The Big Suey: Pablo Torre Could Have Saved The World (feat. David Samson & Pablo Torre)

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: The Big Suey: Pablo Torre Could Have Saved The World (feat. David Samson & Pablo Torre)
Release Date: January 15, 2025

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1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz introducing the main topic, setting the stage for a deep dive into current sports controversies and broader societal issues.

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2. A.J. Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles

The primary focus of the episode revolves around the Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver A.J. Brown and the recent fallout surrounding his performance and behavior on the sidelines.

• Billy's Critique:
  Billy expresses strong dissatisfaction with A.J. Brown's conduct during games, particularly criticizing his tendency to read books on the sideline.

  "I'd like to talk about what it is to fire a player when you are reading a book on the sideline. And I'm sorry, Dan, you may not want to go there, but A.J. Brown's career with the Eagles is done." (05:35)

• Jeremy's Counterpoint:
  Jeremy defends A.J. Brown, suggesting that performance fluctuations are part of an athlete's career and hinting at the potential for Brown's redemption.

  "If he goes on during these playoffs to have massive games, they go on to the Super Bowl, he's going to be an Eagle." (07:08)

• Dan's Insight:
  Dan LeBatard offers a more nuanced perspective, acknowledging Brown's efforts to improve and questioning the harshness of the criticism.

  "He was bettering himself. He was reading to become better at his... preparing for his next buy." (06:50)

This segment highlights the tension between performance expectations and personal conduct within professional sports, reflecting broader themes of accountability and support for athletes.

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3. Broader Discussion on Corruption in Sports and Politics

The conversation transitions into a broader critique of corruption, particularly focusing on the intersection of sports, media ownership, and political influence.

• Pablo Torre's Analysis:
  Pablo Torre delves into the deep-rooted corruption within sports organizations and its ties to influential figures in Silicon Valley.

  "What have these people been hiding from public view? Trump doesn't make them have to hide anymore." (14:03)

• Jessica's Perspective:
  Jessica expands on the systemic issues, linking the actions of sports owners and tech moguls to the erosion of democratic processes and the manipulation of public opinion.

  "Mark Zuckerberg has always said we can make it so that you have the access to the Library of Alexandria on command in your phone. What I'm saying is that the misery and the ruin of all of these institutions that we enjoy, but our happiness was an unintended consequence of people who thought that they knew better than everybody else." (35:09)

• David Sampson's Input:
  David Sampson underscores the historical persistence of corruption, arguing that while visibility has increased, the fundamental issues remain unchanged.

  "If you go back to the 70s, to the 60s, go back to the 20s, go back to the 1800s... People have the same point of view. This can't get any worse." (35:09)

This segment offers a critical examination of how entrenched power structures within sports and technology perpetuate corruption, influencing both the industry and societal norms.

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4. Silicon Valley, Media Ownership, and Political Influence

The hosts and guests explore the role of Silicon Valley executives and major sports owners in shaping media narratives and political agendas.

• Pablo Torre on Media Power:
  Pablo discusses the consolidation of media power among wealthy individuals, particularly focusing on figures like Mark Zuckerberg and their influence over information dissemination.

  "What we are discovering every day... Because the products are actually that good. They are that good, David." (40:39)

• Jessica's Take on Technological Domination:
  Jessica emphasizes the unprecedented level of control wielded by tech giants, linking it to the current administration's profit-driven motives.

  "Donald Trump's foremost motive is profit. And it's just naked in a way that's different." (37:32)

• Stugotz on Public Support and Power Dynamics:
  Stugotz highlights how widespread public support has emboldened powerful individuals, making their influence more visible and impactful.

  "Now you have popular support. And that's what they have. Mark Zuckerberg knows that he's fine on Facebook." (19:27)

This discussion sheds light on the symbiotic relationship between tech moguls, sports owners, and political figures, illustrating how their combined influence affects public discourse and policy-making.

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5. Host Banter and Light-Hearted Segments

Despite the heavy topics, the episode includes moments of levity and camaraderie among the hosts.

• College Reunion Jokes:
  The hosts reminisce about college reunions, movie references, and personal anecdotes, showcasing their chemistry and humor.

  "If your college was a movie, what movie would it be?" (40:56)

• Mocking Ads and Product Mentions:
  Interspersed within the discussion are humorous takes on fictional product placements and exaggerated endorsements, adding a comedic element to the show.

These segments provide a balance to the intense discussions, highlighting the hosts' ability to engage in both serious analysis and entertaining banter.

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6. Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on the discussions, reiterating the importance of accountability in both sports and broader societal structures. They encourage listeners to stay informed and critically evaluate the influences shaping their world.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Billy on A.J. Brown's Future:

  "A.J. Brown's career with the Eagles is done." (05:35)

• Pablo Torre on Media Influence:

  "What have these people been hiding from public view? Trump doesn't make them have to hide anymore." (14:03)

• Jessica on Technological Control:

  "The misery and the ruin of all of these institutions that we enjoy, but our happiness was an unintended consequence of people who thought that they knew better than everybody else." (35:09)

• David Sampson on Historical Corruption:

  "People have the same point of view. This can't get any worse." (35:09)

These quotes encapsulate the episode's key themes, emphasizing the critical perspectives offered by the hosts and guests on current issues in sports, media, and politics.

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Conclusion

The Big Suey: Pablo Torre Could Have Saved The World serves as a thought-provoking episode that intertwines sports commentary with incisive analysis of media and political corruption. Through engaging discussions and sharp insights, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and their guests challenge listeners to reconsider the dynamics shaping their favorite sports and the broader societal landscape.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to giraffkings Network.

[Stugotz]

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[David Sampson]

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[Jeremy]

Welcome to the Big Sui presented by DraftKings.

[Pablo Torre]

Why are you listening to this show.

[Jeremy]

The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBatard podcast? I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging.

[Pablo Torre]

I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables to grab somebody's fries that if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys.

[Jeremy]

I've done it. And now here's the marching man to nowhere Fat Face and the habitual liar.

[Jessica]

What's up, everybody?

[Fat Face]

Your boy is back from paternity leave. And I have a very important announcement. UFC 311 MMA Hangout is back at Casatiki Live and in person at the number one UFC bar on the planet Casadiqui. We'll be watching UFC 311. That's Islam Makhachev versus Armin Tsarukian. Number two. We've got the bantamweight title, also in line between Merab Dwalishvili. And we've got Umar Namagamadov, undefeated. Plus, we got a banger to open all that stuff up. Your Prohaska versus Jamal Hill, 10pm Saturday night at Casa Tiki Live. If you want to pull up on the boys or YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, wherever you watch the MMA Hangout, support us. We love you. 2025.

[Jeremy]

Big year.

[Pablo Torre]

We're back.

[Jeremy]

Let's go.

[Pablo Torre]

I'm sorry. I am sorry. That just legitimately happened. I just asked Jess, Jessica, if she had sent me a story about an Italian soccer club firing a falcon. It's not a falconeer, right?

[Jeremy]

No, it's a falconer. It's a falconer.

[Pablo Torre]

Somebody who has. Who has trained a falcon.

[Jeremy]

Yeah.

[Pablo Torre]

For posting photos of a penis implant. And I thought it was Jessica who sent me that story.

[Dan LeBatard]

I said, okay, Dan, now let's get you back to the home.

[Pablo Torre]

But it was Samson. Was it you who sent me that story?

[Billy]

Yes.

[Pablo Torre]

Okay. Somebody sent me that story. We were starting the segment, and I'm looking through my notes, trying to figure out who it is that sent me the falconer story. And there it is. David Sampson sent me that story. I'm not familiar with the story. I love the headline. What's the story?

[Billy]

The story is there's. There's a team that has a falcon as a mascot, and when you have a falcon, you have a falconer who's the guy who controls the falcon and says, come back to me. And this guy got a penile implant because he wanted a button that he could press to control his erection and make sure that he can have sex whenever he wants to for however long he wants to. And then he posted pictures of it on his social media account. That's private. But somebody took a screenshot of it and then posted it publicly. And he got canned. Absolutely. Fired. And he shocked that he got fired for this penile implant you had.

[Jeremy]

Just setting this to you.

[Pablo Torre]

I mean, I have too many.

[Dan LeBatard]

Called the G spot.

[Billy]

It's a button.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jeremy]

I mean, she knows.

[Dan LeBatard]

Metaphorically, I guess.

[Billy]

Dan, help me right now, because this is it. This may be the moment.

[Jeremy]

This is it, huh?

[Billy]

After all we've been through, this could be it.

[David Sampson]

Is that a Rosebud motel next to you?

[Chris]

Hey, Schitt's Creek.

[Pablo Torre]

How about that?

[Billy]

That's my Hanukkah gift for my kids.

[Jessica]

The first episode ten years ago yesterday. First episode of that show.

[Stugotz]

Last time Heat were relevant.

[Billy]

Just a button.

[Jeremy]

That's a nice gift. That's a nice.

[Billy]

We're gonna need to cover for Dan now because he's gone. We've lost Billy. So I'd like to talk about something.

[Jeremy]

What?

[Billy]

I'd like to talk about what it is to fire a player when you are reading a book on the sideline. And I'm sorry, Dan, you may not want to go there, but A.J. brown's career with the Eagles is done. And I am so lit up about this subject because I don't understand why the coach is absolutely supporting his ability to be distracted like that on the sideline. And we're allowing a player to say, oh, this had nothing to do with the fact that me and Jalen hurts, don't like each other, and I had one catch. I think it's an outrage.

[Dan LeBatard]

David.

[Billy]

Jessica, it's just a spot. It's just a book.

[Jeremy]

Whoa. It's a button, David.

[Dan LeBatard]

What are we talking about again?

[Jeremy]

Do you know what it is, David?

[Jessica]

Let's put a button on that.

[Billy]

Part of the central lifetime looking.

[Jeremy]

What a ridiculous take, I must say, about AJ Brown being done with the Eagles. I mean, last week you're cutting Mike Evans before he gets his bonus. This week it's AJ Brown being covered reading a book. I love what you're doing here because you're taking. Takes the places they've never gone before.

[Billy]

But this is an Eagle, Stu. He won't be an Eagle. You cannot have someone on the sideline who is doing that. You cannot bring your pregame preparation onto the sideline. We just wouldn't allow it.

[Dan LeBatard]

He was bettering himself. He was reading to become better at his. Like he's. He's preparing for his next buy, Matt.

[Billy]

That in the middle of a game, he needs to read a passage in order to remind himself what inner excellence is. Give me a small break. It's the middle of a playoff game.

[Jeremy]

I know, but why are you saying he's not going to be an Eagle? Because if he goes on during these playoffs to have massive games, they go on to the super bowl, he's going to be an Eagle.

[Billy]

I mean, he won't even be targeted next week.

[Jeremy]

Really?

[Billy]

Not even he'll. May. May. Maybe Again, one target, one catch.

[Jeremy]

Wait, how does this work, Jay? So Jalen hurts, drops back. AJ Brown is wide open, and he refuses to pass him the ball.

[Billy]

You've never heard of basketball players, teammates not passing each other the ball, of.

[Jeremy]

Course, freezing a guy out. Yes, but this is a playoff game where you don't have a ton of time to think about stuff, you know?

[Billy]

Oh, I think you think about it very deeply and strongly, and I think that A.J. brown is going to walk himself right out of the playbook. Here's the book that I'd like him to read next weekend. How about the playbook or the unemployment income book? There's a whole book that we give you when we fire you, which is cobra. It's how you can apply for unemployment. It's all the things you can do when you've been canned. That's the book I'd like to see A.J. brown read.

[Dan LeBatard]

You're saying A.J. brown shouldn't read that book? I'm saying if Jalen Hurts, makes that read, he should get canned.

[Pablo Torre]

It's a good joke.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was a bad play on words. You don't have to do that. Dan's back.

[Pablo Torre]

Hey, I'm rattled.

[Billy]

You should be.

[Pablo Torre]

And I am objecting to his take. It is too strong. But you've seen. Look, David's a very competitive human being. David runs seven marathons on seven continents in seven days because he wants to win at all times. He's in the content game. He is a hustler. He has toured the country in the content game, and he's pushing his takes further and further out.

[Jeremy]

I love it.

[Pablo Torre]

Because he's got to keep up in the content game. And the hot take is rewarded all over the place. The take is rewarded. And David's pretty smart and he's crafty, and so he's pushing his takes out into the extremes, and he's. And. And plenty of people in Philadelphia would agree with him that A.J. brown should be cut. He has served his purpose.

[Jeremy]

Not a person agrees.

[Dan LeBatard]

They just want to win games.

[Jess]

They don't.

[Pablo Torre]

No, no, wait a minute. A.J. brown disgruntled. One catch, you can get out of town. AJ Brown, 12 catches for 160 yards will love you forever, even if you're. If you're reading on the sidelines like that. I'm not. I'm saying the same way they'll run Sirianni out of town even after wins, because their expert. Look, man, they're. The Bills fan base is the best. That there is in football because it donates charity. But passion of fans in an angry fan base turns into a very ugly thing. And the expectations in Philadelphia are in an unreasonable place where Sirianni is an idiot and AJ Brown is as good as his last game. Not the last one that he gave you 12 catches in, the last one that he gave you one catch in and was reading a book.

[Jeremy]

I mean, the expectations in Philadelphia are where the expectation should be in Philadelphia based on that roster. They're a very good football team. I don't care what their fans say or think. Their fans are a bunch of lunatics. I'm serious. And they're not allowed to celebrate this thing. They're not allowed to celebrate A.J. brown because I'm certain on WIP, they're calling right now Mark Gargano and they're telling him right now, get rid of A.J. brown. They're with David Sampson. And I'm telling you, Philadelphia, you are not allowed to root for this team because six weeks ago you wanted to fire your coach. And most of you, I think most of you do agree with David Sampson, and that's ludicrous.

[Stugotz]

You think A.J. brown's not going to find a job if he's not on the Eagles very easily.

[Jeremy]

He'll find the job. Yes.

[David Sampson]

Patriots variable.

[Dan LeBatard]

I have an update, by the way, on the guy that was fired in Italy. He was also suspended in 2021 while he was filmed performing a fascist salute at the end of a match, chanting the name used to praise former fascist Italian leader Benito Mussolini. Quote, I admire him so much, he added on Monday's radio interview. So it sounds like maybe he had a prior history of.

[Billy]

Well, those are big time anti Semites over there. And you don't want to generalize, but that team that he works for is well known for their bad behavior. Both fans everywhere in the organization. Not a very inclusive place, but I guess being an anti Semite is fine. But a penile implant, that's the line that you can't cross.

[Pablo Torre]

You know what? I've got to interrupt everything I'm doing because a sly grin just came across the face of one Stu Gatz. And when he gets this sly grin, I'm showing people behind the curtain here, everything around here has to stop immediately. No matter the segue, no matter how awkward on his face, glean in his eye. I can see that he has top five athletes if they were vegetables. I could see it. I could see it.

[Jeremy]

This is based on our conversation last segment where I called Jason Garrett. Jason Garrett.

[Pablo Torre]

We don't have to give any explanation to anybody. I saw the gleam in your eye. Is any Oli or just top five?

[Jeremy]

We have some oli. Yeah. Mookie beats, Cam Radish, dontario potato. Number five, Lou Broccoli. Number four, Brussel Westbrook. Number three, Diana Zucchini. Number two, Kevin McHale. And number one, Dan Jerome Lettuce.

[David Sampson]

It's a good list.

[Jessica]

I mean, that's as good as.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, Come on. Yeah, that might be on the fly, too.

[Stugotz]

Just don't do anymore.

[Jess]

That's as good as it gets.

[Stugotz]

That's your best.

[Jeremy]

Good night, everyone.

[Stugotz]

Good job. Taylor Saw it in his eye.

[Pablo Torre]

Saw it in his eye. It was gleaming. We have to stop everything we're doing, whatever it is that we see this. We will get to Pablo, Pablo Torre in a second. But Sampson, give me all of your thoughts on Deion Sanders to the Cowboys and the Jerry Jones job opening. I can't believe we haven't talked about this yet.

[Billy]

I just don't see what the benefit is to Jerry Jones. When Deion went to the Buffaloes, it added a bunch of nil money. They got a bunch of extra revenue at the school level with season tickets, etc. And it put their program on the map. The Cowboys valuation isn't going to go up with Deion Sanders. They need to win games, and they need to win games in January and February. And to even flirt with Deion Sanders is a very funny thing for Jerry Jones, the GM trying desperately to get away from Mike McCarthy and all the losing. So trying to go opposite of what McCarthy is because Dion's done nothing, really. Never been an NFL coach, obviously. And you could say that his success in Buffalo, in Colorado was based on maybe his son and the Heisman Trophy winner. I think this is a flirtation that will not actually result in a contract because there's just no ancillary benefit to Deion Sanders joining the Cowboys.

[Jessica]

Squash Allen.

[Jeremy]

Oh, my God. How did I leave that out?

[Pablo Torre]

I am looking. I am looking right now at an invitation. I'm going to switch gears here from athletes who remind you of vegetables, some nutrients of a different kind that nobody here is asking for or nobody wants. I'm going to ruin the show by looking here at an invitation for Monday night to a reception prior to the inaugural ball celebrating the inauguration of Donald Trump Vice President J.D. vance, hosted by Tillman Fertitta and Mark Zuckerberg. And I want to bring in Pablo Torre because of some of what's happening right now in America that people might want to be paying attention to as the power is being dispersed among very, very wealthy people.

[Jeremy]

It's playoff time, Dano.

[Pablo Torre]

I understand, but just give me a brief moment to welcome in Pablo Torre and David Sampson. And start with you, Sampson, on how would you present everything happening around Zuckerberg, around Musk as well, but around Zuckerberg particularly and how it relates to how we get information and where all money seems to be aligning.

[Billy]

It's pretty shocking that you want to discuss this now because this has been going on for decades where there have been power brokers both outside the government who don't want to be in the government because they have more power. Not being the president or not being in the Senate, they have power pulling the strings. We've been dealing with this with sports where you have owners who have been very quiet about their support of the right, except all that's changed is they're less quiet. And when you look at someone like Miriam Adelson, name you didn't mention who took over the Mavericks from Mark Cuban, her husband was the number one far right, absolute what I would call. Let me talk about Sheldon Adelson for one second. He was such that his wife couldn't be approved as owner of the Mavericks, so they had to have the son in law as the control person so the NBA could have plausible deniability that they were kowtowing to people who have those views. Except in sports. They've always wanted people around them who have those views because they're always interested in maximizing their valuations and their relationships with governments because they need the protections the government provides. What Donald Trump has allowed for is people to be more open when you've got the Ricketts family. When Tom Ricketts was approved as owner, he was approved to own the Cubs only knowing that it was a trust that his father was funding. But his father could have nothing to do with the operation of the Cubs. So baseball could say, oh, we're not far right, but it's horse hockey. Of course Joe Ricketts has been involved, Todd Ricketts has been involved in the operation of the Cubs. We just lie to the fans in order for them to believe that, that we are woke, that we are far left, that we care so much. But they've never cared ever. They just hide it less well these days.

[Pablo Torre]

Pablo, you've reported on sports owners as well as anybody over the last year. I urge everyone listening to this. Pablo Torrey finds out is a journalistic enterprise that has an assortment of reporting you will not find anywhere else Miriam Adelson, John Fisher, Glenn Taylor, Matt Ishbia, the son's owner. What you reported on him was crazy. And no longer in the shadows. What have these people been hiding from public view? Trump doesn't make them have to hide anymore.

[Jess]

Well, just the transactionality of all of it. I mean, David does sort of summarize it well there. But I'll add a different sort of angle to it, which is that that invitation that you read the Ricketts family, the Adelsons, okay, obviously those are two sports owners and Mark Zuckerberg. Now you have a guy who is also our sports figure. Dana White is on the board of Meta. I've been. Look, I went to college with Mark Zuckerberg. I've been watching him in both a morbidly curious. I mean, was I the 199th person in the world to join Facebook? Yeah, maybe. Who's counting? Me. It used to be my URL199. But I say that because for 20 years I watched a guy without any actual moral compass transact and scheme to become more and more powerful and more and more wealthy. Corruption is not created equal. Like, I think there's just a bunch of people out there who are like Hunter Biden and I'm like Hunter Biden. That was a terrible embarrassment for the Biden administration. There are lots of things the left, broadly speaking, has done that does fall into the realm of corruption and is embarrassing. I'm just telling you that nothing is as. Look at what we're doing. We're not even hiding it anymore than invitations like that. And just the pivot that someone like Mark Zuckerberg has taken, they're doing it, Dan, because it works. This is an administration that is welcome to quid pro quo. Miriam Adelson. By the way, the Adelson family aforementioned, we did an episode about them. The biggest donors to Donald Trump, in exchange, they get to dictate policy on Israel. Mark Zuckerberg, the reason he's doing this is because he knows that he can give money in exchange for political favors and protection. It works and that's why they're doing it. They're not stupid. They are just devious.

[Billy]

Pablo, People have known that forever. What's actually different now is something that you're not focusing on. It's that they've got the support of over half the country. We can talk all we want about where, who's the president. The fact is, when you've got 70 million people, this is the country we are. We elected Trump to office and now these Owners and these billionaires, they've got the COVID that they never had before. You don't need to work in the shadows when you have popular support. And that's what they have. Mark Zuckerberg knows that he's fine on Facebook. He looks at the stock price of Meta and he recognizes that it's being bolstered not by people who disagree with him, but by people who agree with him. So he's gonna lean into that.

[Jess]

But I think that what David just did is the trick that got run in the campaign and now the aftermath, which is you voted for this. And I think on some level, of course, because it's two choices, yes, objectively true, but if you. I just think that there has been a both sides ism to corruption that is undersold the magnitude on the side that won and the side that one did not run on. We are corruption. Vote for corruption. They ran on all the other stuff. They ran on again, they ran on trans athletes, they ran on immigration, they ran on the stuff that is juicy, the stuff that actually like moves the needle in a town hall meeting. Corruption isn't one of those topics. But because the other stuff got voted for, corruption rides inside. And David, I just think that my faith relative to yours is in the idea that people, if they actually knew the magnitude and were presented with it by journalistic enterprises in a more rigorous and clear way, they would not actually say we voted for corruption. They would say, oh, that was an unfortunate thing that happened. In retrospect, we voted for the other stuff. Instead we got the most corrupt administration in history of American politics.

[Jeremy]

Stagachi, I want to tell you a story. I'm serious here. My wife and my two daughters, they begged me to buy a peloton. So I bought a peloton. And then I watched that peloton sit in my office and stare at me. So you know what I did one day I looked at it and so I decided to get off my ass and I jumped on the peloton because no one else was using it and I paid for it. I mean, so why not? Then I realized eventually that they bought it for me. And I got to tell you, way more challenging than I could have ever imagined. Peloton coaches are walking the walk. I love the coaches. I do the Grateful Dead one. It's fantastic. They have a sub 3 hour marathon runner, military trained athlete, a former college basketball player and so many other well rounded coaches on their team. All this experience really shows in their classes, which are never short of challenging, especially for me. So I jumped on it that first time. It was challenging, more challenging than I thought. And then I wanted to beat the bike and so I kept jumping on it and I absolutely love it. I mean, I'm the only one who uses it, but again, they got it for me. I mean, I had no idea. That's a little passive aggressive, don't you think? Find your push, find your power with [e-mail].

[David Sampson]

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[Chris]

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[Jess]

Don LeBatard Pablo leads all of podcasting.

[Billy]

In Reading while smiling.

[Jess]

If you listen to ESPN Daily, he sounds like he's having the time of his life. Stugats coming up next, I'm going to tell you how the Savannah Bananas are changing.

[Chris]

How do you know Savannah Bananas?

[David Sampson]

How do you know I'm Smiling.

[Chris]

That's how I found my vocal range. Sometimes I just say, savannah Bananas. Savannah Bananas.

[David Sampson]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats. Pablo, were you the least successful member of your graduating class?

[Jess]

No, there was a. There, there's. There, there's a, There's a, there's, there's. I went through this exercise at our reunion.

[Stugotz]

Oh, no, you went.

[Jess]

That already Is up.

[Jeremy]

Was not.

[Jess]

You didn't go to your. Wait, Billy, you didn't go to your.

[Stugotz]

We don't have college.

[Jess]

Zuckerberg was a year ahead of me. There are some other candidates in mind. You. You guys don't have college reunions?

[Stugotz]

No college reunion.

[Jeremy]

I mean, we do. I just don't go to folks walking around yet.

[Dan LeBatard]

I haven't had one yet.

[Stugotz]

Like 60000 people in a graduating class. I just see them in the streets every day.

[Jeremy]

Yeah.

[Jessica]

Pablo, were you also on Facebook when it was just a Hot or not.

[Jess]

Website, or was that. Yeah, so Facebook started as. As truly that. Like it was a way. We've seen the movie, Zuckerberg.

[Billy]

We all saw Social Network, Pablo.

[Jess]

Well, I'm here to tell you. You saw a movie. I. I lived the movie.

[Stugotz]

What were the Winklevoss twins like that.

[Jeremy]

I didn't see you in the movie, Pablo.

[Dan LeBatard]

College was a movie. The Social Network.

[Jess]

That's right.

[Billy]

Pablo, your desire to be so ahead of us intellectually gets in the way of actual discourse because the corruption that you're describing has existed since Jefferson Burr Hamilton. There's been enough time. Now you're saying they didn't vote for corruption.

[Jess]

No, what. What. What David is saying is actually the problem now. You've. Your take has gotten worse. Your take is now corruption has always existed. We should not even remark upon its existence. Yes, it is. You're observing something in the observation. You are wearing away the edges on what's actually interesting, which is that this is uniquely corrupt. And I'm just telling you.

[Billy]

Correct, you're saying. But Pablo, there's nothing unique about what's happening. It's just not hidden anymore. That's the only thing. If you want to say that's what's unique, then we can talk about that. But the level of corruption now, by the big. Go back to when. Go back to Ford. Go back to when cars started. Go back to the wheel or the steam.

[Jess]

Back to the wheel.

[Billy]

When I'm talking about corruption. About power.

[Jeremy]

Yeah.

[Billy]

Oil.

[Jess]

Are you just naming old things now?

[Billy]

No, I'm naming corrupt. I'm naming every level of corruption. Caveman.

[Jess]

Swinging saloon doors. Were you hot or not, Pablo?

[Stugotz]

Like, what was your picture and what.

[Jess]

Was, like, the percentage? I think. I think I did peak in college.

[Stugotz]

Really?

[Dan LeBatard]

I thought they only rated one, but.

[Jessica]

Of course they did.

[Jess]

To answer your question, though, in terms of, like, where do I rank in my college reunion? It does bring us back to the topic, because when I went to that reunion, Vivek Ramaswamy was there. And I'll just point out something. Vivek Ramaswamy drove a wedge into this insane coalition between Silicon Valley, deeply transactional, and America First. Right? Because he was talking about, like, H1B visas and you need more Indian immigrants and all that stuff. Go check out the last time Vivek Ramaswamy tweeted. The dude has been disappeared from the Republican Party since he dared to say something that was ideologically inconvenient for this coalition. So I'm just telling you that Vivek Ramasami is on the way down. I think I am absolutely back ahead of him. Damien Chazelle directed Whiplash and La La Land in those movies, so I think he's clearly the number one. But I'm up there. I'm up there. Arguably, I would say Colin Jost, your year. I didn't like Colin Jost was not. He was years ahead of me. I went to high school together. He's a good guy.

[Jeremy]

There you go, high school.

[Pablo Torre]

Guys, I need some help here. I need some help. I need some help from all of you because Pablo Torre has a very popular podcast and he's likable to a certain select.

[Stugotz]

Can I clarify?

[Jess]

I am the least likable on your show, which is unfortunately one of the biggest platforms. I tend to join the club sometimes have everywhere else. I'm like the fun guy here. I'm like the scold.

[Jessica]

And I'm like, welcome to my world.

[Jeremy]

Really? You're the fun guy elsewhere, huh? Are you.

[Stugotz]

Are you finally walking a mile in my shoes, Pablo?

[Jess]

I am. I am the fun. I am. I am the Stugot of msnbc. Just to give you a clarity on what it's like for me over there. I come in wanting to talk about. I. I come in wanting to rank quarterbacks, literally. And it's. And it's a very different experience.

[Pablo Torre]

So we're trying yelling to people's.

[Jess]

We're live mics, you know, like Michelle Beetle. We are.

[Pablo Torre]

We get the joke. We are trying to make you more likable around here, and you continue to just make it difficult at every turn. Billy and Stugots are noticing at every turn that your arrogance is showing.

[Stugotz]

No, I like Pablo.

[Pablo Torre]

No, but arrogance.

[Stugotz]

But Pablo, stop vivicking us.

[Pablo Torre]

What he just did is I lived the movie. He's basically saying I was at the start of social media. It started with me. I invented.

[Billy]

It was though, he says, from his one bedroom apartment.

[Jess]

I didn't make money on it. The two bedroom or apartment shaming, a.

[Dan LeBatard]

One bedroom in New York also. That's doing well.

[Jess]

Thank you. Thank you, Jess. I was, I didn't look, I didn't. As the movie says, if you invented Facebook, you would. Invented Facebook. I didn't invent Facebook. What I did, though, was watch Mark Zuckerberg's now wife, Priscilla Chan, live in my freshman entryway and send an email to us being like, hey, do you want to sign up for Mark's new website? And I did. And you could have saved the world.

[Dan LeBatard]

You could have stopped it all then and there.

[Jess]

That's the better take, is that I was all too happy to sign up for the Hot or Not site and like stalk people in my classes because I was like, oh, wait a minute, this is actually convenient instead. Yeah.

[Pablo Torre]

This is Pablo Torre. This msnbc, you're making him a rising star. He's got the world's most expensive podcast and he does journalism at a time that journalism is dying because you all gave it to Zuckerberg and you're good with him and Musk doing journalism and Pablo's out here and it's expensive, fighting the good fight, but he does so with maximum eloquence. And msnbc, this is what you've hitched your wagon to in terms of intellect. This. Meanwhile, David Sampson toils in a tin can 8 o'clock in the morning, doing better content, belching it out 50 minutes at a time. Pablo needs a team of people, needs an army of hundreds to give you this. And poor Sampson just working with Coca and trying to get on msnbc. And nobody invites him on msnbc.

[Jessica]

Well, they don't invite him on MSNBC because he thinks that corruption is the same now as it was before money entered politics. So.

[Jeremy]

And that A.J. brown's going to get cut.

[Pablo Torre]

Well, you're not.

[Jess]

I think Dan walked away when Sampson just started saying stuff like the wheel, but that happened too.

[Pablo Torre]

Do you guys understand? You've learned nothing from me, either one of you? Samson, Pablo, do you understand how it is, how hard it is to be less likable than me with your strident opinions that way?

[Jess]

You are welcome. You are welcome for that.

[Dan LeBatard]

He was just naming Monopoly pieces. He Was like the thimble.

[Jessica]

Is that why you hired me, Dan?

[Pablo Torre]

You surround yourself with people who make you more likable.

[Dan LeBatard]

The penguin.

[Jeremy]

That's what I did.

[Jess]

How's the boot guy? Anybody else a boot guy?

[Stugotz]

I like the little car and the doggy.

[Dan LeBatard]

I was the terrier.

[David Sampson]

I phased the boat.

[Dan LeBatard]

I was gonna make a bootlicker joke, but I.

[Pablo Torre]

Nobody saw stugats coming on that one from any angle. So your guys, your level of trepidation here as we enter, like, what are the interesting takeaways? Like, what is the proper not, you know, not howling at the sky, correct temperament to have about what is clearly happening in this country, which is the gulf between have and have nots continues to grow. There's a desperation growing amid the have nots. And the rich people keep accruing more power, more money, so that they will have all of it at the most desperate of times and can buy all the water when you need it for a firefight, can buy all the media when you need it for a power struggle on disinformation, like what's accurate as we enter a new force years where the American public have said flatly what we care about is the economy and immigration and the voting is swallowed by the desperation, and people are lonely and angry and they'll vote for whatever represents change.

[Jess]

I think it's Silicon Valley. I think tech is actually the big difference, and that's the difference between the wheel and now is that we are dealing with the foremost technological innovation presented to you by companies that aren't just seeking to protect themselves, but they actually do have a we know better than you perspective on this. It's not just that Silicon Valley is transactional, David, and they are willing to spend to preserve their own self interests. It's that now you have them in concert with an administration that doesn't care about the ideology. They don't. Donald Trump's foremost motive is profit. And it's just naked in a way that's different. There were other guidelines and guardrails around. Well, he won't do this because he do that because there is shame. There is policy. He actually does believe this ideologically. I'm not saying that Trump believes in nothing. I'm just saying that nothing compares to the profit that he wants to make. And when you have that in combination with the place that has the most money to spend, that does have ideas for how the policy should be different, it's just a remarkable combination that we're gonna begin to see in full bloom, that's gonna make the Wheel and the corruption that existed in the era of, like, oil barons. It's gonna be quaint because it's never been quite like this with Silicon Valley ascendant at this time.

[Billy]

The middle class has been disappearing for decades, number one. Number two, one of the most commonly common misconceptions is people saying, oh, this is different. This isn't like it was. This is worse. This is getting out of hand. If you go back to the 70s, to the 60s, go back to the 20s, go back to the 1800s, for crying out loud. People have the same point of view. This can't get any worse. The problem you have, Pablo, is that you're trying to explain to people something that they already know. You're not helping them find out something. You're not giving them an epiphany that, my God, look who I voted into office. I had no idea what he was about. Of course they know. Maybe in 2016 they didn't know, but in 2024, of course they did. Which is why all of this shouting into the wind is not necessary. Because this is our country. You like it or not. This is what we wanted, and this is what we have.

[Jeremy]

Connor Scallions.

[Jess]

That's pretty good. Gotta say, it's pretty good.

[Pablo Torre]

Jeremy, you were making faces while Sampson was talking.

[Jessica]

Well, I guess the. The one thing that I would say is, yes, of course, corruption has always existed, David. And we as a country have constantly needed massive deals from the proper administrations to root out corruption and save us from disaster. And basically, since Reagan was president, we have only slashed and slashed and slashed and slashed on regulation and welcomed more and more and more and more corruption and money into government. And this is that where people are so fed up and frustrated. Whether it's different or not, David, the perception is there for young people, for middle class people, for lower class people, of, this is enough. This rich guy and all of his rich friends profiting off of us, the labor. There are people who are fed up with that, and it seems to be more brazen. And more people have access to that information now than before. So the rich guys are buying up the information places and making it unable for Americans to communicate with each other in that respect without it being suppressed. That's a problem.

[Jess]

I don't love that Jeremy and I are both wearing glasses as we yell at David. It's just. I feel like we're diluting extra potential at the same time. I do want to. I want to join Jeremy, though, in pushing back on David in this way. David said, you find nothing out by explaining how corrupt and perhaps uniquely corrupt this administration is. The Silicon Valley thing is, the, is the, is the part. Part that I think we're underweighting here every day on this show especially. But otherwise we marvel at how unhappy we are about our phones and what is actually ruling our day to day life, right? We marvel at that as if it's new all of the time. The companies that made it that way did not make it that way. I think credit to them because they said we would like to make everyone's lives miserable. What happened was they were like, we can innovate and create a device that can do all of these other things. We can connect the world. So Mark Zuckerberg has always said we can make it so that you have the access to the Library of Alexandria on command in your phone. What I'm saying is that the misery and the ruin of all of these institutions that we enjoy, but our happiness, first and foremost, okay, our happiness was an unintended consequence of people who thought that they knew better than everybody else. And when you don't regulate those people and when you don't put up the guardrails via a political administration that is meant to not serve a profit motive, but to serve its actual citizens at that point. Not to sound like I'm running for goddamn office right now, you are doing something in which people have to discover I'm a frog in a pot of boiling water. That's what we are discovering every day. Because the products are actually that good. They are that good, David. And guess I think you should buy.

[Billy]

Stock and flip phones, Pablo. That's what you should do. Invest Violet's money in flip phones. Because that's what we're going to. We're going to start going backwards because the world has spoken, the people have spoken. They don't want this sort of progress. They don't want this sort of connectivity. They are being. The wool is over everybody's eyes. You got this one right? Pablo.

[Jess]

Well, listen, I'm just saying, like you talk to people who design. There's a guy who designed the feature that is the Infinity Scroll. We all know it, right? Like you don't have to actually like press a button. It just scrolls infinitely. I'm like a slot machine. It actually is sort of premised on slot machine technology. That famously non addictive technology that everybody who uses loves. You know, slot machines, people love it. When you watch them play a slot machine, you're like that person having the time of their life and not sad and old and dying. What is happening is that the people who invented this technology, the infinite scroll, social media, and Facebook itself, their philosophy with their own kids is we wouldn't let them use this stuff. And I think you've heard that probably before. But it's real, it's true. And I'm not saying that to say I'm gonna throw my phone into the ocean. I'm just saying the people who are telling you that they know the best. Okay. Are also the people who have access to avoid being stopped in a unique way. And it'd be one thing if they.

[Pablo Torre]

Had proven it, but they haven't. I regret all of this. I regret everything that we have done for the last 25 minutes.

[Jeremy]

Chris Leakes, we're back.

[Pablo Torre]

Except for that I've been okay with that.

[Dan LeBatard]

If your college was a movie, what movie would it be?

[Jessica]

Ooh, good question.

[Dan LeBatard]

Mine is obviously Rudy, but I, Dave is maybe Legally Blonde.

[Pablo Torre]

So you guys have been looking for.

[Billy]

How long to try and back to school Jessica. That's my college. University of Wisconsin.

[Pablo Torre]

Thank you.

[Jess]

Apparently.

[Pablo Torre]

Is that. What is that, Rodney?

[Jess]

It came out around the time of the wheel, I believe.

[Pablo Torre]

What year is back to school? What year is back to school?

[Jeremy]

I think it was 81.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wait, I thought it was called Back to school. Jessica.

[Billy]

It's Rodney Dangerfield.

[Jeremy]

Great movie.

[Pablo Torre]

Samson is getting no respect. Samson? Yes. Samson is incapable of making a movie reference to Jessica. That's not from 1999. 1981, it was 86. Okay, back to school. As I recall, Rodney Dangerfield. Is that the one he dives in? He's a swimmer of some sort.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, I've actually seen that one.

[Pablo Torre]

Two old guys go look at Rodney. Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. Why have we not been talking more about this during this segment? Instead of worrying about Zuckerberg, you're telling me that a 60 year old Rodney Dangerfield who looked 60 when he was 30, was shirtless in a movie back to school and did the triple Lindy in order to win something in a movie.

[Jeremy]

No one has ever pulled off the triple Lindy before or since. He went from one diving board to the to the next diving board to another diving board. He was not shirtless by the way.

[Billy]

And he wasn't shirtless. He had a skin tight red tank top on with his beer belly. He was Van Wilder before Van Wilder.

[Jeremy]

Rodney.

[Pablo Torre]

So you guys are telling me that the Trimble Lindy was for to go from one diving board to another diving board to another diving board? That that was the big spoiler alert. The big finish to the Rodney Dangerfield movie.

[Dan LeBatard]

His arm are so skinny.

[Pablo Torre]

This is what David Sampson is saying.

[Jeremy]

I gave him a 10.

[Pablo Torre]

His his college experience.

[Jess]

Rodney.

[Billy]

It was filmed at Wisconsin. Dan, if Jessica's going to say Rudy because of Notre Dame, then you have to say that Wisconsin is back to school.

[Pablo Torre]

Chris, did you just make a face because he called it Notre Dame?

[Jeremy]

Yeah.

[David Sampson]

I mean, what are you doing there? You're not better than me.

[Pablo Torre]

Yeah, put it on the poll. Juju is the person who says Notre Dame think he's better than you. He or she is better than you. Thank you gentlemen for joining us. We'll talk to you next week.

[Billy]

See ya.

[Chris]

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[Jeremy]

All set for your flight?

[Jess]

Yep, I've got everything I need.

[Pablo Torre]

Eye mask, neck pillow, T Mobile Headphones.

[Jess]

Wait.

[Pablo Torre]

T Mobile? You bet.

[Jess]

Free inflight Wi Fi 15 off all Hilton brands. I never go anywhere without T Mobile. Same goes from a water bottle, chewing gum, nail clipper.

[Billy]

I'm gonna leave you to it.

[Jeremy]

Find out how you can experience travel.

[Billy]

Better@T mobile.com Travel qualifying plan required.

[Jeremy]

Wi Fi were available on select US airlines.

[Pablo Torre]

Deposit and Hilton honors membership required for 15% discount. Terms and conditions apply.