Special Preview of “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace”

Summary

Podcast Summary: Special Preview of “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace”

Introduction to the Episode

In a special preview episode of "Trumpland with Alex Wagner," host Alex Wagner introduces listeners to an exciting new addition to the podcasting landscape: “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace.” Released on June 2, 2025, this episode offers an exclusive glimpse into Wallace's upcoming series, highlighting what audiences can expect from her conversations with some of the most influential and intriguing figures in various fields.

Introducing “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace”

Nicolle Wallace, a renowned journalist and MSNBC contributor, kicks off the episode by sharing her excitement about her new podcast. She describes “The Best People” as an invitation into her curated list of individuals who have left a significant impact on her life, both personally and professionally. Wallace emphasizes that the podcast aims to showcase the smartest, funniest, wisest, and most creative people she has had the privilege to encounter.

“The best people inspire me. They make me laugh. They tell the truth. They give the best advice.”
— Nicolle Wallace [00:35]

Wallace outlines the diverse range of her guests, including notable names such as Jason Bateman, Kara Swisher, Rachel Maddow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Doc Rivers, and Jeff Daniels. She highlights the unique opportunity listeners will have to hear these accomplished individuals in a more personal and accessible setting than traditional media allows.

Preview of the First Episode with Jason Bateman

The centerpiece of this special preview is a sneak peek into the first episode of “The Best People,” featuring an engaging conversation between Nicolle Wallace and actor Jason Bateman. Bateman delves into his experiences in podcasting, his latest projects, and his perspectives on the current political climate.

Discussion on Trump's Administration and Its Impact

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the unpredictability of Donald Trump's administration and its ripple effects across various industries, including the entertainment sector. Bateman draws parallels between political developments and storytelling in television, illustrating how real-world events influence creative processes.

“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.”
— Nicolle Wallace [00:56]

Bateman elaborates on the chaotic nature of the administration, suggesting that it feels as though a writer’s room is crafting an unpredictable and dramatic storyline in real-time. He reflects on the challenges this unpredictability poses for developing projects, particularly those inspired by current events.

“It'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. Would you write that? Maybe, yeah, like, that would be a jump the shark moment. But no, actually everything was built towards that legitimately can happen.”
— Jason Bateman [01:39]

Bateman discusses how the reality of Trump's actions surpasses what many writers could conceive, making it challenging to create fictional narratives that mirror the chaos and unpredictability of actual political developments.

Implications for the Entertainment Industry

The conversation shifts to the broader implications of Trump's administration on the entertainment industry. Bateman explains how the unprecedented political landscape affects the development and production of creative projects.

“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.”
— Jason Bateman [03:03]

He highlights the difficulty of working on projects that intersect with ongoing political events, noting that by the time a project is completed, the real-world scenario may have evolved, rendering the narrative outdated or irrelevant.

Writers’ Rooms and Political Plausibility

Bateman touches on the challenges writers face in creating believable political dramas amidst real-life absurdities. He points out that traditional writers' rooms struggle to keep up with the escalating and often surreal actions of the administration.

“I think the writers rooms are having difficulty imagining it even in a fictional setting. If you were to just have a fictional administration.”
— Jason Bateman [03:30]

This difficulty stems from the administration’s disregard for conventional boundaries and norms, making it hard to predict and narrate plausible outcomes in fictional portrayals.

Conclusion and Future Episodes

As the preview concludes, Wallace invites listeners to subscribe to “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace” on Apple Podcasts for ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content. She reiterates the unique value of the podcast in providing intimate and insightful conversations with some of the most influential individuals today.

“The first two episodes are available right now, and new episodes drop on Mondays.”
— Nicolle Wallace [03:15]

Listeners are encouraged to stay tuned for more in-depth discussions and to follow the series to gain a deeper understanding of the people shaping our world.

Final Thoughts

This special preview episode of “Trumpland with Alex Wagner” effectively sets the stage for Nicolle Wallace’s “The Best People” podcast by offering a compelling introduction and a substantive conversation with Jason Bateman. The discussion highlights the intersection of politics and entertainment, providing valuable insights into how real-world political dynamics influence creative industries. Audiences can look forward to engaging and thought-provoking episodes that reveal the personalities and perspectives of some of the most noteworthy figures 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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