Special Preview of “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace”

Summary

Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

Episode: Special Preview of “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace”
Release Date: June 2, 2025

---

Introduction

In this special preview episode of "Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist," hosts Willie Geist and featured guest Nicole Wallace delve into the launch of Wallace's new podcast, "The Best People with Nicole Wallace." This episode offers listeners an exclusive look into the conception, vision, and inaugural discussions of Wallace's venture, highlighting conversations with prominent figures in various fields.

---

Podcast Overview

Nicole Wallace, a seasoned journalist and host of MSNBC's "The Briefing with Nicole Wallace," introduces her latest project: "The Best People with Nicole Wallace." The podcast aims to provide intimate conversations with some of the most intelligent, humorous, and influential individuals she has encountered both personally and professionally.

Key Points:

• Purpose: To showcase the personalities and insights of accomplished individuals who inspire Wallace.
• Guests Featured: Jason Bateman, Kara Swisher, Rachel Maddow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Doc Rivers, Jeff Daniels, among others.
• Format: Full, unedited conversations offering deeper insights into the lives and thoughts of the guests.
• Availability: First two episodes are live, with new episodes releasing every Monday. Early access and bonus content are available through MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

---

Special Preview with Jason Bateman

The episode features a special preview of the first episode with actor Jason Bateman, where Wallace and Bateman discuss a range of topics from podcasting to the current political climate.

Highlights of the Conversation:

1. Introduction to "The Best People":

   • Nicole Wallace [00:02]: Introduces her podcast, emphasizing the diverse backgrounds of her guests and the genuine, unfiltered conversations that listeners can expect.
   • Quote: “The best people are some of the most accomplished and accessible people out there... you can hear them and see them the way I do.” [00:25]

2. Discussion on Podcasting and "Smartless":

   • Jason Bateman [01:39]: Reflects on his involvement in podcasting with "Smartless," highlighting the unpredictable nature of political developments and their resemblance to scripted television narratives.
   • Quote: “It's just gobsmacking and somehow they build to these great, you know, cliffhangers...” [01:45]

3. The Unpredictability of Political Events:

   • Wallace [00:02]: Mentions the chaotic nature of the Trump administration, noting its unexpected twists.
   • Jason Bateman [02:50]: Elaborates on how real-world events surpass typical scripted scenarios, making them compelling akin to a gripping TV show.
   • Quote: “That's a show I can't stop watching because he keeps outdoing himself...” [02:55]

4. Impact on the Media and Entertainment Industry:

   • Wallace [02:50]: Questions whether the extremity of real-world politics influences storytelling and content creation in media.
   • Jason Bateman [03:03]: Discusses the challenges writers face in keeping up with real-time political changes, leading to delays in storytelling that may render scripted endings obsolete.
   • Quote: “The writers rooms are having difficulty imagining it even in a fictional setting.” [03:10]

5. Reflections on Leadership and Accountability:

   • Jason Bateman [03:03]: Critiques the lack of accountability in leadership, particularly pointing out Trump’s shamelessness and its destabilizing effects on governance and public trust.
   • Quote: “Somebody is going to drive right through shamelessness. And he does, and he is.” [03:30]

6. Segment Featuring Jen Psaki:

   • Jen Psaki [04:39]: Provides her perspective on unprecedented national moments, advocating for speaking out against oppression and utilizing one’s voice against threats and bullying.
   • Quote: “You don't need to be hopeless. We have our voices, and I will continue using mine.” [04:55]

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Nicole Wallace:
  “The best people are some of the most accomplished and accessible people out there... you can hear them and see them the way I do.” [00:25]

• Jason Bateman:
  “It's just gobsmacking and somehow they build to these great, you know, cliffhangers...” [01:45]
  “That's a show I can't stop watching because he keeps outdoing himself...” [02:55]
  “The writers rooms are having difficulty imagining it even in a fictional setting.” [03:10]
  “Somebody is going to drive right through shamelessness. And he does, and he is.” [03:30]

• Jen Psaki:
  “You don't need to be hopeless. We have our voices, and I will continue using mine.” [04:55]

---

Key Discussions and Insights

1. The Intersection of Reality and Fiction in Political Narratives:

   • The conversation between Wallace and Bateman underscores the blurred lines between scripted entertainment and real-world politics. Bateman draws parallels between political developments and television writing, emphasizing that current events have outpaced traditional storytelling frameworks.

2. Challenges in Portraying Political Realism:

   • Bateman highlights the difficulties writers face in capturing the essence of a continuously evolving political landscape within the confines of scripted media. This unpredictability makes it challenging to create relevant and timely content.

3. Leadership and Ethical Accountability:

   • The discussion touches upon the ethical lapses in leadership, particularly focusing on behaviors exhibited by political figures like Trump. Bateman criticizes the absence of shame and accountability, which he believes are crucial for maintaining public trust and effective governance.

4. Empowerment through Voice and Advocacy:

   • Jen Psaki’s segment serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustices and using one’s voice to foster change. Her experiences reinforce the necessity of resilience and advocacy in the face of intimidation and oppression.

---

Conclusions

This special preview episode of "Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist" provides a compelling introduction to Nicole Wallace's new podcast, "The Best People." Through her engaging conversation with Jason Bateman, listeners gain insight into the complexities of blending real-world political narratives with creative storytelling. The episode also emphasizes the critical role of ethical leadership and the power of individual voices in shaping public discourse. For those interested in in-depth, unfiltered conversations with influential personalities, "The Best People with Nicole Wallace" promises to be a noteworthy addition to the podcast landscape.

---

Additional Information

• Subscribe to "The Best People with Nicole Wallace":
  Available on Apple Podcasts with early access, ad-free listening, and bonus content through MSNBC Premium.

• Upcoming Episodes:
  Featuring conversations with diverse figures across entertainment, journalism, sports, and more, scheduled to release every Monday.

---

This summary encapsulates the key points, discussions, and notable quotes from the special preview episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have yet to listen.

Transcript

[Nicole Wallace]

Hi, everybody, it's Nicole Wallace. I'm excited to tell you about my new podcast, the Best People with Nicole Wallace. What is the Best People? Well, it's an invitation inside my short list of the smartest, funniest, wisest, most creative people I've been blessed to encounter, either personally or professionally. As a journalist, as a mom, sometimes children, just as a fan, the best people inspire me. They make me laugh. They tell the truth. They give the best advice. Now I'm sharing the power of those conversations with all of you. The best people are some of the most accomplished and accessible people out there. From Jason Bateman to Kara Swisher, Rachel Maddow to Sarah Jessica Parker, Doc Rivers, and Jeff Daniels, this podcast is a chance for you to hear them and see them the way I do. And what you hear might surprise you. So follow the Best People with Nicole Wallace. The first two episodes are available right now, and new episodes drop on Mondays. Stay here to listen to a special preview of the first episode with Jason Bateman, where we talk about how he got into podcasting with his show Smartless, his latest projects, and his take on the current political mayhem. You can also subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts and for early access, ad free listening and bonus content. I think that what makes the Trump story so amazing is nobody knows what's gonna happen next. You know, I mean, the people in his cabinet don't seem to know what's happening next.

[Jason Bateman]

You know, it's crazy, but there's a writer's room somewhere, somewhere. And in that writer's room, they are figuring out these seasonal arcs that are just. They're just gobsmacking and somehow they build to these great, you know, cliffhangers, too, that, you know, are kind of like. Well, that's like jumping the shark. But like, for instance, you know, remember for a moment there, it was very plausible that he was going to win the election but start serving in prison. Like, that was that wasn't that Would you would. You would write that? Maybe, yeah, like, that would be a jump the shark moment. But no, actually, everything was built towards that legitimately can happen. And people are trying to figure out the apparatus to get classified documents to him, et cetera, et cetera. And like, to me, that's just a show I can't stop watching because he keeps outdoing himself and doubling and tripling down, and it's not for show. It's actually a reasonable escalation based on what just happened last. It's like it's really happening.

[Nicole Wallace]

Does it change your industry at all when, like, the real world is so batshit crazy, does it make people think like, I mean, you know, like, oh, this couldn't happen when the real world keeps defying that frame of this couldn't happen.

[Jason Bateman]

Well, there's plenty of projects I've been involved with, at least two of them that are directly related to key figures in his administration that I have started developing but then backed away because there's no way you can do that because those are still active storylines. And by the time you're done shooting it, the ending may have been written and we won't have it, you know, in the show. So, yeah, it's the notion of what is plausible and possible in the political world. I think the writers rooms are having difficulty imagining it even in a fictional setting. If you were to just have a fictional administration. Because, you know, I think most of us come off the car lot with a standard feature of shame and an ability to become embarrassed. And that's not built into our systems of defense. You can't assume that somebody is going to drive right through shamelessness. And he does, and he is. And so we're constantly on our heels. MSNBC's Jen Psaki, host of the Briefing.

[Jen Psaki]

We've never experienced a moment like this in our country, and it leaves us all with a choice. Are we gonna speak out or are we gonna be pressured into silence? I've worked for presidents. I've faced the tough questions from the press and even threats from the Kremlin. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that you can't cower to bullies. You don't need to be hopeless. We have our voices, and I will continue using mine.

[Jason Bateman]

The Briefing with Jen Psaki, Tuesday through Friday at 9:00pm Eastern on MSNBC.