The Daily Zeitgeist - Black Mirror Healthcare, Even Russian Media’s Laughing 7.18.18

Episode Date: July 18, 2018

In episode 191, Jack and Miles are joined by pop culture critic Joelle Monique to discuss Google's five billion dollar fine for data mining, insurance companies planning on using our digital footprint... to set rates, Russian media's take on the Putin / Trump Helsinki press conference, the blatant corruption in our government, the senate confirming a former Russian bank lawyer, the Paul Manafort trial, MGM resorts plan to sue victims of the Las Vegas shooting, Elon Musk's weird history with pedofiles, food of the Iowa State Fair, and more!  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese investigative journalist who on October 16th 2017 was assassinated. Crooks Everywhere unearthed the plot to murder a one-woman WikiLeaks. She exposed the culture of crime and corruption that were turning her beloved country into a mafia state. Listen to Crooks Everywhere on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Kay hasn't heard from her sister in seven years. I have a proposal for you. Come up here and document my project. All you need to do is record everything like you always do. What was that?
Starting point is 00:00:42 That was live audio of a woman's nightmare. Can Kay trust her sister or is history repeating itself? There's nothing dangerous about what you're doing. They're just dreams. Dream Sequence is a new horror thriller
Starting point is 00:00:54 from Blumhouse Television, iHeartRadio, and Realm. Listen to Dream Sequence on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Curious about queer sexuality,
Starting point is 00:01:04 cruising, and expanding your horizons? Hit play on the sex-positive and deeply entertaining podcast or wherever you pursue your true goals. You can listen to Sniffy's Cruising Confessions, sponsored by Gilead, now on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday. Señora Sex Ed is not your mommy's sex talk. This show is la plática like you've never heard it before. We're breaking the stigma and silence around sex and sexuality in Latinx communities. This podcast is an intergenerational conversation between Latinas from Gen X to Gen Z.
Starting point is 00:01:49 We're your hosts, Viosa and Mala. You might recognize us from our first show, Locatora Radio. Listen to Señora Sex Ed on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, the internet, and welcome to Season 40, episode 3 of The Daily Zeitgeist! Yeah! For July 18th, 2018, my name's Jack O'Brien, aka Big Ol' Jack O'Brien, starting out the Zeitgang's day.
Starting point is 00:02:18 Oh, Big Ol' Jack O'Brien, cause the news is less depressing this way. Oh. Yeah! Courtesy of at Bay of Becca. Becca Yar. What was that to the tune of? Big old Jet Airliner by one Steve Miller band. Ah. Yes. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:02:39 Like you didn't know. I didn't. Always rocking out to classic 70s hits. You know I am. I am thrilled to be joined, as always, by my co-host, Mr. Miles Gray! And so I'm Miles Gray, yeah, just keep it with the Zyke gang, cause everybody's supposed to know. So I'm Miles Gray, yeah, because they didn't know what I knew. Anyway, I'm like, I could keep going all day. I love TLC.
Starting point is 00:03:12 And shout out to Amber Green at K0H4KU. Or maybe you were supposed to be Kohaku? I don't know. Maybe that's what you're trying to do with some code? But yeah, shout out to you for that TLC-inspired, a.k.a. Fun fact, after the Northridge quake, the only TV channel that came in on my TV was The Box. You know the music video thing where you just call in? And for whatever reason, that video creep came on fucking solid loop.
Starting point is 00:03:38 And I remember my dad cooking frozen food outside because we had to use a grill because there's no gas. And the struggle was real. But not until it as Puerto Rico. Speaking of quakes, shout out to London, where they're experiencing what they seem to think are earthquakes. Two point something on the Richter scale. And meanwhile, we in LA are experiencing
Starting point is 00:03:57 thunder. To the point that everybody in our building just ran outside and was looking around to see what just exploded because you never get thunder in Los Angeles. The police looked confused. They were pointing their guns in the sky. Our neighbor literally turned to me and said, what was that? And I said, thunder.
Starting point is 00:04:15 No. Nah, can't be. Anyways, we are thrilled to be joined in our third seat, the co-creator and writer of the webcomic Marshmello, a podcaster with Black Girl Nerds, a proud Hufflepuff and member of the Water Tribe. Please welcome Joelle Monique. Hey, that is a super old bio. I know. I should really update that.
Starting point is 00:04:38 Hilarious. Hey. I like it. I enjoyed it. I'm glad. Thank you. What does Hufflepuff mean? Like your intellect?
Starting point is 00:04:45 No, Hufflepuff is like, they'd be the stoners. Their dorm is by the kitchen. They're just like nice, loving people. Oh, shit. Yeah. Because I always wonder when people be like, yo, I'm more this school. Because I don't really fuck with Harry Potter. So I just know Slytherin bad.
Starting point is 00:05:01 Slytherins are awesome, but they can also be racist. It just depends. You have to run across the right kinds of Slytherins. Oh, okay. There's hope. Okay. So there's good ones and there's bad ones. Well, Joelle, we are about to get to know you in a more up-to-date fashion.
Starting point is 00:05:15 But first, we want to take our listeners through what they're about to find out from us. We're going to talk about Google getting fined five bills by the EU and what what Google like what what are they doing what is their endgame here why do they make so much money and how it affects you guys we're gonna talk how Russian media responded to the Trump Putin stand up 69. Yeah, standing 69. We're going to talk about just outright corruption, couple examples of that. No, really? The new person who they have nominated to- Confirmed. Confirmed to head up the Department of Justice Criminal Division. We're going to talk about why you're all of a sudden hearing shit talked about Montenegro from the Trump administration and his state-run media like Tucker Carlson.
Starting point is 00:06:12 We're going to ask where Congress is. We're going to talk about the Manafort trial. And then we're going to talk about how MGM resorts are suing 1,000 victims, around 1,000 victims involved in the Vegas shooting. And finally, take a look at Elon Musk's weird history with pedophiles and Diarrhea Fest 2018. You'll find out what that means at the end of our show. But first, Joelle, we like to ask our guests, what is something from your search history that's revealing about who you are? I recently Googled, where can I pick up my comic-con badge and i feel like that is all i've been googling about it's just badges and train systems and schedules and all that it's just
Starting point is 00:06:55 comic-con central in the brain you got a media badge i do that's gonna be on the second floor next to all i want to say i want to say e I was there last year. Shame I'm not there this year. It's a good time. I'm looking forward to it. It's my first official year. I went two years ago. I was able to sneak in twice.
Starting point is 00:07:12 And then the guards were like, get out of here. Their friends passed you the badge? Not even. I just wore a lanyard. Oh, shit. And it was like, yay. And then once you're inside, they don't really care. Wait, how did you get through the gate?
Starting point is 00:07:23 Because you normally have to hit your badge through. Not two years ago. They just implemented those. So I skipped. This is when they would just put a bunch of guards by the front door. Right. You're good, you're good, you're good. High scanning.
Starting point is 00:07:34 So I have a sweet face. I'd just be like, hi, bye, gotta go. And it was great. I met a bunch of my heroes. But yeah, this year it's official. It's legit. I'm really excited. What are you most excited about to see down there?
Starting point is 00:07:43 Parties. Parties? I have so many industry party invites for the first time ever, and so I'm going to go hang out with all my friends. This is where my friends get to be superstars here, so it's amazing. That's cool. What is something you think is overrated? Overrated.
Starting point is 00:07:56 I think unplugging is overrated. I think we've been told a lot, log off. Let your brain rest. You don't always need to be... The world is in chaos. You should know and be aware of what's going on and if you don't i feel like whenever i unplug i'm just thinking about like what's happened now right like i'm clearly i'm and then usually you have missed something and it's important right i think i'm talking about but do you see any any value to
Starting point is 00:08:20 like because i know for me personally i've realized i've slowly become more and more like attentive to other social media or like news things just for the show and I've realized I've slowly become more and more attentive to other social media or news things just for the show. And I've realized I'm not cutting out time to allow myself rest. I feel like there's a good way to be organized about it. So I like the Atlantic and BBC. So I'll just start there in the morning. I'll do my Twitter feed and maybe 20 minutes. I try, I really try to limit the time I'm on Instagram stories, but they're so addictive. Um, but you know, like, and then I feel like, you know,
Starting point is 00:08:53 you don't have to read everything. I think there's definitely limits are good and healthy, but I think people who are like, I'm just, I can't look at the news. Like, it's just so depressing. What will we do? And I'm like, we can't do anything. No, that's bullshit. Like definitely do something. and you should definitely be, at the very least, like, treason is happening. You should know. Can't bury your head in the sand right now. No.
Starting point is 00:09:12 That's for sure, because lots of things are changing very quickly. I definitely get the unplug, like, not paying attention to something anxiety, where you're like, oh, something's happening. I know I need to, to like get back on that like if i just don't check twitter for too long i'm like uh this is not good something it's gonna be too much hitting me all at once my brain is just gonna not know how to react i want to install like a flat screen like at the youtube space they have just a running like scroll feed of their twitter if i could just do that so I could be writing and then look up and be like,
Starting point is 00:09:47 okay, we're arming ourselves. Good to know. And then go back to doing work. I can't do through CNN. CNN likes to harp on one topic a day and then just plow through it. And I'm like, I can't watch another 12 hours of this. That's awful.
Starting point is 00:10:01 I love BBC because they're like, we're going to give you a whole ass global perspective. You're going to be way informed. That's been kind of my background noise slash check in with the world lately. You should check out this podcast, The Daily Zeitgeist. They fill you in on all sorts of shit. I do. I love you guys.
Starting point is 00:10:15 Where would I get my new music recommendations? There you go. It is, I mean, just a warning. It is a second rate podcast. What is something you think is underrated? I think the fact that we're living in a world with universal storytelling, in other words, storytelling across media platforms
Starting point is 00:10:29 is highly, highly underrated. These are the kind of things I thirsted for as a child. I was like, you know, my cartoon's over, but I would love to play a Doug video game. Where is my chance to explore this universe? It's like Patty Maynett. There's just too many opportunities for storytelling.
Starting point is 00:10:46 And I don't think we've nearly tapped into the greatness and the power of it. Disney is beginning to scratch the surface through Star Wars. Rogue One was a really interesting perspective. But then it was right back to the Death Star. We have an entire universe. Show me an alien who just runs a grocery store on a distant planet. How is that guy's life affected by the Empire? There's just so many opportunities for dope storytelling,
Starting point is 00:11:09 and especially with the advent of VR happening right now, I think we don't take enough advantage of it. I hope kids are out there getting ready to tell their stories. What's the most exciting medium to you? Or personally one that you would like to get involved in? I feel like television is intriguing in that it can tell so many different people's stories so quickly. I feel like you get through shows like the Brooklyn Nine-Nine and stuff, you get the first kind of melting pot aspects of storytelling. And that's fun, but I would definitely say the most exciting is video games.
Starting point is 00:11:41 Because now that we're freed from a traditional controller, I think we have a lot more ways to be involved and interactive in our stories. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Isn't there some story that's being told that's like about a fictional high school where it's being told through like Facebook Live and Instagram stories and shit like that? I have not stumbled across this, but it makes sense. Yeah, it's apparently big with the kids.
Starting point is 00:12:04 I am hip and of the moment. I really think like a Dating Sims, Doug video game universe would be dope. That needs to happen. What is a myth? What's something that people think is true that you know to be false? I'm gonna go with the idea that you only get one chance.
Starting point is 00:12:26 It's a thing I think we often tell. Like, I heard it a lot in college, which is like, you want to be totally prepared because you only ever have one chance to enter this industry, which if you're in this industry, you know, it's freakishly absurd. Do not miss your chance to blow up. This opportunity comes in the lifetime. Yo, you better lose yourself. There's so many people, like, just trying to build things or just get things off the ground. And you may not hit it off with one person, but the next person will be like intrigued by your ideas.
Starting point is 00:12:48 Like I hate the idea that, you know, if you missed it, stop because who is ever going to look at you again? It's such a trash idea. Well, yeah. And it lends to this like scarcity mentality where opportunity is scarce. Resources are scarce. So you're already just going to be stingy about shit or that also leads to hater mentality because if if everything is scarce and finite then you look at somebody else who gets on well fuck that person because maybe they took my spot well and also i've seen
Starting point is 00:13:13 obsession with the young like this idea of like well he struck it at 19 so he's got it and he'll always have it and there's like i maybe had a one-off like really good idea of what you think hollywood do with a bunch of directors who were like, oh, they had their hit at Sundance, and now we should put them in charge of a $60 billion movie. That's not... That guy's still new to the craft. He's still building. Yeah, but he'll cave to the studio's demands.
Starting point is 00:13:36 That's really what it is. What? They're like, you ain't brolic enough when I push back and be like, get rid of this character. I don't want to say this is Spielberg on this shit. Yeah, it's like, this is my first movie, fine, I don't want to blow it. Spielberg's not going to take our notes. But yeah, I think the idea, especially that idea like, oh, your ship has sailed, and that is
Starting point is 00:13:51 not good because you have infinite opportunities. You know, there are so many, like I think of how many different careers I could have had and how many boats I got on or whatever. Motherfucker, there's so many boats to get on. And just live like that too. I think what's good is to change your mentality about it. If not like that you can miss a boat or there is only one shot that you go,
Starting point is 00:14:11 there are always fucking opportunities because there are. There are people who I've completely forgot about who hit me up sometimes and are like, hey, what you doing? Yeah. You want to do this thing or whatever? I was talking to two dudes who just got into their 40s. They're comic book writers and they were like, Joel, no, you don't understand. Like we've been around the block and now everyone knows who we are.
Starting point is 00:14:27 So we just get invited places. I don't think I'm any more talented than I was five years ago. But I'm 40 and people know me. So I just get walked in. It's like if you could hang and, you know, you appreciate, enjoy your craft and you're dedicated to it, eventually you will have some form of success. Yeah. I think that's a really good point because, I mean, people are doing everything later in life now, too.
Starting point is 00:14:48 They're having families later in life. They're, you know, moving out of their parents' houses later in life. Like, I think we should be a little more patient with our careers. But I think that's the economy, too, though. Yeah, no, for sure. But, you know, give yourself a chance.
Starting point is 00:15:01 Don't be like, well, now I have to be an accountant because my first screenplay did not sell uh yeah and there's all sorts of like back at cracked like a type of story that we had an article that was like people who you know had lifetimes of failure and then like succeeded at the end and like colonel sanders was just like a lifetime failure he tried like 80 different things and like all of them people were like, this sucks man, you really need to. And then he opened up like a
Starting point is 00:15:29 roadside gas station towards the end of his life and was like, well I'm really good at making fried chicken so I'll sell that here. And it blew up and he became Colonel Sanders. Idiot, it was right there the whole time. You racist piece of shit. Yeah, well there's that. That could have been his karma too.
Starting point is 00:15:45 Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't know. But yeah, guys, give yourself, be patient. Don't listen to F. Scott Fitzgerald with that American life doesn't have second acts. No, sir. Just his American life didn't because he was not taking good care of himself.
Starting point is 00:16:00 All right. Let's get into the stories, the news of the day. Miles, Google has been fined $5 billion. Oh, could you imagine? They're doomed. A $5 billion bill? A $5 billion. Five bills, baby.
Starting point is 00:16:16 Oh, my goodness. Oh, actually, I mean, let's take this into account. Last year, you know how long it took them to make $5 billion? 16 days. For real? They made $5 billion every 16 days. That's crazy. So, okay. I mean, still, I'm sure they're not taking this sitting down. I'm sure this is not something they're going to shrug off. They're going to appeal. Yeah, they make a lot of money, though. Because they're mining all of our data. Miles, how do they make that money, though?
Starting point is 00:16:42 Well, you wonder, why is Gmail free? Why is that Chrome free? Why is everything that Google gives you free? Well, that's because. Yeah, how is it free? And then they are, like, they've made more money in the last 15 years than any other company. Like, you know, I keep hearing, you know, you're the product. But I don't think, it just, like, doesn't impact my life in a way that causes enough damage for me to care that much. Well, right.
Starting point is 00:17:08 Right now, it just happens to you in freaky ways. Like, you know, we'll go on StockX to look at a sneaker price. And then you go on the Wall Street Journal. And then on the side, there's StockX being like, I was just looking at this shit. Yeah. Because Google's like, hey, we know what you're up to. And we know how to serve ads the best way. And yeah, that's how they make their money, because they have all of this data they can
Starting point is 00:17:28 offer to people. And it's not very intrusive. It doesn't put me out in any way yet. Yet. But here is the twist. Now, this isn't directly to do with Google, but this has to do with how our data could possibly be used now to set our insurance rates. So ProPublica just did an investigation, I think with NPR, where they were just sort of tracking this growing trend in the
Starting point is 00:17:52 healthcare industry where they're kind of starting to cozy up to data companies and combing through piles of data to assess whether people are sort of quote unquote high risk customers or be able to understand, oh, maybe this community is going to cost more to insure, so maybe we need to stay the fuck out of their sort of shit. So it started off, one of the reporters went to this healthcare expo in San Diego at the convention center where Comic-Con is, ironically enough. But yeah, they were showing off all their new products, but some of the bigger shiny booths were for companies like LexisNexis
Starting point is 00:18:23 or IBM Watson and others that sort of collect this publicly available data and offer healthcare providers with, quote, you know, analysis is what they call it on certain communities to, quote, learn more about the communities they serve. That's inherently racist. Well, yes, and ableist and all kinds of ists that you can think of. So it's, you know, there is a truth to it, but it's also kind of bullshit as much as they want to deny. Like, well, we're not really, we're just trying to get an idea of what we're like, get a snapshot of the people because there's really no public scrutiny on this. So these companies from this, from the article, they say they're, they're
Starting point is 00:18:59 tracking your race, education level, TV habits, marital status, net worth. They're collecting what you post on social media, whether you're behind on your bills, what you order online. Then they feed this information into a complicated computer algorithm, and that spits out predictions about how much your health care could cost them. So, for example, if you are a low-income and minority, that means the data brokers say you are more likely to live in a dilapidated and dangerous neighborhood, increasing your health risks.
Starting point is 00:19:25 So this is basically we're getting a step closer to some full on Black Mirror shit where they're like, oh, we just we're going to assume to know you based on these little bits of data that we have and begin to dictate what your health care is going to cost or discriminate against you just because of this algorithm. Because we live in a corporatocracy and they're trying to save money. So yes, I think it's really important that we sort of know about what's going on because when in this country, the consumers, us, whether it's through taxes or premiums or payments to the insurance companies, we fund the entire fucking industry. So to know about this kind of potential for discriminatory practice is very, very alarming. So, yeah, they are basically they're like other data scientists who have been really alarmed by this, who like kind of grossed out with the work they were doing. They were like, wait, what's this used for? And they're like, they just want to know, like, if this neighborhood is probably right high you know high potential for premature
Starting point is 00:20:25 death or something like that or cancer or whatever if you guys ever done insurance screening like life insurance screening because shit gets real very quick there you know they every question they ask you is like trying to judge how soon you're gonna die yeah and like you have to determine if you're gonna be honest uh my advice would be don't be honest. Just say whatever you think they want to hear. Well, I'm a paint huffing base jumper. Yeah, exactly. I do a lot of base jumping. I like to huff paint.
Starting point is 00:20:54 I live in a garage filled with grease rags. On Sparrow. Leave the door open at night. And I cook with a blowtorch. So what's my premiums look like? Yeah. So yeah, that's what the fuck. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:21:06 So this is like right now, again, everyone's like, no, there's no way we're going to do this because clearly that would lead to people trying to identify pre-existing conditions through your data and shit like that. And so far, obviously, people like Ted Cruz are trying to kneecap the protections that we have from discriminating against people who have pre-existing conditions. But this is just kind of, you know, it's getting a little bit darker. And like, I think in the course of this investigation, one of the people went up to someone who was representing one of these data companies and was like, oh, there's kind of like, you know, their potential for like bad stuff. Like, no, not really. I mean, like, we don't
Starting point is 00:21:41 think so. It's like, but, you know, you could live on the wrong side of the street and then, you know, things get real bad real quick. And like, well, what the fuck are you just saying right now? You're talking about. He's saying I'm not in trouble. Like, there's no chance that I'm going to fall because I built the system. So I'm not aware. I'm prepared. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:21:56 Yeah. That seems fair that people who have less money are charged more money for having less money, essentially. Yeah. Well, that's how they, you Well, that's how they stay profitable. Yeah. But I mean, this is just a very clear-cut way that living in a corporatocracy is not great. And you are not going to see Google find $5 billion in America or buy the American system unless things change and there is a complete change in the paradigm people are using to vote and think about this sort of
Starting point is 00:22:30 shit. At the very least, we need our representatives in government to protect our information like they do in Europe. Right. You know what I mean? Where your personal data is like off the fucking table. It's like, no, no, no, no, no. But we don't have that yet.
Starting point is 00:22:44 So. How long do you think before we become just a straight up feudal system but like our overlords are like google and amazon and alibaba i mean like we i think we're at the part where like we don't realize that that's sort of happening yet yeah uh because there's still some semblance of i don't know whose team do you if you get to choose i feel like i've thought about a lot i think amazon is going to be the way to go. They're going to have like, you know, you can get your food delivered, but also, yeah,
Starting point is 00:23:09 you know, they've got the stock. They're going to have cars soon. I mean, Apple seems like the least inherently evil because they at least are selling a thing so they don't have to like fuck us over by, and I guess Amazon is too, but Amazon's the way the people who work for them are treated. That's awful. Yeah, no, I've thought about that too. But yeah, when there are only four companies left,
Starting point is 00:23:32 we're all going to have to pick sides and fight each other for the death. I for one will bow to my corporate overlord, Nike. Yes. Okay. Because I want to look good when the earth is falling. No, Nike's going to be bought by one of the four big ones. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:23:42 Oh no, Taco Bell, Taco Bell, Taco Bell. We talked about this. They're going to win the franchise wars. Demolition Man prophesied this. A lot of Yum! Brands content here up top. I mean Pepsi. I mean KFC. All right, guys.
Starting point is 00:23:54 We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese investigative journalist who on October 16, 2017, was murdered. There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate. My name is Manuel Delia. I am one of the hosts of Crooks Everywhere, a podcast that unhurts the plot to murder a one-woman Wikileaks. Crooks Everywhere, a podcast that unhearts the plot to murder a one-woman Wikileaks. Daphne exposed the culture of crime and corruption that were turning her beloved country into a mafia state. And she paid the ultimate price.
Starting point is 00:24:37 Listen to Crooks Everywhere on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When you think of Mexican culture, you think of avocado, mariachi, delicious cuisine, and of course, lucha libre. It doesn't get more Mexican than this. Lucha libre is known globally because it is much more than just a sport and much more than just entertainment. Lucha Libre is a type of storytelling. It's a dance.
Starting point is 00:25:10 It's tradition. It's culture. This is Lucha Libre Behind the Mask, a 12-episode podcast in both English and Spanish about the history and cultural richness of Lucha Libre. And I'm your host, Santos Escobar, the emperor of Lucha Libre and a WWE superstar. Join me as we learn more about the history behind this spectacular sport from its inception in the United States to how it became a global symbol of Mexican culture.
Starting point is 00:25:36 We'll learn more about some of the most iconic heroes in the ring. This is Lucha Libre Behind the Mask. Listen to Lucha Libre Behind the Mask as part of my Cultura Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream podcasts. I'm Renee Stubbs, and I'm obsessed with sports, especially tennis. On the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast, I get the chance to do what I love, talk about how tennis and other women's sports are growing and changing and what the future holds. I think I just genuinely loved what I did. I love this waking up, putting on my sports gear.
Starting point is 00:26:14 I still believe it was so rewarding. Maybe you can relate to it as well. As a woman, I think it's a very powerful feeling to have a job at which you're able to see improvements in real time. On the show, we dissect everything going on in the game straight from the biggest players in the world. Plus, serve up recaps of all the matches and headlines in the game, including a rundown of the US Open every Monday. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast every Monday on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.
Starting point is 00:26:52 MTV's official challenge podcast is back for another season. That's right. The challenge is about to embark on its monumental 40th season, y'all, and we are coming along for the ride. Woo-hoo! That would be me, Devin Simone. And then there's me, Davon Rogers. And we're here to take you behind the scenes of...
Starting point is 00:27:10 Drumroll, please. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. The Challenge 40 Battle of the Eras. Yes. Each week, cast members will be joining us to spill all of the tea on the relentless challenges, heartbreaking eliminations, and, of course, all the juicy drama. And let's not forget about the hookups.
Starting point is 00:27:27 Anyway, regardless of what era you're rooting for at home, everyone is welcome here on MTV's official challenge podcast. So join us every week as we break down episodes of the Challenge 40 Battle of the Eras. Listen to MTV's official challenge podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And we're back.
Starting point is 00:27:54 And we wanted to check in with the Russian state-run, like literally state-run media, would have some decorum about, you know, the fact that Trump was like on Team Russia. You know, that they would just be like, what? No, we don't know what you're talking about. But they just full on were like, bah! They couldn't believe what they saw. At the Helsinki presser. So Julia Davis, who is an analyst of Russian media, was like, she monitors Russian state news and sort of tweets stuff out or does analysis on her website, or I think on her site.
Starting point is 00:28:33 Anyway, so she had a couple of tweets that are very interesting. One was like, it's just like this news show where they just go through the news stories and they have like, you know, the way they do their shows are kind of amazing. All their shows look like they take place on the set of who wants to be a millionaire. Yeah. It's crazy. Or like Krypton. Yeah. I don't know. One of the two. Yeah. But yeah. So one of them there. So they're looking at it. They're looking at like a political article. And the host says, let's analyze Trump's performance at the presser. At which point in time could you say he was licking Putin's boots?
Starting point is 00:29:04 They said, why did arnold schwarzenegger describe him as a wet noodle he said nothing about the annexation russian aggression or script paul like they were even like my man where are you at he's not even bringing up all this evil shit we did right and then they went very then another person uh that later the host says it's very bizarre you can't bash your own country like that, especially when you're the president. Then the female host says, when Trump says our relations are bad because of American foolishness and stupidity, he really smells like an agent of the Kremlin. That is amazing.
Starting point is 00:29:39 And then elsewhere on the media, there's a newspaper headline that says, the West attempts to isolate Russia failed. Elsewhere on the media, there's a newspaper headline that says, The West Attempts to Isolate Russia Failed. And RT, their reaction was, The Cold War is Over, saying that the U.S. and Russia are now allies. Yeah. So they weren't shy about spiking the football. They were just like, we won.
Starting point is 00:29:55 They were, but also they were kind of like, Yo, stay enough for yourself a little bit, bro. Maybe the victory wasn't as satisfying because he just bent over so easily, just capitulated. I don't know. Yeah, or maybe they're just so not afraid of him having any sort of backbone or coming back at them that they know they can just talk open shit about him. I mean, when they're literally saying, at which point in time could you say he was licking Putin's boots? I know.
Starting point is 00:30:19 It was like, what? Okay. Yeah, I feel like we've entered a new part of the Trump administration where they're not even trying to cover shit up anymore. Because the wheels are starting to come off. So you got to just hit the accelerator and try to get this thing over the finish line. He's lying about things that are not possible given the space time continuum and like the laws of physics. of physics. Like, you know, yesterday, obviously, he said that, you know, he meant to say he doesn't know why it wouldn't be Russia, which actually, and he also went into this, you know, run things back, my bad, press conference, by saying, this should have been obvious to everybody.
Starting point is 00:31:06 I'm an agent of the Kremlin. Right. But he was like, this should have been obvious to everybody. But I meant, I don't know why it wouldn't be Russia. Let's listen to his original statement and take that analysis into account. My people came to me, Dan Coats came to me and some others. They said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin. He just said it's not Russia.
Starting point is 00:31:33 I will say this. I don't see any reason why it would be, but I really do want to see the server. But I have confidence in both parties. What? So there's no way he meant to say would not be. No, contextually, no. Contextually, that would have made no sense. No.
Starting point is 00:31:54 At all. But anyways, also, just when he was going into this conference where he said, I meant to say wouldn't, obviously. How did you guys miss that? He had a statement written out, and there was a part of the statement. At the end of the statement, it said, you know, I believe the intelligence and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. And he scratched that part out and wrote no collusion over it with one L. He doesn't know how to spell collusion. Well, because he took the other L. So, hey.
Starting point is 00:32:30 So. I mean, also the other part where he goes, Dan Coates came in and they said they think it's Russia. My man. They concluded. They proved it. It was Russia after they had all the information in front of them. I don't understand how he thinks it works. It's not like a lost fan theory.
Starting point is 00:32:48 We're like, I think that it could be this. I don't know, though. You do what you want, Trump. He's such a poser boy for why growing up rich is a terrible idea. Like this idea that clearly nobody ever held him accountable for anything. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because like, dude, we see you. It's recorded.
Starting point is 00:33:05 I can rewind it and watch it again. And he always comes out and it's just like, you know, no, not what I said. Not what I meant. Didn't even happen. But my bro, we heard you. Like, it's okay. Yeah. He did the same thing in that Theresa May interview where he was like, he gave a detailed
Starting point is 00:33:20 long interview where he was like, she's an idiot. I told her not to do this. I wouldn't have done it like that. I wouldn't have done it like this. And then somebody asked him about that interview and he called it fake news. Motherfucker, you recorded an interview. These are not like opinions. They are direct quotes of you saying things.
Starting point is 00:33:39 Also, like the Stormy Daniels thing still is like in the back of my mind fucking with me because that is just straight up, I don't know. I don't think he was like, all right, arrest her now. But I think that is his supporters in positions of power using their official capacity to harass someone for just disagreeing. It's just symbolic harassment you'd see in a movie like set in a small town in mississippi in like the 60s sets a precedent that's kind of terrifying this idea that if you rightfully so call a president out on his bullshit like you might just get swept up later and like especially now as we see a rise from a lot of activists particularly the people who are creating this like underground railroad of sorts to help uhite like parents and children, like it's important that they remain vocal
Starting point is 00:34:27 and that we continue to keep eyes on them because I think the reality is they could start disappearing very quickly. Well, yeah, there was a reporter who said he was specifically targeted by ICE because he was out there reporting on everything. And he, you know, I think he was a naturalized citizen, but he got harassed and I think detained. That's wild. So, yeah. And, I mean, we also have this story about the Department of Justice confirming the new head of their criminal division.
Starting point is 00:34:57 And he is someone with suspicious ties to Putin or a Putin-controlled bank and literally zero prosecutorial experience. Like, it's a thing that in a rational world, nobody would even put him forward as an option for this role. Yeah, well, I mean, he did have positions under Bush, like doing stuff at the DOJ. I mean, he's been in government, but not like he was working for that law firm, Kirkland and Ellis, who represents Alpha Bank. And then Alpha Bank, there was that server in Trump Tower that the New York Times or other reporters were like, yo, there's this weird server in the basement of Trump Tower that communicates with Alpha Bank in Russia? So this is something that I had totally missed. So Alpha Bank is one of these,
Starting point is 00:35:44 Putin doesn't actually have the money. He's probably the richest person in the world or second to Bezos, depending on what day it is. But he has the money and the people around him and in banks that are controlled by the government. And Alpha Bank is one of these banks. And there was a point during the election where computer scientists noticed that Alpha Bank was communicating with a Trump server, a server that was under the control of the Trump organization, and that the server was communicating with the company of Dick DeVos, who is the husband of Betsy DeVos. Who is the brother of Eric Prince, who runs Blackwater, who was in the Seychelles to meet with agents of Russia. I don't know. I mean, maybe I'm crazy. Yeah. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:36:28 It does sound crazy, but it's all tied together. And the reason the people noticed it in the first place is they were worried about Russia tampering with the election after the DNC leak. So they checked to see if the Russians were also trying to communicate with Trump computers and try to break in. But instead, they found evidence of something else entirely in computer logs. And they sent the computer logs over to this guy, Paul Vixie, who they say there's no higher authority when it comes to this sort of thing. Yeah, he's like a DNS expert. Yeah, he wrote like a DNS expert. Yeah, he wrote central strands of the DNS code that makes the internet work.
Starting point is 00:37:10 Okay, wow. Yeah, so- Well, what does he know? He concluded- He might be a pedophile. Quote, the parties were communicating in a secretive fashion. The operative word is secretive. This is more akin to what criminal syndicates do if they're putting together a project. This is more akin to what criminal syndicates do if they're putting together a project.
Starting point is 00:37:32 So Trump has weird communications with this bank that is under control of the Kremlin. U.S. intelligence had enough evidence to get a FISA warrant on October 15th to investigate the Russian bank Trump computer connection. And people think this is maybe what Trump was actually talking about when he claimed Obama had his wires tapped in Trump tower. So, and they say that server stopped communicating with Russia after the time started asking alpha bank in Russia. They're like,
Starting point is 00:37:58 Oh, unplug that shit. Yeah. So there were further allegations about alpha bank being involved in Russian influence campaign to swing the election to the criminal division for the Department of Justice. Yeah. And he was also the same dude with working for that law firm that like basically whitewashed the server, like the Alpha Bank server was like, yeah, we had some security experts. OK, looks all good from here. Right. And also, mind you, that this criminal justice division oversees the Mueller investigation. And I'm pretty sure he also said that he will not recuse himself from anything related to that.
Starting point is 00:38:53 I am so sad. Yeah. I'm so sad for our country. What is happening? And he was confirmed, 51 to 48. Thanks, Joe Manchin. When do we take to the streets? Because the evidence is just, it's overwhelming and insurmountable.
Starting point is 00:39:07 And the fact that our justice system hasn't, or at least we can't feel it kicking in yet. Right. Not seeing heads roll, except for reality show star, I forget her name. You guys don't have, the original whistleblower. Oh my gosh. Summer. It's reality something. Her name. Summer. It's Reality Something. She has like a reality.
Starting point is 00:39:27 Her name is like Reality. Her name is Reality Something. Yeah. She's the only person who's been prosecuted so far. Right. Oh, right. Who gave that stuff to Intercept. The leaker.
Starting point is 00:39:38 Reality Show winner, right? Yes. Reality winner, I think, is her name. So other than Reality winner, we haven't seen anyone be prosecuted yet. I mean, we have some trials going on and their feet are being held to the fire. But other than that, it's just so open and the whole entire world sees it. I'm going to San Diego Comic-Con this weekend. I don't really know.
Starting point is 00:40:02 It feels like we should just be standing in the street. No more of this. We're yeah, the dangers keep mounting, right? Like the changes and the really bizarre actions of the president keep mounting, like in that Tucker Carlson interview where he was talking basically about being like, yo, man, if my Negro gets attacked, I mean, what the fuck are we going to do? Wait, what happened in the... In the Tucker Carlson interview. Okay. So, you know...
Starting point is 00:40:28 So Tucker Carlson had an interview with Trump and he didn't hold his feet to the fire? No, of course not. What? Because Carlson was like saying, just basically like, why should my son go to Montenegro to defend it from attack?
Starting point is 00:40:37 So what's going on with Montenegro? Yeah. So there was a plot in 2016 that was foiled, thank God, where basically the Russians were behind a coup where these dudes are going to come to the parliament just off everyone in parliament, install a new- Like murder them? Yeah, yeah. Kill them.
Starting point is 00:40:54 Shoot them. And put in a Serbian nationalist to basically take over parliament and then basically be like, hey, we love Russia. And then basically be like, hey, we love Russia and begin basically doing sort of like this shit that happened to Ukraine of basically putting in this pro-Russian government and now giving Russia access to the Adriatic Sea, which is the thing that they're after. So Russia wants Montenegro basically. Yeah, exactly. And again, this was like a thing where Trump in this interview. So Tucker Carlson said, why should my son go to Montenegro to defend it from attack? And then Trump's answer, I understand what you're saying.
Starting point is 00:41:27 I've asked the same question. You know, Montenegro is a tiny country with very strong people. They are very aggressive people. They may get aggressive. And congratulations, you're in World War III. But that's the way it was set up. Don't forget, I just got here a little more than a year and a half ago. So he's basically saying, I'm not going to step in if Montenegro is trying to defend its fucking self and acting like they're too aggressive.
Starting point is 00:41:51 So we're saying, hey, yo, Russia, you got the green light. We might not intervene if you pull some shit in Montenegro. Not only that, but a fundamental misunderstanding of what caused World War II. Just like more than two countries at war. World War III. World War III. And it's also not how NATO works. Like, NATO will not back you if you start an aggressive war with Russia.
Starting point is 00:42:10 They will back you if Russia attacks you and, like, you haven't done anything. Right. And it's a completely defensive... They are a defense alliance. They help you defend. But it's amazing how coherent the strategy is that they just are like,
Starting point is 00:42:23 here, Tucker, these are your questions. Set me up. Yeah, I'm sure Tucker Carlson's son loves being used in like a plot to fucking justify treason, essentially. But yeah, so Tucker Carlson comes out. Why should my son go to Montenegro to defend it from an attack? He really likes to lean on the fact that he has kids, almost like he's an alien who is trying to prove that he's a human being. But yeah, so basically they're trying to make the case that Montenegro is this wild power. And it's funny that this is happening right after he met with Putin,
Starting point is 00:43:01 because a lot of people on the front page of Breitbart today, they're like, well, we're already seeing the victories from Trump because they have said that they're going to keep tabs on Iran and Syria. So, I mean, he's already showing that, like why he had that meeting with Putin. But meanwhile, the real results that we're seeing is that he's already justifying, like basically saying, go ahead, Russia, you can attack Montenegro. These people who you've really wanted to attack for a long time. Destabilize the region. Yes. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:43:34 And that's what makes it bums you out because you're like, where the fuck is Congress at? Because that really is one of our I mean, one of the few checks. Clearly, the Justice Department is doing what they can through the special counsel and things like that. But Congress, yo, you guys got to realize you are also a check on the executive branch. You don't just have to be deferential to the president and just be a rubber stamp for everything. And that's where we're in a place, like you're saying, Jack, that's very different now, especially after that Helsinki thing where you can look at the president himself being a national security risk. Right.
Starting point is 00:44:10 The president himself. He seems to be acting in the interest of Russia more than the interest of the United States. 100%. the cyber security role at the NSC and the National Security Council like and is not going to hire anyone else uh like because he doesn't give a fuck or just is basically being like yo you know we're just going to turn a blind eye to the cyber threats that are being posed to this country or you know just the murky shit like the day that uh Maria Butina gets charged and indicted as basically acting as a Russian agent, infiltrating the NRA and stuff. Suddenly the IRS is just like, hey, certain 501C groups that use dark money,
Starting point is 00:44:50 like the NRA, they don't have to tell us where their money comes from anymore. Wait, that just happened? I think on Monday. It was either yesterday. Basically at the same time, that's like the next thing. At the same time it's revealed
Starting point is 00:44:59 that the NRA has something to hide. They're like, and you don't have to show us anything. And you can hide everything. Right. You have nothing to hide, but hide like, and you don't have to show us anything. And you can hide everything. Right. You have nothing to hide, but hide whatever you want. Here's a good hiding place for you.
Starting point is 00:45:07 So this is all fucking bad. And you know, we should have just opened with that. This is all fucking bad. This is all fucking bad. Good night, everyone. And yo, but Congress at some point, right?
Starting point is 00:45:19 We're past the fucking willful ignorance bullshit where you can be like, well, you know, you're going to look fucking dumb when the ashen remains of this country is found by some archaeologist and looks in the history books and says, oh, my God. I think the civilization crumbled because of these Republicans who sat on their fucking hands and did fuck all to protect the country at some point. Right. They have to realize that they are in power and they have to step up at the detriment of our democracy yeah so what are they gonna do i don't think they care
Starting point is 00:45:52 like those checks have to be so damn good like we think about the number of days they get off per year the fact that most of these people don't hold actual jobs or participate within their communities the fact that they like you get to coast and you vote essentially along your own financial lines. Like I I honestly feel like this is a very elaborate coup to take over our country. I don't think Trump is going to leave office willingly. how or why he would do that. I feel like it's going to have to either come to like revolution or horrible, horrible suffocation by our government. Because at this point they've made clear that what they seek is just power and money. And there's,
Starting point is 00:46:34 that's not what our government was designed to support or to do. Or to fight off. Like that's, you know, nobody has been this blatant about it. And yeah, I've been saying around the office and not saying on the podcast because I feel like it makes me sound a little crazy. But the way Putin came to
Starting point is 00:46:51 power was a false flag terror attack where he blew up five buildings and blamed it on Chechen rebel groups. And all the evidence has pointed to the fact that it was orchestrated by Putin. And the only thing making me feel like Trump wouldn't do that is because he does not have the cooperation of intelligence agencies. So they'd fucking fuck him over if he did try something like that. But like he is going to do whatever he can to seize more power. And it's just becoming more and more obvious. He's not trying to hide shit anymore.
Starting point is 00:47:22 Especially when he said was it last year or earlier this year is like, well, I mean, look what 9-11 did for George Bush in the midterms. Yes. And it was hide shit anymore. Well, especially when he said, what was it, last year or earlier this year, he was like, well, I mean, look what 9-11 did for George Bush in the midterms. Yes. And it was like, what? I'm sorry, what? He said that shit. What playbook are you looking at? Right.
Starting point is 00:47:33 And that's why, too, the translator who was in the little private two-hour, 10-minute meeting between Trump and Putin were just translators. Congress could bring this translator and be like, yo, what the fuck did they say? Because if you think about what happened in the Singaporeapore meeting with kim jong-un suddenly without telling anybody he came out of that meeting saying okay we're going to stop military exercises with south
Starting point is 00:47:52 korea right and where did that idea come from fucking vladimir putin it's wildly bizarre like putin doesn't need a translator right putin speaks perfect english so the idea that they needed like they they have translators like that and it itself is a power move on Putin's part. And it's just bizarre. It's, you know, look, this is why at the very least, right, I mean, you know, get your marching shoes ready. Right. A, because, I mean, I'm looking at those shits every day. Right.
Starting point is 00:48:19 Like, I have them. I just got them. They're fucking ready to go. They're beautiful shoes, by the way. Thank you so much. But the thing is, and they're Crocs, by the way. I didn't want to say. I wanted it to be a surprise, but they are red, white, and blue Crocs.
Starting point is 00:48:31 So when you see me, well, no, they're not red, white, and blue. They're black, green, and red. But the thing is, one of our few options we have right now as just citizens is to get the fuck out and vote these motherfuckers out as quickly as possible now i don't know if they're i don't know how what the actual enthusiasm is going to be in november you'd hope it would be high that there can be some kind of some semblance of a wave a blue wave but i think it's very important for people to also remember that that is one of the few options you have as citizens to at least cast a vote. And we know with all due respect to other advocacy groups, because they're doing good work too. But people also need to be aware that there are certain people that are in
Starting point is 00:49:12 Congress right now, like Devin Nunes, like we have to put Democrats in there or at least people who have some semblance of a soul or moral scruples. I don't know. Yeah. And the GOP has not shown the ability to show that shit all new parties give me 10 of them 10 new parties with new platforms diverse and driven for different like the fact that we are still on a two-party system kills me the fact that like we could only join about 20 when like trump was coming of the youth vote to come out and vote is ridiculous i don't know i honestly don't understand how we haven't carried trump out like america like circa 90s 80s like pro just like no one else with our country like that whole mentality that trump has tried to take on himself it's it's so weird how he can
Starting point is 00:49:56 then just be like oh but that's not me you know what i mean this idea of like you're just made like it's treason yeah but it's it's fine because I'm doing it. I don't understand how it works in people's heads. Yeah. All new parties. I think the moral I'm getting is that you like parties. It's basically what I'm getting. I like options. I like options and decisions.
Starting point is 00:50:17 All right. We are going to talk about the one sort of pinprick of light, possibly, at the end of the tunnel when we get back. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese investigative journalist who, on October 16, 2017, was murdered. There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate.
Starting point is 00:50:49 My name is Manuel Delia. I am one of the hosts of Crooks Everywhere, a podcast that unhurts the plot to murder a one-woman Wikileaks. Daphne exposed the culture of crime and corruption that were turning her beloved country into a mafia state. And she paid the ultimate price. Listen to Crooks everywhere on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When you think of Mexican culture, you think of avocado, mariachi, delicious cuisine, and of course, mariachi, delicious cuisine,
Starting point is 00:51:25 and of course, Lucha Libre. It doesn't get more Mexican than this. Lucha Libre is known globally because it is much more than just a sport and much more than just entertainment. Lucha Libre is a type of storytelling. It's a dance. It's tradition. It's culture. This is Lucha Libre Behind the Mask, a 12-episode podcast in both English and Spanish about the history and cultural richness of Lucha Libre. And I'm your host, Santos Escobar, the emperor of Lucha Libre and a WWE superstar. Santos! Santos!
Starting point is 00:51:57 Join me as we learn more about the history behind this spectacular sport from its inception in the United States to how it became a global symbol of Mexican culture. We'll learn more about some of the most iconic heroes in the ring. This is Lucha Libre Behind the Mask. Listen to Lucha Libre Behind the Mask as part of my Cultura Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream podcasts. I'm Renee Stubbs, and I'm obsessed with sports, especially tennis. On the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast, I get the chance to do what I love, talk about how tennis and other women's sports are growing and changing,
Starting point is 00:52:36 and what the future holds. I think I just genuinely loved what I did. I loved this waking up, putting on my sports gear. I still believe it was so rewarding. Maybe you can relate to it as well. As a woman, I think it's a very powerful feeling to have a job at which you're able to see improvements in real time. On the show, we dissect everything going on in the game straight from the biggest players in the world.
Starting point is 00:53:01 Plus, serve up recaps of all the matches and headlines in the game, including a rundown of the US Open every Monday. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast every Monday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. MTV's official challenge podcast is back for another season. That's right. The challenge is about to embark on its monumental 40th season
Starting point is 00:53:30 y'all and we are coming along for the ride. Woohoo! That would be me Devin Simone. And then there's me Davon Rogers. And we're here to take you behind the scenes of drumroll please. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. The Challenge 40 Battle of the Eras.
Starting point is 00:53:45 Yes. Each week, cast members will be joining us to spill all of the tea on the relentless challenges, heartbreaking eliminations, and of course, all the juicy drama. And let's not forget about the hookups. Anyway, regardless of what era you're rooting for at home, everyone is welcome here on MTV's official challenge podcast. So join us every week as we break down episodes of the Challenge 40 Battle of the Eras. Listen to MTV's official challenge podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And we're back.
Starting point is 00:54:23 And yes, I promised a pinprick of light at the end of the long dark tunnel that we're traveling down. But just a little more length and darkness. So Maria Butina, super producer, Nick Stumpf pointed out that there are correspondences between her and her basically handler, her Kremlin boss, Alexander Torshin. And they're talking to each other and he's like, just remember the long game, like stay cool, stay cold blooded. Stay cold blooded. Yeah. So like this is part of a long play.
Starting point is 00:54:57 These are only the early steps if we don't do something to stop it. And changing the worldview of the citizens in this country is how you can subtly play mental warfare games with the population without physically entering the space. Right. Because you then get into the minds of them and you can create people who are Trump was coming out of his meeting with Congress, he was asked if Russia is still a threat to America. And he said no. So that's our pinprick of light, guys. No need to worry about it. You know what, Nick?
Starting point is 00:55:38 Erase the last 25 minutes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We don't. It's over. Sorry. Sorry, guys. No, that is actually more length and darkness to the tunnel, but we
Starting point is 00:55:48 do want to talk about the Manafort trial, which is coming our way. It was actually delayed by a week, and we don't know why yet. Well, it's weird because he's in the Eastern District of Virginia, and that court is known as the Rocket Docket, meaning they fucking fly
Starting point is 00:56:04 through shit. And prosecution even wanted more time, and the Rocket Docket, meaning they fucking fly through shit. And prosecution even wanted more time. And the judge was like, nah, fam, this is a rocket docket. Get it done in two weeks. And I think you can. So it was a little odd that there was a delay. And it could be for very innocent reasons. Or maybe Manafort is reconsidering his legal strategy.
Starting point is 00:56:20 Maybe to possibly plead guilty and then begin cooperating because it doesn't look like he's enjoying his time in prison. But we also found out that Robert Mueller asked the judge there to grant immunity to five secret witnesses who are willing to testify against Manafort before immunity. So that's interesting because these are people who have been unnamed up until now. He just said, I have five people. And if and if even if it doesn't go to trial, they will not be named. It's just sort of like, I have people on deck who have the receipts. And based on the idea, this has to do with his money laundering. So these could probably be people who facilitated the laundering of the money. So yes, pressure, pressure for Paul Manafort.
Starting point is 00:57:03 And so Marcy Wheeler is someone we've been talking about around the office for a while because she dropped some intriguing blog posts in the past couple of weeks, basically saying that she's been cooperating with the FBI with regards to the Russia investigation because she realized that someone within the Trump administration who was a source of hers was basically working with Russia the day after the inauguration. They were like, hey, OK, so we need to get things moving. And somebody sent her correspondence that indicated that they were like basically the day after the inauguration starting to do Russia's bidding. And she was on Pod Save America on Monday.
Starting point is 00:57:42 And it seems like she can't name names and she's, you know, a government witness. So she's still being vague, but she knows a lot more than most of us know. She put it plot twists that are still coming down the pike in the Mueller investigation and basically just generally hold on to your other shoe. Yeah. It's a fucking octopus. Yeah. Fucking six shoes dropped already. Yeah. She's like, yeah, you're going to be surprised about a lot of what's coming.
Starting point is 00:58:19 Cool. Cool. Cool. So. So that that strap on your marching. One thing that's like, oh, so there are still people out there who are working on this and who aren't, you know, Mueller is just waiting for the right time
Starting point is 00:58:31 to reveal different things. I hope this ends in a good way so I can watch the upcoming Lifetime movie about this whole time. That'll be really fun to watch. I do think this is going to take years and years to unpack. And, you know, all of the people who have been claiming trump is playing
Starting point is 00:58:46 fourth dimensional chess or you know all that shit and going along for the ride like you guys really need to take a moment and uh think about how you're gonna feel in a couple years when this is all being unpacked if it is all being unpacked and we're not doing the bidding of a totalitarian dictator uh and you know think about how that's going to look because we are keeping track of who's on what side. So let's talk about just more general fuckery, guys. MGM Resorts, what are they up to? They are basically in an attempt to avoid liability
Starting point is 00:59:22 for the Vegas shooting where Steven Paddock killed, people and injured 850, they are basically preemptively suing over 1,000 victims to get themselves off the hook for any legal liability. Suing them for what exactly? I'm still confused. It's a lot of weird legalese. I think it's suing them for suing the counter-sue? Yeah, basically. Because I know that their whole thing is that
Starting point is 00:59:54 they're leaning on this idea that they had proper security there that after 9-11 there were certain statutes added to the law that we had this proper security company there, so therefore we did what we had to do legally. So sorry, guys, we can't sue us. But a lot of the lawyers representing the victims are basically saying like they're trying to just take this out of state court and into federal court.
Starting point is 01:00:17 And this looks to them like they're just sort of judge shopping for a judge who will be more inclined to side with them and rule on their behalf. But what kind of judge is going to side with the giant corporation instead of the people? The one with the lion's pockets? Oh, the Supreme Court? Like all the courts? All the courts now? Yeah.
Starting point is 01:00:37 Okay. Cool. Moving on. Yeah. So we wanted to talk about Elon Musk real quick. Who's that? Just because he, we talked on Monday about the fact that he accused an actual hero who saved a bunch of children's lives or was instrumental in saving a bunch of children's lives of being a pedophile. Classic right-wing attack on somebody.
Starting point is 01:01:00 Yeah, Jack Probiotics or whatever the fuck his name is. Probiotics. Yeah, Jack Probiotics or whatever the fuck his name is. Probiotics. Yeah, now Elon Musk. Elon Musk also taking a page out of the right-wing book by claiming everything is fake news
Starting point is 01:01:11 when people criticize his company. His hairline? Oh. Yeah, also his hairline is totally fake. Look at pictures
Starting point is 01:01:18 from like five years ago. Honestly, though, how does, I mean, he's got a good one. Futuristic glow up. Yeah, he did get like, yeah, that is our future, guys. We will be able to get that much more hair, Miles.
Starting point is 01:01:31 Fingers crossed. Maybe they can solve ED first. Right. So, you know, this diver, just to refresh people, this diver who helped save these kids was like, Elon Musk's child-sized submarine is stupid because it can't fit in the cave that I know very well because I've been swimming through and helping save these kids. It just wouldn't work at all. And he said for Elon Musk to shove his submarine up his ass. And Elon Musk
Starting point is 01:01:58 responded like, oh, nice try, pedo guy. And just basically like a spoiled child which is not overly surprising uh since he grew up uh his dad owns a emerald mine in zambia uh and yeah african mining has always been you know class acts yep uh not fucking just you know towards anyone that that's all you need to say this motherfucker had an emerald mine in Zambia. Yeah, he used to walk around as a teenager. There's stories of him walking through New York City with emeralds in his pockets. Just, you know, just lousy with emeralds. I got emeralds in my pocket.
Starting point is 01:02:38 Wow. Another interesting thing about him and his father is that his dad recently recently uh had a child with a 30 year old woman his dad is in his 70s and that 30 year old woman happened to have been his stepdaughter who he had raised from the age of four oh my god yeah and so it's just interesting that he would be throwing pedophile stones when his dad lives in a glass house with a 30-year-old woman he raised from age four and the child they had together. So I don't know, man. The dude's just, he comes from a very dark place. Do you remember when everyone thought Elon Musk was going to be like... Tony Stark?
Starting point is 01:03:28 Yes, some of that. But also, back before we knew his true evil soul, the scientists who wanted to give everybody free electricity. Why am I blanking on names? Tesla? Yes. There was a minute when Elon Musk first came out where they were like, this guy is going to... He's trying to do it, yeah. He's like, he's going to be the great.
Starting point is 01:03:44 And then he named his car after Tesla. I'm like, that's his vision., you know, he's like, he's going to be the great. And then he named his car like after Tesla. I'm like that. That's his vision. Like we're going to have like science is our future. And it's so exciting. Like in the last like maybe year and a half, just through being on social media, he's completely tanked the idea of any kind of like he's like, I don't take buses. I'm not doing like it's gross and everyone should have their own car.
Starting point is 01:04:00 Well, you know, buses and trains could save our planet. You know, public transportation is a really great way way it's a great equalizer amongst class division you're not interested in any of those things dope cool elon whatever we should isolate ourselves more i don't trust that guy and the whole like stuff about the way he treats his workers similar to what amazon is doing it's just like not cool gotta boycott everybody yeah. Turns out the Tesla comparisons were just good branding. But speaking of good branding, guys, it's time to talk about the Iowa State Fair, a.k.a. what we're branding, Diarrhea Fest 2018. Yep.
Starting point is 01:04:38 So, yeah. August 9th, it opens up. Amen. Look, if anybody can fly me out to Des Moines, Iowa. Des Moines. I'm sorry. Whoa, boy. I just showed my ass there. I believe Iowa. Des Moines. I'm sorry. Whoa, boy. I just showed my ass there.
Starting point is 01:04:47 I believe it is Des Moines. I think it's Des Moines is how I would say it. But yes, the Des Moines Register just put out the list of some of the foods that will be out today. And my goodness, the combination of words on that list are mouthwatering. I really thought I was prepared being a Midwesterner and they just dropped some bombs on me. Oh, right. Because you've been to a state fair or two.
Starting point is 01:05:05 So many state fairs. So many. Local fairs, town fairs, state fairs. You've been to the Iowa State Fair. It's delicious. I have not been to Iowa. I've done Illinois. I've done Indiana and Michigan.
Starting point is 01:05:15 Okay. And they're great. You know, you get your deep fried Oreos. You like transcend to a place of bliss for five minutes. It's really wonderful. Then you guys told me about chocolate chip cookie dough spaghetti. That's a tap out for me. I was on board until that.
Starting point is 01:05:30 So here's some highlights. Okay, they got pork belly burnt ends poutine. Okay, I'm with that. Bacon pancake dippers. Here for it. Great. Pickle beer? Not really, but.
Starting point is 01:05:40 That is a Midwest classic, man. We like frozen pickles. People like frozen pickles. I'm not one of them. Ooh, that's kind of odd. Like salty and frozen. Sonic's got a whole slushy of frozen pickle flavor. That's a hard pass for me, dog.
Starting point is 01:05:51 They got Snickers in a waffle on a stick. Yes. They got chicken in a waffle on a stick. Also, yes. Breakfast sausage in a waffle on a stick. Honey sriracha cheese sticks. Yes. Yes, yes. Yes.
Starting point is 01:06:05 Please. And then the favorite, cookie dough spaghetti. That's a hard pass. Fuck you, Iowa. That looks weird, but I mean. Unless it's like, so in the Midwest, we like to do things where we call food a certain thing because it looks similar. So if you guys had a walking taco before. A walking taco?
Starting point is 01:06:24 Yeah. They take a Doritos before. A walking taco? Yeah. They take a Doritos bag, like little personal ones. They cut the top off of it, like basic like Kraft cheese, like some kind of meat over the top. And they're like, here's an actual taco. And you're like, it's not. But thank you, I guess. So it would be wild if like this cookie dough was like, it's, I don't know, like a flour noodle with chocolate sauce. Or they're just taking cookie dough through like a spaghetti press thing and they're just like, just cranking out the strands of cookie dough.
Starting point is 01:06:52 As long as it's Hershey's syrup and not marinara sauce, I guess I would be okay. It's actually, I'm looking now, Ragu Old World style. Oh, well, then I'm fine. Yeah. Because that stuff is basically corn syrup. It's how your Nona used to make it. Yes. Hey, my Nona, man, her gravy on top of the fucking cookie dough spaghetti, bro.
Starting point is 01:07:12 This is so offensive, Miles. Hey, hey, hey. Hey, oh, whoa. I love cookie dough spaghetti. I'm here for it. All right, man. I'm just a try. Also, deep fried pecan pie on a stick.
Starting point is 01:07:25 Yes. I'm all the way in. right, man. I'm just a try. Also, deep fried pecan pie on a stick. Yes. I'm all the way in. Your final heart attack for the night. Yeah, and apple egg rolls. Yo, fuck it. So that's just apple pie in the form of egg rolls? It's gotta be. Like just take it maybe phyllo dough or something.
Starting point is 01:07:37 Hell yeah. Something malleable. Well, we'll get some reviews hopefully from some Iowa Zeitgang. Yeah, I know they're out there. Let us know what that cookie dough spaghetti is like. All those people who went to Yeah, I know they're out there. Let us know what that cookie dough spaghetti is like. All those people who went to Linmar High School, get out there. Let me know what happened. Joelle.
Starting point is 01:07:50 Yes. It was lovely having you here. It's so great to be here. Where can people find you? Yeah, you all should check out Pajiba. It sounds like vagina because it's spelled similar. It's P-A-J-I-B-A dot com. We are a feminist website.
Starting point is 01:08:03 We talk about all things from facts and news to my corner of the internet, pop culture. So exciting. Also, all over the internet at Joelle Monique. J-O-E-L-L-E-M-O-N-I-Q-U-E. And is there a tweet that you have been enjoying as a consumer of Twitter? Yes. You need to check out Rebecca Theodore Vatchen and Clarkisha Kent for a full month.
Starting point is 01:08:28 They have been talking about colorism in film. It started when Clarkisha asked the question, can you name any dark-skinned female actresses under the age of 30? And people were like Lupita over 30, Issa Rae over 30. And we found that there's this large void in film. We don't see a lot of dark-skinned
Starting point is 01:08:48 child actors. And why is that? And how do we solve that problem? You can join the continuing conversation literally every day. They're bringing up new topics, discussing it, talking to casting directors. It's a fascinating exploration of Hollywood through Twitter. Alright. We will check that out.
Starting point is 01:09:04 Pajiba is a great website. Miles, where can people find you? Follow me. Follow me. Twitter, Instagram, at Miles of Gray. And a tweet that I like recently came from Jamie Loftus, the hacker herself. And I don't want you guys to fall for her hacker bs because she's out here perpetrating crimes against people she tweeted if you look like this dm me and it was a photo of her looking
Starting point is 01:09:31 like jamie but i just want to warn people do not like the photo do not dm her she's a hacker and she she's out here front like she knows binary she doesn't you know what i mean and i may have to start a hacker beef with her all right alright thank you for indulging my nonsense bye my tweet is from Tessa Bahoosh on Twitter she tweeted some screen caps from an article
Starting point is 01:09:56 the article is called it's on Refinery29 the article is called a week in New York City on $25 an hour F you. And the subhead is Welcome to Money Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working. And then there's the person's bona fides,
Starting point is 01:10:19 where they're explaining how scrappy they are. And one of the categories is additional income. And the writer says, on top of my intern salary, my parents give me $800 a month allowance, and my grandma also wires me $300 every month. Hashtag blessed. Monthly expenses, rent.
Starting point is 01:10:38 I live in a one-bedroom, one-den apartment. The total rent is $4,000. My share is $2,100. My parents pay, in parentheses, and my roommates. Next up, student loan payment, $0. I'm still in school, and my parents pay for my education. Health insurance, $0. I'm on my parents' plan.
Starting point is 01:10:56 Phone bill, $0. I'm on my parents' plan. Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, $0. I use my parents' account. And her tweet is just, you should not be writing about money. Oh. Oh. La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
Starting point is 01:11:10 I have words for her, but I'm going to be nice. Guys, see, this is what we're talking about. All the wealth is going up top. And where are we at? You guys can follow me on Jack underscore O'Brien on Twitter. You can follow us at Daily Zeitgeist on Twitter. We're at The Daily Zeitgeist on Twitter. We're at The Daily Zeitgeist on Instagram.
Starting point is 01:11:27 We have a Facebook fan page and a website, dailyzeitgeist.com, where we post our episodes and our footnotes. We link off to the information that we talked about on today's episode,
Starting point is 01:11:37 as well as the song that we ride out on, and Miles, today's is real good. What's it going to be? I just was thinking about the band Toony Arts, which is Meryl Garbus' project with her bassist.
Starting point is 01:11:50 If you haven't heard her music, it's great. She usually uses looping pedals and just plays ukulele and just sort of playing synth drums. It's really dope. Her live shows are really great too. She has a song called My Country that has a lot of lyrics that are very relevant today and just sort of how I personally feel about this country. But there's one line in particular that I like that I want to dedicate to Donald Trump where there's a sort of a bridge line that she says where the worst thing about living a lie is just wondering when they'll find out.
Starting point is 01:12:17 So, you know, take that inside. And, you know, one day we will find out. We'll have to do something. Unless you have a brain that is incapable of feeling shame. Yes, yes, yes. All good. All right, we're going to ride out on that. We will be back tomorrow because it is a daily podcast.
Starting point is 01:12:35 We'll talk to you guys then. Bye. My country, tears and pain Sweet love, don't lay my teeth How come I cannot see my future within your arms? Your love, it drags me down into the underground My country, bleeding me out when I'm saying yours No, no, yeah, yeah, no, no, yeah, yeah Yeah, oh, oh, yeah, yeah No, no, yeah, yeah, yeah No, no, yeah, yeah, no, no, yeah, yeah, yeah At the Salvation Army making a soul stand in a line
Starting point is 01:13:36 While Mommy and Daddy make up and try to make up their mind Oh, the shame of it when those histories mention my name If only I could forget the memories of my favorite name. We could all have it. Well, what am I supposed to say to those other guys? So sorry, but you only took half a chance. Now it's over and they're walking all over you. We could all have it. Well, where's the juice dripping under your chin? When they have nothing, why do you have something when they have nothing? The worst thing about living a lie is just wondering when they'll find out
Starting point is 01:14:08 i've got me you've got me, like a baby's guide in the movie. I told myself I'd have to jump out of bounds to get over you. We cannot have it. Well, then what do you want me to say to those others? Oh, yes, there's a place for you, but that place is underneath the cushion of my back. But we cannot have it. Well, then why did you say so? With my eyes open, how can I be happy with my eyes open? But we are holy, well then why did you say so?
Starting point is 01:14:48 With my eyes open, how can I be happy with my eyes open? If nothing like this is ours, how will I ever know when something's mine? I can't keep you from me See how I live on you Thank you. I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you, The worst thing about living a lie is just wondering when they'll find out. Daphne Caruana Galizia was a Maltese investigative journalist who on October 16th, 2017, was assassinated. Crooks everywhere unearthed the plot to murder a one-woman WikiLeaks. She exposed the culture of crime and corruption that were turning her beloved country into a mafia state. Listen to Crooks everywhere on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 01:16:42 Kay hasn't heard from her sister in seven years. I have a proposal for you. Come up here and document my project. All you need to do is record everything like you always do. What was that? That was live audio of a woman's nightmare. Can Kay trust her sister? Or is history repeating itself?
Starting point is 01:16:59 There's nothing dangerous about what you're doing. They're just dreams. Dream Sequence is a new horror thriller from Blumhouse Television, iHeartRadio, and Realm. There's nothing dangerous about what you're doing. They're just dreams. Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Join hosts Gabe Gonzalez and Chris Patterson Rosso as they explore queer sex, cruising, relationships, and culture in the new iHeart podcast, Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Sniffy's Cruising Confessions will broaden minds and help you pursue your true goals. You can listen to Sniffy's Cruising Confessions, sponsored by Gilead, now on the iHeartRadio app
Starting point is 01:17:40 or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday. Hi, everybody. It's Katie Couric. Have you heard about my newsletter called Body and Soul? or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday. Trust. Everything is vetted by experts at the top of their field. Just sign up at katiecouric.com slash body and soul. That's K-A-T-I-E-C-O-U-R-I-C dot com slash body and soul. I promise you'll be happier and healthier if you do.

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