Special Preview of “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace”

Summary

Summary of "Special Preview of 'The Best People with Nicole Wallace'" The Briefing with Jen Psaki – MSNBC

Release Date: June 2, 2025
Podcast Title: The Best People with Nicole Wallace
Host: Nicole Wallace
Featured Guest: Jason Bateman
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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Introduction to "The Best People"

Nicole Wallace opens the special preview by introducing her new podcast, The Best People with Nicole Wallace. She describes the podcast as an intimate exploration of her personal and professional interactions with some of the most intelligent, humorous, wise, and creative individuals she has encountered. Wallace emphasizes that the podcast aims to showcase these accomplished and accessible personalities, offering listeners a unique glimpse into their lives and thoughts.

"The best people inspire me. They make me laugh. They tell the truth. They give the best advice."
— Nicole Wallace [00:02]

She lists notable figures such as Jason Bateman, Kara Swisher, Rachel Maddow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Doc Rivers, and Jeff Daniels as initial guests, promising engaging and revealing conversations. The preview highlights the first interview with Jason Bateman, focusing on his foray into podcasting, current projects, and his perspective on the tumultuous political landscape.

Discussion on the Current Political Landscape

The conversation shifts to the unpredictable nature of the current political climate, particularly reflecting on former President Donald Trump's actions and their implications.

"I think that what makes the Trump story so amazing is nobody knows what's gonna happen next. You know, I mean, the people in his cabinet don't seem to know what's happening next."
— Nicole Wallace [00:02]

Jason Bateman delves deeper into this unpredictability, likening the political scenario to a television show with a dynamic writers' room crafting unexpected plot twists.

"There's a writer's room somewhere, somewhere. And in that writer's room, they are figuring out these seasonal arcs that are just... gobsmacking and somehow they build to these great, you know, cliffhangers..."
— Jason Bateman [01:39]

He reflects on how plausible narratives, such as the possibility of Trump winning an election and subsequently serving time in prison, could have once seemed far-fetched but are now part of the ongoing political discourse.

"For instance, you know, remember for a moment there, it was very plausible that he was going to win the election but start serving in prison. Like, that wasn't that... Would you write that?"
— Jason Bateman [01:39]

Bateman expresses fascination with the real-life developments that mirror scripted dramas, noting the escalating and seemingly relentless nature of the current political events.

"It's a show I can't stop watching because he keeps outdoing himself and doubling and tripling down, and it's not for show. It's actually a reasonable escalation based on what just happened last."
— Jason Bateman [02:50]

Impact on the Entertainment Industry

Nicole Wallace inquires about the effect of such an unpredictable real-world environment on the entertainment industry, particularly in storytelling and project development.

"Does it change your industry at all when, like, the real world is so batshit crazy, does it make people think like, I mean, you know, like, oh, this couldn't happen when the real world keeps defying that frame of this couldn't happen?"
— Nicole Wallace [02:50]

Jason Bateman responds by sharing his experience with developing projects related to key figures in the Trump administration. He explains the challenges of creating content that remains relevant amidst rapidly evolving political narratives.

"There's plenty of projects I've been involved with, at least two of them that are directly related to key figures in his administration that I have started developing but then backed away because there's no way you can do that because those are still active storylines."
— Jason Bateman [03:03]

Bateman highlights the difficulty writers face in predicting political developments and the impact of ongoing storylines on creative projects. He comments on the lack of inherent "shame" in political figures like Trump, which complicates traditional storytelling mechanisms.

"Most of us come off the car lot with a standard feature of shame and an ability to become embarrassed. And that's not built into our systems of defense. You can't assume that somebody is going to drive right through shamelessness. And he does, and he is. And so we're constantly on our heels."
— Jason Bateman [03:03]

Conclusion and Additional Information

As the preview concludes, Rachel Maddow briefly promotes the podcast, emphasizing its availability and encouraging listeners to subscribe for early access and bonus content.

"The Best People with Nicole Wallace. Episodes one and two are available now for early access, ad-free listening and bonus content. Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Pod."
— Rachel Maddow [04:46]

Nicole Wallace wraps up by reaffirming the significance of the moment and the importance of being engaged with the podcast.

"We are in a really important moment and we're an important place in it. And I'm glad that we're there together."
— Jason Bateman [04:46]

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Key Takeaways

• Podcast Introduction: The Best People with Nicole Wallace aims to feature insightful and candid conversations with influential and creative individuals.
• Guest Focus: The preview episode features Jason Bateman discussing his podcasting journey, current projects, and observations on the unpredictable political climate.
• Political Impact on Media: Bateman draws parallels between real-world political events and scripted television, highlighting the challenges and inspirations they present to the entertainment industry.
• Creative Challenges: The unpredictability of politics, especially concerning figures like Donald Trump, poses significant challenges for content creators in maintaining relevance and plausibility.
• Subscription Information: Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to MSNBC Premium for enhanced access to episodes and exclusive content.

Notable Quotes

• "The best people inspire me. They make me laugh. They tell the truth. They give the best advice."
  — Nicole Wallace [00:02]

• "It's a show I can't stop watching because he keeps outdoing himself and doubling and tripling down, and it's not for show. It's actually a reasonable escalation based on what just happened last."
  — Jason Bateman [02:50]

• "We are in a really important moment and we're an important place in it. And I'm glad that we're there together."
  — Jason Bateman [04:46]

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This special preview offers a glimpse into the depth and quality of conversations that The Best People with Nicole Wallace promises to deliver, blending personal anecdotes with broader societal observations.

Transcript

[Nicole Wallace]

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

[Jason Bateman]

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

[Nicole Wallace]

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

[Jason Bateman]

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

[Rachel Maddow]

MSNBC presents a new original podcast, the Best People with Nicole Wallace. This week, she sits down with Jason Bateman and Rachel Maddow.

[Jason Bateman]

We are in a really important moment and we're an important place in it.

[Nicole Wallace]

And I'm glad that we're there together.

[Rachel Maddow]

The Best People with Nicole Wallace. Episodes one and two are available now for early access, ad, free listening and bonus content. Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Pod.