Hour 1: The Great Cioppino

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 1: The Great Cioppino

Date: February 4, 2026
Location: The Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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Overview

In this episode, Dan, Stugotz, and the crew broadcast from the Elser Hotel, bouncing through uniquely “Le Batard Show” territory—Super Bowl culture and media night, hilarious food debates, the crisis in sports journalism, and the ever-important pursuit of credit for cooking. The first hour is a fast-moving, sharp-tongued, and at times sentimental look at sports, food, media, and the personalities anchoring American pop culture.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Super Bowl Media Night: Dave Dameshek’s Wild Interviews

• [00:56 – 04:19]

  • Dave Dameshek’s offbeat questions spark confusion and laughter among players and coaches, poking fun at traditions (e.g., “Is the Patriots’ red coat ceremony ironic?”) and mustache trends.
  • Players respond with bemusement, some rolling with the jokes and others clearly perplexed.
  • Dameshek hilariously demands attention, asking, “Is this a must-win game?” repeatedly—lampooning the typical, hackneyed Super Bowl interview questions.
  • Memorable moment: The show gleefully mocks the deadpan awkwardness and visible discomfort players like Stefon Diggs show dealing with Dameshek.

  “Some people here are going to answer questions. Other people are going to ask questions. Which one am I? Let’s find out.”
  — Dave Dameshek (01:00)

  “He’s wonderful. Football America. Yammering knob, but wonderful.”
  — Dan Le Batard on Dameshek (04:20)

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2. Stat of the Day: Tony Gwynn vs. Legendary Pitchers

• [05:55 – 09:37]

  • Discussion of legendary hitter Tony Gwynn and a remarkable stat presented by John Smoltz.
  • Maddox, Glavine, Pedro Martinez, and Smoltz—a combined 12,000+ strikeouts—only struck Gwynn out three times in over 330 at-bats.

  “Pedro and Greg Maddux zero. Glavin got him twice. I don't even remember getting him once.”
  — John Smoltz (08:32)

  “He struck out less in one year than guys strike out in a week.”
  — Smoltz continues on Gwynn (08:45)

  • The crew marvels at how modern analytics would undervalue a singular talent like Gwynn, and riff on the changing standards in baseball.

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3. Super Bowl Food: The Great Cioppino Debate

• [09:37 – 14:11; 31:23 – 36:36]

  • Greg Cody announces he’s serving cioppino for his Super Bowl party, leading to a heated debate about appropriate game day food.
  • Others argue you only need chicken wings, nachos, and dips; anything more is “doing too much.”
  • Greg defends cioppino as a nod to San Francisco, the host city, and stands by making it despite the crew’s skepticism and confusion.

  “I'm making cioppino, the San Francisco favorite, the seafood stew… and I'm going to grace my guests with such a dish.”
  — Greg Cody (10:14)

  “Super Bowl Sunday is not about look-at-me-Louie dishes. It's about—let the game, let the commercials do the work.”
  — Stugotz (12:51)

  • Greg admits part of his motivation is wanting people to recognize and compliment his effort, launching a running joke about seeking validation.
  • The crew teases Greg for needing vocal appreciation, revealing family traditions involving menu readings and the tension when no one praises his work.

  “If I make a Sunday meal and we’re two thirds through the meal and nobody has said anything… you say something out loud. Seething.”
  — Greg Cody (33:31)

  “He’s spending the whole first quarter… assessing everyone eating his dish.”
  — Stugotz (32:25)

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4. Journalism in Crisis: Washington Post Cuts & Media Ownership

• [17:19 – 27:05; 37:20 – 39:14]

  • Dan raises alarms about the Washington Post disbanding its sports section and the dangers of billionaires, like Jeff Bezos, controlling newsrooms.
  • The loss of newsroom independence, shrinking newsrooms, media layoffs, and existential threats to the press are passionately discussed.

  "There has been a clean and noble separation of the money and the people making editorial decisions... what is presently happening at the Washington Post... is legitimately brutal to watch.”
  — Dan Le Batard (18:28)

  “Bezos can afford not only to keep the Washington Post staff intact, but to increase it and make the Washington Post stronger than it's ever been … he chooses not.”
  — Greg Cody (23:48)

  • The panel explores the declining public trust in media, political polarization, and the tragic lack of concern for the survival of reputable, credible journalism.

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5. “Bet the Castle”: Zaslow’s White Castle Segment

• [29:05 – 31:23]
  • Zaslow returns with his “Bet the Castle” gambling pick, now tied to White Castle burgers as a running gag. He gives a pick for the Cavaliers over the Clippers.
  • The crew roasts Zaslow’s poor record, referencing his infamous losing prediction, but enjoy the spectacle (and the burgers).

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6. Family Dynamics & The Need for Compliments

• [33:13 – 36:36]

  • Extended riff on Greg Cody’s psychology—his desire for praise and compliments after cooking elaborate meals.
  • Family traditions, minor resentments, and the generational need for validation are examined with classic show irreverence.

  “I need the credit… Kindness and charitable—thank you. Thank me. Seriously. I’m the only one honest enough to say it.”
  — Greg Cody (33:13–33:19)

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7. Streaming Services Hot Takes

• [39:14 – 40:26]
  • Lighter segment on Amazon Prime, with the crew trashing most of its offerings except for show standouts like “Fallout” and “Jack Ryan,” and joking about Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista’s shows.

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Notable Quotes

• Dave Dameshek (01:00): “Some people here are going to answer questions. Other people are going to ask questions. Which one am I? Let’s find out.”
• John Smoltz (08:32): “Pedro and Greg Maddux zero [strikeouts]. Glavin got him twice. I don't even remember getting him once.”
• Dan Le Batard (18:28): "There has been a clean and noble separation of the money and the people making editorial decisions... what is presently happening at the Washington Post... is legitimately brutal to watch.”
• Greg Cody (10:14): "I'm making cioppino, the San Francisco favorite, the seafood stew… and I'm going to grace my guests with such a dish.”
• Stugotz (12:51): “Super Bowl Sunday is not about look-at-me-Louie dishes. It's about—let the game, let the commercials do the work.”
• Greg Cody (33:13): “I need the credit.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:56–04:19 — Dave Dameshek’s Super Bowl media night hijinks
• 05:55–09:37 — Tony Gwynn, the impossible-to-strike-out hitter
• 09:37–14:11 — Greg Cody’s cioppino plans spark food debates
• 17:19–27:05 — Journalism, the Washington Post, and the media crisis
• 29:05–31:23 — Zaslow's "Bet the Castle" gambling/burger segment
• 31:23–36:36 — The psychology of Greg Cody’s family dinners and his hunger for compliments
• 39:14–40:26 — Amazon Prime streaming content roasted

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Tone & Style

The episode’s tone is a blend of irreverence, wit, sentimentality, and group therapy, with Dan’s passion for media and justice threading together the jokes and jabs. The food debate and media critique exemplify the show's ability to leap between social commentary and pure, joyous nonsense.

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This hour delivers both laughs and serious reflection—a testament to The Dan Le Batard Show's signature blend of the insightful and the absurd.

Transcript

[A]

This message is brought to you by Venmo. Being a football fan isn't always easy, especially during the postseason. The stakes are high, the pressures are through the roof, and your team is out there struggling against impossible odds while all you can do is just watch, that's hard. But paying with Venmo all playoff long, that's easy. Whether you're catching a ride to the stadium, ordering food to the Watch party, or hooking yourself up with some vintage swag, just pay with Venmo for great deals on your favorite brands. Terms and exclusions apply.

[B]

We heard you.

[C]

Nine years of bring back the snack wrap and you've won. But maybe you should have asked for more.

[B]

Say hello to the Hot Honey Snack Wrap. Now you've really won.

[C]

Go to McDonald's and get it while you can.

[D]

This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.

[E]

Hi, and hello, my fellow football Americans. It's your old pal, Dave Damaschek. Super Bowl 60 media night. Some people here are going to answer questions. Other people are going to ask questions. Which one am I? Let's find out. Do you think that Tom Brady wants to see you win a Super bowl, becoming the second Patriots QB to win one?

[B]

That's a good question. I think it's something you have to ask him.

[E]

Do you think it's weird that the New England Patriots are named after the revolutionary soldiers who beat back the Brits? But now when the Patriots honor the best players they've ever had, what did they give them? A red coat. That's weird, isn't it? Does that make Seattle now America's team?

[D]

Yeah, I don't know the whole history behind, you know, the Patriots, the red coats.

[E]

But that's weird, right? We beat the Brits and they are wearing red coats. I think they're announcing something about themselves.

[B]

So you saying they represent the Brits?

[E]

I mean, that's what it says. Like they're telling us.

[D]

And you saying since we, you know.

[F]

We'Re Navy, we's America's team.

[E]

And the last team you were on proved fraudulent. They're not America's team. Is it the Seahawks now?

[B]

Well, that's something for America to answer. Let's start a poll.

[E]

We're getting the ball down the field. The clock's ticking down. I'm going to run out onto the field in a second here to try and win the Super Bowl. You haven't. You haven't given time to thinking that one through.

[G]

You know, if the moment happens, it happens.

[D]

But, yeah, I'm just trying to Keep.

[G]

It all the same.

[E]

If it does happen, now that we've had this conversation, will you think of me? First off, let's talk about the mustache.

[H]

What went in.

[D]

I've never grown a mustache in my life. I really can't, as you can tell.

[E]

No, yeah, I can tell. I was going to say as much.

[D]

Got into the season, we lost. I shaved it. We won. I'm like, you know what? I'm just going to keep this a winning, losing thing. And Sam Darnold and the boys just decided to win a lot of football games in a row, and so that's why I still have it.

[E]

You would like to play in the super bowl, right?

[D]

Yeah, maybe. Let me hand it off a couple times.

[E]

Drew Locke says that he would like to take a few snaps, and in the super bowl, can you make that happen? Despite the fact that the guy can't even grow a decent mustache.

[D]

Oh, man.

[H]

That's your opinion.

[D]

I think his mustache looks great, Coach.

[E]

Given the hirsuit quality of your starting quarterback and never mind the backup.

[B]

What quality of him?

[E]

The hirsute.

[B]

The beard.

[E]

That red beard that he wears.

[C]

Hairy.

[F]

All right.

[E]

You throw a touchdown in the super bowl, will you do this? Like, twist your mustache?

[D]

Like, ha ha ha ha.

[E]

Probably not.

[D]

I don't know if I can really reach through the helmet. Too easy.

[E]

Stefan, have you seen a picture of yourself getting off Lane the other day?

[B]

Yeah, man.

[E]

You look crazy.

[C]

You think so?

[F]

Yeah, I mean, I don't think I.

[E]

Could pull that look off.

[B]

Yeah, it was. It was like some archive Chanel, some.

[D]

Old Jacques Moose boots.

[B]

Like some stuff that you're probably not even interested in.

[E]

No, I'm interested. I just couldn't pull it off.

[B]

It's all guys let you hold the next outfit.

[E]

Is this a must win game?

[D]

Must win.

[F]

Yeah.

[C]

Every time we go out, there's a must win game.

[E]

Is this a must win game?

[C]

Is every game a must win game? Every game is a must win game.

[B]

This a must win game. I think you just ask that yourself and see what you want me to say that.

[E]

Dave, is this a must win game?

[G]

I think it is.

[C]

It's the super.

[B]

There we go.

[E]

What does Drake think?

[B]

There we go. Exact same thing.

[F]

You just said.

[D]

We did it.

[B]

Ask questions.

[E]

You just saw me do that. I hope you enjoyed it. I certainly did.

[B]

Damn.

[E]

A check out.

[F]

Hey, that's my bit.

[D]

He's wonderful. Football America. Yammering knob, but wonderful. It was great. The look Stefan Diggs gave him. Like if we went back. See, at some point, if you can freeze.

[F]

You looked insane.

[D]

Stefan Diggs looked away, wouldn't make eye contact, didn't want to talk to Dan Shek anymore, was being polite. Danishek insulted some people to their face, to their mustachioed face. And he made Mike McDonald interesting, which is hard to do. I've got a couple of things that I want to get to with you guys, but the first thing I want to do, give me the stat of the day music because I've got from John Smoltz, I've got an excellent stat of the day. Start of the day, start of the day it is the start of the day Start of the day, Start of the day it is the start of the day Start of the day, Start of the day it is the start of the day Start of the day Start of the day it is the start of the day does everyone here know Tony Gwynn? None of you are old or young enough to not know Tony Gwynn and what a great hitter he was. I don't know if the modern analytics would make him a less great hitter because he didn't hit for power and he didn't walk a ton, but he had a ton of plate disc. This stat of the day comes from John Smoltz, you'd agree. John Smoltz pretty great, right?

[C]

Pretty great as is Gwen. Yeah.

[F]

All right, we'll have that in one second, Dan.

[D]

All right. So John Smoltz has a stat of the day where I'm not totally positive, but I think that among the pitchers that he's talking about facing Tony Gwynn, I think John Smoltz might be the least impressive of the pitchers and the stat that he's going to give you of a PO opposing Tony Gwynn. Do you have it ready, Chris, or you don't have it ready yet?

[G]

Tony Gwynn was such a spectacular hitter and it's funny because like Luis Arias has some of those types of stats now and apparently he's not a good player where he doesn't strike out, but all he does is hit singles and they don't value him. But the difference between what arise can do and what Tony Gwynn could do, it's. It's a massive golf. It's just that Arias is considered that in today's game because Tony Gwynn was that special.

[H]

Isn't there some crazy stat where like he never would strike out swinging strike three?

[D]

Yeah, well, that's the stat I'm waiting for Chris to get. For some reason he doesn't have it. Even though I Asked him for it a while ago.

[F]

I'll let you know when we have it.

[C]

I'm looking it up right now. Tony Gwyn's.338 career batting average, it's only 20, tied for 22nd all time. But all of the 22 players equal or ahead of him are like old timers.

[D]

Mike, are you smirking because of how much Chris is cursing right now and feeling it and you're happy? I don't like how you enjoy being out of that executive director chair. You. I don't like the smile that climbs across your face as you see Chris is sinking into sewage. You saw what damage just did with the bit where he stood up and.

[F]

Then say, that's my bit.

[D]

I feel like Chris Cody. You know what I'm going to do to make this even harder for you, Chris? I'm going to do something else. Minor penalty. Two minutes for leaking confidence.

[B]

Just. Just between me and you, Chris, I wasn't smiling at your dismay, though I usually do revel in that. I was still laughing at the DeMarcus Lawrence, Dave Danishek interaction and the look on his face that I've had several times. Every time that Dave starts cooking on something, I'd like to relive that at some point, but I don't have a lot of faith in the video right now.

[D]

Yeah, we can get back to that because there were some really funny things in there. But Chris, you're gonna have to leave for leaking confidence. You can just hit the button, play the John Smoltz video 90 seconds late and leave. And I want you guys to listen how amazing this stat is from John Smoltz.

[F]

How'd you do against Tony Gwyn in your career?

[B]

Not good.

[D]

I still think the greatest stat in.

[B]

The history of sports, Maddox, Glavin, Pedro Martinez, me, I want to say faced him over 330 times. We struck out over 12,000 batters combined. We struck him out three times.

[D]

Pedro and Greg Maddox zero.

[B]

Glavin got him twice. I don't even remember getting him once.

[D]

He struck out less than one year.

[B]

Than guys strike out in a week.

[H]

That's amazing. The last part, so awesome.

[D]

The stat he. I don't know. Glavin probably wasn't the pitcher Smoltz was, but maybe I have that wrong. He just gave you Maddox, Smoltz, Glavin and Pedro Martinez who struck out combined more than 12,000 batters. Faced him 330 times. Two of those pitchers never got him to strike out. Glavin got him twice just because he's left handed. And Gwen is left handed. And Smoltz can't remember the time that he got him. Yes, that's the correct response to that stat. You said it. Well, that is perfectly said. Don't say anything else.

[H]

Good player.

[D]

Zas is going to bet the castle here in a second. We've also got an ugly dog winning the Westminster Dog show. And I want to get to something happening at the Washington Post, but before I do that, I have been told that Chris Cody is accusing Greg Cody of. At his super bowl party of trying to do too much with something that he is cooking. What are you doing for your super bowl party? What? What plans does Greg Cody have around the super bowl job on that burp? Good stuff, pal. Keep it moving.

[C]

I didn't even know he knew about this. We haven't even discussed it. How is this possible? I am. In honor of the super bowl being in the greater San Francisco area, Even though it's 45 miles from the stadium. Ridiculous in and of itself. I am making cioppino, the San Francisco favorite, the seafood stew. And it's a specialty of mine. Love making it. And I'm going to grace my guests with such a dish.

[H]

Did you think about going rice a roni? That's San Francisco treat.

[C]

Yeah, no, I'm not big on rice.

[F]

He's doing too much. You're doing too much. Super bowl party. Chicken wings, nachos, chips, and salsa. Like, that's all you need. Like, what is this dish you're making?

[C]

It's cioppino. Bring it.

[F]

Doing too much.

[C]

Okay, don't eat it, then. I'll eat it all.

[D]

Put it on the poll, please. At Lebatard show. Do you know what cioppino is? Because it's legitimately something I've never heard of. This is the first time I'm hearing of cioppino.

[C]

It's a seafood soup. It's spelled CIO P P I, N O. And it's very, very pop. We've been vacationing. It's a great culinary city. We've vacationed in in San Fran and. And eaten.

[H]

Looks gross.

[C]

And it looks wonderful.

[G]

Doing too much looks incredible. Greg, I was invited over to a friend's house for, like, chicken wings in the Bad Bunny concert. But when Bad Bunny's not performing, we're gonna be in the same area. Can I drive over to your place to be able to come over and have some chipino?

[C]

It sounds like Christopher is saying there'll be plenty left over. I'm.

[G]

I'm legitimately.

[C]

I'm not kidding.

[G]

I'm coming over to have chipino.

[B]

There you go.

[C]

Let's go.

[D]

Greg Cody is an exceptional chef Even though he is 03 or 04 in cooking compet and is still reeling from losing to Mike Ryan, who I did reeling in the years I legitimately had not any knowledge that Mike Ryan could or did cook or liked cooking until he defeated you with an amazing coconut Thai soup. And you are winless in the cooking competitions around here. Chris, have you not heard of cioppino, though? Has your father not made it before? Because your father. I trust your father when it comes to cooking. He knows what good food tastes like and he knows how to make it.

[F]

I'm not doubting that it'll be delicious and I'll eat it. It just doesn't give off. I don't hear that. When he's like, hey, you coming over Sunday? It's no. Tell me you got chicken wings. Tell me what dips you got. All I need is seven dips. Okay, we're going to have four chicken wings. That's all I need.

[C]

Somebody's going to buy wings. We're going to have dip. We're going to tuna dip and this and that and the other. But the king of the culinary presentation.

[F]

See, that's what this will be.

[C]

Ciopino in honor of the host city.

[F]

That's the issue. Super Bowl Sunday is not about look at me Louie dishes. It's about let the game, let the commercials do the work.

[C]

I disagree.

[F]

I don't need some groundbreaking dish on Super Bowl Sunday. That's for the next Sunday.

[C]

Thank you.

[F]

It's very look at me Louie.

[C]

No, there's four. There's four things that are important about a Super Bowl. The game, the commercials, bad bunny, and Greg's ciopino. Not necessarily in that order.

[D]

Ciopino is about as obscure a dish as you can go with. Like, if I were to say, hey, make me laugh with a word that describes food throughout the history of time that someone is having at their super bowl party. If someone said ciopino, I'd say that's a nominee for. About the funniest thing that you can say comedically as a word to describe something that doesn't belong at a Super bowl party. Like that does seem when he says you're doing too much, it seems wildly extravagant for something that's easier than that. You stifle burps the way I do after a meal because you're just eating too many burgers and chips and garbage. It's not because that's why my lower body looked the way that it did when I was doing that video in the other room. Because the super bowl party will get you in terms of making the gastrointestinal experience something that is rumbling. You would not even try ciopino correct, Zaz.

[H]

I'm not about that.

[C]

It's a pricey meal. It's a pricey dish. But I guarantee you, all of your listeners in and around San Francisco are nodding like bobbleheads because, yeah, they're making chioppino, too. It's going to be wonderful. No, Come on, Zaz.

[D]

Get out of here to go bet the castle, because that's a good what Zaz is about to do. Easy, perfect super bowl dish. Like perfect. Like perfect. What Zaz is about to do. You can't do a lot better as a Super bowl dish than I can. Have three bites of burger whenever I want.

[F]

You show up with a tray of White Castle burgers to my super bowl party. Now we're talking.

[A]

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[B]

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[F]

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[C]

Hopefully.

[F]

Grab a bottle of Smirnoff at your local retailer and head to smirnoff.com to find a cocktail recipe perfect for game day. Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff, number 21 vodka distilled from grain, 40% alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff Co. New York, NY. Please don't share with anyone under legal drinking age. Now let's get back to arguing about refs.

[C]

Don LeBatard I heard that as a woman faking pain, I didn't think that sounded real. I really didn't.

[D]

You know, it was not fake. It was in no way fake.

[A]

You can spot a woman faking it.

[D]

Stugats.

[C]

Yes, I can. Jess Expert I've been married 40 years.

[D]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stoogats. So we're going to bet the castle here in a second. But I wanted to get Greg's expertise on something. I know that most people in America, I'm going to say the majority, do not care about journalism, do not like journalists, don't see the importance of journalism as a checks and balances on power. I know many of you listening to this are tired of about how much I care about journalism and holding truth to power on things that you see happening in America where the billionaires cannot be trusted to do the right thing and billionaires are taking over newspapers and billionaires are doing things with newspapers that are just simply wrong, flagrantly immoral and against all of the principles of journalism I grew up loving all my life until recently. There has been a clean and and noble separation of the money and the people making editorial decisions. But what is presently happening at the Washington Post Owned by Jeff Bezos, who can just fart a few millions to give Malania a documentary she doesn't deserve. That's just terrible because every one of these billionaires is protecting their money and running scared of this goof that we have running, running our country. The Washington Post just eliminated its sports section. The layoffs have begun at the Washington Post, run by Jeff Bezos. The business of journalism is so bad that Jeff Bezos, who can waste millions of dollars doing a favor for Donald Trump and making a shit documentary about the first lady, has just begun its layoffs. And it is legitimately brutal to watch.

[C]

The editor, Matt Murray, says that they're.

[D]

Going to treat sports like a cultural phenomenon.

[B]

So that means maybe a guy climbing a skyscraper.

[D]

Greg?

[C]

Yeah. They were going to send a whole team of journalists to the Winter Olympics in Italy. Now I think they're sending two or three people.

[D]

They're also not sending anyone to spring training for a team that was a champion a few years ago in baseball, the Washington Nationals.

[C]

Yeah, well, this is also the death of the newspaper is the sub story there. But you're right. I mean, when the billionaires start buying the media, then the media is no longer independent. It's depressing. The whole state of freedom of the press is depressing, you know, And I think when Trump first came into office, one of the first things he successfully did was say, that's a lie. The media is lying. You know, what is truth anymore? And it trickles down. And Bezos. Yeah, I'm depressed by the whole thing, to be honest with you.

[D]

For those of you who do not care about any of what it is that we are presently talking about, this has been something obviously that I've cared about unreasonably most of my life, and it has worked for me to care about it. But I'm watching an assortment of things that are wildly sad. And I want to just ask the group, because this has been confusing to me over my lifetime time. The regard for journalists and media is so poisoned that I wonder why it is when I'm saying this that more Americans don't care about the importance of or understand the importance of freedom of the press. Do you guys understand why it is that more Americans don't care more passionately about why it is. It's important to make sure that you can tell the truth. Just tell the truth. I understand that people think the media is biased. I understand how you come about those opinions. But the way that those things get broadcast when vetted through lawyers is much more responsible than the way that most things now get into your information system, so therefore more credible because it's more responsible. I understand that social media has changed the game that most people get their news through Instagram. And I also understand, though it breaks my heart, that most people don't actually care, that legitimate journalists have to get things vetted responsibly so that what they're giving you is closer to fact and not disinformation and not defamatory. And most people listening this also don't make a distinction between what the Washington Post has been the entirety of our lives, and Instagram and Facebook. But this newspaper is one of the five best there's ever been, and this sports section is one of the five best there's ever been. And Jeff Bezos can't afford to keep it alive. Like the media's already dead. We just haven't gotten around to announcing it.

[B]

He can't afford to keep.

[C]

He's choosing not to. And that's a. And that's a major distinction.

[B]

Yeah. Also, the sad reality of all these things going by the wayside is that there isn't a marketplace for them.

[G]

Well, it's also the benefit to the multi billionaires. Right. Like, if they're unchecked on the decisions that they make. That's the benefit of journalism and journalists. It's the reason that Donald Trump, from the day he showed up, started saying everything is fake news. Because if you can blur the lines on what's real, what's not, what's a fact, what's fiction, everything is opinion. Nothing matters. And now these things go by the wayside as you rely on tiktokers.

[C]

And what's sad is that Jeff Bezos can afford not only to keep the Washington Post staff intact, but to increase it and make the Washington Post stronger than it's ever been and be the beacon of freedom of the press in this country he had without even touching his wallet, he could do that, but he chooses not.

[D]

Okay, so I am just curious before we get to Zaslow here and he bets the castle, I am just curious when I ask this question, because I don't know the answer to it. The question I'm about to ask, I really don't. When you see institutions that have been journalistically credible the entirety of your lifetime, like, for example, 60 Minutes and CBS, run scared from a president who can file lawsuits and then just win nuisance lawsuits because the media doesn't want those problems, why don't more people care that an institution as reputable as CBS has clearly gotten contaminated by this in a way that's irrefutable and also morally wrong according to what have always been America's principles on freedom. Why wouldn't that one land? If the Washington Post, which discovered Watergate, doesn't land, why wouldn't CBS as one of the institutions that has best represented the idea of we're gonna do this credibly and does it with old people, why wouldn't that one land? And it gets contaminated from the inside on biases and corruption and everything that's happening in America as it regards to money.

[B]

But I think it does land with about 50% of the country. And the other 50% either doesn't care or is not informed as to the changes that are happening. And then there's a portion of that 50% that actually like the changes that are being made. And I understand what Jeremy said about billionaires wanting uncharted checked power. Yes, absolutely. The news division especially, they also like money. And if there was money to be made in covering sports, trust me that a capitalist like Jeff Bezos would find the way to do so. I think the sad reality when it comes to sports journalism is the appetite is not there. Social media did a number on it. The Internet did a number on it. It has to evolve. You know, milkmen that were put out of work didn't have podcasts to go to, and lament meant the loss of the milkman industry. Thankfully, sports writers have a skill set where they can go and adapt to the times, right?

[C]

I mean, the Miami Herald sports staff at its Height was probably 36 full time writers and now we're down to seven or eight, maybe six or seven. And that's just the way it is nationwide. But I think we're such a polarized country that the way we feel about the media and about freedom of the press is the way we feel about the force that ICE takes on, immigration reform and the fact that they've, you know, allegedly murdered two people without cause. We're polarized. We can't agree on anything. You know, I mean, you and I feel strongly about freedom of the press. And half of the country's going, eh.

[D]

It really, I don't think it's even half. Like you guys are saying half. I don't think it's even half. But when Mike Ryan says adapt to the times, that is what Pablo Torre is doing with adapting to the New York Times and trying to do something in the modern age that is a little bit different. I will urge you to check out what he's doing tomorrow because he's got another one tomorrow that no one else will touch and we will talk to him about tomorrow. Right now, get up to 20% off.

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Homedepot.Com how doers get more done.

[D]

Don LeBatard.

[F]

You have some hot takes today, Joe. Chestnuts of fire.

[G]

He's on fire.

[F]

He calls Connor McDavid overrated before the show.

[D]

What the hell was that, Greg?

[C]

Yeah, no, I. I love it.

[D]

Stugats.

[C]

Rory, let me explain it to you. And not that you need you know more about hockey.

[F]

And this is coming from a guy that's watched Conor play six times, right?

[C]

If that.

[D]

This is the d? Ler show with the st. Let's segue to Zaslo now and look at Tony rummaging around. He just gotten back from Key Biscayne, and he's rummaging around in the background. What? What? What did you just find there? Did you find some of the pork? What did he find? Did he find some empanadas? I have heard, before we get to Zazlo, I've heard some people compl. But our lunch and our breakfast. I've heard some people complaining, but every time I look over there, I see somebody trying to steal food and put it into their pockets and absconding with some of the free food. Let's do Zaslow's betting the castle. Now get us started. Zaslo, what is the bet that you're offering here? On behalf of the delicious and scrumptious and amazing White Castle, I'm very glad.

[H]

Tony, get out of the way. I'm very glad to be doing this again. White Castle classic cheese sliders. I'm very, very excited for this. Tastes so good. So you may remember the last time I did this. My. My bet the castle didn't go so hot. So I'm gonna make up for it today, and I'm gonna give you guys a winner. You ready for this?

[D]

Well, no, I'm not. I'm gonna remind people that the first and only time Zaz has done this, he said to take the nets plus 11 and a half. They then lost by 50 against the.

[H]

You always want to buy the hook, Dan.

[D]

And they scored all of 66 points in an NBA basketball game.

[F]

Like, impossible.

[C]

You can lose, lose big.

[D]

It's. It was stag. Your bet was. Let's do this now. Give us a better bet than you did last time, please.

[H]

All right. Well, you know, we've been talking about James Harden. The James Harden trade yesterday. This is one of my favorite things. James Harden was traded to the Cavaliers, but the Cavs, they're at the Clippers tonight. Do you think Harden went to Cleveland? No, he probably stayed there and he's waiting for his new team. And guess what? We're gonna take his new team tonight. Even though he's not playing yet, we're gonna take the Cavaliers. They are giving two and a half points tonight. This is a Clipper team that's all out of sorts. I think the Cavs are gonna have extra juice to them tonight. So I like the Cavaliers giving two and a half. I know Evan Mobley's out. I don't care. All right. You can't trust that Kawhi Leonard. So we're gonna go with the Cavaliers giving two and a half in LA tonight.

[D]

Okay? But I believe you're supposed to give that take while the burger is cooking and then eat the burger as the punctuation on the take. At least it's the way that you did it last time. Now you've given us the take, and you're ready to do this. You're ready to do all of this. Okay, here we go. Yes. It's great. It's just.

[H]

Oh, good.

[G]

I love it.

[F]

I mean, that second one. Bet the Castle. Bet the Castle is pretty presented to you by White Castle. Hunger says eat. Cravings say, eat this. And with white castles, 100 beef, grilled onions, melty cheese, and steamy buns that hold it all together. How can you not crave thy castle?

[D]

I don't believe, Chris, that that burgle burger will last until you get over there. I believe that you're gonna have a.

[F]

Good Tony's over there. And it's already gone. And it's gone.

[C]

It just burgle.

[D]

He burgled the burger. Yeah. Who wouldn't want to burgle the burger? Those are just amazing. Like, you can't make enough of those. It's why my lower half of my body looked the way that it did in that video that I did earlier.

[C]

I'm gonna add those to my super bowl menu. They go good with cioppino.

[D]

I can't believe you're doing cioppino. That makes no sense. So look at Me all the sense of the world. How often do you. How often do you respect the host city with your culinary. Like, do you. Is this normal? You do this every year. Is this part of what. What you do? Like what. What do you make?

[B]

Take a culinary tour of the host city.

[C]

If the game was in Foxborough, I'd probably serve lobster rolls.

[B]

Oh, that's great.

[C]

Maybe clam chowder.

[B]

Ghirardelli chocolates laid out for the.

[F]

See, it's. Look at me like it should be about the game in the commercial. Look what I can do.

[B]

So does he like it?

[D]

Does he make a jambalaya when it's in New Orleans? Does he do this every year?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

You have a good party. You have a good party?

[C]

Yeah, I think so.

[B]

What makes a good party is the host.

[C]

Karen, you know what? And this doesn't replace the usual. The usual is. Is chicken wings and dip and all that. We have all that, but I have something else that is at the top of the heap of what we're offering. That's all.

[B]

You go the extra mile. Thank you.

[C]

Extra mile and a half. Couple of miles, then.

[F]

He's spending the whole first quarter. Look. Assessing everyone, eating his dish.

[B]

Yeah, he wants to make sure you enjoy it and then give him proper things because he's a bit of an egomaniac. What can you get about this?

[F]

If you don't say, greg, this is really good. He starts, like, huffing and puffing around the whole joint.

[B]

Why else do you do anything? Why else do you do anything good for anybody else?

[C]

Thank you, Mike.

[B]

You need to be able to hear people say, hey, man, you did that good thing. Thank you.

[C]

Preach. That's right. No, he's right. Mike's nailed that. What a bullseye. He just hit that guy. No, he's right. You got a compliment.

[B]

We don't do good things out of the kindness of our heart around these parts.

[C]

If you like it, tell me that's all.

[B]

Yes, I do it for fan favorite Fair.

[C]

Thank you.

[D]

Put it on the poll, please. At Lebatard show, do you only do good things to have people tell you you've done something good?

[C]

I need the credit.

[D]

That's not the way I think.

[C]

Yeah, you gotta have credit.

[D]

Kindness and charitable.

[C]

Thank you. Thank me. Seriously. I'm the only one honest enough to say it. If I make a Sunday meal and we're two thirds through the meal and nobody has said anything, then you say something out loud. Seething.

[F]

You literally will say, like, oh, geez, no comment. Compliments.

[C]

You should be appreciating I try not to.

[H]

Does he actually say, wow? No compliments.

[F]

If he doesn't hear multiple. This is really good. He wants to go around. Everyone has to say, what the rock star of the dishes. That's the great Cody games.

[C]

You know, I like, pick something.

[F]

He always picks the most obscure thing. Like these sauteed onions on the side.

[G]

Are really the rock star of the dish.

[F]

It's never the main dish.

[C]

Well, you know, you can. You can compliment whatever you want. Just give me a little compliment, Greg.

[B]

He's gonna miss it when you're gone.

[C]

Thank you.

[B]

When all he has is a tray of lukewarm popcorn chicken from Publix.

[F]

You're so right.

[B]

He is going to miss the time, effort, and care you put into the Super Bowl.

[C]

You know, the inheritance he gets will offset that a lot.

[F]

The inheritance joke.

[C]

Here we go.

[D]

Can you please tell us. Put us at. Put us next to your family. I don't know how often you do the family meal where you cook something elaborate, but please put us at that dinner table and tell, like, how this goes. Like, some of the conflict that has arisen from you wanting a compliment and realizing you're not going to get one. And is it indeed, like, if they know that you need it.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

And they're denying it. It must be because the food's not as good as they'd like it to be. Right.

[C]

Here's the thing. A couple of Sundays ago, I had the whole crowd over, and I served chicken francaise. It was fabulous. It was. Now I served with it spaghetti with sort of a garlic butter sauce. Didn't love my garlic butter sauce. It was okay. Didn't love it. But the chicken francaise itself, I thought was top notch. And so we're halfway through the meal. Nobody's saying anything. Maybe people are just.

[F]

I don't even think that's true. I feel like we complimented that meal that was.

[D]

Well, let's get. Let's let him get through what he's saying here.

[C]

I mean, you know, maybe the compliment was a little bit tardy, but, you know, eventually it came.

[H]

Well, what would be tardy? Like, at what point in the meal do you want the compliments to start raining?

[C]

Within the first five minutes. Oh, wow. Yeah.

[F]

The meal starts where younger son Michael has to read the menu. My dad writes a menu, and younger son Michael reads it for the whole table.

[C]

Tradition.

[F]

And then we eat.

[H]

Always the younger son.

[G]

Mid.

[F]

Yeah, Midw. My daughter has started doing it as she's learned to read.

[G]

Wow.

[H]

It's like their version of passover good reader.

[C]

Yeah.

[F]

And then as the meal goes on, if. Yeah. Ten minutes in, if he doesn't hear compliments, he starts huffing and puffin.

[G]

Diana.

[C]

I huff and puff privately, you know. Is it disappointing? Yes. What you got to do is, is show appreciation in all walks of life. Right? Show appreciation. That's all I'm asking for. Because I'm on my hind legs for hours at a time putting together an elaborate Sunday meal.

[F]

Yeah.

[B]

All for you to thank me profusely, preferably for 10 minutes. And then we go around the room.

[C]

Like a kangaroo in the kitchen.

[D]

Put it on the poll at Lebiton show. Do human beings have hind legs? Because this suggests that the rest of the time you're walking around on all fours and then you get up to cook your chicken.

[H]

Frances, by the way, keeping someone in your pouch and.

[C]

Yeah, that's right. An interesting fact I learned on the Greg Cody show last week. This was a three facts jack thing. And McGill, if he were here, would, would acknowledge this as truth. Animals over time have evolved. And here's an example. In not prehistoric, but in long ago time, the penguin, the little cute Little Penguin was 6 foot 8 and weighed almost 300 pounds. It was the size of a power forward in the NBA. The penguin.

[D]

That can't be true.

[C]

Yes, it's absolutely true.

[D]

Put it on the poll. Did you know that the penguin was once the size of a power forward in the NBA?

[C]

Six.

[D]

That's horrifying. Like, that's terrible.

[C]

It is.

[G]

James Cook was the last hundred yard rusher against the Seahawks. It was week eight of last season.

[H]

See? How hard was that?

[D]

Let him cook. This stat from the Washington Post and this quote from what we were talking about on the Washington Post, Marty Barron, the former boss of me and Greg Cody says quote, this ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations. The Washington Post says it's been basically cutting a third of its staff. So one out of every three Washington Post staffers are being laid off. And Mike, you were right to correct me when you said no, Bezos can't afford it. I was wrong obviously in saying that he can't afford it. But he's getting out of the running of the Washington Post because it costs him about $100 million a year in losses. And Peter Baker of the New York Times says Jeff Bezos wealth in 2024 was 194 billion. In 2025 it's 215 billion. His wealth today is 249 billion. So it's increased $55.4 billion. He obviously can afford $100 million loss. I assume that the prime documentary division and all the stuff that prime is doing in streaming is losing a ton of money because I don't imagine that many people outside of their Amazon subscription for other things are actually going to put prime for much of the movie and creative content.

[B]

I mean, the corruption is so transparent. What's going on? Be it Bezos acquiring a reputable journalistic entity or. You said Trump was winning lawsuits. No, he's not. He's settling in what are clear backroom deals to make sure his friends control these media companies that give him favorable coverage. That is what's happening. And they install other lackeys to carry water. Now, luckily for us, a good amount of the population sees this for what it is. And the midterms are coming up. Unfortunately, there's some other lost souls that won't learn their lesson until history teaches them one. Damn prime video has a bunch of great stuff on it. Fallout's incredible. Have you seen Fallout?

[D]

No.

[H]

New Jack Ryan's coming out too.

[B]

Really fun.

[H]

Really good.

[D]

I have trouble finding anything I like on Prime. It's among the all of them. It's to me, weaker than the others.

[B]

Batista Momoa didn't get you hooked in on whatever, dude. I started watching.

[F]

Watching.

[G]

What's this?

[B]

It's called Something Wreckage or Wrecking Team.

[D]

The Wreck.

[B]

Yeah, something. It was bad. It was bad.

[H]

You didn't watch Linus?

[B]

It was like, linus, good show. It was like Chat. GPT had a bunch of prompts entered in by Jason Momoa to make him look cool.

[G]

The Wrecking Crew.

[B]

That's what it was.

[D]

I mean, halfway through it, Momoa and Batista like you.

[B]

Oh, that's what that got me in.

[H]

I'll watch it.

[B]

Finn Batista, though. Yeah. Not. Yeah, he's not the ass kick kicker. I'm sure he'll get there, but I don't know if I care enough. I watched Nuremberg yesterday.

[D]

How's that?

[B]

I want to watch that dude. Rami Malek and Michael Shannon sharing a scene. It's as creepy as it sounds. He can't. He can't be put in anything anymore. Who stop putting Remy Malek and stuff. He there in this movie. The only time that it's bad is when he's trying to be a cool guy or Riz up some chick. It's just like this person is way too strange, you know? But he's just an odd person. He should only play like villains. Jeremy that's my two cents.

[D]

Would you do me the favor of looking up for me what it is that Amazon is reportedly losing in the content business? Because it's my last stop among the streaming services when I. I like all the streamers. You should, too. You own a content company. We try to sell dogs to everybody. Shane, did you see my lower half of my body in that video that we made before shaping?

[G]

I didn't see it.

[B]

I want to see it.

[G]

I was excited for that.

[C]

Yeah, let's dream that.

[B]

No, I heard the panacea thing that he said.

[C]

Very good.

[B]

I was sitting there like, yeah, Dan. Hell yeah.

[G]

Fastball, dude.

[D]

Paint the Black Malenia. Sounds like a John Mulaney Netflix special. It's Melania. I'm still. Get it together. Yeah, I'm still.

[F]

Can you believe the first lady?

[D]

Get me the numbers on Amazon. And before we get to Katie Nolan and Mad Dog Russo. So I need you guys to find me the picture of the ugly dog that won the Westminster Dog show so that I could do that with. With Katie Nolan, but Mad Dog Russo is next.