It was like a TED Talk...He literally had to ask, ‘are you guys bored?’” — Mike (11:19)
-
On the Golden Globes writers’ room:
“It’s very much like the 90s threw up in the room.” — Mike (01:51)
-
On predictions:
“Will eggs be cheaper? Of course the eggs are cheap. The chickens are thriving.” — Mike (17:39) “Who will die this year? I’m gonna sadly say Mel Brooks.” — Greg (25:31) “No, I’m going to say Tom Cruise. And I need odds.” — Mike (26:04)
-
On California/Jersey dynamic:
“So much hatred for California right now in Jersey…one lady just kept saying, ‘Gavin Newsom!’” — Greg (36:39) “He does douchebaggy things…when he talks…Very, very good. Yeah, it’s…how will he do with the things that California does wrong?” — Mike (37:43)
Key Timestamps
- 01:16 – Sunday Papers 2026: quick episode, Golden Globes inside baseball
- 05:00 – Greg’s NYC trip; podcast appearances; Attell interview story
- 09:03 – Greg hit by a New York delivery bike; segue to Chappelle vs. Attell
- 10:16 – Chappelle special: style and substance breakdown
- 15:17 – Predictions segment; 2025 forecast recap, 2026 new bets
- 33:39 – End of predictions; corrections and tour dates
- 41:54 – Front page news: new NYC mayor, scromming ER phenomenon
- 47:27 – Ethical questions: dog adoption, concierge medicine, ex-lover’s secret
- 54:02 – Entertainment: Kennedy Center’s aging honorees, Will Smith lawsuit
- 58:55 – Odd news: Naked Florida man, Kentucky raccoon drug bust
- 62:26 – This Day in History; comic contest captions
- 65:44 – Letters to the editor, more comic caption gags, wrap-up
Episode Tone
The show is quintessential Greg and Mike: quick-witted, meandering, and packed with comedic sideways takes on the week’s headlines, sprinkled with personal stories, rampant digressions, and locker-room-y jabs both at each other and at pop culture. As always, accuracy and facts are served with a heavy side of comedic skepticism and sarcasm.
Usefulness for Non-Listeners
This summary captures all major topics—from holiday recaps and Golden Globes intrigue to comedy criticism, predictions, and peculiar news—giving even new Sunday Papers listeners a clear sense of what makes this duo’s news review both insightful and bitingly funny.