Abby Phillip Spills Secrets of CNN's Wildest Show

Summary

The Daily Beast Podcast: Episode Summary Episode Title: Abby Phillip Spills Secrets of CNN's Wildest Show
Release Date: April 24, 2025
Hosts: Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee
Guest: Abby Phillip (CNN's Abby Phillip)
Executive Editor: Hugh Docherty

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1. Episode Introduction

The episode kicks off with Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee engaging in their trademark witty banter, setting a lively and informal tone for the discussion ahead. Amidst humor and light-hearted exchanges, the hosts transition smoothly into the core topics of the episode.

2. Political Satire and Commentary

J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio: Joanna and Samantha delve into the latest political happenings, focusing on J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio. They humorously critique public figures, highlighting their struggles and perceived shortcomings.

• Samantha Bee (00:08): "Do not let J.D. vance come within 50ft of Joel Osteen. We can't lose another one this week, Joanna."
• Joanna Coles (00:12): "If you see J.D. vance, you may die within seven days."
• Samantha Bee (05:36): "He really reminds me of when Rick Perry took over... everyone calls him Governor Haircut."

The hosts use sharp humor to underscore the challenges faced by these politicians, emphasizing public sentiment and media portrayal.

3. Samantha Bee's "How to Survive Menopause" Tour

Samantha Bee shares personal updates about her recent tour focused on menopause, blending humor with candid discussions about health and wellness.

• Samantha Bee (03:23): "I'm driving to Boston right after we finish this recording. And then the day that this airs, I will be in Philadelphia. If you happen to be in the Philadelphia area and feel like you want to laugh about menopause with a large group of like-minded people, please come by."

She highlights the positive reception and the fun she's having, while also touching on serious themes related to women's health.

4. Kristi Noem's Theft Incident

The podcast discusses a recent incident involving Governor Kristi Noem, whose purse containing $3,000 and her passport was stolen.

• Joanna Coles (07:33): "Kristi Noem's bag was stolen with $3,000 in cash and her passport."
• Samantha Bee (08:11): "She had two security guards with her... the thief, caught on CCTV, scooped her bag and left the restaurant."

The hosts analyze the improbability of such a theft happening to a high-profile individual, questioning the security measures in place and the implications of carrying large sums of money and important documents openly.

5. Pete Hegseth Scandal and Insights from Hugh Docherty

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting the scandal surrounding Pete Hegseth, CNN's Chief White House Correspondent, through the expertise of executive editor Hugh Docherty.

Secret Signal Chats: Hugh Docherty explains how Pete Hegseth was inadvertently involved in multiple secret Signal chats, leading to leaked information and ensuing chaos.

• Hugh Docherty (19:00): "Pete Hegseth was in on, he had one secret signal chat... he had Defence Huddle and unfortunately I wasn't a member."
• Samantha Bee (21:37): "Why would his wife need that information?"
• Hugh Docherty (22:41): "He was sharing battle plans so his wife and others knew when FA18 Hornets were taking off to bomb the Houthis."

Consequences and Fallout: The discussion delves into the repercussions of these actions, including Pete Hegseth's firings and the potential for his replacement as Defense Secretary. The hosts critique the handling of classified information and the broader implications for national security.

• Joanna Coles (29:35): "We are naming this incident Hegsgate."
• Hugh Docherty (23:39): "Pete Hegseth is the perfect defense secretary for a president who thrives on total chaos."

Hugh highlights the chaotic environment within the Pentagon and the potential long-term damage to Pete Hegseth’s career and reputation.

6. Interview with Abby Phillip

The highlight of the episode is an in-depth interview with Abby Phillip, CNN's prominent journalist, who shares her experiences and insights into the current media landscape.

Media and Trump Dynamics: Abby discusses the interplay between media outlets like CBS and The Washington Post with the Trump administration, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining journalistic integrity amid political pressures.

• Abby Phillip (37:06): "I have heard from several people close to the administration that they do watch or that President Trump specifically watches."
• Ryan Reynolds (52:53): "Trump is just, he doesn’t care how much you capitulate. He just wants more."

Social Media and News Consumption: The conversation explores how platforms like TikTok are reshaping how audiences consume news, and Abby reflects on the future of television journalism.

• Abby Phillip (41:28): "I think a lot of my peers are not watching TV but watching clips online."
• Joanna Coles (41:09): "Abby, how do you think Jeff Bezos is emerging right now as the owner of the Washington Post?"

Harvard's Response to Anti-Trump Sentiment: Abby offers her perspective on Harvard University's stance against Trump, discussing the university's internal challenges and the broader implications for academic freedom.

• Abby Phillip (48:09): "They have to decide what they're going to do in this moment. Donations have skyrocketed... it's a bridge too far."
• Ryan Reynolds (57:36): "The people who are working there are fighting the good fight. It's just really hard to see that kind of institutional knowledge go out the door."

Bill Owens Leaving CBS's 60 Minutes: Abby comments on Bill Owens' departure from CBS's flagship show, analyzing the political pressures and potential long-term effects on journalistic standards.

• Abby Phillip (52:53): (Inferred from discussion) The departure signifies increased political interference in media, leading to diminished journalistic independence.

7. Concluding Remarks

The episode wraps up with the hosts reflecting on the conversations and insights shared, expressing gratitude towards their guest, Abby Phillip, and reiterating their commitment to insightful and engaging journalism.

• Joanna Coles (60:54): "If you have been listening, thank you. Please share, subscribe, comment, do whatever you would like with this episode."
• Samantha Bee (61:26): "Tell everyone you know, ring a ding, ding. The Daily Beast has a podcast."

The hosts encourage audience interaction and support for independent journalism, emphasizing the importance of informed discourse in today's turbulent political climate.

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Notable Quotes

1. Joanna Coles (03:23): "Welcome to the Daily Beast podcast. I'm Joanna Coles, Chief Content Officer of the Daily Beast."
2. Samantha Bee (05:34): "You know what? He truly is one of those people that when he, like, swishes past, all the dogs start barking and the tulips die."
3. Hugh Docherty (20:23): "He had Defence Huddle and unfortunately I wasn't a member."
4. Abby Phillip (37:06): "I have heard from several people close to the administration that they do watch or that President Trump specifically watches."
5. Ryan Reynolds (52:53): "When do you think it will be enough? At what point do you think you would have given enough to Trump that he will leave you alone and give you what you want?"

Key Takeaways

• Political Turmoil: The episode highlights ongoing political tensions, focusing on figures like J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth, showcasing the chaotic interplay between political actions and media coverage.

• Media Integrity: Through Abby Phillip's insights, the podcast underscores the challenges faced by journalists in maintaining objectivity and integrity amidst political pressures, particularly from the Trump administration.

• Changing Media Landscape: The discussion points to a significant shift in how news is consumed, with social media platforms like TikTok becoming increasingly influential, potentially reshaping traditional television journalism.

• Institutional Challenges: The departure of key figures from established media institutions like CBS and The Washington Post signals deeper issues related to political interference and the sustainability of journalistic standards.

• Personal Narratives: Samantha Bee's personal anecdotes and updates add a relatable dimension to the episode, blending personal experiences with broader societal issues.

Conclusion

This episode of The Daily Beast Podcast offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the intersection between politics and media. Through sharp satire, incisive commentary, and an in-depth interview with Abby Phillip, Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee provide listeners with valuable insights into the current state of American journalism and its entanglement with political dynamics. The inclusion of notable quotes and specific timestamps enhances the richness of the discussion, making this summary a useful guide for those who haven't listened to the episode.

Transcript

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[Joanna Coles]

Welcome to the Daily Beast podcast. I'm Joanna Coles, Chief Content Officer of the Daily Beast.

[Samantha Bee]

And I am Samantha Bee, Chief Content Officer of the Conclave. Oh my God, so much is going on. Do not let J.D. vance come within 50ft of Joel Osteen. We can't lose another one this week, Joanna.

[Joanna Coles]

I know. It's panicking. It's panicking. Making he is the ring. If you see J.D. vance, you may die within seven days.

[Samantha Bee]

You know what? If I met J.D. vance, I feel like I too would lose the will to live. So you know what? It tracks.

[Joanna Coles]

I will say that the photos of Ushra Vance, the second lady. She looks increasingly depressed.

[Samantha Bee]

Oh yeah, increasingly depressed. And also photos of Marco Rubio. That is a human being who is withering inside. Oh, doesn't even look like the same person. Is he.

[Joanna Coles]

Is he withering?

[Samantha Bee]

Yes. Oh yes. I do yeah, well, you're.

[Joanna Coles]

You're in that case. You're ascribing to him a soul, which it's not clear to me, he actually has. I would like to think he was withering inside because then he would be feeling.

[Samantha Bee]

Oh, yeah.

[Joanna Coles]

A level of ambiguity about what he's doing, but I'm not sure he does.

[Samantha Bee]

Well, I definitely think that he maybe used to have one, but now it's just slowly. And he's earned it. I mean, he has earned it. I mean, he has.

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah, he said he's doing all right, so this is confusing. You're in Connecticut, I'm in Los Angeles. Your screen is frozen, so I can't see you moving, but I can hear your voice loud and clear. And you're back after a week hitting the road on your how to Survive Menopause tour. How did it go?

[Samantha Bee]

It was very good. I'm having so much fun with it. I'm actually driving to, to Boston right after we finish this recording. And then the day that this airs, I will be in Philadelphia. So if you happen to be in the Philadelphia area and you feel like you want to laugh about menopause with a large group of people who are like minded, please come by. I would love to see you. So fun.

[Joanna Coles]

Are you going to take your menopause show? When you say you're going to Boston, are you actually going to Harvard?

[Samantha Bee]

I'm not just going to the Boston area. I'm going to Boston property.

[Joanna Coles]

Yes, well, we need to discuss Harvard later with our beast of the week, Abby. We do. She's an alum. I want to know exactly what she thinks about it. But in the meantime, you'll be delighted to know that Isaac Mizrahi did do a good job of filling in for you.

[Samantha Bee]

Yes, he did do a really good job. I listened to the episode and I thought he was actually too good at it. And it made me concerned that I may be replaceable. You know, my favorite moment was when he said that he hates underlit grasses. And I thought he, I love you so much. So specific.

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah, we were, we were talking about the High Line, which she was complaining about, which I think is the most glorious thing. And he was like, darling, I hate it. What did he say? I hate under lit grass.

[Samantha Bee]

Under lit grasses. I'm like, wow, I must have grown up wrong because I think under lit grasses are so beautiful.

[Joanna Coles]

I'm not even sure what underlit grasses are. But I do love the High Line. And if you haven't visited it and you're in New York. You really must. Yes, I did get used to him calling everybody darling, so maybe you could do that.

[Samantha Bee]

Darling, please, let's keep it going. It doesn't sound right. I'm too Canadian.

[Joanna Coles]

Doesn't sound right. I think it's more kind of darling with a bit of jazz hands.

[Samantha Bee]

I like to say this, Joanna. Yeah, that's more my vibe. You know what I mean?

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah, that's better when you're telling me off for trying to persuade someone to come on the podcast.

[Samantha Bee]

That's right.

[Joanna Coles]

So we've been having a very religious week so far. First, J.D. vance met the Pope. Then we had the Easter Egg Roll at the White House.

[Samantha Bee]

Say that in quotation marks. He met the Pope. Yes, he did. Yeah.

[Joanna Coles]

Poor J.D. vance. He can't get a break, can he?

[Samantha Bee]

You know what? He truly is one of those people that when he, like, swishes past, all the dogs start barking and the tulip and the tulips die. You know what I mean? They, like, just, like, blacken like the interior of Marco Rubio's body.

[Joanna Coles]

The memes were fantastic. There was the one. My favorite meme was the Fuck Marry, Kill, where it was the sofa, there was the picture of Usha, and then there was the Pope.

[Samantha Bee]

Oh, my God, it's bad again. He's earned it. He's earned it. He really has.

[Joanna Coles]

Also, there's a moment where you build up so much, I guess, meme momentum, that it's different. It's difficult for people to take you seriously. And I fear he's going into that territory.

[Samantha Bee]

Yeah. Oh, he's definitely. He's been there for a really long time.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, that leads us to looking ahead, because President Trump and Melania will be attending the funeral in Rome this coming Saturday, which is a good reason. Well, I really think they're doing it to avoid going to the White House Correspondent's Dinner.

[Samantha Bee]

Oh, that's very fair. But I have to say that if there was ever a moment, like when they cross the threshold into the basilica, like, if there was ever a moment for the Lord to summon stigmata, you know what I mean? And just have just like. Or, like, tears from the blessed versions, from the Blessed Virgins statue, you know what I mean? I would love to see that. Prove to me that you exist. Make all the statues do stuff.

[Joanna Coles]

I hate to be shallow, but I'm much more interested in what Melania's hat is going to look like.

[Samantha Bee]

It's going to be huge. It's going to be so huge.

[Joanna Coles]

Also, just holding my bag close to my Chest. Because that was some story about Kristi Noem's bag being stolen with $3,000 in cash in it and her passport.

[Samantha Bee]

I'm Sorry, who carries $3,000 in their purse? That is. That's. That's a very. That's just a sketchy amount of money to have in your purse. I don't know anyone who does that.

[Joanna Coles]

Maybe she's planning to flee the country.

[Samantha Bee]

It's just a crazy amount of money to have in your purse and to then put your purse down and leave it unattended. I feel like there's a beast story about how the person, how the perpetrator actually saw. Like, isn't she literally wearing a bulletproof vest and surrounded by security at all times of the day and night? Like, all of this theater.

[Joanna Coles]

She had two security guards with her, and apparently what happened. We had an excellent story in the beast about it. The thief, who was caught on cctv, I believe, came in, obviously saw her bag, sat at the next table with his back to her, saw her bag was under her chair, where I think all. Lots of women put their bags, slipped his foot back, scoops the bag towards him, then pulled it up on his knee, put his jacket over the bag, and left the restaurant.

[Samantha Bee]

This is just a level of being so unaware of your surroundings. This is really quite emblematic of all of these just careless people like to have so many identifying things in your bag. Your pass, your passport, $3,000, everything you own, all your makeup, all your everything, your entire life is in this bag. And you just, like, put it the floor. First of all, what kind of. What kind of bag was it? Do we know?

[Joanna Coles]

I don't know what kind of bag it was.

[Samantha Bee]

I want to know.

[Joanna Coles]

It's such a metaphor, isn't it? And also, I got a slight delight in the idea of her having to fill out all those passport forms again and convince the passport office that it really was stolen, because now someone's running around with her identity, right?

[Samantha Bee]

Yeah. Well, she probably has an in at the State Department. I'm pretty sure she can secure another one quite quickly.

[Joanna Coles]

I just got my passports renewed. I've got 10 years until I need to renew them again, and already I feel anxious about that whole. The filling in the forms, the pressing the button, the waiting for it. The whole thing is so stressful. I don't know why I can't do that.

[Samantha Bee]

I'm glad that you got it in under the wire, because I think there's going to be problems in the future.

[Joanna Coles]

I think there's going to Be problems. I definitely think there's going to be problems. But there will be problems when we're joined by our Beast executive editor, Hugh Docherty, and our beast of the week, Abby Phillip. CNN's Abby Phillip.

[Samantha Bee]

Can't wait.

[Joanna Coles]

What else have you been up to?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, my God.

[Samantha Bee]

What have I been up to? I don't know. Just touring. It's been kind of crazy. My head is spinning a little bit. I was. I regrettably missed last week's interview with Andrew Cuomo.

[Joanna Coles]

You did. You did. You were supposed to be here for it.

[Samantha Bee]

I was. I was, but he. Well, he backed out of our. When we were supposed to interview him, he was unable to do it. And then I was scheduled to be away, so I missed it. And I was very prepared for that interview, so that was regrettable for me.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, we got a ton. We got a ton of feedback online. Lots of people felt that we had given him a very hard time and that we should have backed up, really. And then a lot of people thought that we hadn't chosen him. Hard enough time.

[Samantha Bee]

Oh, yes.

[Joanna Coles]

So, you know, you were missed. Okay, you were missed. But it was enormous fun and quite illuminating and, you know, we'll see where things go in primaries, which are June 24, I believe people thought that you.

[Samantha Bee]

Went too hard on him. I had so many. So many hard questions for him.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, what would you. What would you have asked him that we didn't ask? Because I circled back to the harassment charges, I think three times. Three times I circle back.

[Samantha Bee]

I do feel that. I feel like the one thing, or there were a few things that I would have hit pretty hard and that I think I would have. I would have talked more probably about, like, people's complex feelings toward him. Because on the one hand, a lot of us acknowledge that during his tenure, Peter put policies in place that were good for women. But on the other hand, his behavior, the behavior that he has been accused of, is gross. It's paternalistic, and it's familiar. You know, we all hate that. We all hate the hand and the smile of the back. And I really am concerned. Like, I don't understand why he can't speak authentically about it. I don't feel that he speaks authentically about it. And I want to know how he's personally planning to interact with the women in his administration moving forward. I really. It's not like, you know, we're not sitting here conflating his actions with those of, like, a Harvey Weinstein, but I think it's very reasonable to Say that his administration fostered a culture that made women uncomfortable to the point that they spoke out about it at great personal risk, and he's still coming after them. Why isn't it okay for us to wish for our leaders to demonstrate good character and, like, why is it okay to belittle those concerns or brush them off as, like, a joke or something stupid? Like, our rights are currently under assault. Belittling our very real concerns is discrimination on a very subtle scale. So I want to know, like, how he intends. Like, in what specific ways he intends to stand up for women right now. Like, is he planning to take an aggressive stance against harassment and assault on women in the workplace, in prisons, in domestic situations? How's he going to convince someone like me who believes women, okay, that despite a plethora of reservations, we should vote for him anyway?

[Joanna Coles]

Well, the other reason I missed you was that we didn't get the chance to talk about the space trip in Blue Origin. Lauren Sanchez leading her band of women up to space and then claiming it was a giant step forward for feminism, which I really didn't think it was.

[Samantha Bee]

I loved your piece, and the Daily Beast, I thought was great.

[Joanna Coles]

Thank you. I did feel that they presented it as a sort of feminist cause, and I think they've been shocked by the backlash because people were like, this is ridiculous. Women are losing their rights across America, especially their reproductive rights.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, yeah.

[Joanna Coles]

Science is under threat like never before. And you've got them screaming in space with enormous lashes, and they're up there for 11 minutes, and when they come down, Blue Origin's media team interviews Lauren and says, well, now you can add astronaut to your resume. And she does actually have an impressive resume, so she doesn't really need to add astronaut. And I'm not sure that 11 minutes in your boyfriend's rocket counts as being an astronaut. But she said very solemnly, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. And then screamed, where are my babies? As if she'd been, you know, bobbing around at sea for three and a half months, eating seagulls.

[Samantha Bee]

Yeah. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood just announced that it's selling the. The building of its only Manhattan clinic. So, like, we actually have bigger fish to fry in many ways.

[Joanna Coles]

And women in science, you know, women in science have issues, too. So it felt like a miss to me.

[Samantha Bee]

That trip, a mess. And most federal funding for women's health studies about women's health, like, all of that shit is gone. It has been like, Doge went in and it has been removed from the schedule. So I Just don't know.

[Joanna Coles]

It just seemed incredible that they would do it after the astronauts were stuck up there for nine months and had to be brought back down by SpaceX. And then they're up there for 11 minutes pretending that, you know, and then coming down and kissing the Earth. The whole thing felt absurd.

[Samantha Bee]

You know, I'm really, like, learning that as I get older. I'm so not interested in theater. Like, in theater of any kind. Like, I don't want to watch. I don't want to witness the theater of spending millions and millions and millions of dollars putting rock stars into space for 11 minutes. And I don't want to witness the political of Christy Gnome with her. With her flack jacket standing in front in a men's penitentiary in El Salvador. Meanwhile, she can't even protect her purse underneath her dinner table. Like, I'm not into it.

[Joanna Coles]

I know she can't protect her purse. That's not good. And the. And the security that she had didn't notice that the guy had taken her back. It's like, what are they doing? It's such a metaphor.

[Samantha Bee]

A guy with a mask is reaching under the. Whatever. I mean, Jesus Christ. We've all had bag moments where we went, where's my bag? But this is just next level. It could happen to anyone. I gather. Yes, that's true, but not when you're surrounded by security and where security is in the name of your job. And that's your whole thing that you're so tough. Meanwhile, you're like, let me put everything in a sack and stick it under this. So stupid idiots.

[Joanna Coles]

It is. All right, well, we're going to take a break, and when we come back, we'll be joined by our executive editor of the Daily Beast, who's full of the latest shenanigans with Pete Hegserf. And also, what on earth is going on with your 401k.

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[Joanna Coles]

Welcome back. We're joined now by our most incisive return guest, even if you can't always understand his accent, Hugh Docherty, who's the executive editor of the Daily Beast. Hugh, we always need to talk to you, but we particularly need your insight this week because there's yet another new Pete Hexler scandal that we need you to explain it. Also yesterday I was busy doing a board meeting yesterday, so I missed the news and I felt like I'd been away for three weeks in terms of Hexathia.

[Samantha Bee]

My God, what is happening?

[Hugh Docherty]

Joanna, thank you for having me back. Sam, thank you for being back. Do we want to talk about the lunacy, the incompetence, the ignorance or the chaos? I'm quoting our great columnist David Rothkoff there, who says that Hegseth is heath is only the tip of the iceberg, but he is a very, very pointed tip. It's been quite a week in the world to Pete Hegseth. It's going to be, I think, quite a few for the next few days. Quite a Dramatic few days as well. So as everybody I think by now knows, he was in on, he had one secret signal chat going to which a journalist was accidentally joined.

[Joanna Coles]

This was the one that Jack Dolberg from the Atlantic was put on by Mike Waltz by accident.

[Hugh Docherty]

Exactly. It turns out that that wasn't the only secret signal chat that Pete had on his personal phone. He had Defence Huddle and unfortunately I wasn't a member. And to the best of my knowledge, Joanna and Sam, you were not members either.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, we can't possibly say from your.

[Samantha Bee]

Lips to God's ears.

[Hugh Docherty]

Maybe on the third signal chat I.

[Samantha Bee]

Want to get invited.

[Hugh Docherty]

We all tend to feel a bit insulted, don't we? Because, well, we do know something about what it takes to be on Pete's Hegser's group. And it was his wife, his third wife, Jennifer, his emotional support brother Phil, his personal spokesman, Sean Parnell, who like him, is a combat veteran who has also had some family troubles, and his personal lawyer, Tim Parulatori. And on this group, it appears that Pete Hegseth was copying the jet, the battle plans sent by comms commander and pasting them so that his wife, his brother and his lawyer all knew exactly when FA18 Hornets were taking off to bomb the Houthis.

[Samantha Bee]

Why?

[Hugh Docherty]

We don't yet know what emojis were used, what was he.

[Joanna Coles]

What?

[Samantha Bee]

Okay, the signal of it. I mean, I'm not even putting the signal of it aside. Why would his wife need that information? Like, in what world are.

[Joanna Coles]

Maybe she's very demanding. Maybe she's like, why haven't you called me? And he's like, here's why I haven't called you. Maybe she's. Because she is the third wife and he's had a complicated romantic time. So I don't find it difficult to believe that she doesn't trust him and she insists on knowing where he is every single second of the time.

[Hugh Docherty]

Well, helpfully, she almost doesn't need to insist on knowing where she is because she is with him in the Pentagon almost all the time she has been in meetings. And the Pentagon says through its spokesman, Sean Parnell, who as I say, is one of his best friends, that she has never been present for classified or secret information. But we have learned as well that they were looking to get her a security clearance so that she could in fact take part in these secrets. She. You're right. Joanna has a complicated background with Pete.

[Samantha Bee]

Can you get fired just for being dumb? And if not, why not just. It's more a comment than a question. I Think the answer is no one fires you for just being so dumb.

[Hugh Docherty]

I'm going to turn to the words of one of our other columnists, Michael Ian Black, who has written an absolute must read column that you will find in the Daily Beast. And he has come, as he says, not to bury Pete Hegseth, but to praise him. And he points out that Pete Hegseth is a man who has demonstrated as, just to quote Michael Ian Black, one need not possess talent, discipline nor intellect to rise to this nation's greatest heights. And that he is the perfect defence secretary for a president who thrives on total chaos. So it may be, Sam, that we have some answer there.

[Samantha Bee]

He really reminds me of like, you know, when Rick Perry took over, he was the Cabinet secretary and everyone called him, everyone in Texas, I think, called him like Governor Haircut. I feel like Trump loves Pete Hanks's hair and that's why he's in the job. I mean, Joanna, you think you think of him good hair. You think of him more as secretary American Girl doll.

[Joanna Coles]

I do, I do. Because to me, I just take one look at him and he's all with his accessories and his stars and stripes accessories, his pocket jeep, his socks, his weird tats, his multiple wives. So there's a lot to buy there. If you were going to bring him out as a doll, there's all sorts of accessory dolls, which means this revenue opportunities around him.

[Samantha Bee]

You're just multiplying the revenue around him.

[Hugh Docherty]

And the Ice Barbie companion doll would do well as well.

[Joanna Coles]

Exactly right. And Benny comes with a family because as you say, he's got his emotional support brother. It's fascinating, but.

[Hugh Docherty]

And as you know, he also has, between him and his third wife, they have seven children. And we saw them this week at the Easter Egg Roll. He made his first comments in defense of himself to the media who were present just to report on very, you know, a very traditional occasion. People bring children, cabinet members, aides bring children.

[Joanna Coles]

The President even brought his wife, Melania even showed up. Jesus.

[Hugh Docherty]

The President. Melania did indeed make a rare appearance. While the President was coloring in, she was reading some storybooks to children. And off in another part of the enclosure, Pete Hegseth had his children gather around him as he offered a very trenchant defense of himself against the media. And he sought out the cameras, he stared right into them. And his children behind him became, I think, avatars for how many people around Pete Hegseth feel right now that they were covering their faces and beginning to shrink away from their 44 year old father or stepfather. The spectacle that's going on in the Pentagon, of course, could only happen under Trump. It's only, as I'd just like to point out, not at the first hundred days. And there is a lot of speculation whether Pete Hegseth is going to be replaced, whether Trump has lost confidence. Is he looking for replacements? We have had very bullish public statements from Trump, but the value of a Trump endorsement can go down as well as up.

[Joanna Coles]

This is also because Pete Hegserp has had to fire several people himself from his department. Right. Who've then gone, who. What is the term? Where they turn against him and say, well, there's so much more chaos to come. We've seen the inside of this and you haven't seen anything yet.

[Hugh Docherty]

Yes. So Hegseth has sidelined his chief of staff, fired a number of those, a number of aides and advisors. And what's worth pointing out is that all of these people were brought in by Pete Hegseth. So he's talked about the deep state being up against him, but these are the people that he brought himself to the Pentagon and they have briefed against each other and they have also been out in public putting their own case. One of them went on Tucker Carlson. He's a guy called Dan Caldwell, and he had, you know, he's got a long history in government or in Republican politics and advisor of posts in government. He went on, on Tucker Carlson and he said that he was a victim of personal vendettas. And Pete Hexit has said that he's fired leakers. This guy, Dan Caldwell denied that he was a leaker. And just to give you a flavor of Trump world, Tucker asked him who might, who the other leakers might be, and he suggested the leaks are coming from somebody who worked for George W. Bush and from Susan Rice, who was national security advisor to Barack Obama and home policy advisor to Joe Biden. So it seems unlikely that she's leaking the secrets of Pete Heggs's Pentagon, but that's who they wanted to blame. So there's a, there's a lot of dimensions of this chaos. And I haven't even mentioned the strip club.

[Samantha Bee]

Oh, what? Wait, what? Say more. I had a thought, but I'm holding it for this.

[Hugh Docherty]

One of these advisors, Joe Casper, who was the chief of staff and to Hex described as a great American, as he also announced that this great American was now conducting special projects, and anybody that's ever been sized like had been moved to special projects where all knows what that means. This advisor, it was revealed, had gone to a meeting with veterans groups, and instead of sticking to the agenda, had discussed how he had been to a strip club with somebody else that was in the room.

[Samantha Bee]

That's great. What I wanted to say was that usually, I mean, I know that he was saying, like, the people who are all against me, they're just disgruntled exomplants employees. And I was like, no, no, no, no. You say that they're disgruntled ex employees when they complain about you anonymously, but when they stand up, all four of them, and say their names and say how bad you are at your job, that's not a disgruntled ex employee anymore. That's a person who is actually standing up to how bad you are at your job. And that is very different vibe. Very different vibe.

[Joanna Coles]

Thank you. And there was a Freudian slip on one of his favorite Fox News shows, I think, when they described him as the former defense secretary. So I think I didn't see that. There's a lot of selling shares going on right now, but I suspect sell shares. And Pete Hegseth, is that. Is that the right thing to take away from this conversation?

[Hugh Docherty]

Hugh, I never want to make predictions. And there are people who are selling stocks actively in Pete Hegseth.

[Samantha Bee]

Yeah, I'm going to short sell. I'm going to short sell.

[Hugh Docherty]

Can go down as well as up within minutes.

[Joanna Coles]

Hugh, thank you for your extreme perception around Hegsethia. Hegseth land, whatever we call it. Hegland. Heg Gate. I saw David Rothkopf called it Hegseth Gate. That felt too long. I think it should just be Hegsgate.

[Samantha Bee]

Hegsgate. Oh, Heggers.

[Joanna Coles]

If he was in Britain, he would be referred to as Hagers. And by now he would have gone because he wouldn't have withstood the nickname he would be.

[Hugh Docherty]

And on that basis, I'll rename our secret signal group Heggers. And, Pete, if you want to join us, you know where we are. And I know you've got a lot of signal groups to juggle, but you are welcome to ours at any time.

[Samantha Bee]

We should make one. And then we'll invite him and we'll call ourselves something important, and he'll just believe it. Like, he's not gonna double check. He's not a double checker.

[Joanna Coles]

The thing I feel is particularly odd is because he was. Precisely because he was a combat veteran, you would think that he would take more care with the information because he's actually been. I think he was in Iraq and Afghanistan. So he actually knows the danger of our service people on the ground. He's experienced it. So to be so casual with classified.

[Samantha Bee]

Information, Suanna, his head is as empty as an American boy. Doll, you called it. There isn't much in there.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, at least he's got good, good stars and striped socks. Hugh, thank you very much for coming on and I will look forward to seeing you back. Oh, I'll see you at the White House correspondence weekend.

[Hugh Docherty]

I will see you there. And Sam, I'll see you in Signal.

[Samantha Bee]

Yes. Oh please, I pray don't tell Joanna.

[Hugh Docherty]

About our secret group.

[Samantha Bee]

My dream.

[Hugh Docherty]

Thank you for having me.

[Joanna Coles]

Don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with our Beast of the week, CNN's Abby Phillips.

[Samantha Bee]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Samantha Bee]

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[Joanna Coles]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Hugh Docherty]

Huh.

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[Samantha Bee]

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[Joanna Coles]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

Foreign.

[Joanna Coles]

We are back and we are joined by our beast of the week journalist, Abby Phillip. Abby joined CNN in 2017, first as the host of Inside Politics and now as host of CNN's News Night, which airs weeknights at 10:00pm and she's the host of the digital service Table for Five. Abby is known for being one of the youngest people to ever moderate a Democratic presidential candidate debate and currently does the not so simple task of reporting on the day's biggest stories while interviewing its biggest players. Abby, welcome.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Thanks for having me. Joanna and Sam.

[Samantha Bee]

Oh my gosh, what a pleasure. Okay, I have a very important question that I have to ask you right out of the gate, which is what in the world do you all talk about during commercial breaks? Because it gets so hot in there.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, Joanna's been there.

[Samantha Bee]

Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

So she knows sometimes it's eerily quiet. Okay, sometimes. But I would say most of the time people are like talking about a lot of random things. Their kids, their pets, like their chickens. You know, it's like, you know, I actually think that's what people don't get is how collegial people are when they're not screaming at each other on television. And so, you know, sometimes also the debate like goes into the break. That also happens.

[Samantha Bee]

That happens. Okay, that makes sense. I feel like, are people as collegial now as they used to be? Because that used to be just kind of the atmosphere in politics that it was like, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight, fight. But we're all kind of getting a drink after. Like everybody's meeting up at the bar for some dark liquor.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. You know, look, people are meeting up after the show for drinks. That is happening a lot.

[Joanna Coles]

I've never met anybody after the show for drinks. I just would.

[Samantha Bee]

Joanna's never been invited.

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah, never asked me to drink. Scott Jennings never asked me to drink.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Okay, well, Sharmichael was on the show and recently and was like said to someone on the air, oh, we text about this all the time. And I was like, huh, you guys are texting buddies on. They're like completely opposites politically. But I also look, I think actually that before, because I used to, when I first started in journalism, it was like the before times it was like Obama and everybody was, you know, to quote Pete Hexif, go along to get along, whatever. I mean, people were just sort of chummy. And I actually think that there was not a lot of real disagreement. I think people kind of talk past each other on TV most times, which makes it really easy for people to then be like, okay, well, let's go to the bar and, you know, hang out. I think what we do can be a lot tougher because sometimes we really are getting into it. And people are honestly encouraged to get their disagreements out and to air the differences between them. And so when they do that and then they turn around and they can still talk to each other and they can still be friends. And I think that's actually a healthy sign.

[Joanna Coles]

Abby, sometimes I feel when I've done the show that as especially the more right wing or the more conservative commentators are performing for an audience of one, and that's the president. Do you get much feedback from the administration that they're watching the show?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I have heard from several people close to the administration that they do watch or that President Trump specifically watches. So great, Cool. But look, I do think that it's not necessarily about our show. I think it's about Republican politics. Everybody is performing for an audience of one, which is Donald Trump. And so in Republican politics today, you can't really get caught if you want to be kind of a MAGA aligned. You cannot get caught disagreeing with Trump publicly, or at least of all on television, or at least that's the perception that a lot of people have. That being said, some of the people who come on the show who are very close to Trump in the White House, David Urban, Brian Lanza, they, I think, have a bit of a balance. I think for the most part, Maybe they're an 80, 85% MAGA aligned, but there are times when they can express disagreement. So I think it's just a fear thing maybe that some people have where they're like, you know, they don't want to be seen as giving in to the left on television. So, yes, there's a part, but look, it's tv. I mean, I think that all of it is, in a way, a bit of a performance on the part of a lot of people that come on.

[Samantha Bee]

Yeah, I mean, well, for the, for Donald Trump, it seems like the whole world, like the world that he has created is television. Everything is a television show for him. And so he watches those performances so keenly. Like, I thought it was really telling that you couldn't even really get Scott Jennings to give you a yes or no answer on a very simple question the other day. Like it just about Jerome Powell.

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah. Should the Fed be independent or not?

[Samantha Bee]

Yeah.

[Joanna Coles]

You were like the consummate. I think of you as a dinner party host who remains calm while everybody else is yelling around you. It's extraordinary the way you do that. But first of all, is Scott Jennings on his mp, because he seems to have lost a lot of weight since he's been doing the show.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I have no idea.

[Joanna Coles]

Like, he's really slimmed down.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I have no idea.

[Joanna Coles]

He's really lost some weight.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I don't want to speak for Scott on that. You should bring him on the show, Joanna, and ask him.

[Joanna Coles]

We totally should. Very good idea.

[Ryan Reynolds]

The stress of the show is not responsible for any weight loss, and I certainly have not lost any weight doing this show.

[Samantha Bee]

What is your guiding ethos? Like, how do you. I mean, I guess how do you set the schedule for the. For the show? At what time do you decide what guests are going to be on, what topics you're going to cover? Like, how is that said? What is the technical.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Usually around, like, one or two in the afternoon. My. My executive producer and I are kind of solidifying generally what we want to do, but I actually usually hope that that changes because I don't like setting the show at like 10 in the morning.

[Joanna Coles]

Right.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And then at 10 at night, it's the same show. I would much rather the show feel responsive and energetic and kind of like in the moment of what's happening and a little bit spontaneous, because I think that's actually the important part of it is, like, are we responding to what's happening in the news? Are we nimble? Are we able to really take on anything? And that's why our guests have to be people who can talk about anything. There are a lot of smart people out there on a whole host of topics, on politics, on whatever. But there are many fewer people who have that versatility across topics and who can talk about talk culture. Who can talk, you know, politics and economics and whatever music.

[Joanna Coles]

This is making me feel better because I feel like I get a call from your show at about 5:36, and I always think to myself, oh, someone's fallen out. They're clearly desperate and they've called me. But now I'm going to reinterpret it as, oh, they're trying to keep it spontaneous.

[Samantha Bee]

Yes.

[Joanna Coles]

That's why they're putting it all together at the last minute. I will say it's enormous. It's enormous fun to do. But. But Abby, you're, you know, you're. You're 36. How many of your friends do you know who watch television there? I feel like everybody gets their diet of news from tick tock. I want to know what your diet of news.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, I mean, not even I watch television, to be honest.

[Joanna Coles]

You have to watch television and the president watches television. Right. Which is audience of one. But the general viewership has shifted onto digital. Do, do you think that you'll still be doing this in, in three or four years time or do you think you will have moved to TikTok?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I don't know if TikTok pays, to be honest, but look, I. Three to four years, something like this will be still going on for sure. But you're right, I mean, my peers are not watching tv. And I joke when I say I don't watch tv, but that's. I mean, I have to watch some television, but if I were not like doing this, I think it would be hard to find the time to sit down in front of a TV and, you know, sit there and watch it. And so I think a lot of my peers, you know, when they watch this, when they watch my show, what they're watching are clips of my show online and on TikTok and on Instagram and on X and wherever. And that's cool too, because I actually think those platforms need to be fed by things like our show. Like they need the raw content to fuel those algorithms. Eventually we're going to have to just be native on those platforms in a way that we are not right now. And that's going to happen very, very soon. I mean, do I think that CNN and cable are going away in less than five years? No, I really do not. It's almost like how when I was in college, everybody told me that newspapers like the New York Times and the Washington Post wouldn't exist. And then five years later I was working at the Washington Post and it had just been bought by Jeff Bezos and all of that. So. So I've seen these kind of evolutions of the medium and. But I do think that we have to figure that other piece out and trying to figure out how to not just go viral, but create viral native things that start there first. And we haven't figured it out yet. It's. It's easier said than done. And I think fundamentally the kind of content that works online is a little bit different, but something that we're doing is resonating because newslight clips go insanely viral all the time.

[Samantha Bee]

They really do.

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah, they go viral on the Beast. I mean, we run a Lot of them on the Daily Beast because our readers love them.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But it's. But my only beef with that is, like, not the Daily Beast, but. But beef with the virality of certain clips is that it's so subjective to the ideology of the person clipping it. So the conservative clips go viral, and then the liberal clips go viral. And I don't. As somebody who does the show, I don't think it's representative of what happens on the show, but I think that's how the Internet works, and we have to figure out how to make that work in a way that I think best represents the totality of what we're producing.

[Joanna Coles]

You have such a.

[Samantha Bee]

As Joanna was mentioning before, you have such a calming presence in the middle. And many of the interviews or like, the panels just kind of erupt. I mean, they're. They can be a little bit volcanic. And I wonder how. How hard you have to work sometimes to not dive into the emotion of it.

[Joanna Coles]

How many Xanax are you taking?

[Samantha Bee]

My God.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I would recommend having five siblings, like I did and start there, because I'm pretty used to kind of like being in the center of a cacophony. It's just like what I'm used to. And so that is not. I think that's part of where it comes from is that. That chaos. I don't feel like I need to be in it necessarily. And also, I don't want to stop the eruption from happening necessarily. Right. Because this is real emotion. Right. We want people to get real. And if they're worked up about it, so be it. The where I step in is to say, okay, shut up for a second. You guys are all talking at the same time. We cannot hear each other, that type of thing. And so I try to weigh my moments, but on the topic of, like, what gets me worked up, I would say the thing that gets me worked up is bad faith arguments more than anything else. I actually think it's totally cool to disagree on policy, priorities, strategy, whatever. Right. What gets me irritated is when people are misleading or lying or when I know that you know that what you're saying is not true or that you really don't believe it, but you're saying it because it's something that is combative to say. And I think that's where you mentioned recently. Yes or no questions are really problematic for people from. With political backgrounds because they don't ever want to say yes or no and be boxed in. But some things are yes or no. And your inability to say that, I think you're telling on yourself? Because what you're saying essentially is that the performance of not agreeing with someone is more important than what you actually believe or what the actual truth is. And I think that my role, in some ways, as an anchor in this format is to be a bit of a representative for the people at home who are like, you're not answering the question. Just answer the question. Or like, that doesn't make any sense.

[Samantha Bee]

I really appreciated that. I felt that you really hunted Scott Jennings down on that and you finally got him to actually answer the question, sort of.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, I also think if you. If you believe something controversial, own it.

[Samantha Bee]

Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Like, go ahead. If you think that what should happen is that the President should direct the Fed, then great. But you gotta own it. Don't. Don't try to slide in. You know, you don't try to slide into your position without actually taking ownership of what it means. And I think that's an important part of what I try to get people to do is like, let's really understand what you're saying here, and let's take all the frills away, the wordsmithing away, and really get to the heart of the matter.

[Joanna Coles]

Okay, so, Abby, you talk about owning it or owning the idea. And earlier you referenced the fact you worked at the Washington Post. How do you think Jeff Bezos is emerging right now as the owner of the Washington Post?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I think it's like all the other people of his class who are businessmen in the tech world who have business before this government. They're all trying to figure out how to get close to Trump. And I think that it's unfortunate what's happened at the Post. I mean, it's sad to watch that paper. I grew up in Maryland. It's my hometown paper. It was my dream to work there, and I loved working there. And I worked there after he bought the paper, when he infused it with funds. And Marty Barron was there, and I was part of the team that was helping to kind of make the Washington Post quicker online and sort of develop more of a digital identity around breaking news. And so it was actually a great time. And I think it's very telling that some of those very people that I worked with then are all gone now. All of them.

[Joanna Coles]

And do you. Do you still read it?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I do, yeah. And I think that the people who are working there are fighting the good fight. It's just really hard to see that kind of institutional knowledge, which is what makes the Post great, go out the door. I think that we cannot Underestimate the degree to which that hurts. A paper of the. Of the Washington Post caliber.

[Samantha Bee]

Let me ask you this. If you could accidentally be added to a signal chat by a cabinet secretary, which one would you want it to be? What would you like it to be about?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Okay, who's my favorite cabinet secretary?

[Joanna Coles]

So many of them. So many to choose.

[Samantha Bee]

So many.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Maybe Kristy. Noam, I need to know what happened with the. With the. We've just been discussing $3,000 in cash. I must. Now, yes. Of utmost importance.

[Joanna Coles]

I think she was planning to flee the country. She had a passport. She had three grand in cash, which if you're from North Dakota, probably you think is going to get you a long way.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And the, The. The passport thing is what got me on that story. It all. It's also like even more incredible because as the head of the Department of Homeland Security, which I mean, basically is like, responsible for who gets to be here or not and who gets to come back into the country having your passport. I'm like, who travels with their passport.

[Samantha Bee]

Domestically in the world? Is.

[Joanna Coles]

She was planning to flee. I think she was planning to flee.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I just want to know more. Just pure curiosity. I want to be on the. Because I feel like there's stuff happening that would be interesting to be accidentally invited in on in terms of conversations.

[Samantha Bee]

Oh, my gosh. No kidding. I don't. That is like. You know what that's like. Two members of a family traveling on separate planes. You never put all the things that are important in your life and valuable in one sack. And then if you do, you have to strap it to your body. Like, what can you imagine?

[Joanna Coles]

Can you imagine being that thief? Because once they catch him, and they will. Because it was on cctv, right. He's going to be sent to El Salvador. I mean, what a mistake. To take her back. That is the one person you do not want.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, I wouldn't do it. And. But I. But I still don't understand how that could happen. But, you know.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, you have to read the story in the Beast, Abby, because we describe how the guy comes in, sits in a chair facing her back. So he's got her back to her back and then he. She's put her back under the chair and he slides his leg back and pulls the bag towards him. And then.

[Ryan Reynolds]

What kind of bag was it, Joanna?

[Joanna Coles]

I don't know. That's the bit. I don't know.

[Samantha Bee]

God, I asked the same question. I want to know. I want to know because if it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Was like a Birkin or Something it's like, I mean, don't put it under the chair.

[Joanna Coles]

I think it was a Gucci bag. I think I read it was a three or $4,000 bag. And she was also spotted wearing a very expensive Rolex.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes, she has been wearing that $60,000 Rolex, including to El Salvador.

[Samantha Bee]

These people, I wouldn't trust a person carrying $3,000 cash in their bag plus a passport. I wouldn't trust any person with those, with the contents of their bag comprised of those things. Absolutely not one person. It's just not trustworthy.

[Joanna Coles]

Abby, let me ask you something else. We discussed the Washington Post. What do you think about what's happening at CBS? Bill Owen, the editor of A Great 60 Minutes, has left saying that he was getting interference and it wasn't how he could do the show anymore, their flagship show. What is your, what are your thoughts about that?

[Ryan Reynolds]

We just had a great conversation about that on the show. And, you know, the price of entry, I think for the corporate people and corporate entities that own news organizations, this includes the Washington Post, is some kind of capitulation to Trump on things that are important to him. And when it comes to cbs, he's been mad about CBS for a long time. He, remember, we walked out on Lesley Stahl in that interview years ago. And so he's been upset about that for a long time. But the question I have for the people who are running these companies is when do you think it will be enough? At what point do you think you would have given enough to Trump that he will leave you alone and give you what you want? I think that is the question right now. And as somebody who's covered Trump, I am not sure they understand that the answer might not be, oh, we just give him that little thing and he'll be fine and then we'll be able to get our sale. I think that the Trump 2.0 mode right now is like, let's destroy it all. And I'm not sure that he would be satisfied until cbs, the Washington Post and all of his other, as he describes it, his enemies are essentially destroyed. And so you really have to think about how far are you willing to go and is it going to be worth it? And I'm not sure that they're really thinking this all the way through because I think there's a sense that, oh, maybe if we give a little bit here and a little bit there, everything will be fine. And I think that might be a colossal miscalculation. It's extraordinary. I didn't know that Bill Owens was only the third EP or editor of 60 Minutes. What that tells you about that piece of American society is that this is not a sort of like go where the wind blows news organization. And I think to damage the reputation of these types of institutions is so dangerous because it only takes. It is so easy to destroy a reputation. It is so hard to build it. So I think people need to think very carefully about what they are willing to chip away at in this moment, because it's not going to be easy to get it back.

[Samantha Bee]

Could not agree more. Couldn't agree more.

[Joanna Coles]

We held Andrew Cuomo on the podcast last week, who, as you know, is also from Queens, like Trump is, and he said, said that the thing that you have to understand with Trump, with whom he's had many dealings over the year, is that the minute Trump pokes you in the chest, if you don't poke him straight back, he will just push you against the wall. And that you have to meet force with force. And the idea of compromising makes no sense to Trump. He just sniffs weakness. And I just spent this week, I spent yesterday with a couple of tech friends, one of whom used to work closely with Mark Zuckerberg, who said that the assumption was that Mark turning up at the inauguration meant that somehow the antitrust suit against him, which is currently rolling through the courts, as we all know, would not happen, that they would get some kind of compromise. And it does seem like Trump is just, he doesn't care how much you capitulate. He just wants more.

[Samantha Bee]

He just wants more.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That's exactly my point. I think it's just the truth is that when you, if, you know, the people who are kind of behind the ideological underpinnings of what Trump wants to do now that he has the presidency for a second time, they are not interested in just kind of taking a swipe at the media. I think they really want a complete overhaul of the entire hierarchy, the system that we live in on all fronts, economics, media, law, politics, everything. So I don't think that they are just going to be interested in a weakening of cbs, a weakening of the Washington Post. So just, just as I think that's the baseline, everybody needs to understand that and act accordingly. And I think that that's, when we look at what's happening with Harvard, I think that is also what we're seeing there, is that there's really only one, one entity, maybe, maybe two or three, okay, that can do what they're doing right now. And so if they don't do it no one will do it. So that's why that particular legal fight is extremely important, because I think it is going to test what happens when the only people who can push back actually push back. And what happens next.

[Joanna Coles]

You went to Harvard. Yeah.

[Samantha Bee]

You must be so proud. Must be so proud. Extra proud. Now, now you can just say it out loud. You don't have to say, I went to school in the Boston area.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Look, I mean, I, I went to Harvard, but I'm not like, look, when I was growing up, I was the only person I knew who ever went to Harvard. So it was a strange land for me when I went there. And Harvard has a lot of ups and downs and good things and bad things, but I think it's just a simple fact that they've got a lot of power in the educational ecosystem, they have a lot of money, they are larger than some entire countries economies. They have to decide what they're going to do in this moment. And I think that, you know, just anecdotally, because people are constantly texting me about this and the conversation in the Harvard community and this has been written about, donations have skyrocketed. I think there has been a unity that this moment has created among people affiliated with the university, including Jewish students and Hillel and all of these other entities, Jewish entities that are on campus. To say this is a bridge too far. And I'm not sure that's what Trump was expecting, but that's been the result. And the university needs to take seriously not only how do they respond to Trump, but also what are they going to do to make sure that something like this never happens again? Which means, okay, how did it get to this point? Are they getting ahead of what's happening on their own campuses so that it doesn't become a headline that can be politicized by any politician down the road?

[Samantha Bee]

This is great. This was a great conversation. I've enjoyed hearing from you. I think you are a great voice out there and I'm just so happy that you're doing what you're doing. And it's just a very entertaining show to witness and so uncomfortable in the best possible way.

[Joanna Coles]

Well, and congratulations on the Five, too. I mean, I feel that television may be withdrawing, but Abby Phillips is Abby Phillip.

[Samantha Bee]

Yes.

[Joanna Coles]

So there's no F at the end of your name. Abby Phillip is on the rise.

[Ryan Reynolds]

We're cannibalizing six out of the seven days of People's weeks, which is great. And Joanna, you're so great on Table for Five, which is the Saturday show. Which I think we try to make it a little bit more laid back, but then sometimes things get a little heated there too. But I've been so happy with how the show has turned out. I was very nervous about this format going into it, thinking that it would just be kind of like another boring roundtable. But I think what makes it good is just the awkwardness, Sam.

[Samantha Bee]

Yes, I agree.

[Joanna Coles]

The awkwardness.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It feels very awkward, just a tad uncomfortable because it's. It's like real. And that moment is when people realize, oh, wait, this is real life. And I think that's what makes it super interesting. And I love walking out of the studio every night and being like, well, that was unexpected. Like, whoa, what just happened there? Because I like being surprised by my own show.

[Samantha Bee]

Oh, my. That's great.

[Joanna Coles]

Yeah. All right, well, Abby, thank you for joining us so much to have you and we look forward to watching your continued success.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Thank you, Joanna. Thanks, Sam.

[Joanna Coles]

If you have been listening, thank you. Please share, subscribe, comment, do whatever you would like with this episode.

[Samantha Bee]

Tell everyone you know, ring a ding, ding. The Daily Beast has a podcast. And keep sending those, those emails to beastpod@the dailybeast.com drop us a comment on YouTube. Joanna reads them, she ingests them. She'll get back to you.

[Joanna Coles]

I've been super bad about getting back to people for the last couple of weeks, but I promise I will do. I have a long plane ride on Friday and I plan to go down the YouTube spiral.

[Samantha Bee]

Perfect. Perfect.

[Joanna Coles]

And if you're not a subscriber to the Daily Beast, it's very easy to sign up and you really should support Court Independent Journalism. Just go to the Daily beast dot com.

[Samantha Bee]

Well, this was a great episode. Thank you, Joanna. Thank you to everyone and, you know, as my personal muse. And she is out there inspiring us, attending Pope's funerals, doing whatever, reading storybooks to children. Just out there. And she is saying once again, and thank God, the best.

[Joanna Coles]

Sam. It was B Beast. It's baby.

[Samantha Bee]

I'm never gonna get it right.

[Joanna Coles]

The Daily Beast podcast is produced by Sarah Demikoff, Svia Baron Reinstein, Jesse Cannon, and Seamus Calder. It's edited by Deanna Chapman and engineered by Johnny Simon.

[Samantha Bee]

Hey, this is Paige from Giggly Squad.

[Joanna Coles]

And this episode is brought to you by Nordstrom. Nordstrom is here to help you dress.

[Samantha Bee]

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[Joanna Coles]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Samantha Bee]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

Aura is offering a 14 day free trial plus a dark web scan to check if your personal information has been leaked. All for [e-mail] safety that's aura.com safety to sign up and protect your loved ones. That's a u r a.com safety terms apply. Check the site for details.

[Samantha Bee]

Acast powers the world's best podcasts.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Here's a show that we recommend.

[Joanna Coles]

Hello hello, it's Brooke Devard from Naked Beauty.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Join me each week for unfiltered discussion about beauty trends, self care, journeys, wellness tips and the products we absolutely love and cannot get enough of. If you are a skincare obsessive and you spend 20 plus minutes on your skincare routine, this podcast is for you. Or if you're a newbie at the beginning of your skincare journey, you'll love.

[Joanna Coles]

This podcast as well. Because we go so much deeper than.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Beauty, I talk to incredible and inspiring people from across industries about their relationship with beauty. You'll also hear from skincare experts. We break down lots of myths in the beauty industry. If this sounds like your thing, search for Naked Beauty on your podcast app and listen along. I hope you'll join us. ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.