TDS Time Machine | Klepper vs. Maga 2024

Summary

Summary of "TDS Time Machine | Klepper vs. Maga 2024"

Podcast Information

• Title: The Daily Show: Ears Edition
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and Paramount Podcasts
• Description: Jon Stewart and The Daily Show News Team cover today's biggest headlines. The “Ears Edition” of The Daily Show features full episodes, extended content, exclusive interviews, and more.
• Episode: TDS Time Machine | Klepper vs. Maga 2024
• Release Date: December 19, 2024

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Introduction

In the December 19, 2024 episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, host Jon Stewart alongside The Daily Show News Team delve into the escalating political tensions in the United States, particularly focusing on the looming specter of civil conflict between opposing factions—referred to as "Klepper vs. Maga." The episode intertwines sharp political analysis with satirical commentary, reflecting on current events and their potential ramifications for American society.

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1. The Ubiquity of Civil Conflict

The episode opens with a sobering discussion on the increasing polarization in America, highlighting a startling statistic: "43% of Americans think it's very likely there's a civil war in the next decade" (Hoda Kotb, 07:45). This segment explores the factors contributing to such bleak predictions, including political rhetoric, societal divisions, and the influence of extremist groups.

Notable Quote:

• Hoda Kotb at 07:45: "I think it could get violent easily. I mean, that's scary."

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2. Divisive Political Landscapes

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting the bifurcated political landscape. The discussion emphasizes the creation of new state boundaries based on political affiliations, serving as a metaphor for the deep-seated divisions within the country.

Key Points:

• Fantasy Draft of State Lines: The team humorously reimagines the Mason-Dixon line, "terraforming" states into conservative and liberal blocs.
• Impact on National Unity: The redefined states symbolize the fragmentation of national unity, presenting a "one land mass who sees themselves as conservative" and a separate liberal counterpart.

Notable Quote:

• Hoda Kotb at 09:02: "This is one of our most sacred traditions of civic unity, the corporate focus group bringing together conservatives and liberals in purple Arizona."

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3. The MAGA Movement and Its Fallout

The episode delves into the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement's current state, examining its influence on American politics and society. It discusses the rhetoric used by key figures within the movement and its implications for democratic processes.

Key Points:

• Rhetoric Analysis: Exploration of Donald Trump's language, particularly his incendiary statements suggesting a descent into chaos.
• Trial and Tribulations: A detailed look at Trump's ongoing legal battles, including his recent felony conviction in New York for falsifying business records.

Notable Quotes:

• Hoda Kotb at 13:44: "Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial started yesterday... Donald Trump said all hell is going to break loose."
• Savannah Guthrie at 19:02: "Isn't that the truth? Oh. Suddenly America is the land where you commit a crime and you go to prison."

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4. Public Perception and Support within the MAGA Sphere

An in-depth analysis is provided on the internal dynamics of the MAGA supporters, highlighting both unwavering loyalty and emerging doubts among its base.

Key Points:

• Unwavering Loyalty: Many supporters remain steadfast in their support of Trump despite legal challenges.
• Eroding Trust: Incidents of scams and financial losses related to MAGA-endorsed products erode trust among some supporters.

Notable Quotes:

• Hoda Kotb at 21:03: "Is that two grand?"
• Savannah Guthrie at 23:06: "Well, everyone's pouring in money to support him, so. And I know I've done that a couple times."

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5. The Threat of New Legislation and Dictatorial Tendencies

The discussion takes a critical turn towards the potential for authoritarianism within the political climate, specifically focusing on Trump's expressed desires for immunity and control.

Key Points:

• Dictatorial Rhetoric: Analysis of Trump's statements advocating for significant control over the Department of Justice and his desire for absolute immunity.
• Potential Consequences: Examination of how such rhetoric could undermine democratic institutions and lead to increased authoritarianism.

Notable Quotes:

• Hoda Kotb at 20:55: "Donald Trump goes to trial for sexual assault. How much are you giving?"
• Savannah Guthrie at 22:31: "So, I'm guessing that's between martial law and right before fixing toilet pressure."

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6. Media and Public Discourse on Political Extremism

The team critiques how media portrays the MAGA movement and responds to the escalating extremism, emphasizing the fine line between satire and serious political commentary.

Key Points:

• Media Representation: Discussion on whether labeling the MAGA movement as "weird" diminishes the genuine concerns raised by its members.
• Public Discourse: The importance of fostering serious conversations about policy and national security without resorting to caricature.

Notable Quotes:

• Hoda Kotb at 25:13: "What do you think of the upcoming debate? I've heard that, you know, people say Biden won't show up. Do you think Trump is gonna show up?"
• Desi Lydic at 30:51: "What the hell?"

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7. The Role of Social Media and Misinformation

A segment is dedicated to the influence of social media platforms like TikTok in shaping public opinion and spreading misinformation, particularly within polarized communities.

Key Points:

• Unbiased Jurors: Examination of claims regarding the fairness of trials in heavily Democrat cities and the role of social media in influencing juror impartiality.
• Misinformation Spread: How misinformation about legal proceedings and political figures contributes to societal mistrust.

Notable Quotes:

• Hoda Kotb at 16:02: "You think he should have total immunity, otherwise everyone's going to jail."
• Savannah Guthrie at 21:16: "That's probably five grand."

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8. Grassroots Movements and Voter Influence

The episode explores grassroots movements within both the MAGA and liberal factions, assessing their impact on voter behavior and election outcomes.

Key Points:

• Voter Mobilization: Strategies employed by both sides to mobilize voters and influence election dynamics.
• Impact of Legal Battles: How ongoing legal issues for key figures like Trump affect voter perceptions and turnout.

Notable Quotes:

• Hoda Kotb at 22:31: "So I'm guessing that's between martial law and right before fixing toilet pressure."
• Savannah Guthrie at 23:53: "The holidays are here, and so is the Ikea Winter Sale..."

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Conclusion

The episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition titled "TDS Time Machine | Klepper vs. Maga 2024" provides a comprehensive and incisive analysis of the current political landscape in the United States. Through a blend of serious discussion and satirical commentary, the show highlights the critical issues threatening national unity and democratic stability. Notable quotes and in-depth segments underscore the urgency of addressing political extremism and fostering meaningful dialogue to prevent the dire outcomes forewarned by public sentiment.

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Notable Moments and Quotes

• Civil War Sentiments:
  Hoda Kotb (07:45): "I think it could get violent easily. I mean, that's scary."

• Political Polarization:
  Hoda Kotb (09:02): "This is one of our most sacred traditions of civic unity, the corporate focus group bringing together conservatives and liberals in purple Arizona."

• Trump's Legal Challenges:
  Hoda Kotb (13:44): "Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial started yesterday... Donald Trump said all hell is going to break loose."

• Supporter Dynamics:
  Savannah Guthrie (19:02): "Isn't that the truth? Oh. Suddenly America is the land where you commit a crime and you go to prison."

• Authoritarian Rhetoric:
  Hoda Kotb (20:55): "Donald Trump goes to trial for sexual assault. How much are you giving?"

• Media Representation:
  Desi Lydic (30:51): "What the hell?"

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Final Thoughts

This episode serves as a stark reminder of the fragile state of American democracy amidst rising political tensions. By combining humor with critical analysis, The Daily Show: Ears Edition effectively engages listeners in pressing conversations about the future of the nation, the role of political leaders, and the collective responsibility to uphold democratic values.

Transcript

[Savannah Guthrie]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Savannah Guthrie]

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[Hoda Kotb]

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[Desi Lydic]

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[Hoda Kotb]

Hey, everyone.

[Desi Lydic]

Desi Lydic here.

[Hoda Kotb]

The Daily show is on break for.

[Savannah Guthrie]

The holidays, but in the meantime, we.

[Hoda Kotb]

Put together some special highlights for you. We'll be back in the New Year.

[Desi Lydic]

On January 7th with all new episodes.

[Hoda Kotb]

When you've been to as many rallies as I have, you get used to hearing things you don't encounter in everyday life, like go to hell and Klepper's a bitch. But lately, the crowds have been coalescing around one particular idea that nobody wants to hear. Civil War. Civil War. Civil War. Civil War. Civil War. The Civil War. Our country's bitter attempt at divorce that ended with mom and dad back together in a state of constant resentment. 43% of Americans think it's very likely there's a civil war in the next decade. Okay, I'm gonna be perfectly straight up and honest. It's gonna happen much sooner than that. How soon? Because I have an Airbnb rented in the Outer Banks. But it turns out a lot of Americans think this way, and not just your uncle, who has been hoarding weapons and Vienna sausages in his basement bunker. Even sitting members of Congress, like January 6, committee member Adam Kinzinger how close are we to another civil war? I think we're closer than we'd like to think. And I used to be afraid to talk about it. Now I think it's important for us to talk about it. To talk about a civil war? Yeah, because I think we have to be aware of where we're at. I don't think it's gonna be north and south with large marching armies. You know, if I live in Illinois, there's gonna be Republicans and Democrats in Illinois. I do think it could get violent easily. I mean, that's scary. It is scary. If a sitting representative like Kinzinger thinks a second civil war is possible, it's something we need to take seriously. So I decided to gather Americans in one of our most sacred traditions of civic unity, the corporate focus group bringing together conservatives and liberals in purple Arizona, who all think civil war is a real possibility. The Civil War is tomorrow. What is the skill set you bring to the battlefield? Well, I'm good with a gun. Yeah? Yeah. Okay. James? I have survival skills. I was in the military. I know how to shoot a weapon hand to hand combat if I have to. I could stick you with a knife and not, you know, cry about it. We're laughing about sticking people with a knife, but okay. Lansing, what skills? Leadership. Leadership, Yeah. I just feel there's going to need to be some leaders. Beau, what skills do you have? Critical thinking. Jesus. For all of the liberals here, we have a leader and a critical thinker. This is why the blue side is. But if America was going to be divided in a civil war, where would the modern day Mason Dixon line fall? It was time for a state by state fantasy draft. Well, nightmare draft. We've terraformed the states that have been red and blue to kind of create one land mass who sees themselves as conservative. Part of the red map. Here. Are these the states you would want? Oh, I much prefer the red states. What breaks your heart? What are you gonna miss? Well, Arizona. Isn't that supposed to be a red state guy yet? Let's say we give you Arizona. Where do you want to travel to? Well, I love California, but it's turned into such a shithole. Let's be fair. As a red state guy, the blue state has the best food. Oh, yeah, right. Beau, what would you miss? Not a ton. As a liberal, you're feeling pretty good about the states you get. Honestly, I feel all right. We got Hawaii. You do have Hawaii. James, what are you missing? You're gonna be in this red conglomerate. Well, the family's from back east in Ohio. So, yeah, I mean, that would be. You'd miss Ohio? I wouldn't trade Cleveland for anything. I'd trade Texas for California so I can go to San Diego. Okay. Any other trades? Texas for California, blue side. Would you allow that trade? I'll take Austin for Cleveland, but I don't need all of Texas. We'll do an Austin for Cleveland. I don't want Cleveland. He's in Cleveland. I want San Diego. What will you give up for San Diego? I would give up Florida. No, thanks. There's no takers on Florida? No. Okay. So I guess the ocean can have Florida, which is helpful because it will probably take it anyway. And now that we have our newly divided States of America, we get to draft some new constitutions. If there is a new America, you're going to need new laws. Are there any laws you would want to change? Get rid of the petty ones. I mean, there's lots of petty laws out there. I mean, if you pee in public, I mean, really gonna be in the sex crime registry now, because you peed in public. It's stupid. It's a crack in the system. That's the first law that comes to head. It's, you know, it's the petty laws. You get put in the federal sex crimes registry if you take a leak outside. It's just pretty dumb. That's just an example. We just talked about a civil war tearing this country in two. You finally get your way. Well, you know, I mean. And the first law that jumps to mind is peeing in public. Does your side not have toilets? With the vision of the new Confederacy already collapsing under the burden of sewage infrastructure, I thought it was time to cut to the chase and ask the biggest question of all. Which side wins? We all lose. We all lose. Yeah. There's no winning there. What if one side loses and then refuses to concede? Well, I don't know if I feel any better about the future of America, but for now, at least, we still have elections. God, it's gonna be loud. It's gonna be loud. Loud inside. It's gonna be crazy. I mean, it's kind of quiet and businesslike outside. Yeah, but it's a party in the back. It's gonna be huge. You would know, my friend. You would know. Tell me about your outfit. What's going on here? This is kind of just some shorts, swim trunks, swim trucks. I gotta say, it's a unique placement of his mouth area. I've loved everything that he has implemented in the past, so I love if we could put that back into office to keep that going. Like what stuff? Um, I like the border control. Yeah. Yeah, that's a big point. We should be working to fix what's happening at the border. Yeah. Feels like Congress is just sitting on their hands right now doing nothing. Yes. They brought up a bill to do something and Trump said, no fricking way. Why was that a good idea? I don't know. Okay, so what did they think of Trump's only remaining human opponent? I think she changed. Yeah. Fake Republican. She changed. Fake Republican. Yeah. Nikki who? Not familiar with Nikki Haley. Globalist. She belongs to the fascists. She was in the U.N. for God's sakes. I know. That's the global fascist capital of the world. To be fair, she was appointed by Donald Trump, but she stabbed him in the back as quick as she could. Yes. Loyalty matters. Loyalty matters. Fidelity. That matters. Wait, when you say fidelity matters, you're not talking about, like, marital. All fidelity matters. Fidelity matters. Have fun in there inside with Donald Trump. I don't know if his third wife will be in there with him. I think she might still be mad at him. And Trump's recent court challenges have inspired a brand new demand Trump has been talking right now about. He says he thinks he should be immune from the actions he takes while president. Absolutely. You think he should have total immunity, Otherwise everyone's going to jail. You're fine with Trump as king? Yes. Trump as king is good. Yep. That's about as American as you can get. Yes, it is. King Trump. Yes. However, Trump isn't asking to be a king. He wants to be a different kind of ruler. He says, you're not going to be a dictator, are you? I said no, no, no. Other than day one. A dictatorship for day one. Yeah. And that's what we need. What does that actually look like? Well, that means that about half the people in the Department of Justice should be arrested and put behind bars. That's like a true dictatorship. Yeah. Well, you know, it needs to happen. Donald Trump said he'll be a dictator day one. What do you think of that? Is that a good idea?

[Savannah Guthrie]

Let's get it done. Get in and get it done.

[Hoda Kotb]

Let's go. He's not going to be like a Hitler dictator. No. More like a Mussolini dictator for a day. Exactly. Yes. God bless America. Put the people in place. A dictator can do that, right? It could put people in place.

[Savannah Guthrie]

Absolutely.

[Hoda Kotb]

The good people are over here. The bad people are over here in a gulag at this point, it's what America needs So they're on board with the dictator justice, but what about all the big dictator talk? Trump said they're poisoning the blood of our country. Trump kind of speaks in allegories. What he's talking about is the blood of the country's been tainted. People have come here and immigrated. It's a different story. And they don't know our American history and our values, nor do they respect it. So when he says poisoning our country, it sounds harsh. It sounds much nicer in the original German. Yeah, yeah, there you go. While many were on board with Dictator 2.0, I did start to see some small cracks in support. Like when I found this woman who spent 60 days in prison for her role on January 6. You were a Trump supporter? Absolutely. I was a Republican, and I was wrong that day for even being there. January 6th was an insurrection. Keep your voice down. This is a Trump rally. That's not the most popular take to have right now. And this guy who confessed he's scared about losing his money after investing in a bunch of weird financial MAGA products like Trump debit cards and a dubious Trump currency. I have supported him with checks and the gold. Gold Trump bars, $100 gold things. I can't get rid of those NFT cards, TRB cards. So how does that work? They gave me a PIN number and everything. Go to any atm? Went to the ATM and couldn't get nothing out. The card has nothing on it. You think it was a scam? It might have been. I don't know. So you've invested a lot in Donald Trump? Yeah. Everyone is telling me to buy something different. Stop. Don't buy any. And I just. As a. As a guy who's just getting to know you here. Stop it. Right. I am, but I had this one guy, he wants to be put in more money. Right? No, I'm not. I'm not. I'm not. Here's. Here's the deal. I'm afraid if you go in there again, you're going to be taken in by a scam. Again. No. Yes. No. Yes. Yes. All I'm saying is here, I'm saying there is hope that you can make better choices and not give in to a scam moving forward. Right. Okay. So I think. I think you just walked that way, right through those gates. No, no, my car's over here. Well, we almost saved one person if he'd only parked in the right spot.

[Desi Lydic]

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[Savannah Guthrie]

Hi everyone. It's Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb from the Today Show. We love this time of year. There's so much to celebrate. That's right, nobody does the holidays quite like today all season long. Join us for special performances with the brightest stars. Plus festive recipes to whip up the perfect holiday feast and great deals on the hottest toys and gifts for everyone on your list. So join us every morning on NBC to make TODAY your home for the holidays. The holidays are here and so is the IKEA Winter Sale. Now's your chance to make the holidays a little more magical and less expensive. Save up to 50% off on select items in store and online now through January 7th. Plus IKEA loyalty members get an extra 10% off on sale items. Need help managing the clutter of decorations? Ikea Storage solutions will keep your home tidy from toys and tinsel. Having extra guests over? Check out offers on select dining furniture to make more room for the people who matter most this time of year. Don't wait to finish your winter wish list. Shop the IKEA Winter Sale in store or online now until January 7th. Visit ikea-usa.com wintersale for more details. Terms applied offer valid dates may vary us only, while supplies last. Selection may vary by store and online. See [e-mail] wintersale for complete terms. Restrictions apply.

[Hoda Kotb]

Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial started yesterday, But a few days before that, he had a message to his followers.

[Savannah Guthrie]

72 hours until all hell breaks loose.

[Hoda Kotb]

That kind of rhetoric is really incendiary and dangerous. So I went down to the New York County Criminal Court to witness the carnage for myself. Donald Trump said all hell is going to break loose. Are you going to go apeshit today? Not going to go ape shit today? Are you ready to go apeshit today?

[Savannah Guthrie]

I want to see how it plays out.

[Hoda Kotb]

But you got to slow walk the ape shit, right?

[Savannah Guthrie]

Slow walk it.

[Hoda Kotb]

Trump supporters are calm, peaceful Protesters? Yes. Yes. They would never rush into a federal building and try to disrupt proceedings. Donald Trump would never advocate for that outside of that January 6th thing. Is today the January 6th of April 15th?

[Savannah Guthrie]

No.

[Hoda Kotb]

No. What?

[Savannah Guthrie]

January I was there. January I was.

[Hoda Kotb]

Sex.

[Savannah Guthrie]

Yes, I was there.

[Hoda Kotb]

Where were you? Inside the rotunda? Are you in the office? Were you holding a podium? Where were you?

[Savannah Guthrie]

It was breached before we even got there.

[Hoda Kotb]

Because. Is that why you're here early today? Just to make sure you get that first wave?

[Savannah Guthrie]

Well, I have done pretty. Go back and watch America's Most Wanted. I made a grand appearance there when somebody said, we got what we deserve.

[Hoda Kotb]

God bless. I'll set my TiVo. Do you think the crowd will remain peaceful here? I do. Aren't you letting him down? Not coming with your A game? Where are your horns? I brought my A game. You brought a scarf? You brought needle pointers? You're handmade, man. You guys picked a QAnon shaman yet? QAnon shaman? Yeah. Is there like a voodoo boogaloo somewhere?

[Savannah Guthrie]

That guy is so articulate and so smart.

[Hoda Kotb]

You're talking about the guy with the horns? Yes. Right?

[Savannah Guthrie]

He can smell shit coming a mile away.

[Hoda Kotb]

Is that why the Qanon shaman is so good at smelling shit? Because. Because he was in the same room where someone was actually defecating inside the Capitol?

[Savannah Guthrie]

Probably.

[Hoda Kotb]

While there was more press than there were MAGA supporters, I did run into one January 6, B list star, Rudy Giuliani's son. Yeah, I was in Washington, D.C. on January 6th as well. I was with President Trump. I remember him talking about peacefully protesting. Some people were talking about peaceful protests. Some people also on January 6 were talking about trial by combat. Let's have trial by combat. Do you know anybody who was talking about that? Oh, you know, look, I would say that peaceful protest is the most important thing. No trial by combat today. No trial by combat. Do you guys even care what's going on inside the courtroom or. No, of course I care about what's going on in the courtroom. So let's establish some baseline facts about the trial. Do you think Donald Trump had sex with Stormy Daniels?

[Savannah Guthrie]

Oh, hell no.

[Hoda Kotb]

You don't think that happened? No.

[Savannah Guthrie]

He was with Melania.

[Hoda Kotb]

Who the hell. He's just always been a one woman man.

[Savannah Guthrie]

Listen, he probably hasn't been, but women have thrown themselves at Trump for the almighty dollar.

[Hoda Kotb]

All those hoes, they had three and a half years to go after Trump for all these stupid trials. Why are they waiting until right now? Is it possible they're waiting till Right now. Because Trump consistently delayed the trials, while Trump complains about liberal bias. It seemed the most qualified jurors were outside the courthouse. This is a pro Trump round. TikTok. TikTok, you think you can be an unbiased juror? Of course I can. Do you have any feelings or opinions about how Mr. Trump is being treated in this case? I absolutely do. You do? What are those feelings? No, I have feelings that if you commit a crime, then you should go to trial. Great. That's it. So you support this trial? No, because it's not a trial. Oh, well, then I'm sorry, there's no room for you on this jury. But apparently it was the venue itself that presented the most bias. Trump cannot get a fair trial in a 90 plus percent Democrat city like New York City. Where can Trump get a fair trial? In the Midwest, in Ohio, In Florida. He's on trial in Florida. He's on trial in Georgia. Will you accept the results of those trials? No. So the MAGA sphere is ready for accountability, just not anywhere on this planet. Donald Trump has a big month ahead. A debate, an immunity ruling, sentencing, and a convention in the horrible city of Milwaukee. His words, not mine. So I went to my first rally since he became a convicted felon in the good old battleground state of Wisconsin. And as usual, MAGA was gonna MAGA.

[Savannah Guthrie]

Make America great again. I need to make some money.

[Hoda Kotb]

You got a truck you wanna show me? Yeah, I do. I wish the world a better place because I was here. Jesus Christ. President Trump. Same font, huh? Yeah. Okay, Chad, are you at all worried about that whole worshiping false idols thing? Not at all. What do you think about the upcoming debate? I've heard that, you know, people say Biden won't show up. Do you think Trump is gonna show up? Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, he. I think he's gonna show up. He's not afraid to debate anybody. Oh, no, no, no, no. I mean, except for Nikki Haley, of course. There's one thing still on everyone's mind. Trump's recent felony conviction in New York for falsifying business records. People are talking about what happened with Donald Trump's conviction recently. That totally bullshit. All 34 of them. It's a mess. Get rid of it. Why is it a mess? It's a mess because he didn't do anything wrong. Who's he cheating? I mean, other than is why I'm not getting into that. It's unjustible. It's not fair. Scam. It only takes one crime to send you to jail.

[Savannah Guthrie]

A Prison.

[Hoda Kotb]

Isn't that the truth? Oh, suddenly America is the land where you commit a crime and you go to prison. Are you kidding me? That was a kangaroo trial. This is absolute Stalinism. So do you have faith in the Department of Justice? No. Now there's the Hunter Biden trial. What did you. Hunter Biden was found guilty. Yes. What do you think of that? I. Well, there was. The evidence was overwhelming. You take the evidence, you put it through the justice system and he's found guilty. We should accept that. Yes. Wait a minute, hold on. But I thought the justice system was rigged. We shouldn't trust it. It wasn't taking place in a community that voted. But the judge was a Trump appointed judge. Was he? Yeah. What do you think of the whole Hunter Biden situation? Are you relieved Hunter Biden is found guilty? They're not going to do anything to. Why not? You can sit around, dump a pistol in the garbage, smoke crack, you get away with all that shit. But it sounds like he was convicted. Yeah. So is that the justice system working? I don't know. Justice system won't work until that put away. Which are we talking about? Trump. Trump. 100%. When Trump is put away, the justice system is working. No, no, come on. Sorry, I'm just. I'm trying to keep. Christ, dude. Which part of the justice system do we totally implicitly trust to which one is a total sham? It's. It's hard to keep them straight. But did this conviction dole out justice or just create a martyr? There's a classic cartoon that shows other convicted felons. There's Gandhi, there's Nelson Mandela, and then there's Trump. Did you put Trump in line with Gandhi and Nelson Mandela? Yeah, between Gandhi, Mandela and Trump. Which was the one who had sex with a porn star and then paid to cover that up? Well, none of the above. Right. But one of the above. And one of them recently made bank off his brush with the law. Spoiler alert, it wasn't Gandhi. So the conviction helped Donald Trump.

[Savannah Guthrie]

Well, everyone's pouring in money to support him, so. And I know I've done that a couple times.

[Hoda Kotb]

Trump goes to trial for sexual assault. How much you giving? What is that?

[Savannah Guthrie]

Is that a. Oh, probably a thousand dollars.

[Hoda Kotb]

Thousand bucks for that. Okay, classified docs. How much are you.

[Savannah Guthrie]

You're giving another thousand.

[Hoda Kotb]

Okay, so 1,000 across the board. Yes. Okay. Overthrow democracy. That biggie. Is that. Is that two grand?

[Savannah Guthrie]

That's probably five grand.

[Hoda Kotb]

Wow.

[Savannah Guthrie]

Okay, basically we just need to save.

[Hoda Kotb]

Our country from the border surge. Right, Right, right.

[Savannah Guthrie]

You don't need to be shelling out money to give immigrants who don't deserve it.

[Hoda Kotb]

You're sick and tired of your money going to people who committed crimes. That's right, yeah. Did you donate? Yes. What about for the sexual assault case? Did you get for that? This is all just so old news.

[Savannah Guthrie]

You know, it doesn't affect me.

[Hoda Kotb]

It's old news. Sexual assault, smexual assault. Let's move on with the future. Yeah. Yeah. That's a laugh. Yeah, it is. Yeah, it is. Okay. But what is slightly less hilarious is Trump's second term plan, which sounds a lot like going after everyone who went after him. Based on what they've done, I would have every right to go after them. I am your retribution. Donald Trump is put into office. Should he go after his political opponents? Absolutely. Rock their world up like they theirs up. Donald Trump, if he gets into office again, should he show any mercy to political opponents? I don't think so. He should go after them. How important is vengeance to you when Trump gets into office?

[Savannah Guthrie]

Um, it's probably third on the list.

[Hoda Kotb]

Okay, good. So I'm guessing that's between martial law and right before fixing toilet pressure. But there's a simple reason it's so easy for them to give him a pass. I love Trump. So, you know, there you go. It's like if you have a child and they pull some shenanigans. You don't like what they do. You love the person, but you don't necessarily like what they do. The child analogy is kind of perfect. But to be clear, we are talking about the person you want to be president. I want him to be president. Yes. At least someone is having a good time.

[Desi Lydic]

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[Savannah Guthrie]

Hi, everyone. It's Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb from the Today Show. We love this time of year. There's so much to celebrate.

[Hoda Kotb]

That's right.

[Savannah Guthrie]

Nobody does the holidays quite like today all season long. Join us for special performances with the brightest stars. Plus festive recipes to whip up the perfect holiday feast and great deals on the hottest toys and gifts for everyone on your list. So join us every morning on NBC to make today your home for the holidays. The holidays are here and so is the IKEA Winter Sale. Now's your chance to make the holidays a little more magical and less expensive. Save up to 50% off on select items in store and online now through January 7th. Plus IKEA loyalty members get an extra 10% off on sale items. Need help managing the clutter of decorations? Ikea Storage Solutions will keep your home tidy from toys and tinsel. Having extra guests over checkout offers unselect dining furniture to make more room for the people who matter most this time of year. Don't wait to finish your winter wish list. Shop the IKEA Winter Sale in store or online now until January 7th. Visit ikea-usa.com wintersale for more details. Terms applied offer valid. Dates may vary us only while supplies last. Selection may vary by store and online. See [e-mail] wintersale for complete terms. Restrictions apply.

[Hoda Kotb]

The last three weeks have been some of the most eventful in American political history. So I went to Harrisburg Penns to see how the maga world is reflecting on these serious times. First, I want to know how they're coping with the loss of their favorite punching bag. I've seen you many, many times here. What number rally are we at? 82. Are you sad about the Joe Biden chant being retired? I'm sad because of all I've invested in all this anti Biden gear. How much? Let's go. Branded anti Joe Biden merch. Did you have thousands of dollars? Is that right? Wow. I buy it at the let's Go Brandon store in Toms River, New Jersey. Do they have to rename that? I think they're gonna have to rename it. How about one more for old times sake? Joe and the Hoe. And now the name calling of Vice President Harris begins. If they could only decide how to mispronounce that name. I'm surprised Kamala even has a chance. No one likes Kamala. They want a Carmela in. And that's what I don't like to hear about the Kamala thing. Why do you say your name like that? How do you say it? Kamala. No, it's Kamala. Kamala. Kamala. Kamala. Kamala. Kamala. There you go. I appreciate that you're trying to say the name correctly. Yes, I actually am not, but I inadvertently, you know. How would you want to say it, Kamala? It's the way Bush used to say Saddam Hussein. Saddam. Is this you workshopping elevating Kamala to Saddam Hussein levels? Kamala Harris is a bigger threat. More anti American than Saddam Hussein. Yes. The most anti American candidate for president we've ever had. I gotta tell you, if I ran into you three weeks ago, you might have said that about Joe Biden. That's right, yeah. Do you think Kamala is qualified to be president? Somebody that cackles all the time and laughs at everything under the sun? Are you kidding me? A woman experiencing joy, not your thing? Yeah. She's useless. She's backpedaling on all her previous comments. Is that your issue with her? Yeah, yeah. Yes. What do you like about J.D. vance? He's a man of the people. You think he'll stand up for Trump? Yeah. Vance will stand up to the people who compare Donald Trump to Hitler. Yeah. What happens if those people are also JD Vance? He has equated Donald Trump to Hitler. America's Hitler years ago. He flip flopped. People can change. Yeah, but I still don't like Paris. There you go. Apparently writing a book about your opioid addicted family makes you more qualified than any black woman could ever be. I heard she got up the ladder on her back. Right. But millions of people voted for Kamala Harris. Did she sleep with all of them? I just don't. I don't know. How do you sleep? You were to the top of elected positions. I don't know how she got to where she is, except if the word is DEI, you know? What do you think of J.D. vance? I think he picked him for votes in the Rust Belt. Oh, so Trump wanted diversity on the ticket. Diversity on his ticket, yeah. Sure. Over the years, the MAGA crowd has faced a lot of criticism, but none more stinging than the line of attack started by Kamala's new VP candidate, Tim Walls. These guys are just weird. These are weird people. On the other side, Democrats are trying to call the MAGA movement weird. What do you think of that? It's. I mean, it's. I don't know what's weird about it. Is it fair, though, to call the MAGA movement inherently an unserious movement? I mean, I don't think so. Do you think the discourse has gotten to too ridiculous? I think so, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I just think sometimes from an outside perspective, it feels like you come to a manga event. And there isn't a seriousness. It's not about people trying to fix America. It feels like a carnival. Yeah. Is that a fair critique? No, I don't think so. No. I mean, these are people who are just genuinely care about the country. People come here, they want to talk policy. Yeah, absolutely. They want to talk about Gaza. They want to talk abortion rights. Right. This isn't a fricking carnival. It's not Halloween. We're not all dressing up like lunatics. It's a serious thing here. Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. You do know you're wearing that hat right now? Yeah. Okay, cool. The rally was just three weeks after a truly tragic day in US politics. The official story was that the assassination attempt was committed by a disturbed young man who was a registered Republican. But this crowd isn't always into official stories. I think people on both sides can agree that was a horrific moment in our history. It was. Looking back on it. Do you believe the things you hear? Oh, no, I don't. I believe it's an inside job. The shooting was an inside job. A lot of things aren't adding up. It's very strange. I think that was a planned job. Anybody with any common sense knows that was a planned job. Planned by who? The Dems, the left, the deep state? Obama is involved in this. You think Obama set up the assassination attempt? I think he surely knew about it. Oh, it's the government, for sure. It's government, I think. So you think they would go through all of this? I mean, wouldn't they really wanted to take out Trump? Wouldn't they just poison the Big Mac? I don't know. It's a dance. The FBI, the Special Service. Does it surprise you to hear that it was a disgruntled white guy Republican gun nut? No, because you know what? We'll never know why he was picked. It's kind of the perfect cover. Exactly. They could have gotten a disgruntled black guy, and I'm not. I. No problem. And they could have gotten a disgruntled black female, but no, they picked the disgruntled, disgruntled white guy who's into guns at a Trump rally. It's like a werequaldo situation. Yes, yes. It's like, oh, my God. Who doesn't fit that profile? Exactly. Right. And just about the security and everything. There's like something wasn't right there from the beginning. I know. It gets me. It's like this kid was able to get an AR15 that year.

[Desi Lydic]

What the hell?

[Hoda Kotb]

Yeah, it doesn't add up in that. It adds up so cleanly. It feels too easy. Exactly. And there's, there's no paper. They can only go so far. And it's like a dead end. It's a situation where, like, you want to connect the two dots, but it's just much easier to go all the way around. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. At Ameca Insurance, we know it's more than just a car. It's the two door coupe that was there for your first drive, the hatchback that took you cross country and back, and the minivan that tackles the weekly carpool for the cars you couldn't live without. Trust Amica Auto insurance. Amica empathy is our best policy.

[Savannah Guthrie]

The holidays are here, and so is the Ikea Winter Sale. Now's your chance to make the holidays a little more magical and less expensive. Save up to 50% off on select items in store and online now through January 7th. Plus IKEA loyalty members get an extra 10% off on sale items offer. Valid in the US through 17 mall supplies. Last selection may vary by store and online. See [e-mail] wintersale for complete terms. Restrictions apply.

[Hoda Kotb]

How crispy are the new Delimax Crispy Quesadillas? Let's see. I'm gonna pop one in the microwave. Yeah. Delimax Crispy Quesadillas are crispy. Even from a microwave. I can already smell it. Heads up. If you hate loud crunching, you might wanna mute. Mmm. So crispy. Like, barely hear myself think crispy. These should come with a warning. If this crispiness is making you hungry, get to your closest grocery store for deli mix Crispy Quesadillas in the frozen aisle.