Special Preview of “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace”

Summary

Summary of "The Rachel Maddow Show" – Special Preview of “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace”
Release Date: June 2, 2025

In a special preview episode of "The Rachel Maddow Show," host Rachel Maddow introduces viewers to an exciting new podcast, "The Best People with Nicole Wallace." This episode serves as an introduction to Nicole Wallace's venture into podcasting, highlighting her upcoming series and featuring a candid conversation with actor and podcaster Jason Bateman.

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Introduction to "The Best People with Nicole Wallace"

Nicole Wallace kicks off the segment by unveiling her new podcast, "The Best People with Nicole Wallace," positioning it as an intimate exploration of conversations with some of the most intelligent, humorous, and creative individuals she admires. Wallace describes the podcast as an invitation for listeners to delve into her personal short list of inspiring figures she has encountered in various capacities—be it professionally, personally, or as a fan.

Nicole Wallace [00:10]: "The best people inspire me. They make me laugh. They tell the truth. They give the best advice. Now I'm sharing the power of those conversations with all of you."

She emphasizes the accessibility and accomplishment of her guests, mentioning notable personalities such as Jason Bateman, Kara Swisher, Rachel Maddow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Doc Rivers, and Jeff Daniels. Wallace encourages listeners to subscribe and highlights that new episodes will be released every Monday, with the first two episodes already available.

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Special Preview: Conversation with Jason Bateman

The episode’s highlight is a special preview of Wallace’s first episode featuring Jason Bateman. Bateman discusses his foray into podcasting with his show "Smartless," delving into his latest projects and offering his perspective on the current political climate.

Insights on Political Storytelling

Bateman draws parallels between real-world political events and storytelling in entertainment, particularly in how unpredictable political maneuvers resemble plot twists in television writing.

Jason Bateman [01:45]: "There's a writer's room somewhere, and they are figuring out these seasonal arcs that are just gobsmacking... It's like it's really happening."

He reflects on the absurdity and unpredictability of recent political developments, comparing them to scenarios that would typically be considered "jumping the shark" in scripted shows. Bateman expresses fascination with how reality is surpassing fiction in terms of political drama, making it a compelling subject for storytelling.

Impact on the Entertainment Industry

Wallace probes Bateman on how the real-world political chaos influences the entertainment industry, particularly in developing new projects that intersect with ongoing political narratives.

Nicole Wallace [02:55]: "Does it change your industry at all when the real world is so batshit crazy?"

Bateman acknowledges the challenges faced by creators in maintaining relevance and authenticity. He shares his experience of initiating projects related to key figures in the current administration but ultimately stepping back due to the ever-evolving political storyline.

Jason Bateman [03:10]: "By the time you're done shooting it, the ending may have been written, and we won't have it in the show."

He elaborates on the difficulty writers and creators face in fictionalizing real political scenarios, noting that the lack of inherent shame or embarrassment in certain political figures disrupts traditional storytelling dynamics.

Jason Bateman [03:50]: "You can't assume that somebody is going to drive right through shamelessness. And he does, and he is."

Bateman concludes by expressing how these unprecedented political behaviors keep both the public and content creators on their toes, continuously adapting to the rapid pace of real-world events.

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Conclusion and Call to Action

Nicole Wallace wraps up the preview by inviting viewers to subscribe to her podcast, offering early access, ad-free listening, and bonus content through MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts. She hints at more in-depth discussions and exclusive interviews in future episodes, promising that listeners will gain unique insights into the minds of "the best people."

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Notable Quotes:

• Nicole Wallace [00:10]: "The best people inspire me. They make me laugh. They tell the truth. They give the best advice."

• Jason Bateman [01:45]: "It's like it's really happening."

• Jason Bateman [03:10]: "By the time you're done shooting it, the ending may have been written."

• Jason Bateman [03:50]: "You can't assume that somebody is going to drive right through shamelessness. And he does, and he is."

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This special preview not only introduces a promising new podcast but also sets the stage for engaging discussions that bridge the gap between entertainment and the tumultuous landscape of contemporary politics. Listeners can look forward to insightful conversations that reveal the authenticity and brilliance of individuals shaping various industries today.

Transcript

[Nicole Wallace]

Hi, everybody, it's Nicole Wallace. I'm excited to tell you about my new podcast, the Best People with Nicole Wallace. What is the Best People? Well, it's an invitation inside my short list of the smartest, funniest, wisest, most creative people I've been blessed to encounter, either personally or professionally. As a journalist, as a mom, sometimes children, just as a fan, the best people inspire me. They make me laugh. They tell the truth. They give the best advice. Now I'm sharing the power of those conversations with all of you. The best people are some of the most accomplished and accessible people out there. From Jason Bateman to Kara Swisher, Rachel Maddow to Sarah Jessica Parker, Doc Rivers, and Jeff Daniels, this podcast is a chance for you to hear them and see them the way I do. And what you hear might surprise you. So follow the Best People with Nicole Wallace. The first two episodes are available right now, and new episodes drop on Mondays. Stay here to listen to a special preview of the first episode with Jason Bateman, where we talk about how he got into podcasting with his show Smartless, his latest projects, and his take on the current political mayhem. You can also subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts and for early access, ad free listening and bonus content. I think that what makes the Trump story so amazing is nobody knows what's gonna happen next. You know, I mean, the people in his cabinet don't seem to know what's happening next.

[Jason Bateman]

You know, it's crazy, but there's a writer's room somewhere, somewhere. And in that writer's room, they are figuring out these seasonal arcs that are just. They're just gobsmacking and somehow they build to these great, you know, cliffhangers, too, that, you know, are kind of like. Well, that's like jumping the shark. But like, for instance, you know, remember for a moment there, it was very plausible that he was going to win the election but start serving in prison. Like, that was that wasn't that Would you would. You would write that? Maybe, yeah, like, that would be a jump the shark moment. But no, actually, everything was built towards that legitimately can happen. And people are trying to figure out the apparatus to get classified documents to him, et cetera, et cetera. And like, to me, that's just a show I can't stop watching because he keeps outdoing himself and doubling and tripling down, and it's not for show. It's actually a reasonable escalation based on what just happened last. It's like it's really happening.

[Nicole Wallace]

Does it change your industry at all when, like, the real world is so batshit crazy, does it make people think like, I mean, you know, like, oh, this couldn't happen when the real world keeps defying that frame of this couldn't happen?

[Jason Bateman]

Well, there's plenty of projects I've been involved with, at least two of them that are directly related to key figures in his administration that I have started developing but then backed away because there's no way you can do that because those are still active storylines. And by the time you're done shooting it, the ending may have been written and we won't have it, you know, in the show. So, yeah, it's the notion of what is plausible and possible in the political world. I think the writers rooms are having difficulty imagining it even in a fictional setting. If you were to just have a fictional administration. Because, you know, I think most of us come off the car lot with a standard feature of shame and an ability to become embarrassed. And that's not built into our systems of defense. You can't assume that somebody is going to drive right through shamelessness. And he does, and he is. And so we're constantly on our heels.

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