Bye bye, Gaetz. Hello, Attorney General Pam Bondi

Summary

Podcast Summary: What A Day – "Bye bye, Gaetz. Hello, Attorney General Pam Bondi"

Episode Details

• Title: Bye bye, Gaetz. Hello, Attorney General Pam Bondi
• Host: Jane Coaston
• Release Date: November 22, 2024
• Duration: Approximately 20 minutes

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1. Matt Gaetz Withdraws from US Attorney General Consideration

Key Points: The episode opens with the surprising yet predictable withdrawal of former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz from the consideration to become the next US Attorney General. This development comes amid allegations of Gaetz's misconduct, including reports of sexual relationships with a minor and substance use, which Gaetz has vehemently denied.

Notable Discussion:

• Allegations Against Gaetz:

  • Timestamp [00:02]: Jane Coaston mentions CNN’s report detailing Gaetz’s alleged misconduct, stating, “the House Ethics Committee was told Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old girl twice at a party in 2017.”

• Political Implications:

  • Timestamp [02:24]: Tim Miller explains Gaetz’s withdrawal: “Because he couldn't get the votes is the stated position right now.”

• Replacement Nominee:

  • Timestamp [03:08]: President-elect Donald Trump nominates former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as Gaetz’s replacement. Bondi is recognized for her efforts to overturn the Affordable Care Act and her role in Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment.

Quotes:

• Jane Coaston [00:02]: “If President elect Donald Trump was upset about the whole thing, he didn't show it because within hours he already had a new nominee, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.”

• Tim Miller [03:08]: “I just, my spidey sense is up on it a little bit... maybe we have something else to the story.”

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2. Analysis of Republican Nomination Strategy with Tim Miller

Key Points: Jane Coaston engages in an in-depth discussion with Tim Miller, host of the Bulwark Podcast and a former Republican strategist, about the state of GOP nominations and what Gaetz’s withdrawal signifies for future nominees.

Key Discussions:

• Reasons Behind Gaetz’s Withdrawal:

  • Timestamp [04:27]: Miller attributes Gaetz’s exit to his difficult relationship with colleagues: “It was because he was an asshole to his colleagues.”

• Comparison with Other Nominees:

  • Timestamp [05:12]: Discussion on other Trump nominees, such as Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, who despite facing similar allegations, remains in consideration.

• Impact on Future Nominations:

  • Timestamp [05:24]: Miller suggests Gaetz’s withdrawal may make subsequent nominations “a little rockier” as senators may seize the opportunity to oppose other controversial picks.

Quotes:

• Tim Miller [04:27]: “Gates is an asshole and the Republicans were going to support him. Hegseth gave them all softball questions on the couch at Fox and Friends.”

• Tim Miller [05:24]: “This is more like a blood in the water type situation where some of these senators are like, oh, maybe we can get a couple of these other terrible people out over the holidays while we have the chance.”

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3. The Role of Senate Leadership in Nomination Outcomes

Key Points: The conversation shifts to the influence of Senate leaders, particularly Mitch McConnell, in determining the fate of Trump’s nominees. The discussion explores whether McConnell's potential retirement or stance could affect the confirmation process.

Key Discussions:

• McConnell’s Influence:

  • Timestamp [08:09]: Miller emphasizes McConnell’s pivotal role: “He's pretty key.”

• Potential Scenarios:

  • Timestamp [09:13]: Speculation on how McConnell’s actions, especially if he decides to retire or oppose Trump’s nominees, could significantly alter the confirmation landscape.

Quotes:

• Tim Miller [08:09]: “But I do think that if he's retiring, he's a lame duck himself and he's pissed at Trump then I don't know why not.”

• Tim Miller [09:13]: “He’s pretty key. And I don't, I guess I haven't heard any like evidence that he's had a detente like Trump did...”

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4. International Criminal Court (ICC) Issues Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu

Key Points: The episode delves into the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes. Additionally, Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif faces a warrant for crimes against humanity.

Key Discussions:

• ICC's Actions:
  • Timestamp [13:38]: Jane outlines the ICC’s warrants and the global reaction, including condemnation from the White House and a commitment from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to arrest Netanyahu if he enters Canada.

Quotes:

• Jane Coaston [13:38]: “The ICC issued warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant for war crimes.”

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5. RFK Jr.’s Nomination and Controversial Past Statements

Key Points: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services is scrutinized, particularly focusing on his past inflammatory remarks comparing Trump supporters to Nazis.

Key Discussions:

• Controversial Remarks:

  • Timestamp [13:38]: Jane recounts a 2016 incident where RFK Jr. compared Trump supporters to “belligerent idiots” and “Nazis.”

• Implications for Nomination:

  • Timestamp [19:35]: Jane reflects on how RFK Jr.’s past comments may impact his effectiveness and perception as Health Secretary.

Quotes:

• Jane Coaston [14:12]: “RFK Jr. ... he liked the article so much he recited it on air.”

• Jane Coaston [19:35]: “Linda McMahon is likely to be in charge of a massive department responsible for kids with disabilities... That's not a work. That's not kayfabe. I hope she's ready. I don't think she is.”

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6. Department of Justice Takes on Google’s Monopoly

Key Points: The DOJ has initiated legal actions against Google, accusing it of holding an illegal monopoly over Internet search. The court mandates significant changes to Google’s business practices.

Key Discussions:

• DOJ’s Demands:

  • Timestamp [15:20]: Jane details the four primary demands: selling Chrome, stopping payments to phone makers like Apple, allowing data opt-outs for AI training, and restructuring Android.

• Google’s Response:

  • Timestamp [15:50]: Google is preparing to submit a compliance plan by December 20.

Quotes:

• Jane Coaston [15:10]: “Google is preparing to file its plan to fix the search monopoly by December 20.”

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7. House Bill to Remove Tax-Exempt Status from Certain Nonprofits

Key Points: The House of Representatives has passed a bill that allows the Treasury Department to revoke tax-exempt status from nonprofits deemed to support terrorism. This legislation has sparked significant controversy.

Key Discussions:

• Support and Opposition:

  • Timestamp [16:30]: Republican Representative Jason Smith advocates for the bill, while civil liberties groups and Democratic members oppose it, citing potential abuses and threats to free speech.

• Potential Consequences:

  • Timestamp [17:00]: Concerns include targeting organizations that oppose Trump’s policies or support marginalized communities.

Quotes:

• Jane Coaston [16:50]: “The ACLU, along with almost 300 other nonprofit organizations... wrote a letter to the House urging members to vote against the bill.”

• Representative Pramila Jayapal [16:55]: Called the bill an “authoritarian play by Republicans.”

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8. WWE and Linda McMahon’s Nomination

Key Points: Linda McMahon’s nomination as Secretary of Education draws attention due to her past with WWE and allegations related to misconduct within the organization.

Key Discussions:

• Background and Controversies:

  • Timestamp [18:45]: Jane humorously critiques the performative aspects of McMahon’s wrestling background, juxtaposing it with the serious responsibilities of the Education Department.

• Kayfabe and Reality:

  • Timestamp [19:00]: Discussion on the blurred lines between wrestling performances and real-life implications, emphasizing the importance of separating entertainment persona from administrative duties.

Quotes:

• Jane Coaston [18:47]: “Linda McMahon recently confirmed that the two has separated...”

• Jane Coaston [19:44]: “But Linda McMahon is likely to be in charge of a massive department responsible for kids with disabilities getting the services they need...”

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Conclusion

In this episode of What A Day, Jane Coaston provides a comprehensive analysis of the shifting landscape within the Republican nominations for Trump's incoming administration. Through in-depth discussions with Tim Miller, the podcast explores the implications of Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal, the strategic maneuvering of Senate Republicans, and the broader impact on future nominees like Pam Bondi and RFK Jr. Additionally, the episode covers significant international developments, including the ICC’s actions against Israeli officials, the DOJ’s crackdown on Google, and controversial legislative moves in the House. The segment on Linda McMahon ties in the cultural elements of WWE with the serious responsibilities awaiting her in the Education Department, highlighting the complex interplay between personal history and public service.

Key Takeaways:

• Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal underscores the precarious nature of Trump’s nominations amidst allegations and interpersonal conflicts within the GOP.
• Senate leadership, especially Mitch McConnell, remains a decisive factor in the confirmation process.
• The ICC’s actions against Netanyahu signify escalating international legal confrontations.
• RFK Jr.’s controversial past statements may influence his effectiveness as Health Secretary.
• The DOJ’s actions against Google mark a significant move against tech monopolies.
• House legislation targeting nonprofits raises serious civil liberties concerns.
• Linda McMahon’s WWE background brings a unique dynamic to her role in the Education Department.

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Notable Quotes Recap:

• Jane Coaston [00:02]: “If President elect Donald Trump was upset about the whole thing, he didn't show it because within hours he already had a new nominee, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.”
• Tim Miller [04:27]: “Gates is an asshole and the Republicans were going to support him. Hegseth gave them all softball questions on the couch at Fox and Friends.”
• Jane Coaston [19:44]: “But Linda McMahon is likely to be in charge of a massive department responsible for kids with disabilities getting the services they need...”

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Stay Informed: For a detailed and engaging analysis of current events, subscribe to What A Day on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. Join Jane Coaston each morning to stay updated on what truly matters.

Transcript

[Jane Coston]

It's Friday, November 22nd. I'm Jane Costen and this is what a Day, the show that stands with AMC theaters in their effort to stop theater kids from singing during showings of Wicked Part 1. According to Vulture, the theater chain is airing a 30 second ad before the movie asking viewers not to sing along because there will be a sing along version in theaters in December and also because it's the most irritating thing I can imagine ever happening in my on today's show, the International Criminal Court issues a warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and what the WWE has to tell us about a Trump presidency. Let's get into it. In news that is somehow both genuinely surprising and 100% predictable, former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration to be the next US Attorney general on Thursday. Surprising because if there's one thing Gates seems to love, it's a nasty public fight with people who hate him. Predictable because have you been watching the news lately? Gates reportedly bowed out just after CNN told him it had even more damaging details, if you can believe it, about his alleged sexual misconduct. The network reported that the House Ethics Committee was told Gaetz had sex with a 17 year old girl twice at a party in 2017. The committee had been investigating Gates up until he resigned from Congress on allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use, allegations Gates has long denied. If President elect Donald Trump was upset about the whole thing, he didn't show it because within hours he already had a new nominee, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. She's best known for being the lead state attorney general in a Republican effort to overturn the Affordable Care act, serving on Trump's legal team during his first impeachment. Oh, and dropping an investigation into the scandal plagued Trump University after getting a $25,000 donation from the Donald J. Trump Foundation. At least she has more relevant legal experience than Gates. But it's also not like Gaetz was Trump's only problematic nominee. On Thursday, his pick for defense secretary, Fox News Pete Hegseth, spent his visit to Capitol Hill denying allegations of sexual assault made by a California woman. Such a sexually assaulted woman in Monterey, California. I have. As far as the media is concerned.

[Tim Miller]

I'll keep this very simple.

[Jane Coston]

The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared. And that's where I'm going to leave it. Hickseth wasn't completely cleared, he just wasn't charged. And then there's Trump's pick for Secretary of education, Linda McMahon. She's facing abuse allegations as well that she and her husband enabled the sexual assault of children while they were running World Wrestling Entertainment. This is all to say nothing of the Trump picks who are just unqualified. So, for more on what Gates withdrawal says about the state of the GOP and what it means for Trump's other batshit crazy nominees, I spoke with Tim Miller. He hosts the Bulwark podcast and is a former Republican strategist. We spoke just before news about Bondi broke. Tim, welcome to what a Day.

[Tim Miller]

Hey, Jane, it's good to be here with you. I'm just happy we're in your reign here on what a Day.

[Jane Coston]

I know. Okay, so let's get to the big question. Why did Gates drop out?

[Tim Miller]

Because he couldn't get the votes is the stated position right now. And I just, my spidey sense is up on it a little bit, so I'll just be straight. Like I trust my colleague. Mark Caputo is as good of a reporter on Florida Man MAGA politicians as anybody. And what his reporting says is that he made the rounds. There were at least six senators who were very strong nose and he was talking to Trump. And Trump's basically like, sorry, bro, it's not going to happen. It's not going to happen. Let's just move forward. I'm open to the fact that that's the story, though it is a little befuddling to me about why Donald Trump, coming off this big victory where he has the mandate of God, did not push his team through. And so it makes me think that there's something else to the story. Whether that is more coming out about the ethics report or whether there's some other behind the scenes little deal that Gates and Trump have, I don't know. But I'm open to there being more to the story.

[Jane Coston]

How much was the collapse of this nomination about the allegations against Gaetz and his total lack of qualifications? And how much is it about the fact that Matt Gaetz was an asshole to everyone in Congress, including Mitch McConnell, whom he once called Mitch McPhailior?

[Tim Miller]

It was because he was an asshole to his colleagues. And my evidence for this is very simple. Pete Hegseth is still under nomination for Secretary of Defense. Pete Hegseth has, I would say, equal or greater personal foibles to Matt Gaetz. If you looked at the police report that came out where there's a woman who alleges that he sexually assaulted her at a conservative conference when he was drunk. And on top of that, when it comes to his actual credentials, he has fewer than Gates. And so then why is Gates out, but Hegseth in. The answer is simple. Gates is an asshole and the Republicans were going to support him. Hegseth gave them all softball questions on the couch at Fox and Friends. And so they don't have any issue with them. Like, you know, I don't think it takes a genius to figure it out.

[Jane Coston]

We already mentioned Hexaf. But what does this mean for the other nominations? Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who he wants for DNI, RFK Jr for health and Human Services. Like, is this good for them, bad for them? What does it mean?

[Tim Miller]

Feels to me that it's bad for them. Because the whole sacrificial lamb theory is based on, like, when you're actually into the horse trading mode of all this, right? Like, that happens later. This all is so early. I know it feels like a lifetime ago, but the election was only two weeks. Two weeks ago. And the Trump doesn't become actually president again for two months, right? So we're a long time away from these hearings. And so if Gates had dropped, like in late January, you know, it was like, us is becoming too much of a hassle. That would have been a good sign for the other ones because they would have been cutting a deal behind the scenes. Like, we'll make Gates a sacrificial lamb. Put these other guys through. That's not where we're at. Like, we got two months. To me, this is more like a blood in the water type situation where some of these senators are like, oh, maybe we can get a couple of these other terrible people out over the holidays while we have the chance. So I'm not out there predicting that any of them drop, but I think that on balance, it makes their nominations a little rockier.

[Jane Coston]

So something I've been thinking about with regard to Senate Republicans is like, they're dealing with a lame duck president who they might outlast in office. And so, and like, you know, Trump is old. Does this show that they have a spine or am I just kidding myself?

[Tim Miller]

It's a good question. So I'll just admit for the listeners, I thought Gates was going to be Attorney General. So I was wrong about this. And the question that remains is, is my wrongness because I misjudged the amount of spying the Republican senators are going to have and because of the reasons you just laid out lame duckness, age, the narrowness of their majorities, or was this a situation where Gates just didn't want to deal with the smoke and pulled the plug himself and honestly had push come to shove Had Trump really twisted arms, he could have gotten through. We don't have that information yet. To me, I think what this is an eyebrow raise. It's like, huh, could these Republican senators have a spine after all? Maybe. I don't know. Maybe. And so I'm not optimistic. I'm not getting my hopes up. But I would say, you know, just based on new information, changing priors based on new information, I think it's at least possible that if you look at, you know, you already had Murkowski and Collins, you only need to get two more of anything. And if Mitch McConnell is just in YOLO mode and he's just like, f this guy, I'm going to retire anyway. I have health problems, I had polio, I'm not going to put the anti vaxxer in HHS and I'm going to make it hard on him. That's possible. I mean, would I bet my anything? Would I bet a dollar on it?

[Jane Coston]

No.

[Tim Miller]

But it seems more possible today than it seemed yesterday.

[Jane Coston]

Yeah. Let's talk a little bit about Mitch McConnell, because I do think it was kind of funny the idea that Trump and Gates were going to play super hard ball with Mitch McConnell, who if I've learned anything over the last 10 years, you don't play super hardball with Mitch McConnell. And he, as you mentioned, was one of the senators who wouldn't vote for Gaetz. Is he basically going to determine whether these nominees sink or swim?

[Tim Miller]

He's pretty key. And I don't, I guess I haven't heard any like evidence that he's had a detente like Trump did, a detente with Brian Kemp, for example, in Georgia before the campaign. We've heard nothing like that out of McConnell and Trump world. And so if you have McConnell and Murkowski and Collins, you know, now you're down to 50, 50. Right. And so you could jam through a 50, 50 nomination with, with J.D. vance. But things get a lot dicier. You could have one other person, you know, in a, in a Gabbard situation, might one of the hawks, not one of might want to confirm her? You know, in the RFK situation, might there be, I don't know, might Chuck Grassley not want to because of, you know, he loves pesticides.

[Jane Coston]

Right.

[Tim Miller]

Like I don't, you know, one margin, a one vote margin, weird stuff can happen. So I think that McConnell's role is interesting. I'll believe when I see it. I guess that's what I'll say. But I do think that if he's retiring, he's a lame duck himself and he's pissed at Trump then I don't know why not.

[Jane Coston]

Tim, it's always a pleasure. Thank you so much for coming on.

[Tim Miller]

Pleasure is always mine, Jane. We'll see you soon.

[Jane Coston]

That was my conversation with Tim Miller, host of the Bulwark Podcast and former Republican strategist. We got back in touch with Tim after the interview to get his reaction to Bondi's nomination. Here's what he had to say.

[Tim Miller]

She is a throwback. This is for the OG she was with Trump at the beginning. She endorsed Trump over Marco and Jeb back in 2016. This is the type of person he picks. She looks the part and more than anything, she was a guest host on the Five on Fox, so I'm not surprised. I'm not sure that she's quite as conniving as Gates, so in some sense that's a change. But she's going to know her way around the building better than he would have, having been Florida Attorney General. So I call it basically a lateral move for those of us who are concerned about how the Justice Department is going to look in the Trump administration.

[Jane Coston]

We'll get to more of the news in a moment, but if you like the show, make sure to subscribe, leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts, watch us on YouTube and share with your friends. More to come after some ads what a Day is brought to you by the Zero Emission Transportation Association Education Fund. The Zeta Education Fund wants Americans to know about the positive economic impact the EV and battery supply chain is having on our communities. Like how it's already created 240,000 jobs and attracted $177 billion of investment. More than a million EVs were sold in the US last year and there are currently over 200,000 public charging locations in the United States. Join forces with the Zeta Education Fund and help spread the facts about what a transition to EVs means for the future of America. Get on board@zeta zeta.org Join this show is sponsored by BetterHelp. I am so grateful to my spouse for all of the love and support, support and allyship I get from them. This month is all about gratitude, so here's a reminder to send thanks to people in your life, including yourself. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, flexible and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist and switch therapists anytime for no additional charge. Let the gratitude flow with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com wad today to get 10% off your first month. That's betterhelphelp.com wad Wadaday is brought to you by Deleteme. Ever wonder how much of your personal data is just out there on the Internet for anyone to see? More than you think. But now you can protect your privacy with Deleteme, a subscription service that removes your personal info from hundreds of data brokers. Take control of your data and keep your private life private by signing up for Deleteme now at a special discount for our listeners today, get 20% off your delete me plan by texting WAD to 64000. Text WAD to 64000 that's WAD to 64000 message and data rates may apply. See Terms for details. And now the News head of Lines we remain deeply concerned by the prosecutors rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led During a press briefing on Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre condemned the International Criminal Court. The ICC issued warrants for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant for war crimes. Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif was issued a warrant for crimes against humanity over the kidnapping of Israeli hostages. The Israeli military claims it killed Deif in the summer, though the ICC says it hasn't confirmed its killing. Prosecutors for the court announced that they would seek the warrants back in May, and on Thursday, Netanyahu said he would not comply, calling the decision antisemitic. But Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, one of the ICC's 124 member countries, says he will arrest Netanyahu if he steps foot on Canadian soil.

[Tim Miller]

As Canada has always said, it's really.

[Jane Coston]

Important that everyone abide by international law. This is something we've been calling on from the beginning of the conflict. Israel argues that the court does not have jurisdiction over the country because Israel's not a member, and neither is the U.S. robert F. Kennedy Jr. Is under fire yet again. On Thursday, CNN released old tape of RFK Jr comparing his future boss to Hitler. In a clip from Kennedy's radio show in 2016, he praised a reporter who once called Trump supporters, quote, belligerent idiots and compared them to Nazis. In fact, he liked the article so much he recited it on air. We may not have that many outright Nazis in America, but we have plenty of cowards and bootlickers. And once those fleshy dominoes start tumbling into the Trump camp The game is up. Trump has tapped RFK Jr. To be his secretary of Health and Human Services, something I still can't believe we have to acknowledge every time we talk about him. Kennedy told CNN that he regrets what he said because of course he does. What web browser do you use? Is it Chrome? Then you're probably using it to do Google searches too, and that's a problem for the Department of Justice. In August, a U.S. district Court judge ruled that Google had an illegal monopoly over Internet search. Now federal prosecutors are asking Google's parent company, Alphabet, to do four 1 sell its beloved Chrome web browser 2 stop paying phone makers like Apple to make Google the default search engine 3 allow websites to opt out of having their data used to train Google's AI and four either stop making Android phones or let the court oversee Google's Android division. Sounds like a tall order. Google is preparing to file its plan to fix the search monopoly by December 20. The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that would authorize the Treasury Department to unilaterally remove tax exempt status from nonprofits it deems to support terrorism. House Ways and Means Committee chair Jason Smith of Missouri championed the bill ahead of the vote. He argued that Democrats who once supported the legislation only oppose it now because Donald Trump has been elected. If we're truly against terrorism, our actions will speak louder and we will vote for this legislation. But we'll see. We'll see who's brave on the other side, who wants to stand with real America and not woke policies. The bill raises concerns for civil liberties groups about funding, given that the treasury secretary is presidentially appointed and what Donald Trump thinks is terrorism is not always what I think is terrorism. The ACLU, along with almost 300 other nonprofit organizations from Planned Parenthood and the NAACP to the AFL, CIO and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, wrote a letter to the House urging members to vote against the bill. Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal from Washington State called it a, quote, authoritarian play by Republicans and said it would stifle political dissent. It allows Republicans to empower Donald Trump to go after enemies at will, to put out business hospitals that provide reproductive care to women, to label environmental advocates as eco terrorists, to target humanitarian organizations or the foundations that support them, to punish news organizations and think tanks that put out research or policies that contradict Donald Trump, to obliterate civil liberties groups who seek to protect those very liberties from authoritarianism. The bill now heads to the Democratic controlled Senate. And that's the news. One more thing. Back in 2013, before he launched his journey down the Golden Escalator and into our lives, whether we wanted it or not. Donald Trump was named to the World Wrestling Entertainment hall of Fame. Here he is thanking former WWE CEO Vince McMahon. Vince and I have had an amazing relationship for many years, and almost everything about Trump makes a lot more sense when you see it through the lens of professional wrestling. Like his pick for education secretary, Linda McMahon. Vince McMahon's wife. We mentioned her a little earlier, and there's a lot to say about Linda McMahon, the actual person. Like her involvement in allegedly covering up the sexual abuse of young boys and widespread allegations of sex trafficking taking place under her nose while she was working at the wwe. Or the horrifying and tragic death of Owen Hart during a wrestling promotion. Or basically the entire 1980s in wrestling. But it's worth thinking about her time in the ring, too. Oh, and speaking of WrestleMania events, I can't tell you how good it felt.

[Tim Miller]

To kick you in.

[Jane Coston]

Well, how was it you so delicately put it? Your gonads? I could kick you in a lot of places, but I really know where it'll hurt the most, because she spent a fair amount of time in the ring. Vince, I didn't come here for an apology. You read my lips. I want a divorce. Oh, no, see, no, she didn't. Because this wasn't real. Though Linda McMahon recently confirmed that the two has separated, There's a concept that comes out of pro wrestling called kayfabe. Basically, it's a staging of fake events, as real performance is truth. In other words, Vince McMahon did not actually fight God at Backlash 2006, and Linda McMahon did not actually want to fight her daughter at Smackdown in 2000. But, mom, uh. Oh, come on. Just remember, like you told me when.

[Tim Miller]

I was a little girl, this is.

[Jane Coston]

Gonna hurt me a lot worse than it hurts you. Get her. I think that's something to remember about how Trump does pretty much everything. A lot of it is performance. In wrestling parlance, it's a work. When Trump brags about how big his crowd sizes are or demands that his political opponents be put on trial for crimes he just made up, he is performing the part of Donald Trump, but he is actually going to be in charge of our government again. And the lives of millions of Americans are real, and so are their concerns. You can't blur the line between reality and performance when you're talking about child hunger or nuclear war. Real is real and fake is fake. Now, Linda McMahon is likely to be in charge of a massive department responsible for kids with disabilities getting the services they need, and ensuring that rural schools receive funding to get kids to school on time. That's not a work. That's not kayfabe. I hope she's ready. I don't think she is. Before we go, a brainworm and confessing to dumping a dead bear in Central park apparently aren't deal breakers for Trump's incoming presidential cabinet. So this week on Assembly Required, Stacey is tackling another listener's question to break down what could be the impact of RFK Jr. S appointment on the FDA, the CDC, and the future of public health in America. Then she sits down with chef and activist Tom Colicchio to discuss why food insecurity remains such a massive issue in the US and what steps we can take to fix it. Listen to Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams now. Wherever you get your podcasts, including YouTube, that's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe, leave a review, do not sing at movies and tell your friends to listen. And if you're into reading and not just the book, ringmaster to understand way more than you ever needed to know about WWE like me, what a Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and [e-mail] subscribe I'm Jane Coston and keep your theater kid energy to yourself. What a Day is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor. Our associate producer is Raven Yamamoto. Our producer is Michelle Eloy. We had production help today from Tyler Hill, Johanna Case, Joseph Dutra, Greg Walters and Julia Clare. Our senior producer is Erica Morrison and our executive producer is Adrian Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka. Building a business may feel like a big jump, but On Deck, small business loans can help keep you afloat with lines of credit up to $100,000 and term loans up to 250,000. On Deck lets you choose the loan that's right for your business. As a top rated online small business lender, OnDeck's team of loan advisors can help you find the right business loan to fit your needs. Visit ondeck.com for more information. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by Ondeck or Celtic Bank. Ondeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval. Have you met All Modern? All Modern brings you the best of modern furniture, and right now, through November 30th, you'll score up to 70% off during their Black Friday sale. Prep your space for holiday hosting with deals on plush sofas, modern tabletop essentials and more. All on sale at All Modern. Then get them delivered for free in days. You heard that right. Days. That's Modern made simple. Shop All Modern's Black Friday sale now through November 30th at AllModern.com.