SCOTT JENNINGS Talks Bush Presidency, Debates, CNN

Summary

The Adam Friedland Show

Episode: SCOTT JENNINGS Talks Bush Presidency, Debates, CNN
Date: January 14, 2026
Guest: Scott Jennings – CNN political contributor, GOP strategist, author of "Revolution of Common Sense"

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Episode Overview

This episode features a lively, comedic, and sometimes deeply honest conversation between host Adam Friedland and CNN political contributor Scott Jennings. The pair dive into the landscape of cable news debates, Jennings' rise from a Kentucky blue-collar upbringing to White House stints and TV fame, as well as his candid takes on the Bush presidency, Trump-era GOP infighting, and the value (or not) of televised political arguments. The tone is irreverent and self-deprecating, filled with playful ribbing and both men teasing each other about the “minor leagues” vs. “big leagues” of media, all while digging into what Jennings has learned about persuasion, public service, and handling haters.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cable News Debates & Showbiz (00:01–11:10)

• The Value of Debate on TV:

  • Jennings touts CNN’s unique niche: "There's no other cable show that has debates. Every other cable show is six people sitting around…" (00:01)
  • He relishes being the "token conservative" and the principal arguer: "It's fun to be that guy in the lion's den." (10:37)
  • Friedland riffs on the performative aspect, likening Jennings’ TV work to "showbiz and WWE"—"You're like the Eddie Guerrero of CNN." (05:12)

• On Fame and the Nature of Debates:

  • Jennings: "I hear two things. I love you, and I love the debates. I hate you, but I love the debates. Everybody loves debates. The country was founded on debates. And so CNN's smart to do it." (11:01)
  • On best debates, he recalls Dick Cheney "wearing Edwards out for, like, 90 straight minutes. It was outrageous." (11:36)

2. Background: Up from Kentucky to the White House (17:02–25:30)

• Working-Class Roots:
  • Jennings hails from a coal-mining town, Dawson Springs, Kentucky. Dad worked as garbage man/factory worker, stepmom cleaned houses and worked nights at a gas station. “Blue collar folks. Great folks.” (17:28)
  • He was a “Mitch McConnell scholar” at U of Louisville, winning a full-ride scholarship, calling McConnell a life-changing mentor. (20:26)
• Meteoric Campaign Rise:
  • At age 22, ran Bush’s 2000 Kentucky campaign, helping flip a traditionally blue state. (22:34)
  • Ran Bush’s New Mexico ground game in 2004—another key “flip.” (24:34)
• Culture & Personality:
  • Funny, self-deprecating tone about small-town roots and being "the Benson Boone of campaigns"—“You’re a good flipper.” (09:47)

3. White House Stints: Bush Years & GOP Campaigning (36:37–42:00)

• The “Salad Days” (05–08):
  • Jennings jokes, "We call it the salad days… 30% of the country thought we were doing a good job. That's a lot!" (36:54)
  • Discusses Katrina, Schiavo, Iraq, and failed Social Security reform.
  • On campaign strategy: "McConnell’s mantra was always, if you throw a pebble at me, I'm throwing a boulder at you." (26:35)
• Notable Tactics:
  • Recalls running secret opposition audio, and sending a “talking” birthday card mailer to Hillary Clinton with a coal-themed attack (see Memorable Moments). (27:20)

4. Reflecting on Political Culture & the Media (43:00–57:10)

• On Debating as a Craft:
  • Friedland admires Jennings’ ability to “crush” panel opponents, noting, “You cook that well… Abby [Phillip] throws you the assist, John Stockton style.” (44:24)
  • Jennings values audience enlightenment: "Winning for the show is—Is the audience smarter for what they just heard?" (54:19)
• Risks and Impact of Argument TV:
  • Discusses how social media and clips catalyzed his breakout, but laments airport confrontations with fans/haters.
  • Wonders about the effect of argument-driven TV in an age of rising polarization and political violence: "Is that good for people? …it's like a conflict-driven product." (55:25)
  • Jennings: “Debates are good. Politics is good. It's the way we solve our problems.” (55:25)
  • On being the “channel” for half the country: “My only mandate as a commentator is just to give my opinion based on my views… I feel like I'm their principal channel… raising eyebrows.” (53:57)

5. Trump, GOP Infighting, and Evolving Roles (50:36–53:35)

• Trump Criticism and Party Loyalty:
  • Jennings explains his well-publicized criticisms of Trump while still being fundamentally Republican: “Sometimes Trump does things I don’t like… sometimes he does things I like very much… But… to save conservatism, you want me to vote for Kamala Harris? That’s the stupidest thing…” (52:17)
• Bush White House Alumni & Trump:
  • Admits most ex-Bush staff haven’t embraced Trump; says he won’t speak for Bush.

6. Culture War Arguments & Debates (61:17–64:24)

• Debate Exercises:
  • Jennings demonstrates argument skills by taking counterpositions on "LeBron James should shut up and dribble" and "Trans women are women," showing rhetorical flexibility—and humor. (45:02–48:48)
• Culture Wars and Censorship:
  • Jennings accuses the left of pushing for “no borders,” mass migration, and “pornography in school libraries.” (59:20, 62:03)
  • Friedland presses for specifics on claims of school library porn; Jennings struggles to name titles, but insists, “There have been numerous documented instances of highly sexual, highly pornographic materials...” (63:52)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Debating TV:

  "I love the dynamic. Yeah. And it's a fun, you know, it's fun to be that guy in the, you know, in the lion's den."
  — Scott Jennings (10:37)

• On Being a 'Heel' on CNN:

  "What I do is a mixture of showbiz and WWE. ... I'm a lovable rascal. But if you want to call it a heel…”
  — Scott Jennings (05:04)

• On Bush-Era Attitude:

  “McConnell. I mean that was his MO. His campaigns were just slice and dice. Were mean. His mantra was always, if you throw a pebble at me, I'm throwing a boulder at you.”
  — Scott Jennings (26:35)

• On the Hillary Clinton Birthday Card Prank:

  “We sent the Hillary Clinton birthday card out to like everybody in the state. ... Every single birthday I've ever had has been ruined by Hillary Clinton. I finally returned the favor.”
  — Scott Jennings (28:23)

• On Arguing Against Trump:

  “Sometimes Trump does things I don’t like... But... to save conservatism, you want me to go out here and vote for Kamala Harris? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”
  — Scott Jennings (52:17)

• On TV Stardom and Haters:

  “It felt different the other day at O'Hare Airport when a guy tried to fight me at the McDonald's...”
  — Scott Jennings (35:54)

• On School Library Porn Debates:

  “There have been numerous documented instances of highly sexual, highly pornographic materials that have shown up in libraries where legitimately small children can access it. I have a problem with that.”
  — Scott Jennings (63:52)

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Segment Timestamps

• Debate TV & Showbiz: 00:01–11:10
• Upbringing & Early Career: 17:02–25:30
• White House/Dark Days: 36:37–42:00
• Debate Skills & Argument Culture: 43:00–57:10
• GOP/Trump Realignment: 50:36–53:35
• Culture Wars, Censorship, and School Debates: 61:17–64:24
• Notable 'Debate Exercises' Segment: 45:02–48:48
• Hillary Birthday Card Anecdote: 27:20–28:33

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Tone and Highlights

• The episode pulses with sardonic wit, self-mockery, and pure comedic energy. Both Friedland (as an anxious interviewer/comedian) and Jennings lean into cable news tropes while sincerely dissecting their importance.
• There’s real tension between the performative aggression of modern political media and the need for “good faith” argument—a point Jennings lands repeatedly.
• Memorably, Friedland keeps poking at the “libs want porno in libraries” culture-war talking point, pressing Jennings to be specific—an exchange that’s equal parts testy and absurd. (63:00–64:24)

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For Listeners: Core Takeaways

• Scott Jennings is as much a showman as a politico, embracing the chaos and combat of TV debate while remembering his blue-collar Kentucky roots.
• Political argument—when done with skill and humor—still matters. Both men agree that debate is crucial for democracy, even as TV and the internet stoke polarization.
• Culture wars, ‘liberal media,’ and party divides remain as thorny (and silly) as ever—a tension explored through both parody and earnestness.
• Jennings’ journey from ‘attack dog’ campaigner to nuanced TV debater reflects how even partisan warriors evolve when put in the national spotlight.

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This episode is a raucous example of political punditry colliding with Brooklyn comedy: irreverent, quick-witted, and full of insight for those who want to understand the mechanics behind America’s cable news arguments.

Transcript

[Scott Jennings]

Abby. I mean, what we're doing is there's no other cable show that has debates. Yeah, every other cable show is six

[Adam Friedland]

people sitting around going on next month.

[Scott Jennings]

You're coming? Yeah. Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

Why you laugh at me like this? Because I'm a minor leaguer.

[Scott Jennings]

I mean, oh, well, I'll see you

[Adam Friedland]

on the battlefield, my friend. They told me you don't even know what I'm gonna do to you.

[Scott Jennings]

They told me they were having trouble booking people. I get it now.

[Adam Friedland]

So rude. Just because you did the Iraq war, you think you could do. Hello and welcome back to the Adam Friedland Show. It's 2026. I'm Adam Friedland. First off, going back on the road, Emerald City Comedy Club, Seattle, Washington. It's like a week and a half away. Is that right? Yep. Caleb and me, January 22nd to the 24th. I think some of the shows are already sold out. Grab your tickets while they last. Also, folks, Helium Comedy Club, Philadelphia. I think one of the best comedy clubs in America. The the 19th through 21st February next month. There's a link also in the description for both of those shows. Also, as always, I'd like to thank our members here on YouTube.com you make the show possible. Guys, members get access to all of our episodes early. And if you join at the second or third tiers, you get your name in the credits of our fine program. And if you'd like to join the Friedland Family foundation, you could do so by clicking the join button here on YouTube.com there's also a link in the description below. Also, if you have Patreon, you prefer to support us on Patreon, There's a link for that also in the show notes. Guys, there's merch. AdamFriedline show. Go check it out. Shirts, hats. We're restocking hats. Why am I screaming? My guest this week is CNN political contributor Scott Jennings. Scott made a name for himself early on in life as a successful campaign operative. They called him the master of attack. His senseis were Mitch McConnell and George W. Bush. In recent years, Scott has become a social media sensation as a conservative commentator on the Communist News Network, otherwise known as cnn. To put it simply, folks, Scott is one of the most famous arguers in America today. Now, I'll be honest, one of my biggest fears is having an argument. I've avoided them my whole life. I've been ripped off numerous times and I've never had the guts to call customer service. I once had what was deemed an open and shut case. Against a lifeguard. Rude lifeguard, mind you. Very attractive. On the other, it was a girl, a hot girl lifeguard. On the grounds of pain and suffering. But I buckled during cross examination. It felt like an argument to me. Throughout human history, we have seen wars waged between human beings and human beings. We saw young men die on the battlefield. They were ripped from the cornfields of Iowa, the stickball blacktops of Brooklyn. They were just boys. And every last one of those wars started with an argument. So this week presented a new challenge as an interviewer to keep Jennings, a man who's on a hair trigger, from unleashing the monster inside of him. And that's. That's Scott. Give it up. Got it, guys. Our next guest is a token conservative on I'm just kidding. Our next guest is author of the new book Revolution of Common Sense. He's a contributor, a political contributor to cnn. Everyone give it up for Scott Jennings. Everyone get this. Make some noise. This is one of the worst ones I've heard yet. That's one of the most pathetic claps I've ever.

[Scott Jennings]

I'm one man, just bigger.

[Adam Friedland]

You do woo, woo, woo, woo, woo. Do it like in Married with Children when Kelly Bundy comes out. I do remember that everyone got so horny when Kelly came out. It was a little bit inappropriate.

[Scott Jennings]

A lot of folks, I was, ah. I was a teenager when that show was out. That I recall those vibrations. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

You're 10 years older than me, I believe. How old are you? You're 48. 48. I'm 38.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay. Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

So you're 10 years wiser than me.

[Scott Jennings]

Kelly. Kelly Bundy was a thing. So was Peggy.

[Adam Friedland]

She was unreal. She was unreal. My first crush was my cousin Vinnie.

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Mona Lisa. Vito.

[Scott Jennings]

She's something else. She's like 60 today and she's still outrageous.

[Adam Friedland]

Perfect. She really hasn't aged at all.

[Scott Jennings]

She's amazing.

[Adam Friedland]

So you love Hollywood. It's your favorite place.

[Scott Jennings]

I do love Hollywood.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you consider yourself as you're like in showbiz now? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

What I do is a mixture of showbiz and wwe. Yeah, you're a heel. I'm a lovable rascal. But if you want to call it

[Adam Friedland]

a heel, you're like the Eddie Guerrero of cnn.

[Scott Jennings]

Eddie Guerrero?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

No, that's like a B or C tier wrestler. You gotta come up with somebody better than that.

[Adam Friedland]

You're the gold dust. I'm like, do you remember gold dust? He would be gay to the other guy and it was like really scary.

[Scott Jennings]

He wore a strange.

[Adam Friedland]

But he had a hot girl with him. It was very confusing as a child. I'd be like, why is he kissing the guy?

[Scott Jennings]

But he's got, you know, he had a very alpha father. The American dream. Dusty Rhodes.

[Adam Friedland]

Dusty Rhodes, yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Who was an amazing wrestler.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Who's a legend.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. I mean, that was. You think that that's what the Democrats kind of want, is a kind of gold. That's.

[Scott Jennings]

Yes. I think they would all dress that way if they could.

[Adam Friedland]

Well, they want, like, just to be confusing.

[Scott Jennings]

They want gold dust to reach a nation of goldust. I want a nation of Hulk Hogan, John Cena and the Undertaker. They want a nation of goldust.

[Adam Friedland]

Dude, the Hulks are rip. Dude, I know.

[Scott Jennings]

I finally met him.

[Adam Friedland]

Year.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. This is like my childhood at the rnc. I met him at the rnc.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, my God. I gotta say, I'm. I like, I was. I was. I'm a pinko. Like, I'm like a New York style Jewish pinko. But when he ripped that shirt, I was ready to go.

[Scott Jennings]

You want to hear about it? Yeah. I've been trying to meet your idea. It was your idea 40 years.

[Adam Friedland]

Really.

[Scott Jennings]

And they finally let me. And I took David Axelrod down there to meet him.

[Adam Friedland]

Amazing.

[Scott Jennings]

And so we go down to the bowels of the arena and we could hear him rehearsing in his dressing room. And he's in there hulking up, you know, so they. They open the door and the guy says, you know, hulkster, this is Scott Jennings and David Axelrod from cnn. And he. And he comes out and he's, you know, he's a little nervous and his hand is shaking. And I said, hulkster, are you nervous? And he said, I never done politics, brother.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

And I said, well, you body slammed Andre the Giant in front of 90,000 people. I think it'll be okay.

[Adam Friedland]

You know what? That was politics.

[Scott Jennings]

He then went out and delivered the greatest convention speech in the history of political conventions. Yeah, yeah. And ripped his shirt off. That I've been at every convention since 2000. I've never heard anybody bring the house down.

[Adam Friedland]

Obama 04 was pretty big. Yeah, yeah. No, he was big.

[Scott Jennings]

He didn't rip his shirt off.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm not saying you agree with what he said. Obama. Obama, first of all. Definitely, definitely. He left us wondering what was under the shirt. You know, he was being a little bit more coy. But no, that speech, I remember, was big.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. It was so good that George W. Bush won the national popular vote.

[Adam Friedland]

I Mean, he wasn't running for president.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

John Kerry was.

[Scott Jennings]

I know. Kerry, Kerry. That was a fun campaign to work on because we won. But Kerry was.

[Adam Friedland]

Well, you got two extra. You got two extra. Two extra states over two. You were on both campaigns. I want to get. I want to get to you because you're kind of like the Benson Boone of campaigns. You're the flipper. You're the flip. You're what? You flipped so many. You're a flip boy. Do you know who Benson Boone is? I have.

[Scott Jennings]

I have no idea what you're called.

[Adam Friedland]

He's this guy that sings and flips. You know that song, these Beautiful Things that I've got. Okay, first off, we're going to watch a Benson Boone video. It's crazy. There are like, there are people in campaigns and elections that have lost every time and gotten a promotion each time.

[Scott Jennings]

That happens a lot.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. And you're like a guy that you win every time.

[Scott Jennings]

Not every time. We won a lot, though.

[Adam Friedland]

What's the loss that you've had?

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, gosh. Oh. Back home in Kentucky, we lost the 2011 governor's race. That was an ass kicking. Oh, really? Yeah. That was not a great campaign.

[Adam Friedland]

I wasn't aware until I was doing research for this that, like, Kentucky was a blue state.

[Scott Jennings]

It was when I started Kentucky in 2000, my first campaign, Bill Clinton had won it twice. He won it both times. And Kentucky was overwhelmingly registered Democrat.

[Adam Friedland]

Was it because of union unions?

[Scott Jennings]

You know, it was traditionally. A lot of Southern states were traditionally Democratic. They were New Deal Democrats.

[Adam Friedland]

But I thought after Civil Rights act they went red.

[Scott Jennings]

It was very Democratic and we had Democratic governors most of the time. McConnell winning in 84 was kind of the beginning of it changing. But even up until the 90s, it was still, you know, Clinton won it twice. And so when Bush won it in 2000, that's when the real movement started. Then when Obama won in 08 and during the Obama years, Kentucky, like a lot of really rural states, really, really went.

[Adam Friedland]

That had to hurt 2008.

[Scott Jennings]

So it hurt who?

[Adam Friedland]

You?

[Scott Jennings]

Me?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, it hurt the country. And since I live in the country,

[Adam Friedland]

you gotta see this guy Benson. Dude. All right, dude. So he sings. Wait and look how. Then he rips his things off and then. Look, look at this.

[Scott Jennings]

Whoa.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, that's what I said. You are.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

You're the Banson boot of Camp Hazel Island.

[Scott Jennings]

I get it now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's an even better compliment than it was.

[Adam Friedland]

It was a great compliment because you're a good Flipper. All right, let's get in. Okay, so for our audience that don't know who you are, how would you describe, like, someone you meet in the Hudson News? They say, what do you do? You're in the airport. They say, what do you do for a living, sir?

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

What do you say?

[Scott Jennings]

Well, I'm senior political commentator for cnn, so they bring me on the news on CNN to analyze and debate with other people.

[Adam Friedland]

And you are like. You're the conservative on the panel.

[Scott Jennings]

Typically, yes.

[Adam Friedland]

Are you typically the only conservative on the panel?

[Scott Jennings]

Sometimes, but not always. Sometimes they'll bring on a second person, but in many cases, I'm the. I'm the principal conservative arguer.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you like the one on 50 kind of dynamic? Because you get. You get way more lines, you get way more action.

[Scott Jennings]

I love the dynamic. Yeah. And it's a fun, you know, it's fun to be that guy in the, you know, in the lion's den, you know.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. I feel like after. After you're done recording, half the people are like, fuck you, Scott. Half the people are like, that's my boy over there. You dropped a crazy one today, Scott.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. Yeah. The professionals at this are the ones who. Who love it because they know it's. It's good. Debates are good tv.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

I go all over the country. I hear two things. I love you, and I love the debates. I hate you, but I love the debates. Everybody loves debates. The country was founded on debates. And so CNN's smart to do it.

[Adam Friedland]

What was your favorite debate of all time?

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, gosh. I mean, back in. Oh, just generally.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, gosh. You know, I'll tell you one. It's a little obscure, but when Dick Cheney took John Edwards to the woodshed in the.

[Adam Friedland]

They went hunting together.

[Scott Jennings]

2004. No, in the 2000. In the 2004 election. That was a great, great debate.

[Adam Friedland]

He recently passed. I'm sorry for your loss.

[Scott Jennings]

That's why I was thinking about it. Yeah. I was watching. I was watching old clips of Cheney just wearing Edwards out for, like, 90 straight minutes. It was outrageous.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. The vice presidential debate is. Is typically a shit show, but honestly, Vance wore out.

[Scott Jennings]

You know, I remember fly on Mike Pence.

[Adam Friedland]

On Mike Pence's head. Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. But in the. In the 24 VP debate, you know those looks that Walls kept shooting the camera.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

You know, like he wandered into the wrong bar. That. Right. He was. There's never been anybody in American politics more in over their head that night than Tim Walls.

[Adam Friedland]

I think Joe Biden maybe.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, he was out by then.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, I think he was. Well, Joe Biden, the first debate.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, I was there for that in Atlanta back, Back in the summer.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you think that, I mean, that's kind of for America. It was kind of. Everyone is embarrassing.

[Scott Jennings]

I said on tv. My analysis was, we need to pray for the President. Something's wrong with this guy.

[Adam Friedland]

Your analysis was that Biden lost?

[Scott Jennings]

No, my analysis was that I'm not sure the country had a functioning commander in chief at that moment and he was still gonna be president for another six months.

[Adam Friedland]

Is that when you found out? Cuz I heard behind closed doors he was just like, oh, when I found out he was a genius level mathematician.

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Riding tricycles, juggling knives, being on TV

[Adam Friedland]

while they were saying that. Like, did you know that that was. How did you respond to that? When people were like, you gotta, you gotta just wait when no one's watching. This guy's great.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, I, along with every other Republican, had been watching this guy deteriorate for years. And then we were often debating people or being interviewed by people who were like, it's fine, don't worry, everything's good. And it was this amazing uniformity in their analysis. They were all saying literally the same thing. Sharp as attack. You know, you heard the street.

[Adam Friedland]

Why were they saying that?

[Scott Jennings]

Because Democrats, at least in their communications, are authoritarians. Once they decide what they're gonna say, they make them all say it. And if you don't say it, they get rid of you in a hurry.

[Adam Friedland]

The Republicans are good at falling in line. I feel like much better.

[Scott Jennings]

Are we? I mean, yeah. I mean, we have a strong party leader, but you still have cats and dogs out there that make trouble for you. I mean, every, every party deals with that. I'm just talking about.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm just saying the Democrats. I know what you're saying, but in general, the Democrats seem like way more of a mess.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, right now they have no leader. Their problem is they. There's no person telling them what to do.

[Adam Friedland]

Joseph Stalin or Karl Marx, perhaps?

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, I mean, you know, they're not exactly alive to keep it under control, but, but, but, but they, they got no national party leaders, so you got people in different spheres of influence trying to do things. You have Newsome the Clown. Aoc.

[Adam Friedland]

Newsome the Clown.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, you're coming out nicknames.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, the president has inspired me to.

[Adam Friedland]

The nicknames really fell off though, did they? Yeah, like low energy. Jeb was great. Little Marco's great. Now he's just saying, like, bad Marjorie Taylor Greene.

[Scott Jennings]

He said Marjorie Traitor Greene.

[Adam Friedland]

That's. Oh, he's back. Pocahontas was. Pocahontas was the greatest. The greatest one.

[Scott Jennings]

Still the greatest.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you remember when he. Do you remember when he was talking to the wind talkers? He was, like, giving them medals.

[Scott Jennings]

He told them.

[Adam Friedland]

He was like, you guys have been here forever. You've been here a long time. There's another person who says, she's been here a long time. They call her Pocahont. And these guys have really. One's in a wheelchair. They have, like, dementia. And he's, like, still talking shit about.

[Scott Jennings]

He really was.

[Adam Friedland]

What's your favorite Trump? Like, what's the funniest Trump moment to you?

[Scott Jennings]

Funniest Trump moment?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. What was his number one for you?

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, man. Gosh. It's. I don't know. I wasn't prepared to answer that. I have to say his.

[Adam Friedland]

He's hilarious.

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, no. I mean, he has a lot of bangers.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you remember the Easter Egg Roll? The Maga hat? He's at the Easter Egg Roll and a kid gives him his Maga hat and he signs it and he throws it in the crowd.

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, I like. I like the one when he took the call from the kid about Santa Claus on the Santa Claus hotline.

[Adam Friedland]

Amazing.

[Scott Jennings]

And he was like. He was like, it's a little marginal for you at that age, isn.

[Adam Friedland]

He's like, grow the fuck up, kid. Life is pain. I mean, do you think he's going a little. He's going a little spicy these days?

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, spicy, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. He's kind of going a little like. Like, he's talking about, like, how hot guys are and stuff. Arnold Palmer, Huge cock. Yeah. He's like, look at that guy. Oh, my God, I would kiss him. I think. Yeah. Zoran, he was, like, a little bit like. Oh. Like, he was a little bit, like, flirting. It was weird. I've never seen. Yeah. Have you ever seen him, like, anyone that's, like, not, like, another world leader like, anyone? Yeah. Like, he loves Modi, for instance. He likes other world leaders. But I've never. Like, Zo Rod's the first person underneath him that, like, Trump's, like, genuinely, like, had a crush on.

[Scott Jennings]

I think he likes winners. I think he likes people who, you know, are succeeding in a moment.

[Adam Friedland]

I think he does.

[Scott Jennings]

And so. Because that's how he views himself.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

And so, I mean, it's great for

[Adam Friedland]

the city if he's. Well, he also has a crush on Zo. Ron, it's good for.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, he has a crush on New York City.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

He loves New York. Even though he lives in Florida, he loves New York City.

[Adam Friedland]

Wait, so let's get to you. You're from Kentucky.

[Scott Jennings]

Yep.

[Adam Friedland]

Bluegrass State.

[Scott Jennings]

Yep. West Kentucky.

[Adam Friedland]

West Kentucky. You're from a place called Dawson's Creek.

[Scott Jennings]

Dawson Springs, I believe.

[Adam Friedland]

Dawson's Creek.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. They did make a show about it growing up.

[Adam Friedland]

What was it like when Pacey hooked up with the teacher? Were you mad that the teacher.

[Scott Jennings]

Huge scandal.

[Adam Friedland]

It was a big scandal. But you. You grew up, like, working class.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Right.

[Scott Jennings]

Yep. Coal mining town. Small town. My dad was a. At alternate times, a garbage man and a factory worker.

[Adam Friedland]

You don't have to be woke about it. Your dad was a cisgender. White male.

[Scott Jennings]

He was.

[Adam Friedland]

That's what they. You don't have to call him a garbage.

[Scott Jennings]

Back when that wasn't cool. He was.

[Adam Friedland]

That's what they call all of us fellers, huh?

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. He was a blue collar guy. My stepmom worked in a factory and cleaned houses.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

And worked in a. At various times. My parents would be laid off. She would work at a gas station overnight. Yeah. But, yeah, blue collar folks. Great folks.

[Adam Friedland]

It was tough growing up working class.

[Scott Jennings]

I mean, I never. Was it tough? Yeah, I mean, I never felt like it was tough. We just grew up like everybody else. I mean, it's a poor area.

[Adam Friedland]

University of Louisville. Yep. Cassie is Clay. You live in Louisville now?

[Scott Jennings]

Just outside of it, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay.

[Scott Jennings]

That's my home area.

[Adam Friedland]

So how do you. So you commute to New York to

[Scott Jennings]

do the show, fly up to New York and bounce back between New York and Washington on a weekly basis. Some of our shows are in New York, some are in D.C. okay.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Yeah. It's a hellish.

[Scott Jennings]

It's a weekly commute.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Yeah. And so you like New York now? Like, have you had a Carrie Bradshaw moment since you've been up here?

[Scott Jennings]

A Carrie Bradshaw moment?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

No, but I do like New York. I like the park.

[Adam Friedland]

It's nice, right? We got a hell of a city.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. I can't believe you just voted to destroy it. But, yes, it's a great place.

[Adam Friedland]

Why? I didn't. Was it on the ballot?

[Scott Jennings]

It was.

[Adam Friedland]

I voted for. I voted yes on all the. On all the questions.

[Scott Jennings]

Your choices in the mayor's race were. Destroy it. Sort of destroy it. Possibly destroy it.

[Adam Friedland]

Sliwa would good.

[Scott Jennings]

You. You went destroyed.

[Adam Friedland]

If we had Sliwa. He would have. Like. If you. He would have. He's like. If you got Beef. We gotta break it down with some breakdancing. That would have been good.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. It's never good to wear a hat.

[Adam Friedland]

Who would you have voted for in the election if you were voting in New York?

[Scott Jennings]

Who would I have voted for? I mean, I traditionally vote Republican, so Sliwa.

[Adam Friedland]

But beret is kind of a rough look, though.

[Scott Jennings]

I know.

[Adam Friedland]

It's kind of not American. What is he doing with that?

[Scott Jennings]

If I had been consulting him, I might have switched it out for a cowboy hat.

[Adam Friedland]

I don't know about New York. Cowboy hat.

[Scott Jennings]

I think it's kind of distinctive, actually.

[Adam Friedland]

You know that there's an area in New York called the Hole in Brooklyn, right. And it's an area that's under the water table. And basically it looks like a post. Like what, the factory has closed down. Like you're in the middle of nowhere in the South, Right. And it's like a kind of desperado area.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

I swear to God, I'm not making this up. It's. There's a ton of bodies that the Mafia dump. There's. They don't have sewage. Cause it's under the water table. It floods constantly. There's like trailers there and stuff. It does not look like the rest of New York. And they have a league of black cowboys, they're called. And it's dudes in cowboy hats and riding on horseback that like, kind of patrol the area. I'm not. It's like moronic if I made that up. Do you want to go to the Hole with me later?

[Scott Jennings]

No, I do not.

[Adam Friedland]

No. No. It's actually a bizarre area.

[Scott Jennings]

I mean, look, if you want to go, it's.

[Adam Friedland]

Well, when you're driving out to jfk, you drive past it, you don't even realize. It's like my Ozone park in East New York. I'm really selling the Hole to you. This is going to make the episode, too. Okay, so you're a Mitch McConnell scholar?

[Scott Jennings]

I was at the University of Louisville.

[Adam Friedland]

What is that? It's for getting good grades or something.

[Scott Jennings]

The McConnell Scholarship. He set this center up thinking that a lot of kids in Kentucky go out of state. So he sets up this center, he raises all the money for it. He hasn't picked the kids, but they pick 10 kids a year. They give him a full ride at the University of Louisville. Yeah. And it's kids who have an interest in public service and other things. And so I was lucky enough to get one of these scholarships. I think if I hadn't gotten it, I don't know what Would have happened to me. And so it's true to say, without McConnell, it changed the trajectory of my life.

[Adam Friedland]

And he's your, like, one of your mentors?

[Scott Jennings]

He was my mentor, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. You kind of were a rising star hotshot. Very young, like, straight out of college. You ran the 2000 presidential race in Kentucky.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

You flipped your first flip.

[Scott Jennings]

Kentucky, flipped your first Boone.

[Adam Friedland]

You gotta drop that on CNN tonight.

[Scott Jennings]

I'll try.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm the Benson Boone of campaigns and elections.

[Scott Jennings]

If I dressed like him, it would be noteworthy.

[Adam Friedland]

What do you think of the light suit? Kind of Obama style?

[Scott Jennings]

It's.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you feel uncomfortable sitting next to a guy in a gay suit like Obama was wearing?

[Scott Jennings]

I was more worried about your boots than your suit.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you rem. Why are you worried about my boots? These are for farm labor, sir.

[Scott Jennings]

But now that I know where you hang out with the cowboys, I can get it.

[Adam Friedland]

What do you mean I hang out with the cowboys? You think this is some sort of, like, what? I think it's cool that we have cowboys in New York City.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. I gotta see this for myself.

[Adam Friedland]

I think you think I'm lying to you still. Can someone say I'm not alive? Caleb. It's true. It's true.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. All right. It's on the way to jfk. It's a terrible place.

[Scott Jennings]

I never go out there, by the way.

[Adam Friedland]

I hate jfk.

[Scott Jennings]

Although I've had to go to the West Coast a few times more recently. And so I've been out there more. Yeah. And I hate.

[Adam Friedland]

It's the worst airport in the world.

[Scott Jennings]

It's terrible.

[Adam Friedland]

It really makes me want to kill myself. I want to go to LaGuardia, where it's Europe, where it's fabulous, where it's like an international mall with.

[Scott Jennings]

That's how you get here from Kentucky. We go right to LaGuardia. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

It's really nice. So 2000, you're working. Like, how did you, at 22, run a presidential campaign?

[Scott Jennings]

I was a reporter, actually. So while I was in college, I worked as a journalist, and I thought I was going to be a journalist. And McConnell called me up at the end of my college career and said, you want to come work on this campaign for George W. Bush? So I said yes. I left journalism behind for a bit and decided to get into politics, and he kind of talked me into it. We had a blast. We won Kentucky. It was great.

[Adam Friedland]

And did you meet Karl Rove?

[Scott Jennings]

Like, were you working in that year? I did not meet Karl Rove that year. I met him Later. And then I met him again when I worked for Bush in 04. But during that campaign, no, I was in my little office in Kentucky working away.

[Adam Friedland]

And what was the strategy there? How did you flip Kentucky?

[Scott Jennings]

Well, Bush was a better fit for Kentucky. I mean, he had a kind of an attitude that Kentucky liked. We had been trending that way a little. Gore, though, was from Tennessee and so they still, they thought maybe treat him as a little bit of a hometown guy, but he turned out to be such a crappy candidate and really ran more, ran more liberal than probably Clinton was perceived. Clinton won Kentucky twice, but he never got 50% of the vote. But Gore, by Labor Day, it was pretty much over. And I actually spent some time in West Virginia that fall because that was Carl's big bet, was that West Virginia, which had also been voting Democrat for a long time, was going to flip too.

[Adam Friedland]

And so who did you work with? You met President Bush during that election?

[Scott Jennings]

I did meet President Bush one time during the election, but I didn't spend a lot of time with him. He didn't spend a ton of time in Kentucky.

[Adam Friedland]

So you were primarily campaigns and elections prior to working at the White House?

[Scott Jennings]

Yes, I did campaigns, you know, did journalism. And then I did campaigns. From 2000 to right through 2004, I did nothing but campaigns. And then in 05 I went to the White House.

[Adam Friedland]

And then of course, in 2004, you ran the New Mexico ground game for Bush again. And that was a flip too.

[Scott Jennings]

That was. I had never been to New Mexico and they sent me out there. They had some party troubles and some infighting, and so they brought in an outsider to run the campaign. It was the only state that bordered Texas that Bush did not want win in 2000. He had lost it by 366 votes. And so we decided to try to flip it and we did. We won by 5,988 votes. It was a great election.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. And that was, I guess, was that the Bill Richardson election? Yeah, yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Oh yeah. There's a famous and funny moment at the end of the election. John Kerry was doing these satellite TV interviews and he's sitting in a chair and he does one in New Mexico and he thinks the camera is off and, but it's still on. And there's footage of him going, bill Richardson better fucking deliver. And of course he didn't. But, but that's, they, they relied on him to win the state and we beat him.

[Adam Friedland]

Uh huh. And so your profile was like rising in the, in the gop.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. Yeah, I was having a good run of it.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Yeah. And you were fucking young. Sorry. For the F word.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

I don't know if you cussed.

[Scott Jennings]

You cuss Minimally.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, you just did a little. Yeah. As a quote.

[Scott Jennings]

I ordinarily wouldn't on cnn, but given that this is more of the minor leagues of broadcast.

[Adam Friedland]

No, this is. I don't know what he said. This is a really important show. I don't know if you read the Jew York Times or the Jew Yorker or the. Or Jew Q mag. Sorry, I don't know why I went self hating Jew there. I apologize. Dude, minor leagues. You really heard it. What would you say? Single aa? Single A.

[Scott Jennings]

No, it's a double A.

[Adam Friedland]

Double A.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, it's carpeted, so if you're good,

[Adam Friedland]

you skip double A, you go to triple A. Yeah. So during your time in campaigns and elections, you were known as a master of attack, is that right?

[Scott Jennings]

Well, you were dubbed that I learned from the best. McConnell. I mean that was his MO. His campaigns were just slice and dice were mean. His mantra was always, if you throw a pebble at me, I'm throwing a boulder at you.

[Adam Friedland]

Really?

[Scott Jennings]

That's how we were taught and that's how we were trained.

[Adam Friedland]

What was the meanest one?

[Scott Jennings]

You did the meanest thing we ever did.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Oh man, I got. I'll tell you one. I was running a state senate campaign in Kentucky once and we got. I had this college kid record secret audio of this guy running and he kept referring to his constituents as redneck constituents.

[Adam Friedland]

Uh huh. That's not that mean.

[Scott Jennings]

And well, for them down there it was. I mean it was so. It was so derogatory. But anyway, I got this secret audio

[Adam Friedland]

file that felt like James Bond kind of shit.

[Scott Jennings]

Put it on the air. Destroyed this guy. It was great.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you remember the birthday card?

[Scott Jennings]

I do. The Hillary Clinton. So I think about. I think about Hillary Clinton's birthday a lot because it's my birthday and. October 26th.

[Adam Friedland]

This is great.

[Scott Jennings]

And so at the end of this election we sent a. It was one of those birthday cards that you open and it talks. And so we.

[Adam Friedland]

It's expensive spot.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. And the way you manufacture these things is crazy. So I had been planning it all year because you got to order the card and then you got to record the chip. The chip has to get in on

[Adam Friedland]

ruining her birthday all year.

[Scott Jennings]

Yes. And we sent the Hillary Clinton birthday card out to like everybody in the state.

[Adam Friedland]

Yes. Guess whose birthday is coming. That's right. Hillary Clinton and her wish we're gonna put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business. Clinton says no, let's ruin Hillary's birthday. Send a message. Vote against every Clinton Democrat running. Jennings, a regular columnist, said the mailer cost three to four times as much as a typical mailer and took much longer to produce. Of course, it took a year to ruin her birthday. Scott, what had she ruined? Previous birthdays of yours?

[Scott Jennings]

Everyone, we share a birthday. Every single birthday I've ever had has been ruined by Hillary Clinton. I finally returned the favor.

[Adam Friedland]

You know, Steven Seagal and I, the same birthday.

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, really?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Should I ruin his birthday?

[Scott Jennings]

No, you should have him in here.

[Adam Friedland]

Is it annoying that.

[Scott Jennings]

Have you seen the size of that guy right now? He's enormous.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. I mean, he's a fat fatso. Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

I hate that, cuz. He was so awesome. You know what I love?

[Adam Friedland]

He wasn't that good.

[Scott Jennings]

Under siege. That is the greatest thing.

[Adam Friedland]

I just rewatched it. I just rewatched it.

[Scott Jennings]

When that chick jumps out of the cake, he was so offended and he was like morally offended.

[Adam Friedland]

Then they drug her to sleep.

[Scott Jennings]

Do you remember? Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yes. And then cigar. You know that Seagal, it was a bet between a Hollywood executive and an agent. They said, I can make fucking anyone famous. Even this fucking idiot right here. Yeah. Literally.

[Scott Jennings]

That movie has Gary Busey in it.

[Adam Friedland]

Gary Busey. And Tommy Lee Jones.

[Scott Jennings]

And Tommy Lee Jones.

[Adam Friedland]

Tommy Lee Jones plays a psycho.

[Scott Jennings]

I know. It was outrageous.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Great film.

[Adam Friedland]

I love it.

[Scott Jennings]

Dude cinema.

[Adam Friedland]

I love that. I recently rewatched it. The second one, not as good. It was on a train.

[Scott Jennings]

Not as good.

[Adam Friedland]

Not as good.

[Scott Jennings]

No.

[Adam Friedland]

Just like Speed 2 was also on a train.

[Scott Jennings]

Forget it.

[Adam Friedland]

We're the same guy. I don't know. I think it's a little woke of you to do that to Hillary.

[Scott Jennings]

Woke of me?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Like, I think a real man shouldn't even know what his birthday is. Yeah. I think that's alpha to be like,

[Scott Jennings]

I don't even have a birthday I made. I don't even know what my age is.

[Adam Friedland]

Are you one of those people that's like, it's my birthday month?

[Scott Jennings]

No, you're a real birthday bitch. I don't. I don't have a ton of recollection of ever really celebrating my birthday that much. And then when I got. Oh, now you're backtracking now when I got into campaigns.

[Adam Friedland]

Spin, spin, spin.

[Scott Jennings]

It's at the end of the can and everyone's too busy to celebrate my birthday, so.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, that's.

[Scott Jennings]

We never have A birthday. Hillary has a birthday. I don't have one. I feel like every year she's putting out. Remember in the election she put out that tweet and it was like, you know, happy birthday to our future. It's like, happy birthday to this future president. And they put her picture from her yearbook on. That's how she celebrates. I don't get to do anything. I was offended by it, so I sent her the card.

[Adam Friedland]

Scott, I'm really sorry, man. No one wants to come to your birthday because it's the campaigns.

[Scott Jennings]

Yes. People are too busy knocking on doors, slandering Democrats.

[Adam Friedland]

Maybe, like, I'll come, like, maybe next year.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

I don't know, dude.

[Scott Jennings]

This year will be a campaign.

[Adam Friedland]

Have you ever wondered if no one wants to come to your birthday because they don't like you?

[Scott Jennings]

I had not considered it.

[Adam Friedland]

So you've thrown a party and just no one showed up?

[Scott Jennings]

No, I didn't throw my own self a party. Do you throw a party and no one threw a party for me last year. Last year.

[Adam Friedland]

Scott, this is. This is making me really sad. We got to throw you the biggest bash.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. Oh, I think if we threw a party together at the Black Hole.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

It's not the black hole. No, Scott, I did not say.

[Scott Jennings]

That's what you said.

[Adam Friedland]

I did not say black.

[Scott Jennings]

You did.

[Adam Friedland]

I did not say black.

[Scott Jennings]

You racialized it.

[Adam Friedland]

I did not say black.

[Scott Jennings]

That's what you got.

[Adam Friedland]

You did not say black.

[Scott Jennings]

Scott, we'll roll the tape.

[Adam Friedland]

The hole.

[Scott Jennings]

No, you called it the Black hole.

[Adam Friedland]

The Black Hole. Jesus Christ, Scott. That's what you and your colleagues at the Communist News Network call it. All right, so I've been one of those people who hit their protein goals every day. I've been trying to be leave that. And some days I'm great. Other days I look up and realize I've only had carbs. That's why I started using the high protein starter kit from Huel. It's five Black edition ready to drinks, plus the Black edition chocolate powder. And honestly, the first thing that's made it easy for me to stay consistent with my protein goals. I am starting on personal training. By the end of this year, I will be unrecognizable. I want to be £350 lean. I want to be unable to fit through a doorway. I want to be a guy that people respect, you know, an interviewer with muscles. Have you ever seen that Rogan Fuel just launched in Target Nationwide, so you could actually grab the ready to drink bottles straight off the shelf, which makes it a lot easier. So here's how I use the bundle. On days I'm running out the door or heading to the gym, which is tomorrow I'm starting, I just grab a Black edition ready to drink, and it's a complete meal. 35 grams of protein, 27 essential vitamins and minerals, and no artificial sweeteners. And it also tastes good. Plus it's shockingly filling for something I didn't have to prep then. On days when I'm home and I want something thicker or colder or just a little bit more customizable, I use the Black Edition powder. Sometimes I make a whole smoothie situation. Sometimes I just get a shake. And with what? I shake it with water, one of those cups. What are those called? Shakers. Shakers. I'm gonna have to get into that. Having both the RTD and the protein in my kitchen keeps me from falling off my routine. Okay, so here's the limited time offer. GU guys get Huell's full high protein starter kit online. My code TAFS for 20% [e-mail] TAFS new customers only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show. Honestly, it just makes hitting your protein goals a lot less stressful. You've got places to be. Sitting in a waiting room for hair loss treatment isn't one of them. HIMSS makes expert care accessible on your schedule so you can skip the line and focus on feeling like yourself again. HIMS offers convenient access to a range of prescription hair loss treatments with ingredients that work, including chews, oral medications, serums and sprays. Dr. Trusted ingredients like finasteride and minoxidil can stop further hair loss and regrow hair in as little as three to six months. I just feel bad for them. And also it's like, you know, probably difficult to hear from me just looking at me. Sorry dude. And your parents got divorced too. You shouldn't have to go out of your way to feel like yourself. Hims brings expert care straight to you with 100% online access to personalized treatment plans that put your goals first. No hidden fees, no surprise costs, just real personalized care on your schedule. Think of HIMS as your digital front door that gets you back to your old self with simple 100% online access, trusted treatments for real health concerns all in one place. For simple online access to personalized and affordable care for hair loss, weight loss and more, visit hims.com tafs that's hims.com tafs for your free online visit hims.com tafS Featured products include compound drug products which FDA does not approve or verify for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Prescription required. See website for full details, restrictions and important safety information. Individual results may vary based on studies of topical and oral minoxidil and finasteride. Guys, we have to be nice to be. Should be nice to Caleb. So, okay, I want to talk to you about before we go into your rise. Cause I think you've had a fucking great year.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

You've had a great year.

[Scott Jennings]

I've had a great couple of years.

[Adam Friedland]

I mean, the last year. You're a star now.

[Scott Jennings]

It's a lot of fun.

[Adam Friedland]

Does it feel different?

[Scott Jennings]

You know, it felt different the other day at o' Hare Airport when a guy tried to fight me at the McDonald's.

[Adam Friedland]

Why was that?

[Scott Jennings]

He has an unhealthy relationship with his television and literally walked up to me, like, chest bumped me. Wanted to fight at the McDonald's?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. And what did you do?

[Scott Jennings]

I just. I told him to back away and not engage with me, and he kept yelling at me. I collected my cheeseburgers and went to my gate.

[Adam Friedland]

Really? Maybe you took his McDonald's.

[Scott Jennings]

No, no, it was definitely mine. Were you scared? No, I wasn't scared because we were already past security, so I didn't think.

[Adam Friedland]

He didn't have a gun, so.

[Scott Jennings]

No, but. But it only takes. I mean, as we have found out, there are people walking around this earth that have take matters into their own hands attitude right now. It's not good.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. People shouldn't be mean to each other.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, they should not.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay, I want to talk about. So you joined the White House? 05 to 08.

[Scott Jennings]

Yes.

[Adam Friedland]

That's a crap time.

[Scott Jennings]

We call it the salad days.

[Adam Friedland]

You're having a rough one. Salad days.

[Scott Jennings]

Isn't that what they say when things are going well? The salad days.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, I thought. I thought you guys were like.

[Scott Jennings]

No, it was great being liberal, buddy. 30% of the country thought we were doing a good job. 30? That means 3 in 10 people that you meet were super happy. That's a lot.

[Adam Friedland]

No, it's pretty bad. Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Is it?

[Adam Friedland]

I think the president's supposed to be

[Scott Jennings]

pop, but, I mean, three is pretty high.

[Adam Friedland]

But you like the first term. If you were political director, you would have been rocking it. Yeah, they were very popular.

[Scott Jennings]

We were popular. We were killing radical Islamic terrorists and protecting America. So we were very popular.

[Adam Friedland]

What was that first year? It was Katrina.

[Scott Jennings]

So 05 was Katrina Shivo. That was going on. We also had, you know, the situation in Iraq. You know, I feel like, they bombed the Golden Dome Mosque and got a little chaotic in Iraq.

[Adam Friedland]

People in America were upset about the Golden Dome Mosque.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, people in America were upset about the. This was. This was going on for a long time and it was.

[Adam Friedland]

Were they ever, like, there's no weapons in Masters?

[Scott Jennings]

No.

[Adam Friedland]

No. Do they think they were?

[Scott Jennings]

Yes, the CIA told them there were.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

And so. But that. That lingering situation. Katrina. Bush decided to try to reform Social Security. That did not go well on Capitol Hill.

[Adam Friedland]

Privatization.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, that. Which, by the way, had he done that, the returns on the stock market from then till now would have been great.

[Adam Friedland]

It would have tied it to the S and P. Well, it would have

[Scott Jennings]

allowed you to put a portion of your Social Security into a private account if you so chose to do that. And if you'd done that, you'd have gotten a much better return than the government's got on it now.

[Adam Friedland]

I put mine in the Trump crypto.

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, well, if you got out at the right time, you did great.

[Adam Friedland]

Did it crash?

[Scott Jennings]

I don't know.

[Adam Friedland]

It's kind of trashy, this crypto.

[Scott Jennings]

I don't understand trash. I don't get it.

[Adam Friedland]

It's usury, right? It's against Christ. We could both agree you shouldn't be able to. What the crypt like, you. A coin for like a cartoon or something?

[Scott Jennings]

I don't. I don't have any understanding of.

[Adam Friedland]

I have no idea.

[Scott Jennings]

Sometimes they bring it up on CNN and I'm like, what the hell are

[Adam Friedland]

you guys talking about?

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, we need to get a. We need to look into that.

[Adam Friedland]

What AM I, a 12 year old? Yeah, a monkey? Cartoon is money now. Like, I do you.

[Scott Jennings]

I know.

[Adam Friedland]

These guys are young. What is it? It's so annoying to explain.

[Scott Jennings]

You know what? Here's the thing. Yeah. It's like the only thing I can equate it to in my own life. I used to collect baseball cards as a kid.

[Adam Friedland]

Me too, bro.

[Scott Jennings]

And I had a magazine and it would tell you what the baseball cards were worth. Roger Clemens, $4.80 or whatever. And I remember thinking, how could Roger clemens be worth $4.80?

[Adam Friedland]

It's like Pokemon.

[Scott Jennings]

It's worth whatever we say it's worth. Yeah, it's worth whatever we say it's. And that's what. That's what this feels like to me. Like the baseball cards used to be. Now they're not worth anything. Yeah, but they were at one time.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you remember the playing cards for the Iraq war?

[Scott Jennings]

I do remember that. And they would. And they would, like, cross them Off. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's pretty awesome.

[Adam Friedland]

Chemical Ali.

[Scott Jennings]

I remember that.

[Adam Friedland]

Who is that guy? He got the best nickname.

[Scott Jennings]

He did it have a good name? Yeah. I feel like it maybe put a little bit of a target on his back when his parents name him Chemical,

[Adam Friedland]

but, yeah, he was. He was a dj.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

He was Iraq's biggest dj. Me and my friend. I was a senior in high school of five.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Me and my friends had a really inappropriate term about related to the shivo you did thing. Yeah. In retrospect, we should. I mean, it wasn't cool, but we used to call it getting really drunk, getting a shy vote.

[Scott Jennings]

Did you.

[Adam Friedland]

You were 18.

[Scott Jennings]

This is the first time you've admitted that.

[Adam Friedland]

Yes, and I'm sorry.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

It made your life difficult, and I'm sorry.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay, thanks.

[Adam Friedland]

What was it like? Did you ever have to cheer Bush up?

[Scott Jennings]

Cheer him up?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Was he like, come on, again, everyone's pissed at me.

[Scott Jennings]

He's a pretty happy guy. You know, I did get to go to the Oval Office frequently for personnel meetings.

[Adam Friedland]

We.

[Scott Jennings]

I was part of the team that would recommend to the president who to appoint to things. Yeah. And that would cheer him up. Hey, we found a guy who loves you, and we're gonna put him in this job. Everyone was happy. Yeah. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Was he a funny guy?

[Scott Jennings]

Very funny guy. Very nice guy.

[Adam Friedland]

Sweet, great guy.

[Scott Jennings]

And Chaney was also kind of a grandfatherly guy like that.

[Adam Friedland]

Just loving and very much.

[Scott Jennings]

They were great guys.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Rumsfeld was very funny. Remember in the press conferences where you, like, do the squid? They'd be like, why is the Iraq war going so bad? He's like, shut up.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. It's funny. Back in that 2006 midterm, which we

[Adam Friedland]

got destroyed in the first one. You guys, 2002 was unreal.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, Bush was so popular, but in that 06 midterm, a lot of people wanted Bush to fire Rumsfeld just as a political tactic, like, let's fire the Secretary of defense for politics. And he wouldn't do it. I always admired that, actually, because he didn't want to play politics with national security. And he ended up firing Rumsfeld after the election.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you guys think that 04 in the presidential race, like, a little bit like, Will Ferrell hooked you guys up.

[Scott Jennings]

He did the most iconic.

[Adam Friedland]

The funniest guy in the world was playing your boss.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. And it was the most iconic impersonation. I think still to this day.

[Adam Friedland]

You guys say thank you to Will Ferrell a little bit.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, I love Will Ferrell.

[Adam Friedland]

So he's the funniest guy in the world. Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Is incredible. Yeah. But that. That impersonation, I mean, it. It was. It was terrific. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you think if Alec Baldwin was better at Trump? Friend of the show.

[Scott Jennings]

He is.

[Adam Friedland]

People might like Trump.

[Scott Jennings]

He sucks, dude.

[Adam Friedland]

No, he's a good friend. He's one of my best friends.

[Scott Jennings]

Snl, it was the worst decision they ever made when they got rid of Darrell Hammond, who was objectively the best

[Adam Friedland]

Trump, you know, he's a wild man.

[Scott Jennings]

I met him. I know him.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, he's great. He's like one of the funniest snl.

[Adam Friedland]

He had a crazy life.

[Scott Jennings]

He's had a crazy life. And his. You talk to him about Trump sometime. He really studied how to do that. And he had one of the greatest quotes about Trump. He said, he's a genius empath. And I thought, man, this guy really did kind of study how to be Trump. When SNL canned him from that. That was stupid.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you think Trump would have been, like, 90% approval rating if they got, like, Daniel Day Lewis to play him on snl? You think it's because Baldwin did bad?

[Scott Jennings]

I think Baldwin played it. I think he did.

[Adam Friedland]

Friend of the show.

[Scott Jennings]

He did not do a great impersonation. A B. He played it mean. Hammond played it funny. Yeah. Baldwin played it mean.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you think Trump is bullied too much?

[Scott Jennings]

Bullied? Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

By the. By the media and by. Yeah. Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, it's hard to bully Trump. He's kind of an alpha. But I do think they're mean to him.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, they're mean to him, but I

[Scott Jennings]

think they were mean to Bush. I think they're mean to. If you're a Republican at that level. They mean hurt his feelings.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Trump.

[Scott Jennings]

I don't know. Probably not. He's the president.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. I mean, it's kind of. But we should. I mean, mental health is seriously. We can't risk a president having a mental health crisis.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. We've never had that.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

I mean, in recent memory.

[Adam Friedland]

I mean. Yeah. I want to do an exercise real quick.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

You're a debater, right?

[Scott Jennings]

Yes.

[Adam Friedland]

You have a craft. Right. When you're on Abby Phillips show, you kill them. I mean, you're not gonna admit it. Cause you're a humble man, but you crush them. We have a good show, but you crush everyone else. You're really good at that show.

[Scott Jennings]

It's a great show.

[Adam Friedland]

I love watching that show. And you're the star. Do you consider yourself the star? You won't do it. False modesty.

[Scott Jennings]

Abby's the star.

[Adam Friedland]

No, come on.

[Scott Jennings]

Abby's our leader.

[Adam Friedland]

But you cook that well.

[Scott Jennings]

She lets me sit there and debate.

[Adam Friedland]

Abby throws you the assist. John Stockton style.

[Scott Jennings]

Abby. I mean, what we're doing is there's no other cable show that has debates. Yeah, every other cable show is six

[Adam Friedland]

people sitting around going on next month.

[Scott Jennings]

You're coming? Yeah. Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

Why you laugh at me like this? Because I'm a minor leaguer.

[Scott Jennings]

I mean.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, well. I'll see you on the battlefield, my friend. They told me you don't even know what I'm gonna do to you.

[Scott Jennings]

They told me they were having trouble booking people. I get it now.

[Adam Friedland]

So rude. Just because you did the Iraq war, you think you could. All right, I want to do a debate. Like, you're an empath. Do you believe in empathy?

[Scott Jennings]

Yes.

[Adam Friedland]

So sometimes you got to put yourself in the other person's shoes. So we're gonna do an exercise where you take the opposite side.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

What you would typically do just to, like, kind of, as an exercise, display how good you are at debating. Okay, so the first topic. LeBron James should shut up and dribble. I want you to take the no, and I'm gonna take the yes. So go ahead.

[Scott Jennings]

I should take the side that LeBron James should. Should not shut up and should not shut up. And he should keep talking.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

Yes. And stop dribbling.

[Adam Friedland]

And just to display a. You could put yourself in the other person's lucchese boots I bought him in Austin when I was doing the. Shut up, dude. What are you.

[Scott Jennings]

They're nice.

[Adam Friedland]

Cause you're doing ostrich, and I'm doing what, calf?

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, that looks leather.

[Adam Friedland]

What are you judging my boots for?

[Scott Jennings]

Can you bring calf? I just wasn't. I was surprised to see you wearing them.

[Adam Friedland]

I like them because I'm a good old boy. Both of us are.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, you go to the black hole with the cowboys.

[Adam Friedland]

I don't go to the. First of all, stop it with the black hole.

[Scott Jennings]

LeBron James should be able to give his opinion. This guy is an American. He has free speech rights.

[Adam Friedland]

Here we go again.

[Scott Jennings]

He's a civil rights leader. He is an inspiration to people. And when you denigrate this man by just saying he's nothing more than a basketball player, you take away his agency, you take away his humanity. And frankly, what you're doing right now is nothing short of racist.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, come on, Scott. LeBron James is one of the most famous basketballs.

[Scott Jennings]

Did you not hear me call You a racist? Listen, that's how you end debates.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay? Get ready for the. Get ready for maximum pain.

[Scott Jennings]

It's already over.

[Adam Friedland]

LeBron James is one of the most famous basketball players in America today. But beyond that, he's a role model to kids. And since the beginning of 2025, we've seen over 1200 deaths from talking while dribbling. LeBron James is. He's obviously good enough to dribble a basketball and say a sentence, but he insists on doing crossovers while being loud at the same time. It begs the question, why is he doing it? If you study the cases, all but one of the people who have died were white. It begs the question, does LeBron James want all white children to die? I yield the floor to my esteemed colleague from the steam room at Equinox locker room, West Village. Okay, next debate. I beat you. Next debate. So, okay, trans women are women. You have to say that they are, and I'm gonna say they're not.

[Scott Jennings]

I have to say that they are.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, you take the opposite side. Show how good of a debater you are.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay, let's see here. Well, this is a tough one, but let me. Let me get in. Go ahead, dude.

[Adam Friedland]

You're the best than biz, dude. Show us how good you are.

[Scott Jennings]

Look, here's the bottom line. I'm not gonna let someone else determine what I am on the inside. Only I know what I am on the inside.

[Adam Friedland]

What are you?

[Scott Jennings]

What am I? I'm someone who understands and believes that trans women are women are women. And. And it would be completely irresponsible for me to go out and try to make them into something that they're not. Who would. Who in their right mind would try to make someone into something that they're not? That sounds like what a crazy person would do.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay, listen, I've no trans women. I've met trans women, and I'm not afraid to say it. Trans women are not women. For instance, trans women tell stories that actually make sense and that go somewhere. Trans women are way smarter. They. They also are incredible drivers. If you're saying that a trans women aren't women, why do they earn $1 for every $1 that men earn? Okay, okay, last one. Let's do the last one. Okay, you are. Say your take is that the Epstein files should be released. My take is that they should not.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay. Yeah, I have to release the Epstein files.

[Adam Friedland]

You want to release the Epstein files?

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. Well, it's pretty obvious that a lot of rich, famous, powerful people got away with terrible Things. Why shouldn't we shine a light on their terrible behavior and expose this cabal of the powerful for what they are? Ghettos and absolute sick people who need to be punished. Okay, there you go.

[Adam Friedland]

That was a tough one for you too. Okay, okay, here you go again, Scott. Let me get this out of the way. Jeffrey Epstein's a monster, okay? He's a sex trafficker. He's a pedophile. I don't like Jeffrey Epstein. Before you try to pull a fast one on me, you're getting ready to

[Scott Jennings]

do the thing where you say, but,

[Adam Friedland]

but the Epstein file should not be released. Recently it came to my attention that Jeffrey Epstein is also a Jewish person, and so am I. And in the current political climate of anti Semitism, we can't risk the anti Semitism that would ensue were people to know that Jeffrey Epstein was a bad guy. So for that sake.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay, yeah. So effectively you're arguing that releasing the files would jeopardize our national security.

[Adam Friedland]

Well, anytime a Jewish person does anything bad, I get nervous. Like Steve Bartman. Remember that?

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

My dad and I looked at each other and we were like, God, don't be Jewish. And he was. Do you remember how Jewishly he. Moises Alou was going for the fly ball?

[Scott Jennings]

I remember he sort of ruined baseball for several years.

[Adam Friedland]

And my dad and I literally looked at each other. We're like, please don't be us, please. Okay, so let's, let's get into, like, let's get into this. Like what you're asked about constantly. I don't want to dwell on it, but like in 2016, you wrote an

[Scott Jennings]

op ed said that nine years ago.

[Adam Friedland]

Nine years ago, back when frickin. You were a hippie. You said Trump was an authoritarian. And then they say, this is what, this is what they say about you. Then you called him an old man with nothing to do from Florida. After January 6th, you called Florida, man. What is Florida, man? People say it all the time. I thought it'd say you're like, addicted to pills. No.

[Scott Jennings]

Or it means you're an old Jew. It's some describer of some kind of behavior. I don't quite get it.

[Adam Friedland]

Kind of you get hit on the thing that you were like the guy on CNN that was like, Trump's being a bad president. Or after January 6th, you're like, I

[Scott Jennings]

did not like that.

[Adam Friedland]

You didn't like Jan6 and you kind of like were critical of Trump. You were like a Republican who was critical of Trump and then kind of what people label your turn as is a heel turn kind of in a. No, no. In professional wrestling context. What. What motivated your evolution? I'd say, well, first of all, I

[Scott Jennings]

voted for Trump three times. Yeah. And I voted Republican my entire life, so it's not really all that unusual for me to be supporting Republicans. But I think of, you know, if you look back on all my years at cnn, you know, sometimes Trump does things I don't like, and I've said that on the air a lot of times. He does things I like very much, and I've said that on the air. So, you know, I think, I think there's a class of Republican out there that hates Trump so much that they want everybody to not just turn against Trump, but turn against their own party and vote Democrat forever and ever. And I just fundamentally disagree with that. Yeah. You know, we're gonna fight for the future of Western civilization. You want me to go out here and vote for Kamala Harris to save conservatism? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life.

[Adam Friedland]

Kamala Harris to save conservatism.

[Scott Jennings]

That's what their argument was in 2024.

[Adam Friedland]

Dick. Dick do that. Your boy, Dick Cheney.

[Scott Jennings]

He did not. He supported his daughter. Not his daughter.

[Adam Friedland]

He did it for his daughter.

[Scott Jennings]

That's what I think. Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Your boys from the, from the White House when you were there, they haven't been very vocally supportive of Trump.

[Scott Jennings]

Some haven't. Some have. I mean, is George.

[Adam Friedland]

George is a fan or no.

[Scott Jennings]

Of Trump.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

I don't know. I wouldn't want to speak for it. I don't think so, but.

[Adam Friedland]

Sounds like a no. I mean, it seems like.

[Scott Jennings]

By the way, it's fine. I don't care who you support.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm not saying it's bad or good. I'm just.

[Scott Jennings]

But the people who get so upset about, you know, I could be critical of Trump one day and then, okay, well, now we're having an election. What's the best choice for the future of the country? It was a no brainer for me.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm not saying Kamala's better.

[Scott Jennings]

That's what they were saying. I mean, you had all these people that get been out of shape with me all the time are mad that I didn't vote for Kamala Harris. It's the stupidest reason.

[Adam Friedland]

People are saying you should have voted for Kapa Harris.

[Scott Jennings]

Their argument was that all Republicans should vote.

[Adam Friedland]

The Rhinos are saying that, no, to

[Scott Jennings]

be a rino, you'd have to be A Republican. And they're not even Republicans anymore. They've left the party and they want all Republicans to join them in voting Democrat forever and ever. I don't understand it.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

I don't get it. I've been a Republican my whole life.

[Adam Friedland]

Okay, so I want to talk to you about, like, your rise and your star profile. I didn't know who you were until your year ago. I don't really watch cnn, but I think because of like social media and clipping.

[Scott Jennings]

Yes.

[Adam Friedland]

You've kind of been a breakout star there. Like, what is the objective on the show? Like, what do you consider winning? I guess, like, when you're like getting into it on Abbey Phillip.

[Scott Jennings]

Oh, well, for me, I mean, I'm trying to represent the best argument for, you know, basically half the country. I feel like I'm their principal channel for how they're absorbing the news and how they would debate a particular issue. I mean, my only mandate as a commentator is just to give my opinion based on my views, my values and my experience.

[Adam Friedland]

And you're really good at what you do. Right.

[Scott Jennings]

But I think winning for the show is actually, is the audience smarter for what they just heard?

[Adam Friedland]

Do you think that you've convinced people?

[Scott Jennings]

Convinced? Yeah, I think oftentimes you change their mind. And I think oftentimes I show up with arguments or vectors that people say, I hadn't thought of that. And the reason they hadn't thought of it is because I think we live in ideological bubbles right now. People aren't often presented with alternative viewpoints. If you're a liberal, you're not hearing from conservatives maybe. And so the one guy that you hear from tells you something you hadn't thought about. In a way, yeah. I think we're raising some eyebrows in that way.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you think that, like, because the show is like the argument show, right? Do you think, like, it's a really. People are like, like really pissed off these days and like, yeah, like political violence is on the rise. It's very divided times and people are like, in general, like the Internet is all arguing. Right. And that's probably why the clips have done so well, because it's like a conflict driven product. The show that you're on, do you think it's like, is that good for people? You think it gets people more pissed? Like, I wanted to fight you in the fucking airport.

[Scott Jennings]

I think that debates are good. I think politics is good. I think it's the way we solve our problems.

[Adam Friedland]

Then why are people trying to beat your ass at an airport?

[Scott Jennings]

Well, I mean, I get it. Some people have unhealthy relationship with their tv, but that's not most people. I think most people are smart enough to be able to absorb a debate and say, okay, I agree with this, or I agree with that. I mean, it's how we solve our problems. There's no other alternative. Unless you want to do something like violence, which nobody wants to do, hopefully.

[Adam Friedland]

But it's also how you get people into it, too. It's good tv. It's good tv, but you're making the show good.

[Scott Jennings]

It's a great show. But it's the debating format. People like debates. Remember CN had a history of this. We had Crossfire. Yeah, yeah, everybody loved that, too. Somehow we got away from debating each other. Like, to be able to confront someone or to have a debate, even if it's tense, that's okay. And I think one of the messages of the show is we're not always going to agree, but if we can disagree and sit at the table and do it and then do it again the next night, I think that's modeling good behavior.

[Adam Friedland]

So you think the people watching it don't leave it more pissed?

[Scott Jennings]

No, I don't, actually. I think they leave it. Hopefully they leave it more informed. Because you heard somebody say something that you hadn't considered as part of the overall discourse.

[Adam Friedland]

You think, really?

[Scott Jennings]

I do, actually. Well, at least for me. I mean, look, I think people are

[Adam Friedland]

like, let's go, Scott.

[Scott Jennings]

I agree with that. Yeah, yeah. But. But also, you know, I think sometimes what I'm doing is giving people a way to debate or a way to argue or sort of a debating vector that they hadn't thought of. And so I sort of feel like I'm informing a whole bunch of people,

[Adam Friedland]

kind of giving your boys the roadmap.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, And I'm. But I also think a lot of our audience is not conservative. And so. So I do think people out there look at these debates and they say, why would someone believe that? And they're going to get the best possible answer to that if they listen to me.

[Adam Friedland]

What is the liberal media? I guess it's used a lot. Like, what's the term?

[Scott Jennings]

Well, I mean, our point of view is that a lot of mainstream or corporate media is framed or designed to frame things in a way that are inherently negative to Republicans or negative to conservatives and. And sort of positive to Democrats or positive to liberals. And look who works there. I mean, University of Syracuse did a study on this recently. Most people who work in the media are Democrats. Very few are actually Republicans. And so there's a perception that there is no balance.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you worry that you're making money for the liberal media because you're like, the star of the show? You're driving ratings. Is there a conflict there inside of you?

[Scott Jennings]

A conflict? No.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, because you're like the liberal media. Benefits. Benefits. Like you're making cash for them, boys.

[Scott Jennings]

I think they benefit when more Republicans turn it on.

[Adam Friedland]

Right.

[Scott Jennings]

And my job is. And my mission is to make it safe for conservatives again. And I think we are. Everywhere I go, I have Republicans telling me I hadn't watched CNN in years. I'm watching it now. There are more Republican office holders who are willing to come on.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. And that's good for them as the liberal media.

[Scott Jennings]

It's good for the media.

[Adam Friedland]

This isn't a gotcha. No, it's kind of interesting.

[Scott Jennings]

I think it's good for the media in general when they aren't viewed as a wholly owned subsidiary of one political party.

[Adam Friedland]

Do you think that CNN would give you a show ever?

[Scott Jennings]

I have no idea.

[Adam Friedland]

Have you asked? You've asked. Come on, bro. You should have a show. You're one of the biggest stars on cnn.

[Scott Jennings]

I have no idea.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

I'm grateful for what I have.

[Adam Friedland]

Do they have a conservative show on cnn?

[Scott Jennings]

No.

[Adam Friedland]

No. Because of the liberal meter.

[Scott Jennings]

We do not.

[Adam Friedland]

The Schmid media. What would you qualify as your, like, political project, like, currently? What is the one thing that you're advocating for that you want to see happen?

[Scott Jennings]

That I want to see happen?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Like, down.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, look, I think we're not arguing about politics as usual anymore. I think there's a war on the future of the West. I think Western civilization hangs in the balance. I think Elon is right about this.

[Adam Friedland]

Who's fighting the West? The East?

[Scott Jennings]

No, the West. The west is the civilization that has given us everything from the Bible to the university to the continent. Constitution.

[Adam Friedland]

But who's against the West?

[Scott Jennings]

Well, let's see. How about the terrorists in the Middle East? How about the people who think the United States of America was a rotten, failed experiment needs to be ripped out root and branch?

[Adam Friedland]

Who said it?

[Scott Jennings]

How about people who. How about people who believe that we should have mass migration from all over the world and no borders?

[Adam Friedland]

Whose idea is that?

[Scott Jennings]

The left, right now.

[Adam Friedland]

The left.

[Scott Jennings]

That is their project. That is their project.

[Adam Friedland]

Really?

[Scott Jennings]

And also people who are.

[Adam Friedland]

Do they say that? Do they say we want everyone here in America?

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, pretty much. That's what they run on.

[Adam Friedland]

What do they say? They say that in a debate, they say every other thing.

[Scott Jennings]

They have senators going to El Salvador to have mai tais and Yahtzee with MS.13. Gang bangers that we deported. Yeah, that's pretty much what they want.

[Adam Friedland]

They go on vacation with the MS.13.

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah.

[Adam Friedland]

I thought it's to look at that scary prison place where everyone has to sit on the street.

[Scott Jennings]

Did you not see the picture? They're having margaritas.

[Adam Friedland]

They had a drink.

[Scott Jennings]

Yes. Van Hollen has. Having drinks with Kilmer, Abrego Garcia. This is the. This is what they run on.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, the guy that got deported?

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah. Well, he's back now.

[Adam Friedland]

He had a drink with him.

[Scott Jennings]

Yes.

[Adam Friedland]

That's a weak one, bro.

[Scott Jennings]

Dude, look it up.

[Adam Friedland]

They're not having a drink. But you're.

[Scott Jennings]

You're not better prepared than this for Abby. You're gonna get cooked.

[Adam Friedland]

No, no, no. I am. No, that's fine, because you. You just. You just pivoted. No, that is a stretch.

[Scott Jennings]

It's not a stretch.

[Adam Friedland]

A guy had a drink with a guy that was deported. Yes.

[Scott Jennings]

A senator, a US Senator went to El Salvador on taxpayer money to show his fidelity with illegal aliens.

[Adam Friedland]

That prison is really. Is a scary place.

[Scott Jennings]

They weren't in the prison. They were at a dinner table.

[Adam Friedland]

But you saw pictures of that prison as scary.

[Scott Jennings]

Was it.

[Adam Friedland]

I'm not saying that it's not scary for me. I'm not saying. You think it's cool that prison.

[Scott Jennings]

I think deporting illegal aliens is what the American people voted for last year. We are fighting ill liberalism right now in the world. There is. There's a whole bunch of people out there who have given up on speech, given up on debate, and they think politics should go beyond that. It's this illiberal, undemocratic views.

[Adam Friedland]

Who's given up on speech? Just explain.

[Scott Jennings]

I just think there is. I think there are people, Actors in our politics. And I'm not saying it's fully confined to one side, but there's a lot of illiberalism out there when it comes to speech and debate. And it's one of the reasons I do the job that I do.

[Adam Friedland]

You guys don't like free speech either?

[Scott Jennings]

We love free speech.

[Adam Friedland]

You guys, like, banned Harry Potter and shit? Yeah, usually it's too scary to have Harry Potter.

[Scott Jennings]

I love jk. You guys are trying to ban the person who wrote it.

[Adam Friedland]

What do you mean, you guys? I love Harry Potter. If you're.

[Scott Jennings]

If you're gonna.

[Adam Friedland]

I watch all those movies every Christmas, which I celebrate now.

[Scott Jennings]

But you like J.K. rowling, I don't care.

[Adam Friedland]

I don't think everything has to be politicized. A lot of people like you guys do. You guys do ban like books and stuff like that?

[Scott Jennings]

Yeah, like books, porn. I think like porn for children.

[Adam Friedland]

Will abandon gay. In a school. You're not allowed to say it or something. Who fucking cares?

[Scott Jennings]

I mean, like, who cares about whether little school children get pornography in their library?

[Adam Friedland]

Porno. I mean, who's got porno in libraries?

[Scott Jennings]

You'd be surprised.

[Adam Friedland]

Scott. Come on, Scott.

[Scott Jennings]

Brother Scott.

[Adam Friedland]

There's no porno in libraries.

[Scott Jennings]

I know. We got rid of it.

[Adam Friedland]

What poor nose did they get rid of, dude? Naylon Palin was in a school. What are you fucking sky? Obviously that's like some fucking hysteria bullshit. I mean, yes, the Democrats are scolds these days and it's annoying, Right? But you're not. They're not like putting like gang bangs in an elementary school.

[Scott Jennings]

They might be.

[Adam Friedland]

No, they're not.

[Scott Jennings]

You might want to look into it.

[Adam Friedland]

Just be a grown up for a second. No, they're not.

[Scott Jennings]

I am. I'm proud of you.

[Adam Friedland]

Think Pelosi is like, telling kids to watch, like, pornhub? It doesn't make sense. No, what it makes.

[Scott Jennings]

Did you hear that? Is that a rumor?

[Adam Friedland]

No, I'm saying. What are you trying to say? Like what? That there's hardcore sex in schools and it's coming from Chuck Schumer. He's like, we have to put the most nasty stuff in kindergarten. That's not a real thing.

[Scott Jennings]

I don't know if Chuck Schumer has specifically opined upon it.

[Adam Friedland]

He's doing the poor.

[Scott Jennings]

But there have been numerous documented instances where of. In schools and school libraries.

[Adam Friedland]

What was the porn that was in the school libraries all over the country? What is it? You're saying something, but I'm just. Just tell me. Yeah, just educate me. If.

[Scott Jennings]

I mean, if I'm pornographic materials aimed at very young children and there's a legit. Which ones do you want a list? Are you looking for weekend reading?

[Adam Friedland]

Tell me one. Tell me. I just. I'm asking because it doesn't sound right to me. Yeah, I don't. I'm low information, but it sounds a little ridiculous that that's a real thing.

[Scott Jennings]

It's like there have been numerous documented instances of highly sexual, highly pornographic materials that have shown up in libraries where legitimately small children can access it. I have a problem with that.

[Adam Friedland]

In a school?

[Scott Jennings]

In a school, in a library.

[Adam Friedland]

That just doesn't sound right.

[Scott Jennings]

I know. You could Google it. You have an iPad.

[Adam Friedland]

No, you're just saying something that you just.

[Scott Jennings]

I'm not.

[Adam Friedland]

Scott, you're stalling because you can't think of what.

[Scott Jennings]

Well, I don't wanna. I mean, I don't know what the names of it is.

[Adam Friedland]

I should know the names. If you're making a claim, I should

[Scott Jennings]

carry around the names of pornographic books.

[Adam Friedland]

If you're saying that this is happening, you should say the thing.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay.

[Adam Friedland]

Just destroyed.

[Scott Jennings]

Scott.

[Adam Friedland]

Once again, guys. Smoldering rubble. I mean, I don't care. I mean, they should. Yeah, they shouldn't look at porn, obviously.

[Scott Jennings]

Do you agree with me?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. You should do it like I did. You know my day where I had to go to the woods and find a magazine that my friend's older brother left there in the woods. Yeah. That's what porn used to be. Before the iPad. Before you could see anything. I don't think that's good, But I don't think it sounds like the Democrats are saying, let's put some nasty stuff in front of babies. It just sounds a little bit like not the real world.

[Scott Jennings]

Okay, you're welcome to believe that, but I think you're wrong.

[Adam Friedland]

In your book, how many. How much porno is in this thing?

[Scott Jennings]

0.50%.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah, 50% porn. And it's kind of like a Fabio romance novel. It's like, I caught Donald's eye across the room.

[Scott Jennings]

And here's the thing. There's something in there for everybody. No matter what your kink is, you'll find it in the pages.

[Adam Friedland]

What outfit have you worn on TV that you're most proud of?

[Scott Jennings]

Most proud of?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah.

[Scott Jennings]

I wore a pilgrim hat on TV last Thanksgiving.

[Adam Friedland]

And that's. That's. That was your greatest.

[Scott Jennings]

I was fairly proud. Oh, yeah. I was fairly proud of that.

[Adam Friedland]

And what did they say to you about, that's a settler colonial style? They.

[Scott Jennings]

They were initially surprised, but it was live television, so they couldn't stop me.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh.

[Scott Jennings]

I also wore a Hulkamania T shirt on Abby's show one night.

[Adam Friedland]

That is cool.

[Scott Jennings]

And I'll tell you when I did it. When they appointed Rubio Secretary of State.

[Adam Friedland]

Little Marco.

[Scott Jennings]

I called him and I said. And I said, well, who are they gonna appoint senator? I wore my Hulkamay because he lived in Florida. I was like, we should have. I said, he stands up to the Russians, and he stands up to the Iranians like the Iron Sheik. We need Hulkster in the Senate. So I was pushing Hulkster for Senate.

[Adam Friedland]

Oh, I thought you meant Rubio stands up.

[Scott Jennings]

He does, but he got pointed out. And so we had to put in a new senator, and I wanted the Hulkster.

[Adam Friedland]

I wish Hogan was the. I wish you brother. I wish. I wish. HH brother was the. Was the president of the United States.

[Scott Jennings]

I was in. I was in touch with his people about getting him on my radio show, and then he died. I was so. Because I just started in July. Yeah, man, I was.

[Adam Friedland]

Have you ever read that tweet about Atlanta that he did?

[Scott Jennings]

Atlanta?

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. He's like, just landed in Hot Atlanta, brother.

[Scott Jennings]

HH Hot Atlanta.

[Adam Friedland]

Yeah. Instead of Hotlanta, he called it Hot Atlanta.

[Scott Jennings]

That's great.

[Adam Friedland]

My man.

[Scott Jennings]

Scott, is this all right?

[Adam Friedland]

Sam.