The Alzo Era begins in Austin!

Summary

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Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Episode: "The Alzo Era Begins in Austin!"

Host: Peter Sagal
Official Judge/Scorekeeper: Alzo Slade
Panelists: Brian Babylon, Rachel Koster, Tom Papa
Celebrity Guest: Alana Myers Taylor
Date: June 6, 2026
Location: Bass Concert Hall, Austin, TX

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Overview

This episode marks a milestone for NPR’s beloved news quiz: the “Alzo Era” officially begins, with Alzo Slade joining as the permanent judge and scorekeeper. The show mixes sharp, irreverent takes on the week’s news with clever games and the trademark Wait Wait… panel banter. This week also features an interview with Alana Myers Taylor, the most decorated Black Winter Olympian, who shares stories from her bobsled career and Austin life.

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Key Segment Summaries & Insights

1. Welcoming Alzo Slade as Judge & Scorekeeper

[00:17–1:36]

• Alzo’s Introduction: “I am the most decorated black scorekeeper in Wait Wait history.” — Alzo Slade [01:29]
• Peter jokes that cultural historians will refer to this as the “Alzo Era.”

2. Panel Games & News Quiz – Highlights

"Who's Alzo This Time?"
(Listener Contestant: Jenny Stout)

Question 1: The National Mall’s 250th Birthday Bash

• Vanilla Ice’s comment on playing for Putin lampooned.
• Lineup for America’s 250th birthday includes Vanilla Ice, Bret Michaels—panel quips it’s like the “Grammys In Memoriam reel.”
• Running joke about a “cage match” and construction on the White House lawn, coinciding with Trump’s 80th birthday.
  • “If you look at aerial footage of the White House… it looks very like Air Force One is on some blocks.” — Brian Babylon [04:39]

Question 2: Young YouTubers Take On Hollywood

• Kane Parsons, 20, directs blockbuster horror films after starting on YouTube at age 9.
• “He has a good chance to be the first big Hollywood star to become a has-been before he can legally rent a car.” — Peter Sagal [06:41]
• Panelists reflect on youth tech skills and the generational divide in content creation.

Question 3: "Tarps Off" Trend at MLB Games

• “Tarps off! Let’s go.”—official statement from Tampa Bay Rays.
• Shirtless fans: phenomenon spreads, considered body positive (or not).
• “It was a lot of, like, white man titties out there.” — Brian Babylon [08:24]
• Cardinal’s manager buys tickets for shirtless fans to boost morale.

Scoring

• Jenny aces the round—“Jenny made her father proud. Three out of three.” — Alzo Slade [09:55]

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3. Panel Quiz: Movies Prefer Talking Animals Over Women 60+

[10:06–11:37]

• New study finds Hollywood movies cast talking animals 4x more often than women over 60.
• “Maybe the talking animals are just more talented…” — Peter Sagal [10:24]
• Jokes about Meryl Streep, and panel discusses ageism and expectations for women in Hollywood.

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4. Bluff the Listener: “A Summer Twist”

[15:08–20:24]
(Listener Contestant: Mickey Clunk)

• Tom Papa: Claims DEET mosquito repellent may now attract mosquitoes.
  • “To a mosquito, you are nothing but a walking, talking bag of blood.” — Tom Papa [16:11]
• Rachel Koster: Suggests pool company filled pools with blue Gatorade to prevent dehydration—literal summer “sports drink” immersion.
• Brian Babylon: Psychic “Miss Molly” at Venice Beach reads futures in sunburns.
• Correct Answer: Tom’s mosquito-DEET story, confirmed by Guardian’s science correspondent Nicola Davis.
  • “Mosquitoes are smarter than people give them credit for… they come to love your bug spray.” — Nicola Davis [19:16]

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5. Not My Job Guest: Alana Myers Taylor

[20:43–31:03]

Journey, Achievements, and Monobob Explainer:

• Wears her Olympic gold medal: “Only when I want to pull something on my husband… Then you pull it out.” — Alana Myers Taylor [21:19]
• Explains monobob: “Just a single person in the sled. So we push, run, jump in, and then we’re in charge of navigating it all ourselves.” [21:55]
• First woman to make U.S. Men’s National Bobsled Team, competed with husband on crew.
  • “No backseat drivers. You don’t have to worry about anybody telling you where to go.” — Myers Taylor [22:46]
  • Jokes about the difference between bobsled ("blue collar") and luge ("the country club of sports").
• Won medals while pregnant: “Technically had three people [in the sled].” [25:36]
• On using medals for perks:
  • “Got a free Frosty at Wendy’s [with a bronze]… With gold, people expect you to pay.” — Alana Myers Taylor [26:36–26:52]
• “I’m not getting behind any sled I’m not driving.” — Alana Myers Taylor [26:06]
• Quiz: All about White Castle, nails 3/3:
  • “She gets a Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me gold medal three out of three.” — Alzo Slade [30:57]

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6. Listener Limerick Challenge

[33:24–43:00]
(Contestant: Sebastian, new father)

• Limerick 1: Home sales include free chickens.
• Limerick 2: Rome’s “sexy priest” calendars feature hot non-priests as models.
• Limerick 3: Hidden Valley Ranch hires ambassadors to promote ranch dressing in Europe.
• All three answered correctly; Sebastian celebrates, “It was a dream come true.”

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7. Lightning Fill-In-The-Blank

[45:11–50:28]

• Each panelist answers rapid news questions.
  • Notables: bird flu fears, shark-infested Club Med, “divorce rumspringa,” AI in Hollywood, exploding car batteries, and a police officer fired for pulling a gun over microwaved fish.
  • Hilarious incorrect answers include “Grizzly Bear” for a political rival.
• Tom Papa wins the game by a hair, with one more point than Brian and Rachel:
  • “Tom, by the hairs of your chinny chin chin, you got four right for eight more points…” — Alzo Slade [50:28]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Alzo’s Introduction: “I am the most decorated black scorekeeper in Wait Wait history.” — Alzo Slade [01:29]
• Vanilla Ice Impression: “I don’t even vote, so I don’t even care. I’ll go play for Putin if you want.” — Alzo Slade as Vanilla Ice [03:27]
• Commentary on Shirtless Fans: “It was a lot of, like, white man titties out there.” — Brian Babylon [08:24]
• On Young Filmmakers: “He has a good chance to be the first big Hollywood star to become a has-been before he can legally rent a car.” — Peter Sagal [06:41]
• Alana Myers Taylor on Teaming Up With Husband:
  • “That’s an amazing date night though. Hey, babe, let’s go ahead and get this medal right quick.” — Brian Babylon [24:31]
  • “It is the perfect date night, because you can’t bring the kids… it’s me time for us time.” — Alana Myers Taylor [24:44]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Welcome & Alzo’s Debut: [00:17–01:36]
• Panel Quiz Segment 1: [01:53–09:58]
• Talking Animal Movies News: [10:06–11:37]
• Bluff the Listener: [15:08–20:24]
• Alana Myers Taylor Interview: [20:43–31:03]
• Listener Limerick Challenge: [33:24–43:00]
• Lightning Fill-In-The-Blank: [45:11–50:28]
• Panel Predictions: [51:34–51:51]

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Memorable Predictions

[51:34–51:51]

• “Tushy’s out too.” — Rachel Koster
• “Gloves off night—people just fight on the White House lawn.” — Brian Babylon
• “Wieners out at the Westminster Dog Show.” — Tom Papa

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Overall Feel

The episode launches a new chapter with Alzo Slade, who brings self-deprecating humor and ease to his debut as judge and limericist. The atmosphere is lively and collaborative, with the panel’s jokes and impersonations punctuating topical discussions.

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If you missed this episode, you missed the debut of a new school of scorekeeping, deep dives into mosquito psychology, shirtless baseball fans, Olympic medal-winning life hacks, and plenty of improv laughter—Wait Wait, as always, delivers smart, smart-alecky news comedy you’ll want to catch every week.

Transcript

[Synchrony Bank Announcer]

This message is from Synchrony bank who can help you get your do nothing savings to work hard with their high yield savings account. Put your lazy savings to [e-mail] NPR memberfdic.

[Alzo Slade]

From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, don't tell me, the NPR News Quiz. I'm the man who for some reason thought now was a good time to start a career and and public radio. I'm Alzo Slade, and here's your host at the Bass Concert hall in Austin, Texas, Peter Sagal.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Alzo. Thank you, everybody. It's great to be back in Austin, Texas. We have a fine show for you today. Later on, we're going to be talking to Alana Myers Taylor, the most decorated black Winter Olympian ever. But first, we are so excited to inaugurate what cultural historians of the future will refer to as the Alzo era, as we welcome Alzo Slade as Wait Wait's new official judge and scorekeeper.

[Alzo Slade]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Peter. Thank you so much.

[Peter Sagal]

This is very exciting. But also, now that you are official, you are able to wield the awesome power of judging and scorekeepering. So as you start your reign, what do you want people to know about you?

[Alzo Slade]

That I am the most decorated black scorekeeper in Weight Wait history.

[Peter Sagal]

So if you want to be the first contestant of the Alzo era, give us a call. The number is 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. Let's welcome our first listener contestant. Hi, Ryan. Wait, wait, don't tell me.

[Rachel Koster]

Hi, this is Jenny Stout calling in from Salt Lake City, Utah.

[Peter Sagal]

Salt Lake City is a fabulous place. Speaking of Winter Olympics, what do you do there?

[Rachel Koster]

I support graduate students at a local university and I am a busy mom of two kids. But most importantly, I am doing this to honor my late father who introduced me to the show and taught me to love npr.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, that's so wonderful. It's always lovely to hear. Well, Jenny, it's great to hear to have you on the show. Let me introduce you to our panel this week from Austin. First up, a comedian and fashion designer whose new fashion project, House Cardi by Michelle Wolf, just dropped. It's Brian Babylon. Next, one of Vulture's comedians you should and will know of 2025, it's Rachel Koster.

[Rachel Koster]

Hi, Jenny. Thank you.

[Peter Sagal]

Hi, Rainbow. And host of the hit podcast Breaking Bread with Tom Papa. It's Tom Papa H. So, Jenny, welcome to the show. You're going to play who's Alzo this time, Alzo Slade is going to read you three quotations from this week's news. If you can correctly identify or explain two of them, you will win our prize. Any voice from our show you might choose for your voicemail. Are you ready to go?

[Rachel Koster]

I sure hope so. I've been cramming all day.

[Peter Sagal]

You have? All right, well, here is your first quote. And as I'm sure you'll recognize from Alzo's imitation, it is Vanilla Ice.

[Alzo Slade]

I don't even vote, so I don't even care. I'll go play for Putin if you want

[Peter Sagal]

warm body. Vanilla Ice was one of the few performers not to drop out of a concert on the National Mall.

[Rachel Koster]

Celebrating what, America's 250th birthday?

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, that's exactly right. For their big party on the National Mall, the White House proudly announced a lineup of American music music icons like Vanilla Ice and Bret Michaels from the band Poison. Seriously, it was like they just wrote down all the names from the Grammys In Memoriam reel.

[Tom Papa]

So is this tied to the cage match that's gonna happen on the lawn?

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, it's all part of the big festivities.

[Tom Papa]

That's all part of it.

[Peter Sagal]

The cage match. They've been building this thing on the White House lawn to have a ufc. Basically a cage match.

[Alzo Slade]

Yeah.

[Peter Sagal]

That's going to be on Flag Day, which. Oh, by the way, what a coincidence, is Also President Trump's 80th birthday.

[Brian Babylon]

Let me just say this about that UFC thing. If you look at aerial footage.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes.

[Brian Babylon]

Of the White House.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes.

[Brian Babylon]

It looks like what they thought the White House was going to look like when the Obamas were there. It looks. It looks like Breaking Bad Meth lab house.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah.

[Brian Babylon]

With the construction of the ballroom that you have seen, it looks very like Air Force One is on some blocks. It looks. Yeah, it looks wild.

[Tom Papa]

It feels like. It feels like when you have a house guest and you can't kick them out and they're ruining everything and you're like, we'll just clean it when they're gone.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. All right, Jenny, here is your next quote. It's about a hot new director in Hollywood.

[Alzo Slade]

He got his start at age 9 posting videos of himself playing Minecraft.

[Peter Sagal]

That was Variety Mine magazine talking about 20 year old Kane Parsons, one of the hot new Hollywood directors who got their start making videos for what platform?

[Rachel Koster]

YouTube.

[Peter Sagal]

YouTube. Yes. You said it.

[Synchrony Bank Announcer]

Okay.

[Peter Sagal]

The horror movies, backrooms made by Mr. Parsons and Obsession, both made by former YouTubers, are dominating the box office. They grossed over $100 million on their opening weekend. It's so wonderful to see theaters filled again with young people, all of whom had to jump up every four minutes to hit the skip ad button on the screen.

[Brian Babylon]

It's hard to get people out to the theater these days. Yeah, it's hard to get people to the movie theater to buy $50 popcorn. It's tough.

[Peter Sagal]

And yet they have managed it by giving these young filmmakers an opportunity to make real movies. Have you either any of you seen these movies or did you follow their careers on YouTube prior?

[Tom Papa]

I haven't seen them, but I have two daughters who are in their early 20s, so I know enough about them. What do you want to know?

[Peter Sagal]

Did they come home and tell you all about it?

[Tom Papa]

Yeah, they're really scary. They showed me the trailer for the Back room one.

[Rachel Koster]

There's a lot of hidden undertones.

[Peter Sagal]

Hidden undertones. Okay.

[Brian Babylon]

And very hidden.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. The directors of these Two films are 26 and 20 years old. That's half the age of Martin Scorsese if you add them together. And the director of this movie, back rooms, he's 20. And the movie is based on this series of YouTube shorts he started making when he was 16. He has a good chance to be the first big Hollywood star to become a. Has been before he can legally rent a car.

[Brian Babylon]

Wow. Yeah.

[Tom Papa]

They are talented. I mean, my daughters, they just. You know, I've been waiting for this moment to happen because young people are so into the tech and they're so on top of it, and now that they can make legit films out of it makes perfect sense. My daughters, within 30 seconds of taking a picture, are able to take that picture. Zoom in on my fat neck and make that the picture.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. Sky's the thing that counts, Scott.

[Rachel Koster]

They're gonna save Hollywood.

[Tom Papa]

Yeah.

[Peter Sagal]

Your last quote is an official statement from the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.

[Alzo Slade]

Tarps off. Let's go.

[Peter Sagal]

So tarps off. It's the hottest thing in Major League Baseball right now. When you hear tarps off and you're in the stands, you are supposed to do what?

[Rachel Koster]

Oh, geez. They take off their shirts.

[Peter Sagal]

They take off their shirts. Yes. Oh, my goodness. Of course. Taking your shirt off, that tarps off. What started as a quirky thing among a few fans has spread across Major League Baseball with hundreds of fans at each game piling into sections of the bleachers, all taking off their shirts, waving them over their heads. Some people are praising this trend as being body positive, as in, I am positive. You guys should put your shirts back

[Brian Babylon]

on, because I'm be honest with you. This is an opportunity for whatever male sports bra situation. Yeah, it was a lot of, like, white man titties out there.

[Rachel Koster]

Nothing wrong with that, y'.

[Peter Sagal]

All.

[Tom Papa]

Does it help the team win when everybody takes their top off?

[Peter Sagal]

Apparently, yeah. But that's what happened. It happened in St. Louis Cardinals game and these guys started doing it and apparently the Cardinals rallied and won. And everybody's sort of saying, oh, is the guys yelling, been taking off their shirts?

[Brian Babylon]

So the announcer was like, oh, momentum's shifting out. All those aeriolis. The momentum is shifting. They're picking up some steam with all

[Peter Sagal]

those aeriolis after that happened. By the way, the Cardinals manager. This is true, Bought out a section of the bleachers personally and offered the tickets free to anyone who would come and agree to take their shirts off. And you know, manager season is going great when he's trying to distract everybody with look, naked fans up there.

[Tom Papa]

What are the women fans doing? Can they do this?

[Peter Sagal]

To my knowledge, and I'm not sure, women have not yet participated in this trend.

[Tom Papa]

Why?

[Brian Babylon]

Feminism.

[Peter Sagal]

Listen.

[Brian Babylon]

Oh, feminism needs to step it up. Okay?

[Tom Papa]

Yeah, they should do. They don't want the team to win.

[Peter Sagal]

Alzo, how did Jenny do in our quiz?

[Alzo Slade]

Jenny made her father proud. Three out of three.

[Peter Sagal]

Congratulations, James. Thank you so much for playing. Congrats, Alzo.

[Alzo Slade]

Thank you so much, Dee.

[Peter Sagal]

Take care. Right now, panel, it is time for you to answer some questions about this week's news. Brian. Summer blockbuster season is here, and a new study finds movies are more likely to feature a what in them than a woman over 60.

[Brian Babylon]

An animal.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes. A talking animal. Yeah. According to a new study, Hollywood films are four times as likely to star a talking animal than they are to star a woman over 60. People say this is because of sexism and ageism, but maybe the talking animals are just more talented. I mean, like, maybe the reason they cast a giraffe in the new movie about Eleanor Roosevelt is that it had the best audition.

[Tom Papa]

That joke would have had to be so good for this audience to have gone with you. I thought you were in there.

[Peter Sagal]

I was in there. Didn't happen.

[Tom Papa]

I just saw Meryl Streep just shaking her head.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah,

[Rachel Koster]

I kind of get it because animals have never asked me when I'm going to have a child or told me that I'm getting a little pudgy. So as much as I know that when I'm a 60 plus year old woman I want to have a job, I know that maybe it's okay.

[Tom Papa]

So you're saying women over 60 are a little judgey on younger women.

[Rachel Koster]

To me personally, I've experienced that at times, but they also deserve rights. I love you guys and I think what you're doing out there is amazing. Don't stop just because it's stressing me out.

[Peter Sagal]

Coming up, don't forget your sunscreen. It's our summer themed Bluff the listener game. Call 1 triple 8. Wait, wait till play. And we'll be back in a minute with more of Wait Wait, Don't Tell me from npr. This message comes from Cook Unity, the first chef led meal delivery service where every meal is handcrafted in local micro kitchens, not mass produced in large facilities. With hundreds of dishes to choose from and over 10 different dietary preferences like high protein, low sodium, GLP1 and and more. Taste what happens when real award winning chefs make fresh, small batched meals just for you? Go to cookunity.com weight or enter code wait before checkout to get 50% off your first order.

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[Synchrony Bank Announcer]

This message is from Synchrony bank, who wants to remind you to stay flexible, not the 10,000 steps before breakfast. Yoga, bending, circus, performing, wish I hadn't done that kind of flexible. It's about staying financially flexible. Like with our High Yield Savings Account, you'll earn a great rate without monthly fees or minimums that can slow your Progress. Go to synchrony.com NPR member FDIC. This message comes from NPR sponsor Abrams Books. Before there was Colbert, Stewart and Kimmel, there was Trudeau and Doonesbury. For more than 50 years, the Pulitzer Prize winning cartoon Doonesbury helped drive the national conversation and Garry Trudeau became the voice of a generation. Discover the man behind Doonesbury and the American history he recorded in the compelling new biography Trudeau and Doonesbury, available now wherever books are sold.

[Alzo Slade]

From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, Wait, don't tell Me the NPR News Quiz. I'm Alzo Slade. We're playing this week with Tom Papa, Brian Babylon and Rachel Costner. And here again is your host at the Bass Concert hall in Austin, Texas, Peter Sagle.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Alzo. Thanks everybody. Right now it is time for the. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Bluff the listener game. Call 1. 8, 8. Wait, wait. To play our game in the air. Hi, you're on. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Hi, Peter. This is Mickey Clunk from Northfield, Minnesota. Oh, Northfield. I know it well. Home to some great universities. And of course, the Northfield Raid. That's when, if I'm not mistaken, Jesse James ended his career as an outlaw by thinking he could take a bunch of gentle Minnesotans and got his butt kicked. Yeah, they celebrate that every September. The defeat of Jesse James Day. I've gone a few times and I've learned you should bring headphones because the reenactments get really loud. Oh, sure. I just love the idea of, like, Minnesotans all getting their guns. Oh, I guess we're gonna have to shoot you now. Oh, yeah, we're gonna have to shoot you in the face. Anyway. Sorry, Mickey, it's great to have you with us. You're gonna play the game in which you have to tell truth from fiction. Also, what is Mickey's topic?

[Alzo Slade]

A summer twist.

[Peter Sagal]

So summer, of course, has its classic entertainments and leisure time activities. Going to the beach, al fresco dining, sweating through your shirt even though all you're doing is al fresco dining. But this week, we read about a strange little tweak on a quintessential summer experience. Our panel is going to tell you about it. Pick the one who's telling the truth and win the weight waiter of your choice on your voicemail, including, by the way, I should say, Bill Curtis. Are you ready to play? Yeah, I'm ready. All right, first, let's hear from Tom Papa.

[Tom Papa]

Anyone who thinks that using insect repellent will save their summer may want to listen up. Or better yet, stay inside. Research now suggests that the chemical deet, widely used in insect repellents, may actually be attracting the mosquitoes. In other words, the mosquitoes are learning through experience that where there's deet, there's the possibility of a blood meal. What's a blood meal?

[Peter Sagal]

You.

[Tom Papa]

To a mosquito, you are nothing but a walking, talking bag of blood. Researchers are impressed that mosquitoes can smell DEET with their food and still want to eat it in the same way that humans can stand alongside drunk, sweaty tourists at a Las Vegas buffet but still go back for seconds.

[Peter Sagal]

Turns out that mosquito repellent is actually a mosquito attractant. Your next summer surprise comes from Rachel Coster.

[Rachel Koster]

After last summer's dangerous heat, closed pools across the south, a pool supply company in Dry Creek, Texas, has taken matters into their own hands. To prevent dehydration amongst swimmers, Susan Daly of Susan's Pool Solutions has replaced the water in over 40 public pools with blue Gatorade. The idea to fill the pool with blue raspberry flavored electrolytes came to Susan after last summer's heat wave forced the pool to close. Kids were fainting left and right, said lifeguard Clayton o'. Hara. They were going down like dominoes. It was really stressful but brought a lot of the lifeguards closer together, he said, smiling at Courtney Smith. There is for sure still chlorine in the water and the Gatorade is making everyone really sticky when they get out, but no one has fainted yet this year, said Courtney. Susan Daly seems unfazed by the potential setbacks of her creation. When asked about her concerns regarding people urinating in the pool, she provided no comment. But she did scratch her head and start texting immediately after the question was asked.

[Peter Sagal]

Preventing dehydration in swimmers by filling the swimming pools themselves with Gatorade. Your last story of a swerve in summer comes from Brian Babylon.

[Brian Babylon]

Matthew Riley, an engineer from Redmond, Washington, came to Southern California to get some sun. He left knowing the exact date his startup would fail. The woman who told him goes by the name of Miss Molly. For the last two summers, Miss Molly has worked from a folding chair near Tower 14, reading prophecies in the sunburns of strangers. The burn tells me something. Ms. Molly said. Mostly bad things. It's summer. Nobody's burned, says great news. Her hits are piling up. A peeling shoulder that leads to divorce. A burnt nose that's a shady contractor on its way. A man with a flawless farmer's tan. You get three words you already know. A local dermatologist said it's deeply irresponsible and also somehow 90% accurate. Ms. Molly asked only two things. Respect the burn and apply aloe after. But she has one rule she will not read her own back. She caught a glimpse of her back in the mirror one time, and she quietly said, some futures aren't yours to look at.

[Peter Sagal]

So which of these was an unusual twist we found on a summer standard in the news? Was it from Tom Poppa, the amazing discovery that all that mosquito repellent we put on actually is attracting the mosquitoes. From Rachel Coster, a woman who's devised a way to keep people from getting dehydrated while at the pool by filling the pool itself with Gatorade. Or from Brian Babylon, a psychic in Venice Beach, California, who Can accurately tell your future just from your sunburn. Which of these is the story of summer we found in the news? I think I'm gonna go with the first one. You're gonna go with the first one. Tom's story about all that mosquito repellent actually attracting the mosquitoes. All right, that's your choice. We spoke to someone who is very familiar with the real story. I think we can safely say that mosquitoes are smarter than perhaps some people give them credit for. That was Nicola Davis. She is a science correspondent at the Guardian talking about mosquitoes. Actually coming to. Love your bug spray because it means you're available. Congratulations, Mickey. You got it right. You figured out that Tom was telling you the truth. You have to point for Tom. And of course, you have won our prize. The voice of anyone you may choose from our show. Congratulations, Mickey. Thank you. Thank you so much for playing with us today.

[Brian Babylon]

Bye now.

[Peter Sagal]

Take care.

[Tom Papa]

Yay, Mickey.

[Peter Sagal]

And now the game we call Not My job. Alana Meyers Taylor was a star on her collegiate softball team, but didn't make the women's national team. So she decided, as many ballplayers do, to move to bobsledding instead. Turned out to be a good choice as well. Over five different Winter Olympics, she became the most decorated American bobsledder ever. She lives now right here in Austin with her family, and we are delighted to welcome her now. Alana Meyers Taylor, welcome to. Wait, wait. You came out wearing your gold medal here on stage. Do you, like, just wear it around wherever you go?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

You know, only when I want to pull something on my husband, you know, tell him he's got to take out the garbage or anything. Then you pull it out and like, there you go.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, I'm pulling rank. Pulling rank. So, Alana, we had you on the show in 2022, back in the pandemic. At that time, you were living in Georgia. The other thing that happened since last we spoke to you was that you went on to the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Cortina in Italy, and you became the gold medalist in the new sport of monobob. Right. And I think I speak for all of your fans here in Austin and internationally when I say, what is a monobob?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

So monobob bobsled has traditionally had the two person and the four man disciplines. Monobob is just a single person in the sled. So we push, run, jump in, and then we're in charge of navigating it all by ourselves. So no help this time.

[Peter Sagal]

Right?

[Brian Babylon]

Did it start because people got Tired of their teammates on the. They're like, you know what? Forget you guys, I'm gonna monobot this. I don't need.

[Peter Sagal]

What's amazing is. So bobsledding has been around for a long time. Over a century. Right. And it took this long to figure out, well, maybe just one person could do it themselves. Because we discussed this last time you were in the show. The other people, either the one pusher or the three, depending all they do is push the sled, which is important, and then they get in and do nothing. Yep. Do nothing.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Preferably.

[Peter Sagal]

Preferably if they do something, something has gone desperately wrong.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Yes.

[Peter Sagal]

And speaking as a driver, you're happy to be rid of that worry.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Yeah, no backseat drivers. You don't have to worry about anybody telling you where to go.

[Peter Sagal]

There's nothing worse than like in run that could get you the championship. And like one of your pushers is like, can we stop? I gotta use the bathroom. Just the worst. Just absolutely the worst. The other thing I found out about you since last we spoke to you is that you were one of the first elite athletes to compete against, I should say the first female elite athlete to compete against men in a straightforward competition. Could you tell me when that happened and what exactly that was? Yeah.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

So as I mentioned earlier, women have only had two disciplines. There's a two man and a four man. And women have only been able to compete at the Olympic level in the two person. So they finally allowed us to compete in the four person. And I was like, yes, let's do this. Let's get another shot to win an Olympic medal. And I competed in the four man discipline, actually with my husband. So I was one of the first. I was the first woman to make the US Men's national team in a four man sled with my husband.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, wait a minute. So it wasn't just. So it wasn't just women against men. It was. Was women and men against women and men. It was like whatever mixture people found to be most effective for their team.

[Brian Babylon]

Right.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

It could have been a mixture, but it was largely women pilots with a male crew behind them and then competing against men.

[Peter Sagal]

Really? Oh, wow. I'm going to. A lot of stereotypes come to mind. Did the men who were pushing kind of want to drive?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

No, they were pretty happy for me just to be behind me and just to support me. And I think it helps when your husband's back there. He's going to keep him in line. So.

[Peter Sagal]

Really? That's right.

[Alzo Slade]

And I've seen your husband, he's Pretty swole. Yeah, he's in conditioning coach.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

He doubles as my bodyguard too.

[Peter Sagal]

Right?

[Brian Babylon]

Yeah, but that's an amazing date night though. Hey, like, babe, let's go ahead and get this medal right quick. You know what I'm saying?

[Tom Papa]

That's what I was thinking. Like, do you just get. Get dressed in the outfits just for fun?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

No, but it is the perfect date night because you can't bring the kids, so, you know, the kids can't be in the sled. So, you know, it's me time for us time.

[Brian Babylon]

Is there a beef between monobobs and like the luge people? Is it like. Is it sort of like the jets and the Sharks? Like luge versus monobob?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

No, actually we get along with lugiers really well. But luge is like lugiers. Yes, Luge is like the country club of sports and bobsled. More. More blue collar, working class.

[Alzo Slade]

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

[Rachel Koster]

I didn't even.

[Peter Sagal]

Hold on. I know. Okay, so you mentioned you had kids. You and your husband have two kids. Growing up now raising them here in Austin. In fact, you. Is it right that you won one of your gold medals at one Olympics while you were pregnant?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Yes.

[Alzo Slade]

Yep.

[Peter Sagal]

Yep.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Didn't know it at the time.

[Brian Babylon]

So the bobsled had five people.

[Peter Sagal]

In a way, it was the worst five person bobsled.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

It was a two person bobsled. But yes, technically had three people.

[Peter Sagal]

And I know it's rather difficult to do here in Austin, but. You ever taken your kids sledding?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Haven't taken them sledding. But the nanny has. Not in Austin.

[Brian Babylon]

But the nanny sounds very luy.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, yeah. Very Lucy, Loozy and bougie.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

I can't just be on a normal sled. Like I have a bob sled. I can't just be on a Radio Flyer.

[Peter Sagal]

That's really. Yeah, that's. You don't think you could do that?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Yeah, no, I'm. I'm not getting behind any sled. I'm not driving.

[Peter Sagal]

Fair enough.

[Alzo Slade]

Do you ever get free food if you wear your medal?

[Peter Sagal]

Well, actually, that. When you were with us before, you told us that when you won your first gold medal, which was in the. I want to say the 2010 Olympics. Yes, right. You won a bronze medal and you were like. You were so young and hungry and I guess maybe thinking that was impressive. Remind us if that works.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

It did work.

[Peter Sagal]

It did work. That's great.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Got a free Frosty at Wendy's.

[Peter Sagal]

You're much more established. You're a legend in the Sport a record setter. Do you still try that?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Haven't tried it because I think the stigma with the gold medal is people think you can pay for a meal,

[Peter Sagal]

so they expect you to pay. For me, it's made of gold and

[Alana Myers Taylor]

they expect you to tip well. So no more free food.

[Alzo Slade]

Oh, yeah. I put that gold medal away real quick.

[Peter Sagal]

Oh, yeah. You take off the gold, you take out the old bronze so you can get.

[Rachel Koster]

Do you ever wear it to the gym so people get off the equipment for you.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

That's a good try. But I definitely will try that because that will be. Usually there's a lot of lines. I train in public gyms, train in the local rec club, so there is always a wait for gym equipment. So I definitely need to try that.

[Rachel Koster]

Not anymore.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, Alana, it is great to have you with us again. And this time, we have asked you here to play a game we're calling sledder meet slider. So you are a champion of the sliding sports. We thought we'd ask you about the original slider. White Castle hamburgers. Answer two to three questions. You will win our prize for one of our listeners, the voice of anyone they may choose in their voicemail. Are you ready to play?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Let's go.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, Alzo, who is Ilana playing for this time?

[Alzo Slade]

Crystal Craig, right here in Austin, Texas.

[Peter Sagal]

That's very exciting. And I just want to ask because I know you're competitive, but I also know you're used to routines. Would you like to do this competition with your husband crouching behind you?

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Yes.

[Peter Sagal]

Okay.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

He's way better at trivia than I ever thought.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, here we go. So here's your first question. When the first White Castle restaurant opened in wichita, Kansas, in 1921, the founders wanted to establish with the potential customers a very specific reputation. They wanted to be known as what? A, the most pro monarchy restaurant, B, the restaurant with the world's smallest food, or C, the most sanitary restaurant in town.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Oh, gosh. I really haven't been to White Castle in a long time, so I'm gonna

[Peter Sagal]

go with C. You're right. That was the thing. This was only a few years after Upton Sinclair's book the Jungle had come out. Nobody wanted to eat ground beef. They were afraid of what was in it. So the white walls and the stainless steel of the white castles were supposed to assure you of its cleanliness. Here's your next question. Once a year, White Castle goes all out to celebrate a particular holiday. Which is it? A. In December, they offer the meat menorah where you can get eight sliders, one for each night of Hanukkah. B On Valentine's Day, White Castle becomes Love Castle, a fine dining restaurant complete with tablecloths, candles and romantic music with which you can enjoy your meal. Or c on Halloween, one in 10 burgers has a razor blade hidden.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Well, since I heard a couple cheers for B, I'm gonna go with B.

[Peter Sagal]

That's right, the Love Castle. This is a huge thing. Tens of thousands of people show up at White Castle for Valentine's Day. You can also get the discounted Sloppy Joe six packs for some reason. Here's your last question. You go for perfect as you have been in pretty much everything else White Castle has innovated to keep up with modern times. As in which of these A thanks to a partnership with Vitamix, you can now get any White Castle burger as a smoothie. B 100 locations will soon have their burgers flipped by a short order cook robot named Flippy or C they're catering to Botox enthusiasts by promising quote we're sure there's botulism in our food.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

All those are real possibilities.

[Peter Sagal]

I will agree that they are possibilities.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Okay, we'll go with B.

[Peter Sagal]

That's Flippy the Robot and your White Castle burger will be untouched by human hands until it arrives in yours. Alzo how did Alana do in our quiz?

[Alzo Slade]

She gets a Wait wait, don't tell me. Gold medal three out of three.

[Peter Sagal]

Alana Myers Taylor is a six time world champion bobsledder who won gold at this year's Olympic Games in Milan. Alana Myers Taylor, thank you so much for joining us here on wavelength. In just a minute we finally find the hidden valley in our Listener Limerick challenge. Call 1- Triple-8-WAIT wait to join us in the air. We'll be back in a minute with more of Wait Wait, don't tell me from npr.

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Synchrony Bank Announcer]

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[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Alzo Slade]

From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, don't tell Me the NPR News quiz. I'm Alzo Slade. We're playing this week with Brian Babylon, Tom Papa and Rachel Costner. And here again is your host at the Bass Concert hall in Austin, Texas, Peter Sagal.

[Peter Sagal]

Thank you, Alzo. In just a minute, we find out if Alzo was lying when he put PhD in limericks in his resume. It's our Listener Limerick Challenge. If you'd like to play, give us a call at 188. Wait wait. That's 1-888-924-8924. Right now, panel, some more questions for you from the week's news. Rachel, Club Med is about to open its first ever beach resort on the coast of South Africa. But there's one little problem. They have to figure out a way to keep wat away from their guests.

[Rachel Koster]

The history.

[Alzo Slade]

Yeah.

[Rachel Koster]

All right.

[Peter Sagal]

That's very funny.

[Brian Babylon]

You can't Men in black your way out of.

[Rachel Koster]

Sorry.

[Peter Sagal]

No, no. I'll give you a hint. At this resort, Jaws isn't just a movie night.

[Rachel Koster]

Sharks.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, sharks is the answer. Man eating sharks. This will be the very first Club Med beach resort on the coast of South Africa. And that's because the coast is home to three different species of man eating sharks. That also explains the new resorts ad campaign. Wake up to beachside yoga, then a surfing lesson, then survivors have a drink by the pool.

[Rachel Koster]

I think that the sharks that are there should be able to stay there and not be pushed away.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, that's in fact, what's going on is they're like, okay, these sharks are here. We're trying to open this beach resort. A lot of people saying, well, you shouldn't do that. In fact, a lot of people are saying you should just let the sharks alone. In fact, there is one proposal to put up a shark net, right? But environmentalists say no, that doesn't work. Those nets, they just kill other endangered species. And sometimes the sharks get stuck inside the Net.

[Brian Babylon]

Which makes them more angry.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. So then the sharks are like, well, I bet we're in. Basically, we're in prison now. But at least the food's good.

[Brian Babylon]

Yeah.

[Tom Papa]

They're seeing a Club Med sign. All you can eat.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, pretty much all inclusive.

[Tom Papa]

All inclusive.

[Peter Sagal]

Rachel, great news. If you're jealous of the Amish, this week we heard about a new concept where people are encouraged to take a rumspringer. After what?

[Rachel Koster]

Can I please have a hint?

[Peter Sagal]

You may.

[Rachel Koster]

College. Just college.

[Peter Sagal]

Sorry, you're saying college.

[Rachel Koster]

High school.

[Peter Sagal]

After college. After high school. No, no, no.

[Rachel Koster]

That's fairly typical after their first year at their internship. Sometimes you need to take a load off after that kind of.

[Peter Sagal]

It's after their first thing. But that thing usually ends unexpectedly or not. What they wanted it to happen. I'll give.

[Rachel Koster]

Divorce.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, Divorce. You got it.

[Rachel Koster]

Sorry.

[Peter Sagal]

A writer in the Cut is recommending anyone who is recently divorced to take a divorce. Rum Springer, quote unquote, where you do whatever you want for a while after your divorce. It's a groundbreaking idea. People normally are so measured and regular after a divorce.

[Rachel Koster]

I think that the Amish teach a valuable lesson, but it should just be that after a divorce, just turn your own butter, do something kind of simple. Knit all your clothing. You don't have to be a slut at 55. Just make a bunch of run over your toast that you bake on your own. It's simple. And then your kids won't have their hearts broken again.

[Brian Babylon]

That was deep.

[Tom Papa]

That was a beautiful story.

[Peter Sagal]

I was taking a moment to sort of something to think about, to feel for you.

[Tom Papa]

Yeah, that was really nice.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, but really, they're just slapping a kind of fun label on something we all know people do and they shouldn't. It's like, yeah, you're not taking a sabbatical for personal growth. You just didn't go to work for a year. Coming up, it's lightning. Fill in the blank. But first, it's the game where you have to listen for the rhyme. If you'd like to play on air, call or leave a message at 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. You can catch us most weeks back at the Studebaker Theatre in downtown Chicago or come see us on the road. We'll be at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee in July 9 and in Sonoma county in Northern California on July 30. For tickets and info to all our live events, go to nprpresents.org hi. Wait wait, don't tell me. Hi, this is Sebastian calling from Menden, Vermont. Menden, Vermont? Okay, what do you do there? I am a student success advisor at Vermont State University's Castleton campus. And as of 16 days ago, I am a new father. Whoa, 16 days?

[Rachel Koster]

Oh my gosh.

[Tom Papa]

Wow.

[Peter Sagal]

How do you have time to like call into radio shows? I have a wonderfully supportive partner and wife who knows this is a lifelong dream of mine and so she's making this possible for me. Wow, that is lovely.

[Tom Papa]

Wow.

[Brian Babylon]

That's a love language.

[Peter Sagal]

Well, congratulations. Mazel tov and welcome to the show. Sebastian, you're going to play our Limerick challenge Alzo Slade for the first time as our official judge, scorekeeper and limericist limerick reader. He's going to read you three news related limericks with the last word or phrase missing your job. Fill that in two times out of three. Do that, you will win our prize. You ready to go? I am ready. All right, here is your first limerick, Alzo.

[Alzo Slade]

To woo buyers for homes. Our plot thickens. They see country life. Their pulse quickens. Their interest is spurred with egg laying birds. We are selling new homes with some chickens.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes, chickens. Luxury homes are now being sold with chickens and chicken coops included. You can instantly live the Instagram fantasy of gathering your own sustainable eggs from your chickens for breakfast and then in the afternoon euthanizing them when they all get bird flu.

[Tom Papa]

Chickens are fun.

[Peter Sagal]

Do you have chickens? Have you had chickens?

[Tom Papa]

No, I never had chickens. But I grew up in New Jersey and my dad would take us into the city to see a thing called the Dancing Chicken. And it was in a arcade booth and there'd be a chicken in there and you put a quarter in and they'd play music and the chicken would start to dance.

[Peter Sagal]

When did you grow up? 1926. Ah, come see the dancing chicken.

[Tom Papa]

That was a fun time for the papa family. Until we found out that the the quarter actually turned on the music and also electrified the floor.

[Peter Sagal]

No.

[Tom Papa]

Yeah. And we cried all the way home to New Jersey.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah.

[Alzo Slade]

Yeah.

[Tom Papa]

Anyway, Wonder what that chicken's doing now?

[Rachel Koster]

Not much.

[Peter Sagal]

Here is your next limerick, Sebastian.

[Alzo Slade]

There's a calendar Rome has released A frock wearing good looking beast with collar and stole. They're just acting a role. The models they used are not priests.

[Peter Sagal]

Priests? Yes. This week we were shocked to learn that the guy on the COVID of the famous sexy priest calendar on sale in shops all over Rome, Italy is actually not a priest. He's just a regular guy. Well, he's not regular. He's hot. So this calendar in question, you've seen them if you've been to Rome, it's come into the spotlight because people have discovered that several of the 12 priests in it are not actually members of the clergy. It sounds like somebody had the idea, of course, do one hot priest for every month, and they ran out of real ones by the time they got to February.

[Brian Babylon]

But I'm curious on who's into, like, sexy priest calendars.

[Rachel Koster]

I can tell you exactly who.

[Brian Babylon]

Tell me.

[Rachel Koster]

A guy just having a job and believing in something is honestly kind of awesome.

[Tom Papa]

I think it would be cute to have, like, a mix of hot priests, but then, like, fun priests, you know?

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah.

[Brian Babylon]

Like.

[Rachel Koster]

Like good personality, too.

[Tom Papa]

Yeah. Like playing baseball or riding a little pony.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah. All right, Sebastian, here is your last limerick.

[Alzo Slade]

In Europe, they're going to blanch at our buttermilk sauce avalanche. We will shower the blessing of creamy white dressing. We are preaching the gospel of ranch Ranch.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes. This week, Hidden Valley Ranch announced they were hiring two ranch dressing ambassadors whose job would be to travel around Europe to promote ranch dressing, America's number one cultural export.

[Brian Babylon]

Peter, this is. As you know, I live in Europe, like, four months out of the year. Every time I go to Europe, I take some Swisher sweet blunts and some ranch dressing in my suitcase every time. Because they don't have ranch over there. They don't have ranch. They don't have, like, dairy creamers. So I have, like, American poison stuff in my suitcase every time.

[Tom Papa]

It's a weird thing to say. I live in Europe four months of the year and I love ranch.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes. Yeah.

[Tom Papa]

You're a very interesting cat.

[Peter Sagal]

Interesting.

[Brian Babylon]

Doug. I love. I love ranch dressing.

[Peter Sagal]

I just worry about when the war with Europe starts and we have to pull our ranch bassadors from the ranch embassy. Alzo, how did Sebastian do in our quiz?

[Alzo Slade]

Sebastian, the new father can celebrate because he has a perfect score. Three out of three.

[Tom Papa]

Yeah.

[Rachel Koster]

Yay.

[Peter Sagal]

Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much for playing Sebastian. Take care. Thank you. It was a dream come true. Bye. Bye.

[Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes from Ollie looking for more targeted support from your supplements. New Ollie. Precise probiotics are formulated to go beyond general gut health with options designed to support areas like skin, stress response and metabolism. Get precise with your probiotics and choose support that aligns with your needs. With thoughtfully selected ingredients and specific benefits in mind, Ollie helps make daily wellness feel more straightforward. Find Ollie precise probiotics at a Walmart near you.

[Synchrony Bank Announcer]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Abrams Books. Before there was Colbert, Stewart and Kimmel. There was Trudeau and Doonesbury. For more than 50 years, the Pulitzer prize winning cartoon Doonesbury helped drive the national conversation and Garry Trudeau became the voice of a generation. Discover the man behind Doonesbury and the American history he recorded in the compelling new biography Trudeau and Doonesbury. Available now wherever book are sold.

[Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes from Kachava. It can be tough to stick to your wellness routine, especially when you're on the go. Kachava's new travel packs make it easier. Just one packet provides nutrition ready for wherever life takes you with protein, fiber, grains, probiotics, electrolytes and more. Take your daily ritual with you. Go to kachava.com and use code NPR. New customers get 15% off their first order. That's K-A-C-H-A-V A.com code NPR new shows,

[Peter Sagal]

new music, new movies. Keeping up with pop culture sometimes feels like a full time job. Thankfully, over at Pop Culture Happy Hour, it's literally our job. We break down what's actually worth watching,

[Sponsor Announcer]

listening to and pretending you already knew about.

[Peter Sagal]

So the next time someone says, did you see that? You can say, yeah, obviously. Follow NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour wherever you get your podcast. Now onto our final game. Lightning Fill in the blank. Each of our players will have 60 seconds in which to answer as many fill in the blank questions as they can. Each correct answer now worth two points. Alzo, can you give us the scores?

[Alzo Slade]

Sure thing. Rachel and Brian are tied up at 2. Tom Papa in the lead with 3.

[Peter Sagal]

Okay, so that means Rachel and Brian are tied, let's say. Brian, why don't you go first? On Thursday, several passengers of the cruise ship that had a blank outbreak left quarantine.

[Brian Babylon]

Hana virus.

[Peter Sagal]

Hana virus. That's right. Following voting on Tuesday, Karen Bass advanced to a runoff in the race for mayor of blank Los Angeles. Right. This week, a cop in Chicago was caught blanking while unpaid medical leave for a knee injury. Bike riding, no going, horseback riding, lifting five bales of hay and moving a 1200 pound dumpster.

[Rachel Koster]

I can't believe you didn't get that one.

[Peter Sagal]

This week, the San Antonio spurs and New York Knicks faced off in the first place two games of the blank finals. NBA finals right on. On Thursday, scientists said intense solar storms may mean that the blanks could be visible from 23 states.

[Brian Babylon]

All the solar flares.

[Peter Sagal]

Yeah, the northern lights will give that to you. This week, authorities this week, authorities are warning people to not throw their old car batteries in the Trash. Because they keep blanking.

[Brian Babylon]

They keep exploding.

[Peter Sagal]

Not quite. They keep making the garbage trucks explode. See, the chemicals inside your car battery are totally safe. They will not catch fire or explode. Unless, of course, you were to squeeze them in a powerful hydraulic press surrounded by a bunch of garbage.

[Brian Babylon]

So, exploding.

[Peter Sagal]

Alzo, how did Brian Babylon do in our quiz?

[Alzo Slade]

He did all right. He got four right for eight points. Total of 10 and the lead.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, very good, Rachel. Rachel, you're up next. Fill in the blank. On Wednesday, the House voted to block the administration from ordering more strikes against Blank.

[Rachel Koster]

Iran.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. On Monday, Trump named a man with no background in intelligence to be the acting director of Blank.

[Rachel Koster]

FBI, CIA, sob. I don't know.

[Peter Sagal]

National intelligence Director. This week, paleontologists in China discovered another species of blank dinosaur. Right. On Tuesday, analysts said that the $75 billion IPO for private space company Blank would be the largest in history.

[Rachel Koster]

SpaceX.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. This week, Alaskan Senator Dan Sullivan learned he'd be facing off against a man named Blank in the Republican primary.

[Rachel Koster]

Grizzly Bear.

[Peter Sagal]

No, a man whose name is also Dan Sullivan. On Monday, Martin Scorsese faced backlash after saying he supported the use of Blank during pre production.

[Rachel Koster]

AI.

[Peter Sagal]

Right. This week, police in Massachusetts responded to reports of a man in camouflage standing in a lawn holding a bazooka. Instead found Blank.

[Rachel Koster]

Um, a kid just doing his own thing.

[Peter Sagal]

No, a landscaper holding a leaf blower. Police arrived in the scene expecting to find a lunatic waving around a bazooka, but instead found a landscaper just doing his job. It's a crazy mistake to make. As everybody knows, the best way to get rid of leaves in your driveway is to take them out one by one. Alzo, how did Rachel do in our quiz?

[Alzo Slade]

She did the exact same thing that Brian Babylon did. Four. Right. For eight points. Now they're tied with a total of 10 each.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, so how many then? Uh. Oh, does Tom Papa need to win?

[Alzo Slade]

Tom? Just four. That's all you need, man.

[Peter Sagal]

That's all you need, man.

[Tom Papa]

Don't say it like that.

[Alzo Slade]

That's all you need.

[Peter Sagal]

All right, Tom, this is for the game. Fill in the blank. On Tuesday, the actor acting Attorney General said the administration had abandoned President Trump's $1.8 billion blank slush fund. Right. Anti weaponization fund. On Thursday, former National Security Advisor Blank pled guilty to mishandling classified documents.

[Tom Papa]

Bolton.

[Peter Sagal]

Yes. According to a new study, Bumble blanks show problem solving skills at the level of chimps.

[Brian Babylon]

Bumblebees.

[Peter Sagal]

Bumblebees, yes. Come on. You better get four I'm playing this week a police detective in South Carolina was fired after he pulled his gun on another officer for blanking.

[Tom Papa]

Farting?

[Peter Sagal]

No, for microwaving fish in the police department break room.

[Tom Papa]

It smelled like a fart.

[Peter Sagal]

On Wednesday the UN issued a warning about extreme weather caused by a so called super blank by a superstorm super El Nino. According to a new study, over 3/4 of Americans want to require warning labels on ultra processed blank food. Yes, ultra processed foods. After participating in a new tradition of jumping into a pool to end your wedding reception, a recent bride warned other brides to make sure their dress does

[Tom Papa]

not blank doesn't become see through.

[Peter Sagal]

No doesn't try to drown you.

[Alana Myers Taylor]

Oh.

[Peter Sagal]

Shelby Crawford and her new husband jumped into the pool at the end of the wedding reception while the guests watched and cheered and then kept cheering for what they really should have realized was too long. Alzo, Did Tom Papa do well enough to win?

[Alzo Slade]

Man. Listen, Tom, by the hairs of your chinny chin chin, you got four right for eight more points which give you one more point than Brian and Rachel

[Peter Sagal]

so you win the game in just a minute. We're going to ask our parents to predict after tarps off, what'll be the next big thing in baseball stadiums. Wait, Wait, don't tell Me. Is a production of NPR and WBEZ Chicago in association with Urgent Haircut Productions. Doug Berman, benevolent overlord Philip Ga writes our limericks. Our ops manager is Jasira Vardak. BJ Lederman composed our theme. Our program is produced by Jennifer Mills, Miles Duranboss and Lillian King, with special thanks to Miles Dorenboss. Also thanks to Mohamed El Sheikhy. This week, Peter Gwynn is deep in the heart of SH Chicago. Emma Choi is our vibe curator. Technical direction is Lorna White. Our CFO is Colin Miller, our production manager. That's Robert Newhouse. Our senior producer is Ian Chillag. And the executive producer of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me is Michael Danforth. Now, panel, what will be the next big trend at baseball stadiums? Rachel Koster.

[Rachel Koster]

Tushy's out too.

[Peter Sagal]

Ryan Pavlog.

[Brian Babylon]

It's going to be gloves off night where people just fight and it's going to be played on the White House

[Tom Papa]

lawn and Tom Papa wieners out at the Westminster Dog Show.

[Alzo Slade]

And if any of that happens, we'll ask you about it on Wait Wait, Don't Tell me.

[Peter Sagal]

Give it up for Alzo Slade, the new big man on our campus. Thanks also to Brian Babylon, Rachel Costner and Tom Papa. Thanks to the staff and Crew at the Bass Concert Hall. And special thanks to our friends at KUT here in Austin. Thanks to our fabulous audience who came out to see us in Austin, and thanks to you for listening wherever you might be. I'm Peter Sagal. We'll see you next week back in Chicago. This is npr.

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