The Dollop Episode 702 – Bill Clinton (Part Three) with James Adomian

Podcast: The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds
Guest: James Adomian
Date: September 23, 2025
Theme: The chaotic legacy of Bill Clinton’s presidency, focusing on the Monica Lewinsky scandal, major legislative choices, shifting political norms, and the long-term consequences of Clinton’s time in office.

Episode Overview

In the explosive Part Three of their Bill Clinton multi-parter, comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds (joined by the ever-impressive James Adomian) dissect the heart of the Clinton presidency: the Monica Lewinsky scandal, parallel sex scandals, signature policy decisions around welfare, deregulation, and the cultural/political fallout that continues to shape America. The trio blend razor-sharp historical research with searing satire and spot-on impressions (Adomian’s Clinton is a highlight), unpacking not only the tabloid drama but also Clinton’s pivotal role in the rise of neoliberalism, deregulation, and the fracture of the American left.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: December 1995 – Monica Lewinsky and the White House

• (01:40) Dave recaps Monica Lewinsky's early encounters with Clinton, her youthful infatuation, and the inappropriate dynamic:

  "She's convinced he's forgotten after he sees her in the hallway and calls her kiddo. That's definitely not—well, maybe a kink thing, but normally if you see a lady that's blown you, you don't call her kiddo." (Dave, 01:40)

• Power imbalance and staff awareness: The White House staff and Secret Service seemed aware of Clinton’s affairs. When Monica was seen as a "problem," she was moved to the Pentagon to distance her from the President.

  “In April 96, Monica's superiors moved her job to the Pentagon to keep her away from Bill. So a lot of people know what's going on. The Secret Service definitely knows what's going on.” (Dave, 08:39)

2. The Lewinsky Affair: Obsession, Scandal, and Fallout

• Blunt breakdown of the affair: The hosts detail the infamous cigar incident, the gifts exchanged, and Clinton’s brazen disregard for boundaries.

  “Bill once put a cigar into her vagina, then put it in his mouth. He didn't smoke it because smoking in the White House was not allowed.” (Dave, 05:07)

• Monica’s perspective: Monica’s youth and vulnerability are heavily emphasized—a 22-year-old manipulated by “the most powerful man in the world.”

  “She's a young girl with a crush... at that point, you don't know boundaries that well.” (Dave, 07:14)

• Staff manipulation and damage control: Betty Currie, Clinton’s loyal secretary, manages Monica’s contact.

3. Clinton’s Domestic Policy: Welfare Reform and Deregulation

• Welfare overhaul:
  Clinton pushes through major welfare “reform”—limiting time on welfare, adding work requirements, and ending aid for many immigrants, sparking outrage across the spectrum.

  "He promised to, 'end welfare as we know it.'... His plan was to limit time on welfare and add work requirements. So liberals are upset, Republicans want even more. And Bill wanted to offer childcare and training to get people off welfare and also give legal immigrants welfare." (Dave, 12:10)

  “Short-term gains for long-term losses.” (Dave, 24:17)

• Telecommunications Act of 1996: Clinton and Gore support a major deregulation, spurring the rise of media conglomerates like Sinclair Broadcasting and weakening local news, unions, and antitrust protections.

  “It eliminates antitrust regulations created in 1934... killing one of the New Deal's longest lasting regular regulatory frameworks.” (Dave, 23:34)

4. Legal Troubles Multiply: Paula Jones, Depositions, and the Web of Scandal

• Paula Jones lawsuit and legal strategy: A sexual harassment allegation leads to a Supreme Court decision allowing presidents to be sued while in office, setting the stage for Clinton’s detailed, public grilling and scandal spiral.

  “So this was a result of the Paula Jones lawsuit. The woman who said Bill asked her to perform oral sex and kiss his penis.” (Dave, 27:55)

• Salacious details make headlines:
  Debates about the “identifying characteristics” of Clinton’s penis, Monica's infamous blue dress, and press fascination dominate late-90s pop culture.

  “I remember the penis. ... The whole country was talking about the shape and size of the President's penis.” (Dave, 40:26) “Bill's DNA was matched to the cum dress. He'd already lied so much to the public.” (Dave, 88:56)

5. Linda Tripp and the Betrayal

• Tripp’s manipulation:
  Linda Tripp, Monica’s confidant, betrays her, secretly tapes calls (illegally in Maryland), and coordinates with conservative activists to blow open the scandal.

  “Goldberg told Tripp to record conversations and that it was legal in Maryland, but it was not legal in Maryland.” (Dave, 33:04) “Tripp even got Monica to make a spreadsheet of her meets with Bill to look for patterns in his attitude.” (Dave, 33:34)

• Tripp as villain:
  The group sharply criticizes Tripp’s motives and character:

  “Tripp is just a monster. Like, even if you didn't know who she was and then you saw her picture and you're like—yeah.” (Dave, 34:23) “She looks like somebody on one of those daytime talk shows. Like, she looked like a Jerry Springer guest.” (James, 45:28)

6. The Impeachment Process and Cynicism Toward Both Sides

• Lying under oath and parsing words:
  Clinton hangs his defense on legalistic language—“It depends on what the meaning of the word is is.”

  “That depends on what the meaning of the word is. Is.” (Dave, 94:05)

• Public and media burnout:
  Despite endless coverage, the public ultimately shrugs.

  “But people were exhausted by it and just like—by the end, yeah, we were all like, shut the fuck up. Unions are more important than his load.” (Gareth, 61:59)

• Impeachment ironically backfires:
  Republicans lose seats in 1998. Clinton’s approval soars, but the Democratic Party’s leftward commitments are gutted.

  “Final. The final night, Bill signed 140 pardons, including... Mark Rich, whose ex wife was a major Dem fundraiser, and donated hundreds of thousands to Bill's presidential library.” (Dave, 119:01)

7. Long-Term Impact: The Clinton Legacy

• Enabling the rise of the right and Trump:
  Clinton-era deregulation, union crushing, and triangulation pave the way for the modern GOP, corporate power, and Trumpism.

  “I mean 100%, that dude is the biggest reason we got Trump and got here to where we are with fascism.” (Dave, 129:47)

• Destruction of the left’s infrastructure:
  “By killing unions, he eliminated the main gathering place of the left working class... The rich had the right, had megachurches and gun clubs and things like that. And that's now where the working class gathers and talks.” (Dave, 129:54)

• Failed attempts at Social Security privatization, risky financial deregulation (repeal of Glass-Steagall), and media consolidation are listed as catastrophic blows to democracy and working people.

  “His telecommunications bill allowed right wing media companies like Sinclair to dominate the local news and take over all the other news. His repeal of depression era financial regulations led directly to the housing crash...” (Dave, 129:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Monica’s naivete & the adult responsibility:

  "She's being a kid. She's being a 22 year old person. Like that's what you do. And you are being manipulated by the most powerful man in the world who's made a life of manipulator." (Dave, 35:20)

• On welfare reform:

  “Clinton was short term gains for long term losses.” (Dave, 24:17)

• On deregulation:

  "It's what killed. So now there's really no local news anymore... It certainly killed local newspapers and then that also killed unions." (Dave, 26:28)

• On Clinton’s legacy:

  “I mean 100%, that dude is the biggest reason we got Trump and got here to where we are with fascism.” (Dave, 129:47)

• On public indifference:

  "People thought he lied but should stay president. Which is when the Republicans are just... shocked." (Dave, 100:02)

• On the impeachment drama:

  “As a child, you were like, well, okay, he's so angry about it. Obviously, he did it.” (James, 77:49)

Key Timestamps

• 01:40 – The Monica Lewinsky affair begins in earnest; cringeworthy White House moments
• 05:07 – Infamous cigar moment; Clinton’s cover stories
• 08:39 – Monica moved to the Pentagon; staff knows what’s up
• 12:10 – Welfare reform battle: Clinton triangulates between left and right
• 23:34 – Telecommunications Act signed; local media and unions doomed
• 27:55 – Paula Jones lawsuit; Supreme Court rules presidents can be sued in office
• 40:26 – National fixation on Clinton’s anatomy
• 61:59 – Public exhaustion with the scandal; bigger issues ignored
• 88:56 – Dress evidence, legal threats, IRS intimidation
• 94:05 – “Depends what the meaning of 'is' is”—Clinton’s legalese
• 129:47 – Clinton’s legacy: party split, union destruction, seeds of Trumpism

Tone and Style

The episode is a roller-coaster of righteous anger, bleakly funny impressions (especially Adomian’s Clinton), political history lessons, and biting asides. The hosts are relentlessly skeptical of both Clinton and his right-wing opponents, skewering hypocrisy everywhere—from Republican moralizing to liberal centrist nostalgia. They maintain their signature irreverence, using humor and vivid analogies (the 90s as a “cocaine party”) to dissect the era’s absurdities and dark legacy.

Final Reflections

The trio close on a mournful note—lamenting how Clinton’s pursuit of “victory” for himself led directly to the demise of the left, the rise of right-wing propaganda, broken unions, and a country primed for oligarchy and Trump. The Lewinsky saga is presented not just as a cultural farce but as an emblem of the deeper rot within American political life. The episode provides a masterclass in connecting the sordid tabloid drama to the country’s present malaise—both informative and grimly hilarious for those who haven’t listened.