120 Comments

Look Jack. If I’m old then Putin is Putin it in the mailbox of malarkey you know Trump mailed me capital M Malarkey once back when my dear pops was kissing gay men in marriage because love you know? Come on Jack. C’mon. Iraqi cannibals are a knocking in the pushin’ and pullin’.

*Biden sneezes, rupturing both eardrums; causing blindness in one eye and the other to pop out of its socket*

Oh narwhal.£,¥_•error404

*Jill Biden tightens the marionette strings to keep Biden upright on stage as the crowd applauds wildly*

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And by the way, guess what? That was when I was arrested in the civil rights movement, after going to Mass at a black church. Not a joke! Anyway... the IDEA... Look, folks, here’s the deal. We just have to remember who we are! WE’RE THE UNITED STATES AMERICA! There’s nothing beyond our capacity if we *mumble* That’s not hyperbole, that’s a fact! No, I really mean it. Anyway... If I say anymore I’m gonna get in trouble. *slowly wanders off*

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Holy shit. "And by the way... And guess what?" I don't know that even I'd survive taking a shot every time he said one of those phrases.

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Biden: Well, guest what? You wouldn’t. And by the way, *whispering* neither would I. No, I’m serious. Think about it!

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“Chicken Butt” would have also been incredible.

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Based on the time stamps it appears I am guilty of internet crimes. I hope Kat can forgive me.

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I so badly wanted one of them to just go off the rails. Would have been so funny to get a “And by the way, guess what? Fuck you, that’s what, JACK!”

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America is a nation that can be defined by a single word according to Joe, that word is "Iasafootafootifooteeuuhhfoot". Truly a Jeffersonian wordsmith of our time.

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Jul 12Liked by Matt Welch

You guys are absolutely spoiling us lately ❤️

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Don't tell them!

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Jul 12Liked by Matt Welch

The George F. Will piece referenced by Matt:

Opinion | Biden might exit, but rising distrust of institutions seems here to stay – The Washington Post

https://archive.ph/fMt9I

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Re: Jake Tapper, here he is going over Biden’s call to Morning Joe, and his interviews with George Stephanopoulos and Pennsylvania’s WURD radio station:

https://youtu.be/-5OBDkvDJPI?feature=shared

Great stuff.

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Jesus Christ. That's what Ezra Klein sounds like? And he hosts a podcast??? Not only is the sound of his voice nails-on-a-chalkboard annoying, he rambles so quickly that he's borderline incoherent.

I think I'm going to start up a side business offering vocal lessons for journalists-turned-podcasters.

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Jul 12Liked by Matt Welch

Right?! Eesh. I’d heard Klein only once before, years ago, but in conversation with Ben Shapiro, who made him sound like James Earl Jones by comparison. (I don’t follow either of them so I don’t know how I came to watch that. It was interesting, though.)

One of the great things about the lads is that while they’re polished broadcasters — who occasionally forget to silence their phones while recording — they sound like regular guys, y’know, real men, because they are. There’s no pretentiousness in the podcast.

That reminds me, someone recently posted in the comments or chat that Moynihan changes his voice when he hosts the Honestly pod. I respectfully disagree. At least, I don’t hear it. His cadence might be different because the format is, it’s generally more structured, less free-flowing than TFC. He’s still the same. Honestly.

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Moynihan definitely has a different delivery on Honestly. Not wildly different, but definitely in a more "I'm a professional broadcaster" tone than his TFC "hanging with friends" tone. I do the same thing.

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He's code switching for the normies.

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Yes, more professional. I’ve performed VO work so I’ve done it too.

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Yeah. Anyone who's done VO work or traditional broadcasting knows the difference and has done it a thousand times.

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He also does that super annoying thing where he doesn’t pronounce the letter T in the middle of words, ie: “Hillary Clin-on”

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They were playing it at 2x (I listened to the actual podcast). Though it is unclear if you’re being sarcastic.

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I thought that might be the case. The rest of my point still stands though

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Awful isn't it. Vocal fry, speaking low in the throat to try to hide the naturally high voice.

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There is such a thing as a punchable voice, we learn.

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Oh. Yes! Please! I’d be happy to pitch in some venture capital on that endeavor, provided they’ll also be trained to slow down, enunciate, and use correct/standard grammar. I’ve been quitting podcasts whose so-called pros talk like middle schoolers on speed, and who care more about people’s preferred pronouns than whether they’re using those pronouns correctly.

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Klein sounds like a coked-up hamster.

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Very British Upper Class masquerading a British Working Class.

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I thought he was fine at 2x.

Ben Smith, on the other hand... I literally can't listen to the Fifth episodes with him on.

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I give you the Mike Tyson Punchout song from the totally rad band Totally Radd!!

https://open.spotify.com/track/0AAI39HpPAEQXsnwqYZfYo?si=ugd2qUr3TdexGcnk5UZbXQ

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founding

The cabinet meeting stuff is amazing.

Biden also hasn’t met with or spoken to Fed chair Jerome Powell in TWO YEARS. Fortunately inflation hasn’t been an issue during that time.

“Fed's Powell Says Biden Hasn't Met With Him in Two Years”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2024-07-10/fed-s-powell-says-biden-hasn-t-met-with-him-in-two-years-video

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Jul 12Liked by Matt Welch

Powell not talking to Biden or his people is good though. Since his reappointment Powell raised rates and is keeping them there, which is the correct policy. I want to End the Fed too, but not in that way the Dems want to (I.e. putting it under treasury so Yellen is back in charge and ponzi back on).

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founding

Fair enough. I almost added “or maybe I just don’t know enough about how the Fed works” (which is certainly the case). It is still surprising that they have not met or spoken.

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Fed Chair is appointed by president so you're not wrong. White House has plenty of ways to make their views known to Powell and the rest of the board even though the Fed is supposed to be independent. Powell didn't start raising rates until he got his appointment through congress until 2026, at least partially (IMO) because he was not their preferred Fed Chair and needed the breathing room to operate.

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founding

There was a surprisingly calm discussion of Project 2025 hosted by Chris Cuomo of all people. Basic point was that “think tanks gonna think tank” and settle the fuck down.

Some friends of mine went to school with Ken Cuccinelli, who apparently authored a chapter and is one of the guests. Go figure, but Cuccinelli is apparently a total ass.

https://youtu.be/zby6LeBxxf0?si=5N6i_9RD9zai8Qsg

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I watched it and still learned nothing from that discussion lol. I have been looking for a good, mostly informative explanation of this so called "Project 2025." Reason did a somewhat pertinent analysis but I am not seeing much that isn't left coded as this is a "right wing takeover."

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In the chat thread, there is a summary from chatGPT. A listener uploaded all 900 pages and asked to provide summaries for each section, policies and quotes. I found it very useful.

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As an 80s baby, reading “we listen to the Punch Out theme” is more exciting than any other news thing they could talk about

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And they play the theme at the end?! I was expecting some masterful musical pick from Moynihan, instead I got a sliver of my childhood!

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It’s an all-timer for sure.

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founding

There is a, “but he could still drop dead” joke here; but, I have class, and I don’t want to to be the one to make it.

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Biden could drop dead in the middle of 5th avenue and not lose a single vote. No foolin'! That's not a joke.

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That presumes he’s actually alive.

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“He didn’t die” title of a future memoir.

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Are we really falling for such obvious media ass covering? The recent reporting on Biden isn't because anyone found their courage and rediscovered ethical reporting, it's because they were caught actively engaging in campaign propaganda and selling the illusion of Joe Biden became untenable. We're already seeing Chuck Todd and others come out to talk about how they "heard" things about Joe Biden weeks, months and yes, *years* ago. None of those people followed up, collected sources and produced journalism about those tips. Why? Jill Abramson said the quiet part out loud there too, it's because none of them wanted to be blamed for but her emails-ing Trump back into the White House.

They knew exactly what they were doing, there's nothing bizarre about it.

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Ding ding ding. The media needs to be coming in for so much stick right now. They have collectively beshat themselves with very few exceptions.

It is also the very last time I want to hear anyone tell me that a lot of journalists even at the WP or NYT aren't out and out regularly lying. That has always been delusional excrement repeated again and again, covering for a pretty debased "profession", but hopefully we can collectively recognize the end of it now.

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Journos can be ideologically captured, in fact I would say contemporaneously those who go towards a career in journalism are more inclined to be. I wasn't on the 'media sucks' bandwagon until the fucking AP started showing clear bias in its basic wire reports. Just insane that has occurred and not been slapped down by those in charge.

I feel like in today's media (social media included) environment that a majority feel they have to be a protagonist working against some speculatively imagined force and as they look around to their peers they see them all just nodding along in a groupthink delusion. It's truly amazing this has happened and maybe, just maybe their connivance with Biden's perfectly normal and expected senescence (behind doors he's the Hulkster!!) will play into news rooms not being ideological hotbeds for instagram nonsense.

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founding

Came to be here for the Mike Tyson's PunchOutro.

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I don't really understand the strategy of the Democrats publicly calling for Biden to drop out.

I wouldn't have expected them to go public unless they were very, very sure that Biden would step down. But he's being a bitter clinger.

Maybe they think they're screwed either way (likely), and a public pressure campaign is a Hail Mary attempt to convince him to drop out. But although Biden is trailing in the polls, it's still a close race. If he stays in then he's going to need all the help he can get. It's conceivable that the reaction to his debate performance from within his own party does more damage than the debate itself.

I guess it's also conceivable that a handful of Democrats are actually following their conscience, but when it comes to politicians my rule is to never attribute to righteousness that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

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I was at a Democratic fundraiser last night with a longtime (over 10 terms) mainstream Democratic house member, and her speech was literally "regardless of who our candidate is we will win". She hasn't said anything herself publicly as far as I am aware regarding Biden, but her speech definitely was hedging a lot of bets.

I don't think she used his name once, or mentioned any names.

Also spoke to a national delegate who seemed to be under the mistaken impression he is legally bound to vote for Biden. I told him that wasn't true. He was wearing a Harris shirt and seemed to be a Harris supporter.

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I don't think Harris supporters exist. Fake news.

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Oh, and I'll give $5K to the first mainstream reporter at the next press conference that asks Joe without context or preamble - "What would you do about Aleppo?"

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Haven't listened to the pod yet but I feel like Biden's performance during the press conference plays directly into Trump's hand. By the abysmally low standard we have been brainwashed into accepting, Biden did quite well. By any normal standard for a president of the United States he was terrible. It's obviously a complete national embarrassment. But last night's performance maintains the party crisis of the last two weeks by giving ammunition to the stalwarts to keep him in, but not changing the minds of the vast majority of people who recognize what they're seeing.

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The thing is. And I don’t know who is holding trumps leash. But the fact that Trump is literally sitting back and letting Biden step on rakes is actually the smartest thing a politician has done in 50 years. He’s staying out of the news. Not saying any crazy shit (this week) and not making fun of Joe. Just keeping quiet.

If Trump just shuts up he will coast. Can he? No. He’ll do or say something stupid and the media will pounce. And forget about Biden. But right now. Right now being quiet is the right play.

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founding

Completely agreed. Trump has been very dialed-down lately (comparatively speaking). Not that this is a realistic idea, but what would happen if Trump took it a step further and made a public statement about the need to be kind to Joe Biden in his weakened mental and physical state? “Clearly the guy is struggling—we can all see it. Let’s not add insult to injury…” or something along those lines. Truly take the high road, just this one time. I don’t think this would happen, but it’d sure be interesting. 🤷🏼‍♀️

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lol. Hell would freeze over. He doesn’t have it in him to even show fake concern. It would be like matter and antimatter colliding.

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founding

Haha! Yeah, you’re probably right. 😂

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