Podcast Summary
Podcast: The Tony Kornheiser Show
Episode: “McDonald’s or Afrin?”
Date: February 16, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of The Tony Kornheiser Show weaves Tony’s characteristically humorous and curmudgeonly view of modern life with sharp sports analysis and anecdotal charm. Joined by regulars Michael Wilbon, Chris Cillizza, and Doug, Tony relays misadventures at McDonald's, a botched Afrin purchase, and then pivots to lively discussions of the Winter Olympics, the NBA All-Star weekend, NASCAR at Daytona, and the drama at Pebble Beach. Special contributor Pat Forde checks in from Italy, offering Olympic insight. The tone is witty, conversational, and deeply personal, blending nostalgia, frustration with technology, and expert sports banter.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The McDonald’s Saga: Technology vs. Humanity
[01:17 - 09:03]
-
Tony’s McDonald’s Ordeal:
- Tony describes feeling alienated by McDonald's touchscreen ordering systems, lamenting the lack of human interaction.
- He highlights being "lost" amidst the digital ordering chaos, requiring the manager’s intervention.
- While ultimately happy (getting two Egg McMuffins, “a really good deal!”), he vows never to return.
- Commentary on generational divides, the progress of fast food, the impact of inflation, and the increasing reliance on apps/technology in the restaurant industry.
Quote:
"I'm never going into a McDonald's again… I have no idea how to use the screens. None whatsoever. None. And if nobody takes my order, I got to go, I have to leave..."
— Tony Kornheiser [03:20] -
Group Reaction:
- Chris Cillizza and Michael Wilbon empathize, sharing similar “old guy lost in tech” experiences.
- Chris theorizes touchscreens drive up sales (“It encourages you to buy more because no one's judging you at the checkout” [07:47]).
Quote:
"It is disconcerting when you walk in there, though."
— Michael Wilbon [07:03] -
Humorous Resignation:
- The group jokes about needing an “Old People Counter.”
- Tony finds the experience a “big win,” but “that was my last time in McDonald’s” [09:03].
2. The Afrin Fiasco: Aging, Ailments, and Odd Solutions
[09:03 - 13:35]
-
Tony’s Quest for Ear Relief:
- Tony recounts buying Afrin (nasal spray) for ear congestion, only to discover (after returning home and donning his reading glasses) that it was the children’s version (ages 2–6).
- Uses the product anyway (“does nothing!”), is irritated by the cost, and eventually throws it out.
- The group riffs on the perils of self-care, failed remedies, and humorous product recommendations (Neti pots, horseradish, shower vapor cakes).
Quote:
“I have bought Afrin for children two to six years old. Well, you’re young. You’re young enough to. Six years old... I’m so angry, I use it. It does nothing!”
— Tony Kornheiser [11:46] -
Side chatter:
- Chris: “My worry about Afrin is…it becomes habit forming because you’re so used to the clearing effect.” [11:55]
- Michael on tech for ailments: “Yeah, we're going to wait for Passover.” [13:19]
3. Fast Food, Aging, and Generational Disconnects
[13:35 - 15:15]
- Old versus New in Fast Food:
- Tony bemoans changes at McDonald's and other chains.
- Michael and Chris revisit their own touch screen misadventures.
- Discussion about cash versus app payments: “I don't want to do that. I want to pay cash. That’s why I said. And they do. They took.” — Tony Kornheiser [14:54]
- The group agrees technology has “passed them by” regarding the dining experience.
4. Transition: Sports Recap & Commentary
[17:22+]
A. Kansas State Firing Jerome Tang
[17:30 - 19:44]
- Tony and Doug discuss the swift firing of Kansas State basketball coach Jerome Tang after a controversy. Doug isn’t surprised and likens the situation to predictable institutional accountability (“I said it should happen... This isn’t a matter of surprised. This is a matter of what took them three days.” [19:05])
B. NBA All-Star Game & Format Change
[20:09 - 21:55]
- Doug and Tony debate the new “U.S. vs. World” format, its unexpected competitiveness, and speculate if it will endure.
- Doug: “It was the best the All-Star Game has been as a product in 15 years.” [21:33]
C. Golf at Pebble Beach
[22:40 - 29:33]
-
Lengthy, enthusiastic analysis of the Pebble Beach golf tournament:
- The impact of wind, scoring drama, and individual performances.
- Morikawa’s win is celebrated, with praise for his temperament and clutch putting.
- Tony and the group dissect the challenges posed by conditions and rules (slow play delays, ball movement on the greens).
Quote:
“It was really great to watch… 10 people within two shots!”
— Tony Kornheiser [26:25]Quote:
“Don’t give me dome golf, you know, give me the most, you know, captivating places in the world.”
— Doug [26:42]
D. NASCAR at Daytona
[22:44 - 24:45]
- Tony discusses catching the chaotic last laps, noting Michael Jordan’s car winning (“Working for Michael Jordan, I gotta win!” [24:06]).
- The group reviews the unusual decision not to throw yellow flags during late-race crashes.
E. College Basketball Programming Misses
[29:57 - 32:15]
- Doug criticizes NCAA basketball for not maximizing TV opportunities during the Olympics/all-star lull.
- Discussion of injuries and upsets in college basketball.
5. Winter Olympics: Recap and On-site Reporting
[35:52 - 49:28]
Pat Forde Joins from Italy
-
Tony quizzes Pat about Olympic storylines, focusing on mishaps, injuries, and underdog stories.
-
Discussion about the inherent greater danger of Winter versus Summer Olympic sports.
Quote:
“The Winter Olympics have made up stuff…there’s always some kid willing to risk his life…”
— Tony Kornheiser [38:14]Quote:
“In the Winter [Olympics], you’re scared for all of them all the time.”
— Pat Forde [39:27] -
Injury Rates & Athlete Pressure:
- Pat reveals harrowing injury stats for U.S. women’s Alpine team: “12 women, 11 major injuries in last five years; the 12th, Lindsey Vonn, just got one too.” [39:27]
-
The Vocabulary of New Sports:
- Tony expresses bewilderment at event jargon: “When somebody goes up in the air and the guy says…it’s a double cork 1080, I have no idea what he’s talking about.” [41:26]
-
Winter Olympics' International Spread:
- Amused surprise at the diversity of competing nations and athletes' cross-national backgrounds.
-
Pressure on Stars (Shiffrin, Malinin):
- Sympathy for athletes facing public collapse (Ilya Malinin’s falls, Shiffrin’s rough games), and the nature of individual sports pressure.
Quote (on Malinin):
“Every trauma thing that ever happened to me came flooding in my head. That’s a good healthy mindset. That’ll help you here. You know, it’s just brutal.”
— Pat Forde [47:17]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Can’t there be an old people counter where they say you can come up here and order something?”
Tony Kornheiser [07:14]
- “What makes me happy is you, you had been paying attention to this commercial. This is the power of advertising.”
Chris Cillizza [08:19]
- “I have bought Afrin for children two to six years old… I’m so angry, I use it. It does nothing!”
Tony Kornheiser [11:46]
- “This is a cracked egg, which we used to call in the old days a poached egg. There is an inside to it, but it is white on the outside. It is totally cooked through.”
Tony Kornheiser, philosophizing on Egg McMuffin anatomy [05:32]
- “In the Winter [Olympics], you’re scared for all of them all the time.”
Pat Forde [39:27]
- “The obsession [in golf] is just stupid. It’s annoying. It’s even more annoying than this goof taking 40 minutes.”
Doug, on slow play and rule obsessions [28:11]
Timestamps of Important Segments
- 01:17 – Tony offers McDonald’s or Afrin stories overview
- 02:42 – Tony’s first visit to McDonald’s in years (Washington, DC location)
- 03:20 – Confrontation with technology at touchscreens
- 05:04 – Outcome: Got two Egg McMuffins, breakfast review
- 09:03 – Afrin story: Buying the wrong nasal spray
- 11:46 – Realization about “children 2 to 6” Afrin
- 13:35 – “Old” guys and fast food tech
- 17:30 – Kansas State coach controversy
- 20:09 – NBA All-Star “U.S. vs. World” format commentary
- 22:40 – Golf at Pebble Beach, conditions and outcome
- 24:06 – Michael Jordan’s car wins Daytona 500
- 29:57 – NCAA basketball’s missed TV opportunity
- 35:52 – Pat Forde from Italy, Winter Olympics wrap-up
- 39:27 – Dangerousness of winter events
- 41:26 – Olympics scoring/judging confusion
- 47:17 – Individual athlete mental pressure at Olympics
- 49:28 – Show break
Structure & Flow
The episode moves seamlessly from anecdotal storytelling (Tony’s misadventures, health woes) to insightful, opinionated sports analysis. The tone is informal and self-deprecating, often nostalgic and exasperated about changing times, but deeply sharp when it comes to sports. The show’s blend of personal stories and commentator expertise offers a comfortably meandering but structured listening experience.
For New Listeners
If you missed the episode, you’ll get:
- Tony’s signature blend of crankiness and warmth
- Nostalgic, relatable tales about being “left behind” by modern tech
- Entertaining group banter about real-life miscues (ordering breakfast, dealing with ailments)
- Deep-dive yet conversational analysis of pressing sports stories—NBA, NCAA, golf, NASCAR, and the Olympics—especially how sports culture, tradition, and even language is changing or "passing by" the show's veteran hosts.
- Special insight from on-the-ground Olympic coverage
If you’re a fan of classic sports talk leavened with everyday (and aging) indignities, this is a quintessential Kornheiser episode.