Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Passes House, Takes From Poor, Gives to Rich | Dawn Staley

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition
Episode: Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Passes House, Takes From Poor, Gives to Rich | Dawn Staley
Release Date: May 23, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, hosted by Ron Chang, the iHeartPodcasts and Paramount Podcasts collaboration delves deep into some of the most pressing political and social issues of the day. From dissecting President Trump's controversial legislative moves to exploring immigration policies and engaging in an insightful conversation with basketball legend Dawn Staley, this episode offers listeners a comprehensive look at current events with characteristic wit and depth.

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Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Passes the House

Timestamp: 01:36 - 08:42

The episode opens with a critical examination of President Trump's newly signed legislation, colloquially dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill” (BBB) by Republicans. Ron Chang provides a satirical take on Trump's prolific use of executive orders, contrasting it with the cumbersome legislative process:

Ron Chang (01:36): "President Trump has signed a record number of executive orders since he became president, which makes sense. It's a lot easier than passing laws."

The BBB, an expansive 1,000-page bill, aims to consolidate various Republican priorities into a single legislative package. However, Chang highlights the bill’s controversial aspects, particularly its financial implications and social impact:

Political Analyst (05:07): "It extends the president's signature 2017 tax cuts, and that's at a cost of about $4 trillion. And that's paid for in part by nearly $700 billion in cuts to Medicaid, that health care program for those on the lower end of the income scale."

Chang underscores the stark disparity the bill creates by siphoning funds from essential social services to benefit the wealthy:

Ron Chang (05:24): "Cutting health care and food stamps to pay for tax cuts. I mean, the only way this could be more cartoonishly mean to poor people is if it said, Bob Cratchit has to work on Christmas Day."

The episode critiques the naming of the bill, drawing humor from its ambiguous acronym and the unintended associations it evokes:

Guest Speaker (03:17): "President Trump's so called big beautiful bill. One big beautiful bill. Trump's big beautiful Bill."

As bipartisan tensions surface, Democrats vehemently oppose the BBB, launching a barrage of criticism:

Guest Speaker (07:47): "It's a big billionaire's bankroll bill."

Chang personifies the bill in a humorous skit, portraying it as an insecure entity grappling with its own identity amidst the backlash:

Big Beautiful Bill (08:47): "Why? Why? Just cause I kicked 7 million poor and disabled Americans off Medicaid."

This segment effectively encapsulates the political divide and the socio-economic ramifications of the legislation.

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Deportations to South Sudan: A Controversial Immigration Policy

Timestamp: 12:16 - 17:26

Shifting focus to immigration, Chang addresses the Trump administration's Project Homecoming, a self-deportation initiative aimed at illegal immigrants. The policy controversially relocates individuals to war-torn South Sudan, raising significant humanitarian and legal concerns:

Political Analyst (12:29): "The Trump administration is accused of violating another court order on immigration by putting eight migrants on a plane from Texas. Immigration attorneys say they were deported to South Sudan, which is a war-torn country where the State Department advises Americans not to travel."

Through satirical narrative, Chang introduces a character named Al Madrigal, who epitomizes the misguided perception of the deportation program's allure:

iHeart Podcast (14:29): "And this sweet bag lunch. I named him Baby Foo Foo."

The segment lampoons the superficially attractive incentives offered to immigrants, juxtaposing them against the grim reality of South Sudan's instability:

Al Madrigal (16:14): "It's in my butt, Ronnie."

The absurdity of the situation is further emphasized when Al Madrigal inadvertently alerts Donald Trump to Chang’s presence, resulting in a chaotic encounter:

Ron Chang (16:47): "Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Al. Al, are you okay?"

This portion highlights the ethical and practical dilemmas surrounding immigration enforcement policies, using humor to underscore the gravitas of the issue.

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Exclusive Interview with Dawn Staley

Timestamp: 18:48 - 35:21

The latter half of the episode features an in-depth interview with Dawn Staley, the renowned head coach of the University of South Carolina's women's basketball team and a three-time Olympic gold medalist. The conversation spans a range of topics, offering listeners valuable insights into coaching philosophies, the evolving landscape of basketball, and Staley's personal journey.

Coaching Philosophy and Team Dynamics

Staley articulates her approach to coaching, emphasizing communication and adaptability:

Dawn Staley (26:08): "I'm more of a communicator. I'mma let you know it's gonna be tough and I'm gonna keep letting you know it's gonna be tough."

She contrasts her methodology with her own coach's, highlighting her commitment to fostering a collaborative team environment:

Guest Speaker (26:24): "We're doing this together, but it's hard."

This segment delves into the balance between being a demanding coach and cultivating a supportive team culture, showcasing Staley's leadership style.

Analysis of Recent Knicks Game

Chang brings up the recent Knicks game, using it as a springboard to discuss endgame strategies and the impact of analytics in basketball:

Ron Chang (20:07): "When you have 30 seconds or less left on the clock and your team is down by three, do you foul to send the other team to the free throw line or not?"

Staley provides her tactical perspective, advocating for strategic moves to regain control:

Dawn Staley (20:09): "I would say I'm gonna extend the time. Time is not on your side."

The conversation evolves into a critique of modern basketball's reliance on analytics, with Staley defending the importance of individual creativity amidst a data-driven game:

Guest Speaker (27:47): "We can, we can't do that on a collegiate level. Some teams can do it and they put themselves in a position to win. But I've never seen anybody win championships. They win a lot of basketball games, but bottom line, you need to win championships."

NIL Rules and Player Compensation

Addressing the recent changes in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations, Staley expresses optimism, particularly for women athletes:

Guest Speaker (31:46): "I think it's great. I especially think it's great for women because women are thriving in this space like I do."

However, she also points out potential pitfalls, such as the ease of transferring schools to chase financial gains, suggesting the NCAA needs stricter regulations:

Guest Speaker (32:55): "I think the NCAA needs to do something about the. Just transfer whenever you. Whenever things don't go your way or you want more money."

Personal Challenges and Resilience

Staley shares her personal battle with pericarditis, illustrating her resilience and dedication to her team even in the face of serious health concerns:

Guest Speaker (33:57): "I was like, okay, but let me see if I can do this. I couldn't get my heart rate up because pericarditis is just an inflammation of the lining of your heart."

She humorously recounts her interaction with her doctor and her unconventional path to recovery:

Ron Chang (34:46): "You just set a hot screen on him and you'd be like, don't tell me not to play basketball."

Guest Speaker (34:56): "We’re gonna be tranquil after the season. So after the season, I got better, and then I started doing yoga, and then it went. I healed quicker than normal."

Staley's story serves as an inspiring testament to perseverance and the human spirit's capacity to overcome adversity.

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Conclusion

This episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition masterfully blends political satire with insightful interviews, offering listeners both humor and depth. Ron Chang's adept moderation ensures that complex topics like legislative impacts and immigration policies are accessible and engaging, while Dawn Staley's candid reflections provide valuable lessons in leadership and resilience. Whether discussing the contentious "Big Beautiful Bill" or the transformative changes in collegiate athletics, the show succeeds in delivering a well-rounded and informative experience for its audience.

Transcript

[iHeart Podcast]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.

[Talkspace Ad]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is mental health awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone, let's face it in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back, whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through, it's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A CE80. To match with a licensed therapist. Today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.

[Comedy Central]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Daily Show Intro]

From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Ronn.

[Ron Chang]

Welcome to the Daily Show. I'm Ron Chang. We've got so much to talk about tonight. A piece of legislation gets body shamed. Medicaid's being taken to a farm upstate. And good news, the government's giving out free vacations to South Sudan. So let's get into the headlines. President Trump has signed a record number of executive orders since he became president, which makes sense. It's a lot easier than passing laws. I mean, to pass the law, you gotta write a bill, then you gotta pass it through the House and then the Senate and then checks and balances and founding Fathers and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. It's a lot easier to just declare shit. All right, gummy bears are vegetables now. Done. But don't forget, Congress is still doing things. They're not just sitting around waiting to die. Well, I mean, they're doing that, but they're also doing other things. So last night, House Republicans packed their entire agenda into one enormous bill that's over 1,000 pages long. The question is, what do you call an enormous bill that crams together every single Republican issue? One big, beautiful bill.

[iHeart Podcast]

I'd like to name it that if you can.

[Ron Chang]

Really big, beautiful bill that's the best you could come up with? It's a stupid name. Okay. Also, that's what Jordan Hudson calls Bill Belichick. Right. The point is nobody is going to go along with that.

[Political Analyst]

President Trump's so called big beautiful bill. One big beautiful bill. Trump's big beautiful Bill.

[Guest Speaker]

Trump's big beautiful bill.

[Ron Chang]

Mein gott. I guess they are gonna go along with it. It's a big beautiful bill, the bbb. Although it is reminding some people of something else. Even if you're getting excitement from Capitol Hill and the White House over the BBL that the big beautiful bill. Sorry. Share your screen right now. Right now. Share it or this interview is over. I love how flustered he got after that. It's the bbl. Oh, sorry, sorry. I mean butts. I mean, I mean, I mean big juicy asses. Now, for those who don't know.

[iHeart Podcast]

A.

[Ron Chang]

BBL stands for Brazilian Butt Lift. It is a procedure that some women get to enlarge their posteriors and it's quite popular with Instagram ass models. Or so I'm told. I wouldn't know because my. For your page is nothing but photos of my beautiful wife. I love you, baby. I would never follow 17 female golfers with huge asses online. This is the one show this year my wife actually came to. She's watching this right now. But after months of negotiating last night, Republicans stayed up all night and passed the big beautiful bill. And maybe BBL was a better name because this bill is thick and mostly ass.

[Political Analyst]

Here's what's in it. It extends the president's signature 2017 tax cuts, and that's at a cost of about $4 trillion. And that's paid for in part by nearly $700 billion in cuts to Medicaid, that health care program for those on the lower end of the income scale.

[Ron Chang]

It also comes with cuts to social safety nets like food stamps. Wow. Cutting health care and food stamps to pay for tax cuts. I mean, the only way this could be more cartoonishly mean to poor people is if it said, Bob Cratchit has to work on Christmas Day. He's just a frog. Why does he have to work at all? But. But this vote was very controversial, even among Republicans who didn't like how it increased the debt by $4 trillion. Do you realize how much money 4 trillion is? No, you don't, because none of it went to education. The point is, some Republicans were resisting this bill. So to get it passed, Donald Trump needed to use all of his political powers of persuasion. Trump made the rare Journey to the Hill.

[Political Analyst]

The meeting with House Republicans behind closed.

[Ron Chang]

Doors for 90 minutes for what he says was just a pep talk. He called out members by name. He threw the F bomb around. I have seen time and time again, they're dragged out of the House floor and back into the Republican members cloakroom, and they're handed a cell phone and it's Donald Trump literally yelling at them and cursing at them. Politics used to be deals and handshakes and pass my bill and I'll do something for you. Now Trump is just like, pass my bill or I'll kill you. I'll kill you and I'll date your wife. But look, the bill isn't just about taking health care from poor people to give rich people tax cuts. I'm sure there's something in there for the rest of you.

[Political Analyst]

Some provisions tucked into the bill. One of them eliminates the $200 firearm registration fee for gun silencers.

[Ron Chang]

Yeah, let's see. That was added by Rhode Island Representative John Wick. What's the benefit of making it slightly cheaper to buy silencers? I mean, is there an assassin out there who's like, hey, I got my shot lined up, but first, let me call my accountant to see how this affects my deductions. I mean, maybe it's better if silencers are more affordable. Now, when a mass shooter is going through a classroom, the other classrooms can keep learning. As you can imagine, though, Democrats are not fans of the big, beautiful bill, and they're ready to roast it with some slam poetry. It is not one big, beautiful bill.

[Guest Speaker]

It's a big billionaire's bankroll bill.

[Ron Chang]

It's a big, disgraceful betrayal of the American people.

[Daily Show Intro]

This bill is brutal. It is not beautiful.

[Ron Chang]

I just don't see what Republicans find beautiful about this ugly bill.

[Comedy Central]

It's not beautiful. It's ugly.

[Ron Chang]

It has wrinkles, warts, festering sores, and scars. Okay, we get it, but that's a little too specific. Sounds like you're describing something personal. This bill is gross and weird and has a mole with hair growing out of it and it's changing color. I'm talking about the bill. But should. Should he see a doctor? Should it see a doctor? Just hypothetically speaking. For more on the reaction to the big, beautiful bill, let's go live to Washington, where I'm being told we actually have the big, beautiful bill itself.

[Daily Show Intro]

Bill.

[Ron Chang]

Bill, you just passed the House. Why are you upset? What's wrong?

[Big Beautiful Bill]

What's wrong? What's right? Ronnie, you heard all the mean things the Democrats said about me. Calling me ugly, wrinkly, and, yeah, I have warts, but HPV is extremely common. And why? Why? Just cause I kicked 7 million poor and disabled Americans off Medicaid.

[Ron Chang]

I mean, that's not great.

[Big Beautiful Bill]

Oh, like, you're so perfect. This was supposed to be my special day. Call me crazy. I want to be approved and loved and kick people off food stamps, so I think don't deserve food.

[Ron Chang]

Okay, well, that is kind of an ugly thing to do.

[Big Beautiful Bill]

Oh, my God. Ugly. Ronnie. Maybe I should just go to my room, lock the door, and veto myself. Is that what you want? Would that make you happy?

[Ron Chang]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Don't do that.

[Big Beautiful Bill]

It's so hard being a bill. Like, being talked about, being voted on. People treating me like I'm an object.

[Ron Chang]

You. You are an object.

[Big Beautiful Bill]

All I'm trying to do is be myself. Just live my truth and take health care away from trans people.

[Ron Chang]

Okay, What? That. What? That's in this bill? Holy shit. I can't change who I am. That's not true. Okay? Everyone can change. I mean, maybe we can make you beautiful. Maybe add some health care subsidies, money for children. Ugh, Kids.

[Big Beautiful Bill]

I don't know.

[Ron Chang]

Okay, okay, well, let's start with something smaller then. How about you? I don't know. Maybe try taking off your glasses. Wow. Wow. Yeah. See? And maybe tussle your hair a little. Wow. Maybe you. Maybe you can be beautiful. Hey, you know what? Just. Why don't you tell me, like, like, three things you like about yourself?

[Talkspace Ad]

Um.

[Big Beautiful Bill]

I'm fun, I'm cute, and I hate poor people. We should throw them into furnaces to power. AI.

[Ron Chang]

Okay. No. No. You ruined it. You're hideous. I hate you, Ronnie.

[Big Beautiful Bill]

I'm going to the Senate.

[Ron Chang]

All right, the big, beautiful bill, everyone. When we come back, we go to South Sudan, so don't.

[Talkspace Ad]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone, let's face it, in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back, whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most Major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P, a CE83. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.

[Ron Chang]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. If you're mad that President Trump is deporting immigrants back to their home country without due process, well, calm down. He's also deporting them to other countries without due process.

[Political Analyst]

The Trump administration is accused of violating another court order on immigration by putting eight migrants on a plane from Texas. Immigration attorneys say they were deported to South Sudan, which is a war torn country where the State Department advises Americans not to travel.

[Ron Chang]

Wow. South Sudan. The only place more depressing than South Sudan is Madison Square Garden. That's our last night's Knicks game, right? Yeah. For the Internet, we lost. So these deportations might seem cruel to some and legally dubious to others, but that's why the Trump administration released this video to show you that they can be also exciting and cool. Deportation rocks. Hail Satan. You know, that's. That's the funny thing about being a musician. I mean, one minute you think you're gonna be the next Jimi Hendrix, and the next minute your songs are being used in a video titled GESTAPO Hype Reel 3.0. But if you would prefer not to be deported to heavy metal, you can always leave on your own. And in fact, if you self deport, Trump will sweeten the deal.

[Political Analyst]

The Department of Homeland Security conducting its first self deport operation called Project Homecoming. 64 illegal immigrants making the choice to self dep back to their home countries. Officials handed out food and children's toys for each ride, and each person was given a $1,000 stipend for their cooperation.

[Ron Chang]

What? $1,000 and a sack lunch for self deporting? What idiot would take that offer? What stupid hem.

[iHeart Podcast]

This idiot. Hello, Ron.

[Ron Chang]

Al. Madrigal. Wait. Al, you self deported? But you're a citizen.

[iHeart Podcast]

I know, but that's how cool those videos look. I mean, I got $1,000.

[Guest Speaker]

All right?

[iHeart Podcast]

And this sweet bag lunch.

[Ron Chang]

$1,000 is not that much money, okay? It's not gonna get you very far.

[iHeart Podcast]

Maybe not in New York City, but 1,000 bucks in what looks like South Sudan. I am living large, okay?

[Ron Chang]

Yeah, but you're in South Sudan.

[iHeart Podcast]

Oh, I'm sorry. What was that? I got A little distracted by my gratis Capri Sun. All right, Fruit punch, best flavor. And check it out. They even froze a gogurt. Okay, thank you, dhs. Ronnie, you gotta get down here, man.

[Ron Chang]

I'm not going down there, okay? And I think you're focusing on the wrong thing here.

[iHeart Podcast]

You're right. I should be focusing on this cuddly stuffed animal, all right? I named him Baby Foo Foo. Oh, what's that? Baby Foo Foo. Ronnie's an idiot for not taking a thousand bucks and the sweet bag lunch.

[Ron Chang]

Al, enough about the lunch, okay? There's a reason Kristi Noem isn't talking about what happened to these people. The countries that are being sent to are really dangerous, okay?

[iHeart Podcast]

Don't worry. I bought myself a gun, which there's tons of, because it turns out we funded a civil war here. And I bought myself a hut with a guest hut.

[Guest Speaker]

All right?

[iHeart Podcast]

And I still got 950 bucks. We are going to party when you get here, man.

[Ron Chang]

Al, I'm not going to South Sudan.

[iHeart Podcast]

Sure you are, because I gave your name to ICE Wait, what?

[Ron Chang]

Why? Why would you do that?

[iHeart Podcast]

Well, they have a Refer a Friend program. You see, I turn you in, I get a second Capri Sun.

[Ron Chang]

You know what?

[iHeart Podcast]

Hold on a second. Some guys are approaching. Must be my new neighbors. Hey, what's up, fellas? Cool machetes. Hey, what are you doing to my camera? Stay away from me.

[Ron Chang]

Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Al. Al, are you okay? Can you hear me? Al? Try stabbing them with the Capri sun straw. Oh, my God. Al. Al. Oh, you're back. What happened, Ronnie?

[iHeart Podcast]

The DHS failed to mention they have warlords here. They took everything.

[Ron Chang]

They took your money.

[iHeart Podcast]

Even worse, they took Baby Foo Foo. He was just a baby. Luckily, I was able to hide my gogurt where no one's ever gonna find it. All right, I'll explain when you get here.

[Ron Chang]

I'm not going there.

[iHeart Podcast]

It's in my butt, Ronnie.

[Ron Chang]

Okay, South Sudan's Al Madriga, everybody. When we come back, Don Staley will join me on the show. So don't go away.

[Talkspace Ad]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone, let's face it, in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back, whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P, a CE83. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.

[Ron Chang]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is a basketball legend and head coach of the University of South Carolina's women's basketball team. Her new memoir is called Uncommon Favor. Please welcome the legendary Dawn Stalin. Thank you. The New York City standing ovation. I gave it to you.

[Guest Speaker]

I'm honored.

[Ron Chang]

Yeah. Three time Olympic gold medalist. As a player, you won a gold medal. One gold medal. As a coach, a champion in playing at college and coaching at college, you are undoubtedly a basketball expert. So did you watch the Knicks game last night?

[Guest Speaker]

I did. I attended for half of it, and then I beat the crowd out and ended up watching it in my hotel room.

[Ron Chang]

Okay, well, you left at the right time because I just want to ask you about endgame situations here. When you have 30 seconds or less left on the clock and your team is down by three, do you foul to send the other team to the free throw line or not?

[Guest Speaker]

You definitely foul.

[Ron Chang]

You foul.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah.

[Ron Chang]

I would argue you don't foul because then if the other team scores a three, worst case scenario, you play D, they score a three, you're tied, you get the ball back, you have possession, and you can shoot for the last shot.

[Guest Speaker]

I would say I'm gonna extend the time. Time is not on your side. So if you foul with 30 seconds, there's a lot of time left in order for you to play that cat and mouse game.

[Ron Chang]

Oh, sorry. I'm saying if your team is up. Sorry, my bad. It's my bad. Yeah. Your team is up by three. Sorry. Yeah. Your team's up by three. There's less than 24 seconds left. NBA rules. NBA rules. So the advancement after timeouts and all that, if your team is up by three, would you foul?

[Guest Speaker]

No, because I believe in my defense.

[Ron Chang]

Okay. Well, someone should have told the Knicks that because they fouled. They were up by three. They fouled they sent the other team to a free throw line. The other team scored two and then they got the ball. The team fouled them anyway.

[Guest Speaker]

But what happened was an anomaly. Like the probability of the Knicks losing.

[Ron Chang]

Is not an anomaly. That happens quite a lot actually. Yeah.

[Guest Speaker]

Knicks in six.

[Ron Chang]

Knicks in six. Oh yeah, great. All right. But sorry I cut you off. What do you mean it's not an anomaly?

[Guest Speaker]

What do you mean that doesn't happen very often where you got a 17 point lead and you lose it.

[Ron Chang]

No, it does not happen.

[Guest Speaker]

So I probably would have been fouling the guy that was banging like five threes. I would not have let him get threes off.

[Ron Chang]

Oh yeah, but that guy was. He was going out of control. He was shooting like anomaly.

[Guest Speaker]

Like. Yeah, that doesn't matter.

[Ron Chang]

He scored like 12 points in like a minute.

[Guest Speaker]

He did.

[Ron Chang]

Which is only the Knicks could let that.

[Political Analyst]

Yeah.

[Ron Chang]

The other thing I want to ask you is sometimes I watch a lot of NBA basketball and like compared to college basketball. And one thing I found is like the rule enforcement is a lot different in the NBA. You know, for example, even traveling calls or moving screens, you know, it kind of one of my things with basketball is so weird whenever in the NBA they never call a moving screen for anything, you know, And I mean, I don't know is that.

[Guest Speaker]

They did last night.

[Ron Chang]

Sure. Yeah. But in your opinion, is this like, is this just. Okay, we just gotta play this game now where screens are whatever they are, defenses are smart.

[Guest Speaker]

So it's more of a. The defense is actually acting because the only thing you have to do is fall. If someone sets a hard screen on you or somewhat illegal screen.

[Ron Chang]

Yeah.

[Guest Speaker]

If you just put your body make contact and fall.

[Ron Chang]

Yeah.

[Guest Speaker]

More than likely they want to call it.

[Ron Chang]

Okay.

[Guest Speaker]

They want to call that call.

[Ron Chang]

Right.

[Guest Speaker]

And it's an objective call.

[Ron Chang]

So you don't have a problem with the moving screen the way.

[Guest Speaker]

Well, I'm going to say this when. When you're playing against a really tough offensive player, you're trying to create an edge. So if they're coming off of screens and I don't think I can get back into play. Oh, I'm a fake. A foul.

[Ron Chang]

Okay.

[Guest Speaker]

I'm going to run into the screener and fall.

[Ron Chang]

Okay. Right. And try to get a call.

[Guest Speaker]

Try. Cause they're going to score because I can't get back in front.

[Ron Chang]

OK, well this is interesting also. We just lost like 80% of the crowd because this is. These guys are like political nerds. So they don't know. So let's I find this very interesting, but I guess no one else. No one else even knows who we are. But, like, on the topic of being a championship coach, if you had to tell the Knicks something after a loss like that, where you were up by 17. No, but, like, what would you tell your team to, like, get them for game two? You know what I mean?

[Guest Speaker]

I mean, there's really no motivating. You're in the Eastern Conference finals. It is. You're at home. You still have an advantage. Like, when the home team loses, then it becomes a really good series. I do think the Knicks is the better team. Right. I do think they'll win game two. They'll probably lose game three, win game four.

[Ron Chang]

Wait, hang on. Let me write this down.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, go ahead.

[Big Beautiful Bill]

Write it down.

[Ron Chang]

Might as well make some money on this. So what do you think's the point spread on game two? All right, so you think they're gonna win?

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah, in six.

[Ron Chang]

All right. Okay, great. Yep. Okay. But you wouldn't even tell them anything. Cause they're professionals. You're like. You guys are pros. You guys get motivation. You're The Eastern Conference finals. You don't need me to. There's no kind of locker room moment where you're like, oh, come on, guys.

[Guest Speaker]

No. The loss itself is embarrassing, and they know what to do.

[Ron Chang]

Okay, so you'll go in saying that.

[Guest Speaker]

I would. Because at this stage of the game, if they drop another one, then they're done.

[Ron Chang]

Right. But this is an interesting coaching philosophy. Less is more. Almost.

[Guest Speaker]

For me, less is more.

[Ron Chang]

Right.

[Guest Speaker]

Like, you actually. You have to know the pulse of your team. You have to look and see what they look like, what they sound like after that game. And you can probably look at the press conferences and hear what they're saying. And if they're saying, we let our foot off the gas, it's an anomaly. You know, we got this. I mean, they're up 17 with seven minutes left. Like, you're supposed to win that game. And if they put themselves in a position where they're up 17 in any other game, they're going to win.

[Ron Chang]

Sure. And this idea of coaching, sometimes less is more in terms of motivating and coaching. I mean, reading your book, you talk about the 96 Olympics, where, I mean, fair to say, your coach was pretty hard on you in 96. So I don't think that tower.

[Guest Speaker]

I learned from her.

[Ron Chang]

Oh, yeah? Was she also less is more? Because it seems like.

[Guest Speaker]

No, no, she was more is more. So I went the opposite. But still, we Win.

[Ron Chang]

Sure. You adopted a philosophy. Why do you think that happened? You know, because you had a very tough coach at the 96 Olympics where you won the gold medal. And then you becoming a coach, you kind of went away from that philosophy a little bit. Like, why do you think that?

[Guest Speaker]

So I'm equally as tough, but I'm more of. I'm a communicator. I'mma let you know it's gonna be tough and I'm gonna keep letting you know it's gonna be tough. So I condition you to know it's gonna be tough. So it's not necessarily the team not liking me, because I don't think we liked her during the process. Like my team likes me. Like they really understand what I'm trying to get them to accomplish. So we do it together. She pretty much separated herself from us and just kind of just pounded on us and we just like. And it was strategic. Cause she wanted us to come together as a team and all of our anger and frustration was against her. And whereas I want my team with me. We're doing this together, but it's hard.

[Ron Chang]

Sure, sure. And obviously you've proven your philosophy to be somewhat correct in that way. So also, I mean, in basketball there's this thing now where I guess analytics came in and there's this drive towards efficiency of the game which has led to kind of almost like basketball by robots in some ways. Everyone kind of shoots the same, everyone plays the same. We're shooting threes, you know, and it's this drive towards efficiency, which I think it's pretty clear that it is working. The efficiency is working. Points are higher than ever before. But it's kind of like losing a bit of the individual characteristics of individual players. You know, like there's no more people doing sky hooks. There's no more Kevin McHale's kind of mid range, mid range is gone.

[Guest Speaker]

I mean, so y' all threes are layups, right?

[Ron Chang]

Threes are layups.

[Guest Speaker]

And it definitely takes away the creativity of an individual play. Like we can, we can't do that on a collegiate level. Some teams can do it and they put themselves in a position to win. But I've never seen anybody win championships. They win a lot of basketball games, but bottom line, you need to win championships. So if a person is really efficient in the mid range, the NBA analytics don't say take that shot. Because overall mid range shots are obsolete at this point. Because you're better off making a. Taking a three pointer, trying to get, you know, an advantage over a Two point. Right, of course. But I allow our players to play free and take the types of shots that they practice.

[Ron Chang]

Right, so you personally don't.

[Guest Speaker]

No. You know, we had a guy that was. There was so much in the analytics that he was like, this is what, this is what the last national championship championship teams look like. This, this, this, this. And we look. We didn't look like any of them. Our team, we ended up winning in 2017 not looking like what the analytically correct teams, national championship teams look like. So I was like, okay, so you're saying if we do this, it's an automatic win. And I'm like, no, it's not an automatic win because the players have to. Have to actually perform, not the numbers. And the numbers are part of it. It's just part of the game. But they're not the absolute.

[Ron Chang]

You told the nerds to shut the up and get out of there. Pretty much we're gonna win this game without your stupid numbers. And as a coach, when you look at players, how do you draw the line between having a killer instinct as a player and being a good teammate? Because I think sometimes in culture we really kind of like, put on a pedestal this idea of, I'm gonna win at all costs as a player, as a human being. Like, I don't care about anything about winning. And we kind of glorified that a bit in America. And I wonder if you can shed any light in terms of like, is that an actual. Is that correct or is that a balance between being a good teammate and being an individual kind of.

[Guest Speaker]

Well, I think all human beings, we are, we are, we are creatures of habit. Right. And you know, you know what your habit is? I know what my habit is. My teammates, my players know what their habit is.

[Ron Chang]

My habit is missing shots.

[Guest Speaker]

Right. So you would be a good teammate on the bench.

[Ron Chang]

Right?

[Guest Speaker]

Right. Yeah, yeah, that's right. But you also have to allow people to be who they are, and you have to condition people to accept you for who you are. Like, if you have a hothead player on your team, you gotta give them the space to be a hothead. Right? Give them that space. And then at some point you gotta cut it off because it's impacting everybody else. If you got somebody that's quiet and they don't like to be yelled at, then you gotta walk up to em and whisper in their ear and curse them out. Not in front of everybody, not in front of the entire team, because they just don't taking information that way. So you as a coach you gotta figure out each and every person and condition them. They're conditioning you to how they take in information and how they like to be coached. And in turn, you're giving them how you like to coach. And you have to meet. You gotta meet them where they are.

[Ron Chang]

But you wouldn't say every coach would adopt that philosophy.

[Guest Speaker]

No. It's their way or the highway.

[Ron Chang]

Right. And so you.

[Guest Speaker]

I guess that's why we thrive in this space, because we're meeting place players where they are and their entire families.

[Ron Chang]

And that's why you're winning.

[Guest Speaker]

Yes, I think that contributes to winning.

[Ron Chang]

So what do you think about this? The NIL rules in college basketball right now, where your players are getting paid for their likeness? I guess.

[Guest Speaker]

Yes.

[Ron Chang]

You know, not getting paid by the school, but for external sponsors coming. Sure. And how do you feel about college athletes and pace?

[Guest Speaker]

I think it's great. I especially think it's great for women because women are thriving in this space like I do. I think companies are realizing that women are top consumers around the world and now that they want women to be brand ambassadors for their companies. And I just feel like women's basketball been held back for so long that now that we're in demand and popular, we're reaping the benefits in the NIL space. I will say there really has to be control over the amount of times that. That players can transfer. Cause that you can go to four schools in four years and still not graduate. Not at South Carolina, though.

[Ron Chang]

Okay, is that. And that's bad.

[Guest Speaker]

I think that's bad. I think that's bad. But you can also go to four schools and get more money at each school each year. So that's good for the individual.

[Ron Chang]

Sure. So you think that's probably an area to look at in terms of.

[Guest Speaker]

Yes, I think the NCAA needs to do something about the. Just transfer whenever you. Whenever things don't go your way or you want more money.

[Ron Chang]

Right. And I do want to talk about this book a little bit. I read it. I have to say, it reads like you wrote it. As in the way it's. The way the dialogue is written is very like, oh, this. This was you putting me everything.

[Guest Speaker]

Do you feel the COVID the basketball?

[Ron Chang]

Yeah, it's got the basketball blue line. Yeah. That probably costs like 20 bucks. Knowing what I know about publishing. That jacket is. Yeah. But I wanted to ask you about. One story you're telling here is about how you got heart disease and you coached through it to win a championship like a crazy person.

[Guest Speaker]

Right, Right.

[Ron Chang]

Can you can you explain why that's probably not a good idea for normal people to.

[Guest Speaker]

Yeah. I got diagnosed with pericarditis. Don't ask me, like, how. So I.

[Ron Chang]

Sounds delicious.

[Guest Speaker]

You're right. I went to the best doctor in the country, which is at Cleveland Clinic. He told me that I need to sit down and have a coffee. He said, sit down, have a coffee. And my coaching, this is. We got a great team. We got an opportunity to win a national championship. He was like, if you don't sit down and just have a cup of coffee, you're gonna need open heart surgery. Yeah. So I was like, okay, but let me see if I can do this. I couldn't get my heart rate up because pericarditis is just an inflammation of the lining of your heart. So even when it pumps fast, it's knocking against the inflammation. It never heals. It takes years.

[Ron Chang]

When he said that, you just set a hot screen on him and you'd be like, don't tell me not to play basketball.

[Guest Speaker]

I thought he was nuts, though. Like, I don't think he really understood, you know what? And then he started me. He saw me coach, right? And then he's like, oh, I saw you out there coaching, and that's probably something that you shouldn't be doing.

[Ron Chang]

Sure.

[Guest Speaker]

And then I said, we're gonna be tranquil after the season. So after the season, I got better, and then I started doing yoga, and then it went. I healed quicker than normal.

[Ron Chang]

But you won a championship with basically.

[Guest Speaker]

Yes and no open heart surgery. Yes.

[Ron Chang]

Okay.

[Guest Speaker]

Yes.

[Ron Chang]

Anyone watching this, do not do that. Listen to your doctors. But, Don, thanks so much for joining me on the show. Thank you, man. Appreciate it. Thank you for winning medals for America, and thank you for teaching the next generation. And thanks for joining me on the show. I really appreciate it. It's John Staley, everybody. Uncommon favor is available now. John Staley. We're gonna take a quick break. We'll be right back. Hey, that's our show for the night. But before you go, tired of complaining about who's running things? We are, and we're paid to do it. But maybe it's time you take matters into your own hands and be the leader you've been waiting for, slash, complaining for. Just go to the link below to learn more from our friends at headcount about running for office. Yes, you running for office. You one day could be someone we're making fun of right now. Here it is, your moment of Zen.

[Comedy Central]

You don't even know what you're doing. You just think, oh, clean energy. Let's get rid of it. We'll rely on oil, gas and coal. Well, there ain't enough oil, gas and coal to fuel the world, and it's more expensive to do it. Donald Trump, what the heck are you doing?

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