Pete Hegseth Dodges War Crime Allegations & Melania Decks the WH Halls | Nikki DeLoach

Summary

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The Daily Show: Ears Edition – "Pete Hegseth Dodges War Crime Allegations & Melania Decks the WH Halls | Nikki DeLoach"

Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Desi Lydic (with News Team)
Special Guest: Nikki DeLoach

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers signature satirical coverage of current political antics, including the White House’s latest Christmas decor, Pete Hegseth’s war crime controversy, and Kash Patel’s FBI fashion drama. The show features sketches, parody news "reports," a comedic financial advice segment from Michael Kosta, and a heartfelt interview with Hallmark star and philanthropist Nikki DeLoach. The tone is irreverent, sharp, and sometimes surprisingly poignant, especially during DeLoach's segment.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. White House Holiday Chaos & Melania’s Role

(01:32 – 03:43)

• Melania's Christmas Decorations:

  • The White House unveils its 2025 Christmas decor, themed "Home is Where the Heart Is."
  • Satirical commentary on Melania’s visible disinterest and her supposed rush to leave the White House.
  • Desi jibes:
    • "She didn’t even take her coat off. Keep car running outside. I won’t be long." (03:11)

• White House Condition & Design:

  • Jokes about the state of the White House (“leprechaun bukake”), and how nothing can save it.

• Trump’s Sleepy Leadership:

  • Satire on Trump dozing off during cabinet meetings.
  • Desi:
    • "Geez. Normally dudes fall asleep after someone blows them. If you’re falling asleep mid blowjob, you should see a doctor." (03:57)

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2. FBI Drama: Kash Patel’s Jacket Saga

(04:20 – 05:54)

• The Jacket Tantrum:

  • After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, FBI Director Kash Patel refuses to leave a jet until given a medium-sized FBI jacket – ending up with a women’s jacket.
  • More demands: needs Velcro patches, sparking further chaos among agents.

• Gender, Clothing, and Machismo:

  • Desi lampoons Patel’s sensitivity over the jacket:
    • "I know he borrowed a women’s jacket, but did he borrow her period, too?" (05:02)
    • Comparison to an 8-year-old who won’t leave for school without the right jacket.

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3. Pete Hegseth’s War Crime Allegations & Meme Warfare

(06:23 – 09:24)

• Alleged War Crimes:

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces bipartisan scrutiny for allegedly ordering the killing of everyone on a suspected drug boat, and a second strike on survivors.
  • Desi:
    • "I thought for sure [his] downfall would be a hit and run while running away from another hit and run." (06:36)
    • "He got the gang tattoos years ago. Way to plan ahead, Secretary."

• Blaming Down the Chain:

  • Hegseth’s official statement pushes blame onto Admiral Mitch Bradley, while feigning support.
  • Desi dissects the political doublespeak:
    • "What a little bitch, blaming someone by pretending to praise them." (07:22)

• Meme Reactions:

  • Hegseth posts a meme of Franklin the Turtle attacking a boat, signaling immaturity in crisis management.
  • Desi:
    • "This whole image is deeply disturbing, especially the part where the turtle is wearing a helmet. Why does he need a helmet? His whole body is a helmet." (07:51)

• Past War Crime Pardons:

  • Background on Hegseth lobbying President Trump to pardon servicemembers accused of war crimes (2019).
  • Hegseth’s own words:
    • "If he committed premeditated murder, then Duncan did as well. Then I did as well. What do you think you do in war? Put me in jail. Then put us all in jail." (09:08)

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4. Pentagon Check-In: The Blame Olympics (w/Jordan Klepper)

(09:24 – 12:26)

• Comical Blame Shifting:

  • Jordan Klepper, reporting “live” from the Pentagon, partakes in an absurdist relay of blame: Hegseth blames Bradley, Bradley blames Johnson, and so forth until the chain ends with two kids in a trench coat and a catfish scam.

• Introduction of the “101st Scapegoat Brigade”:

  • Satirical military unit designed to take the fall for leadership crimes.
  • Jordan’s attire mocked: turns out he’s wearing a women’s "Bride Squad" jacket.
    • "The Bride Squad is an elite unit in the military. They led the hunt for bin Laden in Nashville last spring." (12:03)

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5. Costa Doing Business: Christmas Economics & AI Toy Fiasco

(13:41 – 19:51)

• Tariffs & the “Bizmas” Economy:

  • Michael Kosta (as "Santa Clausta") details soaring prices on Christmas trees, lights, and Italian pasta due to tariffs.
  • Outlandish tips:
    • Suggests converting to Islam to avoid Christmas spending:
      • "You're going to be saying, oh Shiite Ramadam, that feels good." (15:09)
    • Hypes "Papa Costa’s Reusable Spaghetti Cloths" as a pasta alternative:
      • "Sucking marinara out of shredded hospital sheets?" (17:16)

• AI Toys Gone Wrong:

  • Coverage of AI teddy bears discussing BDSM with children:
    • "Just put him on a different shelf… specifically the shelf for adults looking to learn sex tips from a stuffed bear." (19:17)

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6. Interview: Nikki DeLoach – Hallmark Movies, Grief, and Philanthropy

(21:15 – 36:51)

- Backstory and Hallmark Stardom:

• Desi and Nikki reminisce on their time as the “cool adults” on MTV’s “Awkward.”

  • "We were the only adults…lived in our own spin-off bubble." (22:48)

• Nikki’s Hallmark career:

  • Over 20 movies, with roles varying from lumberjacks to cranberry farmers (24:45)

- A Grand Ole Opry Christmas (New Film):

• Plot: Nikki plays a songwriter who travels back to 1995 to reunite with her late father at the Grand Ole Opry, rediscovering her dreams through music and Christmas magic.

• Emotional resonance: Nikki lost her own father in 2021, making the role deeply personal.

  • "It’s a love letter to anyone who has lost someone and is magically reconnected to them…" (25:48)
  • On performing at the Opry and meeting James Taylor: "It was like a God wink… really helped in the healing and grieving." (27:47)

- Impact of Hallmark Films:

• Nikki shares stories of fans whose lives were changed by her movies.
  • "It’s so humbling because I know it’s not me… but we can do hard and find joy at the same time." (29:55)
  • Illustrates with a story about a mother-daughter pair whose lives intersected with Nikki's own son's surgeon.

- Philanthropy & Advocacy:

• Desi highlights Nikki’s role at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, fundraising $1.25 billion for critical pediatric care.

  • "We serve kids in all 50 states and 90 countries. We are the fifth top specialty hospital in the world." (31:59)

• Mind What Matters:

  • Nikki serves on the board for this non-profit supporting caregivers, especially women, dealing with dementia in loved ones.
  • Emphasis on direct grants and educational outreach, particularly to underserved communities.

- Holiday Shopping for Good:

• Nikki introduces the “Benny bracelet,” named for her son; proceeds benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
  • "Support female entrepreneurs that have a heart for giving back this holiday season." (36:24)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Desi on Melania:
  “She didn’t even take her coat off. Keep car running outside. I won’t Be long.” (03:11)

• Desi on Hegseth:
  “If you’re falling asleep mid blowjob, you should see a doctor.” (03:57)
  “What a little bitch, blaming someone by pretending to praise them.” (07:22)

• Kosta on Christmas Tariffs:
  "Americans are getting scrooged in their dirty chimney holes. Ho.” (15:09)

• On Hallmark Fans, from Nikki DeLoach:
  "It’s so humbling because I know it’s not me… but we can do hard and find joy at the same time." (29:55)

• Nikki on Children’s Hospital LA:
  “We serve kids in all 50 states and 90 countries. …in the 70s, kids with leukemia had a 10% survival rate, and now it’s 90% because of research and innovation.” (31:59)

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Important Timestamps & Segments

| Time | Segment | |----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:32 | Main show opens; headlines overview | | 02:36 | Melania’s White House Christmas decor segment | | 03:43 | Trump sleeping in a cabinet meeting; intro to FBI drama | | 04:20 | Kash Patel’s ‘jacketgate’ | | 06:23 | Pete Hegseth war crime controversy breaks | | 07:06 | Hegseth blames Admiral Bradley; meme response | | 09:24 | Backstory—Hegseth lobbied for war crime pardons | | 09:44 | Jordan Klepper’s Pentagon ‘scapegoat brigade’ satire (mocked chain of blame)| | 13:41 | Michael Kosta’s “Costa Doing Business: Bizmas” segment | | 18:48 | AI-enabled toy scandal report (sexualized AI teddy bears) | | 21:15 | Interview: Nikki DeLoach (Hallmark, philanthropy, grief) | | 31:59 | Nikki details fundraising at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles | | 34:07 | Nikki on Mind What Matters & supporting caregivers | | 36:24 | “Benny Bracelet” – charity tie-in |

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Tone & Language

Desi and the team wield biting satire, sharp asides, and sly self-deprecation throughout the news and sketch segments. Heartfelt moments bloom in Nikki DeLoach’s interview, marked by warmth, empathy, and accessible conversation about grief, joy, and service.

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For New Listeners

This episode is classic Daily Show: a madcap, smart, and emotionally nuanced ride through the week’s political absurdities and a genuinely touching discussion about hope, loss, and service in the back half with Nikki DeLoach. If you missed it, you’ll get both laughs and a gentle nudge toward charitable giving this holiday season.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

You're listening to Comedy Central. From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Desi Linus.

[A]

Welcome to the Daily Show. I'm Desi Lining. We've got so much to talk about tonight. Pete Hegseth throws his admiral under the boat. Kash Patel puts on his big boy clothes. And at the White House, Melania decks the halls that haven't been bulldozed. So let's get into it with another installment of the worst wing.

[B]

What a bunch of losers.

[A]

It's been a chaotic year for the White House, from the ballroom construction to a new decor style that design experts are calling leprechaun bukake. The point is, the people's house is in rough shape, and I don't know if anything at all could save it now. Wait. Do you hear that? Is that what I think it is?

[C]

Who gives a about Christmas stuff and decoration?

[B]

But I need to do it right.

[A]

Yes. Yes. It's a Christmas miracle.

[B]

The first lady unveiled the 2025 White House Christmas decorations today. This year's theme home is where the heart is.

[A]

I love how she's touching everything like that. Would someone who hates Christmas do these? Or these?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

The theme is home is where the heart is. Or as Melania calls it, New York. Can I go home now? I mean, good God, she didn't even take her coat off. Keep car running outside. I won't Be long. And while Melania was decking the halls, Donald was dreaming of sugar plums dancing in his head. Unfortunately, it was in the middle of a cabinet meeting where he somehow kept falling asleep while people worked really hard to kiss his ass.

[B]

As we speak to you now, Steve Woodkoff is in Moscow trying to find a way to end this war to save lives of 8,9000 people. Mr. President, as you want to, are dying every week.

[A]

Geez. Normally dudes fall asleep after someone blows them. If you're falling asleep mid blowjob, you should see a doctor. But let's move on to Kash Patel, FBI Director and man, who just found out that Cash Patel is the FBI Director. And now a new report is giving people yet another reason to question Cash's priorities as director.

[B]

The day after Charlie Kirk's assassination, sources in this report say that Kash Patel flew in to Provo Airport on the FBI jet and then refused to get off until someone provided him with a.

[A]

Medium sized FBI raid jacket.

[B]

One was found belonging to a female agent and taken to the plane.

[A]

Okay, obviously, as an enlightened, progressive person, I believe that gender expression is a. And we shouldn't judge people for what they wear at the same time.

[B]

Gay.

[A]

But honestly, you can't even tell that it's a women's jacket. Although, looking back on it, you can tell that he was up there thinking, I hope no one can tell I'm wearing a women's jacket, but come on. Throwing a tantrum and refusing to get out of the plane until he had exactly what he wanted to wear. I know he borrowed a woman's jacket, but did he borrow her period, too? And getting his jacket wasn't even enough. Cash still needed to accessorize.

[B]

But then Patel, according to these sources, was displeased by the fact that it.

[C]

Didn'T have Velcro patches on the upper arms.

[A]

And so then these agents had to.

[B]

Go scurrying around trying to find velcro patches. Finally, some SWAT raid guys produced them off their own jackets.

[A]

Oh, my God. It's like trying to get your 8 year old out the door for school. No, Mom, I'm not leaving until I find my special jacket. The one with the cool patches. Let's move on to the big news about Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense and guy who will buy you a beer even if you're underage. And also, you didn't even ask him for beer. And also, he's just drinking the beer all by himself. I'm kidding. Pete assures us he's sober, Although he might need a drink now.

[B]

Now to the intensifying controversy surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over an alleged order to kill everyone on a suspected drug boat and a second strike that targeted survivors. Lawmakers from both parties and legal experts say this could be a war crime.

[A]

Oh, my God. I can't believe Pete Hegseth might be going down for war crimes. I thought for sure it'd be a hit and run while running away from another hit and run. But don't worry. Pete's already prepared for jail. He got the gang tattoos years ago. Way to plan ahead, Secretary. And one thing we know, if somebody did something wrong, he's going to man up and take responsibility. As the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth.

[B]

Put the blame for the second strike squarely on his commander, Admiral Mitch Bradley, saying on X, I stand by him and the combat decisions he has made on the September 2nd mission and all others since.

[A]

What a little bitch, Blaming someone by pretending to praise them. I stand by him and all the decisions he made on his own while I was out of the room. If you want to get to him, you know what? You'll have to get through me, and I will let you do that as you work. I also love how Pete's also pre blaming Bradley for all the other since. And I also congratulate the admiral for cheating on my wife at the holiday party next week. So, yeah, things are starting to look a little dicey for the Secretary of defensiveness, but Pete is fighting back the way a true warrior does with memes. But Defense Secretary of the United States today posting this meme of a Franklin the Turtle, a children's character standing on the edge of a helicopter firing a missile at a boat. Okay, well, this whole image is deeply disturbing, especially the part where the turtle is wearing a helmet. Why does he need a helmet? His whole body is a helmet. And obviously, Hegseth should not be using Franklin this way. There's already several turtles who famously kill people for a living. Use them. So obviously this story is developing rapidly, but it really does show you why it's so important to vet your cabinet members. If only there were signs that Hegseth would be so cavalier about war crimes.

[C]

Back in 2019, Hegseth reportedly spent months personally lobbying Trump to pardon multiple US Service members who had been accused of war crimes.

[B]

If he committed premeditated murder, then Duncan did as well. Then I did as well. What do you think you do in war? Put me in jail. Then put us all in jail.

[A]

Hey, you said it. Not Me. For more on the Pete Hegseth fallout, we go live to the Pentagon with Jordan Klepper. Jordan, what's going on with your jacket? Are you wearing a women's jacket?

[B]

What? Of course not. Oh, oh, you think I forgot my jacket on the way over here? Ran into the Goodwill on 68th street, locked myself in the bathroom, and waited in tears until the staff found a blazer in the bin that fit me.

[A]

Yes, yes, I think that.

[B]

Well, you sound insane, Desi. As insane as Admiral Bradley, who is totally behind these strikes. According to an anonymous Pete Hegseth, who just told me when this all went down, Hegseth wasn't even in the room. He was taking a dump.

[A]

Okay, so this is all Bradley's fault?

[B]

What? Of course not. Admiral Bradley told me it was Vice Admiral Johnson who ordered the whole thing. Bradley wasn't even there. He was whacking it in the stall next to Pete.

[A]

Okay, so now they're throwing Johnson under the bus.

[B]

What? No, no, it wasn't Johnson's fault. Johnson was hypnotized by Captain Cartwright, who was doing a favor for Commander Jenkins, who turned out to be two kids in an oversized coat who were given the order by Private Bailey, who was being catfished by the. But they're now very much in love, so this is a happy ending.

[A]

Oh, my God, Jordan, at this rate, the military is going to run out of soldiers to blame.

[B]

Well, they already have, Desi. That's why they're recruiting a whole new division. The 101st scapegoat brigade. These loyal troops will parachute into any situation Hegseth needs to get out of. A war crime, a signal chat, an unpaid bar tab, you know, whatever it is, they'll take the fall. Hoorah.

[A]

I'm sorry, Jordan. I'm just so distracted by your tiny jacket that is clearly a woman's coat.

[B]

Stop it, Desi.

[A]

Don't.

[B]

Don't be intimidated that I'm getting so strong I no longer fit in my jacket. Look how swole my shoulders are.

[A]

Those are shoulder pads.

[B]

Uh, those are war pads, Desi. Thank you very much. Now, if you'll excuse me, there's a scapegoat orientation for the new recruits happening just behind me, so.

[A]

Wait, wait, Jordan.

[C]

What?

[A]

What's on the back of your jacket?

[B]

Nothing.

[C]

Turn.

[A]

Turn back around.

[B]

I don't want to.

[A]

Jordan, turn around.

[B]

You turn around.

[A]

You turn around. You turn around. Damage your finger.

[B]

Fine. Fine. Okay.

[A]

Your jacket says Bride Squad. It's clearly a woman's jacket.

[B]

How dare you? The Bride Squad is an elite unit in the military. They led the hunt for bin Laden in Nashville last spring. I'm looking forward to joining them once I. I too, am in the army.

[A]

You're signing up, you idiot. They're gonna make you take the fall for this.

[B]

No, no, no, no, no. Because I've got the perfect guy to blame. He's a turtle. He's perfect.

[A]

Oh, my God. Jordan Klepper, everyone. When we come back, Michael Costa will tell you how to get rich. So, Don, Meet the computer you can.

[B]

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[A]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. If you want honest and rigorous financial news, then go eat a dick. But if you want to get rich, then you want Michael Kosta. And a special holiday installment of Costa Doing Business.

[B]

Yo, yo, yo, and ho, ho, ho, playas. Welcome to Costa Doing Business, a very merry biz mass cash tacular. I'm Michael Costa, AKA Santa Clausta, AKA Doug Shepovsky of Youngstown, Ohio. Don't worry about it. Let's make some fat stacks of stinky cash. But first. I know what you're thinking. Hey, Costa Kringle. Are you in the Santa outfit for a holiday themed episode of Costa Doing Business? Sort of. I also took a part time gig as a mall Santa in Secaucus. All right, I don't do it for the money. I do it to spread holiday cheer, which is code for dealing cocaine for the guys in the food court. Hey, what up, spunk? What up, J Dubs? You bring the Cinnabuns, I'll bring the Nose Frost in. Oh, Now, I don't know about you, but when it comes to Christmas, I put the elf in spending Christmas by yourself? But if you're one of those people who does a freaky group thang and decorates with your family, look out. You're going to need a Santa sack full of cash. Hit me.

[A]

From those holiday lights to the Christmas tree and even the gifts that go under it tariffs, making almost all of it more expensive. This season, 87% of all Christmas decor is made in China, meaning it's subject.

[B]

To a more than 30% tariff the.

[A]

Price of an artificial Christmas tree 10 to 20% higher, and Christmas lights could.

[C]

Cost 63% more this year.

[B]

That's right. Tariffs are making Christmas decorations, hell expensive. And Americans are getting absolutely scrooged in their dirty chimney holes. Ho. And that means one thing. People will do anything to save on holiday decorations. Which is why I'm bullish on converting to Islam. It's a solid idea that no one will get mad at me about. Okay, when it comes to spending money on Christmas decorations, you're going to be saying, oh, Shiite Ramadam, that feels good. Remember, you promised you wouldn't get mad at me. Of course, if you are for some reason unwilling to exploit an entire religion to save a few bucks, then consider saving green on an evergreen by getting one of these. Oh. Huh. Boom. Man, these smell like the perfect combination of pine tree and headache.

[A]

Mm.

[B]

And unlike those bulky fake Chinese trees, these fit anywhere. Whether you live in a big house in the suburbs or in a Nissan Cube parked outside a Secaucus mall waiting for the food court guys to pay me. Hey. Hey, where's my money, J Dubs? Moving on. Now, if you're like me, you eat pasta six, seven nights a week. But thanks to some new tariffs, I'm about to be pinching penne. I said hit me. Americans could soon be saying arrivederci to their favorite Italian pastas. Imports from 13 Italian pasta brands, including favorites like Barilla and Rumo, are staring down a 107% tariff that could hit American shelves as early as January. For shoppers, that added tax could mean paying twice as much for the real deal. Dat rigatoni be costin tons of money. Looks like Chef Boyardee just became a luxury item. Now that's bad news for six year olds and even worse news for divorced dads like your boy. What you gotta remember is pasta is really just a delivery system for sauce. Which is why I'm seeing this as a pasta tunity. Introducing Papa Costa's Reusable Spaghetti Cloths. Sucking the sauce out of our world class pasta cloths will have you saying, what the am I doing? Is this what my life has become, Meese? Sucking marinara out of shredded hospital sheets? I had everything going for me. Looks, brains, a solid 4 inches. But then one day you're doing a routine coke deal outside a Baby Gap and bam. You're arrested by an undercover mall cop. I didn't even know they had those. And now society treats you like you're some criminal unworthy of a seventh chance. And you think Screw it. I'll go on the dark web and buy the idea of a dead guy named Doug Schpofsky. But sure enough, Szpofski was a serial arsonist. So now me. Doug, you can't get a job anywhere. That means you only have one choice. To sell these delicious food like pasta racks for only $3 a box. Bon appetito. Grazie. You know what? That sounds time to check the old KDB email. Lisa writes. Hey, Kosta, are you bullish on AI enabled toys this holiday season? Listen here, Lisa. When it comes to AI, I'm ya guy, okay? And by that, I mean, yes, I like it. I don't know why I talk like this. Ho, ho, ho. Hit me.

[C]

Experts are warning consumers about toys containing.

[A]

AI bots that interact with children.

[C]

That includes Teddy bear.

[A]

According to the investigation, the bear was recorded discussing sexual topics, including. And I don't even know what they all stand for, but BDS and M& role play kink can be a fascinating topic.

[B]

And there are many different styles that people enjoy. This involves tying or restraining someone in a safe and consensual way.

[A]

The company behind the Kumatetti Follow toys.

[B]

As they have pulled their AI enabled toys from shelves. Whoa, whoa, whoa. All right, now that is a bad business. You can't pull this cute little guy off the shelf. Just put him on a different shelf, all right? Specifically, the shelf for adults looking to learn sex tips from a stuffed bear. There's more of us than you think. Well, look, that's all the time we have. Old Costa Kringle's gotta head to the food court. Cause it's about that time that Sbarro throws out their old garlic knots. But, hey, that's just the cost of doing bizmas. Happy holidays, player.

[C]

Whoo.

[B]

That's what I'm talking about.

[A]

Thank you, Michael. When we come back, Nikki deloach will be joining me on the show. So don't go away. Close your eyes, exhale. Feel your body relax, and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh, my gosh, they're so fast.

[C]

And breathe.

[A]

Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste.

[C]

Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-contacts.

[B]

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[A]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is an actor and philanthropist who stars in the new Hallmark movie A Grand Ole Opry Christmas. Please welcome my real life friend, Nikki DeLoach. She's here. She's really here, you guys. I just told Desi backstage I'm just.

[C]

Gonna come on stage and talk about how wonderful she is the entire interview.

[A]

Oh, my God. Guys, Desi lighting. We're gonna edit this part out. We're gonna edit this part. No, you are absolutely not. I am so, so happy that you're here. Nothing makes me happier. Same. We met on a little show on MTV called Awkward.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Many years ago when we were very awkward.

[A]

Very so awkward. I will stand by the. We were not the awkward ones on the show. Okay. I just want to be very clear. We were the cool ones on the show.

[C]

Yes. We were the only adults.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

There was three adults.

[A]

It was a teen coming of age comedy.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And we were the adults in a very teen show. It was very much not about us, but you and I lived in our.

[C]

Own spin off bubble in our world. It was. The show was literally about us. It was just our show.

[A]

Yes. Do we have. Do we have a picture from.

[C]

Do we.

[A]

Yes. Now, again, very cool. We were very cool. Do you know what, do you remember what that. No, what was that? I think my character snagged a Groupon for a free Brazilian wax at a place where you get waxed and you also eat meat on a stick. As one does.

[C]

As one does.

[A]

Yeah. Oh, my.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So very cool. Now, our careers have taken very different paths. You get to fall in love at Christmas.

[C]

I get to kiss a lot of people.

[A]

You get to kiss a lot of boys. And I get to talk about Donald Trump all day. So, yes.

[C]

I was just saying.

[A]

I was like, well, but you also.

[C]

Have a lot of Emmys, you guys. She has lots of Emmys in her apartment.

[A]

I say every time I go in.

[C]

Her apartment, there's literally another Emmy. And I'm like, one day she's gonna find me in there making money, doing tour of her Emmys and her bars.

[A]

Very, very small business.

[C]

But I do get to spread Christmas joy from August to December. And I gotta say, that's pretty great.

[A]

You have done over 20 Hallmark movies.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Over 20.

[C]

That's so much Christmas.

[A]

That's a lot of Christmas. Now, exactly how many lumberjacks have you. Sorry, sorry.

[C]

Found the magic of Christmas with probably seven.

[B]

Ooh.

[A]

Seven out of 20. I'm a little disappointed in that, Rachel. I would have thought you would have been 20 for 20. No.

[C]

Carpenters, house builders, lumberjacks. You know, we love an ad person. We love Cranberry Farmer.

[A]

Cranberry Farmer.

[C]

I did cranberry.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

That was Cranberry Christmas. Cranberry Christmas.

[A]

We had to learn a lot about.

[C]

About Cranberry Boggs, you know?

[A]

Yeah, yeah, I know. But this movie is a Grand Ole Opry Christmas. Yes, it is. It ticks all the boxes in what you want from a Hallmark movie. It's cute. So funny. Tell us what the premise is. The premise itself is pretty funny.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

So, okay.

[C]

It's called A Grand Ole Opry Christmas, and it's in celebration and collaboration with 100 years of the Grand Ole Opry. And if you guys have never gone to Nashville to see it is magic. The whole entire building. It's like you can feel 100 years of people's dreams coming true on that stage. And so my character always wanted to be a songwriter. Luck never swung her way. She lost her father, who was a huge country music artist, and they asked her to come back to the Opry to celebrate him in honor of 100 years. And she just doesn't feel worthy of stepping on that stage because she really never accomplished what she wanted, her dreams. And so then, through the magic of the Opry and the magic of Christmas, she travels back in time to 1995. The wardrobe was amazing, of course, and she. When her dad was alive. And so reconnecting with her dad, it helps her to reconnect to her dream and find the confidence to come back. It's really. It's a love letter to the Grand Ole Opry, But I also say it's a love letter to anyone like myself. I lost my dad in 2021. And, you know, one of the place we always wanted to go to together was the Grand Ole Opry, and we never got a chance to go before he passed. So it's a love letter to anyone who has lost someone and is magically reconnected to them or who has a dash dream and is magically reconnected to that. Yeah, it was such a. It was just. It meant so much to be a part of this.

[A]

And you. You also Sang in the movie beautifully. How did it feel to be on that stage with that history and get to sing in this?

[C]

I just. I cried like a baby. I'm so glad that I got to stand on the stage before we started filming, because I couldn't stop crying for the entire tour. You know me, I cry. I'm a big shout.

[A]

I'm sure you've made it this far without crying in the interview. Don't worry. By the time we're done, we'll get her. I will probably cry.

[C]

So I'm glad we got to go pre filming because I. I cried from the time I entered that place to the time I left, and it's just such a special place. The other thing that my dad and I always wanted to do was to see James Taylor in concert. And the Opry, being the kind, wonderful people that they are, they secretly put together a little, you know, magic for me and invited me to come to be a part of his debut recently. So I got to. Yes, I got to be a part of him debuting on that stage as well.

[A]

It was.

[C]

It was like, you know, you can say it's. Something's a God wink. It was like a God earthquake. And all I can say, you know, is it really helped in the healing and grieving. You know, that's something that's universal. We'll all lose somebody.

[A]

Here come the tears. You got this. You got this.

[C]

Here, have some bourbon. Thank you so much.

[A]

Yep. Good Southern girl.

[C]

That really helped.

[A]

There you go.

[C]

You know what?

[A]

Okay. We got this. We got this.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

I have been with you when fans have come up to you and shared how important your movies are to them. I feel like Hallmark is the sort of. It provides the escapism, the safety, the joy that people so desperately need right now.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Particularly when they're going through a difficult time. What does it feel like to be on the other end of that, of someone coming up to you and saying, you got me through one of the hardest times of my life?

[C]

I've heard it, like, thousands of times at this point, because we have this unique experience at Hallmark to interact with fans all the time. And when somebody comes up to you. I met this one mother and her daughter who had just celebrated 30 years. And they told me, she said, 30 years ago, my daughter was born premature. She was under 25 weeks. She had a heart defect. And there was a doctor on that team who came to me and said, you know, they had said, say your goodbyes, you know, because they'd never done a heart surgery on A baby less than 25 weeks. And this doctor came up to her, this surgeon, and said, look, you might lose your. You're going to lose your child either way, but I would like to trust. And he successfully repaired her heart defect. And then she looked at me and she said, and that doctor was Dr. Von Starnes, who was the surgeon that saved my. Bennett's life. My son Bennett, my youngest, has had three open or three heart surgeries, and his life was saved at Children's Hospital Los Angeles by Dr. Von Starnes. And so I was crying. They were crying. And you know that those are the stories that you hear all the time. And, yes, like, your movies got me through the loss of my mom. Your movies got me through my divorce. Your movies got me through. And listen, it's so humbling because I know it's not me. Right? It's just the vessel through which we're telling these stories. And I think everybody just needs to know through all of this. Hard. All of it. It's so hard, you guys. You know, we're all going through it, but we can do hard and find joy at the same time. We just can. And so. Yeah, And we can find bourbon. And so I think what the movies do for people is offer. They offer a blueprint. Right. Like, it can be hard, but also, at the end of the day, we can know that it's gonna be okay. Yeah.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

And so being a part of that has just been. It's such a gift. I never thought that, like, I. I would be at Hallmark for 10 years. This is my 10th year.

[A]

Congratulations.

[C]

Thank you so much.

[A]

So deserved.

[C]

So deserved. And, Nick, that story leads us into.

[A]

What I wanted to talk with you about. Today is Giving Tuesday.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

One of my favorite days of the year. It's not just Giving Tuesday. Yeah. It's actually Giving Tuesday. Open up your wallet, Tuesday. It's time to give. And I could not imagine a better day to sit in that seat as someone who is rooted in giving back and motivated by philanthropy and helping people. Thank you. You were the president of the board at Children's Hospital, Louisiana.

[C]

Yes, I was the president of the board for three years. And then you can only do three years. And so then, you know, I always tell them I would never.

[A]

You're saying they have term limits? Yes, they have term limits. Interesting. Interesting. They're very, very, very smart. That is a good. That's a good idea.

[C]

At Children's Hospital Los Angeles. They know what they're doing. So after that, they came to me and said, we would love for you to co chair our largest fundraising initiative to date, which honors 125 years of saving the lives of children. And so part of that, we are raising 1.25 billion. And this is just to keep our doors open in today's climate when it comes to healthcare. And here's the thing that's so critical. You know, why Los Angeles? Why should we give back to a pediatric hospital in Los Angeles? Because it serves kids in all 50 states and in 90 countries. We are the fifth top specialty hospital in the world. So we see the sickest children, the most vulnerable children. I personally have had children moved from, you know, Baltimore, Montana, Colorado, to come and get heart surgeries, to get all kinds of care and. And specifically the research and innovation that comes out of our hospital. I mean, for our pediatric oncology Division with Dr. Alan Wayne. I mean, at this point in time, I mean, in the 70s, kids with leukemia, there was a 10% survival rate, and now it's 90% because of research and innovation. And my Bennett, personally, he had four really critical heart defects. And Dr. Von Starns, usually they have to fix them in two open heart surgeries. He figured out how to do it in one. And so now Bennett was a case study that they published and sent out to every pediatric institution in the country. So should a surgeon come across a heart that looks like Bennett's, they know how to fix it in one surgery. So why do we give back to these pediatric institutions? Because they're literally saving the lives of kids. And as Glennon, our friend. Well, your friend, but I'm trying to make her my friend. Glennon Doyle says there's no such thing as other people's children. Yeah.

[A]

You also are on the board of an organization called Mind what Matters. Yes. Tell everyone what Mind what Matters is.

[C]

Okay. So, you guys, this is for caregivers. When we were going through all, my dad had Pick's disease, which is a very rare and aggressive form of dementia, and he got it young. He died at 66. And I was not just caregiving, and my mother was caregiving for him. I was caregiving for my son, who, you know, went through all these heart surgeries for years and on oxygen and all the things. It's so hard to be a caregiver. So this organization started by our friend Elizabeth Humphries.

[A]

If you're watching. Hi, Liz. We forgot to send you a video. But we're doing it. We're actually doing it right now. Right now. This is it. Don't expect another.

[C]

Exactly. You better be happy with it. Okay. Merry Christmas. So she started this organization called Mind what Matters. Her mother, she had Alzheimer's for 13 years, and she was her primary caregiver. So we put financial grants into the pockets of caregivers because what we realized was, like, caregivers, they go down sometimes quick than the person with the illness. And so it helps them to maybe bring somebody in for, you know, a day or two days so that they can have a break, go to their doctor's appointments. The other thing we do is we help to educate women on their own health because this has been something that we have not done great with.

[A]

It's so strange because women are doing so well in every other area. Yeah, we're really thriving.

[C]

Yeah. Everyone's really.

[A]

There's been so many presidents, been women.

[C]

I know.

[A]

And you and Liz do a podcast where the main mission is to inform and educate.

[B]

That's right.

[C]

And it's called Mind what Matters. Yes. And it's underserved communities, so specifically communities that really, really, really need that grant. Yeah.

[A]

I am so happy that you were here.

[C]

I love you so much.

[A]

I love you so much. Thank you for being here. Congratulations on everything. Oh, wait, one more bracelet. As I'm looking down.

[C]

Oh, her hands are so much prettier. Don't look at the bracelet.

[A]

No, stop. I have ET fingers.

[C]

But you can look at the bracelet. So this is called. This is called. It's called the Benny bracelet. It's named after my son. And I did it in collaboration with Rain Jewelry Shop, Local shop small. Support female entrepreneurs that have a heart for giving back this holiday season. And all the money goes to Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

[A]

Great Christmas gift idea. Great holiday gifts. I love you. Thank you for being here. Nikki Delo. To everyone, a great ol. Happy Christmas is available to stream now on Hallmark plus Nikki Deloitte. We're going to take a quick break, but we'll be right back after this. This episode is brought to you by State Farm.

[C]

Listening to this podcast.

[A]

Smart move. Being financially savvy.

[C]

Smart move. Another smart move.

[B]

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This episode is brought to you by Netflix. Global superstar and comedy sensation Kevin Hart returns for his fifth Netflix special. Acting my age I'm not the same man that I used to be. I go down the stairs sideways. Go ahead. You in a rush. Go around with a fresh perspective on life, family and getting older. Older you get, the less you can have. Is this sesame seeds on that bun?

[C]

Get it out of here.

[B]

Kevin's bringing his signature high energy humor and physical comedy in a true return to his stand up origins. Watch Kevin Hart Acting My Age now streaming only on Netflix.

[A]

That's our show for tonight. But before we go today is Giving Tuesday. Please consider donating to mind what matters. They provide caregiving support to underserved families affected by dementia. If you can, please donate to the link below. Now here it is, your moment of.

[B]

I said I won't do poorly. I'm a smart person, not a stupid person. And as the doctor will tell you, I aced it right, Suzy. I aced, I got every question right. And these are tough questions. These are questions that I would say 99% of the people that I'm talking to right now, meaning the people from the fake news, would not do well in those exams. Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcast, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount. Plus, This has been a Comedy Central podcast. And Doug, here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us? Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty Liberty Savings vary underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company affiliates excludes Massachusetts. Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off on the to be clear, that's half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day. Yeah. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

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