Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! – February 14, 2026

Episode Title: Our panel heads to Milan and Arden Cho hunts demons

Host: Negin Farsad (filling in for Peter Sagal)
Panelists: Paula Poundstone, Tom Papa, Beth Stelling
Celebrity Guest: Arden Cho

Episode Overview

On this lively Valentine’s and Olympics-week episode, guest host Negin Farsad steers the show through tales of bizarre news, pop culture, and current events. Panelists engage in witty banter and comedic riffing on stories from Texas laser-wielding agents to strange Olympic confessions. The celebrated voice actor Arden Cho (Netflix’s K Pop Demon Hunters) stops by for a spirited, revealing conversation. Classic quiz segments and games, including Bluff the Listener and the Limerick Challenge, round out an episode brimming with laughs and sharp commentary.

Key Discussions & Insights

1. News Quiz Highlights & Panel Banter

Texas’ War on “Threats” (Balloon Drama)

• Topic: El Paso airspace closure due to a supposed dangerous drone; authorities shoot it down with a laser only to find it was a party balloon.
• The panel jokes about “neutralizing” party balloons and government’s excited use of a new laser.
• Tom Papa (04:11): “Guys. It was an alien ship. That’s what happens in that part of the country. And it was an alien, and they don’t want to tell us.”
• Negin plays with the imagined trauma of a child whose party balloon was vaporized by border patrol.

Olympics Confessions—Live on International TV

• Topic: Norwegian biathlete wins bronze, immediately confesses to cheating on his girlfriend in post-race interview.
• The panel mocks public confessions as attention-grabbing and ineffective.
• Paula Poundstone (07:00): “Why do men think that’s romantic?”
• Negin Farsad (06:34): “This apology was delivered with the passion and earnestness of a man whose apology in private was not accepted.”

Should You Bake for a Valentine?

• Topic: Expert advice warns against baking for new partners on Valentine’s Day—“it shows oversized interest.”
• The debate shifts to personal Valentine’s preferences with playful gender commentary.
• Quote, Tom Papa (08:16): “You know, I love putting a lot more pressure on Valentine’s Day.”
• Beth Stelling (08:51): “Did you have to say feed it?”

2. Game Segments & Listener Interaction

Who's Bill This Time? (03:09–09:20)

• Contestant Lindsay aces the game with panel guidance amidst much riffing about wildlife, parties ruined by lasers, and deep dives into creepy-crawly favorites.

Panel Questions: Gen Z Slang Going “Old” (09:45–12:11)

• Discusses Gen Z’s affection for old-timey slang such as “skedaddle” and “hell’s bells.”
• Negin Farsad (10:39): “Young people sound old now.”
• Panel jokes about the sources of this retro slang, blaming “the Internet” and parodying hotgrammy.com.

Bluff the Listener – Movie-Inspired Mayhem (15:23–20:52)

• Listeners guess which bizarre news story is real based on panel’s fictional tales:
  • Ratatouille-style rat-smuggling (Tom)
  • Mask-fueled bank robberies (Beth)
  • Home Alone-style drug den booby traps (Paula—the real story)
• Confirmed by BBC’s Dan Bader: A criminal really did booby trap his house in Home Alone fashion.
• Notable Joke: Tom Papa (17:00): “I just watched Gremlins last night and I have an idea.”

3. Celebrity Guest: Arden Cho Interview (21:40–31:02)

On Sudden Stardom & Demonic Fame

• Arden’s role as Rumi in K Pop Demon Hunters—Netflix’s most-streamed film—is both a point of pride and minor embarrassment since all the parents she knows now hear her voice constantly.
• Arden Cho (22:10): “At least it’s something that has a positive message... it is very, like, family friendly.”
• Panel shares anecdotes about the ubiquity of Rumi Halloween costumes.

Poker Skills and the Life of a Quadruple Threat

• Arden is not only an actor and musician, but also a ranked professional poker player and black belt in taekwondo.
• She views poker as a space to build confidence:
  Arden (25:19): “It’s taught me to be confident and to take risks, learn to say no and to bet on myself...”

A TSA Pre-Check Engagement Mishap

• Arden tells the story of her recent engagement, where her now-fiancé ditched her at TSA PreCheck out of fear she’d see the ring.
• Arden (26:35): “He was sneaking away because he was afraid they’d take out the ring and that I would see it...”

Quiz: Kmart Trivia

• Arden successfully answers two out of three questions about bizarre Kmart commercials and headlines (like the “I shipped my pants” ad and an anatomically correct lion toy sold in Australia Kmart).

4. Panel & Audience Fun – News, Quizzes, and Limericks

Airplane Etiquette Debate—Keep That Shade Closed? (33:35–35:36)

• Tom gripes about sun-in-the-eyes passengers who open window shades during morning flights.
• Paula Poundstone (34:06): “Because there’s a beautiful view outside that window.”
• The group discusses seat geography, personal control, and the “realities” of air travel hierarchy.

Spy Program—Russian Pigeon Drones (35:59–36:48)

• Russian researchers claim to have trained pigeons equipped with body cameras for espionage.
• Beth Stelling (36:29): “These pigeons better be getting paid in croutons.”

Limerick Challenge – All About Rats, Bras, and Caviar (38:41–42:29)

• The panel and caller riff on stories involving rat-adoptions, softening butter in bras, and McDonald’s caviar-topped McNuggets.
• Best exchange (40:54):
  • Negin: “Also, you don’t have to stop at butter. You can use the heat of your boobs for anything—like, do you need to defrost fish?”
  • Tom Papa: “I put fish in my wife’s bra all the time.”

Lightning Fill in the Blank (44:24–49:36)

• The panel rushes through headlines touching on everything from Trump’s latest tariff move to fake IDs with pictures of Ben Franklin.
• Notable wrong answer:
  Paula, asked why men who smoke go bald: “Be asked to leave the room.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tom Papa (04:11): “Guys. It was an alien ship. That’s what happens in that part of the country.”
• Paula Poundstone (07:00): “Why do men think that’s romantic?”
• Beth Stelling (10:39): “I never remember my grandpa saying skibidi toilet.”
• Arden Cho (25:19): “It’s taught me to be confident and to take risks, learn to say no and to bet on myself.”
• Beth Stelling (36:29): “These pigeons better be getting paid in croutons.”
• Negin Farsad (40:54): “You don’t have to stop at butter. You can use the heat of your boobs for anything.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Highlight/Topic | Timestamp | | ------- | -------------- | --------- | | Opening Panel Banter | Texas “balloon threat” | 03:09–05:35 | | Olympics Medalist Confession | Athlete’s public apology | 05:40–07:36 | | Valentine’s Day Baking Advice | Over-eager gestures | 07:38–09:20 | | Gen Z Slang | Old-fashioned words | 09:45–12:11 | | Bluff the Listener | Movie-inspired news/hoaxes | 15:23–20:52 | | Interview – Arden Cho | On K Pop Demon Hunters, poker, and celeb life | 21:40–31:02 | | Airplane Window Debate | Window shade etiquette | 33:35–35:36 | | Russian Pigeon Spies | Animal espionage | 35:59–36:48 | | Limerick Challenge | Rodent adoption, butter-in-bra, caviar McNuggets | 38:41–42:29 | | Lightning Fill in the Blank | News blitz | 44:24–49:36 | | Closing Predictions | Olympics surprises | 50:46–51:15 |

Tone & Takeaway

The episode is classic Wait Wait—irreverent, breezy, fast-moving, but with a pointed undercurrent of wit and social observation. The hosts and guests banter about current events, news oddities, and pop culture with a self-aware, joke-heavy approach that also allows room for more earnest threads—like Arden Cho’s reflections on poker and fame.

Listeners will enjoy:

• Offbeat takes on current news cycles.
• Arden Cho’s relatable star stories and warmth.
• Panelists’ sharp and sometimes absurd comedic spins on real headlines.

For fans and newcomers alike, this episode contains all the ingredients of classic “Wait Wait”—news, quizzes, celebrity insight, and the unexpected, all handled with humor and heart.