Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Local Hour: Spelling Letters
Date: September 18, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Billy Gill, Mike Ryan, Jon Zaslow, Jeremy
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Overview

This episode navigates a wild mix of hot sports takes, comedic banter, and a surprisingly deep detour into language and free speech. The crew discusses the developing Clippers scandal, the fate of the Miami Dolphins, Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial network suspension, and—most memorably—a cascade of confusion over spelling letters and alphabet origins, all seasoned with the show’s signature offbeat humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Clippers/Pablo Torre Reporting Scandal (01:28–04:13)

• The hosts analyze Pablo Torre’s investigative drops about the Clippers, likening his reporting tactic to boxing’s rope-a-dope strategy.

  • Dan: “He puts chum in the water and then people come out and talk about it who don't know what they're talking about it. And then he makes them look dumb.” (02:31)
  • Billy: “At this point, shouldn't those people...realize maybe I shouldn't say anything because Pablo's got more stuff that's going to come out?” (02:47)

• Tightening scrutiny:

  • Dan observes PR backpedaling, comparing it to Deion Sanders, signaling serious trouble for the Clippers.

2. Boxing Debate & Classic References (03:13–05:06)

• Debate over when “boxing was boxing,” referencing iconic fights and the documentary 'When We Were Kings'.

  • Mike Ryan: “It's called the rope-a-dope. Watch When We Were Kings, that’s when boxing was boxing.” (03:34)
  • Dan: “Crawford just did that to Canelo...lured him in a couple of times. Canelo looked around as if he didn’t understand what had just happened.” (03:43)

• Playful disagreement and confusion over boxing history and fighters’ nicknames.

3. Billy Gill’s Punishment: Tree Planting Debacle (05:28–10:17)

• Billy Gill reports live, allegedly planting a third tree as punishment for previous misadventures (spoofed via AI-generated tree images).

  • Dan: “Are you going to start? Do you have the materials you need to plant the tree?” (06:39)
  • Billy: “Well, I was told those would be provided for me, but...” (06:53)
  • Tree: Revealed to be a “Barbie pink guava tree.” (07:49)

• The crew pokes fun at Billy’s lack of preparedness and gardening know-how, and his struggle to explain the gloves, overalls, and actual tree.

4. Journalism vs. “Snitching” (08:12–08:37)

• Billy challenges whether Pablo Torre’s reporting on the Clippers is “snitching” or good journalism.
  • Billy: “There's a fine line between snitch and journalist.” (08:29)
  • Dan: “...Billy, you’re one of the loudest national critics of Pablo Torre’s reporting, which has been pretty impeccable.” (08:37)
  • Leads to a poll: “Is there a fine line between snitch and journalist?”

5. Dolphins at the Precipice: “A Franchise-Changing Night” (10:17–16:00)

• Preview of the Miami Dolphins’ Thursday Night Football game vs. the Buffalo Bills.

  • Dan: “If the Dolphins were to win tonight, it would be the biggest surprise we've had this season as well. Correct?” (11:13)
  • Billy: “I think tonight is going to be so ugly that it is going to force major changes on the franchise...It's going to be a seminal...moment.” (11:25)

• Discussion includes historical context for large point spreads and possible fallout (firings, trades, benchings).

6. Impression-Offs and Sports Radio Parody (12:08–14:52)

• The team critiqued ESPN Radio host Evan Cohen’s poor impersonation of Jon Zaslow.
  • Billy (mocking): “That is a truly horrific impression. I’m a small guy. Evan, you need to work on that. I’m Jonathan Zazzle. I don't know who that person is...” (13:25)
• Spirals into mocking, meta-impressions, and self-aware radio humor.

7. [Main Segment] Jimmy Kimmel, Free Speech, and FCC Weaponization (18:37–30:34)

• Dan delivers a serious, emotional monologue on Jimmy Kimmel’s indefinite network suspension and the chilling effect on free speech.

  • Dan: “I’m watching, with the weaponizing of the FCC and the government, we’re watching something that feels like it doesn’t have a whole lot of precedent.” (18:48)
  • “Not even Bob Iger has the money or the power to stand up to the threat...you get dangerously close to state-run media.” (19:57)
  • “I’ve never seen in my lifetime America in the position it’s presently in where the media is running this kind of scared from power...” (21:17)

• Mike Ryan: Discusses the chain reaction from President Trump’s threats, political leveraging of media mergers, implications for network and cable.

  • “This goes against our First Amendment rights. Even conservative talk show hosts such as Tucker Carlson are ringing the alarm bells right now.” (24:00)

• Broad agreement that corporate cowardice and merger mania are compromising fundamental free speech values, endangering American principles.

  • Dan: “What’s the point of having money and power if all you’re going to do with it is make more money and bow to power?” (27:48)
  • Mike: “If you want this to establish a template, the power is like on a pendulum...you don’t want these rules applied to you.” (28:49)

8. Miami Dolphins, More Analysis and Humorous Anguish (33:05–36:40)

• Preview continues with added humor and existential dread for Miami sports fans.
  • Mike Ryan: “I think you can maybe thank the short week for the lack of change, and now this has to be Waterloo, right? This has to be...” (33:32)
  • The prospect of Dolphins being embarrassed becomes both a running joke and a real concern.

9. Josh Allen, “P’s and Q’s,” and a Spelling Rabbit Hole (37:18–40:02)

• Josh Allen’s comment—“We’ve got to be on our Ps and Qs”—triggers confusion over the phrase's meaning and origin.
  • Dan: “What do...we don't know what P's and Q's are? I've always...I've said, what are P's and Q's?” (38:03)
  • Jeremy: “They think it is short for pleases and thank yous. Ps and Qs.” (38:58)
  • Discussion spirals into alphabetic philosophy (if you don’t cross a T, it’s an L; if you only dot I’s...)

10. Alphabet Deep Dive: W, Spelling E, and Linguistic Inception (40:07–46:06)

• Brain-melting debate about the origins and spelling of the letters W and E.
  • Dan (awed): “Are you saying the W is just a double U? You’re saying it's two U's?” (40:15)
  • Billy: “W's two V's, not two U's. I don't know what the hell you guys are talking about. And W is a letter, not a word word.” (41:50)
• Makes a show poll: “Do you know how to spell the letter W?”
• Philosophical spiral: If you spell out a letter with words, do you then spell the letters in those words forever? (43:01)
  • Billy: “...it would just be an endless loops of letters spelling other letters.” (43:01)
• Tenet gets run down as an incomprehensible movie; Christopher Nolan’s understanding is called into question.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Le Batard, on Kimmel’s Suspension:
  “Not even Bob Iger has the money or the power to stand up to the threat that is presently upon the shores of everyone in media because of how compromised they are by a series of mergers and money interests.” (19:57)

• Mike Ryan, on Media Mergers and Free Speech:
  “The FCC only really controls the networks. But media, the state of media is such that these big networks are either merging with other companies that own these cable conglomerates...it’s very clear what is happening here.” (22:21)

• Billy Gill, on Tree Planting:
  “This is a Barbie pink guava tree that I will be planting today.” (07:49)
  “Is there a fine line between snitch and journalist?” (08:29)

• On Spelling and Language:

  • “What do...we don't know what P's and Q's are?” (38:03, Dan)
  • “Are you saying the W is just a double U? You're saying it's two U's?” (40:15, Dan)
  • “So if you were to spell the word W with letters, do you then have to spell all of those letters...and it would just be an endless loops of letters spelling other letters.” (43:01, Billy)

• On Tenet (Movie):
  “That movie sucks. Don’t tell me that you like that movie.” (43:28, Billy)
  “No one likes that. Anyone who likes that movie, you just lying in my face.” (43:33, Billy)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Pablo Torre/Clippers reporting: 01:28–04:13
• Boxing argument: 03:13–05:06
• Billy’s live tree planting: 05:28–10:17
• Journalism vs. snitching debate: 08:12–08:37
• Dolphins season on the brink: 10:17–16:00
• Sports radio impersonations: 12:08–14:52
• Jimmy Kimmel/FCC/Free speech: 18:37–30:34
• Miami Dolphins dread and overanalysis: 33:05–36:40
• Alphabet/Spelling rabbit hole: 37:18–46:06

Tone & Style

The episode typifies the show’s blend of comedic chaos, impromptu tangents, and substantive commentary. Even as the crew veers off into absurd language debates, they ground discussion with real concern about free speech and corporate power, seamlessly pivoting back to sports and parody.

For First-Time Listeners

This episode is a kaleidoscope of sports, satire, sincere media critique, and genuine confusion about the English alphabet. Highlights include Dan’s powerful monologue on free speech, the comedic mess of Billy's punishment, and an extended, hilarious breakdown of why spelling the letter “W” will break your brain. Essential listening for fans of sharp humor and thoughtful commentary, with plenty of Miami sports agony (and hope?) thrown in.