Normally Podcast: The Joy is GONE at MSNBC

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show – Normally Podcast Episode: "The Joy is GONE at MSNBC"

Release Date: February 27, 2025
Host: Mary Kathryn Ham & Carol Markowitz
Podcast: Normally
Description: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor...

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Introduction

In this episode of Normally, hosts Mary Kathryn Ham and Carol Markowitz delve into the tumultuous changes sweeping through MSNBC, the implications of government deregulation initiatives, and the ever-entertaining distraction of Dogecoin (referred to as "Doge") amidst significant political developments. The conversation is marked by sharp insights, critical analysis, and engaging banter, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of current media and political landscapes.

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MSNBC Fires Joy Reid: A Blow to Conservative Media

Timestamp: [03:28] – [09:03]

The episode opens with a discussion on MSNBC's recent decision to fire prominent host Joy Reid, signaling a significant shift in the network's lineup and its impact on conservative media voices.

• Joy Reid's Departure:
  Mary Kathryn Ham expresses disappointment over Joy Reid's firing, highlighting Reid's substantial salary and multi-show commitments. Ham states, "I find it unjustifiable." ([04:50])

• Implications for Conservative Media:
  Carol Markowitz humorously remarks on the loss, saying, "What are we going to do without Joy Reid to mock?" ([03:28]) This underscores the concern that conservative commentators lose a key figure for critique.

• Viewership Decline:
  The hosts note that Joy Reid's show experienced a 53% decline in post-election viewership, reflecting broader struggles within MSNBC as their overall numbers have plummeted by 41% in 2024.

• Replacement Strategy:
  MSNBC is restructuring by introducing new hosts, including Michael Steele, Simone Sanders, and Alicia Menendez. Carol observes, "I feel like you should write it up to let the rest of us know how it's done." ([03:17])

• Joy Reid's Controversial Past:
  The conversation touches on Reid's earlier blog posts (2007-2009) containing homophobic and anti-Semitic remarks, which resurfaced in 2018. Ham criticizes Reid's apology and claims of being hacked, emphasizing a pattern of problematic behavior. ([08:08])

• Network Accountability:
  Carol suggests that Joy Reid's inability to be a "good messenger" led to her downfall, arguing, "crazy and kind of racist, or racist and kind of crazy just isn't selling like it used to." ([07:43])

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White House Controls Media Access: Threatening Press Freedom

Timestamp: [09:34] – [13:52]

The hosts shift focus to the White House's recent changes in managing media access, raising concerns about potential violations of the First Amendment.

• Executive Order on Media Pools:
  Mary Kathryn Ham discusses the White House's move to take over the media pool from the White House Correspondents Association. She highlights, "They will make the decision who comes." ([11:09])

• First Amendment Concerns:
  This shift is viewed as a potential threat to press freedom, with Judge Trevor McFadden denying immediate relief to the Associated Press (AP) seeking to contest the administration's ban on specific terminology ("Gulf of America" vs. "Gulf of Mexico"). Ham remarks, "I think if they move forward with this, as they will, they will very likely lose." ([10:30])

• Access Journalism Critique:
  The hosts criticize the "access journalism" trend, where media outlets may feel pressured to align with the White House to gain access, undermining journalistic independence. Carol reflects, "It's nice. We'll be right back on Normally." ([13:49])

• Historical Context:
  Carol references past administrations, noting how former President Biden managed media access, suggesting a continuity of favoritism regardless of political affiliation. ([11:45])

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Department of Government Efficiency Deregulatory Initiative ("Doge"): Public Support and Political Ramifications

Timestamp: [17:32] – [33:31]

The discussion then pivots to the Trump administration's Executive Orders aimed at deregulation and improving government efficiency, acronymously termed "Doge." The hosts analyze public opinion, potential economic impacts, and the role of Elon Musk in this initiative.

• Public Support Metrics:
  Mary Kathryn Ham cites a Harvard Harris poll indicating overwhelming public support for reducing government waste:

  • "70% of Americans think government expenditures are filled with waste, fraud, and inefficiency." ([17:50])
  • "69% support the goal of cutting a trillion dollars in government expenditures." ([17:50])
  • "72% believe a U.S. government agency focused on efficiency should exist." ([17:50])
  • "60% think the Department of Government Efficiency ('Doge') led by Elon Musk is making major cuts." ([17:50])

• Economic Implications:
  Mary Kathryn Ham explains that deregulating various agencies, including environmental reviews, could significantly reduce project delays and costs, potentially lowering inflation and stimulating business growth. She states, "These executive orders might actually change the reality on the ground, that might change the economy, that might change inflation to get people to where they need to be." ([30:46])

• Elon Musk's Role and Popularity:
  The hosts discuss Elon Musk's leadership of Doge, noting mixed public perceptions. While the initiative enjoys high approval, Musk himself faces skepticism:

  • "55% said that he has too much power in making decisions." ([21:12])
  • Carol and Mary Kathryn express cautious support, acknowledging Musk's quirky behavior but valuing his contributions. Ham adds, "He's quirky... You're gonna sleep in a cut on the cot. You're gonna be staying up all night." ([24:08])

• Future of Doge:
  Carol speculates on potential internal conflicts within the administration, considering Musk's high visibility and controversial persona. Mary Kathryn Ham remains supportive, emphasizing Musk's essential role despite personal quirks.

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Environmental Regulations Streamlining

Timestamp: [29:25] – [33:31]

Further examining the administration's deregulation efforts, the hosts scrutinize another executive order focused on environmental regulations.

• Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Dissolution:
  Mary Kathryn Ham explains the plan to streamline environmental reviews by dissolving the CEQ, which has been criticized for bureaucratic inefficiency:

  • "Some studies suggest that the CEQ has found that its regulations cause projects to be in court for 4.5 years and require many hundreds of pages of Environmental Impact Statement to just even hit the ground." ([31:00])

• Impact on Business and Economy:
  By removing extensive environmental regulations, the administration aims to facilitate faster project approvals, reduce litigation, and lower costs for businesses, thereby boosting economic activity.

• Government Consistency and Flexibility:
  Carol Markowitz appreciates the practicality of these measures, stating, "They’re not sexy, but they are actually useful." ([32:37])

• Historical Waivers:
  Mary Kathryn Ham points out that such deregulation measures are often situational, citing the Obama administration's fast-tracking of NEPA processes for stimulus projects, suggesting that these regulations are flexible and can be adjusted based on governmental priorities. ([33:30])

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The Shiny Distraction: Dogecoin's Role in Media Consumption

Timestamp: [17:09] – [26:00]

Amidst serious discussions on media control and governmental efficiency, the hosts entertain the topic of Dogecoin ("Doge") as a persistent and distracting element in public discourse.

• Doge as a Shiny Object:
  Mary Kathryn Ham muses on Doge's allure, suggesting its constant presence diverts attention from more substantial issues: "Doge is so shiny." ([17:32])

• Public Interest vs. Critical Issues:
  Carol Markowitz concurs, noting that Doge remains a focal point for many online users, overshadowing critical discussions about political and economic policies. ([17:47])

• Poll Insights on Doge's Effectiveness:
  The Harvard Harris poll reveals substantial public belief in Doge's efficacy in cutting government expenditures, despite mixed feelings about Musk's leadership:

  • "60% said that they were making major cuts." ([17:50])

• Potential for Future Segments:
  Both hosts express interest in exploring Doge's impact further, indicating plans for future discussions on its role and significance in the broader media landscape.

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Conclusion

In this episode of Normally, Mary Kathryn Ham and Carol Markowitz provide a critical examination of MSNBC's strategic shifts, the White House's tightening grip on media access, and the Trump administration's vigorous push towards deregulation through the Department of Government Efficiency Deregulatory Initiative ("Doge"). Balancing serious policy analysis with lighter commentary on Dogecoin, the hosts offer listeners both depth and entertainment, highlighting the interconnectedness of media, politics, and public perception in today's complex landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• "I find it unjustifiable." – Mary Kathryn Ham on firing Joy Reid ([04:50])
• "They are rolling the dice every time you leave your house." – Mary Kathryn Ham on Uncle Clarence and Amy Coney Barrett ([06:11])
• "Mary Kathryn oh, and by the way, as usual, you won't be surprised to hear this." – Carol Markowitz introducing executive orders ([29:15])

For More Episodes: Subscribe to Normally on your preferred podcast platform and stay informed with insightful discussions on the latest news, politics, and current events.

Transcript

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[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Hey guys, our Normie friends. Welcome back to Normally the show with normalish takes for when the news gets weird. I am Mary Kathryn Ham.

[Carol Markowitz]

I'm Carol Markowitz. Hi, Mary Kathryn. How's it going?

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

It's pretty good. I just did that thing that you as a mom will recognize, which is that I finally had lunch with my friend who I had said I should have lunch with for a very long time.

[Carol Markowitz]

I didn't know anybody actually did that. I know we talk about doing it, but that's impressive.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Wow. I know. None of our kids were sick. We managed to make it out of the house at the same time, and voila.

[Carol Markowitz]

Huge. Wow. I feel like you should write it up to let the rest of us know how it's done.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

I'll just do a sub stack on that. How to have lunch with your friend.

[Carol Markowitz]

I feel like it would go viral, actually, so maybe I should.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Okay, Tips for me on that. I'll get on it.

[Carol Markowitz]

I love it. Well, the big news in the media world is that MSNBC has fired Joy Reid. And actually, conservative media is hardest hit, because what are we going to do without Joy Reid to mock?

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

I know it is tough. There will be so, so many fewer clips for us.

[Carol Markowitz]

Although you said already. Yeah.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Matt Al's already in there to fill the gap, though, because she, with her $25 million salary for doing several shows a week, was like, you know, this is very disappointing. We shouldn't leave her. We shouldn't let her walk out the door. I find it unjustifiable. And then she alluded to it being racism because she said she's one of the few hosts of color missing entirely, that the network is replacing her with two African American hosts and a Hispanic woman.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right. But if you point that out, then you're saying that they're interchangeable. So there's no. There's no way to win this.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Calvin Ball with the left, it's, by the way, Michael Steele, former head of the rnc, Simone Sanders, a former Bernie Sanders spokeswoman, and Alicia Menendez.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right. Well, and then MSNBC is restructuring in general. It's not just about Joy. They also axed weekend shows hosted by Amen, Mo Yelden, Jonathan Capehart, Katie Fang, and Jose Diaz Balart. And I have to admit, I don't know some of those names. And I would think that if you have shows on television, I would know those names. But it goes to the point that MSNBC has really been struggling. Their numbers are down 41% in 2024, and Joy specifically had a 53% decline in post election viewership. She was racist and kind of crazy. And for some reason that's not selling anymore.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Yeah, look, I think a lot of people who are on the losing end of this election want to sort of cocoon. They want to not be on the outrage roller coaster with Matt out and Joy Reid and so they are not tuning in. I also think there might just be fewer of them who have an appetite for that at this point. At this point, Republicans are outnumbering self identified Democrats in this country. And more Democrats watch Fox News than watch MSNBC and cnn. Like the portion is crazy. It's crazy. Every time I say it, I have to check it. Cause I'm like, is that right? I think that's right.

[Carol Markowitz]

Is this still true? Yeah, yeah.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

But I think they just came out with new numbers recently that showed that certainly demo. Which is why smart Democrats go to Fox News to like talk to those people.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right. Makes sense.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Yeah, because you got to. I think we have a little montage of some of Joy's best work. Shall we hear that?

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Take a deep breath for just a moment and ponder big balls. Let me just be clear. I got into Harvard only because of affirmative action. It was, to put it mildly, a celebration of the very thing the American right has turned into its latest anti wokeness boogeyman. Diversity, equity and inclusion. Do any of you guys trust Uncle Clarence and Amy Coney Barrett? In America and only in America, you are literally rolling the dice every time you leave your house. They are radicalizing those people, particularly when they're radicalizing young people. That's how we talk about the way Muslims act. When you see what Donald Trump is doing, is that any different?

[Carol Markowitz]

Congress needs to get it done.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Starting another fucking war. I stopped using Twitter quite a long time ago. I don't tweet, I don't want to give Elon any content. But every so often I would check it just as an aggregate. This is a mess. And not even a normal mess. It's a fascistic mess. I have to say I did not go out on July 4th and would not. The idea of going to a mass gathering, a parade or a big fireworks thing outside seems insane to me.

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah, we're the crazy ones.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

She wore a purple MSNBC branded tracksuit on her last night, which like poised for creativity. Also odd to don the corporate logo of the place that just canned you. That seems an odd choice.

[Carol Markowitz]

She also released a crying video after the fact talking about all the issues that she thinks got her fire. I don't think it was the issues. I don't think that it's because leftism exists. It's because she was unable to be a good messenger for those issues. And again, crazy and kind of racist, or racist and kind of crazy just isn't selling like it used to.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Well, and I will never Forget that in 2018, this is a vintage scandal. I love this. Someone uncovered her 2007-2009 blogging. It wasn't that hard to uncover. I mean, it was. She put it in public on something called the Reid Report. So it wasn't like it was under a mysterious name or anything. But she at that time made some posts that were homophobic about Charlie Crist, the then Florida governor. She made some anti Semitic remarks, some kind of racist, kind of crazy. As you know, we see a pattern here. When this was found out, she sort of kind of apologized and then she also sort of kind of said it was a hack, she was hacked somehow. That person had gone back to 2007 to 2009. Those violent hackers just say, like, I had. I was younger, I had different takes. I was unwise putting all of this online in this form. And like, I'm different now.

[Carol Markowitz]

I mean, who among us.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

She said she was hacked and the FBI was going to get to the bottom of it.

[Carol Markowitz]

They're still working on it, I think around the clock.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Cash is actually in charge of that investigation now. So. So that was sort of in 2018. I was like, so this is just an. These are the news people I'm supposed to trust, is the people who outright lie to my face when they're caught in the same exact stuff that they try to fish out about normal, regular civilian people all the time.

[Carol Markowitz]

Yep. And those people do get fired and they do lose opportunities. And Joy just got to go on and pretend it was a hack that you know they're going to get to the bottom of some at some point. You're absolutely right. That was a telling moment where it was like they could do things that we cannot.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Yes. In light of that, by the way, this may make a decent segue to our second part of our press segment, which is that the White House is. We've talked about them going after the AP and saying you can't have your spot in this pool or on Air Force One because you're using Gulf of Mexico instead of Gulf of America. Although I think this is petty, I also think it does potentially have First Amendment implications because the name they're using is speech, and this is a government entity making these rules. However, a Judge who the AP asked for immediate relief on this, Judge Trevor McFadden, did not grant it. I'm a little bit surprised by that. He said he didn't find any reason to immediately stop the administration's ban, but he said that case law seemed to be against it. So I think if they move forward with this, as they will, they will very likely lose. The filing said that just because this is from the White House or from the government, just because the AP may have long received special media access to the president does not mean that such access is constitutionally compelled in perpetuity. Again, I think they'll probably lose this and should.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

However, I understand there is not a great well of support for the ap, who I will nonetheless stick up for. Yeah, there was also very nice of you.

[Carol Markowitz]

Really. They would not do it for you.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

No, they definitely wouldn't. Yeah. Another development in this area is that. And this is just breaking. So I do not know all the details, admittedly, but Caroline Levitt from the podium said today or made some reference to the fact that the White House Correspondents association, which generally creates the pool that goes to events that designates who goes where, because, of course, they have to have a limited pool at times, that they will no longer be deciding the pool. The White House will be deciding the pool. So they'll make the decision who comes.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right. Why was there a separate organization deciding which media outlets get access to the president?

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Well, so I don't think they'll get to decide. I think the White House Correspondents association still would have some sway. I think the concern is that if the White House decides, then what happens is you know exactly what to say to get favor with the White House to get access to these events. Now, there is a version of this that happens all the time in Washington with the Biden administration say what they want and you get access to their officials. This is access journalism. Happens all the time. As usual, the Trump administration is making this much more explicit, and I don't like this one either. But again, nobody's gonna stick up for these people.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right. What was the last four years about? What was Biden's little notes on which reporters to call on? And they already knew what he was gonna be asked and all of that. It's gonna be very hard for them to say, oh, no, now we have to have kind of a range of voices here. Nobody buys it anymore.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Again, the public doesn't care. I think if they can keep that pool actually diverse. Yeah, that's good. I do worry that the message is, get in line or else you don't get access. Now, amazingly, the press corps will suddenly find its backbone and not get in line for a Republican administration. The Biden administration is like, whatever you need, whatever you need, man.

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah, just call us.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Just, just call on me. Do you need me to read this specific question? Do you need me to give you the answer to the question?

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah, I'll do quite the same. You know, reaction from them with the Republican.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

No, we'll see where it goes in the court. I imagine that they'll lose on these again.

[Carol Markowitz]

You're right though. It was the transparency that's the problem. Right. If the Trump administration just said we don't want the AP here because we don't have space.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Right.

[Carol Markowitz]

They could have gotten rid of them easily. But they're like, no, we need them to say what we want them to say. That's gonna be, that's gonna be tougher in court.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

You are gonna always know what they're talking about.

[Carol Markowitz]

It's nice. We'll be right back on Normalely it.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Is Ryan here and I have a question for you. What do you do when you win? Like are you a fist pumper? A woo hooer?

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[Carol Markowitz]

Well, I have to tell you that our number one fan, and that's my husband, says that we've been talking about Doge too much. Oh yeah, we're going to not listen to him and just blow right through that stop sign and do another segment.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

On Doge on that point, can I say that I think part of the design is for Doge to always be the shiny object because as we will discuss in our next topic, other things are happening that you might miss because Doge is so shiny. And you know what, I might be falling for it a little bit because it is a fun story.

[Carol Markowitz]

Same right. And I do feel like just being online and hearing from people, I think Doge remains what people are interested in. And maybe again, maybe they're also going for the shiny object. But it is quite shiny.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

It is indeed.

[Carol Markowitz]

So yesterday Harvard Harris released a poll that absolutely astounds me. 70% of Americans, the question is, do you think that the government expenditures are basically fair and reasonable or do you think they are filled with waste, fraud and inefficiency? And 70% percent said build with waste, fraud and inefficiency. And then the next question was, do you support or oppose the goal of cutting a trillion $1 trillion of government expenditures? 69% Nice support. Then do you think there should be a U.S. government agency focused on efficiency initiatives or not? 72% said yes. And finally, do you think the so called Department of Government efficiency Doge led by Elon Musk is helping make major cuts. Government expenditures or not, 60% said that they were making major cuts. These are astronomical numbers. You cannot get 60 to 70% of Americans degree in anything. This is unbelievable.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

No, I, I think that one of the problems that our friends on the left run into is that something like the Elon email or something like the idea of cutting a trillion when we have a $4 trillion a year budget and a $39 trillion debt sounds like common sense. In fact, our buddy Brian Stelter over at CNN said on air the other day, I know these things sound like these are things are nonsense, but they sound like common sense. To that I say, hear me out. Perhaps they are closer to common sense than they are to nonsense. And that is what Americans are picking up on. Because in order to do what the federal government does, it has to be allowed to do things private citizens and private businesses absolutely cannot, to run rampant and do often illegal things without ever being checked. And people look at that and they go, I feel like if I pulled this on the irs, that wouldn't go well for me.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right, yeah, exactly.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

It's a completely different standard. And what happens is that Washington and people who live in it and many, many of whom benefit from it say, I don't know, you guys just don't understand how important and complex this is. And the American people sometimes go, I feel like you don't understand how important and complex my finances are for me. Yeah, right. That's the, that's the trick of this.

[Carol Markowitz]

Exactly. And look, I think, you know, I said on our Tuesday episode that I think Americans are in favor of all this. And I the reaction from them being like, very positive towards these Doge cuts and policies and ideas. I think that when they find out what we're spending money on, they are kind of horrified. But having it in data, having it in a poll like that, I'm still amazed at how high that number is. I thought it would be like 55, 45, which would be high for America. But the fact that we're in the 70s of approval of this, I think the Brian Stelters of the world need to understand that Americans don't see this as nonsense, and they see this as very necessary work and they appreciate that it's getting done.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

A note of caution for Doge is that Musk is less popular than the idea. Right. So a Washington Post poll found 34% of respondents said they approved of how Musk was handling his job. 55, 50, 55% said that he has too much power in making decisions. So a couple of polls are, there's a handful that are about, like, evenly split or not great for him. So to the extent that he's the face and he continues to tweet policy, that could wear thin more than the mission does.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right. And it's also, look, is it possible that the left is going to get under Donald Trump's skin with this whole President Musk thing and they're going to fall apart? That's very plausible. It could happen. I hope it doesn't. I hope that they have a lifelong friendship that definitely, definitely doesn't end in disaster during this administration, but it's all very plausible.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

I think another thing to remember is that not only are there shakeups in any administration where people serve for two years and then they leave. Doge is only supposed to last two years.

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah, right.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

It had an expiration date on it. Trump had an inordinate number of chiefs of staff, of secretaries of defense during his first. His first time around. One of the things I like about a Trump administration versus a Biden administration, although it can get excessive, is that I know he'll fire somebody if they do something bad. If Afghanistan happened on his watch, he would fire someone.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

And he likes to fire people.

[Carol Markowitz]

That's how we know him.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

That's the thing.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

That's the catchphrase. So he had a lot of churn in his first administration. I would say too much because they were not really prepared and didn't know what they wanted. This time is much more prepared. But I would expect churn. There are going to be people who Trump decides, you're not doing it, you're fired.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right. It's absolutely coming. And I bet, like you say, because he's prone to it, it'll happen sooner rather than later. It's not going to be necessarily a two year, you know, stint. Again, I hope it's not Elon, because I like this bromance that they've got going on, and I like the work that Elon is doing, and I get that he rubs people the wrong way. I see it. You know, it's understandable to me, but I give him the benefit of the doubt because I think that what he's doing is important and I happen to support it.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Well, I'm the same way, but I also have a sliding scale of, like, what I'm willing to tolerate in your public behavior based on what you're bringing to the table. As an industrial genius who has changed three different industries, like, I'M I'm willing to understand that. You're quirky.

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah, he is quirky.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

You're gonna sleep in a cut on the cot. You're gonna be staying up all night. You're gonna be saying crazy things in public. I don't love it.

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah. You're gonna be having babies with randos.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

But I'm, I'm willing to like, take some of this as part of the package. It should also be noted some people are like, oh, he doesn't do any public service. That's what the, like the union said about him. He's never done an hour of honest public service. He's currently rescuing our astronauts because NASA cannot do it. So I would argue he gets credit for like at least a week of honest public service just for that. And I appreciate that he's there to offer that service.

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah. I mean, the fact that he may get these people home, I feel like that will get them a lot of hours of community service and fulfill the obligation on the form. Yeah.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

And by the way, I noticed someone noted that the media had changed the verbiage on those astronauts from like, they were no longer calling them stranded because they didn't want to allow for the narrative that what's happening is happening, which is Elon Musk is like, let me pull your son out of the fire. US Government.

[Carol Markowitz]

Oh my gosh, I can't believe that's gone on as long as it has. I think we need to do a segment on that in the future.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

We should. That's in case you missed it.

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah. How do they just toss some astronauts up into space and not know how to get them down?

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Yeah, we should do a segment on.

[Carol Markowitz]

That because everyone is the most important part.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

It's like Seinfeld in the reservation.

[Carol Markowitz]

Anyone could just toss astronauts up into the sky. It's the returning them.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

It's getting them home safe. That is the whole thing.

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Returning the astronauts.

[Carol Markowitz]

Anyone could hold the astronauts.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Oh, goodness, yes. Well, Elon's going to do that today.

[Carol Markowitz]

Yeah. Well, let's hope. We're going to take a short break and come right back with normally.

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[Carol Markowitz]

So our in case you missed it today is an executive order and I'm going to read the name and say very honestly that I don't understand and you're going to tell us about it.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

So.

[Carol Markowitz]

So it's ensuring lawful governance and implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Deregulatory Initiative.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Yes, go for it. Basically what this does is allow for the opportunity for deregulation. And this executive order is pretty wide ranging. In every agency, they have 60 days to identify rules that meet certain criteria and submit them for rescission or revision. Right. And that these would be like things with unconstitutional or extra constitutional powers, things that are not deemed to hue closely to the original legislation that was passed, in which case that's a lot of regulations. Basically, it's going to catch a bunch of stuff and they're going to send it along to be revised or taken out of the rule book entirely, which would make things much smoother for a lot of different industries. They're going to do it across all the agencies. I was following a constitutional lawyer friend of mine on Twitter who flagged it for me and he's like, you know, these kind of things are a big deal. And it's written well. There's thought given to this and the process by which they're going to do it. There is another one that's in my, in case you missed it pile.

[Carol Markowitz]

Wow.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

That is an executive orders. An executive order that aims to streamline environmental reviews. So this one, it would basically there's a group you've never heard of called the Council on Environmental Quality that was established as part of the NEPA, which is a big environmental bill passed in like 1969. And CEQ was formed to create environmental regulations for all the agencies. And as you can imagine with any government board, they got pretty out of hand and they start writing a bunch of stuff that probably they shouldn't, probably they shouldn't write. It was originally intended to advise the executive branch on environmental matters, but now they're basically saying, let's go through and get rid of the many hundreds of pages that are keeping people from doing business, from building things. Some studies suggest that the CEQ has found that its regulations cause projects to be in court for 4.5 years and require many hundreds of pages of Environmental Impact Statement to just even hit the ground. Right. And so it's not just the regulations, it's then the litigation on top of it. The federal government usually wins and like, things can end up being built. But like, it's crazy, the amount that we put up with here that people don't know exists, that is part of raising the cost of everything we do. And I think on energy and on general business. These are the executive orders that might actually change the reality on the ground, that might change the economy, that might change inflation to get people to where they need to be.

[Carol Markowitz]

So they're not sexy, but they are actually useful. That's nice. I like. That's exactly what I want from the government, actually. Less sexy, more useful.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

I know, right? See, this is the thing. We shouldn't be distracted.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right. Let's stop focusing on the shiny items.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Mary Kathryn oh, and by the way, as usual, you won't be surprised to hear this. This is Reason magazine reporting. If I did not say that. But the government, when it's convenient, will just waive all of these regulations, which shows you that, like, maybe they're not as vital as they have suggested to us. The Obama administration fast tracked the NEPA process for more than 179,000 stimulus package projects because they wanted them built. Yeah.

[Carol Markowitz]

So environmental regulations out the window.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

Yeah. Very situational.

[Carol Markowitz]

Right. Let's get more of those tossed and get to work. I like that.

[Mary Kathryn Ham]

That's one way to cut.

[Carol Markowitz]

Thank you for joining us on Normally Normale Ly airs Tuesdays and Thursdays and you can subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts. Get in touch with us@ normallythepodmail.com thanks for listening. And when things get weird, act normally.

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