Meghan Markle's Fake Holiday Cheer, G.W. Bush Calls 'Today Show' Dumb, & A-Rod's Final Redemption Plea

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Nerve with Maureen Callahan

Episode: Meghan Markle's Fake Holiday Cheer, G.W. Bush Calls 'Today Show' Dumb, & A-Rod's Final Redemption Plea
Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Maureen Callahan (MK Media)
Guest: Kinsey Schofield (Royal Reporter, Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered)

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Episode Overview

In the first LA edition of The Nerve, Maureen Callahan dissects three major pop culture and media happenings:

• Meghan Markle’s latest holiday-themed press tour and Netflix special—full of alleged fakery and strategic publicity,
• George W. Bush’s blunt take on his daughter’s morning TV show,
• Alex Rodriguez’s attempts to rehabilitate his legacy and gain Hall of Fame entry via a new HBO documentary.

The episode is filled with sharp humor, skepticism, memorable quotes, and incisive cultural commentary.

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1. Meghan Markle's Holiday Media Machine

Markle’s Blitz & The Netflix Holiday Special

• Maureen sets the stage, referring to herself as a "cultural criminal prosecutor" with Meghan Markle as the week's prime suspect.
• Meghan’s recent press is examined: a Netflix holiday special trailer, Harper’s Bazaar cover story and behind-the-scenes video, and attempts to recultivate her image.
• Kinsey Schofield joins Maureen, providing insider royal analysis and context.

Key Moments & Insights

• Meghan’s Harper’s Bazaar Shoot ([06:22]):
  • Behind-the-scenes video is panned:
    • Maureen: "She's posing like she's a six foot tall supermodel. She's like five, four on a good day." ([06:50])
    • Kinsey and Maureen discuss Meghan’s attempts to emulate Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and her tendency to drop PR bombs during significant royal events (like Catherine, Princess of Wales, returning to duties after cancer).
• Tactical Timing ([07:33]):
  • Kinsey: "Classic that... when the Prince and Princess of Wales are having a big week... that's when Meghan Markle decides to drop not just a trailer, but the cover of a magazine."
  • Maureen ties it all to Harry’s uneasy presence in LA, and Meghan’s persistent attempts to secure another Vogue cover after earlier friction with Anna Wintour.
• Royal Burn Bridges & PR Maneuvering
  • Kinsey relates the backstory of Meghan's deteriorated relationship with Vogue and the fashion industry, citing her demand to bump Serena Williams from a cover and pulling press access when denied ([09:06-10:08]).
  • Maureen: "Once people have direct dealings with Meghan Markle, they would prefer not to do it again." ([11:08])
• Fake Festivity & Public Feedback
  • The pair lampoon Markle’s "holiday warmth": Kinsey: "I get more warmth from Lorena Bobbitt than I get from Meghan Markle. Okay." ([14:00])
  • Harsh critical reviews of the Netflix special highlight its "bland beige, boring browns. There is nothing, one thing that says holiday cheer in this clip. It's depressing, unseasoned manila envelope drabness." ([14:30])
• Hypocrisy and Isolation
  • Maureen and Kinsey note the absence of genuine friends or former colleagues around Markle, suggesting a lack of authenticity:
    • Maureen: "Where are the... truly close friends? Why are we not seeing repeat faces?" ([16:36])
    • Kinsey: "She doesn't include [the Suits cast] in any of this. It makes absolutely no sense." ([17:32])
• The Duchess in Everyday Life
  • The infamous Harper's Bazaar article is read aloud:
    • Meghan’s entourage announces her as "Meghan, Duchess of Sussex" in empty rooms—lampooned as Norma Desmond–level delusion ([20:35-21:31]).
  • Kinsey observes, "This completely contradicts what she tells Oprah Winfrey... that the grandeur, the titles they don't mean anything to her. She tells Oprah Winfrey that that is a blatant lie." ([21:31])

Notable Quotes

• Maureen ([11:08]): "Once people do have direct dealings with Meghan Markle, they would prefer not to do it again."
• Kinsey ([14:00]): "I get more warmth from Lorena Bobbitt than I get from Meghan Markle. Okay."
• Kinsey ([23:29]): "Diana would never. No, Diana would."
• Maureen ([25:11] - on Markle’s future): "Meghan Markle, that is your future. And she will be opening the door to the Amazon guy and the FedEx guy and saying, 'Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.' I will not sign for it if it is not addressed thusly."

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2. Trouble-Maker Feedback & Celebrity Roundup

Audience Feedback & Savage Takes ([28:30])

• Maureen reads and responds to "troublemaker" audience emails and DMs, celebrating their incisive wit and ability to predict episode topics.
• She relishes feedback regarding:
  • Meeting fans at a live Megyn Kelly event—"You really made it so easy." ([28:30])
  • Lena Dunham's canceled series "Too Much," with Maureen lampooning industry euphemisms for being dropped ([31:45]).
  • Analysis of JLo’s Biden inaugural performance ("It's flat: culturally, lyrically, musically, vocally. It's always nasally up there. Let's get loud.") ([35:44])
  • The latest social media and true crime pop culture mishaps (including a grotesque story involving inflight pedicures and foot dust—yes, really, [41:20]).

George W. Bush on 'Today Show'

• Maureen gleefully shares that Jenna Bush Hager’s father, former President George W. Bush, declined to appear on her show, allegedly telling her:
  • "I don't watch your dumb show." ([39:53])
  • Maureen: "Her show is unwatchable. It's so dumb." ([39:53])

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3. Alex Rodriguez: Hall of Fame Desperation

The HBO Docu-Series & "Redemption" Narrative ([45:04])

• Maureen gives a scathing solo takedown of the final episode of A-Rod’s “redemption” doc, previously covered with Bill from Brooklyn.
• A-Rod’s Self-Serving Opening:
  • Doc opens with a melodramatic metaphor of A-Rod trudging through snow ("a lone heroic figure of the ice age") ([45:04]).
• A-Rod’s 'Recovering Narcissist' Schtick:
  • In doc interview:
    • A-Rod: "There is an arrogance that often comes with power... The aura of power surrounding you makes you feel immune from consequences... The key to pulling this off comes from keeping your public and private life as separate as possible and creating an image that shields you from a closer scrutiny." ([46:19])
    • Maureen retorts: "You learned that the hard way. I didn't you." ([47:37])
• Cheating, Lying, and Hypocrisy
  • Anecdotes include A-Rod’s affairs (with strippers and celebs), emotional abuse of ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis, and FaceTime sexting incidents exposed on reality TV.
  • Maureen mocks the doc's attempts to humanize A-Rod with therapy flashbacks, noting the manipulative tone and factual inconsistencies.
    • A-Rod (reading letter to absent father): "You've lied to me from day one. That's why I'm so full of shit myself. I grew up around it. I thought I can get away with everything. Like you. Bullshit myself through life..." ([56:47])
    • Maureen: "This whole documentary is yet another exercise in Alex Rodriguez lying, doubling down, and acting like an asshole." ([57:26])
• Key Exclusion Points
  • Notably, past partners (JLo, Madonna, Cameron Diaz) do not appear in the doc—Maureen points out this whitewashing of legacy ([52:11]).
• 'Respect'—The Jeter Comparison
  • Maureen brings it home by playing Nike’s famous “Respect” ad honoring Derek Jeter, contrasting Jeter’s class, humility, and universal respect with A-Rod’s narcissism and isolation ([60:44]).
  • "No hall of Fame for you. A-Rod. Shove it."

Notable Quotes

• A-Rod ([46:19]): "There is an arrogance that often comes with power."
• Maureen ([57:26]): "This whole documentary is yet another exercise in Alex Rodriguez lying, doubling down, and acting like an asshole."
• Maureen ([60:46]): "No Hall of Fame for you. A-Rod. Shove it."

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4. Noteworthy Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------| | 03:00 | Maureen sets up Meghan Markle discussion | | 04:48 | Kinsey joins, praises Maureen's live event | | 06:22 | Harper’s Bazaar video breakdown | | 11:08 | Burning bridges with Meghan Markle | | 14:00 | Kinsey: “I get more warmth from Lorena Bobbitt…” | | 21:31 | Maureen lampoons Markle's delusions | | 28:30 | Audience/troublemaker feedback | | 39:53 | George W. Bush’s “I don't watch your dumb show” | | 45:04 | Launch of A-Rod HBO doc/segment | | 46:19 | A-Rod’s therapy/broken persona montage | | 57:26 | Maureen: "Still an asshole in recovery" commentary | | 60:44 | Nike/Jeter “Respect” ad, final word on legacy |

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5. Tone and Style

Maureen Callahan delivers the episode with biting wit, irreverence, and deadpan humor. The show’s tone is unapologetically skeptical, peppered with expletives, pop culture references, and deep dives into the psychology and PR tactics of its celebrity subjects. Kinsey Schofield matches Maureen's candor, providing pointed, behind-the-scenes royal gossip.

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6. Memorable Segment Highlights

• Meghan Markle’s endless PR hustle, hypocrisy, and the futility of image rehab
• Kinsey’s withering burns (“I get more warmth from Lorena Bobbitt than Meghan Markle,” [14:00])
• George W. Bush’s “I don't watch your dumb show” zinger
• A-Rod’s failed attempts to reframe his past with therapy and crocodile tears
• The emotional punch of Nike’s “Respect” Jeter ad as a contrast to A-Rod’s legacy
• Consistent, savage, audience “troublemaker” feedback elevating the show’s engagement

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7. Takeaway

The Nerve’s November 25, 2025 episode offers a brisk, unsentimental, and entertaining breakdown of major media events and celebrity foibles, skewering the self-serious, the self-promoting, and the disingenuous with equal ferocity. It’s a masterclass in unapologetic pop culture autopsy.

Transcript

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[Maureen Callahan]

Hello and welcome to your Tuesday edition of the Nerve and our very first LA edition. I am your host, Maureen Callahan, and we've got a ton for you today. Listen, I, as you know, product of a difficult home, I pick up vibrations like, like, like I'm an empath. And trust me, I can feel the recidivists among us, okay? I can feel them lurking about. No one is getting away unnoticed, okay? Our first, our first on the docket as your cultural criminal prosecutor, one Meghan Markle. We didn't even get to it last week. Her latest holiday drop, her flop, you know, Confessions of a Female Founder, Confessions of a Female Flounder. We've got the new Netflix trailers. We've got her attempting to skip through a Christmas tree farm looking like, you know, she just inhabited a human body yesterday. We've got her Harper's Bazaar cover story. We've got housemen and footmen yelling her out as Duchess of Sussex with no one around. It's wild, okay? It is wild. And in studio with us breaking it all down, your favorite and mine for this kind of stuff, Kinsey Schofield, royal reporter, non perel, and host of the Must subscribe podcast, Kinsey Schofield unfiltered. Unfiltered. Excuse me. Then we're going to get into our celebrity roundup. We've got some troublemaker feedback, which is so great. You guys are reading my mind. Some of you are predicting what we're going to cover on the Nerve at night, tomorrow. And then. And then. I have been waiting for this. I've been waiting for this because I've always known how the Nerve was going going to conclude the third and final part of the A rod attempt to rehabilitate himself and get into the hall of fame known as the HBO docu series. And trust me when I tell you, it's the last thing that A Rod would either expect or want to see. And so we approach this with relish, verve and excitement. We've got lots of great stuff. Are you ready? Are you ready? Let's go. Today's show is brought to you by Oxford Natural, home of the all natural, Optimum Day and Optimum Night supplements. Trying to lose weight can be tough. Oxford Natural can help. Optimum Day powers you with steady energy. It crushes cravings and it keeps your metabolism firing all day. Optimum Night helps you relax, sleep deeply, recover and keep burning fat while you rest. England soccer legend Michael Owen lost 40 pounds and Robbie, the face of AFTV, dropped over 100 pounds. It has worked for others too, with customer testimonials raving about Oxford Naturals effectiveness. Now it's your turn. Scan the QR code or click the link and grab 70% off your first order with Code Nerve. No gimmicks, no needles, just results. Oxford Natural, let's get to work. Joining me now in studio for our first LA edition of the Nerve is Kinsey Schofield. If you have not yet subscribed to Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered, I don't know what you're doing with yourself. Go over there. Get all of the exclusive royal scoop from America's best, foremost royal expert. Kinsey. Welcome to the Nerve la. We're in your stomping grounds.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Can I just brag for a second about my friend Maureen Callahan? I saw her live, I told my mom it was like watching Stand Up. You were live with Megyn Kelly in Anaheim. The reel that they put together of your greatest hits was hilarious. The audience, you know, it was like laughing to the point where they couldn't breathe. And then you come up on stage and you delivered such an incredible performance live on stage two. You did not disappoint. There were people yelling, where is Maureen? As Megyn Kelly was, you know, getting, you know, getting along with the show. She's like, she's coming, she's coming. So I was so proud of you. And I told you that night, I was like, I'm so proud of you. That was so cool.

[Maureen Callahan]

Well, I want to thank you so much for being there. Bill from Brooklyn was also there.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Icon, icon.

[Maureen Callahan]

And I, you know, I'll talk about it a little bit later. In the show. But really the most amazing thing was getting to meet so many troublemakers who came out. And you guys are just as amazing, if not more so in person as you are like, as we DM and email each other. So thank you for everything. And now, Kenzie, let's get to the really important stuff. More Meghan Markle. The blast radius continues to expand. Now, this all happened last week as we were nerve central was in transit to the west coast. But we got some behind the scenes. You know, Meghan's got a lot she's promoting right now. It's make or break with this Netflix holiday special.

[Kinsey Schofield]

It's a lot. And not. It's Meghan Markle promoting Meghan Markle.

[Maureen Callahan]

You're so right. So she was thoughtful enough to put on her Instagram behind the scenes video of her Harper's Bazaar shoot. And we have to take a look here together. All right, well, it's, you know, we'll trauma bond over it lightly. So we're going to take a look at it right here.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Oh, yeah. She is feeling herself.

[Maureen Callahan]

Megan, Duchess of Sussex. I love how she's posing like she's like a six foot tall supermodel. She's like five, four on a good day.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Let's get real. Right. Well, you know what else is interesting? You were talking about how all of.

[Maureen Callahan]

This dumped last week.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Well, this was an important week for the Prince and Princess of Wales. You know, with all of the chaos surrounding Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, we needed a united front from William and Catherine. We saw them at Royal Album.

[Maureen Callahan]

Oh, here she is, by the way, in her best Carolyn Bessette Kennedy cosplay. Sorry.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Yeah, we're just. It's just like Columbo and Columbo and Colombo.

[Maureen Callahan]

Oh, and I'm clapping for everybody. I just love other people. I love other people.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Okay, but classic that, you know, when the Prince and Princess of Wales are having a big week that's important to the monarchy in general. Catherine doing her first speech since, you know, telling us about her cancer. That's when Meghan Markle decides to drop not just a trailer, but the COVID of a magazine. We should all stop and applaud Meghan Markle despite the fact that Catherine's finally coming back to work after surviving cancer.

[Maureen Callahan]

Well, yes, amazing point. Amazing. Always. We're always timing things that just so happen to coincide with a major event for the royals. As her oaf of a husband last seen leering at Kris Jenner's wreck at the 70th birthday party that Jeff Bezos and we have to get into that. And Lauren Sanchez threw for Chris. You know, he's trying to sort of work his way back in there for I think multiple reasons. And she continues to, I think, try to sabotage. I think she's a destroyer. I think she's a destroyer. Now what do you make too? You know, last week last she was in New York. You were reporting on that. She had been seen in the company of one Chloe Mal, who has taken over Vogue from Anna Wintour. Chloe is a mere puppet. If I were her, I would exit immediate. But the thought was that she was trying to work her way into a Vogue cover under an editrix from a younger generation. And clearly that did not come to fruition. We went over to Harper's Bazaar, which is like Vogue light.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Well, we also believe that she's trying to make nice and make amends for bad behavior. Previously with Vogue. Remember she pulled a write up that they were going to do right before Queen Elizabeth's death. Meghan went to London to accept another trophy. I can't remember for what it was because they're all meaningless. But Meghan had gone to London with Prince Harry for an award show. And she was in that red. And remember she stood up on the stage and she said she was so happy her husband was there to collecting this award. And he squirmed in his seat cause he probably knew it wasn't earned. And they were supposed to be doing a write up with Vogue. And Meghan was so frustrated that they wouldn't bump her friend Serena Williams off the COVID that she would not. She no longer gave them access to that article. So that's where they say her relationship with Inenfeld starts to disintegrate.

[Real Estate Advertiser]

Whoa.

[Maureen Callahan]

Oh. So British Vogue. British Vogue, you mean.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Yes.

[Maureen Callahan]

Right.

[Kinsey Schofield]

She wanted to do. But she wanted both covers and that.

[Maureen Callahan]

Simultaneous American and British.

[Kinsey Schofield]

And she did a zoom with Anna Wintour, who only did the zoom with her because she's the Duchess of Sussex. And they said, we're not going to kick one of our or both of our cover girls off. We're gonna give you a beautiful layout within. But that wasn't enough. And so her team pulled their access to her throughout that trip, which is almost a blessing in disguise because wouldn't we have had an issue with Vogue had they done that? And then the Queen passed away.

[Maureen Callahan]

Of course. Of course.

[Kinsey Schofield]

The understanding is that. And you know, he was asked. Edenville was asked not too long ago. Cause he just launched a new magazine. Is it called 40? It's called 717.

[Maureen Callahan]

Very strange name.

[Kinsey Schofield]

It's a very expensive magazine, each issue. But he was asked during the launch of his new magazine if he would work with Meghan Markle again. And he said, I've already done that. As if just like, nope, that's been there, done that. Don't think it's necessary to do it again.

[Maureen Callahan]

And that is a rare thing in the fashion world or the entertainment industry in general. You never really want to fully burn a bridge. Today's enemy could be tomorrow's best friend or vice versa. And it seems that once people do have direct dealings with Meghan Markle, they would prefer not to do it again.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Absolutely. Yeah. So, yes, Harper's Bazaar is where she ended up. Is she trying to court Vogue? Absolutely. But what's the objective? Why are you at fashion Week? Why are you in Harper's Bazaar? Why are you talking to Vogue? You sell loose fruit spread for a living.

[Maureen Callahan]

Well, isn't she? So we've got more merch allegedly coming for the holiday season, even though Netflix is not going to stock it in their soon to open brick and mortar pop up in Dallas. Before we get into the best part of this Harper's Bazaar interview, which I'm going to have to quote from directly, let's take a look at this little montage that nerve central put together. It begins with Megan's holiday trailer. And then we put together the only answer to the question she poses. Here we go.

[Kinsey Schofield]

I love the holiday season.

[Maureen Callahan]

It's about finding time to connect with the people we love. Yeah, yeah.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Embracing traditions. I like this.

[Maureen Callahan]

There we go.

[Kinsey Schofield]

And making new ones.

[Maureen Callahan]

Making new ones. It's pretty zombie here.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Let's go craft.

[Maureen Callahan]

Hey.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Oh, I like that she's on a tennis player that has a meltdown all the time.

[Ashley Flowers]

I guess.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Everything conduct.

[Maureen Callahan]

It's so festive. Being a hostess or a host.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Naomi, whatever.

[Maureen Callahan]

Making people feel comfortable and love it. It's funny too that you keep saying Meghan Markle. You know, I'm Sussex now. Now doing something very similar on the other side of the park to where William and Kate. Prince William and Kate are. But they are greeting members of the public. They are taking bunch of flowers also. Thank you for asking because not many people have asked if I'm okay.

[Kinsey Schofield]

When do you feel the least?

[Maureen Callahan]

Duchess of Sussex. Oh, my God.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Sitting here eating a tamash burger with you being asked these questions.

[Maureen Callahan]

I curtsied as though I was like.

[Alex Rodriguez (in documentary clips)]

He hates his life.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Pleasure to meet you, your majesty. Sure.

[Maureen Callahan]

Isn't she the absolute quintessence of holiday Warmth, joy, celebration, making sure people feel welcome. Just a. Just a wonderful, warm, genuine person who it just. It's epitomizes what the holiday season really means. Pleasure to meet you, your majesty.

[Kinsey Schofield]

I get more warmth from Lorena Bobbitt than I get from Meghan Markle. Okay.

[Maureen Callahan]

I mean, she's. You know, it's amazing to me, again, it's amazing to me that anybody would get into business with her. Now, there are early reviews of this holiday special, which will be. We will be devoting a good chunk of the nerve to going through breaking apart once it drops. The week after this one week after Thanksgiving.

[Kinsey Schofield]

The same week as Catherine's Christmas carol concert.

[Maureen Callahan]

Oh, right. Again, just a coincidence. Just, you know, what can you do? These things happen. Okay, One critic didn't mince words. Where are the Christmas colors? Where is the festiveness? Where's the merry and bright? This is bland beige, boring browns. There is nothing, one thing that says holiday cheer in this clip. It's depressing, unseasoned manila envelope drabness. That is hilarious.

[Kinsey Schofield]

I mean, that's accurate. I don't trust this woman when it comes to. I mean, this is a woman that starts scheming to leave the British royal family during the Christmas holiday season when everybody is supposed to unite and bond. She and Harry run off to Canada, and it hurt the queen's feelings because she wanted to spend Christmas with Archie. They run off to Canada with the help of Catherine McPhee and her husband.

[Maureen Callahan]

David Foster, who Harry said was his new father figure, his new surrogate father in America.

[Kinsey Schofield]

And they. While they're there, when we're all cuddling up with our family members and enjoying hot chocolate and Hallmark movies, Meghan is building SussexRoyal.com and Meghan is laying out the new rules she's about to present to the British royal family that they actually, in turn, reject that she's only going to be working with grassroots media organizations, Harper's Bazaar, People magazine and Us Weekly, and all these other little rules that everybody's expected to abide by going forward. And really, you know, betraying the British royal family, betraying that the trust that they've put into her. They allowed her to become a member of the British royal family, a divorced American actress. This would have never happened 50 years ago. I mean, Diana was checked, confirmed that she had her virginity. And Meghan Markle is on at least wedding number two with Prince Harry. And so, yeah, I don't trust her when it comes to the holiday spirit. Obviously, it's not a sacred holiday for her if she'd use it to do so much destruction.

[Maureen Callahan]

Yeah. And where are the. Like, where are the. If she's got so many great friends, truly close friends, why are we not seeing repeat faces in the old days?

[Kinsey Schofield]

Daniel, we got Stedman. We're looking for proof of life on Stedman. Now we're to check on Daniel the makeup artist.

[Maureen Callahan]

We were actually talking about this in Anaheim on Friday before we did any. Before I went on stage, we were talking about, where's Daniel the makeup artist? And is. Is he still with us?

[Kinsey Schofield]

We need proof of life.

[Maureen Callahan]

We do need proof of life, because he should be. You know, he was a guest in their house. She was saying she was making that whole overnight kit for him in the guest room, which I believe was above the garage in a barred house. Nonetheless, we've not seen Daniel like I feel like we would be seeing, just as you see recurring faces on the Nerve. Kinsey's a friend of mine in real life and a friend of the show. You see her often for a reason. She doesn't have that. She doesn't have that going on. Mm. Mm.

[Kinsey Schofield]

No. It's so strange. And a huge missed opportunity. Aside from Abigail Spencer, where is the cast of Suits that continues to say very nice things about her? And, you know, in every interview where they're, I'm sure, miserably asked about Meghan, and I'm sure they're so sick of that. They continue to say positive things about her, yet she doesn't include them in any of this. It makes absolutely no sense.

[Maureen Callahan]

Well, you know, they fucking hate her. They're just playing the game. They fucking hate her. All right, I have to read. So I. When the first time I read this article, this cover story in Harper's Bazaar, we just saw the behind the scenes. Just. We're just off the cuff back here.

[Kinsey Schofield]

We're so authentic.

[Maureen Callahan]

I'm dying over this whole thing. Okay, so when I read this paragraph, I had to go back and read it twice. I columned on this over, by the way, at the Daily Mail plus. And you called her a jerk. That's fun. I would have preferred stronger language, but it's a family paper, so. She's just such an asshole, though. Okay, so I read this twice before I could commit to writing about it because I thought at first I must have been really tired and reading it wrong because it's so Outer Limits. Here we go. This is the journalist writing female, who seems to be a fan of Meghan's, by the way, up until this point, right they meet. So the first time they meet at the La Brea Tar Pits here in la. And Meghan is going to meet a group of young girls, 1112 year old girls, tweenagers, who are there doing a school project. And she. The way it's described in the article is she's being slowly rolled in on the. Onto the site in a golf cart. And these kids may or may not know who's coming. And before she ever arrives, there's like, some functionary with like, a bullhorn who just out of nowhere goes Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Now these girls are at. If you don't know what the La Brea Tar Pits are, this is a nationally registered site. It is dates back to, like, the Paleolithic area. It's like 20,000 years old. They're digging out woolly mammoths from there, okay? But this trick is like, hey, I'm the attraction here, kids. Classic, okay? So then after we're done with the poor kids at the Tar Pits, we're going over to the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where a waiter brings her an unsolicited, like, cappuccino. And her face is in the fucking foam, okay? And she looks down at the imprint of her face in the foam, and she goes, oh, I recognize this photo. This is taken from our trip to South Africa. Like, the baristas at the Beverly Hills Hotel have various images of Meghan Markle back there going, which one should we do today in case the duchess alights, you know, on the patio, get out.

[Kinsey Schofield]

And pauses the interview to take a photo of her own photo on the cappuccino. It's so good.

[Maureen Callahan]

Again, if she wanted to get interesting, put that on your Instagram, sister. Okay? So then this interviewer goes and meets Megan in New York City. Buckle up. I begin. We're in a grand brownstone on the Upper east side that belongs to one of Meghan's friends. When I enter, the house manager announces, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, even though we appear to be the only other two people in the house, I. This, to me, is like, beyond Norma Desmond. Like, beyond. She's not even in. She's not even in this woman's sight. And there's no one else in the house. And she's being announced as in the house, which presumably this journalist would expect because she's going there at an appointed time for an interview. Kinsey, this is.

[Kinsey Schofield]

You know, this completely contradicts what she tells Oprah Wininfrey in her 2021 interview, that the grandeur, the titles they don't mean anything to her. She tells Oprah Winfrey that that is a blatant lie. Are we at 18 now when it comes to lies? She told Oprah Winfrey during her sit. Also, in my personal opinion, I think she's violating the Sandringham Summit. She is using this Duchess title to sell something, whether it's jam. I mean, honestly, I couldn't believe that they didn't mention the Netflix Christmas special in that piece. They really didn't get into her relationship with Netflix.

[Maureen Callahan]

Do you think it's because she didn't know at the time if that was actually going to make it?

[Kinsey Schofield]

I think it's because she knows that there's no future with Netflix and she didn't want to dwell on it, but she seems to only be selling her jam in that piece. So I think that she is in clear violation of the Sandringham Summit that they won't utilize their titles to monetize their lifestyle, utilize their proximity to the British royal family to pack their pockets. That's what she's doing. It says Duchess of Sussex on the copy of that mag, on the copy of that cover. And the only thing she's selling truly is herself. And so if I were Prince William, I would file this away and say, this is going to be one of the things that I show Prince Harry when he's crying to me, asking me why, why, why? Why is he being stripped of his dukedom?

[Maureen Callahan]

Well, Harry won't be crying to William because William won't take his calls, let alone let him across the threshold of any given residence. So Harry will be crying to the media, and the rest of us in America will be cheering. We will be celebrating in the streets. By the way, Tom Sykes in the Daily Beast wrote a column recently positing that the reason for this complete weirdness, Complete. Like, she is the opposite of grace. Okay. The opposite of elegance.

[Kinsey Schofield]

This is like, she did not look feminine in those pictures.

[Maureen Callahan]

No, but not only that. To be announced in this way.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Maureen Callahan]

Diana would never. No, Diana would.

[Kinsey Schofield]

She signed Diana Diana. Catherine signs Catherine.

[Maureen Callahan]

Tom's theory, and I think it's a good one, is that she is trying to sink the nomenclature, the titles, into the collective conscience, so consciousness. So that even when William does strip those titles and she insists upon being introduced by Allan Sundry as the Duchess, it just becomes this reflexive thing that people will do because it's going to be more trouble than it's worth to push back.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Well, you know, fun fact, there were people in Wallace and Edwards Circle that called her hrh, even though she was never hrh. You know, there are people that pander to these weirdos.

[Maureen Callahan]

So this is where we're headed.

[Kinsey Schofield]

But that's what I said when she said Meghan Sussex. When she said Meghan Sussex, I said the reason she's doing that is out of fear that they'll strip her of her title. And so she still can hold on somehow. She'll even. She's Meghan Sussex. So she could still be the Duchess of Sussex because she's Meghan Sussex. And then you see the weirdos on the Internet that actually do like her referring to her as Princess Meghan. She's not a princess. Meghan.

[Maureen Callahan]

She's not a princess.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Sorry, guys. No.

[Maureen Callahan]

So what I see for Megan's future. And I've recommended this on a former Nerve. And if you have not seen the documentary. Sorry, documentary Gray Gardens, go see it. It's about Jackie O's aunt and cousin.

[Kinsey Schofield]

My dog is named Edie, after Edie.

[Maureen Callahan]

The Edie Beals, Big Edie, little Edie. And they were like, they were living in an alternate reality in which they were in high society and grandeur and furs. And in reality, they were living in a dilapidated house in East Hampton where there were raccoons in the walls and.

[Kinsey Schofield]

So much cat poop. So much cat.

[Maureen Callahan]

Meghan Markle, that is your future. And she will be opening the door to the Amazon guy and the FedEx guy and saying, meghan, Duchess of Sussex, I will not sign for it if it is not addressed thusly.

[Kinsey Schofield]

Oh, my gosh, that's so true. I love that visual. Thank you for that.

[Maureen Callahan]

You're welcome. Well, thank you, Kinsey, for joining us on our inaugural LA edition of the Nerve. Coming up, we have troublemaker feedback. Back in a minute. The holidays gives everyone a chance to go back to basics and eat real food together as a family. And we mean real food. Today's sponsor is Masa, and they're part of the real food movement, bringing back snacks made with ingredients our grandparents used to eat. Masa chips contain just three ingredients. Organic corn, sea salt, and 100% grass fed beef tallow. No seed oils, no chemicals, just incredible flavor. These tortilla chips will leave you feeling satisfied, light and energetic, with no crash bloat or gross sluggish feeling afterwards. My favorite flavor of Masa is original. I'm an original. I like original stuff without a lot of bells and whistles. But I do also have to concede that the white, the blue, the lime, the carbonaro, the churro, they're all all delicious. And if you love Masa then you will love Vandy Crisps. Vandy, Masa's sister company makes the most delicious three ingredient potato chips out there. Looking for the best Black Friday deal? Masa always offers our audience a Black Friday level offer of 25% on their first purchase. Use code MAUREEN for 25% off your first order at masachips.com or vandycrisps.com or simply click the link in the video description or scan the QR code to claim this delicious offer. And if you prefer shopping in person, Masa and Vandy are now available nationwide at your local Sprouts supermarket. So stop by and pick up a couple of bags before they are gone.

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[Ashley Flowers]

Approval Hi everyone, I'm Ashley Flowers, creator and host of Crime Junkie, the Go to Crime podcast for the biggest cases and the stories you won't hear anywhere else. So whether on your commute, studying or while you work, let us keep you company with new episodes every Monday. It is truly a Crime Junkie's dream. So join me, my best friend Britt, and our entire Crime Junkie community right now by catching up on hundreds of episodes and by listening to a new case every Monday on Crime Junior Junkie, available wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Maureen Callahan]

We are back. Now, before we get into your so phenomenally funny feedback, I just wanted to talk for a quick minute about the Megyn Kelly tour stop in Anaheim where I was a guest. I'd never ever done anything like that before. I've never spoken on stage in front of that many people and I have to tell you guys, I wasn't. I was a little bit nervous. But once I got backstage, you know, Megan does a meet and greet before the show and you know, I was going back there to take a photo with her and with Jillian Michaels, who was her other big guest on that event. And then the guys from the Fifth Column were there as well. I got online with Bill from Brooklyn who was there and My niece, who was so excited to meet Megan. And as we started working our way to get on that line for my niece, people started approaching and they were troublemakers. And you got like, every single person who approached me was so nice and so warm and lovely and cool and friendly and just suddenly made me feel like it was all going to be okay. And by the way, I met more than one husband of a troublemaker who, as it turned out, was like a manly man. Like good looking, strong, strapping guys, manly men who were like, yeah, I'm a troublemaker too. And I was like, this is just going to be fun. It is going to be fun. And it was the most fun. And I can only thank all of you who made it a point to come up to me and say hi and give me your encouragement and talk about the show and you know, or who DMed me and emailed me and said they were looking forward to it. You really made it so easy. And then the cherry on top, of course, is always Megan, who I told after the show. Like, I wasn't really nervous because I was. It was, yes, it was my first big event like that. But I was on stage with her and I knew that was she. If anything were to go awry, she was going to catch me. And it was just the best. It was just. It was just the best, loveliest, fun, most exciting, warm, great Friday night, you know, that I've had in a really long time. And those of you who were there or who were there in spirit, I think feel the same way too. So thank you. And now on to your feedback, which is savage as ever. Like, let's get back to our regularly scheduled programming, shall we? Okay, this is a quick email about the Anaheim stop and this is a good question because I've gotten this in a lot of emails and dms. Maureen, I saw the group photo from the MK tour this weekend. Was it awkward to be photographed right next to Jillian Michaels? I remembered the episode where you covered the Biggest Loser. That was the mini. And honestly, it was not. First of all, as any regular audience member knows, Jillian was on the show about a week or so ago and she was amazing. She was. She's again, the only major, major voice push pushing back on this Ozempic craze. And if you haven't seen that episode, I highly recommend that you do. Secondly, you know, that was my first time meeting her in person on the tour. She was so lovely and cool and laid back and like zero ego. And, you know, she. I followed her on stage and she's done this stuff a million times. As discussed, this is my virgin voyage. And when she came off stage, she stood next to me while they played my intro. And she was so encouraging. She was just laughing and enjoying herself and, like, making me feel like as a new person entering this, that it was gonna be great. And you know what? When I came back off the stage, guess who was right there, too. Gillian. So she's lovely. Okay, Honorary troublemaker. All right. Hi, Maureen. Regarding Lena Dunham series Too Much, which we covered on the Nerve when it debuted, did you see this scoop? It seems a second season of Lena's show would have been too much. Crying face emojis. Once again, the Troublemakers hit a nerve. I did see that. And I saw that Lena took to Instagram to say that she had decided artistically that the story was done with season one. And isn't that awfully convenient? Very much like Sarah Jessica Parker, who we talked about with Megan in Anaheim. You know, it was her artistic decision. Sure. Sure it was. Who doesn't love fat checks from Netflix or HBO Max? Plus, you know, just the ego fluffing of being in the cultural bloodstream. Okay, I ha. This is from a troublemaker. I will keep you anonymous. Troublemaker. You've not said it's okay to use your name.

[Kinsey Schofield]

How?

[Maureen Callahan]

I read Megan's Harper's Bizarre interview. Meghan's quote re Harry. I know he's always. You know what? This is actually a paraphrase. Troublemaker. Because it's so ridiculous I can tell you I have it memorized verbatim. I know he's always going to be sure to have my back. Does anyone else read that as a thinly veiled threat? Yeah, you and me both. Troublemaker. I thought the exact same thing. That he's always going to be sure is to me a none too subtly coded message to that dimwit Harry. You're gonna do it. You're gonna have my back or else. This troublemaker continues like it's a passive aggressive way of saying I know too much, so don't screw me over. She does. She knows where his bodies are buried. It's in the same vein as Glenn Close Fatal Attraction. I'm not going to be ignored. Dan from a frequent flyer. Troublemaker. Mary Hanley, I recognize you. I love that. Olivia Newsey was reading your book. Ask Not. This story is crazy. Nobody knows the situation better than you. Can't wait to hear you discuss. Guess what? We're doing it on the Nerve at night. Tomorrow. Over the weekend, I got injected into the story when Olivia's ex, Ryan Newsey, his second substack column on this whole thing, his tell all. He writes that Olivia was reading two books while she was having an affair with RFK Jr. One was Robert Greene's the Laws of Seduction. The other, he said, was my book Ask not the Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed. To which I say, Olivia, it's not. Not how to. Okay, we'll get to it. Nerve at night. See you there. Okay. A Rod and jlo. Hi, Maureen. Thank you to you and Bill from Brooklyn for watching the HBO ARA documentary so I don't have to. That, my friend, is what we are here for. She wants us to revisit the photo taken of a Rod and JLO at the Biden administration. Sorry. Inauguration. Inauguration. Do you remember this? Narcissism in action? Yes, I do. And I remember remember Jennifer Lopez singing at that inauguration. And it felt like, okay, let's get a Latina singer up here to show that we are, you know, the antithesis of what came before. And, you know, so Jennifer Lopez sang her auto tuned flat. It's flat culturally, it's flat lyrically. It's. It's flat musically, and it's flat vocally. Vocally. It's always quite nasally up there. Let's get loud. Let's get. Or she's saying something else. But then like, she inserted let's Get Loud because she thinks that's an anthem of sorts and a call to arms. She's out of her effing mind. She's right up there with one Meghan Markle. Okay. Alex Rodriguez. Hi, Maureen. This is Lynn from Reading ca. Happy to be on your side of the country right now. Don't hold it against me that I am from California. I love California. I'm so happy to be here. Okay. Hi, Maureen. I was curious in the last Alex Rodriguez segment why you didn't mention his relationship with Jennifer Lopez. Trust me, it's coming up in our next segment. We're going into A Rod's third and final. And you guys, you're gonna love it again, whether you're a sports fan or not, the A Rod story transcends sports. It's culture, it's media, it's ego, it's narcissism. It's everything we love to get our hands in. It's going to be great. Great stuff. Okay, now a few. These aren't even recidivists yet, but they are, you know, Jenna Bush Hager. Okay. Host of the fourth hour of Today, which has become Jenna and friends since her great pal Hoda skedaddled to spend time with her kids, which she did for about a month before she launched a book and her Joy 101 app, which is flailing. And again, I love to give credit to the troublemakers. Okay, so Jenna Bush. You know, as I've said before, I believe the nerve exists in part to destroy American morning television. I think it turns out that Jenna's own father, former President of the United States George W. Bush, might be a troublemaker. He might be a troublemaker. Listen to Jenna talking about her father's answer to whether he might someday come on her show. Here we go. He says things like, I don't watch your dumb show. I don't watch your dumb show. That's brutal. That's brutal. Like. And by the way, George W. Has just risen in my estimation. He's totally right. Her show is unwatchable. It's so dumb. You know, I do, I try, I try to keep my hand in because you never know what they're covering. But the level, what passes for conversation is so, so effing painful. It just. I love it. I love it, I love it. Now onto Walton Goggins. This is a recidivist. This guy's getting it at the Nerve awards. Okay? You know, for narcissists, all attention is good attention. But he popped up in my algorithm yet again. GQ magazine. I'm going to warn you, if you're watching on YouTube, I'm going to warn you, you might want to cover your eyes. He posed in a chair, oiled up and naked for gq. And, like, he posed on, like, a wrought iron chair. And he's got, like, what I think is body makeup on those abs. This guy's like 50. He's at least 50, 55. He's. I hope they threw that chair away at the end of that. At the end of that photo shoot. First of all, nobody wants to see Walton Goggins posing naked. Sorry, straigh women, straight men, gay men. Nobody wants to see this guy naked. Next story, final story. This is also a recidivist who's got it coming in multiple ways. You know, there aren't that many weeks left in the year, but trust me when I tell you the nerve is going to maximize them. I saw this news story, and, you know, I knew exactly who to blame. The headline, american Airlines passenger uses an electric tool to grind dead skin off her bare feet mid flight. The copy, a passenger on an Airbus A319 has sparked a fresh round of Quote, what is wrong with people on planes? After giving herself a full on DIY pedicure in economy, according to a fellow traveler, the woman took off her shoes, tucked her bare legs up sideways. I don't even know how you do that in economy. Pulled out an electric foot sander. Tsa, where are you? How did she board with that? Spent around 30 minutes grinding dead skin off of her feet, sending visible, quote, foot dust into the air and onto the cabin floor. Where were the flight attendants? I am sorry. I blame one Tracee Ellis Ross for getting away with this shit in first class. This is disgusting. This is so hygienically disgusting. I weep. I weep. You know, the Secretary of transportation Sean Duffy recently made made a plea to the American public. Can you guys please stop wearing. Can all of us. Rather I remove myself from this because I would never. Can you guys please stop wearing pajamas to the airport and on airplanes? Can we please return to a time when Americans took pride in themselves and dressed properly for transportation? Is Shawn a troublemaker? He might be.

[Ashley Flowers]

Okay.

[Maureen Callahan]

Anyway, keep the feedback coming. You guys know where to go. In case you're new in these parts, you can email me at maureenevilmakehairmedia.com or DM me on Instagram @maureen callahanrider or at the Nerve show. And remember to subscribe to the Nerves substack. You can find it all over at the Nerve show. Coming up, the final part. Part three of a Rod's desperate attempts to get in to the hall of fame. See you in a minute. Are you looking to support more made in the USA manufacturing this holiday season? Whether it's home decor, clothing or unique gifts, it's become harder than ever to find high quality products that aren't made overseas. And that's where a warehouse comes in. It's your stop. Shop for artisanal one of a kind gifts with products from over 100 different vendors. They are deeply committed to supporting American makers and manufacturers. Their easy to navigate online marketplace lets you browse a wide range of independent creators so you can feel good knowing that your purchase supports real people and ethical business practices. This holiday season, explore a warehouse's gift guides and holiday collection. Featuring handmade ornaments, greeting cards, thoughtful gifts under $50 and more Made in the USA favorites that make any gift truly meaningful. A warehouse believes that a thoughtful gift isn't about fancy labels or big brand names. It's about the dedication, creativity and care that goes into every product. So join the growing community of shoppers supporting over 100 vetted small business makers. Head over over to awarehouseshop.com and use code thenerve for 15% off your first order. That's awarehouseshop.com code. The nerve.

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[Maureen Callahan]

We are back now, the final, final third part of Alex Rodriguez HBO documentary, which was done with his cooperation and was only going to show not the warts, but like the, like, possibly like emerging pimples that you just take like, you know, one of those stickers to and it goes away. Okay, so that aired and so I, I've been waiting for this. I've been waiting for this. Now, Bill from Brooklyn was going to be here, but, you know, he was in Anaheim over the weekend for the. For my appearance on the MK tour. And he actually has a job to do, so, you know, he couldn't make it. He sends his regrets and loved meeting the troublemakers as well. Okay, so I'm going to do this solo. But you know what? I'm trained well and I'm very, very well versed in this stuff, so. Okay, I'm going to give you a brief table setting. The a rod dock opens none too subtly. Part three with a rod trudging through like three feet of snow, like a lone heroic figure of the ice age trying to forge some kind of food for his family. And the metaphor is none too subtle. Okay.

[Alex Rodriguez (in documentary clips)]

There is an arrogance that often comes with power. The aura of power surrounding you makes you feel immune from consequences. You feel you can do things that mere mortals are forbidden to do. You see other wealthy people living a facade in public and a different life in private. The key to pulling this off comes from keeping your public and private life as separate as possible and creating an image that shields you from a closer scrutiny. Yeah, this is a A train wreck ready to happen. This whole idea that you're one person in front of the camera and you're a completely different person off camera. And that's exhausting because you're trying to keep up with shit you trying to get away with, with not fun and full of anxiety and stress. And there's a sense I won't get caught cuz you actually think you are better than other people. There's nothing more stupid than that.

[Maureen Callahan]

You learned that the hard way. I didn't you.

[Alex Rodriguez (in documentary clips)]

I did learn that the hard way.

[Maureen Callahan]

We get it. We get it. Then they cut to a rod. Close up on a rod with his computer blue light right in front of him, reading from a book that seems to be titled, or the chapter at least seems to be titled why Rich and Powerful People Cheat. And you know, he reads in a very stilted manner. Would we expect anything less? A couple of paragraphs from this and the summation is. Because they can. Now I'm going to use this opportunity. A rod is telling us he's a different beast. Now, you know, he's a narcissist in recovery and I'll get to that too. But you know, he was a liar and a cheater about everything in life, whether that ranged from his cheating on his wife with multiple women and using his wife's brother, her to set one mistress in Florida up in a condo that he bought for her. A stripper mistress, by the way, who he planted in his box at Yankee Stadium right in front of his wife so he could get his rocks off on humiliating her and yet another way that she had no clue about. And by the way, his small daughter was with his wife at that time. The guy is a piece of shit, okay? And then he has cheated. He cheated on Cameron Diaz, he cheated on Jennifer Lopez. Now this is what we're going to get to. This is what I was talking about the very beginning. An American hero known as Craig Conover who stars on the reality show Southern Charm. And if you haven't watched Southern Charm, you are really missing out. You know, Mike White used many of the cast members of this reality show as inspiration for the rich family in White Lotus Season 3. Anyway, Craig showed up to this reunion in January 2021, off his face. I mean, as the, as the reunion progressed, you could see the effects of whatever substances he was on. But this guy came out swinging. He was like, I got nothing to lose. I'm sick of this shit. My co star over here, Madison Lacroix, who's I think is going to Come after me. You know what? I'm just going to drop the nuclear bomb now. She's my Hiroshima. Okay, okay, watch this.

[Reality TV Cast Member (John Pringle)]

You were flying around the country sleeping with married men. Ex MLB players. That's what you were doing during.

[Maureen Callahan]

Tell me. Tell me.

[Reality TV Cast Member (John Pringle)]

Cuz you weren't talking to him. You flew to Miami to an XMLB player. League baseball. That's what you were doing. Exactly. That's exact. You were doing.

[Maureen Callahan]

Put me on a light account detector test. I never flew to Miami. Tell me when I went to Miami. Where's the record of that?

[Reality TV Cast Member (John Pringle)]

I know exactly what you did. That's what you were doing. Why do you know that? Told me she has been. I saw Raggy. I saw the Instagram messages. Austin. Who was it?

[Alex Rodriguez (in documentary clips)]

Austin.

[Reality TV Cast Member (John Pringle)]

It was while you were dating, by the way, I should say is a very famous married MLB player. You start.

[Maureen Callahan]

Chill out.

[Reality TV Cast Member (John Pringle)]

Okay, just calm down, dude. This XMLB player, is this someone that you have DM'd with?

[Maureen Callahan]

He contacted me. And yes, we DM'd, but other than that there was. There was nothing. I've never physically seen him.

[Reality TV Cast Member (John Pringle)]

You guys FaceTime all the time. Madison, stop. Yeah, you're FaceTime all the liar.

[Maureen Callahan]

And I will stand up for that. I'm sorry. I'm not lying.

[Kinsey Schofield]

I will tell you.

[Reality TV Cast Member (John Pringle)]

You are a liar. Did it next to me at tavern table. You face that. We're like 20 minutes in, she's bragging about it.

[Alex Rodriguez (in documentary clips)]

That's it.

[Reality TV Cast Member (John Pringle)]

Well, her whole life.

[Alex Rodriguez (in documentary clips)]

Okay, I don't think jerking off on.

[Maureen Callahan]

FaceTime is cheating anyway. Okay, that is a cast member who is no longer with us, just in reality tv. He's still alive. His name is John Pringle. And this, this is such a fascinating stuff because it's. It's a tether. It's an actual thread into the Olivia Newsy RFK Jr. Scandal, which we're getting to tomorrow on the Nerve at night. Like, first of all, is like just FaceTime sex cheating. Is DMing cheating. You know, she was originally like, I don't even know who you're talking about. And then when they bleeped out his name, the cast member was off camera. He said, you're doing it with bleep. It was such a short bleep.

[Ashley Flowers]

Bleep.

[Maureen Callahan]

Everyone in America knew the bleep was a rod. And everyone in America knew it was a rod because the guy's got a type. And it's petite women who have muscly figures. Okay? So that at two weeks after that episode aired, Jennifer Lopez dumped Alex Rodriguez. Okay? Now if you'll notice there, what's, what's telling in this documentary, in this rehabbed attempt for a rod is who's not in the doc. Okay, JLo's not in the dock. Madonna's not in the dock. He dated a very powerful woman in Silicon Valley for quite some time. She gave him a lot of legitimacy. She's not in the doc. Cameron Diaz, who He dated for 18 months and who broke up with him in 2011, not in the dock. Now a rod. The only thing he really has to say about Cameron in the headline that's going around is that while he was dating her and what led to their breakup was, quote, there was a lot going on at the time. Was there? You bet. You know what was going on. He was cheating with at least one woman named Lauren Hunter, a quote, unquote model who also looks like a bodybuilder. You know what I'm saying? I'm not saying anything, but you know what I'm saying? From this Yahoo headline, dating dated June 14, 2017, did a rod cheat on Cameron 2. I'm going to read a bit from the piece. Cameron, 44, dated the former New York Yankees player for 18 months. And Lauren Hunt, model in question. I'm using quotes, quotes around model tells the publication that their affair took place at the same time. Quote, I cannot tell you how many times we slept together while they were together. She spills. Quote, I slept with him and then he went to the MTV Awards with her. Lauren added, quote, she looked really sad. I could see it was the end. Then Alex, again, we are rehabbing ourselves. So we're talking about all the therapy that we did. And he was treated by a guy who went by Dr. David. Now, Dr. David had a house, like way out in the middle of nowhere. It was by design. He treated high profile cases like a rod. And the deal was you had to go to him. Smart, smart, you know, how serious are you now? Dr. David had an outbuilding that he used at his office and his patients were never allowed in his house proper. That was his sacred space. Well, guess what a rod does in this documentary because Dr. David has since passed. He goes into Dr. David's house and he's walking around, ambling around Dr. David's house in which he's never before been with a camera crew. And he's going through David's stuff and you know, it's just such a violation. Okay? The guy is never going to change. We're in Dr. David's house. So a rod can look like a mournful surrogate son who you know would have been dead on the side of a road if not for Dr. David. Give me a break. Okay, now we're going to watch a rod read a letter. This is the homework he says Dr. David gave him. Okay? So a rod's through line here is that. Yeah, he's a piece of. He's a piece of shit in recovery. And he's a piece of shit because his father left the family when a rod. You know, it's unclear because he says to us, listen closely. He says to us he's writing this letter as himself at 8 years old. Okay? His as his authorship, as he's regressing, as his. As his childhood self, his inner child. In this exercise given to him by Dr. David, he's writing a letter to his father. He's age 8. But in the letter he says, you left. Left. And I was only 10. So how could an 8 year old be talking about an event in the future with an age certain, but that event has yet to transpire. Could a rod be telling another fucking lie? I don't know. Let's listen to a rod I say.

[Alex Rodriguez (in documentary clips)]

Victor. Not that Victor stopped. Stop. You're bullshitting me. You're full of. You've done it for 43 years. Enough is enough. You've lied to me from day one. That's why I'm so full of shit myself. I grew up around it. I thought I can get away with everything. Like you. Bullshit myself through life. My dad says, what are you talking about? How about 2014? My four year suspension for using pediatric then acting like a fucking asshole, doubling down, blaming everyone. Sounds familiar yet?

[Maureen Callahan]

Okay, I'm going to tell you something. This, this whole thing is yet, and he's telling on himself. This whole documentary is yet another exercise in Alex Rodriguez lying, doubling down and acting like an asshole. And you know, a lot of people grew up a lot with in a lot worse circumstances and they don't grow up to become total entitled pieces of shit who have not heard the word no ever. Because he was a phenom from a young age. He was a teenager and no one was going to tell this guy Jack fucking shit. His daughters are in here saying he's evolved. I think that's a very generous language. Alex says he's a recovering narcissist. His words, not mine. A quote. Recovering narcissist. Anyone in psychiatry, psychology will tell you there is no such thing. You cannot heal a narcissist. The only thing that therapy does is make them better because it Gives them more tools and tricks and language to use to better affix their mask. And this is exactly, exactly what's going on in this document, this documentary. And I don't think that any, any, any there's any chance he's getting into the hall of Fame. As Bill from Brooklyn said before, he predicted this, he predicted this story arc, that part three was going to be. Feel sorry for me. I'm sorry, I was an asshole. I'm better. I'm trying to be better. My numbers are better than anybody. Put me in the hall of Fame. And the only reason this guy isn't in the hall of Fame is because he's a fucking asshole and nobody could stand him. Now, in conclusion, as your cultural criminal prosecutor, I'm going to show you, you what I think is one of the best ads, if not the best ad of modern American popular culture, okay? This ad, again, it transcends sports. When Derek Jeter was leaving the Yankees, a rod's one way rival, okay? Derek Jeter was beloved by the city of New York. You didn't have to be a baseball fan to love this guy because he comported himself, himself with character, with dignity, with humility, with a sense of proportion. And he showed up every day on that field and played his effing heart out. And behind the scenes, he was the captain of the team who kept everything neat and orderly and strong and forceful. And that team, they were winners, okay? They comported themselves like winners. This ad, no matter how many times I see this ad, it makes me choke up. I'm not kidding. Like, I get re, I get really emotional. If you can tell a story in 60 seconds or less and it's so clear. And I'm going to tell you guys, if you're listening to this, I'm not going to explain what's going on in the, in the actual video because I don't want to mar it in any way. Go to this part of the episode on YouTube. Do yourself a favor and watch it. And watch. By the way, who is in this ad saying goodbye to Derek Jeter. And we'll talk about, talk about the rest on the back end. Here we go. Number two.

[Reality TV Cast Member (John Pringle)]

Derek Jeter.

[Maureen Callahan]

Number two. So that ad is called Respect. And in that ad, the through line is. It begins with the tip of a hat. Cheaters adjusting his helmet at home plate. And his pitcher, the opposing pitcher, Boston Red Sox. The face is covered by a mitt. It's very, the whole thing is very tight. He tips his hat very subtly. Jeter looks over one of his own teammates tips his hat, sees way up in the stands, one of the concession guys tips his hat. That tells you everyone in New York, no matter their station, no matter their socioeconomic class in the stands, Spike Lee, Rudy Giuliani, when he was still a respected figure in these parts. And then you see the Titans of spring, Tiger Woods. You see doorman, you see line cooks, you see Billy Crystal, you see Jay Z. You, you know, you see Jeter's own family. You see first responders, you see Joe Torre, the former head coach and the core four at a table as if they're waiting for Jeter. And the final thing that you see, the final person is a little boy in his bedroom in what looks like, you know, working class and like a, like a, maybe even the projects. You can see the subway going by outside, and he's watching the game on tv and he's got his baseball memorabilia there and he's tipping his hat at the TV screen and he's maybe the next kid who's gonna come up in a Jeter like way that is a Hall of Famer. That's how it's done. Class of 2020. And by the way, you want to know who's not in that ad? Number one, one, Sean Diddy Combs, who you know was effing dying, dying that he wasn't included. And two, one, Alex Rodriguez. And that tells you all you need to know. No hall of Fame for you. A rod. Shove it. That's it. That does it. For our Tuesday edition of the Nerve. Please come back and see us tomorrow here in Los Angeles for our very first edition of the Nerve at Night west coast edition. If you haven't already, check out our [e-mail] Be sure to subscribe. There's lots of good stuff that we couldn't get into the show. Extras bonus materials plus nerve merch. The holidays are quickly approaching. Grab something for yourself or pick something up for a fellow troublemaker@shop thenerve.com Also, the nerve is now available on Megan's podcast Playlist. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Friday at 9:00am Eastern on the Sirius XM channel 111, the Megan Kelly channel. And we will see you back here tomorrow at the Nerve, where you will never guess what we're about to say next.

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[Maureen Callahan]

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