Interrupted by Matt Jones – Episode 35: "It's The News"

Podcast Date: April 8, 2026
Host: Matt Jones (with Drew Franklin, Billy, and Mario)
Main Theme:
This episode is a lively, wide-ranging news roundtable as Matt, Drew, and Billy tackle the latest headlines (and some lighter oddities) from global crises and political drama to sports, moon missions, and viral pop culture. True to the show’s tone, the conversation mixes genuine analysis with Kentucky-style humor, personal stories, and the group’s signature digressions.

Personal Updates: Drew’s Pending Fatherhood

[00:31–03:29]

• Drew Franklin shares he’s imminent to become a father (“a girl!”), sparking a playful brainstorm of baby names—jokingly inspired by the Masters, wrestlers, and pop culture.
  • “Who are the female wrestlers these days? I’m guessing Lita’s not around.” – Drew [03:01]
• They riff on waiting to see the baby before settling fully on the name, and the prospect of a name tied to an event winner.

[News Segment Starts] – “It’s The News with Matt Jones and Billy”

[03:29]

1. The War with Iran & Trump’s Unhinged Posts

[04:18–24:00]

• Billy reports a tentative Trump-brokered ceasefire with Iran, tied to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

• The group dives into Trump’s inflammatory and apocalyptic social media posts.

  • “The President of the United States…wrote, ‘Sorry, 8 o’clock tonight only on NBC—civilization will end.’ Like, how have we accepted that that’s a normal thing for a human being to write?” – Matt [06:06]
  • Drew and Matt mock the fact that Trump’s threats (“civilization shall end tonight at 8pm”) weren’t even believed by his supporters, reflecting on a culture desensitized to presidential absurdity.

• Parallel to wild plotlines in Homeland and House of Cards, Matt asks why Trump’s lunacy is normalized and not feared.

• Discussion of how the administration allegedly entered the war: According to a recent NYT article, most of Trump’s team opposed escalation, but Netanyahu persuaded Trump to act—Drew wonders if Trump listens only to the “most charming” person in the room.

  • “What’s your goal? And…he really doesn’t know what the goal is. And that’s part of the problem.” – Matt [14:55]
  • Regime change hasn’t happened; the strike outcomes are questioned; and now, the Strait of Hormuz is open but with a toll.

• The hosts express anger at US threats of war crimes (bombing civilian infrastructure), the devolution of American “being the good guys,” and the accelerating unreliability of online news in wartime, including AI fakes.

• Matt on the likely, “Occam’s razor” explanation:

  • “Trump is an idiot. Netanyahu has wanted to get rid of Iran forever. Netanyahu convinced him…No one stood up to him. He did it. He now realizes it’s a mistake and he’s trying to get out of it by still looking strong.” [20:05]

2. Artemis II – Return to the Moon

[25:06–35:10]

• Artemis II is returning after a historic lunar flyby—first since the 1970s, with future plans for landing and a moon base.
• Drew tells the touching backstory of astronaut Reid Wiseman, whose wife died and who named a lunar crater after her.
  • “Single dad, raised these daughters…Then they got up there and they named a crater on the moon after his wife. That’s…beautiful.” – Matt [26:39]
• The hosts laugh about moon landing deniers/contentious conspiracies.
  • Drew’s acid test: “I don’t believe human beings are capable of keeping that secret. Someone…would have gotten rich off blowing the whole thing up.” [27:56]
• Should we spend on space with Earth’s pressing needs? All agree exploration is “human nature.” Matt: “Because it’s there, and that’s what human beings do. We do it.” [31:51]
• Perspective of astronauts from space—Drew recounts Victor Glover’s moving speech about Earth’s fragility and unity.
  • “Seeing Earth…makes him realize that we’re all one thing and not all the things we bicker over.” – Drew [34:46]
• Book rec: Orbital—captures this sense of awe and perspective.

3. Trump’s Executive Order on College Sports

[35:47–44:07]

• Trump’s new order seeks to institute “five for five” eligibility (five years to play five seasons) and to limit transfers—“But his order won’t hold up in court.” – Matt [36:22]
• The conversation moves to the history of NCAA amateurism (called out as a US-invented, outdated concept). The hosts firmly support player mobility, criticizing the double standard with coaches' freedom.
  • “We don’t even want to treat them like regular college students…we want to create this world where they are their own thing that have to be fought against.” – Matt [38:13]
• Jay Bilas praised for exposing contradictions in college sports debates.
• The panel rails against hypocrisy: “They’re kids when [coaches/NCAA] want to not pay them, but they’re adults when they get in trouble.” – Matt [41:02]
• Humorous personal stories: Drew’s friend bought a golf cart as a living room chair with his first “real money” (“That’s his money to blow.” [42:16]), underscoring their point that adults should control their own finances.

4. LeBron James & Memphis Backlash

[44:35–51:12]

• LeBron James drew anger (esp. in Memphis) for calling the city a place he’d rather avoid and dissing its hotels, suggesting the Grizzlies relocate to Nashville. NBA players and social media similarly trashed Memphis accommodations.
  • “He’s required to like Memphis? He’s required? …You don’t have to like a black place, right? Are you required to like everywhere?” – Matt [45:47]
• The hosts defend LeBron’s right to have (even negative) opinions, though they roast his complaints about a “decent” hotel (“Bougie LeBron…,” Matt [47:32]). They compare preferred cities.
• Laughs at Drew and Matt’s less-favorite cities and hotels; discuss the class issues in NBA travel expectations vs. “normal people.”

5. Kentucky Oaks & Derby – New Post Times Impact

[51:12–54:07]

• Kentucky Oaks moves its post time to 8:40pm; Derby set for nearly 7pm. (Both were earlier in past years.)
• The hosts discuss the downsides for Louisville: local businesses, restaurants, parties, and traffic suffer as Churchill Downs “claims” the entire evening, keeping crowds on-site. Pat’s Steakhouse will close for the weekend in protest of the change.
  • “The Oaks and the Derby are kind of no longer about Louisville. They’re kind of just about this TV show.” – Matt [52:03]
• Hosts predict longer infield drinking (“people can barely walk at 2 o’clock—now till 9!” [52:40]), lament local economic repercussions, and speculate that, if successful, Derby will move fully to primetime.

6. Kentucky Bourbon Trail Boom

[54:30–57:04]

• Despite national trends, Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail logged record tourism (2.7 million visits, up from prior years), with 80% from out-of-state and major international contingents.
  • “It’s almost becoming like the men Nashville. You know how girls all go to their bachelorette parties in Nashville, it seems like–got the Bourbon Trail thing.” – Matt [54:53]
• Drew notes Lexington as a top bachelor party destination, though paradoxically, the bourbon industry’s sales are down (tariffs, demand); tourism continues to boom.

7. Masters 2026 – First Without Tiger Woods & Phil Mickelson

[57:04–64:43]

• Tiger out after a DUI; Phil out due to family health matter—first Masters since 1994 to feature neither.
• Drew shares his intense love for the event—ordering special Masters catering kits, collecting hats, and appreciating the “no phone” policy at Augusta.
  • “It’s one of the few things where…if you are able to go, I can’t just go buy a Masters hat anywhere.” – Drew [59:18]
• Matt unpacks Augusta’s exclusivity and elitism (“It is filled with the type of people I like the least in the world…very privileged, very elitist.” [61:13]), while still appreciating the tournament’s history and CBS’ television production.
• The conversation reflects on the culture of golf, Augusta’s barriers and high prices, and personal experiences at the Masters (including Matt’s muddy, shoe-ruining adventure).

8. Kristi Noem’s Husband & “Bimbofication” Scandal

[68:13–79:23]

• Recent leak: Kristi Noem’s husband, Byron, made news for “bimbofication”—hyper-feminized, cross-dressing photos and paid conversations with women.
  • “You try to describe it, but nothing prepares you for the photo.” – Drew [73:53]
• The group breaks down definitions, difference from “regular” cross-dressing, the economics (“$25/minute to talk dirty” [70:58]), media coverage (esp. by the UK’s Daily Mail), and speculate that Kristi herself might have leaked the story after her firing for strategic sympathy.
• Extended riffing: Whether someone “caught” in such a scandal would need to leave their town/city, with much laughter about appropriate population thresholds for acceptable anonymity.
  • “If those pictures came out of Billy, I’m going to suggest he leaves.” – Matt [76:01]
• The story’s oddity invites both mockery and a degree of empathy, with hopes that Byron can “find a place where he can be himself.” [78:44]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “The President…wrote…‘civilization will end.’ How have we accepted that that’s a normal thing?” — Matt [06:06]
• “I don’t believe human beings are capable of keeping that secret. Someone would have gotten rich off blowing the whole thing up.” — Drew [27:56, on moon landing conspiracies]
• “We talk about the myth of this, like, walking around with books. You can…go to as many schools as you want. But college athletes…we want to create this world where they are their own thing that have to be fought against.” – Matt [38:13]
• “He doesn’t like the hotel. Like, I saw the hotel. It’s fine.” – Matt [47:26, on LeBron’s Memphis comments]
• “The Oaks and the Derby are kind of no longer about Louisville. They’re kind of just about this TV show.” — Matt [52:03]
• “It is filled with the type of people that I like the least in the world…” — Matt [61:13, on Augusta/Masters]
• “You try to describe it, but nothing prepares you for the photo.” – Drew [73:53, on Kristi Noem’s husband]
• “If those pictures came out of Billy, I’m going to suggest he leaves.” — Matt [76:01]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Drew's Baby News [00:31–03:29]
• Iran War & Trump Coverage [04:18–24:00]
• Artemis II/Moon Segment [25:06–35:10]
• College Sports/Transfer Rules [35:47–44:07]
• LeBron/Memphis Controversy [44:35–51:12]
• Kentucky Oaks/Derby Times [51:14–54:07]
• Bourbon Trail Boom [54:30–57:04]
• Masters 2026 Preview [57:04–64:43]
• Kristi Noem’s Husband Scandal [68:13–79:23]

Final Thoughts

Episode 35 is densely packed with insight, irreverence, and candid group dynamic. The tone is skeptical, personal, and distinctly Kentucky—both handling serious news and inviting comedy from the absurdities of contemporary culture and politics. If you missed it, this summary gives you both the hard headlines and the flavor of the podcast’s signature banter.