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Things looked bad enough for the media and Democrats on Friday afternoon -- and then two major developments dropped. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the impact of the Hur tapes leak on the sense of betrayal felt by American voters. Then the Bidens made a stunning announcement about Biden's health -- which showed that there was no end of deception in the Biden White House and among Democrat officials.
Our long drought is over! Andrew Malcolm returns to our weekly podcast and discusses the media coverage of the Vatican conclave. We also take the Pultizer board to task for its disgraceful award announcement last week. Andrew also gives us some background on his most unusual assignment as a war correspondent, plus much more!
What's worse -- hiding the truth of Joe Biden's incompetence or claiming virtue in revealing it now? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the latest literary genre in politics and the continuing collapse in media credibility. Speaking of which, we both discuss the terrorist fangirling of Taylor Lorenz and the Left more generally. We also talk about the tariff debate and China's recent zone-flooding on the global markets.
What did I miss on my vacation? Not much, Andrew Malcolm informs me, except more of the same outrage as before! Andrew takes a critical look at the media industry and its credibility collapse. We discuss how their cover-up of Biden's cognitive decline accelerated public distrust in their product, as well as the new literary genre known as Now It Can Be Told.
People in the business of death would like the Burial and Cremation Act 1964 updated saying it hasn't kept up with changes in technology. They also say there are no clear rules around what to do with ashes no one collects. About five years ago there was public consultation about up-dating the legislation, but nothing has happened since. Andrew Malcolm, the Managing Director of Kapiti Funeral Homes spoke to Lisa Owen.
So writes John Kass, in an essay that Andrew Malcolm flagged for our latest episode. The mainstream media certainly seems on board with the effort to kill Tesla; Andrew and I compare their coverage of an extended domestic-terror campaign against Elon Musk's business interests and their obsession with January 6. The potential return of Rahm Emanuel gives Andrew a chance to recall his earlier connection to the former mayor of Chicago at the beginning of Emanuel's career. And can we really keep up with China's naval expansion?
From autopens to CRs, Democrats appear to have forgotten everything they ever knew about politics. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the basics that have been forgotten and why Donald Trump needs to learn a lesson from it. Chuck Schumer's humiliation won't be the last for Democrats.
What will Donald Trump tell a joint session of Congress tonight? Andrew Malcolm and I game out the potential asks and points for Trumpian triumphalism. The border will almost certainly be a big topic for the latter. We also wonder what lessons Democrats are learning -- and which lessons they aren't.
Has any president since FDR had a more robust first month in office? Andrew Malcolm note how popular Donald Trump has become and debate how much of that is his agenda and how much the sense of action contributes. We also discuss the housecleaning at MSNBC, the popularity of Trump's agenda, and more!
The first Trump Bowl may have been a bust on the field, but it was a boon for Donald Trump and conservatives. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the retreat of wokery, Trump's enthusiastic reception, and a little bit about the game too. We also discuss Trump's newfound popularity as a leader, and why he's starting off with a huge boost in job approval.
What is the one quality that has been restored to American public life? Leadership, Andrew Malcolm and I agree. Plus, we both note that this is the most energetic fortnight in decades, perhaps in 92 years. Not that we were there, of course! For Democrats wondering what went wrong, perhaps that's the place to start.
What did you enjoy most on Inauguration Day? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the historic events on January 20, the running start made by Donald Trump, and what the departure of the Bidens really means.
Just what will be Joe Biden's legacy? Andrew Malcolm and I debate that in light of the election and especially in relation to Donald Trump's sudden upswing in popularity. Plus: How has that impacted the confirmation process for Trump's Cabinet appointments?
How boring was this January 6? The only thing wrong was everyone's coverage of it, as I tell Andrew Malcolm. Congress counted the votes but didn't "certify" anything. Andrew talks about what comes next for Donald Trump, while we both reflect on how much Joe Biden hasn't changed at all.
Merry Christmas, everyone! Andrew Malcolm and I discuss Joe Biden's bizarre holiday gifts to the victims of murderers on Death Row, and what it says about Biden's competence. Has the mainstream media really entered "suck up mode," or are media outlets just dialing down Democrat propaganda? Today's media probably can't tell the difference anyway, and Andrew and I explain why we need the Ron Luciano model of reporter apprenticeship. And forget the "Die Hard" debate -- what should truly be America's Pie?
Time Magazine made him Person of the Year. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss how Trump has basically already started his new term of office. We talk about the import and the impact of ABC's defamation settlement with Trump. And has Trump's victory repeated itself in Germany and other Western nations -- including Canada?
Will Joe Biden pardon the entire deep state before leaving office? Andrew Malcolm offers his reaction to the corrupt pardon of Hunter Biden and the rumors of "pre-emptive" pardons coming next. We also point out how this confirmed the value of "the word of a Biden," although everyone but the media seems to have known it all along. Will Congress act to curtail presidential pardon power, and will it revisit the length of presidential transitions in the near-abdication of Joe Biden? Donald Trump is filling that vacuum, and foreign leaders are responding to that, but the risk of a vacuum is now crystal clear.
Monday marked the end of an era -- we hope. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the ignominious end of Jack Smith's federal indictments against Donald Trump. Will the humiliating results of the First Lawfare Election convince Democrats to stop using it? We also discuss Trump's Cabinet appointments, as well as the most lame duck of all lame ducks in the White House at the moment. Will the media ever account for its dreadful cover-up for Biden and the propagandizing during the election cycle?
Has Trump decided to "terminate woke" -- and will his Cabinet get the job done? Andrew Malcolm and I go over the new Trump team, and the media's bizarre reactions to it. Why did Morning Joe's hosts decide to kiss the ring at Mar-a-Lago after painting Trump as an existential threat? And does Trump have a "mandate"?
Who will win tonight and who will lose? Andrew Malcolm and I ... don't know! Nevertheless, we talk about the data we're tracking, and the media spin that still hasn't let up. And even if we can't predict who will win today's election, we can tell which campaign is panicking that they are losing it.
... that people can think for themselves. While the Washington Post staff melts down over Jeff Bezos' refusal to allow an endorsement, Andrew Malcolm and I scoff at the narcissistic self-absorption involved. Bezos wants to restore balance, but will take a lot more than a couple of columnists to rebuild trust with readers outside the progressive bubble.
Did CBS News and 60 Minutes make their scandal even worse? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss their response to criticism over their editing of the Kamala Harris interview and their defiant statement defending it. Since when is it the job of news agencies to make politicians sound "more succinct"? It must be (D)ifferent in this case.
Just what drove Kamala Harris to agree to an interview on Fox News with Bret Baier? Andrew Malcolm discuss the desperation apparent among Democrats as Harris begins to stall out and decline in battlegrounds. We also take a look at the CBS News/60 Minutes scandal, and wonder what CBS is hiding in its edits. Plus, are Joe and Jill quietly wreaking revenge on Democrats?
What will happen in tonight's VP debate? Andrew Malcolm and I try to game it out, We also talk about the failed Biden-Harris response to Hurricane Helene and the opening it leaves Donald Trump.
For the second time in as many months, a gunman got within range of Donald Trump. The FBI considers this another assassination attempt, and that raises the same questions as the first. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss those ongoing failures, the reaction of the media, and what this says about our political environment. We also talk about Andrew's latest column on Kamala Harris, and I manage to squeeze in a joke at the end, too!
Will tonight be the only chance American voters get to see the two major-party nominees on the same stage? Perhaps that depends on what happens tonight. Andrew Malcolm and I preview the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, and warn that low expectations may play into Harris' hands. We also talk about the other elections that aren't getting nearly enough attention.
Do conventions mean anything any longer? Andrew Malcolm and I analyze the Democrat convention and the lack of substance in it. Joe Biden got pushed off the prime-time schedule as ingloriously as he was pushed off the ticket, and the media didn't even blink -- or ask questions. Instead, the media seems a lot more interested in manipulating their audience than in informing it.
Democrats began their convention on Monday to formalize the anointing of Kamala Harris.Did they pass up an opportunity to model democracy? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss The Anointment, as well as review the media criticisms of Harris' attempt to rebrand Bidenomics as Kamanomics, Also: Does Donald Trump need a reset for a new contest against Harris, and is he capable of strategic adjustment?
Polling now shows that the Kamala Harris-Joe Biden switch has reset and changed the presidential election for voters. Can Donald Trump adjust to the new reality? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss whether Trump and his team have begun to rethink their approach, especially in light of a full-court press by the American media to get Harris elected. We also touch briefly on the plea deal for the 9/11 plotters and why this case will remain stuck in limbo forever. And did Nancy Pelosi pull a Brutus on Biden?
What do the polls tell us -- and what do the media tell us about the polls? Andrew Malcolm and I take a close look at the latest CBS News/YouGov poll, and what it tells us about the fundamentals of the race. We also discuss how Donald Trump lost his focus last week, and debate whether a scandal story about Harris' husband will have any impact at all -- and whether it should.
If this is Kamala Harris' political honeymoon, it's not terribly sweet. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the largely static polling, especially in the battleground states. We also discuss the mainstream media's desperation for "Kamalot!", and why we may have already seen the end of Peak Kamala. We also wonder who's running the country, talk briefly about Joe Biden's Bogus Journey, and much more!
It had been a momentous 48 hours in politics, and a close brush with a potentially destabilizing assassination. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the events in Butler County and Donald Trump's instincts to get up and fight. Did that inform his choice of running mate? We also talk about JD Vance, and preview the GOP convention.
Why has Hunter Biden begun participating in policy meetings in the White House? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the implications of having a convicted felon in the Oval Office -- an issue raised by Biden against Donald Trump. Biden insists he's not withdrawing, and we discuss next steps on all sides. And did a 1993 Hollywood film predict our current predicament?
We could say we told you so, but we know one thing -- the media didn't. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the shocking way in which the media has conspired with Democrats to gaslight the American electorate. What comes next for Biden? Can Democrats pull a switcheroo?
How will Donald Trump choose his running mate? Andrew Malcolm and I game out the Veepstakes for the GOP, as well as the timing of the decision. We also discuss the Washington Post's woes, where no one seems to know exactly how to climb out of the hole from their collapse. Andrew and I also briefly tackle the White House trial balloon on a deal with Hamas.
Is the WaPo about to shift direction? Veteran newspaperman Andrew Malcolm discusses the ouster of Sally Buzbee, and reflects on the desperation of the capital's primary newspaper. Will hiring new executives from two conservative newspapers change the WaPo's woke direction, and/or stem the bleeding? Plus we'll look at the ways in which Joe Biden bungled the Donald Trump verdict, and what may come next for both nominees.
Why did Joe Biden send Robert DeNiro to Donald Trump's trial? The move backfired in more ways than one, and Andrew Malcolm discusses the media reaction. I review the closing arguments from the defense, and we both relate it to mob movies. Plus, we discuss Richard Dreyfuss and the lost art of engagement, and talk about the latest of Andrew's 'Memories' essays at RedState!
Andrew Malcolm discusses the latest entry in his Memories series, about his lifelong habit of sending messages in a bottle -- and how it connects him to his father. We also talk about the potential debate trap for Donald Trump, and the far more dangerous debate trap for Joe Biden. Michael Cohen wrapped up his disastrous turn as Alvin Bragg's star witness, and I discuss how it reminds me of the latest episode of "The Jinx 2."
Andrew Malcolm and I get to the bottom of a viral Joe Biden clip. Regardless of how some are interpreting it, it's yet another instance of Biden's decrepitude on display. That has real-world consequences in foreign policy. We also tackle the lack of consequences in Academia and its consequences for America. Plus, Hamas counts on media malpractice to achieve its strategic goals, and we discuss how that plays out here in the US.
Will radical activists derail the Democrat convention in Chicago? Andrew Malcolm discuss our skepticism, but we're a lot more skeptical about Hunter Biden's plan to sue Fox News. We also discuss the unspoken problem with rooftop solar, the ongoing issues with EVs, and why you don't talk about shooting the dog.
What does it say when Google has become fed up with progressive activism in its workplace? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the implications of the firing of more than two dozen radicals at Google's HQs and the CEO's declaration that disruptive politics will no longer be tolerated. Will this convince Google to abandon efforts to strangle conservative opinion on line? We also discuss Joe Biden's latest failure to address campus anti-Semitism and the targeting of Jews in Academia.
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, Andrew Malcolm recalls one remarkable story from a career full of interesting tales. We discuss how he came across the story, and why such human-interest stories grab us. We also discuss the film Titanic and why that resonates for similar reasons. Plus, Andrew gives his thoughts on the credibility meltdown at NPR, and why it has lost its way.
How was the total eclipse in central Texas? Andrew Malcolm and I have a lot of fun with that question, as well as with the old film Capricorn One. We took a less lighthearted look at Joe Biden's policies in the Middle East, the desperation of his handlers, and the Protection Racket Media.
What did we learn from our dads? Andrew Malcolm and I trade some stories from our misbegotten youths, and discuss why dads seem to be the missing element in American culture. We discuss Shakira and her take on 'Barbie,' the old-fashioned days when we could respect and admire presidents, and the need to embrace Psalm 146 verse 3 in politics.
What might be worse than NBC's hiring of Ronna McDaniel? Their attempt to dump her to coddle their staff. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the latest version of a news-staff tantrum and point out several instances of rank hypocrisy in their claims on "journalistic integrity." We also discuss the Baltimore bridge destruction caused by an out-of-control container ship, and the problems that will bring the city and the region over the long haul.
How did the Elon Musk-Don Lemon partnership end before it began? Andrew Malcolm and I take a look at the former CNN anchor's claims that Musk is racist with a very large grain of salt. We also talk about the entitled media in general and the credibility bloodbath of their "bloodbath coverage." Andrew has some good advice for Trump, and we have some bad jokes for each other, too.
"Take care of the land, and the land will take care of you." That core Midwest ethos got betrayed by the elites and institutions long before Donald Trump seized on the anger, and it had nothing to do with "white rural rage" either. Andrew Malcolm captured more than he may have known in his brilliant true-crime book Final Harvest: An American Tragedy, and we connect dots in today's podcast.
Will this State of the Union be Joe Biden's last? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss those prospects, which depend at least a little on what happens two days earlier on Super Tuesday. Right now it looks like it's all over but the shouting in both nomination chases, but the Supreme Court decision on the 14th Amendment might be a fresh wild card.
Joe Biden's not the only one whose competence is in question. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the Dylan Byers report that the White House press corps has colluded to keep Biden's cognitive crisis a secret out of "indelicacy." We explore that issue at length, including a discussion of 2018's The Front Runner, an overlooked film about the Gary Hart scandal in the 1988 cycle. We also discuss the media's false narratives about the monkey business (heh) at St. Patrick's Cathedral last week.
Joe Biden had a very bad week, but did Robert Hur's report do more to indict the media? Andrew Malcolm and I debate who's actually wearing fewer clothes -- the emperor or his court jesters. This all feeds into a sense of impending doom, as Andrew discusses in his latest column. Plus, we both salute Taylor Swift on her first Super Bowl win.