The Viral President

The news cycle these days is crushing — warping time upon itself like a black hole. So how does America’s Most Balanced Podcast® respond? By booking a third guest, of course. On today’s lineup, we’ve got Casey Mattox;the Vice President for Legal and Judicial Strategy at Americans for Prosperity, a group  dedicated to (among other things), getting Amy Coney Barrett through the nomination process. You can help by visiting their website UniteForBarrett.com and signing a letter that will be sent to your Senator. Do it! Then, our good friend (and fellow board member) Dr. George Savage stops by to give us an M.D.’s perspective on the President’s condition and what his course of treatment might be. Finally, Henry Olsen, he of the Horse Race podcast right here on this network visits and dispenses some punditry on how the President’s health may affect his re-election effort. No spoilers here, sorry. Finally, the Lileks Post of The Week is back and it’s a doozy: did Harry Truman actually approve the use of the use of the A-Bomb at the end of WWII or did the military just deploy like a new submarine or aircraft? We get into it and then some.

Music from this week’s show: Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)  by John Lennon

 

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There are 156 comments.

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  1. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    There you go again Rob.

    • #1
  2. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Henry Castaigne (View Comment):

    There you go again Rob.

    Rob Longs gotta Rob Long.

    • #2
  3. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Hold on.  Casey Mattox says that COVID concerns mean there won’t be a big audience in the hearing for ACB?

    But aren’t “protestors” allowed wherever they want to go, COVD be damned?

    • #3
  4. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    Anyone read that book that Rob Long talked about with regard to American class. 

    • #4
  5. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    I like Hirohito was actually a pretty mellow dude who liked reading books about plants and animals. How was inversely chill compared to the country he was the figurehead of. 

    • #5
  6. Semperfimom Member
    Semperfimom
    @Semperfimom

    this is the first “The Ricochet Podcast” that I have ousted on.  Wow Rob, if I needed Left wing propaganda  I would have tuned into CNN.  I just couldn’t listen to you any more.  Rob, you are reprehensible. Shame on you   You are sickening. Can’t stand your anti- Trump vitriol any more.  I can go to The View for this. You take cheap swipes at Trump while ignoring  Biden’s terrible policies. Screw you Rob.  Good bye with me and my money to support you.  You  have become the elite, and you don’t even know it. You are in the NYC bubble.  The “we’re so special ” group.  I know you don’t think you are, but everyone in the bubble doesn’t think they are. they are;;;;;;;;  Good bye!!!

    • #6
  7. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Semperfimom (View Comment):

    this is the first “The Ricochet Podcast” that I have ousted on. Wow Rob, if I needed Lett wing propaganda I would have tuned into CNN. I just couldn’t listen to you any more. Rob, you are reprehensible. Shame on you You are sickening. Can’t stand your anti- Trump vitriol any more. I can go to The View for this. You take cheap swipes at Trump while ignoring Biden’s terrible policies. Screw you Rob. Good bye with me and my money to support you. You have become the elite, and you don’t even know it. You are in the NYC bubble. The “we’re so special ” group. I know you don’t think you are, but everyone in the bubble doesn’t think they are. they are;;;;;;;; Good bye!!!

    I doubt Rob gets paid by Ricochet, and there’s a lot of good stuff to be had including member posts by people who agree with you, that are possible because of the site and the internet servers etc supported by membership.

    And nobody should take Rob very seriously anyway, especially about politics, he was just the head writer for Cheers and stuff.  So what?  Not watching his shows does more damage than not subscribing to Ricochet.

    • #7
  8. Dr. Strangelove Thatcher
    Dr. Strangelove
    @JohnHendrix

    Henry Castaigne (View Comment):

    Anyone read that book that Rob Long talked about with regard to American class.

    It appears to be this: https://www.amazon.com/Class-Through-American-Status-System/dp/0671792253/

    I have not read it–I hadn’t heard of it before–but Rob Long is likely to make me buy it. 

     

     

     

    • #8
  9. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    A minute of empty space around the 17 minute point is inexcusable.

    • #9
  10. Rick N. Inactive
    Rick N.
    @RickyCVN76

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    A minute of empty space around the 17 minute point is inexcusable.

    They didn’t edit the part they thought they did. I played with my iPod for a few minutes before I realized nothing was wrong with it.

    • #10
  11. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Man, Rob seems to have completed his transition to full-fledged Trump hater. It’s kind of sad, we’ve come to expect more thoughtful conversations in the flagship podcast. It will be interesting to see what he says after Trump wins.

     

    • #11
  12. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Man, Rob’s seem to have completed his transition to full-fledged Trump hater. I can’t to hear what he says after Trump wins.

    He may be even more in the bubble of leftism now than when he lived on the left coast.

    • #12
  13. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    A minute of empty space around the 17 minute point is inexcusable.

    You are 100% correct. New version coming in mere minutes along with an explanation.

    • #13
  14. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    A minute of empty space around the 17 minute point is inexcusable.

    It’s fixed now. If you downloaded the show on your phone, delete the version you have and re-download it and you’ll get the corrected version. The new version is already loaded into the web player at the top of this page.

    This is probably TMI, but I feel like I owe you an explanation: Working with the audio files that Zoom outputs and three guests is a very different workflow than what I’m normally used to, which is one of the reasons why this show was late getting published today. We also stopped and started Casey’s segment (where the gap was) twice to get his audio sounding right and I just plain missed re-aligning the end of the first spot to Casey’s intro after the second reset (hey, I warned you it was likely TMI). Again, my apologies. Lesson learned.

    Ever wonder what the Ricochet Podcast looks like rather than sounds like? Wonder no more:

    • #14
  15. Architectus Coolidge
    Architectus
    @Architectus

    Semperfimom (View Comment):

    this is the first “The Ricochet Podcast” that I have ousted on. Wow Rob, if I needed Lett wing propaganda I would have tuned into CNN. I just couldn’t listen to you any more. Rob, you are reprehensible. Shame on you You are sickening. Can’t stand your anti- Trump vitriol any more. I can go to The View for this. You take cheap swipes at Trump while ignoring Biden’s terrible policies. Screw you Rob. Good bye with me and my money to support you. You have become the elite, and you don’t even know it. You are in the NYC bubble. The “we’re so special ” group. I know you don’t think you are, but everyone in the bubble doesn’t think they are. they are;;;;;;;; Good bye!!!

    Understand your sentiments, Semperfimom, but keep in mind the bigger picture of the Ricochet site and all the great writing and dialogue throughout, from the lofty “contributors” to just regular civilians.  Find your place to engage, learn and contribute, and avoid the posts or podcasts that just don’t provide anything to you.  Would hate to lose you or any others when this community grows through the many contributions (not talking dollars here) of all the members.  Cheers!  

    • #15
  16. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Architectus (View Comment):

    Semperfimom (View Comment):

    this is the first “The Ricochet Podcast” that I have ousted on. Wow Rob, if I needed Lett wing propaganda I would have tuned into CNN. I just couldn’t listen to you any more. Rob, you are reprehensible. Shame on you You are sickening. Can’t stand your anti- Trump vitriol any more. I can go to The View for this. You take cheap swipes at Trump while ignoring Biden’s terrible policies. Screw you Rob. Good bye with me and my money to support you. You have become the elite, and you don’t even know it. You are in the NYC bubble. The “we’re so special ” group. I know you don’t think you are, but everyone in the bubble doesn’t think they are. they are;;;;;;;; Good bye!!!

    Understand your sentiments, Semperfimom, but keep in mind the bigger picture of the Ricochet site and all the great writing and dialogue throughout, from the lofty “contributors” to just regular civilians. Find your place to engage, learn and contribute, and avoid the posts or podcasts that just don’t provide anything to you. Would hate to lose you or any others when this community grows through the many contributions (not talking dollars here) of all the members. Cheers!

    Nice job trying to get her to forget about Rob!

    :-)

    But mostly, it’s worth putting up with several Rob Longs to get a James Lileks!

    • #16
  17. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Architectus (View Comment):

    Semperfimom (View Comment):

    this is the first “The Ricochet Podcast” that I have ousted on. Wow Rob, if I needed Lett wing propaganda I would have tuned into CNN. I just couldn’t listen to you any more. Rob, you are reprehensible. Shame on you You are sickening. Can’t stand your anti- Trump vitriol any more. I can go to The View for this. You take cheap swipes at Trump while ignoring Biden’s terrible policies. Screw you Rob. Good bye with me and my money to support you. You have become the elite, and you don’t even know it. You are in the NYC bubble. The “we’re so special ” group. I know you don’t think you are, but everyone in the bubble doesn’t think they are. they are;;;;;;;; Good bye!!!

    Understand your sentiments, Semperfimom, but keep in mind the bigger picture of the Ricochet site and all the great writing and dialogue throughout, from the lofty “contributors” to just regular civilians. Find your place to engage, learn and contribute, and avoid the posts or podcasts that just don’t provide anything to you. Would hate to lose you or any others when this community grows through the many contributions (not talking dollars here) of all the members. Cheers!

    They do an excellent job of aggregating podcasts and have  decent forms to discuss them. That is what I like the most.

    I always like hearing what Peter, Rob, and James have to say. They get great guests and they aren’t constrained by the clock of terrestrial talk radio. Rob is very interesting outside of his lousy Trump criticism. I don’t mind Trump critics as long as they aren’t part of the organized resistance. Anybody in those orbits makes me want to puke, with a few exceptions. (A good example of this is the Whiskey Politics interview of John Ziegler. That was one of the best interviews I have ever heard even though he didn’t make a damn bit of sense about Trump. I really recommend it. Part of what I like about it is, he just isn’t that persuasive even though he’s really smart. It’s educational. Trump nets out on policy. The End.)

     

    • #17
  18. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    I just started listening to this, but there is something very important everybody needs to know about masks. They have absolutely no idea how a forced mask policy changes the R0.

    Zero. 

    This is being done with unilateral emergency powers, not legislation. 

     

    • #18
  19. Kervinlee Inactive
    Kervinlee
    @Kervinlee

    I bailed after five minutes because of, well… Rob.

    • #19
  20. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    I just saw an analysis of Biden’s debate during the Romney election. I remember everybody saying he won. It was all BS. That’s how you got Trump.

    I developed a theory yesterday. I think Republicans that hate Trump are being less cogent than ever because they have to admit he’s netting out on policy and it was just shameful how the deep state went after him and his staff. Russia gate!

    I really appreciate the doctor’s explanations of the minimally researched protocols. Dennis Prager babbles about this stuff as if doctors that don’t follow it are killing people. It’s not that simple. 

    I saw an article that said that super spreaders were strictly a function of behavior.

    If Trump is going to lose, it is a total disaster that they didn’t get rid of the ACA.

    Psycho Never Trumper’s that are voting for Biden want single payer shoved down their throats.

    • #20
  21. Seco Inactive
    Seco
    @Seco

    Rob couldn’t hide his glee. It was infantile and interesting in a sense that he pleads every week for subscribers but seemingly doesn’t understand his giddy Trump bashing today insults a lot of members. I don’t watch “cable” news, but I follow Brian Stelter on Twitter to get the leftist slant. The Rob of today would fit right at home in his feed.

    I’ve now began thinking about how I’d perform in a job when every department within your organisation and the vast, vast majority of the media have tried to remove you from your position beginning the day you started your job and call you everything up to and including “worse than Hitler”. From afar (Australia) I reckon he’s doing a remarkable job in these circumstances. I wish him and Melanie the best, I’m sure they’ll recover. 

    I loved the atomic bomb discussion. It was the highlight of the podcast. Well done. I’ll now go read the Lileks Post of the Week.

    • #21
  22. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Seco (View Comment):
    I’ve now began thinking about how I’d perform in a job when every department within your organisation and the vast, vast majority of the media have tried to remove you from your position beginning the day you started your job

    Never Trump never gives any of this a second thought. 

    • #22
  23. Chris Member
    Chris
    @Chris

    In response to Peter’s question at the end of the episode, the discussion about Truman was very enjoyable. 

    • #23
  24. Barbara Duran Thatcher
    Barbara Duran
    @BarbaraDuran

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Man, Rob seems to have completed his transition to full-fledged Trump hater. It’s kind of sad, we’ve come to expect more thoughtful conversations in the flagship podcast. It will be interesting to see what he says after Trump wins.

    Not half as interesting as what he will say if Trump loses, as Rob hopes, and he begins to see the Biden/Harris/Bernie Sanders goals and policies become law.  Not one word of your misery, Rob.  Not. One. Word.

    • #24
  25. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Barbara Duran (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Man, Rob seems to have completed his transition to full-fledged Trump hater. It’s kind of sad, we’ve come to expect more thoughtful conversations in the flagship podcast. It will be interesting to see what he says after Trump wins.

    Not half as interesting as what he will say if Trump loses, as Rob hopes, and he begins to see the Biden/Harris/Bernie Sanders goals and policies become law. Not one word of your misery, Rob. Not. One. Word.

    All of these Republicans need to explain why it’s worth the risk of having single payer shoved down your throat. 

    The ACA was built to fail and force single payer. Ryan and McConnell had eight years to get ready for total control of the government to finish the damn thing off. All of those senators and congressmen lying about repealing it. This is the biggest mistake the right has made in decades.

    • #25
  26. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    “Many indications that it hurt him badly” except with C-SPAN and Telemundo viewers. 

    • #26
  27. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    Robinson knew Teller? Neat. 

    • #27
  28. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    Barbara Duran (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Man, Rob seems to have completed his transition to full-fledged Trump hater. It’s kind of sad, we’ve come to expect more thoughtful conversations in the flagship podcast. It will be interesting to see what he says after Trump wins.

    Not half as interesting as what he will say if Trump loses, as Rob hopes, and he begins to see the Biden/Harris/Bernie Sanders goals and policies become law. Not one word of your misery, Rob. Not. One. Word.

    I suspect the argument of a lot of #NeverTrumpers for the Biden Administration’s actions will be to …. blame Trump, as in “If Trump hadn’t acted the way he did, Biden woudln’t have been elected“, completely trying to obscure their own personal roles in helping Biden get elected. 

    He’d have personal responsibility for his actions; they’ll have no personal responsibility for helping bring about the Biden Administration’s actions. It won’t be pretty if that’s what comes to pass.

    • #28
  29. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    I suspect the argument of a lot of #NeverTrumpers for the Biden Administration’s actions will be to …. blame Trump, as in “If Trump hadn’t acted the way he did, Biden woudln’t have been elected“, completely trying to obscure their own personal roles in helping Biden get elected. 

    Based on the ones in Minnesota that is a very big part of it. 

    They aren’t honest about what got Trump over the line. I mean every aspect of it, too. They don’t want to think about how much the deep state got in the way of his trying to govern. 

     

    • #29
  30. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    They do an excellent job of aggregating podcasts and have decent forms to discuss them. That is what I like the most.

    I always like hearing what Peter, Rob, and James have to say. They get great guests and they aren’t constrained by the clock of terrestrial talk radio. Rob is very interesting outside of his lousy Trump criticism. I don’t mind Trump critics as long as they aren’t part of the organized resistance. Anybody in those orbits makes me want to puke, with a few exceptions. (A good example of this is the Whiskey Politics interview of John Ziegler. That was one of the best interviews I have ever heard even though he didn’t make a damn bit of sense about Trump. I really recommend it. Part of what I like about it is, he just isn’t that persuasive even though he’s really smart. It’s educational. Trump nets out on policy. The End.)

    The Zeigler interview was an interesting look into the mindset of a slightly different version of #NeverTrump, in that he really was attacking him for the most part more from the right than the left as not being aggressive enough in trying to contain progressive policies, especially COVID-19 Blue state restrictions, but then when he got to the end, rolled out as one of the the justifications for wanting Trump gone that the BLM/Antifa rioters will go away if Joe is elected.  That was when Sussman finally had had enough and really started going after Zeigler for his contradictions, where because of personal antipathy to Trump, anything that works to get him out of office, including physical intimidation of the public to force them to vote for Biden, is an acceptable tactic.

    • #30
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